Have a look at Buccaneer: The Early Life and Crimes of Philip Rake by Chris Thorndycroft #Pirates #Caribbean #Swashbuckling #NavalFiction #BlogTour #NewRelease #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cthorndycroft @cathiedunn

Buccaneer: The Early Life and Crimes of Philip Rake
By Chris Thorndycroft

Bristol, 1713. When Philip Rake, pickpocket, smuggler and scoundrel is arrested and thrown in jail, he assumes he has a short walk to the gallows. But his father, a wealthy merchant who has remained a figure of mystery throughout his life, throws him a lifeline; become an indentured man on an expedition to the East Indies led by his friend, Woodes Rogers.

Woodes Rogers is looking for Libertatia - the fabled pirate kingdom of the legendary buccaneer Henry Avery - and the hoard of treasure rumoured to be hidden there. But Philip wants his freedom and when he learns that there are men onboard who once sailed with Henry Avery and plan to take the treasure for themselves, he jumps ship and embarks upon a career of piracy.

Philip's story takes him from the backstreets of Bristol to the sun-baked hills of Madagascar and on to the tropical islands of the Caribbean in a thrilling tale of adventure in which he rubs shoulders with some of the most notorious pirates of the age including Blackbeard, Charles Vane, Anne Bonny and Mary Read.

Publication Date: August 1st, 2023
Publisher: Chris Thorndycroft
Page Length: 232
Genre: Historical action and adventure

Grab a copy HERE!

This novel is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

Chris Thorndycroft’s writing career began with short horror stories which appeared in magazines and anthologies such as Dark Moon Digest and American Nightmare. 

His first novel under his own name was A Brother's Oath, book one in the Hengest and Horsa trilogy, which deals with the beginning of Anglo-Saxon England. He has always had a passion for historical fiction, kindled at the age of six when he first saw Errol Flynn in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). His books are deeply grounded in real history but often reimagine legends such as King Arthur and Robin Hood, weaving them in with historical events. 

He currently lives in Norway with his wife and two kids. 

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • TikTok • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads

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Read an excerpt from Year of the Fledgling by Linda Kage #YoungAdult #Fantasy #Romance @lindakage @XpressoTours

Year of the Fledgling

By Linda Kage

Theron, the Eradicator, has one job: to protect the people of Starcast by killing the deadly creatures that attack them. That’s it.

Being an Eradicator comes with a heavy price, however, for he’s strictly prohibited from having any kind of personal contact with the villagers.

But one night, he sneaks into the town’s harvest festival, anyway, and meets the lovely, young healer’s apprentice.

As Theron grows close to her, it becomes harder to tell what’s more dangerous: risking a fatal injury while battling dark ones or risking fatal punishment by beginning a secret dalliance with a forbidden girl.

In either case, doom seems to be the only outcome, and tension mounts as love and danger blur across the reach of this fantastical, seaside landscape.

Publication date: July 29th 2023
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult 

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Grab a copy HERE!

EXCERPT

She pounded on the thick door as hard and loudly as she could.

When it began to open and she had her first look at his face again—his features a mask of puzzled bewilderment—the terrible pressure in her chest finally released in a flood, and it all seemed to spill right out of her mouth.

“Wha…?” he started to ask.

But the flood had already hit her.

“I am beyond vexed with you,” she seethed, flinging off her hood so he could see the full extent of her rage before she pushed past him to enter the watchtower.

Theron glanced out into the darkening evening as if to make sure she didn’t have anyone else with her, then he shut the door and turned, lifting his eyebrows sternly. “Please tell me you did not walk up here by yourself.”

Ignoring his question, she demanded, “Honestly, how could you do this to me?”

“Are you absolutely mad?” he challenged right back, just as upset as she, and stormed forward. “What were you thinking? If someone had seen you—”

“They would’ve shrugged me off as you! But no one saw me. And I was thinking about how mad I am,” she railed, lifting her chin to meet his swirling, livid gaze.

Theron scoffed. “Yes, I can tell you’re unhappy, but that gives you no right to put your very livelihood at stake to come up here and tell me thus.”

“It’s my livelihood to worry about, and my right to risk it as I please.”

“And you are one of two people left in this entire, bleeding world that I’m allowed to still talk to. So I refuse to let you be so frivolous with your—”

“Argh!” she shrieked, lifting her hands and curling her fingers as if to display her claws at him. “You are so maddening.”

One of his eyebrows arched, then he burst out grinning. “But am I maddening enough for you to want to kiss me senseless again? Please say yes.”

