#Christmas 2024

Will the discovery of a murder spoil Christmas for Jan Christopher and her boyfriend DS Laurie Walker – or will it bring them closer together?

Introduction by Helen Hollick:

You wouldn’t think that a murder mystery story would be the right thing for Christmas would you? But nearly all of us like solving mysteries, especially via the more light-hearted crime-solver TV series like Poirot, Miss Marple, Father Brown Midsomer Murders, Death In Paradise and the like.

And then there are easy to read (but not easy to solve!) who-dun-it novels that can be nicely tucked into a Christmas Stocking or left beneath the Tree. And if these Cosy Mysteries happen to also have a theme of interesting characters set against a Christmassy background ... well, what is there not to enjoy?

A MYSTERY OF MURDER

A Jan Christopher Murder Mystery

By Helen Hollick

(2^nd in the series, but can be read as a standalone)

Amazon Universal Buy Link

http://mybook.to/AMysteryOfMurder

Christmas 1971. Library Assistant Jan Christopher is to spend Christmas with her boyfriend, DS Laurie Walker and his family, but when a murder is discovered, followed by a not very accidental accident, the traditional Christmas spirit is somewhat marred...

What happened to Laurie’s ex-girlfriend? Where is the vicar’s wife? Who took those old photographs? And will the farmer up the lane ever mend those broken fences?

Set in 1971, this is the second Jan Christopher Cosy Mystery. Join her (and an owl and a teddy bear) in Devon for a Christmas to remember.

Excerpt From Chapter 1

The thought of driving all the way from London to Devon with my boyfriend, Laurie, for Christmas was exciting, but tinged with a smattering of reluctance. It would mean leaving my Uncle Toby and Aunt Madge, behind. I’d not had a Christmas or a New Year without them since they’d adopted me when I was orphaned at five years old. At almost nineteen, independence was knocking at the door, but all the same, I was concerned about leaving them for the duration of the festivities. Concerns which Aunt Madge soon put an end to.

“Goodness, Jan, we’ve been looking forward to a Christmas on our own for the past, I don’t know how many years!”

I wasn’t sure if she was being serious or joking.

Uncle Toby’s response to my worries about Christmas was less blunt. “Laurie is already taking leave, so we can’t all be off on merry jaunts at the same time, Jan. The crime rate would soar, and Chingford Police wouldn’t cope.”

My uncle, in his working capacity, was Detective Chief Inspector Tobias Christopher. Laurie – Lawrence Walker – had recently been promoted to be his Detective Sergeant bagman. Two important people within the realm of law enforcement, although, I suspected that the North London suburban town of Chingford would survive without them both for a few days. There were, after all, other men (and a few women) in CID. Although, maybe these others were not as competent – but then, my opinion is severely biased.

For myself, my full name is January, for the month I was born, but everyone calls me Jan. I was quite happy to take several days off from working as an assistant in our local library. It was always busy in the run-up to Christmas closing, and while I would miss out on the boxes of chocolates and tins of buttery shortbread given to the staff by appreciative members of the public, my already too broad waistline would not suffer from it.

My main fear, however, was meeting Laurie’s parents. I had spoken to them on the telephone several times and they seemed nice, but I had been going out with Laurie since late July – would they assume that our relationship was becoming serious?

Come to that, did I assume it was serious? By accepting the invitation, was I committing myself to a possible life as a policeman’s wife? Or was I reading too much into things? I mean, spending Christmas with your boyfriend’s family didn’t mean a marriage proposal, did it? Or did it? Then there was the question, did I, or didn’t I, want it to mean just that?

Had I known what was to happen soon after we arrived at Mr and Mrs Walker’s lovely old West Country house though, my apprehension would have dwindled to nothing.

And then a grisly murder was discovered, which somewhat tarnished the traditional jolly Christmas Spirit...

Buy Now: paperback or Amazon Kindle (and on Kindle Unlimited)

http://mybook.to/AMysteryOfMurder

 

Reviews and Comments

"There are lots of things to enjoy in the second in the Jan Christopher cosy mystery series" Best-selling cozy mystery author Debbie Young

Coffee Pot Book Club Online Tour Reviews

"Jan is an absolutely lovely character, and I loved following her story. She is a little naïve, but she is 18, and there are things about the world that she has yet to learn... a great story to settle down with to get you into the Christmas spirit, as well as pulling on your detective hat and analysing the characters."

