The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour presents: The Rune Stone by Julia Ibbotson

 

Book Title: The Rune Stone

Series: Dr DuLac series, book #3

Author: Julia Ibbotson

Publication Date: December 8th, 2021

Publisher: Archbury Books 

Pages: 294 (ebook) / 376 (paperback)

Genre: historical romance (timeslip mystery)

Any Triggers: n/a

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/01/blog-tour-the-rune-stone-by-julia-ibbotson.html 

The Rune Stone 

by Julia Ibbotson

A haunting time-slip mystery of runes and romance

When Dr Viv DuLac, medievalist and academic, finds a mysterious runic inscription on a Rune Stone in the graveyard of her husband’s village church, she unwittingly sets off a chain of circumstances that disturb their quiet lives in ways she never expected.

She, once again, feels the echoes of the past resonate through time and into the present. Can she unlock the secrets of the runes in the life of the 6th century Lady Vivianne and in Viv’s own life?

Again, lives of the past and present intertwine alarmingly as Viv desperately tries to save them both, without changing the course of history.

For fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, Christina Courtenay.

Praise for Julia Ibbotson:

(for A Shape on the Air) “In the best Barbara Erskine tradition …I would highly recommend this novel” -Historical Novel Society

(for the series) “Julia does an incredible job of setting up the idea of time-shift so that it’s believable and makes sense” – book tour reviewer

(for The Rune Stone) “beautifully written”, “absorbing and captivating”, “fully immersive”, “wonderfully written characters”, “a skilled story teller” – Amazon reviewers

“Dr Ibbotson has created living, breathing characters that will remain in the reader’s mind long after the book is read … The characters are brought to life beautifully with perfect economy of description … fabulous!” – Melissa Morgan 

“A rich and evocative time-slip novel that beautifully and satisfyingly concludes this superb trilogy. The story is woven seamlessly and skilfully between the past and the present and the reader is drawn deeply into both worlds.  Her portrayal of the 6th century and its way of life are authoritative, vivid and memorable.” – Kate Sullivan

Universal Buy Link:  https://myBook.to/TRS

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and the concept of time. She is the author of historical mysteries with a frisson of romance. Her books are evocative of time and place, well-researched and uplifting page-turners. Her current series focuses on early medieval time-slip/dual-time mysteries. 

Julia read English at Keele University, England, specialising in medieval language/ literature/ history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics. 

After a turbulent time in Ghana, West Africa, she became a school teacher, then a university academic and researcher. Her break as an author came soon after she joined the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2015, with a three-book deal from Lume Books for a trilogy (Drumbeats) set in Ghana in the 1960s. 

She has published five other books, including A Shape on the Air, an Anglo-Saxon timeslip mystery, and its two sequels The Dragon Tree and The Rune Stone. Her work in progress is a new series of Anglo-Saxon mystery romances, beginning with Daughter of Mercia, where echoes of the past resonate across the centuries. 

Julia’s novels will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful story-telling’, ‘evocative and well-paced storylines’, ‘brilliant and fascinating’ and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’.

Amazon Author page:  Author.to/JuliaIbbotsonauthor

Author website & blog: www.juliaibbotsonauthor.com

Facebook (author):  https://www.facebook.com/JuliaIbbotsonauthor

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/JuliaIbbotson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia.ibbotson

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/juliai1/

Goodreads author page:  https://www.goodreads.com/juliaibbotson

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/juliaibbotson.bsky.social

The Coffee Pot Book Club presents: The Welsh Warrior's Inheritance by Arianwen Nunn

Book Title: The Welsh Warrior’s Inheritance

Series: The Welsh Warrior Series

Author: Arianwen Nunn

Publication Date: November 21st, 2023

Publisher: Historium Press

Pages: 554

Genre: Historical Fiction

Any Triggers: Some fighting but not overly graphic

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/01/blog-tour-the-welsh-warriors-inheritance-by-arianwen-nunn.html 

The Welsh Warrior’s Inheritance 

by Arianwen Nunn

It is 1109 and the Welsh warrior and firebrand, Owain ap Cadwgan abducts Princess Nest from the castle she shares with her children and her husband, Gerald of Windsor. King Henry of England, furious that Nest, who is also his lover and mother of his son, begins a manhunt to find Owain and return Nest to her husband. In Gwynydd King Gruffydd ap Cynan and his wife risk everything to hide them and get them to safety in Ireland despite the efforts of Gronwy ap Owain, Angharad's vicious brother who would like to see Gruffydd and Owain dead.

