In a gripping narrative bursting with big names--from St Augustine and Attila the Hun to the Prophet Muhammad and Eleanor of Aquitaine--Dan Jones charges through the history of the Middle Ages. Powers and Thrones takes readers on a journey through an emerging Europe, the great capitals of late Antiquity, as well as the influential cities of the Islamic West, and culminates in the first contact between the old and new worlds in the sixteenth century.The medieval world was forged by the big forces that still occupy us today: climate change, pandemic disease, mass migration, and technological revolutions. This was the time when the great European nationalities were formed; when our basic Western systems of law and governance were codified; when the Christian Churches matured as both powerful institutions and the regulators of Western public morality; and when art, architecture, philosophical inquiry and scientific invention went through periods of massive, revolutionary change. At each stage in this story, successive western powers thrived by attracting--or stealing--the most valuable resources, ideas, and people from the rest of the world.The West was rebuilt on the ruins of an empire and emerged from a state of crisis and collapse to dominate the region and the world. Every sphere of human life and activity was transformed in the thousand years of Powers and Thrones. As we face a critical turning point in our own millennium, the legacy and lessons of how we got here matter more than ever.

    Grand cities and luxurious villas were deserted and left to crumble, and civil society collapsed into chaos. Into this violent and unstable world came foreign invaders from across the sea, and established themselves as its new masters.The Anglo-Saxons traces the turbulent history of these people across the next six centuries. It explains how their earliest rulers fought relentlessly against each other for glory and supremacy, and then were almost destroyed by the onslaught of the vikings. It explores how they abandoned their old gods for Christianity, established hundreds of churches and created dazzlingly intricate works of art. It charts the revival of towns and trade, and the origins of a familiar landscape of shires, boroughs and bishoprics. It is a tale of famous figures like King Offa, Alfred the Great and Edward the Confessor, but also features a host of lesser known characters - ambitious queens, revolutionary saints, intolerant monks and grasping nobles. Through their remarkable careers we see how a new society, a new culture and a single unified nation came into being.Drawing on a vast range of original evidence - chronicles, letters, archaeology and artefacts - renowned historian Marc Morris illuminates a period of history that is only dimly understood, separates the truth from the legend, and tells the extraordinary story of how the foundations of England were laid.

    865 AD. The fierce Vikings stormed onto Saxon soil hungry for spoils, conquest, and vengeance for the death of Ragnar Lothbrok.Hundr, a Northman with a dog's name... a crew of battle hardened warriors... and Ivar the Boneless. Amidst the invasion of Saxon England by the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok, Hundr joins a crew of Viking warriors under the command of Einar the Brawler. Hundr fights to forge a warriors reputation under the glare of Ivar and his equally fearsome brothers, but to do that he must battle the Saxons and treachery from within the Viking army itself...Hundr must navigate the invasion, survive brutal attacks, and find his place in the vicious world of the Vikings in this fast paced adventure with memorable characters.

    She’s unimpressed, with both her current situation and her cousin’s husband. She thinks he is aloof and arrogant, well deserving of her cousin. But then Liam intercedes on her behalf against a mean-spirited tormentor and everything changes. He becomes a hero to young Isabel, one to whose memory she clings when he is gone.Liam MacTavish is quite happy to ride away from his new bride in the spring of 1296, thrilled to rise to the defense of his beloved Scotland. He doesn’t return for five long years, many of those spent in an English prison, renounced by his own father, left to rot. He finds Wolvesley not at all as he remembered, derelict and all but abandoned, save for the redoubtable Isabel—whom he barely recalls—and an improbable cast of characters.Both Liam and Isabel are tormented by grim shadows from Wolvesley’s past. Isabel’s fierce independence and easy smiles hide a far greater tragedy than Liam can ever imagine; Liam’s savage mien and coldness suggest he knows nothing else. And yet they are drawn to each other. Can they overcome the past, leaving behind the cruelty caused to each of them by the same person?Heart of Shadows is the first book in the HEART OF A HIGHLANDER series. Each book is a stand-alone tale; the books can be read in any order.

    They can start a fire with it, or smother it in their fingertips.She chooses to start a fire.You are born high, but marry a traitor's son. You bear him twelve children, carry his cause and bury his past.You play the game, against enemies who wish you ashes. Slowly, you rise.You are Cecily.But when the King who governs you proves unfit, what then?Loyalty or treason - death may follow both. The board is set. Time to make your first move.Told through the eyes of its greatest unseen protagonist, this astonishing debut plunges you into the blood and exhilaration of the first days of the Wars of the Roses, a war as women fight it.

    Bjarki Bloodhand and Tor Hildarsdottir are journeying south into Saxony. Their destination is the Irminsul, the One Tree that links the Nine Worlds of the Middle-Realm. In this most holy place, they hope to learn how to summon their animal spirits so they can enter the ranks of the legendary berserkir: the elite frenzied fighters of the North.One Christian kingKarolus, newly crowned King of the Franks, has a thorn in his side: the warlike Saxon tribes on his northern borders who shun the teachings of the Church, blasphemously continuing to worship their pagan gods.An epic battle for the soul of the NorthThe West’s greatest warlord vows to stamp out his neighbours’ superstitions and bring the light of the True Faith to the Northmen – at the point of a sword. It will fall to Bjarki, Tor and the men and women of Saxony to resist him in a struggle for the fate of all Europe.

    

    However, as one who treasures loyalty above all, she is mortified to learn his lover lives at the family keep. After being publicly humiliated by her husband, Isobel must ensure two things: to keep her heart protected and remain a wife in name only.After his late father’s ruling by fear, young laird Darach Ross inherits a clan of people who do not trust his leadership. With the threat of an insurrection and possible attack by another clan, every move he makes must be measured. When he is captured by an enemy clan, Darach wants to know if he will leave a legacy. He then makes a mistake that can rob him of happiness forever.

