Book Blast: The King's Greatest Enemy Series by Anna Belfrage

The King’s Greatest Enemy Series by Anna Belfrage

A weak king, a rebellious baron. A kingdom on the brink of civil war, an adulterous wife and an ambitious royal favourite. A blackmailed bride and an honourable knight, torn apart by his loyalties to his lord, his wife and his future king. Welcome to the world of Adam de Guirande!

Book I: In the Shadow of the Storm

Adam de Guirande owes his lord, Roger Mortimer, much more than loyalty. He owes Lord Roger for his life and all his worldly goods, he owes him for his beautiful wife – even if Kit is not quite the woman Lord Roger thinks she is. So when Lord Roger rises in rebellion against the king, Adam has no choice but to ride with him – no matter what the ultimate cost may be. England in 1321 is a confusing place. Edward II has been forced by his barons to exile his favourite, Hugh Despenser. The barons, led by the powerful Thomas of Lancaster, Roger Mortimer and Humphrey de Bohun, have reasons to believe they have finally tamed the king. But Edward is not about to take things lying down... Adam fears his lord has over-reached, but Adam has other matters to concern him, first and foremost his new wife, Katherine de Monmouth. His bride comes surrounded by rumours concerning her and Lord Roger, and he hates it when his brother snickers and whispers of used goods. Kit has the misfortune of being a perfect double of Katherine de Monmouth – which is why she finds herself coerced into wedding a man under a false name. Domestic matters become irrelevant when the king sets out to punish his rebellious barons. The Welsh Marches explode into war, and soon Lord Roger and his men are fighting for their very lives. When hope splutters and dies, when death seems inevitable, it falls to Kit to save her man – if she can. In the Shadow of the Storm is the first in Anna Belfrage’s new series, The King’s Greatest Enemy, the story of a man torn apart by his loyalties to his lord, his king, and his wife.

Book II: Days of Sun and Glory

Adam de Guirande has barely survived the aftermath of Roger Mortimer’s rebellion in 1321. When Mortimer manages to escape the Tower and flee to France, anyone who has ever served Mortimer becomes a potential traitor – at least in the eyes of King Edward II and his royal chancellor, Hugh Despenser. Adam must conduct a careful balancing act to keep himself and his family alive. Fortunately, he has two formidable allies: Queen Isabella and his wife, Kit. England late in 1323 is a place afflicted by fear. Now that the king’s greatest traitor, Roger Mortimer, has managed to evade royal justice, the king and his beloved Despenser see dissidents and rebels everywhere – among Mortimer’s former men, but also in the queen, Isabella of France. Yet again, Kit and Adam are forced to take part in a complicated game of intrigue and politics. Yet again, they risk their lives – and that of those they hold dear – as Edward II and Mortimer face off. Once again, England is plunged into war – and this time it will not end until either Despenser or Mortimer is dead. Days of Sun and Glory is the second in Anna Belfrage’s series, The King’s Greatest Enemy, the story of a man torn apart by his loyalties to his lord, his king, and his wife.

Richard II and His Queens, Guest Post by Mercedes Rochelle, Author of A King Under Siege

Please join me in welcoming Mercedes Rochelle to Let Them Read Books! Mercedes has a brand new historical novel, A King Under Siege, and I'm thrilled to have her here today with a guest post about a king that doesn't get as much attention as he should. Read about the two queens of Richard II and grab a Kindle copy of the book for only $2.99!

Richard II found himself under siege not once, but twice in his minority. Crowned king at age ten, he was only fourteen when the Peasants' Revolt terrorized London. But he proved himself every bit the Plantagenet successor, facing Wat Tyler and the rebels when all seemed lost. Alas, his triumph was short-lived, and for the next ten years he struggled to assert himself against his uncles and increasingly hostile nobles. Just like in the days of his great-grandfather Edward II, vengeful magnates strove to separate him from his friends and advisors, and even threatened to depose him if he refused to do their bidding. The Lords Appellant, as they came to be known, purged the royal household with the help of the Merciless Parliament. They murdered his closest allies, leaving the King alone and defenseless. He would never forget his humiliation at the hands of his subjects. Richard's inability to protect his adherents would haunt him for the rest of his life, and he vowed that next time, retribution would be his.

