#BookReview #Touch Of A Witch by S.G. Slade #Happy Publication Day!

Summary:

Series: Darkness Rising (Book One)

Release Date: 31 October 2023

When visions of death haunt her every move, only the darkest magic can save her. 

Sarah Stone’s family have always closely guarded the secrets of their witchcraft. Though they tend as healers to those that know them, few guess the truth of the family’s skills.

But others have secrets too, and when Sarah finds herself caught in the grip of a terrifying curse, she fears for the fate of all she holds dear. As a dark shadow haunts the taverns and brothels of Bankside, whispers of a curse begin to spread. Then she is accused of witchcraft, and there seems to be no escape.

In a world where the those called Witch end up on the gallows, can Sarah find a way to turn the curse aside? Or will the price be too high to pay? 

Content warning: strong sex scenes and the occult.

An earlier version of this novel was published previously as Shakespeare’s Witch

Touch of a Witch is the first standalone novel in the spellbinding Darkness Rising series.

If you like dark and suspenseful fantasy with unforgettable characters, you’ll love S.G. Slade’s seductive new novel.

excerpt:

From Chapter 12

Dark drew in early, bright cold surrendering to the night and a heavy sky that promised warmer weather and rain. There was no moon, no stars, and she slipped from the house unnoticed to walk swiftly away from the life of the city towards the ancient peace of the forest, lighting her way with a torch. As the last of the houses dwindled away to the south, the lane petered into a narrow path that was shadowed by trees. She kept walking, following the path as it wove deeper into the forest amongst the great beeches and oaks, and out of sight between them she could hear the movements of fallow deer and foxes, halting in their stride to mark her presence. She was not afraid: the way had been well known to her since childhood by daylight and by night, and her skin prickled with the familiar sense of excitement as she turned off the path at last to thread her way between the trees toward the sacred Grove.

Tom was there before her: she could see the fire he had lit in glimpses through the trees, drawing her in, and she quickened her pace as she drew closer, eager for its warmth and his company. Then the trees opened out into a narrow clearing that was guarded by the gnarled and ancient yew tree, looming black against the brightness of the fire beyond it, branches dipping close to the ground. She trailed her fingers across the bark as she passed beneath its boughs, breathing in the magic of its age. Tom looked up when he heard her footsteps and came forward to greet her, taking her hands in his with a smile of welcome. She returned the smile, then gazed around her. The protective circle was already prepared, marked out on the soft grass with branches but not yet closed, and a single candle stood at each of the cardinal points. Two blankets lay folded close to the fire, and three more candles marked the points of a triangle a little distance away. Though they had cast a circle together many times before, a sense of trepidation heaved in her gut; it had always been the three of them together – Mother, Tom, Sarah – enacting the sacred rites. That this was something different she knew by instinct. She lifted her face to Tom again.

‘What do you think?’ he asked.

‘I think,’ she began carefully, ‘you’re planning something wicked here.’

‘Not wicked,’ he was quick to say. ‘Magical.’

‘What is this?’ she asked, turning her eyes back to his face. ‘You asked me here to talk.’ He was watching her, eyes glinting dark in the firelight, but she understood the glow she saw in them, and the memory of her dream tugged inside her. She dragged her eyes from his and passed her gaze once more across the circle, letting understanding settle in her thoughts.

‘It’s just magic, nothing more or less than we’ve done before.’ He shrugged, dismissing it, but she knew that he was lying. This was far beyond the spellcraft and the natural magic of the earth she had been born to. This was something altogether darker and more dangerous. She could sense it.

Review from Coffee&Ink

I did read and review this novel when it was Shakespeare’s Witch, and I am very happy to revisit the story. This is a fascinating novel, and I could not put it down. The enchanting prose is sharp but elegant, luring you deeply into Sarah and Tom’s story before you know it. Tom wants what Tom wants, and he knows how to get it with his good looks, charm, and a secret knowledge he’s paid dearly for. His cousin Sarah knows she has power, too, but not how to use it. Against the backdrop of Shakespearian London, these two call on forbidden magic in a bid for happiness.

Puritan London, the Globe Theater, and William Shakespeare add much to this vividly emotional and immersive read.

But this is a dark tale–not just because of the occult theme but much of the conflict comes from the interactions with the wounded hearts of both the gifted and the ordinary, the family and friends of Sarah and Tom. Sarah can see how the use of forbidden magic has set herself and Tom on a path to destruction, but not how to stop it.

