Read my review of Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure by Cliff Lovette #historicalfiction #ColdWarfiction #YardeBookPromotions @maryanneyarde

Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure 

By Cliff Lovette

Soviet circus performers arrived in America hoping to build cultural bridges. Instead, they became unwitting pawns in a Cold War game of international intrigue.

When the first privately owned Soviet circus arrived in 1990 in America as the Soviet Union disintegrated, its elite performers expected to build cultural bridges through spectacular shows. Instead, this prestigious troupe faced a perilous journey through Cold War America.

Circus director Yuri had to navigate treacherous waters where American mobsters, Soviet agents, and political forces circled like predators. Young aerialist Anton dreamed of becoming a clown against his family’s wishes, while forbidden romances and unexpected connections bloomed between Soviet performers and Americans who saw past the ideological divide. As high-stakes conspiracies threatened to tear the circus family apart, they had to choose between the authoritarian chains of home and the uncertain promise of freedom.

As the Ringmaster reminds us, “The best Soviet stories are like vodka—they burn with suffering, intoxicate with conflict, keep you stewing in reflection, and yearning for your heart’s desire.” This genre-bending tale explores whether human connection can transcend ideology—and whether storytelling can bridge the divides that separate us.

Circus Bim Bom offers an innovative multimedia reading experience. The novel includes 45+ YouTube links to period music, historical speeches, and cultural moments embedded throughout—readers can listen to the actual songs characters dance to as they waltz, and watch Reagan's Brandenburg Gate speech as it's referenced in the text.

The companion website (www.bimbombookclub.com) extends the story beyond the page:

Character Avatars: 25+ talking video introductions where characters speak directly to readers

Re-Imagined Circus Posters

Book Club Experience: Interactive forums, live chat, and community discussions

Historians Room (under construction): A space for Cold War history buffs to fact-check the novel, explore primary sources, and debate historical accuracy

Genre: Historical Fiction / Romantic Adventure / Political Intrigue

Pages: 478

Grab a copy HERE!

MY THOUGHTS

This book completely took me by surprise. I went in expecting a quirky historical drama about a Soviet circus touring America at the end of the Cold War, and what I got was something far stranger, bolder and more alive. It reads like a travelling spectacle in its own right, constantly shifting tone between comedy, tension, political satire and very raw, very human emotion.

Following the performers as they arrive in the United States is fascinating. Their first encounters with American culture – from Times Square chaos to their baffling first taste of fast food – are funny, awkward and oddly touching. At the same time, there’s a constant undercurrent of danger and control hanging over them, with watchers, minders and hidden agendas reminding you that these aren’t simply free artists on tour.

The cast is huge but memorable. Some characters are warm and idealistic, others manipulative or frightening, and many sit somewhere in between. Relationships form quickly under pressure, and not all of them are safe or sensible. The clash between repression and temptation runs right through the story, and when characters push against their boundaries the consequences can be explosive.

What makes the book even more intriguing is how close it feels to real history. It’s inspired by events from 1990, and at times it genuinely reads like a wild, half-forgotten episode from the end of the Cold War. At the same time, the author is clear that this isn’t a factual retelling. The characters and situations are fictionalised, exaggerated and often satirical, even when they’re loosely inspired by real people. That blend of reality and invention gives the story a strange, compelling edge where you’re never quite sure what might be drawn from truth and what is pure imaginative flourish.

It’s also one of the most unusual books I’ve read in terms of format. Music is woven directly into the story, and there are QR codes scattered throughout that you can scan on your phone to hear the actual songs being referenced. Instead of just reading about a dance or a performance, you can put the music on and experience it alongside the characters. It makes parts of the book feel almost interactive, like stepping through the curtain and into the circus ring yourself.

Some moments are joyful and liberating, others uncomfortable and confrontational. The ending in particular is messy, dramatic and unresolved, but that feels intentional. Rather than tying everything up neatly, the book leaves you suspended in mid-air, like an acrobat between swings, knowing the next act is still to come.

It’s chaotic, provocative and completely unlike a conventional historical novel. I didn’t always know where it was going, but I was never bored, and long after finishing I still feel as if the music is playing somewhere in the background and the circus lights haven’t quite gone out.

Father, storyteller, and dog lover living in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with London curled at his feet. Cliff Lovette is an entertainment lawyer who learned about the real Circus Bim Bom in 1991 when the circus's American road manager became a client at his Atlanta law firm. Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure is the first book in his debut duology.

