West of Santillane by Brook Allen

 

I am delighted to be hosting West of Santillane by Brook Allen as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club tour. Set against the untamed backdrop of early nineteenth-century America, this richly detailed historical novel follows Julia Hancock as she navigates love, conscience, and courage in a rapidly changing world. With a determined heroine and a sweeping frontier setting, West of Santillane promises a compelling story of conviction, romance, and resilience.

✓ Inspired by the world of Lewis & Clark
✓ A courageous heroine ahead of her time
✓ Forbidden convictions. Dangerous secrets.
✓ Love tested by politics and slavery
✓ A marriage strained by hidden truths
✓ Set in early American frontier St. Louis
✓ A woman fighting injustice in a man’s world
✓ Historical romance with depth and heart

Desperate to escape a mundane future as a Virginia
planter’s wife, Julia Hancock seizes her chance for adventure when she wins the heart of American hero William Clark. Though her husband is the famed explorer, Julia embarks on her own thrilling and perilous journey of self-discovery.

With her gaze ever westward, Julia possesses a hunger for knowledge and a passion for helping others. She falls in love with Will’s strength and generous manner, but, like her parents, he is a slave owner, and Julia harbors strong opinions against slavery. Still, her love for Will wins out, though he remains unaware of her beliefs.

Julia finds St. Louis to be a rough town with few of the luxuries to which she is accustomed, harboring scandalous politicians and miscreants of all types. As her husband and his best friend, Meriwether Lewis, work to establish an American government and plan to publish their highly anticipated memoirs, Julia struggles to assume the roles of both wife and mother. She is also drawn into the plight of an Indian family desperate to return to their own lands and becomes an advocate for Will’s enslaved.

When political rivals cause trouble, Julia’s clandestine aid to the Indians and enslaved of St. Louis draws unwanted attention, placing her at odds with her husband. Danger cloaks itself in far too many ways, leading her to embrace the courage to save herself and others through a challenge of forgiveness that will either restore the love she shares with Will or end it forever.

Excerpt

Christmas passed with no sign of Will, and for me there was a saturating profusion of whens.

When would he arrive? When would the wedding be? When would we depart for St. Louis?

For nearly all of December, I listened for riders approaching the house. Whenever I heard hoofbeats, I ran to the window. When that happened on a blustery, chilly late afternoon, I set Master Shakespeare aside, scrambling to the window and wiping frost from the pane.

Not him. Not yet.

Instead, it was an armed soldier with a padlocked saddlebag, making me wonder what sort of official business he had at Santillane. By the time I reached the front door, he had dismounted and was busy unlocking the bag, drawing out a small parcel, neatly wrapped. 

While I swung open the front door, Mama was calling for Megg to warm some tea on the stove for the traveler. 

“Greetings, miss,” the young man said. “I’m looking for Miss Julia Hancock.”

My heart thudded. “I’m Miss Hancock.”

“Miss Hancock, I’ve ridden from Washington City to convey warmest regards from President Jefferson,” he announced, climbing the stairs. “This here is a wedding gift from the president himself.” 

He presented the parcel, and I accepted. Utterly astonished, I wandered into the library’s privacy with it.

“Please,” Mama invited, bustling to the entrance toward the soldier. “It’s freezing outside. Do go around the side of the house to the kitchen. We’ve warmed some tea for you, and my woman Megg will see you’re given a hot meal before you continue on.”

“Many thanks, ma’am. That’s greatly appreciated.”

Once she’d shut the door, Mama came up behind me, where I was admiring the packaged gift. “What is it?” she asked, insistently peering over my shoulder.

“I don’t know—”

“Well, open it, child!”

I peeled away the outer layer of wrapping carefully to find a smoothly sanded and polished flat-latched box of walnut with a crisp note of official presidential stationery attached. 

“Oh, Julia, he’s written you a private note.”

Blinking at my own disbelief, I lifted the folded stationery, feeling the raised print under my fingertips. It was engraved with the presidential seal and Jefferson’s name. Beneath was his message—the author of our Declaration of Independence had written me in his own bold script: 

My dearest Miss Hancock,

I’m sure there are hardly words to express the delight and happiness you must feel as you celebrate the advent of your marriage. If William Clark has chosen you as his bride, then I can only assume what an upright and purposeful woman you must be. Therefore, I beg you to accept this small gift, representing the sentiments I hold, not only of your worthy person, but of Clark’s esteemed service and character—all of which I hold dear. May your days together be many and full of joy.