Review: Like A Thousand Suns Blog

"A laid back sort of novel, the kind that you can relax while reading, and simply let the story happen. This author has a particularly unique style of writing... this book wasn’t simply a story, but an experience. You almost have the feeling that the author is reading the book to you, and is adding in her own little quips every now and again. I loved every second... The whole mystery is well thought out... utterly amazing!" Review: I Got Lost In A Book Blog

"The pace is gently cosy, despite the murder... Jan is a wonderful character; young, naïve, but also savvy when needed. And Laurie is a gem. All the characters and their foibles and actions stay true to the era... a lovely, warm story."

Review: Ruins & Reading

"I almost felt like I was in this book, and I absolutely fell in love with the characters…"

Review: Oh Look! Another Book! 

About the Author

First accepted for traditional publication in 1993, Helen became a USA Today Bestseller with her historical novel, The Forever Queen (titled A Hollow Crown in the UK) with the sequel, Harold the King (US: I Am The Chosen King) being novels that explore the events that led to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Her Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy is a fifth-century version of the Arthurian legend, and she writes a nautical adventure/supernatural series, The Sea Witch Voyages. She has also branched out into the quick read novella, 'Cosy Mystery' genre with her Jan Christopher Mysteries, set in the 1970s, with the first in the series, A Mirror Murder incorporating her, often hilarious, memories of working as a library assistant. The fifth in the series, A Memory Of Murder, was published in May 2024.

Her non-fiction books are Pirates: Truth and Tales and Life of A Smuggler. She is currently writing about the ghosts of North Devon and Jamaica Gold for her Sea Witch Voyages.

Recognised by her stylish hats, Helen used to attend book-related events as a chance to meet her readers and social-media followers, but her ‘wonky eyesight’ as she describes her condition of Glaucoma, and severe arthritis is now a little prohibitive for travel.

She lives with her family in an eighteenth-century farmhouse in North Devon with their dogs and cats, while on the farm there are showjumper horses, fat Exmoor ponies, an elderly Welsh pony, geese, ducks and  hens. And several resident ghosts.

Website: https://helenhollick.net/

Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick

X/Twitter @HelenHollick https://x.com/HelenHollick

Blog: supporting authors & their books

https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/

Monthly newsletter : Thoughts from a Devonshire Farmhouse

(posted on a blog - subscribe to a 'reminder' list) Start Here: January 2024

https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/2024/01/thoughts-from-devonshire-farmhouse.html

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The Coffee Pot Book Tour of Courting the Sun by Peggy Joque Williams

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:  Courting the Sun: A Novel of Versailles

Author:  Peggy Joque Williams

Publication Date:   May 9th, 2024

Publisher:  Black Rose Writing

Pages:  389

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Triggers: Rape Scene, Spousal Abuse

“A rich journey through 17th century France in all its aspects—its bucolic countryside, the still-unmatched splendor of the court of Louis XIV, and the struggling French colony in Canada.”

~ Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth I, The Autobiography of Henry VIII & The Memoirs of Cleopatra

France, 1670. On her sixteenth birthday, Sylvienne d’Aubert thinks her dream has come true. She holds in her hands an invitation from King Louis XIV to attend his royal court. However, her mother harbors a longtime secret she's kept from both her daughter and the monarch, a secret that could upend Sylvienne’s life.

In Paris, Sylvienne is quickly swept up in the romance, opulence, and excitement of royal life. Assigned to serve King Louis's favorite mistress, she is absorbed into the monarch's most intimate circle. But the naïve country girl soon finds herself ill-prepared for the world of intrigue, illicit affairs, and power-mongering that takes place behind the shiny façade of Versailles.

This debut historical novel from Peggy Joque Williams captures the vibrancy and quandaries of 17th century life for a village girl seeking love and excitement during the dangerous reign of the Sun King.