She snorted. “Hardly. You’re certainly maddening enough to make me want to wring your fool neck as hard as I can, though.”

Lifting his chin to put his neck on full display, Theron countered, “Well, take your best shot, little healer-in-training. But first, would you at least tell me what I did wrong this time that made you so mad? A fellow appreciates at least knowing why he’s being strangled.”

Xia sucked in an irate breath. Then her chin trembled. And finally, the tears that she’d been holding back all the way from Norbin’s pig pen came gushing down her cheeks.

“You made me care for you!” she accused, weeping so soundly that her entire body shuddered and she had to cover her mouth with both hands to contain it.

Linda writes romance fiction from YA to adult, contemporary to fantasy. Most Kage stories lean more toward the lighter, sillier side with a couple meaningful moments thrown in. Focuses more on entertainment value and emotional impact.

Published since 2010. Went through a 2-year writing correspondence class in children's literature from The Institute of Children's Literature. Then graduated with a Bachelors in Arts, English with an emphasis in creative fiction writing from Pittsburg State University.

Now she lives with hubby, two daughters, cat Holly, and nine cuckoo clocks in southeast Kansas, USA. Farm girl. Parents were dairy farmers. Was youngest of eight. Big family. Day job as a cataloging library assistant.

Harry Potter House Gryffindor, Patronus White Stallion, character match Hagrid. Supernatural Team Dean. Game of Thrones Team Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister. The Walking Dead Team Daryl. Outlander Team Jamie Fraser. Teen Wolf Team Stiles. Avenger Team Thor...or Hulk (can't decide). Justice League Team Flash. Arrow Team Stephen Amell. Stranger Things obsessed. Heard Laurel, not Yanny.

Started out reading with the Baby-Sitters Club. Then moved to Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, Julie Garwood, and LaVyrle Spencer in high school. Now all over the place with her romance reading tastes.

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Read an excerpt from A Viscount for the Spinster (Spinsters and Rebels, #1) by Samantha Holt #HistoricalRomance @samholtwrites @XpressoTours

A Viscount for the Spinster

(Spinsters and Rebels, #1)

By Samantha Holt

Some sinners deserve a second chance. Not this one, though…

Miss Maisie Beaufort has no intention of running away ever again. She’s more than ready to return home after a decade in the midst of society and take charge of her life as a spinster businesswoman. Nothing will distract her. Especially not her first love, the rebel who destroyed her young heart…

Apollo Everly always knew Maisie was too good for small town life…and for a spare heir like him. He never stopped wanting her, though. Not that it matters. Even though he’s reformed and a viscount, his lingering reputation is still a threat to her. He should stay away. But fate—and Mother Nature—seem to have other ideas…

If Maisie and Apollo want to rebuild their village after a devastating flood, they’ll need to work together. The only question now is whether they can trust each other when it matters most. And if they can avoid heartbreak this time around…

If you love second chance romance, spinsters, and a hero who will prove he isn’t beyond redemption set amongst a village of unusual and eccentric characters, A Viscount for the Spinster is perfect for lovers of steamy historical romance!

Publication date: July 27th 2023
Genres: Adult, Historical Romance 

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Grab a copy HERE!

EXCERPT

The fierce beat of Apollo’s heart thudded against her palm. Warmth seeped into her fingertips and left her breathless. She glanced briefly to the side, spying the tile embedded inches into the ground.

That could have been her.

She met Apollo’s gaze, his pupils dark. His breaths were ragged and whispered through her hair. She smelled sweetness on his breath for a moment until it gave way to a soapy fragrance that wrapped about her.

His arms framed her against the wall, a protective cocoon that should have slowed the pounding of her pulse. But he was so close. Inches away. And he was so warm. Her fingers remained splayed upon his chest. She couldn’t move them even if she wanted to.

And she didn’t.

The firmness of his chest and thump, thump of his heart eased away the breathlessness and brought her back to the world. A breeze tousled her hair, sending a curl tickling around her neck. Somewhere in the village a baby cried. And the tingle of awareness that came with touching Apollo continued, rippling through her and leaving her feeling as though her entire body was aflame.

When she met his gaze, everything but the awareness dissolved. Gone were the sounds of life in the village. She swore she could hear the raging hammer of his heart which had yet to slow and each thick inhale she took.

Maisie dragged her gaze over his features, lingering upon the white scar then to the slight stubble on his jaw and up again to meet a gaze that remained intense. All she needed to do was push him away. To utter a quick thank you for saving her life and retreat inside.

Neither her legs nor her arms would obey such a command.

