Only 0.99 on Kindle - Limited time only - The Du Lac Chronicles

"...the intimacy in their relationship is tender, vulnerable and real, one of the best romantic relationships I've read..I loved, loved, loved this book and can't wait to read the next in the series..."

                                                                                                    M.M. Carter, Amazon Reviewer 

* Only 0.99 on Kindle - Limited time only *

A generation after Arthur Pendragon ruled, Briton lies fragmented into warring kingdoms and principalities.

“It is dangerous to become attached to a du Lac. He will break your heart, and you will not recover.” 

 So prophesies a wizened healer to Annis, daughter of King Cerdic of Wessex. If there is truth in the old crone’s words, they come far too late for Annis, who defies father, king, and country to save the man she loves.

Alden du Lac, once king of Cerniw, has nothing. Betrayed by Cerdic, Alden’s kingdom lies in rubble, his fort razed to the ground and his brother Merton missing, presumably dead. He has only one possession left worth saving: his heart. And to the horror of his few remaining allies, he gives that to the daughter of his enemy. They see Annis, at best, as a bargaining chip to avoid war with her powerful father. At worst, they see a Saxon whore with her claws in a broken, wounded king.

Alden has one hope: When you war with one du Lac, you war with them all. His brother Budic, King of Brittany, could offer the deposed young king sanctuary—but whether he will offer the same courtesy to Annis is far less certain.

Book Extract. 

"...I hear you surrendered,” he said, a faint hint of glee in his eyes.

Alden, who was still contemplating what Oeric had told him about his brother, looked up. “Good news travels fast.”

“As does bad.”

“It wasn’t something I wanted to do. I had no choice.”

“That is what they all say, isn’t it?” Oeric laughed. “And who is this fine-looking woman by your side?” Oeric turned his attention to Annis.

Annis raised her head reluctantly. She had never met King Oeric, although she had heard a lot about him, mainly about his skill as a warrior from her brother, who liked to talk about worthy opponents to anyone who cared to listen. His appearance surprised her. Oeric was an old man, older than her father was. His hair was a soft white, his face wrinkled. His eyes were watery and the colour of a foggy blue sky. His clothes were lavish and skilfully embroidered. He smiled a welcome, showing gaps in his mouth where his teeth had been knocked out. Alden was right; she could see he was mentally undressing her with his eyes. He made her feel sick.

“What is your name, my dear?” Even the way he spoke to her was lewd.

“Annis.”

“Annis?” Oeric raised his bushy white eyebrows. “A pretty name for a pretty girl.” He licked his lips. “And what are you doing in the company of Lord du Lac?”

Alden had to stop himself from saying king. The slight on Oeric’s part hit its mark well.

Annis nervously glanced at Alden. “I am his wife,” she whispered, fearing the lie.

“His wife?” he whispered back and then he laughed, turning his attention away from her and back to Alden.

“You lose a kingdom, but have the time to find a wife. Where did you pick her up? The dungeons?” Those gathered in the hall laughed at their king’s jest. “What did you do, my dear? Was it something horrid?” he asked Annis, stepping closer to her.

 

Alden’s arm shot out and pulled her closer to him. “The where and why has nothing to do with you.” There was a warning in his tone that he meant for Oeric to hear.

“You speak to me like a King. You forget yourself,” Oeric said, his eyes blazing with anger. “You cannot speak to me as an equal anymore. Annis, Annis.” He rolled her name over his tongue. “Of Wessex?” he stated, his eyes widening. “You married his daughter?”

 * Only 0.99 on Kindle - Limited time only *

Where can I get my hands on a copy of this book?

Amazon US 

Amazon UK

  About the author

Born in Bath, England, Mary Anne Yarde grew up in the southwest of England, surrounded and influenced by centuries of history and mythology. Glastonbury—the fabled Isle of Avalon—was a mere fifteen-minute drive from her home, and tales of King Arthur and his knights were part of her childhood.