I am indeed in your service and in the service of our beloved country,

Th. Jefferson, President of the United States

“Oh, Julia—open it!” Mama fussed again.

In disbelief, I set the note aside upon one of our library tables. Using my finger, I slid the box’s delicate brass latch up to the right. The lid released, and I opened it the rest of the way, gasping. Beneath a protective flap of emerald satin was a magnificent brooch of carnelian and gold, and on either side were displayed matching earrings. They were exquisite, and not even my parents had ever gifted me with such extravagance. 

I stared at Mama, shaking my head, stunned. “How can I accept this? It’s far too rich for me.”

Ever so gently, she placed her hands upon my face and whispered, “Daughter, you are marrying into greatness, and even our president recognizes that fact. You will accept it with humility, with dignity, and wear these baubles in St. Louis with pride, where people will be amazed that the president sends you such.”

I was humbled. 

What an incredible time this was—a year full of newness, a year of firsts. 

Like receiving gifts from the president.

Praise

'"West of Santillane" is not just an account of historical events but also a story of love, resilience, and self-discovery. Brook Allen successfully blends romantic, historical, and adventurous elements, offering readers a captivating and memorable reading experience. The book is a warm recommendation for those who appreciate well-documented historical fiction and engaging life narratives.'

The Historical Fiction Company

'Brook Allen’s novel West of Santillane is guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings, so have some tissues nearby. This book is so captivating that it begs to be adapted into a movie. Seeing these characters brought to life on the big screen would be amazing. This book will definitely be remembered as one of my favourite reads of the year.'

The Coffee Pot Book Club

'West of Santillane by Brook Allen is a novel that will evoke strong emotions, so make sure you have tissues nearby. While there are moments of horror and intense passion, this story also explores life in Louisiana during this era and has breathed new life into Julia Hancock Clark. Once you have read it, this story will stay with you forever.'

Yarde Book Promotions

Ready to discover Julia’s story? West of Santillane is available now in #Kindle and paperback formats, and can be read free with #KindleUnlimited. Pick up your copy HERE.

Author Brook Allen has a passion for history. Her newest project, West of Santillane, spotlights history from a little closer to home in Botetourt County, Virginia. It’s the story of Julia Hancock, who married famed explorer, William Clark. Each character of this thrilling, adventurous period was researched throughout southwest Virginia and into Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Idaho, and North Dakota. It launched in March of 2024.

Brook belongs to the Historical Novel Society and attends conferences as often as possible to study craft and meet fellow authors. In 2019, her novel Antonius: Son of Rome won a silver medal in the international Reader’s Favorite Book Reviewers Book Awards, then won First Place in the prestigious Chaucer Division in the Chanticleer International Book Awards, 2020. West of Santillane garnered international attention in Summer 2025 by becoming a Silver Medalist in the Independent Publishing Book Awards for best Mid-Atlantic Fiction. Also, it was a finalist for the Virginia Romance Writers Holt Medallion. Most recently, Brook appeared in Season 8 of Blueridge PBS’s WRITE AROUND THE CORNER.

Though she graduated from Asbury University with a B.A. in Music Education, Brook has always loved writing. She completed a Masters program at Hollins University with an emphasis in Ancient Roman studies, which helped prepare her for authoring her award-winning Antonius Trilogy.

Brook recently retired from public education and her personal interests include travel, cycling, hiking in the woods, reading, and spending downtime with her husband and big, black dog, Jak. She lives in the heart of southwest Virginia in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.

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The Blood of Others by Charity Eleson

 

Today, in the spotlight is The Blood of Others — a haunting historical novel set against the true events of the 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre.

