Ripples Through Time by Christina Courtenay - #bookreview #blogtour

West Mercia, Spring AD 873

"Hurry, you're wanted in the hall!"

Merewen looked up from the cough mixture she was preparing in the small hut she used for such tasks. Her younger sister, Aelfwynn, had pulled the door open and stuck her head inside, panting slightly...

The Blurb

A love that will change them forever

A treasure that will bring them home

West Mercia, AD 873 – Merewen's settlement is on guard against the outside threat of the ‘Heathen’ Norsemen. But for Merewen, the real threats come from within, as her future is cruelly snatched away from her.

Eirik, a Norseman, finds himself abandoned and injured after his uncle’s plunder of Mercian land goes wrong. He thinks his fate is sealed – until Merewen saves his life.

Hereford, Present Day – Left reeling after a huge betrayal, Alix moves to her grandfather's farm in Hereford to heal her broken heart. There, after being given a family heirloom, she soon finds herself haunted by memories of a life she never lived, a relationship she never had, and a time in which she never existed.

Local farmer Noah is being hounded by the police to find the Viking hoard that his sister and her criminal boyfriend stole from his farm. Noah must prove his own innocence while struggling to decipher the curious connection he has to newcomer Alix – a bond that seems to transcend their own reality.

As they search for the lost treasure, Alix and Noah start to feel the whispers of a love they never expected, one powerful enough to echo through history.

My Review

Christina Courtenay is an author whose books I have been meaning to try for ages. When I was offered a copy of this book to review, I was very pleased to accept.

This is a dual timeline novel, and moves between AD 873 and the present day. In the earlier setting, the main character is Merewen, a healer who stumbles across an injured Norseman, Eirik, who is an enemy of her people. Despite this, her compassionate heart leads her to help Eirik, and it is not long before an attraction between them evolves.

In the present day, Alix's grandfather has given her his house when he moves into more suitable accommodation. She is in desperate need of a fresh start, so this has come at the perfect time for her.

Alix's neighbour, Noah, lives with his sister, Niamh, on a nearby farm, and there seems to be some strange connection between Alix and Noah, even though they have never met before.

Both strands of the story read extremely well, and I was gripped by them both. The author portrays both the characters and the settings with enough detail to make them utterly believable. 

The story moves along at a sensible pace for the genre and moves seamlessly from one time period to the other, whilst deftly connecting the two stories together.  The author is clearly a great storyteller.

I enjoyed reading this very much, and will definitely be reading more by this author. She has woven together this story with skill, and I enjoyed it very much.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a dual timeline novel, historical fiction or  romance, both contemporary or historical. 

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1035418633

Publisher:  Headline Review

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  304 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Christina Courtenay writes historical romance, time slip/dual time and time travel stories, and lives in Herefordshire (near the Welsh border) in the UK. Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden – hence her abiding interest in the Vikings. 

Christina is a Vice President and former chairman and of the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association and has won several awards, including the RoNA for Best Historical Romantic Novel twice with Highland Storms (2012) and The Gilded Fan (2014) and the RNA Fantasy Romantic Novel of the year 2021 with Echoes of the Runes.  RIPPLES THROUGH TIME (dual time historical romance published by Headline Review 21st November 2025) is her latest novel. Christina is a keen amateur genealogist and loves history and archaeology (the armchair variety).

You can also find Christina at:

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(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

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Maiden Voyage by Bradley Harper - #bookspotlight #blogtour

I am delighted to be shining the spotlight on Maiden Voyage - Love and Larceny Aboard the Titanic by Bradley Harper.  

The Blurb

Three female thieves, a priceless painting, and a Pinkerton agent aboard the Titanic. What could go wrong?

Colette DuVall, a young jewel thief from Canada, follows Mary Carr, the 'Queen' of the criminal gang The Forty Elephants, aboard the Titanic to steal a painting by the French master, Blondell. Her resolve weakens when she meets Harry Worth, a young Pinkerton agent hired to safeguard the wealthy passengers during the ship's maiden voyage. Harry, the son of master criminal Adam Worth, questions his role as a private policeman exacting private justice, and his doubts deepen after losing his heart to the charming Colette. Can two people on opposite sides of the law find love and survive the sinking of the largest object ever made?

