Monthly Archives: May 2026

BLOG TOUR – The Eagle Will Rise – The Sundered Kingdom Book 1

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Today we kick off the blog tour for The Eagle Will Rise – The Sundered Kingdom Book 1 by MJ Porter!

Here’s the blurb

The king is dead; for Mercia to survive, another must take his place.

Coelwulf, Mercia’s last king, is dead. His legacy and right to rule Western Mercia have been claimed by Alfred of Wessex, but all know Alfred was never to have Mercia. Neither were the Viking raiders, who now command the eastern-most parts of Mercia and the former kingdom of the East Angles.

Icel, the bastion of Mercia’s wars against Wessex and the Viking raiders, lies dying, but he refuses to abandon his beloved kingdom to her long-standing enemies.

Rudolf, the once-young ally of King Coelwulf the second, is summoned by Icel to attend upon him. Grudgingly, he arrives at Budworth, the task laid before him, audacious to say the least; rescue Coelwulf’s acknowledged heir, Æthelred, from Wessex, where he’s held prisoner by King Alfred. To do so, Rudolf must prevail upon the dispersed oath-sworn warrior band of King Coelwulf, and all of them, aside from him, have ignored Icel’s increasingly furious demands to attend upon him. If they won’t obey Icel, then why should they listen to Rudolf?

The fate of Mercia’s survival rests in the hands of a man who should long have been in his grave, and Rudolf, a boy who’s become a man in the most trying of circumstances. They must forge Æthelred into the emblem of Mercian survival. Or die trying. But first they must rescue Æthelred from someone who has always pretended to be Mercia’s ally, and who is anything but.

Review

So we are back with Icel.. Lord of Budwoth… hang on a minute.. bear with me ha..I’m already so happy. Fans of the author will know the name well, those new to the author will soon be sucked in!

We see events through the eyes of Rudolf, loyal to King Coelwulf even in death. Coelwulf might be dead but Mercia lives..

It’s time to right the wrongs of the past, the time for grieving is over..it’s been many years but it’s time to stand up to the Vikings invaders and to teach Alfred, King of Wessex a lesson he will never forget.

Summoned to Icel’s side Rudolf quickly learns while Icel may be old and a little infirm his passion is anything but diminished. Icel is not alone either, Lady Cynewise is there.. they share a dream and they need Rudolf to see it come to fruition.

The dream.. to see a new King of Mercia crowned.. Æthelred..

The issue is he’s under the “protection” of Alfred..

It’s time once again to don armour..they must see young Æthelred crowned King. There comes the next issue.. how can they get to him in the first place.. there’s only 3 of them and Icel is in now condition to fight.

It’s time to gather those loyal to Merica, those who gave everything and more already..those who have suffered more wounds than I can to recall..

What plays out now is a wonderful tale, finding old friends, dealing with the passing of time.. not everyone will be able or willing to join this new adventure but it’s up to them to rally all to their side and to come up with a plan to see Æthelred free.

The plot is quite clever and perfectly paced, there’s so much time given to finding old comrades, setting the scene, building those foundations, but that just adds to the excitement building.. you feel the buzz, as does Icel, as more men join the fray.

Is it enough though? and is Alfred as witless as they think? He’s survived this long.. it’s not going to be easy.

I really enjoyed the character development in this one as we see Rudolf battle with himself.. does he help Icel.. things are looking bleak afterall, opening old wounds.. do they even stand a chance?

Having Icel play a prominent role but at the same time sharing the limelight, passing the torch, was smart and also very bloody enjoyable to read.. he’s lost non of the passion but he’s balance perfectly with Rudolf allowing the plot shine.

The Eagle Will Rise isnt just about blood and steal.. I can’t help remembering the most recognised catchphrase from Blackadder – ‘I have a cunning plan’.. Icel and Lady Cynewise will stop at nothing until things are put right… was there ever a plan.. like Rudolf we are in the dark until just the right moment to keep that excitement flowing through you.

Absolutely amazing new offering from MJ Porter, clever and enthralling.

5/5 Stars

My thanks go to the author and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the tour!