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YouTube Link to Book Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fafpTaJLD84

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Read an interview with Eleanor Birney, author of The Green Baize Door #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalMystery #GildedAge #TheCoffeePotBookClub @EleanorBirney @cathiedunn

The Green Baize Door

By Eleanor Birney

An atmospheric historical mystery where every character has their own agenda, and their own truth.

In the fashionable mansions on Chestnut Hill, a simple green baize door separates the masters’ world from the servants’. That door is thrown wide when an elderly housekeeper is found brutally murdered on the first day of the new century. Marie Chevalier, the housekeeper’s poor but ambitious granddaughter, and James Lett, the mansion owner’s kind but indolent son, suspect the killer is connected to one of their families—but which one?

From drawing rooms to alleyways, their separate investigations lead them through the sometimes lavish, sometimes brutal, landscape of turn-of-the-century New England. When long-buried secrets begin to unravel the fragile threads that hold both households together, Marie and James must find a way to bridge the gulf between them—if only to prove that the murderer belongs not to their own world, but to that strange and foreign land on the other side of the green baize door.

Inspired by real-life events, The Green Baize Door is a richly layered historical mystery that explores themes of class identity, family loyalty, and the sometimes blurry line between virtue and vice.

Publication Date: January 27, 2026

Publisher: Parlor & Dock Press

Pages: 295

Genre: Historical Mystery

Grab a copy HERE!

INTERVIEW

Writing Interview Questions.

Why did you choose to write your book in this era?

The end of the Victorian era is a time of contradiction: surface elegance and restraint with revolution boiling just under the surface. I specialized in late 18th, early 19th century history as an undergrad, so it’s a period I was already familiar with. Something I hoped would make my life easier from a research perspective.


Did you find researching this era particularly difficult? What was the hardest thing to find out, and did you come across anything particularly surprising?


I think it is one of the easiest historical periods to research. It wasn’t all that long ago, so there are plenty of records available. One of the things I most enjoyed reviewing were talk show interviews from the 1960s/70s of then-elderly folks who gave first-hand accounts of events they lived through, but that feel very distant to modern audiences.

My only real surprise was how similar language then was to what we use now. There aren’t nearly as many differences as I’d imagined, especially when you focus on ordinary/working class folks. I was hoping to add some really colorful dialogue (and I did manage to slip some in), but that “flavor” had far more to do with regional and cultural differences than with the period.  

Can you share something about the book that isn’t covered in the blurb?


The murdered housekeeper is a “colored” Creole woman, which, according to the law of the time, makes her granddaughter, Marie  “colored”. Marie, however, finds it easier to “pass” as white than to announce her heritage and subject herself to the segregation laws which had just been reaffirmed by the US Supreme Court. “Passing” is a practical choice for Marie, but not an easy — or comfortable — one.


If you had to describe your protagonist(s), in three words, what would those three words be and why?


Proud, beautiful, and ambitious. Marie is a lot of other things as well: clever, hot-tempered, loyal, etc. But the traits I mentioned first are the ones that most impact on the trajectory of her life. In a world where she’s expected to hang her head, her innate sense of pride guarantees a  steady stream of slights and injuries, enough to keep her from settling. She sees her beauty as a tool, something that can be leveraged in her quest for a better life, which, being deeply ambitious, is always her end goal.


What was the most challenging part about writing your book?

Knowing when to stop.

Was there anything that you edited out of this book that would have drastically affected the story, should it be left in?

In my first draft, Marie’s younger sister was much older (18), and she and the detective investigating the case had a bit of a flirtation. 

What are you currently working on?

Book two in the series!

What would you tell an aspiring author who had some doubts about their writing abilities?

That it’s normal to worry, but to try not to get too hung up on what the experts (professional and otherwise) say. Some of the books that I’ve enjoyed most were written by authors whose writing abilities were consistently dragged through the mud. 

Write the story you want to write, and let the rest sort itself.

Personal Interview Questions.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

When I’m not writing I’m either working or with my kids. I dream of one day having hobbies again, but that day still seems a long way off.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was very young (3), I wanted to be a ballerina. By the time I was 5, I had set my sights on being a secretary — secretaries being the only professional women I regularly saw on TV. By 10, I’d decided I wanted to be the boss who had a secretary.