At nineteen, Yarde married her childhood sweetheart and began a bachelor of arts in history at Cardiff University, only to have her studies interrupted by the arrival of her first child. She would later return to higher education, studying equine science at Warwickshire College. Horses and history remain two of her major passions.

Yarde keeps busy raising four children and helping run a successful family business. She has many skills but has never mastered cooking—so if you ever drop by, she (and her family) would appreciate some tasty treats or a meal out!

Useful Links. 
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Guest Post - Ghost of O'Leary House by Nicholas Paschall #horror @Nelfeshne

Horror writer, Nicholas Paschall is going to let us have a sneak-peak in between the pages of his latest book Ghost O'Leary House.

David is in college and just keeps screwing up. After his latest mistake of throwing a huge party while his parents were out of town, his mother decides to leave him stranded at his Grandmother's house in Alice Grove. What starts out as a horrible idea blossoms into a nightmare as ghosts, Witches, and curses come alive in the sleepy town. How will David handle it all?

 ***

 Excerpt 

"Closing the cabinet, he turned and took a step from the sink before he heard it. A low, sucking breath. Turning, he looked to where he’d heard the sound and gasped. Pressed tightly against the ceiling, arms splayed wide, was an old woman, her eyes wide and blank. Her gray hair was pulled back into a bun, her features drawn taut as if the hair bun was pulling her skin back as well. She was pressed against the ceiling, as if something was forcing her into it, with billowing black cloth fluttering around her in tatters. Both hands were braced against the wall, her fingers splayed wide, her long talon-like nails dark and red, the color of rust.

David, too scared to move, merely stared at the old woman. She pushed her head closer to his, her mouth moving as if she were speaking though no sounds were coming out. David could feel that she was trying to tell him something, trying desperately. But she just didn’t seem able to say anything.

“What do you want?” He asked, his voice wavering.

The old woman blinked, her eyes focusing on him. Her mouth closed, leaving her to take long, deep and rattling breaths. David stared at her for several long seconds before he heard his Grandma call out.

“David, have you found the aspirin?” She called, her voice echoing throughout the house.

The old woman whipped her head at the sound, the bathroom door slamming shut as she looked at it. David immediately dropped the bottle of pills and grabbed the door handle, twisting it. Somehow, the doorknob was stuck solid, as if someone on the other side was holding it steady.

Turning to look at the old woman, David shrank back when he saw that she’d crawled along the ceiling and was now on the opposite wall, head turned up to look at him at an inhuman level.

“What do you want?” He repeated, bending down slowly to grab the bottle of aspirin.

She stared at him, her clawed hands sliding along the wall as if she were being pushed skyward. “Go… up… come and… see…” She rasped out, her voice distant and echoing.

And like that she was gone, in the blink of an eye. David heard his Grandma call for him again and turned to open the door, running out into the hall to deliver the medicine."

Where can I buy this fabulous book?

Amazon US   

Amazon UK   

Amazon CAN 

About the author.

I'm just a humble ghost in the machine, a lurking specter in the darker reaches of the internet. I publish the dreams best left unsaid because I believe they should be heard. I graduated from the Univerity of Texas at San Antonio with a degree in History, which basically means I'm a researcher. My desktop is littered with projects that I hop to and fro like a mad cricket, working here and tinkering there. I have a website that I update five times a week at minimum. Hope to see you there! 
Useful links
Website. 

Book Spotlight - Princess Adele's Dragon by Shirley McLain @ShirleyMcLain93

Today's featured book is Princess Adele's Dragon by Young Adult fantasy author, Shirley McLain.

 

Princess Adele lives with her brother, Robert, the King of Valdoria in the castle. There has been a monster terrorizing the Kingdom for months. The King has finally come to a decision on how to deal with the monster but the Princess can't agree with him. For the sake of the Kingdom Princess Adele decides she must be the one to kill the dragon. She couldn't live with herself if her brother went ahead with his plans. 

What Adele found on her quest changed her life and the lives of those around her. She was a strong young woman who knew what she wanted and would do whatever it took to get it.  Follow Princess Adele as she battles to save her home and her life.

