Murder in Belgravia: A Mayfair 100 Murder Mystery by Lynn Brittney #HistoricalFiction #Crime

Posted in Book Review, Crime, Historical Fiction by Cathy

Author: Lynn Brittney

Published: March 2018 by Mirror Books

Category: Historical Fiction, Murder, Mystery

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Set against the backdrop of WW1, Mayfair 100 is the telephone number for a small, specially formed crimebusting team based in a house in Mayfair, London in 1915. Just 10 months into the First World War, the City is flooded with women taking over the work vacated by men in the Armed Services.

The first in a new historical crime series set in London during WW1, Murder in Belgavia introduces an engaging mix of characters. Chief Inspector Peter Beech was removed from active service after being injured during one of the first battles. He’s been called to investigate the murder of Lord Murcheson. The victim’s wife is a key witness and also a suspect. She is in obvious pain but declines to be examined by her husband’s physician. Beech persuades her to go to the Women’s hospital and see a friend of his, Dr Caroline Allardyce.

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15Feb2022

The Dream Weavers by Barbara Erskine ~ Dual Time Line #Contemporary #HistFic #NetGalley #TuesdayBookBlog

Posted in Book Review, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction by Cathy

Author: Barbara Erskine

Published: April 2021 by HarperCollins

Category: Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction

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In a cottage hidden amongst the misty Welsh hills of Offa’s Dyke, Bea Dalloway is called to help Simon Armstrong, who is searching for peace. Instead he finds himself disturbed by unsettling noises and visions.

It isn’t long before Bea is also swept up by haunting dreams. The past is whispering to them, calling out for the truth to be told at last. And as dreams and reality weave closer together, Bea and Simon must be strong to resist the pull of the past – and its desire for revenge…

Simon Armstrong has rented an isolated cottage situated on on the Welsh Marches, close to what remains of Offa’s Dyke, while he concentrates on writing his next book – a history of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. The peace and seclusion he envisaged is interrupted by the desperate sounds of a woman sobbing, calling out a name and banging at the door, but he has never been able to catch a glimpse of anyone. The owner of the cottage puts Simon in contact with Bea Dalloway, the local Canon Treasurer’s wife, who deals with strange occurrences. Bea is intrigued by Simon’s account of the unsettling disturbances he is subjected to.

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29Dec2021

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan #HistoricalFiction @CKeeganFiction #Novella

Posted in Book Review, Historical Fiction, Novella by Cathy

Author: Claire Keegan

Published: October 2021 by Faber & Faber

Category: Historical Fiction, Irish Fiction, Novella

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It is 1985, in an Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal and timber merchant, faces into his busiest season. As he does the rounds, he feels the past rising up to meet him – and encounters the complicit silences of a people controlled by the Church.

Bill Furlong, a coal and timber merchant, was born in 1946 of a young single mother who worked as a domestic for Mrs Wilson, a wealthy Protestant widow. Bill’s mother’s family wanted nothing to do with her but Mrs Wilson, a kind woman, let them both continue living with her and took young Bill under her wing when his mother died.

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25Nov2021

#PublicationDayPush ~ Snow-Kissed Proposals by @JenniAuthor and @ElisabethHobbes #FestiveShorts #HistoricalRomance @rararesources

Posted in Book Review, Festive, Historical Fiction, Romance, Short Stories, Victorian by Cathy

Welcome to the publication day push for Snow-Kissed Proposals, courtesy of Rachel’s Random Resources.

My Thoughts

The Christmas Runaway

The Christmas Runaway finds Fiona MacKay lost in the Scottish Highlands, soaked through by the relentless drizzle and wearing uncomfortable new ankle boots. She had acted impulsively, running away from what she considered an unbearable suituation at home, deciding to visit her friend Mhairi in the hopes of making her father see sense. Her maid, Emily, and luggage were waiting at the train station, and now here was this unkempt stranger offering to take her to her destination. She should have listened to Emily and stayed the night in Aberdeen but she’d been too stubborn.

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9Nov2021

#BlogTour #Extract ~ Love and Lavender: A Mayfield Family Romance (Book 4) by @JosiSKilpack #HistoricalRomance #AustenprosePR @ShadowMountn #TuesdayBookBlog

Posted in Blog Tour, Extract, Historical Fiction, Romance by Cathy

I’m delighted to be sharing an extract today from Love and Lavender, a Regency romance, for my stop on the blog tour.

Love and Lavender Blog Tour Graphic

First here’s what the book is about…

Title: Love and Lavender: A Mayfield Family Romance (Book 4)

Series: Proper Romance

Author: Josi S. Kilpack

Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Inspirational Fiction

Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing (November 2, 2021)

Length: (320) pages

Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook

Tour Dates: November 1-28, 2021 Continue reading →

4Nov2021

#BookTour Spotlight Feature ~ Every Word Unsaid by #KimberlyDuffy #HistoricalFiction @Bethany_House #AustenprosePR

Posted in Blog Tour, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Spotlight by Cathy

Title: Every Word Unsaid: A Novel

Author: Kimberly Duffy

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense, Inspirational Fiction

Publisher: Bethany House (November 2, 2021)

Length: (368) pages

Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook

Tour Dates: November 1-14, 2021 Continue reading →

1Nov2021

#BookTour Spotlight Feature ~ The London House by @Katherine_Reay #HistoricalFiction #AustenprosePR @HarperCollins @harpermusebooks

Posted in Blog Tour, Historical Fiction, Spotlight, Women’s Fiction by Cathy

The London House: A Novel

Author: Katherine Reay

Genre: Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction

Publisher: Harper Muse (November 2, 2021)

Length: (368) pages

Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook

Tour Dates: November 1-28, 2021 Continue reading →

7Oct2021

#ThrowbackThursday ~ Taming the Highlander (Scottish Relic Trilogy #2) by May McGoldrick #HistoricalFiction #Fantasy

Posted in Book Review, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Throwback Thursday by Cathy

Taming the Highlander is the second book in a trilogy I enjoyed listening to a few years ago.

My Thoughts

Fifty years previously four small pieces of a stone relic, the Wheel of Lugh, were brought to Scotland. Each fragment held a special gift but together, the four pieces would hold a terrible power if they were to fall into the wrong hands. The bearers of the tablets had sworn an oath, to travel to the farthest reaches of Scotland to keep the pieces of the relic separate.

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14Sep2021

Desire & Deceit (The Victorian Detectives Book 9) by Carol Hedges ~ #BookReview for #RBRT @carolJhedges #TuesdayBookBlog

Posted in Book Review, Crime, Historical Fiction, Murder/Mystery, Victorian by Cathy

Author: Carol Hedges

Published: July 2021 by Little G Books

Category: Historical Crime Fiction, Victorian, Book Review

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It is 1868, and the body of a young man has gone missing from the police mortuary at Scotland Yard, an event that has never happened before. Who was the mysterious corpse, and why was he spirited away in the night? These are the questions baffling Detective Inspector Stride and Detective Sergeant Cully as they set out to uncover the truth.