R.L. Syme's Blog, page 10
March 14, 2016
Medieval Monday: Betrayal! with Barbara Bettis
This had been no random assault. The trap had sprung for him alone. But only three people knew of his rendezvous this night. His mind worked the trio of relationships. All friends—he’d thought. Which one had betrayed him? Bitter regret burned his throat, and he forced a swallow. Hadn’t he learned long ago not to trust anyone? Especially friends.
The ringing in his ears died, and he heard silence once more. Not until the rustle of a hare whispered through the brittle dry grass did he move. He settled back against a tree to gingerly unkink his leg, then brush his knuckles across his aching thigh. The thick blood had clotted. A sigh fought free of his clenched lips.
The bay was long gone, leading the others on a futile chase to the river. It would find its way back later. Stephen was on his own for now. And it was a damned long hobble back to St. Anselm. He’d best get started if he wanted to make it before dawn.
The eastern horizon glittered pearl before he espied the monastery’s roof outlined against the night sky’s fading pitch. He limped toward the narrow opening obscured by a tangle of grape vines so ancient no one recalled when they last produced. A muted grunt escaped his throat when he tugged at the warped wood. The old door creaked, then gave a few precious inches.
He squeezed through sideways and hauled it shut.
The scriptorium lay ahead on the right. He’d wait for Brother Gerald there—if his double-cursed leg continued to move. He limped forward, neck and jaw locked rigid in his struggle to remain erect. Perspiration plastered shirt and aketon to his body, soaked through to the plain tunic he wore over a finely wrought chain doublet. But in his chest, a block of ice lodged where his heart belonged. During the long walk back to the monastery, he’d worked out which of his three closest comrades bore the title of traitor. Bile rose in his throat at the answer.
Inside the copy house, Stephen dropped to his knees, numb to the explosion of pain in his thigh. He prayed. He prayed he was wrong. And if his reasoning proved right, he prayed for the strength to act. Tomorrow he’d confront Brother Michael. God help the monk if harm befell even one of the men because of his treachery. Why had Michael turned, now of all times? The Phoenix Brotherhood hadn’t been this close to uncovering the treacherous Dragon for years.
Whatever happened must be quick. They must either find the leader of the murdering mercenaries before the Dragon escaped Normandy, or they must move operations to England. Stephen had promised to be home before the conclave to support John’s claim as Richard’s successor. His father may have recovered in the past months, but he needed Stephen’s help. And
Stephen had vowed to assume duties at Riverton Castle or die trying.
Although that was a distinct possibility.
Blurb:
Some call him a ruthless mercenary; she calls him the knight of her heart.
Memories
Lady Evelynn’s childhood hero is home—bitter, hard, tempting as sin. And haunted by secrets. A now-grown Evie offers friendship, but Sir Stephen’s cruel rejection crushes her, and she resolves to forget him. Yet when an unexpected war throws them together, she finds love isn’t so easy to dismiss. If only the king hadn’t betrothed her to another.
Can be cruel
Sir Stephen lives a double life while he seeks the treacherous outlaws who murdered his friends. Driven by revenge, he thinks his heart is closed to love. His childhood shadow, Lady Evie, unexpectedly challenges that belief. He rebuffs her, but he can’t forget her, although he knows she’s to wed the king’s favorite.
And deadly
When his drive for vengeance leads to Evie’s kidnapping, Stephen must choose between retribution and the love he’s denied too long. Surely King John will see reason. Convict the murderers; convince the king. Simple. Until a startling revelation threatens everything.
Buy Link:
March 7, 2016
Medieval Monday: Betrayal! with Mary Morgan
Today’s Medieval Monday excerpt comes to us from the medieval time travel romance, Dragon Knight’s Axe by Mary Morgan. Here’s a sneak peek…
EXCERPT:
Panic gripped Fiona. Something wasn’t right. Why would he leave her? She thought he cared with all the time they’d spent together. “Why in the hell did Alastair leave?” she choked out holding back the scream.
“He didn’t want to watch you die. Each day that passed took you further away. There was nothing he or any of us could do,” replied Brigid.
Her voice quivered. “Got it….umm…he abandoned me.”
Brigid sighed. “I believe he cared for you so much, he could not stand to watch you leave him.”
Fiona’s tone turned bitter as she clutched the furs. “When you care for someone, you stay with them until the very end. No matter what happens. What? Did he say good-bye, kiss me, and then just walk out of here? I hope to God our paths never cross again.”
“Do you really mean that, Fiona?” asked Aileen in a soft voice.
Closing her eyes, she didn’t want to look at either of the women. Her head throbbed, and her heart weighed heavy knowing that the only man she would ever love had walked away from her.
“Please leave,” she murmured.
