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new release

On Tour: A Matter of Time, by Judith Arnopp @JudithArnopp @cathiedunn #HistoricalFiction #Tudor #HenryVIII #NewRelease #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub

March 13, 2024 by Adriana Kraft

Shining a torch into the heart and mind
of England’s most tyrannical king.

BOOK INFORMATION

Book Title: A Matter of Time: Henry VIII, the Dying of the Light (Book Three)

Series: The Henrician Chronicle
Author: Judith Arnopp
Publication Date: 2nd February 2024
Publisher: independently published
Page Length: 302
Genre: Historical Biographical Fiction

Blurb:

With youth now far behind him, King Henry VIII has only produced one infant son and two bastard daughters. More sons are essential to secure the Tudor line, and with his third wife, Jane Seymour dead, Henry hunts for a suitable replacement.

After the break from Rome, trouble is brewing with France and Scotland. Thomas Cromwell arranges a diplomatic marriage with the sister of the Duke of Cleves but when it comes to women, Henry is fastidious, and the new bride does not please him. The increasingly unpredictable king sets his sights instead upon Katherine Howard and instructs Cromwell to free him from the match with Cleves.

Failure to rid the king of his unloved wife could cost Cromwell his head.

Henry, now ailing and ageing, is invigorated by his flighty new bride but despite the favours he heaps upon her, he cannot win Katherine’s heart. A little over a year later, broken by her infidelity, she becomes the second of his wives to die on the scaffold, leaving Henry friendless and alone.

But his stout heart will not surrender and leaving his sixth wife, Katheryn Parr, installed as regent over England, Henry embarks on a final war to win back territories lost to the French more than a century before. Hungry for glory, the king is determined that the name Henry VIII will shine brighter and longer than that of his hero, Henry V.

Told from the king’s perspective, A Matter of Time: Henry VIII: the Dying of the Light shines a torch into the heart and mind of England’s most tyrannical king.

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Links to the three titles in the series:

A Matter of Conscience: https://mybook.to/amoc

A Matter of Faith: https://mybook.to/amofaith

A Matter of Time: https://mybook.to/amot

Excerpt

November 1541 Henry prepares for mass

It is good to be home, and my spirits remain high. I jest with my gentlemen as my beard, greyer now than gold, is trimmed, my nails clipped. I select a doublet of black with silver thread embellishing the cuffs, the slashes across the sleeves and chest revealing a fine silk shirt beneath.

My looking glass reflects a king, a man in his prime, a wise and honest man. As my dress sword is arranged at my hip, I take the gloves Denny is offering and tuck them into my girdle.

“Where is my psalter?” I ask, and it is instantly produced. I tuck it beneath my arm and make my way to the chapel, wondering as I go if Katherine will make it to Mass so early.

My mind is not on prayer this morning. I am feeling spry enough to go for a ride. Brandon has returned to court this week, perhaps we can ride out together as we used to, if he is feeling up to it. I often forget that he too grows old.

The sound of the choir greets me, their voices ascending to the dizzy heights of the blue and gold ceiling. Immediately, I feel contrition that my mind had strayed to sport rather than giving thanks to God for another day. Before I enter and take my seat, I rearrange my face into a pious expression. But as I sit down, I notice a folded slip of paper. I pick it up, look about the chapel to discover the author of the note, but when no man meets my eye, I unfold the message and … the world around me crumbles.

Author Bio:

A lifelong history enthusiast and avid reader, Judith holds a BA in English/Creative writing and an MA in Medieval Studies. She lives on the coast of West Wales where she writes both fiction and non-fiction. She is best known for her novels set in the Medieval and Tudor period, focusing on the perspective of historical women but recently she has been writing from the perspective of Henry VIII himself.

Judith is also a founder member of a re-enactment group called The Fyne Companye of Cambria which is when she began to experiment with sewing historical garments. She now makes clothes and accessories both for the group and others. She is not a professionally trained sewer but through trial, error and determination has learned how to make authentic looking, if not strictly historically accurate clothing. Her non-fiction book, How to Dress like a Tudor was published by Pen and Sword in 2023.

