Award-winning author Alison Morton introduces Aurelia & Carina Mitela – feisty, clever and fiercely loyal heroines from Nova Roma #AlternateFiction #RomanFiction #WomensHistoryMonth #RecommendedReading

Celebrating Women in History

The Coffee Pot Book Club is delighted to welcome Alison Morton, award-winning author of alternate Roman fiction and gripping thrillers, today.

Alison introduces us to Carina and Aurelia, the intelligent, resourceful, and highly capable heroines from her compelling Nova Roma series.

Although fictional, these irrepressible characters deserve their place here during #WomensHistoryMonth.

Check them out!

Roma Novan heroines
– and gender pressure on men

The Roma Nova heroines – Carina and Aurelia Mitela – are ‘tough gals’; dedicated, strong-willed, physically and mentally resilient and tied into their sense of history and duty. Underlying all this, their driving force is their self-belief.

Carina, despite her disrupted childhood and separation from Roma Nova until she was twenty-four, has embraced  Roma Novan values and system wholeheartedly, although, of course, there are gaps that trip her up. Aurelia is a ‘blood-and-bone’ Roma Novan, so completely immersed in the society from birth, but has her own weaknesses.

Neither of these women denies their femininity or personal and sexual needs; they are as emotionally wired as any other person. They fail, fear, experience inadequacy and guilt (and have tempers), but they don’t let any of this diminish them, their motivation or their innate sense of doing the right thing. Aurelia from the outset, and Carina as she becomes more immersed into Roma Nova, are not judged on their gender, nor do they allow themselves to even think that is a criterion for judgement.

In Roma Nova, a society that has survived by vigilance and robust resistance to those who would destroy or absorb it, no quarter is given or allowance made for gender, only for behaving or performing as the person you are.

As Carina and Aurelia say, you’re only as good as your last job.

Gladiatrix.
Photo (c) Britannia www.durolitum.co.uk

So, that brings us on to the Roma Novan men – Conrad, Apollodorus, Lurio, for instance. All different characters but tough and masculine. I’d like to see anybody talk to Lurio and call him a softie. I’ll hold your coat while you try. Conrad would be more polite – he has better manners, but Apollodrus would have you removed and, er, disposed of if you dared to make that suggestion.

However, the crucial note of this alternative society is that there is no right of men’s automatic superiority. As they were steadfast pagans, worshipping the traditional Roman goddesses and gods, there was no incursion of paternalistic monotheistic religions.

In the early history of the Colonia Apuliensis Roma Nova, women had to fight alongside men to protect the infant colonia in the fraught period of the late fourth and early fifth centuries. And of course, founder Apulius had four strong daughters whose mother was a tough, independent Celt from Noricum where women managed property, took decisions in the political process and when necessary hefted a blade.

Back to the men… In Roma Nova, there is little of the gender pressure on male children and youngsters as they grow up such as the ‘big boys don’t cry’ and the ‘man up’ culture.

Naturally enough, there is sibling and peer rivalry; testosterone flows in Roma Nova as anywhere else. However, men are expected to act and live as any other Roma Novan, as selfish or achieving as anybody else. But there is no pressure to behave in line with a constructed gender pattern. This frees up men from the pressure of conditioned norms expected in many societies.

Conrad is tough, clever, resourceful and a bit cocky, to be honest. Serving in the Praetorian Guard Special Forces is ideal for him as it provides structure and a place to demonstrate his decisiveness and moral strength. He expects the soldiers under his command to obey not based on any gender considerations but on his authority in the military context. Ditto Lurio, but in a more relaxed, if brash, way. Apollodorus commands through fear, but has a weakness as far as Carina is concerned, as we find out in PERFIDITAS.

Naturally enough, this ‘egalitarian-plus’ type of society can lead to conflict, especially when Roma Novans come up against outsiders – a gift for any novelist. In AURELIA, set in the late 1960s, the first adventure featuring Aurelia Mitela as a young woman serving in the Praetorian Guard, conflict is rife. Not just in the story.

