Tag Archive for: The Cozy Book Blog

Book Blast: Eleonora and Joseph: Passion, Tragedy, and Revolution in the Age of Enlightenment, by Julieta Almeida Rodrigues

Hello, and welcome to The Cozy Book Blog! I am pleased to be today’s stop in the book blast tour for Eleonora and Joseph: Passion, Tragedy, and Revolution in the Age of Enlightenment, by Julieta Almeida Rodrigues. Many thanks to Amy Bruno from HFVBT for the invite. Enjoy the book blast and thank you for visiting! Best, Diane-Lyn

ELEONORA AND JOSEPH: PASSION, TRAGEDY, AND REVOLUTION IN THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT
BY JULIETA ALMEIDA RODRIGUES
Publication Date: July 21, 2020
New Academia Publishing/The Spring
Paperback & eBook; 198 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction/Biographical

Synopsis

The novel opens with aristocratic Eleonora Fonseca Pimentel pleading with the High Court of Naples to be beheaded instead of hanged like a criminal. One of the leading revolutionaries of her time, Eleonora contributed to the establishment of the Neapolitan Republic, based on the ideals of the French Revolution. Imprisoned in 1799 after the return of the Bourbon Monarchy – due to her work as editor-in-chief of Il Monitore Napoletano – and while waiting to be sentenced, she writes a memoir. Here, she discusses not only her revolutionary enthusiasm, but also the adolescent lover who abandoned her, Joseph Correia da Serra.

While visiting Monticello many years later, Joseph discovers Eleonora’s manuscript in Thomas Jefferson’s library. Now retired, Jefferson is committed to founding the University of Virginia and entices Correia with a position in the institution, once it opens. As the two philosophes explore Eleonora’s writing through the lens of their own lives, achievements, and follies, they share many intimate secrets.

Told from Eleonora and Joseph’s alternating points of view, the interwoven first-person narratives follow the characters from the elegant salons of Naples to the halls of Monticello, from the streets of European capitals such as Lisbon, London, and Paris to the cultured new world of Philadelphia and the chic soirées in Washington.
Eleonora and Joseph were both prominent figures of the Southern European Enlightenment. Together with Thomas Jefferson, they formed part of The Republic of Letters, a formidable network of thinkers who radically influenced the intellectual world in which they lived – and which we still inhabit today.

Where to Purchase

KINDLE/AMAZON | NOOK/BARNES AND NOBLE | GOOGLE PLAY | APPLE BOOKS | KOBO

Praise

“Rodrigues’ writing is beautiful, and she brings the historical characters to life. The novel is told in alternating chapters, interspersing the conversations between Joseph and Jefferson at Monticello with Eleonora’s memoir, which Joseph is reading. The scenes at Monticello are fascinating, with Joseph and Jefferson discussing a wide range of topics, including slavery, revolution, and science. Rodrigues makes the reader sympathize with the protagonists, and the book left me wanting to read more, especially about Eleonora.” – HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY REVIEW

“Eleonora and Joseph is a passionate novel of love and revolution. In 1799, Eleonora Pimentel stands before the High Court of the Kingdom of Naples. She has been accused of treason. During her trial, Eleonora pens a memoir, giving details of the life events that led up to her arrest. Eleonora’s life was revolutionary in thought, word, and deed.Julieta Almeida Rodrigues’ Portuguese roots shine brightly in this romantic historical novel. The narrative is fictional, yet full of historical accuracy.” – READERS’ FAVORITE REVIEW

“The complex, contradictory characterizations and historical details of the Enlightenment era are skillfully handled and clarified in straightforward but descriptive prose that will satisfy both academic and non-academic readers. The most interesting player of all is Eleonora, a “martyr of liberty” whose illustrious life ends tragically at the gallows in 1799 with some of her fellow revolutionaries in Naples.” – THE US REVIEW OF BOOKS REVIEW

“Julieta Almeida Rodrigues brings these colorful historical figures to life and marries their worlds in a narrative that is vividly written, capturing not just their lives, but an era on the cusp of unprecedented social, political, and cultural change. As Thomas Jefferson plays a key role in creating the circumstances which bring Eleonora’s journal – and its revelations – to new life years after its creation, readers receive a satisfying contrast of European and American environments that embraces and explores moral, ethical, and social conundrums alike.” – MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW, Donovan’s Literary Services

