Cathie Dunn writes...

I'm over the moon!  After nearly ten years in the field, Dark Deceit has become a paid #1 bestseller in the Literary Medieval Criticism Amazon UK charts. I'm so thrilled about it. The idea of Dark Deceit was conceived at a small train station in south Wales, on my way to work at a local university. As I did medieval reenactment in those days, I thought to add my experiences to a novel, and Dark Deceit – a medieval romantic adventure – was born!  It's set in one of my favourite historical period, called The Anarchy by chroniclers. The name describes the period following the death of King Henry I of England in 1135 and the ascension of Henry II to the throne in 1154. The king's designated heir to the throne, his daughter, Matilda, young widow of the Holy Roman Emperor, did not leave her home in Normandy in a hurry to claim her inheritance.  This left her cousin Stephen of Blois to claim the title, as the nearest legitimate male in the royal line, and the support of man...

I'm delighted to share my review of a beautiful novel with you today: The Potential for Love by Catherine Kullmann . If you enjoy regency romance novels with added adventures and gripping twists, this one's for you! My thanks goes to The Coffee Pot Book Club for an ebook copy of the novel. It won't be the last I'll be reading from Mrs Kullmann.  Review: Arabella Malvern is still searching for the ’right’ husband – this is her fourth season, and it's about time she found a husband! She has several suitors, including one very determined lord who stops at nothing in his pursuit of her, but none fill her with thoughts of family, mutually-respectful companionship – and acceptance. In an era when women's roles are clearly defined, their lives revolving around marriage, children, running households and adhering to their husband's wishes – whatever these may be – Arabella seeks that little bit of reassurance. But where can she find it? Then she meets Thomas...  The ...

Today, I'm delighted to share my review of His Castilian Hawk by Anna Belfrage as part of a blog tour through The Coffee Pot Book Club . For this gem of a novel, I didn't need a review copy, as I'd already pre-ordered it. And I was not disappointed. Follow me to the Welsh borders... I was intrigued straight away when I first read the blurb for His Castilian Hawk. The beautiful cover helps, of course, too.  We head to the border region between Wales and England in 1282 when King Edward I of England campaigned to subdue the Welsh following Dafydd ap Gruffudd's recent uprising which led to the capture of his brother, Llewelyn. Robert FitzStephan is a man-at-arms, at the king's side when one of the king's men and his son appear to attack him. Honed by years of campaigning and warfare, Robert kills the two until Edward halts him.  When Edward makes Robert wed the dead man's daughter, Eleanor – called Noor – Robert regards this as his chance to gain further resp...

Today, I'm delighted to share my review for A Bachelor's Pledge , a fast-paced romantic Regency adventure by Penny Hampson , as part of a publication day push with Rachel's Random Resources . A Bachelor's Pledge is a romance with a strong dose of adventure. Right from the beginning, you're thrown into the story when Phil, on an assignment with an informer – in a brothel! – helps a young lady who looks very much out of place, and in clear distress. Avoiding the heavies, they manage to flee, and he takes her to his town house where his housekeeper looks after her. But on hearing that he would sort out a place to stay for her, Sophia is on the run again, this time to her longtime friend who secures her a place as a companion to the wife of a retired Admiral. Little does she know that, months later, her path would cross Phil's again in the bustling port town of Falmouth. But it's not only Phil who's there – the woman running the brothel has also turned up. ...

I’m thrilled to share an excerpt today from a novel I had a sneak peek at, and thoroughly enjoyed: The Unquiet Spirit by Penny Hampson . If you love paranormal romantic mysteries with a dark side, this one's for you! Excerpt: Dr Kate Wilson has moved down to Cornwall to live in the old house she’s recently inherited from her godmother. We meet her after a long day, she’s about to close the curtains and go to bed when something catches her notice.     Kate held her breath as a figure stepped out of the trees. Whoever it was moved in a furtive way, stopping and starting, as if afraid of being discovered. But what set Kate ’ s pulse racing was the fact that the figure appeared to be wearing a cloak – it was as if a drawing from a history book had stepped off the pages and come alive. The cloaked figure moved into a shaft of moonlight and that ’ s when Kate gasped. She could see straight through the apparition to the trees and shrubs beyond. As if aware that it was being observed...

Today, I'm sharing an enticing excerpt from The Promise , a WWII historical romance by Kathleen Harryman and Lucy Marshall . Have a read! Thank you to Mary Anne Yarde of The Coffee Pot Book Club . The Promise - A World War II Historical Romance by Kathleen Harryman and Lucy Marshall  Excerpt:   Chapter 3 Rose Elliot  1940 Whitby, England  “Where are you taking me in such an all fired hurry?” I gasped.  “You’ll see.”  I followed Will down some steps, not that I had much of a choice in the matter. We made our way down into the cellar. The lights had been left on, and there were several beer barrels littering the room. I looked around the dusty, dirty place and wrinkled my nose in distaste. I didn’t want to get my dress filthy.  I could just make out the beat of the music as it vibrated through the floorboards, to the ceiling of the cellar. I wanted to be back up there dancing. My green dress swishing around my ankles. My feet moving to the beat of ...

I’m delighted to share my review of another of Lara Temple ’s intriguing historical romance novels. Today, it’s of The Return of the Disappearing Duke . My thanks goes to Rachel’s Random Resources for a copy. Happy Publication Day to Lara Temple! As in The Lord's Inconvenient Vow , we’re straight into the action beneath the hot African sun. When Cleopatra Osbourne, dressed as a boy, runs into the lodgings of Rafe Grey to escape men chasing after her, she doesn’t immediately expect to find a man who agrees to take her to Cairo in search of her brother. What she expects even less is the attraction she feels towards this scarred, cynical man! To escape the rogues following her, she remains in disguise. As they travel through the desert, neither can deny that they are drawn to each other. Two misfits on the fringes of society. What Cleopatra doesn’t know is that Rafe is not just the mercenary he makes out to be.  He has a dukedom waiting for him in England following his father’s death,...