I highly recommend this book for readers who love the supernatural and historical fantasy. I’m very much looking forward to the next one.

Thank you to the author for a copy of this book to read and review.

LINKS

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=gELLEAAAQBAJ

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Touch-Witch-Darkness-Rising-Book-ebook/dp/B0CBTDS6DF/

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/en/ebook/touch-of-a-witch

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/touch-of-a-witch-sg-slade/1143782294?ean=2940161159217

Apple:https://books.apple.com/au/book/touch-of-a-witch/id6451315764

Universal Book Link:  Available now at your favorite digital store!

#BookReview #MurderByDegrees by Ritu Mukerji #NetGalley

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: October 17, 2023

Description

For fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Charles Todd, Murder by Degrees is a historical mystery set in 19th-century Philadelphia, following a pioneering woman doctor as she investigates the disappearance of a young patient who is presumed dead.

Philadelphia, 1875: It is the start of term at Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lydia Weston, professor and anatomist, is immersed in teaching her students in the lecture hall and hospital. When the body of a patient, Anna Ward, is dredged out of the Schuylkill River, the young chambermaid’s death is deemed a suicide. But Lydia is suspicious and she is soon brought into the police investigation.
Aided by a diary filled with cryptic passages of poetry, Lydia discovers more about the young woman she thought she knew. Through her skill at the autopsy table and her clinical acumen, Lydia draws nearer the truth. Soon a terrible secret, long hidden, will be revealed. But Lydia must act quickly, before she becomes the next target of those who wished to silence Anna.

Review by Coffee&Ink

I love stories about historical women in traditionally masculine roles. And stories set in late 19^th century America, where many of these breakthroughs were also taking place. Doctor Lydia Weston is a wonderfully strong and intelligent heroine, aided by a couple of Philadelphia detectives, for whom young people, especially young women, are drawn. A consummate teacher, whether her student is a member of her college or not, she is always seeking ways to improve the minds of young people. This is how she meets Anna, a chambermaid with a curious and poetical mind. I think the author’s use of contemporary poetry to lay out clues as to what happened to Anna is absolutely brilliant.

Lydia does not shrink from autopsies and drowning victims, disconcerting for some. This is also such a well-done mystery that kept the pages turning. Not even so much as to know who did it, but to watch Lydia solve the mystery surrounding Anna’s death.

Vividly immersive, an intelligent mystery very well told. Highly, highly recommended for lovers of historical mysteries and historical fiction. Can’t wait for the next in this series 😊

Thank you, NetGalley, for a copy of this book to read and review.

#BookReview #TheAdoredOne by #Susanne Dunlap #historicalfiction

Summary from Good Reads:

Lillian Lorraine was a naive 15-year-old chorine on Broadway when she attracted the notice of the notorious 41-year-old Florenz Ziegfeld. Accustomed to getting what he wanted, Ziegfeld took Lillian under his wing and into his arms, giving her coveted numbers in the Ziegfeld Follies and taking control of her career. But Lillian’s rebellious spirit chafed against him, refusing to play according to his rules, and nearly destroying her own career in the process. The Adored One follows her through rise and fall after rise and fall as she comes of age in a world where her youthful beauty was an asset-and a liability.

Reviews:
“Talented, beautiful, fiercely independent, flighty… there aren’t enough adjectives to describe the intensely sympathetic and heartbreakingly reckless Lillian Lorraine… Buckle up; it’s a wild ride. I enjoyed The Adored One immensely.”
– Mitchell James Kaplan, author of Rhapsody
“Broadway of over a hundred years ago comes vividly to life in this story of the enchanting showgirl Lillian Lorraine. You will cheer for this gorgeous survivor all the way.”
– Stephanie Cowell, American Book Award winner and author of Claude & Camille and The Boy in the Rain

Review by Coffee&Ink

This is an incredibly excellent novel about the relationship between Lillian Lorraine and Florenz Ziegfield, told in the first-person point of view by Lillian herself. A fantastic voice that pulled me right into the story.  Lillian is young, beautiful, and talented with a free spirit and generous heart. The setting straddles the era of big, classy shows like Ziegfeld’s Follies, Vaudeville, and the movies. Women’s roles were changing but exploitation is rife throughout the book. Even a supremely talented and high-paid woman was still expected to give this all up when she married. Husbands and lovers prey on her for money, for her talent, youth, and beauty. There are days when Lillian is her own worst enemy. However dire this all sounds, Lillian is an inspiration of surviving to thrive, through the ebb and flow of her career and personal life. She is generous to her friends in need and this is threaded deftly through the story.