King Henry uses Bishop Richard to start kinship warfare in Wales then declares war against the Welsh determining to exterminate them all. Can Gruffydd and his family survive the greatest army ever led against Wales?

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bWkZq7 

Arianwen Nunn was born in Wales but now lives in Australia and writes historical fiction based on the Welsh kingdoms in the Middle Ages. 

Arianwen has written a series of three books, 'The Welsh Traitor's Daughter', 'The Welsh Warrior's Inheritance' and 'Bards Sing of Love and War' which follow the lives of King Gruffydd ap Cynan and his wife Angharad and their family. 

She has also written two children's books, 'The Welsh Warrior's Wonder' and 'Where Dragons Still Roar'.

Website: www.arianwennunn.com

Twitter: https://x.com/Arianwen_Nunn 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091729185630 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arianwen_nunn 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Arianwen-Nunn/author/B0C69H8RFN 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/35601482.Arianwen_Nunn 

Helen Hollick and her daughter join me on the blog today

 Promoting Ghost Encounters: The Lingering Spirits of North Devon

By Helen Hollick (With daughter Kathy Hollick)

Everyone assumes that ghosts are hostile. Actually, most of them are not.

You either believe in ghosts or you don’t. It depends on whether you’ve encountered something supernatural or not. But when you share a home with several companionable spirits, or discover benign ghosts in public places who appear as real as any living person, scepticism is abandoned. In GHOST ENCOUNTERS: The Lingering Spirits Of North Devon, mother and daughter share their personal experiences, dispelling the belief that spirits are to be feared.

Ghost Encounters will fascinate all who enjoy the beautiful region of rural South-West England, as well as interest those who wish to discover more about its history... and a few of its ghosts.

(Includes a bonus of two short stories and photographs connected to North Devon)

Pre-order the e-book on Amazon

https://mybook.to/GhostEncounters

Paperback published February 28th – e-book will also be available on Kindle Unlimited

Encountering a couple of Tudor Ghosts!

Not everyone believes in ghosts, fair enough, but go into any old British pub and you’re bound to learn that there’s a ghost or two present among the paying present-day customers. What isn’t so well known, ghosts can be seen (by those with the gift or ability to see them – genuine Mediums, for instance), anywhere, not just in damp cellars, spooky castles or abandon old houses – and at any time, not just during the scary hours of night. And the least likeliest place to see a ghost is in a cemetery! 

Ghosts can (and do) linger anywhere, not just where some tragedy happened or where they died. A presence can linger where that person had some emotional tie, maybe a tragic incident, yes, but more often something of great importance, or where they were particularly happy. And finally, to shatter all the things you thought you knew... the majority of supernatural presences, ghosts, spirits, shades, spooks (take your pick of what description you prefer), are not hostile or evil. Most are perfectly friendly, some, in fact, are as unaware of us as most of us are of them.

My daughter, Kathy, can see and hear ‘dead people’. To her these presences from the past look as real as real, living, people, although some she sees only from the waist up, or fleetingly. (It’s a giveaway when the ‘person’ she’s looking at suddenly vanishes!)

Our village pub here in Chittlehamholt, North Devon, hosts several such residents. Built in the 1500s, The Exeter Inn became a coaching inn during the late 1600s – early 1700s, being the first ‘comfort break’ en-route from the Colonial trade ports of Barnstaple and Bideford to Exeter, thirty or so miles away, and to other connections to London. There seems to have been a collection of ‘Exeter Inn’ public houses in our area, varying from thirteen to nine miles apart – usual distances for a coach and horses, depending on the difficulty of the terrain. I presume these same-named inns were conveniently placed along the regular route.

Pre-mid-1600s travel would have been by foot, horseback or carrier cart, with only the wealthy or tradespeople having their own transport. Thus, a Tudor couple must have arrived at our village inn with their own coach, some time during, we think, the age of Queen Elizabeth I.

