Category: Historical

Review:  Ravenwood (Tanyth Fairport Adventures Book 1) by Nathan Lowell

Rating: 4.5⭐️

“You’re never too old to make a bad decision.”

That was the line that hooked me. And one I may have printed out on a sweatshirt. 

From there I tumbled gently into the fantasy world of Tanyth Fairport, a older woman who’s been traveling around for 20 years, learning her craft, teaching others, and hoping for word of her son who got away from his abusive father as soon as possible. 

Her backstory is one that unfolds along with the other characters she encounters, as the situation develops.

She travels alone, dresses in clothing that could be either gender, disguising herself on the road from those who would victimize a woman. That’s a perfect representation of her on the cover, with her metal tipped staff. 

She has a goal to achieve. She wants to learn from one of the last Witches of the Woods before that woman dies. If Hermit of Lammas Wood will teach her.  And she must reach there before the winter comes. 

Of course, things will not go as planned. People will need help. And as Tanyth must decide whether to stay or go, we learn about the herbal remedies and medicines, communities, and religious rituals in a way that is real and meaningful. It’s built slowly and carefully grounded in these characters and their lives and beliefs. 

And then comes the magic, seeping into the world and storylines on the wings of a Raven. 

For a novel that was a slow start I was absolutely absorbed by the concept, characters and the journey that Tanyth was taking midway through. By the end I was sorry to see this stage end but excited for the next chapter to come. 

I’m late to the writing of Nathan Lowell but I’m so impressed by the stories and worlds I’ve encountered. 

Here’s one more recommendation I’m happy to share. 

Tanyth Fairport Adventures (3 book series) :

Ravenwood #1

Zypheria’s Call #2

The Hermit of Lammas Wood #3

I wish I knew who did that amazing cover and artwork. That’s a perfect illustration of Tanyth on the road right down to her staff. 

Buy link 

 Book 1 of 3: Tanyth Fairport Adventures 

Blurb 

You’re never too old to make a bad decision.

After twenty winters on the road, Tanyth Fairport makes one last pilgrimage in her quest to learn all she can about the herbs and medicinal plants of Korlay before settling down to write her magnum opus. Her journey is interrupted when she decides to help a small village and learns that much of what she knows of the world may not be quite as it seems. 

Nathan Lowell blends wiccan tradition and shamanistic lore into a fantasy quest for a new – if unlikely – heroine. She learns that the familiar sometimes hides the fantastic and that, even when you think you’ve made your decisions, life doesn’t always agree.

Publisher

Durandus

Publication date

October 26, 2011

Language

‎English

Print length

382 pages

Book 1 of 3

Tanyth Fairport Adventures

Review:  The Dog Mage By James A. Haddock III

Rating: 3.5⭐️

Ok this is going to be a different sort of review. Mostly because I believe readership might break down differently here . Those who read it one way and then those who see other aspects of the story. 

I finished Dog Mage, my first book by James Haddock, and I thought it was a good book. Very entertaining, fast paced fantasy adventure with some interesting magical system elements that I hadn’t really seen explored before. 

The magic is certainly very thoughtfully crafted and I love how it is fitted into the narrative in multiple ways. 

The plot of Jack, orphaned as a small child, finding his magic to becoming one of the most powerful mages in the known Kingdom is oddly straightforward. Jack as his magic grows and accumulates objects that helps his with his magical abilities has streamlined his approach to his life. Continue forward doing what he wants as his own person, if anything tries to get in his way more than once? Then he brutally and efficiently eliminates them, by dog, knife, whatever means necessary. 

Turns out Jack is a bit of a psychopath. Not that it’s ever even remotely hinted at here. That’s my take on him. 

But Jack’s answer to about everything is death, (not animals, just people, sometimes in mass quantities) in multiple ways, starting from childhood. And he’s not wasting any time, thought or emotion on it. 

He chooses to change his face, name, and “character “ easily. Jack’s a chimera. That’s how he presents himself…to me. Often to others as well. 

Which actually doesn’t bother me much because the story is a fantasy adventure. And had Haddock left it simply at magical battles where Jack is always the shining hero, where he vanquishes hundreds of enemies by himself, where it’s Jack in his fabulous glowing armor doing impossible things, well, it’s fun, and superficial.

