• Medieval

    Knight Errant a new #medieval @rueallyn #RLFblog

    This quick interview includes info about the author, and
    introduces the story.

    About the Author

    Author of historical, contemporary and erotic romances, I fell in love with happily ever after the day I heard my first story. (Yes, I was a precocious little brat who read at the age of two, but I could hear much earlier than that.) I studied literature for far too many years before discovering that writing stories was much more fun than analyzing them. Heck, as an author, I get to read the story before anyone else. I am happily married to my sweetheart of many, many years. My husband and I share the home of  two cats, who condescend to allow me to feed them and clean their litter box. (The cats only tolerate my husband’s assistance when I am not available.)They occasionally permit me to pet them but demand my love and attention as their right. (Funny, my husband demands the same. Could I be married to my cats? Does that make me a trigamist?) Regardless of my specific relationship status with our cats, I am in awe of their feline ability to dominate with half a glance or a mere twitch of tail. Insatiably curious, an avid reader and traveler, I love to hear from readers about your favorite books and real life adventures. Crazy Cat stories are especially welcome. You can send me your words of wisdom . . . Don’t shake your head at me; all words are wise in one context or another. You can trust me on this; I’m an author. As I was saying, you can send your words of wisdom, humor, and friendship to me at contact@RueAllyn.com. Can’t wait to hear from you.

    Interview with Rue Allyn

    Why did you write
    this book?
    I love the medieval period, and research into 1294 AD told
    me about the resignation of Pope Celestine V. As we all know from recent events
    the resignation of a Pope is fraught with opportunity for change. I write about
    that kind of opportunity in Knight Errant.
    What is your favorite
    genre to read?
    Any historical that takes place before 1900.
    Who is your favorite
    character from fiction (not including your own)?
    There are so many, I find choosing difficult. I think the
    loathly lady (a character archetype) is probably my favorite because she is
    full of surprises.
    What are you working
    on at the moment, and will see from you in coming months?
    I am working on the second book in my Knight Series,
    tentatively titled Knight Warrior. This and the third book, Knight Protector,
    take place in Scotland 1295.
    Please tell us about
    your latest book.
    Lady Juliana Verault gladly left England—and its men—far
    behind in her quest to live as a Beguine. But the Christian community ceases to
    provide a safe haven when she’s called to travel to Palermo, Italy, where she’s
    entrusted with a letter from the pope that could radically change the church’s
    stance on women. Juliana holds the key to upending the power structure
    throughout Europe, but only if she can dodge her cousin, King Edward I of
    England, and his betrothal plans for her.
    Edward sets Sir Robert Clarwyn, a knight errant and loyal
    hunter of criminals and traitors, on Juliana’s trail to retrieve her. Robert
    has never failed to bring home his target before … but then, he has never
    encountered a quarry like Lady Juliana, who can befuddle and bemuse him with
    just a smile.
    If he can’t find a way to compel her to return to England,
    he’ll lose any chance of regaining his family lands and redeeming his heritage.
    Yet Juliana must complete her mission or risk endangering her gender’s future
    in the faith.
    With danger and intrigue mounting, Robert and Juliana must
    rely on each other and be willing to risk everything … including their hearts. 

    About the Book

    Title Knight Errant
    Genre Medieval Romance
    Author Rue Allyn
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    Buy This Book

    Publisher http://www.crimsonromance.com/historical-romance-novels/knight-errant/

    Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Knight-Errant-Rue-Allyn-ebook/dp/B013KYA1R4

    Author Social Media

    Blog http://authortravels.com/
  • Medieval

    The Gentle Knight by @ashleyyork1066 #RLFblog #medieval

    Cover Love includes a cover, blurb, buy links, and social
    media contacts for the author. Today’s featured book is The Gentle Knight by Ashley
    York.

    About the Book

    Title The Gentle Knight
    Genre  historical
    romance
    Author  Ashley York
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13
    A medieval soldier returns home to find his lover died in childbirth just as his own mother had. Believing he is cursed, Peter of Normandy turns from love. When he must give escort to an Irish princess more noble than many knights, he struggles with his decision to live a solitary life. Can he take the chance that his love won’t be a death sentence and possibly make them stronger?
    Padraig MacNaughton’s death bed decree rips his daughter, Brighit, from the shelter of her protective clan in Ireland. Forced to take vows at a Priory in England, she finds herself in the hands of lecherous mercenaries with their own agendas. Dare she trust the Norman knight to see her safely to her new life as a nun? Even when she finds in him the fulfillment of all she’s ever wanted?
    Or will honor and duty eclipse their one chance for happiness?

