Let us Talk of Many Things; of Books and Queens and Pirates, of Mystery and Kings...

Friday, 7 November 2025

Rachel's Random Resources Book Tours: A Perfect Devon Christmas by Debbie Morrison

Rachel's Random Resources
Book Tours

Welcome to my Blog!
Wander through worlds
real and fictional,
meet interesting people,
visit exciting places
and find good books
to enjoy along the way!

About the Book

A Perfect Devon Christmas

Two old friends. One snowy village. A Christmas they'll never forget.

Ivy thought she had Christmas all wrapped up: a peaceful December in her cosy Devon cottage, just her bouncy rescue pup and kind-hearted neighbour Fred for company.

But when a stranger appears on her doorstep asking for shelter, Ivy makes a split-second decision that turns her plans upside down – and sets the whole village of Brambleton buzzing. Who is he? What is he running from? Why does Ivy feel such a powerful urge to help him?

As the snow begins to fall, and secrets start to thaw, Ivy and Fred team up to help their newfound neighbour. Soon Ivy realises that the magic of Christmas has sparked more than just opening her door to a stranger – it has given her the courage to open her heart to love.

Join Ivy in this feel-good festive escape about community, kindness, and discovering that it's never too late to get your happy ending.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DQ5T94CW

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQ5T94CW

Author Bio –

Hi! I’m Debbie. Once upon a time, I was a perfectly respectable London professional – a chartered accountant with a law degree, a Blackberry (remember those?), and too many sensible shoes. Then common sense prevailed, romance called, and I swapped London’s Zone One for Devon’s Zero Signal.

I still wonder if leaving the City was brave or simply plot research taken to a reckless extreme.

Currently my “head office” is a polytunnel: no Wi-Fi, but plenty of fresh air and flourishing tomatoes. The plants photosynthesise while I draft havoc; technically off-grid, creatively on fire.

Meanwhile, the dogs run the editorial obstruction department. They possess zero publishing experience yet veto scenes with a single raised paw. Oh, and their union insists on edible compensation only.

These days, I know the real price of life’s essentials: a good haircut, a great friend, and the joy of a proper night’s sleep. I write love stories for grown-ups – warm, witty, stuffed with second chances and the kind of relationships where affection and exasperation create irresistible chemistry – for better for worse.

Think of my indie “publishing house” as one woman, no award-strewn empire, no two-legged staff – just me, two obstinate dogs, and a biscuit budget.

I’ve tried not writing. It didn’t go very well. So I need readers. Not many, just the excellent sort who laugh in the right places. I hope you’ll be one of them.

Social Media Links –

> Website - www.debbiemorrison.co.uk

> facebook - Debbie-Morrison-Author

> instagram.com @debbiemorrisonauthor

https://www.rachelsrandomresources.com/
@rararesources
#RachelsRandomResources

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Thursday, 6 November 2025

My Coffee Pot Book Tour Guest: What Remains by Erryn Lee

Welcome to my Blog!
Wander through worlds
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visit exciting places
and find good books
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About the Book

Book Title: What Remains

Author Name: Erryn Lee

Publication Date: September 13th, 2025

Publisher: Historium Press

Pages: 392

Genre: Historical Fiction / Dual Timeline / Forensic Mystery

Any Triggers: abuse (physical, emotional, sexual), violence, sexual assault, death (including character death), and graphic content (including blood, gore, or medical descriptions) reference to war and the exhumation of remains from mass graves.

What Remains is a haunting dual-timeline mystery that bridges centuries-and secrets-between ancient Rome and the modern world.

Forensic anthropologist Tori Benino has just landed the opportunity of a lifetime: leading a dig at a long-buried Roman village lost to the eruption of Vesuvius. But when she uncovers the remains of a Praetorian guard hidden in an ancient latrine - clearly murdered - Tori realizes she's stumbled onto something far more sinister than a routine excavation. As she digs deeper into the past, her own carefully ordered life begins to fall apart.

