Medieval Monday with Ashley York

My guest today is Ashley York. I’m so excited to host her. Ashley writes with so many plot twists with betrayal, deception and of course romance. In my opinion, this is one of her best stories!

Daughter of the Overking

A mistaken identity. A gruesome murder.

Trained as a warrior...

Brighit of Clonascra despises the trappings and demands of womanhood and is far more comfortable training for battle. Long held alliances require she set aside selfish dreams and take Darragh as her husband. The union intended to promote peace between the clans is interrupted by the shocking murder of a neighboring king and she quickly discovers there are far worse things than being wed.

Trained to be king...

Darragh of Drogheda has no wish to be king, but he is an obedient son and supports his father's plans. His marriage to Brighit, however, will be no hardship at all since he finds her most intriguing when she fights him at every turn. A she-warrior indeed. Her persistent dismissal of him merely blows the fire aflame and sets him down the path to discovery of all her most tightly held secrets—secrets that could cost him his life. 

Available in e-book or paperback  https://www.ashleyyorkauthor.com/daughter-of-the-king

Excerpt:

He refused to share his own hopes that he was winning her over or his disappointment at how uninterested she’d seemed at the chapel doors. She was a beautiful, alluring lass, but there were many beautiful lasses. He would as soon marry one who wished to be his wife—or be given the opportunity to entice Brighit into his arms before bedding her. What a wretched arrangement he was walking into.

“They cannot hand ye over to her without some show of… of… protection,” Tadhg said, his last word nearly growled. “I do not claim to understand their reasoning, but I choose to respect their wishes. Can ye not see yer way clear to do their bidding?”

“With a lass a bit more willing…” If given half a chance, he believed he could spur her interest, which was the reason behind his whispered words to her. She was certainly passionate. He could ignite her fire again as she had his. If she chose to remain stubborn, it could be awkward.  

Follow me next week for snippet #8 when I visit Judith Sterling’s blog at https://judithmarshallauthor.com/blog/

Medieval Monday with Barbara Bettis

Happy Holidays! If your holiday is anything like mine, you are rushing around, wrapping gifts, cooking, hitting your head with the palm of your hand for that gidt that either didn’t arrive or to totally forgot to buy?

Here is some sanity. As you get ready for your celebration take a moment to sit back and read Barbara Bettis’ snippet. Does Sir Roark really think he can make this marriage work? Here is Barbara’s next snippet of For This Knight Only!

He’ll do anything for land, even marry her; she’ll do anything for her people, except marry him.  If only either had a choice.  It’s a marriage only love can save.

Sir Roark will do anything to gain land, even beguile an unwilling lady into marriage. He knows she’s much better off with a man to take control of her besieged castle, to say nothing of her desirable person. But it isn’t long before he discovers that, although her eyes sparkle like sunlight on sea waves, her stubbornness alone could have defeated Saladin.   

Lady Alyss is determined to hold her family’s castle, protect her people, and preserve her freedom— until her brother’s dying wish binds her to a stranger. Still, she’ll allow no rugged, over-confident, appealing knight to usurp her authority, even if she must wed him. Especially since he thinks a lady’s duties begin and end with directing servants. Alyss has a few surprises for her new all-too-tempting lord.

But when a common enemy threatens everything, Roark and Alyss face a startling revelation. Without love, neither land nor freedom matters.

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His anger had been replaced by bewilderment. Nothing had gone according to plan today, from the moment he and Alain rode through the gates. Least of all the reaction of Lady Alyss. 

He had to persuade her one way or another. 

The more he learned about past attempts on the castle, he more he realized time was, indeed, short. Although he hated what he was about to do, he murmured, “Make no mistake. You will marry me now. If you value your home and your people, there will be no more foolishness.”

Alyss swung her hand. He caught her wrist before she could connect with his face. She glared at him, her eyes filled with anger.  “Do you think you can force me into marriage with threats? Better men than you have tried and failed.”

Has Roark really threatened her? Check next week on Judith Sterling’s blog: https://judithmarshallauthor.com/blog/

 Read last week’s snippet at: https://sherryewing.com/blog/

Medieval Monday with Cathy MacRae

I LOVE weddings, they are joyous, and filled with the excitement of the what is yet to be. Let’s wish the Arbela and Caelen well on their new life together. Can someone please pass the wine!!

 THE HIGHLANDER’S CRUSADER BRIDE

Born in the Holy Land only a few years after the Third Crusade, half-Armenian, half-Scot Arbela MacLean is a true daughter of the desert, beautiful and untamed. Trained to be a warrior to avoid her gentle mother’s fate, Arbela has honed her skills with Turkish bow and arrow, sword, and throwing darts—and dreads the day her father choses a man for her to marry.

After more than thirty years in the Holy Land, Donal MacLean, Baron of Batroun, is recalled to Scotland, the last son available to take up leadership of clan MacLean. He brings with him knights, treasure, trade—and a daughter of marriageable age.