I’ve read and reviewed more than a few of Susanne Dunlap’s novels—not only do I highly recommend this one, but any one of her other books. I loved The Portraitist and the Orphans of Tolosa series. She has the depth of understanding of the characters and their times, told with an authentic voice and exceptional writing.

Thank you to the author via Instagram for a copy of this book to read and review.

#BookReview #MurderAtMidnight by #KatharineSchellman #PIC Tours

Murder at Midnight

by Katharine Schellman

September 18 – October 13, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Ashley Weaver, when a body is found shot to death after an unexpected snowstorm, Lily Adler quickly realizes that some people will stop at nothing to bury their secrets.

Regency widow Lily Adler is looking forward to a quiet Christmastide away from the schemes and secrets she witnessed daily in London. Not only will she be visiting the family of her late husband; she will be reunited with Captain Jack Hartley, her friend and confidante, finally returned after a long voyage at sea.

But secrets aren’t only found in London. Jack’s younger sister, Amelia, is the center of neighborhood scandal and gossip. She refuses to tell anyone what really happened, even when an unexpected snowstorm strands the neighborhood families together after a Christmas ball. Stuck until the snow stops, the Adlers, Hartleys, and their neighbors settle in for the night, only to be awakened in the morning by the scream of a maid who has just discovered a dead body.

The victim was the well-to-do son of a local gentleman–the same man whose name has become so scandalously linked to Amelia’s.

With the snow still falling and no way to come or go, it’s clear that someone in the house was responsible for the young man’s death. When suspicion instantly falls on Jack’s sister, he and Lily must unmask the true culprit before Amelia is convicted of a crime she didn’t commit.

Praise for Murder at Midnight:

“Delightful . . . Historical mystery fans will devour this holiday treat.”
~ Publishers Weekly

“A plummy period whodunit with a colorful collection of suspects.”
~ Kirkus Reviews

Book Details:

Genre: Historical mystery
Published by: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: September 2023
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781639104321 (ISBN10: 1639104321)
Series: A Lily Adler Mystery, 4
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Penguin Random House

Read an excerpt:

Lily sat bolt upright. Where had the sound come from? It hadn’t been loud . . . another part of the house? For a moment, in the pressing silence, she wondered if she had drifted back to sleep without realizing it and imagined the whole thing.

But a moment later, the sounds of a commotion rose just outside her window. Lily dashed to the window, throwing it open with some effort and peering out into the swirl of snow and early- morning light.

The guest room she had been given was one of the smaller ones—the better to quickly heat rooms that hadn’t been prepared in advance—and as was typical for such rooms, it lacked a pretty view. Hers looked over what she realized after a moment must be the poultry yard. Darkly clad figures who she could guess were servants stumbled through the thick layer of snow that had fallen, trying to reach the two people in the middle of the yard.

One Lily could see from her vantage only as a still, upright figure, hand outstretched and pointing toward the second person, who lay sprawled on the ground. The one on the ground was half covered by the ice and snow, unmoving.

Lily grabbed the dressing gown from the chair, pulled on her shoes, and ran from the room. In the hallway, a few guests were poking their heads out of their doors, hair tousled and faces creased with sleep, inquiring grumpily if anyone had heard an odd noise.

Lily didn’t stop to consider propriety or worry about what anyone else might think before she yelled “Jack!” as loudly as she could. She didn’t know which room he had been given, but a moment later, a door past the stairs was flung open and the navy captain’s head appeared.

“What is it?” he demanded. He was already dressed and wearing his driving coat over his clothing. That was odd at such an early hour, but Lily didn’t have time to be surprised.

“Downstairs.” In spite of the months they had spent apart, Lily knew she could depend on him to understand and act quickly. “Something happened. We have to help.”

And in spite of those months apart, he didn’t stop to ask questions. More guests were emerging, summoned by Lily’s shout, and questions were beginning to fly back and forth as she dashed down the stairs, Jack on her heels.

They didn’t need to wonder where to go; on the floor below, Mrs. Grantham was following a stately-looking woman who might have been the housekeeper or another upper servant. Their pace was just barely too dignified to be a run, but they couldn’t hide their worry as they disappeared down the steps to the kitchen. Lily and Jack hurried after them.

