From Amazon: Book 2 in the HUNTING FOR LIGHT Trilogy! The second Healer’s been found! Kate Murphy is one step closer to shifting the balance of good and evil. The question is: Can she convince the second Healer to join her modern quest? As Kate musters enough confidence to train the second Healer and lead her clan, the Hunter lurks in the backdrop, accumulating power. And he has a secret. One that could turn the tide of the ongoing battle between good and evil. Just as Kate manages to fully welcome the second Healer, the Hunter strikes. And he hits close to home once more. The Society of Healers begins to unravel as the Hunter poisons the minds of those around her. As Kate loses control, the second Healer, Mira Michaels – a mother, widow, vet student, and descendent of Irish and African immigrants – must decide whether or not she fully accepts her role as a Healer. And if she does, is it worth the risk? Join Kate Murphy and Mira Michaels in the continuation of their unexpected, epic adventure!

My Review: I enjoyed book one in this trilogy and book two didn’t disappoint. Kate finds her second healer and the second healer must overcome her thoughts and feelings to see if she is willing to join Kate in a battle between good and evil. The ending leaves you wanting to know what happened. We shall find out in book three!

From Amazon: Nick S. Klaus is a patient man, but living next door to Mandy Alexander for five years has him running low this Christmas season. He wants nothing more than to make her his Mrs. Klaus, but she’d rather pretend he isn’t real. Mandy Alexander is a single mom and full-time teacher. She doesn’t have time to date or for the entanglements it can cause. Even if she did have time, getting involved with her next-door neighbor, and co-worker, Nick S. Klaus, had disaster written all over it. This Christmas, Nick’s determined to teach Mandy that love doesn’t have to be complicated, and he’s got two of the cutest Christmas elves to help him get the job done. Will this be the year Santa finally gets his Mrs. Klaus under the mistletoe?

My Review: Mettner has done it again. But then, my most favorite contemporary romance writer would never disappoint me. Awe. Such a perfect read on a July day. This book is seriously Christmas in July. Honestly, I love romance, add in challenging situations, all of the emotions and feels, ending in happily ever after, and you have read a book with five shiny gold stars.

Book Title: Cragside: A 1930s murder mystery

Author: M J Porter

Publication Date: 14th April 2022

Publisher: M J Publishing

Page Length: 234 Pages

Genre: Historical Mystery

Twitter Handles: @coloursofunison @maryanneyarde

Instagram Handles: @m_j_porter @coffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalMystery #HistoricalThriller #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/04/blog-tour-cragside-1930s-murder-mystery.html

Book Title and Author Name:

Cragside: A 1930s murder mystery

By M J Porter

Blurb

Lady Merryweather has had a shocking year. Apprehended for the murder of her husband the year before, and only recently released, she hopes a trip away from London will allow her to grieve. The isolated, but much loved, Cragside Estate in North Northumberland, home of her friends, Lord and Lady Bradbury, holds special memories for her.

But, no sooner has she arrived than the body of one of the guests is found on the estate, and suspicion immediately turns on her. Perhaps, there are no friendships to be found here, after all.

Released, due to a lack of evidence, Lady Ella returns to Cragside only to discover a second murder has taken place in her absence, and one she can’t possibly have committed.

Quickly realising that these new murders must be related to that of her beloved husband, Lady Merryweather sets out to solve the crime, once and for all. But there are many who don’t want her to succeed, and as the number of murder victims increases, the possibility that she might well be the next victim, can’t be ignored.

Journey to the 1930s Cragside Estate, to a period house-party where no one is truly safe, and the estate is just as deadly as the people.

Trigger Warnings:

Description of murder scenes and bodies

Cragside

Excerpt 2 – The readers first introduction to Detective Aldcroft

“Ah, Lady Merryweather.” The voice of Detective Inspector Aldcroft is uncertain, far from the confident man I was forced to speak to yesterday. He’s not at all the confident man who ordered my apprehension for a crime I hadn’t committed.

“Detective Inspector,” my words are like ice. I see him shiver at them as he comes to an abrupt stop in front of me, as I do the same. I raise my chin, refusing to be cowed by the state he finds me in, with my blond hair dishevelled by the rain and by not seeing a brush for over twenty-four hours. I’ve slept in my travel clothes. I know I smell of the damp police station, but my eyes are ice blue and clear. My fury ensures I’m thinking clearly. 

The detective looks little better than I imagine I do. His overcoat is dark with rain, and beneath his feet, a trail of water pools that one of the housemaids will need to clear up before someone slips.

