My Coffee Pot Book Tour Guest: Rozsa Gaston The Queen’s Maid

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About the Book

Book Title: The Queen’s Maid: Anne Boleyn in France 

Series: The Anne Boleyn Chronicles, Book #2

Author Name: Rozsa Gaston

Publication Date: Feb. 13, 2026

Publisher: Sapere Books

Pages: 244 pages

Genre: Tudor historical fiction, Renaissance historical fiction

A new adventure begins for Anne…

France, 1514

After an enlightening period of training as a lady’s maid at Margaret of Austria’s court, Anne Boleyn has been sent to France.

She arrives at the Palace of Tournelles, home of ageing King Louis and his new English wife, Mary Tudor, sister of King Henry VIII. As Anne speaks French, her main role is to serve as translator for Queen Mary.

Anne’s sister Mary is also at the French court, and Anne soon learns that not everyone is pleased about the union between the French king and his young queen.

The king’s cousin-in-law, Louise of Savoy, is desperate for Queen Mary not to fall pregnant, so that her son Francis will ascend the throne.

And with Louise and the English queen pulling Anne in two different directions, it will not be possible to appease everyone.

Can Anne successfully navigate the familial politics at the French royal court? Will she make her mark as one of the queen’s maids?

Or could her divided loyalties prove to be her undoing…?

THE QUEEN’S MAID is a thoroughly researched, fascinating historical novel set during the 16th century in Europe. It is the second book in the Anne Boleyn Chronicles series.

‘Wonderfully detailed and entirely enjoyable. This is a young Anne in whom I absolutely believe, and who does much to explain the woman she’d become.’ – Sarah Gristwood, author of Game of Queens

THE ANNE BOLEYN CHRONICLES SERIES:

Book One: Maid of Honour

Book Two: The Queen’s Maid

Book Three: Queen of Diamonds

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Links:

Book 1: https://getbook.at/MaidOfHonour 

Book 2: https://getbook.at/TheQueensMaid

Book 3: https://getbook.at/QueenOfDiamondsAB 

Series Buy Links:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNQHK66N 

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FNQHK66N 

This series is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Author Bio:

Rozsa Gaston is a historical fiction author who writes books on women who reach for what they want out of life. 

She is the author of Maid of Honour: Anne Boleyn at Margaret of Austria's Court, 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction, The Queen's Maid: Anne Boleyn in France, Queen of Diamonds: The French Royal Court, Margaret of Austria, 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction, the four-book Anne of Brittany Series: Anne and Charles; Anne and Louis, 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟴 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗟𝗬 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲; Anne and Louis: Rulers and Lovers; and Anne and Louis Forever Bound, 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction.

Other works include Sense of Touch, Marguerite and Gaston, The Least Foolish Woman in France, Paris Adieu, and Budapest Romance.

Gaston studied European history at Yale and received her master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia. She worked at Institutional Investor, WR Capital, and as a columnist for The Westchester Guardian before becoming a novelist. 

She is currently working on Book Four of The Anne Boleyn Chronicles, covering Anne Boleyn's time at the 1520 Field of Cloth of Gold. She lives in Bronxville, New York with her family.

Her motto? History matters.

Author Links:

Website: 

https://rozsagaston.wordpress.com/anne-boleyn-discover-rozsa-gastons-latest-novels

or:  www.rozsagaston.com 

Twitter / X:

  https://x.com/RozsaGaston 

Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/rozsa.gaston/ 

Instagram:

  https://www.instagram.com/rozsagastonauthor/ 

Book Bub: 

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rozsa-gaston 

TikTok: 

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

Amazon Author Page: 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rozsa-Gaston/author/B0084F8MJE 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5391292.Rozsa_Gaston 

Follow the tour:

Twitter Handles: @rozsagaston @cathiedunn

Instagram Handles: @rozsagastonauthor @thecoffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #AnneBoleyn #AnneBoleynChronicles #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalSaga #TudorFiction #FrenchHistory #WomenInHistory #WomensHistoryMonth #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page:

https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2026/03/blog-tour-the-queens-maid-by-rozsa-gaston.html 

Bsky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social

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cosy mysteries : historical fiction
nautical supernatural adventure  

1066 : King Arthur
ghosts : non-fiction

 anthologies

2025 annual award winner

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My Spotlight Guest: Judith Starkston - Achilles’s Wife

My spotlight guest

I’m pleased to share my friend Judith Starkston’s new novel, 

ACHILLES’S WIFE. 