    

    An adventure beyond imagination...To soothe her broken heart, culinary artist Meggie Washington leaves Manhattan and journeys to the mist-shrouded lowlands of Scotland. All she wants to do is escape her past and give herself some time to heal, but during an afternoon hike on the nearby MacKinnon estate, she is swept up by supernatural forces she can’t explain, and is thrust into the distant past...Awakening in 1658 Scotland, Meggie struggles to survive in a time of savage violence and unbridled passion. And when she attracts the eye of Colin MacKinnon, brother to the region’s Laird, she finds herself wondering if she really wants to return to her own time after all.A powerful warrior with a warm heart, Colin takes Meggie in his arms, and she feels a fire she’s never felt before. When a blood feud with a rival clan threatens both their lives, they must ask themselves what they are willing to sacrifice in the name of love.They are two lost souls, entwined by magic and destiny. But if one should fall, can the other survive?Reader's Warning: possible triggers. Implied sexual assault, human trafficking, violence, mental abuse, and torture.Suitable for readers 17+

    If only I could trust you.” Forced to marry the daughter—and would-be secret agent—of King Edward’s closest advisor as a consequence of His Majesty’s growing distrust of his family, Lord Waryn has a plan for his new bride. Install the spy in a little-used estate and turn his attention back to where it belongs—his family.Lady Phillipa is given a simple but nonnegotiable task: report back any questionable activity by her new husband’s family, whom the king suspects of having ties to William Wallace. When Phillipa develops unexpected feelings toward Haydn, she’s forced to decide between her newfound loyalty to her husband, or defying the most powerful man in England.Thirty years after the Border Series ends, a new saga of family, loyalty, and love along the turbulent Anglo-Scottish border begins. If you like sprawling families, enemies-to-lovers and slow-burn spicy romances, put A Noble Betrayal on the top of your reading list.

    He thought he was marrying a chieftain's daughter—but his young wife isn't who she seems. Deception and passion collide in Medieval Scotland.When Keira Gunn agrees to swap places with her best friend and wed a man in her stead, she knows she's making a great sacrifice. She's also risking her own future.But Keira never wanted to be a nun and longs for a life outside the nunnery, where she's about to take her vows. Her friend is desperate—and this could be Keira's only chance to forge a new path for herself.The MacKays of Farr have a new chieftain. Connor MacKay is a reluctant husband, yet he's been betrothed for years.Now, he needs to honor his promise.The woman he collects from the nunnery is a surprise. She isn't the great beauty Connor expects, yet her quick wit and passionate nature soon enthrall him.But his wife keeps a secret that risks more than both their hearts.

    In truth, she is an unnamed slave, nothing more than a weapon in the hands of her owner in his attempts to provoke political mayhem. When she encounters a handsome young man while on an assignment, she thinks little of him—until he attempts to take what she has stolen. But in her line of work, failure is not an option.Gillen is intrigued by the mysterious woman who thwarts his mission. But when his path crosses hers again, his intrigue turns to gratitude as the thief he comes to call Eudocia saves his life. The two form a bond of friendship and join forces to wrest control from a group of ruthless rulers. But as their camaraderie blossoms into something more, Gillen and Eudocia must fight for love even as they wage war for a better future.Gold Medal Winner, Christian Historical Fiction, 2021 Readers' Favorite Book Awards

    Smack in the middle of a war. Like…in the middle of a blood and guts spewing, heads flying around her war. With six armored men riding toward her, bloody swords raised high in the air, horrified looks on their faces, there isn’t time to think. Only to scream. But like a dream, a dark knight rides into the fray and saves her from them all. When she realizes where and when she is, she doesn’t know whether to thank him for keeping her alive or curse him for it.Sir Nicholas de Marre has seen many things in his years as military commander for the House of York, but he has never seen a woman appear right before his eyes—and in the middle of the battlefield. Without thinking, he kills the Lancaster bastards closing in on her. Thankfully, for her, he is able to fight with her deafening screams behind him. He saves her from certain death, not knowing if she is mad, or he is, and carries her to safety.That’s his first mistake. The second is showing her mercy when he finds out she’s a Lancaster. But this odd woman who takes pictures with imaginary phones and teaches Cook to make cupcakes is easy to fall for, and before long, the heart of York’s champion is captured by a Lancaster. England’s throne is about to change. The House of Tudor will reign, and the War of the Roses will finally be won with the intimacy of a kiss, the tenderness in a touch, and love that will echo through time.

    The duchy, independent since the time of Rollo, is now part of France. Becket de Montbryce is fated to be the first of his line to inherit the family’s lands and titles as a Frenchman. Ironically, he was in command of the Norman troops who fought alongside the French. A dangerous secret.Having escaped the besieged castle in the guise of a nun, Marguerite d’Aigremont must find a way to get back to her native England—without anyone discovering she is King John’s cousin. She despises the Normans who sided with their age-old enemy to bring about king John’s ouster as Duke of Normandy. But she is dependent on Becket if she’s to have any hope of returning to England. Despite their differences, Becket and Marguerite are drawn to each other.Will the Montbryce Dynasty survive intact when King Philip of France discovers the family has aided King John’s cousin?

    She does her duty, but underneath her meek façade, Robina is furious: at her kin, fate—and the arrogant young clan-chief who is now her husband.Tavish Gunn has a reputation to uphold. Now head of one of the Highland's most feared clans, and with four younger brothers coveting his position, he can't let his guard down, can't show the slightest sign of weakness.But Tavish has long desired Robina. Now, he has to convince her that he fully intends to honor their marriage vows: to love, protect and cherish her. Some promises are made for life.HIGHLANDER PLEDGED is the tender and steamy story of two lost souls who are meant for each other. Curl up with a hot drink and transport yourself to the Scottish Highlands this Christmas.

