Eliza Knight's Blog, page 39

Words to Live By -- 9/30/13

A new weekly series on History Undressed... Words to live by! Fun word facts :)

This week I'm focusing on Shakespeare! I dare thee to use the words written below (which were also used in his works)... and realize how we still use them today.


blabbing -- revealing secrets, tell-tale, indiscreetfast and loose -- not playing fairly (type of cheating game)hempen -- clothing made of hemp, rustically attired (found this particularly interesting since hemp is back "in")piece -- (among other definitions) piece of artillery, fire-arm.slack -- as in slack off, put off, neglect, postpone
*Definitions used from Shakespeare's Words: A glossary and language companion by David Crystal and Ben Crystal.

Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle

Recently, I had the pleasure of reading Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle--an up and coming Tudor historical fiction author. I absolutely loved the book. I have a fondness for Henry VIII and his wives, unbelievable drama come to life. I eagerly gobble up any Tudor book in my path, but it is a unique author that can bring the tension, fear and treachery to life in vibrant characters.
Ms. Fremantle took a unique perspective of Katherine Parr that I've not yet seen, beginning with the death of her second husband, John Neville, Baron Latimer--and the circumstances revolving around his ailment and death. It opened in Neville's point-of-view, followed by Katherine's.
After the death of her husband, she is summoned to court. Once there, Katherine is immersed in all the political, social, strategic unrest that consumes the Tudor court. She believes she is falling for Thomas Seymour, a rogue if there every was one, but Henry, noticing their affection, sends Thomas abroad so he can court Katherine himself. And, unfortunately, who can refuse the king?
Katherine grew up in court, and certainly knew her way around nobles, royals and how to navigate various factions. She did so in a way that was not only classy, but deceptively intuitive. She was able to play Henry like a cello--beautifully and magically. The author brought out Katherine's strengths, showing how she was able to overcome the domineering, volatile king. Literally, the only of his six wives to outlive him.
Having now been through three husbands not of her choosing, Katherine sets out once more to satisfy herself with romantic love--with the scoundrel Thomas Seymour. She knows it, but deep inside, she so longs for love she's willing to overlook his roguish ways. After all, he is exceedingly charming, and I think he really did love her.
Her end is sad, but at least we see that before she passed, she did find some measure of happiness and we are left satisfied that Ms. Fremantle did her justice in this well-researched, poignant novel.
Looking forward to more from this talented author!


About QUEEN'S GAMBIT

Publication Date: August 6, 2013
Simon & Schuster
Hardcover; 432p
ISBN-10: 147670306X

Widowed for the second time at age thirty-one Katherine Parr falls deeply for the dashing courtier Thomas Seymour and hopes at last to marry for love. However, obliged to return to court, she attracts the attentions of the ailing, egotistical, and dangerously powerful Henry VIII, who dispatches his love rival, Seymour, to the Continent. No one is in a position to refuse a royal proposal so, haunted by the fates of his previous wives—two executions, two annulments, one death in childbirth—Katherine must wed Henry and become his sixth queen.

Katherine has to employ all her instincts to navigate the treachery of the court, drawing a tight circle of women around her, including her stepdaughter, Meg, traumatized by events from their past that are shrouded in secrecy, and their loyal servant Dot, who knows and sees more than she understands. With the Catholic faction on the rise once more, reformers being burned for heresy, and those close to the king vying for position, Katherine’s survival seems unlikely. Yet as she treads the razor’s edge of court intrigue, she never quite gives up on love.

View the Official Book Trailer: http://videos.simonandschuster.com/video/2472116122001

Praise for Queen’s Gambit

"This is a superbly written novel... Fremantle is surely a major new voice in historical fiction and this book is the answer to the question about what Hilary Mantel fans should read while waiting for the final part of her trilogy." - The Bookseller

“Wildly entertaining…lively, gamey, gripped with tension…one of the best historical novels I’ve read.” - Liz Smith

"Elizabeth Fremantle's rich narrative breathes vibrant life into Henry VIII's most intriguing, intelligent and least known wife, Katherine Parr." - Anne Easter Smith author of A Rose for the Crown and Royal Mistress

"Queen's Gambit is an earthy, vivid portrait of Tudor England seen through the eyes of Henry VIII's last wife Katherine Parr and her loyal maid servant. Elizabeth Fremantle has added a richly written and engrossing novel to the endlessly fascinating story of the Tudors." - Stephanie Cowell author of Claude and Camille: A Novel of Monet

"Queen's Gambit is a lovely, sensual, subtle read, telling the story of Katherine Parr with both rich imagination and scrupulous attention to factual detail. After reading this historical novel, you truly comprehend what it would mean to be the sixth wife of a dangerous man wielding absolute power. Katherine is no selfless nurse here, nor religious fanatic, but a complex and compelling person who both men and women were drawn to. This is a very impressive novel." - Nancy Bilyeau author of The Crown

"Beautifully written and finely observed, this suspenseful tale of Henry the Eighth's last wife expertly conveys all the dangerous intensity and passion of the Tudor court." - Rachel Hore, author of A Place of Secrets

"With a painter’s eye for detail, Fremantle brings the dazzling, dangerous Tudor court to life and sheds an intriguing new light on Katherine Parr, one of history’s great survivors. An enthralling tale of power and passion, loyalty and betrayal." - Elizabeth Wilhide, author of Ashenden