When the door closed, she finally opened her eyes. She refused to let the tears fall, so she bit her lip and swallowed. Digging her hands into the furs, she kept trying to breathe. Everywhere she looked there was something that reminded her of Alastair. The plaid he had given her to stay warm, a sgian dubh for protection, and glancing around the room slowly, her eyes caught sight of something on the chair by the head of the bed.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she counted to ten. Yet, when she opened them, there was no denying it any longer and sadness engulfed her. As she tried to reach for the object, her vision became clouded, the tears streaming down her face, as she was unable to hold them back.
Grasping the chess piece, she clutched it to her chest. “Why, Alastair?” Sobbing uncontrollably, she realized that he had given her the Dragon King as his parting gift to her.
And Fiona’s heart shattered completely.
BLURB:
Alastair MacKay, a battled-scarred Dragon Knight flees to the sea to separate himself from his fae-given power connecting him to the land. But it is on land that he rescues a woman from a slave trader in Ireland. It is through Fiona he steps back inadvertently into a world filled with magic—taking on the role of protector and at the same time leading him on a journey to confront his greatest regret and fears.
Research assistant, Fiona O’Quinlan loves translating ancient artifacts at Trinity College. When she falls asleep on an archeological dig, she awakens in another time. She soon discovers a Dragon Knight’s relic has been entrusted into her care. Determined to return the artifact to the Great Glen, Fiona is unprepared for the danger ahead—losing her heart and soul to Alastair “Beast” MacKay.
Will their love be strong enough to soothe the beast and heal the man? Or will Death swing its axe, leaving them lost for all eternity?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Knights-Axe-Order-Book-ebook/dp/B00Y5756TO/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragon-knights-axe-mary-morgan/1122070231?ean=2940151305426
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/dragon-knight-s-axe
Apple ibooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dragon-knights-shield/id1067612279?mt=11
The Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_177_139&products_id=6263
February 29, 2016
Medieval Monday: Betrayal! with @AshleyYork1066
Sacre bleu! Betrayal! If you love medieval romance, like I do, then check out this excerpt from The Seventh Son, by Ashley York…
“Tisa. Yer betrothal to the MacNaughton has been severed. Ye’ll marry into the Meic Lochlainn clan of Inishowen. They’ll be here in two days time.”
The pain in her chest intensified with every word he spoke, like nails hammering into her heart, but her brain refused to understand his meaning beyond his first statement.
Your betrothal to the MacNaughton has been severed.
Her betrothal to Tadhg? They’d been betrothed forever. They grew up knowing they would one day be wed. Tadhg was all she wanted in a husband.
Her father’s eyes never wavered from her face. Surely he measured her reaction as if he cared.
“Ronan came here to make the agreement on their behalf. He has been a great help to our clan.”
The kind eyes seemed familiar but no. Those would have been the eyes of her father that loved her. A father that wanted her to be happy. A father that wanted her settled nearby. This? This was a man that cared nothing for her. A man that would rip away her future dreams of happiness. A man that would send her away from him. A man that would give her to strangers. Strangers that saw her as nothing more than…breeding stock.
No. She was more than that. She would not stand here and be handed off to a stranger and not even a word of protest.
“Why?” Damn her eyes. The tears swelled and her father became a blurry figure. “How?”
He looked away. “The MacNaughton broke our agreement.”
Her jaw dropped. A slap to the face would have hurt less. “No!”
“After Moira died, Padraig sent word he would not see his son married to an O’Brien.”
“And ye did not think to tell me this?”
Her head reeled with the implications.
“And Moira? Tadhg’s mother is dead?” Her breath hitched. Moira had been like a mother to her. “When was she buried? I wish to pay my resp—”
“Ye will not! Padraig would not allow us to come. None of us.” Her father finally faced her. “We are no longer welcome on his land. He wants nothing to do with us.”
“Nothing to do with us? They are our kinsmen.”
“No longer.”
“Ye canna just let him cut us off like this.”
“I was given little choice in the matter.”
“Then go to him! Beg his forgiveness for whatever you have done!”
“I have done nothing wrong! ‘Twas Padraig’s doing. He chose to give me no reason. I will abide by his decree.”
Tisa’s mind struggled to make sense of what her father was saying. There must be something he was not saying. “Why would Padraig treat us like this?”
He looked past her. “It matters not. What does matter is that the O’Neill threatens us to the west.”
“When will Seamus and Ian return?” Her only unwed brothers had been away going on two years now.
Her father’s eyes rounded in pain. “I dinna wish to upset ye but yer brothers will not be returning. They died in battle against the O’Neill.”
Tisa cried out. “When?”
“We received the news spring last.”
“Again ye decide to keep this from me? Do ye think I am a child? If that is the way of it, ’tis because my own father kept me from the truths in life, shielding me as if I would break.”
