Book of the Week: Antonius: Son of Rome by Brook Allen #HistoricalFiction #AncientRome #HistoricalAdventure #RecommendedReading

Antonius: Son of Rome

The Antonius Trilogy, Book #1

by Brook Allen

* The Coffee Pot Book Club Book of the Year 2019 *

For over two-thousand years, Marcus Antonius—Marc Antony—has been one of history’s most controversial men. His story was buried with him and written by his enemies. Now his entire saga is revealed in a compelling trilogy by Brook Allen.

ANTONIUS: SON OF ROME

After young Marcus Antonius’s father dies in disgrace, he yearns to restore his family’s honor during the final days of Rome’s dying Republic. Marcus is rugged, handsome, and owns abundant military talent, but upon entering manhood, he falls prey to the excesses of a violent society. His whoring, gambling, and drinking eventually reap dire consequences.

Through a series of personal tragedies, Marcus must come into his own through blood, blades, and death. Once he finally earns a military commission, he faces an uphill battle to earn the respect and admiration of soldiers, proconsuls, and kings.

Desperate to redeem his name and carve a legacy for himself, he refuses to let warring rebels, scheming politicians, or even an alluring young Egyptian princess stand in his way.

Praise for Antonius: Son of Rome:

"Allen deftly paints a vivid picture of Republican Rome (not the paradise later proponents worshiped), of its snake pit politics, of daily life in Roman households, and of the treacheries and shifting alliances in the eastern provinces."

~ Margaret George, Bestselling author of The Memoirs of Cleopatra

"... an objective and microscopic look at the early life of Rome's iconic symbol of love and power. Antonius: Son of Rome is a revealing story of the young Marc Anthony."

~ Readers’ Favorite

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Blog Tour: Poole of Honour by RJ Verity

Join The Coffee Pot Book Club on tour with…

Poole of Honour

The Poole Legacy, Book #2

by RJ Verity

September 14th - 18th, 2026

Publication Date: September 15th, 2026

Publisher: Vazon Press

Pages: 311

Genre: Historical Fiction / LGBTQ+

London, 1965. The city is swinging, the world is shifting, and Daniel Poole is a rising criminal barrister with everything to prove – to the courts, to his father, to his wife and to himself.

But Daniel is carrying a secret that could shatter the life he has so carefully built. As society begins to question the rules it once held sacred, he is forced to decide what he stands for — and what he is willing to risk in order to belong.

Set against a backdrop of cultural upheaval and political change, Poole of Honour is a tense, character-driven historical novel exploring ambition, identity, and the cost of silence, as the next generation of the Poole family confronts a world on the brink of transformation.

Praise for Poole of Light (book #1):

"If you’re looking for an unforgettable new series to dive into, Poole of Light is an absolute must-read. I’m already counting down to the next book in the trilogy!"

~ Amazon Review, 5*

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This title will be available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

RJ Verity

RJ Verity grew up in Yorkshire and studied at King's College London before spending more than twenty years working in financial services across Asia. She now lives in Guernsey with her endlessly patient husband and their ageing but ever-spirited Labradinger. When she's not writing or reading, she can often be found exploring the island's rugged coastline.

RJ writes character-led historical fiction rooted in place, memory, and the social and personal forces that shape ordinary lives. Her debut novel, Poole of Light, opens The Poole Legacy – a trilogy following three generations of one family across a century of change.

The second novel, Poole of Honour, publishes on 15 September 2026. Set in London in 1965, it follows Daniel Poole, a rising criminal barrister drawn into the most divisive political debate of the decade – one that cuts closer than he dare admit.

Connect with RJ:

Website • Twitter / X • Facebook • Instagram

Bluesky • Threads • TikTok • Pinterest

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Tour Schedule:

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Join us as author Elle Mott introduces Marie Conner – the remarkable woman from her compelling memoir, Marie Conner, A Leading Lady #Biography #WomenInHistory #HistoricalNonFiction #RecommendedReading

Marie Conner, A Leading Lady:
Her Life and Civic Leadership in a Bygone Era

by Elle Mott

Marie was born a girl. That was only her first mistake, according to her father.

    In an era when daughters and wives are not supposed to be concerned with matters outside the home, Marie is determined to prove him wrong. To do this, she must break down barriers placed on women in society, overcome difficulties that befall her, surpass hardships from the Great Depression, and then face an inevitable relocation.

         Marie steps into her community and into the hearts of many people to give her time and help with their needs. She wants nothing in return other than her father's acceptance as a worthy woman and yet, she gains much in return, even if it is not her father's praise. This is Marie’s story—of a rise from her girlhood angsts to become a leading lady—and much more.

This definitive biography is the empowering true story of one trailblazing woman who, in the mid-1900s in small-town America, changed her community and beyond for the better and forevermore.