“Brimming with pathos and rich in character, this is a knockout… Lush and electrifying, Rodrigues’s vibrant tale about love, morality, and duty is a searing depiction of the Enlightenment. Rodrigues’s intelligent writing brings the era alive while revealing the complexity of her vividly drawn characters. By turns luminous and tragic, the novel will ensnare readers from the first few lines and lingers in the memory long after they turn the last page.” – THE PRAIRIES BOOK REVIEW

“Eleonora and Joseph is my best read of the year so far. It’s rich in history, character, and flair. The story is told with a genuineness that prods the heart. It evokes profound questions that linger behind long after you turn the last page. Considering these factors and the impeccable editing, I rate it four out of four stars. Julieta’s work holds so much history, passion and utter brilliance within its pages that I would recommend it to anyone interested in history.” – ONLINEBOOKCLUB REVIEW

“This book allows the reader into the inner workings of this radical time where many opposing ideals were fought and died for. It is refreshing as a lover of historical fiction to read an original story like Eleonora and Joseph that brings to life important historical characters and events from a fresh new angle and lens.” – NEW PAGES, Stephanie Renee dos Santos

About the Author

Julieta Almeida Rodrigues is a writer, professor, scholar, and interpreter. Born and raised in Portugal, she earned a Ph.D. at Columbia University. She is the author of two collections of short fiction, The Rogue and Other Portuguese Stories and On the Way to Red Square. The latter is a fictionalized account of her life in the diplomatic circles of Moscow in the 1980s (New Academia Publishing, Washington DC). She published a narrative work about Sintra, Portugal, entitled Hora Crepuscular/Drawing Dusk/La Hora Crepuscular (Agir, Execução Gráfica). She is a member of the Pen Club of Portugal, the Fulbright Commission Team of Evaluators in Portugal (2014 Prize for International Cooperation, the Prince of Asturias Foundation), and of CLEPUL, Center for Lusophone and European Literatures and Cultures, Faculty of Humanities, the University of Lisbon. She has taught at the University of Lisbon and at Georgetown University, and has been a Visiting Scholar at the New School (twice). She has spoken at the Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State, The Chawton House Library in the United Kingdom, The International Conference on the Short Story, The American Portuguese Studies Association, and the Historical Writers of America, among other locations. She is a member of the Steering Committee of the Historical Novel Society New York City Chapter and runs, with a colleague, its Guest Speaker Program at the Jefferson Market Library. She divides her time between Manhattan and Sintra, Portugal.

For more information, visit Julieta Almeida Rodrigues’ website.

Book Blast Schedule

Monday, October 4
Passages to the Past

Tuesday, October 5
Cover Lover Book Review

Wednesday, October 6
Bookworlder
Books, Ramblings, and Tea

Thursday, October 7
Bonnie Reads and Writes

Friday, October 8
100 Pages a Day

Saturday, October 9
CelticLady’s Reviews

Tuesday, October 12
A Darn Good Read

Wednesday, October 13
Jessica Belmont

Thursday, October 14
Reading is My Remedy

Friday, October 15
Michelle the PA Loves to Read

Saturday, October 16
The Cozy Book Blog

Monday, October 18
The Book Junkie Reads

Wednesday, October 20
I’m Into Books

Thursday, October 21
Carole Rae’s Random Ramblings

Giveaway

Enter to win an eBook of Eleonora and Joseph: Passion, Tragedy, and Revolution in the Age of Enlightenment by Julieta Almeida Rodrigues!

The giveaway is open to US addresses only and ends on October 21st. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Embed Code: Eleonora and Joseph

Direct Link: https://gleam.io/competitions/oY27H-eleonora-and-joseph

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Book Blast: The Rake of Hearts, Emily Windsor

Hello and welcome to The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn! I am happy to participate in the book blast for The Rake of Hearts, a new release by Emily Windsor. Many thanks to Amy Bruno at HFVBT for the invitation. Thanks for visiting and enjoy the blast! Best, Diane-Lyn

THE RAKE OF HEARTS BY EMILY WINDSOR

Publication Date: August 23, 2021
Senara Press Ltd

Series: A Lady to Suit, Book 2
Genre: Regency Romance

 

When the heart is afire…
By his own admission, Lord Ernest Brook is a rake. With sapphire gaze, sinfully handsome looks and a duke for a brother, the pleasures of London have come with ease…apart from one.
Ever since the gauntlet of her first wintry dismissal was thrown, the widowed Hebe Lock has stirred his deepest desires, but just what would it take to woo such a woman?

