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Friday, May 30, 2025

Have a look at Uprising (Rebellion, Book #2) by Paul Bernardi #Uprising #HistoricalFiction #AngloSaxon #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @Paul_Bernardi @cathiedunn


Uprising
Rebellion, Book #2
By Paul Bernardi


Summer 1067.

Northumbria.

Oslac, thegn of the village of Acum, feels cheated - having been robbed of the chance to kill his enemy by his own kinsman.

Instead, Gundulf, the erstwhile Lord of Hexham and murderer of Acum's villagers, is now awaiting justice for his crimes in Bebbanburh, Earl Oswulf’s fortress capital far to the north.

But when Oslac narrowly escapes death at the hands of Gundulf’s assassin, he realises he will never be safe while the Dane lives. Summoning his closest companions, Oslac heads north to demand Oswulf put an end to Gundulf’s life - only to find the prisoner has escaped.

Tracking the fugitive into the wild hills and dales of Northumbria – places far beyond the reach of Oswulf’s power – Oslac falls into Gundulf’s trap when the earl’s warband is ambushed with catastrophic consequences.

Elsewhere, unrest in the north of England is growing. Impotent in the face of Norman avaricious brutality, the Saxon nobility can do nothing to prevent their ancestral lands being passed to foreign invaders. It can only be endured for so long, and a reckoning is coming.

Once again, Oslac must put aside his personal vendetta to join with the few remaining great lords of Anglo-Saxon England in what may prove to be the final, climactic stand against their Norman overlords.

The song of swords will echo across the land once more.


Publication Date: 09 April 2025
Publisher: Sharpe Books
Pages: 284
Genre: Historical Fiction

Grab a copy HERE!
This novel is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.



Paul Bernardi studied Anglo-Saxon and Medieval history at the University of Leeds more years ago than he cares to remember. He has been an author of historical fiction since his first novel (a second world war drama) was published in 2017. Since then, he has reverted to his favoured period, publishing six more novels (so far) set in 11th century England, mainly around the time of the Norman Conquest. 

Paul Bernardi's books are published by Sharp Books.

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Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Read about the inspiration behind Every Scar Tells a Story by Rayna York #YoungAdult

Every Scar Tells a Story
By Rayna York


Serena

It’s incredible how one moment can rewrite a person’s entire story in ways they never saw coming. In my life, there have been several, but nothing could have prepared me for Knox.

My goals were simple and resolute—graduate, start college, become a travel nurse. Falling for a troubled stranger was never part of the plan.

But here’s the thing… reason and logic don’t exist when it comes to what the heart wants, and it wasn’t just his demons keeping him in the shadows. Now they’ve found him—and me.

Captivating and soul-stirring, Every Scar Tells a Story is ideal for readers searching for:

Mature Young Adult Books

Love Stories With A Dark Past

Complex Emotional YA Characters

Contemporary Novels With Trauma/Healing

Dual POVs

Climactic Endings


Genres: Young Adult / Mental Health
Pages: 368

Grab a copy HERE!
This novel is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

Author's Inspiration

Like all of my novels so far, Every Scar Tells a Story started with a dream—one of those vivid, unsettling ones that stays with you long after you wake up. In the dream, I was walking the streets of New York at night, looking for a business that had vanished. Two guys started harassing me. I tried to fight them off, call for help, even ask strangers to intervene—but no one did. They followed me to a party, and one of them sat beside me on the couch, acting like nothing had happened. When I asked him his name, he said, “BJ—but my friends call me Beej.” He was attractive. And dangerous. And I woke up thinking: What the hell was that?

From there, it morphed. I started with a rough idea about a guy who stalks a girl because she seems familiar—like a clue to a past he can’t remember. But that didn’t stick. What did stick was the tension, the feeling of being watched, the sense that someone was following her not just out of obsession, but out of desperation. That led to Knox. And once I met him on the page, the entire story shifted.

Knox’s voice came through so loud and clear, it became impossible to tell this story without his perspective. Originally, it was only going to be Serena’s—but his trauma, his guilt, his anxiety—they demanded space. While I didn’t share his experiences, I knew from my own what it was like to live with debilitating anxiety—to feel like your body is betraying you when your mind is already a war zone.

Serena’s character took more time. I revised her again and again, trying to make sure she wasn’t just “the girl.” I needed her to have strength and flaws, to be interesting enough not to get lost next to Knox’s heavy story.

In the end, this book became something far more personal than I expected. It’s not just about trauma—it’s about what happens after. About survival, shame, trust, and what it means to be truly seen by someone who has every reason to look away. The title came from a tattoo I saw on a girl’s arm years ago: Every Scar Tells a Story. I remember thinking, Damn, that’s powerful.