Silence falls between us, the sound of the kitchen drifting to us. Perhaps the sobbing housemaid has returned inside to make tea. Or maybe Mrs Underhill has taken refuge in what she knows best; providing for the household living at Cragside.

Evidently, Aldcroft has been outside. Aldcroft knows what’s happened in the rain. He knows the identity of the victim who’s been injured on the rockery.

“Well. Um. So I see you’ve been released.” He licks his lips before he speaks. I try not to note how snake-like the action is.

“Of course I have. It seems that even the Northumberland County Constabulary actually require proof of a person’s guilt before holding them indefinitely on suspicion of murder.”

“Ah, yes, well, um, apologies, Lady Merryweather. My humble apologies.”

Aldcroft runs his wide-brimmed hat through thin fingers, his eyes trying to look anywhere but at me. He’s a man of moderate height, a few inches taller than me now that I’ve discarded my shoes. His lips are covered with a fine brown moustache, although no beard. His police-issue overcoat is black, his boots filthy, the hems of his trousers spotted with what I hope is mud. And I feel just a single moment of pity for him, quickly banished. This man doesn’t deserve any kind thoughts.

“Good day,” I turn to continue my path to the library, thoughts of hot tea and something to eat driving me onwards to hunt down one of the housemaids who aren’t assisting the butler and whoever else is on the rockery. I know I’ll pass the stairs to the Turkish bath on the way, but right now, I’m cold and hungry. Bathing can wait.

Only Detective Inspector Aldcroft speaks. Somehow, I sensed he would. I consider whether he has, in fact, been seeking me out, having heard the growl of the motorcar engine pulling up on the gravel drive.

“Well, actually. If I could. If you wouldn’t.” And Aldcroft pauses again. “You’re cold. Let’s talk before the fire. There’s tea and biscuits,” and he indicates with his hand that I should lead into the library. I open my mouth to speak, to proclaim my innocence, but I bite down on those words. I won’t beg. I never have before, even when facing the noose.

I wish I’d kept my shoes on then. My passage makes no sound on the wooden floor, robbing me of the chance to make my displeasure felt in such an obvious way. Instead, I have to rely on rigid shoulders and tight steps. It won’t do. Not at all.

I bend and place my shoes before the vast fireplace in the library, noting as I do that there’s a fine spread laid out on the dark wooden table but that none of the other houseguests is partaking of the delicate sandwiches or gently steaming teapot. The library, which only a day ago had housed twelve people, is now silent and empty, even if every single electric lamp is turned on, including the converted cloisonné vases. The glass pendant shade over the table adds a warm glow to the cold food.

The fire is well-stocked with burning coals and logs, no doubt from the many trees on the estate. The smell is fragrant with pine and the promise of the coming Christmas.

I pull out one of the wooden backed chairs surrounding the table and hang Williams sopping overcoat over its back, stifling a shiver. My eye catches the hem of my sopping skirt. Aldcroft hesitates in the doorway, his eyes peering back towards the open front door. I believe he might attempt to escape at any moment, although he’s asked for this conference.

“Well, come in, or go out, but don’t hover,” my tone is reassuringly acerbic. I’m pleased to be feeling so much myself, despite the tribulations of the last twenty-four hours.

“Yes, well,” and Aldcroft casts a fleeting look along the inner hallway one more time, as though the answer lies out there.

I begin to pour myself tea into the delicate china cups, thinking of Williams. I can’t leave him without sustenance, but I need to see what the Detective Inspector wants first. Equally, I wish for a huge mug so that I can grip it between my two white-rimmed hands.

Carefully, I place two lumps of white sugar into the dark brown mass and then liberally apply the milk.

Only then do I remember my manners.

“Would you like one?” But Aldcroft shakes his head miserably, his lips fixed in something similar to a grimace.

I stand and take a sip, wincing at the tartness of the too-long brewed tea, but welcome the warmth and the sweetness. It soothes me like nothing else. At least it’s better than the mixture they’d given me in the police station, which had not been worthy of the name tea. I don’t even think it deserved the name mud. It had been something indescribable, but I’d needed the warmth.