✓ Inspired by real events that changed the American West

✓ A hidden truth buried beneath Mountain Meadows

✓ A boy forced to choose between survival and conscience

✓ A community bound together by silence

✓ History, loyalty, and the cost of belonging

✓ A coming-of-age story set against a devastating massacre

✓ Secrets that could cost everything

Check out the blurb:

On September 11, 1857, nearly 140 unarmed men,
women and children are slaughtered in Mountain Meadows, Utah. Those killed were part of the Fancher wagon train on its way from Arkansas to California. They had stopped in Mountain Meadows to rest their animals before the final trek over the Mojave Desert. After the massacre, Mormon families living and farming in the region rapidly coalesce around a story perpetuated by church leaders that a clan of Paiutes in the region is responsible for the murders. But, Malachi—a 15-year-old Shoshone boy bought and owned by a local Mormon farmer—knows the truth of what happened and realizes he can never reveal it if he wishes to live. Concealing that truth becomes increasingly difficult as events spin beyond his control, endangering him and those he loves. He is pushed to the breaking point when his two friends, a Paiute boy and a Mormon girl, imperil their own lives by trying to help him. It is then that he discovers strength he did not believe he had. The Blood of Others is set against the backdrop of true events. It explores the fatal compromises humans make to be accepted, and the courage that the power of love bestows.

The Blood of Others is available in both #Kindle and paperback. You can pick up your copy HERE.

Charity Eleson lives with her husband in the country just outside of Madison, Wisconsin. She is the author of Blessing's Key, Volume I of The Silver Thread Trilogy and Wayward Home. Wayward Home was awarded the Edna Ferber Fiction Book Honorable Mention in 2024. She is currently at work on completing the second and third novels in The Silver Thread Trilogy. When she is not writing, she spends much of her time outside gardening, hiking and enjoying the wonders of the earth. 

Editorial Book Review: A Woman Scorned by Marcia Clayton

As we step into March and leave the long shadows of winter behind, it feels fitting to begin the month with a story shaped by consequence, endurance, and quiet resilience. The Hartford Manor saga by Marcia Clayton has never shied away from exploring the complexities of family, pride, and power, and this latest instalment carries those themes forward with renewed intensity.

Grief has a way of reshaping a household, and within the imposing walls of Grantley Manor, it breeds something far darker than sorrow. With the death of Sir Edgar Grantley, the fragile balance that once existed between duty, resentment, and quiet endurance is shattered. For Lady Lilliana Grantley, widowhood does not bring grief — it brings opportunity.

In "A Woman Scorned", the fifth instalment in the Hartford Manor series, Marcia Clayton continues the narrative thread begun in "Millie’s Escape", drawing the reader once more into the complex and ever-expanding world of the Carter family. As with the previous volumes, this is not a story that begins anew; it deepens the tensions and grievances that have long simmered beneath the surface.

Lady Lilliana is consumed by bitterness. Years of living in a loveless marriage, overshadowed by Sir Edgar’s enduring attachment to Rosemary Gibbs, have left her pride wounded beyond repair. Though she sought independence through her own affairs, she remained unable to produce an heir, while her husband fathered children outside their marriage. That injustice, in her mind, is unforgivable. Now, with Sir Edgar gone, she is no longer restrained by appearances or obligation. Grievance hardens into resolve, and her attention turns with chilling clarity toward the destruction of the Gibbs family.

Clayton does not soften Lilliana’s cruelty, nor does she attempt to redeem her. Instead, she presents a woman ruled by vengeance and long-held resentment. While the reader may understand the roots of her anger, they cannot condone her actions. There is no gentleness in her pursuit of retribution, only a calculated determination to settle old scores.

In stark contrast stands the Carter family of Hartford. Once again, the reader is welcomed into a household defined not by wealth, but by loyalty and steadfast love. Betsey and Ned Carter offer stability in a world increasingly shaped by upheaval. Their modest home provides sanctuary to Millicent (Millie) and Jonathan, whose journey has already tested them beyond their years.

Millie continues to shine as one of the series’ most compelling young heroines. Though burdened by loss and uncertainty, she remains resolute. Her developing relationship with Willie Carter unfolds with quiet tenderness — a secret smile exchanged, a hand held a little longer than necessary. Their romance is gentle, hopeful, and profoundly emotional.

The lingering uncertainty surrounding Emily Gibbs — Millie’s grandmother — casts a long shadow over the narrative. Her absence deepens Millie’s vulnerability and intensifies the stakes. As Lady Lilliana moves with purpose against the Gibbs family, the sense of danger grows steadily rather than explosively. Clayton resists sensationalism. Instead, she allows tension to simmer, reminding the reader that cruelty often advances quietly and methodically.

