Monday 30 September 2024

The Coffee Pot Book Club presents: The Dragon Tree by Julia Ibbotson


Book Title:  The Dragon Tree

Series:  Dr DuLac series #2 (but can also be read as a stand-alone)

Author:   Julia Ibbotson

Publication Date:  Nov 2021 

Publisher:  Archbury Books

Pages:   240

Genre:  historical romance / mystery time-slip

 

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/08/blog-tour-the-dragon-tree-by-julia-ibbotson.html 



The Dragon Tree 

by Julia Ibbotson


A haunting medieval time-slip (#2 in the Dr DuLac series, sequel to A Shape on the Air, but can be read as a stand-alone)

Echoes of the past resonate through time and disturb medievalist Dr Viv DuLac as she struggles with misfortune in the present. She and Rev Rory have escaped to the island of Madeira on a secondment from their posts, yet they are not to find peace – until they can solve the mystery of the shard of azulejo and the ancient ammonite. Viv’s search brings her into contact with two troubled women: a noblewoman shipwrecked on the island in the 14th century and a rebellious nun at the island convent in the 16th century. As Viv reaches out across the centuries, their lives become intertwined, and she must uncover the secrets of the ominous Dragon Tree in order to locate lost artefacts that can shape the future.

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

“The idea of being able to ‘feel’ what happened in the past is enticing … The sense of the island is really wonderful … Julia brings it to life evocatively.”

~ Joanna Barnden

 “Julia does an incredible job of setting up the idea of time-shift so that it’s believable and makes sense.”

~ book tour reviewer

“… an engaging and original time-slip novel that keeps the reader turning the pages…the characters are authentic and the mystery is neatly woven between the centuries … seamless time transitions …”

~ Melissa Morgan 


This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.


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



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

Website: https://juliaibbotsonauthor.com 

Twitter:   https://x.com/JuliaIbbotson 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JuliaIbbotsonauthor 

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julia-ibbotson-62a5401a/ 

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

Pinterest:   http://www.pinterest.co.uk/juliai1 

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julia-ibbotson 

Amazon Author Page:  https://Author.to/JuliaIbbotsonauthor 

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



Friday 27 September 2024

The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour presents: Apollo's Raven by Linnea Tanner



Book Title: Apollo’s Raven

Series: Curse of Clansmen and Kings, Book #1 (4 books in the series)

Author: Linnea Tanner

Publication Date: January 20, 2020 (3nd Edition)

Publisher: Apollo Raven Publisher, LLC

Pages: 394 pages

Genre: Historical Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Myth & Legend


Any Triggers: Sex, Violence, Sacrificial Rituals


Twitter Handle: @linneatanner @cathiedunn

Instagram Handle: @linneatanner @thecoffeepotbookclub


Hashtags: #HistoricalFantasy #HistoricalFiction #AncientRome #Britannia #CelticMyth #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub


Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/08/blog-tour-apollos-raven-by-linnea-tanner.html 


Book Title and Author Name:

Book Title: Apollo’s Raven

Series: (Curse of Clansmen and Kings Book #1)

Author Name: Linnea Tanner

Audiobook Narrator: Kristin James


Blurb:

A Celtic warrior princess is torn between her forbidden love for the enemy and duty to her people.

AWARD-WINNING APOLLO’S RAVEN sweeps you into an epic Celtic tale of forbidden love, mythological adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia. In 24 AD British kings hand-picked by Rome to rule are fighting each other for power. King Amren’s former queen, a powerful Druid, has cast a curse that Blood Wolf and the Raven will rise and destroy him. The king’s daughter, Catrin, learns to her dismay that she is the Raven and her banished half-brother is Blood Wolf. Trained as a warrior, Catrin must find a way to break the curse, but she is torn between her forbidden love for her father’s enemy, Marcellus, and loyalty to her people. She must summon the magic of the Ancient Druids to alter the dark prophecy that threatens the fates of everyone in her kingdom.

 Will Catrin overcome and eradicate the ancient curse? Will she be able to embrace her forbidden love for Marcellus? Will she cease the war between Blood Wolf and King Amren and save her kingdom?