Sparks will fly.
Hebe Locke has vowed to never again fall for a scoundrel after her brief marriage to one left her broken and haunted.
Now she finds comfort with paintbrush and canvas, but as a female artist in a male world, commissions are as rare as a ballroom without rakes.

A castle of enchantment.
As the heat of late summer warms the land, an ancient, moated castle plays host to a widow and a rake, both concealing passions contrary to their reputations.
But as Lord Ernest awakens Hebe’s desire and thaws her frozen emotions, can she hold true to her vow?
Or can this rake win the one heart he yearns for?

Sensual Regency romance with warmth and wit, this tale also includes a disreputable aunt with a secondary love story, Cotswold country fairs, sinful masquerades and…a goat.

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK

A Lady to Suit Series

1 – The Duke of Diamonds – Out now!
2 – The Rake of Hearts – Out now!
3 – The Earl of Spades – Coming soon
4 – The Prince of Clubs – Coming soon

Praise

“Five gleaming stars for this amazing Regency romance.” -Bookbub Reviewer

If you love historical romance, you can’t do without this wonderful book.” -Goodreads Reviewer

“This is a beautiful historical romance where our author paints a picture just as well with her words as our heroine with her sketches.” -Bookbub Reviewer

“A little masterpiece.” -Bookbub Reviewer

About the Author

Emily Windsor grew up in the north of England on a diet of historical romance and strong tea.

Unfortunately, you couldn’t study Regency slang, so she did the next best thing and gained a degree in Classics and History instead. This ‘led’ to an eight-year stint in engineering.

Having left city life, she now lives in a dilapidated farmhouse where her days are spent writing, fixing the leaky roof, battling the endless vegetation and finding pictures of well-tied cravats.

NEWSLETTER | AMAZON | FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK GROUP | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM

Book Blast Schedule

Friday, August 27
Novels Alive
Bonnie Reads and Writes
What Is That Book About
Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Saturday, August 28
Pursuing Stacie
Passages to the Past
Reading is My Remedy
Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Sunday, August 29
Coffee and Ink
Saynab Reads Books
The Cozy Book Blog
CelticLady’s Reviews

Giveaway

Enter to win a $15 Amazon Gift Card & an eBook of The Rake of Hearts!

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on August 29th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Embed Code: <a class=”e-widget no-button” href=”https://gleam.io/fjSB1/the-rake-of-hearts” rel=”nofollow”>The Rake of Hearts</a>
<script type=”text/javascript” src=”https://widget.gleamjs.io/e.js” async=”true”></script>

Direct Link: https://gleam.io/competitions/fjSB1-the-rake-of-hearts

Thank you!

Cad’s Wish, Cheryl Holt

Welcome to The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn! I am so pleased to host the book tour today for Cad’s Trilogy by Cheryl Holt. Many thanks to Amy Bruno at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the invite. Thank you for visiting and enjoy the tour! Best, Diane-Lyn

Cad’s Wish (Book One in Cad’s Trilogy)

Publication Date: August 16, 2021

New York Times bestselling author, Cheryl Holt, delivers her new and dazzling ‘CADS’ trilogy, three lush novels filled with drama, heartache, and love forevermore…

Hunter Stone is London’s most notorious cad. He’s lived a life of debauchery and vice, and he’s the most dedicated bachelor in the kingdom. He’s renowned for his wicked ways, and he always has a beautiful woman on his arm to keep him company. But when his father suddenly inherits the family’s earldom—an elevation that was completely unexpected—Hunter is next in line to be earl. He has to marry quickly to secure the title and inheritance. What’s a cad supposed to do?

Hannah Graves is a modern, independent young woman. She thinks men are fools and idiots, and she’s decided to avoid the path to matrimony that most females are forced to walk. When her father died and left her a small inheritance, she fled her rural life in the country and used the money to open a bookshop in London. She’s proud of herself and delighted with the strong choices she’d made, but it’s not easy to be a female proprietor in a man’s world, and she constantly dances on the edge of fiscal ruin.

When Hannah meets Hu

nter, sparks fly and passion ignites. But Hunter’s corrupt reputation precedes him, and he represents everything she detests in a male. But he’s a handsome, wealthy scoundrel who always gets exactly what he wants. When he sets his eye on Hannah, how can she resist?