Yet the novel is not without moments of relief. When Lord Robert Fellwood hears Millie’s story, there is a palpable shift in tone. For the first time, she is no longer standing alone against Lady Lilliana’s hostility. His willingness to listen — and to act — introduces a quiet but powerful sense of hope. In a narrative shaped by pride and retribution, this emerging support reassures the reader that Millie is no longer battling forces far greater than herself without allies.

Equally poignant is the closing image of Lady Eleanor Fellwood, watching from an upstairs window as Danny — the son she bore but did not raise — runs freely with the other children. It is a quiet yet devastating moment. Once unable to accept him because of his deformities, she now stands apart, a silent observer of the life she relinquished. Clayton captures the ache of consequence in a single reflective scene, allowing regret and unspoken emotion to linger without the need for dramatic confrontation.

The Hartford Manor series has always excelled in its portrayal of class and consequence, and this volume is no exception. Clayton once again captures the stark divide between privilege and poverty, revealing both kindness and cruelty across all levels of society. Yet it is within Hartford — among those who have known hardship — that compassion thrives most visibly.

As with the previous instalment, "A Woman Scorned" does not function as a standalone novel. The cast is extensive, and the emotional weight of the story depends upon familiarity with earlier volumes. Readers who have followed the saga from the beginning will find this continuation deeply rewarding, as long-standing conflicts evolve and relationships shift under mounting pressure.

Marcia Clayton once again demonstrates her ability to blend intimate domestic drama with broader social commentary. Themes of pride, inheritance, legitimacy, and power are woven seamlessly into the narrative, shaping both motive and consequence.

If you are already invested in the Hartford Manor saga, this fifth instalment will not disappoint. It delivers tension, moral complexity, and the continued evolution of characters who feel increasingly real with each passing volume. For readers who cherish sweeping family sagas set against a vividly realised historical backdrop, "A Woman Scorned" is a compelling and worthy continuation of this beautifully written series.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde
Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion

Check out the blurb:

1886 North Devon, England

Lady Lilliana Grantley has been seriously ill with typhoid, a disease that recently claimed her husband Edgar’s life and that of his long-time lover, Rosemary Gibbs. Now recovering at last, the lady wastes no tears on her husband but is determined to wreak revenge on his two illegitimate children.

Embarrassed for years by his affair with Rosemary, a childhood sweetheart living nearby, she has falsely accused Sir Edgar’s daughter, Millicent, of the theft of a precious brooch and wants to see her jailed or hung.

Fortunately for Millie and her little brother, Jonathan, their granny, Emily, insisted they leave home as soon as she heard of Sir Edgar’s death, for she knew his widow would seek revenge. The old lady was soon proved right, and Lady Lilliana, furious the two youngsters were nowhere to be found, evicted the old woman despite the fact she, too, was dangerously ill.

After a long and hazardous journey to North Devon, Millie and Jonathan were united with some long-lost family members who made them welcome and gave them a home. However, aware that Lady Lilliana has put a price on Millie’s head, they know they are not yet out of danger. Despite this, they are determined to find their granny, Emily, who seems to have disappeared.

Aided by her long-time lover, Sir Clive Robinson, Lady Lilliana is determined to find Millie and Jonnie and get them out of her life once and for all, but how far will the embittered woman go?

A Woman Scorned (Hartford Manor Book 5) by Marcia Clayton is available to purchase HERE.

A farmer’s daughter, Marcia Clayton, was born in North Devon, a rural and picturesque area in the far South West of England. When she left school, Marcia worked in a bank for several years until she married her husband, Bryan, and then stayed at home for a few years to care for her three sons, Stuart, Paul, and David. 

As the children grew older, Marcia worked as a Marie Curie nurse caring for the terminally ill and later for the local authority managing school transport. Now a grandmother, Marcia enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She is a keen researcher of family history, and this hobby inspired some of the characters in her books. Marcia and Bryan are keen gardeners and grow many of their own vegetables. 