RICHARD II AND HIS QUEENS

by Mercedes Rochelle

Like many of us, I first learned about Richard II from Shakespeare. I still remember that night in the late 1970s when I watched the BBC production on television, with Derek Jacobi as Richard and Jon Finch as Henry IV. Even though I knew nothing about them, I was totally moved during the prison scene while Richard bemoaned the fate of kings—and I never recovered! I've been carrying him around with me for forty years, and I finally cleared my plate so I could concentrate on his story. It was a good thing, too; his history is so complicated it took me two years to write the first volume in my new series. It turns out that Shakespeare only covered the last year of Richard’s life, and yet the events of his young kingship were instrumental to the fateful conflict that cost him his crown—and his life.

Richard II died childless. Shakespeare, the consummate storyteller, gave us a grown queen who threw herself into his arms as he was led to prison following his humiliating surrender to Henry of Bolingbroke. Imagine my surprise to learn that in reality, Richard's queen was only ten years old! Ah, she was his second queen. His first, Anne of Bohemia, had died five years before his deposition and two years before he remarried. How in the world did that happen?

By all accounts, theirs was a love match from the first. Although she was not considered a great beauty, Anne had a sweet disposition. At age fifteen she was one year older than Richard and their closeness in age (and inexperience) probably contributed to their affection for each other. Unlike most kings of the middle ages, he was not unfaithful to her. She provided him with love and support even during his most troublesome episodes with his overbearing uncles. They were rarely apart during their twelve year marriage. He built a private getaway on a little island in the Thames across from Sheen Palace (same site as Richmond Palace) called Le Neyt—a rarity in times when royalty was almost never alone. Even so, sadly, she never conceived.

Blog Tour Guest Post: The Cold Light of Dawn by Anna Belfrage

Please join me in welcoming Anna Belfrage back to Let Them Read Books! Anna is touring the blogosphere with her newest novel, The Cold Light of Dawn, fourth book in the King's Greatest Enemy series. I had the pleasure of offering Anna some editorial assistance on this emotional tale of a man torn between his lord and his king during the final days of Roger Mortimer and Queen Isabella's rebellion. I'm thrilled to have Anna here today with a guest post about medieval homage and the tangled web it was during the early reign of Edward III. Read on and enter to win the entire King's Greatest Enemy series or a paperback copy of The Cold Light of Dawn!

After Henry of Lancaster’s rebellion has been crushed early in 1329, a restless peace settles over England. However, the young Edward III is no longer content with being his regents’ puppet, no matter that neither Queen Isabella nor Roger Mortimer show any inclination to give up their power. Caught in between is Adam de Guirande, torn between his loyalty to the young king and that to his former lord, Roger Mortimer.

Edward III is growing up fast. No longer a boy to be manipulated, he resents the power of his mother, Queen Isabella, and Mortimer. His regents show little inclination of handing over their power to him, the rightful king, and Edward suspects they never will unless he forces their hand.

Adam de Guirande is first and foremost Edward’s man, and he too is of the opinion that the young king is capable of ruling on his own. But for Adam siding with his king causes heartache, as he still loves Roger Mortimer, the man who shaped him into who he is.

Inevitably, Edward and his regents march towards a final confrontation. And there is nothing Adam can do but pray and hope that somehow things will work out. Unfortunately, prayers don’t always help.

The Cold Light of Dawn is the fourth in Anna Belfrage’s series, The King’s Greatest Enemy, the story of a man torn apart by his loyalties to his lord and his king.

I pledge myself to thee—of medieval homage 

by Anna Belfrage

When William the Conqueror invaded England, he brought a major legal novelty with him: feudalism. Feudalism essentially means that everyone owes fealty to someone else, a neatly constructed hierarchy which ends with the king, who officially owns all land in the kingdom, albeit he would become VERY unpopular if he didn’t respect the laws of inheritance.

A man who entered into his inheritance had to pledge his fealty to his overlord. If he didn’t, his lands could be seized. In general, this was a solemn but relatively straightforward affair: the overlord promised to protect his vassal, the vassal promised to serve his lord in war if so required. Problems could arise when a man held lands in two kingdoms. Or, to really complicate things, if one king held lands from another king.

In 1329, the English king, Edward III, held lands in France. Edward’s mother, Isabella, was the daughter of Philippe IV of France, so Edward could claim kinship with the French kings. In fact, Edward could do more than that: he could claim the French throne through his mother (which he went on to do at a later date). Unsurprisingly, the French were not overly enthused at the idea of an English king and anyway, the French crown was already firmly placed on the head of Philippe Valois, a nephew of Philippe IV.

