Wednesday 30 June 2021

New Publication Spotlight & Extract: The Winter of Winters by Robert M. Kidd



My hero, Sphax, and his Numidian eshrin (a company of 30 cavalrymen) are on a scouting mission to a small Roman town called Clastidium when he spots two women on horseback. One of the women, riding a large grey stallion immediately gallops off into the woods. Without thinking, Sphax gives chase, but it soon becomes clear he’s met his match! She turns out to be a superb horsewoman. It should be noted that Numidians are the finest horsemen in the world, riding only fleet-footed mares, without the aid of saddles or reins. My extract begins when he’s about to give up on his quarry.

Everywhere looked downhill from here, and Sphax realised he now stood little chance of catching her. As they entered yet more woodland at the far end of the field, he began easing Dido’s pace and considered giving up on what had now become a fruitless chase. But then she made her first and only mistake. Jumping the trunk of a fallen tree that lay across her path she mistimed her approach, leaving it half a stride too late. Clipping a hoof on the way over the stallion landed heavily, tossing the rider from her saddle like a bundle of rags.

He brought Dido to a halt and ran over to where she’d fallen. Kneeling beside her prone body he gently turned her over and pulled back her hood. She was out cold, badly winded, her breathing shallow, but other than that he could see no obvious injury. He found it almost impossible to stop himself examining that face. Her eyes were closed, but even without the hidden promise of those eyes, the woman was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen.

Sphax had never seen skin so pale and unblemished, lips so full and generous, and all framed by lustrous raven curls that tumbled on to her shoulders. He had an irresistible urge to caress those lovely cheeks and wake her with a kiss. Removing his beaverskin cloak he placed it beneath her head as a pillow, bent over her, and waited. Gazing at such loveliness, Sphax knew he had a ridiculous smile on his face, but there was nothing he could do, he just couldn’t help himself. She began to stir. Sphax waited. Then her eyes suddenly opened and she gave out a wordless gasp of fright. The promise of those eyes was more than fulfilled; they were a rich hazel and fathomless, set below thickly arched eyebrows the colour of her hair.

For a few heartbeats they just stared at one another. Tearing himself away from those eyes he sat upright and asked in Latin if she was hurt.

‘No … I don’t think so,’ stretching her limbs a little whilst still resting her head on his cloak. ‘Am I your prisoner?’ Her voice was low and resonant, and she spoke Latin with a strange accent.

‘Maybe … it depends.’ I should be so lucky, thought Sphax. ‘I mean you no harm, if that’s what you’re thinking.’

‘Pity,’ she muttered in Greek under her breath, ‘I would gladly surrender to a pretty boy like you.’ That’s more like it, he thought, grinning at her and switching to the Greek tongue.

‘I am Sphax, a Numidian. My general is Hannibal, leader of the Carthaginian army that has come to destroy Rome.’ She returned his grin.

‘And you speak excellent Greek, I hear.’ She raised herself on an elbow and gazed about her. ‘Is my horse unharmed? He must have taken a blow to his hoof.’ Sphax gestured over his shoulder.

‘He’s well. Grazing with my mare. A fine stallion, lady. Where did you learn to ride like that?’

‘I have always loved horses, and learned to ride at an early age.’ With a grunt she sat upright and frowned. ‘I also know that only a Numidian could have caught me.’

‘Then you should have known it was futile to run away.’ Her lovely face came alive with a mischievous smile.

‘But I gave you a run for your purse, did I not, Numidian?’

‘You certainly did, lady, but you have not told me your name or your business near this Roman town.’

‘Neither have you! What business has a troop of Numidian cavalry with a Roman town garrisoned by Greeks from Brundisium?’

Greeks, you say. Not legionaries,’ his curiosity aroused. She fell silent, got to her feet and begun rearranging her tunic and dusting down her crimson cloak with the flat of her hands. Finally she gazed down at him.

My name is Corinna. I’m the woman of the garrison commander, Dasius the Pig,’ she said coldly. ‘Other than that, my business is my own.’

Sphax was shivering. He crawled forward to retrieve his beaverskin cloak, but all he felt was a powerful kick to his shoulder that sent him sprawling on to his back. In the next instant Corinna had drawn a dagger hidden beneath her cloak and had it pointed at his throat. ‘It seems the tables have been turned, my pretty Numidian.’

He stared at a face transformed. Still beautiful, yet all the softness had vanished from those generous lips and soft cheeks, and her eyes had darkened and narrowed.