An avid reader, Marcia can often be found with her nose in a book when she should be doing something else! Her favourite genres are historical fiction, romance, and crime books. Marcia has written five books in the historical family saga, “The Hartford Manor Series”, and is working on the sixth. Besides writing books, Marcia produces blogs to share with her readers in a monthly newsletter. 

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Escape of the Grand Duchess by Susan Appleyard

 

Set against the dramatic backdrop of imperial Russia’s final days, Escape of the Grand Duchess by Susan Appleyard brings to life the remarkable story of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna — a Romanov who defied a doomed fate. As war ravages Europe and revolution brews at home, Olga must navigate duty, love and survival in a world where privilege offers no protection. Rich in historical detail and driven by an unforgettable heroine, this is a powerful tale of resilience, sacrifice and the courage to begin again.

✓ Royal privilege stripped of illusion as an empire collapses.

✓ Forbidden love tested by duty and expectation.

✓ The harsh realities of the First World War.

✓ Revolution, danger and the fall of the Romanovs.

✓ Courage, survival and sacrifice.

✓ The choice between loyalty and escape.

Check out the blurb:

Escape of the Grand Duchess by Susan Appleyard is a gripping
historical novel that shatters the notion that royalty is synonymous with privilege and ease. At its heart is Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, the youngest sister of Tsar Nicholas II—a Romanov who defied a doomed destiny and survived.

Unlike her ill-fated brother and his family, Olga’s story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and daring escape. Trapped in a loveless marriage to a reckless gambler—who harbours secrets of his own—she finds hope in the arms of a dashing army lieutenant. But before she can claim her own happiness, she must first endure the brutal realities of World War I, where she serves as a nurse on the frontlines.

As the Russian Empire teeters on the brink of collapse, the infamous Siberian mystic Rasputin tightens his grip on the imperial court, setting the stage for revolution. With the Bolsheviks seizing power and the Romanovs marked for death, Olga faces an impossible choice: risk everything to stay or flee into the unknown with her true love and their children.

Rich in historical detail and driven by an unforgettable heroine, Escape of the Grand Duchess is a sweeping riches-to-rags tale of survival, love, and the strength it takes to forge a new life in the face of unimaginable upheaval.

Buy your copy of Escape of the Grand Duchess today and discover the Romanov story you’ve never been told. Pick up your copy HERE.

Susan was born in England, which is where she learned to love English history, and now lives in Canada in the summer. In winter she and her husband flee the cold for their second home in Mexico. Susan divides her time between writing and her hobby, oil painting, although writing will always be her first love. She was fortunate in having had two books published traditionally. Since joining the ebook crowd, she has published nine books, some of which have won various awards.

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February Reading Wrap-Up: Five Unforgettable Five-Star Reads

 

February may be the shortest month of the year, but it proved to be remarkably rich in storytelling. From haunting legends to historical intrigue and psychological tension, this month’s selections delivered depth, atmosphere and unforgettable characters. Each of the following titles earned a well-deserved five stars.

The Doomsong Legend by J. G. Harlond

Steeped in historical authenticity and layered with
quiet intensity, The Doomsong Legend is a novel that lingers long after the final page. J. G. Harlond crafts a narrative that feels both intimate and expansive, blending meticulous research with compelling characterisation. It is historical fiction at its most immersive — thoughtful, evocative and beautifully written.

A Plethora of Phantoms by Penny Hampson

Penny Hampson delivers a wonderfully atmospheric tale in A Plethora of Phantoms. Rich in intrigue and touched with the supernatural, this novel balances mystery with emotional depth. The storytelling is confident and engaging, drawing the reader into a world where the veil between past and present feels tantalisingly thin.

Rogues & Kings (Tales of Robin Hood) by Charlene Newcomb

Charlene Newcomb reimagines the legendary world
of Robin Hood with freshness and vitality. Rogues & Kings offers adventure, political tension and complex loyalties, all rendered with vivid prose. It is a compelling exploration of loyalty, power and justice — and a reminder of why these legends endure.

Julien’s Terror by Laura Rahme

Dark, gripping and psychologically astute, Julien’s Terror showcases Laura Rahme’s ability to build tension with precision. The narrative unfolds with an undercurrent of unease that steadily intensifies, keeping readers enthralled. It is a powerful and unsettling read that demonstrates the author’s command of suspense.