    Buy This Book

    Publisher Self
    Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/1GH0pxf

    About the Author

    I write medieval romance novels full of passion and intrigue set in 11th and 12th century Ireland, Scotland, and England.
    Although all my works are fiction,
    I often like to incorporate authentic places, events, and people to increase
    the reader’s enjoyment. One of the more valuable lessons I have learned as a
    writer is the importance of using real history with the flair of artistic
    license. You’ll discover a world of fiction wrapped around historical people
    and events!
    I live in New England with my
    husband, two cats and a yellow Labrador named Caledonia.

    Author Social Media

    Blog http://ashleyyorkauthor.com/blog-2/
  • Contemporary

    Character Interview: A Bit of Heaven @LaurenLinwood #RLFblog #medieval

    A Bit of Heaven on Earth
    by Lauren Linwood 
    The character interview allows a hero or heroine to tell readers
    about himself or herself. Today’s interview is with Gavin of Ashgrove.
    Tell us about yourself,
    please.
    I am Lord Gavin of Ashgrove—or I was. I went to fight with the
    Black Prince in England’s war against France and was captured in a battle where
    we were far outnumbered. The French sent a ransom demand to my father. He refused
    to pay it. I spent two years in a squalid prison until a sympathetic priest helped
    me escape. I returned and confronted my father, wondering at his cruelty. He told
    me my mother was dead, that I was a bastard, and I no longer could lay claim to
    my good name or lands.
    In the story world your
    author created, explain what it is you fear most and why.
    I fear that I have no place in this world. My entire identity
    has been ripped from me. With my mother dead, I cannot ask her who my true sire
    was. I have lost my name, my lands, my fortune—and now I have lost my heart to a
    woman I can never marry. I do not know if this life is worth living if I cannot
    have her by my side.
    Tell us about your significant
    other, that person who makes living worthwhile.
    Elizabeth of Kentwood has claimed my heart. When my father banned
    me from Ashgrove, I turned to Lord Aldred, whom I fostered with as a boy and who
    has been England’s greatest warrior. I sought his sage advice. I came to Kentwood
    to find Aldred now an old man, close to death, and his estate run by his much younger
    wife, a famed and opinionated beauty. At first, Elizabeth and I butted heads like
    rams. Then I came to know her, and it led to love. But with no children, Kentwood
    will revert to King Edward, and he shall name a new husband for Elizabeth soon after
    Aldred’s death. I know that Edward would never hear my suit, for I’ve become a penniless
    knight and have no home to offer Elizabeth.
    What would that person
    say about you?
    Ah, my sweet Elizabeth would say I was headstrong, honorable,
    and yet tender of heart.
    If someone from your past
    showed up, who would you NOT want it to be, and why?
    ‘Tis already happened, and I cannot believe I feel such hatred
    in my heart. My closest friend Robert was captured in battle with me, and he returned
    to England once his family paid his ransom. His estate borders Kentwood, and I fear
    the king will decide to join Robert and Elizabeth in marriage and combine the two
    estates for defense purposes. To see my Elizabeth joined in marriage to Robert would
    be my worst nightmare.
    Why are you happy (or
    not happy) with the way your story ended?
    Suffice it to say that Mistress Linwood wove her magic and gave
    Elizabeth and me a happy ending beyond our dreams. She made the impossible possible,
    and we owe her a debt of gratitude that reaches from now till the end of time.