Her novels include:

A Song of Sixpence: the story of Elizabeth of York
The Beaufort Chronicle: the life of Lady Margaret Beaufort (three book series)
A Matter of Conscience: Henry VIII, the Aragon Years (Book One of The Henrician Chronicle)
A Matter of Faith: Henry VIII, the Days of the Phoenix (Book Two of The Henrician chronicle)
A Matter of Time: Henry VIII, the Dying of the Light
The Kiss of the Concubine: a story of Anne Boleyn
The Winchester Goose: at the court of Henry VIII
Intractable Heart: the story of Katheryn Parr
Sisters of Arden: on the Pilgrimage of Grace
The Heretic Wind: the life of Mary Tudor, Queen of England
Peaceweaver
The Forest Dwellers
The Song of Heledd

Previously published under the pen name – J M Ruddock.

The Book of Thornhold
A Daughter of Warwick: the story of Anne Neville, Queen of Richard III

Author Links:

Website: www.judithmarnopp.com
Blog: http://www.juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudithArnopp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetudorworldofjuditharnopp
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/judith-arnopp-ba999025
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tudor_juditharnopp/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tudor_juditharnopp
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jarnopp.bsky.social
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/jarnopp/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/judith-arnopp
Amazon Author Page: https://author.to/juditharnoppbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4088659.Judith_Arnopp

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Filed Under: Blog, Excerpts, Guest Bloggers Tagged With: Blog Tour, Henry VIII, Historical Fiction, new release, Tudor

A First Nation Guest Blog Post: Twisted Beauty, by Maggie Blackbird @BlackbirdMaggie #LGBTQ #firstnationsromance #NativeAmericanromance #mmdystopianromance #MFRWAuthors

November 21, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

Today I’m thrilled to have as my guest author Maggie Blackbird, a fellow Extasy Books author whose stories I always eagerly await. An Indigenous Canadian herself, Maggie’s tagline is Romancing Canada’s Indigenous People one book at a time…

I always appreciate the sensitivity Maggie brings to both the First Nation experience and the prejudice and stumbling blocks faced by the many gay characters she writes.

A First Nation Guest Blog Post:

Twisted Beauty

One of my favourite movies is Mad Max II aka The Road Warrior.  It is a futuristic movie that takes place after modern society has fallen to the wayside.  Two characters I rooted for over Max were Wez and The Golden Youth, an evil pair on a motorcycle who wanted to lay claim to the gasoline Max was helping a community protect.

Another of my favourite movies is Thunderheart, about a modern-day Lakota community divided by corruption.  It takes place in the badlands of South Dakota.

And one of my favourite settings for historical romance novels is the wild west.  I love historical novels and read them like people eat candy, hah!

I combined all of these elements to create Twisted Beauty, a m/m dystopian romance starring a Lakota man and an Ojibway man.  Since I’m Ojibway, I enjoy researching and exploring other Indigenous nations, so it was fun to incorporate the male leads’ cultural beliefs and ceremonies into the novel.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I loved writing it.

BLURB:

His community or his enemy.  He can’t have both.

Deep in the badlands, long after the fall of modern civilization, Hunter patrols the area as the war chief for his Lakota community.  His latest mission is to hunt down a marauder who robbed his neighbors of their precious goods.  He’ll act as this man’s judge, jury, and executioner.

 

Having lost everything at his former Ojibway encampment, Chassis is far from home.  He wanders the badlands, a grim reaper bringing death to those with what he needs to survive.  But there is one man courageous enough to challenge him.

When the duo faces off, neither expects the sizzling chemistry to erupt between them, nor for their duel to touch what both have denied themselves.  Now they must choose to either remain together and sacrifice their beliefs, or go their separate ways, losing what they’ve spent their lives searching for—love.

Amazon Buy Links: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com.au

Other Buy Links:  eXtasy Books | Barnes & Noble

EXCERPT:

With each ginger step, the heels of Hunter’s boots cut into the soft mire. The lyrical sound of flowing water drifted to his position on the downslope of the channel.

As he brushed aside the branches, he kept his arm bent while holding the barrel to the .38 Special skyward. There was only half a moon, which didn’t help. The same for the tall trees hindering light from penetrating the canopy. Although he was enveloped in pitch-black and his sight had adjusted to the dark, he was forced to squint. For ten minutes, he’d stalked through the forest.

Closer. Getting much closer.

The scent of burnt coals lingered under his nose, although there was no sign of smoke.

