Coming face to face with an important illuminated manuscript in the original is like meeting a very famous person. We may all pretend that a well-known celebrity is no different from anyone else, and yet there is an undeniable thrill in actually meeting and talking to a person of world stature.The idea for the book, which is entirely new, is to invite the reader into intimate conversations with twelve of the most famous manuscripts in existence and to explore with the author what they tell us about nearly a thousand years of medieval history - and sometimes about the modern world too. Christopher de Hamel introduces us to kings, queens, saints, scribes, artists, librarians, thieves, dealers, collectors and the international community of manuscript scholars, showing us how he and his fellows piece together evidence to reach unexpected conclusions. He traces the elaborate journeys which these exceptionally precious artefacts have made through time and space, shows us how they have been copied, who has owned them or lusted after them (and how we can tell), how they have been embroiled in politics and scholarly disputes, how they have been regarded as objects of supreme beauty and luxury and as symbols of national identity. The book touches on religion, art, literature, music, science and the history of taste.Part travel book, part detective story, part conversation with the reader, Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts conveys the fascination and excitement of encountering some of the greatest works of art in our culture which, in the originals, are to most people completely inaccessible. At the end, we have a slightly different perspective on history and how we come by knowledge. It is a most unusual book.

    - Sir Jamison Munro is a Highland warrior known as The Red Lion. Big and burly, with a crown of vibrant red hair, as the son of the chief of Clan Munro, Jamison's path in life was more unconventional than those of his clansmen. Fostering in England and France, Jamison learned the ways of his adversaries before returning home to take his place at his father's side. But his father is a progressive thinker, knowing that in order to survive, his clan must become allies with the English. He knows that isolation will only bring destruction to his clan. Willem Munro has traveled the world, much like his son, and has made friends along the way. When his English friends to the south call upon him to help in their battle with the Welsh, Willem sends his only son. Now, Jamison finds himself living with the English again as they do battle against the Welsh. Although highly trained in English tactics, and having many English friends, he cannot give himself over 100% to their ways. He sympathizes with the Welsh even as he plans battles against them. Outwardly supporting the English, he is nonetheless torn. When the call goes out to defend Four Crosses Castle against a Welsh attack, Jamison rides to the siege and finds himself caught up in a nasty battle. With the gatehouse breached, he charges in to defend the occupants only to be attacked by one occupant in particular. What he first believes to be a small and slender knight, he soon finds out differently. He is met with ferocity by a skilled lady warrior. Lady Havilland de Llion is the daughter of the lord of Four Crosses Castle. Part-Welsh, her family is nonetheless loyal to the English. When she sees the big Scotsman, she assumes he is siding with the Welsh and goes after him with a vengeance. Even upon discovering his loyalties, she doesn't believe him and their fight goes on long after the battle itself is finished. By the end of their fight, she is exhausted. By the end of their fight, Jamison is in love. Politics, battles, loyalties, and roaring passions play out in a story of high emotion and high adventure. To the big Scots knight know as The Red Lion, nearly everything in his life has come at a price, but in the battle for Havilland's affections, there is no price too high that he will not pay.

    - Madelayne Gray d'Ebreux is the queen of all that is lost. Her child, her husband... everything. Or, so she thinks. The same battle that killed her husband resulted in the serious injury of her husband's commander, Sir Kaspian St. Hever. As Kaspian lays badly wounded, Madelayne is asked to tend the man in a most unconventional and intimate way. Instead of using her milk to nurse her child, who was born dead, she nurses a man who is forbidden solid foods because of a belly wound. And so, a unusual and sometimes erotic relationship develops between Madelayne and her patient. Kaspian is tended by a woman who offers him her breasts as way of sustaining his life. At first, he looks at the situation as a necessity but he soon comes to crave it. He struggles to keep his feelings from the widowed woman but it becomes increasingly difficult. For a man who has known little compassion or kindness in his life, Madelayne comes to represent everything he has been missing. She soon becomes to represent everything he wants, and he wants her. Join Madelayne and Kaspian on their journey through life, loss, lust, and passion in this adventure - packed and unconventional Medieval Romance. Can Madelayne finally change her stars with Kaspian's help?

    and the keeper of his heart.Richard de Claiborne, the dark earl of Dunsmore, serves King Edward Plantagenet well. Sworn to obey his king's every order, he nevertheless chafes at the command he wed the daughter of his enemy — a man who slew his father in cold blood. But King Edward wants peace in his lands, and he will stop at nothing to get it. If he has to order his most powerful Marcher lord to marry a Welsh princess, he considers it a small price to pay.Princess Gwenllian is a political pawn. When she's forced to marry the evil Black Hawk de Claiborne, she quakes at his fierceness and brutality. But she does her duty to her father and her people, knowing she will never surrender to her enemy. In the halls of Black Hawk's great keep, Gwen glimpses a man who can be tender and passionate — and who teaches her about breathtaking sensuality and a desire so great it threatens every vow she ever made to keep her heart locked tight.As war once more looms between Wales and England, Gwen realizes a terrible truth: she's in love with the enemy. When long-buried secrets threaten to destroy her fragile happiness, she must make a terrible choice-or watch the man she loves sacrifice his life to save hers...

    When he is unjustly accused of murder, Roger flees for his life and joins the crusade of Richard the Lionheart. In the Holy Land, Roger is introduced to the grim realities of war. He thrives, though, and rises through the ranks to become commander of a company known as the Death’s heads. He loses one love and finds another, and he suffers a crisis of faith as he watches the huge crusading army being destroyed by disease and famine while the dream of freeing Jerusalem seems as far away as ever. And his other dream, the one about finding his father, seems as far away as ever, too -- or is it? "Death’s Head" illuminates a little-known but significant moment in history, one whose outcome resonates through the years to the present day. It is a story of war and love and the faith that enables ordinary men to perform extraordinary deeds.

    Orphaned at age eight, she began to take over the running of her parent's castle with the help of a trusted steward. Yet, when a plot to murder her was revealed, a friar whisked her away to live hidden in the forest. There, she learned to shoot expertly with bow and arrow and hone her skills to see into the spirit realm. Now, at eighteen, Alexia continues to keep the Spear protected, provide meat for the starving village, while secretly caring for her ill sister who still lives in the castle. With Alexia's powers of spiritual discernment and her skill as an archer, she is no match for those who come for the spear. That is until she meets Ronar LePeine, one of the King's elite guard. Ronar desires nothing more than to do his duty to God and King and pay penance for past sins. Yet a forest sprite with red, flaming hair blocks his every move, all the while enchanting him like no other. Something evil lurks at Castle Luxley, and both Ronar and Alexia are soon thrust into the middle of a spiritual battle which will not only test their very beliefs, but put them both in mortal danger. Amazon Categories >Medieval Romance >Inspirational Romance >Medieval Fantasy >Historical Romance >Romantic Suspense >Christian Romance >Clean Romance

     Meet the most powerful trio of knights in the turbulent times when the usurper, The Earl of March, assumes the rule of England and Edward III goes into hiding. These warriors, sworn to serve the crown of England, are determined to protect the young king and help him claim his birthright. So goes the saga of the Dragonblade Trilogy... Led by the bastard son of Edward I, the three knights who have fought battles and served kings together now find themselves entrenched in the fight for young Edward's throne. Along the way, they each experience their own adventures as well as their own loves. With ladies fair entering the picture, knights who breathe and sleep battle now find room in their hearts for something of a more passionate nature. This collection includes: Dragonblade - Tate de Lara, the man who should have been king, finds love in a farmer's daughter. Island of Glass - On the Welsh Marches, Kenneth St. Hever falls for an educated lady with a strange mission. The Savage Curtain - Stephen of Pembury becomes the commander of Berwick Castle and is forced into a marriage with a Scots captive. Three timeless tales of passion and adventure will have you falling in love with historical romance all over again. Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

    A longing to forget compels him. Fate may send them into each other’s arms, but only love can mend their hearts. An Outlander Raised by a tyrannical father, Marion de Lacy yearns for the comfort of belonging to a loving family. So when her father announces her betrothal to an evil knight in exchange for his help to overthrow the king, she concocts a desperate scheme to avoid the marriage: feigning her own death and then fleeing England. But when her plan goes terribly awry and she’s captured by the knight, not even her careful preparations could ready her for the Scottish barbarian who rescues her and then informs her that he’s to marry her by edict of her king. Certain her father will defy the king’s orders and wed her to the knight if she refuses the Highlander’s hand, Marion agrees to marry the strangely compelling but obstinate laird of the MacLeod clan. A Highlander After the death of his beloved wife, Iain MacLeod has no desire to marry ever again. Yet when he finds himself obliged to do so to secure the freedom of his childhood friend and king, he reluctantly travels across England to collect his unwanted bride, expecting to find a cold Englishwoman. Instead, he discovers a fiery, bold beauty who is fiercely loyal, protective of those she loves, and defies him at every turn, challenging his certainty that his heart is dead. Ensnared Following a hasty marriage and perilous journey to Scotland, Marion harbors no illusions that her new husband loves her. Still, her heart cannot resist the noble, brave warrior, and she cannot suppress the hope that she has finally found where she belongs. However, the harder she tries to fit in with the clan and gain Iain’s love, the farther away her dreams drift. Iain is more than willing to give his respect to his courageous wife—her kisses and caresses even ignite his blood and demand his passion—but he refuses to give up his heart. That is, until enemies near and far threaten to take Marion from him. Now the demons that haunt him can only be conquered by surrendering body and soul to Marion, if only it’s not too late…

    When they find a home off the Frankish coast they begin to accumulate a vast fortune which earns them the enmity of other Vikings. The novel culminates in a bloody battle where Viking fights Viking but Hrolf begins to fulfill his destiny as Hrolf the Horseman!

    Blyth, Anin’s mother, has given her husband four fine sons and King Talon hopes Anin will do the same for him. Unfortunately, Anin’s mother wants no part of the agreement. She intends for her daughter to pick a husband of her own choosing as the women of her tribe do. She sends Anin away and no amount of threats or persuasion will make Blyth confess her daughter’s whereabouts and so King Talon sends the one man he knows who can force the woman to speak and to bring Anin to him—his executioner. Paine is feared by all, and rightfully so. He has the power to bring great suffering and with one swing of his double-sided axe a swift death. He has been sent to collect the future Queen and deliver her to King Talon. An easy mission and one he wants to see finished quickly, but from the moment he meets Anin he knows that will prove a challenge. Anin has no choice but to go with the executioner and wed the High King, though she would prefer not to, especially after she meets the executioner. He brings things alive in her that she has been forced to keep hidden and as her secrets begin to surface so do her feelings for the executioner. The couple faces insurmountable challenges on their journey to Pictland and even more when they finally stand before the King.