Kathy has fleetingly seen the couple several times, identifying the era they belong to by their costume – typical Elizabethan, wealthy garments of velvets, brocades and silk. He is a tall, handsome, well-groomed man, proudly showing off the attractive lady with him. They appear to be newly married. She seems quite shy and is dripping with pearls and sparkling jewels (again common for that period). Kathy has been unable to judge their ages: the woman is possibly nineteen or so, he, mid-twenties?

Outside, it is daylight. We think they have stopped to rest the horses. Barnstaple is about thirteen miles away, with some steep hills in between.

Where they are heading...? Who knows. Sadly there is no way of discovering more about them, their name, their future fate. All that must be conjecture, and maybe a story for a fiction writer to decide?

Discover more about the ghosts of our village pub – or North Devon in general in Ghost Encounters: the Lingering Spirits of North Devon. 

https://mybook.to/GhostEncounters

ABOUT HELEN 

Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, Helen might not see ghosts herself, but her nautical adventure series, and some of her short stories, skilfully blend the past with the supernatural, inviting readers to step into worlds where the boundaries between the living and the dead blur. 

Her historical fiction spans a variety of periods and her gift lies in her ability to bring historical figures and settings to life, creating an immersive experience that transports readers into the past. Her stories are as compelling as they are convincing. 

Helen started writing as a teenager, but after discovering a passion for history, was published in the UK with her Arthurian Trilogy and two Anglo-Saxon novels about the events that led to the 1066 Battle of Hastings, one of which became a USA Today best-seller. She also writes the Jan Christopher cosy mystery series set during the 1970s, and based around her, sometimes hilarious, years of working as a North London library assistant.

Helen, husband Ron and daughter Kathy moved from London to Devon in January 2013 after a Lottery win on the opening night of the London Olympics, 2012. She spends her time glowering at the overgrown garden and orchard, fending off the geese, helping with the horses and, when she gets a moment, writing the next book...

ABOUT KATHY

When not encountering friendly ghosts, Kathy's passion is horses and mental well-being. She started riding at the age of three, had a pony at thirteen, and discovered showjumping soon after. Kathy now runs her own Taw River Equine Events, and coaches riders of any age or experience, specialising in positive mindset and overcoming confidence issues via her Centre10 accreditation and Emotional Freedom Technique training to aid calm relaxation and promote gentle healing.

Kathy lives with her farmer partner, Andrew, in their flat adjoining the main farmhouse. She regularly competes at affiliated British Showjumping, and rides side-saddle (‘aside’) when she has the opportunity. She produces her own horses, several from home-bred foals.

She also has a fun diploma in Dragons and Dragon Energy, which was something amusing to study during the Covid lockdown.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Website: https://helenhollick.net/

Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick

Bluesky: @helenhollick.bsky.social

Blog: supporting authors & their books https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/

Monthly newsletter : Thoughts from a Devonshire Farmhouse

https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/2024/01/thoughts-from-devonshire-farmhouse.html

Kathy’s Official Website: 

https://www.white-owl.co.uk/

For additional (and any new ghost encounters!) visit 

https://ghostencountersofdevon.blogspot.com/

Cover design: Avalon Graphics https://avalongraphics.org/

Cover image: Chris Collingwood Historical Artist 

http://www.collingwoodhistoricart.com/

The Coffee Pot Book Club Presents: The Plantagenet Legacy Series: Henry IV – The Usurper King & The Accursed King by Mercedes Rochelle

 

THE USURPER KING and THE ACCURSED KING

Series: 

The Plantagenet Legacy

Author: 

Mercedes Rochelle

Publication Date: 

The Usurper King: 4/5/21    The Accursed King: 4/18/22

Publisher: 

Sergeant Press

Pages: 

The Usurper King : 305 pages    The Accursed King: 301 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction / Medieval Historical Fiction

Any Triggers: n/a

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/12/blog-tour-henry-iv-usurper-king.html 

THE USURPER KING by Mercedes Rochelle

Book 4 of The Plantagenet Legacy

Blurb:

From Outlaw to Usurper, Henry Bolingbroke fought one rebellion after another.