Loyalties collide as fiercely as the ship with the iceberg, and as the three struggle to escape the foundering colossus, they find love is the greatest thief of all.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1963832389

Publisher:  Artemesia Publishing

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  300 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org US

Amazon

Indigo CA

About the Author

Bradley Harper is a retired US Army Colonel and pathologist who has performed over two-hundred autopsies and some twenty forensic investigations. A life-long fan of Sherlock Holmes, he did intensive research for this debut novel, A KNIFE IN THE FOG, including a trip to London's East End with noted Jack the Ripper historian Richard Jones. Harper’s first novel was published in October 2018 and was a finalist for the 2019 Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America for Best First Novel by an American Author and won the Killer Nashville 2019 Silver Falchion for Best Mystery. Harper’s second novel, QUEEN’S GAMBIT, was awarded the Killer Nashville 2020 Silver Falchion Award as Best Suspense and Book of the Year. 

MAIDEN VOYAGE is Harper’s fourth book.

You can also find Bradley at:

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Christmas Wishes at the Station Book Shop by Margaret Amatt - #bookreview #blogtour

Being single, jobless, and glaring at puddles from a railway footbridge like she was auditioning for a discount version of The Girl on the Train wasn't how Scarlett Finch had expected to spend her twenty-fifth birthday...

The Blurb

After one toxic relationship too many and more failed jobs than she can count, spirited Scarlett Finch has lost her sparkle and doesn’t think she can face this year’s festive season. The last thing she expects is to land a Christmas job at Glenbriar’s Little Station Bookshop, especially not thanks to a slightly unhinged older woman with a parrot, a pug, a wild imagination, and some crackpot ideas for displays – not to mention a flair for making unexpected decisions, like hiring Scarlett without telling the owner.

Widowed dad-of-three Lloyd Miller is just trying to keep life on track. Between moving house, juggling his day job, and preparing to take over the bookshop from his retired mum, the chaos inside the shop is the last thing he needs, particularly when it includes Scarlett, the woman he shared a no-strings summer fling with… and hasn’t stopped thinking about since.

While Glenbriar twinkles with Christmas lights, both Scarlett and Lloyd are haunted by their pasts, drawn together in their present, and uncertain of their future.

A bookshop full of anonymous wishes might just give them the courage to make their own – but with neither convinced they deserve a second chance, it’ll take more than festive magic to open the book on a new romance. They can’t change the past – but they can still choose how the story goes.

My Review

This was a delightful book to read in the run up to Christmas.

Although it is book 16 in the Glenbriar series, I have not read any of the previous books and coming in at this stage in the series had no effect on my enjoyment of the book. That said, I would now love to go back and read some of the earlier books, as I adored this one.

The chapters are alternated and told from the perspective of the main characters, Scarlett and Lloyd. They originally met in the summer whilst both in a bad place. Consequently, the sparks flew and they fell into a quick but passionate fling. However, neither has been able to forget the other and when they accidentally meet again, the chemistry is still there, but so is a whole load of baggage.

I really enjoyed getting to know these characters. They are both excellently portrayed and I was rooting for them all the way, despite the numerous hurdles that need to be overcome in order for them to become a couple.

The minor characters are equally equally well depicted. I loved Eunice with her pug and foul mouthed parrot and Eve, who is Lloyd's teenage daughter, left me just wanting to give her a huge hug. 

The titular Station Bookshop was every bit as important to the plot as the characters were. The author has created a fantastic sense of place in this novel. I loved the concept of the Christmas Wishing Tree and of the Icelandic festival of Jólabókaflóð (Christmas Book Flood) whereby people exchange books as gifts on Christmas Eve then read and drink hot chocolate. What a glorious way to begin the Christmas period.

The book has a warm and feel-good effect and was a real treat to read. This is a lovely book to read and enjoy as we approach Christmas, or even to gift to a loved one. In fact, one of my family members will love this book and she will definitely be finding a copy of this under her tree.