Move but a finger and I swear I’ll slit your throat.’ He didn’t doubt it! Without taking her eyes off him she whistled shrilly for her stallion. Sphax heard hoof beats approaching, but not those of a stallion. ‘Now you’re going to stand, very slowly, and one false step on your part and you will feel this knife bite.’

The Winter of Winters

218 BC. Hannibal’s exhausted army staggers down from the last Alpine pass like a rabble of half-starved savages, the remnants of a once magnificent army that had set out from the Rhodanus with such hope. Now there is no way back. With the legions of Consul Publius Scipio closing fast, Carthage needs its Gaulish allies like never before. But where are the Insubres? Where are the Boii? Where are the thousands of warriors pledged by solemn oath?In the maelstrom of battle, Sphax, nephew of Hannibal, forges a reputation as the scourge of Rome. But will his ingrained recklessness and quest for honour set him at odds with the forbidding genius of his uncle? Only one thing is certain in this winter of winters, a great battle is coming that will decide the fates of Rome and Carthage.

Amazon UK                Amazon US 

Robert M. Kidd

When Cato the Censor demanded that ‘Carthage must be destroyed,’ Rome did just that. In 146 BC, after a three year siege, Carthage was raised to the ground, its surviving citizens sold into slavery and the fields where this once magnificent city had stood, ploughed by oxen. Carthage was erased from history.

That’s why I’m a novelist on a mission! I want to set the historical record straight. Our entire history of Hannibal’s wars with Rome is nothing short of propaganda, written by Greeks and Romans for their Roman clients. It intrigues me that Hannibal took two Greek scholars and historians with him on campaign, yet their histories of Rome’s deadliest war have never seen the light of day.

My hero, Sphax the Numidian, tells a different story!

When I’m not waging war with my pen, I like to indulge my passion for travel and hill walking, and like my hero, I too love horses. I live in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.

https://robertmkidd.com/

https://twitter.com/RobertMKidd1

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064169594911

Giveaway to Win Book 4 in The Histories of Sphax series to be dedicated to the winner, & a signed dedicated copy too (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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Book Cover Reveal: The Dating Game by Sandy Barker

The Dating Game by Sandy Barker

Publication dates

Ebook: September 10

Print: December 9 (just in time for Christmas!)

Once upon a time, twelve women joined the hottest reality TV show looking for love. Except one had a secret identity …

Abby Jones is a serious writer. Or at least she will be, one day. Right now, she spends her time writing recaps of reality television under a secret identity.

When a recap for The Stag – the must-watch dating show – goes viral, her editor thinks she should be on set, writing the drama as it happens. The good news: the next season will be filmed in Sydney. Sun, sea and a glamorous trip abroad, this could be Abby’s big break.

The bad news: the producers don’t just want Abby to write the recaps, they want her to be on the show. Abby can’t think of anything worse than being undercover and followed around by cameras. But her career depends on it, and when she meets gorgeous producer Jack, Abby begins to wonder if this job might not be so bad after all …

Hilarious and highly original’

~ Julie Houston, bestselling author of A Village Affair

Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Apple Books | Google Play | Nook | Kobo



Tuesday 29 June 2021

Book Publication Day Spotlight & Review: A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor


 A DUKE IN TIME, The Widow Rules series 
By Janna MacGREGOR
(St. Martin’s Trade Paperbacks, June 29, 2021, $8.99).

Katherine Vareck is in for the shock of her life when she learns upon her husband Meri's accidental death that he had married two other women. Her entire business, along with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a royal supplier, is everything she's been working for and now could be destroyed if word leaks about the three wives.

Meri's far more upstanding brother, Christian, Duke of Randford has no earthly clue how to be of assistance. He spent the better part of his adult years avoiding Meri and the rest of his good-for-nothing family, so to be dragged back into the fold is…problematic. Even more so is the intrepid and beautiful Katherine, whom he cannot be falling for because she's Meri's widow. Or can he?

With a textile business to run and a strong friendship forming with Meri's two other wives, Katherine doesn't have time for much else. But there's something about the warm, but compellingly taciturn Christian that draws her to him. When an opportunity to partner in a business venture brings them even closer, they'll have to face their pasts if they want to share each other's hearts and futures.

A feisty heroine and a dashing hero!

At the reading of her late husband's will, Katherine discovers she isn't the only wife of the late, Lord Meriwether Vareck – two other wives are using the same title too! As the presumed first wife, she takes the other women under her wing, to protect them and avoid the scandal becoming common knowledge. Only her motive is personal because if her true identity is revealed, she stands to lose everything she's worked for.