Perspiration coated his upper lip. The pounding of his heart was reminiscent of the echoing beat from the sacred drum back at the community. Adrenaline. He’d faced this many times when having to kill someone. Also, it was the reality—he had no choice but to hunt vermin in the same manner the vermin preyed upon his people.

An owl hooted, and he froze. He whipped his head in the direction of the horned feathered bird seated in a tree, watching. This wasn’t good. Hinhán was the spirit of the dead. He swallowed. The dead only arrived for one reason…to lead someone to the dog star where his ancestors resided.

He shook his head.

Focus.

 He must focus.

Drawing in a breath, he repeated his earlier performance of squint straight ahead and then shift his gaze to the ground. There still wasn’t a hint of the marauder anywhere, but the fucker was here. Somewhere. He took another glance at the ground, continuing to ensure he didn’t snap or crush anything that could alert others to his presence. The bandana still wrapped his temples, and he’d donned his buckskin jacket because the temperature had dropped a good ten degrees. He’d also tucked his ponytail within the jacket to keep his hair out of the way.

He sidestepped a huge rock that enabled him to inspect the uneven, pebbled shoreline, and then glimpsed around his hiding spot.

Nothing. Just evidence of a campsite. During his one-mile trek, he’d seen no signs of the Mustang, but this was the marauder’s resting place for the night. He took in a water skin, flannel shirt, leather jacket, bedroll, backpack, and a rabbit in a wooden cage.

Rabbit?

Hmm, the furry critter must be the marauder’s dinner.

The deliberate snapping of a twig pricked Hunter’s ears. He whipped on his heel but was too late.

Author Bio:

An Ojibway from Northwestern Ontario, Maggie resides in the country with her husband and their fur babies, two beautiful Alaskan Malamutes.  When she’s not writing, she can be found pulling weeds in the flower beds, mowing the huge lawn, walking the Mals deep in the bush, teeing up a ball at the golf course, fishing in the boat for walleye, or sitting on the deck at her sister’s house, making more wonderful memories with the people she loves most.

Author Links

Web Site | Facebook Page | Twitter | Goodreads | BookBub | Instagram | Amazon Author Page | eXtasy Books Author Page | Newsletter Sign-Up

 

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Filed Under: Blog, Erotic Romance, Excerpts, Guest Bloggers, LGBT Tagged With: first nations romance, LGBTQ, mm dystopian romance, Native American romance, new release

New Release Party Blast: Historical Stories of Exile #ExileAnthology #HistoricalFiction #Exile #NewRelease #BookBlast #TheCoffeePotBookClub

November 16, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

BOOK INFORMATION

Book Title: Historical Stories of Exile

Authors: Cryssa Bazos, Anna Belfrage, Elizabeth Chadwick, Cathie Dunn, J G Harlond, Helen Hollick, Loretta Livingstone, Amy Maroney, Alison Morton, Charlene Newcomb, Elizabeth St.John, Marian L. Thorpe, Annie Whitehead.

With an introduction by Deborah Swift

OFFICIAL LAUNCH  PARTY Date: 16th November 2023

Publisher: Taw River Press
Page Length: 323
Genre: Historical Fiction / Short Story Anthology

Blurb:

Exile: a risky defiance, a perilous journey, a family’s tragic choice – or an individual’s final gamble to live. Exile: voluntary or enforced, a falling-out between friends, a lost first love, a prejudiced betrayal – or the only way to survive persecution?

In this historical fiction anthology thirteen authors (they are not superstitious!) have written exclusive short stories on the theme of exile. Some are based on true history, others are speculative fiction. All mine the depths of human emotions: fear, hope, love, and the fortitude to survive.

Join an inspiring Anglo-Saxon queen of Wales, a courageous Norwegian falconer, and a family fleeing back in time to escape the prospect of a ruthless future. Oppose the law with the legendary Doones of Exmoor, or defy the odds with two brave WWII exiles. Meet a Roman apprehensively planning exile to preserve the ‘old ways’, and a real Swedish prince forcibly expelled in heart-wrenching circumstances. Thrill to a story based on the legend of Robin Hood, sail with a queen of Cyprus determined to regain her rightful throne; escape religious persecution, discover the heart-rending truth behind the settlement of Massachusetts and experience the early years that would, eventually, lead to the founding of Normandy. Experience the stirring of first love, and as an exclusive treat special guest author, Elizabeth Chadwick, reveals a tale about the 12th-century’s heiress, Isabelle de Clare, and the Greatest Knight of all time – William Marshal.