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mqk0r9 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/courting-the-sun-peggy-joque-williams/1144842024?ean=9781685134129 

Bookshop.org: 

https://bookshop.org/a/96858/9781685134129

Black Rose Writing:

 https://www.blackrosewriting.com/historicaladventure/courtingthesun  

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Author Bio:

Peggy Joque Williams is the author of Courting the Sun: A Novel of Versailles and co-author of two mystery novels, On the Road to Death’s Door and On the Road to Where the Bells Toll, written under the penname M. J. Williams. She is an alumnus of Michigan State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

A retired elementary school teacher and avid researcher, Peggy's fascination with genealogy and her French-Canadian, European, and Native American ancestry inspires her historical fiction. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Author Links:

Website: 

https://peggywilliamsauthor.com/ 

Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/PeggyJoqueWilliamsAuthor/ 

LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggywilliams7/ 

Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/peggyjoque/ 

Threads: 

https://www.threads.net/@peggyjoque 

Pinterest: 

https://www.pinterest.com/Peggy_Joque_Williams 

Book Bub:  

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/peggy-joque-williams 

Amazon Author Page: 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Peggy-Joque-Williams/author/B0CV7S8M24 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4900279.Peggy_Joque_Williams  

Read An Excerpt

Excerpt from Chapter 5 of Courting the Sun: A Novel of Versailles

The aroma of peppercorns and fennel seeds competed with the pungency of malt vinegar as I walked into the kitchen. Tatie was preparing beets, cabbages, and onions for pickling. I hovered over her shoulder for a moment; then, still disquieted, I went back into the sitting room. There I gazed out the front window past the riot of flowers Blondeau had planted to bring color back into our lives the summer after Papa’s funeral. I could see the corner of the manor house across the hedgerow. I skulked back to where Tatie was lopping a cabbage.

“Why are you haunting my kitchen?” she asked. “If you must be here, make yourself useful. Get a knife and start chopping.” She thrust a clump of beets at me.

I grabbed a knife and sliced off the roots and then the bright red stems, Claudette’s voice taunting me …nothing but a foundling. I chopped furiously, leaves flying across the table. A foundling. My knife swung up and down.

“Arrête!” Tatie stopped my hand with hers. “You’ll chop your fingers off!” She took the knife from me. “I’ll finish the beets.” She handed me a small cloth-lined basket. “Go find some blueberries so I can make a compote.” 

Basket in arm, I rushed outside. Despite the rising heat, I welcomed the bright sunshine, But when I looked up, there was the manor house on the other side of the hedge, taunting me with its dark windows. I fled in the opposite direction, bounding down the lane until I found the well-worn path that would take me to the berry patch. 

The sweet, musty scent of the blueberries lured me. My mind somewhat eased, I set to work filling my basket and my stomach with the tangy fruit. The basket was nearly full when I heard a sound. It came from the pond on the other side of the rise. A splash? 

My blueberry basket held tight against my hip, I crept over the berm. There it was again. Splash! 

Sheltered by a cluster of birch trees, I scanned the length of the pond. The only sound now the chattering of birds in the trees. Suddenly, a body rose out of the water, a young man drawing in deep breaths of air before diving back down again. A whinny from the pond’s edge caused me to pivot. Jolie! I turned as Etienne rose out of the water once more, his back to me. 

Oh, that I could plunge in and join him, I did so love swimming. But he was naked. A heat beyond that of the afternoon sun rose into my cheeks. I glanced along the shore to where his shirt, breeches, and leggings lay in a pile. An impishness overwhelmed me. When he dove under the water again, I crept out from behind the trees and scurried to a large boulder just the right size for sitting. I waited until he rose again, shaking a spray of water from his hair. 

“Have you turned into a fish?” I called out. 

He spun around, then sank again until the water lapped at his chin. “What are you doing here?” 

“Tatie sent me to pick blueberries.” I plucked one from my basket and tossed it at him. It landed with a tiny plop in the water directly in front of him. 

“I’d like to come out and get dressed.”

“Would you now?” I threw another berry. Plop!

“If you insist on staying, would you at least turn around?”

The next berry hit him on the head. “I think I’ll sit right here for a while.”

He glared at me. I smirked, taking delight in my torment of him. 

“Sylvienne, I—” 

Plop! 

“I’m coming out whether you turn away or not.” He began sloshing through the water. A moment more and I would see everything that made him a man. 