It’s a feminist Greek myth retelling of Deidamia and Achilles —

with a key twist. 

About the Book

In an ancient kingdom, a princess takes inspiration from a visiting young woman to challenge her father’s views and leadership—and then discovers her muse is a man. 

The goddess mother of Greek mythology’s most famous warrior, Achilles, will do anything to prevent her son’s fated early death. In a desperate move, she hides Achilles, against his will, on an island—disguised in a girl’s body.

Tormented by inner discord, the miscast “girl” befriends Mia, the eldest daughter of the island’s king, launching a transformation of Mia’s own. Armed with a new vision she believes comes from a girl, Mia contends with family secrets, a controlling father, her destiny to rule, and the wrath of a goddess. 

When fate reveals Achilles’s identity, a divine mother’s fury drives Mia and Achilles into marriage. Mia must navigate her love for a man with a divided heart and a dangerous measure of immortality. Balancing governance and motherhood, Mia will face an unbearable choice.

Achilles’s Wife retells one of the myths about Achilles’s life before the Trojan War—when his divine mother conceals him on a remote Greek island to keep him out of the brewing Trojan War. But it’s a novel about female leadership and motherhood. The main character is the princess of the island, Deidamia (Mia), a young woman who chooses a dramatically different life for herself after she is influenced by her friendship with a girl who turns out to be the male warrior Achilles. And he leaves behind an epic challenge for her to raise and love.

https://www.amazon.com/Achilless-Wife-Retelling-Trojan-Threads/dp/B0GJGHPRSX/

Or the link on Bookshop.org 

https://bookshop.org/p/books/achilles-s-wife-a-novel-of-greek-myth-retelling-judith-starkston/ca69ead9398187cc

Judith Starkston

Author of Hand of Fire and Priestess of Ishana 

www.JudithStarkston.com

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

More Information:

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

or website: www.helenhollick.net

My Coffee Pot Book Club Guest Nostalgia by Susannah Willey

Welcome to my Blog!
Wander through worlds
real and fictional,
meet interesting people,
visit exciting places
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About the Book

Book Title: Nostalgia

Author Name: Susannah Willey

Publication Date: 15 December 2025

Publisher: Utter Loonacy Press

Pages: 297

Genre: Historical Fiction

Any Triggers: graphic descriptions of war wounds and surgical procedures

AWARD-WINNING HISTORICAL FICTION

5-Star "Award of Excellence" - Historical Fiction Company

Before PTSD had a name, they called it "nostalgia"—and Dr. Jim Banyon was the only one who believed it wasn't cowardice.

1862: The Civil War rages, and Union Army surgeon Jim Banyon arrives on the battlefield hungry for glory. But bullets and cannon fire aren't the only killers stalking his hospital tent.

Soldiers return from combat with wounds that don't bleed—invisible scars the army dismisses as weakness. Jim recognizes what no one else will: these men are suffering from something beyond cowardice, a psychological trauma that's as deadly as any bullet.

When he dares to defend these "broken" soldiers, Jim faces an impossible choice:

Advance his career by staying silent...

Or risk everything to save the men nobody else believes are worth saving.

Based on the military service of the author's Civil War ancestors, NOSTALGIA is a gripping exploration of battlefield medicine, moral courage, and the invisible wounds of war that wouldn't have a name for another century.