Turns out, I was right.


Rayna York grew up with hippie parents that liked to adventure. Where change was the norm, books were her constant—a way to escape. As an adult, many careers came and went, but writing has always been her passion. Everything I knew to be true is her first published novel.

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Friday, May 23, 2025

Read an interview with Mark Mustian, author of Boy With Wings #LiteraryFiction #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @markmustian @cathiedunn


Boy With Wings
By Mark Mustian


 “A brilliant fever dream of a novel, a haunting coming of age story reminiscent of both Franz Kafka and Charles Dickens.”

~ Chris Bohjalian, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Jackal’s Mistress


What does it mean to be different? 

When Johnny Cruel is born with strange appendages on his back in the 1930s South, the locals think he's a devil. Determined to protect him, his mother fakes his death, and they flee. Thus begins Johnny's yearslong struggle to find a place he belongs. 

From a turpentine camp of former slaves to a freak show run by a dwarf who calls herself Tiny Tot and on to the Florida capitol building, Johnny finds himself working alongside other outcasts, struggling to answer the question of his existence. Is he a horror, a wonder, or an angel? Should he hide himself to live his life? 

Following Johnny's journey through love, betrayal, heartbreak, and several murders, Boy With Wings is a story of the sacrifices and freedom inherent in making one's own special way-and of love and the miracles that give our lives meaning.


Publication Date: March 15th, 2025
Publisher: Koehler Books
Pages: 322
Genre: Literary Fiction / Historical Fiction

Grab a copy HERE!

INTERVIEW

Writing Interview Questions.


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

I wanted the story to be set in an era that was undergoing great change. The Great Depression in the U.S. brought a number of changes, including the loosening of some restrictions, but also the onset of hopelessness and hardship.

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

Parts of it are so familiar (dust bowls, etc.) that it becomes almost a caricature of itself. I tried to dig deeper, into the experiences of African-Americans and the sideshows that form a large part of the book. It was harder than I expected to get a fix on language at the time, and I was surprised to learn that in sideshows, the audience expected some level of fakery.  

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

Johnny falls into and out of love, or maybe he was never out of it to begin with.

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

Smart, resilient, vulnerable 

What was the most challenging part about writing your book? 

Researching the sometimes sad stories of people treated unfairly because they were different.

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

I changed the ending, not drastically, but it came to me as I wrote the book that it should end a little differently.

What are you currently working on? 

I have another historical fiction novel based on an absolutely fantastic true story, but I’m superstitious about talking about it. You’ll have to wait and see! 

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

Keep at it. Trust your gut. Trust the work. 


Personal Interview Questions.


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

Travel, exercise, read

What did you want to be when you grew up? 

A lawyer (and I am one!)

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

Leftovers, because I went and spoke at a book club meeting. I’d prefer fresh fish, grilled 

What would be a perfect day? 

Traveling and hanging out with the people I love

What is the best part of your day? 

Waking before everyone else and writing


Either or!


Tea or coffee: Coffee

Hot or cold: Hot!

Movie or book: Book

Morning person or Night owl: Morning

City or country: Both, on this one 

Social Media or book: Book

Paperback or ebook: Paperback



Mark Mustian is the author of the novels "The Return" and "The Gendarme," the latter a finalist for the Dayton International Literary Peace Prize and shortlisted for the Saroyan International Award for Writing. It won the Florida Gold Book Award for Fiction and has been published in ten languages. 

The founder of the Word of South Festival of Literature and Music in Tallahassee, Florida, his new novel, "Boy With Wings," is out in 2025.

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Thursday, May 22, 2025

Read an interview with Fiona Forsyth, author of Death and The Poet #HistoricalMystery #RomanHistoricalFiction #AncientRome #Ovid @for_fi @cathiedunn


Death and The Poet 
By Fiona Forsyth


14 AD.

When Dokimos the vegetable seller is found bludgeoned to death in the Black Sea town of Tomis, it’s the most exciting thing to have happened in the region for years. Now reluctantly settled into life in exile, the disgraced Roman poet Ovid helps his friend Avitius to investigate the crime, with the evidence pointing straight at a cuckolded neighbour.


But Ovid is also on edge, waiting for the most momentous death of all. Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome, is nearing his end, and the future of the whole Roman world is uncertain.


Even as far away as Tomis, this political shadow creates tension as the pompous Roman legate Flaccus thinks more of his career than solving a local murder.

Avitius and Ovid become convinced that an injustice has been done in the case of the murdered vegetable seller. But Flaccus continues to turn a deaf ear.


When Ovid’s wife, Fabia, arrives unexpectedly, carrying a cryptic message from the Empress Livia, the poet becomes distracted - and another crime is committed. 