Why not follow the tour

Purchase Link

Author Bio

I’m an author of historical fiction (Early English/Saxon, Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest, as well as five 20th-century historical mysteries) and fantasy (now published under a different name).

I was born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since 1066. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building, told from a very young age that it housed the bones of long-dead kings of Mercia and that our garden was littered with old pieces of pottery from a long-ago battle, it’s little wonder that my curiosity in Early England ran riot. I can only blame my parents!

I like to write. You’ve been warned!

Social Media Links – 

linktr.ee/MJPorterauthor

Soldier’s Stand (Rifleman Book 2) by Griff Hosker – Review

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Today I’m reviewing Soldier’s Stand (Rifleman Book 2) by Griff Hosker!

Here’s the blurb

Defeat is a moment; victory is a legacy.

In the blistering heat of the North African desert, the air crackles with tension as the unrelenting Desert Fox, Erwin Rommel, closes in on the beleaguered forces of the Allied troops.

Private John ‘Hawkeye’ Sharratt, a battle-sharpened soldier weathered by loss but fuelled by an indomitable spirit, finds himself once again hunkered down with his brothers in arms. After a series of defeats, the veterans of Libya who learned to fight through hardship must now endure a desperate retreat across the unyielding sands. As the shadows of fallen comrades haunt their every step, they grapple with the weight of loss and the flickering flame of hope.

Just when the situation seems hopeless, a new commander arrives – General Montgomery is a man whose reputation for bold strategy ignites a newfound sense of purpose in the weary hearts of Sharratt’s unit. The order is clear: stand and hold the line at El Alamein. As the rumble of panzers grows closer, it becomes clear that survival is not simply a matter of soldiering on; it is an act of relentless bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. With past sacrifices bearing down upon them, the men of the Eighth Army must decide whether they will falter or fight for their futures.

Soldier’s Stand is not just a story of war; it is an exploration of camaraderie, resilience, and the human spirit’s capacity to rise above adversity. As readers follow Hawkeye and his fellow soldiers through the trials of battle, they will be drawn into a gripping narrative that encapsulates the raw emotions of fear, courage, and the unwavering hope that binds us, even in our darkest hours.

Review

Soldier’s Stand picks up where Conscript’s Call, Book1 leaves off. Private John ‘Hawkeye’ Sharratt is no longer a raw recruit.. his mind and body now show the scars of war.

The war isn’t over yet and Sharratt must channel his personal pain into unmoveable determination to make sure others have a chance to survive.

Hosker weaves a wonderful plot around the brutality of war, you almost forget the reality, that many have lost their lives in history to give others a chance..

When reality does hit, it packs a punch.. it’s brutal.. men cut down and basically forgotten.. it’s sobering at times.. a man killed, no time to recover them, sometimes not even enough time to grab their dog tags.. then fresh recruits arrive to fill the holes left and it all starts again.. the almost never-ending back and forth of death…the feeling those lost were simply a number when nothing could be further from the truth!

I really liked the portrayal of weapons, ammo etc, How the men had to conserve there supplies, some weapons failed, tanks are great but can be taken out with one hit to their tracks, the reality of the trenches showing their importance but also how little protection they really had.

I think the most poignant thing for me was learning about the mine fields, and how dangerous a task was to clear them.. how time consuming a task and how many men could be lost to gain very little.

Saying I loved the story feels a little wrong..it’s horrendous what happens but at the same time you feel pride too..it swells as Sharratt and his brothers in arms continue to move forward, never giving up…knowing that real people did exactly this, their heroic actions buried in time.

I’m not going to pretend I know what the reality of war is like but the pace and plot made me reflect a lot on how lucky I am.

The plot is very clever too… yes it’s very moving at times but there’s also a lot of excitement.. the near misses, the guile of the men when it looks like there’s no way out.. it’s the perfect mix of hard hitting reality and excitement.

The biggest surprise for me was how the author managed to add character development in such a fast paced plot driven tale. There’s real depth added to Sharratt as we see him become a leader, those last couple of chapters will stay with me that’s for sure.

I’m not going to spoil anything but Bowler..brilliant.. those who read the book will understand.. what a great pivotal addition to the story..

5/5 stars!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon, Or ask your local bookseller to get a copy in for you 🙂