Blog Tour: An Extract from The Knife Maker of Venice by David Gilman
Today I am taking part of the blog tour for The Knife Maker of Venice by David Gilman by sharing an extract from the novel! This one was just released last week on August 13th.
Book Description:
A young Englishman captured by slavers must survive the snakepit that is seventeenth-century Venice.
1604. As pirates seeking slaves to sell in the markets of North Africa terrorise the coasts of Europe, headstrong Richard Sheriff and his sister Elizabeth are torn from their Devonshire home and thrust into a waking nightmare.
Richard’s skills as a blacksmith see him fetch a high price, but the pirate captain has other plans for Elizabeth and once they are separated, Richard has no idea of his sister’s fate. They must both learn to survive on a deadly voyage into the unknown.
Sold into servitude in Venice: glittering, vicious city of secrets, he is apprenticed to a knife maker. Richard’s talents soon win him renown… but haunted by his sister’s absence, he vows never to stop looking for her, knowing she would do the same for him.
First he must survive that city of ghosts. Will the siblings live to see each other again, or will they join the myriads lost to Venice, where life is cheap, profit is all, and escape nigh-on impossible?
A powerful historical adventure perfect for fans of Kate Mosse, Ken Follett and Robert Harris.
Buy Your Copy Here:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Extract:
Her life before being captured had been lived on her own terms. Her plain-speaking manner had served her well in the company of others less straightforward, who used words that teased, chastised, cajoled or enticed. This manner, together with a similar plainness of dress, had kept most suitors at bay. And Challenor had always kept a respectful distance whenever he visited Dartmouth, while still making his feelings known.
Elizabeth’s desire to protect her younger brother had never faltered and she allowed no one to come between them. Had she permitted her heart to soften and allow a man to enter her life, there was a risk that brother and sister would be parted, for her responsibility would then be to her husband. It had been Challenor’s understanding and acceptance of her love for Richard that allowed her to agree to his proposal, before Challenor went missing.
She embraced the lessons learnt from her early life. Peasant children like Elizabeth would often be traded into a marriage for the benefit of their family. But when her mother died after Richard’s birth, although he was wet-nursed by a woman in the town, he soon became Elizabeth’s responsibility. She not only looked after him, but also their father when he was not at sea. The care she gave the infant never wavered. In her mind the affection she bore for him was that of a mother’s love from beyond the grave. Despite the grief of her mother’s death, her brother’s birth was Elizabeth’s salvation.
About the Author:
David Gilman has enjoyed many careers, including paratrooper, firefighter, and photographer. An award-winning author and screenwriter, he is the author of the critically acclaimed Master of War series of historical novels, and was shortlisted for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize for The Last Horseman. He was longlisted for the same prize for The Englishman, the first book featuring ex-French Foreign Legionnaire Dan Raglan. David lives in Devon. Follow David on @davidgilmanuk, www.davidgilman.com, and facebook.com/davidgilman.author.
Contact David:
Website
X @davidgilmanuk
Blog Tour: Promo: Finding Forever in Pelican Crossing by Maggie Christensen
Today I am taking part in the blog tour for Finding Forever in Pelican Crossing by Maggie Christensen. It is book 9 of 10 in the Pelican Crossing series. This is a book for fans of small-town romances and heartwarming stories of unexpected love. It releases on this Thursday, August 6th!
Book Description:
When Paige Harper arrives in Pelican Crossing to visit her ailing grandmother, she plans a short trip—just enough time to make sure her grandmother recovers before heading back to her busy city life. But when her grandmother unexpectedly passes away, Paige is hesitant to leave the small coastal town, unable to shake the pull of its quiet charm.
Bob Reed, the laid-back local vet, has settled back into his life in Pelican Crossing after spending a year at Colorado University. He is surprised when he receives an offer to apply for a permanent position at the university—a tempting opportunity to embrace a very different path. Torn between his love for the peaceful coastal life and the draw of a more structured, academic future, Bob faces a tough choice.