Philippe was well aware of Edward’s Capet blood and had reason to fear the young impetuous English king would some day challenge him over France. (Have I mentioned he did? Yes, I have, haven’t I. In 1337, Edward proclaimed himself rightful king of France, thereby starting the Hundred Years’ War.) So, being a capable and rather savvy king, Philippe devised a little strategy to firmly remind young Ned who was top dog: he demanded that Edward do homage for Gascony.

Was Edward delighted at the thought of popping over to France to kneel at Philippe’s feet? No. Did he have a choice? No—not unless he wanted Philippe to deprive him of his Gascon lands, the last remnant of the Angevin empire once created by Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Thing was, a man who pledged fealty was generally considered foresworn if he took up arms against his overlord and as Edward had every intention of claiming the French crown at some point, this required a very careful wording of his oath.

With the help of the bishop of Lincoln and probably a lot of input from Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer, Edward presented himself before Philippe, knelt at his feet and did homage. Rather neatly, his wording included nothing about serving Philippe in a military capacity. This caused a number of raised brows, but because Edward was a king, Philippe did not insist on military service. More fool him, as it would turn out…

Blog Tour Guest Post: The Kate Clifford Mystery Series by Candace Robb

Please join me in welcoming Candace Robb back to Let Them Read Books! Candace is touring the blogosphere with her Kate Clifford historical mystery series, and she's here today with a guest post about switching gears from her popular Owen Archer series (check out her 2015 guest post) to write about a female lead. Read on and enter to win the first two books in the series, The Service for the Dead and A Twisted Vengeance!

Expertly recreating the social and political upheavals of late medieval Europe, Candace Robb introduces a new series starring Kate Clifford, a woman forged on the warring northern marches of fourteenth century England.

Political unrest permeates York at the cusp of the fifteenth century, as warring factions take sides on who should be the rightful king–Richard II or his estranged, powerful cousin in exile, Henry Bolingbroke. Independent minded twenty-year-old Kate Clifford is struggling to dig out from beneath the debt left by her late husband. Determined to find a way to be secure in her own wealth and establish her independence in a male dominated society, Kate turns one of her properties near the minster into a guest house and sets up a business. In a dance of power, she also quietly rents the discreet bedchambers to the wealthy, powerful merchants of York for nights with their mistresses.

But the brutal murder of a mysterious guest and the disappearance of his companion for the evening threatens all that Kate has built. Before others in town hear word of a looming scandal, she must call upon all of her hard-won survival skills to save herself from ruin.

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As the fourteenth century comes to a close, York seethes on the brink of civil war―and young widow Kate Clifford, struggling to keep her businesses afloat, realizes that her mother is harboring a dangerous secret…

1399. York is preparing for civil war, teeming with knights and their armed retainers summoned for the city’s defense. Henry of Lancaster is rumored to have landed on the northeast coast of England, not so far from York, intent on reclaiming his inheritance―an inheritance which his cousin, King Richard, has declared forfeit.

With the city unsettled and rife with rumors, Eleanor Clifford’s abrupt return to York upon the mysterious death of her husband in Strasbourg is met with suspicion in the city. Her daughter Kate is determined to keep her distance, but it will not be easy―Eleanor has settled next door with the intention of establishing a house of beguines, or poor sisters. When one of the beguines is set upon in the night by an intruder, Kate knows that for the sake of her own reputation and the safety of her young wards she must investigate.

From the first, Eleanor is clearly frightened yet maintains a stubborn silence. The brutal murder of one of Eleanor’s servants leads Kate to suspect that her mother’s troubles have followed her from Strasbourg. Is she secretly involved in the political upheaval? When one of her wards is frightened by a too-curious stranger, Kate is desperate to draw her mother out of her silence before tragedy strikes her own household.

Casting a Female Sleuth in a Historical Crime Series

by Candace Robb

I remember the day my new sleuth, Kate Clifford, auditioned for the role. I’d stepped away from the crime genre to write two novels about women in the court of King Edward III, Alice Perrers and Joan of Kent. They’d first appeared as secondary characters in my crime novels, and I’d been so taken by them that I wanted to get to know them better. My research for their books took me down paths I had not yet explored, and I came away with a deep admiration for both women. But great frustration as well. I’d grown accustomed to writing about the women who surround and support Owen Archer, the sleuth in my original crime series. They were women of the merchant class—tradeswomen, innkeepers, apothecaries, and midwives, independent, pragmatic, wise. The women of the court did not lack wisdom or strength of character, but they were anything but independent—such is the nature of life in a royal court. I found myself wanting to shake them and point to the door—especially Alice, who had been brought up in the merchant community. Go back! Step out of the shackles! But I was not writing that sort of book—I was filling in the blanks in their biographies, not revising history.

