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

Saturday, 20 May 2023

My Guest Spotlight - Amy Maroney: The Queen's Scribe

Shining a light on Good Books & Good Authors

for you to read & enjoy

#BookSpotlight

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 Queen’s Scribe

Series: Sea and Stone Chronicles

Author: Amy Maroney

Publication Date: Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Publisher: Artelan Press

Page Length: 388

Genre: Historical suspense/biographical fiction

Twitter Handle: @wilaroney

Instagram Handle: @amymaroneywrites

Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #BiographicalFiction #NewRelease #Cyprus #womenempowerment

The story behind the book:

In 1458, the fifteen-year-old, widowed Queen Charlotta ascended the throne of the Kingdom of Cyprus. Two years later, she moved her supporters into the seaside fortress of Kyrenia, where they withstood a siege by her power-hungry half-brother, Jacco. When her second husband Louis of Savoy proved a weak leader, Queen Charlotta voyaged without him across the Mediterranean, entreating allies to help save her crown.

Kyrenia Fort

Author Amy Maroney discovered this extraordinary young woman while doing research for the Sea and Stone Chronicles, a collection of novels set in medieval Rhodes and Cyprus. Like so many other women of the past, Queen Charlotta has languished for centuries in the shadows of history. With The Queen’s Scribe, Amy Maroney hopes to bring her astonishing story back to life.

The Queen’s Scribe by Amy Maroney

A broken promise. A bitter conflict. And a woman’s elusive chance to love or die.

1458. Young Frenchwoman Estelle de Montavon sails to Cyprus imagining a bright future as tutor to a princess. Instead, she is betrayed by those she loves most—and forced into a dangerous new world of scheming courtiers, vicious power struggles, and the terrifying threat of war.

Determined to flee, Estelle enlists the help of an attractive and mysterious falconer. But on the eve of her escape, fortune’s wheel turns again. She gains entry to Queen Charlotta’s inner circle as a trusted scribe and interpreter, fighting her way to dizzying heights of influence.

Enemies old and new rise from the shadows as Estelle navigates a royal game of cat and mouse between the queen and her powerful half-brother, who wants the throne for himself.

When war comes to the island, she faces a brutal reckoning for her loyalty to the queen. Will the impossible choice looming ahead be Estelle’s doom—or her salvation?

With this richly-told story of courage, loyalty, and the sustaining power of love, Amy Maroney brings a mesmerizing and forgotten world to vivid life. The Queen’s Scribe is a stand-alone novel in the Sea and Stone Chronicles collection.

St Hilarion doorway

Praise for the Sea and Stone Chronicles:

“Island of Gold is a nimbly told story with impeccable pacing.”

~ Historical Novel Society, Editor’s Choice Review

“Sea of Shadows is stunning. A compelling tale of love, honor, and conviction.”

~ Reader’s Favorite 5-Star Review

“The Queen’s Scribe is a fantastic read, and as a lover of accurate historical romance, I cannot recommend it highly enough.”

~ Reader’s Favorite 5-Star Review

Buy Links:

Here’s my universal link: https://mybook.to/QueensScribe

The Ebook is on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon UK:

https://mybook.to/TheQueensScribeUK

Amazon US:

https://mybook.to/QueensScribe

Amazon CA:

https://mybook.to/TheQueensScribeCA

Amazon AU:

https://mybook.to/TheQueensScribeAU

About tAmy

Amy Maroney studied English Literature at Boston University and worked for many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction. She lives in Oregon, U.S.A. with her family. When she’s not diving down research rabbit holes, she enjoys hiking, dancing, traveling, and reading. Amy is the author of The Miramonde Series, an award-winning historical fiction trilogy about a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern-day scholar on her trail. Her new historical suspense series, Sea and Stone Chronicles, is set in medieval Rhodes and Cyprus.

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/

Book Bub: www.bookbub.com/profile/amy-maroney

Amazon Author Page: author.to/AmyMaroneyAmazonPage

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

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

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http://mybook.to/AMysteryOfMurder

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The SEA WITCH VOYAGES

nautical adventures set during the Golden Age of Piracy

If you liked Pirates Of The Caribbean?
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KING ARTHUR

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The Boy Who became a Man:

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There is no Merlin, no sword in the stone, and no Lancelot.