    Now she is charged with discovering the plans of Edward Longshanks. The English are gaining a foothold on Scottish soil—and they must be stopped.All Nessa has to do is enter the wolf's lair and seduce Hugh De Burgh—the English king's right-hand—and she will be able to gain the secrets she seeks.But faced with the towering, surly knight, whose touch addles her wits and sets her aflame, Nessa soon realizes that this mission may cost her everything.Guardians of Alba takes you back to 14th Century Scotland amidst the Wars of Scottish Independence. Immerse yourself in political intrigue, Celtic mysticism, betrayal, high-adventure, and steamy romance.

    

    In mortal danger, William is forced to run for his life, and Joanna is left with only her wit and courage to outfox their enemies and prevent them from destroying her husband, her family, and their fortunes.

    

    Two nations. One crown. 1328. After years of civil unrest between England and France, Charles IV dies, leaving no apparent heir. His closest heir to the throne is Edward III of England, but it passes instead to Charles' cousin, Phillip, spurring both countries on to war.1346. Landing at Normandy, Edward's immense army makes inroads into French territory, burning everything in their path. But the mysterious assassination of an English knight reveals a terrible truth: there is a traitor in their midst. The king charges Simon Merrivale, the Prince of Wales’ herald, with solving the case.As the army marches on towards its destiny, at the awesome scenes of the Battle of Crécy, Simon will uncover a conspiracy that goes to the heart of the warring nations. Among the ashes and the rubble, their fate will be decided: on the battlefield... and in the shadows.

    Embittered by past betrayals, he values women only for the satisfaction they give him in bed. But he finds himself reluctantly falling in love with Eloise de Morigueax, the Norman noblewoman he’s commanded to marry. Her quiet courage and devotion to his people breaks down his defences and softens his heart.Initially terrified of her barbaric husband, Eloise’s hopes for a peaceful life are strengthened by the glimpses of the compassionate man beneath his uncouth exterior. However, a visitor from her past jeopardises the fragile bond of love, setting in motion a chain of events leading to murder and betrayal, which threatens to destroy their lives and shatter the peace between Norman and Saxon.Heat level: Hot!Note: HEA guaranteed, but this book has a flawed hero, and includes some scenes of violence, and references to past abuse and trauma.

    

    

    Heartbroken and alone, she finds solace in the arms of the wounded Highlander.Maximus, son of the Mackay Laird, lost everything. After his sire and older brother die at the hands of a traitor, he must stay alive to claim back his legacy.Half-dead after the sneaky attack, he is rescued by a lass. His general's beguiling, illegitimate daughter.An all-consuming passion engulfs them both, though Maximus knows that they cannot be together.To get his revenge, he must gain powerful allies. And that means marrying another. A noble Lady. Specifically, his dead brother's betrothed.Now Maximus has to make a choice; lose his clan or stay with the woman he loves.But before he can decide, Rosallyn is violently abducted…She healed her wounds, he mended her broken heart…

    

    

    A notion that proved false when years later, they come with a new demand: she must take her sister’s place and marry a brutish Scotsman.Honoring a deal made by his father, Oscar Burns, Laird of MacLeod, has to marry an Englishwoman he has never seen before. Until the day he finally meets her, for she is the woman of his dreams. And she seems to loath him.Newly ignited, their passion sweeps both Oscar and Rowena off their feet, challenging everything she was ever taught at the abbey. When a cloaked figure tries to abduct her, Rowena realizes she is not ready for the evils of the world. What is a girl to do when she must juggle winning over a bunch of brooding Scotsmen hellbent on hating her and avoiding abduction?

    A girl in disguise, living among them.It’s the 14th century, and the longbow is king. But in the northern European principality of Ardennes, archery isn’t just the nation’s defense. It’s the national obsession.MEET THE JOURNEYS12 young Journeyman archers, the best in the country2 years of public competitions, in which looks count almost as much as ability6 will win a coveted membership in the Archers’ Guild of St. Sebastian1 will become the prince’s new GuardsmanMEET MARIEKE15-year-old Marieke is as obsessed with St. Sebastian’s as everyone else in Ardennes. Only it’s the middle ages, and girls just don’t become elite archers. Except Marieke's prospects as a girl aren't promising either, after a well-timed kick from a mule has left her with a face that’s badly scarred and ruined for marriage. But when circumstances force her to leave her old life behind and flee to the guild for refuge, there are only two things Marieke really knows about the place. One is that a mysterious accident ended her own father’s time as a Journey. The other?There are no women allowed inside St. Sebastian’s.Marieke knows disguising herself as a boy and infiltrating the guild means embarking on a dangerous deception. But it may be her only chance to find out the truth about her father’s past and to stop a murderous plot from coming to fruition. When the dashing young Journeyman Tristan takes her under his wing as his squire, she’s got to stay – at least long enough to help him beat out his brutal arch-rival to win the competitions.Keeping her identity a secret will be hard. Living in close quarters with a pack of gorgeous boys? That will be harder still. But the hardest thing of all will be keeping the vow she makes for herself: to see Tristan become the next Guardsman, without ever letting him find out she’s a girl - a girl, who loves him.Part Robin Hood and part Princess Bride, with a pinch of Mulan and a dash of Cyrano de Bergerac in the mix, The Archers of St. Sebastian I: Journeys is a humorous action and adventure saga inspired by late medieval/early Renaissance Belgium and packed with romance, wit, and longbow archery. Perfect for adults who love young adult themes, Journeys is an escape into the past that reads more like romantic historical fantasy than pure historical fiction.Unrequited love? Ugly heroines who stay ugly? Friendship, coming of age, romance, adventure, and plenty of archery competitions? A unique setting inspired by the glorious city of Bruges, with a richly imagined, immersive world set within the walls of a male-only archers' guild? Journeys: The Archers of Saint Sebastian has it all, so if you're looking for a great escape, don your disguise and join Marieke as she enters the forbidden world of Saint Sebastian's, and prepare to fall in love with the Journeys - that is, the twelve best and most beautiful archers in all of Ardennes, the Journeyman archers of St. Sebastian's.

