Tag Archives: medieval romance

Release Promotion–One Winter Knight, a medieval Christmas anthology

October 27, 2016 admin Leave a comment

Hear ye, hear ye! Looking for medieval romance? Tales of knights and their ladies abound in ONE WINTER KNIGHT, a wonderful collection of medieval holiday novellas for your reading pleasure!

You’ll be held spellbound by this boxed set of captivating stories from some of today’s top medieval authors, as well as some rising stars in this up-and-coming genre. Lindsay Townsend, Deborah Macgillivray, Cynthia Breeding, Keena Kincaid, Cheryl Pierson, Beverly Wells, Patti Sherry-Crews, and Linda Carroll-Bradd have woven eight excellent Yuletide tales of love lost and found that are sure to keep you reading far into the night. Laced with holiday traditions and the excitement of a bold, dangerous era, Prairie Rose Publications is proud to offer yet another wonderful boxed set of medieval Christmas tales for your reading pleasure.

This collection of novellas makes a wonderful holiday gift for hours of entertaining reading—for others, or for yourself! These stories are certain to keep you enthralled as you read on to find out how these knights and ladies find their very own “happily-ever-after” endings ONE WINTER KNIGHT…

Pre-order now for the November 3^rd release

Amazon link

Behind the story…

Many years have passed since I’d considered writing a medieval setting, but I wanted to challenge myself. The way I got inspired was to look through the travel book I used for my trip to Ireland in 2014. Although the location wasn’t a place we visited, I was intrigued to learn about a motte-and-bailey wooden castle built on a strategic river location that was later rebuilt in stone as Kilkenny Castle. That kick-started the story wheels. Ireland is a country that has seen its share of political strife, and I picked a time when the Norman influence was relatively new. So I was introduced to Richard de Clare, Count Striguli of Normandy, France aka Strongbow, a Norman leader who came to Ireland as an ally to a failing king, bringing troops to bolster the king’s fighting strength, and ended up marrying his way into a kingship. I’d found my setting and the political climate of a people serving non-native born rulers.

Tagline: Will opposing political beliefs and family loyalty keep the lovers apart?

BLURB: Weaver Thordia Ulfsdottir can no longer wait for her brother to request payment for the sword he crafted—the money is needed for food. In Castle Kilburren, she demands an audience with the Earl but is thwarted by a tipsy knight. Rory MacGuignard, captain of the castle guard, flirts, thinking she’s come to provide entertainment and he’s enjoyed a few kisses from traveling minstrels before. Realizing his mistake, Rory arranges a temporary job for this poor but proud woman he’s offended. Time spent in his company softens Thordia’s opinion. When opposing political beliefs and family loyalty rip them apart, Thordia despairs of finding a way back to Rory’s side

Character Interview, Interview

Character Interview from A Knight To Remember by M.J. Schiller

November 4, 2015 admin 17 Comments

Tell us your name.

I’m called Orion.

Where were you raised?

When I was a small child my parents saw something in me, and left me at the Academy of the High Order. That was where I was raised. My instructors and fellow students became my family, but of course I was closest with my mentor, Sir Darius Lee. When Darius married, his wife, Maggie, became like a sister to me. Sort of. We also have a kind of odd assortment of friends we have gathered throughout our travels across the galaxy that I would consider part of my family.

The Academy was a beautiful place to grow up. It is kind of like a huge crystal palace built into the side of a cliff on the planet Albion.

Are you athletic?

I’m not quite sure what you mean by ath-let-tic. I am fit. My coordination was honed at the Academy through many classes and exercises. I feel I had some natural talents to begin with, but I learned a lot from my Master, Darius, and even Maggie. *grins* Yes, she’s taught me a thing or two. And I like to think I’ve learned from every opponent I’ve faced as well. That’s the only way you can get better.

Did you always want to be a Knight?

Well, it wasn’t like I was given a choice. But, yes. It is an honorable job. I like serving the common good and trying to protect the innocent from those who mean them harm. Plus, I get to meet all sorts of people and travel to amazing places. Some dark and miserable, some unbelievably beautiful.

What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you?

Ha! Ha! Where do I start? One of the craziest, and most wonderful things that has ever happened to me actually happened on my wedding night. No, before that. Although that was wonderful…and amazing… Ahem. What I was referring to was when my wife sang this little number…she was wearing this red boa and man! The way she moved! Mmm.