The servants’ staircase was narrow and cold. At the bottom, servants clustered in the kitchen, talking in shrill, anxious voices as the cook tried to keep some order. The underservants glanced uneasily at Lily and Jack as they came into the kitchen, but no one seemed to know what to do or say. The door to the yard had been left wide open, and the wind blew in gusts of snow and icy morning light. Outside, more servants were gathered, though they parted like a wave as the housekeeper led Mrs. Grantham out to see what had happened.

As Lily and Jack tried to follow, they were stopped by the frail but determined body of the butler, who interposed himself between them and the open door. “Madam, sir, perhaps you would care to return to your rooms? Breakfast will be ready shortly.”

Jack drew himself up, clearly prepared to use his rank to push his way past the aging servant. Before he could say anything, though, and before Lily could think how to reply, Mrs. Grantham turned sharply.

“What is . . .” She trailed off, eyeing Lily and Jack with trepidation. She looked ready to send them on their way with some commonplace assurance. But half a dozen emotions chased their way across her face in that moment, and she instead asked, “Mrs. Adler, how many of the rumors about you are true?”

“That depends on the rumors,” Lily replied calmly, though her heart was pounding. Behind Mrs. Grantham, she could see the limbs of the eerie, still figure sticking out of the snowbank. “Though if you refer only to the ones that are most relevant at this moment . . .” She turned her gaze pointedly toward the body in the snow. “There is indeed some truth to them.”

Mrs. Grantham hesitated, then seemed to make up her mind in a rush. She stepped aside, pulling the confused housekeeper with her. There were boots for the servants lined up next to the door, crusted with mud from repeated use. Lily pulled off her delicate evening slippers, slid her bare feet into the pair that looked closest to her size, and followed as she and Jack were ushered into the yard, their eyes fixed on what awaited them there.

A man dressed in borrowed clothes, his skin white with cold, his hair thick with clumps of ice and snow. He could have fallen, hit his head, been caught in the storm and frozen. He could still be alive, in need of help. He could have had an innocent reason for being out in the storm.

He could have. But this close, Lily could see the snow that had been kicked aside and trampled by half a dozen feet in the servants’ frantic attempts to clear it away. The icy powder was too thick on the ground for her to see the mud of the yard. But it was still stained with red and brown from where the man’s life had leaked away in the night.

The once-snowy linen of his shirt was stained the same color, jagged and torn from the bullet that had ended his life. The gun that had fired it had been unearthed beside him, as snow-logged as his own body. The man’s frozen eyes and mouth were wide open, as though he had not believed until the last moment that whoever had faced him in that yard could be capable of the shot that had ended his life.

***

Excerpt from Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman. Copyright 2023 by Katharine Schellman. Reproduced with permission from Katharine Schellman. All rights reserved.

Review by Coffee&Ink

I loved this Regency murder mystery, the fourth in the Lily Adler series. It’s one of the best mysteries of the year for me. Atmospheric, completely absorbing. Lily is a fascinating, hard-headed character who can’t help but get involved solving the society murders from the circles she moves in. In Murder At Midnight, a winter storm at a manor house is the setting, and those who have the farthest to travel stay behind because of the dangers of the roads. But staying behind proves very dangerous for the houseguests when one of them is murdered. As the storm rages on and the longer they have to stay inside cooped up together, the more they begin to unravel and everyone’s secrets are let loose as Lily and her brother-in-law John hunt for the killer.

So good. Many characters, but each one is very well drawn and as their secrets are revealed, they truly stand out. Lily has a reunion with an old friend, Matthew, who helps her and John, as does the young Anglo-Indian woman, Amelia.

I couldn’t guess who-done-it but the puzzle together in a satisfying way. The writing is vivid, sharp, and immersive, and Lily Adler is the very best Lady Sleuth. Highly recommended for all you historical mystery readers who love smart, strong heroines who love the truth more than playing society’s games.

Author Bio:

Katharine Schellman is a former actor and one-time political consultant. These days, she writes the Lily Adler Mysteries and the Nightingale Mysteries. Her books, which reviewers have praised as “worthy of Agatha Christie or Rex Stout” (Library Journal, starred review), have received multiple accolades, including being named a Library Journal Best Crime Fiction of 2022, a Suspense Magazine Best Book of 2020, and a New York Times editor’s pick in June 2022. Katharine lives and writes in the mountains of Virginia in the company of her husband, children, and the many houseplants she keeps accidentally murdering.