    

    

    

    Which is why she finds herself working as a maid for a Scottish Laird...a scandalous position for an Englishwoman.Angus Murdoch’s life was turned upside down after a fire, set by the enemy clan, burned down half his castle. Many lives were lost; but the fire sealed away one of his biggest secrets…One he would guard with his own life.As their forbidden romance blooms, Daisy and Angus have to combat not only the distrust between them, but also ghosts of the past...When Daisy learns about Angus’ secret, the world around her crumbles; and a mystery unravels around those who were long thought dead.

    

    The bells toll for the dead king, Edward IV, while his rivaling nobles grasp for power. His daughter Cecily can only watch as England is plunged into chaos, torn between her loyalties to her headstrong mother, Elizabeth Woodville, and her favourite uncle, Richard of Gloucester. When Elizabeth schemes to secure her own son on the throne that Richard lays claim to, Cecily and her siblings become pawns in a perilous game.The Yorkist dynasty that Cecily holds so dear soon faces another threat: the last Lancastrian claimant, Henry Tudor. Meanwhile, Cecily battles with envy towards her older sister, who is betrothed to Tudor.The White Rose of York has turned its thorns inwards, and royal blood proves fatal... Princess of Thorns is a sweeping tale of loyalty and treason, ambition and family bonds.Saga Hillbom is the author of four historical novels. Her other work include A Generation of Poppies (2018), Today Dauphine Tomorrow Nothing (2019), and City of Bronze City of Silver (2020).

    

    She didn’t care much for the things they did, she kept her hair short and always believed she’d never leave her home. But her life will radically change when her brother, the Laird, agrees to marry her to an old warring clan, the Calbraiths, to ensure long-lasting peace.Moira’s plans of spinsterhood and living a simple life with her niece and nephew are squashed and she unhappily agrees to the marriage plans for the good of her people. Moira does not know what to expect of her new husband. Very quickly she realizes that Laird Niall Calbraith is a strong, handsome man built like an ox and he’s now married to her!Not knowing how to properly stand next to him, she can hardly imagine how spending the nights with him will feel. Everyone expects her to be happy, but Moira believes that something evil is lurking in the shadows.When a mysterious illness takes hold of the castle, Moira is certain that she’s right. But while she is trying to uncover the secret that brings sorrow and death to her new clan, supposition turns against her and she feels disillusioned by her husband who does not seem to trust her at all.Moira is determined to find out more, even if she knows that the outcome of this mystery will affect not only the future of her new clan but also the fate of her marriage. And a failure might even cost her her very life…

    

    When her father refuses to cancel this union, she comes up with a devious plan to make her match deny her.Yet fate may have other plans for her.Eoin has lived his life in his cruel father’s shadow. Lacking affection and love since childhood, Eoin’s cocky arrogance is a veil for him to conceal his wounded soul. Now his duty calls for a match with a powerful clan, but his bride may be precious to other people as well.When Seonaid disappears only hours before their wedding, he can tell this is more than a rebellious reaction. And his worst enemy’s sword found in the crime scene ascertains all his fears.Now Eoin and Seonaid are interwoven in a dangerous web of lies and deception. What started as a childish game might end in tragedy…The road to her survival passes through his bed…

    

    Until the unthinkable happens: her brother, the current Laird, arranges a marriage for her, in order to help the clan. And it devastates her.A widower and a father, Connan MacLaren needs to find a wife for the sake of his son and for this purpose only. But the woman that is presented as his future wife is the most beautiful creature he has ever seen. Not to mention the wildest.When the death of a maid sparks an ongoing investigation, Connan has to protect April from both herself and the one who wants to harm her. Yet, Connan has to choose: stay with April or follow his King’s orders. But did the King actually order an attack on April’s clan? And how is everything tied to the death of a simple maid?

    

    

    But when it comes to saving her family’s estate, there is nothing she’s not willing to do. Even if that means offering her soul to a fiend on a silver platter.His rogue years are well behind him, yet nobody trusts the newly appointed Laird of Cord, Ragnall McAvoy. In order to inherit his father’s wealth and help his clan, he must first marry. So, when a woman he once knew comes looking desperately for a husband to save her family, he proposes a deal: get married, but not fall in love.Struggling to stick to the deal and not give in to their feelings, Adriana and Ragnall fight not only each other but their own selves as well. But Ragnall’s past has remained dormant for too long. And now it’s ready to come back and claim what it rightfully owns: Ragnall.

    

    Determined to relocate and continue practicing her calling, the opportunity presents itself as a handsome, but irritating Laird in desperate need of a healer.After losing both his father and his leg, Cillian Morris also lost his will to live. However, his resolve to distance himself from everyone crumbles when the most bewitching woman enters his life and turns everything upside down.Just as he finally finds a new purpose with Maeve there to help him, the basic foundations of Cillian’s life start to crumble. The woman who raised him as a mother gets poisoned; his family finds death staring at them in the eye. And Maeve...is the ultimate goal in the grand scheme to destroy his life.

    

    Kidnapped simply for being the daughter of a Laird, she falls into the vengeful hands of a man who is Lucifer reincarnated. In more ways than one.Raids and pillages by the Brodie clan have been the main problem on Jack’s mind for the past years. Until another one comes to be added to the pile: falling for the one woman that is out of bounds. And the one he kidnapped against her will.The fire inside Jack burns Lucia’s doubts about their love away, and the man she thought a villain carves his name into her heart. When someone orders attacks on her dying father Jack realizes that only one person would kick a man that is already down. And he wears the colors of his own clan.

