Book Title: The Queen’s Tears

Series: A Julia Darke Novel

Author Name: Elizabeth St.John

Publication Date: October 15, 2026

Publisher: Falcon Historical Press

Pages: 400

Genre: Dual-Timeline Historical Fiction

Any Triggers: No

Twitter / X Handles: @ElizStJohn @cathiedunn @maryanneyarde @AuthorMichael57

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Hashtags: #TheQueensTears #HistoricalFiction #DualTimeline #Stuarts #Mystery #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub #YardeBookReviews

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2026/09/blog-tour-the-queens-tears-by-elizabeth-stjohn.html

Book Title and Author Name:

The Queen’s Tears

Elizabeth St.John

Blurb:A stolen crown jewel and an enigmatic portrait force two women to confront the devastating choices they made for love—and summon the courage to live with the truth.

1619: Barbara, Lady Villiers, at the bidding of her brother-in-law, the Duke of Buckingham, has stolen the dying Queen Anna’s jewels—and kept the greatest prize for herself. The Queen’s Tears, a brooch of extraordinary value, torments her: too dangerous to sell, too priceless to discard, and possibly her only means of securing her children’s future. When the family fortunes are shattered, Barbara faces an impossible choice: remain loyal to Buckingham—or betray him by confessing the theft to King Charles.

Present Day: Julia Darke opens her Cotswolds bookshop to start life over peacefully. Instead, a Van Dyck portrait of Barbara’s daughter, with tantalising signs of the missing Queen’s Tears hidden in plain sight, brings her face-to-face with Oliver Villiers, the Oxford art conservator she once loved and walked away from.

Reluctantly drawn together to uncover Barbara’s secret, Julia and Oliver follow the trail of the Queen’s Tears—and the closer Julia comes to Barbara’s truth, the harder it becomes to hide from her own.

Reluctantly drawn together to uncover Barbara’s secret, Julia and Oliver follow the trail of the Queen’s Tears—and the closer Julia comes to Barbara’s truth, the harder it becomes to hide from her own.

Inspired by the true stories of Queen Anna of Denmark’s stolen jewels and a missing Van Dyck painting, The Queen’s Tears weaves history, fiction, and family research across the centuries. Readers of The Lydiard Chronicles will find old favourites—and a new heroine following in their footsteps.

Excerpt 4:

JULIA

London

Oliver Villiers Fine Arts was, of course, in Belgravia. Julia strode along Ebury Street, humming, as she did when slightly anxious, after dropping her roller bag at the Bay Tree, a Georgian-fronted boutique hotel. Too quickly, she arrived at the gallery and, instead of pausing, marched straight in, following the receptionist’s directions. The preview room was expensively minimalist, with polished blond oak floors and art lighting designed to enhance the treasures on display.

Oliver stood under a low-voltage spot, the beam picking out the silver in his casually tousled hair, muted across the broad shoulders of his dark brown corduroy jacket. A soft white cotton shirt, blue jeans, and a simple fawn-coloured cashmere scarf completed the picture of a successful, sophisticated, and boyishly charming international art dealer.

Intentional. And memorable. He always was one for setting a scene.

“Julia.” He leaned slightly forward as if to kiss her cheek.

She inched back. “Oliver.”

“You haven’t changed a bit. You look wonderful.”

“Flattery, Oliver? We both know that doesn’t work on me.”

He grinned unabashedly. For a moment, the past hung between them, their history palpable. Julia tucked her hair behind her ear and looked at him squarely, keeping one hand in her jacket pocket to stop herself from fidgeting. He hadn’t changed a bit either, and she’d totally underestimated the gut punch from being in the same room as him.

Step up to it, girl. You’ve pulverised boardrooms and glass ceilings in your time. A long-lost love won’t crush you. Even if he broke your heart.

She finally smiled back. It had, after all, been thirty years. “Barbara?”

“Ah. Yes. Why you’re here.” He gestured to the easel behind him. “She’s just been brought out of storage.”

The portrait of Barbara St.John Villiers was three-quarter length, its colours muted and details more concealed than Julia had anticipated.

