Search This Blog

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Three Days of One Knight Stands - Sunday edition



Deborah Macgillivray - A Marriage Made In Hell

  Essence of the game is deception...

When her half-sister refuses to marry the powerful earl of Hellborne, Greyson de Verre, Lesslyn de Sancerre sees the chance to have a life, a home and a husband of her own, so she agrees to take her sister's place.  Her sister, in turn, is off to elope with the man she has fallen in love with.  Everything appears fated in this pact the two women seal.  What seemed like a logical solution at the time soon becomes a battle to keep ahead of the lies.  Lesslyn quickly learns plots and schemes are easily concocted, but realities arising from the falsehoods are a different matter altogether.  Especially, when she is quickly falling in love with Greyson de Verre...her husband to be. 
Commanded to wed by royal decree...

When Edward Plantagenet demands you must marry, you have little options...or do you?  King Edward has commanded that the earl of Hellborne must marry the heiress of Sancerre.  After all a bargain is a bargain—even if the earl views the coming marriage with disdain.  Only, the enigmatic lord of Hellborne needs must wed on Yuletide. . .so wed he shall...no matter what.   
Even if it is a Marriage Made in Hell. . .




Lindsay Townsend - Sir Constantine and the Changeling
                                                                          
He had hurt and betrayed her in the worst way possible. Could Kari and Constantine save their marriage? In a medieval world that believed in God, saints, spirits and the fey, there were also darker forces to be feared. Malicious fairies could steal human babies away or substitue their own children—changelings. Kari and Constantine have been apart for two years, he on crusade in the Holy Land, she left behind in his lands to raise their unborn child alone. When her husband returns with his Templar brother Hadrian in tow, the separation she and Constantine have endured, plus Hadrian’s evil influence, leads to terrible accusations between them. Her husband thinks now that her beloved baby son Valentine might be a changeling. In the face of such a charge, and remembering an older tragedy, Kari feels she has no choice but to flee Constantine’s homeland and retreat to her own country of the high waterlands.   Constantine follows her. Realising what he has done, he begs his wife to return with him, but can Kari trust him again? And will he ever accept Valentine as his true son? At the time of Yule, many things are possible, and as Kari and Constantine strive to rebuild their relationship, the snows, an old hut and the Yule Goat will all play vital parts.

 


Cynthia Breeding – Twelfth Knight

Isobel De Lacy’s guardian, Baron Roger De Lacy, is set to join King Richard in Outremer directly after the winter Solstice.  Before he leaves he wants to make sure his niece is married. His groom of choice is Sir Guy of Gisborne, henchman to the Sheriff of Nottingham, and notorious for being heavy-fisted.
            Isobel would rather sacrifice herself to the Great Horned God before that happened.
            While gathering holly in the woods, she stumbles across an injured knight and takes him back to the castle to be looked after.  He turns out to be Sir William of Barnsdale, nephew to the Earl of Huntingdon. Isobel hatches a plan. The powerful earl can keep her safe from Gisborne and, when Sir William chivalrously agrees to help her escape, she decides perhaps the auld gods have sent her a Yuletide gift.
            But as they ride through Sherwood Forest, she finds that “gift” to be much more than she had anticipated.



Angela Raines - Gunvar’s Gift


The clashing of cultures, the memory of childhood, each pulled at Gerold and Annika as fate and a bit of magic conspired to bring them together. 

Gerold and his friends are among a group fighting the Northmen who have invaded their country, and for Gerold it is even more personal. 

Annika, a Shield Maiden in the army of Northmen is out for revenge with those who killed her beloved father, Gunvar.  Could love and understanding bring about miracles at such a special time of year? 


 

Keena Kincaid - Five Yules



The New One: Waleran de Marche promised not to marry her, but it was a vow he couldn’t keep. Cateline de Armiens possesses the land and coin he needs to distance himself from his father and the coming war in England.
Cate is tired of broken promises and betrayal. When Wal vows to keep her safe and secure, she ignores his promise and welcomes his departure on royal errands. In his absence, she creates a home without him, and finds his return each Yule an annoyance, not a joyful homecoming.

But when the king’s enemy takes her hostage, she will learn just how far her husband will go to keep his word to protect her—but will he reach her in time to save her life and their marriage or will this be their last Yule?





Patti Sherry-Crews - The Protector

 What can Juliana Basset, the daughter of an English merchant, have done to put her in the sights of the most powerful men in the country? It’s not what’s she’s done but what she knows. She harbors a secret that could topple the monarchy. A knight, Sir William, is sent to take her into protection until things settle down.

Stowing her away in a convent until things settle down seems like a good idea. Except Juliana stumbles upon yet another secret while there. Things are not adding up at the convent—literally. When she can't help but dig around, the place of sanctuary could be the death of her. Trying to keep the lovely lady out of harm's way turns out to be more of a challenge than Sir William anticipated.

 

Beverly Wells - The Gift

           
Sir Geoffrey Eton, captain of Sir Royce’s regiment is a hardened, gruff warrior. All his life he served England, protected others, and trained men. Tavern wenches satisfied his occasional needs. There simply was no necessity for a wife. Orphan, Heather Douglas grew up in an abbey in Scotland, loving life.

When she joins her best friend at the Scotland castle granted to Royce, she brings her smiles and laughter. She also brings her flawed leg, her stubbornness and determination. Will her bright smile and charm be the weapons to finally take down the mighty warrior Geoffrey’s resistance?  
     