"Fremantle...navigates Tudor terrain with aplomb." - Publishers Weekly

"Sins, secrets and guilt dominate the landscape of British writer Fremantle’s debut...[her] emphasis is on intrigue, character portraits and the texture of mid-16th-century life. Solid and sympathetic." - Kirkus Reviews

“Intrigue, romance, and treachery abound in Fremantle’s debut novel . . . . This compulsively readable fictional biography of the ultimate survivor is infused with the type of meticulous attention to historical detailing that discerning fans of Alison Weir and Philippa Gregory have come to expect in the Tudor canon.” - Booklist

About the Author

Elizabeth Fremantle holds a first class degree in English and an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck College London. She has contributed as a fashion editor to various publications including Vogue, Elle and The Sunday Times. QUEEN'S GAMBIT is her debut novel and is the first in a Tudor trilogy. The second novel, SISTERS OF TREASON, will be released in 2014. She lives in London.

For more about Elizabeth and her future projects see www.elizabethfremantle.com.  You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.
Link to Tour Schedule: http://hfvirtualbooktours.com/queensgambittour

Bishops Behaving Badly (In Medieval Times) by Lana Williams

Today I'd like to welcome Lana Williams to History Undressed! I had the pleasure of meeting Lana in person this summer at the RWA Conference. I do hope you enjoy her post about naughty medieval bishops!

Bishops Behaving Badly (in Medieval Times)by Lana Williams
I’ve just released my third historical romance, Believe In Me, where the villain of the story is...you guessed it...a bishop. Why? Well, I came across some delicious research that discussed the challenges the Church faced during medieval times and found it fascinating. Needless to say, the ideas started flowing.
During this period, many nobles chose to leave their estates (or part of them) to the Church with the hopes of receiving a material or spiritual benefit (on earth or in heaven). As the Church gained more and more land (aka wealth and power), their method of managing it had to change as well. About this same time, it became law that the eldest son would inherit, which left the other sons (and daughters) at loose ends. Many ended up in the Church as abbots, cardinals, or bishops not because of a religious calling but because those positions had a similar status as that of nobility.
Can you see where all of this is going? An entity with an abundance of wealth and people in charge of it who
saw no reason not to spend it as they saw fit - the perfect storm in many ways. Obviously there were many monasteries and abbeys that managed their wealth wisely and did a lot of good for the general population. And just as obviously, there were some who built lavish cathedrals and holdings filled with valuable objects. A few religious leaders lived like kings.
Some historians point to the early tenth century as being the low point. Entire books have been written on the subject, but I’ll just share some of the more interesting tidbits I found.
Elections for positions in religious houses caused great conflicts in towns. This was very political and the families of those being considered often got involved. The office of the Bishop of Rome served as a platform for opposing noble families, each vying for control. This power struggle continued for centuries.
In London, the Brothels called ‘stews’ in medieval times were controlled by the Bishop of Winchester, where the women were known as the ‘Winchester Geese’. These women were denied a holy burial despite being allowed (some might say encouraged) by the bishop to ply their trade. The bishop made a lot of money from fines and sharing in their earnings. Seems like a conflict of interest, don’t you think?
This sort of behavior was not limited to bishops. Prior Gilbert de Ponteburgh of Thurgarton Priory was accused of adultery with two local women in 1284. John Rastle, a canon at St. Augustinian’s in Bristol was a ‘public player of dice’ and other unlawful behavior. Apparently this behavior followed him from his time as a student at Oxford.
Pope Formosus was convicted after his death in 856 of having illegally seized the papal throne. His body was dug up and put on trial. After being found guilty, his body was stripped of any priestly vestments, the fingers of his right hand were cut off (the hand that gives benediction) and his body was thrown in the river.
The abbot of the Benedictine house at Milton was criticized for lavish expenditures on his living quarters, but he also founded a free grammar school for the townspeople’s sons. The man was obviously not all bad. In Sherborne, 1437, the townspeople were so displeased with their religious leaders that they set fire to the abbey church! In 1528, Dame Eleanor Carey was being considered for abbess of a large and wealthy nunnery, but under much competitive pressure, she confessed to having had two children during her time at the nunnery.
The granting of indulgences, which became generally accepted with the first Crusade and grew from there, was a fundraiser of sorts. A person who committed a sin was granted forgiveness and a payment of money or service could be made to eliminate the debt of forgiveness. As you might imagine, this was taken advantage of by both parties involved. In some areas, indulgences were sold on a large scale. People feared purgatory and were willing to pay handsomely to avoid it. A Dominican friar in the early 16th century, Johann Tetzel, offered indulgences for the dead with a clever slogan: “When a penny in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs.”
Hope you found these stories as interesting as I did!

One lucky commenter will win an ebook version (Kindle, Nook, or Kobo) of Believe In Me. Simply share whether you’re surprised or not at some of the behaviors I shared. (Please be sure to leave your email address!)