Cad’s Pick (Book Two)

Publication Date: August 16, 2021

New York Times bestselling author, Cheryl Holt, delivers the second novel in her new and dazzling ‘CADS’ trilogy.

Warwick Stone is a rich, handsome cad. He revels in outrageous ways and enjoys his reputation as a scoundrel. But when his father suddenly inherits the family’s earldom—an elevation that was completely unexpected—Warwick has to marry in a hurry and start siring some heirs. As the consummate bachelor, who never expected to wed, the whole notion of matrimony is exhausting. He figures he’ll quickly pick a fetching debutante with a good dowry, and he’ll become a husband by expending as little effort as possible.

Wilhelmina Dobbs had an odd childhood. Her father was a famous artist, but a flawed and damaged man. As a girl, she followed him across Europe, standing in the background as he painted masterpieces and disgraced himself with his extravagant habits. After his death, she retired to the country to live quietly and paint too. After watching her father regularly disgrace himself, she’s sworn off all men. She can’t imagine ever marrying and intends to remain a spinster.

When Wilhelmina crosses paths with Warwick, sparks fly and passion ignites, but his corrupt reputation precedes him. He represents everything she detests in a male, but he’s spoiled and determined, and he always gets exactly what he wants. When he decides he wants Wilhelmina, how can she resist?

Cad’s Choice (Book Three)

Publication Date: August 16, 2021

CHERYL HOLT delivers the third and final novel in her fun and dazzling CADS trilogy…

Captain Sheridan Stone sails the Atlantic as a privateer who harasses enemies of the British Crown. He’s not a pirate, but he’s close enough. He lives a life of adventure, danger, and violence, but he was wounded in a battle. It’s left him weary, and he’s thinking of retiring and returning to England. He might even be ready to marry and settle down, but his bride would have to be the perfect girl from the perfect family.

Miss Sophia Cantwell is a poor relative with no dowry or prospects. Her father was a dreamer and schemer, and she’s possessed of his wanderlust and grandiose ideas. She wishes she’d been born a man so she could shuck off society’s restrictions and have the exciting future she’s always envisioned for herself.

When Sheridan meets Sophia, there’s an instant attraction, but he’s an earl’s son, and he’s convinced himself that he will wed very high. Sophia has nothing he wants, so she could never be the bride he imagined. But she just might be the woman who could make him happy forever.

PICK UP THE CAD’S TRILOGY ON AMAZON

About the Author

Cheryl Holt is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon “Top 100” bestselling author who has published over fifty novels.

She’s also a lawyer and mom, and at age forty, with two babies at home, she started a new career as a commercial fiction writer. She’d hoped to be a suspense novelist, but couldn’t sell any of her manuscripts, so she ended up taking a detour into romance where she was stunned to discover that she has a knack for writing some of the world’s greatest love stories.

Her books have been released to wide acclaim, and she has won or been nominated for many national awards. She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre. For many years, she was hailed as “The Queen of Erotic Romance”, and she’s also revered as “The International Queen of Villains.” She is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine Romantic Times BOOK Reviews.

She lives and writes in Hollywood, California, and she loves to hear from fans.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

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Then Came the Thunder, by Rachael Huszar (Synopsis & Excerpt)

Hello Readers, I am pleased to participate in the book tour for the new release, Then Came the Thunder by Rachael Huszar. Thank you, Amy Bruno, for the invite. I am happy to post an excerpt for today’s book tour stop. Enjoy the tour! Best, Diane-Lyn

THEN CAME THE THUNDER BY RACHAEL HUSZAR

Publication Date: July 2, 2021
eBook; 160 pages

Series: Three Willows, Book 1
Genre: Historical Fantasy

Synopsis

Jessalyn Joy loves her husband, but she can’t help the feelings that arose when he volunteered for the Union army. When he comes back to her in a box instead of on his feet, those feelings complicate even more.

Jessalyn’s mourning period is cut short when something begins to attack the livestock in their small town, and greater dangers begin to threaten their provincial life. Thrown together with the new reverend, one of her own students, and a strange man somehow related to her husband’s passing, Jessalyn must find a way to stop the evils that threaten her husband’s first and ultimately last home.

Set in the Southwestern home front, Huszar blends a taste of fantasy into a startling down-to-earth world, creating a high stakes adventure for this strong female protagonist and her band of amateur sleuths.

