Book Extract: The Viking She Shouldn’t Crave By Sarah Rodi
Please join me in welcoming Sarah Rodi to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Viking She Shouldn’t Crave.
A spicy, forbidden love Viking romance
Their forbidden tryst…
Is treason!
Helena’s spent her life preparing to be the Byzantine Prince’s bride. But when his cruel disinterest turns her position perilous, she finds salvation in fierce warrior Viggo. As the Prince’s personal guard, he knows her betrothed like no other. Could Viggo help her win his affections?
Only, Helena swiftly discovers the man she craves is not her husband-to-be…but thrillingly rugged Viggo! To act on their desires would be committing treason. Getting caught could be fatal. And yet, resisting their illicit connection feels like a fate worse than death…
Sarah has kindly shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
The Viking She Shouldn’t Crave is set in 10th century Constantinople, where skilled Viking warriors fought for emperors in return for great riches, and the royal princes picked their wives at bride shows.
The story begins when the bishop’s daughter, Helena, is chosen at the bride show. Prince Marianos must marry to sire an heir, and Helena must wed to save her family from financial ruin, but during their first moments alone, the prince’s charming façade drops, and Helena’s ideas of a romantic union are shattered.
She is surprised when his Varangian commander, Viggo, is kind to her, despite his belief that she is marrying the prince for wealth and status.
In this scene, Helena has snuck out of the palace and gone to Viggo’s home to ask for his help to win over the prince’s affections. But she soon discovers it is not the prince’s heart, but that of his right-hand man she cares about, but any attraction between them is forbidden, and Viggo must resist temptation – he needs the wedding to take place to receive his coin and help his pregnant sister…
*****
‘I wanted to talk to you about the Prince,’ she said, wringing her hands. ‘You’ve seen what it’s like. He has chosen to distance himself from me and there’s just days to go until the wedding.’ She paced away, towards a large ornate mirror. She was distracted by her reflection. Her cheeks were pink, her eyes bright and her hair had come loose from her braids after wearing that helmet, tendrils framing her face. ‘Zoe has told me I need to rectify the situation, yet Marianos won’t let me near him to see or speak to him.’
‘I’m sure he will come round,’ he said. But then he frowned. ‘Unless… Are you saying you want to break off the engagement?’
by 
Book Extract: A Brotherly Devotion By Jill Bray
Please join me in welcoming Jill Bray to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, A Brotherly Devotion.
YORK 1224: On a hot July night, Brother Clement is savagely murdered when returning from administering to Lady Maud de Mowbray.
Simon de Hale, Sheriff of Yorkshire, is in his office when Abbot Robert visits to inform him of the murder, and request that he take responsibility for investigating the killing.
Simon is unsure whether the murder is a crime against the Abbey, or if it is a more personal matter against the monk.
Commencing their investigation, Simon and his deputy, Adam, ride out to see Lady Maud de Mowbray at Overton – the last person to see Brother Clement alive. When they encounter her son, Roger de Mowbray, they both take an instant dislike to him.
Lady Mowbray reveals to Simon that she intends to leave her money to the Abbey, and Simon can see this being a motive for the monk’s murder, if her son was aware of this.
The investigation gathers pace and a murder weapon is found.
A banquet is held at the castle to honour the Royal Justice – during which, one of the guests is exposed as the murderer and apprehended. But that will not be the end of the story for Simon and his family.
Jill has shared an extract from A Brotherly Devotion with us today. We hope you enjoy it.
*****beginning of extract*****
This extract is taken from Chapter 5 when Alexander visits Simon to ask for Katherine’s hand in marriage, only to be told that Simon has already promised her to Lord Fitzwarren and has received the King’s approval for the match.
*****
“Alexander, it is good to finally meet you. My daughter Katherine has told me about you.”
Alexander looked up expectantly and a little surprised. “So, you know why I am here then?”
Simon nodded. “Katherine spoke with me last evening.” He was about to continue when Alexander interrupted.
“So, you will know that I love her very much.” He began eagerly, his blue eyes sparkling and clearly nervous. “I have spoken with my own father, and he is agreeable to the marriage. I can assure you that I will take care of her and provide for her. After we are married, we will live with my family to start with, but in time I am hoping to renovate one of the properties on my father’s estate.”
Simon admired Alexanders’ enthusiasm, but he held up his hand to stop him from continuing. He had to put an end to this now, before it went too far. The last thing he wanted was to lead Alexander into thinking there was any chance of him marrying Katherine.
by Book Extract & Giveaway: Poole of Light By RJ Verity
I’m delighted to be welcoming RJ Verity to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Poole of Light, book one in The Poole Legacy.
A coal-mining town. A flicker of light. A boy who dreams of more.
Spennymoor, 1913. When ten-year-old Jem Poole sees a moving picture for the first time, it ignites a spark. Raised in a northern coal-mining town marked by grief and hardship, he begins to dream of more than soot and survival. He dreams of light.
Through war, reinvention, and the golden age of British cinema, Jem rises to national success, building a legacy of silver screens and stories that define a generation. But when a figure from his past reappears, long-buried memories resurface, and he must confront the truth of the life he has built – and the memories that never let go.
Set against the backdrop of twentieth-century Britain, Poole of Light is a richly layered historical debut about ambition, identity, and the stories that shape us.