“Oh, she’s lovely.” Although the portrait desperately needed cleaning, the sitter’s elegance was unmistakable.

Oliver tipped his head at the portrait. “She is rather. She’ll be even better when she’s freshened up. It was a quick decision by the owner, so no time to do anything before she goes under the hammer.” He cleared his throat. “Oh well, I’ll leave you to it.”

Julia kept her eyes on Barbara as he walked to the back of the gallery and then stole a glimpse as he disappeared behind a lushly carved Carolinian screen with hints of Grinling Gibbons. She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Round one accomplished.

“Hello Barbara,” she whispered. “I’ve come to take you home.”

The woman stared out from the canvas with composed intelligence, her mouth neither smiling nor severe. Courtly. Elegant. A woman painted at the height of her value. Julia had researched a hundred like her over the years.

And yet this one was different. Barbara called to her—

“This is ridiculous,” Julia muttered, stepping closer. If switching from publishing to writing meant portraits were going to start talking to her, she was in for major sensory overload.

The label read:

After Van Dyck, c.1639
Portrait of a Woman

(traditionally identified as Barbara St.John Villiers)
Oil on canvas

Traditionally identified was academic shorthand for we don’t actually know who it is.

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://geni.us/TheQueensTears

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Author Bio:

Elizabeth St.John’s acclaimed historical fiction brings to life her ancestors—remarkable women linked to England’s royalty—offering unique insights into Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times. Her novels unfold not just as traditional series, but as an interlocking web of lives: The Lydiard Chronicles—including the celebrated The Lady of the Tower—The Godmother’s Secret, and The King’s Intelligencer explore everything from the English Civil War to the mystery of the Princes in the Tower. Her newest novel, The Queen’s Tears, a dual timeline pursuing a stolen crown jewel, reunites favourite characters from the seventeenth-century with a present-day bookstore owner heroine.

At the heart of her writing is the transformation of real ancestral histories into narratives of historical continuity. She follows threads of legacy through generations, guided as much by wills, letters, portraits, country churches, ruined castles, manor houses, and lost gardens as by imagination. Locations become constant companions through time, while characters whisper across centuries—their decisions resonating in the lives of their descendants to reveal how choices shape legacies. Grounded in historic sites like Lydiard Park and the Tower of London, her work creates a living archival flow that continues to flourish as the past yields its secrets.

Elizabeth divides her time between California, England, and the past, surrounded by books, gardens, and animals, with a slightly bewildered, ever-supportive husband beside her.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.elizabethjstjohn.com/

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

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

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

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

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elizabeth-st-john

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@elizabethjstjohn

Amazon Author Page: https://geni.us/AmazonElizabethStJohn

Goodreads: https://geni.us/GoodreadsElizStJohn

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethjstjohn/

Book Link

From Amazon:

Could a gentleman of intelligence, noble connexions, and education like Mr. Darcy fall victim to a love potion?

In “The Love Potion,” Elizabeth’s flippant use of a Romani woman’s gift to avenge Mr. Darcy for his insult appears to reap a surprising result. She soon regrets her impulsive deed and determines to rectify the situation—but that proves to be an intricate undertaking.

“The Pemberley Ravens” depicts the growing bond that forms between Mr. and Mrs. Darcy and a mated pair of ravens named Rollo and Rachel. Over time, the clever, ebony birds prove to be valuable friends.

Diversions With Darcy & Elizabeth is ideal for readers who love sweet, low-angst, Regency era Pride & Prejudice retellings that focus upon Austen’s most beloved couple. Get your copy today!

Trigger warning for domestic violence. “The Love Potion” was featured in the anthology, In the Path of Jane Austen: Travels and Tales, edited by Carol S. Bowes. A shorter version of “The Pemberley Ravens” appeared on Meryton Press’s website.

My Review:

Mary Schmidt

5 out of 5 stars

Loved both

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2026

Format: Kindle

Verified Purchase

Two Pride and Prejudice variations in one book! What’s not to love about that? When I read any of Miller’s novels, I’m immediately taken back in time and feel like my surroundings are the same as in each book. One simply cannot go wrong with this book!