Ovid hopes for a return to Rome - only to discover that he is under threat from an enemy much closer to home.


Publication Date: 20th March 2025
Publisher: Sharpe Books
Pages: 361
Genre: Historical mystery

Grab a copy HERE!

INTERVIEW

Writing Interview Questions.

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

There wasn’t any choice about this – I have wanted to write novels set in ancient Rome since my teens. I was particularly drawn in by the lawcourt speeches of the lawyer and politician Cicero, which show the complex and dangerous political background in which he worked. Uncovering the links between the players as the Roman Republic careers towards ruin is fascinating, but many people get a brief mention only in our sources. I always wanted to tell their stories.

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’s no harder than any other era, I suppose, once you accept the number of gaps in the evidence – and the way ancient historians contradict each other! I once tried to write an article on whether or not there was a conspiracy against Augustus in 23 BCE. I got as far as “maybe, but it might have been in 22, and it might not really have been a conspiracy as such, and the person who led it could have been called any combination of Aulus, Lucius, Licinius, Murena and Varro. Actually, he might not have existed”. Then I gave up.

I discovered something very surprising yesterday – Pliny the Elder says that ginger is called “zingiberi”, which seems a wonderful name. I think it should be more widely used.

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

I absolutely loved populating the little town of Tomis with people who ran vegetable stalls or bars or temples. When I look at current media, Rome gets all the attention, and yes, it had amazing buildings and a huge population, but most inhabitants of the Empire lived in much less cinematic locations and just got on with their lives. And not everyone in the Roman Empire was a gladiator!

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

Self-centred, charming, poetic. Poetry is the first thing Ovid thinks about when he wakes up and the last thing as he falls asleep. This makes him highly self-absorbed, but people like him anyway. My version of Ovid is well-meaning, and that goes a long way, along with his sense of humour. Whether the real-life poet Ovid was anything like this – well, I stand by the poetry. I think someone who writes poetry with that energy, humour and empathy for the human condition is likely to have some good qualities!

What was the most challenging part about writing your book? 

I write in bursts – I scribble away happily for several weeks then go through a patch where it is a struggle to get a sentence down. I know from experience that these dry patches just have to be endured, so as long as I am doing something productive, it doesn’t have to be writing the novel. I try to give myself permission to do this but sometimes I cannot help feeling frustrated.

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

Yes! But I can’t tell you what it is because it is now vital to book three in the series. I was happily constructing an explosive revelation when I realized that it was going to give away everything in the second book of the trilogy – and make the book too long. 

What are you currently working on?

I am now drafting the third book, complete with the explosive revelation mentioned above. The working title is “The Poet’s Funeral”, so I shall let you ponder on that!

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

I would ask them if they had written something. If the answer is “Yes,” then they are a writer/author (whichever term the prefer), no qualifications. That’s important for confidence. Then I would say - keep on writing. We all doubt ourselves at some point, but ploughing on gets many of us through those patches. Try looking at it like this - if you don’t like what you have written, you can rewrite it. That isn’t “doubting my ability”, that is “honing my craft”. That way you look forward instead of worrying about where you are. 


Personal Interview Questions.


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

I absolutely love going for a good meal with friends.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was very young, I wanted to be a petrol pump attendant. Then I rather fancied being a pathologist, but loathed science subjects at school. 

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

I’m going out with someone who has a lot of allergies – it will be down to her. If money was no object, my dream meal would be dinner at Nobu, in Doha. But there are days when all I need is a peanut butter and marmite sandwich. (Don’t hate me)

What would be a perfect day? 

Coffee in bed, potter in the garden, the house cleans itself. I stroll to a handy nearby Roman museum and then have another coffee in a large second-hand bookshop. Then home for a long read on the sofa with my cat in my lap. Oh, and I might do some writing, of course…

What is the best part of your day?

I do love sunny mornings, drinking my coffee and planning. At 2 pm, my writing routine begins, which is exciting - I log onto Second Life and join my in-world writing group and anything can happen. And then making it to the end of the day and feeling I have got things done is very satisfying.


Either or!

Tea or coffee: coffee

Hot or cold: both are horrible! If I must - cold

Movie or book: book

Morning person or Night owl: morning

City or country: country

Social Media or book: book

Paperback or ebook: ebook



Fiona studied Classics at Oxford before teaching it for 25 years. A family move to Qatar gave her the opportunity to write about ancient Rome, and she is now back in the UK, working on her seventh novel.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Read an excerpt from Tangled in Water by Pam Records #HistoricalFiction #Prohibition #Mermaid #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn


Tangled in Water
By Pam Records


1932. Natalia is 16 and a bootlegger's daughter, playing the mermaid mascot on a rundown paddlewheel used to entertain brewers and distributors. 