Catch Up With Katharine Schellman:
www.KatharineSchellman.com
Goodreads
BookBub – @KatharineSchellman
Instagram – @katharinewrites
Facebook – @katharineschellman

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!

09/18 Showcase @ Boys Mom Reads!
09/19 Review @ Urban Book Reviews
09/20 Showcase @ Books, Ramblings, and Tea
09/20 Showcase @ Mystery, Thrillers and Suspense
09/21 Review @ Novel Nerd Blog
09/22 Guest post @ Review Thick & Thin
09/22 Review @ Waterside Kennels Mysteries
09/22 Showcase @ Its Raining Books
09/23 Showcase @ Silvers Reviews
09/25 Review @ Book Corner News & Reviews
09/26 Guest post @ Must Read Faster
09/27 Review @ nanasbookreviews
09/28 Review @ Novels Alive
09/29 Review @ feliciaisbooked
09/30 Review @ Avonna Loves Genres
09/30 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
10/02 Review @ leannebookstagram
10/03 Review @ sunny island breezes
10/04 Review @ The Book Connection
10/07 Review @ Its All About the Book
10/07 Showcase @ fuonlyknew
10/08 Review @ Cozy Up With Kathy
10/09 Review @ ashmanda. k
10/09 Showcase @ Celticladys Reviews
10/11 Review @ 5 Minutes for Books
10/12 Review @ Coffee and Ink
10/12 Review @ Review Thick & Thin
10/13 Review @ Melissa As Blog

Join In for a Chance to WIN!

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Katharine Schellman. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

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#BookReview #BeforetheDevilKnows You’reHere by #Autum Krause #NetGalley

from Good Reads:

A deliciously dark folk horror for fans of Maggie Stiefvater and Erin Craig, blending the tall tales of Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan with Faustian elements, and centering a fierce Mexican-American poet on a quest to rescue her brother.

1836. Wisconsin Territory. All Catalina has left is her little brother—Mama died years ago, and Papa was buried just yesterday. She and Jose Luis are alone now, in their ramshackle cabin on the edge of the Wisconsin wilderness, with the cold weather coming.

As Catalina sets plans to ensure their survival, a strange man appears—a man covered in bark, leaves growing from his head, and sap dripping from his eyes. Before Catalina can stop him, he scoops Jose Luis up and disappears. He leaves behind a strange bird with crimson wings. She can’t let this man—if that’s what he is—have her brother. With no idea where they’ve gone, she tracks the bird in hopes it will lead her to Jose Luis.

Along the way she finds help from a young Paul Bunyan, whose life has also been changed by the Man of Sap. As they travel deeper into the Northwoods, they uncover more of the Man of Sap’s history and the connections he and Catalina share, ultimately learning her fate is deeply entwined with his—set in seeds planted long ago—and now, giving her the power to change his life, or end it.

Review by Coffee&Ink

This novel is an interesting blend of almost-disparate elements coming together in a mix of historical fiction and magic realism. The Green Man, or Johnny Appleseed, the Man of Sap as a doomed man who trades his soul to a vile banker for the success of his orchards. But like all such bargains, this one turns and twists the man into a monster wanting only to be set free. The Latina poet, Catalina is forced to go on a long journey when her brother is kidnapped by the Man of Sap and the journey turns into a metamorphosis when she meets the vile banker (aka the devil).

I chose this book to review because of this blend of elements and the heroine’s journey it portrays. It’s got heart and soul and an original blend of story and folklore.

Thanks, NetGalley, for a copy to review

#BookReview #TheWeatherWoman by #Sally Gardner #historicalfiction

Book Summary (Kaye Publicity):

Neva Friezland is born into a world of trickery and illusion, where fortunes can be won and lost on the turn of a card.

She is also born with an extraordinary gift. She can predict the weather. In Regency England, where the proper goal for a gentlewoman is marriage and only God knows the weather, this is dangerous. It is also potentially very lucrative.

In order to debate with the men of science and move about freely, Neva adopts a sophisticated male disguise. She foretells the weather from inside an automaton created by her brilliant clockmaker father.

But what will happen when the disguised Neva falls in love with a charismatic young man?