Book Title: Secrets of the Penny University

Series: n/a

Author Name: Amanda Roberts

Publication Date: Paperback – October 1, Digital September 15 or 22

Publisher: Independently published (Hickory Press)

Pages: 272

Genre: Historical Fiction Dual Timeline / Time Slip (1656 and 2025)

Any Triggers: No

Twitter / X Handle: @amanda_R_author @cathiedunn @maryanneyarde @ AuthorMichael57

Instagram Handle: @amanda_roberts_author @thecoffeepotbookclub @yardereviews

Hashtags: #DualTimelineFiction #TimeSlip #IndependentAuthor #HistoricalFiction #SecretsOfThePennyUniversity #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2026/09/blog-tour-secrets-of-the-penny-university-by-amanda-roberts.html

Book Title and Author Name:

Secrets of the Penny University

By Amanda Roberts

Blurb:

Tilly risks everything on a promise. Amy wants the truth.

“I think something terrible happened here”

2025: When Amy and her husband buy an old property on Oxford’s High Street with plans to open a new coffee shop, the discovery of a mural painted on a wall hints at a story that has lain dormant for centuries. Before long, Amy is seeing and hearing echoes of the past, and a young woman who once lived there. As the penny university reveals its secrets, will Amy’s growing obsession with the past lose her everything she has in the present?

1656: Abandoned by her lover and pregnant, Tilly is sent from the small village of Islip to live with cousins in Oxford where she will work in their coffeehouse. She is soon drawn into the excitement of her new life in the city, until the return of a nightmare from her past changes the course of her future. As the time for her child to arrive draws closer, Tilly is faced with a difficult decision; does she turn her back on everything she has hoped for and settle for a different life? She follows her instincts and gambles.

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/31EGQv

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Author Bio:

Author, bookworm and history lover, Amanda grew up in Derbyshire but has lived in Oxfordshire since 1997. A magazine editor by profession, she has published four novels and a short story.

Her first novel, The Roots of the Tree, was based on a true family story and is close to her heart, but her real love is historical fiction. She has published two dual timeline books set in Oxfordshire (The Woman in the Painting and its sequel Secrets of the Penny University) and Lady of the Quay, the first in a series of historical crime/suspense novels set in 1560 in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Second book in this, the Isabella Gillhespy series, will follow in 2027.

When not writing or attending bookish events, she can be found exploring crumbling ruins – wherever in the world she happens to be – or relaxing with her two ginger cats.

Author Links:

Website: https://amandarobertsauthor.co.uk/

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

Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095191090333

Instagram: www.instagram.com/amanda_roberts_author/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Amanda-Roberts/author/B0FC2L3CWF

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8529791.Amanda_Roberts

When the Stones Held by David E. Owen

Publication Date: 16th May 2026
Publisher: Independently Published
Print Length: 331 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

Blurb:

When the Stones Held is a historical novel inspired by the remarkable true story of William Edwards, the self-taught Welsh stonemason who built one of the great bridges of the eighteenth century.

Growing up in rural South Wales, William lives in a world of hard physical labour, dangerous rivers and limited opportunity. From an early age, he develops an instinctive understanding of stone, balance and the possibilities hidden within the landscape around him.

As the coal trade begins to transform the valleys and the need for safer routes grows, William accepts an extraordinary challenge: to build a bridge across the River Taff at Pontypridd. He is twenty-seven years old and has never built a bridge before.

What follows will test far more than his skill as a stonemason. Flood destroys his first bridge. Later attempts bring new failures and new problems to solve. With his reputation, livelihood and family affected by every decision he makes, William must decide how much he is prepared to risk for something no one can promise will succeed.

Set against a South Wales beginning to experience profound change, When the Stones Held is a story of ambition, family, community and resilience, and of an apparently ordinary man whose determination would leave a legacy that survives more than two and a half centuries later.

Any Triggers: Drowning, poverty

Excerpt 1

1746

That evening, William was at Elen’s cottage, making minor repairs to her boundary wall where the gate was beginning to come away, making it difficult to open and shut, when he saw Myfanwy walking up the path. He stopped work and looked at her quizzically.