If, like me, you would like to read the whole series of books, the first book in the Glenbriar series is Stolen Kisses at the Loch View Hotel and is available on Kindle Unlimited. Whether you start at the beginning or with Christmas Wishes at the Station Books Shop, as I have, I guarantee you will enjoy it every bit as much as I have.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1914575228

Publisher:  Leannan Press

Formats:  e-book and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages:  358 (paperback)

Series:  Book 16 in the Glenbriar series

Purchase Links

Amazon UK 

Amazon US

About the Author

Margaret Amatt is a bestselling Scottish author, professional daydreamer, and certified chocolate addict. She’s been making up stories for as long as she can remember – some of them even made it onto paper (and, tragically, onto floppy disks that no computer can read anymore). After two decades of writing in secret, she finally unleashed her first novel on the world in 2021, kicking off a ten-book series set on the stunning Isle of Mull.

But why stop there? She’s also the creator of The Glenbriar Series, where romance, small-town drama, and a pinch of spice keep readers coming back for more. This series is still going strong, with more books planned!

Margaret has spent her whole life in Scotland’s breath-taking Highland Perthshire, despite her entire extended family coming from the Glasgow area. Her books are romantic and emotional, sweet and funny, and each one can be read as a standalone, but long-time readers know the joy of familiar faces popping up, adding to the chaos.

So, if you love relatable characters, sizzling chemistry, and plenty of banter, you’re in the right place – just don’t blame Margaret when you stay up way too late reading just one more chapter.

You can also find Margaret at:

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(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

Not Pop Pop by Angela De Groot & Illustrated by MacKenzie Haley - #bookreview

Yay! It's library day.

The doors SWISH open.

I slide my old books down the chute.

The Blurb

In this sweet and tender picture book, a trip to the library turns into an adventure in kindness and a reminder that people experiencing homelessness deserve compassion and respect--just like every human.

During a visit to the library, Brian is sure he sees his Pop-Pop around the corner--same eyes, same beard, same bushy eyebrows.

Nope, that's not Pop-Pop!

This man brushes his teeth in the restroom and his sneakers are patched with duct tape. Some people make frowny faces and even call him mean words, but Not Pop-Pop loves books, puzzles, and turtles, just like Brian.

He may not be Brian's pop-pop, but could he be someone's?

Not Pop-Pop also includes a kid-friendly resource for adults to begin conversations about homelessness, empathy, and ways that anyone can make a big difference in the life of a person in need.

My Review

Not Pop Pop is a touching story and is perfect for sharing with children. 

The story begins with a young boy, Brian, and his mum entering the library to exchange his books. When he thinks he spots his own Pop Pop he becomes very excited but soon realises that it is not his Pop Pop. Instead, he finds a man who is shabbily dressed, who brushes his teeth in the sink in the library toilets and who seems to be living in his car. 

This realisation leads to his mum explaining to him about homelessness. Whilst, other library users are disapproving and even call Pop Pop unwelcome names, his mum is able to teach him about compassion and understanding of those less fortunate than ourselves.

The colourful illustrations by MacKenzie Healey support the text perfectly and will catch the eye of young readers. 

Additionally, at the back of the book are sections about homelessness intended for both children and their parents/carers.  Headed as Understanding Homelessness, How we can Help and For Parents, Caregivers and Teachers, there is something for everyone in this lovely picture book.

November is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month in the US and an ideal time to share this book with little ones. In the UK we mark World Homeless Day on the 10th October. That said, this would be a marvellous book to share with children at any time and to introduce this important issue.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 0593578926

Publisher:  Waterbrook Press

Formats:  e-book and hardback

No. of Pages: 40 (hardback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Angela De Groot was born in England, grew up in South Africa, and now lives in New Jersey with her family. 

Angela’s debut picture book, NOT POP-POP (PRH/Waterbrook) is a 2025 Moon Beam Gold Medal Winner for Compassion and a 2025 Anna Dewdney Read-Together Award finalist. Angela hopes that her writing inspires curiosity and compassion while creating worlds that readers can find and lose themselves in. 