Book Trailer of Apollo’s Raven on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqSdT5wK4aI


*Apollo’s Raven will be free on Kindle on September 26th – 30th, 2024!*


 https://books2read.com/Apollos-Raven




All four books in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series are available on Kindle Unlimited.


Universal Buy Links for all Individual Books in Curse of Clansmen and Kings series:


Apollo’s Raven (Book 1): https://books2read.com/Apollos-Raven

Dagger’s Destiny (Book 2): https://books2read.com/Daggers-Destiny-Book2

Amulet’s Rapture (Book 3): https://books2read.com/Amulets-Rapture-Book3

Skull’s Vengeance (Book 4): https://books2read.com/Skulls-Vengeance-Book4



Award-winning author, Linnea Tanner, weaves Celtic tales of love, magical adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia. Since childhood, she has passionately read about ancient civilizations and mythology. She is particularly interested in the enigmatic Celts, who were reputed as fierce warriors and mystical Druids.

Linnea has extensively researched ancient and medieval history, mythology, and archaeology and has traveled to sites described within each of her books in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series. Books released in her series include Apollo’s Raven (Book 1), Dagger’s Destiny (Book 2), Amulet’s Rapture (Book 3), and Skull’s Vengeance (Book 4). She has also released the historical fiction short story Two Faces of Janus. 

A Colorado native, Linnea attended the University of Colorado and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry. She lives in Fort Collins with her husband and has two children and six grandchildren.


Website: https://www.linneatanner.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/linneatanner

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linnea.tanner

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linnea-tanner-a021932b/

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

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@linneatanner

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/linneatanner/_created/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linnea-tanner

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linnea-Tanner/e/B01N6YEM04

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16474282.Linnea_Tanner


What AMAZON reviewers say about Apollo’s Raven


“If you mingled the history and romance of Philippa Gregory with the magical fantasy of George R.R. Martin, the result just might be the fascinating Apollo’s Raven (Curse of Clansmen and Kings Book 1) by Linnea Tanner. Get ready for a journey filled with the desires of star-crossed lovers, the horror of a son polishing his own mother’s skull and the fantasy of humans becoming creatures as a tool to save their very humanity.”


“Sorcery? Mythology? Forbidden love? An ancient curse? Yes, please! I fully enjoyed this epic tale of intrigue, deception, and love. The characters are developed well, while the plot leaves the reader wanting more.”


“What a story! I am a huge fan of "Game of Thrones," and this book grabbed me in much the same way. The author took me inside the world of ancient Romans and Celts. The imagery was compelling. I could see the characters, the weapons, the countryside, the lairs, and the castle. She stayed true to the times.”


“A love story full of intrigue, power struggles, choosing one’s fate and a doomed love, this story reminds me somewhat of an old book called “The Silver Land” by Nancy Harding or even “The Forest House” by Marion Zimmer Bradley. The undercurrents are the same as they are set in similar times, but the finer details are different enough that it only feels the same while still being uniquely its own.”











Monday 23 September 2024

'The Coffee Pot Book Club presents: 'Tho I Be Mute by Heather Miller


Book Title: ‘Tho I Be Mute (2nd edition)

Series: Prequel to Yellow Bird’s Song

Author: Heather Miller

Publication Date: 09/10/2024

Publisher: Historium Press, Historical Fiction Company

Pages: 345

Genre: Historical Fiction / Historical Romance


Twitter Handle: @HMHFR @cathiedunn

Instagram Handle: @hmillerauthor @thecoffeepotbookclub 


Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance #CherokeeHistory #AmericanHistory #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub 


Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/08/blog-tour-tho-i-be-mute-by-heather-miller.html 



‘Tho I Be Mute

Heather Miller

Blurb:

Clarinda faces a moment of profound reality—a rattlesnake bite, a harbinger of her imminent mortality—and undertakes an introspective journey. In her final days, she immortalizes not only her own story but that of her parents—a narrative steeped in her family’s insights into Cherokee heritage during the tumultuous years preceding the forced removal of Native communities.