Caelen MacKern, known as the Bull of the Highlands, is cynical about women. His first marriage formed an alliance, and he did not grieve when his spoiled, immature bride passed away. He has agreed to marry again—against his better judgement—for the men, means, and coin to recover from a devastating pestilence that all but wiped out his clan.

More than a little resentful at finding himself forced to remarry, Caelen’s proposal to Donal MacLean’s headstrong daughter nevertheless piques her interest. Each will receive what they want most from life—the ability to live as they please without interference from a meddling spouse. But their marriage of indifference will soon change to one of passion that neither Arbela nor Caelen could have predicted.

Buy links:

Amazon: https://www.amzn.com/dp/B0762TL89Z

B&N: http://bit.ly/THCBB_N

Kobo: http://bit.ly/THCB_Kobo

Excerpt:

As they stepped inside the chapel, Arbela fingered the ring Caelen had placed on the third finger of her right hand. The red and gold cabochon jasper was smooth beneath her thumb as she twisted the beaten gold band on her finger. Though she had jewels aplenty—and of much greater worth than the semi-precious jasper—this one would never leave her hand. The idea drew her thoughts away from the nuptial mass.

She moved through the responses with little awareness. She stood, sat, and knelt as prescribed. With effort, she pulled her attention to the priest’s words. Her father, Zora, Rory, and a second representative from Dunfaileas stepped forward and held a shimmering veil over Arbela and Caelen’s heads as the priest spoke a blessing over them. His hand rested lightly on her head and she peered at Caelen from the corner of her eye.

Follow me for next week’s snippet on Judith Sterling’s blog: https://judithmarshallauthor.com/blog/

Medieval Monday with Judith Sterling

Welcome to week four of Medieval Mondays. Today I am hosting Judith Sterling. So far, the gossip at the banquet is about the Seacrest treasure buried beneath the castle and fairy lights that have been seen, by reputable seamen, at night on the cliffs. I Isobel correct? Is it all hogwash? Judge for yourself.

Night of the Owl

PhD student Ardyth Nightshade has renounced men and pursues her twentieth-century career with single-minded focus. When fate whisks her to medieval England, she meets her match in a man whose passions mirror her own. Can she sacrifice ambition for a love she never sought?

Hugh, Lord Seacrest confounds all who know him. He refuses to marry without a meeting of minds and hearts, and no lady has even approached his ideal…until Ardyth. But she's an odd one, with unique skills, shocking habits, and total conviction she needs no man. She also harbors secrets, and in the midst of rumors, plots, and murder, trust is fragile.

A woman outside of her time. A man ahead of his. They must take a leap of faith to forge a bond that will shape history.

Buy links:

Amazon https://www.amzn.com/B07YCX3R2B

Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/night-of-the-owl-judith-sterling/1133653973

iBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/night-of-the-owl/id1482587240

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/night-of-the-owl-1

Snippet

          He shrugged as a cupbearer refilled his wine.  “I suppose Giles is trying to compete with Ranulf’s more imaginative songs.”

          To his immediate right, Lady Seacrest sat forward.  “I expect you’re right, but Giles shouldn’t feel threatened.  He’ll always have a place here.  And goliards are expected to perform more provocative fare.”

Follow along next week on Lane McFarland’s blog: http://lanemcfarland.com/blog/

Medieval Monday with Lane McFarland

A feud between two families leads to intrigue and even a spark of love between the abductor and the abductee. Read on!

Cameron

Determined to band Scots together against English tyranny, Laird Robert Graham seals a truce with his feuding neighbor, the MacDougalls. But after his brother is nearly killed in a treacherous attack, Graham kidnaps the laird’s daughter in an act of revenge.

Cameron MacDougall has devoted her life to the healing arts. She’s long rebelled against her father’s feuding ways, but when Robert Graham abducts her, she’s finds herself at the center of the dispute between their families. She expects the anger she feels, not the simmering attraction to the powerful warrior, or the love she develops for his clan.

Can she stop further violence between the clans with her escape? Or will she find her surrender leads to a lasting peace and her own heart’s desire?

Buy Link: Amazon

Excerpt 3

The music stopped and everyone clapped. “Mistress, may I have the honor?” Walter asked.

Cameron shook her head and held up a hand. “Oh nay, I’m worn out. Thank ye, but I’d best rest a bit.”

He chuckled and returned to the dance floor.

She weaved between the merrymakers, skirting couples twirling to the lively tunes. A lad chased two lasses as they squealed and raced through the throng of dancers. Walter spun Glenda, bent her backward and planted a big kiss on her smiling mouth. The hall erupted in cheers. Cameron clapped at the man’s antics. She veered to the side of the room and paused to watch the revelers, her gaze skimming the great hall in search of Robert.

Follow along next week on Laurel McDonnell’s blog at http://www.laurel-odonnell.com/.