Nearly two thousand years earlier, Thalia, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is desperate to escape an arranged marriage to a brutal and politically powerful senator. Her only hope lies with a Praetorian soldier assigned to guard her - but trusting him could cost her everything.

As past and present collide, What Remains asks: When history is buried, what truths refuse to stay hidden?

Perfect for fans of Kathy Reichs and Kate Quinn, this novel is inspired by true events and delivers a compelling blend of suspense, history, and heart.

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/38zlxL

Author Bio:

Erryn Lee has spent most of her life between the covers of books, her love for historical fiction drew her to a career as an English and History teacher, where she enjoys sharing her passion for both language and the past with young adults (at least until she needs to give it up to write full time).

When not teaching or writing she is deeply immersed in research and studying her Masters in History. Erryn lives with her husband, a fluctuating number of horses and three bossy cavoodles on a horse farm in the picturesque central west of NSW, Australia.

Author Links:

Website: www.errynlee.com

Twitter / X: https://x.com/erryn_lee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erryn.lee.author/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erryn.lee/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Erryn-Lee/author/B0FKH5VCTG

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/57935202.Erryn_Lee

read an excerpt

His gaze was so intense that I hesitated, before remembering the beads in my satchel. My hand went to my knapsack and I rustled through it, one-handed, locating the handkerchief I had wrapped them in. I brought it out and held it towards him. Al’Shani eyed the offering warily, reluctant to take it, so I unfolded the first layer of cloth, revealing the gleaming carnelian beads beneath. I saw the breath leave him and his fingers flex then clench. I placed the misbaha on the table between us and dropped my hands back into my lap, watching him intently. His eyes had taken on the liquid darkness I had noted in our earlier meeting. I took a sip of coffee to give him some measure of privacy for his thoughts.

Finally, he reached across and picked them up between finger and thumb, revolving his hand so they fell over his fingers and nestled in and around the palm of his hand, much like we had found them in his wife’s grip. He clenched his hand around them and closed his eyes, breathing deeply for a minute.

‘They were Elirё’s,’ he finally spoke, pronouncing the name differently from the way I had heard it in my head as I read it in the file. ‘They were my wife’s.’

‘I know,’ I spoke. ‘Elirё.’ I tried to capture his intonation. ‘It is a beautiful name.’

His smile was fleeting. ‘She was a beautiful woman.’ His gaze fastened on mine. ‘You knew they were hers.’

I nodded. I could hardly explain how intimately I was acquainted with the bones of his family.

My thoughts

I enjoyed this - but it also made me cry, and was disturbing in places ... made me think, which is a sign of a good novel!

We get a few genres rolled into one - modern mystery, historical novel, thriller, and a touch of supernatural. All combined with the joys and difficulties of relationships past and present, modern career responsibilities, ancient expected and unavoidable duties; fear, love, trust, mistrust, revenge... There is violence too, but the horrors of life are as relevant as the joys. The detail and frustrations of an archaeological dig, the disintegration of an arranged marriage, the consequences and violence of war and fighting - all bound together by the horror of the Vesuvius eruption.

What I especially admire is how the author so skilfully tucked everything in together, merging the timelines so superbly - and seamlessly - with modern-day. And all in a natural and totally believable way. (Too believable in places. I suggest keep a tissue box close to hand.

This is history as it should be written more often - expertly detailed without 'lecturing' or 'info-dumping', page-turning intrigue with a brilliantly portrayed diversity of characters.

My only slight negative, the formatting on my PDF review version for Kindle was out of kilter, but this happens with PDF and there were a few minor typos, so the file was possibly a pre-publish ARC, so not an issue for a finalised version. And actually, even given the wobbly formatting, I started to not notice because I was so engrossed in the story. That's the thing with typos - if the writing is good enough, you don't notice them, and Ms Lee's writing was most certainly good enough.

***** 5 stars