 Let's delve closer into the book and look at an excerpt!

Princess Adele's face paled when she heard the words of her brother. Her large green eyes stared at his face as she spoke. "Robert, it's inhuman. You can't do that. If the child were yours, what would you be thinking?"

"Look, Adele, I didn't come to this decision without doing a lot of soul-searching. Do you not think I haven't run this through my mind a million times? I don't know any other way to keep our kingdom safe from that monster. The counselor told me it's worked in the past."

"I don't care what your mighty counselor said. You can't do this. There must be another way." Princess Adele turned from her brother, the King, leaving him standing in the room alone. Her plan must be executed before the full moon.

How such a monster threatens her beautiful home is almost too much to comprehend. If only Anthony was here. He'd know what would be needed to stop this unthinkable act. Tears rolled down Adele's cheeks as she thought of her beloved Anthony. She enjoyed the world one day, deep in despair the next. What happened? Why did he leave?

The Princess recovered her emotions and resolved to come up with another plan besides sacrificing a beautiful child to the creature. There ought to be another way. Arriving at her bedchamber, her lady’s maid waited for her.

As Adele entered her room, Miranda bowed "Your Highness", she said.

"How many times do I need to tell you, Miranda, you do not bow to me and call me "Your Highness" every time I enter the room when we're alone. We've been like sisters since the age of four."

"I know, Adele, but if I don't do it all the time, I may forget. If I call you, Adele in public His Majesty's ogre of a counselor will behead me or something worse."

"What's worse than having your head chopped off?" Adele asked.

"Made to marry a man I do not love." Miranda helped the Princess change into her sleeping gown to make her ready for bed.

"Robert has tried to marry me off too many times to count. Six years ago, before we married, Anthony ran away for some reason. "

"You don't believe that any more than I do, Adele," With a soft voice Miranda said, he loved you more than life, and it showed in everything word and action he made. Changing the subject, what did the King say?"

"He plans to go through with the sacrifice on the night of the full moon, which is in two weeks." Princess Adele's covered her face with her hands as tears began to flow. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "I can't sit here and do nothing. A child sacrifice is unconscionable to me."

"What can a girl of your small stature do against a dragon? Many Knights died fighting that dragon. I can see you dead before you even get to the lair."

Princess Adele climbed into bed. "You know I can do anything a man can. She stifled a yawn then said "Goodnight, my dear friend. I hope you sleep well,"

***

Miranda blew out the wick of the oil lamp and said, "Goodnight, Adele." She turned with a big smile on her face and walked to the door to her room. I know what she's going to do, and as soon as her death is confirmed, I'll console the King. I'm in a fantastic position now to put our plan into action. I will be Queen of Valdoria! She smiled as she blew out the light and settled into her bed.

The door to Miranda's room opened and closed without making a sound. She heard footsteps padding across the room. "Hello, my love," Miranda whispered as she joyfully fell into a pair of strong arms.

***

She walked down the aisle to her beloved, Anthony. When she got close enough to take his hand, she slid backward, having to begin the journey down the aisle all over again. Adele experienced the same nightmare about her Anthony when she fell into a deep sleep. Tossing and turning, Princess Adele unable to sleep any longer, sat up in the bed. In the blackness of her room, she reached a decision. I know what I must do.

Without stars, the night sky displayed no brightness, only blackness as pitch. Adele hurried as she dressed in the boy’s clothes hidden in the straw of her mattress. Her secrets remained her own. Her adventures out of the castle before the sun came up, on many occasions, was known only to her. This adventure would be no different.

Her father made sure both of his children received the same education which she gave thanks for many times. She could fight with a sword and ride a horse as well as her brother. She bested her brother in their formal schooling. He wanted to play instead of educating himself. Robert began to apply himself to his education not long before their parent’s death. Adele's impressive capabilities were known only to Robert. Her father wanted her skills kept a secret for the purpose of a surprise if she needed it. If something happened to her brother, Adele could run the kingdom.

