A New Doctor at Orchard Cottage Hospital by Lizzie Lane

A country town in need of a good Doctor, but will they accept her as one of their own?

Somerset, March 1930
Born in the workhouse and adopted by a former suffragette, Frances Brakespeare was encouraged from an early age to be strong, independent and to pursue a career as a doctor. The tragic loss of the love of her life in the Great War propels Frances to commit to her one true vocation.
Rebelling against the unfair treatment of female doctors Frances is dismissed from her London post and things continue to take a turn for the worse when Izzy, her benefactress dies and Frances finds herself homeless.
With no employment or roof over her head her future seems uncertain until she’s offered a residency at the Orchard Cottage Hospital in Norton Dene, Somerset. a town where quarrying and coal mining scar the land.
It’s a far cry from London and towns narrow minds are not so welcoming of a young, female Doctor, but she’s determined to win through.
At first sight the town seems quaintly old fashioned, a place where nothing much happens but there are secrets and sins bubbling beneath the surface plus a mystery she’s determined to solve.

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/anewdoctorsocial

My Review:
Serendipity played a relevant role in asking to join this blog tour and discovering this historical fiction series.
I was attracted by the blurb and couldn’t put down the novel as I wanted to know what Frances was going to do and how she was going to disrupt very old medical tradition and bring the health care of a Somerset Village into the XX century.
I loved Frances as she’s a fighter who never give up and she’s not afraid to speak her mind and be blunt. She suffered a lot but was able to achieve her goal of becoming a doctor and now she’s trying to become a respected doctor.
I loved the historical background and how the characters were developed. There’s a lot going on and I hope I will be able to read another novel in this series soon as I want to know what will happen.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Lizzie Lane was born and brought up in one of the toughest areas of Bristol, as the eldest of three siblings. Her mother, who had endured both the depression and war years, was a natural born storyteller, and it’s from her telling of actual experiences of the tumultuous first half of the twentieth century that Lizzie gets her inspiration. Lizzie now lives in Bath, preferring to lead a simple life where she can write without interruption.

Social Media Links –
Twitter: https://twitter.com/baywriterallat1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baywriterallatsea/
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/LizzieLaneNews
Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lizzie-lane

Hard Times For The East End Library Girls by Patricia McBride (Library Girls 2)

As the war hits London, they’ll band together…
War strikes close to home for chief librarian Cordelia when her flat is bombed, and her beloved Robert is called up and sent abroad. Fortunately, her colleagues Mavis and Jane can help see her through hard times.
The three friends find purpose in making the Silvertown library a friendly sanctuary for their deprived and devastated community. But sinister forces, from callous bureaucrats to crafty criminals, still lurk among the stacks. Worse, Jane’s soldier husband is injured and suffers both physically and mentally.
With so many struggles Cordelia and her friends might need more than books to survive war’s shadow. Can they find light in the darkness?
A captivating tale of resilience and determination, perfect for fans of Lizzie Lane, Elaine Roberts and Lesley Eames

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/hardtimeseastendsocial

My Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming and well written story set in the East End in 1940, during the Blitz.
It’s the second in a series but I had no issues with plot or characters even if I didn’t read the first one.
I loved the tone and the style of writing, even in the most tragic moments there’s always something that makes you think about future and hope.
Cordelia, Mavis and Jane are very differents persons. They comes from different social backgrounds and their characters are very different. But they’re able to join forces and face the difficulties of the the historical moments and those cause by bureucracy or simple pettiness.
Tom, a part time volunteer, is a very original character: he’s a conscientious objector and it’s the first time I read about one in a historical fiction set in WWII
The author did an excellent job in mixing tones as there’s humour, some drama and some moments when you feel angry.
The historical background is well done as it makes you feel how hard it was.
I cannot wait to read another book in this series, this one is highly recommended.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for this arc, all opinions are mine.