In 1818, Clarinda’s father, Cherokee John Ridge, embarks on a quest for a young man’s education at the Foreign Mission School in Cornwall, Connecticut. Amidst sickness, he finds solace and love with Sarah, the steward’s quiet daughter. Despite enduring two years of separation, defamatory editorials, and societal upheaval due to their interracial love affair, the resilient couple weds in 1824. This marks the inception of a journey for Sarah as she delves into a world both cherished and feared—Cherokee Territory. As John Ridge advocates for the preservation of his people’s land and that of his Muskogee Creek neighbors against encroaching Georgia settlers and unscrupulous governmental officials, the stakes are high. His success or failure hinges on his ability to balance his proud Cherokee convictions with an intricate understanding of American law. Justice remains uncertain.

Grounded in a true story, ‘Tho I Be Mute resonates with a compelling historical narrative, giving an intimate voice to those heard, those ignored, those speechless, urging readers to not only hear but to truly listen.


Excerpt ‘Tho I Be Mute

Heather Miller

 

 

Read an excerpt from Chapter 5: Laundry, Sarah Bird Northrup

 

As the morning progressed, we continued in quiet through laundry day. Mother joined us when the sun crept over the hill. Absent her customary grace and stature, she stepped in front of the rinse tub and filled it with water from buckets. She gripped the large paddle, smooth from weekly use, and stirred away the clothes’ soapy remnants.

 

With one basket ready to hang on the line, Cornwall woke with people beginning the routine of their daily lives. Some mimicked our ritual. Some hoed in garden beds. Some opened stores of flour and cloth. Some hunched over Bibles and English textbooks. Cornwall was both ordinary and blessed at the same time.

 

The wind continued until late afternoon after Jane and Mother returned inside. The final basket overflowed with wrung and twisted heaps. I bent over, grabbed a tangled sheet, and flipped it into the wind. I tossed it two more times to unfurl its length and crossed the hem over the line. Mother insisted I use the pegs on the sheets, so the crease would be at the seam rather than down the middle.

 

Under the amber afternoon, a walking silhouette approached from behind already dry, sheeted walls, fluttering, stretching in the breeze. The shadow’s gait was slow but steady, rising on its left side, aided by a single crutch. It wore boots that clung to thin, tall legs. The fitted frock coat tails lifted and cast an unusual shape, as if it had tail feathers. The silhouette’s head rode atop its neck, grand, chin pronounced, and short, wavy hair brushed away from his forehead. John’s eyes found me, separated by the hanging sheets.

 

I spoke to his shadow. “You’re early. Are you unwell?” I stretched from the waist, grabbed more pegs, and stepped down the line. I avoided his gaze, but his gravity made my arms heavier.

 

“Doctor Gold is coming by this afternoon, so I must be well,” he replied, with a hint of tiredness. He often spoke of his family’s expansive farm, so I imagine he was bored, sitting in class studying crop rotations when he wanted to read philosophy.

 

“Good.” It was all I managed to say, mispronouncing the word with clothes pegs between my lips. I unfurled another sheet. If Doctor Gold was coming, that explained why Jane and Mother made their premature departure from the washboard and tub.

 

I paralleled the line, and John pantomimed my movements with a moment’s delay. Pulling the peg from my mouth, I sighed and trapped the right end of the sheet, frustrated with the endless work.

 

John looked at me inquisitively. “What’s troubling you, Miss Sarah?”

 

“Nothing more than washing day.” My impatience hid the truth. “Mother and Jane still think I am younger than I am.”

 

“So, you’re ready to fly the nest?” he asked with a measured pace and chuckled.

 

“Not necessarily, I just do not wish their constant reminders of things I do by habit.” He did not deserve my short temper.

 

He hummed a single note and replied, “Since I have been from home, I have taken care of myself a great deal. But when I return, it’s the same for me. My mother reminds me to cork the ink and to take off my boots before falling asleep. I can hear her say it now as if she stood here among the drying.” 

 

We saw one another again in the absent space on the line. I said, “You must miss home. Your mother and father wish for your return. Your father said so when he was here.”

 

“I miss them, but Elias eases my loneliness. He is my father’s brother’s son.”