AMAZON (affiliate link)

Excerpt, Chapter 9:

“Seems like a sweet kid,” Sam said once they’d gone.
“She is.”
“And, you’ve got a lesson with her tonight?”
“I do,” Jessalyn said. “Lilah is an excellent reader and studies with me privately.”
Sam noticed a pattern. The preacher received one-on-one advice from Jessalyn, and so did a
talented student. He was growing quite curious about Jessalyn the teacher, as well as Jessalyn the
woman. “Mind if I sit in?”
She blinked. “On the lesson?”
“Yeah. Might be fun to see you in action.”
Jessalyn narrowed her eyes. “I’m not sure how much ‘fun’ you could have.”
“Leave that up to me. What’s the topic?”
“We’ve been reading A Tale of Two Cities.”
“Dickens. Good choice.”
“You’ve read it?”
Sam didn’t miss the incredulity in her voice. To be fair, he supposed he didn’t look like an avid
reader. Still, there was something so satisfying about surprising Jessalyn. He gazed up at the sky
and tapped his chin dramatically. “What was it we were saying this morning about snap
judgements? I just can’t remember . . .”
Jessalyn huffed. She put on a mockingly haughty tone. “Do forgive me, good sir.”
Any reply Sam might have had was cut off by a sweetly shrill cry. “Jessalyn! Oh, Jessalyn!”
Three women were making their way towards them in the slowly thinning crowd, the bright
colors of their dresses making them pop out like early spring buds.
Jessalyn froze mid-stride, and Sam watched a series of emotions cross her face. Pain, regret,
resolve, and finally a smile so wide it looked like it hurt. “Charity! Patience! Felicity! Hello,” she
said to the women. Ooohh, she hates them.
The blonde flapped a hand at Jessalyn. “It’s been a while since we saw you out and about!”

“Oh,” Jessalyn said with a sigh. “I’m around. I just have a lot of work to do, you know.”
The brunette, dressed all in yellow, leaned forward. “Tell me about it. If I could get out of the
kitchen in the summer and stay in that pretty little schoolhouse of yours, I’d never leave either!”
The third woman spoke up. “It really is a lovely building. You did such a nice job.”
“Thank you,” said Jessalyn.
The blonde woman, her cheeks as pink as her clothes, had been looking back and forth from
Jessalyn to Sam the entire time. “Jessalyn . . . aren’t you going to introduce us?”
“I’m sorry,” Jessalyn said. “This is Samuel Brooks. Mister Brooks, please meet Charity Meyer,
Felicity Anders, and Patience Hale.”
Sam tipped his hat. “My pleasure, ladies.”
All three of them giggled.
“Are you a relative of Jessalyn’s?” asked the third, Patience.
“I am not. I actually just came to Three Willows a handful of days ago. Miss Joy was kind
enough to open up her spare room to me, so I’ll be her boarder until I can make other
arrangements.”
Felicity, the brunette, looked Sam up and down appreciatively. “You always did have a good eye,
Jessalyn. Ow!” She squeaked in pain as Charity elbowed her in the ribs.
“That’s so exciting!” Charity said loudly, trying to cover up her action. “We haven’t had a new
face around here in a good while!”
“And what a face,” Felicity said.
Which earned her another jab in the ribs from Charity.
Sam glanced at Jessalyn to see her reaction to this circus act. She was failing to keep up the
sunbeam smile, and something dark seemed to be settling in her eyes.
Patience pulled his attention back to the conversation. “Are you looking for land, then?”
“I reckon so,” said Sam. “Or I will be soon.”
“You know what that means, ladies,” Patience said to the other two. “Come autumn . . .”

