By Paul Bennett
Lady Merryweather has had a shocking year. Apprehended for the murder of her husband the year before, and only recently released, she hopes a trip away from London will allow her to grieve. The isolated, but much loved, Cragside Estate in North Northumberland, home of her friends, Lord and Lady Bradbury, holds special memories for her.
But, no sooner has she arrived than the body of one of the guests is found on the estate, and suspicion immediately turns on her. Perhaps, there are no friendships to be found here, after all.
Released, due to a lack of evidence, Lady Ella returns to Cragside only to discover a second murder has taken place in her absence, and one she can’t possibly have committed.
Quickly realising that these new murders must be related to that of her beloved husband, Lady Merryweather sets out to solve the crime, once and for all. But there are many who don’t want her to succeed, and as the number of murder victims increases, the possibility that she might well be the next victim, can’t be ignored.
Journey to the 1930s Cragside Estate, to a period house-party where no one is truly safe, and the estate is just as deadly as the people.
Pick up your copy of Cragside
MJ Porter
I'm an author of historical fiction (Early English/Saxon, Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest, as well as three 20th-century mysteries) and fantasy (Viking age/dragon-themed). I have also written my first non-fiction book, The Royal Women Who Made England: The Women of the Tenth Century available now.
I was born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since 1066. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building, told from a very young age that it housed the bones of long-dead kings of Mercia and that our garden was littered with old pieces of pottery from a long-ago battle, it's little wonder that my curiosity in Early England ran riot. I can only blame my parents!
I like to write. You've been warned!
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“The plot has its twists and turns to keep readers intrigued…to the very end. A great comfort read that will soothe the spirit with renewed hope and faith.” Readers’ Favorite five-star review
A HISTORICAL NOVEL OF FINDING HEALING AND A SECOND CHANCE AT LOVE
In the early 1900s, quiet and reserved Molly Lund finds refuge from her past at the Nelsons’ farm in Minnesota. In an attempt to turn a new page in her life, Molly works at making peace with her losses and coming to terms with the disfiguring burns on her face.
Samuel Woodson, the Nelsons’ hired hand, carries his own cares. Split from his family and bearing a burden of misplaced guilt for an act that haunts him, Samuel–seeing past Molly’s scars–draws her out of her self-protective shell.
Molly and Samuel form a friendship, but just as their hearts lead them deeper, an unexpected guest comes calling, demanding what’s his.
Will Molly and Samuel find a way to be together or will they be separated, due to impediments beyond their control? Can they trust in God’s plan and travel a path that heals the hurts of the past?
Readers of historical fiction, Christian historical fiction, and Christian historical romance will delight in this beautifully wrought story of the healing power of love.
A Regency romance anthology perfect for curing the wintertime blues. GL Robinson, Audrey Harrison, Penny Hampson, Judith Hale Everett, Christina Dudley, and Jayne Davis have collaborated to bring you six delightful short stories, which include:
Advice to Young Ladies, by Jayne Davis
An unexpected courtship between two people, both wary of fortune hunters, is threatened when the gentleman makes a disastrous discovery.
A Christmas Wish, by Penny Hampson
When a disfigured army officer inherits the guardianship of a young girl, he never dreams she would be in the charge of a charming and pretty teacher.
Epiphany Day, by Christina Dudley
Blindness and deception are no match for love, when a spinster schoolmistress is drawn into nursing an injured rogue.
The Viscount’s Christmas Runaway, by Audrey Harrison
A young lady’s flight from a horrific marriage proposal forces her to a life on the London streets, but the kindness of a stranger may lead her to a happily ever after.
A Worthy Alteration, by Judith Hale Everett
At a house party to woo a beauty, a carefree lord cannot comprehend why his thoughts are consumed by the plight of the drab little governess.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, by GL Robinson
Obliged by an accident to spend Christmas in a reclusive family’s cottage, a man of the world finds himself increasingly taken by the unconventional manners of the lively daughter.
A word from Penny Hampson
A Winter’s Romance is an anthology of short stories by six different romance writers. All the stories are set during the Regency, so if you enjoy novels by Julia Quinn (Bridgerton), Georgette Heyer, or Mary Balogh, you might enjoy finding out what other modern authors have to say about this period.
The theme is winter. Now this can conjure up happy scenes of Christmas celebrations, snow-filled landscapes, feasting and general merriment; it can also be a time of sadness. My story, ‘A Christmas Wish’, blends a few elements of both.
Jane Mortimer is not looking forward to Christmas. She is a teacher at a school in Bath, with no family and no finances. At the mercy of the headmistress, who wants her to lie about conditions at the school in order to secure funds, Jane is conflicted. If she lies she will keep her job, but if she tells the truth she will lose her position and become homeless.
The test will come with the arrival of her favourite pupil’s new guardian, Lt Colonel Nicholas Anstruther, the man she is expected to lie to.
Nicholas has a few problems of his own. As a single man, he doesn’t want the care of a child he has never met. He’s unlikely to marry, for who wants a badly scarred soldier with only one good eye? The only life he’s known is the army.
In fact, the only person optimistic about his visit is Meg, Nicholas’ ward and Jane’s favourite pupil.
How will things work out? Well, Christmas is coming and Meg believes that wishes made then will come true.
A Winter’s Romance is a Regency romance anthology perfect for curing the wintertime blues. GL Robinson, Audrey Harrison, Penny Hampson, Judith Hale Everett, Christina Dudley, and Jayne Davis have collaborated to bring you six delightful short stories. Pre-order it now! Release date 4th November.
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Penny Hampson writes mysteries, and because she has a passion for history, you’ll find her stories also reflect that. A Gentleman’s Promise, a traditional Regency romance, was Penny’s debut novel and the first of her Gentlemen Series. There are now three novels in the series, with the fourth, An Adventurer’s Contract, due to be released by the end of 2024.
Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).
Penny’s books are all available on Amazon: viewauthor.at/Pennysbooks