Tag Archives: medieval romance

Medieval Monday ~ THE HIGHLANDER’S REWARD

15 Monday Mar 2021

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Welcome back to Medieval Monday! Our “First Kiss” theme continues, and this week, I’m excited to have USA Today bestselling author Eliza Knight here! We’re featuring The Highlander’s Reward, part of The Stolen Bride Series.

If you’re following my excerpt from Return of the Raven, you can find Snippet #6 on Eliza’s blog. Remember, you’ll find links to all the participating authors’ snippets at Medieval Romance Lovers on Facebook. (#MedMonSpring21)

Now, let’s enjoy Eliza’s sixth snippet:

He kissed her tenderly. From her tentative movements against him he could tell either this was her first kiss or she hadn’t done much kissing at all. He would take things slow, introduce her to the art. And with that thought, he realized how much he wanted to be the man who taught. He wanted to have her remember him alone when she thought of kissing.

More about The Highlander’s Reward:

Lady Arbella de Mowbray abhors the idea of marrying an English noble occupying Scotland. When she arrives in Stirling, she is thrown into the midst of a full battle between the Scots and the English. Besieged by rebels, she is whisked from her horse by a Highland warrior who promises her safety. But when he kisses her, she fears she’s more in danger of losing herself.

The last thing Magnus Sutherland wants is to marry the beautiful English lass he saved. As the laird of his clan, he has a responsibility to his clan and allies. But when Arbella is attacked by one of his own men, he determines the only way to keep her safe is to make her his. A decision that promises to be extremely satisfying.

Magnus brings Arbella to his home of Dunrobin Castle in the Highlands. And that’s where the trouble begins… Their countries are at war and they should be each other’s enemy. Neither one considered their mock marriage would grow into a deeply passionate love. What’s more, they were both unhappily betrothed and those who’ve been scorned are out for revenge. Can their new found love keep them together or will their enemies tear them apart?

“For fans of Highlander romance, this series is a must read!” ~ Night Owl Reviews, TOP PICK!

Buy the book:

Amazon | Apple | B&N | Kobo

That’s all for this week. See you next Monday!  🙂

 

Medieval Monday ~ LEIF

08 Monday Mar 2021

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Welcome back to Medieval Monday! Our “First Kiss” theme continues, and this week, I’m featuring Leif, the first book in Celeste Barclay’s Viking Glory series. Yet another cool cover, and the story has some paranormal elements, which (as you know) are right up my alley!

If you’re following my excerpt from Return of the Raven, you can find Snippet #5 on Celeste’s blog. Remember, you’ll find links to all the participating authors’ snippets at Medieval Romance Lovers on Facebook. (#MedMonSpring21)

Now, let’s enjoy Celeste’s fifth snippet:

Leif ran the pad of his thumb over her chafed skin, red from his beard rubbing against it. When it brushed her lips, she nipped then sucked the tip into her mouth… He knew he would embarrass himself soon if he did not set her away from him, but he did not have the resolve needed. Not yet, at least. He walked them to the only chair in the cabin and sat down… Leif lifted her and arranged her to sit on his lap with both feet on one side.

“Sigrid, this isn’t why I came down here.” She bit her lip before nodding her head. “I am sorry I got carried away.”

Check out last week’s with Sherry Ewing: https://www.sherryewing.com/blog

Follow along next week with Jenna Jaxon: https://jennajaxon.wordpress.com/

More about Leif:

Fate brought them together. Free will binds them.

After months at sea, Leif Ivarrson wants nothing more than to revel in the comforts of home. Yet when word arrives that a new threat has invaded their land, Leif is forced to take up his sword once more. Tasked with rescuing a jarl’s niece, Sigrid, from this malicious enemy, Leif departs on a journey that will alter the course of his fate.

Since she was a young girl, Sigrid Torbensdóttir’s visions have been both a blessing and a curse. Now a grown woman and powerful seer, she knew enemies would come for her, eager to exploit her gift. Yet her visions taught her that fate could not be denied or ignored. As she had foreseen it, the heroic Viking would save her and sweep them both up in the raging storm of inescapable destiny.

Drawn together by the will of the gods, Leif and Sigrid battle to save their people from a rival tribe’s scramble for power. Will their blossoming love survive the tests of war and family? Can a match created by fate withstand the machinations of man?

Set sail for adventure in this steamy Viking romance sure to leave you breathless! Norse lore meets passion and intrigue in Leif, written by Celeste Barclay!

Buy the book:

www.books2read.com/leifvikingglory

That’s all for this week. See you next Monday!  🙂

 

Medieval Monday ~ THE LAST DRAGON

01 Monday Mar 2021

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Welcome back to Medieval Monday! Our “First Kiss” theme continues, and this week, I’m featuring Daryl Devoré’s The Last Dragon. Such a cool cover!

