The Girl From Pompey

May15

Please welcome Bryony Best to my blog. Hello Bryony! I’m so happy to have you on my blog today.

Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.

I publish memoir style books that shine a light on healing trauma, addiction recovery and mental health. Spirituality is also embedded into all my books, and I share my own spiritual development and growth throughout my stories.  

I am also a Holistic Therapist who has studied mediumship for many years. 

My books are currently being used as resources within mental health in the U.K. and USA. I also created my own branding and I currently sell TGFP limited edition merchandise alongside my books.  

Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?

I have written poetry since I was a child, but I never thought of myself as a writer. I am a spiritual person who meditates daily, and it was while meditating that inspiration hit me and I started writing my first book back in 2011.

How difficult was it to write your first book?

It was easy. I was unaware of what I should have been doing and therefore I just transferred my ideas and knowledge into my laptop. Now, I plot and plan my chapters, research the theme and am more aware of what is required from me.

Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?

Recently I have considered whether writing is a viable career for me financially, but I love creating stories and sharing my experiences to help others. I work multiple jobs and volunteer too, but I feel it is important to love what you are doing. I tried chasing the high-powered career and it did not make me happy. Writing and helping others makes me happy.

Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?

My fiancé believes I will become financially independent and a famous author in the future, and he is my biggest supporter alongside my readers.

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

My first book contains ten years of research for happiness and fulfilment, and I believe this is why the book has received such great reviews.

What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?

Be true to yourself. When you fall asleep in bed are you happy with your choices? If yes, then continue.

What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?

My books entertain everyone, but they also contain themes for very serious subjects. Any person seeking guidance or advice for overcoming trauma, mental health, inspiration, or addiction can especially benefit from reading my book.

Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?

I have a clear idea of what I want before I finish the book making the cover design easier. I usually hire the same cover artist who is very talented.

What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?

I am currently writing my tenth book, and it will be book number five in The Girl from Pompey series. The story continues from my last book and is set in Wales. I share details of my new life, but it is not long before my demons catch up with me. The book has two timelines, one in the present and one in the past set in a mental hospital.

Any last words before we wrap things up?

I love writing books and connecting with readers. I publish disturbingly honest books based on my life. At the heart of my writing is a desire to help others. If you are ever in need of help, then please do not suffer in silence. Reach out or tell a friend. Call a help line or find someone to help you.

Bryony Best currently lives in Wales with her fiancé and much loved chihuahua dog. Bryony works part-time for a charity and writes books but hopes to be a full-time author in the future. In her spare time Bryony volunteers with her registered pet therapy dog in a local care-home alongside volunteering as a Reiki healer at a local church. Bryony is a Reiki Master with a diploma for Crystal Healing, alongside training for Mediumship for many years. In Bryony’s books she shares wisdom and Spirituality alongside her triumph defeating her own addictions and overcoming mental illness.

Social Media 

Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/bryony-best

Instagram – https://instagram.com/bestbryony?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thegirlfrompompey

Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@bryonybestauthor?_t=8aVbG7g14iM&_r=1

Website – https://www.bryonybest.com

Twitter – @bryony_best 

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/friend/i?invite_token=MTNiMmM0OWItNjJlYy00MjBlLWE1OWQtNzdjNGJiNDEyMDFl

Linked In https://uk.linkedin.com/in/bryony-best-17b393221

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Amazon.com Author page – Amazon.com: Bryony Best: books, biography, latest updateBook on Amazon.com https://a.co/d/cxzDC7m

Rainbows Red Book of Poetry

May14

Book Link

From Amazon:

‘Do yourself a favour: buy this, curl up in your favourite chair and read it, knowing you will come away refreshed.’

Life is a complex thing. As social beings, we live side by side, sometimes in not so harmonious circumstances. This book celebrates love and tackling the challenges we face as humans. Control is not always ours.

Keep learning.
Keep growing.
Be yourself.
Do your best.

Life is complicated, yet very simple.

‘These poems are layered and more formal — with an air of William Blake or even Christina Rosetti — but without pretension or anachronism. They still have the Lawson touch.’

‘Lily Lawson has this way of making me weep.
And dance.
And understand myself a little better.
And understand others, perhaps, a little better too.’

“Hate vs Love” is the strongest poem in the collection. … I enjoyed the repeating “p” sound in “powerful punch poisoning” as an attempt to replicate that ongoing bruised feeling when hateful words hit our heart. And following this, “wasting weighty words” is an excellent way to display exhaustion, as the mouth quickly gets tired of forming the “w” sound. Another favorite line of mine is “History is buried deep within me” in “The Vault”.