It can be very dangerous to be ahead of your time. Especially as a woman.

This rich and atmospheric new novel, set in the 18th century between the two great Frost Fairs, has received rave reviews from Good Housekeeping, Financial Times, Sunday Post, Observer, Sunday Times, and many more. 

Review by Coffee&Ink

This novel is one of my top ten favorite reads of the year.

Set in the early 19^th century in London, the weather woman of the title has extraordinary gifts which should be used to save lives but doing so puts her in danger. The methods her beloved father uses to protect her, however, eventually will lead her into the worst danger imaginable. This is an ingenious story told in multiple points of view with many layers—found families, the Frost Fairs, cloud walkers, shipwrecks, women’s horribly limiting role in society. Love and redemption including the near-redemption of a pretty bad character. The book is nearly 500 pages and the story did what I wanted it to do, just rolled on and on from one splendid scene to the next. The writing is exquisite.

I’m reminded of Susannah Clark’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel, for fans of this author.

Highly recommended historical fantasy, ten stars if I could.

Thank you, Kaye Publicity, for a copy of this book to review.

#IWSG October 4

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

Once upon a time, a long time ago, we worried about Amazon’s algorithms and how only certain types of books would be written in the future. Before that, we worried ebooks would change how we wrote. Writing and publishing have gone through so many changes over the years—the recession in 2008, writers’ strikes, etc, but we, the writers and authors, are still the creative force behind what we, the readers, are reading.

I fear. I fear because years ago, Romancelandia had a plagiarism—well, one of many—issue where the “author” got caught literally changing the names and places of a bestselling author’s work, publishing it as her own. And had such a following, readers were commenting, “I don’t care, I’m reading it anyway.”

Maybe I’m paranoid. I fear a future generation/movement might prefer AI written books and art. Although I think something terrible has to happen to our society (again) where we only trust robot written books? Or we’re forbidden to read anything but AI written texts decided on by an algorithm…or humanity dies out and robots are left telling each other stories about humans around an electronic campfire?

Yeah, I’m letting my inner silly out but–

I guess I don’t get it. Voice recognition took over my job as a transcriptionist because we never had enough help. Another app came along in my new job to help index medical records, but we couldn’t get enough help there, either. But there’s always going to be humans to tell stories, create art, and music. Is this a technology we need? Will it save lives? Is it the best use of someone’s time developing AI written stories and art when humans are doing fine on their own?

Someone must think they can make money exploiting the hard work of so many writers and artists. A soulless exploitation.

We’ll have to hold the line here and not buy or support regurgitated AI stories.

#BookReview #TheRoyalWindsorSecret by Christine Wells

Everyone loves a bit of intrigue and scandal, particularly when it comes to the elite of the elite. In THE ROYAL WINDSOR SECRET, fiercely independent Cleo seeks to unravel the mystery of her parentage and, in the process, may discover secrets that could destabilize the monarchy.

From GoodReads:

Could she be the secret daughter of the Prince of Wales? In this dazzling novel by the author of Sisters of the Resistance, a young woman seeks to discover the truth about her mysterious past. Perfect for readers of Shana Abe, Bryn Turnbull, and Marie Benedict.  Cleo Davenport has heard the the murmured conversations that end abruptly the second she walks into a room. Told she was an orphan, she knows the rumor—that her father is none other than the Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne. And at her childhood home at Cairo’s Shepheard’s Hotel, where royals, rulers, and the wealthy live, they even called her “The Princess.” But her life is turned upside down when she turns seventeen. Sent to London under the chaperonage of her very proper aunt, she’s told it’s time to learn manners and make her debut. But Cleo’s life can’t be confined to a ballroom. She longs for independence and a career as a jewelry designer for Cartier, but she cannot move forward until she finds out about her past. Determined to unlock the truth, Cleo travels from London, back to Cairo, and then Paris, where her investigations take a shocking turn into the world of the Parisian  demi-monde , and a high-class courtesan whose scandalous affair with the young Prince of Wales threatened to bring down the British monarchy long before anyone had heard of Wallis Simpson. 