What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating?


Spaghetti. I’m an extremely picky eater, and can be relied upon to make exactly what I want to eat.


What would be a perfect day?


A morning of productive writing/working, an afternoon at the beach with my family, followed by a good dinner out (so I don’t have to worry about cleaning). Close the night out with a story and a snuggle with my kids, and it doesn’t get better than that.


What is the best part of your day?

Bedtime story time. My kids are still quite young, so I’m trying to get in as many baby/toddler snuggles as I can.

Either or!

Tea or coffee: Coffee (decaf espresso)

Hot or cold: Cold

Movie or book: Book

Morning person or Night owl: Morning

City or country: Depends on my mood.

Social Media or book: Book (!!!)

Paperback or ebook: I prefer Paperback — it’s a whole experience, but if I’m being completely honest, I mostly buy ebooks or audiobooks these days.

Eleanor Birney writes historical mysteries about class, moral ambiguity, and people who aren’t satisfied with life on their side of the green baize door.

She received a BA in History from UC Berkeley, and works as a legal research attorney, a day job that feeds her love of precision, research, and puzzles.

Growing up in foster care gave her a lifelong fascination with the way society steers people into assigned places—and how some of those people refuse to stay in them.

She lives in Northern California with her family. The Green Baize Door is her debut novel.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • Bluesky • BookBub • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads

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Read an excerpt from Rebecca Langston-George's NEW RELEASE, One Fine Voice #HistoricalFiction #MiddleGrade #TheCoffeePotBookClub @RebeGeorge @cathiedunn

One Fine Voice

By Rebecca Langston-George

All her life, Esther Hopkins has been told she has a mighty fine voice. 

Still, she can't believe her luck when just days after moving to town she's invited to sing a solo at the 1923 Independence Day picnic.

But the group sponsoring the picnic is not the benevolent fraternal order they claim to be. Worse, they've recruited her father, the town's freshly ordained Baptist minister, to become their chaplain. 

When they target the immigrant family of her new best friend, Esther must risk her father's anger, the KKK's revenge, and her family's safety to follow her conscience, salvage her friendship, and find the strength to speak truth to power even if it costs all she holds dear.

Publication Date: January 6, 2026

Publisher: Historium Press

Pages: 143

Genre: Middle grade historical fiction

Grab a copy HERE!

EXCERPT

“Esther,” Daddy called. “It’s time to go.”

I didn’t want to go. 

I wanted to stay and even though it was the first day of summer, I wanted to go to Meadow Springs School and sit next to Dorothy Hoover just like I, Esther Hopkins, had done ever since my first day of school. Why, the alphabet itself had pre-ordained that we would be best friends for life!

But no one ever listened to what I wanted. My voice didn’t seem to matter. 

When I finally climbed into the backseat, I pushed against my father’s battered old Army footlocker trying to make more room. But it didn’t budge. Just like my father. This move was all his doing. A promise he had made nearly five years ago in a trench in the Western Front. My father, the farmer, promised God he’d serve him and become a minister if he lived through the Great War in Europe. It had taken him several years and a lot of studying, but my father was making good on his promise.

Daddy started the car. Mama leaned out the open window to hug Dorothy’s mother. As Daddy pulled the car through the gate and onto the road, Mama and I turned to wave through the back window until we couldn’t see our friends any longer. Only Daddy looked forward, straight ahead, driving to Grayson, Indiana, and a new life. A new job waited for him there where he’d be ordained as the new Baptist minister. 

What did the road ahead hold for me? 

Rebecca Langston-George is the author of nineteen books for young readers including the globally popular For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story. Though she’s long been known for nonfiction, One Fine Voice is her first middle grade historical fiction. 

A retired teacher credentialed in both single subject language arts for upper grades and multiple subjects for younger grades, Rebecca is a popular school presenter for all ages, encouraging students to investigate and tap into their personal interests when writing. 

She serves on the board of The California Reading Association and is the Co-Regional Advisor for SCBWI Central-Coastal California, helping other writers achieve their dreams.

She splits her time between California’s scenic coast and its agricultural heartland, writing (and mostly rewriting) at one mile per hour on a treadmill desk. Read more at Rebecca Langston-George | Children's Book Author.