“Oh! We can have a barn raising!” Felicity clapped her hands in delight.
“Wait, is it still a barn raising if we build a house?” asked Charity.
“Does that matter?”
“Sort of?”
“It’s a party, Charity. What else needs to be said?” clarified Patience, a hand on her hip.
“Oh, this will be so fun!” squealed Charity.
“Mister Brooks, you must let us plan the whole thing. We won’t take no for an answer,” Felicity
said.
Sam wasn’t too sure how the conversation had arrived here in the span of what felt like seconds.
Maybe there was no secret behind the unfailing hospitality of Three Willows’ residents. Not that
the ulterior motives of these three weren’t clear. Still, who was he to refuse? “With you three
lovely ladies at the helm? I wouldn’t dream of intruding.” It wasn’t complete flattery. They were
quite pretty.
“Wonderful!” said Charity. Then, like it was an afterthought, she added, “Jessalyn, um, you can
be involved, too, of course.”
“Yes,” Jessalyn said, even though Sam thought she’d probably rather die than plan a party with
these three.
“My gears are already turning! Girls, we must meet up later in the week,” said Felicity.
“Yes, yes,” Patience agreed.
“Welcome to Three Willows, Mister Brooks!”
“Yes, welcome!”
“We’re glad to have you!”
Then in a whirlwind of giggles, they departed.
Sam let out a low whistle. “What do they put in this town’s water supply?”
With the three ladies gone, Jessalyn seemed to have come back to herself a bit. She looked at
Sam, a touch sly. “I’d watch that charm of yours, Samuel Brooks.”

“Why’s that?”
“Because two of those women are happily married.”
Oh, shit. “. . . which ones?”
Jessalyn turned away, tapping her chin. “I just can’t remember . . .”
Okay. She’d won this round. Chuckling to himself, Sam kicked at the dirt with the toe of his boot
before jogging to catch up with her.

About the Author

Rachael Huszar kept her life steeped in stories from a young age, and she began her own journey in story-making when she reached adulthood. In the time since, she has taken up swimming, roller skating, and consuming tabletop RPG streams. She spends the bulk of her time with her dog, Silo, and works full time as a designer in Dallas, Texas.

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

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Book Tour: The Oath, by A.M. Linden (Excerpt)

Welcome to The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn. I am so excited to participate in the book tour for the novel The Oath, by A.M. Linden. Many thanks to Amy Bruno from HF Virtual Book Tours for the invite.

THE OATH BY A.M. LINDEN

Publication Date: June 15, 2021
She Writes Press
Paperback & eBook; 336 pages

Series: The Druid Chronicles, #1

When the last of members of a secretive Druid cult are forced to abandon their hidden sanctuary, they send the youngest of their remaining priests in search of Annwr, their chief priestess’s sister, who was abducted by a Saxon war band fifteen years ago. With only a rudimentary grasp of English and the ambiguous guidance of an oracle’s prophecy, Caelym manages to find Annwr living in a hut on the grounds of a Christian convent.

Annwr has spent her years of captivity caring for the timid Aleswina, an orphaned Saxon princess who was consigned to the cloistered convent by her cousin, King Gilberth, after he assumed her father’s throne. Just as Caelym and Annwr are about leave together, Aleswina learns that Gilberth, a tyrant known for his cruelty and vicious temper, means to take her out of the convent and marry her. Terrified, she flees with the two Druids–beginning a heart-pounding adventure that unfolds in ways none of them could have anticipated.

AMAZON

Praise

“Linden’s well-researched tale eloquently brings to life a lesser-known period of transition in Britain…The author has created a strong foundation for her series with well-developed characters whom readers can embrace…[a] layered, gripping historical fiction…”
–Kirkus Reviews

“Linden uses a fairy tale-like style almost as though this story has been passed down orally over the centuries. Though the kingdoms are fictional, Linden’s tale draws on meticulous historical research, especially in her dramatization of the Christian persecution of the druids.”
–Booklist

“The story rolls along at a lively pace, rich with details of the times and a wide cast of characters….Those interested in goddess-worshipping religions will be drawn to the novel. Any reader curious about 8th-century Britain will enjoy Linden’s innovative focus on the little-known Druids as well as early medieval Christians. Her plotting, shifting points of view of the three engaging protagonists, and evocative writing style make The Oath a pleasure to read. Highly recommended!”
–Historical Novels Review

“The Oath urges readers along on a richly textured quest among the Saxons and Celts of 8th-century Britain. Young and rather humorously naïve Druid priest-healer Caelym swears to ‘rescue’ a damsel in distress who turns out to be neither a young damsel nor in distress. With a feminist slant, this engaging tale brings the conflict between Druids and early Christians to vivid life through sympathetic and well-rounded characters. I particularly enjoyed the ironic voice of the aging midwife Annwr. Brava!”
–Sara Stamey, author of The Ariadne Connection

“Thrilling historical fiction with heart and soul.”
–Tim Pears, author of The West Country trilogy