Christian, Duke of Randford is a war hero and the half brother of Meri. When he learns of the mess his wastrel brother left behind, he's determined to help these women, as Mr Hanes, the family solicitor begins researching the whereabouts of the women's missing dowries. Within a short space of time, Christian realises he's developing feelings for Katherine as shared interests and common goals are realised, however, is it wrong to pursue is late brother's wife?

This entertaining narrative held my attention right from the start. Set during the Regency period, the unique plot is a lot of fun, as the protagonists try to make sense of the situation they find themselves in. Their relationship gathered steam quite quickly but didn't feel rushed.

As a pair, Katherine and Christian are a good match. She is a strong, independent woman, who has worked hard all her life to achieve the success she has. As for Christian, he fights for what he believes and doesn't bow to public opinion. He's a loyal and trusted friend and companion to those he knows and in Katherine, he's met someone as passionate as he is about causes he cares for.

The unexpected twist towards the end helps to set the scene for the following books. As for Katherine and Christian, they found their happy ending.

This is my first Janna MacGregor novel and I'm eagerly waiting to read more books in The Widow Rules series.

***arc copy generously received courtesy of St. Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley***




AMAZON US                AMAZON UK 

JANNA MACGREGOR was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She is the author of the Cavensham Heiresses series, which begins with The Bad Luck Bride.

Janna credits her darling mom for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and two smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs. She loves to hear from readers.  

Monday 28 June 2021

New Book Publication Spotlight & Author Guest Post: Being Netta Wilde by Hazel Ward



Four legs can be better than two.

Before we go any further, I’m outing myself as an animal lover. I’ve a particular fondness for dogs but there aren’t many that I don’t like. That said, I’m not keen on animal stories. Although, I don’t mind an animal or two in a novel. A well-drawn animal character can lighten up a story. Sometimes, they can even tug on the emotions much more than a human character can.

It’s fair to say, animals play a part in the rehabilitation of Annette Grey. It’s a relatively small part but they do inhabit space within the story and I hope I’ve made them characters in their own right.

The star of the animal cast has to be Maud, Annette’s sitting tenant. Maud comes with the house that Annette moves into. Its former owner, the late Edith Pinsent, stipulated certain conditions about its next owner. One being that they must care for Maud, the latest in a long line of Pinsent dogs. I’ve tried to make Maud a bit comical and sweet, in a little old lady sort of way. She was, after all, brought up by an elderly, slightly eccentric spinster. To give you a flavour, here’s an extract that describes Annette and Maud’s first meeting:

There was a rustling behind her. She turned around and saw a movement in the grass. Her first thought was rats. She tensed, then softened when a dog emerged and trotted towards her. It was on the small side of medium. Although dog breeds were not her strongest subject, she was absolutely certain this one had terrier somewhere in its DNA. Its head was square, made slightly curvy by tufty hair protruding from the edges. The colour of its wiry coat was hard to pin down but, if she was pushed, Annette would have called it taupe. Yes, taupe. With the odd splash of white, grey and just a tiny bit of black.

It sat down, leaning slightly to one side, dropped the chewed remains of a tennis ball at her feet and looked straight up at her. Its heavy eyebrows were perched at acute angles over a pair of dark eyes. The effect was an expression of permanent anticipation. As if it were waiting for something, or someone. When it opened its mouth, Annette half expected it to say: ‘Is it you then? Are you the one?’ It didn’t. Obviously. Instead the little dog yawned and shuffled closer. As its mouth closed, it made a noise that could only be described as ‘Hrmph.’‘

Annette’s no dog lover but she immediately warms to Maud. For her part, Maud seems to consider Annette a suitable replacement for her beloved Edith and the two settle into comfortable companionship. As long as Annette doesn’t try to take her for a walk, that is. Maud’s far too much of a free spirit to trot along on a lead.

Maud has a suitor. Colonel. An enormous bundle of hair that resembles a giant Brillo pad on legs. When the inevitable happens, no one can quite believe that Colonel could be the culprit. Surely it’s a physical impossibility? As someone says, by way of explanation: ‘Latest theory is that she stood on a chair.’ But Colonel doesn’t care what they think of him. Loyal and steadfast, he only has eyes for Maud and his new family.

Not all of the animals are as domesticated as these two. On the nights when Annette can’t sleep, she and Maud sit in the breakfast room watching night turn to day. Together, they wait for the vixen that regularly visits the garden with her cubs. There’s something quite mystical about this fox. Annette’s sure it’s the same one Edith wrote about in her diaries. Diaries that she’s promised to read. As it gazes at them through the French windows, it makes Annette feel somehow connected to Edith. Maud watches on silently. The two animals seem to have a mutual, wary respect for each other, as if they too have some kind of connection.