When Paige and Bob cross paths, they’re worlds apart—she, the city professional, and he, the easy-going surfer. But a series of unexpected encounters brings them closer, and what begins as an unlikely friendship turns into something much more.
With Bob facing a career-defining decision and Paige bound to her life in the city, they must determine if their newfound connection is strong enough to overcome the obstacles in their way. Can they find a way to be together, or will the demands of their separate lives keep them apart?
Pre-order Your Copy here!
About the Author:
After a career in education, Maggie Christensen began writing contemporary women’s fiction portraying mature women facing life-changing situations, and historical fiction set in her native Scotland. Her travels inspire her writing, be it her trips to visit family in Scotland, in Oregon, USA or her home on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Maggie writes of mature heroines coming to terms with changes in their lives and the heroes worthy of them. Maggie has been called the queen of mature age fiction and her writing has been described by one reviewer as like a nice warm cup of tea. It is warm, nourishing, comforting and embracing.
From the small town in Scotland where she grew up, Maggie was lured to Australia by the call to ‘Come and teach in the sun’. Once there, she worked as a primary school teacher, university lecturer and in educational management. Now living with her husband of over thirty years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she loves walking on the deserted beach in the early mornings and having coffee by the river on weekends. Her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her idea of heaven!
Contact Maggie:
Website
X @MaggieChriste33
Goodreads
Instagram @maggiechriste33
BookBub
Bluesky
See the entire blog tour here:
Blog Tour: Guest Post: Avalon Sky by Jill Todd
Today I am helping to start the blog tour for Avalon Sky by Jill Todd. And Jill will be interviewing one of her characters from the novel: This should be fun! Avalon Sky is available now! AND… If you are lucky enough to live in the UK, there is a giveaway going on! And it’s a good one to win!
Book Description:
Some secrets should never be told.
Some crimes should never be forgiven.
Following a private tragedy, TV historian Kit Pevensey and his wife Lissa seek respite in the quiet of rural Somerset to compile a village history for a friend.
But when their friend vanishes without a trace, the Pevenseys’ research stirs memories of dangerous secrets. Amid the deceptive peace of the Somerset Levels and Lundy Island, a killer plans the perfect murder – and Kit must face his own demons, whilst battling to prevent the crimes of the past from tearing a family apart.
Buy Your Copy Here:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
JILL TODD INTERVIEWS KESTER PEVENSEY (Recorded in March 2023)
Thank you for inviting me into your home today, Kester!
You’re very welcome. [He raises his coffee mug in a toast.]
Viewers will know you as the presenter of Enigmas, the BBC’s latest series on unsolved crimes. I believe family and friends call you Kit. Do you prefer that?
Sure. I mainly use Kester for TV. Or when I’m arrested.
Ah, I know that’s never happened. Has it? Anyway, for those who might be unfamiliar with the show, Kit is in his mid-thirties, with fairish hair, and eyes that smile easily. You don’t mind me saying that, Kit?
As long as no one thinks we play Enigmas for laughs. We aim to throw new light on cold cases, and give the victims’ families some kind of closure.
And bring offenders to justice?
It’s been known. We work closely with the police, and I hope we make a difference now and then.
You’re too modest. The first season of Enigmas certainly achieved results, as well as scoring highly with viewers and critics – although one reviewer described you as looking, and I quote, ‘startlingly dangerous in the face of villainy, like a man about to channel his inner Jack Reacher’. What’s your response to that?
Not sure whether to feel flattered or insulted. Seriously, though, if I was a loose cannon, the BBC would have fired me.
But you’re saying that with a kind of glint.
No glints intended. I don’t get into physical confrontations.
Never?
Almost never. [His eyebrows twitch upward.] Life can surprise you, right?
Are you referring to a specific incident?
You’ll see it in the first episode of Series Two, which airs at 8pm next Wednesday. I can’t give too much away, but –
Actually, I’d rather you told me about your stay in the Somerset village of Netherzoy a few years ago, in the autumn of 2019.