It’s hard to remember just how casual and taken for granted sexism was at that time as Aurelia discovers when she travels outside Roma Nova on  a mission to Berlin. Being Aurelia, she confronts it or ignores it depending on the circumstances, but never allows it to affect her mission or her intrinsic values. But when she meets another equally independently-minded soul, she knows she has found her life’s love. Yet she still steers her own course as we go on to see in INSURRECTIO and RETALIO.

This article was originally posted on the author's blog. All rights are reserved.

Alison's Book Links

Alison Morton

Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers –  INCEPTIO, CARINA (novella), PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO,  AURELIA, NEXUS (novella), INSURRECTIO  and RETALIO,  and ROMA NOVA EXTRA, a collection of short stories. Audiobooks are available for four of the series. JULIA PRIMA,  Roma Nova story set in the late 4th century, starts the Foundation stories. The sequel, EXSILIUM, is now out.

Double Identity, a contemporary conspiracy, starts a new series of thrillers.

She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.  

Alison now lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her three contemporary thrillers, Double Identity, Double Pursuit and Double Stakes.

Connect with Alison:

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Book Review: Singing Bones by S. G. Ullman

 

*Editorial Book Review*

SINGING BONES

by S. G. Ullman

Publication Date: 25th March 2026
Publisher: Stuart Ullman
Page Length: 339
Genre: Historical Fiction

Nearly 8,300 years ago, a sudden climate collapse reshaped the earth. Winters grew longer and colder, harvests failed, coastlines flooded, and the ground itself became unstable. For the Téuta, a settled Neolithic village that had endured for generations, survival became uncertain.

Eini is born with troubling visions of disaster—warnings her people dismiss as superstition. As the climate worsens and violence spreads among desperate neighbors, Eini spends her lifetime trying to protect her family and preserve the fragile traditions that hold her community together. When catastrophe finally strikes, the Téuta must face the unthinkable: abandoning their ancestral home and redefining who they are in a transformed world.

Told across generations, Singing Bones follows the lives of women whose strength, memory, and resilience shape the fate of their people—from prophecy, to survival, to leadership forged in loss. Song, story, and shared history become tools of endurance in a world where nothing can be taken for granted.

Grounded in real archaeological and climate research, Singing Bones is ancient historical fiction set during the Neolithic era. Its spiritual elements arise from a prehistoric worldview in which nature, belief, and survival are inseparable. Sweeping yet intimate, it explores how early civilizations responded to climate catastrophe, displacement, and change.

Perfect for readers of immersive historical fiction, ancient civilizations, prehistoric survival stories, and epic sagas rooted in humanity’s deep past.

The world is cooling rapidly. Life in Téuta, as it has been for generations, is about to change, and survival depends on many different factors—belief, determination, and maintaining a firm grasp on humanity while moving through disaster and loss as a collective. Telling an intricate yet epic story spanning multiple generations, Singing Bones is not only a novel of human survival, but also one of vitality, determination, and love.

What I found in this novel was not what I expected going into it. I anticipated a story of an ancient civilisation struggling to survive in an increasingly hostile environment. However, what I discovered within these pages was human resilience: a poetic and deeply touching story of community, hope, and belief. The world created within this novel does not simply depict early humans in the Neolithic era fighting for everyday survival, but rather complex communities of intelligent people caring for their homes and legacies with a deep commitment to family and friends. Following different characters across generations, I found myself utterly enthralled by the survival of this early civilisation. The immense importance of Téuta—as such a large village for its time—bleeds through the pages until I, too, felt committed to the survival of its people and their legacy.