His gaze flicked down and up again. He twisted the golden ring on his index finger, his body swaying ever so slightly forward.

Her breaths quickened, rasping in her throat. A single word would stop him. All she had to do was force one from her throat and it would put an end to the inevitable.

Perhaps she’d known this would always come, even from the moment she’d first spotted him. Perhaps that was why she’d hidden from him. Apollo had always held sway over her, and years apart hadn’t changed that. If anything, it was worse. She liked the man he had grown into far too much.

“Maisie,” he murmured, his tone guttural.

She blinked. Her name echoed in her ears, and a flash of recollection flared. He’d uttered her name in exactly the same manner when he’d sent her away. A word tinged with regret.

Well, she wasn’t giving either of them anything to regret now.

She ducked under his arm and backed up by several steps. He offered a rough curse and pushed away from the wall.

“That was a mistake.”

He scrutinized her, his face giving nothing away. Could he not at least show regret at his actions? It would make escaping what had to have been a near kiss easier—if he did not really want it either.

She knew what she wanted, and it wasn’t a kiss from Apollo.

Was it?

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Samantha Holt is known for fun, witty, and usually steamy historical romances. She's been a full-time writer for longer than she ever thought possible having originally trained as a nurse and an archaeologist. She's a champion napper, owner of too many animals, mum to twins, and lives in a small village near the very middle of England.

She's usually writing (or napping) but when she's not, Samantha is plotting (books of course!) with her husband, drinking coffee, climbing hills that are far too high for her fitness levels or visiting stately homes and pretending she's posh.

You can claim a free book by signing to to her newsletter www.samanthaholtromance.com

If you're not sure where to start, why not try:
Capturing the Bride (The Kidnap Club #1). A fun Regency read full of spice and an unusual heroine trying to escape an arranged marriage and a hero who has no idea how to keep his hands off her!

You're the Rogue That I Want (Rogues of Redmere #1) is a longer read with heat, witty dialogue, a feisty heroine and adventure. All books in the series are standalone.

There Are Plenty More Dukes in the Sea (The Inheritance Clause #1) is a fun, steamy read focused on the Templeton family as they fight to save their inheritance.

Wake Me With a Kiss is a sweet, fairytale romance. Twists on Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella are also available if you love a clean, fun read.

To Steal a Highlander's Heart is a full length dive into the world of sexy highlanders. For those who love braw Scots, some steamy scenes, and medieval romance, this series is a perfect escape.

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Cover Reveal! Check out the cover for ACCA (Angelbound Origins, #3) by Christina Bauer #YoungAdult #Fantasy @CB_Bauer @XpressoTours

ACCA
(Angelbound Origins, #3)
By Christina Bauer

***Anniversary Edition With Bonus Story, Saving Mrs Pomplemousse***

In just one week, supernatural warrior Myla Lewis must discover enough evidence to send the evil House of Acca to prison… or she’ll end up in jail herself, along with her fiancé, Prince Lincoln. No pressure.

To gather proof, Myla and Lincoln go undercover at an all-girl’s high school on Earth. Lincoln acts as the new gym teacher; Myla becomes the school’s least popular transfer student ever. To stop them from getting the goods, Acca releases Hell on Earth. Literally. Good thing Myla and Lincoln aren’t afraid of a tough fight. This one promises to be the hardest yet. After all, who ever said high school wasn’t hell?

Angelbound Origins
In which Myla Lewis kicks ass and takes names.
1. Angelbound
2. Scala –
3. Acca
4. Thrax
5. The Dark Lands
6. The Brutal Time
7. Armageddon
8. Quasi Redux
9. Clockwork Igni
10. Lady Reaper
11. Reaper Games
13. Phantom Corsair

12. Angry Gods

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult 

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Grab a copy HERE!

Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T.

Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates

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Have a look at Sprinkle Drifter A Beautiful Fantasy Adventure (Trials of Tweed Book 1) by Elaine Medline #YoungAdult #MiddleGrade #Fantasy @RABTBookTours

Sprinkle Drifter
A Beautiful Fantasy Adventure (Trials of Tweed Book 1)
By Elaine Medline

Two continents. Two opposing cultures. And a girl trying to find her place in a divided world.

Tweed Resin-Nor is restless. She’s desperate to experience life beyond her farmhouse. When given a chance to leave behind her dreary existence, the sixteen-year-old boards a schooner to a foreboding wall in the middle of the ocean. Will Tweed’s voyage grant her the knowledge and excitement she craves, or will it lead to her capture?

