Shuffling books

Regaining rights means the fun of re-editing, choosing covers and moving my books around... hopefully to find some new readers along the way.

I never thought school holidays was something I would have to re-enter in my diary but now it means time with our grandchildren, who are now mostly of school age (1 to go). The almost last of our unseasonably warm weather meant we could take the kids to the beach (which, of course, means getting wet ourselves and the water is definitely cooling down!). It is ridiculous that we live next door to a beach, but my husband and I rarely go. I am not a fan of sand - I wonder if I suffered a traumatic incident in a sand pit as a child!

The last week of April also marked Anzac Day which is our equivalent to Memorial Day. We rose early for the dawn service at our local memorial… every town, great or small, has a War memorial. As I have written before, the First World War in particular had a profound effect on our then very new country - both our countries (Australia and New Zealand). As a former soldier myself I feel the connection strongly and it is a period of history I would like to write about. As it is I have one WW1 book (GATHER THE BONES), but there is more to tell!

Between grandchildren, I have been hard at work at anything except writing… I am on something of a patchwork and quilting bender at the moment. Trying to finish some of those pesky UFOs and starting some new and exciting projects I picked up at a recent Quilt show. Fig The Rescue Cat has been very helpful - offering advice and suggestions on how to improve my work!

THE BIG NEWS

Continuing with the re-release of what we call ‘back list’ books. This month I am thrilled to announce the fresh release of my Regency Romantic Suspense… LORD SOMERTON’S HEIR. I was keen to get away from the Bridgertonesque feel of earlier editions and put the emphasis on the darker side… it was, after all, an early venture into writing a historical mystery.

It will be released on 28 May and is now on preorder. As with my recent re-releases I am putting it up at a preorder price of just 99c but it will go to the retail price of $5.99 on release so grab it now. (And it is available worldwide too!)

So if you have passed over LORD SOMERTON’S HEIR thinking it might just be another Regency Romance here’s the blurb:

Sebastian Alder's sudden elevation from penniless army captain to Viscount Somerton is the stuff of fairy tales, but there are dark secrets to be uncovered and an unexpected second chance at love…

From the smoke-filled chaos of Waterloo to the elegant halls of Brantstone Hall, Captain Sebastian Alder finds his world transformed overnight when he inherits the Somerton viscountcy.

Yet his fairy tale elevation masks a grim reality—crumbling estates, mounting debts, and the disturbing questions surrounding his cousin's untimely demise. With a killer potentially still at large, Sebastian must trade the straightforward perils of battle for the treacherous maze of aristocratic intrigue.

Isabel, the dowager Lady Somerton, believed her nightmare ended with her husband's death. Instead of freedom to establish her long-desired charity school, she discovers a cruel final betrayal—left destitute and still tethered to the Somerton name through her husband's enigmatic successor.

When Sebastian and Isabel's paths collide, neither expects the spark that ignites between them. But as suspicions mount and secrets unravel, can they trust their growing feelings? Or will the shadow of murder destroy their chance at happiness before it truly begins?

If you love your Regency romance with a dash of intrigue and adventure, fuelled by a slow burn romance, this is the book for you…

Keep reading for some special offers!

OTHER NEWS

• The last book in the The Women of Maiden’s Creek series, THE HOMECOMING is out in the world, bringing the Women of Maiden’s Creek trilogy to a conclusion. At the moment the ebook is only available on Kindle (and KU) but the print book will be coming out wide. More details HERE.

• And in another book reshuffle… DP Books, who recently re-released GATHER THE BONES, have picked up my English Civil War series (Guardians of the Crown - BY THE SWORD, THE KING’S MAN and EXILE’S RETURN). I am very excited these books will now have an English readership. So that will be more cover reveals to come!

• And I am dabbling in translations: a German translation of the Harriet Gordon prequel THE UMBRELLA (der Regenschirm) is now available on Amazon/ Kindle Unlimited. Click HERE

• And the French translation of SECRETS IN TIME (Secrets Dans Le Temp) is also now available on Amazon/ Kindle Unlimited. Click HERE

SPECIAL OFFERS

To mark the re-release of LORD SOMERTON’S HEIR, I am offering you the chance to download the little prequel I wrote (following a visit to the battlefield of Waterloo - which I have visited twice!) - SEBASTIAN’S WATERLOO.

It is an account of that famous battle written from the hero of LORD SOMERTON’S HEIR, Sebastian Alder’s point of view and ends just before the events of Lord Somerton’s Heir begins.

Meanwhile… if you are anywhere in Australia… I am clearing stock of the previous print copies of LORD SOMERTON’S HEIR for just $20 (includes postag).

And what am I reading/listening/watching…?

Reading: I have been reading Alison Goodman THE LADIES ROAD GUIDE TO UTTER RUIN.

Listening: I have been glued to Pip Fioretti’s new Australian set historical mystery SKULL RIVER… continuing the story of Gus Hawkins of the mounted police. So glued that I had to buy the ebook so I could keep reading when audio wasn’t practical. Just for something different I am now listening to a Japanese murder mystery - THE INUGAMI CURSE but Seishi Yokomizo. It’s the second book I have read by this author who was writing in the 1930s and 40s.

Watching: Finished watching WHITE LOTUS - I have to say the ending was a bit of a disappointment. We ventured to the movie theatre to watch THE COUNT OF MONTE CHRISTO… in French and 3 hours long, but it went in a flash. If you love a rollicking good historical story of revenge and redemption, I can highly recommend it.

Finally…

All from me… This time next month I will be off to the USA. My socials will be quiet over the time I am away but I will be back… and I will get an email out before I go!

Please feel free to comment directly on the Substack post :-) I love hearing from you and if you are not already a subscriber, consider subscribing to my posts and look out for a link to a free download of the Harriet Gordon prequel novella THE UMBRELLA in your inbox :-)

Best regards

Alison