Social Media Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patricia.mcbride.106
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tricia.mcbride.writer/
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/PatriciaMcbridenews
Bookbub profile: Patricia McBride Books – BookBub

The Maiden of Florence by Katherine Mezzacappa

‘My defloration was talked about in all the courts of Europe. The Prince boasted of his prowess, even as preparations were being made for his wedding, as boldly as if he had ridden across that causeway with bloodstained sheet tied to his lance.’

1584, Italy: Twenty-year-old Giulia expects she will live and die incarcerated as a silk weaver within the walls of her Florentine orphanage, where she has never so much as glimpsed her own face.
This all changes with the visit of the Medici family’s most trusted advisor, promising her a generous dowry and a husband if she agrees to a small sacrifice that will bring honour and glory to her native city.
Vincenzo Gonzaga, libertine heir to the dukedom of Mantua, wants to marry the Grand-Duke of Tuscany’s eldest daughter, but the rumours around his unconsummated first marriage must be silenced first. Eager for a dynastic alliance that will be a bulwark against the threat of Protestant heresy beyond the Alps, the Pope and his cardinals turn a blind eye to a mortal sin.

A powerful #MeToo story of the Renaissance, based on true events.

My Review:
The Medici and Renaissance are always intriguing and fascinating. They are the poster boys for an age even if the Borgia are more famous for their real or supposed depravation
It was an age of creativity but it was also a violent and cruel age and it wasn’t very kind to women unless you were very strong or powerful.
I read about “mortal sin” in the blurb, please not that paying attention to Church in the sex field as there are tons of Handbookx for Confessor through the centuries that talks about this type of sins, this means they were quite in the top ten of popular sins.
Another note: there’re some women who rebelled and are celebrated through the century and made
Giulia, the heroine of this book, is pawn in the power plays but it’s also a clever and strong woman.
There’s a mix of historical facts and fiction and I appreciated how the author recreated the historical background and did a good job in mixing the different elements.
I enjoyed it and rooted for Giulia, a woman who refused to be the pawn in the hands of the powerful ones.
It’s a well plotted story and I appreciated the storytelling that kept me reading.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Katherine Mezzacappa and Rachel’s Random Resources for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Purchase Links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maiden-Florence-Katherine-Mezzacappa/dp/1914148509/
https://www.amazon.com/Maiden-Florence-Katherine-Mezzacappa/dp/1914148509/

Katherine Mezzacappa is an Irish writer of mainly historical fiction, currently living in Italy. She has published several novels under pen names with publishers Bonnier Zaffre and eXtasy. She works as a manuscript assessor for The Literary Consultancy. Katherine reviews for Historical Novel Society’s quarterly journal and is one of the organisers of the Society’s 2022 UK conference. In her spare time she volunteers with a used book charity of which she is a founder member.

Social Media Links – Twitter: https://twitter.com/katmezzacappa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katherinemezzacappafiction/
https://katherinemezzacappa.ie/

Sword of the War God by Tim Hodkinson

In a world of war and ruin, men and gods collide.

436 AD. The Burgundars are confident of destroying Rome’s legions. Their forces are strong and they have beaten the Romans in battle before. But they are annihilated, their king killed, his people scattered. Their fabled treasure is lost. For Rome has new allies: the Huns, whose taste for bloodshed knows no bounds.

Many years later, the Huns, led by the fearsome Attila, have become the deadliest enemies of Rome. Attila seeks the Burgundars’ treasure, for it includes the legendary Sword of the War God, said to make the bearer unbeatable.

No alliance can defeat Attila by conventional means. With Rome desperate for help, a one-eyed old warlord from distant lands and his strange band of warriors may have the answers… but oaths will be broken and the plains of Europe will run with blood before the end.

Drawing on Norse mythology and European history, Sword of the War God is an epic historical adventure perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Joanne Harris, Neil Gaiman and Christian Cameron.