Traveling to faraway places, Tweed discovers ominous secrets and forgotten injustices. She forges deep friendship bonds, but some regard her as a threat. In her words, she’s “the star and the scourge, the entertainment, and a monstrous surprise.”

Her father was born in the rural landmass of Myot. Her mother hails from the modern continent known as Serrel. As Tweed attempts to forge an identity of her own, she’s forced by the authorities to choose between being Myota or Serrelin. It’s an impossible decision. Should she honor her dad or follow her mom? Which side of her is more her? 

If you like riveting exploits in the face of unfair odds, hints of magic, and eye-opening plot twists, then you’ll love Elaine Medline’s emotional adventure. Join Tweed on her travels and buy Sprinkle Drifter today!

Sprinkle Drifter is the first book in the Trials of Tweed coming-of-age fantasy series. Book Two will be available in early 2024.

Middle Grade / Young Adult Fantasy

Date Published: May 5, 2023

Publisher: ‎Granite Wings Inc.

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Grab a copy HERE!

Elaine Medline grew up in Toronto, Canada and now lives in the province of Québec with her husband and their dog named Zara. She has three wonderful adult children and three fantastic grandchildren. Her favorite hobbies are downhill skiing, swimming in lakes, and going on canoe trips. Elaine’s love of nature is weaved into all her writing. Retired from her career in health care, she has just released a Young Adult Fantasy novel entitled Sprinkle Drifter.

 

Read an excerpt from Life and Death in Ephesus by Finlay McQuade #HistoricalFiction #shortstories #Ephesus #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn

Life and Death in Ephesus 

By Finlay McQuade

For over a thousand years, Ephesus, on the Aegean coast of what is now Turkey, was a thriving city. It was the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Wonders of the World, and a destination for religious pilgrimage long before the advent of Christianity. In the first century CE, St. John and St. Paul introduced Christianity to Ephesus, where it survived its turbulent beginnings and, in the fifth century CE, hosted the God-defining Council of Ephesus.

Life and Death in Ephesus is a collection of stories about major events in the history of Ephesus. Characters appearing in these stories include Herostratus, first to commit a “herostratic crime”; Alexander, the warrior king; Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, both lovers of Cleopatra; Heraclitus, the philosopher who said, “You can’t put your foot in the same river twice”; St. Paul, persona non grata in Ephesus; Nestorius, whose characterization of Jesus split the Eastern and Western church, and others, also important, whose names I have had to make up.

Hilke Thür, a leading archeologist, has said of these stories, “Life and Death in Ephesus will be a delightful and enjoyable accompaniment to the many available guidebooks. Not just tourists, but anyone interested in history will benefit from reading them.”

Publication Date: June 13, 2023

Publisher: Historium Press

Page Length: 257

Genre: Historical fiction

Grab a copy HERE!

EXCERPT

Beniamin stepped back to confront the seated woman, and Iakov, knowing what was expected of him, delved into the pouch he had grabbed before leaving the house, and took out a little box of sulphur paste, from which Beniamin, calmly professional, extracted a dab on the tip of his thumb. This he spread on Berenice’s upper lip beneath her nostrils, causing her immediately to sneeze, and sneeze again, wrenching at the firm grip Samouel and Eugenios had on her arms. 

Towering above her now, his arms raised for effect, Beniamin began his incantation. “Vile spirit, I adjure you to come out of Berenice, wife of Marcus Tullianus Eusebius, and never again to approach her. I adjure you in the name of Solomon, of the house of David, King of Israel, to whom God gave the wisdom to discern between good and evil, and I adjure you in the name of Jesus, also of the house of David, son of God, who could walk on water and raise himself from the dead—”

As soon as he uttered the name of Jesus, Berenice let loose her last, climactic sneeze, after which she paused, staring at Beniamin in wide-eyed alarm, and then she slumped limply downwards, as if when leaving her body the evil spirit had taken all the stiffness out of her bones. 

Finlay McQuade is a retired educator. He was born in Ireland, went to high school in England, and university in the USA. He has a BA in English from Pomona College, an MA in British and American literature from Harvard University, and a PhD in education from the University of Pittsburgh, where he also taught writing courses in the English department. He spent some happy years as a high school English teacher and soccer coach, but after co-authoring the book How to Make a Better School he found himself in demand as a consultant to schools and school improvement projects in the USA and often, also, abroad. He ended his career in education when he retired from Bogazici University in Istanbul, where he had mentored young teachers in the school of education. 