Praise for Marie Conner – A Leading Lady:

"I enjoyed the fact that this was a personal story, since Marie was the author's great-grandmother. It was also wonderful to read about a time when women were honored for their charitable work and valued for being caring neighbors. In our age of materialism, we often lose sight of just how meaningful it can be to be part of a caring community. I especially appreciated the inclusion of several excerpts from Marie's articles describing the needs of others. Her willingness to serve was astonishing and inspiring. Those who enjoy reading the histories and personal stories of women, who are far too often overlooked, will enjoy Marie's story."
~ Samantha Wilcoxson, award-winning author of Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

"A deeply powerful memoir detailing the life of Marie Conner and the struggles she encountered as a woman growing up in a male-dominated society. The level of detail in this story is astonishing; I felt as though I could step right into Marie’s shoes, experiencing her triumphs and setbacks alongside her."
~ Kayla Frederick, bestselling author. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

From Matriarch to Muse:
The Real-Life Inspiration Behind Marie Conner, A Leading Lady

by Elle Mott

Inspiration for Marie Conner, A Leading Lady (Luminare Press, 2026) came from my first book, Out of Chaos: A Memoir (Boyle & Dalton, 2018). I wrote that debut to show that no matter what mistakes we make or what problems befall us, we can, through our own actions, overcome them. I had not learned this lesson on my own. Rather, it was through my reflections on Marie and the words of wisdom she had imparted to me that I moved forward.

I remember being a little girl in the 1970s, looking through her scrapbooks. She kept a few that held pictures of her children, grandchildren, and their children. Yet the albums I liked to peruse were found in her other collections. I’d thumb through the pages and run my fingers over the edges of newspaper clippings, which were brittle from age. She had taken great care to tape those clippings onto their pages. There were also program brochures, some dog-eared, and ticket stubs, and other memorabilia worthy of keepsake. Black and white photographs were sprinkled in, lending credence to a life much different than I, being a schoolgirl then, could ever imagine.

Each page in those volumes drew attention to events held to raise awareness for an array of needs. She had encouraged people to find a cure for diseases, offered a helping hand to families in need, and sought solutions for the plights felt by women so that one day women wouldn’t have to suffer.

Our shared moments in these scrapbooks were an opportune time for her to impart her wisdom to me, in hopes I would grow up to do great things. As amazed as I was, there were other things on my mind, like going to the shopping mall or to the roller skating rink. So, I’d look at a few pages then set them aside for another day. 

But the opportunity for another day never came, except in my memories. Years later as an adult, I leaned on her wisdom and guidance to get through a time of chaos, an experience that later became the subject of my first book. Marie is at the very heart of that story. With my memoir finally in readers’ hands and she, long gone, I wondered why I had found strength in her example. I wanted to know who she was before her time with me. That involved research. Marie, who had been my matriarch, became a great muse as I peeled back the layers of a woman who, I discovered, had lived a truly remarkable life.

My memoir was my story. Marie is worthy of her own.

Uncovering her story took me far beyond my remembrance of her scrapbooks. In a cold call to her community to find out if anyone could recall her impact, I was met with an emphatic “yes.” The voice on the other end let me know that Marie’s legacy is literally cast in bronze. Today, in the twenty-first century, commemorative plaques are on display, honoring her involvement as a true changemaker.

Her scrapbooks were one thing. To realize that her hometown officially recognizes her historical significance is another. It solidified that I wasn’t just writing a tribute to someone I remembered. I was uncovering and sharing the lost history of a strong woman and trailblazer. Peeling back the layers in my research revealed an ordinary woman who had done extraordinary things long before I was a child.

The inspiration I found through Marie to write her historical biography caused me to fully answer the question of who she was before she was my matriarch. More so, it caused me to realize that we don’t have to be flawless or free from hardships to make a monumental difference. Marie faced her setbacks, navigated expectations, and helped others. If she could change her world for the better, forever, then so can I and so can you.

This book is for women who want motivation and a can-do spirit to overcome marginalization, to say no to obstacles, and to build something bigger than themselves. My hope is that you will be inspired by Marie’s story, and that you carry this inspiration into a positive book review in any place that you shop or hang out.

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Elle Mott

Elle Mott is a creative nonfiction author who weaves advocacy and strength into her writing, empowering readers to find their purpose.

“Marie Conner, A Leading Lady" is her third book. She is also the author of “Out of Chaos: A Memoir” and “People Helping People”. 

Her next book, releasing this fall, will be as a contributing co-author to “When Women Talk, Notes From the Future: What I Would Tell My Younger Self”. Her other publications have been featured in literary journals, news magazines, and anthologies.

She has a background working in libraries, both at the college level and, for more than ten years, at the public library in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. While library work is her livelihood, writing is her passion. 

Elle grew up in Oregon and now makes her home in the suburbs of northern Kentucky with two cats and several pet birds.

Connect with Elle:

Website • Facebook • Twitter / X

AllAuthor • KoFi

Amazon Author Page • BookBub • Goodreads