Purchase link: Amazon: https://geni.us/SOTWGBlogTour

Review:
You start a book and you’re immerse in a mythical and epic world, a dark age that is the moment when a great empire collapse and some of the western founding myths are born.
There’s an exciting moment at the beginning of the book as you meet characters out of myth and history. They mix the different plant and you could think they’re part of the same story and they were all historical characters
The Dark Age myths are all presents in this novel, a sort of tapestry and you will meet heroes from the well-known sagas like The Nibelungen or The Matter of Britain.
I think this is a novel that should be read listening to Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen.
I had to admin I’m not a fan of the Nibelungen, school curricula can cause this, or the Ring, love some parts.
Tim Hodkinson is an excellent storyteller and kept me turning pages and being enthralled by the fast paced and tightly knitted plot.
It was a great travel into the Dark Age as there’s a lot of researched behind the world building and the development of the fleshed-out characters.
An excellent historical fiction, gripping and intriguing. I strongly recommend it and think it will be loved by fantasy aficionados too.
Many thanks to ARIES for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Tim Hodkinson grew up in Northern Ireland where the rugged coast and call of the Atlantic Ocean led to a lifelong fascination with Vikings and a degree in Medieval English and Old Norse Literature. Tim’s more recent writing heroes include Ben Kane, Giles Kristian, Bernard Cornwell, George R.R. Martin and Lee Child. After several years in the USA, Tim returned to Northern Ireland, where he lives with his wife and children.

AUTHOR Social Handles
Twitter: @TimHodkinson
Facebook: The Whale Road Chronicles
Website: Tim Hodkinson

Aries/Head of Zeus Social Handles
Twitter: @AriesFiction
Facebook: Aries Fiction
Instagram: @headofzeus
TikTok: @headofzeus
Website: http://www.headofzeus.com

Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O’Donnell

In 18th century London, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. A lot of knowledge is deadly.

When ambitious apprentice chemist and secret alchemist Peter Woulfe is tasked with caring for a mysterious illustrated book, the Mutus Liber, he quickly realises that the grimy underworld of Georgian London is even more dangerous than he first believed.
Soon the book is stolen by the light-fingered Sukie and Peter finds himself being pursued by threatening men who are willing to do anything to get the book back. Where in teeming London might Sukie be found? Why is Peter so enthralled by her? And what is it about the Mutus Liber that is so enticing? As the search for the book becomes an urgent game of cat and mouse, it seems that the key to Peter’s present dilemma might only be found in half-remembered events from his childhood, and then further back still, in the mists of Irish myth.

A spell-binding and unputdownable tale about spirit and matter, love and lust, and reality and magic.

My Review:
A historical fiction set in an intriguing historical time frame: the first half of XVIII century. The main character, Peter Woulfe, is one of the last alchemists and is tasked with an illustrated book, the Mutus Liber. It seems an easy task but if you go intro the Georgian London underground something will happen, like being robbed of your book.
It’s the start of an adventure that involves Peter, a man divided between magical and rational thinking, into the search for the book and an intriguing woman. There’s myth, there’re historical facts and the re’s a lot going on.
It’s a bit slow at the beginning introducing Peter and his world and it becomes fast paced after some chapters.
I’m fascinated by books about alchemists and the illustrated book is an added bonus.
I enjoyed it and appreciated the well-rounded characters and the vivid historical background. There’s twist and there’s a lot of surprises.
4.5 upped to 5
Many thanks to Eriu Books and Compulsive Readers for this digital copy, all opinions are mine.

Leeanne O’ Donnell was born in Dublin and now lives in an old farmhouse on the foothills of a mountain in the remote south west of Ireland. She feeds her cats, dogs, chickens, daughters and wife reasonably regularly – and occasionally waters her poly-tunnel. She has yet to learn to write a proper shopping list but has managed to finish her first novel while hiding in an old caravan in the garden.