A sequined costume hides her scarred and misshaped legs, but it can't cover up the painful memories and suspicions that haunt her. An eccentric healer who treats patients with Old Country tonics, tries to patch wounds, but only adds to the heartache. A fierce storm threatens to destroy everything, including a stash of stolen jewels. 

1941. Prohibition is over, but the same henchmen still run the show. Nattie's new mermaid act is more revealing, with more at risk. When the dry-docked paddlewheel is bought by the US Navy for training exercises, the pressure escalates further. 

Can Nattie entice a cocky US Navy officer to help her gain access to the ship for one last chance to confront her past, settle scores, and retrieve the hidden loot? Is there a new course ahead?


Publication Date: March 18th, 2025
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 418 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

Grab a copy HERE!

EXCERPT

“We lived in an apartment above the Wiśniewski family,”said Szymon, taking a step closer and squaring his shoulders.“Before all this silliness. When Natalia was a little girl. My sister and I took care of her when her father was out on his tug and her mama performed on stage. We took Natalia to sell newspapers with us.”

“She rode in a red wagon. She brought us luck. We sold more papers when she was with us,”added Anka.

“Well, that’s nice,”said Margret.“You knew Mrs. Wiśniewski?”

“Of course. Natalia’s mother was famous, a performer, Queen of the Opera House. She wasn’t home much.”

Margret smirked.“And was she as evil as I’ve heard? Beautiful, but conniving?”Margret sounded eager to get the dirt on Nattie’s mother.“She was caught with one of the brewery boys, caused a shakeup in the organization? Right?”

“We don’t know anything about her except she liked to entertain, and she wasn’t much of the mothering type. That’s all. It wasn’t Natalia’s fault, though,”Anka said emphatically.“She limped a little, maybe. Maybe she was small for her age, and her legs were wobbly. She had braces that were supposed to help, but someone had to put them on. Szymon did it most days,didn’t you, Szymon?”

“Until the braces disappeared,” Szymon interjected.“Maybe we better go, Anka. I don’t know if Natalia wants to be reminded of those days.”

“Oh, don’t go,”said Nattie, pulling herself up from the muck, pretending to be fine. Just fine. Really fine. Fine. A-okay.“I want you to see my performance. Everyone loves the show. They clap and whistle and hoot, cheering for the mermaid to be rescued. Then, after that, I’ll show you around the Lake Maiden. We have secret passageways just for the crew. They’re fun to sneak through.”

She winked and leaned over to them, pretending to share a ship secret.“And there are hidey-holes where we stash away the whiskey. It’s so fun for spying on passengers. You see such naughty things!”


Pam and her husband, Mark, recently uprooted from the Midwest to move to Savannah, Georgia, the perfect place for enjoying the beach, historic architecture and Spanish moss. 

She's recently retired from writing content for software companies and now focuses on writing fiction, camping, and exploring historic cities.

Pam is the author of three historic novels. 

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Grab a copy HERE!



Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Read an excerpt from Nothing Proved by Janet Wertman #HistoricalFiction #TudorFiction #ElizabethTudor @cathiedunn


Nothing Proved 
By Janet Wertman


Danger lined her path, but destiny led her to glory… 

Elizabeth Tudor learned resilience young. Declared illegitimate after the execution of her mother Anne Boleyn, she bore her precarious position with unshakable grace. But upon the death of her father, King Henry VIII, the vulnerable fourteen-year-old must learn to navigate a world of shifting loyalties, power plays, and betrayal. 

After narrowly escaping entanglement in Thomas Seymour’s treason, Elizabeth rebuilds her reputation as the perfect Protestant princess – which puts her in mortal danger when her half-sister Mary becomes Queen and imposes Catholicism on a reluctant land. Elizabeth escapes execution, clawing her way from a Tower cell to exoneration. But even a semblance of favor comes with attempts to exclude her from the throne or steal her rights to it through a forced marriage.  

Elizabeth must outwit her enemies time and again to prove herself worthy of power. The making of one of history’s most iconic monarchs is a gripping tale of survival, fortune, and triumph.


Publication Date: May 19, 2025
Publisher: Janet Wertman
Pages: 376
Genre: Historical Fiction

Grab a copy HERE!

EXCERPT

May 24, 1553

The minister raised his arms for the concluding prayers. “Take us and use us to love and serve you, and all people, in the power of Your Spirit and in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Elizabeth barely remembered the shock she had experienced when she first returned to worship at St. Ethelreda’s after Edward’s reforms stripped the nave of decoration. She was now accustomed to the whitewashed walls, though she did still miss the music.

With the service ended, she stood with her ladies to leave, smiling to the other congregants and exchanging wishes of peace as she did every week, conscious of the example she set.