    About the Author

    Lauren Linwood became a teacher who wrote on the side to maintain
    her sanity in a sea of teenage hormones. Her romances use history as a backdrop
    to place her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire
    and yearning for one another grow into the deep, tender, treasured gift of love.
    Lauren, a native Texan, lives in a Dallas suburb with her family.
    An avid reader, moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress by alternating yoga
    with five mile walks. She is thinking about starting a support group for Pinterest
    and House Hunters addicts.
    Why did you choose this
    character for the interview today?
    I decided to reveal a bit about the story from Gavin’s point
    of view because most romance writers immediately think of how the woman feels. I
    wanted readers to see that Gavin is every bit as romantic and heartbroken over the
    possibility of losing his love as a woman would be. He might be a stoic warrior,
    but he is as passionate in his love for Elizabeth as she is for him!
    What genre(s) would you
    like to write that you haven’t tried yet?
    Actually, I’ve started on a new journey. I’ve released five historical
    romances and have a sixth coming out in March. Although I love writing historicals,
    I wanted to challenge myself a bit and push my creative limits. The result? Leave
    Yesterday Behind, a romantic suspense, is coming out in June of 2015, and my editor
    just bought a second romantic suspense entitled Illusions of Death. My goal is to
    start alternating and publishing historicals and romantic suspense books each year.
    What would your readers
    be surprised to learn about you?
    Believe it or not, as a reader, romance is not my favorite genre!
    Don’t get me wrong—I read a ton of romances and love them—but my favorite book to
    pick up is a thriller. I enjoy books by authors such as Steve Berry, David Baldacci,
    and Jeff Abbott.
    Why should readers who
    haven’t picked up one of your books before give this one a try?
    I’ve had readers tell me that this is their favorite book of
    all the ones they’ve read of mine. They’ve said there’s just something about this
    couple and storyline that touched them. It’s also the favorite of my critique partner.
    Is there anything you’d
    like to say to your readers?
    I appreciate every book of mine that you purchase and every email
    when you share how much you enjoyed my characters and their love story. It’s a thrill
    each time to hear these words, and it makes me want to keep telling my stories for
    many years to come.

    About the Book

    Title: A Bit of Heaven on Earth
    Genre: medieval historical romance
    Author: Lauren Linwood
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    When Gavin of Ashgrove and his closest friend are captured in
    a fierce battle during the Hundred Years’ War, their captors demand a hefty ransom
    from their fathers for their return. Robert is quickly set free, but Gavin’s father
    refuses to pay for his son’s release, leaving him to rot in a squalid French prison.
    Aided by a sympathetic priest, he escapes and returns home to England, only to find
    he has been proclaimed a bastard and disinherited.
    With nowhere to turn Gavin journeys to Kentwood, where he fostered
    as a boy, hoping Lord Aldred will take him on as a knight in his guard. The old
    warrior is close to death, but he soon realizes Gavin is his son. Aldred plots to
    have Gavin inherit Kentwood and marry his much younger wife, Elizabeth, a famed
    and opinionated beauty who remains a virgin after a decade of marriage.
    Will the king recognize Lord Aldred’s first request of a marriage
    between Elizabeth and Robert, uniting Robert’s estate with Kentwood—or will the
    temperamental Edward reward Aldred’s years of service and honor a dying man’s final
    request?

    Buy This Book

    Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing: http://www.SoulMatePublishing.com
    Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00QHMH0IU

    Author Social Media

  • Contemporary

    Saxon Bride by Ashley York @ashley1066york #RLFblog #historical

    The Saxon Bride 
    Cover Love at Romance Lives Forever is a short intro to a book
    and includes a cover, blurb, buy links, and social media contacts for the author.
    Today’s featured book is The Saxon Bride by Ashley York.
    Genre medieval romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13

    In war torn England the battle lines between Saxon and Norman are clearly drawn. The Saxons must fight for everything they have in the hopes of winning their country back from the Normans who are determined to break their resistance.

    Rowena Godwinson, the sole remaining member of the defeated royal
    family, stands proudly against the Normans that would trample them underfoot but
    her nobility and grace make her an ideal pawn in the Norman King William’s play
    for power with the Saxon people. When he decrees she marry a powerful Norman knight,
    her subjugation appears to be complete. The handsome soldier with the kind brown
    eyes and gentle touch is a threat to her determination to defy the interlopers.
    Can she hold firm to her Saxon heritage and refuse to give in to his advances?
    John of Normandy wants only to prove himself worthy of the king’s
    trust. He is rewarded for his service and loyalty with land, titles and a Saxon
    beauty for a bride. John balks at the marriage, driven by the secret guilt of knowing
    Rowena’s father would be alive still if not for him. However, John’s reluctance
    is soon replaced by a burning desire to please this woman and win her over as well
    as her people.
     As their people look to
    them for guidance and peace, can John and Rowena find a love that unites all of
    England?

