Medieval Monday Blog Hop - Cathy MacRae

Excerpt Twelve:     Sometimes betrayal is closer than you think

Lucienne strolled to the bed and stroked her daughter’s hair. “She looks so much like me. But she has Kinnon’s hair.” Her smile set an arrow in Melisende’s heart.

Brushing aside her doubts, Melisende stepped forward. “Do not be absurd, Lucienne. Her hair is much like mine, and Raul’s is dark as well.”

Lucienne tossed her head. “You do not seem to recall Arielle was born early—or so I told Raul.”

“Lucienne, did you have relations with someone whilst we lived in Randon?” Melisende demanded. “Did you marry Raul knowing you were already enceinte?”

* * *

Follow along for the final excerpt Cathy MacRae’s Medieval Monday blog May 1!

Back Cover Copy:

Heir to a lairdship, Kinnon Macrory is driven to prove his worth by fighting the English on the battlefields of France. His dreams of heroic valor are destroyed by the realities of war—the atrocities visited by fellow soldiers on the very people he is sworn to protect. Three years in a French prison for a crime he did not commit leave Kinnon longing for the one thing of beauty in his war-torn life—a young woman of great kindness and wisdom named Melisende.

 Melisende de la Roche struggles to stay one step ahead of soldiers who would imprison her for helping an injured Scotsman wrongly accused of treason. She finds refuge in her uncle’s shop—until a chance encounter sends her fleeing into the unknown once again, haunted by the beguiling friendship with the troubled young Scotsman she is certain she will never see again.

 Determined to find the woman of his dreams, Kinnon returns to France, only to discover nothing more than a trail of clues to Melisende’s whereabouts. Their reunion will open the doors to passion, but half-truths and lies from the past could destroy the one thing they both are willing to fight for—each other.

 Buy link: https://www.amzn.com/dp/B018OHXKHK

Medieval Monday Blog Hop - Laurel O'Donnell

Excerpt 11 – ANGEL’S ASSASSIN by Laurel O’Donnell

Damien caught a movement out of the corner of his eye.

Roke darted around him, toward the curtain.

What was there?  More men?  Damien cut him off in two steps, blocking his escape.  He knew instinctively there were no more of Roke’s men behind the curtain, because Roke would have called for them.

Roke backed away from Damien.

Damien could not afford to take his gaze from Roke, but he listened for Mother.  Nothing.  No sound.  Mother was as silent as the night, and as deadly as poison.  There would be no sound before Mother’s attack.  Damien quickly circled to Roke’s right, so his back was against the wall and he could see the entire room.

Roke skittered back away from Damien, farther back from the curtain.

Damien quickly surveyed the room, but Mother was nowhere to be seen.  Was he hiding?  Behind the bed?  He would never have fled without Roke.

Follow along next week by checking out Cathy MacRae's blog with excerpt #12 http://www.cathymacraeauthor.com/bits-n-bobs-author-blog

Back Cover Copy:

Damien is an assassin, a man with no home and a tortured past. Sold into slavery as a young boy, he is trained to kill with cold calculation, without remorse. As a reward for his ruthless success, he is given a chance to earn his freedom from his cruel master. One last mission. One final person to slay…

Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness, beloved by all her people. She lives her life trying to atone for her mother’s cruelty by being a fair and just ruler. Secretly she fears that one day her mother’s murderer will return for her.

When Damien enters Aurora’s life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, he threatens to tear her peaceful world apart with shadowy secrets of his own.

Can Aurora’s light heal Damien’s dark spirit or will his evil consume her? The eternal battle of good versus evil, love versus hate, dark versus light, all come to a shattering climax in this historical romance set in medieval England.

Buy Links:  AMAZON

Medieval Monday Blog Hop - Barbara Bettis

Excerpt  10 — THE LADY OF THE FOREST by Barbara Bettis

If the support of the soldiers in the hall had, indeed, changed, Sir Mortimer stood no chance of winning free. But Henry had seen a cornered wolf fight. He’d be brought down, but not before a last attack.

Henry forced himself to calm. If provoked, Mortimer could lunge any of three directions with fatal results to bystanders, all before Henry could reach him.

In a soothing tone he said, “Lay down your sword, Sir Mortimer. Look. The priest has moved.”

He had no idea if the priest lived, but Henry edged forward when Mortimer squinted at the body. “No one has died this day. You were mistaken about Lady Katherine, but what man could fault you for pursuing the king’s order? Come with me to the authorities, explain the misunderstanding. I know Richard. He can be lenient.”

Mortimer, sword wavering, gazed around at the bystanders. Slowly his hand began to lower, and a cautious relief found Henry.

Then Mortimer’s sight lit on Kate, and he snarled. “It’s your fault, you stupid wench.”

He lunged to his left, snagging her skirt with his hand, jerking her toward him. “You’ve been nothing but trouble from the day I arrived. If only you’d been dead in fact, no one could have usurped me.”

 Mortimer laid his sword against the side of her neck, and a chasm opened in Henry’s chest. Dear God. 

Follow the action next week by visiting Cathy MacRae’s blog: http://www.cathymacraeauthor.com/bits-n-bobs-author-blog

Back Cover Copy

He must pursue his enemy; she must protect her people. Can their love survive the duties that drive them apart?

When her elderly husband dies, Lady Katherine fakes her own death and disappears into the forest with others escaping the brutish new lord. Determined to protect her people, she knocks the wrong man senseless. But Lord Henry isn't an enemy, he’s the brother of her childhood friend. Although his tender confidence tempts her, she’s bound by duty.

Henry of Chauvere has found the one lady he wants for his own, never mind she’s tied him hand and foot. When he learns the king has ordered her to wed Stonehill’s ruthless new master, he insists Kate seek haven with his sister. But she won’t desert her friends. Henry vows to solve her problem, provided he catches a traitor before the threat from Kate's past catches her.

When a daring rescue compels Henry and Kate to join forces, their attraction grows into love. If only duty didn’t drive them apart.

Buy links:   AMAZON        TWRP

Medieval Monday Blog Hop - Mary Morgan

Excerpt Nine - DRAGON'S KNIGHT SHIELD by Mary Morgan

Honor. The very word seeped into his being, and Angus realized he would risk everything to defend Deirdre. Give his life for his woman. He did not save Meggie. But he could save another. He would not let Deirdre’s life perish. A flash of light glinted from the torches and glancing to his left, he saw his shield within his grasp.

Only one choice was left to Angus and it stared back at him from the ground. “Do ye not want to possess the shield, Lachlan? ’Tis yours to command.”

Follow along next week by checking out Cathy MacRae's blog with my excerpt #10 http://www.cathymacraeauthor.com/bits-n- bobs-author- blog

Back Cover Copy:

Angus MacKay, leader of the Dragon Knights, failed his brothers and his clan upon the death of his sister. Now he must fight the darkness of despair tempting his soul. Back on Scottish soil, he comes face to face with Deirdre who can wield a sword as mightily as his warriors, and takes her captive. Yet, with each passing day, the fire dragon inside him roars to claim the one woman fate has destined for him.

Famed mystery writer, Deirdre Flanagan, is unprepared for the next chapter in her life. On a vacation to Scotland, she steps through the mists and enters into a skirmish alongside a Highlander. However, the fight has only begun, and now she must battle Angus as well as evil in order to claim the love of this Dragon Knight.

Will their love be powerful enough to shield them from danger, or burn them to ashes?

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