The connection the characters have to Téuta is more than a simple attachment to a hometown—it is an intense desire to protect a place that is sacred to them. Their ancestors settled there, and they have grown up surrounded by legends passed down through generations. Their devotion to their home is both a blessing and a curse. The legend of Téuta binds the community together, giving its inhabitants something in common and a reason to care for one another. Yet, because Téuta has provided safety and stability for so long, the desire—or even the ability—to leave seems impossible. There is too much history embedded in the land to abandon. When faced with life and death, how could they leave the place where their ancestors are buried, where they themselves expect to rest one day? The bond the people of Téuta feel with their homeland is written with a profound understanding of the sacredness of ancestral ground. This unwavering commitment, even in the face of danger, is portrayed with a realism that allows the reader to deeply sympathise with the community and feel a similar connection to this legendary place.

A deep spirituality runs through the novel, seeping into every aspect of the characters’ lives. Their unwavering belief in a deity beyond their everyday existence gives them hope that they are not alone. While beliefs differ between villages and tribes, the presence of faith remains constant, lending purpose to both joy and suffering. Loss is ever-present—lives are lost, but so too is the sense of security for those who remain. As winters grow harsher and summers drier, once-abundant food becomes scarce. Desperation rises, and with it, violence. Hunger drives people to extremes in their fight to survive. Entire communities are wiped out, leaving only a few survivors to navigate a world without the protection of a collective. This growing desperation intensifies as the novel progresses. The cooling world not only brings longer, harsher winters but also pushes communities to their limits. How long can people endure without food before taking rather than asking? The destabilisation of communities, as survival begins to outweigh cooperation, introduces a sense of mistrust and uncertainty. How long before another village falls—or before they do?

We meet many characters throughout the novel, but the most prominent are those followed across generations, as the narrative passes from one to the next. Many of them possess an additional, almost mystical sense that sets them apart. The story begins with Eini, who has dreamt of the future since childhood. Lacking proof, her visions are often dismissed by adults as the imaginings of a child. Yet she cannot ignore what she sees. As she grows and builds a family, her faith in her abilities never wavers, and her unease deepens as she senses an approaching threat she cannot fully understand. Eini is instantly likeable—someone who continues to speak her truth even when unheard. In the next generation, we encounter Welo, whose abilities are less dismissed but equally mysterious. He can sense what lies beyond sight, locate game in the forest, and detect danger. As Eini and Welo begin to use their gifts together, the need to protect Téuta from the looming, unknown threat becomes urgent. Welo’s journeys beyond Téuta expand the story, introducing new people who prove vital to the community’s survival.

Spanning generations, Singing Bones by S. G. Ullman is written in lyrical prose that transports the reader into the distant past, among early civilisations entirely dependent on the natural world. Spirituality intertwines with a deep respect for nature and community, and a sense of gratitude for life itself. A profound loyalty emerges in the characters, and as the narrative expands beyond Téuta to include those not born into its legend, an important question arises: is Téuta’s power rooted in the land, or in the hearts of those who believe in it? This novel is captivating in a quiet, almost magical way. Its exploration of spirituality, nature, and human connection draws the reader in until stepping away feels impossible. For those interested in early human communities and survival during ecological catastrophe, this is a novel that goes beyond storytelling—it brings the Neolithic era vividly to life.

Review by Ellie Yarde

The Coffee Pot Book Club

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S. G. Ullman

Stuart Ullman retired from working after 38 years as an economist and engineering project manager at a US Navy lab. He has been an avid recreational sailor for decades, and was, for a time, the Commodore of the Sailing Club of Washington; he once sailed to Bermuda on one of the U.S. Naval Academy’s 44-foot sailboats. Since his retirement he has pursued a life-long interest in writing. He has been active in the Maryland Writers Association and for several years was president of the Montgomery County chapter. He and his wife raised two children, have a grandson, and are currently living in Kensington, Maryland.

Author Links:

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Book Review: Midnight Patriots by Paul Levine

*Editorial Book Review*

Midnight Patriots
(An Einstein-Chaplin Thriller)
 by Paul Levine

Publication Date: 16th June 2026
Publisher: Herald Square
Page Length: 388
Genre: Historical Thriller

While war raged in Europe, the battle for America's soul was already underway.