My Review:

Mary Schmidt

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2025

Verified Purchase

The poetry within these pages are heartfelt. The good in life compared to the bad in the same poem. Overall, the poetry speaks of pain, heartache, loss, love, visions of not texting or tweeting, but back to the old ways before digital. The most important part of the poetry concerns a person standing strong despite what others have done to her.

Apollo’s Raven

May13

Audiobook Title: Apollo’s Raven

Series: Curse of Clansmen Kings

Author: Linnea Tanner

Narrator: Kristin James

Publication Date: May 24, 2017 (Audiobook Publication)

Publisher: Apollo Raven Publisher, LLC

Listening Length: 11 hours and 56 minutes

Genre: Historical Fantasy, Historical Romantasy, Myth & Legend

Twitter Handles: @linneatanner @cathiedunn @marylschmidt

Instagram Handles: @linneatanner @thecoffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #HistoricalFantasy #HistoricalFiction #Rome #Britannia #CelticMyths #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/04/blog-tour-apollos-raven-audiobook-by-linnea-tanner.html

Book Title and Author Name:

Book Title: Apollo’s Raven (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 that 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?

Praise:

“Mystery and intrigue with each word, Tanner is a master wordsmith. Her vivid imagery and imagination are captured in her story and character development.” ~ The Audiobook Reviewer

” Many surprising twists enrich the historically drawn plot. Points of view shift between different characters effectively, heightening the tension from one moment to the next.” ~ Historical Novel Society Review

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link for Apollo’s Raven: https://books2read.com/Apollos-Raven

Audible US: https://www.audible.com/pd/Apollos-Raven-Livre-Audio/B072C2NK8H

Audible UK: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Apollos-Raven-Livre-Audio/B072C2NK8H

*AUDIOBOOK GIVEAWAY – UK Only*

Linnea Tanner is giving away an audiobook copy of Apollo’s Raven to listeners in the UK. Visit the blog tour page and leave a comment to enter the giveaway: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/04/blog-tour-apollos-raven-audiobook-by-linnea-tanner.html

A winner will be chosen at random and announced after the tour has finished.

Please share this link to your Post Content from Soundcloud:

Author Bio:

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.

Author Links:

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

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

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/linneatanner.bsky.social

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

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

This entry was posted on May 13, 2025. 5 Comments

Bon Voyage To Murder

May12

Book Link

From Amazon:

Hooray! Fiona has finally convinced her boyfriend, Detective Nathan Landry, to go on a romantic Caribbean cruise. Unfortunately, their fun on the high seas is interrupted by murder. It isn’t long before they discover a boatload of suspects who have motives deeper than the ocean for wanting the victim out of their lives.

My Review:

Thanks for yet another winning book in this series! I love the inclusion of a cruise as I’ve never been on a cruise before and it won’t happen in my lifetime as they require money I don’t have. I imagine they are fun, though, and deck breezes must be refreshing. A balcony suite would be lovely, if the railing wasn’t covered in blood. Now, why would anyone want to kill another human being while cruising along? That requires premeditatiin and the list of suspects is extensive. Obvious hatred of different individuals, doesn’t make it any easier. Nathan is awesome in preventing a drowning. What can I say about irresponsible Chad? Fiona had best never leave pet sitting to Chad again. This story isn’t all gloom with drama, murder, attempted murder, and more. It showcases love that Fiona and Nate have for each other. And secrets. Secrets can be a good thing, especially when Grandma Eve approves.

Bet You Can’t Find Me

May8

Book Link

From Amazon:

RED ADEPT SELECT Author of the DI Lorne Simpkins Thrillers – Mel Comley says: “One of the best paranormal mysteries I’ve read.” “Imagine a killer who can kill at will from a distance. No gun, no weapon. Nothing more than a thought.” Catherine Mans has the ability to see and hear what others can’t. With the help of Homicide Sergeant Cody Allen, she’s turned that talent into a successful profession as a psychic consultant. But Catherine’s past is coming back to haunt her. Someone is threatening the lives of everyone she loves. Nine bodies have been discovered, and Catherine is the FBI’s prime suspect. To prove her innocence, she must unravel the secrets of her past, and answer the challenge of a deranged psychic. Bet you can’t…FIND ME! “If you love the psychic suspense of Kay Hooper and the witty characters of Tammy Hoag, you’ll love Find Me!” Book Two – Eternal Beauty now available! Other Books: Jacody Ives Mysteries

My Review:

Gripping from the start! It took much time e but I did get a sense of what was actually going on, yet not knowing the true depth of H@ll and true depths of darkness. The suspense was there the whole way through and keeps you reading until the very end. This was an entertaining read, but a bit too dark for me.