Believe In Me is Book III of The Vengeance Trilogy. Here’s a little something about the story:
A knight determined to honor his vow.A lady set on vengeance.Only love stood in their way.
Lady Cristiana’s plan to seek revenge against her mother’s murderer is cut short when a world-weary knight arrives to escort her to her new guardian, a powerful bishop. Cristiana refuses to become a ward of the bishop whom she suspects was involved in her mother’s death, but the knight leaves her no choice.
Sir William de Bremont hopes to earn a second chance at the life he was given but believes he doesn’t deserve. Serving the bishop seems the perfect solution, except Lady Cristiana thwarts him at every turn, captivating him body and soul.
Cristiana has the unique ability to heal the sick through her touch. Accustomed to hiding her gift, the wall she’s built to protect herself crumbles under William’s passionate regard. Honor-bound to deliver her despite her protests and his own doubts, William reluctantly fulfills his vow only to realize the depth of his mistake.
As William and Cristiana’s love grows, they realize the bishop plans to use her ability to fulfill his own destiny with little concern for the life of others, including Cristiana’s. The bishop’s treachery comes to light, forcing Cristiana to choose between revenge or the love of a lifetime.
Available on:Amazon: http://amzn.to/19Q6UP7Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/13GpgjPBarnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/14C3caWKobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/believe-in-me-6
Lana Williams writes historical romance filled with mystery, adventure, and a pinch of paranormal to stir things up. Her medieval romances begin with A Vow To Keep, the first in The Vengeance Trilogy, followed by Trust In Me and Believe In Me.
Filled with a love of books from an early age, Lana put pen to paper and decided happy endings were a must in any story she created. She writes in the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two growing sons, and two dogs.
Connect with her at:www.lanawilliams.netwww.facebook.com/LanaWilliamsBooksTwitter @LanaWilliams28Goodreads: http://bit.ly/YtJ5FX

Video of the Week: Bet You Didn't Know -- Prohibition

Happy Wednesday! This week's video is a bit of history about prohibition... Maybe something you didn't know about the ban on alcohol. Just fascinating. Raise your glass!

Video of the Week: Drunk History - Elvis Meets Nixon

And we're back with the video of the week! I discovered Drunk History last night actually, and was consumed by it for at least an hour! I'm excited to share these with you! From the Drunk History website... Enjoy!!!

"Drunk History is a weekly, half-hour series where historical reenactments by A-list talent are presented by inebriated storytellers. Based on the award-winning and wildly popular web series, the show follows the drunken and often incoherent narration of our nation's history. Host Derek Waters, along with an ever-changing cast of great actors and comedians, travels from town to town across the country, presenting the rich history that every city in this land, both great and small, has to offer. Booze helps bring out the truth of our nation's history. It's just that sometimes that truth involves hitting on airport bar janitors or eating cheese fries at 4 a.m."


Comedy Central

When Blacksmiths & Farriers Were One & the Same By Nancy Lee Badger

Welcome back to History Undressed, guest blogger, Nancy Lee Badger! She's written a fascinating piece today on the history of blacksmiths in Scotland. Enjoy!

When Blacksmiths & Farriers Were One & the SameBy Nancy Lee Badger   for History Undressed Aug. 1, 2013
The moment I decided that the hero in my third book in my Highland Games Through Time series was a blacksmith/farrier, I was in trouble. Research would only get me so far, so I found some help (thanks Brooke McIntosh!) Why the two terms today? A blacksmith is a metalsmith. He/she uses heat to make objects out of steel or wrought iron that is hammered, bent, or cut, to create railings, light fixtures, furniture, sculpture, tools, or weapons. A farrier specializes in hoof care; trimming and balancing a horse’s hooves, and fitting them with metal shoes. A farrier combines blacksmith skills and veterinarian’s skills, since they know the anatomy and physiology of a horse’s lower limbs.

Historically, the jobs of farrier and blacksmith were practically synonymous. I decided not to use the term farrier in my books as many people have never heard the term. My hero, Jake Jamison, is a modern day farrier who also works with wrought iron to make decorative household items. When he volunteers at Scottish Highland games and festivals, he plays the part of a 16th century blacksmith. Jake makes horseshoes and nails with a coal-fired furnace, or forge. Forging is actually the process in which metal is shaped by hammering, and the techniques employed are called drawing down, bending, shrinking, upsetting, punching, swageing, and forge welding. These operations generally employ hammer and anvil.Tools used in caring for a horse’s limbs that are in use today, and mainly machine-made, are the punch, clinch cutter, shoeing knife, nipper, nailing hammer, rasp, clincher, and the shoeing apron. Items used today that are still very similar to those used historically are the hammer, hoof knife, fire tongs, and hand-cranked forges. Anvil
Blacksmith at work
Swords

Here is an excerpt from MY RELUCTANT HIGHLANDER where Jake is shoeing his horse in his barn in present-day New England:

The barn door creaked open.

He glanced up. Dust motes floated in the slight breeze created by the open door. A shadow walked toward him with slow, careful steps.

“Jake? May I enter?”

“Sure, but why are you out of bed?” Reluctantly, he shook away the image of her wet, naked body and straightened. Balfour’s partially nailed hoof hit the barn floor with a thud.

“Ye see before ye, an early morning riser. As such, I wanted to meet yer beasts.”

Feigning checking on his horse, he followed Skye’s slow progress from the corner of his eye. She walked closer, and he stifled an urge to tell her she ought to rest. She would refuse to listen to his opinion about anything, so he bit his tongue.

The early morning sunlight illuminated her like a halo. The bright light painted the outline of her black hair with silver tips. With her face in shadow, he was unable to read the weariness or pain she might still suffer.

Instead, he turned his attention back to Balfour. He shoved the animal’s hip, cradled his hoof between his thighs, and listened.

Her steps crunched across the hay-littered wood floor. He knew the moment she stopped at Dara’s stall.“A magnificent garron. What be his name?”