For my next project, I wanted to return to fictional characters whose circumstances might be derived from the archives, but whose stories, whose fates were in my hands. Kate Clifford answered the casting call. She came striding down Stonegate in York, flanked by Irish wolfhounds, her step bold, her gown craftily hiding the small battle axe she wore for protection. She rounded the corner into High Petergate and entered a well-appointed house, received by an elderly couple with the respect due an employer. Curious, I invited her to stay awhile, tell me her story. Once I knew more about her, I couldn’t imagine anyone else in the role. Kate was my new sleuth.

Blog Tour Q&A: Under the Approaching Dark by Anna Belfrage

Please join me in welcoming Anna Belfrage back to Let Them Read Books! Anna is touring the blogosphere with her newest release, Under the Approaching Dark, Book Three in The King's Greatest Enemy series. I recently had the chance to ask Anna a few questions about writing during this fascinating and dangerous period in England's history. Read on for a peek at one of her favorite scenes from the novel and enter to win a copy of Under the Approaching Dark! And then check out my 2014 interview with Anna about her Graham Saga series!

Adam de Guirande has cause to believe the turbulent times are behind him: Hugh Despenser is dead and Edward II is forced to abdicate in favour of his young son. It is time to look forward, to a bright new world in which the young king, guided by his council, heals his kingdom and restores its greatness. But the turmoil is far from over.

After years of strife, England in the early months of 1327 is a country in need of stability, and many turn with hope towards the new young king, Edward III. But Edward is too young to rule, so instead it is his mother, Queen Isabella, and her lover, Roger Mortimer, who do the actual governing, much to the dislike of barons such as Henry of Lancaster.

In the north, the Scots take advantage of the weakened state of the realm and raid with impunity. Closer to court, it is Mortimer’s increasing powers that cause concerns – both among his enemies, but also for men like Adam, who loves Mortimer dearly, but loves the young king just as much.

When it is announced that Edward II has died in September of 1327, what has so far been a grumble grows into voluble protests against Mortimer. Yet again, the spectre of rebellion haunts the land, and things are further complicated by the reappearance of one of Adam’s personal enemies. Soon enough, he and his beloved wife Kit are fighting for their survival – even more so when Adam is given a task that puts them both in the gravest of dangers.

Hi Anna! Welcome back to Let Them Read Books! Thank you so much for taking the time to join us today.

It is a pleasure to be back to visit—thank you so much for having me!

What inspired you to set a series in this turbulent time in England's history?

The short answer is the enigmatic Roger Mortimer, at times painted as a villain, at others as a misunderstood hero. The somewhat longer answer is the enthusiasm of my 6th grade history teacher, who left me with a permanent fascination for the three Edwards—and in particular the events that led to Edward II’s deposition.

Kit and Adam are both strong, opinionated characters who get to rub shoulders with some of history's elite—both royalty and rebels alike. How did these characters come into being?

I met Kit through a mirror. I was reading up on the history of mirrors and found an illustration of a redheaded woman holding a polished metal mirror. She looked sad, somehow, and I immediately knew whoever had given her the mirror was occupying her thoughts. Which is how Adam came into being… The “he gives her a mirror” scene never made it through the final cut, though. It felt too contrived.

I knew what I wanted to write about—Roger Mortimer’s rise and fall—and I also knew I didn’t want to write the story from Mortimer’s POV. I needed my “own” eyes to tell the story. I also wanted a main character who had emotional bonds to Mortimer, someone who might end up in the difficult situation of hating what Mortimer does while still loving the man himself. Lucky Adam, hey?

Blog Tour Review: Days of Sun and Glory by Anna Belfrage

From the Back Cover:

Adam de Guirande has barely survived the aftermath of Roger Mortimer’s rebellion in 1321. When Mortimer manages to escape the Tower and flee to France, anyone who has ever served Mortimer becomes a potential traitor – at least in the eyes of King Edward II and his royal chancellor, Hugh Despenser. Adam must conduct a careful balancing act to keep himself and his family alive. Fortunately, he has two formidable allies: Queen Isabella and his wife, Kit. England late in 1323 is a place afflicted by fear. Now that the king’s greatest traitor, Roger Mortimer, has managed to evade royal justice, the king and his beloved Despenser see dissidents and rebels everywhere – among Mortimer’s former men, but also in the queen, Isabella of France.