If you’re following my excerpt from Return of the Raven, you can find Snippet #4 on Daryl’s blog. Remember, you’ll find links to all the participating authors’ snippets at Medieval Romance Lovers on Facebook. (#MedMonSpring21)

Now, let’s enjoy Daryl’s fourth snippet:

“Do ye…” Derry’s words stuck in her throat. What if her powers scared Hawkyns? No. He did not scare easily. He fought and slayed dragons. But, what if her powers caused a question within him? No. He showed no sign of that. She’d healed him. He said he enjoyed being with her. He spoke true words.

Stop being a foolish one.

Hawkyns pulled his horse to a stop. “Do I what?”

She lowered her eyes and refused to meet his gaze. The gaze that already gave her the answer to her unasked question. And still she was too afraid to ask. Doubt clouded her senses.

See last week’s snippet on Sherry Ewin’s blog – https://www.sherryewing.com/blog

Follow along next week on Jenna Jaxon’s blog – https://jennajaxon.wordpress.com/

More about The Last Dragon:

What do dragons, knights and romance have in common? Grab a copy of multi-published author Daryl Devore’s medieval fantasy romance – The Last Dragon and discover the answer.

A sorcerer craving dominance merged with a dragon, the power overwhelmed him causing him to split into three dragons. Demora ruled thought, but was lost in time. Yidithe offered protection, shining like the light of the sun. Ayrradex craved chaos, revelling in destroying souls.

Many knights died, attempting to slay the devil beast. One knight, Prince Hawkyns, did not fear death. He’d lost everything. Away on a mission when Ayrradex attacked his father’s kingdom, Penrythe, Hawkyns returned to find his noble father – feeble and defeated. His wise mother – crazed. His beautiful wife and unborn child – dead. Only a pile of ashes remained for him to bury. He knelt before his King and vowed to slay the devil-beast or be slain.

Derry was born with powers that terrified her parents. They delivered her to a nunnery to be raised in secret. Jathe, a wise sorceress, discovered the young girl and trained her to one day use the secret hidden in her soul.

Legends spoken around campfires hinted the sole way to destroy Ayrradex was when the hearts of a knight and a golden dragon became one. But after a vicious battle with Ayrradex, the golden dragon was thought to be dead.

Can Prince Hawkyns’s bravery and Derry’s powers end the reign of the devil-beast’s terror?

Buy the book:

Amazon ebook | Amazon print | Books2read ebook | Books2read print

That’s all for this week. See you next Monday!  🙂

5++ stars for RETURN OF THE RAVEN, plus best seller news!

25 Thursday Feb 2021

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N. N. Light’s Book Heaven has given my new release 5++ stars! I’m so excited! Here’s a bit of the review:

“This is the crown of excellence…A brilliant conclusion to the series, [it] is a must-read. It can be read as a standalone, too. Fans of Diana Gabaldon will swoon over Return of the Raven.”

If you’re interested, you can read the whole review here.

Wonderful things have happened recently with this series. In previous posts, I mentioned Shadow of the Swan‘s five-star review from Reader’s Favorite and Night of the Owl‘s second-place win in the Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewer’s Choice Awards. But a couple of weeks ago, Flight of the Raven had some real success at international Amazon stores. It became the #1 best seller in medieval historical romance in Canada and Australia, and it reached #2 in the UK. It was also #82 in Canada’s whole Kindle Store. I couldn’t believe it!

Flight of the Raven is still available to reviewers on Booksprout for a limited time. If you’re interested, check it out here.

That’s all for now. I need to get back to writing The Spear Alight, the fourth and final book in my Guardians of Erin series. Have a beautiful day!  🙂

 

 

Medieval Monday ~ A KNIGHT IN RUSTED ARMOR

15 Monday Feb 2021

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Welcome back to Medieval Monday! Our “First Kiss” theme continues, and today, I’m featuring the multi-talented Bambi Lynn and her Knight in Rusted Armor. Don’t you love that title?

If you’re following my excerpt from Return of the Raven, you can find Snippet #2 on Bambi’s blog. Remember, you’ll find links to all the participating authors’ snippets at Medieval Romance Lovers on Facebook. (#MedMonSpring21)

Now, let’s enjoy Bambi’s second snippet:

Thorin’s bay had much more speed and the distance between them was soon diminished. Thorin lashed out with his lance. On the first try, he nicked the man’s elbow. His horse swerved just in time to miss Duhurst as he once again fell into the dirt.

Infuriated, Thorin sailed from his horse and stormed over to where Lord Duhurst lay flat on his back. Barely straining against the weight, Thorin jerked him up by his armor, snatching his helmet off in the process. He balled up his fist as best he could with the metal gauntlet covering his hand. As he poised to berate the man for his cowardice, he realized the crowd had come to its feet.