“Her name is Dara. Careful. She bites.” As if to emphasize Jake’s warning, the animal’s dark brown mane shook as Dara threw her buff-colored chest against the stall gate.

Jake peeked under Balfour’s chest. Amazingly, Skye laughed and patted Dara’s nose. Relief washed over him, when she backed away and continued toward him.

Silence filled the sturdy barn, except for the snips of the grooming scissors, as he trimmed Balfour’s fetlock. The elderly gelding snickered as he begged his owner for attention from someone other than its owner.

“You are a spoiled brat, Balfour,” he whispered, leaning against the horse for balance.

Skye walked closer, and the aroma of wildflowers and fresh grass replaced the familiar smell of horse, hay, and brisk morning air. His body tightened, and his thighs tensed. The horse whinnied.

“Easy, Balfour. Almost done, big boy.”

Her laugh reached his ears like a low, sweet sigh of pleasure.

Jake’s body hardened to stone so fast, he dropped the horse’s hoof on his boot.
In contrast, here he is when Jake finds himself in a 16thcentury Scottish castle:Smoke rose from a center hole, filling Jake with the familiar scent of a blacksmith’s coal-fired furnace. When he glanced at the stone building’s thatched roof, he shuddered. Memories of the castle’s huge barn, going up in smoke in record time, stole his breath.

I almost lost Bull.

The young lad started to introduce him to the smithy’s assistant, a boy no more than thirteen, then glanced up at Jake. “I doona’ know yer name, my lord.”

“I’m Jake Jamison,” He told both youngsters.

“Are ye not a lord? Ye live at the castle.”

He chuckled, then grabbed a pair of thick gloves and a crude apron he spied on a workbench.

“I’m a blacksmith. I feel right at home,” Jake said. Slamming a hammer against red-hot iron would go a long way, to help him forget.

The boys stood, open-mouthed, as the iron morphed into the semblance of a rustic sword. When sweat poured down his face, he threw off his shirt, adjusted the apron, and continued. After he thrust the hot iron into the water barrel, memories of his work at the Highland games made him hesitate.
The first excerpt shows his farrier talents, and the second is more representative of a blacksmith. Hope this helps.
My Reluctant Highlander Book BlurbSkye Gunn has spent the last five years trying to forget the blacksmith who followed her back to 16th century Scotland, to help fight evil. Sending Jake Jamison home against his will was a disastrous mistake. Stealing his heart was not part of the plan. Jake must share his secret, Skye must give her heart fully, and both must dare to love in the time they have.
For more information:http://professionalfarriers.com/http://www.simongrant-jones.com/history_of_the_blacksmith.htmlhttp://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/blacksmithing-tools-zmaz75ndzgoe.aspx#axzz2Zs9nhuIG
More About Nancy Lee BadgerShe loves chocolate-chip shortbread, wool plaids wrapped around the trim waist of a Scottish Highlander, the clang of broadswords, and the sound of bagpipes in the air. After growing up in Huntington, New York, and raising two handsome sons in New Hampshire, she moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time. Nancy is a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, Triangle Area Freelancers, and the Celtic Heart Romance Writers. Nancy and her family volunteer each fall at the New Hampshire Highland Games, surrounded by…kilts!
Connect with Nancy:Blog        http://www.nancyleebadger.blogspot.comWebsite    http://www.nancyleebadger.comTwitter     https://twitter.com/NLBadgerFacebook    https://www.facebook.com/#!/nancy.l.badgerGoodreads    http://bit.ly/Vd1UsgAmazon Author Page    http://amzn.to/13ICHLq
Buy Links for My Reluctant HighlanderAmazon  http://amzn.to/11H0Hg1 Amazon PRINT http://amzn.to/12pX5QcNOOK   http://bit.ly/16a7lim   Barnes&Noble PRINT http://bit.ly/10UQa3ZKOBO   http://bit.ly/12lX2V5AllRomance  http://bit.ly/19aBsI6Smashwords  http://bit.ly/11DtTDE iTunes  http://bit.ly/12Ic1bl
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway! Click on the link below. Nancy is giving away for 3 prizes (3 winners) a $15 Amazon or B&N GC; free ebook of older books; Dragon Window sticker. Drawing ends Aug. 15th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gwyn Brodie Shares Her Pictures of Scotland

Welcome guest author, Gwyn Brodie to History Undressed! Today she's written a post along with pictures from her travels to Scotland -- in particular Dunnottar Castle. Enjoy!

Long before becoming an author of Highland Scottish Romance, I fell in love with the Scottish Highlands. One of my favorite castles in the Highlands is Dunnottar, a medieval fortress located on a stony outcropping of land, in Stonehaven. In fact, it was Dunnottar I used as the template for Ravenskull castle, where Kade MacLachlan, the hero in "Beneath a Highland Moon," was laird. William Wallace burned down the abbey to remove an English garrison, and the castle was visited by Mary Queen of Scots and many other well known people. But its most famous place in Scotland's history was when a Scottish garrison of 70 men stood their ground against Cromwell’s army for eight months and saved the Scottish Crown Jewels.Dunnottar is mostly ruins, with extensive restoration having been done on the drawing room.  The medieval architecture is amazing and the view of its surroundings, breathtaking. There is something about this ancient place which gives one the impression they have just taken a step back in time.  It seemed even more so when we ended up seeking shelter inside the castle during a sudden gale. While waiting out the storm pressed against the ancient stone wall, listening to the howl of the wind, feeling its strength and power as it slammed against the stones behind me—I closed my eyes and imagined myself as a resident of centuries past. There are so many things I love about the Scottish Highlands—the pink and lavender heather, the black-faced sheep, the wooly Highland cattle, the cascading waterfalls spouting from out of nowhere, the wisps of mist hovering around its majestic mountain peaks, the herds of red deer, the lush green grass of the glens and meadows, the mist rising from a still loch, the breathtaking view from a mountaintop—I could go on and on.  But I think Robert Burns may have My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here; My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer; Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe: My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go.