Their suspicions are not unfounded. Tired of being relegated to the background by the king’s grasping favourite, Isabella has decided it is time to act – to safeguard her own position, but also that of her son, Edward of Windsor. As Adam de Guirande has pledged himself to Prince Edward he is automatically drawn into the queen’s plans – whether he likes it or not.

Yet again, Kit and Adam are forced to take part in a complicated game of intrigue and politics. Yet again, they risk their lives – and that of those they hold dear – as the king and Mortimer face off. Once again, England is plunged into war – and this time it will not end until either Despenser or Mortimer is dead.

Days of Sun and Glory is the second in Anna Belfrage’s series, The King’s Greatest Enemy, the story of a man torn apart by his loyalties to his lord, his king, and his wife.

My Thoughts:

Days of Sun and Glory is the second book in Anna Belfrage's The King's Greatest Enemy series. I enjoyed the first book, In the Shadow of the Storm, though I pointed out a few issues that kept me from rating it higher, and I'm happy to say I enjoyed this book more. It's hard to review books in a series without giving away spoilers from earlier installments, so I am going to skip a detailed plot recap and attempt to avoid major spoilers from both books! Here goes:

At the end of In the Shadow of the Storm, Kit and Adam de Guirande have survived Roger Mortimer's first rebellion, and after imprisonment, torture, and harassment at the hands of King Edward II's favorite, Hugh Despenser, they are hoping for a quiet life at their country estate. But since Adam had to swear allegiance to the young Prince Edward to secure his life and his freedom, they know that dream is not likely to be reality, and it is not long before they are recalled to court. But now that Roger Mortimer has escaped the Tower and has been given refuge in France, court is even more dangerous for anyone even suspected of having ties to Mortimer. Still Despenser's target, Adam is tested daily, and though he struggles to keep his head above water, he and Kit are inexorably drawn into the web Isabella and Mortimer are weaving around the king and his favorite. And when Isabella and Mortimer are finally reunited, nothing will stand in their way. Kit and Adam face danger and betrayal from multiple foes on a journey that takes them from the royal residences in England to the French court of Charles IV and the Count of Hainault and finally back to the shores of England in an invasion that changes the course of history.

Blog Tour Review: In the Shadow of the Storm by Anna Belfrage

From the Back Cover:

Adam de Guirande owes his lord, Sir Roger Mortimer, much more than loyalty. He owes Sir Roger for his life and all his worldly good, he owes him for his beautiful wife – even if Kit is not quite the woman Sir Roger thinks she is. So when Sir Roger rises in rebellion against the king, Adam has no choice but to ride with him – no matter what the ultimate cost may be.

England in 1321 is a confusing place. Edward II has been forced by his barons to exile his favourite, Hugh Despenser. The barons, led by the powerful Thomas of Lancaster, Roger Mortimer and Humphrey de Bohun, have reasons to believe they have finally tamed the king. But Edward is not about to take things lying down, and fate is a fickle mistress, favouring first one, then the other.

Adam fears his lord has over-reached, but at present Adam has other matters to concern him, first and foremost his new wife, Katherine de Monmouth. His bride comes surrounded by rumours concerning her and the baron, and he hates it when his brother snickers and whispers of used goods.

Kit de Courcy has the misfortune of being a perfect double of Katherine de Monmouth – which is why she finds herself coerced into wedding a man under a false name. What will Adam do when he finds out he has been duped?

Domestic matters become irrelevant when the king sets out to punish his rebellious barons. The Welsh Marches explode into war, and soon Sir Roger and his men are fighting for their very lives. When hope splutters and dies, when death seems inevitable, it falls to Kit to save her man – if she can.

In the Shadow of the Storm is the first in Anna Belfrage’s new series, The King’s Greatest Enemy, the story of a man torn apart by his loyalties to his baron, his king, and his wife.

My Thoughts:

I have been wanting to read an Anna Belfrage book for ages, so when I heard she had a new series coming out set during the reign of Edward II, I was all in. I've read a couple of books from this time period, but this is the first one from the camp of the rebellious rebels and the first one to portray Roger Mortimer as more of a hero than a villain, which I found interesting.