A little more about Knight in Rusted Armor:

Allys Stone would risk repute as a ruined woman to gain control of her life. Thorin Svenson would battle the most skilled knights in the realm to win her. Theirs is a love story of fairy tales and wild passion, a battle of wills as well as brawn.

Allys wants to choose her own husband, one who loves life and laughter as much as she does. One who considers her a partner instead of a possession. She has never had any choice but to live by her father’s decisions, and now he’s offering her as grand prize in a tournament.

Thorin must win the hand of a nobleman’s daughter to regain the wealth and position of his family. Consumed by guilt, he will risk his very life to win. Not even her attempts to sabotage his victory will get in his way.

Buy the book:

Amazon

That’s all for this Medieval Monday. See you next week!  🙂

SHADOW OF THE SWAN ~ Five Stars from Readers’ Favorite!

30 Saturday Jan 2021

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Good news! Shadow of the Swan received 5 stars from Readers’ Favorite! Here’s part of the review:

“Shadow of the Swan by Judith Sterling is the third book in the Ravenwood series. It will appeal to lovers of historical romance and magic-based novels. I loved everything about this book, from the plot to the writing style. The plot was so unique and captivating that I longed to read the first two installments. Judith developed this story with such historical accuracy, a laid back vibe, and some refreshing medieval flavor. I also enjoyed the language usage, which felt very Shakespearean. The story had depth, displaying themes like patience, bravery, deceit, empathy, and more. A tangible lesson I took from this novel is that bullies and tormentors thrive on their victims’ fear. Banish the fear, stand up to them, and they’ll lose their power. I look forward to reading more books from Judith!”

Needless to say, this made my day, and I’m grateful the reviewer enjoyed it so much. Hope you have a lovely day, too!  🙂

Medieval Monday #11 ~ SHADOW OF THE SWAN

30 Monday Nov 2020

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Welcome back to another Medieval Monday! Today, I’m sharing Snippet #11 from Shadow of the Swan. Remember to visit Medieval Romance Lovers on Facebook for links to other authors’ excerpts. (#MedMonFall20)

At the end of last week’s installment, Constance realized she had to know whether or not her husband, Robert, still desired her. Yet she’s not entirely sure of the best way to broach the subject. Let’s see how she does it in the 11th snippet:

            After supping on roasted venison and frumenty, she and Robert retired to the solar with a jug of mulled wine.  She leaned back in her chair as he poured their drinks.

            He handed her a cup.  “You were quiet as a mole during supper.”

            She took a long draft of wine.  The mixture of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves tickled her tongue.  “I was thinking.”

            “About?”  He raised his cup to his lips.

            “Lovemaking.”

            He choked on his drink.  After a fit of coughing, he cleared his throat.  “Lovemaking.”

            “Aye.  You gave me a general idea before, but I want specifics.”

            “Oh, I think I gave you one or two of those.”

A bit more about the story:

Lady Constance de Bret was determined to be a nun, until shadows from the past eclipsed her present. Marriage is the safest option, but she insists on a spiritual union, in which physical intimacy is forbidden. Not so easy with a bridegroom who wields unparalleled charm! But a long-buried secret could taint his affection and cloak her in shadow forever.

Back from the Crusades, Sir Robert le Donjon craves a home of his own and children to inherit it. From the moment he meets Constance, he feels a mysterious bond between them. When she’s threatened, he vows to protect her and agrees to the spiritual marriage, with the hope of one day persuading her to enjoy a “real” one. She captivates him but opens old wounds and challenges everything he thought he believed.

Two souls in need of healing. Two hearts destined to beat as one.

Buy the book or audiobook:

Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | Apple | Kobo | Audible | Apple Audio

That’s all for now. Join me next Monday for the final snippet of this round of Medieval Monday. Until then, have a beautiful week!  🙂

Medieval Monday #10 ~ SHADOW OF THE SWAN

23 Monday Nov 2020

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Welcome back to Medieval Monday! Our nature theme continues, and today, I’m sharing Snippet #10 from Shadow of the Swan, the third of The Novels of Ravenwood. Be sure to visit Medieval Romance Lovers on Facebook to find links to other participating authors’ excerpts. (#MedMonFall20)

Last week, Constance gazed into Woden’s Pond, and a vision of her future took hold. Then a whoop-whoop sound jarred her back to the present (spring of AD 1102). Let’s see what happens next…

            A swan looked up at her. She glanced at the opposite side of the pond, where the original swan remained, then regarded the bird below her.

            “Why are you here with me? Look. There’s another swan right over there.”

