Rue Allyn's Blog, page 3

#MedievalMonday2016 Otherworldly Celebrations in The Druid Knight’s Tales by Ruth Casie

[image error]Excerpt: She woke before sunrise refreshed by a good night’s sleep. After her morning routine she picked up her staff and joined the others at the standing stones. Today, the shortest day of the year, they would welcome the day and celebrate the sacred marriage between Father Sky and Mother Earth. She waited while Doward finished cleansing and purifying the area for the Grand Master.

Ellyn and the people from all the clans proceeded through the outer circle to the Cove and its three standing...

#MedievalMonday2016 (a little bit late) Celebrate with Cathy MacRae’s characters from The Highlander’s Reluctant Bride (book 2 in The Highlander’s Bride series)

[image error]Excerpt: At a nod from the priest, Riona stepped forward, and Eaden placed her hand in Ranald’s. She glanced at him from beneath lowered lashes, her heart racing wildly.

“Lady Caitriona, do ye come here of yer own free will and accord, without let or hindrance, free of all moral and legal encumbrance, to enter into this contract?”

Riona inhaled a deep breath. “Aye.”

The priest’s voice droned on, and she and Ranald murmured the correct responses, pledging their troth.

“Laird Scott, will ye hav...

#MedievalMonday16 Party Hardy with Jenna Jaxon’s Seduction at the Christmas Court

[image error]EXCERPT:No sooner had they taken their seats than the mummers appeared, bringing a great crash of applause from the courtiers and a low hum of murmuring. The King pounded the broad arm of his ornate, high-backed chair. Queen Phillipa sat smiling, still clutching the small silk bag Alyse had given her.

The guisers were indeed disguised in peculiar clothing. One wore the headdress of a Turk and green and yellow striped pants; his shoes were scarlet and turned up in a curving point with bells...

#MedievalMonday16 A Wedding Challenge from Barbara Bettis’ A Lady of the Forest

[image error] In this excerpt, Henry has interrupted the wedding celebration at Stonehill Castle to challenge Mortimer’s right to marry Kate.

[Henry and his two friends] stalked into the hall where the lord held forth at the high table before the household left for the chapel. Kate sat at his right, the priest at his left.

“Sir Mortimer.” Henry’s voice boomed above the din. “Stand and answer my challenge.”

Mortimer lifted his head. “Lord Henry. Sit, break your fast before I wed my lady.” His oily tone did...

#MedievalMonday16 Yummy Celebrations in Mary Morgan’s A Magical Highland Solstice

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Excerpt:

Cormac’s stomach protested fiercely as he descended the stairs. He had eaten little on his journey with Eve—happily content to watch her munch on an apple, or nibble on bread and cheese. She chatted between bites, her hands flying about to match her liveliness. When she complained he had not eaten anything, he relented. He watched in fascination as she wedged cheese and apple slices between the two pieces of bread she tore off for him. It was the most glorious meal he had ever eaten...

#MedievalMonday16 Anticipation is key in Sherry Ewing’S Hearts Across Time

Please welcome Sherry Ewing to help us travel to the middle ages where we anticipate a wedding celebration through the eyes of the groom.

Excerpt:

The golden sun began to peek over the ocean horizon, splashing the morning sky with a thousand shades of pink and orange. The further it rose, the more color splattered across the cloudless sky until all traces of the earlier shades vanished. ’Twas obvious, the perfect day was a gift from the heavens and a priceless tribute to the woman Riorden wo...

#MedievalMonday16 Elisabeth Hobbes celebrates May Day (We won’t tell her it’s December)

Excerpt fromThe Blacksmith’s Wife by Elisabeth Hobbes

Thundering beats on the door roused them from their bed as men from the villagers came to claim ale from Hal as Lord Danby’s representative. He allowed himself to be taken away, leaving Joanna in the hands of Meg and the other women to gather flowers and greenery from the moors and bind them into wreaths.

The women arrived on the village green at midday. Raucous, uncontrolled games were taking place amid cheers and catcalls of the onlooker...

#MedievalMonday16 Celebrating a Husband’s Return from Ashley York’s The Saxon Bride

From The Saxon Bride by Ashley York

John’s breath against Rowena’s neck sent a shiver down her spine. Knowing now how easily she could be distracted, she fought to keep her head. Those who’d been waiting for the new lord of the manor acknowledged him with some excitement when he entered, Rowena at his side. John accepted their respectful greetings as if he’d always been such a high ranking lord yet Joan had said he was only a knight.

“My lord,” a burly man with a ruddy complexion bowed overly...

#MedievalMonday2016 from The Angel and the Prince by Laurel O’Donnell

Excerpt: The sun was hot on Bryce’s bare shoulders. His arms were bound before him and his feet were tied from ankle to ankle, the rope running beneath the horse he rode. None of this bothered him, even though they had been riding all morning. His mind was absorbed with his captor. He could not stop staring at her riding so primly at the head of the army. Rage consumed him. He could feel the ropes aroundhis wrists digging into his flesh as he clenched and unclenched his hands. The disgr...

#MedievalMonday2016 A Journey through the Mist and Deep into Memory from Bambi Lynn’s Mask of the Highlander

Please welcome Bambi Lynn to share with us a wee ride through the highland fog from her novel .

EXCERPT:

They rode out shortly after dawn. The hills were covered in a mist so thick, Kenna could barely see her horse’s ears through the fog. The mare shied often at the close proximity of Ty’s stallion. The beast, as dark and menacing as his master, snorted and pawed the ground whenever they stopped.

Three starving villages remained on Vass lands. Ty insisted the villagers would want to see thei...