If her quest failed, she would no longer be alive, and her brother would be alone. He would be the only one of the family left. Her parents, the King, and Queen died the previous year from the plague. She and her brother left the area until the crisis passed.

They returned home having no parents and the country, no King and Queen. Her nineteen-year-old brother became King and Lord Ashmore guided the new King in all decisions. They relied on Lord Ashmore as their father did, over the years.

***

In an inconspicuous manner, Adele walked down the long castle hallway to the secret exit that took her underground, straightway to the stables. She thought once again of her father and how he made sure she knew the secret entrance location. He told her no one knew about it except her, but if the need arose she could share it with her brother. So far, it remained her secret way out of the castle.

She lit a torch before entering the tunnel. She didn't like the darkness of the tunnel. The dampness didn't bother her at all, and it felt refreshing when the outside temperature got high.

The trap door opening in the stable storage room remained well hidden. She checked it every evening, so it remained unobstructed. At the bottom of the ladder, she pulled her sword from its storage area. She carried it as she climbed the ladder to the storage room.

After covering the floor with the rug to hide the entry, she made her way to Champion's stall. "Hello, my darling. Are you ready for a ride?" The stable hand saddled the horse. She put the mufflers on Champion's hooves so he wouldn't make any noise walking across the stones. Adele waited for the guards to walk to the other side of the parapet so she could escape the castle grounds unseen. She didn't wait long. When she felt it safe, she carefully walked Champion out the gate to the open field. Once on his back, she gave the horse his head and let him run across the field to the timber edge.

 

Where can I buy this fabulous book?

Amazon US

Amazon UK

About the author

Shirley McLain makes her home in Sapulpa Oklahoma with her husband and their fur family of four dogs and three cats. She also has two grown children, six grandchildren and twin great-grand sons.  She has/is living a very full life.  She retired after working thirty-two years as a RN and then began a full time writing carrier. She and her husband enjoy their five-acre country home.  It is a perfect setting to let Shirley’s Muse work it’s magic. Shirley is an eclectic writer and has always enjoyed the writing process. Shortly after her retirement she woke up one morning with the thought that she was going to write a book. She didn’t stop writing until she’d finished her first book.  So far she has published four books which are now on Amazon.  Her goal is to bring as much enjoyment to her readers as deserve and want.

 

Useful links 

email  Shirley_mclain@yahoo.com 

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#BookReview - Song At Dawn by Jean Gill @writerjeangill #amreading

I had the very great pleasure of reviewing the Winner of the Global Ebook Award for Best Historical Fiction  Song at Dawn: 1150 in Provence (The Troubadours Quartet) by Jean Gill.

Let's take a look at the book... 

On the run from abuse, Estela wakes in a ditch with only her lute, her amazing voice, and a dagger hidden in her underskirt. Her talent finds a patron in Aliénor of Aquitaine and more than a music tutor in the Queen's finest troubadour and Commander of the Guard, Dragonetz los Pros.

Weary of war, Dragonetz uses Jewish money and Moorish expertise to build that most modern of inventions, a papermill, arousing the wrath of the Church. Their enemies gather, ready to light the political and religious powder-keg of medieval Narbonne.

Set in the period following the Second Crusade, Jean Gill's spellbinding romantic thrillers evoke medieval France with breathtaking accuracy. The characters leap off the page and include amazing women like Eleanor of Aquitaine and Ermengarda of Narbonne, who shaped history in battles and in bedchambers.

***

What did I think of the story?

Gill certainly knows how to weave a provocative tale of romance, plots, intrigue, treason and murder. 

Songs at Dawn is set, for the most part, in the French city of Narbonne during the 12^th Century. The story whisks us away to the court of Queen Aliénor (Eleanor) of Aquitaine. But the crown does not rest easy on Aliénor head. She is unhappy in her marriage and, to make things worse, there is an assassin in the bosom of her court - the question is...who?

