16 Dec Book Review On a Sword’s Edge JR Tomlin #OnASwordsEdge #HistoricalFiction #ScottishHistoricalFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @jeannetomlin @cathiedunn

FEATURED AUTHOR: JR TOMLIN

I’m delighted to welcome JR Tomlin as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour, being held between December 9th – 20th, 2024.  JR Tomlin is the author of the Historical Fiction / Scottish Historical Fiction, On a Sword’s Edge (The Swords of Scotland), independently released on November 16^th, 2024 (159 pages). 

Below are highlights of On a Sword’s Edge, JR Tomlin’s author bio, and my 5-star review of the compelling, coming-of-age novel set in medieval Scotland.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/09/blog-tour-on-a-swords-edge-by-j-r-tomlin.html

HIGHLIGHTS: ON A SWORD’S EDGE

On a Sword’s Edge
(The Swords of Scotland)
by J R Tomlin

Blurb:

Scotland. 1263. The scent of rain mingles with the smoke of campfires as word spreads: the Norse are coming…

As tempers rise between King Alexander and the Norse King Haakon, at the center of it all is sixteen-year-old William Douglas, a squire in service to Sir John Stewart, Lord High Steward of Scotland.

When Haakon’s fearsome fleet is espied approaching Scotland’s shores, carrying the greatest invasion force the Norse have ever mustered, the dread of battle settles over the land. Summoned to Ayr Castle, William joins the Scottish forces in a desperate defense. Now tasked with serving his newly knighted brother, Hugh, William has little time to dwell on the fear – or thrill – of his first real taste of war.

And once the Norse’s menacing line of ships finally touches shore, Scotland’s fate may rest on more than noble titles and knightly deeds— it’ll take the mettle of every soul on the ground for them to triumph.

Set against the wind-swept coast of medieval Scotland, On a Sword’s Edge takes you right into the center of The Battle of Largs alongside a mere – yet fearless – squire.

Triggers Points: Some fairly bloody fights.

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3R7l8D

AUTHOR BIO: JR TOMLIN

R. Tomlin is the author of more than twenty historical novels, set for the most part in Scotland. Her love of that nation is traced from the stories of King Robert the Bruce and the Good Sir James her grandmother read to her when she was small to hillwalking through the Cairngorms where the granite hills have a gorgeous red glow under the setting sun. Later, her writing was influenced by the work of authors such as Alexander Dumas, Victor Hugo, and of course, Sir Walter Scott.

When JR isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time hiking, playing with her Westie, and killing monsters in computer games. In addition to having lived in Scotland, she has traveled in the US, Europe and the Pacific Rim. She now lives in Oregon in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.jrtomlin.com

Twitter: https://x.com/TomlinJeanne

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jrtomlin.bsky.social

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-r-tomlin

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/jrtomlin

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4094154.J_R_Tomlin

BOOK REVIEW: ON A SWORD’S EDGE

On a Sword’s Edge by JR Tomlin sweeps you into medieval Scotland where the Norse King Haakon threatens to invade. The coming-of-age historical fiction is told from the first-person perspective of William Douglas, the sixteen-year-old squire to Sir John Stewart. Like most young men his age, William seeks glory in battle. When Haakon’s ships reach the seacoast near Largs, many of his ships aground. William gets his first taste of battle as he watches his oldest brother fall in battle as the Scottish forces under the sovereignty of King Alexander III successfully force the Norseman into retreat. William only has a short time to grieve his brother’s death and to celebrate the victory when King Alexander summons his troops to assert Scottish control over the Isles of Man and Islay.

Author Tomlin has demonstrated meticulous research on this period of Scottish history that is less known. Not only are the battle scenes riveting, but the story vividly describes the customs and culture of Middle Ages Scotland. The colloquial language spoken at the time is woven into the dialogue to give the story a realistic depiction of the era. A glossary of words helps the reader navigate through the dialogue, which becomes more natural to read by the end of the novel. The epic battle scenes are riveting, but a respite in the book gives a flavor of everyday life and mores through the eyes of William. Funeral rites, Christmas traditions, and festive celebrations for the army are brought to life.

William is an engaging character who, in the beginning, has naïve ideals about knighthood, honor, and warfare. However, his experiences prepare him for the ultimate duties of a knight who must lead his men with courage and sound judgment. William’s experiences culminate in a satisfying ending in which he embraces the qualities of a courageous knight who leads by example. The book has added features such as a list of characters and the author’s note, providing additional insight into the historical events.

For anyone interested in learning more about medieval Scotland, I recommend On a Sword’s Edge for its gripping battle scenes, realistic depiction of the historical events, and the compelling, coming-of-age story of a squire taking on the legacy of an older brother whose life is tragically cut short.

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