I shrieked and spun around on my rock, but I could not help laughing all the while he sloshed nearer. After a moment, I heard him grunt as he pulled on his clothes. Then, without warning he was behind me, putting his wet hands on my shoulders. I shrieked again, and in my effort to push him away we tangled and fell, Etienne on top of me. 

He put his hand over my mouth. “Quiet down, you crazy goose.” 

I looked into his blue eyes. He removed his hand from my mouth, both of us breathing heavily. 

“You’re wet,” I said, my voice low and husky.

“I am.” He gazed at me, then leaned down and brushed my lips with his. They were soft and warm, and I could taste the pond water. Then I felt something grow hard against me. At once he pushed away and jumped up, turning his back. “I am late for home.” 

He grabbed his hose and strode over to Jolie. His back to me, he asked, “Would you like me to take you home?” 

Damp hair clung to my face. My heart yearned to say, yes. I shook my head, no. “I need to pick more blueberries.” My basket had tipped and spilled its contents.

With a smile of regret, he mounted Jolie and urged her onto the trail. 

Exhaling all at once, I closed my eyes, Claudette’s earlier taunts banished by the lingering taste of Etienne’s lips.

Follow the tour:

Bsky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social

Twitter Handle: @cathiedunn

Instagram Handles:  @peggyjoque @thecoffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #Versailles #LouisXIV #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub 

Tour Schedule Page: 

https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/11/blog-tour-courting-the-sun-by-peggy-joque-williams.html 

(Note: Helen has not yet read this title)

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www.helenhollick.net

scroll down to bottom of post to leave a comment

Thank you

*

You might also like books written by Helen Hollick 

A range of Good Reads
~ King Arthur - set in post-Roman Britain
~The events that led to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest

~ Nautical adventures with a touch of supernatural elements

~ Cosy Mystery Quick Reads, set in the 1970s

~ Non-fiction: Pirates

~ Non-fiction: smugglers

anthologies (with other award-winning authors)

EXILE

BETRAYAL (free-book)

*
for full information

Website: https://helenhollick.net/

Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick 

Follow Helen On:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick

Bluesky: @HelenHollick - http://helenhollick.bsky.social/

(also on Twitter @HelenHollick but for marketing only)

SUBSCRIBE to Helen's

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Rachel's Random Resources Book Tours: The Lotus House by Ann Bennett

Rachel's Random Resources
Book Tours

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

The Lotus House

A gripping, emotional drama of love and courage set in the Philippines during WW2.

1960: Nancy Drayton, an American nurse living on Lake Sebu, is visited by a stranger who hands her some faded letters, given to her by a dying man. Reading them transports Nancy back to the terror of the war years.

1941: When Nancy’s world is blown apart by the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, she volunteers to travel to the Philippines to serve at the front. She soon finds herself working in a field hospital on the Bataan Peninsula in the thick of the fighting, experiencing the horrors of war first hand.

When tending to some wounded men, she meets Captain Robert Lambert, and they become close. But the Japanese are closing in on Bataan, and when the US surrenders, they are driven apart.

As Robert struggles to survive the horrors of the Bataan Death March and the brutality of captivity in a prison camp, Nancy too finds herself a captive, fighting for her life. Will they survive to find one another again or will the forces of war keep them apart?

If you enjoy compelling historical fiction, you’ll love this sweeping story of love and war. Perfect for fans of Kristen Hannah, Dinah Jeffries and Victoria Hislop.

What everyone is saying about Ann Bennett:

‘What an amazing read!!! I didn't expect this to be a roller coaster of emotions, suspense, and mystery but it was everything!!… The characters were amazing, the story will keep you wanting more and more until the end.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘So captivating, I was on edge while flipping through the pages as fast as I could… Truly heartwarming… Emotional, heartbreaking … I loved this… A must read… Amazing.’ Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Purchase Link - 

https://mybook.to/lotushouse

Author Bio –

Ann Bennett is a British author of historical fiction. Her first book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter's Quest, was inspired by researching her father's experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway and by her own travels in South-East Asia. Since then, that initial inspiration has led her to write more books about the second world war in SE Asia. Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife, A Daughter's Promise, Bamboo Road: The Homecoming, The Tea Planter's Club, The Amulet and her latest release The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu are also about WWII in South East Asia. All seven make up the Echoes of Empire Collection.