The story is primarily about a 16-year-old runaway, called Estela, who, due to being a very talented musician, ends up at the court of Aliénor. Estela continues her tuition under the dashing, and not forgetting very talented troubadour, as well as an exemplary loyal knight - Dragonetz.

Estela finds herself plunged to the forefront of court life, and not always for the better. Jealousy is rife and Estela is an innocent. She is soon the target for malicious gossip and spiteful pranks.  She also has the added misfortune of falling for her tutor. I thought Gill's portrayal of Estela was exemplary. She captured her innocence perfectly and she was a very believable 16-year-old.

Dragonetz, is the Queen's most loyal servant and he would do everything in his power to keep her safe. However, he is growing tired of court life and war. He wants to become a mill owner – he has very ambitious plans to make paper - he is, I guess you could say, something of a visionary. But the Queen must come first – he certainly has no time, or no right, to allow the feelings he has for his young protégée to become anything more than a fancy. The romance between Estela and Dragonetz is a slow build, but when they both finally admit to having feelings for each other, passion takes over and life will never be the same for either of them again.

Gill has obviously spent a great deal of time researching the era her story is set in and this comes across in the telling.  I enjoyed the story very much and it has reawakened my interest in Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Where can I get my FREE copy of this fabulous book?

Amazon

B&N

Kobo

iTunes

Smashwords

About the author

Jean Gill is a Welsh writer and photographer living in the south of France with a big white dog, a scruffy black dog, a Nikon D700 and a man. For many years, she taught English in Wales and was the first woman to be a secondary headteacher in Carmarthenshire. She is mother or stepmother to five children so life was hectic.

Publications are varied, including prize-winning poetry and novels, military history, translated books on dog training, and a cookery book on goat cheese. With Scottish parents, an English birthplace and French residence, she can usually support the winning team on most sporting occasions.

Contact Jean at jean.gill@wanadoo.fr with comments or questions. You'll find a mix of her work, along with fun trivia about books, at www.jeangill.com Her photo portfolio is at www.istockphoto.com/jeangill and she blogs at www.jeangill.blogspot.com

Guest Post - "Author's Inspiration" Jin Okubo @mercasio

 

Please give a warm welcome to romance author, Jin Okubo who is here to tell us about his inspirations behind his new book Love.

Jin, what inspired you to write your beautiful novel, "Love"?

There are many reasons why writers choose to write. There can be huge ideas or even feelings, where we may draw our inspiration. For me there are a few, but out of those few one stands above the rest. I have always had strong women in my life. With that in mind I was able to draw inspiration by focusing my main protagonist as female.

The idea for romance came from my own love of the literature on the matter. I tried to pen fantasy and even a biography, but neither had the appeal or draw of romance. Then came the view, which I wanted to take. I wanted to paint the picture of true to life relationships. The ones we could all relate to in one form or another. In that sense the women in my life took a big role with one particular person taking center stage in the characteristics of my female lead.

As I started to pen my first romance novel Love the whole circle of relationships and particularly the one with the woman who would become my main character I drew on my experiences and my feelings.

Many people would sit and listen to music to get inspired and I am no different. As I started to tell this story I listened to the singer Meatloaf and how he talks about love. It can be said of me that I am a hopeless romantic and would love for life to be as it is in fiction, though that is not true.

The biggest step that I took was breaking up my novel into two parts. The first one being ‘Love’ and the second one soon to be released is called ‘Kaoru In Loves Shadow’ and while Love is inspired more by my inability to accept or see my life in a relationship, it deals with the internal conflicts I as a man had during my relationships and how it moved me.

I often think that women are much more perceptive then men which is why the second novel is more, true to form of what is happening in the real world. It is this duality that I find missing in the romance genre today. This need to fill that void, to write a fiction romance that holds true to the form of daily lives is what drove the story home for me.

That need to connect with real people and show our shared experiences from the silly arguments which meant so much to the missed signs of love, even that part connected to the love over a lemon of a car. A real life romance.

 
Living in L.A. Robert runs his life with clockwork precision. He thinks he knows about love, about romance and about life. Why shouldn't he? The classics have taught him all there is to know. But they are just fiction. 