Buy Links:

Universal Link: books2read.com/Cragside

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cragside-1930s-murder-mystery-Porter-ebook/dp/B09R26PFW2/

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Cragside-1930s-murder-mystery-Porter-ebook/dp/B09R26PFW2/

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Cragside-1930s-murder-mystery-Porter-ebook/dp/B09R26PFW2/

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Audible-Cragside/dp/B09WGTRGQ1/

Barnes and Noble:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cragside-m-j-porter/1141311981

Waterstones:https://www.waterstones.com/book/cragside/m-j-porter/9781914332838

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/cragside-1

Apple Books:https://books.apple.com/us/book/cragside/id1617307479

Audio: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Cragside-Audiobook/B09WH16CH9

Author Bio:

MJ Porter

MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to Eleventh-Century England, as well as three twentieth-century mysteries. Raised in the shadow of a building that was believed to house the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia, meant that the author’s writing destiny was set.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.mjporterauthor.com/

Blog: https://mjporterauthor.blog/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/coloursofunison

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006592412433

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mj-porterauthor/

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/coloursofunison/_saved/

BookBub:https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mj-porter?list=about

Amazon Author Page:https://www.amazon.co.uk/MJ-Porter/e/B006N8K6X4/

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7163404.M_J_Porter

Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/MJPorterauthor

Media Kit

Book Title: The Girl from Oto

Series: The Miramonde Series, Book 1

Author: Amy Maroney

Publication Date: 20th September 2016

Publisher: Artelan Press

Page Length: 524 Pages

Audio Length: 15 hours 23 minutes

Narrator: Meg Price

Genre: Historical Mystery

Twitter Handles: @wilaroney @maryanneyarde

Instagram Handles: @amymaroneywrites @coffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #Renaissance #WomenArtists #HistoricalMystery #MiramondeSeries #TheGirlFromOto #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/03/audio-blog-tour-girl-from-oto-miramonde.html

Book Title and Author Name:

The Girl from Oto

(The Miramonde Series, Book 1)

By Amy Maroney

Narrated by Meg Price

Blurb:

A Renaissance-era woman artist and an American scholar. Linked by a 500-year-old mystery…

The secrets of the past are irresistible—and treacherous.

1500: Born during a time wracked by war and plague, Renaissance-era artist Mira grows up in a Pyrenees convent believing she is an orphan. When tragedy strikes, Mira learns the devastating truth about her own origins. But does she have the strength to face those who would destroy her?

2015: Centuries later, art scholar Zari unearths traces of a mysterious young woman named Mira in two 16th-century portraits. Obsessed, Zari tracks Mira through the great cities of Europe to the pilgrim’s route of Camino de Santiago—and is stunned by what she finds. Will her discovery be enough to bring Mira’s story to life?

A powerful story and an intriguing mystery, The Girl from Oto is an unforgettable novel of obsession, passion, and human resilience.

Buy Links:

This book is available on #KindleUnlimited.

Series links:

The Girl from Oto: https://mybook.to/girlfromoto

Mira’s Way: https://mybook.to/MirasWay

A Place in the World: https://mybook.to/aPlaceInTheWorld

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Oto-Miramonde-Book-ebook/dp/B01LWAHC4H

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Oto-Miramonde-Book-ebook/dp/B01LWAHC4H

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Girl-Oto-Miramonde-Book-ebook/dp/B01LWAHC4H

AmazonAU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Girl-Oto-Miramonde-Book-ebook/dp/B01LWAHC4H

Audio: https://mybook.to/TheGirlFromOtoAudio

Author Bio:

Amy Maroney lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family, and spent many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction before turning her hand to historical fiction. When she’s not diving down research rabbit holes, she enjoys hiking, dancing, traveling, and reading. Amy is the author of the Miramonde Series, a trilogy about a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern-day scholar on her trail. Amy’s new series, Sea and Stone Chronicles, features ordinary people seeking their fortunes under the rule of the medieval Knights Hospitaller in Rhodes, Greece. To receive a free prequel novella to the Miramonde Series, join Amy Maroney’s readers’ group at www.amymaroney.com.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.amymaroney.com/

Twitter: twitter.com/wilaroney

Facebook: www.facebook.com/amymaroneyauthor

Instagram: www.instagram.com/amymaroneywrites/

Pinterest: pinterest.com/amyloveshistory/

BookBub: www.bookbub.com/profile/amy-maroney

Amazon Author Page: author.to/AmyMaroneyAmazonPage

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/15831603.Amy_Maroney

From Amazon: Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift that transports her to the land of Bernovem. In Bernovem, she is honored as “the chosen one” the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz’s control. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous “Warble” in its resting place. She must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen’s “zelbocks” before reaching her destination. Dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, a prince, and an evil queen; all these and more can be found in The Warble, an enchanting tale of intrigue and adventure.

