Linnea Tanner's Blog, page 31
March 12, 2022
Two Faces of Janus Free Limited Time #HistoricalFiction #ShortStory #Ancient Rome #Kindle #RRBC @TwBookClub @RRBC_Org
I am delighted to announce that the e-book of Two Faces of Janus: A Short Story of Ancient Rome is being offered for free for a limited time on Sunday, March 13th, 2022 at Amazon. It will be featured as the Book of the Day at the Online Book Club.
The historical fiction is a short story about Lucius Antonius. The story provides the background for Lucius’s fervor to restore the legacy of his grandfather (Marcus Antonius) and father (Iulllus Antonius) in the historical fantasy series, Curse of Clansmen and Kings. Some of what is revealed in the short story will play out as a twist in Book 4: Skull’s Vengeance which is anticipated to be released in Fall 2022.
I wrote this short story, in part, as a challenge to enter the Rave Reviews Book Club (RRBC) 2021 Alpha / Omega 90-day short story writing contest in which I was awarded the Grand Prize. RRBC is a virtual book club comprised of supportive authors and readers around the world of which I am a member.
Two Faces of Janus: A Short Story of Ancient Rome
by Linnea Tanner
A young nobleman confronts a specter from the past that could threaten his family’s legacy.
A brash young aristocrat, Lucius Antonius anticipates Emperor Augustus Caesar will support his lofty ambitions to serve as a praetor in the Roman justice system in 2 BC Rome. As the son of the distinguished politician and poet, Iullus Antonius, Lucius prays to Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings, to open the door for him to rise politically. But he is unaware of the political firestorm ready to erupt in the imperial family.
Augustus must confront evidence that his daughter, Julia, has behaved scandalously in public and that Iullus is her lover. The prospect that Julia might want to marry Iullus—the only surviving son of Marcus Antonius—threatens to redirect the glory from Augustus to his most hated rival beyond the grave. Caught in the political crossfire, Lucius must demonstrate his loyalty to Augustus by meeting all of his demands or face the destruction of his family’s legacy and possibly his own life. Will Lucius ultimately choose to betray and abandon his disgraced father?
For a free copy, CLICK Amazon
Thank you for your continued support.
Best wishes,
Linnea Tanner
March 10, 2022
Juliane Weber Under the Emerald Sky Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance #Ireland #IrishHistory #GreatFamine #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @Writer_JW @maryanneyarde
It is my pleasure to welcome the featured author, Juliane Weber, as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between January 14th – March 18th, 2022. Juliane Weber is the author of the Historical Fiction/Historical Romance, Under the Emerald Sky (The Irish Fortune Series, Book 1), which was independently released on 23rd October 2020 (468 pages).
Below are highlights of Under the Emerald Sky, Juliane Weber’s author bio, and an excerpt from her book.
To Follow the Tour, Click Tour Schedule Page
HIGHLIGHTS: UNDER THE EMERALD SKY
Under the Emerald Sky
(The Irish Fortune Series, Book 1)
By Juliane Weber
He’s come to Ireland to escape his past. She’s trying to run from her future.
It’s 1843 and the English nobleman Quinton Williams has come to Ireland to oversee the running of his father’s ailing estate and escape his painful past. Here he meets the alluring Alannah O’Neill, whose Irish family is one of few to have retained ownership of their land, the rest having been supplanted by the English over the course of the country’s bloody history. Finding herself drawn to the handsome Englishman, Alannah offers to help Quin communicate with the estate’s Gaelic-speaking tenants, as much to assist him as to counter her own ennui. Aware of her controlling brother’s hostility towards the English, she keeps her growing relationship with Quin a secret – a secret that cannot, however, be kept for long from those who dream of ridding Ireland of her English oppressors.
Among the stark contrasts that separate the rich few from the plentiful poor, Under the Emerald Sky is a tale of love and betrayal in a land teetering on the brink of disaster – the Great Famine that would forever change the course of Ireland’s history.
Trigger Warnings:
Violence, sexual content.
Buy Links:
This novel is available to read for free with #KindleUnlimited subscription.
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Juliane is actually a scientist. She holds degrees in physiology and zoology, including a PhD in physiology. During her studies she realised, however, that her passion lay not in conducting scientific research herself, but in writing about it. Thus began her career as a medical writer, where she took on all manner of writing and editing tasks, in the process honing her writing skills, until she finally plucked up the courage to write her first historical novel, Under the Emerald Sky. The book is the first in The Irish Fortune Series, which is set in 19th century Ireland around the time of the Great Famine.
Juliane lives with her husband and two sons in Hamelin, Germany, the town made famous by the story of the Pied Piper.
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“Cha deoch-slàint, i gun a tràghadh.”
“Ah…,” Quin stammered, looking quizzically at Bryan, the elderly groom, who was peering down into Quin’s glass with some consternation.
“Drink…drink,” Bryan said encouragingly, motioning vigorously with one hand lest Quin not understand what he meant. “No health…if glass…full,” he stammered in his broken English, staggering slightly, having clearly partaken generously of the wedding fare himself. Quin caught the old man by the arm before he should fall onto the scattering of edibles that remained on the table, eyeing him with some amusement.
[…]
Quin took a healthy gulp from his glass, making Bryan break into a wide grin that revealed the three or so yellowed teeth that were all that remained of his dentition.
“I suppose the lack of teeth does encourage one to focus one’s efforts on drink,” Quin said merrily under his breath, feeling not a little intoxicated himself. He had no idea how much he’d actually had to drink, as the level of the contents of his glass seemed never to subside, someone always appearing to add “just a little more”. Fortunately, it seemed that the guests were starting to depart—the room being mostly empty—so his forcible alcohol ingestion was likely to be nearing its end.
Bryan nodded energetically, clearly not having heard or understood what Quin had said. Screwing up his eyes in concentration and making an obvious effort to wrap his tongue around the words he was about to utter, he said something that sounded like, “shlucht shlachta ar shlucht bur shlachta,” before turning precariously on his heel and tottering off.
“With the number of times I’ve heard that today, the house will be teeming with children in no time.”
Quin turned smilingly towards Alannah, who had come up next to him. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of her and he inclined his head towards her.
“Is that so?” he asked, leaning in to her and looking deep into her eyes, which seemed even bluer than usual above her light blue dress.