He has a girl, a house with a den full of classical books, and a job where people leave him to his own devices. Everything seems perfect, but happiness eludes him. And with the realities of being in a relationship, the point of breaking seems to be ever closer...

***

Excerpt:

A Touch Of Flavor

The first true fight we had was nothing more than a trivial point, still neither of us was willing to give. Such was our nature. Still looking back the first true fight was trivial yes but a true test of wills. I was her husband now and needed to insure that my will was not cast aside at her whims without contest.

 

Toast would take jelly or butter, and there are even folks who would take it plain, or be as ghastly as to take it with margarine. I was of the group that preferred butter, and or plain if there was none to be around.

As you would guess her to be, she was the polar opposite of me. There was nothing better than for her to be my mirror opposite. Yes, she was the jelly type of person. Always needing it in the mornings. I swear it was not a normal kind of need. Yet, there I would sit quietly watching in suspended horror, every time. My dear lord how she would shovel gobs of jelly in varying flavors, depending on her mood, onto the poor tiny slice of toasted bread.

I do have to admit and take full responsibility that her over-reaction, was indeed caused by a poorly timed joke, at non-other than the toast’s expense.

There were so many other things that could have been pointed out. Yet it was the offense of bread by her that I wanted her to see. In her own words the slice of bread stopped caring about itself once it agreed to be burnt to the right edible color. Why should I, of all the people around take offense to her way of eating toast?

Now let me remind you that I had said nothing. I had not spoken the utter discomfort I felt with her way of eating toast. My body on the other hand…

Yes, I know that as I sit here writing this explanation that it may sound contrived or even crazy. She may be the crazier of the two if we were taken only on the issue of this toast. But never forget that of the two the crazy one is I. Yes the wording could be phrased better but then again the topic is toast is it not?

The bread we had taken for this morning’s repass was a nice pumpernickel bread baked fresh the day before. The bakery liked to try new things and, as she was the adventurous one, she went head over heels as the bread was baked in small baguette style loafs. In all manner of speaking, any bread lover would see these and think great, wonderful and maybe even that these were the greatest invention since donut holes.

Then there were the other people. The ones who did not go into a frenzy over food as simple as bread. For these people, people like myself, bread was food and nothing else. What came to mind even more was why anyone in their right mind would slice bread so small that it was bite sized.

Yet here we sat with wafer thin slices of toasted bread.

“Would you like bread with your jelly?” A playful tone, light but it was there in my voice as the words came out. Well maybe there was a touch to much sarcasm.

Where can I buy this fabulous book?

Amazon US

Amazon UK

About the author. 

There are few interesting things that can be said about my home town. I grew up in a mildly racist country town in the Santa Barbara mountains, though I am hopeful that things have changed there. Having grown up during the great migrant issues of California during the 80’s and 90’s, I was able to experience some of the issues when I was getting my higher education in university. The biggest part of my life was finding my self-identity, which was never truly clear to me as a youth. 

Upon finishing my university studies I moved to the beautiful country of Japan only to bounce back and forth between the U.S and Japan for a couple of years. Finally, I received my Japanese citizenship in the spring of 2014. My life has been filled with many strong women which is one of the contributing factors in my protagonists tending to be women. I am a lover of classical literature. I hope to bring in a new style of classical literature in the current age of fast paced easy to read cookie cutter style novels that are being pushed out in mass across the world. Choosing to stick to my own style of writing rather than to write for easy to sell books has made my work difficult to get into, yet it is the joy of writing that is the reason as to why I do things the way I do.

 There is always the temptation to write easy to digest books that are made to sell, rather than books that are written for an experience reader and very few writers have mastered both.  As I work to improve my craft, I am inching my way ever closer to that perfect balance of books that will satisfy the modern reader and the reader who focuses more on content rather than face value.

I would like to make a comment to my, would be readers: “I write to challenge my reader. As you face this challenge you will find that you will grow to love the characters I have created. This love will bring a deeper understanding to my writing and my characters more.”

