Because history is fun and love is worth working for

Tag: Medieval Romance

Can Love Cross the Boundary of Time?

Landon entered White’s and asked for a drink. His dreams had been trying as of late, the mysterious lady who haunted his nights visiting him often and was beginning to invade his every thought. If he could only drink away her beauty, forget about it, make on with his life as if she did not exist…

With a start, he realized a man had sat beside him, his shoulders hunched, his face closed.

For whatever reason, perhaps because he felt a sudden kinship with the man whose eyes seemed to mirror the growing swell of emotions Landon himself felt, he cleared his throat. “Would you like a drink?” he asked.

“Ale,” the man said after a moment. “The stronger the better.”

Landon ordered one, and it wasn’t until they had shared several rounds without a word that the man felt moved to speak further.

“This be a strange place,” he remarked, glancing around.

Landon frowned. “Have you never been before?” White’s was a staple, where a man could enjoy drink and dice and cards and more.

“Never been to anywhere here,” the man muttered. He glanced around some more and then leaned in close. “Can you be… Who are you?”

“Landon Philamore.”

“A lord, I take it.”

Landon nodded. “And yourself?”

“Sir Gerald of Hanover.”

The man seemed to want to say more, and Landon waited, giving the man time to reason through his thoughts.

“Do you think,” Gerald said slowly, but then he halted.

“I think I great many things.” Landon would have smiled, but the man’s countenance bore too heavy a burden. “Tell me what ails you.”

“I do not think…” Gerald took a deep breath and then said in a rush, “I am not from this time.”

At once, Landon’s heart began to race. The lady from his dreams, the things she sometimes said, her mannerisms, her jokes… On more than one occasion, he suspected the same thing of her.

“I know I must sound daft,” Gerald continued.

“I think you need another drink,” Landon said.

At Gerald’s nod, Landon motioned for two more drinks.

“What is it that you miss most from your time?” Landon asked.

“You believe me?”

He shrugged. “It matters not what I believe. Your beliefs take priority.”

“I do not know what I belief, what I think, who I love.” Gerald stared glumly at his mug.

“Well, I believe that love can transcend anything. Even those from other lands… or other times.”

“Do you?” Gerald asked, the light of hope shining in his eyes for the first time since they began their conversation.

“Yes,” Landon said firmly, but whether he said it for Gerald’s sake or his own, he could not be certain…

Landon is the hero in The Test of Time, whereas Gerald is the hero in Love Before Honor.

ThetestoftimesmallKatia jumps at the chance to go to England with her best friend after Rose ditches her deadbeat boyfriend. While walking through the market, she spies a large mansion and recognizes the guy out front as her high school friend Tony. Just as they start to reconnect, Katia passes through times and lands in the arms of Lord Landon, who looks like Tony but certainly doesn’t act like him.

Soon, Katia learns that this 1815 is different from the one in history books. Trapped in a parallel world, Katia struggles to not fall for Landon but his charm proves too much for her. Just when she is about to confess her love for him, Katia travels through time yet again.

The course of love never did run smooth and if Katia can’t figure out and master the test of time, she’ll never see her friends again, or worse, never be reunited with Landon.

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Nicole is one of the Belles. You can learn more about her here.

Scandal and Murder in Eastbourne

the-mediaeval-walledMy Dear Mr. Clemons;

You would not know my name but suffice it to say that it is of little concern, as I wish to keep my family’s name protected. I shall therefore be writing under the assumed name of Miss Avamund and will henceforth be providing you with information, such as to be considered scandalous, from the city of Eastbourne where many of our prominent London citizens take in sea bathing. With that in mind, I present to you the following.

On or about 1 August of this year, a “Miss J”, a respected spinster of St. Aubyn’s Road, was seen with a certain man in her garden. That is not a scandal within itself but the man, a very big and strange-looking man, has lately been seen in her garden daily with “Miss J”. She always seems disturbed when he is near. Because my family lives within proximity of Miss J’s” home, I have seen this occurrence daily and, being curious, waited one day for “Miss J” to do her marketing before slipping into her garden and confronting the man. The story he tells is shocking, as I shall relay forth. After identifying myself politely, I asked of him the following:

Miss Avamund: Good sir, are you a relative of “Miss J”?