    He will break your heart, and you will not recover.” So prophesies a wizened healer to Annis, daughter of King Cerdic of Wessex. If there is truth in the old crone’s words, they come far too late for Annis, who defies father, king, and country to save the man she loves.Alden du Lac, once king of Cerniw, has nothing. Betrayed by Cerdic, Alden’s kingdom lies in rubble, his fort razed to the ground and his brother Merton missing, presumably dead. He has only one possession left worth saving: his heart. And to the horror of his few remaining allies, he gives that to the daughter of his enemy. They see Annis, at best, as a bargaining chip to avoid war with her powerful father. At worst, they see a Saxon whore with her claws in a broken, wounded king.Alden has one hope: When you war with one du Lac, you war with them all. His brother Budic, King of Brittany, could offer the deposed young king sanctuary—but whether he will offer the same courtesy to Annis is far less certain.The Du Lac Chronicles has a recommended reading age of 16+

    Saddled with a clerk who names Faucon his ‘penance', the shire’s first Crowner must thread the tangled relationships between the sheriff, the village of Priors Holston and the priory that once ruled it. As a simple task takes a turn to the political, what seems obvious isn’t and what appears safe turns out to be more dangerous than he could imagine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SEASON OF THE FOX Raise the Hue and Cry! A wealthy merchant has been murdered in his own home, and the suspect has fled to sanctuary in a local church. Enter Sir Faucon de Ramis, the king’s new Servant of the Crown in the shire, to solve the murder, assisted by his prickly secretary, Brother Edmund. As Faucon begins his hunt, the shire’s new Crowner finds himself in the upside-down world of a woman’s trade. Not only does the merchant’s wife own the business—unheard of!—the suspect is the daughter’s betrothed, or so the town believes. But what about the bloody shoe prints and missing tally sticks, and what does the sheriff have to gain? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LOST INNOCENTS Into The Woods A leper’s daughter is found in the well of a dying hamlet and the only suspect has fled into Feckenham Forest. But the sun is setting and Warwickshire’s sheriff is hunting his shire's new Crowner. That sends Sir Faucon de Ramis and Brother Edmund, his prickly clerk, racing for a nearby abbey only to meet the man he least wishes to see at the abbey gates. Before long, Faucon finds himself riding into the dark at Sir Alain's side as they hunt for yet another lost innocent.

     Her Protector… Ansel Sutherland is charged with a mission from King Robert the Bruce to protect the illegitimate son of a powerful English Earl. Though Ansel bristles at aiding an Englishman, the nature of the war for Scottish independence is changing, and he is honor-bound to serve as a bodyguard. He arrives in England to fulfill his assignment, only to meet the beautiful but secretive Lady Isolda, who refuses to tell him where his ward is. When a mysterious attacker threatens Isolda’s life, Ansel realizes he is the only thing standing between her and deadly peril. His Lady… Lady Isolda harbors dark secrets—secrets she refuses to reveal to the rugged Highland rogue who arrives at her castle demanding answers. But Ansel’s dark eyes cut through all her defenses, threatening to undo her resolve. To protect her past, she cannot submit to the white-hot desire that burns between them. As the threat to her life spirals out of control, she has no choice but to trust Ansel to whisk her to safety deep in the heart of the Highlands…

    When young bookseller Nicholas Elyot discovers the body of student William Farringdon floating in the river Cherwell, it looks like a drowning. Soon, however, Nicholas finds evidence of murder. Who could have wanted to kill this promising student? As Nicholas and his scholar friend Jordain try to unravel what lies behind William’s death, they learn that he was innocently caught up in a criminal plot. When their investigations begin to involve town, university, and abbey, Nicholas takes a risky gamble – and puts his family in terrible danger.

    At its heart are Geoffrey and Merryn, who will find lasting love in Word of Honor. This pair plays a part in each book of the series—sometimes small, sometimes large—as new couples come together to find passion and true love. Each romance focuses on honor and the code of chivalry that bound knights of this era. 1351 A.D. – Betrothed from a young age, Merryn Mantel and Geoffrey de Montfort are that rare couple—a love match. They spend five long years apart when Geoffrey leaves England to fight against the French. Geoffrey returns after the English victory at Poitiers, and he and Merryn wed. They spend one blissful night consummating their love, looking forward to a promising future together. Yet Geoffrey vanishes the next day. Merryn is left lonely and confused as she clings to the hope that one day her husband will come back to her. Geoffrey finally returns almost seven years later. This new Geoffrey is a stranger to Merryn. He refuses to reveal where he has been and why he stayed away from the woman he loved. Will her husband’s silence create a rift too large to heal, or can Geoffrey and Merryn recapture the love they once shared? Join Geoffrey and Merryn as they fight for the love both have held in their hearts despite their years apart.

    Brought up to believe she will 'never make old bones' she lives a quiet and lonely existence, hiding away her excessive freckles and red hair from a world that believes her to be hideously misshapen and ugly. Until one day her uncle arranges a marriage of convenience for her, a marriage in name only with a young puppet groom... but Sir Roland does not show up. In his place turns up his base-born brother Mason Vawdrey. And dark, forceful Mason is no-one's puppet. Things are about to get interesting at Cadwallader Castle. And Linnet is about to discover that maybe a golden leopardess does not need to change her glorious spots.This is a full length novel of over 80,000 words set in a medieval style landscape in the fictional kingdom of Karadok. Please do not purchase if you are offended by strong language and or sex scenes.This is a new release of an edition previously published by Alice Coldbreath.

    They dominate England in the fifteenth century in battle as well as in love. One de Russe knight is a friend of Joan of Arc, while another de Russe lord changes the course of history for Richard III. Find out how these men shape the world around them. This limited edition collection contains:The Dark One: Dark Knight - England's fiercest knight falls for the wife of an enemy in the greatest de Russe adventure yet.The White Lord of Wellesbourne - The best friend of The Dark Knight makes the ultimate sacrifice for a de Russe in battle.Lord of War: Black Angel - The right hand of the Black Prince finds himself with an unexpected wife.Beast - Seven great bloodlines converge in the greatest knight England has ever seen.The Falls of Erith - A great mercenary whose bloodlines flow into the House of de Russe as an ancestor of BEAST.BONUS MATERIAL: Enjoy an excerpt from Kathryn's August 2016 release, THE IRON KNIGHT. Lucien de Russe is a warrior known as The Iron Knight. When Life defeats him, can love revive him?

    knight, a man known to friend and foe alike as The Wolfe of the Borders.... William de Wolfe is a man of strength, ethics, and character. The youngest son of the Earl of Wolverhampton, William has made a name and fortune for himself in the wilds of the England/Scotland border. As the captain of the guard for the Earl of Teviot, one of the more powerful earls in northern England, William has distinguished himself in battle. In love, he falls for his beautiful Jordan and like all wolves, he mates for life. The World of The Wolfe is a vast and complex universe with battles, lust, betrayal, death, and politics, but most of all, of friendship and love. In this never-before collection of it's kind, you can find all of William's books in one collection. This collection is for a limited time only! The Wolfe: Read the saga that started it all. A wounded English knight meets a Scottish lass by chance, and this encounter changes the course of both of their lives forever. Serpent: The Wolfe's daughter, a lady knight in her own right, marries a Welsh prince and finds herself fighting against England... and her father. Scorpion: A godson of The Wolfe, an assassin knight known as the Scorpion, shares a forbidden love with another man's wife. The Thunder Lord: William de Wolfe plays a role in the first book in the Lords of Thunder series. Gallus de Shera, known as The Thunder Lord, is swept up in he battle between Simon de Montfort and Henry III. A complex tale of passion and politics.

    Richard III's story, told in first person from his point of view, using, where possible, Richard's actual words (in modern English.) From the battle of Barnet when Richard is only 18 through his marriage to Anne Neville, to unexpected kingship, betrayal by his 'friend' Buckingham...and the mystery of the vanished princes. Then it is on through the pain of the loss of his only legitimate son Edward, to the final deadly conflict on Bosworth Field against Henry Tudor. A different fictional look at England's most loved--and most hated--King.. Not a wooden saint, nor yet Shakespeare's hunchbacked fiend, a flesh and blood, fallible man: King's brother, royal duke, scoliosis sufferer, warrior, husband, father. Called 'a new Ricardian classic.' Approximately 250,000 words. Contains what is probably the most up to date fictional account of Richard's last moments at Bosworth, based on the archaeology and forensics.

    The life of a rogue isn't always easy, especially for a woman. But Brighid isn't just any woman. She's intelligent, agile, and spirited - and determined to discover the secrets of her questionable past. Her only clue is a pendant in the shape of a black and silver dragon; the same design worn by the King's Guard. She's convinced her answer lies in the heart of the kingdom, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to get there. Even if it means chopping off her raven locks and binding her curvy, petite figure to refashion herself as a scruffy lad to join their ranks. Knight Roran McShane's search for new recruits brings him to the far reaches of the kingdom. Only a select few prove worthy, but the pluck and determination of one particularly small but feisty lad moves Roran to do something he has never done before - take on a squire. The mute lad proves to be resourceful and skilled, even if he is rather odd and shunned by the others. Roran is forced to second-guess his decision when he begins to feel unnaturally protective of the boy. When his squire's deception is revealed, he is both relieved and appalled by the knowledge that he is really a she, and far from a child. Honor and ethics require that he sever all ties, but Roran soon learns that is easier said than done. The lass is no sheltered lady, waiting to be rescued and before she's done, she'll surprise Roran, the knights-in-training, even the king himself. For a warrior's heart knows no bounds.

    Aye, this braw warrior has endured horrors that should have seen him dead, though now it appears it’s the bloody flux that will send him to Satan’s fire. Optimistic, competent, and captivating, Charlotte Hill takes pity on a fevered prisoner sprawled atop a cot in the fort’s surgery. When finally the Highlander opens his eyes, he seizes her heart with a pained stare. Truly, this is no commoner—but in 1692, a warrior loyal to the Jacobite cause and the daughter of a government colonel may as well be worlds apart. After his escape, Hugh snatches a chance to woo the lass, until disaster strikes. While war and lust for vengeance force Charlotte further from Hugh’s arms, the couple’s romance seems aimlessly adrift on the open sea. Before they sail too far apart, can the tender love of an English lady coax a determined Highlander from his path of revenge?