A lifelong lover of reading and writing, Angela teaches ESL and Basic Literacy at her local library. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her in the garden talking to the birds. 

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(book and media courtesy of the author)

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Charles II's Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza by Susan Abernethy - #bookreview

 

Shortly before the union of the crowns, the financing of the India fleets and the operation of the royal spice monopoly had become too much for the Crown to manage...

The Blurb

Catherine of Braganza has regularly been referred to as ‘the forgotten queen’ and there is much truth in this statement. Following her death in 1705, a fully detailed biography in English remained unwritten until 1915. The last major bio published about her was in Portuguese in 1941 and it has never been translated into English. Despite her sheltered and religious upbringing, she made a spectacular marriage that was plagued by the infidelities of her husbands. Readers can readily find published biographies of Charles II’s many glamourous mistresses, but curiously, little on his wife. 

This new work presents more comprehensive information on Catherine’s life in Portugal than previous biographies and integrates new scholarship regarding Catherine’s practice of queenship and patronage of Catholic Baroque culture in an effort to carve out a prominent role at the Stuart court and to compete with her rivals. Readers familiar with Catherine’s story may learn some delightful new details about her life. Catherine has never been forgotten in Portugal. She considered herself Portuguese at heart and during her reign as Queen of England, she persistently looked out for Portuguese interests. In her own words, she considered her marriage a personal sacrifice to what was best for her home country. She is one of the few dowager queens in history to return to her homeland where she acted as regent for her brother. 

This biography places Catherine within the context of the history of Portugal and their seaborne empire, and the strong political and commercial ties between England and Portugal dating to the mid-fourteenth century which played a key role in the culmination of the Marriage Treaty of 1661. Her legacy lives on in her dowry, specifically the port of Bombay which allowed England to become a global empire, introducing many everyday items into European culture.

My Review

History is full of the stories of kings and other great men. But what about the queens who served alongside them? In this book, the author, Susan Abernethy, brings to the fore the life and legacy of Catherine of Braganza.

Catherine was the wife of Charles II, a little-known queen who I am pleased to have learned more about in this informative book. She may be the 'forgotten queen' here in the UK, but in her homeland of Portugal, her legacy lives on to this day.  In addition, she had a significant influence on English culture.

In this book, Catherine's story is sandwiched between the history of the time before and after her death. The author portrays the political upheaval of the period before Catherine's arrival as the bride of Charles II. Indeed, it demonstrates why the British looked to Portugal to provide a queen for the king, and this has clearly been extensively researched. 

My heart went out to Catherine on many occasions. Not only was she parted from her family in Portugal and all that was familiar to her, sent to a country where she neither spoke the language nor understood the English culture, but she also had to contend with a string of mistresses that her husband, the king, openly flaunted before her and society.

The author provides the reader with glimpses into the primary sources with the inclusion of letters and contemporary accounts, all of which blend together to provide this excellent narrative of Catherine's life.

The author has done a great job in celebrating Catherine's life in this book. She has elevated a little-known, female historical figure, bringing her to the fore in this excellent book.

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1036121648

Publisher:  Pen & Sword

Formats:  Hardback

No. of Pages:  248

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Pen & Sword Books

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Blackwell's

About the Author

Susan Abernethy has a degree in history and is a member of the Rocky Mountain Medieval and Renaissance Association, the Society for Renaissance Studies, the Historical Writers Association and The Historical Association.  Her blog, The Freelance History Writer has been continuously publishing historical articles since 2012, with an emphasis on European, Tudor, medieval, Renaissance, Early Modern and Women’s history.  

Susan's latest book, The Formidable Women Who Shaped Medieval Europe is due to be published on 30th November and is available for pre-ordered here.

You can also find Susan at:

Author Website

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Catherine of Braganza

King Charles II

(ARC and media courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

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A Week in the Life of Amelia Nash by Sarah Healey - #bookreview

“My mother, of course, was never boring. At the house in Lucas Street she took a hammer to the wall in the middle of the night.”