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Amazon: FREE ebook!

www.helenhollick.net

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tuesday, 16 May 2023

My Coffee Pot Guest: Riana Everly- Death in Sensible Circumstances

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: Death in Sensible Circumstances: A Sense and Sensibility Mystery

Series: Miss Mary Investigates (#4 in the series)

Author: Riana Everly

Publication Date: March 1, 2023

Publisher: Bay Crest Press

Page Length: 310

Genre: Historical Mystery

A Jane Austen-inspired mystery, set in the world of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, being the fourth novel in the Miss Mary Investigates series.

When Mary Bennet befriends Elinor Dashwood, she expects to become part of the young lady’s circle and be introduced to her friends and relations. She does not expect that one of this circle should die, far too young, and in most unfortunate circumstances. Worse, Elinor is secretly in love with one of the suspects, Edward Ferrars, and he is inconveniently engaged to somebody else. When an investigator is called in to assist, Mary is more surprised still.

Alexander Lyons expects to find death and deceit in his line of work, but he does not expect to come face to face with Mary, who hasn’t replied to his letters of late. What is she doing in London? And how is she involved with this sorry business of murder? Still, despite the tension between the two, they make a good team as they seek to unravel the mystery surrounding them.

From the elegant drawing rooms of Mayfair to the reeking slums of St. Giles, the two must use every bit of wit and logic they possess to uncover a killer, all the while, trying to puzzle out the workings of their own hearts.

Join Mary Bennet, Lizzy’s often overlooked sister from Pride and Prejudice, and her intriguing and handsome friend Alexander Lyons, as they are pulled into the world of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility in this, their latest adventure.

Read An Excerpt

Death in Sensible Circumstances: A Sense and Sensibility Mystery

(Miss Mary Investigates, book 4)

by Riana Everly

Mary fought to maintain her composure. She smiled at Elinor and tried to give all due attention to her words, but her mind was full of only one thing: Alexander.

Whatever was he doing here? When Colonel Brandon suggested bringing in an expert to assess Lucy’s claims on Robert’s estate, she never imagined that man would be Alexander. She had pictured an elderly solicitor, or some crusty pedant in clothes from the last century and whose vowels could cut glass. Not this young, disturbingly handsome, redheaded Scot who had torn out a piece of her heart.

But of course, it made sense. Alexander was a brilliant investigator and a trained lawyer; he was the perfect person to determine whether Lucy’s claims were valid. She wondered if Colonel Brandon had his direction from her brother Darcy’s cousin, also a colonel, or if Alexander were merely that well known amongst the first circles of society. It mattered not. He was here and she must confront him. Again.

She had a brief reprieve. He had chosen first to address himself to Edward, as she herself would have done. Edward had been the presumed beneficiary of Robert’s will, after all, before Lucy appeared. From Mary’s scant understanding of the law, even had Robert not made a will, Edward would likely inherit his wealth anyway, being the most immediate living male family member.

But if Lucy had actually married Robert, what was she owed as his wife? Alexander would know! She must ask him… It was such a pity they did not like each other again.

Then Mary caught a word from the men’s conversation. “…the news about the babe.”

Her eyebrows rose on her forehead. This was something she had not heard before. Was there a child? Whose? Not Lucy’s, surely! That would be most scandalous! It hardly seemed like that lady, who put on such a show of innocence. But then, she had been engaged to one man before, supposedly, marrying his brother! However had they contrived that?

How she wished anew that she were a man who could talk of such matters and not be expected to swoon or collapse from the impropriety of it. No, as distasteful as it might be, she must find time to ask Alexander about all he had learned!

“You know this man.” Elinor’s hand on her arm and subsequent question roused Mary from her reveries. “He called you by name.”

Mary pulled her friend to the window seat, where they might talk in some semblance of privacy. “I told you of the man who raised my hopes and then abandoned me,” she began. Elinor’s brow furrowed in concern. “This is he.”