Just outside the church, a burly, somewhat familiar, fellow came to address her. His canvas doublet was not expensive enough to make him a merchant, but he might be a craftsman or journeyman. His reluctant posture suggested he had been prodded to approach her. “Might you attend the archery competition, Your Grace? We are shooting against the village of Stanborough, up the road.” His voice held a nervous tremor. “We will set a special place for you.”

“How kind,” Elizabeth said. “But are these the champions who bested us last year?”

“We have all been practicing for months,” the man said. “Much as a Sunday afternoon begs for a well-earned nap, we have used our days of rest to work hard.” A sudden wide smile revealed a lacking front tooth, and she recognized the glover’s assistant. “At least until the pub opens.”

Elizabeth infused warmth into her voice, to show she was teasing. “What? On the Lord’s Day?”

“When you have only one day to yourself, you have to make the most of it,” he said. “And the extra pastimes help me praise God all the more for His grace.”

Elizabeth smiled at his good nature. “Your name is Harry, as I recall?” She had a fantastic memory for faces and used it whenever possible for the effect it had on people.

Sure enough, his chest puffed with pride. “Yes, Your Grace. Harry, after your father.” He grabbed the woman just behind him and pulled her forward. “And this is my wife Lissa, after your grandmother.”

Despite the woman’s grey hair, her nimble step suggested she was not much past twenty, like Harry.

“We have that in common,” Elizabeth said.

Lissa curtsied low. “Thank you, Your Grace, and may I say it is good to see you recovered. We were worried about you.”

“Worried?”

“When you did not attend the weddings. We feared you were ill.”

Elizabeth felt her eyes narrow. “Weddings?”

“Three of them at the Duke of Northumberland’s estate. His son to Jane Grey, his daughter to the son of the Earl of Huntingdon. And Katherine Grey to the son of the Earl of Pembroke.”

A huge celebration from which Elizabeth had been excluded. Powerful alliances cemented in the face of the King’s purported relapse. Her mind turned over the facts like a locksmith picking at a tumbler. “Ah, yes,” Elizabeth lied. “I was sorry to miss them. But how do you know about them?”

“One of the sellers on market day had just come from London, from the market near Durham House, with no asparagus left because it was all taken for the feast. The Duchess was so grateful for his spears that she let him onto the grounds to watch. Lots of others too. She must not have planned well.”

“That must have been quite exciting.” Elizabeth kept her voice light. “Was he close enough to see the bride and groom? Or, rather, brides and grooms.”

“He saw them all arrive, and said it was as many dukes and duchesses and earls and countesses as Christmas at court. Even Ambassadors – they say the French one came with a horse as a gift. No one was missing but the King.” She broke off and curtsied, embarrassed. “And of course you, Your Grace. And the Lady Mary. I pray she is healthy as well.”

All the highest people, even ambassadors. A rushed state occasion without the King or the next heirs. Why had Northumberland not waited? And why had he snubbed her after courting her friendship so diligently? Most important, how sick was Edward that he did not attend?

As always when fearful things happened, Elizabeth felt ill. She added one or two questions, silly ones about jousts and dances, as if that was all that mattered. “When does the archery tournament begin?” she asked.

“In about an hour, once Stanborough has arrived.”

“Alas, I cannot tarry. But I will pray for your victory now and plan to attend next year,” she said, taking off for home as soon as she could. Walking calmed her and she needed calming right now.

As soon as Elizabeth and her entourage were far enough away not to be overheard, bedlam broke out. “What the devil is Northumberland doing?” Catherine asked.

“He’s up to no good, marrying a son into the line of succession,” Blanche said.

Elizabeth snorted. “And two more matches besides.”

Only Parliament could change the succession, and they had not been called. This was likely Northumberland seeking to protect himself in case Edward worsened. But why exclude Elizabeth? Something felt off.


By day, Janet Wertman is a freelance grantwriter for impactful nonprofits. By night, she writes critically acclaimed, character-driven historical fiction – indulging a passion for the Tudor era she had harbored since she was eight years old and her parents let her stay up late to watch The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth R. 

Her Seymour Saga trilogy (Jane the Quene, The Path to Somerset, The Boy King) took her deep into one of the era’s central families – and now her follow-up Regina series explores Elizabeth’s journey from bastard to icon.

Janet also runs a blog (www.janetwertman.com) where she posts interesting takes on the Tudors and what it’s like to write about them.

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Monday, May 19, 2025

Read my review and an excerpt from Teardown by William Campbell Powell #Romance #Rockstar #Review @GoddessFish


Teardown
By William Campbell Powell


Growing up in a dead-end, Thames Valley town like Marden Combe, Kai knows there’s no escape without a lot of talent, hard work—and luck.

