Book of the Week: A Pocketful of Diamonds by Pam Lecky #HistoricalMystery #HistoricalFiction #RecommendedReading

A Pocketful of Diamonds

Lucy Lawrence Mystery Series, Book #4

by Pam Lecky

*New Release*

Lucy Lawrence smoothed her silk travelling gown and watched as darkness fell over the shimmering waters of Lake Como – her honeymoon bliss shattered in an instant by a telegram carrying deadly tidings…

Newlyweds Lucy Lawrence and Phineas Stone arrive at the glittering shores of Lake Como, Italy, not to enjoy a romantic honeymoon but to answer a frantic plea for help. Phin's brother-in-law – the charismatic Count Luca Carmosino – has vanished without a trace from his Belle Époque villa, and the couple find themselves thrust into a world of stolen diamonds and smuggling rings.

From the opulent Grand Hotel Bellagio with its crystal chandeliers to the misty mountain passes of the Swiss border, Lucy must solve the mystery of the Count’s disappearance and navigate the treacherous waters of Italian high society, all while maintaining the decorum expected of a proper Victorian lady… But as Lucy edges closer to the truth about what happened to Count Carmosino, the stakes rise dramatically. When an attempt is made on her life while Phin is out of town, Lucy realizes they're both in grave danger. Can she unravel this conspiracy and save those she loves before it's too late?

The fourth in the beloved Lucy Lawrence mystery series! A gripping tale of stolen diamonds, family intrigue, and hard-won redemption set against the stunning backdrop of glamorous Italy.

Praise for A Pocketful of Diamonds:

“A wonderful, courageous, funny, likeable, heroine in Lucy, I have loved all her adventures... I read the book over a few evenings and loved every minute of it, highly recommend.”

~ 5* Reader Review

“Enthralling… commanded my attention from the very first sentence… This is a novel that is deserving to be read over and over again.”

~ 5* Reader Review

“A perfect page turner, with all the classical elements that make for an exquisite historical thrill ride of a mystery.”

~ 5* Reader Review

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Sunday Snippet: Novice Threads by Nancy Jardine #HistoricalFiction #VictorianScotland #SundaySnippet #TheCoffeePotBookClub #RecommendedReading @nansjar @cathiedunn

Novice Threads

by Nancy Jardine

#SundaySnippet

Publication Date: May 15th, 2024

Publisher: Ocelot Press

Pages: 356

Genre: Historical Fiction / Victorian Scotland Saga

A thirst for education.  Shattered dreams. Fragile relations.

1840s Scotland

Being sent to school is the most exhilarating thing that’s ever happened to young Margaret Law. She sharpens her newly-acquired education on her best friend, Jessie Morison, till Jessie is spirited away to become a scullery maid. But how can Margaret fulfil her visions of becoming a schoolteacher when her parents’ tailoring and drapery business suddenly collapses and she must find a job?

Salvation from domestic drudgery – or never-ending seamstress work – comes via Jessie whose employer seeks a tutor for his daughter. Free time exploring Edinburgh with Jessie is great fun, but increasing tension in the household claws at Margaret’s nerves. 

Margaret also worries about her parents’ estrangement, and the mystery of Jessie's unknown father.

When tragedy befalls the household in Edinburgh, Margaret must forge a new pathway for the future – though where will that be?

Tempers Are Flying!

It wasn’t till later that evening, after various bouts of door-slamming and shouting by different family members, that Margaret got the full story. By then Jessie was pacing the kitchen floor.

“I’ve never seen Mister Duncan so irate. He has absolutely forbidden David from moving up to the attic floor, and declared that if Helen needs a bed that’s not the bed he will be in, then she can move up there herself.” Jessie grimaced. “You can imagine that was not received well by Hellish Helen!”

Margaret picked up two cups and filled them from the teapot that still held some warm tea. Handing one to Jessie, she urged her friend to sit down.

“David wasn’t a happy lad, either,” Jessie said.

Jessie’s smile was thin, her exhale huge. 

“It was just as well that Helen slept off her rage for the time that she did...”

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This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Nancy Jardine

Nancy writes historical and contemporary fiction. 1st Century Roman Britain is the setting of her Celtic Fervour Series. Victorian and Edwardian history has sneaked into two of her ancestry-based contemporary mysteries, and her current Silver Sampler Series is set in Victorian Scotland.

Her novels have achieved Finalist status in UK book competitions (People's Book Prize; Scottish Association of Writers) and have received prestigious Online Book Awards.

Published with Ocelot Press, writing memberships include – Historical Novel Society; Romantic Novelists Association; Scottish Association of Writers; Federation of Writers Scotland; Alliance of Independent Authors.

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Shining a bright book spotlight on D. C. Wilkinson's intriguing novel, Devin's Dreams #HistoricalFiction #1970s #ComingOfAge @dcwilkinson2024 @cathiedunn

Devin’s Dreams

by D. C. Wilkinson

Quirky dreams and psychedelics bring Devin, a college freshman, to a time and place centuries before his own... 

Devin Sharp, a gentle-natured boy, has trouble sleeping. Recurring visions of strangers moving among shadows in his bedroom keep waking him at night. He swears that what he sees and hears is real. To no avail. No one believes him. An older sibling taunts him. "Silly dreams," she says. But are they?

Coming of age as a gay teen in the seventies, Devin's sleep issues are just one more secret safely locked up in his closet. But not for long. Freshman year in college brings a measure of freedom and a chance to explore well beyond the boundaries of stifling social molds.

Experimenting with a powerful drug, Devin's quirky visions resurface. This time, however, something is different. A rabbit hole materializes out of nowhere. Thrust into it by a mysterious force, Devin is hurled into another world centuries before his own. There, awaiting, a host of strangers appear to know him...

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D. C. Wilkinson

D. C. Wilkinson’s passion for historical fiction, portal fantasies and cappuccinos inspired him to write “Devin’s Dreams,” his debut novel.

A lifelong voyager of inner and outer realms, he began his career in the Midwest as a student of Language Arts and the Humanities before relocating to the East Coast in his early twenties.

A graduate of Columbia University and former New York City public school teacher, he now calls Connecticut his home, where he resides with his spouse and their beloved beagle.

Connect with D. C.:

Instagram • Twitter / X • Pinterest

Amazon Author Page • LinkedIn