With an introduction by multi-award-winning author Deborah Swift, enjoy these tales of exile across the ages. Some are hopeful, some sad, some romantic, some tragic, but all explore the indomitable spirit of resolute, unforgettable characters

Buy Links:

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited

Universal Link: https://mybook.to/StoriesOfExile

About the Authors:

ALISON MORTON writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her ten-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but use a sharp line in dialogue. Several of her novels have hit  #1 in Amazon US, UK, Canada and Australia. The latest, Julia Prima, plunges us back to AD 370 when the founders of Roma Nova met.

She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.

 Alison now lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit. Oh, and she’s writing the next Roma Nova story.

 Website: https://www.alison-morton.com

 AMY MARONEY studied English Literature at Boston University and worked for many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction. She lives in Oregon, U.S.A. with her family. When she’s not diving down research rabbit holes, she enjoys hiking, dancing, traveling, and reading. Amy is the author of The Miramonde Series, a bestselling historical mystery trilogy about a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern-day scholar on her trail. Amy’s award-winning historical adventure/romance series, Sea and Stone Chronicles, is set in medieval Rhodes and Cyprus.

An enthusiastic advocate for independent publishing, Amy is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and the Historical Novel Society.

Website: https://www.amymaroney.com/

 ANNA BELFRAGE Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with three absorbing interests: history, romance and writing. Anna always writes about love and has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as the equally acclaimed medieval series The King’s Greatest Enemy which is set in 14th century England. Anna is presently hard at work with her other medieval series, The Castilian Saga ,which is set against the conquest of Wales. The third instalment, Her Castilian Heart, was published in 2022, and the fourth and final one will be out in 2024. She has recently released Times of Turmoil, a sequel to her time travel romance, The Whirlpools of Time.

Website, www.annabelfrage.com

 ANNIE WHITEHEAD is an author, historian, and elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and has written four award-winning novels set in Anglo-Saxon England. She has contributed to fiction and nonfiction anthologies and written for various magazines, has twice been a prize winner in the Mail on Sunday Novel Writing Competition, and won First Prize in the 2012 New Writer Magazine’s Prose and Poetry Competition. She was a finalist in the 2015 Tom Howard Prize for Nonfiction and was shortlisted for the Exeter Story Prize/Trisha Ashley Award 2021.

She was the winner of the inaugural Historical Writers’ Association/Dorothy Dunnett Prize 2017 and is now a judge for that same competition. She has also been a judge for the HNS (Historical Novel Society) Short Story Competition.

Her nonfiction books are Mercia: The Rise and Fall of a Kingdom (Amberley Books) and Women of Power in Anglo-Saxon England (Pen & Sword). She has contributed to a new history of English Monarchs, Kings and Queens: 1200 Years of English and British Monarchs (Hodder & Stoughton) and has signed a contract to write her third nonfiction book, to be published by Amberley books in 2024.

Website: https://anniewhiteheadauthor.co.uk/

CATHIE DUNN writes historical fiction, mystery, and romance. The focus of her novels is on strong women through time. She has garnered awards and praise from reviewers and readers for her authentic description of the past. A keen Medievalist, she enjoys visiting castles and ruins, and reading about battles and political shenanigans of the times.

Cathie is a member of the Historical Novel Society, the Romantic Novelists’ Association, and the Alliance of Independent Authors. She also now runs The Coffee Pot Book Club, promoting historical fiction authors and their books.

Website: https://www.cathiedunn.com

CHARLENE NEWCOMB writes historical fiction and science fiction. Her award-winning Battle Scars trilogy is set in the 12th century during the reign of Richard the Lionheart. Her writing roots are in the Star Wars Expanded Universe (aka Legends) where she published 10 short stories in the Star Wars Adventure Journal. Scifi/space opera fans should check out Echoes of the Storm, her original novel published in 2020. She returned to medieval times with her novel Rogue in 2023.