Two weeks before the Clayton Paul Blues Band plans to set out on tour to Germany, their singer quits, and drummer Kai takes matters in hand. With bandmates Jake and Jamie, they recruit a talented new singer—the enigmatic Dominique—as the new face of the band and set out on the road to Berlin in a rickety white van.

Dogged by mishaps and under-rehearsed, the band stumbles through their first shows, zig-zagging between chaos and brilliance. But as the first gig in Berlin draws near, the band begins to gel. They’re clicking with their audience, and even the stone-hearted Kai starts to crumble under the spell, first of Dom and then…of Lars.

As the end of the tour approaches, Kai must make hard choices. Dom? But she’s keeping a dark secret. Lars? Not after the acrimony of their last parting. The band? Or will that dream crumble too?


Genre: Rockstar Romance, LGBT+ Romance
Pages: 436

Grab a copy HERE!
Only 0.99 for a LIMITED TIME!

MY THOUGHTS

The Clayton Paul Blues Band have been planning to set out on tour for a while, the idea of leaving and travelling around Germany performing providing a welcomed relief from the monotonous life each band member leads. However, things fall apart when the lead singer and namesake of the band quits, leaving the band without a singer, social media presence, or name.

For their drummer, Kai, this tour isn’t just about having a bit of fun, travelling around and seeing some sights while playing some music. It’s a ticket out, a way forwards that doesn’t fall into the same routine of his life so far. He is determined to press on, and complete the tour. Even if it means recruiting more people to make the dream a reality.

Kai is an absolutely amazing main character. He is certainly relatable as he attempts to pull his band together, and ends up taking on the role of ‘leader’, just to make sure everyone is up together and moving forwards. In a way, surrounded by people who don’t necessarily know what they’re doing, Kai almost takes on a parental role towards his band mates, making sure they all get to where they’re meant to, and do so in one piece. I did really like following Kai through this road trip. He’s the kind of character you instantly fall in love with, and want to scoop him up into a hug and protect him from anything that may come his way. 

The dynamics of the band are certainly interesting, although sometimes fairly amusing. For transport, it is clear they need a musician with a van, and in comes Neale, an Irish fiddle player with a beaten up old van, that has back doors that don’t lock. It’s quickly decided that it’s as close as they are going to get, and he’s in. Neale is a source of great character development, for as the tour progresses, he really starts to get involved, and seems to become much closer friends with the rest of the group, and vice versa. A sense of camaraderie eventually begins to develop, and despite any early hiccups in the relationships in the van, Neale does eventually become a firm fixture in the band. 

The second addition is Dominique, and although she brings with her an amazing voice, and enough stage presence to carry the rest of the band through any mistakes or blunders, she is a mystery unto herself. No one can find out where she has come from, or figure out exactly what her interest would be in joining a small band, on a tour through Germany. Although, despite any hidden truths she may be hiding, she does end up slotting right in, and joining Neale in adapting to and becoming one with the original members of the band. She is certainly an interesting character, as you never really know what her motives are, but she is incredibly kind hearted and seems to have the band’s best interests at heart. 

This story follows the band as they travel through Germany, stopping at each of their pre-booked gigs, and performing. There are many problems along the road, with things going wrong with the van, with accommodation, with their equipment, and with the people they meet along the way. This story almost plays out like a series, with each gig it’s own episode and coming with it’s own challenges before the gig can go ahead. At times, in the middle of this book, it did lag a little bit. The life of a travelling musician is fairly monotonous, and although a lot of things happen, the setting up and packing down of each gig, plus the travelling in between, could sometimes feel a little repetitive. With each thing that went wrong, though, and everything they worked through to get to their goals, it certainly picked up and the story read a lot quicker. 

The LGBTQIA+ aspects of this story are not central to the plot, although they are made clear while reading. I did like this, as it means the story moves on, without needing to lean on any stereotypes to progress. Anything related to the LGBTQIA+ themes is added in as a part of the story, making it a normal thing, rather than making a big deal out of it. This inclusion was lovely to read about, and the easy way it is added into the story definitely gives out a good message that nothing in that acronym is ‘different’ and in need of being the focus of a story, but is rather just another aspect of a character.

I definitely enjoyed reading this book, even if it dragged at times in the middle. The whole premise, of a band on the road, is certainly appealing, and I can certainly see many people enjoying watching every part of the John Doe Blues Band touring. 


EXCERPT

So I pulled the mic stand around to the side of the kit, set it up so it didn’t get in the way of the hi-hat, and we gave it a go. I picked ‘I Come from the Blues’, which was one of Clay’s compositions. It had fallen out of the set sometime in the last six months, but I loved Clay’s soft, jazzy butterscotch vocals on it. If it had been up to me, it would still be in the set, but Clay had said he wanted to move on.