First, he led his own uprising. Then he captured a forsaken king. Henry had no intention of taking the crown for himself; it was given to him by popular acclaim. Alas, it didn't take long to realize that that having the kingship was much less rewarding than striving for it. Only three months after his coronation, Henry IV had to face a rebellion led by Richard's disgruntled favorites. Repressive measures led to more discontent. His own supporters turned against him, demanding more than he could give. The haughty Percies precipitated the Battle of Shrewsbury which nearly cost him the throne—and his life.

To make matters worse, even after Richard II's funeral, the deposed monarch was rumored to be in Scotland, planning his return. The king just wouldn't stay down and malcontents wanted him back.

THE ACCURSED KING by Mercedes Rochelle

Book 5 of The Plantagenet Legacy

Blurb:

What happens when a king loses his prowess?

The day Henry IV could finally declare he had vanquished his enemies, he threw it all away with an infamous deed. No English king had executed an archbishop before. And divine judgment was quick to follow. Many thought he was struck with leprosy—God's greatest punishment for sinners. From that point on, Henry's health was cursed and he fought doggedly on as his body continued to betray him—reducing this once great warrior to an invalid.

Fortunately for England, his heir was ready and eager to take over. But Henry wasn't willing to relinquish what he had worked so hard to preserve. No one was going to take away his royal prerogative—not even Prince Hal. But Henry didn't count on Hal's dauntless nature, which threatened to tear the royal family apart.

AN EXCERPT FROM THE USURPER KING

EDWARD OF YORK DECIDES TO BETRAY HIS CO-CONSPIRATORS DURING THE EPIPHANY RISING

For once Edward of Rutland was glad his retainers rode behind him, leaving him to his own thoughts. His route led him in either of two directions: the appointed meeting place at Kingston, or his father's manor in Burnham, close to Windsor. It was time to decide. Musing, he watched as a courier rode toward them from the opposite direction. He recognized the man, a confidential servant of John Holland. 

"My lord," the messenger said, leaning over with a letter. He didn't even need to dismount. 

Taking the dispatch, Rutland dismissed him. "I thank you for your trouble. I will send my own man with a response." 

Looking confused, the other nodded and turned back. It was not his place to question an earl.

Waiting until the courier was safely on his way, Rutland opened the letter. To Edward, Earl of Rutland. We are surprised and distressed that you are not here at the appointed hour. We remind you of your bond and your oath. Whatever the reason, make sure you meet us at Colnbrook in time for our projected enterprise.

Their concern was well placed. During the last few weeks, Rutland had vacillated in his intentions. He hadn't asked to be part of this rebellion; the others had just assumed he would join them. For many years he was one of them—one of Richard's closest advisors and even a friend, on a good day. As one of the Counter-Appellants, he had shared their disgrace. 

But there was more. He kept thinking of that last day in the Tower, when Richard had called him a villain and a traitor and kicked his hat across the floor. Richard nursed his resentments for years; the man may never forgive him, even if rescued. The other conspirators knew nothing of this disturbing moment. The only witnesses were his father and King Henry. Was it worth the risk to rescue a king who might prove his own undoing?

Rutland frowned. Loyalty to the others would only go so far. They wouldn't save him if he was arrested. On the other hand, his father had guaranteed his good behavior. If he betrayed that trust and joined the rebellion he could be disinherited.

He hated to admit it to himself, but his unsavory reputation wasn't entirely unjustified. He didn't necessarily mean to shift loyalties; it's just that situations arose when he had to make unfortunate choices to protect himself. Nonetheless, people didn't trust him. Look at the fiasco during the last Parliament! The floor was littered with gages. If he betrayed the Counter-Appellants this time, his notoriety would cling to him the rest of his life.

On the other hand, if he exposed the conspiracy, the king would be eternally grateful. So what was the difficulty?

Reaching the crossroads, he turned the horse toward his father's manor. 

As usual, the Duke of York could be found in his solar sunk deep in a chair with lots of pillows to support his arthritic back. He was dictating a letter to his secretary and raised his cane in welcome as Rutland came in. 

"How do you feel today, father?"