Website: https://charlenenewcomb.com

CRYSSA BAZOS is an award-winning historical fiction author and a 17th-century enthusiast. Her debut novel, Traitor’s Knot is the Medalist winner of the 2017 New Apple Award for Historical Fiction and a finalist for the 2018 EPIC eBook Awards for Historical Romance. Her second novel,  Severed Knot is a B.R.A.G Medallion Honoree and a finalist for the 2019 Chaucer Award. Rebel’s Knot, the third instalment of the standalone series, Quest for the Three Kingdoms, is a B.R.A.G Medallion Honoree and 2021 Discovering Diamonds Book of the Year..

Website:  https://cryssabazos.com

DEBORAH SWIFT is a delver into archives, drinks too much tea, and loves antiques and old buildings. Her sturdy, stone-built house used to be the village primary school, and from her window she has a view of a few 17th century cottages, and behind those, green fields dotted with grazing sheep.

Historical fiction was a natural choice for Deborah as a writer because she always enjoyed the research aspect of design – poking about in archives and museums, not to mention the attraction of boned bodices and the excuse to visit old and interesting buildings.

She used to work as a set and costume designer for theatre and TV, so enjoys the research aspect of creating historical fiction.  In her books Deborah likes to write about extraordinary characters set against the background of real historical events. Her first novel was The Lady’s Slipper which was shortlisted for the Impress Prize, and her book The Poison Keeper, about the Renaissance poisoner Giulia Tofana, won the BookViral Millennium Award. She has written eighteen novels to date including two series set in WWII – her latest, The Shadow Network is due for release in early 2024.

Deborah lives in North Lancashire on the edge of the Lake District,  and divide her time between teaching and writing.

Website: https://deborahswift.com/

ELIZABETH CHADWICK New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Chadwick lives in a cottage in the Vale of Belvoir in Nottinghamshire with her husband and their four terriers, Pip, Jack, Billy and Little Ted. Her first novel, The Wild Hunt, won a Betty Trask Award and To Defy a King won the RNA’s 2011 Historical Novel Prize. She was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Award in 1998 for The Champion, in 2001 for Lords of the White Castle, in 2002 for The Winter Mantle and in 2003 for The Falcons of Montabard. Her sixteenth novel, The Scarlet Lion, was nominated by Richard Lee, founder of the Historical Novel Society, as one of the top ten historical novels of the last decade. She often lectures at conferences and historical venues, has been consulted for television documentaries and is a member of the Royal Historical Society.

Website: https://elizabethchadwick.com/

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 medieval novel, The Godmother’s Secret, which explores the mystery of the missing Princes in the Tower of London.

Website: http://www.elizabethjstjohn.com/

HELEN HOLLICK and her husband and adult daughter moved from north-east London in January 2013 after finding an eighteenth-century North Devon farmhouse through being a ‘victim’ on BBC TV’s popular Escape to The Country show. The thirteen-acre property was the first one she was shown – and it was love at first sight. She enjoys her new rural life, and has a variety of animals on the farm, including Exmoor ponies, dogs, cats, hens, ducks and geese and her daughter’s string of show jumpers.

First accepted for publication by William Heinemann in 1993 – a week after her fortieth birthday – Helen then became a USA Today Bestseller with her historical novel, The Forever Queen (titled A Hollow Crown in the UK) with the sequel, Harold the King (US: I Am the Chosen King), novels that explore the events that led to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Her Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy is a fifth-century version of the Arthurian legend, and she also writes a pirate-based nautical adventure/fantasy series, The Sea Witch Voyages, where you can read more about Jesamiah Acorne, son of Charles St Croix – and the Doones.

Despite being impaired by the visual disorder of Glaucoma, she is also branching out into the quick read novella, ‘Cosy Mystery’ genre with the Jan Christopher Mysteries, set in the 1970s, with the first in the series, A Mirror Murder incorporating her, often hilarious, memories of working for thirteen years as a library assistant.

Her non-fiction books are Pirates: Truth and Tales and Life of a Smuggler. She also runs a news and events blog and a Facebook page for her village, and supports her daughter’s passion for horses and showjumping – and occasionally gets time to write…

Website: https://helenhollick.net

 J.G. HARLOND Secret agents, skulduggery, and crime that crosses continents.