Perfect for readers who love:

Civil War medical history with psychological depth

Moral dilemma fiction (conscience vs. career)

Award-winning literary historical fiction

Based-on-true-story military novels

Character-driven war fiction that questions authority

For fans of: Charles Frazier's *Cold Mountain* + 

Geraldine Brooks' *March* + medical drama depth of *The Nightingale*

"Tackles the less explored emotional experiences of war with authenticity and heart."

From the award-winning author of WAR SONNETS (2023 HFC Book of the Year, Bronze Award Winner for General Fiction)

Discover the untold story of Civil War "nostalgia"—the 19th century term for what we now call PTSD.

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bQL1BD 

Author Website Universal Link: 

https://utterloonacy.com/books-2/nostalgia/

Author Bio: 

Susannah Willey is the award-winning author of War Sonnets (July 2023, Utter Loonacy Press). Awarded a five star “award of excellence” by the Historical Fiction Company, War Sonnets was also awarded third place in the General Fiction Category of its 2022 Book of the Year awards.

Susannah Willey was born in 1952 in the small town of Ira, New York where her family settled over 200 years ago. She received a degree in Instructional Computing from SUNY Empire State College in 1998 and a degree in Instructional Design from Boise State in 2002. She and her partner make their home in Central New York in the foothills of the Adirondacks. A baby-boomer and a first-generation computer geek, nature photography and hiking are among her passions and, like all good grannies, she knits.

Susannah loves to tackle the less explored emotional experiences of war. Her rich family history often serves as the foundation for her historical novels. Her first novel, War Sonnets, was inspired by poetry written by her uncle about his experiences in the Pacific War during WWII. Her latest novel, Nostalgia, follows a Civil War surgeon and is loosely based on the military service of two ancestors. Nostalgia was short-listed for the Historical Fiction Company’s 2025 Book of the Year.

Stay connected with Susannah—and stay informed about special deals, giveaways, new releases and other fabulous reader perks—by subscribing to her blog at Utterloonacy.com

Author Links:

Website: https://utterloonacy.com

Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/susannah.willey.1

Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/susannahwilley/

Threads: 

https://www.threads.com/@susannahwilley

Bluesky: 

https://bsky.app/profile/susannahwilley.bsky.social

Pinterest: 

https://www.pinterest.com/barbbittel/

Book Bub: 

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susannah-willey

Amazon Author Page: 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Susannah-Willey/author/B0C349ZF1V

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/32210037.Susannah_Willey

Follow the tour

Twitter Handle: @cathiedunn

Instagram Handles: @susannahwilley @thecoffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #AmericanCivilWar #PTSD 

#BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page:

 https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2026/02/blog-tour-nostalgia-by-susannah-willey.html 

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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!

My Coffee Pot Book Tour Guest: Rosemary Hayes - Code of Honour

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About the Book

Book Title: Code of Honour

Series: Soldier Spy Series, Book #3

Author Name: Rosemary Hayes

Publication Date: 2/2/26

Publisher: Sharpe Books

Pages: 251

Genre: Historical Adventure / Spy Fiction

Any Triggers: Napoleonic Wars / Spying / Disgraced Soldier / Love story

1812

Britain’s war against Napoleon continues.

Will Fraser and Duncan Armstrong have served their country well as spies, exposing traitors and rescuing betrayed royalists.

Now they are asked to support military operations in the Peninsular War. The French are using a new code which is proving impossible to decipher. Will and Armstrong must work with Spanish guerrillas to intercept messages between French Commanders and pass them to Wellington’s codebreakers.

Will is reluctant, however. Portugal was where he was falsely accused of cowardice and desertion and forced to leave the army. And Captain Harcourt-Browne, the jealous and vengeful officer who caused his downfall, is still serving there.

But Will is given a compelling – and personal – reason to carry out the operation. If he does so, there’s a slim chance he could be reinstated.

Enemy agents are soon on their trail; agents who want them dead. Somehow Will and Armstrong must evade them and join the guerrillas in a daring attempt to uncover Napoleon’s battle plans.

But Will’s troubled past catches up with him. Four years ago he lied to protect the woman he loved.  Now he must own up to that lie to save himself.