Man (identified himself only as ‘de Russe’): I am not, my lady.

MA: If you are not a relative, then why are you here? You do understand that the neighbors are whispering about your ‘visitations’ with “Miss J”. You threatened to ruin her reputation, sir.

DR: It is not my intention, my lady. Be it known that “Lady J” has been most helpful to me under… confusing circumstances.

MA: Confusing? May I inquire as to the nature of these circumstances, sir?

DR: It should not concern you.

MA: Please, sir, as I vow I shall not repeat what you tell me. My concern is for “Miss J”. She is a friend.

DR: Then I shall tell you the truth, since you are her friend. I still do not know how it happened, but the circumstances are this – Henry is my king. I was in battle at Ludgershall Castle in the midst of a driving rain storm when, in the course of battling an opponent, I fell backwards into the well. The blow to my head rendered me unconscious and when I managed to emerge, it was out of the well in “Lady J’s” garden. I do not know how I got here, by what devilry or dark magic, but all I want to do is return to my wife and time from whence I came. I do not belong here.

MA: You… you climbed out of “Miss J’s” well?

DR: I did, my lady.

MA: And you said that your king is Henry? But our ruler is young George!

DR: Henry of Bolingbroke is mine.

My Dearest Mr. Clemons, I did not believe him. I am sure he was quite mad.

Although I will admit that de Russe did not look like any man I have known, as he was quite large and his hands were terribly ruined, I will say most emphatically that I believe him to be “Miss J’s” lover. I told him so and shamed him and ran to tell my mother, who did not believe me until she, too, saw him in “Miss J’s” garden the next day. He was by the well and “Miss J” was with him. I fear that “Miss J” was weeping.

This is where the story becomes frightening – when my mother went to “Miss J’s” home to confront both her and her lover, “Miss J” informed my mother that de Russe had returned home to his wife. She said that he returned the way he came and would say no more. We, my mother and I, believe that not only did “Miss J” have a scandalous love affair with a married man, but that she killed her lover and disposed of the body! She is a murderess as well as an adulteress, but fear keeps us silent. That is why I have written to your paper, sir, to tell you of the terrible things that are happening in Eastbourne today.

Proper citizens beware!

With kindest regards,

Miss Avamund

5329322_lThe Iron Knight

KathrynLeVeque_TheIronKnight_800Read Lucien de Russe’s story in THE IRON KNIGHT, due to be released August 23, 2016 on Amazon. Time-travel to Regency England notwithstanding (or included), it’s a beautiful English Medieval Romance of an older knight and a widowed woman who both have a second chance at life. We will assume Lucien’s brief transportation 400 years into the future happens AFTER his story takes place – and it would make for a wonderful novella!

The Iron Knight on Amazon

Meet the author

KIMG_5743ATHRYN LE VEQUE is a USA TODAY Bestselling author, an Amazon All-Star author, and a #1 bestselling, award-winning, multi-published author in Medieval Historical Romance and Historical Fiction. She has been featured in the NEW YORK TIMES and on USA TODAY’s HEA blog. In March 2015, Kathryn was the featured cover story for the March issue of InD’Tale Magazine, the premier Indie author magazine. She is also quintuple nominee (a record!) for the prestigious RONE awards for 2016.

On Amazon: https://goo.gl/zXhv5s
Facebook: https://goo.gl/bHir6s or @kathrynlevequenovels
Twitter @kathrynleveque
Website: www.kathrynleveque.com

Society’s darling is a spy, ancient scandal suggests

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Dear Readers,

Our correspondent in Scotland, Ms. Rue Allyn—a descendant of the estimable Geoffrey Chaucer—has uncovered correspondence dating from 1294 between Sir R. M, of the Scottish hinterlands and Sir R. C., ancestor of society’s darling, the current Baron Ravensmere. In July of 1294, Sir R. C., then a landless knight and herald to Edward I, was escorting the king’s cousin, Lady J. V. to her wedding when that knight married the lady instead.