Dunnottar Castle 
Sea View from Dunnottar
View of the sea from inside the Dunnottar Castle
Black faced sheep.
Waterfall at Glencoe
View from Blair Oban
Mist on the Mountain
Mist on the Loch
Glencoe

Gwyn Brodie is the author of Scottish historical romance. Visit her blog--A Little Piece of Scotland or friend her on Facebook.

After her clan's castle falls under siege, the fair-haired Lady Jillian MacRae finds a way to escape with her four-year-old brother, seeking help from the handsome Kade MacLachlan, laird and master of Ravenskull Castle. Four years past their love had been strong—until her father betrothed her to another man who was later killed. Now, it is Kade she turns to for help in regaining control of her own castle from the wicked man who has taken over and intends to marry her. Once she is again face-to-face with Kade, she realizes the love she thought she'd put aside is alive and thriving.
Kade is speechless when the beautiful Jillian offers herself to him in exchange for protecting her young brother and banishing the intruders from her castle—an offer he is more than willing to accept. He has no intention of allowing her to slip through his fingers again. And when her life hangs in the balance, he will not let anything—or anyone—stop him from saving her, even as his own life dangles by a thread.

Read it! 

Amazon: Beneath a Highland Moon (The Highland Moon Series 1)

Barnes and Noble:
Beneath a Highland Moon (The Highland Moon Series 1)

History Lovers Grand Tour!

Welcome to the History Lovers Grand Tour & Scavenger Hunt!—International—
As the name implies, we’re a group of readers and authors who love both history and romance, especially when they’re combined in a delightful story. If you feel the same, you’re welcome to join us on our Facebook page and converse with us about historical romance fiction.
Below you’ll find authors of historical romances set in a wide variety of time periods. Perhaps by participating in our Grand Tour you’ll discover some new authors for your future reading pleasure. Hop around to your heart’s content, feel free to comment on the posts, hunt for answers to the authors’ questions, and perhaps you’ll be one of our 25 lucky prize winners (see contest details below)…although you’re already a winner if you find a new story to read, do you not agree?
The theme for this tour is Courting Rituals, and for my post, I’ve chosen to talk about the art of stealing a bride.
Highland Stolen Brides
For my Highland heroes, courting seems to begin unexpectedly. For Magnus in THE HIGHLANDER'S REWARD, he sweeps up his heroine in the middle of a battlefield. While physical attraction might have sparked from the start, neither were of a mind to get together. It just so happened that in order to keep her safe, Magnus determined he had to marry Arbella--a feat which took some manner of skill. In other words--his courting was a bit of a manipulation. However, Arbella found him charming, and while she agreed to marry him, she also vowed to run away. But then...he laid on the charm.
Magnus took Arbella for a ride through the Scottish Highlands atop his magnificent warhorse. They rode together, sharing body heat and sparks of desire. When he found out that she was a non-meat eating sort of lass, he went out of his way to be sure she had as many fruits and vegetables and bread as her belly could handle.
Sweetest of all, however, was that Magnus agreed not to consummate their nuptials right away. A request Arbella made in hopes of dissolving their marriage, but which soon becomes a feat unto itself. Especially when Magnus continuously flaunts his glorious physique. She wants him to kiss her. But kissing a man, making love to a man, that one does not plan to stay married to is wrong. Is it not? Maybe remaining married wouldn't be so bad after all...
And then we have Blane, Magnus' playboy younger brother. He's charged with locating Arbella's English sister Aliah and bringing her safely to the Highlands. A task he completes with flourish--and a wife. Blane tricks his love interest into thinking he's English so she'll go with him. 'Tis not until they are nearly to their place that she realizes he's a man she should be scared of--and so Aliah takes courting into her own hands, and shoots him. Ah, it was love at first blow.
Blane and Magnus' cousin Daniel has run away from his duties, and falls headlong into the charming arms of a dirty peasant. Er...wait a minute--a bit of soap and water reveals she's a noble lass through and through. Daniel helps Myra with her mission to find the Bruce, and helps unload her of an unwanted fiance. Why not trade a nightmare of a marriage for one filled with passion?
Vowing not to ever get involved with a simpering female and laughing at his male relatives for doing so, Ronan Sutherland doesn't court ladies--he beds them. Until Julianna continually challenges him in mind, body and spirit. She's kicking ass and taking names, and he wants in. What better way to court a lady then to help her chase down her enemies?
When Brandon Sinclair -- cousin to the afore mentioned heroes -- saves a beautiful temptress from a burning fire, he gets a heck of a lot more than he bargained for. The English king's mistress. But it isn't her prior position that puts a fire in his blood, but her intelligence, gentle heart, and the need to help her heal from past wounds. Brandon becomes her friend first, and then sweeps her off her feet. After all, a lady would rather be ravished by a handsome Highland warrior than a stinky old meanie.
The premise behind each book in the series is that the bride is stolen away from something--a fiance, a lover, the church, her family, etc... But why the stealing, you say? To me this ups the conflict and really makes it hard to get the characters to fall in love—but the journey is satisfying, powerful, addictive. Highlanders were sort of known for stealing their wives, whether from the English or a neighboring clan they were warring with. Women were a commodity that were used often in vendettas and to gain alliances. But of course, my series is romance, and I wanted to give everyone a happy ending. I also made sure that my heroines were able to stick up for themselves and fight back.
Now onto the prize!!!
The prize I am offering is a signed print copy of THE HIGHLANDER'S REWARD (Book One: Stolen Bride series) or an e-copy (vendor of choice), winner's choice--and this is how you qualify for a chance to win--leave a comment at this blog with your answer to the my question below. But that's not all--you can enter to win the grand prize as well, by visiting the other authors in the tour and our History Lovers Grand Tour page (see below).
Here’s my question for the scavenger hunt: What is Arbella's eating preference?
Click on the History Lovers Grand Tour page to fill in the answer, and you may continue on from there. Enjoy!
She belonged to another… But was destined to be his…Lady Arbella de Mowbray abhors the idea of marrying an English noble occupying Scotland. When she arrives in Stirling, she is thrown into the midst of a full battle between the Scots and the English. Besieged by rebels, she is whisked from her horse by a Highland warrior who promises her safety. But when he kisses her she fears she's more in danger of losing herself.
The last thing Magnus Sutherland wants is to marry the beautiful English lass he saved. As the laird of his clan, he has a responsibility to his clan and allies. But when Arbella is attacked by one of his own men, he determines the only way to keep her safe is to make her his. A decision that promises to be extremely satisfying.
Magnus brings Arbella to his home of Dunrobin Castle in the Highlands. And that’s where the trouble begins… Their countries are at war and they should be each other’s enemy. Neither one considered their mock marriage would grow into a deeply passionate love. What’s more, they were both unhappily betrothed and those who've been scorned are out for revenge. Can their new found love keep them together or will their enemies tear them apart?
“Eliza Knight has crafted a wonderfully entertaining, emotional and sensual read. I loved the sizzling romance and the exciting adventures. Magnus, the hot Highland hero, stole my heart just as he did Arbella’s.” Vonda Sinclair, Award-Winning author of Scottish romance