She barely looked at him as she asked, “Is Elen in?”

William nodded and lifted the gate aside so that she could pass. He began to walk with her toward the cottage when Myfanwy asked quietly. “Is it all right if I see her alone?”

William hesitated only a moment. There was something in her voice, something strained and uncertain, that made him step aside without further question. “Of course.”

Myfanwy thanked him with a slight nod and continued toward the door. William returned to the wall, setting another stone into place and pressing the earth tight around the hinge post while she knocked.

Elen opened the door and, for a moment, simply stood there, her hand still on the latch, looking at the woman before her, the sight catching her unprepared. “Myfanwy?”

“May I come in?”

Elen stepped aside at once. The door closed behind them, shutting out the evening air and the faint tapping of William’s hammer against stone.

Inside, the small room held the warmth of the day’s fire. A loaf of bread rested on the table beside a wooden board dusted with flour, the smell of it lingering. Through the narrow window, the last light of evening slanted across the floorboards and caught the rough grain of the table.

Myfanwy remained standing near the centre of the room.

She had always carried herself with a restless energy, rarely still, rarely uncertain of where she belonged. Now that energy seemed to have drained away, leaving her oddly motionless, as if she feared that even the smallest movement might betray her.

Elen watched her for a moment. “You did not come here to talk about the weather,” she said quietly.

Myfanwy gave a faint attempt at a smile, but it did not reach her eyes. “No.”

Elen drew out the chair beside the table. “Sit.”

Myfanwy obeyed, though the movement was awkward. She settled on the edge of the chair and clasped her hands together in her lap.

Elen remained standing for a moment longer before taking the chair opposite.

Outside, the sound of William’s hammer tapping steadily against the stones of the wall continued. Neither woman spoke, the quiet stretching until it became impossible to ignore.

At last, Myfanwy lifted her head. “I did not know where else to go.”

Elen said nothing, watching her, allowing her time and space, though already suspecting why Myfanwy was there.

“I thought,” Myfanwy continued slowly, “that if I kept silent long enough, the trouble would pass of its own accord.” Her hands tightened together.

“But it does not pass.” Elen’s gaze moved over her face, noticing the shadows beneath her eyes, the faint tightness in the way she held herself. “How long have you known?”

Myfanwy’s head jerked slightly, as though the question had struck her unexpectedly.

“You know? How?” She looked down at her stomach and ran a hand over it, testing whether anything showed.

“I did not know before. I guessed from what you just said. Women understand such things,” Elen said.

For several seconds, Myfanwy said nothing. Then she lowered her eyes again. “I hoped no one would notice for a while yet.”

Elen laid the knife down carefully on the board. “They probably don’t. I have only realised because you’ve come to me in a troubled state. Does your father know?”

The question seemed to drain the remaining colour from Myfanwy’s face. “No.”

“And Ewan?”

The room grew still. Outside the hammering stopped briefly, then resumed. Myfanwy’s lips parted, but the reply did not come. Elen studied her for a long moment, the silence returning between them.

“Is Ewan the father?” she asked quietly.

Myfanwy’s hands trembled, and for an instant, it seemed she might answer. Instead, she turned her face away. “I cannot tell my father about this.” The words came out raw and unguarded.

Elen leaned back slightly in her chair, her eyes resting on Myfanwy’s lowered face. “No,” she said after a moment. “I understand.”

“What do I do?” Outside, the evening deepened across the valley. The faint sound of William’s hammer fell silent, while inside the cottage, the two women sat facing one another in the dimming light, wondering how to approach something that could not be hidden much longer.

They both started when a knock sounded at the door. Myfanwy’s head turned sharply, fear flashing across her face.

William popped his head in briefly. “The gate’s secure now. I’m heading home.” The door closed quietly, and William’s footsteps disappeared into the growing gloom.

The interruption broke whatever composure Myfanwy had been holding. She bowed her head, and tears came.