Ann is also the author of The Lake Pavilion, The Lake Palace, both set in British India during the 1930s and WWII, and The Lake Pagoda and The Lake Villa, both set in French Indochina. The Runaway Sisters, bestselling The Orphan House, The Child Without a Home and The Forgotten Children are set in Europe during the same era and are published by Bookouture. 

Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and lives in Surrey, UK. For more details please visit www.annbennettauthor.com 

 

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/annbennettauthor

https://x.com/annbennett71

https://www.instagram.com/annbennettauthor/

www.annbennettauthor.com

Read An Excerpt

Extract from Chapter 10 of The Lotus House. 

American nurses evacuated from Manila to escape the Japanese invasion have  just arrived at a field hospital on the Bataan Peninsula …

As they stood there in the clearing beside the rough bamboo huts, wondering what they’d let themselves in for, an older woman dressed in khaki slacks and shirt appeared from behind one of the buildings.

‘Good evening, ladies. I’m First Lieutenant Hogan, Senior nurse. I’m in charge here. I and my group arrived yesterday. I’m sure you’re all wondering what this place is.’

The girls murmured their agreement.

‘Well, not to worry. When all the equipment has arrived and been installed, this will be a fully functioning military hospital, I assure you.’ She let this news sink in, looking around at their faces with a fixed smile, then said, ‘I expect you’re all hot and sweaty after your trip. Why don’t we all go down to the beach to cool off? There’s a full moon tonight and I’m sure it will do you the world of good to paddle in the water after a day on the road.’

Nancy brightened. She liked this nurse’s attitude. She wondered briefly what Major Davidson might say to such a suggestion and she smiled to herself. They all trooped behind Lieutenant Hogan along a narrow path between some huge rocks and down a small sand dune onto a beach of smooth, white sand. Slipping off their shoes, they waded into the water, some holding hands to steady themselves. The feel of the lapping waves took Nancy’s breath away at first, but she quickly got used to it, and the cool water soon began to soothe her aching feet and calves.

Betty, who was standing next to Nancy shouted, ‘Who wants to swim?’

Nancy was astonished to see Betty rush back to the beach, pull off her coveralls and run back into the water, wearing nothing but her underwear. Nancy watched Betty enviously while she plunged into the breakers. How wonderful to be able to immerse yourself completely in the cool water after all the horrors and discomforts of the journey. She glanced at Lieutenant Hogan who was standing at the edge of the water, arms folded, smiling in admiration at the sight of Betty swimming vigorously in a pool of light cast by the moon.

‘What the heck! Whyever not?’ Nancy said, suddenly seized with the impulse to swim too. She pulled off her clothes, left them in a pile on the sand and ran into the water to join her new friend. The cool of the saltwater against her hot skin was a balm to the soul and she turned on her back to float and stared up at the inky sky dotted with twinkling stars. It felt like paradise, and the horrors she’d encountered on the journey seemed to melt away.

Most of the other nurses soon joined them and they spent a joyous half hour cooling off under the stars. When they began to get chilled, they went back to the beach, shook themselves dry and pulled their uniforms back on.

‘Come on, girls. I’ll show you to your sleeping quarters. Tomorrow the work starts in earnest,’ Lieutenant Hogan said.

When they got back to the camp, Lieutenant Hogan picked up a hurricane lamp from the security guard’s hut at the entrance to the camp and guided the nurses between the bamboo buildings to their sleeping quarters. They’d been billeted in one of the long, thatched attap huts in which cots had been set out at regular intervals down either side. Each cot was draped in a mosquito net suspended from the ceiling. Their suitcases had already been set out at the end of the cots by one of the staff, so there was no choice of sleeping companions. Nancy found that her suitcase had been put on a cot between two girls called Pat and Dorothy. She didn’t know them very well, but they seemed kind, and she was happy to be billeted between them.

‘There’s a cotton sheet on each bed. You won’t need more. It’s very hot at night here,’ Lieutenant Hogan explained. ‘A word of warning though. Mosquitoes and malaria are rife on the peninsula. Don’t get bitten or you’ll be just another casualty requiring medical attention. I’ll issue preventative medication – quinine that is – to you all before bedtime. Now, come along and I’ll show you the latrines.’