    

    Better His Way:Nicholas is battling a past that is haunting him at every turn. When his father announces a contest to find brides for his three sons, Nicholas alone is intrigued. Then he meets Della, a feisty young woman who has a heart for those around her. Della has no desire to win a prince. She wants to remain in Findley and run her father’s shop. But Prince Nicholas is causing all her well-placed plans to crumble. When her maid comes to her with an even bigger dilemma, Della must decide if she is willing to trust God and His plans for her life. Through His Eyes:Collins has been banished to Ableton, a small town miles away from his home in Findley. Broken by the mistakes he’s made, but trying to hold himself together, he pushes away his failures, determined to redeem the future. But the past has a way of haunting. Sage wants nothing to do with the arrogant, infuriating Sir Collins. Yet, the more she learns about him, the stronger her bond with the hidden prince becomes. When danger comes knocking, and Sage has to take matters into her own hands, her loyalty is put to the ultimate test. Then There Was Grace:The price of the war with Ironwolf has grown high, and Benjamin is not pleased with this father’s plan to bring peace. Marriage to the Princess of Ironwolf is the last thing he wants, especially when he sees the happiness his brothers have found. Aurora is terrified of her arranged marriage to the Crown Prince of Allura, but she’s determined to see it through in order to bring peace for her people. When she meets the quiet, stoic Benjamin, she begins to wonder if love might not be so out of reach as she once thought. With a twist on Biblical narratives, When You Found Me is a collection of light, uplifting romances for fairytale lovers everywhere!

    

    Many have survived because of an author’s status—part of the reason we have so much of Chaucer’s writing, for example, is because he was a London-based government official first and a poet second. Other works by the less influential have narrowly avoided ruin, like the book of illiterate Margery Kempe, found in a country house closet, the cover nibbled on by mice. Scholar Mary Wellesley recounts the amazing origins of these remarkable manuscripts, surfacing the important roles played by women and ordinary people—the grinders, binders, and scribes—in their creation and survival.  The Gilded Page is the story of the written word in the manuscript age. Rich and surprising, The Gilded Page shows how the most exquisite objects ever made by human hands came from unexpected places.

    

    

    

    

    Especially when it is later revealed that he is none other than her own Laird.After his brother’s mysterious disappearance, Laird Alastair Mullen takes on the responsibilities of a Lairdship he never wanted. His days in the castle feel lonely, until Margaret and her family appear and uproot his whole life.Alastair’s love for Margaret is the only thing that sustains him after his brother’s death. But when reports come in about a man who looks exactly like his dead brother, Alistair knows that someone is trying to manipulate him. Because dead men tell no tales…

    

    As he is escorted to the Tower of London, Robin spins a tale for his captor, revisiting his life under three Tudor monarchs and wondering how he will be judged—not just by the queen, but by the God he stopped serving long ago.When every moment counts, will his stories last long enough for him to be saved by Mary's heir, the young Queen Elizabeth?

    

    Welcome to the world of Medieval pageantry where borders have no meaning, the men are driven, and the women are tough as nails. Female empowerment has a whole new meaning in BRIDES WITH BLADES collection. This bundle includes:* Serpent: A de Wolfe daughter isn't meant to be crossed. The daughter of England's greatest knight is a great knight in her own right. Trouble ensues when she marries a Welshman who doesn't particularly want a wife.* Lady of the Moon: Our heroine is a highway robber known as "Lady of the Moon".* Tender is the Knight: The hero's sister is a full-fledged knight in this intricate adventure.* Deep Into Darkness: Our heroine is an excellent knight, now having to protect her ill husband in this spooky, romantic tale.Bonus chapters of The Red Fury included - A heroine protects her castle at all costs until a mercenary knight shows up.

    

    

    And she is certain her day would have ended with another lecture. Had she not been taken hostage by a brutish but dangerously handsome Highlander, that is.Jude Anderson, Laird of Hanvale, is hellbent on getting his son back from the people who kidnapped him. However, he didn’t count one thing: the fear in the faerie-like eyes of the Englishwoman, or the feelings it would ignite in his heart.Yet, as happy as he feels with Cleopatra in his arms, Jude’s mind never strays from his ultimate goal: keeping his son safe. An undertaking that seems almost impossible when assassins move through the walls. Because it's an eye for an eye, a child lost for a lost child...

    

    A kind of fifteenth-century Eat, Pray, Love, Revelations illuminates the intersecting lives of two female mystics who changed history—Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich.

    But some months later, when a second brother is killed near Lincoln, and then a third is wounded, it becomes obvious that a deadly campaign is being waged against the warrior monks.In concert with Gerard Camville, the sheriff of Lincoln, Bascot investigates the murders but, despite their best efforts, not a trace of the killer is discovered. As the attacks continue, both are frustrated by the lack of clues to his identity, and it is not until an unexpected witness comes forward with revealing evidence that a trail is found for them to follow.

    With the help of an ally, his uncle took his lands and title and forced Niall to flee. After cutting his hair and beard and changing his name, the fallen Laird goes to a nearby village and tries to hide there as well as a man of his stature can.Niall begins to work as a blacksmith but plots his revenge day and night. Filled with shame and guilt for leaving his people in the hands of his cruel uncle, as Niall pounds the iron with his hammer, he also pounds his soul, and he knows that until he finds redemption, he will not rest. However, when he meets a lass named Fiona, he is able to get revenge off of his mind, even for a few moments.Fiona visited a store across the place Niall works in, and they both felt as if a bolt of lightning hit them. As beautiful and charming as Fiona is when Niall learns that she is the daughter of Laird Calder, the ally who helped his uncle overthrow him, he is appalled! Yet, after some calm thought, he realizes that he can actually use her to get close to her father.Due to his strength and skill as a worker, Niall finds his way into the Calder castle, and he meets Fiona's father. As she spends more time with her and they bond, plotting against her father becomes more and more difficult. As if the situation was not complex enough, Niall learns from her father that the lass is about to marry "Laird Abernethy," his treacherous uncle!Fiona did not deserve to be in this position, but Niall feels obliged to kill her new betrothed and free his people from the tyrant. But it is more than certain that if he does proceed with his plan, Fiona's father would never marry her to the man who killed his ally. Niall must choose between redemption and the woman he loves, and he must do that fast, as his identity will not stay hidden for long.A Steamy Scottish Medieval Historical Romance