The story begins with Kit de Courcy being kidnapped, drugged, and threatened into pretending to be her lookalike half sister, Katherine de Monmouth, in order for an important political alliance to move forward since the real Katherine has fled the country. Desperate to keep her beloved country home and her tenants safe, Kit agrees to go along. The deal is significantly sweetened by a wedding night with a handsome and passionate new husband.

Adam de Guirande will do anything for his lord and foster father Lord Roger, even marry the woman Lord Roger is rumored to have been bedding and look the other way while he continues to do so. But Adam doesn't count on finding his beautiful new wife so sweet and chaste, nor does he count on falling in love with her. The swirling rumors and laughing whispers that follow him make for a difficult honeymoon period and threaten to ruin what could be a wonderful relationship. In fact, Adam acts like a right prick for a while, especially after the truth of Kit's identity is revealed, and I was burning through the pages to see if he would come to his senses before Kit left him for good.

Spotlight: Castles, Customs, and Kings Volume Two

Castles, Customs, and Kings: True Tales by English Historical Fiction Authors (Volume 2)

Publication Date: September 30, 2015

Madison Street Publishing

Hardcover, Paperback, eBook; 598 Pages

Genre: History

An anthology of essays from the second year of the English Historical Fiction Authors blog, this book transports the reader across the centuries from prehistoric to twentieth century Britain. Nearly fifty different authors share the stories, incidents, and insights discovered while doing research for their own historical novels.

From medieval law and literature to Tudor queens and courtiers, from Stuart royals and rebels to Regency soldiers and social calls, experience the panorama of Britain’s yesteryear. Explore the history behind the fiction, and discover the true tales surrounding Britain’s castles, customs, and kings.

Visit the English Historical Fiction Authors blog & Facebook page.

“Thoroughly enjoyable and diverse…leisure reading for any history fan.” – Elizabeth Chadwick, on Castles, Customs, and Kings (Volume 1)

AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY | KOBO

Blog Tour Guest Post: The Owen Archer Series by Candace Robb

Please join me in welcoming Candace Robb to Let Them Read Books! Candace is touring the blogosphere to celebrate the North American release of books nine and ten in the Owen Archer mystery series, The Guilt of Innocents and A Vigil of Spies! I'm thrilled to have her here today with a guest post about using the historical record to shape her mystery plots and characters in England and Wales in the late 14th century. Read on, and enter for a chance to win the first three Owen Archer books!

Apostate Nuns and Rowdy Schoolboys: 

Treasures in the Historical Record

by Candace Robb

Before handing over the Owen Archer manuscripts to the production team at Diversion Books this summer, I checked that the final copy edit changes had been made along the way. I had dreaded the task, but I ended up enjoying myself. For the first time, I experienced the series as a whole; while writing it, my eye was always on the book at hand, the deadline, and the next book. Now I could sit back and observe its progression, how I’d developed the history, the characters, the locations. When you invited me to write a guest post, I thought I’d share what I noticed about the various ways in which I used the historical record.

Characters: I didn’t intend to include any actual historical figures, but as The Apothecary Rose developed I needed John Thoresby, Archbishop of York, as well as Henry, Duke of Lancaster and John of Ghent, his son-in-law and successor to the title. And then quickly Alice Perrers and King Edward joined the ensemble of players in The Lady Chapel. By the third book (The Nun’s Tale) I added Geoffrey Chaucer to the cast. Eventually I added some of the merchants of York, as well as clerics in York and in St David’s, Pembrokeshire. What these historical figures add for me is insight into the times, and an anchoring in what actually happened. Part of the fun for me is folding the real stories into my fictional plot. I explore how they might have interacted with Owen and Lucie, and in doing so I often gain valuable insight into the times.

Blog Tour Review: Sinful Folk by Ned Hayes

From the Back Cover:

A tragic loss. A desperate journey. A mother seeks the truth.

In December of 1377, five children were burned to death in a house fire. Villagers traveled hundreds of miles across England to demand justice for their children’s deaths.

Sinful Folk is the story of this terrible mid-winter journey as seen by Mear, a former nun who has lived for a decade disguised as a mute man, raising her son quietly in this isolated village. For years, she has concealed herself and all her history. But on this journey, she will find the strength to redeem the promise of her past. Mear begins her journey in terror and heartache, and ends in triumph and transcendence.