For eight years after retirement, he lived in Selcuk, Turkey, among the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus. The streets and squares of Ephesus became his neighborhood. His companions included archeologists, tour guides, and souvenir sellers. His curiosity about the people who had lived in those empty buildings for over a thousand years resulted in Life and Death in Ephesus, a collection of stories chronicling major events in the city’s history.

Now, back in the USA with time on his hands, he finds himself returning again and again to memories of his boyhood on the coast of Northern Ireland. The result of these forays into his past will be another collection of stories, part memoir, part fiction, called Growing Up in Ulster.

Website • Pinterest • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads

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Have a look at Under the Emerald Sky: A tale of love and betrayal in 19th century Ireland (The Irish Fortune Series, Book 1) By Juliane Weber #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance #Ireland #BlogTour #BookBlast #TheCoffeePotBookClub @Writer_JW @cathiedunn

Under the Emerald Sky: A tale of love and betrayal in 19th century Ireland 
(The Irish Fortune Series, Book 1)
By Juliane Weber 

"Under the Emerald Sky reaches another level in storytelling, the kind where the characters remain with you long after you have closed the book." – The Historical Fiction Company

It’s 1843 and the Englishman Quinton Williams has come to Ireland to oversee the running of his father’s ailing estate and escape his painful past. There he meets the Irishwoman Alannah O’Neill, whose family is one of few to have retained ownership of their land, the rest having been supplanted by the English over the course of the country's bloody history. Seeing the injustices of Victorian Ireland, Alannah’s brother Kieran has learned to hate the English and imperialism. Aware of Kieran’s hostility towards the English, Alannah keeps her growing relationship with Quin a secret – but it's a secret that can't be kept for long from those plotting to end England’s oppression of the Irish people. As Quin and Alannah seek happiness in the face of hate and revenge, an action-packed romance ensues.

But all the while, disaster looms – the Great Famine that would forever change the course of Ireland’s history. With repeated failure of the potato harvest upon which most Irish families depend, thousands will go hungry, with sickness and starvation sweeping through Irish farms, decimating poor populations for years to come.

Can Quin and Alannah find happiness in a land teetering on the brink of disaster?  

Publication Date: 23 October 2020 

Publisher: Independently published 

Page Length: 465

Genre: Historical fiction / historical romance 

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Under the Emerald Sky, Book 1, ebook is on offer at 0.99.

This novel is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

Under the Emerald Sky • Beneath the Darkening Clouds

Juliane Weber is a scientist turned historical fiction writer, and author of the Irish Fortune Series. Her stories take readers on action-packed romantic adventures amid the captivating scenery and folklore of 19th century Ireland. 

Under the Emerald Sky, the first book in the Irish Fortune Series, was awarded bronze medals in The Historical Fiction Company 2021 Book of the Year Contest and The Coffee Pot Book Club 2022 Book of the Year Contest. The second book in the series, Beneath the Darkening Clouds, was awarded a bronze medal in The Historical Fiction Company 2022 Book the Year Contest.

Juliane spent most of her life in South Africa, but now lives with her husband and two sons in Hamelin, Germany, the town made famous by the story of the Pied Piper.

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Listen to an audio excerpt from The Godmother’s Secret by Elizabeth St.John #HistoricalFiction #PrincesInTheTower #Audiobook #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @ElizStJohn @cathiedunn

The Godmother’s Secret
By Elizabeth St.John
Audiobook narrated by Elizabeth St.John

"An extremely well-written book with depth and complexity to the main characters. The author says she wanted to write a book about family love and tolerance, and a woman's loyalty and courage. She has done so. This is the best book I've read in ages!"

The Ricardian Bulletin, Richard III Society

"The authenticity and historical research displayed within this story is immense and exquisite. Ms. St. John is sure to be a newfound favorite for fans of not only this fractious time in English history, but of all historical fans who adore rich, immersive prose."

Historical Fiction Company 2022 Book of the Year

"A very enjoyable read. The historical veracity is impeccable, and Elysabeth is a likeable, admirable character who faces interesting dilemmas with love and courage."

Historical Novel Society

If you knew the fate of the Princes in the Tower, would you tell? Or forever keep the secret?

May 1483: The Tower of London. When King Edward IV dies and Lady Elysabeth Scrope delivers her young godson, Edward V, into the Tower of London to prepare for his coronation, she is engulfed in political turmoil. Within months, the prince and his brother have disappeared, Richard III is declared king, and Elysabeth’s sister Margaret Beaufort conspires with her son Henry Tudor to invade England and claim the throne.