    And she knows who the culprit is. A certain reclusive Laird with a reputation of being ruthless.Adrian Seether, Laird of Dunne, is a man feared by all. After he allegedly killed his parents, nobody has dared get closer to him...until a feisty Englishwoman shows up at his castle and demands her betrothed back.Their quest to find Thalia’s betrothed takes a turn when the undeniable attraction between them comes to a head. Convinced that their journey has been fraught with lies, Thalia is determined to revisit painful memories to get to the truth. With time wholly against them, a well-established scheme threatens to kill them all. The same way it killed Adrian’s parents all those years ago…*Highlander's Heart of Stone is a steamy Scottish historical romance novel of 60,000 words (around 300 pages). No cheating, no cliffhangers, lots of steam and a happy ending.

    Deprived of her family at a young age after a violent attack, all she has been left with in the world is the hope to get revenge on her mother’s killer. And her vicious plan is about to bring her in bed with the enemy’s offspring…Because as the ancient proverb says, keep your friends close and your enemies closer…Balgair MacMortan must forget his dreams for a carefree life. With his older brother dead, he’s the one to hold his clan’s reins. But no matter how well he’s managed to get rid of any of the arranged matches, this one won’t give up so easily.While he plans on making Skye deny him, he finds himself weak against his beating heart. And fate is about to complicate things even more, when Balgair finds out that his brother fell to her father’s sword.As they enter a dangerous game of deception and seduction, they’ll both get more than what they bargained for. How can the love for a sworn enemy tear down the long-standing walls of hate around their hearts?All she wanted was revenge, yet what he gave her was lust…

    But when a shadowy hooded figure passes him a scroll, his careful plans face a turning point. It appears his name has drawn the attention of the Inquisition and his attendance is commanded at once—for retribution, information, or something else, he does not know.Father Heinrich Institoris the Grand Inquisitor is lauded as a visionary man, driven by a burning desire to cleanse the world of Eve’s original sin by eradicating witches. As Inquisition courts bloom across Europe, he vows to leave no stone unturned, no hovel unexamined, and no woman alive, in his search for justice.As the Inquisitor’s violent mission unfolds, Sebastian embarks on a quest through dank crypts, crumbling abbeys, and the darkest depravities known to man. Torn between duty and love when he encounters the beautiful pagan Brigantia, he fights to uncover the truth: of his past abandonment, the power of the occult, and just how far he’ll go to protect the Church he loves. A Church that is harboring deadly secrets.Inspired by true historical figures and events in the 15th Century, The Pope’s Butcher is not only a hair-raising work of suspense and espionage, but an astonishing account of religion and the occult in the Middle Ages.With an intriguing writing tone and a talent to create suspense and mystery from true events, Joseph C. Gioconda delivers a shocking story of serial murders within the Catholic Church. In writing his latest book, he has interviewed leading scholars in the U.S. and Europe and hired professional researchers to comb through newly discovered source material from Germany and Italy.

    

    

    It's light-hearted, funny, and a delightful window into the world before the shit-storm. This is a short story, not a full novella.

    

    

    

    Until she wakes up next to one...Isobel MacKay isn’t your typical laird’s daughter.Wild and proud, she’s had enough of her father trying to marry her off to one pompous noble or another, all thinking they can take what they want.When one of them goes too far, and she’s forced to defend both her honour and her life, Isobel flees to the south, where she might escape the long reach of her father’s might.Until she meets a stranger in the woods.One glorious night later, and Isobel realises the mysterious Robert McPhee is a laird himself; the very thing she’d sworn to escape. And yet, he’s like no laird she’s ever met; kind, gentle, unbelievably handsome...And her decision to keep riding south suddenly becomes a lot more complicated.But Laird McPhee isn’t without problems of his own, and Isobel finds herself thrust into the middle of devious neighbours, insistent debt collectors, and a clan on the verge of collapse.Not to mention her father’s army, marching south to bring her home...

    The attacks are becoming ever more frequent, and the town militia can no longer hold them at bay. As panic reaches the highest appointed members of the Valerian Clergy, the young neophyte Jaxon Moore cannot stay idle any longer. Their only salvation lies in Father Hampton’s aid, a renowned, demon-slaying priest with powers of the Light. The only problem is no one knows where to find him. Jaxon sets off on a dangerous journey, not even knowing what Father Hampton looks like or where he’s supposedly found. Is the Goddess to answer his prayers, or will his clergy be forever lost to the Darkness?The Light of Darkness series is intended for a mature audience, containing sensitive subjects including violence, torture, consequences of sexual abuse, emotional scars, mature language, and steamy scenes.The Light of Darkness is perfect for readers who enjoy visceral, gripping epic fantasy tales with dark undertones.

    

    . . in its own eccentric way, [The Owl and the Nightingale] is every bit as enticing as Gawain . . . it is arguably the greatest early Middle English poem we have. ProspectA graceful, elegant translation. GuardianFollowing his acclaimed translations of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Pearl, Simon Armitage shines light on another jewel of Middle English verse. In his highly engaging version, Armitage communicates the energy and humour of the tale with all the cut and thrust of the original. An unnamed narrator overhears a fierce verbal contest between the two eponymous birds, which moves entertainingly from the eloquent and philosophical to the ribald and ridiculous. The disputed issues still resonate - concerning identity, cultural habits, class distinctions and the right to be heard. Excerpts were featured in the BBC Radio 4 podcast, The Poet Laureate Has Gone to His Shed. Including the lively illustrations of Clive Hicks-Jenkins, this is a book for the whole household to read and enjoy.