British author of historical crime fiction, J.G. (Jane) Harlond writes award-winning, page-turning novels set in the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. Each story weaves fictional characters into real events. She describes her WWII Bob Robbins Home Front Mysteries as ‘cosy crime with a sinister twist’. Prior to becoming a full-time author, Jane taught English and World Literature in international colleges. She also wrote school text books for many years using her married name.

Jane is married to a retired Spanish naval officer and they have a large, grown-up family living in various parts of Europe and the USA. After travelling widely (she has lived in or visited most of the places that feature in her novels) they are now settled near Málaga in Spain.

J.G. Harlond is a member of the British Crime Writers Association and the Dorothy Dunnett Society.

 Website: http://author.to/JGHarlond

 LORETTA LIVINGSTONE had no intention of writing anything but short stories or poetry, and especially not historical fiction. She stated it quite clearly on social media, only to suddenly find herself writing … historical fiction. Her debut novel, Out Of Time, set in the mythical Sparnstow Abbey, was shortlisted for the Historical Novel Society Indie Award in 2016, which stunned and elated her in equal measures.

It was supposed to be a one-off. It wasn’t. She went on to write two more stand-alone novels in the series; A Promise to Keep and Blossom on the Thorn. She had plans for more but has had ME for many years, and ill health has temporarily reined in her gallop. However, she intends to write again soon…

Her other books include short story collections and poetry, and can be found on Amazon.

Loretta is on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/217686418294125

MARIAN L. THORPE Taught to read at the age of three, words have been central to Marian’s life for as long as she can remember. A novelist, poet, and essayist, Marian has several degrees, none of which are related to writing. After two careers as a research scientist and an educator, she retired from salaried work and returned to writing things that weren’t research papers or reports.

Marian’s first published work was poetry, in small journals; her first novel was released in 2015. Her award-winning Empire’s Legacy series is historical fiction of another world, based to some extent on northern Europe after the decline of Rome.

In addition to her novels, Marian has read poetry, short stories, and nonfiction work at writers’ festivals and other juried venues.

Her other two passions in life are birding and landscape history, both of which are reflected in her books. Birding has taken her and her husband to all seven continents, but these days she’s mostly content to move between Canada and the UK.

Website: https://marianlthorpe.com/

 

 

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Filed Under: Blog, Guest Bloggers Tagged With: Book Blast, Exile, Exile Anthology, Historical Fiction, new release

Just Released! Accidental Contact ~ Sapphic short story by @AdrianaKraft #LGBGTQ#LesbianFiction #SapphicFiction #EroticRomance #NewYorkCity #Snowbound #New Release #AgeGap #99cents #MFRWAuthor

November 3, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

What romantic pairings do you love to read? Straight f/m? Bisexual f/f/m? Lesbian f/f? I’m half of the writing duo Adriana Kraft, and we love writing (and reading) all these pairings. Our newest release is a sapphic short story we wrote for an anthology over a decade ago, then revised and updated to release under our indie imprint. Is it really erotic romance? It’s definitely erotic, featuring one of my favorite f/f scenes as Natalie is caught between her fears and her desires in the middle of the night. Since it’s a short story, I’d call it happy-for-now, with a promising future.

BOOK INFORMATION

Accidental Contact, By Adriana Kraft
Release date: November 3, 2023
Genre: Erotic Romance
Length: Short Story
Pairing: FF
Tropes: Cougar Story, New York City, Snowbound, Just One Bed

BLURB

 

Natalie and the much younger Bridgette are real estate agents who’ve often traveled together for business seminars. Now they’re snowbound in New York City in a hotel room with only one bed. Will Natalie dare to make her move?

 

EXCERPT

Chapter One

Sitting in bed with the covers pulled up to her neck, Natalie Powers glanced up at the sound of her roommate’s voice.

“It’s already snowing.” Bridgette Allen ran the brush through her long blonde hair and glanced over at the bed. “Think we’ll make it out of here in the morning?”

Natalie tried to decipher the younger woman’s soft smile. Was Bridgette disappointed at the prospect of being stuck with her in New York City an extra day or two? “Doesn’t look promising.” She muted the TV. “If the weatherman’s right and the City gets ten to fifteen inches—plus wind—there probably won’t be any planes flying. I’ll check in the morning, but I’ll be surprised if we get out of here at all tomorrow. I’m sorry. Did you have a big weekend planned back home?”