"No better nor worse than usual," he grunted. "That will be all for now," he waved to his secretary. "Throw another log on the fire before you leave, would you?"

His secretary obliged while his son helped himself to some wine. 

"There's something I need to tell you," Rutland said, sitting down.

"What has happened?"

"A conspiracy, father."

York stiffened in his chair, letting out a grunt of pain. "Against the king?"

"I'm afraid so. They tried to involve me. I went along at first, um, so I could learn what they were planning. Here." He pulled out the deed with all six seals and handed it to his father. 

Smoothing his scraggly beard, the duke read the document. "Restore King Richard or die in the attempt?" His mouth fell open. "Whose seals are these? I recognize both Hollands and yours..."

"And Salisbury, Despenser, and Maudeleyn. There are many more involved, of course."

"What madness is this? When is this supposed to happen?"

"The attack will be on the Epiphany. We must get to the king."

"We? What are you planning?"

"They, father. We are going to stop them." 

Disbelieving, York waved him on. 

"They are sending confederates hiding in wagons along with the harnesses and trappings for the tournament," Rutland continued. "At their signal, the men will kill the guards and open the gates to let the rebels in."

"And kill the king?"

"They have many supporters," Rutland said defensively.

"I don't care. Help me up." His son supported his shoulders as York pushed himself out of the chair with his cane. Straightening, the duke pursed his lips. "Why did you wait so long?"

Rutland hesitated. "King Richard—"

"King Richard my ass. You don't give a fig for King Richard. You couldn't decide who to support. What? Did you conclude that this venture will fail?"

For once, Rutland was stung. "I'm trying to do the right thing."

"For a change. You have a lot of explaining to do. I see why you need my help. Come, we can't afford to tarry."

In the shortest time possible, York, Rutland, and a small escort were thundering to Windsor. They gained immediate entry to the king, who was privately dining with his four sons.

"What is this, uncle?" Henry said, lifting his hand in greeting. "I am always happy to see you, but I thought it would be tomorrow."

The duke knelt before the king, kissing his hand. "We bring grave news, sire."

"Get up, get up. What has happened?"

York gestured for his son to move forward. Rutland knelt beside him.

"This is most unusual," Henry said. "Get up, both of you."

Standing quickly, Rutland gave the deed to the king. Henry scanned it and looked up with a frown. "My Counter-Appellants? They seek to restore King Richard to the throne? How?"

"In all the confusion surrounding the tournament, they plan to kill your guards and yourself—your family."

Henry paled. "Then their accomplices could be in the castle already!"

"Yes. That's why I am here."

There was no time to think—or ask the same questions York did. Henry was a man of action; talk would come later. "Come. We must leave this place at once."

Universal Buy Links:

The Usurper King: https://books2read.com/u/3nkRJ9 

The Accursed King: https://books2read.com/u/b5KpnG 

All titles in the series are available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. She believes that good Historical Fiction, or Faction as it's coming to be known, is an excellent way to introduce the subject to curious readers.

Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Her new project is called “The Plantagenet Legacy” taking us through the reigns of the last true Plantagenet King, Richard II and his successors, Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI. She also writes a blog: HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story. 

Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the University of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to "see the world". The search hasn't ended!

Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

Author Links:

Website: https://mercedesrochelle.com/  

Twitter: https://x.com/authorrochelle 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mercedesrochelle.net 

Book Bub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mercedes-rochelle 

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mercedes-Rochelle/author/B001KMG5P6 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1696491.Mercedes_Rochelle 

The Coffee Pot Book Club presents: The Fugitive's Sword by Eleanor Swift Hook

Book Title: The Fugitive’s Sword

Series: Lord’s Learning

Author: Eleanor Swift-Hook

Publication Date: 8th October 2024

Publisher: Schiavona Books (author’s own imprint)

Pages: 305

Genre: Historical Adventure

Any Triggers: n/a

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/12/blog-tour-the-fugitives-sword-by-eleanor-swift-hook.html 

The Fugitive’s Sword 

by Eleanor Swift-Hook

Autumn 1624

Europe is deeply embroiled in what will become the Thirty Years' War.

A young Philip Lord, once favoured at King James' court, has vanished without a trace, under the shadow of treason.

