16 Jul Book Review The Standing Stone on the Moor Allie Cresswell #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalFiction #Yorkshire #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn

FEATURED AUTHOR: ALLIE CRESSWELL

I’m delighted to welcome Allie Cresswell as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour, being held between June 26th – July 17th, 2025. Allie Cresswell is the author of the Historical Fiction / Historical Romance, The Standing Stone on the Moor (Talbot Saga Book #3), published byAllie Cresswell Limited on 20^th June 2025 (531 pages).

Below are highlights of The Standing Stone on the Moor, Allie Cresswell’s author bio, and my 5-star review of her poignant novel set in mid-19th century England during the Irish potato famine when several of its inhabitants were forced to emigrate. 

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/05/blog-tour-the-standing-stone-on-moor-by-allie-cresswell.html

HIGHLIGHTS: THE STANDING STONE ON THE MOOR

The Standing Stone on the Moor
(Talbot Saga Book #3)
by Allie Cresswell

Blurb:

Yorkshire, 1845.

Folklore whispers that they used to burn witches at the standing stone on the moor. When the wind is easterly, it wails a strange lament. History declares it was placed as a marker, visible for miles—a signpost for the lost, directing them towards home.

Forced from their homeland by the potato famine, a group of itinerant Irish refugees sets up camp by the stone. They are met with suspicion by the locals, branded as ‘thieves and ne’er-do-wells.’ Only Beth Harlish takes pity on them, and finds herself instantly attracted to Ruairi, their charismatic leader.

Beth is the steward of nearby manor Tall Chimneys—a thankless task as the owners never visit. An educated young woman, Beth feels restless, like she doesn’t belong. But somehow ‘home’—the old house, the moor and the standing stone—exerts an uncanny magnetism. Thus Ruairi’s great sacrifice—deserting his beloved Irish homestead to save his family—resonates strongly with her.

Could she leave her home to be with him? Will he even ask her to?

As she struggles with her feelings, things take a sinister turn. The peaceable village is threatened by shrouded men crossing the moor at night, smuggling contraband from the coast. Worse, the exotic dancing of a sultry-eyed Irishwoman has local men in a feverish grip. Their womenfolk begin to mutter about spells and witchcraft. And burning.

The Irish refugees must move on, and quickly. Will Beth choose an itinerant life with Ruairi? Or will the power of ‘home’ be too strong?

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/b5P5pG

Author’s Website: www.allie-Cresswell.com

AUTHOR BIO: ALLIE CRESSWELL

Allie has been writing fiction since she could hold a pencil. She has a BA and an MA in English Literature, specialising in the classics of the nineteenth century.

She has been a print-buyer, a pub landlady, a bookkeeper and the owner of a group of boutique holiday cottage but nowadays she writes full time.

She has two grownup children, five grandchildren and two cockapoos but just one husband, Tim. They live in the remote northwest of the UK.

The Standing Stone on the Moor is her sixteenth novel.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.allie-cresswell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alliecresswell

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allienovelist/

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@allienovelist

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allie-cresswell

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3GAaPXw

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6457033.Allie_Cresswell

BOOK REVIEW: THE STANDING STONE ON THE MOOR

The Irish refugees setting up camp near the manor of Tall Chimneys profoundly impact the lives of Beth, the educated steward of the estate, and her reclusive brother, Frank, in the historical British and Irish novel, The Standing Stone on the Moor by Allie Cresswell, set in mid-nineteenth century Yorkshire. Even though it is Book 3 in the Talbot Saga, it can be read as a standalone. Beth and Frank are caretakers of the manor where their owners seldom visit. Beth comes under the scrutiny of local English inhabitants when she sympathizes with the Irish immigrants scraping by with odd jobs, including nightly jaunts smuggling contraband.

At a dinner hosted by the regional vicar, she meets the son of a coal magnate and his associate, Stephen Milton. As Stephen escorts her home from the dinner, Beth is unaware of his interest in her but becomes anxious not to find Frank at home. The next morning, she finds a man stripped to the waist near the water trough washing himself and an Irish dancer, Aoife, emerging from the kitchen. Frank introduces Beth to Ruairi, the leader of the Irish refugees and brother to Aoife. Thereafter, her relationship with Ruairi blossoms and Frank succumbs to the wiles of Aoife.  Beth’s loyalties and convictions are tested when she must choose between the two suitors and possibly leave her brother and home.

Author Allie Cresswell has masterfully written a classic tale dealing with the social and marital interplay between the English and the Irish, reminding me of the style of Henry James. The tale is written from an omniscient viewpoint that at first looks upon the characters from a distance but then delves into their minds and souls. At first, I found it difficult to engage with the story at the beginning because the characters are described without insight into their thoughts and inner feelings. However, when the story finally conveys the characters’ thoughts and inner feelings, I felt a special connection to them. In retrospect, I realize this style of storytelling is a metaphor of how most people view strangers at a distance until they associate with them and understand their situations. That is why the English locals stereotype the Irish immigrants as vagrants and witches. Corporate coal mine magnates abuse workers without thought that hunger and deprivation could impact their effectiveness at work. 

Ultimately, this is poignant tale of a young woman’s journey to find purpose and her true heart in life. Beth faces profound heartache but remains resilient and true to her convictions. The love triangle of Ruairi and Stephen adds a romantic layer to the story. The suitors are like Beth’s twin souls, each connecting to her in a special way. The tapestry of other characters help develop others themes in the story: societal injustices, power and corruption, love vs. duty, betrayal, and redemption. The narrative is rich in detail about daily activities and adds to the emotion of each scene. 

The Standing Stone on the Moor is an evocative story of a young woman striving to reconcile her love for two men that may counter her true purpose and happiness in life. It is recommended to those who enjoy reading multi-layered, complex historical tales filled with romance, intrigue, and redemption.

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