Praise for Rosemary Hayes:

‘Rosemary Hayes' Soldier Spy is a first-rate historical thriller, full of period detail, fascinating characters, unexpected twists, mystery, intrigue and action. It reminds me of Berrnard Cornwell's brilliant, Regency-set Gallows Thief. I am pleased to see that it is the first of a trilogy and look forward to reading more about the dashing Will Fraser.’

~ Peter Tonkin, author of The Richard Mariner thrillers

‘One of the very best historical novels I have ever read.’

~ Sandra Robinson, Huguenot Ancestry Expert

‘An absorbing tale told with sensitivity. The forgotten struggles of Huguenot refugees come to moving, heartrending life.’ 

~ Steven Veerapen, author of A Dangerous Trade

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Links:

Book 1 – Traitor’s Game:

  https://books2read.com/u/bwwEee 

Book 2 – The King’s Agent: 

https://books2read.com/u/bQLn8Z

Book 3 – Code of Honour:

  https://books2read.com/u/bQLnNZ 

This series is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Author Bio:

Rosemary Hayes has written many books for children in a variety of genre, from edgy teenage fiction, historical fiction and middle grade fantasy to chapter books for early readers and texts for picture books.  Many of her books have won or been shortlisted for awards and several have been translated into different languages.

Rosemary has travelled widely but now lives in South Cambridgeshire. She has a background in publishing, having worked for Cambridge University Press before setting up her own company Anglia Young Books which she ran for some years. She has been a reader for a well-known authors’ advisory service, runs creative writing workshops for both children and adults and reviews for historical publications.

Rosemary has now turned her hand to writing adult fiction. Her historical novel ‘The King’s Command’ is about the terror and tragedy suffered by a French Huguenot family during the reign of Louis XIV.

Traitor’s Game is the first book in the Soldier Spy trilogy, set during the Napoleonic Wars. The King’s Agent is the second and the third, Code of Honour, has recently been published.

Author Links:

Website: www.rosemaryhayes.co.uk 

Twitter / X: 

https://x.com/HayesRosemary 

Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/rosemary.hayes.129 

Amazon Author Page: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosemary-Hayes/e/B00NAPAPZC 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/80106.Rosemary_Hayes 

 

read an excerpt

from Code of Honour:

1812

The March wind was sharp and Will Fraser buttoned up his jacket over his wool waistcoat and thrust his hands into his pockets.  He paused for a moment to look about him and allowed himself a rare smile. The sheds were weatherproof now, the barns full of hay, the yard newly swept and all the tools repaired and cleaned. He raised his eyes to the hills where he could just make out the sheep, white dots sheltering from the wind against the drystone walls that crisscrossed the pasture.

The light was fading and he headed for the farmhouse, already anticipating the warmth of the fire, the freshly baked bread and hot drink that his mother would have prepared. But then, suddenly something made him stop. An unfamiliar sound. He frowned and listened intently.

It was faint and came from a distance but he was immediately alert. His training as a spy had never left him and his every sense was heightened. Even here, deep in the countryside on his father’s farm, he could never entirely relax. He still had enemies.

He turned around and looked down the track that led up to the farm. He could see little in the gloaming but instinctively he was in defence mode and he felt for his dagger, then remembered immediately that he’d not used it for over a year and that it lay rusting in his bedroom in the farmhouse. All he found, deep in his pocket, was the knife he used for cutting twine. It would have to suffice.

The sound was getting a little louder and now Will was able to identify it as the distant thud of hoofbeats, muffled by the grass along the track. The track was long and bounded by high hedgerows. It twisted and turned so Will could still see neither horse nor rider. They would not be visible to him until the track straightened out. Grasping the knife, he moved with practised stealth to hide behind a bush beside the gate that led into the farmyard.

They seldom had visitors and those that came would never risk riding here at this time of day. It was nearly dark. What could be so urgent that the horseman could not wait until daybreak?