    A battle-hardened knight who's haunted by his past. A marriage of convenience and a deception that could ruin them both.Abandoned as an infant, Isabeau de la Frêne has lived a sheltered life at the abbey of St. Leonard's, under the protection of the abbess.When Isabeau catches the eye of a lecherous bishop, she finds herself in a desperate situation; stay and endure the bishop's attentions, or find a means of escape. The abbess sees only one way to protect Isabeau: grant her the land that the abbey sits on as a dowery, and then offer her, as an eligible wife, to the family who originally owned the land.In desperation, Isabeau agrees to the marriage, but she must conceal a secret, that if discovered, could destroy her and the future she craves.Ranulf d'Argentan is driven by a desire to out-run his past. Haunted by his family's betrayal, he is given an opportunity he can't resist. He can reclaim the birthright his father lost, but only if he marries Lady Isabeau de la Frêne.He agrees to the terms, not for love, but for land. Land that will give him the security he craves.However, when he marries the beautiful and mysterious Lady Isabeau, he becomes aware of a deeper need: to be loved for himself. Can Ranulf and Isabeau overcome their own tormented pasts and embrace a future where love truly does conquer all?Born in Deception is a story about forbidden love and a marriage of convenience, where class and religion dictate every aspect of life. But nothing is as it seems. Everyone has secrets, but some secrets are too dangerous to ever be revealed. Will love and forgiveness find a way to overcome such enormous obstacles? Read Ranulf and Isabeau's story to find out more.

    

    

    Not only did he lose his father in the battle with the English, but he spent years of his life imprisoned. Now he is back to reclaim his castle and make Alistair McCrae pay for his betrayal.But meeting a breathtaking lass will soon make him lose his mind, though he never imagined who she truly is.Catriona Findlay has no choice but to sell herself to save her family. Even if that means marrying her clan’s traitor. Yet, the moment her brother joins an army to fight against her future husband, she is sure that all her sacrifices will be for nothing.Especially after the charming leader of the revolution brings havoc into her life.When Catriona and Kiethen cross paths, they soon realize that they’re doomed. Their undeniable attraction is hard to dismiss. However, her dangerous secret is looming over them.Soon Catriona will have to choose sides, for war is coming, and one wrong move will destroy her true love and the clan forever…Her betrayal was lethal, yet her kiss had the most intoxicating taste…

    After the murder of her beloved father, even those closest to her could not be trusted. So she kept to herself.When the handsome Laird to-be starts courting her, Lorraine is truly baffled. He never paid her any attention in the past. Why does he care now?A renowned warrior and heir to the clan's Lairdship, Daividh MacDougall can have any woman he desires. Many women pine for him, but his eyes are only for one lonely lass. Even if his intentions are not so honorable – for he’s bound by a wager to seduce her.The more time he spends with Lorraine, the greater the spark of desire grows, and soon, his passion for her becomes real. But before he can confess the truth, a dark plot against him starts to unfold, and everything changes.With his secrets revealed, Daividh's enemies can ensure Lorraine hates him forever. Before taking his life, that is…It started as a bet, but it became a deadly game…

    A noble French falconer. A spirited merchant's daughter. And a fateful decision that changes their destiny forever...When Cédric is recruited by the Knights Hospitaller to the Greek island of Rhodes, his wife Sophie jumps at the chance to improve their fortunes. After a harrowing journey to Rhodes, Cédric plunges into the world of the knights—while Sophie is tempted by the endless riches that flow into the bustling harbor. But their dazzling new home has a dark side.Slaves toil endlessly to fortify the city walls, and rumors of a coming attack by the Ottoman Turks swirl in the streets. Desperate to gain favor with the knights and secure his position, Cédric navigates a treacherous web of shadowy alliances. Meanwhile, Sophie secretly engineers a bold plan to keep their children safe. As the trust between them frays, enemies close in—and when disaster strikes the island, the dangers of their new world become terrifyingly real.With this richly-told story of adventure, treachery, and the redeeming power of love, Amy Maroney brings a mesmerizing and forgotten world to vivid life.

    The full history of the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings and the story of the tapestry itself.Most people know that the Bayeux Tapestry depicts the moment when the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, Harold Godwinson, was defeated at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 by his Norman adversary William the Conqueror. However, there is much more to this historic treasure than merely illustrating the outcome of this famous battle. Full of intrigue and violence, the tapestry depicts everything from eleventh-century political and social life—including the political machinations on both sides of the English Channel in the years leading up to the Norman Conquest—to the clash of swords and stamp of hooves on the battle field.Drawing on the latest historical and scientific research, authors David Musgrove and Michael Lewis have written the definitive book on the Bayeux Tapestry, taking readers through its narrative, detailing the life of the tapestry in the centuries that followed its creation, explaining how it got its name, and even offering a new possibility that neither Harold nor William were the true intended king of England. Featuring stunning, full- color photographs throughout, The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry explores the complete tale behind this medieval treasure that continues to amaze nearly one thousand years after its creation.