Where did I come from? I come from the blues.

Where am I going? I’m going to lose.

Where is my future? I’m sure I have none.

Where is my hope? My hope is all gone.

I’ve always sung along—off-mic and under my breath—so I didn’t have any trouble fitting the words in the right places. And I’ve got decent pitch and rhythm. So I think I did all right.

Now, Jamie wouldn’t meet my eye.

“What?” I demanded. “What was wrong with that?”

He mumbled something.

“I can’t hear you, bro. What did he say, Jake?”

Jake looked away. He didn’t want to get involved in any squall between me and my brother. Besides, he’d used up all his words for the day.

“I’m not sure how to put this, Kai. You’ve got a good voice. It’s, well…not very, well, rock’n’roll. No…grit. Too pure. Sorry.”

“I see.”

“Look, we’ll ask around our friends. Social media. There’s got to be something online.”

I didn’t say anything. I was thinking lots though. About how I’d discovered that this was something I really wanted to do.



William lives in a small Buckinghamshire village in England. By night he writes speculative, historical, crime and other fiction. His debut novel, EXPIRATION DAY, was published by Tor Teen in 2014 and won the 2015 Hal Clement Award for better than half-decent science in a YA novel—the citation actually says "Excellence in Children's Science Fiction Literature".

William’s latest novel - TEARDOWN - was published 10th December 2024, by NineStar Press in the US; it is an LGBT+ romance/road-trip.

His short fiction has appeared in DreamForge, Metastellar, Abyss & Apex and other outlets.

By day he writes software for a living and in the twilight he sings tenor, plays guitar and writes songs.


My comps for the book:

The novel combines elements of LGBTQIA+ romance with Road Trip fiction, and - with its focus on music - might sit alongside Taylor Jenkins Reid’s ‘Daisy Jones and the Six’ (2016) or Dawnie Walton’s ‘The Final Revival of Opal & Nev’ (2022), or - with its focus on (Kai's) gender-ambiguity and relationships - near Camille Perry’s ‘When Katie Met Cassidy’ (2018) or Beth O’Leary’s ‘The Road Trip’ (2022).

One USP: The book is about a band and contains original songs, for which I have created demos – see/listen: https://williamcampbellpowell.com/music/music.html

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Thursday, May 15, 2025

Read a snippet from Falling Pomegranate Seeds: The Katherine of Aragon Story By Wendy J. Dunn #HistoricalFiction #TudorFiction #KatherineOfAragon #Duology @cathiedunn


Falling Pomegranate Seeds
The Katherine of Aragon Story
By Wendy J. Dunn

In the Falling Pomegranate Seeds Duology, readers are transported to the rich historical tapestry of 15th and 16th-century Europe, where the lives of remarkable women unfold against the backdrop of political upheaval and personal struggles. 

In the first book, beginning in 1490 Castile, Doña Beatriz Galindo, a passionate and respected scholar, serves as an advisor to Queen Isabel of Castile. Beatriz yearns for a life beyond the constraints imposed on women, desiring to control her own destiny. As she witnesses the Holy War led by Queen Isabel and her husband, King Ferdinand of Aragon, Beatriz dedicates herself to guiding Queen Isabel's youngest child, Catalina of Aragon, on her own path. Beatriz's role as a tutor and advisor becomes instrumental in shaping Catalina's future as she prepares to become England's queen. 

Fast forward to the winter of 1539 in the second book, where María de Salinas, a dear friend and cousin of Catalina (now known as Katherine of Aragon), pens a heartfelt letter to her daughter, the Duchess of Suffolk. Unable to make the journey from her London home due to illness, María shares her life story, intricately woven with her experiences alongside Catalina. Their friendship has endured through exile and tumultuous times. María seeks to shed light for her daughter on the choices she has made in a story exploring themes of friendship, betrayal, hatred, and forgiveness. Through María's narrative, the eternal question Will love ultimately triumph?


Publication Date: February 28th, 2025
Publisher: Poesy Quill 
Pages: 1030 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction / Tudor Fiction

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EXCERPT

Like countless times since her fifth year, María waited in the shadows. She had been Catalina’s companion long enough to know when to speak or remain silent. Content with her own company and time to read or write, she never minded if Catalina wished for solitude. She was secure in their friendship. She turned her eyes towards the closed door of their chamber. In her mind, she saw on the other side of the door Inés, the pretty, fifteen-year-old daughter of Catalina’s long-ago nurse, María de Roja, the most beautiful of Catalina’s attendants, and the dark-haired, spirited and dimpled Francisca. She knew the three girls resented she was here alone with the princess. María inwardly shrugged. Catalina regarded her as a sister; only time would do the same for the other girls.