Nancy joined the line of nurses following Lieutenant Hogan outside. She walked them to an area at the side of the camp behind a bamboo screen where there was a long, deep trench over which was positioned a wide, raised plank with round holes cut in it. A foul smell already rose from it. Nancy put her hand over her mouth and saw the others were doing the same.

‘Sorry, girls,’ Lieutenant Hogan said. ‘A bit basic, I know, but this is a field hospital after all.’

The girls looked at the latrine, stunned, but none of them voiced any objection. This was war and their creature comforts mattered very little in the face of that.

That night, Nancy slipped into bed under the mosquito net and once the hurricane lamp hanging from the ceiling at the end of the hut had been put out, lay there in the pitch darkness listening to the unfamiliar sounds all around her. She was exhausted, but sleep wouldn’t come. She’d never slept in a dormitory before, and the sound of so many others breathing, sighing, coughing and gently snoring kept her awake. As well as that, there were the unsettling night-time sounds of the jungle, only a few yards away across the road, eerie whooping and chattering noises, as well as the constant rush of the waves on the sand.

But there was something else that she could hear, something in the far distance that was far more frightening. Nancy propped herself on her elbow and strained her ears. There it was again. The unmistakeable boom of gunfire and the crash of explosions. A battle was raging at the head of the peninsula, less than twenty miles away.

(note: Helen has not yet read this title)

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

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www.helenhollick.net

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Thank you

*

You might also like books written by Helen Hollick 

A range of Good Reads
~ King Arthur - set in post-Roman Britain
~The events that led to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest

~ Nautical adventures with a touch of supernatural elements

~ Cosy Mystery Quick Reads, set in the 1970s

~ Non-fiction: Pirates

~ Non-fiction: smugglers

anthologies (with other award-winning authors)

EXILE

BETRAYAL (free-book)

*
for full information

Website: https://helenhollick.net/

Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick 

Follow Helen On:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick

Bluesky: @HelenHollick - http://helenhollick.bsky.social/

(also on Twitter @HelenHollick but for marketing only)

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My Coffee Pot Book Club Guest: J R Tomlin - On a Sword’s Edge

Welcome to my Blog!
Wander through worlds
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meet interesting people,
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About the Book

Book Title: On a Sword’s Edge

Series: The Swords of Scotland

Author: JR Tomlin

Publication Date: November 16th, 2024

Publisher: independently-published

Pages: 159

Genre: Historical Fiction / Scottish Historical Fiction

Any Triggers: Some fairly bloody fights.

Scotland. 1263. The scent of rain mingles with the smoke of campfires as word spreads: the Norse are coming…

As tempers rise between King Alexander and the Norse King Haakon, at the center of it all is sixteen-year-old William Douglas, a squire in service to Sir John Stewart, Lord High Steward of Scotland.

When Haakon's fearsome fleet is espied approaching Scotland's shores, carrying the greatest invasion force the Norse have ever mustered, the dread of battle settles over the land. Summoned to Ayr Castle, William joins the Scottish forces in a desperate defense. Now tasked with serving his newly knighted brother, Hugh, William has little time to dwell on the fear – or thrill – of his first real taste of war.

And once the Norse's menacing line of ships finally touches shore, Scotland's fate may rest on more than noble titles and knightly deeds— it'll take the mettle of every soul on the ground for them to triumph.

Set against the wind-swept coast of medieval Scotland, On a Sword's Edge takes you right into the center of The Battle of Largs alongside a mere – yet fearless – squire.

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3R7l8D 

Author Bio:

J. R. Tomlin is the author of more than twenty historical novels, set for the most part in Scotland. Her love of that nation is traced from the stories of King Robert the Bruce and the Good Sir James her grandmother read to her when she was small to hillwalking through the Cairngorms where the granite hills have a gorgeous red glow under the setting sun. Later, her writing was influenced by the work of authors such as Alexander Dumas, Victor Hugo, and of course, Sir Walter Scott.

When JR isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time hiking, playing with her Westie, and killing monsters in computer games. In addition to having lived in Scotland, she has traveled in the US, Europe and the Pacific Rim. She now lives in Oregon in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.jrtomlin.com 

Twitter: https://x.com/TomlinJeanne 

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

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-r-tomlin 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/jrtomlin 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4094154.J_R_Tomlin

Read An Excerpt

On a Sword’s Edge

Excerpt 1:

“Dinnae stand there staring like a dunderheid!” Nigell shouted. 

