Saturday, 11 November 2023
Sunday, 29 October 2023
The Hunters Moon over Stonehenge
The 2023 October Full Hunters Moon setting at Stonehenge this morning
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[ credit -Stonehenge Dronescapes on FB ]
Sunday, 22 October 2023
Stuck inside by bad weather? Here's how to get away.
Stuck indoors by the rain ?
Slip away into a book and enjoy some Eastern Promise and luxury living in Constantinople, with handsome Kerim Pasha, English Rose and her Antiquarian-mad Aunt Emily.
On FREE OFFER at present.
Amazing and colourful adventures in 1804 Constantinople and London.
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| Swoboda - Shopping in the Harem |
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| [picture courtesy of farukunal.com] |
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| picture courtesy of sultan-kayiklari-ile-bogaz-turu.com |
Saturday, 14 October 2023
Audiobook of 'The Rake's Challenge'
Audiobook version, [ produced by Audiolibrix ]
What does it take to challenge a Rake, one who is notorious for his gambling and duelling, as well as having his pick of exquisite women? Giles Maltravers, Earl of Longwood, has his rakish lifestyle turned upside down the day he saves Anna Lawrence from a pair of drunken young Bloods. The irony is Giles is now honour bound to protect this headstrong girl.
Inspired by a fervent devotion to the works of Lord Byron, Anna is determined to live a life of adventure, but she plunges from one disaster into another. Giles has no time left to enjoy his former pleasures, especially when the Prince Regent decides that Anna is just in his style...
But Anna has a secret that gives Giles his greatest challenge of all.
Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Olivia's adventures [ 'Scandalous Lady' excerpt ]
Fired by a wish to travel and visit exotic lands, Olivia and her former governess reach Constantinople in April 1811
Dusk on the Golden Horn, by Ivan Aivasovsky
Two days later Olivia
stood at the ship’s rail, her excitement growing as Constantinople came into
view. The greatest city of the ancient world, capital of the mighty Ottoman
Empire, gateway between east and west, and she was actually here!
‘I feel awed,’ she told Miss Neston in a voice that was
not quite steady, ‘it’s magnificent.’ She shook her head and breathed out a
long sigh of wonder. ‘The pictures really are true. I recognise the skyline;
all those towers and domes and the tall minarets everywhere – and how green it
is, Nessie. The whole city is full of trees.’ She danced across the deck to
peer at the Asian shore, but rushed back when Miss Neston called to say they
were approaching the Golden Horn. At this point, where the Horn opened, there
was a busy floating market along the edge of the shore, noisy with men calling
their wares. A savoury smell of frying fish wafted up from some boats. Olivia
laughed and waved. ‘I wish we could taste that. My mouth is watering.’
They both stared at the many huge buildings lining the shores, and the picturesque wooden houses whose upper storeys jutted out over the water. It was all so different and fascinating. Olivia’s eyes misted. I did it. I’m really here.
The sea was crowded with boats of all shapes and sizes. A forest of masts swayed where large merchant ships were moored at the docks. Boats out on the open water had sails that flapped wildly in the stiff wind blowing down from the Black Sea. Small fishing boats and gondola-like rowing boats full of passengers wove their way among the larger ships. It seemed everyone was on the move, crossing from Europe to Asia and between north to south of the city. The sound of men shouting mingled with the raucous screaming of the gulls wheeling overhead.
Thursday, 17 August 2023
Fancy a Free armchair trip to feel-good Romance ?
On Free Offer
thanks to @JoffeBooks
An exciting tale of travel and adventure,
and - when Ice and Fire combine - romance - in spite of the danger to all concerned.
In the Harem by Osman Hamdi Bey
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| Lady Hester Stanhope |
Friday, 14 July 2023
Sometimes being strong is simply being kind....
One of Aesop's Fables tells of the contest between the Wind and the Sun,
as to which is the more powerful.
The winner was to be the one who could remove the traveller's cloak.
The Wind blew furiously to blow the traveller's cloak off, but the harder he blew, the tighter the traveller clutched his cloak round himself.
Then the Sun began to shine. The traveller loosened his cloak. When the Sun beamed, the traveller took his cloak off, enjoying the warm weather.
Two very different families feature in A Lady's Honour, the latest Montailhac family tale. One has a member driven by ambition for higher office; so the family must always appear elegant, well mannered and united - in public, that is. Home life is sadly lacking in affection and shared interests.
The other family is ruled firmly but with genuine warmth and consideration for their needs and wishes.
This is my version of the Aesop story, which includes adventures, pets, villains as well as wine and roses - to symbolise the French and English parts of the story
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| Rosa Mundi, a striped Gallica, believed to date from 12th century [photo by Libby Norman] courtesy of Wikipedia |
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| Label of Grande Cuvée 1531 de Aimery, a Crémant de Limoux, a sparkling wine from southwestern France, courtesy of Wikipedia |
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