Desperate to protect her godson, Elysabeth battles the intrigue, betrayal, and power of the last medieval court, defying her Yorkist husband and her Lancastrian sister under her godmother’s sacred oath to keep Prince Edward safe. Bound by blood and rent by honour, Elysabeth is torn between King Richard and Margaret Beaufort, knowing that if her loyalty is questioned, she is in peril of losing everything—including her life.

Were the princes murdered by their uncle, Richard III? Did Margaret Beaufort mastermind their disappearance to usher in the Tudor dynasty? Or did the young boys vanish for their own safety? Of anyone at the royal court, Elysabeth has the most to lose–and the most to gain–by keeping secret the fate of the Princes in the Tower.

Inspired by England’s most enduring historical mystery, Elizabeth St.John blends her family history with known facts and centuries of speculation to create an intriguing story about what happened to the Princes in the Tower.

Publication Date: 4th October, 2022 (print)
Publisher: Falcon Historical (print)
Page Length: 361 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

Audiobook:
Narrator: Elizabeth St.John
Publication Date: 27th June, 2023 (audio)
Publisher: Tantor Media (audio)
Audio Length: 11 hours 59 minutes

Get the Audiobook 50% off until the end of the week HERE!

Grab a copy HERE!

This novel is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

EXCERPT

Listen to the audio excerpt HERE!

As a toll marks the end of mass, Meg returns, and the midwife arrives in a swirl of fog and wood smoke with her bag of scissors and linens and vials of mugwort and pennyroyal electuaries, a rabbit’s foot, and St. Margaret’s birthing girdle to ensure an easy labour. The crone smells strongly of her workroom spirits, but her hands appear steady.

The relentless abbey bells mark the longest hours. The room is so dark night loiters within. The scent of purifying lavender oil mingles with stinking melting tallow and smoke from the damp logs. The hours pass with no sign of the child, and then creeps over us a sharp odour of fear-sour sweat, drenching the queen's moans. 

“This is not like the others,” she pants, her stomach mounded over her long slender legs. “There is something wrong.”

The midwife leans over her, casting a humpbacked shadow on the wall. “Hush, my lady,” she says. “Your child is just slow to arrive. Bite down on this kerchief, and do not push further, for just a moment.”

The queen cries, her body rigid. Meg bathes her forehead with a damp cloth. I beckon the midwife to the fireside. The crone’s lined face gleams with perspiration, and the smell of fear is strongest from her. 

“What is happening?” I demand. “The queen employed you because she trusts you. This birth is going on for too long.”

The midwife wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “The queen is narrow,” she says. “And the baby is large. That is all.” She turns away from me, hunches over her bag, and rummages for another curative. This time she places a dried toad upon the queen’s stomach, arranging it this way and that with deliberate care, chanting an unintelligible rhyme as she does so.

I turn my back on the woman, shaking my head. I do not put much store in these witching tokens, but if the queen does, then it is her decision. 

“Belle-Maman!” Meg hisses. “Look!”

The midwife is tipping a stone bottle into her mouth and drinking the contents. She sees me looking at her and quickly drops it back into the bag.

“What are you doing?” I cry. “Are you drunk, woman?”

The midwife laughs and pulls the bottle forth. “Want some? Prepare yourself, Lady Scrope.”

“Get away from me.” I smack her hand. 

The crone sneers. “And you think you can do more? From what I’ve felt, the cord is wrapped around the child. If it is not freed, the queen will kill it. And likely herself too.” 

Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimed historical fiction novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England's kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times.

Inspired by family archives and residences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much of her time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. And encountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story.

Living between California, England, and the past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of Lydiard Park, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautiful centuries-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives, she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her next novel.

Elizabeth's books include her trilogy, The Lydiard Chronicles, set in 17th Century England during the Civil War, and her newest release, The Godmother's Secret, which explores the medieval mystery of the missing Princes in the Tower of London.

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Read about Coroners and Detectives in the Early 20th Century, and have a look at I. M. Foster's book, Murder on Oak Street #historicalmystery #cozymystery #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @IMFosterMystery @cathiedunn

Murder on Oak Street
By I. M. Foster

New York, 1904. After two years as a coroner’s physician for the city of New York, Daniel O'Halleran is more frustrated than ever. What’s the point when the authorities consistently brush aside his findings for the sake of expediency? So when his fiancée leaves him standing at the altar on their wedding day, he takes it as a sign that it's time to move on and eagerly accepts an offer to assist the local coroner in the small Long Island village of Patchogue.