“Don’t be sorry. It’ll be fun getting caught here for a day or two.” Bridgette’s voice suddenly sounded brighter. “Maybe we can walk over to Rockefeller Center and watch the skaters. Whatever we do, let’s not mope around worrying about finding a flight.” She set down the hairbrush and puckered her lips at her reflection in the mirror. “I like to believe everything happens for a reason. Maybe we both deserve a mini vacation.”

“You may be right.” Natalie yawned. “Three days listening to lectures has been grueling.”

Bridgette turned to face Natalie, brows slightly raised and a smile threatening the corners of her mouth.

Natalie couldn’t resist a smile in return. “I’ll try to be upbeat about our plight. We won’t get back to Chicago until the airports open.”

“So…” Bridgette checked the buttons on her powder-blue silk pajamas while brushing a piece of fluff off the gentle rise of a breast. “We might as well enjoy ourselves.”

“Maybe we could visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art,” Natalie said, trying to keep the mood light while Bridgette settled under the covers. “I haven’t been there for a couple years.”

BUY LINK

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Filed Under: Blog, Erotic Romance, Excerpts, LGBT Tagged With: age gap, erotic romance, LGBTQ, new release, sapphic romance

What had he concluded? Embracing Passion #EroticRomance #Polyamory #MFRWHooks

October 4, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

A single wrong assumption can be costly…

I’m so excited about my most recent release! Embracing Passion has been a long labor of love – the finale to the Passion series, set in a fictional center for sex studies and sexuality.

Welcome to MFRW Hooks, where the authors of Marketing for Romance Writers
share snippets from their stories to entice you into wanting more.
Be sure to click on the links at the end to travel!

EXCERPT

Set Up: Today’s scene follows shortly after last week’s college campus lecture scene.

New York, New York 2014

Shuddering slightly, Rosanne settled back against the pillows and pulled the covers up to her neck. She’d done amazingly well after she’d seen Detective Walker sneak into the lecture hall. A lesser woman might’ve panicked, but she had nothing to hide. Thank goodness Anna was there to help take up the slack when she’d needed time to think.

What had he concluded about her? She hugged herself. He certainly had seen a different side of her than that initial impression in the parking lot. Did he think her a chameleon? That might not be terrible. At most lectures, she’d encouraged questioners not to use her title, but not tonight. She’d wanted him to hear over and over that she was indeed Dr. Rosanne Falcon, a competent, professional woman.

He’d been quite impressive sitting in the back row looking pensive and serious. She’d noticed him laughing several times. It was good to know that Detective Walker could laugh. She’d scanned across his area of the hall when she acknowledged she was bisexual. That didn’t seem to faze him in the least. Maybe he already knew that. He probably already had a Center catalogue, or at least had been to the Center’s web page.

She chuckled softly. Would he order any Center videos? Would he wear out his DVD machine playing and replaying her scenes?

BLURB

Now in her late twenties, Rosanne Falcon’s life has finally come together—a Ph.D., a prestigious research job, and two exquisite lovers, one of each gender, to complete the package. The intense bond she shares with Simone Stone was augmented rather than broken when Simone met and married Boyd Roberts, and the three have forged a fulfilling polyamory relationship. More would only be trouble.

Widowed by a tragic accident several years earlier, Detective Thomas Walker is nearing retirement after twenty years on the police force and ready to change careers. Fully convinced the hot redhead who meets truckers at the rest area he’s staked out is a prostitute, he sets out to build his case against her. He is dead wrong, but each layer he uncovers of what she really does for a living challenges long held assumptions. Can he overcome his deep-seated bias to make room for what’s possible?

BUY LINK

Now available at all ebook stores!

UNIVERSAL LINK

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Be sure to click on the links to travel to the rest of today’s exciting excerpts!

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Filed Under: Blog, Erotic Romance, Excerpts, LGBT, Menage Tagged With: age gap, Detective, erotic romance, interracial, ménage, multicultural, new release, polyamory, Role Playing, sex toys

Out Now! Meet me in Milan, by KD Sherrinford #Mystery #Romance #HistoricalRomance #NewRelease @ExtasyBooks

September 29, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

The deepest secrets are often to be found out in the open
if you only know where to look.