My Review: I found this story to be enchanting, to say the least. We have a young girl who receives a metallic ball, in a hat box from her teacher. Once home, with the hat box and her pet rat, things started happening fast. The story unfolds to an amazing adventure with two queens, a king, multiple fairies, gnomes, creatures of all sorts, fairy flowers with special healing properties, and much more. All kinds of problems occur in trying to save a kingdom and dwarves, some of them, helped. Bravery was mustered by each person, fairy tale wide, and good replaced evil in the end. The reader is left wondering if what happened was real or a dream.

on Self Publishing: If you’re looking for the best Android apps for writers, we’ve hunted far and wide to find the best ones so you can capture your ideas on the go. As most writers know, you never know when inspiration is going to strike and you need to have something by your side to […]

6 of the Best Android Apps For Writers – by Jackie Pearce… — Chris The Story Reading Ape’s Blog

From Amazon: — Nokemes (grandmother), tell me, the kzel8msen that makes the leaves of the birch trees dance, where does it come from?— Gluskabe, that’s a very good question. Why do you want to know?— I just want to understand how nature works, nokemes.— Are you sure you don’t have a weird idea in mind? You look quite disheveled. You didn’t accidentally squabble with a puff of kzel8msen, did you? — Not at all, nokemes. This is just to increase my knowledge.— You promise me that you won’t meddle in what is none of your business if I tell you where the kzel8msen comes from?— I promise, nokemes. Gluskabe assured, fingers crossed behind his back… and our story begins.

My Review: I found this to be a nicely narrated story for kids with hand drawn illustrations. The main character finds out the hard way why he should not mess or try to change the winds or weather. Losing part of nature kills off other things. We should all be cognizant of what our own footprints leave.

From Amazon: “The day I nearly drowned, I was wearing a new swimming costume. Mum had always given me plain, navy, one-piece suits: sometimes second-hand, I realised now – their thin, elastic threads poking through the sheen of the fabric in barbs…”. The second collection in The Blue Hour series, The Day I Nearly Drowned continues an exploration of the challenges faced by ordinary people, at pivotal moments in their lives. A father is reunited with his daughter; a woman attends a funeral; a child almost drowns. Dreena Collins again brings us characters that will resonate – in tales full of twists, humour and emotion.

My Review: Dreena has a wonderful book of short stories that will have you trying to figure out where each story is headed. The writing style has an easy flow. Stories are unique. I loved one with a young mother as I could relate to parts of it, and I was surprised by how I was taken with the point of view of a dead woman watching her own funeral. Five shiny gold stars.

TRIGGER WARNINGS! Do not read this post if you trigger.

From Amazon: Catherine was twelve years old standing on a sidewalk with a duffle bag of clothes as she looked at the home behind her. Its front door closed as the family behind it continued to lived their lives. A family she was unwanted by because she fought to not be abused anymore. A fight that made her lose out on family, but a fight that made her abuser never to touch her again. Her horrifying childhood tragedy was over but the emotional, mental and psychological abuse from her own family was only beginning. Running away, friendships, relationships, motherhood, reconnections and heartaches, all while living a lifetime of shame, secrets and silence. Depression, PTSD and repressed memories at the age of forty-five, sending her straight to her hometown police department. Bringing the readers for a rollercoaster ride of emotions, atmospheres and right into the scene they are reading. What did detectives find in Catherine’s childhood home? Who is the monstrous predator her birth mother harbored? How long can family secrets stay buried? What is life like growing up a statistic in a world full of abused children? My name is Catherine Mellen and this is my continuing life story.

My Review: I don’t want to dredge up horrific memories of the author’s childhood, thus I won’t be writing any of that in my review. If you have been abused in any way, please know this story is a huge trigger from start to finish. That doesn’t mean to not read this book as reading this book will also help many others. I recommend reading this book as the second book in this series, just like I’ve done as this book fills in plot areas in her first book. This story did trigger me throughout. The evil that some individuals do is more than horrific. Writing this book was therapeutic in getting it out, yet horrific for the memories.

Media Kit

Book Title: More Precious Than Gold

Series: The Hearts of Gold Trilogy, Book 2

Author: Renee Yancy

Publication Date: 28th June 2022

Publisher: Vinspire

Page Length: 345 Pages

Genre: Historical Romance

Twitter Handle: @YancyRenee @maryanneyarde

Instagram Handles: @reneeyancy @coffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/02/blog-tour-more-precious-than-gold.html

Book Title and Author Name:

More Precious Than Gold

(The Hearts of Gold Trilogy, Book 2)

By Renee Yancy

Blurb

A young woman refuses to become a pawn in her grandmother’s revenge scheme and forgoes a life of wealth and royalty to pursue a nursing career as America enters WWI and the Pandemic Flu of 1918 wreaks havoc in New York City.

