It is an undoubted fact that, were it not for the work of Alfred, there might never have been the possibility of an English kingdom in the sense that we now understand it. It is also true that Athelstan was the first explicitly to rule over an English kingdom in roughly its present shape and extent. What, then, was the contribution of Edward to the evolution of what his son was to inherit? As a child, he saw his father at the lowest point of his fortunes; as a boy, he grew up under the constant threat of further Danish invasion. Edward came to adulthood in the knowledge that it was his responsibility to safeguard his country. By his death, he was undoubtedly the most powerful and respected ruler, not only in England but in western Europe, and he achieved this through both martial and legislative prowess. Edward built on his father’s work but he immeasurably expanded it, and the chroniclers who wrote in the centuries which immediately followed his death remembered him as ‘greatly excelling his father in extent of power’. Edward the Elder succeeded Alfred as king of the Anglo-Saxons; he died as king of the English. And yet virtually nothing has been written about him. Until now. While biographies of Alfred and studies of the achievements of Athelstan pour from the press, Edward is forgotten. Yet he was the first ruler to leave behind him the possibility of a united England, a country in which men thought of themselves as English, speaking a language which all would have described as English, which had never existed in quite this form before. Anyone looking to fully understand and appreciate the making of medieval England must look to understand and appreciate Edward the Elder and his reign.

    Located deep beneath the heart of Greater London, the Underground is awash with more strangeness than you can shake your prepaid train card at. So, pack up your day bag and travel stop-by-stop with us on this strange and fantastic journey along the Northern, Picadilly, Metropolitan, Jubilee, Hammersmith & City, and District Line, and explore the Underground as you've never seen it before with this treasure trove of the humorous, the odd, and the baffling—an alternative travel guide to the Underground's best-kept secrets.

    Anne is little more than a child when her father falls foul of Edward IV, and she is married without Royal sanction to the Lancastrian heir, a man she has been taught to loathe. Before her childhood sweetheart, Richard of Gloucester can prevent it, she is exiled, married, widowed, kidnapped and finally held captive before he can discover her whereabouts and restore her liberty. But, just as Anne’s dreams are finally within her grasp, King Edward dies and names his brother Richard as Lord Protector, and her world falls apart again. The historical record provides just a few glimpses of Anne and the little we know of her is gleaned from accounts of the men who controlled her world. A Daughter of Warwick adds flesh to the bones of Anne’s story and considers the impact of medieval war on a defenceless girl. A Daughter of Warwick is J. M Ruddock’s first novel. She is currently working on the sequel.

    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.

    But Raedwald is urged to kill his guest by Aethelfrith, Edwin's usurper. As Edwin walks by the shore, alone and at bay, he is confronted by a mysterious figure--the missionary Paulinus-- who prophesies that he will become High King of Britain. It is a turning point.Through battles and astute political alliances Edwin rises to power, in the process marrying the Kentish princess Aethelburh. As part of the marriage contract the princess is allowed to retain her Christian faith. But, in these times, to be a king is not a recipe for a long life.This turbulent and tormented period in British history sees the conversion of the Anglo-Saxon settlers who have forced their way on to British shores over previous centuries, arriving first to pillage, then to farm and trade--and to come to terms with the faith of the Celtic tribes they have driven out.The dramatic story of Northumbria's Christian kings helped give birth to England as a nation, English as a language, and the adoption of Christianity as the faith of the English.

    What ambitions motivated her long before anyone dreamed of a Tudor dynasty?The Last Lancastrian is a prequel novella to the Plantagenet Embers Trilogy.

    But when a Scot needs to protect the woman he loves, he can turn into a beast. Then, you know you can let go and Submit to your Highlander Warrior.  Sinful Highlanders is a steamy romance box-set by Ann Marie Scott, including three stories;1 Chained By The Fierce HighlanderWhile Lady Isla Balfour must seek refuge for herself and her baby brother, she enters the territory of Laird Magnus Galbraith. Instead of helping her he captures her and confines her to a dungeon. But when an old friend from the past emerges, Isla will discover that captivity was much safer.2 Seduced By The Noble HighlanderLewis Crawford and Crissy love each other since they were young. But he is noble and she is just a house maid. When Lewis older brother commits an atrocious crime and loses everything, Lewis will have to take his place as the Laird! A love that was once difficult is now impossible to be...3 Protected by the Vengeful HighlanderLennox has sworn vengeance after his beloved sister's Nessa, mysterious death. When Nora, a young lass is forced to marry Nessa's former husband, Lennox is determined not to repeat his mistake.Best selling author Anna Marrie Scott invites you to this unique collection of Steamy Highland Historical Romance with no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after! Get your copy TODAY for 99c OR FREE With Kindle Unlimited!Enjoy!

