Book Review: Storm of Mercia By MJ Porter
I am pleased to be welcoming MJ Porter back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for their book, Storm of Mercia.
Wessex has never been Mercia’s ally, neither has it been her only enemy.
Wessex, AD836
The Viking raiders’ devastation has been halted once more by the shields of Mercia as opposed to Wessex. But their whereabouts are unknown.
King Wiglaf of Mercia is keen to ensure the Viking raiders are swept from his shared border with Wessex but these Viking ships are quick and difficult to track and Icel is once more deployed with Ealdorman Ælfstan warriors to do his King’s bidding. However, Icel’s quest is beset with many more obstacles and it’s not all about the seax and shield.
Worrying news from home overshadows Icel’s every deadly encounter. Will the storms of war keep him away or has he time to make one more desperate journey back to Tamworth?
With raging seas driving him ever further from Mercia’s shores, and the threat of a new conspiracy against the Mercian kingship will Icel overpower the sands of time, or will he be defeated by his deadliest nemesis yet?
*****
Storm of Mercia is the ninth instalment of the Mercia Chronicles.
Once again, Mercia’s shields have stopped the Viking raiders at the border with Wessex—but the invaders have vanished without a trace. Icel is dispatched among Ealdorman Ælfstan’s troops with the task of tracking the raiders and ensuring that they have truly left.
by 
Novel Kicks Writing Room: The Question That Won’t Leave You Alone
Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Today, our focus is all about the ‘question that won’t leave you alone’.
My hope with this exercise is that you’ll discover book worthy ideas by exploring questions and mysteries that genuinely intrigue you.
First of all, we are going to do a bit of a brain dump by answering the following questions. Don’t edit, just write down questions that fascinate or trouble you. It’s a chance to ask the who, what, why, where and when questions.
Try and write about ten questions. Anything and everything is welcome. Just whatever comes to mind.
Examples include –
What if someone woke up with someone else’s memories?
Why do people stay in situations that hurt them?
What happens to childhood best friends who lose touch?
Is it ever right to lie to protect someone?
What are ordinary people doing during extraordinary events?
What if plants could communicate?
Next, circle the three questions that you find most compelling. Once you’ve done that, pick the one that intrigues or pulls you to it the most.
Whilst you consider which one to pick, keep these questions in mind –
by Novel Kicks Book Club: The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore
Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Book Club and hello to April.
The clocks have gone forward, the lighter evenings are here. All we need now is the sunshine and it’s a perfect excuse to settle down with a book.
This month, I have chosen a novel that, when reading the blurb, intrigued me greatly. I have to admit; the cover also had an influence on me picking it. I hope you find the story as interesting as I did. Even the tag line, ‘inside every book is a beating heart’. I love it.
This month’s pick is The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore.
So, how does. our book club work? Well, anyone can take part, at any point in the month, whether you’ve read the book already or starting it. I have put a question in the comments to get the discussion going.
I look forward to discussing this book with you.
About The Library of Borrowed Hearts –
by Book Review: The Lighthouse by the Sea By Margaret Amatt
I’m very happy to be welcoming Margaret Amatt back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Lighthouse by the Sea.
His love might be the light she’s looking for
After a string of disasters, music teacher Lottie Ashford is out of options. So when her well-meaning mother suggests she restore an old family property – a crumbling lighthouse on the remote island of Barra – Lottie reluctantly agrees.
Local fitness fanatic Ruaridh Griffin has been unlucky in love. When Lottie turns up at his sister’s B&B asking for help to find a mystery lighthouse, he can’t help wanting to assist – and he’s instantly drawn to her. But getting involved with a visitor is one thing he’s sworn never to do again.
As Barra weaves its quiet magic, Lottie begins to feel at home for the first time in years. Worse still, she’s falling for someone she’s not sure feels the same. And despite Ruaridh’s best intentions, Lottie is getting under his skin, making his promise to himself harder than ever to keep.
If this is love, Ruaridh must face his fear of being burned again – and Lottie must decide whether her future lies on the island or somewhere else entirely.
♥ This is the second book in the Love on the Edge – Barra series, but it can be read as a standalone.
♥ Set on the Hebridean island of Barra in Scotland with fun, romance, drama, and a guaranteed happy ending, The Lighthouse by the Sea has a bit of steam and lots of heart.
*****
Running from a humiliation on social media, Lottie heads to the Scottish island of Barra. She’s in search of a building at the heart of an old family story. She wasn’t counting on meeting Ruaridh. He’s also battling heartbreak and uncertainty. Can they get over their past to find their future?
Having previously read some of Margaret Amatt’s novels, it took little to persuade me to join the blog tour for her latest book, The Lighthouse by the Sea which is book 2 in the Love on the Edge series. The first book, The Castle in the Bay, is one I’ve not read yet. That didn’t hinder my enjoyment of this one though. They can be read out of order. I am planning on reading Iona and Monty’s story at some point.
by Book Extract: The Letters I Never Stopped Writing By Pranay Krishna
I am incredibly pleased to be welcoming Pranay Krishna to Novel Kicks as we shine a light on his book, The Letters I Never Stopped Writing.
Some love stories end with distance. This one begins there.
The Letters I Never Stopped Writing is a deeply intimate epistolary romance told through letters written across time, silence, and separation.
He chose duty over presence. But he never stopped choosing her. Each letter reveals longing, doubt, faith, regret, and an unwavering devotion to a love that refuses to fade — even when unanswered. In a world of instant replies and temporary connections, this is a story about something rare:
Staying.
Waiting.
Writing.
Loving without guarantees.
This is not a dramatic love story filled with grand gestures. It is a quiet, powerful exploration of emotional endurance of loving someone from afar, and choosing that love again and again, even when nothing is certain.
If you enjoy:
• Slow-burn emotional romance
• Love letters and intimate storytelling
• Clean, reflective love stories
• Stories about distance, devotion, and persistence
This book will stay with you long after the final letter. Because some hearts don’t move on.
Grab that comfortable chair, the drink of your choice and settle in as Pranay has shared an extract from The Letters I Never Stopped Writing with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
II
Dear Tara,
by Book Club