But then there a romantic component and it gets problematic.  Spoilers.

There’s an older princess to escort to a ball, looking for a matrimonial match. Jack’s her guardian/escort as assigned by the king. It’s a short time frame. Without any real sense of this couple having any real connection or time with each other, it’s “instalove”.

Other stories have done this. Not the issue. However,Jack isn’t one for the stationary life and he’s got things to do.There’s turmoil afloat so he needs to leave and do stuff. A man’s gotta do what he’s gotta do. Or Jack does whatever. Because that’s what Jack does. 

She says no, don’t go and many other things in the same vein. None of which land well with him.So he’s done, he abandons her, engaged and all. No talking. She’s cut off, as are her folks he calls family. No contact.

Two yrs later. She’s been miserable and pining. He hasn’t given her a thought ( literally that what he said). 

Someone royal else gets them together and he’s oh, I guess I missed you (she’s crying her eyes out). Let’s get together again. Wink. 

Yeah,the psychopath says it’s convenient for him you’re back. And his projects are well underway. So it’s phase two.  Doesn’t this make you feel all cozy? Huh. I see a bunch of flags. 

Because I don’t think it’s supposed to be taken that way. 

To quote the description:

“So, let the bodies fall where they may; you’ve been warned.”

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comThe Dog Mage – Haddock, James: Kindle Store

Blurb 

My name, well, they call me Jack. Though I’ve been called and named other things. Kings have named me, though that has sometimes gotten me into trouble. You see, when a king names you, he wants something. Nothing is free. Anyway, I’m an orphan. Fortunately, I’m a mage. That doesn’t make up for not having parents, but it helps . . . except when it doesn’t. The problem with being a . . . child mage is that everyone wants to use you for their own ends. The guilds, for instance. Not just one guild, all of them, everyone is looking for an edge, including me. My strongest talent is music, though no one sees that. What they do see is that my music . . . renews things, makes them new.

One of the first things I renewed was a pair of full-sized wooden dogs. I renewed them so well that they came to life and became my protectors. 

Circumstances forced me to protect myself from those who would force me to work for them. Unfortunately, bodies were left on the floor, and I was forced to leave one city for another. I became too good at protecting myself, and the bodies kept piling up. That’s when the king and his spymaster took notice of me. They saw me as a means to an end and wanted to use me as a weapon against their enemies.

The problem was, their enemies weren’t necessarily my enemies, and I hate being forced to do things against my will. So, the bodies that piled up were of those who tried to force me into bondage. All I wanted was to be left alone, but no one seemed to understand that.

So, let the bodies fall where they may; you’ve been warned.

Matron Publishing

Publication date

November 6, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

230 pages

Review: Lady (Noble’s Luck Book 1) by Mel Todd

Rating:  5⭐️

This book is my first experience with this author and I’m so very excited to have found Mel Todd. What an incredible immersive experience and magnificent tale Lady is. 

Set in the Ternion Universe, same world as Todd’s Twisted Luck series (which I haven’t read and this is a prequel to), it’s an alternate timeline in Victorian England. Magic has just started to appear, Prince Albert never dies, Disraeli stays in office longer. And Victoria never retires because she never falls into grief and mourning, but remains a strong monarch. 

So much feels believable and powerful in its depth of detail because of the incredible characters, the emotion and pull of the storylines, and the magical power that is being created.

Especially when it comes to the Lucks.  Each of these is focusing on a specific Luck sibling. The stories run concurrently with each other so we see many of the same events from different perspectives and where they were, if missing from the other person’s narrative at the time. 

Miss Emmeline Luck, the youngest of the Earl’s children and the one the Earl favors the least, gets the first story.

Emmeline’s journey from a powerless object to be bartered by her father to a striking woman who has magical abilities and a sense of her own power to direct her life is gripping and incredibly satisfying.

It’s wound through with the political drama of that day, court proceedings and battles that mark the disparity between races, status and gender of Victorian times. 

Emmeline’s development, however, includes her own family as well as new members who have the power to train her magic and influence her own destiny. 