    From the CWA Debut Dagger Shortlist Novelist comes the extraordinary crime series that everyone is raving about. Featuring: TrophiesTormentTalisman Trophies: When DI Colin Strong interviews a suspect on suspicion of handling stolen goods he’s convinced he’s heard their voice before. Nearly 25 years ago the tape of Wearside Jack taunted West Yorkshire Police and his suspect fits the profile.Then the body of a known burglar shows up and a mysterious metal case is discovered at the scene.Strong turns to his close friend, journalist Bob Souter, and embarks on an awkward alliance to probe areas he is unable to explore.As the murder suspects start to disappear Strong must discover just who the shadowy figure inciting fear and panic amongst those he encounters is.Strong wants to bring a murderer to justice and Souter is hungry for a story.Who will get to the truth first and can their friendship remain intact?  Torment: A message left in error on a young woman's answerphone is the catalyst for uncovering some dark deeds. Three young women are missing; luxury cars are being stolen; and just what did happen to two young schoolgirls, missing since the 1980's?DI Strong and journalist, Bob Souter are drawn into murky and dangerous worlds. Talisman: Following a fire in a terraced house, the body of a prominent lawyer, Charles Chamberlain, is found naked and shackled to a bed frame. Six weeks earlier, DI Colin Strong is investigating the sudden death of a transsexual, left undiscovered in the bath for over a year. Initially, it appears to be a tragic death but one mysterious item, a card for the Talisman Club, is found in the bedroom.Meanwhile, Bob Souter, journalist and close friend of DI Strong, is probing connections between a developer and the council leader in respect of a controversial project when massive European funding is announced. Souter smells a rat and delves further into the scheme.Is there a link between the bodies and the business deal?Will Souter or DI Strong crack the case first?And what exactly is the Talisman Club? What the readers say: Trophies "Informative, interesting and thrilling""Simply unputdownable." Torment: "What a fantastic read , the author captured my interest early on with this thrilling story.""Another brilliant book from a great writer. "Torment' is an enjoyable detective book with gripping plots and a dark mystery." Talisman: "Another stupendous read""It will become one of the talked about novels of 2016"

    As the marriage begins, Guyon is angry and Judith is terrified. He is experienced in both love and war, and is hostile about marrying this child and surrounding himself with such a nest of political vipers. Judith, having watched her father abuse her mother, expects her own marriage to include rape, beatings, and humiliation. What gradually develops between them is a trust and respect that eventually blooms into a passionate love. Their story is tightly interwoven with a tenuous political situation as brothers battle for the kingdom and the barons divide themselves between the factions.The Running VixenUpon his return home to Wales in 1126, Adam de Lacey rediscovers his love for Heulwen, his stepsister, but she has agreed to marry Adam's foe, Warrin de Mortimer, a man involved in a plot against the king. By the author of The Wild Hunt.

    It isn’t until a trick of fate sends her sprawling under a noblewoman’s horse that her life takes a different turn. But is it for the best or is she being pulled into a web of intrigue and lies? A prequel to the Imp of Eye, it will appeal to fans of Dorothy Dunnett’s gripping and intrigue filled plots.This novella begins the Renaissance Sojourner Series. A wonderfully spun gem of a story of 15th century London, beautifully brought to life by the reigning queens of historical fiction. Real magic! C.M.T. Stibbe, author of Chasing Pharaohs.