Outside the besieged city of Breda, Captain Matthew Rider faces the brutal reality of wintering his cavalry in the siege lines, until he crosses paths with Filippo Schiavono, a young man whose courage and skill could change everything.

Kate, Lady Catherine de Bouqulement, arrives in London prepared to navigate the dangerous politics of King James' court to ensure troops are sent to her mistress, the exiled Queen of Bohemia.

Within Breda’s walls, a foundling named Jorrit unwittingly stumbles into a lethal conspiracy when Schiavono hires him, supposedly to help sell smuggled tobacco. But Schiavono’s plans go awry and they are compelled to flee the city, only to be captured at sea.

If Schiavono is unable to prove his loyalty and ruthlessness to a savage Dunkirker privateer captain, both he and Jorrit will face certain death.

Meanwhile, in London, Kate is forced to fight her own battle against those seeking to coerce her into their schemes and finds herself trapped in a terrifying and deadly power struggle.

Driven by violence, treachery, and the sea's merciless tides, their fates collide.

An Excerpt from The Fugitive’s Sword

Outside the besieged city of Breda, September 1624

Not surprisingly, as the siege works sprouted and spread over the fields about Breda, and soldiers poured in, only those civilians who could make money from the army remained. Women with a trade that soldiers would always pay for and men such as the owner of the tavern where Matt was presently sitting on this sunny afternoon. Yet Matt could see the day coming when that would end as the cold season bit and supplies ran ever shorter.

It was an unwelcome thought that took him back to his brooding.

He needed to find a way to leave the siege lines without voiding his contract, or when autumn turned to winter his company would be freezing, starving and deserting. That was the dark cloud hovering over him which even the bright, unseasonal sunshine could not banish.

The sound of hooves made him look up. One of Matt’s corporals, an Irishman called Ardghal O’Byrne, was riding towards the tavern, with four of his men. A cloaked figure mounted on a fine-looking bay rode with them, presumably part of the ongoing army expansion. As the independent captain of one of the few cavalry forces working with the siege troops, Matt was used to being sent all the flotsam with no specific allegiance, who were seeking to join the army and arrived equipped with a horse.

O’Byrne dismounted and started toward Matt. “We found this one, captain.” He put his hands on the table and leaned in, lowering his voice so it wouldn’t carry. “Well, I found him so can I have his horse? You’ll be wanting his sword yourself, I’m sure.”

Matt rapidly reassessed the mounted figure from recruit to prize. It was his rule that anything of value taken by a member of his company was brought to him so it could be put with the spoils and divided fairly. An essential rule as it both helped to provide for the company’s greater needs and prevented the kind of covetous envy that led to feuds and fights between the men. Any who did not abide by it knew he would at best be turned off or at worst hung for theft.

Folding his sister’s letter, Matt carefully tucked it away in his coat and looked over the figure on the disputed horse. The man wore a broad-brimmed hat low over his face and a heavy fustian travelling cloak that made it hard to see much of what lay beneath; but the horse was a fine creature, well furnished too, and that bespoke a wealthy owner—or perhaps a thief.

“You’d better bring him over then,” Matt said and tapped out his pipe on the table. He sat back on the bench leaning his shoulders on the wall of the tavern as the man dismounted.

Then he realised he was mistaken.

This was not a man, it was a boy. A boy no older than fifteen or sixteen if he was even that. Although he was well-grown, taller than many men already, his characterless face was smooth-skinned, waiting to be etched and moulded by life. His turquoise eyes were compelling and distinctive. His gaze was direct, confident, almost challenging, not that of any sort of petitioner. His bearing was bold—arrogant even—that of one used to being obeyed.

Beneath the heavy, encompassing cloak, which he threw back as he strode over, he wore clothes Matt thought would be more fitting for a court than the battlefield: fine brocade silk with slashed sleeves faced in a muted peacock blue. Silver points, two with tiny gemstones winking from them and the spurs on each of his finely-tooled boots were easily worth a month’s pay for any of Matt’s regular troops. Most outstanding was his hair. Long and straight and as white as an old man’s yet imbued with the lustre of youth. But for all that, it was his sword that drew Matt’s attention, and he knew the tug of covetous desire. No wonder Ardghal O’Byrne had said he would want it.