As she says herself:

“I wanted to be Emmeline Luck, someone that was irreplaceable and in control of her own destiny, not pawned off or used to further someone else’s.”

I started rooting for her and remained so inspired and invested in her life that the pages flew by. 

There’s no romance but very stirring moments as she fights for her control over her destiny. 

Fantastic side characters that I would love to see more of, including her dress designer, Diante, a fascinating person whose history I’m dying to read. 

I’m quickly heading to Lord which is Duncan’s book. 

What a fantastic book and find. It’s one I’m highly recommending!

 I adore the covers. Each and every one.  Detailed to fit the character. 

Cover by Ampersand Book Covers”

Noble’s Luck:

Lady #1

Lord #2

Bastard #3

Buy link 

        Lady (Noble’s Luck Book 1)

    

Blurb 

Miss Emmeline Luck has always strived to be a dutiful daughter, but thinking for herself has never won her favor with society—or her domineering father.

When Earl Luck announces her engagement to a slimy man unfit to be left with a scullery maid, she tries to comply. But the reality of the despicable nature of her fiancé reveals a power buried deep within her: Emmeline is a mage.

Magic is a new and controversial force in Victorian England; its emergence stirring unease while the Queen remains silent. Desperate for training, Emmeline turns to Miss Antoinette Carlton and her mentor, the Bengali mage Rohan, who has a familiar. As Emmeline delves into her training, she realizes magic could upend her family—and threaten the security of Britain itself.

When her father kicks her out, Emmeline faces an impossible choice: conform to a life without freedom or carve a path on her own terms in a society that deems a woman without a man worthless. Armed with magic, intelligence, and the law, she sets out to challenge her father’s tyranny. But with powerful forces seeking to use her as a pawn, Emmeline must summon all her strength and cunning to claim her own destiny.

In a world where magic is both feared and coveted, can she rewrite the rules—or will she remain at the mercy of others?

  • Publisher: Bad Ash Publishing
  • Accessibility: Learn more
  • Publication date: February 3, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 346 pages
  • Book 1 of 3: Noble’s Luck

Review:  The Wolf King: A Fantasy Romance by Lauren Palphreyman

Rating: 4⭐️

I was looking for something to read that wasn’t fae or trial themed so that fantastic cover for The Wolf King: A Fantasy Romance by Lauren Palphreyman pulled me right in.  New author and apparently a new series or duology, terrific!

And yes, I had an absolutely amazing time reading this book.  I feel that Lauren Palphreyman really captured the Highlands of Scotland, the wilds and beauty of the region through scenes and descriptions so well. And then to intertwine the Clans of Scotland with werewolves or Shifter packs and include mythology and kingdom wars, it’s a very compelling story.  And the political landscape isn’t just about the shaky Wolf clans but their history with the human kingdom as its own wars are being played out. 

On this background, the author is writing a larger story about a woman, Princess Aurora, who’s kidnapped by an Alpha and taken to the Highlands. 

Aurora, or Rory as she is called is a delightful character, one of tremendous strength and perseverance. She’s a woman who can emotionally and mentally evolve from a tightly controlled princess into a woman who decides her journey is transformative instead of that of one of being a victim. 

 On the male characters side, Callum is the main protagonist and romantic lead but instead I found the morally ambiguous Blake to be the far more interesting character.  Callum was forever “running” off to somewhere important to the narrative leaving Rory behind for the moment and events to come.  

Blake’s background and character, however, manipulative and dubious, is just that much more intriguing than that of Callum, imo. And there’s the Wolf King, Patrick, who is a non-entity here. He’s got one purpose, as an antagonist for the main characters and then he’s done until the next book. 

The world building could be better explained or developed. It’s an alternate universe. But what’s the time frame? A 17th century type of story. Not sure. There’s a difference between a author who vividly describes a location , whether it’s a natural setting or parts of a castle, and an actual world building with cultural elements, religious traditions, political traditions and history. And so far the latter is missing here. 

The relationship between Rory and Callum is more of one of self discovery. I really didn’t buy the idea that Rory loved Callum, honestly, he’s just too much a Golden Retriever in wolf’s clothing.  He’s the boy next door you date but then leave when you go to college. 