Talk about your favorite setting for a date. (or favorite way to court a woman)

There has only been one woman for me. And we’ve only really been on one date. We went to this place that Darius and I trained at. It was quite a hike up to the spot I wanted to share with her, but well worth the effort. The scenery was spectacular. A lovely spot for a dip in the water with a woman who made me forget about all of it. All I was aware of was her.

BUY LINK–AMAZON

I was born in Overland Park, KS, grew up in St. Louis, MO, went to school at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and moved to Bloomington, IL fresh out of college. I worked as a high school/junior college teacher, personnel recruiter, office manager of a jewelry store, and, for the past ten years plus, as a lunch lady. I like to karaoke and attend rock concerts. I’m also actively involved at church and spend too much time on Facebook. I am the mother of a twenty-year-old and eighteen-year-old triplets, and have been married to my husband, Don, for over twenty-five years.

guest release

Guest release–Of Love and Vengeance by Louise Lyndon

December 19, 2014 admin 1 Comment

BLURB:

Forced to marry Lord Aymon to ensure her nephews survival, English Lady Laila vows undying hatred for the Norman she holds responsible for so many deaths. Discovering Aymon has committed an act of treason gives her the chance to seek vengeance he deserves. But will Laila really let Aymon die once she learns the truth?

A hardened Norman warrior, Lord Aymon has lived through atrocities no man ever should. With the invasion of England over, all he wants is a quiet life and a wife who will give him heirs and obey his every command. Instead, he finds himself wed to feisty and outspoken Laila. But when she learns the truth of his treasonous act, can Aymon count on her to keep his secret?

EXCERPT:

Laila heard them long before she saw them. Their angry, frenzied shouts and thunderous roars filled her ears. With her hands tied securely behind her, she was dragged up the lane toward Tyburn Gallows, where she was to be hanged for a crime she did not commit. The mob sounded blood thirsty. Large. Frightening.

There was no sign of Aymon. Or Hugh. Had they left her alone to die?

Her chin trembled and her nails dug into her palms.

She suddenly fell to her knees and screamed until she tasted blood at the back of her throat. She kicked out and tried to crawl free as her hair was almost torn from the roots as she was pulled up and shoved along the lane.

Her eyes burned with her tears.

“I am innocent!” Laila screamed.

They came around a corner, and that’s when she saw them. There must have been a least two thousand men, women, and children, hungry for her blood. And when they saw her, they erupted into a wild fever of roars and cries for a slow and painful death. Their thirst had been piqued, and now it must be sated.

Laila was shoved into the center of the clearing.

She glanced wildly around in a desperate search for Aymon’s towering, bulky frame. She could not see him.

But what she could see was the Tyburn Tree. The gallows she was to be hanged from. The executioner, hooded, stood beside the tree as he waited patiently for her. Laila’s mouth suddenly went dry.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon US http://ow.ly/FT0wg

Amazon UK http://ow.ly/FT0CD

Amazon AU http://ow.ly/FT0GP

The Wild Rose Press http://ow.ly/FT0oK

Kobo http://ow.ly/FT0K8

All Romance eBooks http://ow.ly/FT0O6

Book Strand http://ow.ly/FT0Ra

Louise grew up in Australia before moving to England, where for sixteen years she soaked up the vibrancy of London and the medieval history of England. She has since returned to Australia. In 2013 Louise won first prize in the Crested Butte Sandy Writing Contest – Historical Romance Category –for her story, The Promise, which has since been retitled as, Of Love & Vengeance. When not writing, she can be found crawling under barbed wire and hoisting herself over twelve foot walls!

WEB CONTACTS:

EMAIL
WEBSITE
BLOG
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS

guest release

Release promotion–The Forgotten Princess of Elmetia

October 24, 2014 admin 1 Comment

The title featured today is The Forgotten Princess of Elmetia by Rachel A. James, a medieval romance published by Prism Book Group.

Blurb:

It is 616AD, and one fatal night the ancient Kingdom of Elmetia falls. Saxons kill the Elmetian King, and capture Princess Teagen. Teagen poses as a slave girl and works for the Saxons in the Kingdom of Deira, until she discovers her brother is alive. She finds a way to escape, and her path crosses with Ryce the Warrior.

Struggling with his past, and angry against the tyrant Saxon king, Ryce helps the princess in pursuit of her brother. But just as the connection between them intensifies, obstacles get in their way. The Saxon king now wants vengeance, and will stop at nothing to get it.