Excerpt:

As Magnus raised the light around the space, he paused on the small bed in the corner.“’Twill be a tight fit,” he said with a chuckle.Arbella’s lips twitched in the semblance of a smile, but truthfully she was too nervous to smile genuinely. His words only brought to mind the fact they’d been married before the eyes of God and even with his promise to keep her virtue intact, he was legally her husband and if he chose to, he could demand his husbandly rights.He set the candle down on the table and started to disarm himself. A large pile of various weapons formed on the floor beside the table. A rather messy heap. She had to stop herself from organizing the pile into a corner where it wouldn’t be in the way.Then he sat down and started to unlace his boots completely pulling her thoughts from anything but his actions.“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice a little shrill. They were supposed be pretending, not truly undressing.He glanced at her briefly before returning to his task. “Taking off my boots.”“Why?”He exhaled loudly and sat back, his eyes narrowing on her. “What’s wrong?”“You are undressing.”“Aye.”“But you promised.” She wrapped her arms around her stomach, trying to keep the soup down.“And I intend to keep my promise. But that doesna mean I’m going to sleep in my boots with my sword strapped to my back.”His words made sense and with the confused and annoyed expression on his face she understood she’d been overreacting.She nodded and turned toward the bed. They would both never fit on the small mattress. Perhaps if he was a normal sized man, but Magnus was a giant. “Well I intend to sleep fully clothed.”“Whatever suits ye, lass.”He was so close his voice startled her. Arbella whirled around to see that he stood a foot away from her—nude.Her eyes glued to the muscles of his chest, the light sprinkling of hair, his shoulders and she dare not look further.“I prefer to sleep in my skin.” He walked around her and she caught a glimpse of his sculpted arse.Her mouth fell open, breath caught. She’d never seen a man’s arse before…and never dreamed it would look so…look so…nice. Arbella snatched back her wayward hand that had reached out to touch him.Magnus dove onto the bed, his head buried in the pillow, his arms beneath it. His face was turned away from her and she took a moment to observe his long legs, his strong back. But looking at him only made her blood burn hot. Her desire for him stronger.She chewed her lower lip, her gaze focused on his god-like body.“Will ye join me, lass?”She jerked her gaze up to see his eyes on her and full of merriment.
“N—No.”
Eliza Knight is the multi-published, award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of sizzling historical romance and erotic romance. While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she chases after her three children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain, and enjoys cold winter nights when she can curl up in front of a roaring fire with her own knight in shining armor. Visit Eliza at www.elizaknight.com or her historical blog History Undressed: www.historyundressed.com Twitter: @ElizaKnight and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizaknightauthor
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Scavenger Hunt·        Click on the above links to each author’s blog. The blog tour entry can be identified by the graphic in the upper right corner of the post. If it is not the top post, look for the graphic in a prominent location on the sidebar, and click on it to find the blog tour entry.·        Read the blog post and the author’s short answer question at the end. Locate the answer to the question, then click on the link to the History Lovers Grand Tour page and type in the answer next to the author’s name. Be sure to fill in the your name and email address!·        You may go back to same page and read more of the author’s post (excerpt, etc.) or you may click on another author’s name on the answer sheet and repeat the process.·        When you are finished, check to make sure the spaces for your name and email address are filled in correctly, and submit your answer sheet to the tour coordinator. If you submit an incomplete answer sheet, you may come back later and make another submission with the remaining answers when you have more time. ·        Any questions about the scavenger hunt should be directed to the tour coordinator .