Though the coroner advises him that life on Long Island is far more subdued than that of the city, Daniel hasn’t been there a month when the pretty librarian, Kathleen Brissedon, asks him to look into a two-year-old murder case that took place in the city. Oddly enough, the case she’s referring to was the first one he ever worked on, and the verdict never sat right with him.

Eager for the chance to investigate it anew, Daniel agrees to look into it in his spare time, but when a fresh murder occurs in his own backyard, he can’t shake his gut feeling that the two cases are connected. Can he discover the link before another life is taken, or will murder shake the peaceful South Shore village once again?

Publication Date:  November 4, 2022

Publisher: independently published

Page Length: 503

Genre: Historical Mystery

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Coroners and Detectives in the Early 20th Century

In 1904, both New York City and Suffolk County had a coroner’s office that was an elected position. Each borough in the city had two coroner’s, except for Manhattan, which I believe had four and Richmond (or Staten Island) which had one. In addition, each coroner was assigned a coroner’s physician to assist in performing autopsies. 

You see, in the early twentieth century, the coroner did not have to be a physician, or in fact, have any medical training whatsoever. In a twenty-year period from around 1895 to 1915, New York did count some doctors among their coroners, but the office also included politicians, undertakers, plumbers, saloon keepers, and even a butcher. That’s a grisly thought. At any rate, the position was for a four-year period, though if he rubbed the governor the wrong way, he could find himself out of a job. Sort of like the district attorney could today. 

Not necessarily being doctors themselves, you can see why the coroners would be in need of a coroner’s physician to determine the cause of death. To this end, each coroner was appointed one, even those who were physicians in their own rights, such as Dr. Scholer, who was in fact a Manhattan coroner in 1904. Given the growing population of New York, and the duties the coroner was expected to carry out, having a coroners assistant was no doubt a welcome addition for those who possessed a medical degree, and an absolute necessity for those who didn’t. 

This is where we meet Daniel O’Halleran. As “Murder on Oak Street” opens, Daniel is employed by the Manhattan Coroner’s Office as a coroner’s physician, though events soon lead him to a similar position on Long Island.

At that time, a coroner’s position was three-fold. First, of course, he was to determine the cause in any death that appeared suspicious in nature. Nothing much has changed there in over a hundred years. Even today, an autopsy is required unless someone has been ill and dies in the hospital or under a doctor’s care. But in the early nineteenth century, it was also the coroner’s job to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death and to issue a warrant for any suspect. In which case, the coroner also had a third responsibility, that of holding an inquest and passing judgement on anyone who was found guilty of the crime.  

Daniel’s job as coroner’s physician would have been to assist him in the first step by determining the cause of death and reporting his medical findings back to Dr. Scholer. Alas, with only four coroners to serve a population the size of Manhattan’s, Gustave Scholer likely had a lot on his plate. Thus, Daniel’s frustration with his verdicts not always being acted on.

In Suffolk County, the case load would have been much lighter, but the system was set up much the same. The coroner had jurisdiction over determining the cause of death, but he could also investigate and issue warrants. It was not that way all over New York, however. There was one case involving a criminal who had escaped to Albany, where he was caught. The coroner filled out the extradition papers but was told he didn’t have the authority because he wasn’t a magistrate. Suffolk County district attorney Smith replied that the coroner most certainly did, but still ended up rewriting the request himself as the Albany authorities wouldn’t budge on the matter. 

Things would soon be changing, however. Within fifteen years, New York City would abolish the coroner’s office and replace it with a medical examiner who was required to be a physician. Today, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner requires that they also be pathologists. And they no longer have police or judicial power. That now rests with law enforcement and the district attorney. Their sole job today is to determine the cause in any death that is sudden or of a suspicious nature and determine whether any foul play was involved.  

Suffolk County has also changed to the medical examiner model. Today its Office of the Medical Examiner employs seven full-time forensic pathologists in the pathology section alone, and also includes a histology lab, and a medical forensic investigation unit among other divisions. Just as in New York City today, they investigate the crime scene for any clues surrounding the death and turn their findings over to law enforcement. The coroner’s judicial duties are now handled by the district attorney and the court system.   

Forensic science didn’t really exist in 1904, at least, not to the extent it does today. That didn’t mean a good doctor couldn’t detect how a person died or find clues as to who committed a murder. After all, the skill of using clues to determine the cause of death goes back to 44 BC when the first autopsy was performed on Julius Caesar, but perhaps that’s the subject of another post. 