They say writers get so involved with their stories that the characters become real people to them. It’s certainly true for me, but that also extends to Maud, Colonel and the vixen. I have a clear picture of them in my head and I know just how they’ll behave in any given situation. I hope I’ve painted them as brightly for you. I’d love to hear what you think of them. Do let me know.

Being Netta Wilde by Hazel Ward

An uplifting story of love, loss and second chances that celebrates friendship and human connections.

Netta Wilde was all the things Annette Grey isn’t. Netta Wilde was raw, unchecked and just a little bit rebellious. She loved The Clash and she loved being Netta Wilde.

Annette Grey is an empty, broken woman who hardly knows her own children. Of course, it’s her own fault. She’s a bad mother. An unnatural mother. At least, that’s what her ex-husband tells her.

The one thing she is good at …
the one thing that stops her from falling …
is her job.

When the unthinkable happens, Annette makes a decision that sets her on a journey of self-discovery and reinvention. Along the way, her life is filled with friends, family, dogs, and jam. Lots of jam.

Suddenly anything seems possible. Even being Netta Wilde again.

But, is she brave enough to take that final step when the secrets she keeps locked inside are never too far away?

Amazon UK                Amazon US 

Hazel Ward was born in a back-to-back house in inner city Birmingham. By the time the council knocked the house flat and packed her family off to the suburbs, she was already something of a feral child who loved adventures. Swapping derelict houses and bomb pecks for green fields and gardens was a bit of a culture shock but she rose to the occasion admirably and grew up loving outdoor spaces and animals. Especially dogs, cats and horses.

Strangely, for someone who couldn’t sit still, she also developed a ferocious reading habit and a love of words. She wrote her first novel at fifteen, along with a lot of angsty poems, and was absolutely sure she wanted to be a writer. Sadly, it all came crashing down when her seventeen-year-old self walked out of school after a spot of bother and was either too stubborn or too embarrassed to go back. It’s too long ago to remember which.  What followed was a series of mind-numbingly dull jobs that paid the bills but did little to quell the restlessness inside.

Always a bit of a smart-arse, she eventually managed to talk herself into a successful corporate career that lasted over twenty years until, with the bills paid and the children grown up, she was able to wave it all goodbye and do the thing she’d always wanted to do. While taking a fiction writing course she wrote a short story about a lonely woman who was being made redundant. The story eventually became her debut novel Being Netta Wilde.

Hazel still lives in Birmingham and that’s where she does most of her writing. When she’s not there, she and her partner can be found in their holiday home in Shropshire or gadding about the country in an old motorhome. Not quite feral anymore but still up for adventures.

https://hazelwardauthor.com

https://www.facebook.com/hazelwardauthor

https://twitter.com/hazelward

https://www.instagram.com/hazel.ward

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrmdeA7DKEXhrj6nO6l2gJw



Thursday 24 June 2021

New Publication Spotlight & Review: Whispers of the Runes by Christina Courtney


Whispers of the Runes

Time is no barrier for a love that is destined to be.

She couldn’t be sure that she had travelled through time … but deep down she just knew.

And her only way back had just disappeared.

When jewellery designer Sara Mattsson is propelled back to the ninth century, after cutting herself on a Viking knife she uncovers at an archaeological dig, she is quick to accept what has happened to her. For this is not the first Sara has heard of time travel.

Although acutely aware of the danger she faces when she loses the knife – and with it her way to return to her own time – this is also the opportunity of a lifetime. What better way to add authenticity to the Viking and Anglo-Saxon motifs used in her designs?

As luck has it, the first person Sara encounters is Rurik Eskilsson, a fellow silversmith, who is also no stranger to the concept of time travel. Agreeing that Sara can accompany him to Jorvik, they embark on a journey even more perilous than one through time. But Fate has brought these two kindred spirits together across the ages for a reason…

Over the years there have been a few instances when I've picked up a book by a new author and wondered why it's taken so long to discover them. Whisper of the Runes is a fabulous time slip adventure with Vikings, runes, and is a wonderful discovery.

When jewellery designer, Sara Mattsson meets fellow silversmith, Rurik Eskilsson!

When I began reading this novel, I was unaware it's part of a series however, it works as a standalone. It's noticeable the novel is well researched and full of historical detail. I enjoy reading novels set during this era, and this more than exceeded my expectations.

The historical descriptions triggered vivid images and captured my imagination as I was transporting back to the age of Jorvik. For those who enjoy, romance and time travel, this is a treat.