Website • Author Page at Historium Press • Facebook • Twitter / X  • Bluesky • Instagram • Amazon Author Page • BookBub • Goodreads

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Read an excerpt from My Guardian Angel by Mr. Adam Chase #ShortStory @RABTBookTours

My Guardian Angel

By Mr. Adam Chase

A Short Story of True Love, Hope, and the Power of the Human Heart

If you ask 100 readers what this story is about, you may receive 100 different answers—and that is exactly the point.

My Guardian Angel is a deeply moving short story about true love in its many forms, inspired by real life, real relationships, and real emotions. At its core, this story is a tribute to unwavering devotion between a husband and wife—and to the quiet strength that sustains us when life hangs in the balance.

Graham, a Vietnam veteran whose greatest joys are his wife and their beloved dogs, begins what seems like an ordinary day wrapped in comfort and routine. But in a sudden and devastating turn, he finds himself fighting for his life. As danger closes in, it is his wife—his lifelong “Guardian Angel”—who stands between him and the unthinkable.

Set largely within the stark stillness of a hospital, the story unfolds as friends rally, time seems to pause, and love becomes both shield and salvation. Through moments of fear, hope, memory, and faith, My Guardian Angel explores how love endures even when life is fragile—and how the bonds we build may be stronger than fate itself.

Though classified as fiction, more than 60% of this story is drawn directly from the author’s life and experiences. Every word comes from the heart—there is no AI-generated content, no shock value, and no explicit language. This is a story written for readers of all ages who believe in love, kindness, and the quiet courage found in everyday relationships.

Themes Readers Will Connect With:

● True love between husband and wife

● Hope in the face of mortality

● Gratitude, humility, and resilience

● Faith, belief, and emotional connection

● Stories that inspire children and adults alike

 

My Guardian Angel does not tell readers what true love is—it invites them to discover what it means through the lens of their own lives.

If you are looking for a heartfelt, gentle, and profoundly human story—one that lingers long after the final page—this book offers a reminder that love, in all its forms, is life’s greatest gift.

Genre: Short Story

Pages: 108

Grab a copy HERE!

EXCERPT

Zack, a deeply religious man, prayed as he bent over his friend Graham. He knew that his condition was grave at best. He told himself to be as positive as possible with the girls, especially Kelly, before the paramedics arrived. It seemed like an eternity before the paramedics arrived. Zack yelled at them to bring a gurney to carry him out, given the vegetation. As the two paramedics got to Graham, they immediately told Zack to take care of Graham’s wife while they tended to Graham. Before leaving his friend, he asked the paramedics to keep his friend from dying. They responded with “we will try our best”. Zack told them that Graham was seventy-eight and a Vietnam veteran who deserved a better death than in this field.

Kelly, Zack and Daisy stood by, helpless yet hopeful. They started talking about some of the silly things that Graham did to try to stay calm yet focused. Kelly could not stop the tears, even though they tried to tell her that he was alive and would survive. It seemed like an eternity while the paramedics worked on Graham. They were too far away to hear what they were saying, so the suspense was difficult to manage. Kelly knew that he always called her his guardian angel. Graham was steadfast in that it was she who turned him into the man he is today, and it was she, as his guardian angel, who kept him alive and full of love.

Finally, they could see movement where Graham was. The paramedics were putting him on a gurney and trying to get him through the thick vegetation. Zack went quickly out to assist them. He had the strength to carry him out alone if necessary. Kelly was full of questions as they got closer, and they replied that he was alive and that she could ride in the ambulance to the hospital while they took him to the emergency room. Daisy said go, and she will make sure both cars get to the office, and she will come to the hospital as soon as the office is settled. Kelly was helped into the ambulance to make the ride with her husband. She could not help but cry seeing her husband in that condition. The paramedics would only say that it appeared that he may have been bitten by a snake. Only at the hospital would she learn just how critical he was.

Adam Chase – Author | Vietnam Veteran | Storyteller of Hope and Love

Adam Chase is a Vietnam veteran, lifelong entrepreneur, and late-in-life fiction writer whose stories are rooted in lived experience, gratitude, and enduring love. At 79 years old, Adam brings a lifetime of resilience, humility, and heart to his writing—qualities shaped by military service, decades as a self-employed corporate consultant, and his journey as a business owner and mentor.