 

“Yes, I remember. He’s your cousin?” Surely John knew the word.

 

“Yes,” he said. “But we are as close as brothers, and my father is his in many ways, as his father is mine. Therefore, that is a better description. Elias plans to leave soon to attend Andover Theology School. Here, he has more friends than I do, but I am a better student. He is witty and personable, a wonderful storyteller, a skill I do not have.”

 

John smile straightened, saddened by Elias’ pending departure. His expression brought lonely thoughts to my mind. Affirming what I already knew to be true, I said, “. . . and you want to make people think. Your talents are a gift from God. It is a noble weight you look to carry.”

 

“It is why I was sent here: to study, to learn the ways of your lives. It is what our elders insist must happen. Thomas Jefferson warned the Cherokee to learn what it meant to be American. My people must seek the education provided to us. Now, Cherokee land carries my people, but in the future, we may have to learn to carry it with us.”

 

“Made any discoveries?” I asked.

 

He answered, “How hurried everyone seems. Except you.” Then, he paused mid-thought, speaking with a younger expression on his face, one more reminiscent of his age. He seemed to catch the memory of his home in the wind, squinting against the fading sun. “Light. I miss the light. I miss running my horse along the edge of the Oostanaula River in the morning’s glow. I miss the green haze above acres of grass bordered by trees as far as one can see. I miss council meetings with enormous fires under starry skies in autumn. Mountains and coves pebbled with spectrums of color. . . I miss . . .”

 

I interrupted his musings, sensing his sadness, and changed the subject. “Have you slept with your boots on?” My mind imagined him doing so, and I covered my mouth with my hand to hide my grin.

 

“Only when my mother cannot see.” 


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




***



History is better than fiction.

We all leave a legacy.

As an English educator, Heather Miller has spent twenty-four years teaching her students the author’s craft. Now, she’s writing it herself, hearing voices from the past. Heather earned her MFA in creative writing in 2022 and is teaching high school as well as college composition courses. 

Miller’s foundation began in the theatre, through performance storytelling. She can tap dance, stage-slap someone, and sing every note from Les Miserables. But by far, her favorite role has been as a fireman’s wife and mom to three: a trumpet player, a future civil engineer, and a RN. Alas, there’s only one English major in her house.

Heather continues writing the Ridge Family Saga. Her current work-in-progress, Stands, concludes the Ridge Family Saga. 


Author Links:


Website: https://www.heathermillerauthor.com 

Twitter: https://x.com/HMHFR 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HMillerAuthor 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/heathermillerauthor 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21805281.Heather_Miller

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heathermillerauthor 



Wednesday 18 September 2024

New Ricardian Anthology - Coming soon!




Proceeds in aid of Scoliosis Support and Research

So many falsehoods have been proclaimed about King Richard III for 500 years – by William Shakespeare, Thomas More, Polydore Vergil and others. But not here!

A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince is a collection of short stories with a single aim: to restore the reputation good King Richard enjoyed during his lifetime.

Strip away the Tudor propaganda and what will you discover?

The valiant knight? The generous master? The even-handed lawgiver? The anxious boy? The gentle uncle? The fond lover?

All these faces can be found here: ‘Not the face of a saint, no, but neither that of a monster or a murderer. The face of a good man, a just man – and the face of a troubled man who had seen too much …’

This follow-up anthology to Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Right Trusty and Well Beloved… showcases stories by international authors inspired by all aspects of King Richard III.

Sold in support of Scoliosis Support and Research with a Foreword by Robert Lindsay and edited by Alex Marchant.

With contributions from Judith Arnopp, Bridget Beauchamp, Darren Harris, Narrelle M. Harris, Wendy Johnson, Susan Lamb, Joanne R. Larner, Matthew Lewis, Kit Mareska, Alice Mitchell, Nancy Northcott, J. P. Reedman, Brian Wainwright and Jennifer C. Wilson.


 The book will be launched on 2nd October 2024 – the 572nd birthday of Richard III – Paperback copies will be available and you can pre-order kindle version NOW!