    The house and all its problems now belong to her. As Laura struggles to to save the manor, she is pulled back into the lives, and loves, of the home's past inhabitants. Unfortunately, time is running out, not only for the preservation of the house, but for those who now live there. Centuries before, Lorraine Bonville, a young French girl, was forced to flee her chateau and cross the English Channel. Her fate was tied to Lord Bannock, a man twenty-five years her senior, and to the beautiful manor house he built for her. From castles in their full glory to the ruins of war, this novel weaves a beautiful tapestry of history, the struggle to rebuild life and love, and the desire to protect a very special home.The CHAMBER AND THE CROSS is a contemporary thriller wrapped around a medieval romance. It was a finalist with the 2015 San Diego Book Awards.

    Destined to be king. Doomed to be a villain. What matters? Loyalty matters. Loyalty Binds Me.Artist Hans Holbein receives a summons to the home of Sir Thomas More for the commission of his lifetime, but he will leave with a secret that puts his very life at risk. What he will learn is the truth about the life of King Richard III, from his return from exile with his brother, King Edward IV, through his rise to become the king's most powerful subject. From his flourishing personal life to his seizure of the throne. The unfashionable truth about the man the Tudor dynasty has worked tirelessly to villify will be as nothing compared to the reason for it, as Holbein will discover. He is about to be asked to hide the greatest secret in England. A secret that could tear the fragile Tudor regime apart at its seams.Show More Show Less

    Emma seems to have been part of cultish group obsessed with contacting the dead via a medieval mystic. Then another child disappears. DI Sam Clayton faces a race against time to catch the killer.BOOK 2: THE BAD SISTERDI Sam Clayton is called to a murder scene in Holt, not expecting to find his estranged sister at the scene. Her husband, Henry Lambton, has been murdered. Meanwhile, vicious arson attacks in Norwich are sparking fear among the locals. The two crimes stretch the team to their limits. But they must pull together and race against time to prevent more attacks and get justice for their loved and not so loved ones.BOOK 3: PLAY DEADMusician Kristina Manning is impaled by her cello spike. The disgraced conductor is found with his head stuffed in a piano. And a trumpeter dies, poisoned by his mouthpiece. Is there a serial killer with a musical edge on the loose? And what does the disappearance of former orchestra member Lauren Garner have to do with it?

    There are three unmissable books in this great value boxset: Murderland Bloodline Duplicity Murderland: When DI Joe Burton and DS Sally Fielding are called to investigate a suspicious death in a care home, it is just the start of their problems.As further bodies are discovered, with playing cards placed beside their bodies, the Manchester police realise they have their work cut out.With the press closing in on the case, a criminal profiler is called in to help work out what the killer’s motive is.With the clock ticking and more victims uncovered, Fielding and Burton must race to track down a twisted killer before it’s too late.But could the killer be closer to home than anyone ever imagined? Bloodline: When a young boy discovers a man’s body lying in a doorway, DI Burton and DS Fielding are called to the scene.Believing the man was homeless, the police are shocked to discover the true identity of the victim; a Detective Constable from London who was working undercover.But when the DNA from the victim is linked to a cold case Burton and Fielding find themselves looking into another unsolved murder.And as the case unfolds, the detectives are faced with unpicking through a web of lies and deceit. But can they solve the murders before any more blood is spilt? Duplicity: Is the truth stranger than fiction? Newly retired Hannah Sanderson loves reading crime novels so when her favourite author, Jonas Burke, comes to town for a book signing, she wants to meet him. However, when she starts reading his latest novel, she finds that one of the crimes featured in it is too close to home.When DS Sally Fielding discovers that her police officer father died as a result of being tasered, which caused his heart attack, she is shocked. But when Hannah Sanderson goes on to explain that his death is described in intricate detail in a novel she has recently read, Sally’s suspicions are raised, and she begins an investigation. With a small team in place, Sally and her colleagues cross-reference all the descriptions of Burke’s fictitious crimes with cases in the police database.Will DS Fielding be able to solve the mystery before anyone else gets hurt?And is the truth really stranger than fiction? If you are a fan of authors like Helen H. Durrant, Angela Marsons and J. R. Ellis then you will love this unmissable crime series.

    When winter arrives, myths become all too real in White Haven.Books 4 - 6 of the White Haven Witches series in one binge-reading volume!If you love magic and witches, you’ll love the mysteries of Samhain, the horror of vampires, and the earthy wonder of the Green Man and the Raven King!All Hallows' Magic, Undying Magic, and Crossroads Magic.