 


 Dawn Thompson – A Wish Under a Yuletide Moon

It was under the cold Yuletide moon when Garlon Trivelyan, Knight of the Realm, heard the sirens keen—just before the ship hit Land’s End shoals.  As the galley broke apart, he felt something keeping him afloat in the icy waters, nudging him toward shore.  He suddenly found himself on the beach, his arm deeply wounded.  His blood black under the silver moonlight.  Garlon knew he was dying so he made a wish to live, never remotely believing that final request could be answered.  Too late he recalled the warning: be careful for what you wish.
Annalee, the goddess of the wishing well, heard the mortal’s plea—and answered it.  Now Garlon Trevilyan was trapped in the land of the Fae on the night of Yule, where magic could save a dying man’s life.  But at what price?


Answer today's question to win a beautiful Tradesize print copy of One Winter Knight



Sunday’s Question:

If you had to go back in time to the era of Knights and Ladies, and could only take three things from your modern world to make life easier, what would they be?

 
Sunday Win a copy of One Yuletide Knight

and

One Grand Prize Winner of all three books




Happy Holidays!!!

9 comments:

  1. A pair of strong shoes. Lots of aspirin. A kettle to hand over a fire.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good question. I think I'd secret away a good history book so I know what's going on and don't end up on the wrong side of things. I'd also bring antibiotics. I wish I could bring coffee but that would prove problematic with no way to fix it, etc. My third thing might have to be my glasses, because unless I have better medieval eyesight, I won't be able to see what's going on! But if my glasses don't count, I'd like to bring notebooks and a proper pen to write with. Thanks again Deborah for a fun promotion!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Antibiotics would have to be number 1 on my list, for sure. And like Patti, I would have to have my glasses. But if I didn't have to bring my glasses, I would also wish for a notebook and good pen/pencil to write with (I write everything in longhand as far as my books, short stories, etc. so this would be a must for me.) If I got to bring one more thing, it would have to be something for comfort--like Lindsay said, good shoes, or maybe a warm coat. My gosh there are so many possibilities that a person could bring...my favorite fruit/vegetable is tomatoes--but I know people didn't eat much of that back then because they thought they were poisonous, right? I would surely miss that!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I wouldn't take anything electronic or to make me appear to be a witch. A pain reliever,ibuprofen or Tylenol, an antibiotic such as amoxicillin in pill form, it'll keep better than penicillin. A good paid of sturdy boots that don't look too modern,to attract attention. Thank you for the chance.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've recently found some blocks of time where I could read the first three stories in ONE YULETIDE KNIGHT. And boy do I feel like I've been transported back into the medieval days--and am lovin' it. Each story so very different, yet each just continue to have me in rapture back then. SOOO looking forward to the rest of them. Again, with my medical background, my first item I'd take would definitely be a medical bag of drugs, including anbiotics as well as decongestants, and antiseptics, etc.. Next would be my stethoscope, and the third would be seeds for fruit trees and vegetables. Would just have to. Does the assortment of drugs count as more than one? To me it's all inclusive in the bag. Thank you once more Deborah for doing this three day blog--it was so much fun and I hope readers enjoyed it. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Christmas season.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the comments, and about bringing along anti-biotics....but that miracle might proclaim me a witch....and what happens when the anti-biotics run out and I couldn't perform a "miracle" cure? Actually anything from the modern world, like a flashlight that doesn't need batteries, would make me look suspect, as well. Perhaps I'd bring a fur coat for the cold winters, toothpaste and a sturdy pair of ankle boots. Geez, that sounds so practical, not at all romantic. But it's fun thinking about it. I so want to get these anthologies. I love the humour in Deborah's books. I just finished reading Cheryl's charming story, The Devil and Miss Julia Pearson.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I had to think on this question. I guess it came to mind because of the question of the old Movie Time Machine. Rod Taylor's character took three books off his bookshelf when he traveled forth in time. Always "which three"?

    Medicine would be good, but it runs out. To that aim I would take a book on plants and natural healing, so you could make your own meds. Up-to-date maps. I think they would come in handy when you had to travel. Maybe a tool kit, with just not basic tools, but one that had delicate cutters, tweezers, good big pack of needles, and a magnifying glass (which can also actually start a fire if there is sun).


    The contest will stay open for a week so people just finding the posts can read about all three anthologies. I will post the winners for the books, this coming Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I agree with Deborah on the book of natural healing. The other two, are a bit more challenging. Probably books or maps to help me navigate and build or make what I might need. Doris

    ReplyDelete
  9. THIS COMMENT IS FROM PATRICIA BARRACLOUGH--SHE TRIED TO POST IT AND IT WOULD NOT "GO THROUGH" SO I'M POSTING IT FOR HER: Antibiotics and other modern medicines, a library of books on medical treatments & techniques (for laymen), homeopathic remedies and DIY projects to make life more productive and easier, and cuttings and seeds for food plants to expand the variety they have. Of course these would all change life as it was. Maybe it would be best to bring the knowledge of history, medical care, agricultural techniques, etc. and introduce them on their level with their resources. This way you are guiding change not causing it. For myself, a good supply of paper and writing utensils, antibiotics, and multiple pairs of glasses.

    ReplyDelete