Amazon.com 

Amazon.uk


Sunday 15 September 2024

The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour presents: Bandy by Craig Hipkins


Book Title: Bandy

Author: Craig R. Hipkins

Publication Date: February 15, 2024

Publisher: Hipkins Twins

Pages: 337

Genre: Historical Fiction / Young Adult

Triggers: Mild violence, race issues.


Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/08/blog-tour-bandy-by-craig-r-hipkins.html 




Bandy

 Craig R. Hipkins

Isaac’s only friend is a passenger pigeon named Bandy. He deludes himself in believing the bird talks to him. Bullied, he is resigned to a life of being the misunderstood bookworm by neighboring boys until a disastrous fire kills his parents and little sisters, sparing only his younger brother, Thomas. He and Thomas are taken in by their Uncle Raymond, an abolitionist, who plans to send Isaac to Virginia to buy Joy, a young slave with debilitating health, from her slave owner, Wil Jericho. Shortly after arriving in Virginia, Isaac learns the ugly truth. The butler who accompanied him on the journey killed his uncle before leaving and plans to do the same to Isaac to steal Raymond’s estate.

Isaac, with Joy, escape into the backwoods of Virginia. Discovering passages of the Underground Railroad, stowing away in carriages, hiding in churches, and outwitting the mercenaries hired by Jericho, the two teens fight tooth and nail to make it to Boston before they’re caught. Will Joy be taken from this life by sickness before she’s found freedom? On their journey, they learn a lot about each other. Isaac promises to bring Joy to Bandy's pond, a heavenly place where peace and serenity reign.




This novel is available to read on #KindleUnlimited

Excerpt from Bandy

Isaac was poking at the fire with a stick, causing a shower of sparks to fly up into the sky. “I hope you are right, Joy. Moses has lived there his whole life. Perhaps he can talk his way out of it, even if Lucias does rat him out.”

For a short time, they sat in silence watching the flames lick up the wet smoky wood, each one caught in their own reveries. Finally, Joy broke the silence.

“Isaac?”

“Yeah?”

“What’s it like? I mean, how is it where you live? I have never left Virginia. This life is all I have ever known.”

He gazed at her, sitting, bent over, with her head resting on her knees. “Well, it’s a lot colder up there, but you wouldn’t know it from what we are feeling today. I am an orphan like you. Never really had any friends. Well, I…I do have one friend.”

She looked interested. “You do? A boy or a girl?”

He shrugged and the hint of a smile crossed his face. “Well, you won’t believe me if I told you.”

She sat up and shuffled closer to him. “Tell me. I want to know.”

He tilted his head back. “All right, but don’t laugh at me. You promise?”

She nodded, leaning forward with her chin resting on her hands.

Isaac cleared his throat. “Well, I have this place… I go there often. Been going there since I was little. It’s a pond. The water is always cold and clear. Sometimes it almost shines like God has polished it or something.”

He made a motion with his hand as if he had a cloth and was shining the air. He continued, “There is wildlife in abundance, Joy. I see deer, wild turkey, fox, turtles, and birds everywhere. I know all the trees, lots of maples and oaks, hemlocks, and white pine and even an old chestnut. Sometimes I climb up into its branches, almost to the top!”

She interrupted him. “Isn’t that dangerous?”

He shook his head. “Oh no. You see, it might sound strange, but I never worry about falling because the tree seems to protect me. If I slip, a branch is there to grab me. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it has always been like that. This…this pond is sort of my own little sanctuary. Everything is peaceful. We are all friends. It is like…like my own little heaven.”

Joy became animated. “But your friend? Tell me about your friend?”

He smiled, a carefree look, his mind traveling back to the place. He then turned to her. “Bandy is his name. He is gray, with a pink belly and black spots with a band around his neck… He…he is a passenger pigeon,” he blurted out. “I know you won’t believe me. I never tell anyone. In fact, you are the first person I have ever told, though a few people have seen me talking to Bandy, but they just made fun of me. They think I am crazy.”


Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/m27zQr 



Craig R. Hipkins grew up in Hubbardston Massachusetts. He is the author of medieval and gothic fiction. His novel Adalbert is the sequel to Astrolabe written by his late twin brother Jay S. Hipkins (1968-2018) He is an avid long distance runner and enjoys astronomy in his spare time.