Will waited, silent and still as a statue, his heart beating a little faster. A sudden stab of apprehension overcame him. Whoever it was, their business must be pressing. Were they bringing bad news to the family? Or had one of his many enemies tracked him down and was seeking revenge?

The hoof beats were more easily distinguishable now and finally, by screwing up his eyes he could make out the horse and rider as they came into view, but their forms were indistinct in the half light. Will tightened his grasp on his knife.

He waited until they reached the gate. They paused then, as Will knew they would, and the rider bent down to unlatch it.

It was then that Will emerged from behind the bush and confronted them.

‘What’s your business here, stranger?’

The horse reared up in fright and the rider dropped the reins, cursing loudly.

Will recognised both the voice and the curses immediately. His shoulders untensed and he began to laugh.

The rider only had one arm and he was lurching in the saddle as he tried to regain control of his mount, continuing to curse and blaspheme as he did so.

‘For Christ’s sake, sir, d’you want to unseat me!’

Will was still laughing. ‘Duncan Armstrong! By all that’s holy, what in God’s name are you doing here?’

‘Come to see you, that’s what,’ said Armstrong, still fighting to regain control of the horse. Will grabbed the animal’s reins and calmed him.

‘Huh,’ muttered Armstrong. ‘This nag’s been steady as a rock all the way from Durham and now you bloody well go and unsettle him.’

Will looked up at the familiar figure, at the bullet shaped head and the empty sleeve, suddenly overwhelmed by a rush of intense emotion. He didn’t trust himself to speak so he busied himself with opening the gate and leading the horse through to the farmyard. He’d not seen his old friend and sergeant for over a year and the suddenness of his appearance brought back a rush of memories of all they had shared in the past, some of which he had forced himself to suppress.

Until now he had fooled himself that he’d been successful.

When they reached the stables, Armstrong had to be helped off the horse. ‘Christ I’m that stiff I’ll never walk straight again,’ he said, staggering as his feet hit the floor.

Will unsaddled the animal and rubbed him down while Armstrong looked on.

‘You’re a real farmer now ain’t you sir? Look at you all togged up in your rough breeches and jacket and hat.’

Will smiled. ‘I’ve learnt a lot about country ways this past year’ he said.

He fetched water and hay and set them down in the stall. Armstrong turned to go out but Will put a restraining hand on his shoulder.

‘Tell me why you’re here.’

‘Got a job for you.’

‘What!’

My thoughts

Code Of Honour, the third part of a consecutive trilogy,  was engrossingly paced, and - as far as I know regarding this particular period (mostly gleaned from the Sharpe books)-  well researched. 

I had no trouble picking up this third part set during the Napoleonic Wars (although I do suggest start at the beginning and read in sequence for full pleasure).

Will Fraser is now a farmer and his friend, Duncan Armstrong, now runs an inn with his wife, but both men are recalled into service to assist with unravelling French codes. Needless to say, it all isn't as 'simple' as that for our two lead characters, or for their women-folk who also get mixed up in spying and various dangers. (No spoilers, I'll say no more!)

The trilogy comes full circle with this one - tying up all vaguely left loose ends in a most satisfying manner. 

The author also nicely blends fictional characters in with real ones from the past - thus creating a very good air of believability.

I have only one slight quibble: near the beginning (as in the excerpt above)  Will is seeing to the farm as a strange rider approaches, and his thoughts mention that the barn is full of hay. As the mother of a farmer's wife and multi horse owner, at this time of year (March) the hay is usually much depleted because the supply is getting low after winter, so it woud be unusual this early in the year to have a barn full of hay.  But as I said, a minor quibble. Perhaps the previous summer was a good crop year?

Cracking good story though.

**** 4 stars

Follow the tour:

Twitter Handles: @HayesRosemary @cathiedunn

Instagram Handles: @rosemaryhayes1 @thecoffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #NapoleonicWars #Spies #HistoricalAdventure #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2026/02/blog-tour-code-of-honour-by-rosemary-hayes.html 

Bsky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social

via https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/

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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!