Excerpt:

616 AD, The Kingdom of Elmetia

Teagen scrambled under the table as the first fire-drenched arrow shot through the sky. Within seconds, thatched rooftops blazed and smoke bellowed throughout the palace. Frantic screams replaced the joyful music playing moments before.

“Princess,” Teagen’s nurse hissed from behind a wooden bench. “Are ye injured?”

“Nay.” She cast a wary glance as the battle unfolded before her. “What’s happening? Is it Saxons?”

Her nurse stretched her arm over and stroked her hair. “Aye, princess. Seems to be. Now stay put here while I find yer brother.”

Teagen flinched. “Don’t leave me Dera, please—Niall will be with Papa, they’ll be safe.”

Dera’s face paled. “I hope not, lassie, for yer brother’s sake, I pray he’s not.”

What could she mean? Was Papa in trouble?

She jumped out from her hiding place. “Then I’ll come with ye—”

Dera pushed her down firmly. “Nay, ‘tis not safe. Whatever ye do, do not let them capture ye, understand?”

She nodded, dumbfounded as Dera disappeared.

Grabbing the bottom of her long silk dress, she covered her face in an attempt to subdue the nausea that welled within. She wouldn’t look. She couldn’t. Where was Papa? She needed him right now, to hold her, and keep her safe.

“Teagen.”

A wave of relief washed over her. “Papa!” Teagen ran toward him, tears threatening her eyes.

“Shhh, lassie.” Her father scooped her up and headed for the kitchen just off the Great Hall. He opened a small stone cupboard and placed her inside.

“Stay in here, do ye understand? Do not come out until yer brother gets ye.”

“Please don’t leave me, Papa. Everyone keeps leaving me.” She tasted the salty tears that streamed her face.

Her father stroked her cheek. “Oh, lassie, I love ye so much. Ye know this, don’t ye?”

She nodded.

“Now be a brave girl and stay put.”

She gave her father a lingering hug and breathed in his comforting musky scent, her eyes averting his blood stained tunic. As he shut the cupboard door, the sound of the latch closing sent shivers through her body. The darkness did not mask the coldness of the damp stone walls, or the stale air which stifled her breathing. A sob lodged in her throat. I need to be brave for Papa.

Muffled sounds from outside grew louder—the clash of iron on iron, the collapse of buildings, and cries for help.

“King Ceretic is dead!”

Teagen stopped breathing. It could not be true.

“And what of the rest of the family?”

“Not yet found.”

“We do not leave until they are dead. Burn everything, and gather the survivors—we’ll take them to the slave market.”

She squeezed her eyes together, shutting out the fuzzy sensation that threatened to overtake her.Please, God. Nay. There surely must be some mistake.

Teagen could wait no longer. Despite her father’s strict instructions, she pushed open the door and fell on the kitchen floor. She gasped in a huge breath of air and scrambled to the doorway. Soldiers littered the outside, and in the centre, stood the Saxon King—Edwin the Tyrant. Her stomach lurched as she saw the remains of her father’s body.

Oh, Heavenly Father.

She collapsed to the ground. If her father was dead, it meant her brother Niall would likely be too. She studied the hem of her fine tunic and caressed the intricate beading Dera had sewn on the day before.

She stiffened. If they discovered her true identity as the king’s daughter, she too would be slain. She had to get out of these clothes. Her eyes rested on the dead bodies piled up outside the kitchen entrance and her heart broke as she spotted one of her friends lying on the ground. She kept low, reached out and pulled her friend further inside the kitchen.

“I’m sorry, Hilda,” she whispered to the girl, “but I’m going to need yer clothes. Ye won’t have use for them anymore.” She closed the girl’s eyelids, said a quick prayer, and removed the simple tunic and redressed her young friend in her own grand attire.

She ran out of the kitchen and toward the oak tree at the top of the hill, knowing she would be seen. She perched under a sloping branch and gazed out—her entire world ablaze. Soldiers rummaged through the dead bodies looking for valuables to keep for themselves. Teagen covered her ears as cries penetrated the night. Curling herself into a ball, she cradled her arms around her knees and rocked herself back and forth watching her kingdom fall. They were coming for her, it was simply a matter of time. To survive this night, her identity would have to be forgotten.