In 2016, Adam and his wife purchased a failing plumbing company despite having no prior plumbing experience. Through discipline, integrity, and a tireless work ethic forged during his Vietnam service, they transformed the business into the number-one contractor in their county. In January 2025, they sold the company to two trusted key employees—continuing to work alongside them, unpaid, ensuring the next generation’s success. Adam is widely regarded as the county’s “go-to” backflow tester and is respected for consistently placing recognition on his team rather than himself.

For over thirty years, Adam worked as a self-employed corporate consultant, a career that allowed him and his wife to travel the world. One of his most unforgettable experiences was visiting the only wild panda sanctuary in the Southern Mountains of China, where he held a mother panda and her cub—an encounter that deepened his appreciation for life, connection, and wonder.

Later in life, Adam faced significant health challenges, including skin cancer, macular degeneration with geographic atrophy, and ocular rosacea. Rather than slowing him down, these challenges fuel his determination to remain mentally and physically engaged each day. His writing emerged not from literary ambition, but from a desire to put feelings, memories, and gratitude into words—especially for children, who he believes need hope, belief, and kindness most.

Adam writes children’s bedtime stories and fiction, including the deeply personal short story My Guardian Angel, which—while categorized as fiction—is largely inspired by his real life, his marriage, and the people he loves most. Despite graduating near the bottom of a class of over 1,000 students and reading almost exclusively non-fiction and business books, Adam’s storytelling resonates because it is honest, heartfelt, and unfiltered.

He does not consider himself an author by profession, but a man sharing his thoughts and feelings with sincerity. Adam credits his single greatest achievement in life as marrying “the woman of his dreams”—the inspiration behind My Guardian Angel. His stories contain no profanity, no adult content, and no artificial intelligence—only his words, his heart, and his lived truth.

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Read an interview with Jennifer Ivy Walker, author of Wolf of the Nordic Seas (Valiant Vikings Book 2) #WolfOfTheNordicSeas #HistoricalRomance #Romantasy #YardeBookPromotions @maryanneyarde

Wolf of the Nordic Seas

(Valiant Vikings Book 2)

By Jennifer Ivy Walker

Named after the Norse God of the Sea, Njörd grew up sailing, swimming, and fishing the fjords of Norway. Endowed with extraordinary senses, speed, and strength, he became known as Wolf of the Nordic Seas, leading lucrative Viking raids from the Baltic shores to the Black and Caspian Seas. When a Viking völva foretells his future through a seidr vision, Njörd learns that his fate and his mate—the siren with the sea goddess eyes—lie on the alabaster coast of Normandy in the distant Land of the White Chalk Cliffs.

Elfi Thorfinnsdóttir is a skilled shieldmaiden who seeks vengeance against the ruthless Frankish count who killed her brother and abducted her father in an attempt to seize her clifftop castle. But rather that submit to the count’s relentless demand for her hand in marriage, Elfi allies with Richard the Fearless—the Viking Duke of Normandy— and the Danish Jarl of Ribe known as the Wolf of the Nordic Seas.

As Elfi and Njörd discover startling secrets about their respective pasts, they find that the three Norns have entwined the threads of their fates not just as political allies, but as mates destined to fulfill a divine prophecy.

Wolf of the Nordic Seas— book 2 of the Valiant Vikings series set in tenth century Normandy— is a sizzling, scintillating blend of historical fiction, Norse mythology, paranormal fantasy, and steamy Viking romance!

Praise:

“This thrilling tale promises to sweep readers off their feet and take them on an unforgettable journey into the heart of Viking lore.” Five Stars

Yarde Book Promotions

“…Walker's textured history and atmosphere, whether it is a sacred grove or ethereal caves, create a world that feels both mystical and real, pulling readers into another unforgettable journey. Very highly recommended.”

Readers’ Favorite

Print Length: 357
Genre: Historical Romance / Norse Mythology / Fantasy

Grab a copy HERE!

INTERVIEW

Writing Interview Questions.

Why did you choose to write your book in this era? 

I am a former French professor and high school teacher of the language of love. As an undergraduate student, I spent a summer in Normandy and was fascinated to learn that the Vikings had settled there in the 10th century. That fabulous summer inspired my Valiant Vikings trilogy.

Did you find researching this era particularly difficult? What was the hardest thing to find out, and did you come across anything particularly surprising?