207 West End Avenue by Randie K. Berman

Randie K. Berman presents a poignant and perceptive novel in 207 West End Avenue. With nuanced character development and emotional resonance, the story captures the complexities of relationships and personal growth. It is heartfelt without sentimentality and quietly profound.

February’s reading has been a celebration of variety — historical depth, spectral intrigue, legendary adventure, psychological suspense and contemporary reflection. Each of these novels brought something distinctive and memorable to the table, reminding us why we read: to travel beyond our own experience and to encounter voices that stay with us.

Which books have defined your February reading? I would love to hear your recommendations.

Spanish House Secrets by Susan Gray

Today, I’m delighted to shine the spotlight on Spanish House Secrets by Susan Gray, a warm and engaging story woven with mystery, romance, and long-held secrets.

✓ A heart-warming story with mystery, romance, and hidden secrets

✓ A house with a past, spanning England and Spain

✓ An unexpected inheritance that changes everything

✓ Love, jealousy, and divided loyalties across generations

✓ A dual-timeline tale stretching from the 1920s to the present day

✓ A story of enduring love, painful loss, and long-buried truths

 A sprinkle of mystery...a dash of romance...nuggets of hidden secrets combined with an unexpected inheritance and a lingering resentment, provide the ingredients for this engaging, heart warming story.

England 2019. Grace's childhood memories are stirred by the sound of a familiar melody. Her home in 1950's England was a Spanish house. An unusual house. A house with secrets. She begins to wonder...who built it and why?

England 1921. Loveable, likeable, Simon receives a letter on the eve of his twenty first birthday - a letter that will change the course of his life. News of an unexpected inheritance uncovers secrets surrounding his birth, which spark sibling jealousy. Viewing his property in Spain he is wowed by it's design and decides to build a replica in his hometown. As he embraces business life in two countries, he unwittingly becomes English Simon and Spanish Simon - spurred on by his love for two women.

Spain 1922. Elise has experienced many harsh blows in her young life. Returning to her home near Madrid she knows she must pick herself up and move on. Can she continue to live in this Spanish house? The arrival of a visitor creates a new dimension for her.

In 1920's England, dainty, demure Olivia has much to be thankful for: a beautiful house, a thriving business, a deep love...but a nagging doubt. In the last years of the Roaring Twenties this doubt is compounded by the discovery of a discarded item.

Spanning forty years, Spanish House Secrets is a tale of enduring love, painful loss and surprising secrets.

Spanish House Secrets is available now on #Kindle, paperback, and #KindleUnlimited. Choose your format and settle in for a warm, intriguing story of love, mystery, and hidden truths. Pick up your copy HERE.

'Never to old to follow your dreams' has become Susan Gray's mantra since beginning to write novels after celebrating a significant birthday. Susan endeavours to entwine the genres of mystery and romance and sets her novels in the early Twentieth Century. She lives with her husband in northeast England, setting her books in this picturesque area. She has a son and daughter, both married, two granddaughters and a grand dog. When not writing she loves to spend time reading, puzzling, walking and catching up with friends over a coffee. She enjoys travelling and tries to include many of the places she has visited in her books. Her plots are inspired by 'life' and how her characters navigate the waters. She loves to 'people watch' and creates her characters based on the many strangers she has observed. She has written six novels. SPANISH HOUSE SECRETS was her debut novel and is now joined by another standalone novel BLOSSOMING OF TRUTH. 

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Try Before You Trust: To All Gentlewomen and Other Maids in Love by Constance Briones

 

I’m delighted to shine the spotlight on Try Before You Trust: To All Gentlewomen and Other Maids in Love by Constance Briones

✓ A bold reimagining of love and female voice in Elizabethan England

✓ Inspired by the real poet Isabella Whitney

✓ A young woman challenging silence in a male-dominated literary world

✓ Pamphlet wars, passion, and the cost of speaking out

✓ A story of resilience, ambition, and defying the status quo

Check out the blurb:

What if Taylor Swift found herself penning songs about love in
Elizabethan England when women were required to be chaste, obedient, and silent?

Isabella Whitney, an ambitious and daring eighteen-year-old maidservant turned poet, sets out to do just that. Having risked reputation and virtue by allowing her passions for her employer's aristocratic nephew to get the better of her, Isabella Whitney enters the fray of the pamphlet wars, a scurrilous debate on the merits of women.