“But, Mary, he hardly seemed to disdain you when he entered. He seemed, well, shocked at first, but then pleased to see you here. Surely, he did not leave with his own heart cold.”

How could one explain? “We have known each other for some time. We met when he was asked to investigate a murder in which my own sister was a suspect. We have battled and made peace time and again, and I have grown to like him very much. When last we saw each other in October of last year, he…” she turned to ensure they were not being overheard. Then she leaned close to her friend so she might whisper. “He kissed me! Or, if I am quite honest, I kissed him. But I assure you, he did not object! That is when I thought he would declare himself and join with the Church and marry me. But he did not; he merely allowed me to return to my family whilst he came back to London, as if it had never happened.”

“Join with the church?” Elinor sounded confused. “Oh, yes. He is a Scot. He must be a Papist. Or a Presbyterian.”

“Worse!” Mary shuddered. “He is a Hebrew!” She really ought not to be so alarmed by this, for she had known it for many months, but it was still something so strange to her accustomed view of the world.

To her surprise, Elinor’s face lit up. “Oh, that is not all bad! Our village doctor at Norland was of that faith. He trained in Scotland, where such is permitted, and he was the best doctor we had. He was ever so clever; he was always making up rhymes and charades to amuse the children. Is Mr. Lyons good at making up rhymes?”

“I… that is… I do not know! He has never spoken of it. But his father was a doctor, near Glasgow. Alexander knows as much of medicine as most of the medical men I know, although he read law at university. He has saved more than one life with his knowledge.”

“He has? How remarkable! What a fine friend you have.”

Such support from Elinor was unexpected. Her new friend was a lady of such sense and prudence, it was almost incredible that she would not insist upon the proper faith in all of her associates. But perhaps that sense allowed her to see past the first rush of emotion and instinct.

“Did Mr. Lyons give any indication of why he left?” The half smile was still on Elinor’s face and her eyes flickered to where Alexander sat with Edward and the colonel as she continued.

Mary considered this. “He did not leave so much as not continue forward. I do believe he hoped for a continuation of our friendship, or whatever it is we have.”

“Did he write to you?”

This was shocking. “No! Of course not! We are not engaged. It would not be proper. But he did send his warmest regards through my sister, who is married to a great friend of his. But… well, I did not respond.”

“You have not sent him a word since you last saw him? Nothing since October last?”

Mary swallowed in shame. “No. I expected him to come to speak with my Papa. And then it was Christmas, and then I was invited to spend some months with my aunt and uncle here in Town, and then…” She trailed off.

“Had he any notion that you have been in London since March?”

Mary hung her head. “No. None. Or, none from me.” She looked up at her friend in embarrassment. “Oh, I have done him wrong, have I not?”

Elinor patted her hand. “It is not, perchance, the finest way one should treat those one cares about. But I believe the man still likes you a great deal. Perhaps you might rebuild your friendship.”

Buy Links:

This title is currently available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Buy Link:

https://mybook.to/deathinsc

Amazon UK:

www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Sensible-Circumstances-Sensibility-Investigates-ebook/dp/B0BTTLNJV5

Amazon US:

www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTTLNJV5

Amazon CA:

www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BTTLNJV5

Amazon AU:

www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BTTLNJV5

About the Author

Riana Everly is an award-winning author of romance, both contemporary and historical, and historical mysteries.

Born in South Africa, she moved to Canada as a child, bringing with her two parents, two younger sisters, and too many books. Yes, they were mysteries. From those early days of The Secret Seven and The Famous Five, she graduated to Nancy Drew, and then to the Grande Dames of classical English whodunnits, including Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh. Others followed, and many sleepless nights ensued.

When not matching wits with Miss Marple and Adam Dalgliesh, Riana keeps busy researching those little, but so-important, details for her next fabulous novel.

Trained as a classical musician, Riana has degrees in Music History and Medieval Studies, and enjoys photography, hiking, travelling, learning obscure languages, and experimenting with new recipes. If they include chocolate, all the better.

Website: www.rianaeverly.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RianaEverly

Instagram: www.instagram.com/rianaeverly

Book Bub: www.bookbub.com/authors/riana-everly

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/Riana-Everly/e/B076C6HY27