From action-packed naval thrillers and gripping stories of military heroism to captivating travel memoirs, there’s something exciting here for everyone. Scroll down to discover this month’s titles from your favourite Sapere authors.
April’s Fiction Releases
Tenacious by Jonathan Eyers is the first book in the Newt Beresford Naval Adventures series: Age of Sail historical adventures set in the 18th century. When Newt Beresford joins the frigate HMS Tenacious, he soon finds himself increasingly isolated on a ship full of whispered secrets, coded names, mysterious symbols and threatening messages.
A Miracle of Deliverance: A Dunkirk Short Story Anthology is a collection of linked short stories that commemorate the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940. From a British soldier reflecting on the chaos of war, to a naval lieutenant doing his best to save the army from complete disaster, each of these stories reveals the heroic actions and deeply moving stories of the men and women who took part in this remarkable evacuation.
The Blooding of Jack Absolute by C. C. Humphreys is the first book in the Jack Absolute Military Adventure series: page-turning historical thrillers set in the 18th century. Can young Jack endure bloody battles in a wild landscape?
The Cold Light of Day by Stephen Taylor is the second book in the Augustus Swift Investigations series: chilling historical mysteries set in 18th-century London. Can Augustus Swift track down the ‘Beast of London’ before there are any more deaths?
Border Winds by Eric Helm is the second book in the Global War Military Thriller series. The world war has reached America’s backyard in this alternative-history military adventure set in the 20th century.
A Trace of Memory by Elizabeth Bailey is a quirky historical romance set in Georgian England with an intriguing twist. How can Elaine trust her heart if she can’t remember who she is?
Speculator by Neil Denby is the sixth book in the Quintus Roman Thrillers series. Centurion Julius Quintus Quirinius and his comrades are pushed to their limits in this action-packed military adventure set in Ancient Rome.
April’s Fiction Backlist Releases
We are pleased to announce that Flotilla Attack and Operation Chariot by Charles Whiting writing as Duncan Harding are now available from Amazon. Don’t miss these page-turning historical naval adventures set during the Second World War.
April’s Audio Releases
Lose yourself in a great audiobook this month!
Can an enterprising thief unmask a murderer? Find out in Murder at Greenwich Palace by Adele Jordan.
Discover a thrilling police procedural with an unexpected twist in Lying and Dying by Graham Brack.
The war is intensifying for the Secret Sirens in The Night Angels by D. R. Bailey.
A young centurion is sent on a suicide mission in Fortress of Steel by Jeff Jones.
April’s Non-Fiction Releases
Bomber Barons by Chaz Bowyer is a powerful and compelling history of Bomber Command and the extraordinary men who risked everything in the skies over Nazi Germany.
Pommie Migrant by Sydney Hart is a vivid and entertaining memoir of a “Ten Pound Pom” who left post-war Britain to begin a new life in Australia, capturing both the highs and lows of the migrant experience.
Andalucia by Nicholas Luard offers a vivid portrait of the region’s landscapes, traditions, and tumultuous past — a must-read for everyone who loves travel, history, and Spain.
British Liberation Army: 1944–1945 by Charles Whiting is a gripping account of the British Infantry’s final push to liberate Europe from Nazi control in the last year of the Second World War, 1944–1945.
Happy Reading! Team Sapere
Vibrant Voices. Sensational Stories. Beautiful Books.
Sydney Hart, author of Submarine Upholder and Discharged Dead, served as a submariner in the North Sea, the Atlantic, and the Mediterranean during World War Two. To commemorate the eightieth anniversary of the end of World War Two, Sydney’s daughters Lynne and Andrea share their memories of him below.
Sydney Hart
Our father came across as a somewhat hard man, but underneath there was a soft man with a dry, hilarious sense of humour, which must have been an asset in his seafaring days.
After leaving submarines, Dad decided to emigrate to Australia. He felt unsettled after entering Civvy Street in post-war England. Of course, his family and friends tried to deter him, but to no avail. Sydney made a formal application to emigrate. The £10 ‘Pommie’ fare allowed him a berth on the Empire Brent. Of course, his treasured motorbike had to come as well.
On a May morning, Dad sailed from Liverpool and shared a cabin with seven other fortune-seekers. The ship sailed full of £10 Pommies, seeking a better life in a sunny climate. On leaving England, Dad met his future wife — our mum, Betty — whilst looking over the railings. Upon arrival in Sydney, Australia, Dad travelled regularly on his motorbike to visit her, and their romance flourished. They had a secret wedding in October, with two witnesses who Dad had plucked off the street.
Sydney Hart
Home was a caravan in the bush. This was a lovely, contented start to married life for our parents, though the caravan lacked any amenities. They loved the friendly, relaxed manner of the people around them. After a very challenging wet season, our parents moved to a park with better facilities. It was in this park that I (Lynne) was born, in February 1951. Dad always wondered what his Australian daughter would think of her ‘Pommie’ parents. After much discussion, they decided to return to England. Whether this would be permanent or a holiday, they didn’t know. When I was nine months old, we sailed on the SS Strathmore back to England as a family.
On arrival at Grandad’s house in Standish, a village in Northwest England, we were greeted with a warm welcome party. Dad joined the crew of the George, bound for the Middle East, after a few weeks in England. Mum and I stayed with my paternal grandad. It was easy to see where Dad got his nature from. Grandad adored me and was quite a character. Everyone wanted to know why Mum and Dad hadn’t unpacked. The truth was, they weren’t sure if they were staying. Of course, a £10 Pommie had a full passage back.
A submarine Sydney served on
They had a ticket confirming a passage back to Australia, but this took a long time to arrive and cost £225. They also declined other offers which would have made their life in England better. Just before the passage came through, Dad accepted a position with a car factory, as he had to support his family. We lived with Grandad for six years. During this time, Dad had three books published. We then moved to a bungalow about a mile away. In 1959, my sister Andrea Davina was born.
Dad stayed in his job until his retirement. Although he did this for his family, he never lost his wanderlust spirit.
Dad died suddenly in 1979. His last request was that he be buried at sea from Portsmouth, as a true submariner.