    Dawn hopes they arrive in time so she can be there for Wintra when she delivers her baby. To their surprise, Torr, Wintra’s husband, arrives looking for his wife. It seems Wintra left home just before a snowstorm hit and though he followed after her when he found out she was gone, the blinding snowstorm forced him to take shelter.Torr is mad with worry for his wife. Cree is ready to beat Torr for not keeping his sister safe, and Dawn attempts to calm both men as the three wonder...where is Wintra?

    Includes an exclusive extract from the eighteenth Corbett novel DARK SERPENT, the follow up to THE MYSTERIUM. If you love historical mysteries from Robin Hobb, Susanna Gregory or Bernard Knight you will love this.It is 1311 and England seethes with unrest. Sir Hugh Corbett, former keeper of the Secret Seal, has been absent from royal service for over six years. Content to live a life more relaxed with his wife and children in the country Corbett has enjoyed his time away from the machinations of court and the secrets men will kill to keep. But a visit from his new King, Edward II, brings about change. His former protégé, Ranulf Atte-Newgate, now Senior Clerk in the Chancery, has been implicated in the death of a young novice, and Edward has made it clear that Corbett must resume his post and solve the case if Ranulf is not to hang for the murder...Corbett knows that resuming his post will bring him to the fore of Edward's political machinations but with Ranulf's life at stake, does Corbett have any choice but to accept the Seal once more?

    Once she has told her story, she throws herself at his mercy.Blair soon realizes that Roselyn is as much a victim of her half-brother as anyone, but his people's demands for justice cannot be ignored entirely, so he strips the young Englishwoman bare and chastises her firmly with a switch applied to her naked backside.The painful, humiliating punishment both assuages Roselyn's guilt and leaves her yearning to be even more thoroughly mastered by the handsome laird. Though Blair makes it clear that she is free to return home, she instead chooses to remain with the him in his castle... and in his bed. Their passion soon blossoms into romance, but can the highlander protect his beautiful Sassenach when the villain who caused them both so much pain tries to tear her away from him?Publisher's Note: The Laird and the Sassenach includes spankings and sexual scenes. If such material offends you, please don't buy this book.

     Pippa of Lauramore, Book One Act like a lady. Don’t swim in the waterfall. And whatever you do, never slip into the woods for a romantic, moonlit ride. Anwen of Primewood, Book Two It's never wise for a lady to run away in the middle of the night with a smooth-talking man with a questionable heritage—it's even worse to give that man your family's greatest treasure. Seirsha of Errinton, Book Three Sometimes the brightest love kindles in the bleakest of darkness. Author's Note - Seirsha of Errinton is darker than the previous two novels in the series and was written for a more mature audience. In writing this, I directly dealt with issues that the other novels only vaguely alluded to. The point of the story, however, is not the cancerous evil that has spread through the kingdom, but the light at the end of the tunnel--the hope in the darkness.

     Book 1 Darkest Knight A dark and stormy knight…No really. It was storming…and rather dark in the Tower. An unexpected trip to London was supposed to be the perfect distraction from Anna’s stress-filled life. Minding her own business, drooling over so many jewels, Anna Waters winds up hopelessly lost and finds herself locked in the infamous tower. Who knew an antique locket would lead her to a knight with a heart buried underneath thirty feet of stone? Searching for a way out, she stumbles over an antique locket with half the picture missing. Lightning strikes and when Anna wakes…she’s still in the Tower of London…700 years in the past. She crossed an ocean of time for him. Can she save them both before it’s too late? John Thornton almost lost his head and saw his family ruined all because of a woman. Presumed dead, he became the infamous bandit of the wood. Captured and awaiting execution in the Tower of London, a strange woman appears out of the darkness. As they flee across England, John finds himself chipping away at the stone surrounding his heart. And longing for a life with his mysterious rescuer. No matter the cost. Book 2 Forever Knight A tiny scrap of fabric sent her hurtling through time… Elizabeth Smith was good at taking charge. Fixing what she believed was wrong with the world. And then she met a lazy knight with no desire to better himself. A wager lost… Before the rakes of the regency period, there was Robert Thornton, Lord Highworth. Content to spend his days drinking, wenching, and hunting, Robert cared not what happened in the world around him. Let his brothers see to war and fighting. Perhaps if he drank enough he could forget the faces of the dead. Sparks ensue… When Robert offers the strange lass up as the wager, Elizabeth vows to hate him forever. Wanting nothing to do with the lass with beguiling eyes, Robert doesn’t know whether to kill her or kiss her… Book 3 First Knight Tumble through time… A dig on the border of Scotland sends a free-spirited damsel tumbling through time to medieval England. Jennifer Wilson was happy spending the summer on a dig and putting off finding a job. When the earth swallows her during a terrible storm, she finds herself looking at a bustling Somerforth Castle not the ruins she'd been painting. Medieval England is full of interesting sights...and knights. Perhaps she could stay a week or two, it would be the adventure of a lifetime. Pre-occupied with war, Edward Thornton has met strange lasses before. He suspects from whence she comes. But a dangerous threat across the border threatens to tear them apart. Read on with LAST KNIGHT and don't forget to pick up My One and Only Knight to find out Aunt Pittypat's story and learn about the mysterious man the Merriweather Sisters always refer to.

    Now, faced with an unwelcome marriage that will chain her to London and the secret slowly killing her, she’s desperate to save herself and the sister she adores. Salvation comes in the form of an American shipping tycoon, and all she must do is seduce him into marrying her. But Gillian’s scheme hits a snag when she makes a bargain with a notorious rake Alexander Trevelle, Lord Lionhurst. He’ll help her win the hand of his American friend, if she’ll assist him with exacting revenge against her unwanted fiancé. But the price of the pact may just be their hearts. My Fair Duchess: A Once Upon a Rogue Novel, Book One After years of playing the rogue to hide a dark family secret, the Duke of Aversley feels tainted beyond redemption and cynical beyond repair. So when he proposes a wager to transform his best friend’s sister into Society’s darling to save his friend, Aversley never expects his heart to be at stake. But the quirky, quick-witted lady determined to win the love of another upends Aversley’s life and makes him long for the thing he fears most―love. When a Laird Loves a Lady: Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts, Book One A need to belong drives her. A longing to forget compels him. Fate may send them into each other’s arms, but only love can mend their hearts. An Outlander Marion de Lacy yearns to belong to a loving family. So when her tyrannical father announces her betrothal to an evil knight, she concocts a desperate scheme to avoid the marriage. When her plan goes terribly awry, she’s captured by a Scottish barbarian who rescues her and then informs her that he’s to marry her by edict of her king. Iain MacLeod, laird of the MacLeod clan, has no desire to marry ever again. Yet to secure the freedom of his king, Iain reluctantly agrees to do so. He expects his unwanted bride to be a cold Englishwoman. Instead, he discovers a fiery, bold beauty who is fiercely loyal, protective of those she loves, and defies him at every turn, challenging his certainty that his heart is dead. Ensnared While Marion cannot resist the noble, brave warrior, nor suppress the hope that she has finally found where she belongs, fitting into Iain’s clan is difficult and softening Iain’s heart seems impossible. Though Iain willingly gives his respect to his courageous wife—her kisses and caresses even ignite his blood and demand his passion—he refuses to give up his heart. That is, until enemies near and far threaten to take Marion from him. Now the demons that haunt him can only be conquered by surrendering body and soul to Marion, if only it’s not too late…

    Marrying Aidan MacAllister is the perfect opportunity for her to get close enough to exact her revenge, except that the more she gets to know him, the harder it is to go through with her plan and the more she is drawn to the man she is supposed to hate.When passion and vengeance collide, can enemies become lovers, or are they destined to lose everything?

    The Highland Mist series continues . . . Once sworn enemies, the fearsome knight Sir Galen de Ogilvy and the beautiful, headstrong Scotswoman, Laoghaire MacKinnon, have been ordered by Robert the Bruce to wed one another in order to end the blood feud between their two families. And though their marriage is born of ancient hatreds, beneath the newlyweds’ fiery exchanges an explosive passion simmers. But Laoghaire soon discovers a far more dangerous enemy lurking in the shadows, one who will stop at nothing to sever the burgeoning bond between her and Galen. When the treachery is finally revealed, it will put their love and their lives in deadly peril. HER SCOTTISH WARRIOR is a sensuous and spirited tale in which swords and hearts clash, as a formidable warrior and a bold-hearted bride discover that love, and not revenge, is the one thing worth fighting for.ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kate Wingo is the pseudonym of a two-time Golden Heart finalist. Born in Washington DC, she graduated from George Mason University with a degree in art history. Although Kate began her writing career in the romance genre, she switched gears several years ago, making the leap to thrillers. Having completed an esoteric thriller series for Penguin UK under the pen name C.M. Palov, she has happily returned to her romance roots. Kate lives and writes from her home in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

    At the royal court, Steinar becomes scribe to the unlettered King of Scots while secretly regaining his skill with a sword.The first time Steinar glimpses the flame-haired maiden, Catrìona of the Vale of Leven, he is drawn to her spirited beauty. She does not fit among the ladies who have come to serve the devout queen. Not pious, not obedient and not given to stitchery, the firebrand flies a falcon!Catrìona has come to Malcolm’s court wounded in spirit from the vicious attack on her home by Northmen who slayed her parents and her people. But that is not all she will suffer. The king has promised her to one of his favored warriors, but she has given her heart to a lowly scribe.When all is lost, what hope is there for love? Can a broken heart be mended? Can a damaged soul be healed?

