there was Penda, one of the greatest warrior-kings in Anglo-Saxon history and creator of Mercia, one of the seven warring kingdoms that eventually united to become England. But Penda's Britain--over thirteen hundred years ago--seethed with violent struggles between rival warrior-kings who ruled by bloody sword and sealed alliances with forced marriages; this was also when Christianity was just beginning to sweep the land as most still practiced Anglo-Saxon paganism. Told from the perspective of his wife Cynewise, "The Last Great Pagan Queen" is a richly imagined and gritty tale of her marriage to a man who would become known for killing more kings than any other of his age; it is also the story of a woman just trying to make it in a savage world, where--much like today--choices were limited, men held all the power, and it took courage to survive. Note: this book contains explicit violence and adult themes.

    Meanwhile, her older sister Peggy works as an apprentice at the Girls' School, hoping for a more prosperous future as a schoolteacher.Jennet and Titus Eastwood have always made decisions for their daughters' futures. But as the sisters near adulthood they are determined to make their own choices. And with temptation in the way, will the girls find love - or infatuation - leads them astray?Then an unexpected but familiar face arrives in town, and the family's future is threatened. For Bessie and Jennet, a difficult choice must be made - love or family . . .

     A beautiful slave girl. A missing royal daughter. A carefully wrought revenge.Iceland in the 10th century. There is nothing unusual in a wealthy farmer returning home with a slave girl, even if she is a mute. But she conceals a secret that will echo across the oceans.Based on an episode from the great Icelandic Sagas, The Tale of Melkorka will grip you with an unfolding mystery of loss, triumph, and the rough justice of revenge. Melkorka's world awaits you...

    See why readers rave about the writing, the plot twists, and the characters. NELL LILLINGTON is a spoiled, headstrong 16-year-old when she finds herself pregnant after letting a flirtation with handsome Cousin Jack get out of hand. More willing to bear the consequences of an illegitimate pregnancy than marry, she refuses to name the father and agrees to give birth in a Poor Farm and give the baby up for adoption. At the Poor Farm she meets Tess O’Dugan, a woman the world calls an imbecile but who soon becomes the sister Nell never had. MARTIN RUTHERFORD, Nell’s childhood friend, only learns of baby Sarah when Nell seeks to escape from the Poor Farm—with the child. His own aversion to marriage stems from his dark, unhappy childhood, and despite his attachment to Nell he makes no objection to her plan to move to Kansas, away from prying eyes, with Tess and Sarah. Martin, now free of family ties, has his own plans—he wishes to build a grand department store in Chicago and become one of that growing city’s merchant princes. But Nell and Martin’s plans are steered off course by the secrets and lies of other people, and their paths to happiness are strewn with murder. Nell’s story will take you from the Illinois prairie, to frontier Kansas, and back to a Chicago teeming with opportunistic new Americans and ruthless hardmen.

    The Normandy coastal village of Caillons is under German occupation, its villagers struggling to survive. With her husband forced into compulsory service for the German Reich, Jeanne Dupré, mother of two adolescent daughters, risks everything to lead the local Resistance cell.Life becomes even more dangerous with the arrival of British agent Daniel Benedict. He needs Jeanne's help to complete his mission, vital to Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings. But Jeanne is suspicious that they are not fighting for the same outcome. Their joint foe is Jürgen Graf, a Nazi oberleutnant set on wiping out the local Resistance. Aware that a spy is at large, Graf is on a ruthless mission to hunt Benedict down. With the help of a network of Catholic priests, Benedict penetrates the heart of the Nazis’ defences against Allied invasion, the Atlantic Wall. As the lives of Jeanne and Benedict become increasingly intertwined can they stay true to themselves? Will they have to sacrifice all in their fight for freedom..? ‘Villa Normandie’ is a moving historical novel, presenting an accurate picture of life under Nazi occupation. It is thoroughly detailed, meticulously researched and vividly authentic - depicting the turbulent world of the French resistance and the struggle of the French people for freedom.

    

     Part 3 continues the saga of the Bassett brothers and their twin wives as they face the greatest threats to their lives. After a slight mishap and reconciliation at the end of Part 2, the two couples experience a time of peace and happiness during the Christmas season. That peace is soon shattered during a Twelfth Night party when an unexpected, and unwelcome, guest arrives. Now they must find the strength to prevail against this foe from the brothers' past as he plots to ruin their lives. And finally, the climax, a historically correct event brings treachery and sorrow to Riverbreeze plantation, forcing the brothers to defend their home and protect their family from Indian attack and war. Full of drama, excitement, humor, romance and details of early American life, the Riverbreeze series will appeal to a wide range of readers.

    Her father was a monster.How could Vera have been so blind to what was right before her eyes?After the death of her kind and loving Papa, Vera’s home is claimed by ne’er do well Uncle Merritt, who drives the household with cruelty and deprivation. Working for her keep, the once privileged Vera is driven to skin and bone and dreads the harsh beatings that Merritt regularly delivers.Ralph, Papa’s loyal and brave stableboy, cannot bear to see Vera shrinking daily under the hand of Merritt. In an attempt protect her, he challenges Merritt and now, tossed to streets, must survive however he can.With the loss of Ralph, Vera’s soul aches, made worse as she watches her father’s elderly servants treated with cruel indignity. In a desperate bid to protect them from Uncle Merritt, his rage is fuelled, and Vera is delivered an ultimatum, causing her to flee from her home. With nowhere to go, Vera too, finds herself on the streets.As starvation threatens, it is only Ralph and her new friend, Maggie, that keep her alive. But when Maggie unexpectedly reveals the truth about Vera's Papa, Vera is plunged to new despair. Will the truth destroy her? Can she keep secrets for the rest of her life? Will she ever be able to make things right? And will she agree to Ralphs’s plan, even though it means she may lose him forever?For fans of Dilly Court and Historical Romance