Scotland Trip: Day Two -- Walking Culloden at Night

Happy Monday! I'm hear to tell you more about my trip to Scotland. If you missed the first three posts, here they are:

Day 1
Day 2 -- Part One
Day 2 -- Part Two

I left you on a bit of a cliffhanger Friday... And now I'm ready to tell you about walking Culloden Battlefield at night. We pulled into the parking lot and the last person was pulling out, leaving the lot empty. At first, we were disappointed, thinking that we'd have to wait another day. We hit the ground in Edinburgh running, and our list was so jam-packed full of things we wanted to see, we actually weren't sure when we'd be able to come back.

The sky was turning pinkish grey. Within twenty minutes it would be dark.

I've always loved grave yards. I like to walk through them, look at the names, the dates, the stones. In Ireland, I put my camera in a crypt and took a picture (profusely apologizing to the dead, who happened to be my ancestors). But all of my previous trips had been during the day. Its a battlefield you say--and yes it is, but it is also a mass graveyard.

Scary.

But, when in Scotland... We knew we were crazy. Prayed we'd make it through before it was pitch black. Were pretty sure our husbands would think we were insane.

We stepped out of the car.


The first sign we came across.
The second.As soon as we stepped onto the battlefield, Andrea and I were both immediately overwhelmed with a sense of calm. We felt...protected. There was no fear. It was almost like our Highlanders were there guiding us safely through the battlefield--I know that sounds whimsical, cooky, but its true. We actually felt calmer. I'm so glad my flash is awesome on my camera... got some amazing shots.

Here is the first grave I saw. It says: "Field of the English. They were buried here."
"Well of the dead. Here the Chief of the MacGillivray Fell"
"Clans MacGillivray, MacLean, MacLachlan, Athol Highlanders"
"Clan Mackintosh"
"Mixed clans"
You can't really see it too well in the picture, but the grass had three circular, linked indentations. Just thought it was neat.
And the sun started to set as we encountered the Well of the Dead. Look at all the spots on my camera? There was no debris. I checked... Do you think they were spirits?
The plaque on the well.
"Clan Fraser"
A view of the field as the sun set -- more white dots...
A view of the well in the dark -- more white dots...
Another view of the battlefield -- which is MASSIVE. Would take hours to walk. We only spent about 45 minutes there, before we thought we'd overstayed our welcome.
A view of the marsh.
Looking toward where we'd come from -- another white globe.
A flag in the distance. See it?
The path we walked on.
Heading back toward where we'd come on the path. More globes.
It is REALLY dark. I think its time to go...
Didn't come out. Flash didn't help at this point, but it was a little cottage that had been there since the battle.So, once it was pitch black, and there were no lights, we booked it back to our car, climbed in and took a deep breath. Holy cow... Amazing. And sad. We said a prayer for those who fought and died. And for those ghosties that didn't "get" us.

Have you ever been to the battlefield? Want to go at night? Do you think those white globes are spirits?

THE HIGHLANDER'S REWARD

First book in the Stolen Bride series, now on sale in ebook, for $2.99, this month only!
She belonged to another… But was destined to be his…

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

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

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

Scotland Trip--Day Two (Part 2)

Happy Friday! As promised, I'm back with the second part of our second day in Scotland :) The trip truly was an adventure. Having rented the flat for the week and a car, each day was really up to us, and we had to pack up a snack bag and head out--having an idea of where we wanted to go, and hoping that we'd get there. Since half of our second day was spent in bed, we decided to make it a day about traveling around the area, seeing what was nearby. Of course, in Inverness there is TONS. After Brodie castle, we drove through Elgin, Moray, and we kept seeing this monument above the city buildings. But we couldn't for the life of us find it! We drove in circles up and down the roads, GPS kept taking us to a general store. We even considered pulling over and hiking up over an overgrown hill/ridge. We finally pulled into this GORGEOUS country club that looked like a castle and asked some people walking inside how to get to the monument. They gave us pretty good directions. And man were we pleased that we stuck to our guns after 45 min of circling this place. It was Elgin Castle -- a motte and bailey castle built in the 12th century. According to history, it was held by the Cheyne family who supported Longshanks (want to see him in action? Check out my book, THE HIGHLANDER'S TRIUMPH!) The Scots burned it down in 1297, but the Longshanks supporters rebuilt the tower and curtain wall in stone.

The monument we'd seen was the Lady Hill Monument, erected beside the Elgin Castle ruins in the 1800's.



View of the monument from the street.
Elgin Castle sign beside the stairs.
Lady Hill monument sign beside the stairs.
Part of the stairs... Andrea and I looked at each other with brows raised in trepidation. It'd been a long day and the stairs were aplenty, lol  View of the ruins when we finished the climb. Amazing!
Crazy how the earth is consuming the stones.
Lady Hill monument.

A view of the town from atop the motte and bailey.
That castle like building in the background is the country club we stopped at for directions.
I found this view to be so... mesmerizing... A blend of medieval with modern culture. That's a Tesco in the background. I imagined that if my characters stood in this same spot, a place where battles raged, and looked over to see people shopping for food and goods, they would be thoroughly confused.