“The Oath will appeal to a wide-ranging readership, reflecting Linden’s rich imagination and gift for weaving tales within tales evoking the romance of medieval Britain. Vibrant, determined, and relatable characters with disparate ethnic and religious identities discover their own strengths, and each other’s, as the intricate and engaging plot unfolds.”
–Anne Marie Tietjen, PhD, clinical psychologist and instructor at Western Washington University

“Linden’s knowledge and passion for history is soaked into every word of The Oath, combined with an obvious skill at storytelling. Linden succeeds at every level, but the world building is truly spectacular. Historical fantasy is hard to do well, but Linden makes it look easy. What could be dry details are presented so effectively that the world is elevated to almost being a character of its own. And in a cast of characters as well drawn as these, that’s saying something. I can’t wait to see what else this skilled author comes up with!”
–Bishop O’Connell, author of the American Faerie Tale series

About the Author

Ann Margaret Linden was born in Seattle, Washington, but grew up on the East Coast before returning to the Pacific Northwest as a young adult. She has undergraduate degrees in anthropology and in nursing and a master’s degree as a nurse practitioner. After working in a variety of acute care and community health settings, she took a position in a program for children with special health care needs where her responsibilities included writing clinical reports, parent educational materials, provider newsletters, grant submissions and other program related materials. The Oath is the first installment of The Druid Chronicles, a five-volume series that began as a somewhat whimsical decision to write something for fun and ended up becoming a lengthy journey that involved Linden taking adult education creative writing courses, researching early British history, and traveling to England, Scotland, and Wales.

Excerpt:

In this excerpt from Chapter 2, “The Message”: A young Druid priest sent to rescue
a priestess abducted by Saxons several years earlier is surprised to discover that
she is the withered old crone who has taken him into her dimly lit cottage.

“You are Annwr?”
“And if I am?”
“I’ve come with a message for Annwr from her sister and need to know that
it is Annwr I am giving it to.”
“Fifteen years is a long time to wait to bring this message.”
Spoken in an imperious voice—as if Feywn’s voice was coming from the old
woman’s lips—her words settled the last of Caelym’s doubts. Still, it was not fair
that he should have to answer for Ossiam’s failure to have his vision sooner, and
he recovered himself enough to say so.
“I began searching from one end of the land to the other, climbing snow-
covered mountains and descending into desolate valleys, swimming across raging
rivers, and wading through perilous swamps, with little food and no rest, the very
moment it was revealed that Ossiam, Grand Oracle and Master of Divination, had
seen in his dreams that . . . that . . .”
Caelym faltered. The vision that Ossiam had seen was of a beautiful girl
held captive in a king’s palace, not a bad-tempered old woman living comfortably
in a common cottage that was too clean but otherwise quite pleasant. He finished
awkwardly, “That you were still alive.”
The realization of just how far off the mark their Grand Oracle and Master of
Divination had been shook Caelym to his core, leaving him speechless.
Annwr broke the silence. “Ossiam couldn’t divine his way to the latrine in
broad daylight and downwind of it!” She fixed Caelym in a direct glare. “So now
you are finally here, suppose you say what it is you have come to say.”
Challenged to get to the point, he did. “To my sister, Annwr—greetings. In
your absence, much has come to pass. It is imperative that you come without
delay. Caelym, son of Caelendra, who bears this message, will be your guide. All
will be revealed at the equinox.”
“Spring or fall?”
Her words hit hard—harder, maybe, than she intended. Refusing to
acknowledge Annwr’s unwelcome reminder that he’d spent over two months
searching for her and still had a long road ahead of him, Caelym spoke in his most
imposing and masterful voice—a voice befitting an emissary of the Great Mother
Goddess—as he changed the subject.
“Of course, you must be overcome with eagerness to hear of all that has
come to pass in your long, sad years of separation. If there were but time and if
only I had my golden harp at hand, what stories I could tell you, what songs I could
sing. For now, let it suffice to say that Cyri, brave and beautiful, conceived in the
Sacred Summer Solstice Ceremony and born of your exalted loins, stands at
Feywn’s right side, ever yearning for your return.”

He paused there, waiting for the importance of what he’d said to sink in,
before adding, “Now I have found you, you need fear neither Saxon warrior nor
wild beast in the forest, for I will protect you and keep you safe on our journey.”
With this oath, at least, as good as fulfilled, he folded his arms on the table,
put his head down, and fell asleep, the arrow in his back vibrating rhythmically with his snores.

 

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