    Knight... Johnstone... Fletcher... Cameron... Prince. Six of the top authors in Historical Romance have come together in a fantastic multi-genre collection. Six full-length historical romance novels take you back to the days when lords ruled over the kingdom, when men upheld the code of chivalry, and when armies fought for God and Glory. Pirates, knights, and lords are featured in this collection. Whether in England, Ireland, Scotland, or in countries across the sea, you'll find hours of breathtaking love stories in this unforgettable bundle. To the Lady Born by Kathryn Le Veque – A Medieval classic: an abused lady, a pious knight, and an unexpected love story filled with passion, danger, and triumph. Breath from the Sea by Eliza Knight - Tudor England, 1601 -- Meet Lady Antónia Burke, Captain of the pirate ship, Lady Hook and her nemesis (who also just happens to make her heart skip a beat!) Lord Titus Graves, Captain in Her Royal Majesty’s Navy. In her quest for the Lucius ring, Antónia, presents Titus with a proposition he simply cannot refuse... What A Rogue Wants by Julie Johnstone - When a headstrong lady fighting to save her father and a dangerously handsome rake determined to bring him down collide, the result is a clash of wills and a battle fraught with suspicion, secrets, betrayal and two hearts that cannot deny the impossible, irresistible love between them Irish Hope by Donna Fletcher - Before she is forced to marry, Lady Hope, disguised as a lad, sets out on an adventure with her cowardly dog. She comes across the man sent to return her home, Colin of Shanekill, and soon discovers that adventures can be dangerous...to the heart. Donna Fletcher To Tame a Scoundrel’s Heart by Collette Cameron - When a privateer-turned-duke enlists help finding a bride from a woman intended for another, neither is prepared for the resulting havoc. Highlander's Redemption by Emma Prince - When a hardened Highland warrior is sent by Robert the Bruce to the borderlands, he never expects to encounter the most beautiful lass he's ever seen, but when he learns that she is his enemy's sister, he must choose between his mission and his heart. ALSO INCLUDED: Bonus chapters from authors Violetta Rand and Mary Lancaster!! Enjoy a glimpse of Viking glory and Regency magic! Enjoy this collection for a limited time!

    Burglary, arson, kidnapping and murder are every-day events. The streets even echo with rumours of the mysterious art of alchemy being used to make gold for the King. Join Seb, a talented but crippled artist, as he is drawn into a web of lies to save his handsome brother from the hangman's rope. Will he find an inner strength in these, the darkest of times, or will events outside his control overwhelm him? Only one thing is certain - if Seb can't save his brother, nobody can. Interview with the Author What makes the Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery Series special? In my Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery Series, I’ve used my personal research of the medieval period to recreate the dark and dangerous London of the 15th century. These historical touches bring authenticity to my historical thrillers and mysteries, recreating the everyday life that my protagonist Sebastian Foxley would have experienced. What order should the books be read in? Each book is a stand-alone story, but in my first medieval mystery, The Colour of Poison, we are introduced to all of the main characters, when Sebastian is in the greatest need of help and support. The second in my mystery series, The Colour of Gold, is a short story which acts as a bridge between The Colour of Poison and the next full-length book in the series, The Colour of Cold Blood. Why should readers give your medieval mysteries a try? I have established a considerable reputation as a historian and writer of several non-fiction works, which look at both ordinary lives in medieval London, as well as the medicine of the period. With my professional scientific background and a detailed knowledge of art, I have been able to create thrilling situations populated with believable characters who can use the science and knowledge of the period to solve their mysteries. As you'll soon find out, you will be taken to a world from the past in my Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery Series. I hope you'll give the series a try!

    She must marry to survive. Dervenn's scarred face bears testimony to his sacrifice, but the haughty Victorine cannot overlook the fact he is a Breton, not a Norman.As Yuletide celebrations progress, it might take the scheming of an unlikely matchmaker like William the Conqueror to make her see Dervenn is the man she needs.Originally published in the Under the Kissing Bough anthology

     Maiden in Manhattan: When 15th century Scottish maiden Isobeille McKenna made that prayer, she never expected to find herself thrown into 21st century New York City, right in the path of a cross-town bus. Good thing EMT Nick Peterson just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Raising Hell in the Highlands: Aislinn McKenna is a survivor, but simply surviving isn't always enough. When she made a Christmas wish, she never expected to wake up in the middle of a clan skirmish in the Scottish highlands, nor to fall for the braw Laird Lachlan Brodie.

    Bloody hell, what had possessed his twin brother to propose to one of the she-devils? And what is Caden to do with the Sutherland beauty who appears, as if by magic, in his library? The defiant intruder is the enemy, but she is unlike any woman he’s ever known, and her tantalizing curves and wide green eyes could tempt a monk. He must devise a way to stop the wedding. But can he stop the desire that makes him long to make Ariel Sutherland his own? Ariel’s life had never gone the way she’d hoped, but ending up in eighteenth century Scotland was a stretch, even for her. If not for her dog, Scruffy, she might have thought she’d walked into a romantic daydream. Especially since the object of her desire appears to be entirely too virile. But can she find her way back to her time, before her too-handsome Highlander makes her believe that love can conquer in any century?

    Each figure invites you to discover the energy and potential of a particular archetype--the inner sage in Benedict; the inner visionary in Hildegard of Bingen; and the inner orphan in Dorothy Day. From the prophet Miriam of the Hebrew scriptures to twentieth century monk Thomas Merton, Paintner offers an array of challenging and enlivening models to explore.Paintner is beloved by readers for her creative practices, guided meditations, and beautiful prayers and poems, and she has included all of these elements in her new book to further explore the image associated with each mystic. Her insightful reflections on key selections of each mystic's writings will help you gain greater self-knowledge and experience a deeper encounter with God.Each chapter also includes a full-color painting of each monk or mystic by Marcy Hall with commentary by Paintner and scripture passages and mediations by Paintner's husband, John.Supplemental materials, including a CD with music, a DVD with movement prayers, and a book that includes images, poems, and music notations are available on Paintner's website AbbeyoftheArts.com.

    The Kingdom of Jerusalem hanging by a thread. One Knight Justice must face his greatest fears or die trying… Brother Foulques de Villaret just wants to stay in Acre and perform his sworn duties. Instead, the young Hospitaller Knight of Saint John must undertake a dangerous journey from the Holy Land to a remote village nestled in the Alps, the ‘Spine of the World’. His mission: buy 500 peasant boys and return them to Acre to be trained as Soldiers of Christ. Pursued across the Mid-Earth Sea by slavers, Brother Foulques and his Army of Children are about to be thrust into a confrontation with the greatest warriors the East has ever known: the Mamluks. To survive, Brother Foulques must turn to risky alliances… and pray that his choices do not lead them all to destruction. Acre is the first book in the Hospitaller Saga, a series of breathtaking historical novels set in the late 13th century. If you like action-packed adventure and authentically rich fiction, then you’ll love J. K. Swift’s historically epic masterpiece.

     "I WAS BORN with the ability to prophesize the future. The destinies I dream about are impossible to alter, despite my many attempts to do so...nightly visions forewarn me of good fortune, but also of despair, discord, and death--always death." Matilde of Ringelheim, a paragon of virtue and achievement, a legendary woman of passion, beloved 10th-century queen, and saint of the Germanic states, was one of the most influential and charitable women in European medieval history. Her story of love, family discord, betrayal, prophetic dreams, and political intrigue is an epic account of her history. As the virtuous daughter of a noble family educated in an abbey, young Matilde faces a promising future, but she keeps a secret. Through her dreams, she can predict the future. When Duke Heinrich of Thuringia arrives unannounced at the abbey and wishes to marry Matilde, her childhood is over. At fourteen, she weds the young, enigmatic duke. She must leave everything behind and learn to navigate the intricacies and intrigues of her new life as a duchess, and later as queen. Beset by great political intrigues, a ravaged people, fraught relationships, and yet inspired to a greater calling, Matilde sees what her future could hold if she could seize the moment—if her husband will believe in and act upon her prophetic dreams.

    It includes – A KNIGHT’S CHRISTMAS WISH by Lana Williams – A knight’s Christmas wish is fulfilled in an unexpected way when he meets a lady in need of rescue. WISH UPON A WINTER SOLSTICE by Emma Prince – Deep in the Scottish Highlands sits an ancient well fabled to grant true-love’s wish to those who visit it near the winter solstice. To test the powers of the legendary well, Keita Cameron trespasses onto the lands of her clan’s enemy. She never expects to come face to face with the man they call the Demon of Loch Moy—or succumb to the dark heat her captor stirs within her. MISTLETOE MAGIC by Laurel O’Donnell – A confident knight arrives home to find his childhood friend grown into much more then he remembered. The lady of the castle keeps a dangerous secret that threatens all she holds dear. Will Mistletoe Magic save them? THE CHRISTMAS KNOT by Barbara Monajem – It’s bad enough being a governess, but far worse that Edwina White’s new employer is the man who deceived her years before. Richard Ballister’s estate has a ghost and a curse, and if that’s not trouble enough, the new governess is the woman who spurned him for a richer man. Richard and Edwina don't want to work together, but they have no choice. Can they overcome the bitterness of the past in time to unravel a centuries-old knot and end the Christmas curse? THE WOLF OF SKYE by Hildie McQueen – Fate's wicked sense of humor strikes Highland guard Faolan Mackinnon when he ends up betrothed to Catriona Grant, a fiery lass, who he met only minutes earlier. A heartbroken Highland guard's last desperate attempt to regain the woman he loves becomes a journey across Scotland to a mysterious well that grants wishes. However upon getting to know a beautiful lass in the village of Moy, Faolan Mackinnon questions his true feelings. A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE by Amanda McCabe – Spend the holidays in Regency England! Seeking an heir to her fortune, a widow challenges her family to a wild holiday scavenger hunt in the novella "A Partridge in a Pear Tree"--and two people find a lasting love seeking the Twelve Days of Christmas... WILD HIGHLAND MISTLETOE by Eliza Knight – A week before Christmas, snow falls gently on the Highland hills, and once more an adventure awaits the Sutherlands! Dunrobin Castle is overflowing with excitement and holiday spirit because of the upcoming Sutherland clan gathering. Arbella and Magnus’ marriage has flourished, their passion and love growing stronger daily. But when a mysterious missive arrives begging Laird and Lady Sutherland for help in a rescue mission, they leave the safety of the castle, and ride headlong into a trap. Will they thwart their enemy and make it home in time to celebrate the holiday season in good Scottish fashion? Or will warring clans prevail? ***This is a Stolen Bride novella--an extension of THE HIGHLANDER'S REWARD*** ONE KNIGHT UNDER THE MISTLETOE by Catherine Kean – Kissing Lord Renfred de Vornay, her late brother’s best friend, under the mistletoe was the last thing Lady Liliana Thornleigh ever expected days before Christmas. Seven years have passed since Ren played his foolish prank on her, but she hasn’t forgotten that humiliating incident—and neither, it seems, has he. Now a wealthy and respected lord, Ren has important information for her father, but Liliana is suspicious of Ren’s reasons for spending Christmas at her sire’s castle.