I laughed and strode toward the two men, who were watching the horse being worked. The second, Sir Alan Wallace, was a head taller and stockier than Nigell’s spare build. But I was taller than either. As I neared them, they turned to greet me and smiled. I crossed my arms on the top rail of the paddock. 

The horse had graceful form and goodly stature, with quivering ears, a high arched neck, and well-placed large eyes. The groom had it circling at a gentle, ambling pace.

After a brief silence, I started to ask if either had news of the Norse fleet and whether the negotiators King Alexander had sent to them in the Isles had convinced them to turn back. But Sir Alan called out for the groom to bring the mount to a trot, so I forgot. It stretched out as it sped up, its body seeming to float on top of its legs.

“Envy is a terrible sin,” I muttered. But that did not keep me from imagining riding such a courser, lance couched, charging into battle. My heart pounded at even the thought. One day, it would happen. I had spent my life training and dreaming of it.

Nigell scratched at the stubble he was trying to grow into a beard. “Aye, we can only hope ever to own a warhorse so fine.” 

He called out to the groom that he had seen enough and to stable the animal. “Sir John will be waiting for my report. I can tell him this is as fine as the trader claimed. For once.” He wiggled his eyebrows because everyone knew that horse traders were terrible liars. 

Sir Alan scowled. “Dinnae be suggesting I would bring His Lordship anything less.”

Nigell raised his hands. “It was a jest.”

“Well, hie you to your lord and dinnae make jests about my horse sense.” He shook his head as he watched Nigell stride across the bailey, then grinned. “Squires! Have to keep you lot in line. Now, come and help me look over the rest of the string I bought. Sir John wanted more rounceys besides the courser and, if you’re lucky, you might be given one of the better of the lot.”

The inside of the stable was dim but had a smell that was pleasant in its familiarity, an earthy scent of sweaty horses, dust and dirt and hay and grain overlaying the smell of leather, cold iron, and a whiff of horse piss. When I was a page, grooming had often been one of my chores, and it had been a welcome escape from carping because I had not run fast enough with a message to her ladyship or needed to work harder at my studies being taught to read by Father Filan.

We strolled in companionable silence for a while, patting noses thrust over the stall doors at us. They were a handsome lot, solid and sturdy, but one I noticed was remarkably handsome, bay coat aglisten, and wide-spaced intelligent eyes bright as it watched us.

Wondering if I might be given that one, I said, “Do you—” A signal horn blew. 

Sir Alan strode to the stable door and stepped outside. I followed, and, from there, we could see the barbican and the portcullis being raised. 

A score of men as dusty and weary-looking as their mounts rode through and dismounted. The royal lion rampant on the knight’s surcoat caused my eyes to widen. 

The knight demanded to be taken to Sir John. “I am Willliam Douglas, His Lordship’s squire,” I said. “I will take you to him.”

My lord always retired to the solar to relax with Lady Jean before returning to the great hall for supper, so I knew where to find him. I knocked on the door and received gruff permission to enter, but Sir John stood when I ushered the dust-covered messenger in. He led his lady to the door with tight, controlled movements, and promised to rejoin her in the great hall for supper.

Sir John sat as he briskly told me to pour the man a cup of wine. Then he nodded for the messenger to proceed. The man took a gulp from the cup and cleared his throat, apologizing for it being clogged with dust. 

As Sir John listened, he rested an elbow on the arm of his chair and grasped his chin in his hand, a finger across his lips. His head tilted, he never said a word, but his eyebrows scrunched together as he listened, wrinkling his forehead. His lips pressed into a hard line.

I stood stock still, my back to the wall as my lord expected of a squire. The Norse fleet had sailed out of the Orkney Isles toward Scotland. My heart was pounding. Would I be allowed to follow Sir John into battle, even though not his senior squire? Please, please let it be so, I silently pleaded, unsure who I was pleading to.

The messenger ended his message, saying, “His Grace will bring his army to muster with the levies at his own Ayr Castle. It is war.”

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