The book ends on a really interesting note. And sets up the multiple conflicts and storylines for each character. For me , it’s still all about Blake. 

I can’t wait to see what happens next. 

A definite recommendation . 

Love the cover.

Cover Design by: Damonza

The Wolf King series:

The Wolf King #1

The Night Prince #2 – March 31,2025

Buy link: 

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comThe Wolf King: A Fantasy Romance – Books

Blurb 

When a princess is kidnapped by an alpha, war rages between the humans and the wolves. But soon, forbidden attraction starts to grow. . .

Princess Aurora longs to escape the castle and the marriage that has been arranged for her.

But on the night before her wedding, at a dog fight where captured werewolves are made to fight for sport, she spares the life of a young wolf. It puts her on the radar of the powerful alpha who was going to kill him. And it changes everything.

That night, when the alpha escapes, he kidnaps her and takes her to the rugged lands north of the border — where the once warring werewolf clans are beginning to unite. He thinks that she is the key to winning the war against the humans.

Only, as they spend time around one another, forbidden attraction starts to grow. And as Aurora learns that not all wolves are bad, the alpha discovers that she is in danger from both his enemies, and those he once considered friends.

With monsters on both sides, a bloodthirsty war between humans and wolves raging, and undeniable passion growing between them — will their story end in love? Or tragedy?

And will Aurora ever get home?

Does she even want to?

An adult fantasy romance for fans of romantasy, werewolves, forbidden romance, and enemies to lovers

Content Warning: Contains strong language and sexual situations.

  • Publisher: Lauren Palphreyman (September 14, 2023)
  • Publication date: September 14, 2023
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 468 pages

Review:  Weyward: A Novel by Emilia Hart

Rating: 5⭐️

“The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet.—Adrienne Rich”

That’s the quote that ends this extraordinary story but just as easily could be the one that begins it. 

This is one of my most favored books. 

Emilia Hart’s story of three women, related to each other by blood and by the horrific abuse they are experiencing, and the cottage named Weyward that’s their home and finally their sanctuary. 

The author relates their stories simultaneously in three different time frames , managing to emotionally and historically connect them and us as a whole rich tapestry. 

Kate is the first voice, so fearful and utterly desperate. It’s 2019 and she’s got one chance to flee her abusive husband.  The scene is chilling and the terror palpable. 

Altha, a healer, is equally terrified, afraid for her life when we first meet. She’s on trial for witchcraft. The year is 1619. 

Violet is the third voice heard, an innocent in 1942, one who listens to her bees and mayflies in the gardens, and crows in the trees. She’s a wild child hidden away from the world by a harsh father , a woman, damaged by those close, who will be an unlikely bridge to the other two women and their worlds. 

The writing is remarkable, Hart is able to create a wild magic in her descriptions of the natural beauty and sounds of a garden. She brings alive the power of winds blowing through the woods, a dark threat imminent, on a dark, scary night, making the reader feel the fears for ourselves. 

The basics of the book is the women come from a long line of witches, which make them in tune with the power of the natural world , the insects and animals, as well as the environment around them.  But it’s  also about each of them finding their inner strength,  their acceptance of themselves and their past experiences. And these women have had some truly traumatic past histories and experiences occur to them.  Every possible thing you can think of. 

They survive, are courageous and resilient and beyond brave in going forward with their lives in the end. 

This is one of my favorite books besides The Women by Kristen Hannah .  Such a remarkably crafted story and memorably well written women. 

Highly recommended. Read the trigger warnings. 

I love the cover. Morg the crow and possibly his descendants play an important role in their lives. 

Cover art by Michael Storrings

Buy link

SponsoredAmazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comWeyward: A Novel: Hart, Emilia: 9781250280800: Amazon.com: Books

I am a Weyward, and wild inside.

2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great-aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she suspects that her great-aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.

1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. When Altha was a girl, her mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence of witchcraft is laid out against Altha, she knows it will take all her powers to maintain her freedom.

1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family’s grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weywardscratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.

Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart’s Weyward is an astonishing debut, and an enthralling novel of female resilience.

  • Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (March 7, 2023)
  • Publication date: March 7, 2023
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 408 pages

Review: The Royal Rogue (Tales of Lilleforth, #3) by Sarah Honey

Rating: 4🌈

The third book in Sarah Honey’s historical romance series, The Royal Rogue is a very entertaining romantic comedy with a threads of action and royal intrigue running through the pages.  

The castle and universe of King Leopold of Lilleforth (The King’s Delight #1), The Royal Rogue can easily be read as a standalone novel about the Duke of Ravenport, 

Evan Devere, and Thomas Malone, Captain of the Royal Guards. Both reoccurring characters in the previous stories. 

The characters are well written, the story has wonderful dialogue and charm, and Evan it definitely a rogue to take to heart. Thomas is his match in every aspect, from intelligence to his ability to be flexible. 

I skipped over the second book, why the author named the male main character Mother I’ll never understand.Just no. But I really enjoyed The Royal Rogue (Tales of Lilleforth, #3) by Sarah Honey and it’s a recommendation from me. 

Tales of Lilleforth series:

The King’s Delight #1

The Stablemaster’s Heart #2

The Royal Rogue #3

Buy link

        The Royal Rogue (Tales of Lilleforth Book 3)

    

Blurb 

Thomas Malone is the new Captain of the Guard at Lilleforth Castle. He loves his job, but it leaves him no time for himself. It’s been way too long since he’s had anyone share his bed, let alone his life. To say he’s frustrated is an understatement.

To make matters worse, the King’s disreputable cousin Evan Devere, the Duke of Ravenport, is back from his travels. Evan is as scatterbrained as he is attractive, which is a shame—if Evan had even half a brain, he’d be exactly Thomas’s type. As it is, Thomas has resigned himself to spending his days keeping Evan out of trouble

But when a threat emerges against the crown, Thomas and Evan have to work together to find who’s behind the plot, and Thomas discovers there’s more to Evan than meets the eye. So when Evan suggests that they act on their mutual attraction, Thomas throws caution to the wind and agrees. After all, it is just a fling, right? There’s no way Thomas is actually going to fall for the sexy, infuriating cousin of the king.

No way at all.

Review: The Duke at Hazard by K. J. Charles

Rating: 4.5🌈

K.J. Charles has written another delightful novel in the Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune series, The Duke at Hazard. Here, a severely insulated Duke is robbed of his ducal ring during an anonymous encounter . To get it back, he makes a bet that he undertakes the task without use of his power and authority. For a month. If he loses, he forfeits his greys, his beloved horses.

Charles does a fantastic job in establishing the personality of Severn at the beginning of the story, then as a man out of his depth on this mission, then again as one who is finally finding himself on the road. It’s an astonishing journey of development and growth. And it happens along with that of another person’s remarkable story, and their relationship.

Severn becomes Cassian and journey companion to Daizell Charnage, a disgraced noble whose is helping him retrieve his ring . Along the way, each has experienced so much that they are able to recognize the men they both are , together and individually.

It’s a terrific story, the characters are well written, the universe authentic, and the relationship that builds is one that feels believable in its growth and obstacles encountered.

Additionally , Charles has included so many beautifully crafted side characters and well thought out elements here that together all add up to a truly satisfying experience for the reader. We enter into the story involved in Severn’s journey and then get fully invested until the final sentence.

There were a couple of things that I had issues with. One was the character of Leo, Cassian’s cousin. He was the one who prompted the bet, but it was his gambling problems that were real reason behind Leo wanting Cassian’s greys. And his attitude of entitlement and expectations from Cassian was deplorable. It made Leo a “tiresome” personality throughout the story, even afterwards when things had been resolved. I wonder if Charles realizes how thoroughly obnoxious he came across.

Lastly, the end feels too abrupt. We’re told what their future might look like but little is actually shown. It’s just cut off. I wish we might have been given a glimpse or two. That would have been very satisfying. But it’s a good ending and ties things together really well.

If you want to know further about the details of this story, see the author’s notes on the development of that all important card game and why the term silhouette isn’t used here. If you’re thinking about authenticity, this is exactly why everything rings so believable here. Charles does the work and layers it into the narrative. It shows in the depth and details.

