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

Wednesday, 2 April 2025

Rachel's Random Resources Book Tours: Floating Solo by Shelley Wilson

Rachel's Random Resources
Book Tours

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About the Book

Floating Solo

Are you single?

Have you lost your confidence when it comes to travelling?

Would you welcome a few weeks away to find that missing spark?

Climb aboard the Creaky Cauldron for an adventure like no other!

Budding entrepreneur Kat Sinclair wants to grow her quirky solo narrowboat holiday enterprise but faces rejection at every turn. Until a Hollywood film crew gets in touch with the potential to change her business, dreams, and love life forever.

'Enemies to lovers'

'Small town romance'

Purchase Link –

Amazon UK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Floating-Solo-Shelley-Wilson/dp/1739244036/

Amazon US:

https://www.amazon.com/Floating-Solo-Shelley-Wilson/dp/1739244036/

Waterstones:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/floating-solo/shelley-wilson/9781739244033

Barnes & Noble:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/floating-solo-shelley-wilson/1146530365

Author Bio –

Shelley Wilson is an English multi-genre author of over twenty books. She writes young adult supernatural and fantasy fiction and motivational adult self-help and has recently launched her debut romance. When not working on her own titles, Shelley works as a writing mentor for women in business who want to write non-fiction books. Shelley is a single mum of three and lives in the West Midlands, UK. She loves solo travelling in her VW camper, walking, and obsessing over to-do lists!

Social Media Links – https://linktr.ee/ShelleyWilson72

My Thoughts

A relaxing read - just a shame the book doesn't come with an actual narrowboat holiday!

A typical romance plot, but that is to be expected for this genre, although because of the waterway connection I did find the story a little more interesting than some other romance reads. I liked the realistically portrayed characters from the very start, (even grumpy Jordan,) and happily floated along with them for this enjoyable read.

The only thing I didn't like - purely because I felt them out of place in what I regard as a 'cosy romance' - were the sex scenes, especially the first one. I've nothing at all against a good, romping 'relationship' in adult stories, (I write these myself in my Sea Witch Voyages!) but this was written in explicit detail - too explicit, which I felt was out of place for this type of cosy novel. This is one of those instances where the reader's imagination would have been more appropriate. Writing sex can be difficult; enough is needed to convey emotion, (whether, loving, boredom or fear depending on the context,) but not so much to turn a scene into something voyeuristic or smutty. In this instance the scene could easily have ended at the closing of the bedroom door.

However, apart from that one observation, this was a good story. If you enjoy any of the narrowboat/canal docu-dramas shown on British TV then this is for you. (I do miss the ones with Timothy West and Prunella Scales, they were so interesting!)

Even if you don't watch those programmes, or have never considered a holiday afloat, any escapism romance reader should enjoy this one.

(Note: I read this as a pre-publish ARC where the formatting was not correct - hopefully sorted before final editing and publication.)

**** 4 stars

https://www.rachelsrandomresources.com/
#RachelsRandomResources

@rararesources

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Tuesday, 1 April 2025

The Coffee Pot Book Club Book Tour: Jon Byrne - Sword Brethren

Welcome to my Blog!
Wander through worlds
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About the Book

Book Title: Sword Brethren

Series: The Northern Crusader Chronicles

Author: Jon Byrne

Publication Date: 28th November 2024

Publisher: The Book Guild

Pages: 416

Genre: Historical Fiction (Action/Adventure)

Any Triggers: There are several mild profanities, a non-graphic rape scene and several descriptions of battle and death.

1242. After being wounded in the Battle on the Ice, Richard Fitz Simon becomes a prisoner of Prince Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod. Alexander, intrigued by his captive’s story, instructs his scholar to assist Richard in writing about his life.

Richard’s chronicle begins in 1203, when his training to be a knight is disrupted by treachery. He is forced to flee England for Lübeck, where he begins work for a greedy salt merchant. After an illicit love affair, his new life is thrown into turmoil, and he joins the Livonian Brothers of the Sword as they embark on imposing the will of God on the pagans of the eastern Baltic. Here, he must reconcile with his new life of prayer, danger and duty – despite his own religious doubts, with as many enemies within the fortified commandery as the wilderness outside. However, when their small outpost in Riga is threatened by a large pagan army, Richard is compelled to make a crucial decision and fight like never before.

read an excerpt

Sword Brethren by Jon Byrne

Excerpt 3:

Detmar’s shout had attracted attention, and I watched Theodoric, still accompanied by the two men, stride the length of the wharf to where Eberhard stood near the gangplank that led to our ship. Eberhard was accompanied by Johann and some of my old comrades, including Makko and Kunz.

‘What appears to be the problem here?’ Theodoric said.

Eberhard pointed at me. ‘The problem is there. Standing on the deck of one of your ships.’

Theodoric turned and gave a theatrical sweep of his arm in our direction. ‘I see only new recruits ready to do God’s work in Livonia. Please explain yourself.’

‘That man,’ Eberhard said, almost apoplectic with rage. He pointed at me again. ‘That young man killed a dear friend of mine and the husband to my daughter. I want to see him dancing on the end of a rope. You must hand him over immediately so that justice can be done.’

‘Must I?’ Theodoric folded his arms across his chest. ‘On whose authority? Why would I hand him over to what looks like nothing more than a group of brigands?’

‘I am one of the most prominent merchants in Lübeck! The vogt is on his way to make the arrest. This man is a murderer. I demand that you hand him and his accomplice over at once. This is not a religious matter.’