Matt started refilling his pipe thoughtfully, then looked up as the boy reached the table and stood frowning down at him.

“Are you in charge here? I wish to join the army.” He spoke impeccable Spanish. His voice had reached its lower, adult range, and now when he was closer, a thin tuft of hair that passed muster for a beard was visible on his chin.

Glancing at him briefly so the boy knew he had been heard, Matt went back to filling his pipe and tamping down the tobacco.

“I want a post in the cavalry. I have a horse.”

Matt lit his pipe and pulled on it a few times to be sure it had caught, exhaling the rich smoke with satisfaction. He could see O’Byrne and his men grinning where they stood by the horses.

“What post do you want?” he asked, wondering what he should do. This boy was clearly the son of some nobleman, who had stolen his father’s finest mount and favourite sword and ran away from home. It was most likely that the nobleman was already out looking for him—no man would want to lose such a blade or such a mount no matter what he might think of the child.

“An officer’s place,” the boy said, his expression showing he intended no jest by it. “I would be a cornet or a lieutenant.”

O’Byrne chuckled and there was a ripple of harsh laughter from his men.

“But not a captain?” Matt asked, ignoring the laughter.

“I understand I am not yet experienced enough to be a captain. That may take a few months. I am prepared to learn and wait.”

The laughter grew louder and the boy whipped around glaring at the men.

“And your name?” Matt was curious to hear what invention the boy might have.

“Schiavono,” he said, turning back to face Matt. “I am Filippo Schiavono.”

That was unlikely, but one name was as good as another as far as Matt was concerned. Many of his men had come from pasts where they had held other names and a few more had taken or earned a nom de guerre since joining the company.

“You are Italian?” Matt asked, switching to that language.

“Yes. Of course. I am from Milan,” The boy replied, doing likewise.

You may be, although I doubt it, but your Italian is certainly not. Whoever taught you came from Venice. But Matt let it pass and simply nodded, pulling on his pipe again. “That is a fine horse you have,” he said after he had breathed the smoke out, returning to Spanish. “How did you come by him?”

The boy hesitated. “He was a gift.”

Something in the slight halt as he spoke told Matt that this was the truth. The horse had been a gift. More than likely from someone the boy held in high regard and had now lost.

“A fine gift indeed,” Matt said, then pointed with the stem of his pipe. “And that sword? Was that a gift too?”

Schiavono’s hand shot protectively to the hilt. “The sword is mine,” he snapped. “I have had it for years.”

Not that many years. I doubt you could have even lifted it with one hand a few back. “So why do you want to join my company?”

O’Byrne was getting impatient. “We could take him on as a mochilero,” he suggested. “Like the Spanish have. A servant to do what we want.”

“He’s pretty enough to be one,” a voice from amongst the men behind O’Byrne agreed. The rest snickered and one made obvious gestures.

That was too much for Schiavono, who spun around to face the five men, his sword suddenly in his hand. The speed, control and instinct of the movement were impressive for one so young. He even side-stepped to keep Matt at the edge of his vision. For the first time since the boy had got off his horse, Matt had a genuine spark of interest in him which went beyond thoughts of profit. 

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/TheFugitivesSword 

Eleanor Swift-Hook enjoys the mysteries of history and fell in love with the early Stuart era at university when she re-enacted battles and living history events with the English Civil War Society. Since then, she has had an ongoing fascination with the social, military and political events that unfolded during the Thirty Years’ War and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. 

The Soldier's Stand, book two in Lord's Learning and the sequel to The Fugitive's Sword, is now available for preorder and will be released on 25 February, 2025.

She lives in County Durham and loves writing stories woven into the historical backdrop of those dramatic times.