X Handle: @dai_owen @maryanneyarde @AuthorMichael57
Instagram Handle: @daieowen @yardereviews

Bluesky Handle: @dai-owen.bsky.social @maryanneyarde.bsky.social

Hashtags: #WhenTheStonesHeld #DavidEOwen #HistoricalFiction #WelshHistory #BookBlogTour #YardeBookPromotions

Tour Schedule Page:

https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2026/08/blog-tour-when-stones-held-by-david-e.html

Praise:

‘When the Stones Held’ is a beautifully written novel that celebrates perseverance, faith, love, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. It reminds us that the greatest achievements are rarely built by one pair of hands alone, but through the courage, kindness, and support of those who stand beside us.

Yarde Book Promotions

Buy Link:

https://books2read.com/u/4X7PX6

This book is available on #KindleUnlimited

Author Bio:

David E. Owen

After decades spent teaching around the world—from the UK to the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East—I came to writing fiction later in life. I started with fantasy before finding my voice in fast-paced, real-world spy thrillers. My stories are grounded in current issues like corruption, gender bias, and power, but always emphasise pace, surprise, and character-driven tension.

I’ve visited over 80 countries, worked as a radio host in Abu Dhabi, directed Shakespeare for African audiences in the bush, and even survived a flash flood in Mali and an armed hold-up. I was arrested for drug-smuggling in Nigeria but was eventually released when I refused to pay off the police captain, and I was boat-wrecked alone on a desert island in the Arabian Sea (but no tree) and rescued through a police search. Now retired from teaching, I split my time between writing, photography, and trying to get fit (thanks to a stubborn rowing machine). My latest novel, Hate Machine, tackles misogyny and gender radicalisation — not typical thriller territory, but I like a challenge.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://davideowen.uk/

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

X: https://x.com/dai_owen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.owen.7355

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dai-owen.bsky.social

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/david-e-owen

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B008MKE5X8/about

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/71319623.David_E_Owen

Book Link

From Amazon:

The #1 New York Times bestseller

Beautiful. Beloved. Hunted. The extraordinary life and death of Diana, as told by her brother, Charles.

“A brotherly tribute to the People’s Princess, no holds barred . . . Full of love and vengeance.” —The New York Times

“Charles Spencer was there for all this history, indelibly present in one of the most iconic tableaux of the late 20th century . . . After holding back for so long, his memoir finally tells us what it was like.” —Tina Brown, Fresh Hell Substack

In September 1997, Charles Spencer stood in Westminster Abbey before a watching world and shared his grief at losing his beloved sister, Diana. Now, nearly thirty years later, he tells the astonishing story of his life with Diana and the tragic week of her death.

In childhood, Charles and Diana, the youngest Spencers, were inseparable – secretly calling one another Duch and Carlos. As each other’s closest confidantes, they roamed the family estate, endured extremely challenging boarding schools, survived terrifying nannies, and helped each other through the agony of their parents’ divorce.

Yet everything changed when Diana married the Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, and overnight became a global icon. Charles saw his older sister serve the world’s marginalized and relish being mother to her treasured sons.

But, pursued by a barbaric press as her royal marriage crumbled, she was left desperately alone. Charles always tried to be there for Diana – until that black night in August, 1997.

In Swan Song, Charles Spencer provides the most intimate, loving, and honest portrait yet of his sister.

My Review:

This book was a hard read. We had babies in the same years and Diana was my idol. Her death was too early, the pain she felt in her body after the crash. The paparazzi taking photos was sickening. Charles’s eulogy perfect. How tacky to ask if the family wished her HRH restored. No one would want that. So tacky. A gem of a woman in her prime snatched away due to the paparazzi. Had none been there outside with cameras, the trip via the tunnel would have been fine at a proper rate of speed. King Charlie was vapid and a pompous a$$ all around. Gone but never forgotten.

36

The pain and heartache never wavers.

October 15th.

Never forgotten and dreaded each year.

36

36 years closer to seeing you again.