Author Links:

Website: https://hipkinstwins.com 

Twitter: https://x.com/CraigHipkins 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HipkinsTwins 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-hipkins-7a042357 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craighipkins3/ 

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

Book Bub: https:// www.bookbub.com/profile/craig-r-hipkins 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B004RDJMNC 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19975162.Craig_R_Hipkins 






Tuesday 10 September 2024

The Coffee Pot Book Club Bog Tour presents: Operation Tulip by Deborah Swift

 


Book Title: Operation Tulip

Series: Secret Agent Series

Author: Deborah Swift

Publication Date: 12th September 2024

Publisher: HQ Digital

Pages: 410

Genre: Historical Fiction

Any Triggers: mild violence associated with the era.


Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/07/blog-tour-operation-tulip-by-deborah-swift.html


Operation Tulip

By Deborah Swift

Holland, 1944: Undercover British agent Nancy Callaghan has been given her toughest case yet. A key member of the Dutch resistance has been captured, and Nancy must play the role of a wealthy Nazi to win over a notorious SS officer, Detlef Keller, and gain crucial information.

England: Coding expert Tom Lockwood is devastated that the Allies have failed to push back the Nazis, leaving Northern Holland completely cut off from the rest of Europe, and him from his beloved Nancy. Desperate to rescue the love of his life, Tom devises Operation Tulip, a plan to bring Nancy home.

But as Nancy infiltrates the Dutch SS, she finds herself catching the eye of an even more senior member of the Party. Is Nancy in too deep, or can Tom reach her before she gets caught?

Inspired by the true events of occupied Holland during WW2, don't miss this utterly gripping story of love, bravery and sacrifice.


Excerpt from Operation Tulip by Deborah Swift


Baker Street, London

Tom Lockwood put the newspaper down on his desk, took off his glasses to rub his eyes, then put his head in his hands. So the rumours were true. Operation Market Garden had failed. Monty’s tanks had got stuck in mud and instead of a liberated Holland, they were now faced with half a country cut off completely from foreign aid. What would Gerbrandy, the Dutch Prime Minister do now?

Tom chewed his pencil. No-one could possibly understand just how desperately he’d been looking forward to Nancy coming home, and to the end of this whole damn war. A few weeks ago he could almost touch it.

And what would liberating only half of Holland mean for his job here at Baker Street? Would N Section be training any more men? He enjoyed his work – there was something satisfying in bashing the mysteries of codes and ciphers into the brains of new agents.

Just then his telephone rang.

Neil’s familiar voice down the crackly line. ‘Have you heard anything?’ He meant about Nancy of course, though he couldn’t say it. Neil was Nancy’s brother and they were both supposed to think Nancy was working as a nurse with the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, or FANYs. They weren’t supposed to know she was an agent in occupied Holland.

‘No, nothing,’ Tom replied. ‘Just what I read in the paper.’

‘Lilli and I listened to Radio Oranje last night like I always do. It’s horrendous. The port of Rotterdam is in ruins and the Germans are destroying anything the Dutch have built, out of sheer spite. Generations of trade reduced to rubble! Not just that, but can you believe they’re bombing and destroying pumping stations? At this rate coastal areas will soon be back under water. They’re evacuating the coastal towns but there’s no way people can get out of the occupied zone, they’ve just nowhere to go.’ His voice cracked. ‘Most of them are too scared to do anything but hide.’

Tom flipped the paper over, one ear glued to the phone. ‘I’ve got the Standard in front of me and it says here they’ve no electricity or fuel. No trams, no telephones. We have to do something. I can’t bear to think of how bad it must be.’

‘What? We can’t do anything.’

‘I don’t know.’ He lowered his voice, ‘Get Nancy out somehow.’

‘But how can we do that? I’m still here at the radio unit at Wavendon, and you can’t do anything with Beauclerk. You know how he has to okay every last little thing.’