A view of the wall of the castle.
More Tesco :-) Which, by the way, we spent many days at! Topping up minutes on our cell, grabbing water, etc...
This stone lay flat on top of one of the walls. I took it standing on it. It has words etched into it, but I couldn't see what they were.
A better view of the country club.
This is a viaduct we saw on our way to Culloden Battlefield after leaving Elgin...
After leaving Elgin, we made out way back to the flat, in hopes of finding a pub to eat dinner. On our way we stopped to take a pic of the above viaduct, and then encountered Culloden Battlefield. The sun was setting, and we thought perhaps we'd go back in the morning. There were no cars parked in the lot. Walking a famous battlefield at night, alone, would be crazy. But, heck, when in Scotland... So, yes, we parked. And the crazy pics I have for you of that adventure will be posted next week!!!   Want a taste of Longshanks from my book, THE HIGHLANDER'S TRIUMPH?  An exclusive view...
A swift jolt awakened Mariana. A muffled cry escaped her and she flailed, eyes popping open. Her vision blurred, she made out the white of the sky and a bunch of blobs of black and brown.
A split-second later she landed hard in the dirt on her hip and elbow. The impact was shocking, and jarred her from head to toe. A metallic taste in her mouth and the sting of her cheek told her she’d bit herself. Thank God, she’d managed to twist in time so that her already injured arm wasn’t further damaged. In addition to the gash from a wayward sword, she was almost certain it was broken. Her hip and elbow were most assuredly bruised, but at least they were still whole.
A cloud of dust surrounded where she’d landed, filling her lungs. She coughed, sneezed, and willed herself to hold back her sobs. Pain throbbed in her injured arm. She feared moving, not knowing where she was. Nothing about this place looked familiar to her.
“Lady Mariana,” a cool, uninterested male voice cooed. “I see you decided to rejoin us. Tell me, how was your visit with the Scots?”
A shiver of fear curled around her spine. Shifting to kneel, she waved away the cloud of dirt, and slowly raised her eyes to see King Edward standing a few feet in front of her. The sun glinted blindingly off of his chainmail. He looked like a glowing king. A purple velvet doublet, trimmed and embroidered with gold thread gave her eyes reprieve from the striking metal. His shoulder-length silver hair was streaked with sweat. His long, chiseled features also glistened. In his arms he held a shiny helmet. She lowered her gaze to stare at the dust upon his boots.
The king looked as though he’d been out fighting. He was not afraid to venture out of his camp. Not afraid to take his sword to another man’s throat—though he preferred that his men held that man down while he completed the deed. She prayed whoever he’d been railing against had not suffered overmuch.
“Your Highness,” she managed, though her voice came out sounding strangled. “’Twas horrendous.”
Her heart lurched when she lied, though she knew it was to protect Brandon as much as herself.
“Horrendous?” King Edward drawled. He stepped closer to her. Knelt before her, and placed a cold, gloved finger on her chin, lifting her face so that she had to look him in the eye. “How so?”
His grey eyes were cruel, indifferent. The man didn’t care so much about her answer, as he did that she was here before him. He didn’t take kindly to others thieving what belonged to him, and Mariana was well aware that she was as much a pawn to him as any other man. But that didn’t matter. He considered her his property.
“Come now, don’t be shy. Tell me.” His voice, though soft, was etched with malice.
Mariana was more afraid of the king now than she’d ever been. Her stomach tightened and gooseflesh rose on her arms. If he didn’t like her answer… Thought her to be lying, there was no telling what his response would be. What cruel punishment he’d have doled out on her.
“They are barbarians,” she said through chattering teeth. She clutched at her injured arm, the limb hanging limp by her side, and thankfully the bleeding gash had staunched its flow. Moments of numbness made the pain bearable, but right then a searing agony took hold. Mariana squeezed her eyes shut, ground her teeth.
“Are you injured, my lady?” The king’s voice was solicitous, but Mariana knew better than to think he would be kind.
Slowly, she nodded, then opened her eyes, trying to see him through the mist of her tears.
The king scowled over her head, then stood. “I told you to take care of her, not bring her back to me broken.”
Mariana’s throat grew tight, and she found it hard to breathe. That tone he used… Chills of dread shook her.
“She was already injured when I found her, Your Highness.” Ross’ voice was confident. Too confident. The man wouldn’t last long with King Edward.
“And you didn’t think it necessary to tend to her wound? I don’t like my property to be damaged.”
Mariana put her weight on her uninjured arm and tried to stand. The king, most likely sensing her struggle from the corner of his eye, actually held out a hand to her. She gripped it, the leather of his gloves soft and cold. As he brought her to her feet, she tried to keep in mind that though he was a cruel man, he’d once been kind to her. Took her in, clothed her, fed her. The price had been steep—her dignity, her body—but still, she was alive.
That was the hardest part. Hate him she did, but regretfully, for he’d never beaten her or punished her. He never had to.
Once on her feet, she swayed, feeling light-headed. She held her injured arm close to her, afraid if she let go, whatever bone had been broken would shatter further.
King Edward snapped his fingers. “Will someone take Lady Mariana to a private chamber and see her properly tended?” READ MORE! Amazon / Barnes and Noble
Have you read the first book in the Stolen Bride series? In celebration of its 1 yr anniversary, THE HIGHLANDER'S REWARD ebook is on sale for $2.99! Amazon / Barnes and Noble