One final note on things that differed between coroners in 1904 and the medical examiner of today. Along with their salary, the New York City coroner could bill an additional amount of $8.50 for each inquest. While out on Long Island, the coroner’s physician received $10 for each autopsy done, which would equal about $280 in 2023. In 1905, however, Coroner William Gibson petitioned the Suffolk County Board of Supervisors asking that they raise the rate to $15 per autopsy. The Board said they would take in under consideration, so perhaps there is a raise in Daniel’s future.

I. M. Foster is the pen name author Inez Foster uses to write her South Shore Mystery series, set on Edwardian Long Island. Inez also writes historical romances under the pseudonym Andrea Matthews, and has so far published two series in that genre: the Thunder on the Moor series, a time-travel romance set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Borders, and the Cross of Ciaran series, which follows the adventures of a fifth century Celt who finds himself in love with a twentieth century archaeologist. 

Inez is a historian and librarian, who love to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogically speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. Inez is a member of the Long Island Romance Writers, the Historical Novel Society, and Sisters in Crime.

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Read an excerpt from The Book of Alys by Alan Gold #HistoricalRomance @XpressoTours

The Book of Alys

By Alan Gold

King Henry II, exhausted from everlasting conflict with France and the bad habit of his sons rebelling against their father finds love, solace, and passion after falling for the youthful beauty of Alys and makes her his mistress.

Alys’ father, King Louis VII of France was a man in desperate need of an heir. Alys was his fourth daughter from two wives. After divorcing Eleanor, he married Alys’ mother Constance.

The desperate need for a son meant that King Louis was striding down the aisle just five weeks after Constance’s death (not to say that he wasn’t grieving, it was said he was deeply affected by his loss), this time with Adele of Champagne who was twenty years his junior. Alys was finally joined by the longed-for brother when she was five years old, and then another sister named Agnes.

Long before Alys came on to the scene her father had been at war, on and off, with Henry II of England. While Louis needed a son to inherit his throne, his daughters were also important as diplomatic tools. Alys first played her part in January 1169, when Louis and Henry met to sign the Treaty of Montmirail near Le Mans.

The treaty set out Henrys plans for his lands. His eldest son also Henry would inherit the English throne (he had been married to Alys’ sister Margaret in 1160). His second son, Geoffrey, was already betrothed to the heiress to the Duchy of Brittany, Constance.

As the third son Richard would inherit Aquitaine. The treaty formed the official betrothal of Alys to Prince Richard and agreed that she would be raised as a ward of King Henry, in the household of Queen Eleanor.

At this point Alys was never considered to be a future English queen. Richard was third in line to the throne, his older brothers were both healthy and had survived the worst dangers of infancy, and their marriages would take place before his.

Although she was only eight years old at the time, Alys was handed over to the English court to be raised alongside her anticipated future sister-in-law Constance of Brittany, and her own sister Margaret.
How much time she spent with her betrothed isn’t really known. Especially since Richard and his brothers then got into the bad habit of rebelling against their father.

As Alys grew up and the wedding with Richard didn’t take place, rumours began to circulate that she had become mistress to King Henry, and thus could not marry his son. Henry’s wife Eleanor of Aquitaine had been imprisoned in 1174 after supporting her rebellious sons. Henry reportedly was considering getting an annulment for his marriage to Eleanor so he could marry his mistress ‘Fair Rosamund’. However, one chronicler claimed that Henry was actually considering marrying Alys himself.

She was young, she was the daughter of a King of France, and her sons might have a potential claim to the French throne. It was even rumoured that Henry would disinherit his sons by Eleanor and replace them in the line of succession with any sons he might have by Alys. It was even stated that Alys already had at least one child, possibly two, by Henry in the time she was his mistress.

 

Publication date: May 31st 2023
Genres: Adult, Historical Romance 

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EXCERPT

''In so many ways, the Kingdom of England and Aquitaine is the very model of greatness because of the way we treat our people. And giving our used trenchers to the poor is not the only way in which we’re different. It is also another tradition of the Dukedom of Aquitaine that the women of this land are allowed liberties unknown through the rest of the world.

We women, both of the Court and the towns, may freely engage in conversation with men without the need first to be introduced; we women may indulge in discussions of political and state and religious matters without deferring to a husband or father; and most precious of all, we may be in the presence of a man without the need of a chaperone while always remembering our rank and the decorum with which we were born''.

Alan Gold began his career as a journalist, working in the UK, Europe, and Israel. In 1970, he emigrated to Australia with his wife, Eva, and now lives in St. Ives, Sydney, where he divides his time between writing novels and running his award-winning marketing consultancy.

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