            Again, the bird whooped. Then it swam off and out of sight. The air was mild once more.

            Or perhaps the vision warmed me. Her stomach twitched at the memory of it.  How many men could boast a body such as her husband’s? Not many, surely. And he was hers. If she had the courage to claim him.

            And if he still desired her.

            There’s one way to find out. She stood, wiped the dirt from her tunic, and headed toward the castle.

A little more about the story:

Lady Constance de Bret was determined to be a nun, until shadows from the past eclipsed her present. Marriage is the safest option, but she insists on a spiritual union, in which physical intimacy is forbidden. Not so easy with a bridegroom who wields unparalleled charm! But a long-buried secret could taint his affection and cloak her in shadow forever.

Back from the Crusades, Sir Robert le Donjon craves a home of his own and children to inherit it. From the moment he meets Constance, he feels a mysterious bond between them. When she’s threatened, he vows to protect her and agrees to the spiritual marriage, with the hope of one day persuading her to enjoy a “real” one. She captivates him but opens old wounds and challenges everything he thought he believed.

Two souls in need of healing. Two hearts destined to beat as one.

Buy the book or audiobook:

Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | Apple | Kobo | Audible | Apple Audio

That’s it for now. Have a lovely week, and for those who celebrate Thanksgiving, have a joyful one. See you next Monday!  🙂

Medieval Monday #9 ~ SHADOW OF THE SWAN

16 Monday Nov 2020

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Welcome back to Medieval Monday! It’s Week 9 of our nature-themed round, so I’m sharing the ninth snippet of my excerpt from Shadow of the Swan. Remember to visit Medieval Romance Lovers on Facebook for links to more authors’ excerpts. (#MedMonFall20)

Last week, Constance considered seeking a vision from Woden’s Pond. Let’s see what this week brings in Snippet #9:

            She knelt down for a closer view and waited.  As she stared, a new picture emerged.

            The pond at dusk, enshrouded in fog.  Robert, standing naked before her.  He opened his mouth to speak.  “Come to me, Constance.”

            Whoop-whoop!

            The sound jarred her out of the vision.

A little more about the story:

Lady Constance de Bret was determined to be a nun, until shadows from the past eclipsed her present. Marriage is the safest option, but she insists on a spiritual union, in which physical intimacy is forbidden. Not so easy with a bridegroom who wields unparalleled charm! But a long-buried secret could taint his affection and cloak her in shadow forever.

Back from the Crusades, Sir Robert le Donjon craves a home of his own and children to inherit it. From the moment he meets Constance, he feels a mysterious bond between them. When she’s threatened, he vows to protect her and agrees to the spiritual marriage, with the hope of one day persuading her to enjoy a “real” one. She captivates him but opens old wounds and challenges everything he thought he believed.

Two souls in need of healing. Two hearts destined to beat as one.

Buy the book or audiobook:

Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | Apple | Kobo | Audible | Apple Audio

That’s all for this week. See you next Monday!  🙂

Medieval Monday #8 ~ SHADOW OF THE SWAN

09 Monday Nov 2020

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Welcome to Week 8 of our nature-themed Medieval Monday! Today, I’ll be sharing the eighth snippet of my excerpt from Shadow of the Swan. Be sure to visit Medieval Romance Lovers on Facebook to get links to the other authors’ snippets. (#MedMonFall20)

Now for mine. Last week, we left Constance standing alone on the bridge above Woden’s Pond, reevaluating her relationship with her husband, Robert. Let’s see what happens next…

            A sudden chill commanded the air.  Shivering, she rubbed her arms, then felt compelled to look down.

            The undulating water warped her reflection.  Might it also bend reality and grant her another vision?  Nothing like that had ever happened to her, not until the day of the help-ale.  And though it seemed strange, her heart insisted an experience so profound must derive from the mind of God, that source of all creation to which she’d always gravitated.

A little more about the story:

Lady Constance de Bret was determined to be a nun, until shadows from the past eclipsed her present. Marriage is the safest option, but she insists on a spiritual union, in which physical intimacy is forbidden. Not so easy with a bridegroom who wields unparalleled charm! But a long-buried secret could taint his affection and cloak her in shadow forever.

Back from the Crusades, Sir Robert le Donjon craves a home of his own and children to inherit it. From the moment he meets Constance, he feels a mysterious bond between them. When she’s threatened, he vows to protect her and agrees to the spiritual marriage, with the hope of one day persuading her to enjoy a “real” one. She captivates him but opens old wounds and challenges everything he thought he believed.

Two souls in need of healing. Two hearts destined to beat as one.

Buy the book or audiobook:

Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | Apple | Kobo | Audible | Apple Audio

That’s it for this Medieval Monday. Have a wonderful week, and I’ll see you next time.  🙂