‘The boy in question swears that he acted in self-defence. What is more, I believe him. We are about to set sail on God’s work. The Pope himself, when I last saw him a little over three months ago, has declared a remission of sins to those who take the cross. Therefore, as far as the Church is concerned, both boys are innocent.’

I watched the exchange with interest. Johann was staring at me, and I could see he was itching for a fight. I held his gaze. Johann was a good swordsman but I felt no fear. I had killed his master and would happily do the same to him if he wanted. He was nothing but a rat’s turd. Detmar, in contrast, refused to look me in the eye.

‘The boy is a murderer.’ Eberhard pronounced. ‘The authorities have been hunting him since he committed his atrocious crime. You cannot sail until this matter has been settled. The vogt shall be here soon…’

‘We are ready to sail now and every moment we waste here could cause the wind to change,’ Theodoric said. ‘And that must not be allowed to happen. If you are unhappy, I suggest you take it up with the Danes or Bishop Albert. He is somewhere in Westphalia preaching God’s message.’ Theodoric said something to his two companions and they prepared to go up the gangplank. As far as Theodoric was concerned the matter was decided.

Eberhard stood red-faced on the quay, while Detmar looked like he was going to be sick.

Kunz appeared confused, as did Makko, although that seemed to be the big Hamburger’s only expression. Johann continued to glare at me and I knew he would do something. He would not let the death of his master and friend go unavenged. And I was right.

He screamed a challenge and drew his sword, elbowing past Theodoric in his haste to get to me. He charged up the gangplank as everyone else looked on in shock.

I drew my sword swiftly to block Johann’s frenzied attack as everyone else scattered out of the way. My arm jarred in pain as I again parried Johann’s next strike, catching his blade with mine and driving him away. Johann responded with a furore of blows that forced me back across the deck. I managed to block each attack without striking back. My enemy finally relented and we circled each other warily.

‘That is Henkel’s sword you have!’ Johann’s scarred face was a rictus of hate. ‘I see you are a thief as well as a murderer!’

‘And you are nothing but a piece of shit!’ I spat back at him.

Above us, I could hear Theodoric shouting but we both ignored him, continuing to circle each other, each looking for an opening or weakness.

Johann swung his sword towards my head, and when I raised my own sword to parry, he changed direction, flicking his weapon back to slash down towards my stomach. But I had learned this feint from Sir Hugh and I was ready, blocking the blow before breaking contact and taking a step back. I grinned at him.

In comparison to Johann, I was young and inexperienced. He had spent twenty years learning the art of swordplay and he was good. But I had one distinct advantage I knew would prove crucial. I was fast. Lightning fast.

And I used that speed now, lunging at my enemy, catching him completely unprepared. He tried to raise his sword to deflect my thrust but he was too slow. My sword pierced Johann in the middle of his unarmoured chest. For a moment he looked at me in shock, before falling backwards to the deck of the ship blood seeping from his wound.

I did not need to look at him again to know he was dead. Around me I heard an audible sucking in of air. Blood pounded through my veins and fury exploded in me. I strode to the gunwale and pointed my sword at Eberhard. ‘Johann is dead. Now he can join his master in hell. Henkel killed your brother in cold blood. But then again, you cared nothing for your brother, did you, Eberhard?’

Eberhard looked at me aghast before breaking eye contact. He turned to Theodoric. ‘He just killed my man. Do you doubt now what he is capable of?’

‘He acted in self-defence before a hundred witnesses, you fool. Your man attacked him and got what he deserved. I shall pray for his soul.’

But I was not finished berating Eberhard. I felt Otto tugging at my arm but I shrugged him off. I had kept all this anger bottled up for the last few months and now was the time to let it all out. ‘You are nothing but a bastard. Your precious friend Henkel was a murderer and a rapist that beat your own daughter until she was blue. Did you never notice, Eberhard? Did you never notice her swollen face or did you choose not to see? Henkel was a piece of rat’s dung and the world is a better place without him.’ I stood with my arms extended, brandishing my bloodied sword high for everyone to see. ‘Here I am, Eberhard! If you want me so badly you whoreson, come and get me… Any of you!’

Of course, no one moved. I felt Otto next to me again and the mist of anger slowly began to clear. Theodoric stepped onto the gangplank followed by his two companions and I finally lowered my sword. Eberhard and my old comrades continued to look on in shock and I saw the two Swordbrothers both had their own weapons drawn. They followed Theodoric up the gangplank.

Otto put his arm around me. ‘It is over, Richard. No one else wants to fight you.’

Buy Links:

Universal Ebook Buy Link:

https://books2read.com/u/boVKlV

Barnes and Noble:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sword-brethren-jon-byrne/1146519606?ean=2940184429601

Waterstones:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/sword-brethren/jon-byrne/9781835740798

Author Bio:

Jon Byrne, originally from London, now lives with his German family by a lake in Bavaria with stunning views of the Alps. As well as writing, he works as a translator for a local IT company and occasionally as a lumberjack.

He has always been fascinated by history and has studied the Medieval world for over twenty years, building up a comprehensive library of books. In his research, he has travelled to all of the locations mentioned in the book (East Anglia, Bremen, Lübeck, Latvia, etc).

Sword Brethren (formerly Brothers of the Sword) made it to the shortlist of the Yeovil Literary Prize 2022 and the longlist of the prestigious Grindstone International Novel Prize 2022. It is the first book in The Northern Crusader Chronicles.