Let us Talk of Many Things; of Books and Queens and Pirates, of Mystery and Kings...

Thursday, 16 July 2026

The Coffee Pot Book Club & Yarde Book Promotions: G.G. MacLeod Via Malorum

Welcome to my Blog!
Wander through worlds real and fictional,
meet interesting people, visit exciting places
and find good books to enjoy along the way!

About the Book

Book Title: VIA MALORUM

Series: Yes

Author Name: G.G. MacLeod

Publication Date: 10/3/2025

Publisher: Self-published

Pages: 262

Genre: Historical fiction, psychological thriller, giallo, drama, dark romantasy

Any Triggers: Some rough lesbian sex, moderate violence.

In the shadows of Rome power bleeds red.

In the shadowed streets of ancient Rome, 37 CE, power is a blade that cuts both ways. Agrippina, a towering enigma of ambition, slips from Caligula’s gilded cage with her newborn son, Domitius, her mind a labyrinth of cold calculation. At her side prowls Messalina, a siren in scarlet, her seductive cunning as deadly as her blade. Together, they navigate a city teeming with decadence and deceit, pursued by whispers of treachery and the emperor’s wrath.

Their journey leads to the Temple of Fortuna where the enigmatic Prophet Cassandra unveils a cryptic fate – one that demands sacrifice and promises blood. As alleys echo with violence and forbidden passions ignite, Agrippina’s quest for dominion collides with Messalina’s ruthless desires.

In a night where every step drips with danger, who will rise and who will fall?

VIA MALORUM is a visceral plunge into the heart of Roman darkness, blending historical intrigue with the chilling allure of giallo. Prepare for a tale where power bleeds red, and trust is a luxury none can afford.

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bMkq6a

Author Bio:

The author is a 59-year-old Canadian male based in Calgary. The author has always had a tendency of combining genres like horror and action along with drama, psychological thrillers, giallo, and sometimes even comedy.

It really depends on how the author feels from moment to moment as they write because the author likes to entertain themselves first and then hope that a smattering of other people out there in the world will like it as well.

Author Links:

Twitter / X:

https://x.com/GGMacLeod1

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ggmacleod1/

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@ggmacleod1

Amazon Author Page:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/G.-G.-MacLeod/author/B098Z2Z35R

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22624912.G_G_MacLeod

Follow the tour:

Twitter / X Handles: @GGMacLeod1 @cathiedunn @maryanneyarde

Instagram Handles: @ggmacleod1 @thecoffeepotbookclub @yardereviews

Hashtags: #AncientRome #Agrippina #Messalina #DarkRomantasy #PsychThriller #Giallo #BlogTour #ReaderReach #TheCoffeePotBookClub #YardeBookPromotions

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2026/07/blog-tour-via-malorum-by-gg-macleod.html

Bsky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social

via https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/

(Helen has not yet read this title)

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"Amazing stories written by highly skilled writers" Smorgasbord Book Magazine

https://mybook.to/COURAGE-Anthology

You might also like books written by Helen Hollick

Website: https://blog.helenhollick.net/

Amazon Author Page:

https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick

cosy mysteries : historical fiction
nautical supernatural adventure

1066 : King Arthur
ghosts : non-fiction

anthologies

2025 annual award winner

THANK YOU!

Tuesday, 14 July 2026

My Coffee Pot Book Tour Guest: Cynthia Ripley Miller - The Quest for the Crown of Thorns

Welcome to my Blog!
Wander through worlds real and fictional,
meet interesting people, visit exciting places
and find good books to enjoy along the way!

About the Book

Book Title: The Quest for the Crown of Thorns

Series: The Long-Hair Saga

Author Name: Cynthia Ripley Miller

Publication Date: October 29th, 2018

Publisher: BookLocker

Pages: 278

Genre: Romantic Historical Mystery

Any Triggers: Sensual Sexuality

AD 454. Three years after the Roman victory over Attila the Hun at Catalaunum, Arria Felix and Garic the Frank are married and enjoying life on Garic’s farm in northern Gaul (France). Their happy life is interrupted when a cryptic message arrives from Arria’s father, the esteemed Senator Felix, calling them to Rome. At Arria’s insistence, but against Garic’s better judgment, they leave at once.

On their arrival at Villa Solis, they are confronted with a brutal murder and a dangerous mission. The fate of a profound and sacred object—Christ’s Crown of Thorns—rests in their hands. They must carry the holy relic to the safety of Constantinople, away from a corrupt emperor and old enemies determined to steal it for their own gain. But a greater force arises against them—a secret cult who will commit any atrocity to capture the Crown. All the while, the gruesome murder and the conspiracy behind it haunt Arria’s thoughts.

Arria and Garic’s marital bonds are tested but forged as they partner together to fulfill one of history’s most challenging missions, The Quest for the Crown of Thorns.

Buy Link:

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

Author Bio:

Cynthia Ripley Miller is a first-generation Italian-American writer with a love for history, languages, and books. She has lived in Europe and traveled worldwide, holds two degrees, and taught history and English. Her short fiction has appeared in the anthology Summer Tapestry, at Orchard Press Mysteries.com, and The Scriptor.

She is a Chanticleer International Chatelaine Award finalist with awards from Circle of Books: Rings of Honor and The Coffee Pot Book Club. She has reviewed for UNRV Roman History, and blogs at Historical Happenings and Oddities: A Distant Focus and on her website, www.cynthiaripleymiller.com

Cynthia is the author of On the Edge of Sunrise, The Quest for the Crown of Thorns, and A Sword Among Ravens, books 1-3 in her Long-Hair Saga series set in Late Ancient Rome, France, and Jerusalem. Cynthia lives outside of Chicago with her family and a cute but bossy cat. Also connect with Cynthia on: Twitter:@CRipleyMiller

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

Author Links:

Website:

http://cynthiaripleymiller.com

Twitter / X:

https://x.com/CRipleyMiller

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/cynthiaripleymiller/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/cynthiaripleymiller/

Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/cripleymiller/