    But the MacVie brothers are not hell bent on riches. They became highwaymen to fight against the tyranny of King Edward of England. In the aftermath of the Berwick massacre, Lady Isabella Redesdale is risking it all, journeying north into war-torn Scotland to be with her sister. But when her carriage is attacked by a band of villains, another gang descends to steal her away. Although they come from different worlds, Jack and Isabella are more alike than they first realize. They both crave freedom from war and despair, but in a world where kings reign and birth dictates one’s station, freedom is not won, it is stolen.

    Irish warrior Aodh is coming home with an army.Defying the queen of England, he leads his men on an outrageous mission to recover the windswept Irish castle he sees as his birthright. He’s lived a lifetime of battles on land and sea, crushing the opposition wherever he goes.But he’s about the meet his match in one beautiful woman who vows never to surrender to this dark-haired avenging warrior.Coldly confident and absolutely certain he’ll succeed, he’s blindsided byKatarina’s steely will. Aroused by her fiery spirit. Stunned to find the dormant fires of his ice-cold heart being stoked by this defiant slip of a woman.Their battles of will–and the bedroom–fuel a passion that leaves them both scorched and stunned, forcing them to rethink every lesson ever learned about loyalty and love.But time is running out, and armies are marching. Can Aodh win her heart in time? Or will the fire that fuels her defiance destroy everything he’s ever fought for?

    Katie, a simple farm girl home for the summer before her junior year in college, lives in a helpless depression as the world dies a little more each day under alien bombardment. Then she has a strange dream, wakes up with magic, and a new purpose she doesn’t entirely understand. Kurien, son of Queen Sianne, is given a mission to explore the state of the world and discover why the elves were returned to the primary realm, and why no one was there to greet them. Sean, an odd man in his mid-thirties, may starve in his apartment in southern California because he is afraid to go out where there are looters, and raiders. Until he wakes up one morning to discover a talent that will change his life forever. WARNING: This book is an erotic epic fantasy novel. If you are offended by explicit sex, do not buy this book. There are MF scenes of a sexually explicit nature. NOTE: This novel is told in the third person from four points of view.

    But for a lonely knight returning from the Crusades and a grieving lady with no hope for her future, a miracle will change both their lives forever. Meet Sir Rennington of Ashbourne and Lady Holly St. Maur, and discover the beauty of their Christmas miracle for yourself in this romantic tale.

    Kalvar is celebrated and loved by the people while Kyla lives in the shadows, shunned by the people. However, in the midst of politics and grandeur, love and heartbreak, an old adversary waits for the perfect moment to strike and Kyla may be the only who can save her world from destruction.

    As he watched her grow into a lovely young woman, he found himself falling in love with her, but Cassandry viewed him as an older brother. So, burying his feelings, he gave permission for her to marry another. Twenty-four years later Gerolt and Cassandry meet again. With the loss of their respective spouses, Gerolt hopes to finally court Cassandry, but she desires to remain a widow. Instead, they agree to a betrothal of their children. Matters become complicated as their friendship begins to evolve into the romance Gerolt has always wanted. But by the law of the medieval Church, Cassandry and Gerolt can’t marry if their children do. Can they find a way to be together? Or must they sacrifice their future for the love of their children? "Courting Cassandry" is a “Hearts in Autumn” romance, medieval romances revolving around heroes and heroines “in the autumn of their years.” Because love isn’t only for the young!

    The son of a traitor, he inherited a dukedom aged four, became the wealthiest man in England at thirteen and later rebelled against his king, and if he is remembered, it is as a man who ignited the Wars of the Roses.Further eclipsed by two of his sons, who would become the mighty warrior Edward IV and the recently rediscovered Richard III, he is an ancestor of the Tudor monarchs and fifteenth great-grandfather to Queen Elizabeth II, yet the man himself is obscured from view. Matthew Lewis pushes aside the veils of myth and legend to challenge the image of Richard as a man whose insatiable ambition dragged a nation into civil war, revealing a complex family man with unparalleled power and responsibilities. The first person ever recorded to use the Plantagenet name, he pushed the political establishment to its limits, dared to fight back and was forced to do the unimaginable.

     Determined to guard her kingdom's treasure, the lady warrior, daughter of the king, is the sole defender of the king's gold when the Northmen come. When the leader of the Northmen makes his way to the gold vault, he comes face to face with a long-limbed warrior who refuses to reveal her identity to him. All he knows is that she is determined to die for whatever lays in the vault. All she knows is that she will not let him pass. And so, a game of wits and strength begins. Join the lady warrior and the powerful Northman as each tries to outsmart the other, where tall tales mingle with myth and perhaps a grain of truth, and where brute strength does not always win out over all. As a raid goes on around them, the lady warrior and the Northman become so engrossed in their game of cunning and tall tales that neither one realizes when they cease to become mortal enemies and start to become attracted to one another. Based on 'Annabel Lee' by Edgar Allan Poe, KINGDOM BY THE SEA is a deeply romantic and bittersweet tale of two warriors falling in love in the midst of a battle. Book One of The Lore Chronicles Series. (A five book series for 2016 and 2017) Note: This novella was part of the collection, SIRENS OF THE NORTHERN SEAS published Jan 2016

    Yet many, especially the wealthy, owned William Tyndale’s New Testament, including the household of Sir William Ayscough in Lincolnshire. In her family home, Anne grew in an atmosphere of openness, gleaning new ideas from her brothers who were educated at Cambridge, a hotbed of Protestant ideals.At the age of fifteen, Anne’s life changed drastically. Her older sister Martha, betrothed to a son of a family staunch in the Catholic faith, contracted a fever and died. With the financial arrangements for the marriage already in place, Anne’s father ordered her to stand for her dead sister, forcing his daughter to enter a loveless marriage.England’s religious war became Anne’s as she clung tight to her own ideals in her husband’s house. This eventually brought her into the center of the vicious political and religious battles where she was faced with a choice. Anne could deny the truths she had embraced as a young woman and live, or hold fast to her beliefs and be put to death.

    Defy me, and I’ll show no mercy!” the knight shouted to her. They had trained her for this moment; her voice wavered as she called back “I yield. Open the gates!” The white teeth of his grin could be seen beneath the raised visor of his helm, for a moment she stared at him, experiencing a sinking feeling in her stomach. The loud sound of the gate opening and the portcullis being raised sounded so far away, pulling her attention from him. Loud cheers and shouts erupted from the victorious army, the noise deafening, even to her temporarily panic deaf ears. As she turned from the wall de Crosen’s hand struck her hard, rocking her back against the edge of the stone and it cut into her back. “You stupid little bitch, this is the wrong Lord! You have murdered us all!” His hands grabbed her, bruising her arms when he shook her roughly. A roaring began in her ears, and black spots danced before her eyes, de Crosen heading toward the ladder was the last thing she saw before slipping into a faint.

     Lady Annalyse Granville is a cursed second-born twin. Because of superstition and fear that a second-born twin is naught but a spawn of the devil, she's been sent to live with the nuns. However, she returns to her father's castle at Christmastime at her sister's request. Her sister is the king's mistress and very pregnant with his baby. And what happens during Annalyse's visit changes her life forever. Ross Douglas has managed to get betrothed to an English lassie, having alternative motives in his head because of his hatred for the English king. But when he spies an innocent maiden standing under the kissing bough, he knows he has to kiss her. Can one kiss change a man's life? What happens that Christmas changes everyone's lives in ways they could never expect. Be sure to read the rest of the series: Restless Sea Lord - Book 1, Ruthless Knight - Book 2 and Reckless Highlander - Book 3.

    His life is shrouded with secrets, chaos, and a haunting of a girl he left behind…Beau Angelle Benoit knows that something strange happened to Jeremy in a hurricane that blew through their hometown eight years ago. Instead of trusting her, he fled and left her to face questioning from government officials and alone in a town that thought her a raving lunatic.Now, Jeremy is back and ready to be the hero that Beau needs. Seeking to restore their relationship, he will do whatever it takes to right the wrongs he is responsible for in her life. But, there the trouble lies—for the enemies of Dover do not believe in the happily ever after.

    Once betrothed, Geoffrey leaves for the wars in France for five long years. Upon his return, the two marry and spend one blissful night consummating their love and making plans for their future.But her new husband vanishes the next day without a trace. Merryn grieves for almost seven years—and then Geoffrey returns to her—changed from the boy and man she knew and worshipped. This stranger refuses to reveal where he has been and why he stayed away for so long.Will her husband’s silence create a rift too large to heal, or can Merryn and Geoffrey recapture the love they once shared?

    Her hopes are dashed with the devastating message: "The king refuses to see you." Convinced that God has led her home, she is unwilling to return to Lord and Lady Kiralyn. Time is running out for the decision that will change her life. When tragedy strikes, will she and her father be pulled further apart or knit together? Could she stay at the castle even if she will never see her father again?

    Pursued and injured, she collapses into the strong arms of Lord Cynric Woodrow, the local sheriff. As Cyn treats her wound in his forest home, he wonders why she’s running from a man he considers an honorable friend. She refuses to confide in Cyn, but as his fascination with her grows, he must choose between loyalty to her or to his friend. Can Magdalen win his trust and stop the murder, or will the danger destroy far more than the love Cyn and Magdalen seem destined to share?

    Readers will learn about everything from the Templars to popular movie myths to love and lust advice from a 12th-century priest. Exclusive content includes two never-before-published articles on quirky medieval words we still use every day, and the surprising sexual secrets of the Middle Ages. Unlock the mysteries of the medieval world, five minutes at a time.

    Owing to their quality, complexity, and magnificence, English embroideries enjoyed international demand and can be traced in Continental sources as opus anglicanum (English work). This sumptuously illustrated book draws on new research and detailed photography to offer an introduction to their design, production, and use. Essays by leading experts explore the embroideries’ artistic and social context, while catalogue entries examine individual masterpieces. Medieval embroiderers lived in a tightly knit community in London, and many were women who can be identified by name today. Comparisons between their work and contemporary painting challenge modern assumptions about the hierarchy of artistic media. Contributors consider an outstanding range of surviving examples, highlighting their exquisite craftsmanship and exploring the world in which they were created.