Book Information

Published by: eXtasy Books
Author : K D Sherrinford
100 Pages ~ 29 808 words
ISBN :978-1-4874-3967-5
Publication Date :2023-09-29
Series : Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler Mysteries #3
Category : Historical Romance, Romantic Suspense and Mystery, Romance

Blurb:

While her husband, Sherlock Holmes, is off playing detective in London, Irene Adler finds herself having to play detective when her friend Renata becomes the prime suspect in the attempted murder of her husband, Luigi Amato. How can she refute the testimony of a credible eyewitness, even though her heart tells her that Renata is innocent? She needs tangible evidence, and she’s willing to do what she must to obtain it.

When Sherlock finally arrives on the scene, Irene seeks his counsel, and he agrees to assist with her investigation. However, their relationship is called into question by Irene’s dear friend Sophia, who is not overly fond of Irene’s husband nor approving of the way in which they conduct their marriage. Will Irene be able to prove her friend Renata’s innocence, or is there a more tangled web of deception at play? And will Sophia’s misgivings regarding her marriage bear unfortunate fruit?

Excerpt

Chapter Eight

Luigi turned his attention to my husband. “It is an honour to meet you, Signor Sapori. I have only heard good things about you. But, of course, I have already had the pleasure of meeting your beautiful, charming wife. That engaging smile could cast a spell over any man”. He sighed. “You are indeed a fortunate man. Love is such a wonderful thing, some say the most incredible thing. Don’t you agree?

Sherlock straightened in his chair. I could see this inference rattled him. “I’m afraid I don’t speak as eloquently as you regarding matters of the heart, Signor Amato, neither would I wish to. But I will say this.” He paused to take a sip from his glass, fixing me with his piercing grey eyes. “My wife is not here to decorate the room, Signor Sapori. She is a strong, independent woman of whom I am inordinately proud. I admire many things about her, of course. Her grace, humility and intelligence are just a few of the things that first attracted me to her But, most of all, the fact that she chose me as her husband. Nene does not walk in my shadow. On the contrary, she ploughs her own furrow. I am a better person for knowing her”.

My heart swelled as I stared at my husband in jaw-dropping, incredulous admiration. It seemed unimaginable; this profound seismic moment, Sherlock’s narrative spoken so articulately and hurtled so trippingly off the tongue and spoken with such conviction, was the last thing I expected to hear. Yet his words meant more to me than I could ever express.

Buy Links

https://www.extasybooks.com/Meet-Me-In-Milan

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJRRSN8B/

About KD Sherrinford

KD Sherrinford was born and raised in Preston, Lancashire, and now resides on the Fylde Coast with her husband John and their children.

KD had a varied career, working with thoroughbred horses and racing greyhounds. She and her husband won the Blackpool Greyhound Derby in 1987 with Scottie. Then to mix things up, KD joined Countrywide where she was employed for over 20 years and became a Fellow of The National Association of Estate Agents.

Retirement finally gave KD the opportunity to follow her dreams and start work on her first novel. She gained inspiration to write “Song for Someone” from her daughter Katie, after a visit to The Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street in 2019. Writing about Irene Adler had always been a passion; she is such an iconic character. The first two books in this thrilling series, Song for Someone and Christmas at The Saporis are available now at all major outlets. Book 3- The much anticipated “Meet Me in Milan”, has just been released at Extasy Books. KD recently started work on the 4th book in the series, Nicco Sapori’s Abduction, which will be available next year.

KD’s short cosy contemporary mystery “A Bit of a Do” will be published as part of Marla Bradeen’s fabulous anthology Malice, Matrimony, and Murder, to be released on the 13th of November.  The anthology is available to pre-order at Amazon. With twenty-four original stories from Derringer and Agatha finalists, Editors Choice Gold Seal recipients, and CWA members, there is no shortage of talent.

You can catch a recent interview of KD at this link:

Depths and Endless Possibilities

If you enjoy KD’s books, she would love you to post a review.

KD can be found at her author page https://www.facebook.com/KDSherrinford/Author.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/people/KDSherrinford/100078319333010

https://www.allauthor.com/author/KDSHERRINFORD

https://www.instagram.com/kdsherrinford

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kd-sherrinford

https://twitter.com/KDSherrinford

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23093327

You can email KD-   [email protected]

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