Perfect for readers who enjoy:
- Character-driven historical fiction with emotional depth
- Coming-of-age novels set in 20th-century England
- Themes of legacy, reinvention, and quiet redemption
- Authors like Jo Baker, Kristin Hannah, Amor Towles and Anthony Doerr
We have a chance for you to win a limited edition copy of Poole of Light but first, RJ Verity has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
INTRO
In this scene, Jem sets out with a simple, determined goal: to earn enough money to buy a ticket to see a moving picture. What he encounters instead is a painful lesson in class and belonging. Moving from shop to shop, Jem discovers that opportunity is not equally available to everyone, and the invisible boundaries of his town begin to reveal themselves. Yet even in the face of rejection, his resilience drives him forward – until he reaches the final shop on the street, where a very different kind of conversation unfolds. This moment marks the beginning of his fight for a future beyond the limits others place on him.
*****
Jem starts his quest at the far end of Whitworth Terrace. He is standing in front of a grand, two-storey building boasting full length glass displays on the ground floor, and tall arched windows above. Coats of arms and flags punctuate the front pillars in alternate fashion. The main entrance is a double brass swing-door, framed with shiny dark wood, above it the words Spennymoor Co-operative Society in gold lettering. He’s never been inside before, but Daisy says it’s as posh as St Paul’s Church. Trust her to know.
The glass door is heavy and he gives it a hard push. Inside, a whiff of sweet citrus fills the brightly lit hall. Smartly dressed shop assistants stand behind neatly arranged counters and – as it’s still early and with only a few customers present – all attention turns to him. He looks down at his scuffed boots and Archie’s jacket and trousers that are two sizes too big. It would be easier to turn and leave, but his desire to get a job and buy a ticket to see a moving picture is greater. He pats down his hair, holds his shoulders back and walks forward, facing straight ahead, glancing nervously from one assistant to the next. He spots a kind-looking middle-aged lady, smiling as she folds squares of fabric, and approaches her.
‘Hello, Ma’am.’
She glances up, her eyebrows rising as quickly as her smile vanishes.
‘I’m …’ He clears his throat. ‘I’d like a job, Ma’am.’
by Book Extract: The Retired Assassin’s Guide to Orchid Hunting by Naomi Kuttner
Please join me in welcoming Naomi Kuttner to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Retired Assassin’s Guide to Orchid Hunting.
Assassin. Gardener. Reluctant cat adoptee.
All Dante wants is to be left alone in the small New Zealand town no one’s heard of. No drama. No bodies. No questions. But then, of course, the orchid convention comes to town, and Dante is knee deep in suspects, intrigue, and red herrings.
On top of all this, Dante must navigate a mysterious woman from his past, cat issues, and the terrifying prospect of a first date. And he has to do it while fighting his instinct to solve problems the old-fashioned way: permanently.
The ‘Retired Assassin’s Guide to Orchid Hunting’ is a cosy paranormal mystery with found family, ghosts, a grumpy assassin and a sunshine gardener.
Come for the murder, stay for the cat, the gardens, and the New Zealand country charm.
Naomi has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy it.
*****beginning of extract*****
In which Dante grapples with moral ambiguity.
Dante drew the blinds, checked the room for any details that might identify his location, and sat at his desk in his front parlour. It was time for a weekly Thursday meeting he’d attended without fail for the last six months.
Under the desk, his fingers wrapped around the handle of his Glock 17. He let out a slow breath, chasing the inner calm his therapist had said this would bring. His fingers tightened around the stippled grip of the gun, the polymer plastic cool against his palm.
The cat butted its head against his calf, and Dante’s pulse slowed. His focus drew inwards to a single point as his shoulders relaxed. It was time.
Dante keyed the connection, and the screen of his computer flared to life. Looking back at him were four faces: John, Aubrey, Jasmine, and Frankie. Four retired assassins, four members of Assassins Anonymous, four killers doing their level best to keep their days homicide free.
by Book Extract: My Greek Island Christmas by Effrosyni Moschoudi
It’s an absolute pleasure to be welcoming Effrosyni Moschoudi back to Novel Kicks as we shine a light on her latest book, My Greek Island Christmas.
Two die-hard cynics when it comes to love meet on a small family farm on the alluring Greek island of Santorini, and the magic of Christmas goes to work.
Cathy Roussos, a Greek-American single mom, swore off love many years ago after a painful breakup. Her nine-year-old son, the energetic but rather shy Leo, is everything she lives for. When she takes a temp job as a housekeeper for the Christmas season at a small family farm on the island of Santorini, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with the standoffish son of the owner.
Alex Rallis, a veterinarian living in Athens, is a sworn bachelor. As Christmas draws near, he is offered an ideal job abroad. Before taking it, he has to sell the family farm in Santorini and find a new place for his elderly father. The last place Alex wants to be at Christmas is the farm that holds painful memories, but he can’t avoid it. His father will only agree to sell the farm and move out if Alex spends one last Christmas with him there. It seems the old man has a ploy in mind, and a string of adorable locals have their parts to play, too. Next thing you know, Christmas cheer is shared all around, old sad tales are retold in different ways, and romantic love swirls through the air deliciously, like the aromatic steam of hot chocolate.
Can these two wounded souls find happiness together? They say Christmas holds its own magic, and Santorini can be just as enchanting. Even in the midst of winter, its allure remains—enough to give anyone a chance to heal and open up their heart.
Effrosyni has kindly shared an extract from My Greek Island Christmas with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
The roosters had done the trick at ten minutes past six, according to Cathy’s watch. It was impossible to get back to sleep once she was awake, even after burying her head under the pillow to shield her ears from the high-pitched noises.
Plus, with Leo giggling every time a new animal sound echoed in the distance, she felt now more awake than she’d ever expected to be at this early hour.
by Book Club