Broken Chances

May7

Book Link

From Amazon:

A young wife. A much older husband. Is it only the age gap that threatens to ruin their marriage?

When Margo marries Michael, she believes that her life will change forever. And it really does, only not in the way a young girl from a small country in Northern Europe thought it would.

Latvia, a dreamy land with rich historical heritage and endless beaches stretching for miles, for Margo, is a gloomy place where she would have to struggle for years to have a decent life. All she knows is her hometown – a depressing place built for the needs of the factory workers – dull commuting to the capital Riga, and a bar in the Old Town where she works, always full of loud and often unceremonious tourists.

Skipping a chance to explore her home country and the opportunities it might offer, Margo accepts Michael’s proposal and moves to a dramatically picturesque island in England.

A small, tightly-knit community, where everyone knows everyone and where nothing ever happens, is not particularly welcoming to a newcomer. Unfamiliar with local traditions and quirks, Margo often finds herself in awkward situations. Still, with each walk she takes along the coastal path on the small island she now calls home, Margo falls deeper in love with the stunning landscapes of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. Alas, with each day she spends with Michael, she realises more clearly that her marriage is falling apart.

Margo keeps asking herself why what she thought was a chance of a lifetime turned into a disaster. Will she find the answer? And will she love again after having been bitterly disappointed in marriage and relationships?

Set against the backdrop of breathtaking landscapes of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, England, “Broken Chances” is a self-discovery journey with a dash of cosy mystery and clean romance.

P.S. Expect to be smitten by charming dogs and majestic horses.

My Review:

Margo is young and dreams of having a new life away from Latvia. She marries an older man twice her age, and they move to an idyllic coastal town on an island in Dorset, England. Love didn’t rule Margo’s heart and she comes to realize quickly that the man she married does not love her. He only desires her cooking per his specifications, dinner on the table at exact times, household cleaner, anything he can get her to do. Yet he shows hatred and dissatisfaction with her cooking. A man who doesn’t love her, an island town with women who take a long time to make friends with. But she does succeed. Yet her life is empty. She looks forward to the days when her husband is not at home and out working. Along comes Finley, a young and handsome man who takes a shine on Margo. Margo’s husband becomes more abusive. Margo needs to get out of this marriage. Can she? Will Margo get out and away from her abusive husband? Will she ever find her own happily ever after? And what of her mother? Is she too old to marry again? Will anyone in Dorset have the dreams they dream of? This novel has a great plot with numerous subplots.

Saddle Up For Murder

May6

Book Link

From Amazon:

Fiona is in total shock when her mother arrives unannounced on her doorstep. What’s going on? Why, she’s left Fiona’s father, that’s what. Yikes! Worse, a horse trainer is murdered outside his ex-wife’s home in Pittsburgh, and the trail leads directly to a Thoroughbred racetrack in the neighboring state of West Virginia. Get ready, because the suspects are mounting up and heading down the stretch. Whoa! Fiona and Detective Landry aren’t horsing around with this homicide!

My Review:

Mary Schmidt

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner

Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2025

Verified Purchase

This is yet another winner by Ms. McDonald. I’ve not read these books in any order whatsoever, and that’s okay! They do just fine as a standalone. The mysteries are mysterious, and the love and laughter reigns supreme. Whatever will I do when I finally do run out of books by Ms. McDonald? Surely, another book will be out by then. I have my favorite writers and she is one other!

This entry was posted on May 6, 2025. 2 Comments

Pain

May3

Book Link

From Amazon:

Can poetry be memories from a previous life?

Pain is the first book in the series Memories from another Lifetime.

Memories from another Lifetime is a collection of very personal and hauntingly beautiful poems about love, desire, heartbreak, betrayal, hurt, and denial. They go to the core of raw and visceral emotions, perhaps from another lifetime. A powerful and moving experience.

‘It is through the tears of the poet that the world shall see ever more clearly.’ – Vanita Shukla Hork, 1987

My Review:

Mary Schmidt5.0 out of 5 stars 

Painful

Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2025Verified Purchase

A wonderful book of poetry written at a young age. The yearning of love, the feeling of despair, the hope of a new day, the pain and sorrow of a relationship gone awry, tempered with a favorite poem about childhood. This is poetry at its finest.