I’m highly recommending this to all lovers of historical fiction and romance. And fans of this author, of course!

Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune books:

🔹The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting

🔹The Duke at Hazard

🔹Thief in the Night

Buy link:

uy links

Goodreads

Blurb:

The Duke of Severn is one of the greatest men in Britain.

He’s also short, quiet, and unimpressive. And now he’s been robbed, after indulging in one rash night with a strange man who stole the heirloom Severn ring from his finger. The Duke has to get it back, and he can’t let anyone know how he lost it. So when his cousin bets that he couldn’t survive without his privilege and title, the Duke grasps the opportunity to hunt down his ring-incognito.

Life as an ordinary person is terrifying…until the anonymous Duke meets Daizell Charnage, a disgraced gentleman, and hires him to help. Racing across the country in search of the thief, the Duke and Daizell fall into scrapes, into trouble-and in love.

Daizell has been excluded from polite society, his name tainted by his father’s crimes and his own misbehaviour. Now he dares to dream of a life somewhere out of sight with the quiet gentleman who’s stolen his heart. He doesn’t know that his lover is a hugely rich public figure with half a dozen titles. And when he finds out, it will risk everything they have…

• Publication date: July 18, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 326 pages

Review: The Men from Echo Creek by N. R. Walker

Rating: 3.5🌈

The Men from Echo Creek is the latest release by N. R. Walker, a historical romance that takes place in the Snowy Mountain region of Australia in 1882.

Even with its historical timeline, there’s aspects of the book very reminiscent of my favorite movie, The Man from Snowy River. The location, the horses and expert riding on unbelievable terrain, brumbies, a romantic story, and adversity with a neighbor/rancher.

Here it is 19 year old Albie Bramwell whose father has just died, leaving Albie the owner of an extremely large alpine farm and having to run and manage it without his father’s help and direction.

It’s not going well until a stranger, Percy Collins, appears in town looking for a job. Percy finds a job, and in Albie someone who needs him and then finds that he’s stumbled into a place that’s home.

That’s the framework of the story. And it’s a good one. The characters are interesting, including the two other men who live on the farm with them. That’s Robert, a recovering alcoholic, and the farm manager, Des, a man with a leg injury that’s continuing to bother him.

Two women will come later. There’s also a town, Alpine Falls, and the Stricklands, the power family of the area.

While Walker lays down multiple storylines and potential dramatic scenarios, only some of the scenes here really have the power to connect with the reader and leap off the page. Much of this has to do with the land and the horses, all of which Walker has proven she has the ability to make vivid and compelling. When all four men are chasing the mob across the land, you are with them. It’s thrilling. Whenever Albie and Percy, or Des and Percy take the horses and head out , the descriptions of the mountains and scrub, the cold and mists are real .

Other scenes too bring home Albie’s youth and desperate situations in town. Those are some of the best moments of interactions for raw emotions.

But the romance between Albie and Percy? I don’t know why but I was never quite invested. Liked them both but their relationship never felt like it had any chemistry. Friends yes. But more? Not really. And we never really got to know Albie’s story or anything about his father . Not sure why there’s no foundation for much of any character here but the lack of one makes these characters seem less filled out.

And so much of the rest of the story feels flat or rushed. The women move in and they are just forgotten, except for a sentence or two here and there. Backgrounds for Des and Robert are never supplied even though they are major characters . And the whole element where Strickland went from the bad guy to , well, if not good, maybe grayish guy. Then he’s done with. After a big build up.

It’s too many dropped plot points for me. Just things that don’t fit or make sense with the story.

So it’s enjoyable but not my favorite NR Walker book. Need cowboys from this author? Read her Red Dirt Heart series. That’s a reread for me.

Great cover by Reese Dante

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Men-E…The Men From Echo Creek eBook : Walker, N.R.: Kindle Store

Blurb

In the winter of 1882, a boy from the mountains has to prove himself a man.

~*~

When Albie Bramwell’s father died, he was left with two thousand hectares of mountain to farm, and little help to run it. Abandoned by all but two of his workers, the whole town of Alpine Falls called him too young to run the farm alone.

Young, yes. At just nineteen, he was determined to prove them wrong. Even if it killed him.