The remarkable new novel by Ned Hayes, illustrated by New York Times bestselling author/illustrator Nikki McClure, Sinful Folk illuminates the medieval era with profound insight and compassion.

My Thoughts:

This is the story of a woman named Miriam, who has been living as a mute man, raising her child in a remote village after fleeing a monastery and a mysterious pursuant. We meet Mear (as she's being called by her fellow villagers) as an awful fire consumes the village weaver's home with five of the village's young boys inside, one of them Mear's own beloved son, Christian. The fire could have been the result of an accident--after all, these things happen. But the village soon discovers that someone had tied the door shut from the outside, and that the death of the next generation of young men was no accident at all. Suspicions and accusations immediately start flying, and many point their fingers toward the few Jews who still live in England, even though none of them live in their village. A handful of men decide they must seek justice, and so they set out with the bodies of their sons on an arduous journey to present their case to the king and demand satisfaction from a faceless villain.

Blog Tour Guest Post: Music for My Soul by Lauren Linwood

Please join me in welcoming author Lauren Linwood to Let Them Read Books! Lauren is touring the blogosphere with her medieval historical romance, Music for My Soul, and I'm thrilled to have her here today with a guest post about the authors who have inspired and influenced her. And she's brought along a copy of Music for My Soul to give away to one lucky commenter. Without further ado, here she is!

Stolen Moments with Two Famous Authors 

I am a writer. A romance writer. But long before I began penning my stories, I was a reader. I don’t remember a time I couldn’t—or didn’t—read. I gobble up everything from biographies to thrillers, mysteries to romances, enjoying authors such as Lee Child, Joseph Finder, Karen Robards, and Julia Quinn. When I decided to take the plunge and share the voices in my head and their stories, I knew it was important to learn my craft. I began attending workshops to hone my writing.

Two authors I met at different conferences inspired me from short, simple conversations we shared together.

The first was Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I loved her characters because they were so relatable. Her heroines showed spunk. Plus, she always threw in a dash of humor that brought a smile to my face and made a great book even better. I entered the room where her seminar would be held, early, as always. I have a driving need to be situated, in a great seat, and ready to rock and roll when a speaker begins.

And I found Ms. Phillips the only person in the room, twenty minutes before “Show Time.” Preparing. Setting up. Mentally walking through things. When she completed her tasks, she turned and smiled at me. This incredibly well-known author proved to be the easiest person to talk with—funny, unpretentious, and charming. We discovered not only did we both like to be early and fully prepared, but we both were teachers. Rather, she had been a teacher before becoming wildly successful and quitting her day job to write full-time. In the minutes we spent together, we shared a few laughs over school stories and talked about the process of writing. I walked out that day understanding that yes, writers are still people, too. Although a best-selling novelist, this woman was a normal person who took a few minutes and graciously spoke with a novice. Her kind words and encouragement helped me push myself to one day publish a book of my own.

Blog Tour Excerpt: Mackenzie's Cross by Sarah Barthel

Please join Sarah Barthel as she tours the blogosphere with Mackenzie's Cross! I am looking forward to reading this sweet historical romance this summer. Check out this excerpt from the novel and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below for a chance to win one of two copies of Mackenzie's Cross!

From the Back Cover:

Mackenzie’s life has always been one of duty. However, in a land where even the Brotherhood of the Knights are becoming power hungry mongers, how can a young kitchen maid maintain her morals when tempted with all she’s never had? In the end, the truth is even more complicated than Mackenzie had ever imagined.

Medieval Historical Fiction, Sweet, Christian, & Inspirational Romance

Excerpt:

Upon entering the room, Mackenzie rushed directly to the small crowd which had gathered around Melissa and the corner carving table. Pushing her way to the center of the commotion, she stopped beside Melissa. She was so focused that she didn't hear the whisperings around her. When she finally reached Melissa, Mackenzie exclaimed, "My goodness, Melissa. What's wrong?"

Instead of speaking, Melissa pointed above the carving table. Mackenzie glanced up, and lost her breath for a moment. The carver's knives were hanging in a row. The largest knife was in its proper place, but blood dripped down the silver blade and created a puddle on the table. Such omens could destroy happy festivities.

"What does it mean?” One of the pages whispered.

"To be sure, death and destruction is upon us," another replied.

Blog Tour Review: Isabella, Braveheart of France by Colin Falconer

From the Back Cover:

She was taught to obey. Now she has learned to rebel.