    Can an old Indian and animals in need of rescue heal hearts and secure futures? Find out in this Special 3 Book Set of sweet and inspirational historical romances. Book 1 A Kitten to Help her Trust Again. Emma’s heart was broken by a man she trusted, one she always believed she would marry. That was until she walked past the church to see him in the arms of his new bride. Hearing about a group of women looking for husbands and leaving for Santa-Fe she goes with them. A new place, a new start is what she needs. Only it's hard to trust again and she is pushing men away. Can she ever get over her heartbreak? One day she finds a kitten in pain. She goes to John Blackwolf, the Native American man who runs an animal rescue center. While there, she bumps into Robson Metcalfe, the local sheriff who is looking into attacks on the center. When a fire breaks out will all be lost? Book 2 The Dog, the Marshal, and the Groom. Losing her husband was heartbreaking for Paula. When a man starts to pressure her into marriage she heads west for a new life. To keep herself busy she has been helping at the animal center and loves the dogs. One day while walking her dog she comes across trouble and stumbles across a marshal. Once he has arrested the man he is chasing she recognizes that it is Tony, her friend’s brother and the man she had a crush on before her marriage. When the man who was pursuing her arrives in town things get complicated. Can a dog without a home help her find love and a new home for herself? Book 3 The Lawyers Bride Simone lost both her parents and became homeless. She has always been told what she can do and she is looking for freedom as well as a husband. She has her eye on a rancher but she doesn’t know how to ride and asks John for a horse to practice. Mark is the local lawyer and he is intrigued with Simone. He offers to give her riding lessons and the two become very close. Soon he understands what is driving her. She craves the freedom to make her own decisions. Even though he believes she is making the wrong one, the rancher is not a nice man, he knows he must step back and let her make it her own decision. Will Simone make the right decision or will she be blinded by charm and fall for the wrong man? Find out in this 3 book box set of sweet and inspirational historical western romances by bestselling authors Indiana Wake and Belle Fiffer. These books are sweet and inspirational and are suitable for all ages.

     Frontier Heart Abby Johnson and her younger cousin Charlotte are heading to Jamestown, North Dakota. Charlotte has arranged her own wedding to a man she has never met. Her more sensible older cousin cannot believe that she has become a mail order bride. Their journey is shared with a strange frontier rancher who enthralls the young women with tales of the west. As Charlotte casts her eyes on the man she will marry in a few hours for the first time, Abby is shocked that the stranger rancher is heading for the same destination. The joys of wedding bliss are not around long before disaster strikes. Can Abby and their strange traveling companion save day? Frontier Soul Abby Johnson is returning to Jamestown a year after escorting her cousin, Charlotte,to the same town to become a mail order bride. Abby, has now made the same leap of faith, well not quite. She has at least seen the man she has agreed to marry, Sam, the stranger she met on the train during the previous journey. The handsome Sam is now the doctor at Jamestown, but he still has a dream of making his fortune as a rancher. The good news is that Sam is just as Abby remembers him... or so she believes. Charlotte has a massive surprise for Abby when she arrives at the frontier. But who are the strange men who make an appearance at Abby's wedding and what or who do they want in Jamestown? Ice Bride Felicity wasn't expecting Noah Call to meet her at the train station. She was expecting Peter, the successful rancher and businessman she had agreed to marry. She had but aside everything at home, all on the strength of a few letters, to become a mail order bride. Now the man she had said she would marry couldn't even be bothered to meet her in person. Noah Call is a rough, no-nonsense rancher who doesn't put up with Felicity's high handed city ways. As she travels to Peter's ranch she wonders if she has made a terrible mistake. Is she cut out to be a mail order bride? But is there more to the strange Noah Call than meets the eye? What really happened at the burnt out ranch buildings they pass on route? And what secrets lurk within Felicity's new home?

    

    A young Patrician, having fled from the wrath of a king, returns to find his city in the turmoil of war and now ruled with a regime of some strangeness.

    One of those things was the land that ran along Turnback Creek belonging to the Holt family. The only way to get such a prize was to make sure they met with an untimely death.Believing their small boy was away from home, he never bothered to tie up that one loose end. The day came when a lawman showed up, bent on taking back what was rightfully his, and bringing the man to justice who killed his parents.

    He never even had a proper name until he made one up for himself. Even though Ammie has always been a part of Ethan’s world, she was still far above the reach of a street urchin turned ranch hand. But that doesn’t stop her from haunting his dreams each night. Ammie has turned down every eligible match, waiting for Ethan to see her as more than just another honorary-type cousin. But considering how much time he spends out on the trail, she might have to wait forever. Until a deadly killer has Ethan sticking like glue to her side because he’s convinced that no one could protect her the way he can. But spending so much time close to Ammie and becoming part of her life is pure torture. Once the job is done, Ethan is determined to hit the trail, and this time it might be for good. Unless he finally puts his pride aside and succumbs to his feelings … or being her protector costs him his life. Loving Amelia has romance, suspense, heat and a love story that will keep you turning pages far into the night. Get your copy today and fall in love all over again! Loving Amelia is the third book in The Crimson Rose Series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.