    Buy This Book

    Publisher Ashley York

    Author Social Media

  • Medieval

    Interview: Elise Cyr author of Siege of the Heart @EliseCyr #RLFblog #HistoricalRomance

    Siege of the Heart

    About Siege of the Heart

    Genre: Medieval Romance
    Author Name: Elise Cyr
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13

    Buy This Book

    Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/siege-of-the-heart-elise-cyr/1118940307

    Interview with Elise Cyr

    Why did you write this book?
    As a lover of history, I have always been fascinated by accounts
    of how one person can have a profound effect on events. This story started with
    one person as well: William Malet who was an English advisor to Duke William as
    he prepared to cross the channel and take England for his own. I wondered at how
    an Englishman could come to help a Norman take over his homeland, and figured there
    must be others in England who would be in a position to help Duke William in the
    conquest, given the charged political climate. Thus, my heroine’s father, Lord Bernard
    Dumont, was born, a man with conflicting loyalties who could ease the way for Duke
    William’s rule. His actions set the book’s plot into motion and are the means of
    placing my English-born but Norman-blooded heroine in the path of the hero—one of
    William’s honor-bound knights.
    What is your favorite genre to read?
    Romance! I found romance novels in my early teens. Classics by
    Jane Austin and the Brontë Sisters, gothic suspense by Victoria Holt, Harlequin
    Superromances, and the audacious but unputdownable bodice rippers. I read them all,
    but something about historicals in particular kept me coming back for more. The
    appeal of another time and place, love that risks everything, and of course the
    dresses!
    What is your favorite character from fiction (not including your own characters)?
    I think Lizzie Bennett will always have a special place in my
    heart, along with Egyptologist Amelia Peabody in Elizabeth Peters’ mystery series.
    Do you enjoy films and/or TV shows? Which are your favorites?
    It’s hard to only pick a few… There’s a special place in my heart
    for nearly all Masterpiece Theatre productions. I’ve been enjoying the first two
    seasons of Elementary and love watching standup comedy. Movies-wise, I’ve always
    been a fan of James Bond, the original Star Wars trilogy (which has some medieval
    tropes, surprisingly), and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
    What are you working on at the moment, and what are we likely to see from you in the coming months?
    I’m currently revising another medieval story set during the
    crusades. After that, I have a another book I want to write, but I’m still thinking
    about it—often I let stories simmer in the back of my mind until the pot boils over,
    so to speak, and I’m compelled to start writing.
    Please tell us about your latest book.
    It’s a medieval romance called Siege of the Heart from Kensington,
    set during the Norman Conquest of England, with a knight seeking his place in the
    world and noblewoman struggling to hold on to all she holds dear. It’s the first
    novel I ever got to “The End” on. It has taught me so much about writing
    and myself, and I’m so glad to share it with the world.
    He fought for king and country, but that battle is nothing
    compared to the one he’ll wage for a woman’s heart.
    Still reeling from the news of her father’s death during the
    Norman Conquest, Isabel Dumont is unprepared when trouble arrives at the castle
    gates. Alexandre d’Èvreux, a Norman knight with close ties to England’s new
    king, has arrived to secure the land and the loyalties of the Dumont family.
    Desperate to protect her people, Isabel strives to keep the confounding knight
    at arm’s length and hide the truth about her father’s death.
    For Alexandre, the spoils of war come with more than just a
    generous gift of land. They come with Isabel Dumont. Vowing to marry only for
    love, Alexandre finds himself in a difficult situation as a conqueror granted
    dominion over the land and its people. Isabel is the one person capable of
    helping him win the regard of those living in the war-torn country…if he
    chooses to accept her.
    Just when Alexandre finds a spark of hope that he and Isabel
    have a chance at love, she vanishes. His quest to find her plunges him deeper
    into the conquest’s fallout. Was she taken? Or did she leave?
    CONTENT WARNING: Entering into this novel may cause extreme
    affection toward knights of old, admiration for strong-willed women, and the
    overwhelming belief that love really can conquer all.

    Author Bio

    Elise Cyr has always loved adventure, romance, and happy endings.
    She writes primarily in the medieval period. Because there’s still so much we don’t
    know about that time in history, the writer’s imagination is essential for fleshing
    out the research and making it come to life on the page. Plus swords and castles
    are just plain fun. She lives in New Mexico with her husband and the sweetest dog
    ever. When she’s not writing, she hikes, bikes, cooks, and (of course) reads. Siege
    of the Heart is her debut medieval romance.