Blending fact and fiction, MIDNIGHT PATRIOTS follows real-life friends Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin as they confront powerful enemies threatening America.

Germany wants Einstein alive. Chaplin dead.

Spies, assassins, a femme fatale board the Super Chief.

Last stop: showdown at midnight.

It's 1940. Europe is in flames. Germany occupies much of the continent, and the Blitz rains terror on London. Fritz Duquesne, a German spy straight from the history books, plots to kidnap Einstein and steal America's nuclear secrets. Enraged by Chaplin's mockery in The Great Dictator, Adolf Hitler dispatches an SS assassin to silence the man who ridiculed him. The story features Charles Lindbergh, Lena Horne, and J. Robert Oppenheimer—along with a beautiful German spy on a mission of her own. As Nazi agents and FBI operatives close in, all roads lead Einstein and Chaplin to a deadly showdown aboard the Santa Fe Super Chief as it races from Chicago to Los Angeles.

“Midnight Patriots” by Paul Levine is a fast-paced historical thriller that blends fact and fiction. With Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin positioned at the centre of a story involving spies, assassins, and a high-stakes journey across America, the novel establishes a strong sense of momentum from the outset. What unfolds is an expansive and intricately constructed narrative that draws together multiple perspectives and historical figures, creating a story that is both ambitious and richly textured.

With Europe at war and Hitler’s influence spreading across the continent, the novel follows Einstein and Chaplin as they become entangled in a web of intrigue involving Nazi agents, FBI surveillance, and organised crime. With Germany seeking access to nuclear research and intent on silencing outspoken critics such as Chaplin, the narrative moves across a range of settings as tensions steadily escalate.

Levine’s use of real historical figures lends the novel an immediate sense of authenticity. The inclusion of Einstein, Chaplin, J. Edgar Hoover, and others firmly anchors the story in its historical moment, while the wider context—America’s internal divisions, the rise of fascist sympathies, and the early development of atomic science—adds depth and relevance. I was particularly struck by how effectively the novel captures the uncertainty of this period, when the direction of global events remained unresolved.

The narrative moves between multiple plotlines—espionage, political investigation, personal relationships, and criminal activity—each contributing to a broader picture of a society under pressure. While this structural complexity occasionally requires careful attention, it also reflects the interconnected nature of the forces at work. As the story progresses, these strands are drawn together with increasing clarity, particularly in the latter stages, where the narrative gains a stronger sense of cohesion and momentum.

The interplay between historical fact and fictional invention is central to the novel’s appeal. While certain elements take creative liberties, they remain grounded in a convincingly realised historical framework. This blending of fact and imagination allows Levine to explore not only what happened, but what might have been, without losing sight of the period’s underlying realities.

Levine’s writing is energetic and frequently infused with wit, especially in the exchanges between Einstein and Chaplin. These moments of humour and insight provide a welcome contrast to the darker themes of espionage and political tension, adding warmth and humanity to the narrative.

As the novel builds towards its conclusion, the action shifts aboard the Santa Fe Super Chief, where the tension becomes more immediate and contained. The confined setting heightens the stakes, bringing the competing interests of spies, agents, and civilians into closer proximity.

I found “Midnight Patriots” to be an ambitious and engaging novel that offers a vivid and thought-provoking exploration of a pivotal historical moment. While its layered structure may occasionally demand closer attention, its scope, originality, and thematic depth make it a rewarding and memorable read.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde
The Coffee Pot Book Club

Buy Link:

Pre-order your copy (release date 16th June 2026)