Tom pictured his boss, worn ragged by the war. Beauclerk was a nervous wreck, but he’d some sympathy for the man. Though still heading the offices at Baker Street, he was obviously unwell, grey in the face and showing signs of Parkinson’s disease. ‘I don’t know. Can you and Lilli get up to London?’ Lilli was Neil’s wife.

‘Maybe, next weekend, if we can get a train.’

‘Come to my flat then, and in the meantime, I’ll see what I can find out.’

*

Tom loped up the long flight of stairs to the offices and knocked on Beauclerk’s door. A grunt of ‘Enter’ from his boss. Beauclerk was leaning on the desk, poring over the same latest edition of the Evening Standard, a cold cup of coffee at his elbow. The picture of the King on the wall behind him had been replaced with one of Churchill, complete with brooding, intent expression, and cigar in hand.

In contrast, the war hadn’t treated Beauclerk well, his face was drooping, worn and greyish, like old lined concrete.

A sigh. ‘What is it now?’ Beauclerk’s voice had a resigned tone. He clutched one arm to his waistcoat to stop it shaking. His Parkinson’s disease must be getting worse.

‘I saw the papers. What are ‘N’ Section doing about the agents in the north?’ Tom asked. ‘Are they being evacuated?’

A sigh. ‘You know perfectly well I can’t tell you that.’

‘Which means they aren’t.’

‘Their intelligence is still useful. And the place will fall eventually. Has to.’

‘Eventually. When they’re all dead of starvation. You’ve read it?’ Tom pointed to the Standard.

‘Look, I can’t do anything. I know it’s bloody, but I can’t. I should throw you out of my office with a flea in your ear for even asking.’

‘You won’t though. Because you know I’m one of the few people you can trust. That you can tell the truth to. And that counts for a lot in this mad old game we’re in.’

Beauclerk made a face and stirred his cold coffee. Tom watched the milky skin congeal around the spoon. 

‘It’s plain enough we can’t get troops over the Maas river,’ Beauclerk said. ‘The Germans have bedded in. The coastal ports are sealed. No-one can get in or out. We’ve stopped all agent drops. Anti-aircraft guns line the banks of every estuary and canal, so there’s no way we can fly anyone in or out.’

‘So our agents’ll just be left to rot with no supplies, no ammunition, and no possible way out.’

‘I’m sorry Tom, but I can’t do anything. And I suppose now’s as good a time as any to tell you – I’m retiring.’ He shrugged. ‘I’m an old horse and they’re putting me out to grass. Ill-health.’

‘When?’ Tom reeled. Baker Street ‘N’ Section without Beauclerk was unthinkable.

‘End of next week. Last of the month. It’ll be Paterson’s problem then, not mine.’

‘Paterson? Rodney Paterson?’ Tom couldn’t believe it. ‘But he’s hopeless. He’s just a jumped-up yes man!’

‘Whatever you think of him, he’s my replacement. He’s tasked with winding down my section of the Political Warfare Executive. And you know him, he always likes to do things by the book.’

Tom groaned. ‘Everything he does is glacial. It’s a catastrophe over there! Someone will have to do something – not just for our agents, but the whole of Holland.’


Praise for Deborah Swift:



'A well crafted tale… this book did not disappoint' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'There is action, mystery and romantic entanglements stirred into the story for a fantastically entertaining read' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Deborah Swift never disappoints' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A joy to read' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


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Deborah Swift is a USA TODAY bestselling author of twenty books who is passionate about the past. Deborah used to be a costume designer for the BBC, before becoming a writer. Now she lives in an old English school house in a village full of 17th Century houses, near the glorious Lake District. After taking a Masters Degree in Creative Writing, she enjoys mentoring aspiring novelists and has an award-winning historical fiction blog at her website www.deborahswift.com.

Deborah loves to write about how extraordinary events in history have transformed the lives of ordinary people, and how the events of the past can live on in her books and still resonate today. 

Recent books include The Poison Keeper, about the Renaissance poisoner Giulia Tofana, which was a winner of the Wishing Shelf Book of the Decade Award, and a Coffee Pot Book Club Gold Medal. Her most recent books are The Silk Code and The Shadow Network both set in the Second World War.


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