It is extremely difficult to research historical events from the 10th century, since there are few written documents, and many of them are conflicting. I was surprised (and delighted) to discover that Richard the Fearless, the Viking Duke of Normandy, had allied against the Franks with Harald Bluetooth, the Viking king of Denmark and Norway. This alliance and political tension formed major plot threads throughout my trilogy.

Can you share something about the book that isn’t covered in the blurb? 

In addition to weaving Norse mythology into Wolf of the Nordic Seas, I also intertwined the Celtic legend of the Gallizenae mermaids from the Île de Sein, a remote island off the western coast of France in the region known as Bretagne (Brittany in English). These mermaids have a profound and delightfully surprising influence on Elfi, the female protagonist of the novel.

If you had to describe your protagonist(s), in three words, what would those three words be and why? 

Courageous, for Njörd is a valiant Viking (hence the title of the series); Caring (for he loves Elfi with all of his courageous heart); Controlled (he has learned to master his innate magic).

What was the most challenging part about writing your book? 

As a former French teacher, I was already familiar with French history and geography, but knew very little about Norway, Denmark, and the Viking trade routes throughout the Baltic Sea. I was astonished to learn that they had sailed down the Volga and Dnieper rivers in the territory of the Kievan Rus (much of which lies in modern-day Russia and the Ukraine). I did very extensive research to incorporate these Varangian trade routes into my novel, for the hero Njörd sails them as Wolf of the Nordic Seas.

Was there anything that you edited out of this book that would have drastically affected the story, should it be left in? 

No—in fact, the story took on a life of its own as I was writing it, and evolved into much more than I had originally planned.

What are you currently working on? 

I am currently writing another Viking series based on Norse legends, and thrilled to have signed a contract with Dragonblade Publishing for that trilogy!  My Viking Dragonslayers series will be published beginning in the fall of 2026 with book 1, Dragonslayer’s Valkyrie: The Legend of Sigurd and Brynhildr. Book 2, Dragonslayer’s Daughter:  The Legend of the Viking Witch Kráka and the conclusion of the trilogy, Dragonslayer’s Queen: The Legend of Ragnar Loðbrok and Áslaug, will be published soon thereafter.

What would you tell an aspiring author who had some doubts about their writing abilities? 

Believe in yourself, take classes to hone your skills, and take pride in your accomplishments, no matter how small.

Personal Interview Questions.

What do you like to do when you are not writing? 

In addition to being a novelist, I am also a couturière who designs Renaissance Denim Couture and sells my unique creations on Etsy. Here is the link to my shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/bohemienneivy .  I also love to walk on the beach where I live in Florida.

What did you want to be when you grew up? 

Ever since I was 11 years old, I dreamed of becoming a writer! But I became a French teacher first—and now, that knowledge, love of French culture, and travels to France with my students have led to the inspiration for my novels.

What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating? 

Tonight, I will eat leftover casserole. I’d rather be eating lobster!

What would be a perfect day? 

Successfully writing another chapter, going for a long beach walk, and spending time with loved ones.

What is the best part of your day? 

Early evening, when I walk on the beach—it rejuvenates my soul.




Either or!

Tea or coffee: Coffee!

Hot or cold: hot

Movie or book: book

Morning person or Night owl: night owl

City or country: country

Social Media or book: book

Paperback or ebook: ebook (though I used to prefer paperback)

Jennifer Ivy Walker is an award-winning author of medieval Celtic, Nordic, and paranormal romance, as well as contemporary romance, historical fantasy, and WWII romantic suspense.

A former high school teacher and college professor of French with an MA in French literature, her novels encompass a love for French language, literature, history, and culture, including Celtic myths and legends, Norse mythology, Viking sagas, and Nordic lore.

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Read an excerpt from Gradarius by A.M. Swink #HistoricalFiction #Roman #AncientHistoricalFiction #RomanFiction @cathiedunn

Gradarius 

By A.M. Swink

WAR IS ON THE HORIZON

Sworn enemies turned lovers, Decimus and Luciana face new challenges that put their love to the test. Decimus, haunted by his past, struggles with his feelings in the present. Luciana, when confronted with her old friend Boudicca’s struggles, questions which of her loyalties is more important: her loyalty to Decimus, or her loyalty to her people? When sent to investigate a Roman traitor in Decimus’s legion, both will have to decide which side of the coming battle they’ll be on. 

Rome and Britannia are hurtling toward a reckoning. Will Decimus and Luciana find a way forward together before war tears them apart?