    Useful links    authors website

Book Release - Jasper - Book Two Of The Tudor Trilogy @tonyriches

Tony Riches, is one of my favorite Historical fiction authors. I had the pleasure of reviewing Owen - Book One Of The Tudor Trilogy last year. I have, like many others, been eagerly awaiting the release of the next book in the series.

Jasper - Book Two Of The Tudor Trilogy.

 'Without the heroic Jasper Tudor there could have been no Tudor dynasty.' 
Terry Breverton, author, historian and Television Presenter. 

'Jasper Tudor was the greatest survivor of the Wars of the Roses. Whilst almost all his contemporaries suffered often brutal and bloody deaths, Jasper persevered against all the odds. That's not to say it was easy, as you will discover...'

   Nathen Amin, Author of Tudor Wales.

Following the best-selling historical fiction novel  OWEN – Book One of The Tudor Trilogy, this is the incredible story, based on actual events, of Owen’s son Jasper Tudor, who changes the history of England forever. 

England 1461: The young King Edward of York takes the country by force from King Henry VI of Lancaster. Sir Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, flees the massacre of his Welsh army at the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross and plans a rebellion to return his half-brother King Henry to the throne.

When King Henry is imprisoned by Edward in the Tower of London and murdered, Jasper escapes to Brittany with his young nephew, Henry Tudor. After the sudden death of King Edward and the mysterious disappearance of his sons, a new king, Edward’s brother Richard III takes the English Throne. With nothing but his wits and charm, Jasper sees his chance to make young Henry Tudor king with a daring and reckless invasion of England.

Set in the often brutal world of fifteenth century England, Wales, Scotland, France, Burgundy and Brittany, during the Wars of the Roses, this fast-paced story is one of courage and adventure, love and belief in the destiny of the Tudors.

Where can I buy this fabulous book? 

Amazon US

Amazon UK

About the author.

Tony Riches is a full time author of best-selling fiction and non-fiction books. He lives by the sea in Pembrokeshire, West Wales with his wife and enjoys sea and river kayaking in his spare time.

For more information about Tony’s other books please visit his popular blog, The Writing Desk and his Wordpress website and find him on Facebook and Twitter @tonyriches.

 

New Release - Hunting the Eagles #hisfic @BenKaneAuthor

I am very excited to announce the latest release from historical fiction author, Ben Kane.  I had an ARC of this book and I Highly Recommend it, you can read my review here. Why not check it out today!

AN ARMY DEFEATED

AD 14: Five long years have passed since the annihilation of three legions in the wilds of Germania. Although the bones of 15,000 soldiers now moulder in the Teutoburg Forest, not all the Romans were slain in the bloody ambush.

A CENTURION OUT FOR VENGEANCE

Demoted, battle-scarred and hell-bent on revenge, Centurion Tullus and his legionaries begin their fightback. Ranged against them is the charismatic chieftan Arminius, who is gathering thousands of hostile tribesmen, and determined to crush the Romans for a second time.

AN EAGLE RECOVERED

The eagle belonging to Tullus' old legion is still in enemy hands, but as the Romans' reprisals take their army deep into German tribal lands, he remains convinced that it is within reach. But Arminius and his warriors are perilously close. As battle begins, Tullus and his comrades know they must fight as never before - just to stay alive..

Where can I buy this fabulous book? 

Amazon US   Amazon UK 

About the author
Kenya born, Irish by blood and UK resident, Ben Kane’s passion for history has taken him to more than 60 countries, and all 7 continents. During his travels and subsequent research, including walking hundreds of miles in complete Roman military gear, he has learned much about the Romans and the way they lived. Seven of his nine novels have been Sunday Times top ten bestsellers, and his books are published in twelve languages. He lives in Somerset with his wife and children, where he writes full time.
Ben Kane was born in Kenya and raised there and in Ireland. He studied veterinary medicine at University College Dublin, but after that he travelled the world extensively, indulging his passion for ancient history. Having visited more than 60 countries and all 7 continents, he now lives in North Somerset with his wife and family.
He has been a full time writer since late 2008, and has loved almost every moment of that time. Apart from all things Roman, Ben loves military history of any type. Basically, if a book features men with guns and/or swords, he’ll read it. Other interests include rugby, walking, and beer. If an afternoon can include all three, it’s bound to be perfect.