From All Manner of Things


Wendy J. Dunn is an award-winning Australian writer fascinated by Tudor history – so much so she was not surprised to discover a family connection to the Tudors, not long after the publication of her first Anne Boleyn novel, which narrated the Anne Boleyn story through the eyes of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the elder. 

Her family tree reveals the intriguing fact that one of her ancestral families – possibly over three generations – had purchased land from both the Boleyn and Wyatt families to build up their own holdings. It seems very likely Wendy’s ancestors knew the Wyatts and Boleyns personally.

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Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Read my review of Just Another Meet Cute by Jenn P. Nguyen #YoungAdult #ContemporaryRomance #RomCom @JennP_Nguyen @XpressoTours

Just Another Meet Cute
By Jenn P. Nguyen

Boy saves girl stuck on a disastrous hike. What could go wrong? So. Much.

Just Another Meet Cute is the joyful and funny story about what happens when you realize you’re dating the wrong twin.

When seventeen-year-old Nina Riley gets saved by a super cute Knight-in-Faded-Khakis just as she lands in an embarrassingly ‘ahem’ sticky situation during the most disastrous hike known to man, she wasn’t exactly looking for a meet cute. She really just needed some peace and quiet from her complicated family. Unfortunately, he disappears before she can properly thank him or get his number. All she has is his name (Ian Nguyen) and a navy jacket with a dog keychain, a gym card, and laundromat receipt. But a meet cute is a meet cute. And armed with years of watching Veronica Mars and a techy cousin, it should be simple enough for Nina to find the boy of her dreams, right? But when she finally tracks him down, he’s different than she thought ―right down to his name. Ryan is just as cute as she remembers, but the chemistry isn’t there like it was before. After a few dates, she meets Ryan’s family: his sweet grandma, his enthusiastic sisters, and his twin brother ――Ian.


Publication date: May 20th 2025
Genres: Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult 
Pages: 331

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MY THOUGHTS!

Nina does not necessarily expect to meet someone while out on a hike. Especially not just after siting on a juice box, leaving a deceiving looking damp stain on her shorts. But Ian is a true gentleman, and a cute one at that. He offers her his jacket to tie around her waist, but a phone call sends him rushing off, and leaving her alone, with his jacket.

Determined to find Ian, and return his jacket to him, Nina finds herself stalking him, trying to figure out where he might be so that she can return his jacket, and get his phone number. When she does find him, though, he seems to not remember her, and although she was certain he had said his name was Ian, the boy she has found is called Ryan. 

Of course when Nina meets Ryan’s twin brother, Ian, things start to fall into place. And Ian most certainly remembers her from the trail. The confusion that occurs with Nina unaware there are two guys who look entirely identical to each other is rather amusing at times. Although, it does come with its problems. Nina and Ian had an instant chemistry when they met, and as nice as Ryan is, Nina can’t quite tell if she is making the right choice by dating him. I did really love Nina. She can be incredibly naive at times, but she does read as a very real person, and certainly relatable at times!

The big question of this novel is which twin is the right one – Ian or Ryan? Despite looking identical, they are very different people. There is no good twin and bad twin. Both boys are really nice, although in their own ways. They have entirely different personalities, which set them apart from each other. Ryan is thoughtful, kind, always available to offer a shoulder to lean on or an ear to listen. Ian is also caring, but he can also be incredibly sarcastic, and is not as open as his brother with sharing his emotions. It is clear that Nina cares for both of them, but making the choice of which she can see herself falling in love with is an entirely different matter. This book certainly has it’s fair share of emotional conflict, and it does make you carefully consider which twin might be best for Nina. I certainly had my opinions on who she should be with, and watching the characters get to know each other more, and decide what sort of relationship they wanted with each other, was definitely captivating. 

There are a lot of deeper moments in this story, with family backgrounds, arguments, and relationships that are difficult to navigate. This certainly fleshes out the story, and turns it from just a light-hearted romance to a much more emotional story that seems ever so real as you read it. I did, in fact, read the whole thing in one sitting. Once you have started reading, there is no point where you feel able to step away and leave the characters be until the next time you pick up the book. It is the kind of book that you can simply sit and devour, and feel completely satisfied with the story once you have finished it.

I definitely enjoyed reading this book. If you are after a young adult romance, with a difficult love triangle involving an identical set of twins, then this is definitely the book you want to get your hands on!




Jenn Nguyen fell in love with books in third grade and spent the rest of her school years reading through lunchtime and giving up recess to organize the school library. She has a degree in business administration from the University of New Orleans and still lives in the city with her husband. Jenn spends her days reading, dreaming up YA romances, and binge watching Korean dramas all in the name of 'research'.

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