36

Thanks! $1.99 “I want to go to Heaven, Mom.” All book links on blog whenangelsfly(.)net How would you reply? What would you say if your child told you he wanted to go to Heaven at age five years? Video AI generated by the real me. https://www.amazon.com/When-Angels-Fly-Mary-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B0F9QRN887/ “The key to happiness was gratitude. As I bent my head in prayer and whispered a prayer, I realized how true it was.” Her faith and devotion were an inspiration. The reader will find it hard not to fall in love with her sick child, who, to protect his mother from worrying, didn’t tell her he was hurting when “I knew damn well he had to be,” she said. #BookTok #GriefTok #SurvivorStories #MemoirTok #FaithTok #ChristianBookTok #ChildLoss #HealingJourney #AbuseSurvivor #NonfictionBooks #BookTokBookClub #BooksWorthReading #Childhoodcancer #parenting #childloss #grief #cancer #stillborn

Book Link

From Amazon:

“The best books are those in which the characters come alive before your eyes” Telegraph & Argos ‘I’ve never read a story quite like this, but it was such fun I consumed it in one sitting. As we are introduced to the well observed, larger than life characters I felt I was watching a very British sit-com. We have Bradford, a corner shop, wacky characters, shopping at Primani, a knickerless caravan dweller, dozens of shoes and plenty of booze’ Amazon Review A corner shop, a lottery machine and a bamboo bike …. Shaz and Trace balance spreadsheets by day, but by night drink vodka and dance with their crazy Aunt Sheila in the magical wardrobe. As the country is hit with Brexit fever, mother has her bags packed in case she gets deported whilst gossiping with the likes of Tattoo Tony, Mad Mush Martha and Dammit Janet. Shaz is doing her best to avoid the creepy centre-parted Rajeev and his pet goat. However, her sister Trace is drawn to the charms of the lovely Channing Chopra who is from the posh end of town. A short story of drinking and dancing while the strange barman Bachittar watches on… tutting …

My Review:

Mary Schmidt

5 out of 5 stars

I laughed

Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2026

Format: Kindle

Verified Purchase

This was a very funny short story and I wish I had a magic vodka wardrobe in which I could go just to see all the crazy women did after a shot or two. This is my first time reading a book by Sheila Patel. Cleverly written and funny throughout.

Book Title: The Lark

Series: n/a

Author Name: Laura C. Rader

Publication Date: September 23, 2026

Publisher: Echoes Publishing

Pages: 425

Genre: Historical Fiction

Any Triggers: No

Twitter Handle: @LauraCR_Author @cathiedunn @AuthorMichael57

Instagram Handle: @lcrwriter @thecoffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #TheLark #WizardofOz #BiographicalHistoricalFiction  #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2026/09/blog-tour-the-lark-by-laura-c-rader.html

Book Title and Author Name:

The Lark

by Laura C. Rader

Blurb:

When The Wizard of Oz graced the silver screen in 1939, it changed cinema and popular culture forever. But the true story began decades earlier with the young composer who risked everything to bring it to the Broadway stage. 

At the turn of the century, twenty-three-year-old Paul Tietjens is a gifted classical pianist with dreams of greatness and a non-refundable ticket to Europe to study with the master composers of his time. 

But when the bank calls in the debt on his family’s Missouri farm, Paul forgoes his dream to save them from financial ruin. Desperate to find a new road to success, he moves to up-and-coming Chicago, where he persuades author L. Frank Baum to collaborate on a comic opera of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, setting the stage for the defining cultural touchstone that we know today.

Paul embarks on his opera with high hopes, but scandal threatens his soaring ambition when he falls in love with his best friend’s beautiful but married sister, and his fears grow as the Wizard of Oz demands not only his talent but his soul.

Inspired by Paul’s 1901 diary, The Lark follows Paul as he journeys from the theaters of Chicago to the streets of Manhattan, from his family’s Missouri farm to the beaches of Michigan, fighting to hang onto the chance of a lifetime, his integrity, and the woman he loves. 

Excerpt 2:

From Chapter Eighteen:

Kate closed her parasol and set it aside in a casual manner before leaning back on her elbows, holding her pale face up to the sun, her eyes closed, her long lashes brushing her high cheekbones. Curly tendrils of honey-brown hair framed her face beneath her straw hat and caressed her long neck. 