“Ah…yes,” she stammered, plainly flustered by his penetrating look. She cleared her throat and dropped her eyes for a moment before looking back up at him with renewed assurance. “It means, ‘may there be a generation of children on your children’s children’…more or less.” She cocked her head to one side and smiled mischievously, before adding, “It’s better than the gem offered by Mr Moore.”
“Oh?”
“Socraichidh am pòsadh an gaol.—Marriage takes the heat out of love.”
Quin laughed, making her laugh in turn.
“Did he really say that to you?” he asked with a grin.
“No,” Alannah answered with a mirthful shake of the head. “He was imparting this piece of wisdom to a few of the other tenants as I happened to pass by them. When he saw me looking at him and realised I must have heard him, Mr Moore went bright red in the face and the other men looked terribly abashed.”
“What did you do?”
“I smiled innocently at them, pretending that I hadn’t heard, and continued on my way.—But I doubt any of them will be repeating the saying within hearing of a woman again any time soon.”
“Well, let us hope that we can disprove the wisdom of Mr Moore!” Quin said with a chuckle. “I have been on the receiving end of a good few proverbs myself.—Let’s see now, those well-wishers who were kind enough to translate for me wish for me never to be sent to the gander paddock and hope that you will do your knitting for the infants after dark.” He gave Alannah a confused look, having no idea what the latter could possibly mean. “Oh, and my favourite,” he continued cheerfully, “I was reminded that whoever burns his backside must himself sit upon it.”
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March 7, 2022
Welcome to Day 2 of the #RRBC March “SPOTLIGHT” Author Blog Tour! #JoyMLilley @JoyGerken @RRBC_Org #FigsVinesRoses #RRBC #RRBCSA
Welcome to Day 2 of the RRBC MARCH “SPOTLIGHT” Author Tour! It is my pleasure to introduce you to Author, Joy M. Lilley, who I don’t believe has ever graced us with her presence here before. I could be wrong, but I think I’m right.
Joy is sharing her re-released title, FIGS, VINES & ROSES with us. Please, grab your copy today and support Joy along her tour!
EXCERPT: FIGS, VINES & ROSES Chapter 3 Snippet:
Agnes and Ralph met when they were in their late teens. Both came from families who were the epitome of Englishness and everything that went with it. To the outside world, both were of good character; the sort of people that others aspired to be.
After their marriage, they exuded a false and frighteningly united front whenever they were out, to impress at the many social functions they attended. It was not so much that they were unhappy, but there was much amiss in their union, and marriage had proved to be disappointing for them both. Victorian values and expectations being what they were, they, in no way wished to give the impression of anything but an idyllic match.
Agnes’ background was not as grand as Ralph’s … there were extravagances seen in the Merryweather household that were unseen in hers. Her family certainly was not poor by mid-nineteenth century standards, but when she was exposed to the finer things in life, she thoroughly enjoyed them. This confirmed her intention to make a good, solid life for herself, and the family she would one day have.
Cattle and crops were the main source of income for her large family, along with income from a small allowance each year from a dowry for her mother. Her father was a farm owner. Agnes had three brothers and two sisters and a mother who was not in the best of health. She suffered from consumption, which was responsible for her untimely demise at the tender age of 40 years.
Agnes was the second eldest child, so after her mother’s death, she was expected to help care for her younger siblings. She did not take kindly to this and felt that she was being treated unfairly and put upon. This was the cause of considerable upset between her and her father, whom she was disagreeing with more and more. It became the catalyst to persuade her father to take in a governess for the children. This proved to be a good move, as the relationship between Agnes and her father improved considerably after that appointment.
Agnes was a pretentious and spoiled girl. From an early age, she learned the skill of manipulating a situation to her own ends, invariably getting her way in everything. She was not gifted academically, but her wits and common sense got her by. Even at quite a young age she would go to great pains to develop the right circle of friends, and interestingly, this was encouraged by both her father and the children’s governess. It was her father who first spoke to her of the ways of the world; how it mattered that you mixed with the right people in society and how you presented yourself when in the public view.
AUTHOR BIO: JOY M. LILLY
My pen name is Joy M. Lilley (aka Joy Gerken). I am a writer and have been writing seriously since 2011 with seven books published to date. My previous career was as a trained nurse [R.G.N.] which I loved but it offered little time for me to write until my retirement.
I joined Rave Reviews Book Club (RRBC) almost 6 years ago and have been amazed by the friendship and support offered by all.
FIGS, VINES & ROSES was the first novel produced by me. I paid a considerable sum to have it edited at the time. This proved not to be adequate for a number of reasons. Several folks in RRBC commented about the need for further editing, and when that number reached three people, I felt it necessary to do something about it.
It was recently re-edited by 4WillsPublishing. Nonnie kindly offered to help me with the extra work at zero cost. It’s been re-released on Amazon in Kindle and paperback formats. If you took a stab at the first version, I would appreciate it if you would reach out to Amazon for the updated version and give it another go.
I promote my work via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. I also pay for promotion. I am ever grateful for the amazing support given by the members of RRBC.
I enjoy audio recording short stories on my advanced home equipment, and I now offer voice-over work through Fiverr.
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March 1, 2022
Susan Higginbotham John Brown’s Women: A Novel Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @S_Higginbotham @maryanneyarde
Welcome the featured author, Susan Higginbotham, as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between January 5th – March 9th, 2022. Susan Higginbotham is the author of the Historical Fiction, John Brown’s Women: A Novel, which was released by Onslow Press on 7th December 2021 (402 pages).
Below are highlights of John Brown’s Women: A Novel, Susan Higginbotham’s biography, and an excerpt from her book.
To follow the blog tour, CLICK Tour Schedule Page
HIGHLIGHTS: John Brown’s Women: A Novel
John Brown’s Women: A Novel
By Susan Higginbotham
As the United States wrestles with its besetting sin—slavery—abolitionist John Brown is growing tired of talk. He takes actions that will propel the nation toward civil war and thrust three courageous women into history.
Wealthy Brown, married to John Brown’s oldest son, eagerly falls in with her husband’s plan to settle in Kansas. Amid clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers, Wealthy’s adventure turns into madness, mayhem, and murder.
Fifteen-year-old Annie Brown is thrilled when her father summons her to the farm he has rented in preparation for his raid. There, she guards her father’s secrets while risking her heart.
Mary Brown never expected to be the wife of John Brown, much less the wife of a martyr. When her husband’s daring plan fails, Mary must travel into hostile territory, where she finds the eyes of the nation riveted upon John—and upon her.
Spanning three decades, John Brown’s Women is a tale of love and sacrifice, and of the ongoing struggle for America to achieve its promise of liberty and justice for all.
Trigger Warnings:
Deaths of young children through illness or accidents (not graphically described); implied heavy petting involving a willing minor.
Buy Links:
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Susan Higginbotham is the author of a number of historical novels set in medieval and Tudor England and, more recently, nineteenth-century America, including The Traitor’s Wife, The Stolen Crown, Hanging Mary, and The First Lady and the Rebel. She and her family, human and four-footed, live in Maryland, just a short drive from where John Brown made his last stand. When not writing or procrastinating, Susan enjoys traveling and collecting old photographs.
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Betsy had told Mary that Mr. Brown had taken his wife’s death hard, even though gossip had it that Dianthe had not always been in her right mind. One time the Browns had attended church with the Delamaters, whom Mary had happened to be visiting, and there she had seen Dianthe, a small, plain woman. Mary couldn’t say that she was cracked, but there had been something about her. She had a lovely singing voice, but she had sang with a fervor that was somehow disturbing. Afterward, she had come out, wearing a pretty woolen cloak that she must have made herself and taken pains over. It had fallen off her shoulders, and Mr. Brown had tenderly settled it back upon her. She had thanked him, and then, not five minutes later, it had fallen again. Mary was sure that she’d swept it off herself. She had walked placidly on, while little Ruth cradled the cloak in her arms.
After Dianthe died, taken by the childbed fever, Mr. Brown had taken his motherless children and gone to stay with one of his tannery employees. But the employee was a newlywed, and Mr. Brown hadn’t wanted to overstay his welcome. So he had brought the children back home and, through the Delamaters, had found Betsy to care for them and the house—a rehearsal, one could say, for their marriage. So far the rehearsal appeared to be going well. The children munched their bread contentedly and kicked each other under the table cheerfully, and everything in the modest house shone with cleaning.
Except, Mary found, for the spinning wheels—a great one for wool and a smaller one for flax. Dusty and forlorn, they sat in a corner, not touched since poor Dianthe had felt the first pangs of labor.
Mary felt a little strange about taking this dead woman’s place at her wheel, so she waited until the three older boys had started off for school, then scooted the wool wheel over to another part of the room, where it at least didn’t radiate so much Dianthe. With that out of the way, she set to work. Some women found spinning tedious and tried to do it only in the company of others to better while the time away, but Mary could spin for hours in utter silence and only know that time had passed by the setting of the sun.
She was still at work, pacing back and forth alongside the great wheel, when Mr. Brown came home. “Ah, I’ve missed that music.”
“Music?”
“The music of the wheel. Hard work has its own special music, I think. And it looks like you’ve been quite productive.”
Mary nodded shyly.
“Well,” said Mr. Brown after a long pause. “Carry on, Miss Day.”
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February 23, 2022
Mercedes Rochelle A King Under Siege Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiction #RichardII #Plantagenets #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @authorRochelle @maryanneyarde
Welcome the featured author Mercedes Rochelle as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between January 6th – March 10th, 2022. Mercedes Rochelle is the author of the Historical Fiction, The King Under Siege (The Plantagenet Legacy, Book 1), which was released by Sergeant Press on 5th January 2019 (313 pages).
Below are highlights of The King Under Siege, Mercedes Rochelle’s biography, and an excerpt from her book.
To follow the tour, CLICK Tour Schedule Page
HIGHLIGHTS: A King Under Siege
A King Under Siege
(The Plantagenet Legacy, Book 1)
By Mercedes Rochelle
Audio Narrated by Kevin E. Green
Richard II found himself under siege not once, but twice in his minority. Crowned king at age ten, he was only fourteen when the Peasants’ Revolt terrorized London. But he proved himself every bit the Plantagenet successor, facing Wat Tyler and the rebels when all seemed lost. Alas, his triumph was short-lived, and for the next ten years he struggled to assert himself against his uncles and increasingly hostile nobles. Just like in the days of his great-grandfather Edward II, vengeful magnates strove to separate him from his friends and advisors, and even threatened to depose him if he refused to do their bidding. The Lords Appellant, as they came to be known, purged the royal household with the help of the Merciless Parliament. They murdered his closest allies, leaving the King alone and defenseless. He would never forget his humiliation at the hands of his subjects. Richard’s inability to protect his adherents would haunt him for the rest of his life, and he vowed that next time, retribution would be his.
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AUTHOR BIO: KERRY CHAPUT
Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. The next series is called The Plantagenet Legacy about the struggles and abdication of Richard II, leading to the troubled reigns of the Lancastrian Kings. She also writes a blog: HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story. Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the Univ. of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to “see the world”. The search hasn’t ended! Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.
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Henry of Bolingbroke was not a man to take insult graciously. And Gloucester’s behavior was bordering on insult. Richard’s question had echoed his own. Just who was he referring to when he threatened to replace the king?
After dining at the Tower, Henry was in no mood to return to his own quarters. He and Mowbray rode directly to Gloucester’s town house and were satisfied to see that no one had retired yet—in fact, all three Appellants were still there. Plotting, in all likelihood. The servants let them in and Henry stood at the door pulling off his gloves while the others turned from the table.
“Ah, there you are,” said Thomas, beckoning them over. “Had a nice supper with the king?”
Henry frowned. “It was not terribly pleasant.”
“What did he say?”
The other shrugged. “Nothing of consequence. He was shaken.”
“I would certainly hope so,” laughed Arundel shortly. “It’s time he understood we are resolute.” He moved over as Mowbray took a place next to him.
Sitting at the end of the table, Henry leaned forward to grab an empty cup. As he lifted it a servant poured some ale. The others watched him uncomfortably as he drank; they didn’t know where to start.
Henry finally put his ale down. He cocked his head. “The king wanted to know who you were referring to,” he said finally. “A full-grown heir. I wondered the same thing.”
Thomas cleared his throat. “I think we’ve had enough of Richard’s rule. He has proven himself unworthy of his great position.”
“Unworthy.” Henry twirled his cup. “And who is worthier?”
“Why not the son of a king?” Gloucester said, almost defensively. “We are in a position to compel that boy to step down.”
“We?” Henry raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you putting the cart before the horse?”
Gloucester stood and began pacing. “All right. Let us come out and say it. We can dethrone him. Now. There will be no better time. We have Richard at our mercy and there is nothing he can do about it.”
“And put you in his place?” Henry’s voice was not cordial.
Thomas whirled around. “Any why not? I am the better warrior. I am more acceptable to the Commons, more deliberate—”
“You forget yourself, uncle.” They stared at each other, one on his feet, the other sitting tensely at the table. “You are not next in line.”
“Does it matter? My brother Edmund wouldn’t want the responsibility. Your father has other interests. He already has a crown.”
“But I do not.”
It was as though they were the only two people in the room. They stared at each other before Warwick broke the tension; he was ever the moderate. “What about Mortimer? I thought Richard favored him as his heir.”
“Another boy? We don’t need another boy king.”
“That is not for you to decide,” Henry retorted. “Or are you so sure of your position?”
Gloucester made a deprecating sound. “We must strike while the iron is hot! This is our moment.”
“And I say it is not,” Henry objected, finally standing. “Who is going to tell my father that his interests were passed over? How do you think he will react?”
Eyes flashing, Gloucester turned toward the fire. He stood before the hearth, taking an iron and thrusting it through a burning log. A shower of sparks flew up the chimney.
“Then we must bend the king to our will.”
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February 13, 2022
Kerry Chaput Daughter of the King COFFEE POT BOOK CLUB BLOG TOUR #HistoricalFiction #kerrywrites #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @ChaputKerry @maryanneyarde
It is my pleasure to introduce Kerry Chaput as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between January 3th – March 7th, 2022. Kerry Chaput is the author of the Historical Women’s Fiction, Daughter of the King (Defying the Crown, Book 1), which was released by Black Rose Writing on 16th December 2021 (248 pages).
Below are highlights of Daughter of the King, Kerry Chaput’s biography, and an excerpt from her book.
To follow the blog tour, CLICK Tour Schedule
HIGHLIGHTS: DAUGHTER OF THE KING
Daughter of the King
(Defying the Crown, Book 1)
By Kerry Chaput
(Blurb)
La Rochelle France, 1661. Fierce Protestant Isabelle is desperate to escape persecution by the Catholic King. Isabelle is tortured and harassed, her people forced to convert to the religion that rules the land. She risks her life by helping her fellow Protestants, which is forbidden by the powers of France. She accepts her fate — until she meets a handsome Catholic soldier who makes her question everything.
She fights off an attack by a nobleman, and the only way to save herself is to flee to the colony of Canada as a Daughter of the King. She can have money, protection and a new life — if she adopts the religion she’s spent a lifetime fighting. She must leave her homeland and the promises of her past. In the wild land of Canada, Isabelle finds that her search for love and faith has just begun.
Based on the incredible true story of the French orphans who settled Canada, Daughter of the King is a sweeping tale of one young woman’s fight for true freedom. Kerry Chaput brings the past to life, expertly weaving a gripping saga with vivid historical details. Jump back in time on a thrilling adventure with an unforgettable heroine.
Trigger Warnings:
Violence, sexual assault
Buy Links:
Read for free with #KindleUnlimited subscription.
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Born in California wine country, Kerry Chaput began writing shortly after earning her Doctorate degree. Her love of storytelling began with a food blog and developed over the years to writing historical fiction novels. Raised by a teacher of US history, she has always been fascinated by tales from our past and is forever intrigued by the untold stories of brave women. She lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon with her husband, two daughters, and two rescue pups. She can often be found on hiking trails or in coffee shops.
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Careful to avoid the soldiers wandering the streets, we move east. Through the crumbled areas of the old barricade, into the woods. The glow from the moon lights our way, reflecting off the trees in a silver glimmer.
A few others move across the dirt, shrouded in black, to the clearing we know so well. This patch of earth is where Protestants secretly share life’s moments. Moments that are punishable by death. Marriages, prayer, and baptisms bring considerable risk, yet we carry on.
Through the trees, quiet faces welcome us with a bow of their heads. Catholics spit the name Huguenot, to mean a banished people praying in shuttered homes. We have adopted it, unashamed of our secret prayers. A white mist hovers in the crisp autumn air.
Henri nudges me. We smile at each other, surrounded by the only church we know. Our pastor steps to the middle. Unlike the Catholics, our leaders walk among us.
As we settle into the silence, the late summer evening stillness pulls me into focus, my hands grow steadier with every breath of wet, cool air. The pastor speaks in a low calming voice.
“Let our presence here remind us that God has chosen us. Do not allow the fear they drive into our hearts to remain for longer than it must. Our purpose is bigger than ourselves. It is to carry on our faith against all manner of intimidation. The true church is not in a hierarchy of corruption and excess. It is here, in the society of the faithful.”
He gestures to the smiling parents, who presents their baby boy wrapped in velvet and white lace. Clémentine smiles, her eyes focused on the baby.
“This child’s life of purity will allow restoration of the primitive innocence of Christianity. Our truest faith lies in patience and humility,” he says.
We are born into this impossible life. Without agreement, without knowledge. We grow in a secret church reserved for the unwanted before we understand what it means. I pray life will be different for this little boy than it has been for me.
The pastor raises a cup of water and dabs several drops on the baby’s forehead, concluding our forbidden ceremony amongst the foggy trees. The smiles of my fellow worshipers light the night sky in a rare moment of peace. We do not find faith in a church, but in the quiet of the trees and under the light of the stars. We begin to sing.
The whisper of the Psalms of David fills the air, enveloping us in the warm familiarity of song in our native tongue. We worship in French. No Latin to be heard. The rolling French is close enough to reach and soft enough to pull me in.
They call us heretics. Because God rules us. Not man, not kings. Because we don’t need priests or saints. Because we can read. Because we cannot be controlled.
The voices drift off to silence as they hold hands in gratitude. I slip away to the edge of the clearing to take in the glow of night. The flickering fires light up our town of chaos. Henri steps next to me, and we peer through the hazy white cloud around us. My heart aches with the sharp realization that outside the forest’s protective arms lies an empire that wishes us dead.
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February 7, 2022
Be Mine Tonight: A Multi-Author Event for #Audiobook Lovers #Audiobook #Giveaway @UviPoznansky
With a story to tell
A select group of authors has joined forces with me
To bring you amazing stories, beautifully narrated.
Looking for a favorite story to enjoy with your loved one?
Come listen to our audiobooks
And join us as a GOING guest for a chance to win it:
CLICK: Be Mine Tonight
(Just ahead of Valentine’s Day: February 11-12)
MEET MY AUTHOR FRIENDS
We bring you amazing stories
Narrated by great voice actors
Just in time for Valentine’s Day!
Join us as a GOING guest
For a chance to win our audiobooks:
CLICK: Be Mine Tonight
CHANCE TO WIN MY AUDIOBOOKS
An Epic Celtic Tale Weaving Forbidden Love, Sorcery, and Political Intrigue
in Ancient Rome and Britannia.
A CELTIC WARRIOR PRINCESS IS TORN BETWEEN HER FORBIDDEN LOVE FOR THE ENEMY AND HER DUTY TO THE PEOPLE.
AWARD-WINNING APOLLO’S RAVEN sweeps you into an epic Celtic tale of forbidden love, mythological adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia. In 24 AD British kings hand-picked by Rome to rule are fighting each other for power. King Amren’s former queen, a powerful Druid, has cast a curse that Blood Wolf and the Raven will rise and destroy him. The king’s daughter, Catrin, learns to her dismay that she is the Raven and her banished half-brother is Blood Wolf. Trained as a warrior, Catrin must find a way to break the curse, but she is torn between her forbidden love for her father’s enemy, Marcellus, and loyalty to her people. She must summon the magic of the Ancient Druids to alter the dark prophecy that threatens the fates of everyone in her kingdom.
Will Catrin overcome and eradicate the ancient curse? Will she be able to embrace her forbidden love for Marcellus? Will she cease the war between Blood Wolf and King Amren and save her kingdom?
BOOK 2: DAGGER’S DESTINY
A CELTIC WARRIOR PRINCESS ACCUSED OF TREASON FOR AIDING HER ENEMY ROMAN LOVER MUST WIN BACK HER FATHER’S LOVE AND TRUST.
War looms over 24 AD Britannia where rival tribal rulers fight each other for power and the Romans threaten to invade to settle their political differences. King Amren accuses his daughter, Catrin, of treason for aiding the Roman enemy and her lover, Marcellus. The ultimate punishment is death unless she can redeem herself. She must prove loyalty to her father by forsaking Marcellus and defending their kingdom—even to the death. Forged into a warrior, she must overcome tribulations and make the right decisions on her quest to break the curse that foretells her banished half-brother and the Roman Empire will destroy their kingdom.
Yet, when Catrin again reunites with Marcellus, she is torn between her love for him and her duty to King Amren. She must ultimately face her greatest challenger who could destroy her life, freedom, and humanity.
Will Catrin finally break the ancient prophecy that looms over her kingdom? Will she abandon her forbidden love for Marcellus to win back her father’s trust and love? Can King Amren balance his brutality to maintain power with the love he feels for his daughter?
BOOK 3: AMULET’S RAPTURE
BLOOD STAINS HER CELTIC HOME AND KINGDOM. THE WARRIOR DRUID PRINCESS WILL DO ANYTHING TO RETAKE HER THRONE.
Although Catrin is the rightful heir to the Celtic throne in Britannia, she is lucky to be alive. After witnessing the slaughter of her family at the hands of her half-brother, who was aided by the Romans, she is enslaved by a Roman commander. He disguises her as a boy in the Roman Legion with the belief that she is an oracle of Apollo and can foretell his future. The sole bright spot in her miserable new life is her forbidden lover Marcellus, the great-grandson of the famed Roman General Mark Antony.
But Marcellus has been wounded and his memories of Catrin and their secret marriage were erased by a dark Druidess. Though Marcellus reunites with Catrin in Gaul and becomes her ally as she struggles to survive the brutality of her Roman master, he questions the legitimacy of their marriage and hesitates to help her escape and retake her kingdom. If their forbidden love and alliance are discovered, her dreams of returning to her Celtic home with Marcellus will be shattered.
February 2, 2022
Jan Sikes Jagged Feathers Blog Tour #NewRelease #MilitaryRomance #RomanticSuspense @WildRosePress @JanSikes3
Welcome to Day 3 of the Blog Tour for Award-Winning Author Jan Sikes which is being held the month of February 2022 at various websites. Join me in celebrating the launch of her Military Romance, Romantic Suspense, Jagged Feathers (Book 2 The White Rune Series), which was released by The Wild Rose Press, Inc on 31 January 2022 (334 pages).
It was a pleasure to interview Jan and learn more about her and the background of her book. One of the aspects I enjoyed about Jan’s stories is how she weaves in paranormal elements. As a fan of Jan Sikes, I find her stories to be heartfelt with engaging characters. It was fascinating to learn that she previously lived in Colorado and began studying runes extensively beginning in 2012. See Jan’s interview below to learn more about her.
Having read Book 1 Ghostly Interference, I found Jagged Feathers to be a faster-paced book with lots of action and suspense, which works well for the main character —a war vet wounded in Afghanistan. Below is my review of her book which I recommend that you read.
Also below are highlights of Jagged Feathers and the author bio for Jan Sikes.
To follow the complete blog tour, CLICK Blog Tour
HIGHLIGHTS: JAGGED FEATHERS
Jagged Feathers
(Book 2 The White Rune Series)
by Jan Sikes
(Blurb)
Vann Noble did his duty. He served his country and returned a shell of a man, wounded inside and out. With a missing limb and battling PTSD, he seeks healing in an isolated cabin outside a small Texas town with a stray dog that sees beyond his master’s scars. If only the white rune’s magic can bring a happily ever after to a man as broken as Vann.
On the run from hired killers and struggling to make sense of her unexplained deadly mission, Nakina Bird seeks refuge in Vann’s cabin. She has secrets. Secrets that can get them all killed.
A ticking clock and long odds of living or dying, create jarring risks.
Will these two not only survive, but find an unexpected love along the way? Or, will evil forces win and destroy them both?
PURCHASE LINKS:
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SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
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Would you provide an overview of the books you’ve published in The White Rune Series?
I had the idea for Ghostly Interference in 2015 when I was writing the second book in my Biographical Fiction series. At the time, all I could do was jot down some notes and move on. It wasn’t until I finished that series that I returned to the story, which had a working title of When Two Worlds Collide. The White Rune came into the story quite unexpectedly, and it was the catalyst that gave me a three-book series. I pitched the series for three years before a publisher gave me a contract. Patience seems to be a big part of being an author, and I am not, by nature, a very patient person. But it all paid off, and now I have finished the series, having just turned in the manuscript for book 3, Saddled Hearts, which Wild Rose Press will release later in 2022.
Please tell us more about your most recently released book, Jagged Feathers: Book 2.
I loved writing Jagged Feathers. It covers some complex issues such as amputation and PTSD. I had first-hand knowledge of both through my late husband, and it gave me a unique insight into the struggles. I wanted my female character to have a paranormal gift, so I gave her psychic visions. In the story, she struggles with these as she can’t always tell if they are from the past, present, or future. Throughout situations that arise, she learns to trust and accept her gift more. Neither character believed anyone could ever love them with all their flaws and scars. But love looks beyond the physical.
What inspired you to write the paranormal series centered around the white rune?
I have been a student of all things metaphysical since the seventies, but while I lived in Colorado in 2012, I studied the runes intensively. So, when it came to creating this series, it fell into place that a white rune with the Wunjo symbol (which signifies a happily-ever-after) would get passed from book to book. Each character needed to have something to believe in – that someone might love them despite their faults and flaws. Since beginning the series, I have studied the runes more and have dabbled with doing rune readings. The Universe constantly amazes me with the accuracy of the readings.
How much research was involved in writing your books about the significance of runes and elements of paranormal associated with each book in the series?
As I said above, the study of the runes began for me in 2012. They were part of a psychic development class I took while in Colorado. So, much of my research came from looking back at my class notes and reference books. I have a dear friend who is a fantastic psychic medium, and I have always admired her gifts. I drew from my personal experiences of sitting in readings and séances with her and others, to develop some of these same gifts in my characters.
Is there any sub-character in The White Rune Series that is your favorite? Explain why.
My favorite sub-character in this series is Charlotte Peters, Jag Peters’ mother, in Ghostly Interference. Charlotte has bits and pieces of myself woven throughout her makeup, but she also came to me and told me her entire backstory, which I wrote as a short story. It has not been published, except in an obscure anthology. Someday I may publish her story as a prologue to the series.
How often do your characters surprise you by doing or saying something totally unexpected?
I’m laughing out loud at this question. The answer is, “All the time!” For example, the big reveal in book one about Jag Peters’ father only came after Charlotte told me her story. But it gave me an excellent twist to add to the storyline.
Have you received reactions/feedback to your work that has surprised you? In what way?
I think I’m always surprised when a reader praises my work or tells me a story brought out emotions in them as they read. When that happens, I’m not only surprised but shocked and humbled. That is always my goal. I want my readers to feel what I feel as I’m creating the stories.
Are there more books on the horizon that will be added to The White Rune Series?
Yes. I just signed a new contract for book 3 in the series, Saddled Hearts. It brings a satisfying ending to the magic of the White Rune. I won’t leave any spoilers, but I will say the rune goes to its final owner in book 3. Saddled Hearts should release sometime in late 2022.
What are three things you think we can all do to make the world a better place?
First and foremost, always show kindness toward everyone. When we look past our differences, we start to see we are all connected.Secondly, treat our planet with more love and respect. I’m afraid if we don’t, Mother Earth will throw a big fit that we won’t be prepared for.Thirdly, keep our little corners of this big ol’ world as peaceful, honest, and filled with love as we possibly can.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
The best gift I ever received was the epic love story that started my writing journey. I never aspired to be a writer, but I lived a story someone needed to write. When I realized I was the only one that could tell it, my entire world shifted and hasn’t stopped. I’ve now published six novels, a book of poems and art, and twelve short stories. I see no way to stop!
What makes you laugh?
Many things can bring a chuckle, but I cannot listen to a baby laugh and not laugh along with him/her. It’s impossible not to feel the purity of their laughter. They live totally immersed in the moment.
What simple pleasure makes you smile?
The laughter and happiness of my grandchildren. As they grow and develop, I see traits in each of them that are unique, and it brings me great joy to watch them. It is a gift to have the opportunity to offer my love, support, and guidance.
BOOK REVIEW: JAGGED FEATHERS
Jagged Feathers by Jan Sikes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jagged Feathers by Jan Sikes is Book 2 in The White Rune Series. This is a fast-paced military romance set in Texas with strong elements of action and suspense. As compared to the multi-layer, heartfelt Book 1 Ghostly Interference, the second book has a faster pace fitting for the main character Vann —a military veteran from the Afghanistan war who is haunted by emotional wounds. He feels like the shell of the vibrant man he once was, as he struggles to adjust to a prosthetic leg. A character from the first book (Rena Jett) gives Vann a white rune, symbolizing a happy ever ending which his former military buddy (Sam), who died in the war, had given her.
After receiving the rune, Vann is unaware that his life is about to change when he rescues a mysterious woman running away from a ricochet of bullets. Although the woman is seriously ill with a hacking cough, she refuses to go to the hospital. Vann’s military training kicks in as he takes the woman back home to take care of her. As she recovers, he learns that her name is Nakina and that she is being chased by a drug cartel. The crime organization wants a package she is safeguarding for her boss who has gone missing. Since Nakina is hesitant to go to the police, Vann is drawn into danger with a woman he hardly knows but is attracted to. Can he find love with Nakina with a dubious past? Is he willing to risk everything, including his life, to gamble that he will find his happy ever ending with this mysterious woman?
Author Jan Sikes has taken the series to another level in which the elements of action and adventure are critical for Vann to accept his disability and to find a reason for living. I was immediately immersed in Vann’s despair in the first chapter but then swept into an action scene when he must rescue Nakina. Overall, the characters are engaging and the dialogue is natural. For those who love dogs, Vann has a part German Shepherd, part Border Collie companion that helps him deal with his PTSD. Riveting action scenes juxtapose steamy love scenes. There could have been more built-up of suspense in later scenes to make the climax resonate.
What I like most about the story is the character development of Vann. His strength of character shines through when he is put in life-threatening situations and must use his military experience to get through it. Not only must he take a chance to trust and to love Nakina, but he must also risk being hurt if she does not accept him with his disability. He is the epitome of what many women like to see in a romantic partner—strong-minded, protective, and caring.
For those who enjoy reading the blend of fast-paced suspense and steamy military romance with an engaging war vet longing for true love, I recommend Jagged Feathers.
January 26, 2022
Justin Newland The Coronation Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFantasy #Supernatural #Thriller #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @matadorbooks @maryanneyarde
Welcome to the Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour for author Justin Newland that is being held between January 24th – February 4th, 2022. Justin Newland is the author of the Historical Fantasy / Supernatural Thriller, The Coronation, which was released by Matador Publishing on 28th September 2019 (216 pages).
It was a pleasure to read and review Justin Newland’s historical fantasy, The Coronation, which is set in18th-century Prussia at the dawn of enlightenment and reason. The novel weaves in supernatural elements into the historical drama which I thought heightened the suspense and intrigue in the tale. It is a multi-layered story with themes of forbidden love, faith, and transformation.
Below are highlights of The Coronation, Justin Newland’s author bio, and my review of his book.
To follow the entire blog tour, CLICK Tour Schedule Page
HIGHLIGHTS: THE CONONATION
The Coronation
By Justin Newland
(Blurb)
It is 1761. Prussia is at war with Russia and Austria. As the Russian army occupies East Prussia, King Frederick the Great and his men fight hard to win back their homeland.
In Ludwigshain, a Junker estate in East Prussia, Countess Marion von Adler celebrates an exceptional harvest. But it is requisitioned by Russian troops. When Marion tries to stop them, a Russian captain strikes her. His lieutenant, Ian Fermor, defends Marion’s honour and is stabbed for his insubordination. Abandoned by the Russians, Fermor becomes a divisive figure on the estate.
Close to death, Fermor dreams of the Adler, a numinous eagle entity, whose territory extends across the lands of Northern Europe and which is mysteriously connected to the Enlightenment. What happens next will change the course of human history…
Buy Links:
Amazon UK 
Amazon US Amazon CA Amazon AU Barnes and Noble Waterstones Kobo
Website (buyers can enter a dedication to be signed by the author) Publisher’s Website Wordery (UK)
Bookswagon (India) Booktopia (Au) Saxo (Dk) Exclusive Books (SA)
AUTHOR BIO: JUSTIN NEWLAND
Justin Newland is an author of historical fantasy and secret history thrillers – that’s history with a supernatural twist. His stories feature known events and real people from history which are re-told and examined through the lens of the supernatural. He gives author talks and is a regular contributor to BBC Radio Bristol’s Thought for the Day. He lives with his partner in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.
His Books
The Genes of Isis is a tale of love, destruction and ephemeral power set under the skies of Ancient Egypt. A re-telling of the Biblical story of the flood, it reveals the mystery of the genes of Isis – or genesis – of mankind. ISBN 9781789014860.
“The novel is creative, sophisticated, and downright brilliant! I couldn’t ask more of an Egyptian-esque book!” – Lauren, Books Beyond the Story.
The Old Dragon’s Head is a historical fantasy and supernatural thriller set during the Ming Dynasty and played out in the shadows of the Great Wall of China. It explores the secret history of the influences that shaped the beginnings of modern times. ISBN 9781789015829.
‘The author is an excellent storyteller.” – British Fantasy Society.
Set during the Great Enlightenment, The Coronation reveals the secret history of the Industrial Revolution. ISBN 9781838591885.
“The novel explores the themes of belonging, outsiders… religion and war… filtered through the lens of the other-worldly.” – A. Deane, Page Farer Book Blog.
His latest, The Abdication (July, 2021), is a suspense thriller, a journey of destiny, wisdom and self-discovery. ISBN 9781800463950.
“In Topeth, Tula confronts the truth, her faith in herself, faith in a higher purpose, and ultimately, what it means to abdicate that faith.”V. Triola, Coast to Coast.
Social Media Links:
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The Coronation by Justin Newland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Coronation by Justin Newland is a historical fantasy steeped with paranormal elements of visions, religious ceremonies, and miracles during the Third Silesian War between Prussia and Austria (with Russian alliance) in the 18th Century. The novel begins in 1761 when neither side has sufficient men or supplies to mount a major offensive. The story primarily centers around Prussian Countess Marion Graffin von Adler and Russian Lieutenant Ian Fermor. Countess Marion—left alone to administer the castle while her husband fights in the war—tries to stop a Russian commander from taking the estate’s fall harvest. When he strikes her for her defiance, Fermor intervenes to defend Marion’s honor. The captain subsequently stabs Fermor with a saber and leaves him for dead. Despite her people’s protests, Marion cares for Fermor as he fights for his life. At his last rites, he has a vision of an eagle (referred to as the Adler) and is pulled from death. The near-death experience so profoundly impacts Fermor, he pledges to find the reason the Lord kept him alive and thus stays on the Adler estate. However, with the loss of the fall harvest, Marion faces the prospect that her people could starve to death during the winter. Various storylines of political intrigue, forbidden love, treachery, faith, and superstition culminate in a strangely moving ending with hope of enlightenment.
Author Justin Newland has crafted a unique historical drama that weaves paranormal elements in the narrative, moving the story in various directions. At times, the sub-plots feel disjointed but eventually tie together for a thought-provoking ending. The primary characters, Marion and Fermor, are engaging as we delve into their inner thoughts. The story is most intriguing and surreal when we are placed in Fermor’s mind as he experiences a near-death vision of the eagle. Faced with the desperate situation of feeding her people, Marion embraces Fermor’s belief that she must follow the “Adler” for a divine purpose. Despite her people’s accusation that Fermor is the “Devil incarnate,” she allows him to stay in their community. Superstitions of demons possessing a person with an incurable disease or life-debilitating condition are explored in the story which I found fascinating and true to the religious beliefs during this time period.
The Coronation is a complex story with various layers of subplots and themes of forbidden love, faith, and transformation. This was a strangely compelling tale as the various storylines tie together and the meaning of various symbols and themes are illuminated. It was at first a difficult novel for me to get into because of the sundry of characters, some awkward wording, and instances of mixed metaphors such as, “in a voice as soft as rose petals.” However, once I was in the flow of the story’s structure and the author’s writing style, I found the novel to be a surreal, thought-providing read.
Overall, The Coronation is a unique historical drama enhanced by supernatural elements that capture the essence of 18th Century Europe at the dawn of its transformation to the age of enlightenment, globalization, and industrialization.
Instagram: @coffeepotbookclub
January 20, 2022
Griffin Brady The Heart of a Hussar Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiction #PolishWingedHussars #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @griffbrady1588 @maryanneyarde
Welcome to the Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour for Colorado author Griffin Brady that is being held between January 17th – January 28th, 2022. Griffin Brady is the author of the Historical Fiction, The Heart of a Hussar (The Winged Warrior Series, Book 1), which was released by Trefoil Publishing on 12th September 2020 (434 pages).
It was a pleasure to read and review Giffin Brady’s epic historical tale, The Heart of a Hussar, set during the 17th-century Polish-Muscovite war, a period with which I was not familiar. The novel has everything that I love in epic historical fiction — fully developed characters, adventure, romance, political intrigue, and world-building. It was one of my favorite historical fiction books that I read last year.
Below are highlights of The Heart of a Hussar, Griffin Brady’s author bio, and my 5-star review of her book.
To follow the blog tour, CLICK Tour Schedule Page
HIGHLIGHTS: THE HEART OF A HUSSAR
The Heart of a Hussar
(The Winged Warrior Series, Book 1)
By Griffin Brady
Poland is at war. He must choose between his lifelong ambition and his heart.
Exploiting Muscovy’s Time of Troubles, Poland has invaded the chaotic country. Twenty-two-year-old Jacek Dąbrowski is an honorable, ferocious warrior in a company of winged hussars—an unrivaled, lethal cavalry. When his lieutenant dies in battle, Jacek is promoted to replace him, against the wishes of his superior, Mateusz, who now has more reason to eliminate him.
Jacek dedicates his life to gaining the king’s recognition and manor lands of his own. Consequently, he closely guards his heart, avoiding lasting romantic entanglements. Unscathed on the battlefield, undefeated in tournaments, and adored by women eager to share his bed, Jacek has never lost at anything he sets out to conquer. So when he charges toward his goals, he believes nothing stands in his way.
Upon his return from battle, Jacek deviates from his ordinarily unemotional mindset and rescues enemy siblings, fifteen-year-old Oliwia and her younger brother, Filip, from their devastated Muscovite village. His act of mercy sets into motion unstoppable consequences that ripple through his well-ordered life for years to come—and causes him to irretrievably lose his heart.
Oliwia has her own single-minded drive: to protect her young brother. Her determination and self-sacrifice lead her to adopt a new country, a new religion, and a new way of life. But it’s not the first time the resilient beauty has had to remake herself, for she is not what she appears to be.
As Jacek battles the Muscovites and Tatars threatening Poland’s borders for months at a time, Oliwia is groomed for a purpose concealed from her. All the while, Mateusz’s treachery and a mysterious enemy looming on the horizon threaten to destroy everything Jacek holds dear.
Buy Links:
This novel is available on #KindleUnlimited
Universal Book Link Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon CA Amazon AU
AUTHOR BIO: GRIFFIN BRADY
Griffin Brady is a historical fiction author with a keen interest in the Polish Winged Hussars of the 16th and 17th centuries. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. The Heart of a Hussar took third place in the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ 2018 Colorado Gold Contest and was a finalist in the Northern Colorado Writers’ 2017 Top of the Mountain Award.
The proud mother of three grown sons, she lives in Colorado with her husband. She is also an award-winning, Amazon bestselling romance author who writes under the pen name G.K. Brady.
Social Media Links:
Website Twitter Facebook BookBub Amazon Author Page Goodreads
BOOK REVIEW: THE HEART OF A HUSSAR
The Heart of a Hussar by Griffin Brady
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Heart of a Hussar, the first book by Griffin Brady in the 17th-century historical fiction series (The Wings of Warriors), sweeps you into the backdrop of the Polish-Muscovite war. The Tsardom of Russian succession was plunged into crises in 1598 when there was not a designated heir at the death of Tsar Feodor I. The powerful Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took advantage of the situation and waged war against Russia in 1509 to gain territorial concessions and weaken its alliance with Sweden. The novel begins with action at the Battle of Kłuszyn on 4 July 1610. Outnumbered, the Polish forces win a decisive victory over the Russians due to the political prowess of the winged hussars—the elite cavalrymen serving the Crown of Poland.
Lieutenant Jacek Dabrowski—a newly promoted twenty-two-year-old brash and cunning hussar—rescues fifteen-year-old Oliwia and her younger brother from an enemy Muscovite village that has been pillaged. Jacek’s merciful act sets in motion a cascade of consequences that profoundly impact both his and Oliwia’s lives. After they both return to the estate of Lord Eryk Krygowski, the story unfolds over a period of three years. The Lord’s wife mysteriously takes in and grooms Oliwia for aristocratic duties while Jacek pursues his ambitions to be recognized by the King for his valor and be rewarded with manors and titles. At first, Jacek hesitates to lose his heart to Oliwia but finally acknowledges his feelings for her when she comes of age to marry. But a love triangle, treachery, and political machinations could destroy everything he holds dear.
Author Griffin Brady has masterfully crafted a multi-layered, epic tale of adventure, romance, betrayal, vengeance, and political intrigue in the backdrop of Poland at the height of its power. Action-packed battle scenes, emotionally-packed dialogue, and a budding romance resonate on several layers. The detailed descriptions of battles, weaponry, landscape, social norms, and clothing add to the historical world-building, giving a flavor of the times without detracting from the story. Riveting battle scenes juxtapose with the everyday life of aristocrats in their winter quarters when military campaigns were not waged. The details in the story reflect the author’s impeccable research and passion for the subject.
The characters are engaging and relatable for modern-day audiences. Though Jacek’s steadfast, unemotional demeanor serves him well in battle and tournaments, it is also an impediment to advancing romance. With a history of misfortune, Oliwia must re-invent herself and adapt to a new world to survive and protect her younger brother. The devotion expressed between Lord Eryk and his kind sickly wife is endearing. Though she cannot bear him a child, he nonetheless remains loyal to her. Twists in the plot that I did not anticipate culminate to a heart-wrenching ending, setting the stage for the next book.
I highly recommend The Heart of a Hussar to those who enjoy reading epic, multi-layered historical tales filled with adventure, romance, and political intrigue.
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