    1295-1358), who married Edward II in January 1308, is one of the most notorious women in English history. In 1325/26, sent to her homeland to negotiate a peace settlement between her husband and her brother Charles IV, Isabella refused to return to England. She began a relationship with her husband's deadliest enemy, the English baron Roger Mortimer, and with her son, the king's heir, under their control, the pair led an invasion of England which ultimately resulted in Edward II's forced abdication in January 1327 in favour of his and Isabella's son. Isabella and Mortimer ruled England during Edward III's minority, until he overthrew them in October 1330. A rebel against her own husband and king, regent for her son, Isabella was a powerful, capable, intelligent woman who forced the first ever abdication of a king in England and changed the course of English history. The Rebel Queen examines Isabella's life with particular focus on her revolutionary actions in the 1320s, corrects the many myths about her, and provides a vivid account of this most fascinating and influential of women.

    Tonight, Aurelia's uncle plans to steal Soriano away from Rodrigo Borgia. Although she doesn't give a fig who owns the town that nearly stoned her to death, her handsome captain is behind bars. She should never have agreed to marry him, especially not upside down and over his shoulder. What is it about Bernardo's new wife? The beautiful angel refuses to trust him, not even after he weds her without a dowry. She wields a firearm like a pirate, disguises herself as a male doctor, and nearly drives him mad. And yet he can't go on without her.

    He promised, after she completed her task, she’d be free. He didn’t promise her that he wouldn’t capture her heart before he released her. For Sarah, captive of the Highland laird, that these promises are kept is paramount. Phillip never expected to fall in love with the woman who was supposed to save his brother’s life. He also never expected to break a promise. But some promises are hard to keep, especially when he finds out the secrets she’s keeping.

    A short history of the art, including photos of some of the world's great medieval masterpieces, gives you context, and then you're introduced to the materials and basic techniques. First learn the proper ways of preparing your parchment, selecting pigments, gilding, and using color. Next, the five steps of illuminating are clearly taught in detail, step by step. By learning to create friezes, detailed human faces, flourishes, creatures such as dragons and elephants, and much more, you'll discover a skill that has crossed the centuries. Today, illumination can be used to add a special flair to diplomas, invitations, family trees, or a memorable event like a wedding, a birthday, or an anniversary.

    The society of medieval Europe developed a rich set of imaginative traditions about death and the afterlife, using the dead as a point of entry for thinking about the self, regeneration, and loss. These macabre preoccupations are evident in the widespread popularity of stories about the returned dead, who interacted with the living both as disembodied spirits and as living corpses or revenants. In Afterlives, Nancy Mandeville Caciola explores this extraordinary phenomenon of the living's relation-ship with the dead in Europe during the five hundred years after the year 1000.Caciola considers both Christian and pagan beliefs, showing how certain traditions survived and evolved over time, and how attitudes both diverged and overlapped through different contexts and social strata. As she shows, the intersection of Christian eschatology with various pagan afterlife imaginings--from the classical paganisms of the Mediterranean to the Germanic, Celtic, Slavic, and Scandinavian paganisms indigenous to northern Europe--brought new cultural values about the dead into the Christian fold as Christianity spread across Europe. Indeed, the Church proved surprisingly open to these influences, absorbing new images of death and afterlife in unpredictable fashion. Over time, however, the persistence of regional cultures and beliefs would be counterbalanced by the effects of an increasingly centralized Church hierarchy. Through it all, one thing remained constant: the deep desire in medieval people to bring together the living and the dead into a single community enduring across the generations.

    But what about the everyday experience of the royal subjects and common people? Here, alongside the coronations, diplomatic dealings and key battles, can be found the fabric of medieval life as it was really lived, in its folk songs, recipes and local gossip. With a diverse range of entries – one for each day of the year – historian Toni Mount provides an almanac for lovers of all things medieval.A detailed picture is gathered from original sources such as chronicles, manor court rolls, coroners’ rolls and the records of city councils. We learn not only of the royals and nobles of official history but also the quarrels of a miscellany of characters, including William and Christopher of York, Nalle Kittewritte who stole her neighbours’ washing, and Margery from Hereford who was murdered by an Oxford student. The world in which they laboured, loved and lived is vividly reimagined, one day at a time.

    Crowned at fifteen to secure an undisputed succession, Henry played a central role in the politics of Henry II’s great empire and was hailed as the embodiment of chivalry. Yet, consistently denied direct rule, the Young King was provoked first into heading a major rebellion against his father, then to waging a bitter war against his brother Richard for control of Aquitaine, dying before reaching the age of thirty having never assumed actual power. In this remarkable history, Matthew Strickland provides a richly colored portrait of an all-but-forgotten royal figure tutored by Thomas Becket, trained in arms by the great knight William Marshal, and incited to rebellion by his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine, while using his career to explore the nature of kingship, succession, dynastic politics, and rebellion in twelfth-century England and France.

    Transcontinental networks of exchange fractured and an era of economic contraction and demographic decline dawned from which Latin Christendom would not begin to emerge until its voyages of discovery at the end of the fifteenth century. In a major new study of this 'Great Transition', Bruce Campbell assesses the contributions of commercial recession, war, climate change, and eruption of the Black Death to a far-reaching reversal of fortunes from which no part of Eurasia was spared. The book synthesises a wealth of new historical, palaeo-ecological and biological evidence, including estimates of national income, reconstructions of past climates, and genetic analysis of DNA extracted from the teeth of plague victims, to provide a fresh account of the creation, collapse and realignment of Western Europe's late medieval commercial economy.

    The Earl of Dentin returns. Eight stories ranging from short story to novelette in length give us greater understanding into why Dentin is the complex and enigmatic man he is. It also includes new adventures that happen between Honor and the next Rhynan novel. Passing the Mantle – An ill-fated hunting trip Forging Friendships – Recruiting able-bodied men ineligible for knighthood The Sword of Korma Monroe – A sword made for trouble Turning Point – A duke and an earl plot treason The Bittersweet Pear – A marital misunderstanding Isbeth’s Redemption – Dentin doesn’t make a good first impression A Squire’s Love – Reginald’s quest Restoration – A trip to Braulyn produces unexpected company

    The greatest killer in recorded history – the Black Death – swept across the continent reaching Ireland in the late Summer. Within twelve months, over one-third of the population had died. Our ancestors faced what they thought was the end of the world. The havoc wrought by this deadly disease triggered warfare, social upheaval and rebellion. Life was changed forever. Focusing on the lives of eight people, ‘1348: A Medieval Apocalypse’ vividly brings this fascinating world to life. Whether a history enthusiast or fascinated by a story of survival this book will fascinate as Dwyer weaves an enthralling narrative from a forgotten chapter in Ireland's history. From earls to outlaws, the eight lives evocatively recalled in the book take you on a journey through a chaotic and at times terrifying Ireland as the Black Death ravaged the island. Beginning in the decades of war that preceded the plague, you will find yourself immersed in the captivating world of our distant ancestors, as they struggled in a society that appeared to be falling apart.As a narrative '1348: A Medieval Apocalypse' is a captivating - never before or since has humanity faced annihilation on this scale.

    Forgeng's translation of Joachim Meyer's The Art of Sword Combat the author was alerted to an earlier recension of the work which was discovered in Lund University Library in Sweden.The manuscript, produced in Strassburg around 1568, is illustrated with thirty watercolor images and seven ink diagrams.The text covers combat with the long sword (hand-and-a-half sword), dusack (a one-handed practice weapon comparable to a saber), and rapier. The manuscript's theoretical discussion of guards is one of the most critical passages to understanding this key feature of the historical practice, not just in relation to Meyer but in relation to the medieval combat systems in general.The manuscript offers an extensive repertoire of training drills for both the dusack and the rapier, a feature largely lacking in treatises of the period as a whole but critical to modern reconstructions of the practice. The translation also includes a biography of Meyer, much of which has only recently come to light, as well as technical terminology, and other essential information for understanding and contextualizing the work.

    Optimistically, the King of Scots promises the earldom of Ross to landless Norman knight, Sir William de Lanson, if he can somehow defeat the infamous MacHeths.It wasn’t quite how William’s disgraced wife Christian dreamed of coming home. Capture by the strange and ferocious Adam MacHeth was hardly part of her plan either, although she and William quickly become pawns in his.Adam, warrior and seer, fights for his father’s freedom and for his family’s right to claim the kingdom of the Scots. Plagued by waking dreams which threaten his sanity and his life, he’s learned to use his prophecies to further his family’s goals. But when he abducts his enemy’s lady, his dreams and his desires are suddenly more personal.Surrounded by intrigue, ambition and betrayal, Christian must choose between loyalty and love in order to keep a fragile peace for her people and for the man she loves beyond all reason.

    Six Edda poems presented in their original Old Norse text alongside a new translation and interpretation (as well as interpretations of mythical names and place names) by Maria Kvilhaug, author of The Seed of Yggdrasill - Deciphering the Hidden Messages in Old Norse Myths.

    Tragedy strikes again when her mother and grandfather die on the same day, leaving her homeless. The young woman decides to travel to visit her grandfather’s closest friend, hoping she can use her domestic skills and lute-playing talent to find a permanent place in his household. Barely into her journey, a band of highwaymen accosts Beatrice and her sole servant. All seems lost—until Raynor Le Roux arrives.As a knight of the realm, the code of chivalry guides Raynor’s life. While returning to his family’s home after many months absence, he rescues Beatrice, who tells a white lie to this handsome stranger. Raynor takes her to safety at Ashcroft, but his home has changed during his time away. No longer a thriving estate, Ashcroft has fallen into disrepair because his brother Peter is no longer interested in its welfare after his wife’s untimely death. Raynor determines to restore his home before he escorts Beatrice north so she may unite with the man he believes is her betrothed.The couple’s growing attraction turns to love, but Beatrice’s dishonesty stands between her and Raynor’s happiness. Will she finally tell him the truth—and hope he forgives her deception—or will it be too late?

    Though far from home and seething with bitter hate, Edgar is recruited by a strange young man to come to a farm in a far-off glacial valley—and kill a ghost. Accompanied only by his confessor Sifrid and an arrogant young monk, Edgar rides to the winter-bound farm and meets hostile fighters, outlaws, berserks, a family torn asunder by a generation of strife, and, always looming, the fearsome mound-dweller that terrorizes the farmstead by night. No Snakes in Iceland is the story of both one man lost and lonely in the world, and of a world in the grip of supernatural forces it cannot understand.