Reviews:

“Royalty, secrets, diamonds and courtesans all come together in this riveting tale. We follow heroine Cleo from the delightful eccentricity of Shepheard’s Hotel in Cairo to the glitter of Paris’s jewelry salons, to a luxurious royal wartime hideaway as Cleo grows from endearing ingénue to a force to be reckoned with. A sweeping novel about love, ambition and what family really means.”
— Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Orphan“The Royal Windsor Secret is a thrilling historical fiction brimming with adventure, mystery, romance, and a willful, independent heroine you will root for, all wrapped up in a scintillating secret.”
— Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Hidden Books

“From the exotic hotels of pre-war Cairo to the glittering jewelry ateliers of Paris, Christine Wells has written a richly layered tale of intrigue in The Royal Windsor Secret. Fans of The Crown will delight in the familiar faces of Wallis Simpson and the Duke of Windsor even as they revel in this story of dreams and ambitions, love and war.”
— Stephanie Marie Thornton, USA Today bestselling author of Her Lost Words

“Christine Wells captivates in her latest novel, taking us back to a tumultuous time in history, and adding more than a dash of sparkle. The Royal Windsor Secret is a delicious and scandalous read, with a twist that you won’t see coming!”
— Eliza Knight, USA Today bestselling author of Starring Adele Astaire

“In The Royal Windsor Secret, Christine Wells takes a fascinating chapter in the Duke of Windsor’s early life and gives it an equally fascinating coda in the form of a love child, who shares all of the duke’s passion and impulsivity, and yearns for a life beyond what she already knows. The truth of Cleo’s parentage will have you turning pages until the very end, while Cleo’s search for fulfilment—creative, professional, social, and romantic—results in a beautifully told tale.”
— Bryn Turnbull, bestselling author of The Paris Deception

Review From Coffee&Ink

I love love love this book. I am not a fan of Royals in books or real life, and I stalled a bit before saying yes to this one. I’m so glad I did. Fantastic writing, unputdownable plotting, fascinating time and place.

At sixteen, Cleo Davenport knows she’s a foundling but there are rumors that make her wonder. She lives at the Shepheard’s Hotel in Cairo, raised by a Lady Archeologist and the kindly hotel staff. Left to daydream and wander about with her friend Brodie, no wonder she wants to know who she is, as this knowledge might tell who she will be. But when it’s time for her to make her debut in faraway London society, she hates to leave her childhood home. At least Brodie comes with her and Lord and Lady Grayson’s to pursue his own fortune. Why isn’t she allowed to pursue her own? Cleo is a great character, determined and self-confident, though she flounders a bit with what she wants to believe versus reality. Eventually she is able to attend art school and makes friends with a famous jewelry designer. But when she accidentally discovers the woman who claims to be her mother, the story really gets going.

Great details, immersive writing and storytelling that begins before the outbreak of World War II and into the 50s.

I do want to say more, but I don’t want to spoil it; suffice to say, if you love historical fiction circa 1930s and 40s, spies and Royals, with a touch of romance, you’ll love this one. Highly recommended.

Thank you Angela Melamud, Independent Book Publicist, and NetGalley for a copy of this book to review.

#BookReview #TheHumanTrial by Audrey Gale #BooksForward

From GoodReads:

Dr. Randall Archer is a misfit… …in the brutal blue-collar home where he grew up. …as a sixteen-year-old escaping to college, then medical school, on a full scholarship to Harvard. …in the highest echelons of Boston society, where the woman he marries and the blueblood research partner with whom he shares his laboratory belong. Even Archer’s brilliance as a pathologist catapults him into direct and dangerous conflict with the medical establishment he fought so hard to join. As the Great Depression presses down around him, Archer teeters at the edge of a precipice. He must choose between his hard-won career and the sacred oaths he took as a doctor and scientist—before all his choices are lost forever.

Published: September 17, 2023 by Books Fluent

Review from Coffee&Ink

First off, I’m going to echo what some other reviewers have said: more detail about the medical trials themselves and medicine in general at that point in time would have been good; not really a thriller—not yet; there is a narrative distance, though I thought it suited the story in some ways, but we’re used to reading deeper character interiors these days.
I found the plot absorbing, once I got used to the style, and medical history is always interesting to me. There are quite a few twists and turns and medical shenanigans the main characters appear to be pulled in to, but it’s going to get a lot worse for them once they actually begin to achieve something. They’re academics and a bit pedantic but it suits their characters.
One of the biggest struggles seems to be the Great Depression and how it affected not only agricultural people but universities and educators. In general, I thought the book well written and recommend it to readers of historical medical suspense fiction.
thank you Christ Gorman at Books Forward for a copy of this book