Winter Quarters: The Collected Short Stories Volume II

by Lynn Bryant

Winter Quarters is the second published collection of Lynn Bryant’s short stories. With one exception, all of these stories were previously published on the author’s website, Writing with Labradors. Each of these nine stories has a Christmas or a winter theme and is set in the eighteenth or nineteenth century, many of them featuring familiar characters from the books.

In 1810, a Colonel’s wife becomes involved with a refugee crisis in Lisbon in A Regimental Christmas.

In 1809, a young Trafalgar veteran is posted to the Isle of Man in Colby Fair.

Three stories set during the winter of 1812-13 follow the fortunes of three British officers in A Winter in Cadiz, The Gift and The Frost Fair.

A self-made man discovers there is more to life than making money in the Yule Log.

And, in a brand new story only available in this book, we join the third brigade of the Light Division in France for their last Winter Quarters of the war.

Winter Quarters is the perfect companion to the Peninsular War Saga and the Manxman series and follows on from Brothers in Arms, the previous collection of Lynn Bryant’s well-loved short stories.

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2025

About the author

Lynn Bryant was born and raised in London’s East End. She studied History at University and had dreams of being a writer from a young age. Since this was clearly not something a working class girl made good could aspire to, she had a variety of careers including a librarian, NHS administrator, relationship counsellor and manager of an art gallery before realising that most of these were just as unlikely as being a writer and took the step of publishing her first book.

She now lives in the Isle of Man and is married to a man who understands technology, which saves her a job, and has two teenage children and a labrador. History is still a passion, with a particular enthusiasm for the Napoleonic era and the sixteenth century. When not writing she plays with her dog, reads anything that’s put in front of her and makes periodic and unsuccessful attempts to keep a tidy house.

“An Unwilling Alliance” the first book in the Manxman series was shortlisted for the 2019 Society for Army Historical Research fiction prize.

Reviews

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another pleasurable read

This collection is a fantastic addition to the Peninsula series. I've read some of the stories before but some of them are me to me. As usual, the details and descriptions are outstanding.

[John Nino · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end is near

Not a spoiler but it does draw the reader towards an ending. Thoroughly enjoyed the selection of short stories. Love and friendship predominate. Highly recommend for a bit of light reading.

[Christopher Curran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story telling

I've read all the books in the peninsula saga and thoroughly enjoyed them. This collection of short stories provides extra insight to some of my favorite characters.

[Jim Purcell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection fills in some gaps and creates some new connections for this author's excellent Peninsular War Series