Website: www.eleanorswifthook.com 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/emswifthook/ 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LordsLegacySeries 

Bluesky: http://bsky.app/profile/emswifthook.bsky.social 

Book Bub: www.bookbub.com/profile/eleanor-swift-hook 

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Eleanor-Swift-Hook/author/B0BKTP1CMG

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/22989983.Eleanor_Swift_Hook 

The Coffee Pot Book Club presents: Harold The King / I Am The Chosen King – 25th Publication Anniversary by Helen Hollick

 

Book Title: Harold The King (UK) / I Am The Chosen King (USA/Canada)

Author: Helen Hollick

Publication Date: original edition first published in 2000

Publisher: Taw River Press (UK) Sourcebooks Inc (USA)

Pages: 640

Genre: Historical Fiction

Any Triggers: battle scenes

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/12/blog-tour-harold-the-king-by-helen-hollick.html 

Harold The King (UK) / I Am The Chosen King (USA/Canada)

(same book – different titles)

Helen Hollick

Blurb:

First published in 2000 – Celebrating a Silver Anniversary!

The events that led to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 - told from the English point of view.

Two men. One crown.

England, 1044. Harold Godwinesson, a young, respected earl, falls in love with an ordinary but beautiful woman. In Normandy, William, the bastard son of a duke, falls in love with power.

In 1066 England falls vulnerable to the fate of these two men: one, chosen to be a king, the other, determined to take, by force, what he desires. Risking his life to defend his kingdom from foreign invasion, Harold II led his army into the great Battle of Hastings in October 1066 with all the honour and dignity that history remembers of its fallen heroes.

In this beautifully crafted tale, USA Today bestselling author Helen Hollick sets aside the propaganda of the Norman Conquest and brings to life the English version of the story of the man who was the last Anglo-Saxon king, revealing his tender love, determination and proud loyalty, all to be shattered by the desire for a crown – by one who had no right to wear it.

Praise for Helen Hollick:

“Helen Hollick has it all! She tells a great story, gets her history right, and writes consistently readable books”

~ Bernard Cornwell

“A novel of enormous emotional power”

~ Elizabeth Chadwick

“Thanks to Hollick’s masterful storytelling, Harold’s nobility and heroism enthral to the point of engendering hope for a different ending…Joggles a cast of characters and a bloody, tangled plot with great skill”

~ Publisher’s Weekly

“Don’t miss Helen Hollick’s colourful recreation of the events leading up to the Norman Conquest.”

~ Daily Mail

“An epic re-telling of the Norman Conquest”

~ The Lady

“If only all historical fiction could be this good”

~ Historical Novel Society Review

Universal eBook Link, Harold The King: https://books2read.com/u/4jOdYj 

Harold the King (UK): https://viewbook.at/HaroldTheKing

I Am the Chosen King (US): https://viewBook.at/ChosenKing

This title is available on #KindleUnlimited, excerpt in US & Canada.

First accepted for traditional publication in 1993, Helen became a USA Today Bestseller with her historical novel, The Forever Queen (titled A Hollow Crown in the UK) with the sequel, Harold the King (US: I Am The Chosen King) being novels that explore the events that led to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Her Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy is a fifth-century version of the Arthurian legend, and she writes a nautical adventure/supernatural series, The Sea Witch Voyages. She has also branched out into the quick read novella, 'Cosy Mystery' genre with her Jan Christopher Mysteries, set in the 1970s, with the first in the series, A Mirror Murder incorporating her, often hilarious, memories of working as a library assistant. The fifth in the series, A Memory Of Murder, was published in May 2024.

Her non-fiction books are Pirates: Truth and Tales and Life of A Smuggler. She is currently writing about the ghosts of North Devon, and Jamaica Gold for her Sea Witch Voyages. 

Recognised by her stylish hats, Helen tries to attend book-related events as a chance to meet her readers and social-media followers, but her ‘wonky eyesight’ as she describes her condition of Glaucoma, and severe arthritis is now a little prohibitive for travel.

She lives with her family in an eighteenth-century farmhouse in North Devon with their dogs and cats, while on the farm there are showjumper horses, fat Exmoor ponies, an elderly Welsh pony, geese, ducks and hens. And several resident ghosts.

Website: https://helenhollick.net/

Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick

Blog, supporting authors & their books: https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/helenhollick.bsky.social 

Twitter / X: https://x.com/HelenHollick

Monthly newsletter: Thoughts from a Devonshire Farmhouse:

Start Here: January 2024 https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/2024/01/thoughts-from-devonshire-farmhouse.html (posted on her blog)