Stories are told that the marriage was necessary, but given the king’s reputed ire over the incident we suspect that passion may have got the better of the noble knight and the virtuous (or perhaps not so) damsel. Regardless of the stories the marriage brought shame to the king and the Ravensmere family. We are surprised to learn that Sir R. C. kept his title and lands. Longshanks must have been in a very generous mood. His only punishment for this indiscrete marriage was to banish the couple to their holding in the north of England.

Such a scandalous marraige is bad enough, but the letters discovered by Miss Allyn reveal that Sir R. C. continued his betrayal of king and country by supporting Sir R. M. in his opposition to King Edward’s plans to invade Scotland several years before he actually did. The delay in the execution of Longshank’s invasion resulted in the delay of Scotland’s legal union with England by more than 400 years.

Needless to say, the revelation that spies and ravishers are the root of the tree from which the current Baron Ravensmere is sprung has cast doubts about his recent actions in France, especially with the escape of Boney from Elba following hard on the heels of the Baron’s departure from England, supposedly to take the waters at a Sicilian spa in Palermo. Since no one of any sense would travel to Palermo (being much too close to harbors sheltering Corsican pirates), one can only imagine the Baron does not care what anyone believes is his true purpose in visiting that forsaken island. We do hope that as Miss Allyn continues her researches for the novels plans to write she will share with us any tidbits she learns that may cast light on the actions of the ton.

S. Clemens

Author’s Note: The ‘scandal’ described by M. Clemens is a twisted interpretation of the events described in RONE nominated novel, Knight Errant. Please leave me a comment and let Miss Allyn know how you enjoyed her post.

KEcoverBlurb: If Sir Robert Clarwyn can’t find a way to compel Lady Juliana Verault to return to England, he’ll lose any chance of regaining his family lands and redeeming his heritage. Yet Juliana must complete her mission or endanger her gender’s future in the church. With danger and intrigue mounting, Robert and Juliana must rely on each other and risk everything … including their hearts.

Excerpt:  Here’s a link to an excerpt if you would like to read more from Knight Errant http://rueallyn.com/2f1KEexcerpt.html.

Buy Links:  Amazon   B & N   B-A-M   GoogleBooks   iTunes   Kobo   Crimson Romance

RueSOFTAbout Rue Allyn: Rue Allyn, the imaginary love child of an immortal Scottish knight and Margaret Mitchell, was abducted adopted at birth by a pair of professor experts in Child Development and Education. She loved the parents who raised her and tried very hard to please them by starting school at the age of two and receiving more than 30 years of formal education, culminating in a Ph. D. that led to a number of teaching positions at various universities.

Her destiny at birth was to be the most famous and talented Coloratura Soprano ever. Sadly, when she was abducted adopted that destiny fell to a woman named Julie Andrews. Rue’s creative impulses could not be denied. She searched long and hard in universities, in the US Navy, in retail sales and odd jobs to find release for her undeniable desire to sing out about romance that melts the heart. She watched old movies, read stories by Dante, Chaucer, Charlotte Bronte, Georgette Heyer, and even—unknown to Rue—her mother’s legendary Gone with the Wind. Not until she met the man of her dreams, her very own True and Perfect Knight, did she discover that while fate had stolen her singing voice, she could—in the traditions of Ovid, Homer, and the Beowulf poet—still sing her songs of heart melting romance by weaving them into stories about love, joy, and ecstasy in all ages.

When not writing, loving her spouse, or attending conferences, Rue travels the world and surfs the internet in search of background material and inspiration for her next heart melting romance. She loves to hear from readers, and you may contact her at contact@RueAllyn.com.  She can’t wait to hear from you.

Contact Rue: Amazon   FaceBook   @RueAllyn   Goodreads   Author Travels Blog   Website

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