Book of the Week: Betsey by Marcia Clayton #HistoricalFiction #FamilySaga #Devon #RecommendedReading

Betsey

Prequel to the Hartford Manor Series

by Marcia Clayton

1820 North Devon, England

Betsey, a sadly neglected child, is shouldering responsibilities far beyond her years. As she does her best to care for her little brother, Norman, she is befriended by Gypsy Freda, an old woman whose family is camped nearby. Freda's granddaughter, Jane, is also fond of the little girl and is concerned about her.

Thomas, the second son of Lord Fellwood, happens across the gypsy camp and becomes besotted with Jane. However, Jasper Morris, the local miller, also has designs on the young gypsy, and inevitably, the two men do not see eye to eye.

Betsey is drawn into their rivalry for the attention of the beautiful young woman, and she finds herself promising to keep a dangerous secret for many years to come.

Praise for Betsey:

“This prequel truly gives the feel for the rest of the books in this series. I read, reviewed and loved all ... of them!”

~ MikiHope, Amazon 5* review

“I am a sucker for historical fiction, and this book was a perfect read for me. I was transfixed from the very beginning to the end, and I urge everyone to read this book.”

~ Vicky Peplow, Amazon 5* review

“... a captivating story that will resonate with readers long after the last page is turned. This is one of those remarkable books that invites readers to return time and time again. With its compelling narrative and a cast of unforgettable characters, it promises to touch your heart and keep you enthralled for years to come.”

~ The Coffee Pot Book Club 5* Editorial Review

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This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Blog Tour: The White Deer by Regina McBride

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The White Deer

A Novel of Anton Chekhov

by Regina McBride

October 26th - November 6th, 2026

Publication Date: September 22nd, 2026
Publisher: Green City Books
Page Length: 319
Genre: Historical Fiction / Russian Historical Fiction

In the summer of 1879, on his way to Moscow to study medicine, 19-year-old Anton Chekhov, from a bankrupt merchant class family, stops to spend a restful few weeks in the Ukrainian countryside, staying with his friend, Dr. Mitrofan, who is worried about Anton’s lingering bronchitis. It is here that Anton meets Vera Denisova, also 19, a budding actress, the daughter of theater aristocrats from Volkhov, a neighboring estate. The two spend much of their time wandering Volkhov’s vast property, hoping for a glimpse of a white deer that has been spotted in the back acreage.

As they grow closer, Vera confides in Anton about her secret romance and heartbreak over Petya, a servant her age who was gifted at drawing and who she helped to acquire an apprenticeship as a draughtsman in order to leave servitude for good. Anton is fascinated by her obsession, and a triangle forms between Vera, Anton, and the absent Petya. Anton, too, shares his secrets with her, his conflicted relationship with his indigent family and his frustrated wish to publish stories. Surreptitiously through Anton, Vera learns the truth about her family’s declining financial situation and the impending loss of her beloved childhood estate. Together in the long, extended light of summer days, Vera and Anton struggle to come to terms with their feelings for each other and the new profoundly changed world that is waiting for each of them at summer’s end.

The final section of the novel charts the correspondence between Vera and Anton over the next two decades. Vera has become a successful actress and Anton, a doctor who treats peasants for free, has more than realized his ambition as a writer.

In a final letter to Vera before his death at 44 of tuberculosis, Anton reveals that his play, The Cherry Orchard, was inspired by his time with her at Volkhov.

Praise for The White Deer:

"In this stirring tale, McBride evokes a sense of place with lush depictions of birch stands and daisy fields along with a soundtrack of Tchaikovsky and folk tunes, creating a backdrop for Vera’s tender and chaste friendship with Anton. It’s an evocative portrait of a vanishing way of life."

~ Publishers Weekly

"This transportive novel sweeps the reader up into a vivid, melancholic dream set on a nineteenth century Russian estate. Regina McBride creates her own Chekhovian tragi-comedy that delights as it captures a lost world frozen in time. The White Deer is a gripping must-read for anyone who loves literature and a love story gone awry."

~ Virginia Pye, author of Marriage and Other Monuments

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Regina McBride

Regina McBride is the author of eight books. The White Deer ~ a novel of Anton Chekhov is her sixth novel. She is also the author of one memoir, Ghost Songs, and one book of poetry.

Her novel, The Nature of Water and Air, was a Booksense Pick (Independent Book Stores Selection), a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers book, and a Borders Original Voices choice. It was optioned for a film. Her books have been translated into five languages.

A recipient of fellowships from the NEA and the New York Foundation for the Arts, Regina lives in New York City, where she taught fiction writing for thirty years at Hunter College and continues to teach privately.

Connect with Regina:

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Blog Tour: Leonor by Catherine Mathis

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Leonor

Queens of Portugal Trilogy

by Catherine Mathis 

Tuesdays, October 20th - November 10th, 2026

Publication Date: October, 27th 2026
Publisher: Histria Books
Page Length: 354
Genre: Historical Fiction / Late Medieval Fiction

A queen’s ambition. A kingdom on the edge. One woman’s hunger for power will set Portugal ablaze—unless she’s devoured first.

Portugal, 1367. The court is a powder keg, and Leonor Teles de Meneses is the spark. Born noble, married off for duty, Leonor aches for more—freedom, passion, a place at the heart of power. Her wit is sharp, her enemies sharper. Her king? He’s both lover and battleground.

As the crown changes heads and alliances shift like sand, Leonor fights for a voice in a world that wants her silent. She’s hemmed in by jealous sisters, a mother-in-law from hell, and a husband who’d rather write poetry than rule. But when the king’s eye lands on her, the stakes soar. Now, every whispered rumor, every stolen glance, every calculated risk could mean everything—or nothing.

Palace intrigue, forbidden love, and betrayal pulse through every corridor. In this world, trust is a luxury, and secrets are currency. Leonor’s choices will tip the scales of dynastic conflict and decide the fate of a kingdom hungry for an heir.

If you crave the courtly drama and rich detail, get ready to lose yourself in a tale of ambition, desire, and survival—where every move could be your last.

Buy Link:

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Catherine Mathis

Catherine Mathis writes stories set in medieval Portugal, bringing legends to life by sharing Iberian Tales.

Mathis was born in Berlin, the daughter of an American spy. She grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. She self-funded her degree from Sewanee, majoring in history with a medieval focus, and she had a career in finance.

Travel brought her the opportunity to return to an earlier love of all things Middle Ages, both as a writer and a reader.

Connect with Catherine:

Website • Facebook

Amazon Author Page • GoodReads

Simon & Schuster Distribution Link

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