Universal Buy Link

Paul Levine

Edgar Allan Poe Award–nominated author Paul Levine crafts thrillers where law, history, and moral courage collide. Whether it’s linebacker-turned-lawyer Jake Lassiter roaming Miami courtrooms or Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin battling fascists in Hollywood, Levine delivers suspense with heart and bite. Winner of the John D. MacDonald Fiction Award and nominee for the Edgar, Macavity, International Thriller, Shamus, and James Thurber prizes, his novels appear in 23 languages. A former trial lawyer, Levine wrote twenty episodes of the CBS drama JAG and co-created First Monday starring James Garner and Joe Mantegna. His international bestseller To Speak for the Dead launched the Jake Lassiter series, and Early Grave was named the third-best legal thriller of the 21st Century by BestThrillers.com—just behind Michael Connelly and John Grisham. He also pens the critically acclaimed Solomon vs. Lord legal capers. His newest novel, Midnight Burning, opens the Einstein-Chaplin historical thrillers. A member of Penn State’s Society of Distinguished Alumni and a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, Levine lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Connect with Paul Levine:

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Acclaimed author Rosemary Hayes introduces Will Fraser, soldier and spy #HistoricalFiction #PeninsularWars #SpyFiction #RecommendedReading

Code of Honour

Soldier Spy, Book #3

by Rosemary Hayes

'A first-rate historical thriller, full of period detail, fascinating characters, unexpected twists, mystery, intrigue and action.’
~ Peter Tonkin

1812

Britain’s war against Napoleon continues.

Will Fraser and Duncan Armstrong have served their country well as spies, exposing traitors and rescuing betrayed royalists.

Now they are asked to support military operations in the Peninsular War. The French are using a new code which is proving impossible to decipher. Will and Armstrong must work with Spanish guerrillas to intercept messages between French Commanders and pass them to Wellington’s codebreakers.

Will is reluctant, however. Portugal was where he was falsely accused of cowardice and desertion and forced to leave the army. And Captain Harcourt-Browne, the jealous and vengeful officer who caused his downfall, is still serving there.

But Will is given a compelling – and personal – reason to carry out the operation. If he does so, there’s a slim chance he could be reinstated.

Enemy agents are soon on their trail; agents who want them dead. Somehow Will and Armstrong must evade them and join the guerrillas in a daring attempt to uncover Napoleon’s battle plans.

But Will’s troubled past catches up with him. Four years ago he lied to protect the woman he loved. Now he must own up to that lie to save himself.

Rosemary Hayes has written over forty books across different genres, from historical fiction to chapter books for early readers and texts for picture books.

Praise for Rosemary Hayes:

‘Rosemary Hayes' Soldier Spy is a first-rate historical thriller, full of period detail, fascinating characters, unexpected twists, mystery, intrigue and action. It reminds me of Berrnard Cornwell's brilliant, Regency-set Gallows Thief. I am pleased to see that it is the first of a trilogy and look forward to reading more about the dashing Will Fraser.’
~ Peter Tonkin, author of The Richard Mariner thrillers

‘One of the very best historical novels I have ever read.’
~ Sandra Robinson, Huguenot Ancestry Expert

‘An absorbing tale told with sensitivity. The forgotten struggles of Huguenot refugees come to moving, heartrending life.’ 
~ Steven Veerapen, author of A Dangerous Trade

Meet Will Fraser, soldier and spy!

The last book in my ‘Soldier Spy’ trilogy, Code of Honour, has just been published and readers of the two previous books, Traitor’s Game and The King’s Agent will be pleased to know that the reason for Captain Will Fraser’s disgrace and dismissal from the army is finally revealed!

Over the past two years, while writing these three books, all of which feature Will and his loyal companion, the wounded Sergeant Duncan Armstrong, I have become very fond of both of them.

 

Battle of Rolica, where I have imagined Duncan was wounded.

We first meet them in Traitor’s Game, travelling to London. Neither are in good spirits. Back from fighting in the Peninsular War, they have had a miserable voyage from Lisbon on a leaky hospital ship with a belligerent crew. Will has been stripped of his rank and sent home in disgrace, Duncan has lost an arm in battle. Now they are on a barge taking them down the River Thames and into London where Will hopes to lodge with his brother.