SPARKS OF BRIGHT MATTER was inspired by the magic of the mountain where she lives and the whispers of the ancient stories buried in the surrounding landscape. She is interested in all the big questions like what it means to be alive, and which crisps go best with a pint of Murphy’s stout. In SPARKS OF BRIGHT MATTER she explores the liminal spaces between magic and reality, spirit and matter, love and lust.

She started her storytelling career working in radio with RTE and BBC – and has made a number of award winning documentaries for RTE’s Doc on One series. Notably THE LADIES OF LLANGOLLEN about two Irish aristocrats who ran away together in the 18th century and DIVING AND FALLING about dancer and artist Lucia Joyce. She is also a trained psychotherapist and is frequently awed by the sacred work of helping people to understand and transform their own real-life stories

Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O’Donnell is published by Eriu (Bonnier Books UK) in hb, ebook and audiobook on 11st April.

Body at the Dance Hall by Marty Wingate (London Ladies’ Murder Club #3)

1922: Amateur sleuth Mabel Canning is surrounded by the bright lights of London as she chaperones a young American woman to a dance. But when someone is murdered, a deadly tango begins…

Meet plucky woman-about-town Mabel Canning, leader of the London Ladies’ Murder Club and trusted assistant to gentlewomen. When she is tasked with accompanying Roxy, a fun-loving heiress, on a glamorous night out, Mabel can’t wait to sip champagne and practice the foxtrot. But just as Roxy sashays out of sight, a mysterious man warns Mabel that the feisty young redhead is in danger. And someone is dead before the music stops…
Roxy was the last person to see the victim alive, and she stumbles into Mabel’s arms with her daffodil-yellow dress splashed with blood. Determined to protect her ward, Mabel gathers her dashing beau Winstone and her pals from the murder club. Together they trace the weapon back to the ballroom, but when its twin goes missing, it is clear time is running out to prevent another murder on the dance floor…
The police conclude the killer is in Roxy’s family, but Mabel finds herself spinning between a motley troupe of suspects. Mr Bryars, the anxious ballroom manager, is constantly tripping over himself to hide his secrets. But would he kill to protect his reputation? And young Ned Kettle may have looked dashing while waltzing around with Roxy, but he was once a notorious thief. Is the sticky-fingered rogue also a dab hand at murder?
Just as Mabel and her murder club friends quickstep closer to the truth, Roxy is kidnapped, and Mabel comes cheek to cheek with the killer. Can she save poor Roxy and herself? Or has she danced her last dance?

A delightfully witty and utterly addictive whodunnit absolutely bursting with 1920s sparkle, from USA Today bestselling author Marty Wingate. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Richard Osman, Verity Bright and T.E. Kinsey.

My Review:
Mable and her friends are back and it was a one sitting novel, twisty and entertaining.
This is one of my favourite historical mystery series, the time we met an American heiress, her complex family, and a murder that could or couldn’t be related to Roxy, the young girl being chaperoned by Mabel.
There’s plenty of twists, there’s a complex family situation, a lot of possible culprits and red herrings.
Ms Wingate delivers a very entertaining story and I love her attention to the details and her storytelling that never let the story drags.
There’re changes in Mabel’s life, there something important and I look forward to read the next story because I want to understand what will happen. We also meet socially Lilian, the owner of The Useful Women agency, and learn about her past and private life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and it’ highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookcouture, all opinions are mine.

Marty Wingate is a USA Today best-selling author of both mysteries and historical fiction. Marty enjoys weaving humor into her books and creating characters—from quirky and loveable to sinister and duplicitous—that leap off the page. Before embarking on her series about the London Ladies Murder Club with Bookouture, Marty published three contemporary cozy mystery series (the Potting Shed, Birds of a Feather, and First Edition Library books). She has also published two standalone books of historical fiction and found stories of the past to be compelling. She’s delighted to combine her penchant for both mysteries and histories to bring her readers more satisfying stories. Marty currently resides near Seattle, Washington.
https://martywingate.com/
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Buy Link: Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CQ3ZXYGKsocial