    Like stealing Solomon Tremaine’s wallet, stalking his home and trespassing upon his property. Before she knows it, she is sucked into a wormhole and into a world she never imagined still existed. Welcome to Dover Castle. A place where things are never what they seem....

    She was wrong. The Norse thought they could conquer Scotland. They were wrong. After her homeland of Alba comes under attack by an invading horde, Melcorka abandons her life of luxury and chooses the path of a warrior, and sets off to free the land from the scourge of the Norsemen. Along with a ragtag band of companions, she heads south to unite the clans against a fearsome foe, and claim her destiny. Welcome to the Dark Age of Scotland that never was.

    Tall and commanding, she finds herself captivated by him – that is, until she finds herself on the receiving end of his discipline. Anne loves to sword fight, something Sir Thomas thinks far too dangerous for a woman, and when he catches her in the act, she bears the brunt of his disapproval when he puts her straight over his knee!But Anne is determined. Ever since she was a child, she has honed her fencing skills, and even when she becomes a lady-in-waiting to Queen Henrietta Maria, she still feels the urge to swordplay. Disguised in a mask and britches to hide her identity, she continues to practice with her trusted servant, Liam. The queen, however, discovers her passion and seeks to use it to her own selfish advantages, using blackmail as her tool to coerce Anne into a dangerous mission. What she asks of her is tantamount to treason and puts Anne straight in the path of the ever-watchful General.Anne finds herself falling in love with him, and when he declares his love for her, she accepts his courtship. But can she keep her secret mission from him or will she be subject to his own disciplinary methods?

    She is taken under the protection of a handsome knight, Sir Stephen de Bressard against her will. Used to her independence, Jenny finds it very hard to obey him and finds herself over his knee when she refuses to submit to his command.As she learns to adapt to medieval life, she finds herself falling in love with the handsome Sir Stephen, yet still seeking a way back to her own time. Will she go back to the present or remain with her soul mate for the rest of her days?

    Gonzalo, a brave but hotheaded knight, unwittingly provokes tragedy at his uncle’s wedding to beautiful young noblewoman Lambra: the adored cousin of the bride dead, his teeth scattered across the riverbank. Coveting his family’s wealth and power, Lambra sends Gonzalo’s father into enemy territory to be beheaded, unleashing a revenge that devastates Castile for a generation.A new hero, Mudarra, rises out of the ashes of Gonzalo’s once great family. Raised as a warrior in the opulence of Muslim Córdoba, Mudarra must make a grueling journey and change his religion, then chooses to take his jeweled sword to the throats of his family’s betrayers. But only when he strays from the path set for him does he find his true purpose in life.Inspired by a lost medieval epic poem, Seven Noble Knights draws from history and legend to bring a brutal yet beautiful world to life in a gripping story of family, betrayal, and love.“Let Seven Noble Knights welcome you to historical fiction! ...it's a rich saga populated with characters you will grow to love (and a few you will love to hate). The ancient empires of Spain are a beautiful backdrop to the struggles of humankind across all generations of all lands: romance, revenge, war, and adventure.” Pushcart Prize nominee Reneé Bibby, The Writers Studio

      Formal explorations of individual works, chosen to exemplify key ideas crucial to understanding medieval art, are accompanied by relevant information about the context in which they were created, conveying the works’ visual nuances but also their broader symbolic meaning.  Superb color illustrations further reveal the visual and conceptual richness of medieval art, providing the reader with a deeper understanding of the history and iconography of this pivotal era.

    High quality photos of the original pages. “The Codex Gigas (English: Giant Book) is the largest extant medieval manuscript in the world. It is also known as the Devil's Bible because of a large illustration of The Devil on the inside and the legend surrounding its creation. It is thought to have been created in the early 12th century in the Benedictine monastery of Podlažice in Bohemia (modern Czech Republic). It contains the Vulgate Bible as well as many historical documents all written in Latin.”

    This volume contains twelve essays—five translated from Italian, three translated from French, and four in their original English—that answer the questions about the history and possible future of women deacons. Essays by: Yves Congar, OP  Philippe Delhaye Peter Hünermann Valerie A. Karras Corrado Marucci, SJ Pietro Sorci, OFM Jennifer H. Stiefel Cipriano Vagaggini, OSB Cam Phyllis Zagano Ugo Zanetti, OSB

    The demography of the Byzantine Turks and the legal and cultural aspects of their entrance into Greek society are discussed in detail. Greek and Turkish bilingualism of Byzantine Turks and Tourkophonia among Greeks were distinctive features of Byzantine society of the time. Basing his arguments upon linguistic, social, and cultural evidence found in a wide range of Greek, Latin, and Oriental sources, Rustam Shukurov convincingly demonstrates how Oriental influences on Byzantine life led to crucial transformations in Byzantine mentality, culture, and political life. The study is supplemented with an etymological lexicon of Oriental names and words in Byzantine Greek."

    If she is ever to ascend to the throne, Adriana must go—alone and unarmed—into the unknown. She’s been trained and gifted for the journey, just like all the royals who preceded her—even the ones who never returned. Adriana leaves Ayrden on her brother’s black stallion the day after her birthday celebration, with bravery in her heart and hopes for a quick return. When three paths emerge, one of grass, one of gold, and one of gemstones, she chooses the pragmatic path of grass. Although it seems safe, and the landscape familiar, she soon finds she will have to overcome nearly impossible challenges. Ultimately, an unexpected friendship not only changes Adriana, but the very kingdom she someday hopes to rule. The question is, will the friendship turn into everlasting love?

    Inadvertently seduced by him, Morgawse learns she will bear his child. As war rages, she keeps his true paternity a secret, and raises their lovechild as her husband's own.Can Morgawse protect her youngest son? Who will Mordred become?Lot is ultimately killed in battle, and Morgawse must raise her son alone and protect him from the feuding knights. She must become a ruthless and skilful operator as strong men bid for power around her. But a terrible fate awaits her - a hidden danger that comes from within.The life of the Queen of Lothian explored for the first time in fiction in depth since Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur.MORGAWSE features all three books in the trilogy, previously published in single volumes on Kindle, as part of Lavinia Collins' fantasy chronicles exploring the lives of Arthurian women. Look out for GUINEVERE and MORGAN.The three books collated here have been described as "stunning", "gripping", "simply beautiful" and "enthralling". Try this volume today and see what all the fuss is about!http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LYZ27B6/http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYZ27B6/

    Infamous for his domestic and international failures, Æthelred was unable to fend off successive Viking raids, leading to the notorious St. Brice’s Day Massacre in 1002, during which Danes in England were slaughtered on his orders. Though Æthelred’s posthumous standing is dominated by his unsuccessful military leadership, his seemingly blind trust in disloyal associates, and his harsh treatment of political opponents, Roach suggests that Æthelred has been wrongly maligned. Drawing on extensive research, Roach argues that Æthelred was driven by pious concerns about sin, society, and the anticipated apocalypse. His strategies, in this light, were to honor God and find redemption. Chronologically charting Æthelred’s life, Roach presents a more accessible character than previously available, illuminating his place in England and Europe at the turn of the first millennium.

    When artists are capable of letting their imagination run wild and are not bound by the typical depiction of classical Christian themes, the art that emerges retains its fascination up to the present day. They often create surprising, grotesque and highly emotional pictorial worlds inhabited by angels, devils, and above all demonic creatures of fantasy, to which the best-known examples by Hieronymus Bosch belong.Angels, devils, and demons have played a significant role ever since the emergence of religious beliefs.Angelus & Diabolus is the first publication of its kind to offer a visually stunning collection of the most beautiful and breathtaking pieces of art reflecting this exciting contrast between Heaven and Hell. Seven comprehensive chapters examine the topic from various angles like the nature, the duties and the hierarchy of angels, the downfall of sinful angels, angelic choirs, the pain of hell, imaginations of the end of the world, or the manifestations of heaven.Substantial texts by art historian Maria-Christina Boerner are accompanied by striking pictures by photographer Achim Bednorz, some of which show rarely seen details and make otherwise hidden elements accessible to the beholder. This tome comprises an unprecedented compilation of this timeless subject. The first chapters of this magnificent book are devoted to the angels, their nature and outward appearance, their tasks and hierarchy. They are followed by their adversaries, the diabolical princes of hell. With few exceptions, they are hideous and terrifying, as are the demons, which often appear in the center of scenes depicting vice and torture. It is not least this blend of grace and ugliness, of the beautiful and the grotesque, which results in the fascination of these artworks – and thus also the fascination of this exceptional and monumental book. As with the de luxe production Ars Sacra, published in 2010 (also by h.f.ullmann), Angelus & Diabolus breaks all the boundaries, in terms of both content and form. The first things you notice are the length (800 pages), the lavish format and the weight of this 11-kilogram book. In opening it you will dive into the world of art and imagination, and enjoy the extraordinary photographs whose incomparable quality becomes fully evident in the oversized format. At the same time, Angelus & Diabolus is much more than just a picture book, as the quality of the text is also very impressive. Maria-Christina Boerner has succeeded in writing in a factual, but at the same time understandable and lucid manner, offering the reader and viewer of the book an unprecedented presentation of the timeless theme of good and evil – in universal, philosophical, theological, and contemporary terms. For in recent times, there has been an increase in our readiness to believe in spiritual beings. Angels are showing up in advertising and huge global problems are linked with fears comparable to the ancient fear of demons. They are still perceived today as powers and forces which are beyond our control.