She's determined to make her mark by becoming the first woman to write a poem defending women in love, highlighting the deceptive practices of the men who woo them. Her journey to publication is fraught with challenges as she navigates through the male-dominated literary world and the harsh realities of life in sixteenth-century London for a single woman.

Loosely based on the life of Elizabethan poet Isabella Whitney, this is a compelling tale of a young woman's resilience and determination to challenge the status quo and leave her mark in a world that was not ready for her.

Try Before You Trust: To All Gentlewomen and Other Maids in Love is available now in ebook and paperback. Choose your format and discover this bold, brilliant story of love, words, and women daring to be heard. Pick up your copy HERE.

Constance Briones has a Master's in Woman's History, which informs her writing.

She first learned about the subject of her debut historical fiction novel, the sixteenth-century English poet Isabella Whitney, while doing research for her thesis on literacy and women in Tudor England. Isabella Whitney's gusty personality to defy the conventions of her day, both in her thinking and actions, impressed Constance enough to imagine that she would make a very engaging literary heroine.

As a writer, Constance is interested in highlighting the little-known stories of women in history. She is a contributing writer to Historical Times, an online magazine. When not writing, she lends her time as an educational docent for her town's historical society.

She contently lives in Connecticut with her husband and Maine coon sibling cats, Thor and Percy.

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Love Lost in Time by Cathie Dunn

 

Today, I’m delighted to shine the spotlight on Love Lost in Time by Cathie Dunn. It is a sweeping tale of love, loss, and redemption that carries readers across time and emotion.

✓ A dual-timeline story set in modern France and the early medieval Mediterranean

✓ A haunted inheritance, ancient bones, and a mystery buried beneath the floorboards

✓ A young woman torn between duty, forbidden beliefs, and unexpected love

✓ Dark secrets, romantic connections, and hints of the paranormal

✓ Two women separated by centuries, bound by the search for truth and peace

Check out the blurb:

A reluctant daughter. A dutiful wife. A mystery of
the ages.

Languedoc, France, 2018

Historian Madeleine Winters would rather research her next project than rehash the strained relationship she had with her late mother. However, to claim her inheritance, she reluctantly agrees to stay the one year required in her late mother’s French home and begins renovations. But when she’s haunted by a female voice inside the house and tremors emanating from beneath her kitchen floorboards, she’s shocked to discover ancient human bones.

The Mediterranean coast, AD 777

Seventeen-year-old Nanthild is wise enough to know her place. Hiding her Pagan wisdom and dutifully accepting her political marriage, she’s surprised when she falls for her Christian husband, the Count of Carcassonne. But she struggles to keep her forbidden religious beliefs and her healing skills secret while her spouse goes off to fight in a terrible, bloody war.

As Maddie settles into her rustic village life, she becomes obsessed with unraveling the mysterious history buried in her new home. And when Nanthild is caught in the snare of an envious man, she’s terrified she’ll never embrace her beloved again.

Can two women torn apart by centuries help each other finally find peace?

Love Lost in Time is a vivid standalone historical fiction novel for fans of epoch-spanning enigmas. If you like dark mysteries, romantic connections, and hints of the paranormal, then you’ll adore Cathie Dunn’s tale of redemption and self-discovery. 

Available in #Kindle, paperback, and hardback — and included with #KindleUnlimited — Love Lost in Time is ready to sweep you away. You can find your copy HERE.

Cathie is an Amazon-bestselling author of historical fiction, dual-timeline, mystery, and romance. She loves to infuse her stories with a strong sense of place and time, combined with a dark secret or mystery – and a touch of romance. Often, you can find her deep down the rabbit hole of historical research…

 

In addition, she is also a historical fiction book promoter with The Coffee Pot Book Club, a novel-writing tutor, and a keen reviewer on her blog, Ruins & Reading.

 

After having lived in Scotland for almost two decades, Cathie is now enjoying the sunshine in the south of France with her husband, and her rescued pets, Ellie Dog & Charlie Cat. 

She is a member of the Historical Novel Society, the Richard III Society, the Alliance of Independent Authors, and the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

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