Excerpt:

The face should be trained never to show a trace of anxiety or alarm, no matter how grave the occasion; no surprise should be expressed even by so much as the lifting of an eyebrow. —Nursing Ethics, Isabel Hampton Robb, 1917

Now classes on antiseptics, bacteriology, and instruction on bandaging and dressings alternated with twelve-hour shifts on the various wards, beginning with the medical floor. The first two weeks had gone well. Kitty had adapted to the new schedule and found she enjoyed taking care of the older patients.

On the first day of the third week, they had been on duty a quarter of an hour when cries of distress emanated from a low iron bed in a corner of the ward. Elderly Mr. Johnson sat up and scrabbled through his mussed bedclothes.

“Oh dear, oh dear, I’ve lost it.” He raked his hands through his hair, setting his white curls on end. “It must have fallen under the bed. Oh, dear, oh, dear!”

“Can I help you, Mr. Johnson?” Kitty laid a gentle hand on his scrawny shoulder, feeling the thinness of his frame under the cotton pajamas. “What have you lost, sir? Perhaps I can assist you.”

“Oh, oh, oh.” He wrung his hands. “It must be under the bed. I have to find it.”

Kitty untied her pinafore, unpinned her nurse’s cap, and set them on the patient’s bedside stand. Then she got down on her hands and knees. It had taken nearly an hour to starch and iron her uniform and white pinafore before reporting for duty this evening, and already the shift had taken its toll on her uniform. She sighed and poked her head under the bed. “What am I looking for, Mr. Johnson?”

The bedsprings above her head creaked with the patient’s frantic movements and a bare foot with horny toenails dropped down next to her.

“Stay in bed, sir. I’ll find it. But what am I looking for?” The foot disappeared but there was still no answer, only Mr. Johnson’s repeated exclamations of distress.

Kitty sighed and flattened her body to slide her upper torso into the dim recesses under the bed. Aside from a few dust balls, nothing else emerged from the darkness. Someone on the day shift hadn’t done a thorough job of dusting. Gingerly, she felt around with both her hands. “I don’t see anything under here, Mr. Johnson.” She sneezed violently twice.

“I know it’s under there.” His voice quavered. “It must have rolled into the corner.”

Kitty groaned. There was no help for it. She reached her hand to the bed leg and pulled herself the rest of the way under the bed, holding her breath. She patted her hand around the floor again and came up empty. “It would help if I knew what I was looking for, Mr. Johnson.”

She tried to keep the irritation out of her voice as her hand touched something round and hard and cold. She picked it up, turned it over, then recoiled and let out a muffled shriek. The back of her head hit the mattress boards so hard she saw stars. A glass eye glared back at her in the gloom, the blue iris surrounded completely by bright white. She nearly dropped it again but managed to wriggle herself out backward from underneath the bed. She pushed herself to her feet and brushed dust and cobwebs off her uniform.

“Well, dizzy me,” she said. She gave several vociferous sneezes. “Is this what you were looking for?”

Mr. Johnson snatched the artificial eye from her palm. “That’s it!” He rubbed the eye on his nightclothes, gave it a lick, and popped it in. “Thank you, nurse.”

Buy Links:

Universal Link (if you have it): https://books2read.com/u/bQPlGd

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/More-Precious-Than-Renee-Yancy-ebook/dp/B0B2ZQXTHV

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/More-Precious-Than-Renee-Yancy-ebook/dp/B0B2ZQXTHV

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/More-Precious-Than-Renee-Yancy-ebook/dp/B0B2ZQXTHV

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/more-precious-than-gold-renee-yancy/1141594321

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/more-precious-than-gold-4

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/more-precious-than-gold/id6442926646

Author Bio:

Renee Yancy

Renee Yancy is a history and archaeology nut who works as an RN when she isn’t writing historical fiction or traveling the world to see the exotic places her characters have lived.

A voracious reader as a young girl, she now writes the kind of books she loves to read—stories filled with historical and archaeological detail interwoven with strong characters facing big conflicts. Her goal is to take you on a journey into the past so fascinating that you can’t put the story down.

When she isn’t writing, Renee can be found in the wilds of Kentucky with her husband and a rescue mutt named Ellie. She loves flea markets and collecting pottery and glass and most anything mid-century modern.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://reneeyancy.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YancyRenee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renee.q.yancy/

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/reneeyancy/novel-more-precious-than-gold/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/renee-yancy

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Renee-Yancy/e/B00726MJDQ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5754717.Renee_Yancy