Buy on Amazon

BIO:

Rachel grew fascinated with the medieval time period as a child. Dubbed a bookworm from a young age, Rachel found herself surrounded by places steeped in history and adventure. She enjoyed trips with her family to visit nearby derelict castles and Roman ruins, and that coupled with a zealous imagination and love for stories, sparked her interest in knights, fortresses and ancient kingdoms.

Born and bred in England, Rachel writes adventure driven historical romance, she is also a pastor’s wife, and has three beautiful little princesses. She minored in creative writing at university and strives to entertain, inspire and encourage others in their own spiritual journey. She’s also captivated by romantic tales… combine it with a little history and a hot cup of tea, and she’s smitten! Find her at www.rachelajames.com for more information.

Connect with Rachel:

Website Facebook Amazon Author Twitter Google+ Goodreads Youtube

Release Promotion

Release Promotion–The Heart Of The Phoenix

September 12, 2014 admin 16 Comments

Blurb:

Memories

Lady Evelynn’s childhood hero is home—bitter, hard, tempting as sin. And haunted by secrets. A now-grown Evie offers friendship, but Sir Stephen’s cruel rejection crushes her, and she resolves to forget him. Yet when an unexpected war throws them together, she finds love isn’t so easy to dismiss. If only the king hadn’t betrothed her to another.

Can Be Cruel

Sir Stephen lives a double life while he seeks the treacherous outlaws who murdered his friends. Driven by revenge he thinks his heart is closed to love. His childhood shadow, Lady Evie, unexpectedly challenges that belief. He rebuffs her, but he can’t forget her, although he knows she’s to wed the king’s favorite.

And Deadly

When his drive for vengeance leads to Evie’s kidnapping, Stephen must choose between retribution and the love he’s denied too long. Surely King John will see reason. Convict the murderers; convince the king. Simple. Until a startling revelation threatens everything.

Excerpt: (Sir Stephen has pounded on Lady Evie’s door in the middle of the night, and she’s fallen trying to open it in the darkness.)

“Oh, for the love of heaven. Stop plaguing me. Why are you here?”

“I thought you’d like to know the identity of our fellow passenger.”

“At this hour? Could you not have waited until morning?” Sweet Mary, preserve her patience. He was the most maddening man alive. Light flared in the cabin’s shuttered lantern, throwing a shadow across his face, reminding Evie of another reason he should not be here. Her body instantly throbbed to life.

She pressed her palms against her stomach and inhaled. Calm. She needed calm. He was not the most beautiful man she’d ever beheld. He did not possess the power to heat her blood to boiling. He did not care that she thought of him night and day.

That much was true, for certain.

“I have news that will make the rest of your trip joyful.”

His words centered her whirling mind, and Evie eyed him warily. What news could possible make her happy right now?

She ventured a guess. “You are leaving? Your second in command, the delightful Sir Macsen, will accompany me the rest of the way home?”

“Much better.”

Evie could tell Stephen was angry now by the way he glowered and roared in that whispery sort of way no one else could hear, but left her with no doubt of his displeasure.

“Your betrothed.” He bent and scooped her off the floor.

“What? What about him?”

“That’s the identity of the illustrious lord who’s sharing passage with us.”

“You’re drunk. And put me down. I’m perfectly capable of getting up on my own.”

“Be quiet. You have blood on your leg.”

“Of course I do. I tripped and fell trying to answer your pounding when you could easily have opened—” His words finally penetrated her throbbing head. “I’m bleeding?”

Oh, blast. The contents of her—empty—stomach churned. She attended the villagers’ hurts, bound the cuts and scrapes of servants and their children. The sight of their blood bothered her not a whit. But her own? Black spots danced at the corners of her vision, becoming larger and larger until she heard Stephen’s voice.

“Evie, Evie. What the hell?”

His voice echoed so far away. If she didn’t know better, she’d vow he sounded alarmed. Perhaps she’d close her eyes for a moment. As the ringing in her ears crescendoed, she recalled his words.

Betrothed.Her betrothed was on board?

Dear Lord, just let me die.

~~~~~~

BUY LINKS

The Wild Rose Press

Amazon

BIO:

A former health insurance claims adjuster, a former journalist, a former journalism teacher, Barbara Bettis plans never to be a former author. Currently, she supports her writing habit as an adjunct English instructor at a college near her home in Missouri.

Musings About The Writing Life