12 year old Isabella, a French princess marries the King of England - only to discover he has a terrible secret. Ten long years later she is in utter despair - does she submit to a lifetime of solitude and a spiritual death - or seize her destiny and take the throne of England for herself?

Isabella is just twelve years old when she marries Edward II of England. For the young princess it is love at first sight - but Edward has a terrible secret that threatens to tear their marriage - and England apart.

Who is Piers Gaveston - and why is his presence in the king’s court about to plunge England into civil war?

The young queen believes in the love songs of the troubadours and her own exalted destiny - but she finds reality very different. As she grows to a woman in the deadly maelstrom of Edward’s court, she must decide between her husband, her children, even her life - and one breath-taking gamble that will change the course of history.

This is the story of Isabella, the only woman ever to invade England - and win.

My Thoughts:

I knew the basics of Isabella's story, but I'd never read a book about her, and so I was really looking forward to Colin Falconer's new novel about her. The story opens on the eve of twelve-year-old Isabella's wedding to Edward II, a marriage arranged to mend relations between France and England over the contested land of Gascony. Though Isabella is young and harbors romantic dreams of her future, she is, as she frequently reminds the reader, a true daughter of France, who has been shaped by her father's wisdom and austerity, and who has been raised to be a queen. She quickly realizes her new husband, while nice enough, is not the knight in shining armor she envisioned sharing her life with. He is a weak ruler living in the shadow of his father, the mighty Longshanks, easily swayed by his affections for his favorites, and increasingly unpopular with his barons. And he is desperately in love with another man, a fact that torments Isabella.

Review: The King's Mistress by Emma Campion

From the Back Cover:

When had I choice to be other than I was?

From childhood Alice Salisbury has learnt obedience in all things and at fourteen, dutifully marries the man her father has chosen for her - at the cost of losing the love of her mother forever and the family she holds dear. But merchant Janyn Perrers is a good and loving husband and Alice soon learns to enjoy her marriage. Until a messenger brings news of his disappearance and she discovers that her husband had many secrets, secrets he didn't want her to know - but which have now put a price on her own head and that of her beloved daughter.

Her only chance to survive lies in the protection of King Edward III and Queen Philippa and she must dutifully embrace her fate once more - as a virtual prisoner at Court. And when the king singles her out for more than just royal patronage, she knows she has little choice but to accept his advances. But obeying the king brings with it many burdens as well as pleasures, as she forfeits her good name to keep her daughter free from hurt. Still a young woman and guided by her intellect and good business sense, she learns to use her gifts as wisely as she can. But as one of the king's favorites, she brings jealousy and hatred in her wake and some will stop at nothing to see her fall from grace.


There are a couple of things that make crafting a believable, romantic fictional account of Alice Perrer's story hard to do. First, the author has her work cut out for her in trying to persuade the reader that Alice is not as bad as her contemporaries made her out to be. History has accused Alice of taking advantage of a senile king for her own financial and political gain, and of usurping the position of a beloved dead queen, taking her place beside the king as the queen would have, even wearing the queen's jewels in public. After Edward's death she was tried by Parliament for "crimes against the king and kingdom", stripped of her holdings and banished from England.

Second, by the time Alice becomes Edward's mistress he's an old man, and the author has to try really hard to make an old man sexually attractive and to make the reader believe that a woman as young and vibrant and beautiful as Alice would enjoy bedding him. For the most part I think she succeeds here, but there were one or two descriptive phrases that made me cringe a little!

Campion excels at using Alice's story to depict the plight of medieval women, at the mercy of the men in their lives, and Alice's mantra: When had I choice to be other than I was?, pretty much sums it up. And though I think Campion's portrayal of Alice is probably fairly accurate, I think she took Alice too far in the other direction. Alice is a little too perfectly good and selfless, especially in the face of such circumstances. But she's very likeable, and I was really rooting for her.

Be forewarned: some of the plot points in this story are completely fictional. I don't mind that as long as they are believable within the confines of the time period and the author is up front about it, and in this case she is. Overall I enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written and easy to lose myself in, and I enjoyed reading about some of these historical figures from another viewpoint, since Katherine by Anya Seton is really the only novel I had previously read about this time period. I look forward to future novels from this author.

Rating:  4 Stars out of 5

*Please note: This review references an advance copy received from the publisher, and therefore the final published copy may differ. Though I received this book from the publisher, these are my honest and unbiased thoughts, and I was not compensated in any other way for reviewing this book.