    

    High-spirited medieval lasses and the daring heroes who give them Love’s First Kiss!Whether they’re crossing swords with a fierce bridegroom, tangling with a knight disguised as a beggar, seeking sanctuary with the laird’s huntsman, or dodging the most feared lawman in the shire, these four intrepid heroines meet their match in these four full-length tales of romance and adventure.LADY DANGER (The Warrior Maids of Rivenloch, Book 1)A beautiful female warrior has never had trouble turning away men, but when she marries a powerful lord to save her sister, she soon finds herself losing the battle over her heart.MY CHAMPION (The Knights of de Ware, Book 1)A spirited young merchant is certain she doesn't need a hero—until she's kidnapped by an infamous pirate and must trust a stranger in disguise with her life and her heart.MacFARLAND’S LASS (Scottish Lasses, Book 1)A young jeweler to Queen Mary becomes a fugitive for a crime she didn't commit and must rely on the mercy of a heroic huntsman who steals her heart, but who could betray her at any moment.DANGER’S KISS (Medieval Outlaws, Book 1)A beautiful thief can squirm out of trouble with a wink and a smile, until she meets the most feared lawman in the shire, who can't decide whether to kiss her or kill her.Key Themes: Scottish historical romance, adventure stories, strong women, Highland brides, knight in shining armor, forced marriage, enemies to lovers, medieval castles, sisters, sword fighting, Highland romance, women warriors, stories with humor, Mary Queen of ScotsMore Historical Romances by Glynnis CampbellThe Warrior Maids of RivenlochTHE SHIPWRECK (a novella)A YULETIDE KISS (a short story)LADY DANGERCAPTIVE HEARTKNIGHT'S PRIZEThe Warrior Daughters of RivenlochA RIVENLOCH CHRISTMAS (a short story)THE STORMING (a novella)BRIDE OF FIREBRIDE OF ICEThe Knights of de WareTHE HANDFASTING (a novella)MY CHAMPIONMY WARRIORMY HEROMedieval OutlawsTHE REIVER (a novella)DANGER'S KISSPASSION'S EXILEDESIRE’S RANSOMScottish LassesTHE OUTCAST (a novella)MacFARLAND'S LASSMacADAM'S LASSMacKENZIE'S LASSCalifornia LegendsTHE STOWAWAY (a novella)NATIVE GOLDNATIVE WOLFNATIVE HAWKFrom Glynnis...I love writing "stories to keep you up all night"!Keep in touch...Sign up for my newsletter at glynnis.netFollow me on my Amazon Author PageFriend me at Facebook.com/GlynnisCampbellJoin my Facebook group, Glynnis Campbell’s Readers ClanFollow me at twitter.com/GlynnisCampbellShare with me at pinterest.com/GlynnisCampbell

    And amid the turmoil, her falling for the unsuitable, illegitimate Henry means they’ve no choice but to hide their new love from the world…From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.

    

    Passed down orally in pre-Christian Norse times, transmitted in writing in medieval Iceland, and here wielded by the hand of Jackson Crawford, the tales told in this volume retain their sharp edges and flashes of glory that never fail to slay.

    So why is he obsessed with the shy and forgettable junior chamberlain?Once nothing more than a castle maidservant, the painfully shy Ismay Geddes has worked her way up to the lofty heights of junior chamberlain. It’s a prestigious position for one so young, and she’s completely focused on the job. No distractions.Especially not the gallant and popular soldier, Tavish MacWilliam. The other maids might endure restless nights on account of his heroic physique, but Ismay is above that sort of nonsense, thank you very much.Until he tells her she has a beautiful face.After all, nobody has ever told her she has a beautiful _anything_.But Ismay has one rule, and that’s to never love a soldier. After losing her own father to war, she has little desire to put herself through the heartache of loss again, even if she’s forced to endure a few restless nights herself.Only it seems fate has other ideas, as Tavish suffers a terrible injury while on patrol and finds himself confined to the castle.With one lucky lass asked to get hands on with his recovery...

    She doesn’t believe she is worth anything, much less love. Her own people believe she is cursed. Siena’s only true blessing is the gift of sight.The Devil’s LairdRoderick, Warlord of Kirkurd, is driven by revenge and guilt. When his holding was attacked, his wife ravished and slain, and his son missing, the goodness within Roderick died. He is now known as the Devil’s Laird.The MeetingRoderick saves Siena from the hangman’s noose and takes her back to his castle. Siena sees a lonely, haunted man who needs her. But no matter how hard she tries, she cannot completely break down the barrier Roderick has constructed around his heart, nor shake the curse of bad luck that his people believe she carries. Only the Holy Grail can prove if she is good or evil.When Siena sacrifices herself to free Roderick’s son, Roderick realizes that he has lost his chance to love again. Now, he will move heaven and earth to find her, before it is too late.

    

    Except, this beast of a Highlander isn’t her betrothed after all...It should have been a fairy tale.After twenty years in exile, Kenzie McPhee is returning home to marry her childhood love.And from the moment her betrothed arrives to escort her, Kenzie wonders if dreams really come true. Tall, brooding, and handsome, Laird Arran McCaskill promises a world both familiar, and tantalisingly new.Until she realises this perfect man isn’t her laird at all.It’s his brother.Blaine McCaskill; the silent, introspective brother. The closed book, short of words and stature, who has somehow grown into a beast of a soldier, and a leader of men.And with a body straight from the heroic tales of old.So now, on the long journey home, Kenzie finds herself with more to worry about than she ever imagined. Forget brigands, forget skirmishing clans, and forget plots that threaten to tear the very Highlands apart.How is she going to survive two weeks with the forbidden Blaine McCaskill?

    

    

    She loves order and plans—especially when she is the one making them. When the new King forces her to marry one of his trusted knights, she has no intention of relinquishing her control and going quietly into that good bedchamber. But when she brings her new husband to her estate, she quickly comes to realize her conquering husband isn’t the wedding, bedding, and forgetting type.Abandoned by his family and scarred by tragedy at a young age, Lord Hugh Fitzsimmons has had to fight for everything he has. After helping King William invade England, he expects nothing more than a bag of coins and a trip back to Normandy. A Saxon heiress, however beautiful, is not in his plans. But his new wife inspires feelings he thought he’d buried long ago, and Hugh is determined to keep what is his. Can he inspire his wife to see him as something other than the enemy or will old wounds ruin any hope he has of building a home he can call his own?Set in the turbulent years immediately after the Norman conquest, A Knight To Call Her Home is a full-length historical romance and the first book in The Peace-Weavers Series. Please do not purchase if you are offended by strong language and or sex scenes.