Ben is also lucky enough to be the Treasurer of the newly founded Historical Writers’ Association.

Traitor Knight by Keith.W.Willis #BookReview #amreading @kilbourneknight

"Oh, why hadn't she just let the dragon eat her back when she'd had the chance? It would have made everything so much simpler." 

I had the pleasure of reviewing the historical fantasy Traitor Knight by Keith.W.Willis

What's the story?

When Morgan McRobbie rescues a damsel-in-distress from a dragon, he expects she’ll swoon, murmuring “My hero!” Instead, Marissa has only loathing for the man everyone believes will betray Kilbourne. That’s fine with Morgan. A woman in his life would just complicate things.

A high-level informer threatens the kingdom’s security, and Morgan is out to stop him. Posing as a turncoat himself, he’s walking a fine line between honor and betrayal. A single misstep could result in disaster, and his mission is fraught with distractions: the pesky dragon, a pair of conniving courtiers, and the disillusioned damsel who’s certain Morgan can’t be trusted.

If Morgan’s going to save the kingdom, win the girl, and manage to stay alive, he’ll need to step up his game. Because the traitor is lurking in the shadows, and his scheme calls not just for the betrayal of Kilbourne, but also the destruction of Morgan McRobbie.

What did I think of the story?

"Amazing, simply amazing," the king said again. "This shall have to go down in song, you realize?"
"As long as I don't have to attempt the singing of it," Morgan replied.

 

The book open with a ferocious dragon, who's plans are thwarted - not so much by the brave heroic knight who is intent on rescuing the maiden - but by a bad, and appallingly timed case, of the hiccups.

And if that does not get your fingers twitching to turn the pages of this book, then I don't know what will!

This book was so much fun, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The protagonist, Morgan McRobbie - the commander of the Kilbourne Military - is everything a fine commander should be – Brave. Loyal to a fault. Honest. With a dubious reputation?  Hopeless romantic ( and I mean hopeless). Traitor...okay so he is a complex character, with one or two issues to work through. But for what it is worth - I really liked him!

Lady Marissa, is just great fun. She isn’t one of those maiden's who is prone to a fainting fits when a spider runs across the room - she bravely faces down a dragon, a network of spies, Morgan and her cat! Of all the characters in this book, I think she made me laugh out loud the most. She was so much fun to read about and boy, as a love interest she was more than a match for Morgan! I even felt sorry for him on occasions - because ouch, that must have hurt!

 Through out the story there is a 'real' traitor in the bosom of the court, whose secrets are as dark as his plots. But thankfully, The Watch (a police force) knows how to deal with men like him - if only the scoundrels would stop escaping from their dungeons, they would have everything in hand.

I would like to congratulate Willis on the very believable world he created -think medieval England meets fairy-tale. I soon felt at home there. All of the characters in this book had flesh on them - their individuality shone through. There was plenty of action, romance, suspense, a murder or two, a chase across the roof tops and a dragon - did I mention a dragon?

All in all, a really enjoyable read. I Highly Recommend.

Where can I buy this fabulous book?

Amazon

Champagne Books 

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

About the author.

 

Keith W. Willis graduated (long ago) from Berry College with a degree in English Lit. He now lives in the scenic Hudson Valley/Adirondack region of NY with his wife Patty. They have one grown son, Matt, who actually thinks it’s pretty cool that Dad wrote a book.
 

Keith’s interests include camping, canoeing, and Scrabble. Keith began writing seriously in 2008, when the voices in his head got too annoying to ignore. When he’s not making up stories he manages a group of database content editors at a global information technology firm. TRAITOR KNIGHT is his first published novel.

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