Publication Date: October 18th, 2025

Publisher: Historium Press

Pages: 364

Genre: Historical Romance / Historical Fiction

Grab a copy HERE!

EXCERPT

‘Wedge! On me!’ Decimus beckoned with his gladius. Shields linked up on either side of his as the men fell into formation. Plancus, holding the cohort standard aloft, walked behind him. To his right, Vulso took up a rallying yell: ‘Gemina!’ The rest of the men added their voices, turning heads as they marched. They engulfed their beleaguered comrades on the right flank, investing the Romans with fresh energy.

Decimus didn’t stop until his gladius crashed against an enemy sword. He quickly brought his shield up, blocking the brute’s parry. He sought his next thrust. The large Briton overcorrected, throwing his sword up to steady himself. Decimus snaked forward, plunging his blade deep in his enemy’s armpit. The warrior howled as Decimus twisted the gladius away. His skin parted with a horrible sucking noise, dark blood spouting from the wound. As the man tumbled away, Decimus’s eyes widened in recognition. It was the wiry fellow from the Silure capital, the friend of the warrior who’d nearly revealed Decimus’s true identity.

An icy finger of dread pierced his heart. He squeezed his eyes shut. Mithras god, he silently prayed, please don’t let Luciana be here. The very thought of facing the woman he loved on a battlefield was enough to make his stomach churn.

As the warrior staggered off, clutching his haemorrhaging wound, Decimus lifted his eyes. He glimpsed two men bearing the old crone Luciana had called the Ancient One. The trio surveyed the scene from the safety of the treeline. The woman’s wrinkled old face gazed expressionlessly at the violence. Her long white hair melded with her shroud, enveloping her in an otherworldly cocoon. Just before her, Taraghlan the druid waved his staff about, chanting angry curses.

Then these sights were lost to him as another warrior charged, poised to strike. The smaller, lither figure rushed up in a blue whirl, his long ponytail flying behind him. He lifted his sword high and knocked the butt against Decimus’s helmet, momentarily stunning him. Decimus came to before he planted his face against the warrior’s woad-painted chest, the aroma of sweat heavy in his nostrils. He lifted his shield, catching the warrior on the chin. The Briton yowled as he stepped back, sword arm brushing Decimus’s shoulder. The blade harmlessly grazed his cuirass and kerchief, nicking only the leather ties securing his helmet, before falling away. 

Decimus retracted behind his shield, awaiting the warrior’s next attack. When the screaming Silure charged at him, Decimus jabbed it up at just the right moment. The shield’s iron boss crushed the Silure’s nose. The man swung his weapon wildly over Decimus’s shield rim, his war cry petering into a whine. Decimus curtly knocked the blade aside with his gladius and pressed forward. The warrior toppled onto his back. Pausing only to stab the man’s groin, Decimus stepped back into the protection of the wedge.

He didn’t see the threat hurtling towards him until it was too late.

‘Sir!’

Decimus turned to see Morcant nearly upon him, dark eyes feverishly bright. The chieftain charged, sword whirling aloft. He was too close when Decimus finally saw him, swinging towards his unguarded neck before he could react. Just as Morcant’s blade sang for his throat, Vulso’s shield punched its way between them. 

Decimus stumbled aside at the shove, his crested helmet toppling off in the grass. He recovered his balance and turned to see Morcant had nearly cleaved Vulso’s shield in twain, rendering it useless. As he wrestled his sword free of the twisted wood and metal, Vulso jabbed with his gladius. The short blade disappeared into Morcant’s shoulder, and he roared. He stepped back with such force that Vulso lost his grip on the hilt before he could recover his gladius.

Vulso fumbled frantically for his dagger. Decimus watched in growing horror as the chieftain rallied again for his next assault. He lurched towards them, knowing he was already too late.

‘Vulso! No!’

Vulso helplessly lifted his busted shield to repulse Morcant’s charge. The chieftain’s sword passed directly through its gaping tear and impaled Vulso through the throat.

Decimus watched Vulso’s head snap back. The pointed edge of Morcant’s blade emerged from the nape of his neck. His eyes rolled sightlessly towards the sky, his gaping mouth spewing blood.

‘Bastard!’ Decimus screamed, pummelling his shield into Morcant’s side. The chieftain backed up with the force of the blow and neatly recovered, turning his attention to the helmetless centurion.