She opened her blue eyes and looked at me. For a moment, I was lost in them, heard in my heart the whispered German words “blaue Blume,” the blue flower that symbolizes desire, love, and striving for the unattainable. Never had I held a gaze so long nor felt such a stirring from within.

“This is lovely, isn’t it?” she said, gently awakening me from her spell.

“Very. I’m pleased to see you looking so well today.” I removed my hat, ran my hand through my hair, and fanned myself with it before settling it again on my head.

“My trouble comes and goes. I wish the doctors could help, but they only tell me to take it easy, that there’s no fix for my defective heart.”

Her lack of guile or self-pity touched me deeply. I’m sure if I had such a severe malady, I would either withdraw from society or torment everyone with complaints.

“There’s no remedy?” I asked.

“I take that new BayerÒ aspirin now, which eases the pain. I’m told both foxglove tea and quinine may help with my irregular heartbeats, though I’ve tried both without noticing much improvement.”

She stroked Vita’s curls tenderly. “William used to hold me in his arms when I had an attack, which at least made the events less frightening.”

My thoughts leapt to the sensation of holding her in my arms on our calamitous walk last month—not to mention all the times I’d imagined doing so. She had opened Pandora’s box, and I decided to explore it. Cautiously.

“You must miss him.”

“Very much. Still, I haven’t heard from him for months, and I’m beginning to fear…although…”

I wanted to prompt her as the silence stretched on. I held my tongue.

She stared at her wedding band. “I truly am at a loss for what to think. I am worried. And lonely.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sure it’s just the difficulty of getting mail through. Trans-continentally.”

My heart ached for her with both sympathy and longing. I met her gaze and, almost as a lark, I slowly closed my right eye. You are beautiful. When I opened it again, she smiled at me. Emboldened, I briefly closed both eyes. May I kiss you?

To my shock, when I opened them, she raised her eyebrows. Kiss me. I grasped her hand, brought it to my lips, and tenderly kissed the back of her knuckles. It was her left hand, and my lips brushed the chill of her wedding band.

“We can’t,” I murmured, but kept hold of her hand.

“We haven’t.” She kept her gaze locked on mine.

“You are so beautiful.” I held my breath for her response. A thrill ran through me, reminding me of my moments with Abby, but this was much stronger and more frightening, knocking me speechless.

“You know the language.” She stroked the back of my hand with her thumb. A bow drawn across the strings of a violin, making them tremble and sing.

I met her gaze again and reached out, my fingertips grazing her cheek. She caught my hand in hers and kissed my palm.

“Kate.” I choked on her name.

“Yes?” She kept hold of my hand.

“I’m trying to be honorable. I’m failing miserably.”

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/m0RDZV

Author Bio:

Laura C. Rader is the award-winning author of the biographical historical novel Hatfield 1677. When she isn’t writing, you can find her conducting research, playing her 1905 antique piano, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets.

A native of Southern California, she now lives north of Raleigh, North Carolina.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.lcrwriter.com

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

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

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

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lcrwriter

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/laurawriter2b.bsky.social

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/laurarader8/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/laura-c-rader

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laura.rader0

Amazon Author Page:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Laura-C-Rader/author/B0CZF3SQT9?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47076598.Laura_C_Rader

Book Link

From Amazon:

Forty will enter Crossroads Farm, Thirty-seven will die. Meet Rita Jackson, a child serial killer who deprives her victims of oxygen. Hidden behind her youth and innocence is a monstrous killer. From a young age, her father knew of her murderous tendencies. He fed it and encouraged the monster to grow. Rita will steal her victims’ last breath and watch them die with a smile on her face in this chilling and captivating story. Their house in Crossroads Farm will echo with the cry of her victims. Will Rita be amongst the living? Or will she lose her life to her madness?

My Review:

Wow. First book by Harryman, I’ve read. The story is exceptionally written and tight. People can be a serial killer in many ways and this book is no exception. It’s completely different from any book I’ve read in the past. Serial killers come in all shapes and sizes. If one can kill and carve a symbol into the cheek of the dead, then they can act out any scene. But will they be caught?