“Ye brothers went against my wishes. My anger was at them, not ye.”
“Be angry then. Be sad. Be devastated! But dunna keep me from the truth.”
“A great loss.” Her father closed his eyes against the pain.
Her own heart cried out. They were much older than her as were her sisters. The MacNaughton’s were closer in age and felt more like family. Brighit was like her own little sister.
“I must make decisions that ye may not wish to abide by—but ye will. The O’Neill will not back down. We need an alliance with a strong clan. I need men I can count on, who will fight with me against them.”
“The MacNau—”
“They will not fight for us now. ‘Tis not their land that is threatened.” He shouted the words, his nostrils flaring. “They have broken our agreement, daughter. We are defenseless. Ronan was good enough to make a new alliance for us.”
“At what cost to us?” Tisa knew the answer as soon as she asked the question. The way Ronan had looked at her, assessing her worth as a mate.
“You will marry their tanist.”
“So I am to be exchanged for the promise of protection?”
“Ye will have a place of prominence in their clan.”
“I do not care about prominence! I want the life I had always been promised. The life I was raised for.”
“That life is gone, Tisa. This is the life ye will have.”
“I do not accept this…betrayal.”
“Ye have no choice.”
Available for pre-order with March 30th release only on Amazon
BLURB: Drogheda, Ireland 1076
The sixth son bears a curse as certain as the seventh son bears a blessing. When Tadhg MacNaughton’s betrothed is ripped from his arms and married to another, he believes the legend is true.
Tisa O’Brien’s life slams into a downward spiral at the news she is no longer betrothed to the love of her life but married to the tanist of a warring, prideful clan with dangerous political aspirations—the Meic Lochlainn. She faces her destiny with all the strength and dignity of her Irish heritage despite dealing with a husband who resents her, fighting off the lustful advances of her father-in-law, Aodh, and longing for the husband of her heart.
Tadhg MacNaughton makes a deal with the devil to ensure the survival of his clan as he is commanded to fight with Aodh who envisions himself the new Brian Boru, High King of Eire. Up close and personal, Tadhg must witness his true love’s marriage and remain silent even as it rips him apart. When a sinister plot to over throw King William of England led by the exiled Leofrid Godwin and Clan Meic Lochlainn comes to light, Tadhg is faced with saving his clan or endangering his sister and her Norman husband.
An Irish beauty and a warrior betrayed—doomed in love from the start or does fate have something else in store for them?
January 9, 2016
Thanks to My Fans and Followers for a Wonderful 2015!
I often tell my author friends that I have the best fans in the world. We just finished a special annual giveaway promotion in my Facebook group as a way for me to say thanks. Even though we had wonderful prizes this year–books donated by my author friends–they don’t adequately express how I feel about you all.
I have an advance reader group that helps me with book reviews. You are the best. My books wouldn’t be nearly as popular without your contributions. I have a Facebook page full of fans who help me grow the fan base there everyday by sharing what I post. That is invaluable to me.
2016 is going to be a year of re-focus for me in writing. In this journey of writing books you often have to make adjustments just like any other business. My goal is to give you more books that you love, books that transport you to a world of romance in times past and in times present. I want to thank you all for making 2015 a great year for me. I hope it was the same for you. Here’s to a great 2016!
December 22, 2015
Christmas Baking And Unplugging
If you know me, you know I love to bake. So for a foodie, what better time of the year than the holiday season? My holiday food memories growing up are vivid. Both my grandmothers had long established traditions of food on Christmas Eve and Christmas day: ham on one side of the family and prime rib on the other. Both my grandmas were wonderful cooks and entertainers so I have a rich heritage in celebrations.
Some of my favorite dishes from my Grandma Kumlien: fluffy, rich Yorkshire pudding that accompanied the prime rib and oyster stew on Christmas Eve. And cookies–she was a prolific baker at holiday time. My Grandma Syme is Norwegian so we had lefse (potato flatbread) and the most wonderful array of cookies: krumkake, rosettes, peanut butter balls, and more.
Apart from the food, holiday time is always a family time for us. We either traveled or hosted. This year, my sister and her husband are visiting and it is a precious time as we don’t get to see each other often. With that, I’m letting you know that I will be unplugged for a while. This will be my last blog until after the new year. I wish you and yours a peaceful holiday season.
And don’t forget our 12 Days of Christmas celebration on Becca Nation, our private fan Facebook group. You can join us here.
December 11, 2015
Holiday Reverie – Movies
For me, holidays are the epitome of nostalgia. I don’t know if it’s because family is always together or the great food, anticipation of gifts, the music, the traditions–it all creates an expectancy of good feelings.