Decimus crouched behind his shield, panting. His trembling hand gripped his gladius at the ready.

The Silure chieftain frowned slightly, taking in the distinctive scar along Decimus’s cheek. His eyes roved up to the recently stitched line over Decimus’s brow. His gaze widened with shock. ‘Leucus!’ He growled.

His low, rasping voice curdled Decimus’s blood. It was a shade from the mouth of Hades, calling him home. Gathering himself, Decimus thrust forward, lifting the tip of his gladius to Morcant.

The weapons rang with a deafening clang as they met, blades glinting in the sun. They fell away and met again, each man thrusting his shield at the other. The blackened stumps of Morcant’s fingers, curled round the gilded hilt of his sword, hauntingly reminded Decimus of their confrontation last winter. Here they were again, back to finish what they’d started so many months ago. This time, he knew, at least one of them would die.

A.M. Swink, the author of the award-winning Roman Equestrian series, grew up in Dayton, Ohio, obsessed with two things: books and horses. After a childhood of reading, writing, showing, and riding, she moved to Lexington, Kentucky to complete three degrees and work as a college professor of reading and writing. 

She’s travelled extensively around Europe, exploring ancient sites and artefacts relating to the Iron Age and Roman era. She is fascinated by our connection to the past and the ancestral tether that draws us back into the mists of time.

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Quillan Creek and the Little War

(Time Stones Book I)

By Ian Hunter

Jessie Mason lives with her nose in the pages of history. But she is about to discover that the past is a dangerous place where she doesn't belong, and knowledge alone is not going to save her.

In Jessie’s troubled life her aunt is the only constant and comfort she has. But when she inexplicably disappears, and Jessie uncovers her mother's Time Stone, that unhappy life turns unreal and terrifying.

She is summoned to a world in crisis, 250 years in her past, to three unlikely companions, and the aged Onondaga shaman, Nishkamich, who promises an education in the powers of the stones which they each possess.

Over one glorious summer, Jessie reluctantly settles to village life and the developing bond with her prickly friends, until they are forced to accept that their stones are being hunted through history.

But in the depths of winter, their friendship, their wits, and the very limits of their endurance, will be tested by an unforgiving Nature as war finally erupts around them.

Praise:

"...the kind of book that one would forgo sleep to finish." 

The Coffee Pot Book Club


"...fantastical and riveting." 

booklife 


"...an exciting adventure for readers with unforgettable companions." 

The Book Commentary

Publication Date: 3rd August 2018

Publisher: MVB Marketing-und Verlagsservice des Buchhandels

Print Length: 281 Pages

Genre: Historical Fantasy 

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Books have been an important part of my life as long as I can remember, and at 54 years old, that’s a lot of books. My earliest memories of reading are CS Lewis’, “The Horse and His Boy” – by far the best of the Narnia books, the Adventures series by Willard Price, and “Goalkeepers are Different” by sports journalist Brian Glanville. An eclectic mix. My first English teacher was surprised to hear that I was reading, Le Carré, Ken Follett, Nevil Shute and “All the Presidents’ Men” by Woodward and Bernstein at the age of 12. I was simply picking up the books my father had finished.

School syllabus threw up the usual suspects – Shakespeare, Chaucer, Dickens, Hardy, “To Kill a Mockingbird” – which I have reread often, and others I don’t immediately recall. By “A” level study, my then English teachers were pulling their hair out at my “perverse waste of talent” – I still have the report card! But I did manage a pass.

During a 35 year career, briefly in Banking and then in IT, I managed to find time, with unfailing family support, to study another lifelong passion, graduating with an Open University Bachelors’ degree in History in 2002. This fascination with all things historical inspired me to begin the Time Stones series. There is so much to our human past, and so many differing views on what is the greatest, and often the saddest, most tragic story. I decided I wanted to write about it; to shine a small light on those, sometimes pivotal stories, which are less frequently mentioned.

In 1995, my wife, Michelle, and I moved from England to southern Germany, where we still live, with our two children, one cat, and, when she pays us a visit, one chocolate labrador. I have been fortunate that I could satisfy another wish, to travel as widely as possible and see as much of our world as I can. Destinations usually include places of historic and archaeological interest, mixed with a large helping of sun, sea and sand for my wife’s peace of mind.

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