Right from the beginning of the book, the reader is aware of Will’s bitter mood. Despite his relatively lowly birth, he had risen to the rank of Captain and was loved and respected by his men. But certain high-born officers despised him and made his life difficult. They seized on a time when he had deserted his post. He refused to say where he’d been and then would not fight a duel when challenged. Blown up out of all proportion, these incidents led to his dismissal. Duncan is more stoic. Will saved him from certain death on the battlefield and he refuses to desert him now that his fortunes have changed.

Will’s mood darkens further when he discovers that a woman he adored from afar is now married to another. Not only that but his brother Jack has vanished.  It is while he and Duncan are searching for him that it becomes clear that Jack is involved in undercover work, and Will and Duncan unwittingly get sucked into the murky world of espionage.

It is then, when Will sees that there are other ways of serving his country, that the fog in his mind begins to clear.  He takes huge risks in his determination to track down a traitor within the British Government. With his quick wits and Duncan’s sharp eyes, they unmask the traitor – but with tragic results.

At the beginning of book 2, The King’s Agent, we find Will still full of guilt at what he caused to happen in book 1. He and Duncan are now officially undercover agents and are sent to France to rescue royalists and British spies who have been betrayed.  It is here that Will comes into his own; feeling he has nothing to lose, he and Duncan embed themselves with the enemy, chase and are chased, use all manner of disguises and rub shoulders with that most loathome man, Napoleon’s Chief of Police, Joseph Fouché. He was ruthless in his pursuit of British spies or those in France with royalist sympathies, torturing and executing them. He was dubbed ‘the most feared man in France’ and even Napoleon was quoted as saying, ‘I fear Fouché more than all the armies of Europe’.

Joseph Fouché

In The King’s Agent, Will regains his self-respect.  He and Duncan have done a brilliant job, under terrifying conditions, in rescuing undercover agents and bringing them to safety and he’s met a beautiful and brave woman. He feels he can leave the service with his head held high and go back to help his father on their farm in Northumberland.

But then, in Code of Honour, Will and Duncan are recalled and sent on one final mission. The French are using a new code which is proving impossible to decipher. Will and Duncan must work with the Spanish guerrillas to intercept coded messages between French Commanders and pass them to Wellington’s codebreakers. This mission proves just as dangerous as the others they have undertaken – and it is in the country where Will was accused of cowardice.

 

His troubled past catches up with him. But he is a different man now. Four years ago he left Portugal, disgraced and bitter, but now he no longer has to prove himself and he feels able to tell the truth. For which, at last, he is rewarded.

Will is a complex character. When we first meet him, he is at his lowest. Riddled by self- doubt and shame but also bitter at his unfair dismissal because, out of loyalty, he refused to reveal something which would clear his name but ruin someone else.

The one constant in his life is the loyalty of his Sergeant. Duncan Armstrong has never let him down and his stoicism and no-nonsense approach to life keep Will going and give him the strength to prove himself and serve his country in another way.

Soldier Spy Series Universal Buy Links:

Book 1 – Traitor’s Game

Book 2 – The King’s Agent

Book 3 – Code of Honour

This series is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Rosemary Hayes

Rosemary Hayes has written over fifty books for children and young adults. She writes  in different genres, from edgy teenage fiction (The Mark), historical fiction (The Blue Eyed Aborigine and Forgotten Footprints), middle grade fantasy (Loose Connections, The Stonekeeper’s Child and Break Out) to chapter books for early readers and texts for picture books. Many of her books have won or been shortlisted for awards and several have been translated into different languages.

Rosemary has travelled widely but now lives in South Cambridgeshire. She has a background in publishing, having worked for Cambridge University Press before setting up her own company Anglia Young Books which she ran for some years. She has been a reader for a well known authors’ advisory service and runs creative writing workshops for both children and adults.

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