I'm always cautious when reading a timeslip novel because often one timeline doesn't hold my attention as equally as the other. I need not have worried because, they weave together seamlessly, as the narrative grabbed my attention right from the start. It resulted in a desire to read the other novels I've missed in the series, whilst waiting on the publication date of the next one.

***arc received courtesy of Headline Review via NetGalley***

Amazon UK                Amazon US 

Christina Courtenay writes historical romance, time slip and time travel stories, and lives in Herefordshire (near the Welsh border) in the UK. Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden – hence her abiding interest in the Vikings. Christina is a former chairman of the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association and has won several awards, including the RoNA for Best Historical Romantic Novel twice with Highland Storms (2012) and The Gilded Fan (2014).  Whispers of the Runes (time travel published by Headline 24th June 2021) is her latest novel. Christina is a keen amateur genealogist and loves history and archaeology (the armchair variety).

http://www.christinacourtenay.com

https://www.facebook.com/christinacourtenayauthor?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/PiaCCourtenay

https://www.instagram.com/ChristinaCourtenayAuthor/

Giveaway to Win a signed copy of Whispers of the Runes plus a pair of silver Viking style earrings  (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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Tuesday 22 June 2021

Publication Day Spotlight: Between You and Me by Carol Mason


Between You and Me

Is her new husband really who she thinks he is?

When young doctor Lauren Matheson meets Joe, an older divorced businessman, at a glittering poolside in California, it’s a chance encounter that seems life-changing for them both. Back home in London, their feelings only strengthen. But Lauren soon discovers that building a happy future with Joe is going to be an uphill struggle…

She’s determined to be a good stepmother to his children, four-year-old Toby and complicated teen Grace. But under the watchful eye of Meredith, Joe’s intimidating ex-wife, Lauren can’t seem to do a thing right. Why won’t Joe ever take her side against Grace? And what really happened between him and Meredith?

As her husband retreats into a cold, secretive version of the dashing man she met in California, Lauren starts to wonder if she’s made a costly mistake. Was Joe ever the man she thought she married?

https://amzn.to/2Pu9BCM

Carol Mason is the Amazon Charts and Kindle #1 bestselling author After You Left (more than 300,000 copies sold), The Secrets of Married Women, The Last Time We Met, The Shadow Between Us, Send Me A Lover and Little White Secrets which hit the Bookstat digital bestsellers list top 3 in the week of its launch. She was born in the North East of England where most of her novels are set. She now lives in Canada with her Canadian husband, a rescue dog from Kuwait and a three-legged cat. When not writing, Carol loves to read, cook and binge watch Netflix.



 https://www.facebook.com/CarolMasonAuthor

https://twitter.com/CarolMasonBooks

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Publication Day Spotlight: Happy Dreams At Mermaid Cove by Marie Laval

Happy Dreams At Mermaid Cove

From the big city to a little yellow mobile library on the Isle of Skye ...

When Jenna Palmer agrees to the new position of mobile librarian on the tiny Arrandale peninsular of the Isle of Skye, she knows she’s signing up for difficult working conditions and mediocre wages. But Jenna needs to get away, and a little yellow mobile library called Buttercup could be her escape to happier dreams ...

However, whilst Jenna can get to grips with foggy island roads, local mermaid legends and even big purple monsters, she never expected to have to contend with a boss as grumpy as Daniel McGregor, or a young book lover as enthusiastic as his niece, Katrina.

Arrandale might represent Jenna’s safe port in a storm, but could she and Buttercup also become a beacon of hope to Daniel, Katrina and the entire island community?

Amazon UK                Amazon US 

Originally from Lyon in France, Marie has lived in the Rossendale Valley in Lancashire for the past few years. She writes both contemporary and historical romance. Her novels include best selling contemporary romantic suspense novels LITTLE PINK TAXI and ESCAPE TO THE LITTLE CHATEAU, which was shortlisted for the 2021 RNA Jackie Collins Romantic Suspense Awards, as well as A PARIS FAIRY TALE and BLUEBELL'S CHRISTMAS MAGIC. Her latest novel, ANGEL OF THE LOST TREASURE, was released in February 2021. Marie also contributes to the best selling Miss Moonshine's Emporium anthologies together with eight author friends from Authors on the Edge.

https://www.facebook.com/marie.laval.9/

https://twitter.com/MarieLaval1

Giveaway to Win 2 bracelets with glass found on a Northumberland beach, a pack of pencils, a mystery gift and some chocolate. (Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway