Eliza Knight's Blog, page 17

Spotlight: Breton Wolfe by Victoria Vane

 BRETON WOLFE by VICTORIA VANE (A De Wolfe Pack Kindle worlds novella)
She swore to defy him to her dying breath... But passion blurs the line between love and hate...The bluest blood and the hardest heart... at least when it comes to marriage... The daughter of a duke and granddaughter of a king, Adele of Vannes was bartered at birth in a marriage treaty for the sole purpose of producing a royal heir. When her philandering husband is slain by Norse marauders, she is coerced to wed again in order to protect her home and her people. Adele knows that her beloved Brittany needs a strong hand to survive, but how can she ever reconcile her bitterness and hatred with the desire she feels for her mortal enemy?She’s the jewel he seeks for his Breton crown...A Barbarian bent on building a dynasty, Valdrik Vargr, ‘the Norse Wolf,’ is renowned for both his bravery in battle and shrewdness in statecraft. Setting his sights on claiming the kingdom of Brittany, he knows that siring sons from royal blood would solidify his hold, but the woman he would claim as his queen refuses to have him. Will he fuel her hatred by taking her to his bed, or will the man who strikes terror in the hearts of men be reduced to wooing his bride?

Purchase Links Amazon http://amzn.to/1Hcyu5I
Excerpt
Adèle spent the night on her knees in prayer, gaze cast heavenward in supplication. She hadn’t dared to bow her head and shut her eyes for fear that sleep would overtake her. She couldn’t afford to be caught aware when the marauders came. And they would come. That was a certainty. Rudalt had never returned from his ‘Norse” hunt. None of them had returned. They were dead. She felt it down to her bones.
She’d dispatched riders to Cournailles but he was days away. He would never arrive in time. Her home would be burned to ashes before help ever came. Perhaps she could buy them off? Did she have enough silver and jewels to pay tribute? Or would the Norsemen simply extract their payment in woman’s flesh and men’s blood?
Her throat thickened at the sudden remembrance of her wedding night. She had borne Rudalt’s ravaging for years; surely she could survive it again. And survival was all she dared hope for. The Norse would come with their battle axes and siege machines. The Bretons might keep them at bay for a few hours or maybe a day, but penetration of their walls was inevitable. She had no true defenses outside of a few dozen archers. In his arrogance, Rudalt had taken the best warriors, leaving her defenseless.
From her bedchamber window, Adèle cast her gaze eastward where the sun was rising, painting the landscape of rolling hills in soft shades of pink and gold. She stared off into the distance, chewing her lip and willing her nerves to settle. Last night she’d worn holes in her slippers and bitten her fingernails to the quick. She now accepted that her fate was out of her hands. She had no choice but to entrust herself to the merciful will of God. If death awaited her, she prayed it would be swift.
Moving shadows appeared on the horizon. A moment later they took shape as a solid line of men. Hundreds of mounted men. But rather than shrinking in terror, a strange peace settled over her. She was the daughter of Judicael, a great warrior and Duke of Brittany. Her great-grandfather was Erispoe, the first proclaimed King of the Bretons. She would do as the father and grandfather had done before her—she would fight them to her dying breath.




Victoria Vane is a #1 bestselling author of smart and sexy contemporary Western romance and an award-winning author of erotic historical romance. Her books have received more than twenty awards and nominations to include the 2014 RONE Award for Treacherous Temptations and Library Journal Best E-Book romance of 2012 for The Devil DeVere series. Look for her scorching hot Hotel Rodeo series coming from Kensington/Lyrical Shine early 2016.


Connect with Victoria:Email: victoria.vane@hotmail.comAuthor Web: http://www.victoriavane.com/FB : https://www.facebook.com/victoria.vane Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorvictoriav

Video of the Week: Game of Desks (Jimmy Fallon)

Do you watch Game of Thrones? Well enjoy this funny parody created by Jimmy Fallon and his team on Late Night!!! Simply awesome!!!!

New Release: Promise of a Knight!

Happy Thursday! Today is an exciting day! Not only is it the launch day for Kathryn Le Veque's World of De Wolfe Pack, BUT, I got to participate in the launch with my brand new novella, Promise of a Knight.

I'm THRILLED to share with you all an excerpt from the book!

Scottish Court, 1503
English knight, Sir Liam de Wolfe, has been charged with escorting Princess Margaret Tudor from England to the Scottish court where she will marry King James IV of Scotland. The newfound peace between the countries feels foreign, but he is bound by duty to honor the treaty, and his king's wishes. Once on Scottish soil, his attention is caught by a fiery lady--one who intrigues him with her witty banter, her passionate eyes, and admirable resolve. But she is Scottish, born to be his natural enemy. As much as he tries to walk away from her, he finds himself drawn to her beacon of light.
Scottish lady, Alexandra Maxwell, has been sent to the royal court under the guise of serving the new queen. Her parents are against the new treaty bringing peace between Scotland and England, and want her to commit treason, acts which Alex adamantly opposes. But how can she naysay her mother and father? They will toss her into a convent if she refuses, and yet if she's caught certain death awaits her at the end of a hangman's noose. To make matters worse, she seems to be falling for the English knight who has completely captivated her attention, whose kisses are a sweet escape from the torment in her mind. To fall for the enemy would most assuredly mean a fall from grace.
If Liam were to find out why Alex was really at court, he'd not only turn against her, but he'd see her tossed into the dungeon himself.
Can a relationship between English and Scottish go beyond that of battle? Can they trust one another? Love one another? Solve centuries worth of warring? Is it worth the risk?
EXCERPT:
“They come!” someone shouted.

Beside her, and she dared not look to see who, someone grumbled, “Damned Sassenachs.”

’Twould appear that not everyone was pleased with the king’s choice of bride. Alex didn’t like the English, either. They’d tormented her people, and when she was young, had ruined much of her entertainment. But for now, she mostly disliked them because they would make her false to Scotland. 

Aye, ’twas the bloody English’s fault that she was here and about to commit treason by stealing something from the king’s bride. If only the ninny had stayed in England where she belonged, Alex wouldn’t even be in this position.

“Move over.” The mumbles and shoves started from behind as the crowd shifted, trying to get a closer look.

Alex strained to see above their heads. Tugging her skirts out of the way of her feet when she tried to find her balance. English flags waved from long poles as knights walked and others rode on horseback. The trumpets and drums grew louder.

A gilded litter came into view, the sounds of ladies chirping from atop palfreys. They were dressed in voluminous gowns of satin, lace and velvet. Every color of the rainbow, with jeweled hoods to match, and gloves and boots of the finest leather. Raised on her tiptoes, Alex could barely see beyond the fabric. She desperately wanted to get a look at the woman she was going to rob in the name of retribution for her parents.

Moving with the shifting crowd, she strained to remain upright as well as to see.

And then her eyes locked on the most fearsome sight.

A knight.

He was large. Thick with muscle, and he sat his horse tall. How tall was he? Well over six feet if she had to guess. Plated armor covered his chest, arms, legs, the sun hitting the steel making it glint almost gold. Though his weapons were sheathed, there was no mistaking his deadly force. He wore a helm that covered the entirety of his face, leaving only slits where his eyes were. They had to be black. Black as his fierce heart.

The helmet turned and she could swear he was looking at her. But how could he see her through the crowd?

The shifting of the horde of Scottish aristocrats jerked forward suddenly, throwing Alex off balance and through the front of the crowd. Eyes widened, she stretched out her arms, feeling herself pitching forward.

“Oh!” she cried out. Someone was stepping on the back of her dress, which didn’t help her to gain her footing. And then she was, indeed, pitching forward.

Cold, gauntleted hands caught her just before she fully hit the ground.

Alex stared up into the metal face of the knight who’d been on his horse not a second before. 

Reflexes of a Highland cat, he had. Pretty impressive for an Englishman. How could he move so swiftly in such heavy metal?

She had the sudden irrational desire to see his eyes.

“Thank ye,” she murmured.

He lifted the front plate of his helmet, hazel eyes penetrating hers. “A lady should never have to feel the crush of a crowd or the dust of the road on her face.”

Alex was at a loss for words. How could a knight as fierce as he was speak such lovely words? 

Furthermore, how could a man be so beautiful? High arched cheeks, a strong jaw. A mouth that curled softly into a subtle, teasing smile. Dark tendrils of hair touched his forehead. She could get lost in the way his eyes resembled the moors.

A little flutter turned her belly and, just as quickly, soured it. Disgusting! Her family would have her stoned if they could just see her now. Batting her lashes at a Sassenach!

Alex tried to stand, but her dress was still caught.

“Move,” the knight said, his voice deep and commanding to the lord standing behind her, crushing the precious fabric of her new gown.

The Scot sneered at the English knight and then stepped aside. “Apologies,” he muttered to Alex, but it did not feel at all like an apology.

How was it that her own countryman treated her so rudely?

“Savages,” the knight proclaimed.

Alex pushed his cold, metal hands away and rose to her feet. She was not a savage. Even if the servants at Caerlaverock Castle had called her that often enough when she went out to dance in the rain.

Then she noticed that the entire caravan had stopped the moment the knight leapt from his horse. At least a dozen metal-clad men stood at attention.

“I’m no longer in need of yer assistance,” Alex said, raising her chin and hating that all eyes were on her. As a second thought, she added, “And I shouldn’t like to keep His Majesty’s bride waiting.”

The Countess of Home was surely regretting her decision to help Alex now.

The knight bowed, then returned to his horse, his faceplate still up, the way he watched her as he rode on did not go unnoticed by her—or anyone else.

Just as she suspected, a pinch on her arm alerted her to the Countess’ presence. “Stupid, lass, have ye no decorum?”

Alex looked to the ground, hoping to appear meek, but that only made her angry. When she’d left Caerlaverock, she’d left the insults behind. Or so she’d hoped. She jerked her gaze up at the Countess, and said, “I was pushed and not one of my own countrymen came to my aid. Nay, I had to be lifted by a dreaded English knight.

So dreaded that he’d made her belly flutter and left her with thoughts of his lips and the slight curl of a smile she’d seen on them as he’d ridden away.

Want to read more? Buy it here!

William the Conqueror’s Castles in York By Regan Walker

Welcome back to History Undressed, guest author, Regan Walker! Today we're in for a real treat! Two of my favorite things William the Conqueror and castles! Enjoy!

William the Conqueror’s Castles in York
By Regan Walker
Rogue Knight is set in York in 1069-70. In the course of my research, I learned much about the castles William the Conqueror built in York. He might have conquered the south of England in 1066 but he did not conquer the north until years later. The north drew his attention because the people there, more Anglo-Scandinavian than Saxon, refused to accept his claim to the throne and because York was too important to ignore.
In 1068 William rode north to York and engaged in a skirmish with the “rebels” who did not accept him as their king any more than they had Harold Godwinson of Wessex before him. When the city submitted, as he did almost everywhere else, William built a castle to leave as a lasting reminder to the populace that he was now in charge. And he left his knights.

Motte and Bailey Castle
Like most of the castles William built, this first one in York was a motte and bailey castle.  A simple wooden structure, the tower or keep, was put at the top of a large mound or motte. They looked more like forts than the castles we think of today. It was set on a “ness”, the Viking word for a triangular headland between the
Rivers Ouse and Foss. Today the wooden castle has been replaced by the present-day York Castle, also called “Clifford’s Tower”, constructed of stone. The first, wooden one was built in a hurry, as were many of William’s castles. Some accounts say the first timber castle went up in nine days.
The motte, or mound of dirt on which the tower was constructed, was originally about 200 feet wide at the base. As he did elsewhere, William the Conqueror destroyed an entire section of the city to make way for his castle. At the foot of the motte was an area surrounded by a wooden palisade, a post fence. This was the bailey.
Richard FitzRichard was made castellan of the first York castle and left to guard York with William Malet, the new Sheriff of Yorkshire and the garrison of Norman knights and men-at-arms left behind. This is where Rogue Knight begins.
A year after the first castle was built, the rebels again rose against William killing Richard FitzRichard, the castellan. William brought his army north to subdue them. Once the rebels were sent scurrying off, William built a second castle on the other side of the River Ouse.This second castle was constructed on what is now Baile Hill on the west bank of the Ouse opposite the first castle. It was also a motte and bailey design, probably reached by a bridge and steps cut up the side of the motte. One of William’s friends, Gilbert de Ghent, was made castellan of York’s second castle.
 Medieval York
William probably thought he had Northumbria and York well in hand as he rode south in 1069, however he had not counted upon the fact the rebels were by now joined by some powerful allies: Edgar Ætheling, the young Saxon heir to the throne of England who had been sojourning in Scotland, Maerleswein, former Sheriff of Lincolnshire, Waltheof, Earl of Huntingdon and cousin to King Swein of Denmark, and Cospatric, former Earl of Northumbria. No ordinary rebels these. And William had not counted upon the people of York looking to their allies the Danes.
In late summer of 1069, a Danish fleet of 240 dragon ships sailed up the Humber to the Ouse River and to York. They attacked both castles with the assistance of the Northumbrians. The Normans, in a misguided effort to prevent the rebels from burning the castles, had earlier set fire to surrounding houses. The fire raged out of control and spread through the city, effectively turning it into a burned out shell. The fire also destroyed York Minster. This is what the Danes found when they arrived two days later.
The Danes captured the castles and killed all the Normans (hundreds) save for the nobles they took as captives (including William Malet and his family, and Gilbert de Ghent). They tore down and burned the castles and then sailed their dragon ships back to the mouth of the Humber where they intended to winter.
Likely the Danes did not think William would wage a war in winter. They didn’t do that back then. But William did. He would have his revenge. And he would re-build his two castles. William brought his army north and devastated York and all of Northumbria as far as Durham, killing everyone. He even salted the land to prevent the people from growing food. This is called the “Harrying of the North” and led to the death of 100,000 people.
William rebuilt the two castles, again constructing them of wood. The bailey at York Castle was enlarged slightly in the process. The buildings believed to have been inside the bailey at this time included halls, kitchens, a chapel, barracks, stores, stables, forges and workshops. By the time Domesday Book was written in 1086, York Castle was also surrounded by a water-filled moat and a large artificial lake called the King's Pool, fed from the river Foss by a dam built for the purpose. Over time the Baile Hill site was abandoned in favor of the first castle site, leaving only the motte, which still exists.
William’s vengeance on the North for the rebellion of 1069 was so horrible that for decades thereafter, the land between York and Durham remained untilled and no village was inhabited. Orderic Vitalis, the English chronicler and Benedictine monk, said of William’s actions, “I dare not commend him. He leveled both the bad and the good in one common ruin by a consuming famine…he was…guilty of wholesale massacre…and barbarous homicide.”
William of Jumièges, a monk and contemporary of William the Conqueror, said that “from the youngest to the oldest” most of the population of York was killed. But William now controlled York, or whatever was left of it, and he had his two re-built castles.


"Mesmerizing medieval romance! A vivid portrayal of love flourishing amidst the turbulence of the years after the Norman Conquest."-- Kathryn Le Veque, USA Today Bestselling Author
York, England 1069… three years after the Norman Conquest
The North of England seethes with discontent under the heavy hand of William the Conqueror, who unleashes his fury on the rebels who would dare to defy him. Amid the ensuing devastation, love blooms in the heart of a gallant Norman knight for a Yorkshire widow.
A LOVE NEITHER CAN DENY, A PASSION NEITHER CAN RESIST
Angry at the cruelty she has witnessed at the Normans’ hands, Emma of York is torn between her loyalty to her noble Danish father, a leader of the rebels, and her growing passion for an honorable French knight.
Loyal to King William, Sir Geoffroi de Tournai has no idea Emma hides a secret that could mean death for him and his fellow knights.
WAR DREW THEM TOGETHER, WAR WOULD TEAR THEM APART
War erupts, tearing asunder the tentative love growing between them, leaving each the enemy of the other. Will Sir Geoffroi, convinced Emma has betrayed him, defy his king to save her?

Rogue Knight on AmazonRegan's WebsiteFacebookPinterest storyboard for Rogue Knight

This Week in History: 10/12 - 10/18

Time for your history lesson!What happened this week in Tudor History?



October 12, 1537: Queen Jane Seymour, third wife of Henry VIII, gave birth to a son, Prince Edward.  The little prince would one day become king, though his reign and life were short-lived due to an illness.

October 13, 1549: The Royal Council for Edward VI abolished Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset's (and the hero in my novel, My Lady Viper ), membership on the council and his protectorship of the king. He'd been named Lord Protector upon the death of Henry VIII.

October 14, 1586: The trial of Mary Queen of Scots, brought about by her cousin Queen Elizabeth I of England (though she did not attend the proceedings), began at Fotheringhay Castle.

October 15, 1537: The infant, Prince Edward was christened. His half-sister, Mary (daughter of Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon) stood as his god-mother. Charles Brandon, Thomas Cranmer and Thomas Howard stood as godfathers. His mother, Jane Seymour, would die of childbed fever just twelve days after giving birth.

October 16, 1555: Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester and Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London were burned at the stake as heretics, the order issued by Queen Mary I of England (eldest living daughter of Henry VIII).

October 17, 1491: Though a three-year truce had been signed between Henry VII of England and James IV of Scotland in 1488, (due to expire on 10/23/1491), relations had deteriorated significantly. On this day, the English parliament passed an act banishing all Scots from the land (who were not land/title holders) within 40 days.

October 18, 1541: Margaret Tudor, sister to Henry VIII and Queen Consort in Scotland and then regent, died at Methven Castle, Perthshire, Scotland.

Video of the Week: Downton Sixbey

I couldn't resist! This is hilarious. I love Jimmy Fallon!


 

This Week in History: 10/5 - 10/11

Time for your weekly history lesson!What happened this week in Scottish history?



October 5, 1785: Italian aeronaut Vincenzo Lunardi, made a 46-mile balloon flight from from George Heriot's School, Edinburgh to Ceres, Fife.

October 6, 1564: John Knox, a Scottish clergyman, who off and on took issue with Mary Queen of Scots, wrote to Cecil, the advisor of Queen Elizabeth I of England, as well as Dudley, another of Elizabeth's council. He expressed his distress that 9 of 12 of Mary's council were accepting of her wish to marry Darnley, stating Mary was "born to be a plague to this realm" with her "inordinate desires."

October 7, 1782: One of the founders of The Scotsman newspaper, Charles McLaren, was born. He edited the paper for 27 years and also was the editor for the 6th Edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

October 8, 1515: The birth of Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox. Her grandson, James VI, succeeded Elizabeth I of England, uniting both Scotland and England under the same monarch.

October 9, 1506: The Charter incorporating the Surgeons and Barbers was ratified by King James IV.

October 10, 1802: Geologist and writer, Hugh Miller, was born on the Black Isle (Cromarty). He penned many verses, pamphlets and articles, including geological books, the most famous being The Old Red Sandstone. He was pioneer in researching fossils, and the relationship between different geological ages.

October 11, 1297: A letter written by William Wallace and Andrew Moray to the mayors of Lubeck and Hamburg, after the victory at Stirling Bridge, which stated, "The Kingdom of Scotland has, by God's Grace, recovered by battle from the power of the English".

A Rebel in Jericho by Mimi Milan -- Excerpt and Giveaway!

Join the Resistance!

The first book in a new historical romance series, A REBEL IN JERICHO, is a suspenseful Wild West adventure with an abduction, border battles and Mexican saloons! Check out this novel from debut author Mimi Milan where two people learn that love, courage and faith are all they need to face the trials of the West.
To learn more about Mimi Milan check out her website !  

Giveaway:Grand Prize: 1 Winner will win a $25 gift card to Amazon or B&N

Click here for the Rafflecopter giveaway! a Rafflecopter giveaway



About A REBAL IN JERICHO  

After years of preparing for marriage, Catalina Santé is interested in little more than making a good match. And why not? She’s young, beautiful, educated… everything a wealthy man should want. However, a tragic accident will leave her with less than a marriage proposal—she’s fighting for her very life!
Matthew Martin spends most of his time just trying to fit into American society. It’s one of the reasons he became a deputy. Willing to risk it all in order to protect Catalina, he can’t imagine what that entails… until she’s abducted and sold to a Mexican saloon, where a border battle rages between two towns.
Can love and faith survive in such a harsh place? Will Matthew even be able to save Catalina?


Excerpt #2 -  A REBEL IN JERICHO by Mimi Milan
Catalina gasped as a hand tightened around her arm and pulled her back. She looked up at the stranger who interrupted her moment of tranquility. His face looked worn and dangerous – or maybe it was just the ugly, jagged scar that ran down his left cheek.
Whatever the reason, his neatly combed blonde hair and fashionably tailored suit did little to ease Catalina.
“It’d be a real pity to lose such a pretty little gal to the great Mississippi. Don’t you think?” There was something sinister in his proud Southern drawl. His hand stayed on her arm, his thumb caressing her soft flesh.
Catalina grimaced as she pulled herself free. “Thank you for your concern, sir.” Her voice offered a token of gratitude, but surely her face belied the aversion she felt for the stranger. An unpleasant smirk touched the man’s lips – his tongue flicking out to moisten them. The small act left Catalina feeling as though she were improperly dressed. She wrapped her arms around herself. Distracted by something behind her, the man simply nodded. “My pleasure, Miss.” He briefly touched his hat. Then he turned, a brisk walk in his heel. “Who was that?” Startled, Catalina turned back around. Thankful to see it was Matthew, Catalina gave him a genuine smile. “Oh, it’s you.” Matthew raised a quizzical brow. “Of course, it’s me. Were you expecting someone else?” “No, no. It’s just...” Catalina angled over a shoulder, but the stranger was already gone. She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just a little spooked about crossing this river.” Catalina dismissed the disturbing stranger as simply one of those eccentric sorts that – having obviously come from money –thought he was entitled to letch over women. “I’m fine. Really.” “Well, don’t worry. It’ll be over in about fifteen minutes.” “Really? I would have thought it takes a lot longer to cross such a large river.” “Not this particular area we’re crossing.” Matthew pointed across the river to the landing dock in the horizon. “The boat will pull in right about there.” Catalina bit her lip while she digested that bit of information. The dock looked welcoming, and they would be halfway to their destination once they reached it. What would that would mean for Matthew? What would he do once he got to Mexico? Would he stick around? After all, he was from there. It would be nice to have a familiar face around. Why would he, though? After the way she had behaved, he would probably just drop her off at her grandfather’s ranch and be on his way. Besides, it wasn’t like she really wanted him around. Right?


On Sale in Digital Now: Amazon

See what other readers are saying about A REBEL IN JERICHO:
“Romance, intrigue and danger! It’s an exciting adventure as the reader joins Catalina on her perilous journey through the underbelly of Mexico’s dark side.” – Patricia Highton
“A delightful blend of drama, romance, and self-discovery.” – Tiffany Matus

 Add A REBEL IN JERICHO to your TBR pile on Goodreads !
Author Bio: Mimi Milan spent two decades scribbling away in notebooks before realizing that her life’s calling was to write. So she returned from Mexico and attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in Film. She currently resides in the suburbs of Charlotte, making time for God, family and imaginary friends.
Connect with Mimi:   Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

A Day in An Author's Life by Kathleen Bittner Roth

Welcome back to History Undressed our regular first Tuesday blogger, Kathleen Bittner Roth! I'm so thrilled for her post today, because I love to see how other writers work/live! Enjoy!

A Day In An Author’s Lifeby
Kathleen Bittner Roth


People often wonder how an author spends his or her day and how they manage to get so many books written. Before I tell you about my day as a writer, perhaps I should share a little something about how I ended up living in not one, but two post-communist countries.


Hans, my late husband, was German. We met in Texas and married in a private castle in Scotland. Four years later, he wanted to return to Europe and thought living along the Adriatic would be an ideal lifestyle. So, off we went, settling in stunning Opatija, a spa town Emperor Franz Josef had built in the 1800’s for his lovely wife, Empress Elizabeth.
We lived an idyllic life swimming in the crystal clear waters, climbing the Emerald green mountain that met the sea, dining on fresh-caught fish in outdoor restaurants. But then, my wonderful, athletic, too-young-to-die husband suddenly took ill. We rushed him to a specialized hospital in Budapest where he passed away. I was devastated. Every morning, I would leave my apartment and walk the streets alone. Soon, the beauty of Budapest took hold of me, and the fog in my head began to lift. Three months later, as a way of working through my grief, I started writing a Victorian era romance. Not only did writing A Duke’s Wicked Kiss help me heal, it became a finalist in Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart Contest®. It wasn’t long before I had a wonderful agent and contracts to write five books. 
I ended up falling in love with this beautiful city, and with the lovely Hungarians. I joined a women’s group of expats who all speak English. Not only did I survive, I thrived. Now, I find it hard to leave this enchanting city, so here, I remain. 


Most of my week goes something like this: 
Because of the time difference between here and the U.S., upon awakening, I check my email and social media to see what went on while I slept. Next, I go for a walk. I live a block from City Park. What a magical place! There’s a fairy tale castle nestled amongst tall trees, a lovely little lake filled with ducks, restaurants, a zoo, the famous Szechenyi Baths, and in the winter, an ice palace with a huge skating rink. Heading home, I walk along streets lined with grand old villas built during the wealthy Austro-Hungarian Empire era. 

Returning to my flat, I write until noon. I either eat lunch at home or meet up with friends in one of the city’s many restaurants. Home by 2 p.m., I meditate—unless it’s Thursday when I meet up with friends in one of the awesome coffee houses for some lively conversation. I particularly like the New York Café. Its over-the-top baroque interior makes me feel like I’m in a palace. 

Four p.m. will find me back home and writing until 7p.m. when I stop for dinner. If I’m at home, I’ll watch a movie or a series. I then check emails, perhaps Skype friends or family, maybe write a little more, and then off to bed for my nightly reading. I live alone, but I am never lonely. The two words are so entirely different.
Losing my husband in a strange country where the language is considered the second most difficult in the world, put me through a rugged series of testing everything I stood for. But instead of feeling sorry for myself, I applied myself and wrote. Now, exactly five years later, JOSETTE, my fifth book just released. JOSETTE the third in my When Hearts Dare series (it is also a stand alone).
This past July, I signed contracts to write a total of five more books. I’m also writing a WWII story. 
Here’s a little about JOSETTE, my latest release:  

Josette LeBlanc left behind her poverty-stricken life in a Louisiana bayou after marrying the wealthiest man in New Orleans. Now a widow living in luxury, Josette should have it all. Nothing could be further from the truth. Polite society's scorn has forced her into a lonely existence. When a wayward niece overwhelms Josette, she grudgingly turns to someone she once adored—the man she believes to be the girl's father.Wealthy shipping magnate Cameron Andrews possesses everything a man could want, but tragedy shrouded his heart in darkness. He has every intention of escaping a life more suffocating than the sultry heat of the French Quarter. Fate, however, has something else in mind when a precocious young girl storms into his life claiming to be his daughter. Not only is the girl a Cajun raised in the bayou backwaters, she is also the granddaughter of a wicked voodoo priestess.Like a rose bush filled with prickly thorns, an unwanted attraction blossoms between Josette and Cameron. While denying the passion that sparks between them, their verbal sparring heats their blood as nothing ever has, but treacherous forces are at work. Soon, Josette and Cameron are caught in a tangled web of passion and betrayal that could cost Cameron his life.
EXCERPT
How long had it been since she had run barefoot in the streets? Since blood pounded through her veins at the risk of being caught slipping two fingers into a coat pocket without anyone having a clue what she’d done. Past memories of the wicked thrill of it all washed through her veins once again. The idea of reliving that kind of perverse freedom could be had, right here, right now with the man she’d once only dared to dream about. Oh, she’d wanted Cameron to notice her back then, wanted him to pluck her out of the crowd and carry her off. But here he stood, in the flesh, his hungry eyes fixed on her like she was about to become his next meal. Pleasure ran through her. Well, she could just as easily dine on him as well. Replace old memories with new. Yes, she was going to do this, and she would savor every moment of whatever was to pass between them.
Cameron lifted a brow. “Now I should be asking what you are thinking. You have a secret little smile that I find rather impressive.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathleen Bittner Roth thrives on creating passionate stories featuring characters who are forced to draw on their strength of spirit to overcome adversity and find unending love. Her own fairy tale wedding in a Scottish castle led her to her current residence in Budapest, Hungary, considered one of Europe’s most romantic cities. However, she still keeps one boot firmly in Texas and the other in her home state of Minnesota. A member of Romance Writers of America®, she was a finalist in the prestigious Golden Heart® contest. Find Kathleen on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Pinterest and www.kathleenbittnerroth.com.

COVER REVEAL for A Year of Ravens: A Novel of Boudica's Rebellion

I am so excited to share with you the cover for the upcoming release of A Year of Ravens: A Novel of Boudica's Rebellion by myself (E. Knight) along with: Ruth Downie, Stephanie Dray, Kate Quinn, Vicky Alvear Shecter, SJA Turney, Russell Whitfield and an introduction by Ben Kane.

This book has been a long time coming. A project that brought forth tears, anguish, and many fun discussions with a fabulous group of authors! I wrote the part of Boudica's two daughters, and between jugs of wine and boxes of tissues, managed to hopefully bring forth a story that is both tragic and uplifting!

Without further ado...

OUR COVER!!!!




Britannia: land of mist and magic clinging to the western edge of the Roman Empire. A red-haired queen named Boudica led her people in a desperate rebellion against the might of Rome, an epic struggle destined to consume heroes and cowards, young and old, Roman and Briton . . . and these are their stories.
A calculating queen foresees the fires of rebellion in a king's death.
A neglected slave girl seizes her own courage as Boudica calls for war. 
An idealistic tribune finds manhood in a brutal baptism of blood and slaughter.
A death-haunted Druid challenges the gods themselves to ensure victory for his people.
A conflicted young warrior finds himself torn between loyalties to tribe and to Rome.
An old champion struggles for everlasting glory in the final battle against the legions.
A pair of fiery princesses fight to salvage the pieces of their mother’s dream as the ravens circle.

A novel in seven parts, overlapping stories of warriors and peacemakers, queens and slaves, Romans and Britons who cross paths during Boudica’s epic rebellion. But who will survive to see the dawn of a new Britannia, and who will fall to feed the ravens?

Releasing November 17, 2015!!!You can pre-order the book now!Amazon USAmazon UKBarnes and NobleITunesKobo