The Blurb

Amy hasn’t spoken to her mother for seventeen years, but a sense of duty brings her to the hospital when she’s told that her mother is unconscious and dying. As she sits, solitary, at the bedside, she tells the story of her turbulent childhood, dragged along in the wake of her volatile, destructive mother.

After an acrimonious divorce, Amy’s mother rushes through a succession of unreliable boyfriends and plunges herself and her young daughter into a series of temporary homes, including a dangerous hostel, a flimsy caravan, an artists’ commune with no electricity and bird droppings in the hearth, and a rented house that she smashes and burns to the ground. When stability at last comes into their lives, Amy’s mother seems determined to destroy it, leading to a final, devastating betrayal.

This is the story of a vicious love-hate relationship, a bond that can never really be broken, and a life spent seeking a home.

My Review

This is a powerful book which has been beautifully written and fully deserves the five stars I have given it.

It is a short book at only 176 pages, but each one of those has been superbly executed. Each word has been crafted and placed with care, and the result is this absolute gem of a book.

It tells the story of Amy, who has received a call informing her that her mother, the titular Amelia Nash, has had a stroke and is dying. They have been estranged for many years, but as Amy sits by her hospital bedside, she mentally revisits the toxic relationship they have shared, from childhood to the present day.

It is a tale of a complex relationship but was told with humanity and sensitivity. The book deals with some difficult themes, but the author treats her characters with compassion. It is brutal but honest, and makes for excellent reading.

At some point in our lives, many of us will sit at the bedside of a dying parent, and this book will resonate with many readers. However, this book never felt depressing because it was obvious from the outset that Amy would find her own way in life.

Sarah Healey is an author I have never read before. Based on the quality of this book, I will definitely be reading some of her back catalogue and looking forward to what she might bring us in the future.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1915975164

Publisher:  Portland Press

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  176 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Blackwell's

About the Author

Having worked for ten years as a criminal defence lawyer in busy courts and police stations, Sarah Healey settled down in the far reaches of West Cornwall to live a quiet life, writing and editing books.

 She is the author of five novels, Red Blue Green, Having Fun, The Day of the Trial, The Night Watch and A Week in the Life of Amelia Nash.

You can also find Sarah at:

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(book and media courtesy of the author)

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Kittiwake Stormhaven and the Pirate's Portolano by Victoria Williamson - #bookspotlight #blogtour

The Blurb

A daring mission, a sister turned pirate and a sea full of secrets…

In a world of water where land is a legend, 11-year-old Kittiwake Stormhaven dreams of adventure aboard the Amazon Princess. When a vital mission takes the ship into dangerous waters, Kittiwake discovers shocking news - her long-lost sister, Petrel, is now a feared pirate queen.

Kittiwake must outsmart pirates, outmanoeuvre storms and face ghostly captains to save her ship, her mischievous monkey Caboodle and her friends. But in a high-stakes showdown, family loyalty collides with survival, and Kittiwake learns the ocean hides more secrets than she ever imagined.

Kittiwake Stormhaven is a fast-paced, sea-swept adventure filled with daring rescues, thrilling discoveries and the magic of friendship.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 0722355732

Publisher:  Tiny Tree Books

Formats:  e-book, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  174 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Amazon CA

About the Author

Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author from Glasgow, Scotland, who loved reading 

books and writing adventure stories from an early age. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching maths and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK.

Her previous novels include The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, Hag Storm, War of the Wind, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, Norah’s Ark, The Whistlers in the Dark, Feast of Ashes, and Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs. Her books have won the RED Book Award 2024, YA-aldi Glasgow Secondary School Libraries Book Award 2023 and the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award 2020/2021, and have been short-listed and long-listed for numerous other awards. War of the Wind and Norah’s Ark were also both nominated for the 2024 Yoto Carnegie Medals.

Victoria writes and edits Key Stage 2 books for the education company Twinkl. She spends the rest of her time writing novels and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops. Her latest novel, Kittiwake Stormhaven and the Pirate’s Portolano, channels her love of pirates and swashbuckling adventure to create a steampunk world set on the seven seas, and is illustrated by the very talented James Brown.

You can also find Victoria at:

Author Website

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(media courtesy of The Write Reads)

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