    Follow the stories of the half-emrys, immortal children who harness the powers of light and darkness. The Emrys Chronicles are romantic fantasy.Half-Emrys: Master of LiesLost to the lies. Consumed by revenge.Unaware of her immortal heritage, Ahnalyn learns she's a child of two worlds—a half-emrys with the ability to wield the light and the dark power. As Ahnalyn is thrown on a journey beyond her control, she must sift through the lies to uncover her true self and true potential, before the darkness consumes her. Half-Emrys: The Two MastersChoose the light or choose the darkness, but you cannot have both.Einion is fearful of the dark power inside that could lead to his corruption. Rhianu, a ruthless Dark Emrys, stumbles into his life, challenging everything that was once always so black and white. As despairs over Einion's heart increase his uncertainty, he is thrust on a path where he must face his worst fears to save who he truly loves. Meanwhile Rhianu is torn between power and love, between the past and the future. Knowing betrayal, she must follow her master's plan—no matter what her heart tells her.Half-Emrys: Master of TimeTime is only one enemy.A malicious shadow trails Catrin and Meuric after they find themselves thrown back in time. Only Meuric knows the enormity of this evil that wants to claim Catrin. Meuric's light could save her, but using it will diminish his dark power, hindering his ability to pass through the ether to their own time. Discovering the way home has just become the least of his problems . . . if there's a way home at all.When you're done with the series, don't forget to read Fallen Emrys: Niawen's Story, book 0 in The Emrys Chronicles.Romantic fantasy is for you if you like a light, character driven, more traditional fantasy plot, which includes two characters who find themselves drawn to each other, even if they start out as enemies. During a character's journey to develop powers and overcome trials, romance will ensue with bits of tension. The hero or heroine will undoubtedly be fighting some inner battle that makes them bulk at the chemistry with the other character until they slay their inner demons, save the world, and realize there is room in their heart to love.Romantic fantasy might not be for you if you prefer paranormal fantasy or epic fantasy. Romantic fantasy doesn't have the usual tropes of vampires and werewolves. Usually romantic fantasy novels are set in a high fantasy world, and an ultimate goal, besides love, is sought. Love is just the icing to the cupcake.

    These were the first decisive victories for either side, and swung the course of the Hundred Years' War dramatically in England's favour. The remarkable success of the expedition, however, has been overshadowed in history by Edward III's more celebrated victory at Crecy the following year. This reassessment of a neglected campaign draws on a wealth of original source material to furnish an examination of the campaign "in the round"; recruitment, preparations and financial administration, as well as its events and achievements, are examined closely. A detailed biographical study of the individuals who took up arms under Lancaster's command forms a main part of this work: the portrayal of hundreds of careers in arms allows us to glean a sense of what life was like for soldiers in this army and in the later Middle Ages in general. An investigation of the men's martial experience, motivations for service and personal military networks provides an understanding of how and, indeed, why the army was so effective in the field of war. It also reveals much about the emergence of professionalism in English medieval armies and offers a reassessment of Lancaster's importance as a captain, administrator and diplomat, and above all, as a successful military commander. Nicholas A. Gribit gained his PhD from the University of Leeds.

    "Blaise and Blade" combines a bit of adult erotica and lots of action. This is a complete, 85K-word novel with a satisfying HEA ending. Blade D'Arcy never asked to ascend as the Lord of the Shire. Blaise of Harding Keep grew up as the illegitimate daughter of the lord that Blade's father violently ousted during the Norman Conquest. Blaise and Blade met as foster siblings, fell in love, and then ill fortune turned them into mortal enemies. Though Blasé has become a desperate outlaw and fears The Bloody Count, she still knows some secrets that Count Blade needs to learn to preserve his lordship and save his lands. No matter how much Blade needs to take Blaise down to secure his rule, he remembers that he loved her. Can these two star-crossed lovers fight to align their stars again? What do you get with Blaise and Blaide? * Full-Length Romantic Novel With Just the Right Amount of Erotic Spice * A Medieval Setting With Knights, Fair Ladies, Outlaws, and Evil Barons * A Secret That Could Bring Down the Shire * A Saucy, Brave Heroine and a Strong Hero

     After the death of his former charge, Sir Macsen Parry vows never to become involved with anyone under his care again. Mac’s determination is sorely tested when he is ordered by the king to act as guard for the Earl of Belmonte’s family. Will his passion for the earl's daughter-in-law, Patrice, overcome his resolve? Or will his unexpected lust for the earl’s nephew, Daniel—whose lean body and scorching brown eyes spark more than just his temper—break through the ice surrounding his heart?

    The three sons of William the Conqueror – Robert Duke of Normandy, William II King of England and Count Henry – fight with each other for control of the Anglo-Norman kingdom created by their father’s conquest.Meanwhile, Nest ferch Rhys, the daughter of the last independent Welsh king, is captured during the Norman assault of her lands. Raised with her captors, the powerful Montgommery family, Nest is educated to be the wife of Arnulf of Montgommery, in spite of her pre-existing betrothal to a Welsh prince.Who will Nest marry and can the Welsh rebels oust the Normans?Daughter of the Last King is the first in the Conquest Trilogy.

    Within this history illuminated biblical manuscripts are among the best tools for understanding early Christian painting and artistic interpretations of the Bible.This extensively illustrated new book, compiled and written by two internationally renowned experts, transports readers, by way of forty-five featured manuscripts, across the globe and through 1,000 years of history. Passing chronologically through many of the major centers of the Christian world, from Constantinople and imperial Aachen to Canterbury, Mozarabic Spain, Crusader Jerusalem, northern Iraq, Paris, London, Bologna, and Rome, Scot McKendrick and Kathleen Doyle shed light on some of the finest but least-known paintings from the Middle Ages, and on the development of art, literature, and civilization as we know it.

    Her 'Amgalant' series brings to life the twelfth-century Steppe as no scholarly history could hope to do. Yet Hammond has immersed herself in her sources; her books are born of painstaking research and breathe a discipline of imagination rarely encountered in historical fiction.In this scholarly meditation, a digression from her usual writing, Hammond reflects upon the relationship of her own craft to that of the academic historian. Focusing her discussion around The Secret History, the primary Mongolian source for the history of Genghis Khan, composed in the thirteenth century, Hammond asks what it means to discern different voices in what is essentially a communal history constructed from an oral account. What does the novelist as creative writer bring to this text? What might she hear that eludes the careful ears of the academic historian?

    In Queer Philologies, he studies particular terms that illuminate the history of sexuality in Shakespeare's time and analyzes the methods we have used to study sex and gender in literary and cultural history. Building on the work of theorists and historians who have, following Foucault, investigated the importance of words like homosexual, sodomy, and tribade in a variety of cultures and historical periods, Masten argues that just as the history of sexuality requires the history of language, so too does philology, the love of the word, require the analytical lens provided by the study of sexuality.Masten unpacks the etymology, circulation, transformation, and constitutive power of key words within the early modern discourse of sex and gender--terms such as conversation and intercourse, fundament and foundation, friend and boy--that described bodies, pleasures, emotions, sexual acts, even (to the extent possible in this period) sexual identities. Analyzing the continuities as well as differences between Shakespeare's language and our own, he offers up a queer lexicon in which the letter Q is perhaps the queerest character of all.

    

    Pascale is the only child of a drunken horse trader and his long-suffering wife in a French village in the early twelfth century. Pascale's mother, tormented by her imagined sins, decides she must walk the medieval pilgrimage road to Santiago in Spain in expiation. Helplessly, reluctantly, Pascale agrees to go with her. The two women set out with a recalcitrant donkey and a stray dog. For the first time, Pascale's eyes are opened to other villages, other people, other ways of living. Befriended, cheated, mistreated, and comforted along the road, both women are tempted by an eccentric barefoot monk to change their lives, but in entirely different directions. Pascale finds that she alone can choose her way of belonging to the world.

    Henry VII lies abed, after a hard day counting money ...After bedtime visits from "Mummy" Beaufort, and bidding a fond goodnight to Groat - his pet monkey- Henry's plans for another frugal Christmas and a 'taxing' New Year go awry when he is visited in the night by four spirits demanding he change his ways. First is the ghost of William Stanley, minus a head. Second, Richard III, whom Henry defeated at Bosworth, demanding he stops slandering his reputation. Next, 'the pretender' Perkin Warbeck, confusing him and making him doubt...and, last of all, a strangely familiar, rotund hooded figure whose presence shakes Henry to the core.Will the Queen ever get rid of the tin buckles on her shoes? - Will Henry find redemption and stick Morton's Fork somewhere Morton has never dreamed of?A familiar Yuletide story retold as a humorous Tudor era spoof; offering japes, jests, mayhem, monkeys, and porky princes... ...

    A selection of Gabirol's poems never before published together as a collection.

    Kenna has been force to cook and serve, but she draws the line at being sold into marriage. She makes her escape to the stronghold of Clan Brodie with a mad plan to secure her safety, even if it means making a deal with the fearsome Brodie laird. Gregor Brodie is shocked with a fiery lass emerges from a winter snowstorm and offers him valuable information, demanding he marry her in return. It would take a Christmas miracle to bring together this unlikely pair.

    They saw the Wars of the Roses from both sides—Yorkist and Lancastrian—but mainly from their own. Their men lived and died violently, and the Nevill women married leading players on both sides. Their bitter and violent rivalry with the Percy family tumbled into the wider political unrest that resulted in the Wars of the Roses, the ongoing feud between York and Lancaster that deposed two kings. This is the first definitive history of a fascinating family, and is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the Wars of the Roses.

    Departing from the usual king-centric narrative, Richard Huscroft instead centers each of his chapters on the experiences of a particular man or woman who contributed to the broad sweep of events. Whether noble and brave or flawed and fallible, each participant was struggling to survive in the face of uncontrollable forces. Princes, princesses, priests, heroes, relatives, friends, and others—some well known and others obscure—all were embroiled in the drama of historic events.   Under Henry II and his sons Richard I (the Lionheart) and John, the empire rose to encompass much of the British Isles and the greater part of modern France, yet it survived a mere fifty years. Huscroft deftly weaves together the stories of individual lives to illuminate the key themes of this exciting and formative era.

    It’s said that there is nothing more beautiful than Eilithia and the Tylwyth Teg faeries that live there. Gabriel would disagree. Since being enchanted by the seductive temptress Aneira, a powerful witch who spoke his name four years ago, he has not seen the beauty in anything. Imprisoned by indifference and oblivious to any power but Aneira’s corrupting passion, Prince Gabriel’s mind may no longer be his own, but he will never give her his heart. That was taken from him long ago, and only glimmers of that joyous pledge keep him sane. Somewhere across the earthly realm of Wales, Taryn of Hamilhawk dreams of a magical forest with music in its trees and a man who holds her heart in his hands. But she’s afraid of magic and, looking out her lonely tower window, prays each night to forget him. She has no idea that soon she will be his wife and that she will somehow save both him and herself from a force that threatens their future. She would never imagine that her path to passionate love will be filled with faeries, a talking tree, and a shape-changing king… and best it not be revealed until Taryn is free to bring her own magnificence and resilience to bear. All she knows is that he calls out to her in her dreams. “Save me, Taryn.” And her heart, no matter how she tries to deny it, must answer.