    Author Social Media

     

  • Contemporary

    Meet the heroine of Battlesong, a Medieval Romance @historicalAllie #RLFblog #historicalromance

    First I have to thank Kayelle for
    the opportunity to talk about my heroines. Authors love to write heroes who are
    sexy, handsome, rich, real dream material and describe them in word and picture.
    Heroines kinda get lost. So I want to spend some time talking about the women who
    people my books.
    First though, let me tell you a bit
    about me. Yesterday, my DH and I celebrated our 54 years together as a married couple.
    So, I think you can say I’m definitely a romantic. I married my best friend, so
    that may be why we are still together. Poor guy as had a lot to put up with over
    the years, but since I think we both classify as Alpha individuals (yes, Alpha’s
    can be romantic too) it’s a miracle we are still together and more in love today
    than on the day I walked down the aisle on my father’s arm to say “I will”.
    With that kind of background how could
    I not write romance novels. But, why on earth would I want to do something like
    that. After all, I was living a romance. For one thing, I’ve always liked to be
    busy. For another, like so many other authors, I read a book I didn’t like, a romance,
    and decided then and there I could do better. I had never thought about writing
    a novel, but why not? I’d already tried a whole lot of other things over the years.
    But why write a historical romance. I loved to read them, I liked history and I
    loved research. It all went together.
    I told Kayelle I wanted to offer a
    sketch of my current heroine but the more I thought about it, I realized out of
    all twenty-one of my heroines, I have a few favorites but top of the list might
    be Laren. so let me tell you about her.
    With each of my heroines I tried to
    give them a strong backbone. That’s got to be the Alpha in me. I don’t think any
    of them are whippy, they don’t cry much if at all, and they all make mistakes, but
    then don’t we all.
    As I looked back over my heroines,
    a couple do stand out. Sara from ‘A Treasure for Sara’ is one I really liked. However,
    I still think Laren of ‘Battlesong’ might be my favorite. With Laren I tried to
    write a heroine with a miserable childhood, but a woman who develops into the kind
    of woman I hope every woman can become, although my Laren sometimes acts before
    she thinks. She learns to stand on her own two feet and uses her intelligence to
    get her out of one tight situation after another, she is a woman of great compassion,
    a woman willing to do what has to be done, no matter the consequences. She also
    has a lot of fire and at times wants to pound the hero on the head. Not that I blame
    her. I wanted to pound him in the head a few time too.
    Laren is the heroine of the second
    of the song series, four medieval romances about one family, although each is a
    stand alone book. Laren lives in the 13th century, even though she behaves much
    like a 21st century gal.
    However, now that I have finished
    the last song book, I just may have to add Catherine, the heroine in the book coming
    in July, to my list of favorites. Catherine, now a widow, had a wonderful childhood,
    a rotten marriage, and is fighting a father who wants her married again. My hero
    has a real battle on his hands with this woman. She doesn’t trust men and has become
    one bossy babe. If you decide to see for yourself which of my heroines you like,
    I’d love to hear from you. In the meantime, I’m working with a young woman who had
    a happy childhood but has been discarded by her titled husband. (I moved back to
    the 19th century in this one.) She’s a real fighter, this one. I just may have to
    add her to my favorite list, too.

    About the Book

    Title Battlesong
    Genre Medieval Romance
    Author Name Allison Knight
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13
    Their marriage begins with a lie. Tricked into wedding young
    Laren Blair, the daughter of a Scottish laird, Arthur ap Brynn Ffrydd, an English
    baron, abandons her at his keep. When he finally returns six years later she has
    won the affection of his people but all he sees are the changes she has made. Their
    battles begin.
    She fears her life will be as miserable with Arthur as it was
    with her cruel father. He envisions losing his property to her Scottish clan. As
    they learn to tolerate each other, desire draws them together. When Laren is kidnaped
    and Arthur is wounded in battle they realize they love each other. Reunited, can
    their love withstand the strain of another lie?

    Buy This Book

    Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Battlesong-Allison-Knight-ebook/dp/B0040GJADS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401482811&sr=8-1&keywords=Battlesong+Allison+Knight

    Author Social Media