When my family gets together around holiday time we like to watch movies. We even have been known to schedule an outing to the movie theater on Christmas day so we can enjoy a new release together. But when we pop in a DVD at holiday time, there is a shortlist of classics that make my holidays brighter. Some old, some new, but all good.
Elf – I can’t do the holidays without Elf. Even though my mother gudgingly sits through this one (she thinks it’s too cheesy), I absolutely love it. There’s nothing better than smiling and laughing for a couple hours straight. It doesn’t seem to matter how many times I watch it. And, oh yeah, my sister and I know most of the good lines by heart.
White Christmas I think I love this movie because we watched it every year since I can remember. It makes my parents laugh and smile for a couple hours and I love the music, dancing, and back-and-forth between Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby. There’s nothing like a good old musical.
Love Actually – It’s a love story. What more can I say. Following the trials and tribulations of eight different versions of love is captivating and I love the way they are woven into one story. Great cast in this movie.
Miracle on 34th Street – There are so many versions of this movie but if you want to see the best one, look for the version with the very young of Natalie Wood and Maureen O’Hara. A story of hope and love overcoming disbelief. Natalie Wood is awesome.
OK, it’s your turn. What are your favorite holiday flicks?
December 8, 2015
The Best of 2015 #NextLitChat
This week, I’ll be with the #NextLitChat crew on Twitter talking about the Best of 2015. Books, movies, music, art… everything we can think of. If you’re interested, join us on Thursday night to see what the #NextLitChat crew thinks about what was going on that’s of note in 2015. You can chime in on Twitter or listen to us on live chat. Should be exciting!
9pm EST on Thursday, December 10 – Go to the #NextLitChat hashtag on Twitter or follow me @beck_a_tron for the link to the live chat.
See you Thursday!
December 6, 2015
$25 Worth of Books for $4.99
You asked for it and now it’s finally here in time for holiday season giving.
The Highland Renegades Volume 1 boxed set is now available in your favorite online book store. It would make a great gift for that reader-friend or you may want to get a complete set for yourself if you haven’t read them yet.
These are my most popular books and I am excited to be able to give them to you for a limited time discount. Here are the buy links for the stores:
Apple iBooks | Kobo | Kindle | Nook
December 2, 2015
You Are Invited…
If you love contemporary romances and romantic suspense, I want to invite you to an online gala of romance writers and prizes on Thursday, Dec. 3 starting at noon Eastern time and running until 8 PM. There is quite a list of writers featured including yours truly–see the list and times below. You can check out each author below by clicking on their name.
You can join the event here. I’ll hope you’ll come. I kick off the party at noon Eastern. There will be sales and chances to get some wonderful books. See you there!
All times in EST!
12:00 – R.L. Syme / Becca Boyd
12:30 – Julia Kent Author
1:00 – Books That Rock: Author Virna DePaul
1:30 – Cristin Harber
2:00 – Zoe York, Romance Author
2:30 – Jill Sanders
3:00 – Victoria Barbour
3:30 – Kathy Ivan Author
4:00 – Author Geri Foster
4:30 – Marquita Valentine
5:00 – Elena Aitken
5:30 – Carly Phillips (Official)
6:00 – Roxanne St. Claire
6:30 – Cora Seton
7:00 – Melanie Shawn
7:30 – Erin Nicholas
8:00 – Samantha Chase Fan Club
8:30 – Emma Roman
9:00 – Penny Reid
9:30 – Kylie Gilmore
November 24, 2015
How To Set Up A Periscope Account for the Book Launch Nov. 25
If you’d like to access the Catch Fire Book Launch Extravaganza on both Periscope and Facebook, here are some details on how to set up a Periscope account on your phone or device. Periscope does not work on a laptop or desktop as it is an app. But don’t worry if you have neither—we’ll be live on Facebook as well.
Set up an account on Twitter if you don’t already have one: https://twitter.com/signup. You’ll need an email, a username, and a phone number (don’t worry—it’s just for security purposes in case you get locked out). Don’t worry about a profile picture for now—you don’t have to tweet to be on Twitter. You can skip all the stuff about following people and filling out a bio.
After you have verified your Twitter account, download the Periscope app on your phone or tablet (search the app store on your device). Login with your Twitter account name.
After you have set up your Periscope app, you can now search for people to follow. On this screenshot, you can see the home screen on your new account. Go to the search for people icon (in the red box) and search for @beck_a_tron. When the name pops up, click follow.
Go to your Periscope app on Wednesday night at 5 PM Pacific or 8 PM Eastern to follow the live book launch! If you can’t get on Periscope, go to thye R.L. Syme/Becca Boyd Facebook page and we will be live there as well! If you have a little trouble, don’t worry–we’re on Facebook live too. Just remember to get on Facebook for the giveaways. If you don’t have a way to be on Facebook and Periscope both, I recommend staying on Facebook.