In search of a new life, Percy Collins found himself in a small mountain town where he ran into a man not much older than himself and scored a job at Echo Creek. A property full of misfits, or so the townsfolk had called it. But what Percy found was a home.

What Albie found was something he never thought possible. A man to love, and a man to share his dreams.

But times were tough, the winter harsh, and money scarce. Albie and Percy would need to do more than prove themselves worthy. They’d need to not only prove themselves better than anyone else. They’d need to prove it twice.

• Publisher: BlueHeart Press (May 17, 2024)

• Publication date: May 17, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 400 pages

Review: Death In The Spires by K. J. Charles

Rating: 5🌈

K. J. Charles is such an incredible writer, a word artist with a passion for rich historical settings, layered characters, and complex plot development. All that is apparent here in Death in the Spires.

It’s a haunting story that Charles lays out for us immediately. And then in flashbacks. A man , Jeremy “Jem” Kite, is in the process of losing his job. It’s emotionally devastating. And it’s not even the first time.

His employer has received a letter accusing Jem of murder. A sensational murder that took place ten years earlier. A murder of a man Jem was close to. Went to Oxford with, and once was one of his close knit group of friends referred to as the “Seven Wonders” on campus. A murder that destroyed Jem and has remained unsolved.

Through memories of the past, and Jem’s new determination to find out who is behind the letters, Charles builds a layered historical narrative of differences in status, innocence, friendship, mystery, love, and murder. One that skillfully stretches over a ten year period from 1905 to 1915, moving from time frame to time frame with impactful results.

Charles brings all the laws and prejudices of this era vividly and thoughtfully into the various storylines, whether it’s about gender, race, sexuality, or birth control. I should also mention Charles includes the role of that primogeniture plays in this era with rights of inheritance . Repealed here in the US at the time of the Revolution, it was the foundation for the nobility, aristocracy or peerage abroad.

Then the author sets about weaving a tortuous tale of seven friends on the cusp of greatness. Some are innocent, there’s a difference in class status, relationships have complicated dynamics, but, seen through the lens of Jem’s early memories, it’s an idyllic place, a golden age of freedom, heights, and a future never to be recaptured.

Charles’ gift is the ability to make the reader feel Jem’s amazement at his time there in 1905 , and his absolute grief at it’s loss, at what he has become.

Every character is beautifully crafted in their details, from their past lives to the ones they are now living in. I can visualize each and every one.

That includes the dead man, Toby Feynsham, who gathered them all together and was finally responsible, in death, for their destruction.

The investigation, the growth and continued character revelations, the way in which Charles weaves twists and surprises into an already convoluted narrative made me appreciate more a novel I couldn’t tear myself away from.

Fabulous, fascinating. Ultimately incredibly satisfying. Death In The Spires by K. J. Charles is a must read!

Great cover. Cover design by Lisa Horton

Buy Links:

Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com › Death-…Death in the Spires: A completely gripping and addictive historical mystery

Blurb

The newspapers called us the Seven Wonders. We were a group of friends, that’s all, and then Toby died. Was killed. Murdered.

1905. A decade after the grisly murder of Oxford student Toby Feynsham, the case remains hauntingly unsolved. For Jeremy Kite, the crime not only stole his best friend, it destroyed his whole life. When an anonymous letter lands on his desk, accusing him of having killed Toby, Jem becomes obsessed with finally uncovering the truth.

Jem begins to track down the people who were there the night Toby died – a close circle of friends once known as the ‘Seven Wonders’ for their charm and talent – only to find them as tormented and broken as himself. All of them knew and loved Toby at Oxford. Could one of them really be his killer?

As Jem grows closer to uncovering what happened that night, his pursuer grows bolder, making increasingly terrifying attempts to silence him for good. Will exposing Toby’s killer put to rest the shadows that have darkened Jem’s life for so long? Or will the gruesome truth only put him in more danger?

Some secrets are better left buried…

From the bestselling, acclaimed author of The Magpie Lord and The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen comes a chilling historical mystery with a sting in the tail. You won’t be able to put this gripping story down!

• Publisher: Storm Publishing (April 11, 2024)

• Publication date: April 11, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 273 pages