Really? That’s old news. [He is smiling, but looks wary.] I thought we were here to chat about Enigmas.
It’s just a few questions. Do you mind?
Depends what you ask.
Of course. So, you and your wife were staying in a holiday let, helping a friend research the history of Netherzoy?
That was the plan. David had inherited the project from his late dad, but he was struggling to find the time. He approached Lissa and me.
Lissa being your wife, and one of Enigmas’ researchers. So David thought of you two because you had the right skills?
Mostly, although my sister nudged him into it. She thought we needed a break, and Yew Tree Cottage seemed ideal. Old, quaint, full of character. [He grins ruefully.] Yeah, it had plenty of that.
Are you being ironic?
I don’t believe in ghosts, but once or twice … Whatever, we were looking forward to some time to ourselves, to relax.
But things didn’t turn out that way?
Not exactly. David went to meet some guy at a local airfield, and never came back. His brother and I drove out there. It was dark by then, with thick fog. Creepy as hell. All we could hear were the owls. And then … I guess you know what we found.
Yes. That must have been really upsetting. But afterwards – perhaps as a result? – you were caught up in the drama on Lundy Island. Can you tell me about that night, Kit?
The facts were reported at the time.
Not all the facts, surely? I’m just wondering whether –
OK, look, I can say this much. What happened that November changed us all. Some of us for the better, maybe. Others, not so much. One day I might even write the story – after taking legal advice.
How exciting! I can’t wait, and I’m sure I speak for everyone who tunes into your show. So what’s next for you, Kit?
Professionally? Enigmas has gone down well, as you say. We’ve already started work on Series Three.
That’s great news! And how about you and Lissa personally? Do you have any plans?
It’s been an eventful year for us. We’re taking things one day at a time.
Well, I wish you both all the very best. Thank you again for meeting me today, Kit. I must say, you don’t seem very dangerous to me.
That’s because you’re not a villain.
Ah, this time I know you’re joking.
Absolutely.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Avalon Sky, the story of Kit and Lissa’s fateful working holiday in Netherzoy, is available from Amazon in Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and paperback editions.
The sequel, Sunken Ground, is due for release later this year and will see the return of an old adversary, as well as featuring a cold case investigation for the [fictional] TV show, Enigmas with Kester Pevensey.
About the Author:
Jill Todd was born in Eastleigh, Hampshire. Her parents taught her to read and write at an early age, to occupy her during a long illness, and she has been writing stories ever since.
After completing a historical novel, published in 1988, she rediscovered a social life, married and had a family. Whilst working as an Admin Assistant at a local secondary school, she continued to write as a hobby.
Her romance thriller, Echo of Bells, was published in 2016 and became the origin story for Avalon Sky. Since retiring in 2023, she has been able to write full-time, and plans to make Avalon Sky the first in a series of crime thrillers featuring Kit and Lissa Pevensey.
In 2001, Jill’s husband and four fellow pilots won a microlight aircraft kit in a magazine competition. The build took three years, and the little plane (or a fifth share of it) became part of the family, which inspired one aspect of the plot of Avalon Sky. Holidays in Somerset and on Lundy Island supplied more material, and the island is one of Jill’s favourite places.
Contact Jill:
Instagram @jilltoddauthor
**UK GIVEAWAY!!**
Giveaway to Win an Avalon Sky prize bundle including clotted cream fudge and shortbread (Open to UK Only).
Prize includes:
Avalon Sky, paperback
Echo of Bells, paperback (my romance thriller, which became the origin story for Kit and Lissa’s relationship)
2 double-sided bookmarks – i.e. one for each book
1 box of clotted cream fudge
1 box of clotted cream shortbread selection
1 Lundy Island keyring
Win an Avalon Sky prize bundle including clotted cream fudge and shortbread (Open to UK Only).
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Gleam box above. The winner will be selected at random via Gleam 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.
The Entire Blog Tour:
