Today’s Steals and Deals at AAR…..
Currently, there’s nothing I love more to read than brilliant historical fiction. If you feel the same way, this book is for you. In our DIK review, our reviewer (and I’d love to know who it is!) wrote:
Lords of the White Castle is Elizabeth Chadwick’s eleventh book. Set in late twelfth and early thirteenth century England, it recounts the true tale of the outlaw Fulke FitzWarin, a proud man who dared to stand against King John in order to reclaim his family castle. It also follows the life of Maude le Vavasour, who married Fulke’s mentor Theobald Walter, but fell in love with the outlaw. After Walter’s death, Fulke rescues her from King John’s clutches and together they fight for justice, while founding a dynasty that lasted 200 years.
While not strictly a romance, this superb novel has many strong romantic elements that will appeal to readers who also appreciate a rich historical background in their novels. As with her previous works, Ms Chadwick paints a detailed picture of the Middle Ages, in both its glorious and less appealing aspects. What I loved best was the way the book drew me right in, allowing me to lose myself in another era, one of bitter rivalry, power, intrigue and enduring love. The small details of everyday life are woven tightly into the narrative, enriching the background yet not overwhelming the story. Every setting comes alive, from the banquet hall at Westminster Palace to the forest outside Canterbury into which Fulke and Maude flee after their marriage. In similar fashion, the language is neither overly archaic, nor annoyingly modern. The author uses a few choice older terms and more formal prose to create a medieval feel without drowning the reader in thees, thous, yeas and nays. Her characters are true to their time. Fulke, Maude and King John elicit both sympathy and scorn, while the supporting players are vibrant entities, rather than mere foils for the protagonists. Fans of this period will delight in meeting Henry II, Richard I, William Marshal, the Earl of Chester, William of Salisbury and Hubert Walter and enjoy brief glimpses of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Isabella of Angoulême. Fulke and Maude moved in the highest echelons of Anglo-Norman society and it is to Ms. Chadwick’s credit that she depicts the well-known historical characters as living, breathing beings, not glittering icons.
It’s on sale for 2.99 here.
This whole series is OLD SKOOL and I kinda love it. It’s over the top, the hero behaves terribly (although he then grovels beautifully), and the sex scenes are detailed and purple. It’s a very good time if you like bodice rippery romances. Here’s the blurb:
Lord James Rutherford fights the inexorable demise of his bachelorhood with every sane bone in his body. But the single-minded pursuit of the delectable Missy Armstrong entering her fourth London Season proves his undoing. Just as he’s decided to risk the wrath of her brother—his friend—and right the wrong of their indiscretion, James discovers the consequences of a forgotten night of drunken passion has left yet another lady of ton compromised.
For Millicent ‘Missy’ Armstrong, being ruined by the man of her dreams is nothing to wring her hands and bury her face in her hands about. But when an offer of marriage isn’t immediately forthcoming, and whispers of James’s betrothal to another—and pending fatherhood—reaches her ears, there isn’t an acre of land on the Continent far enough on which to escape. Then, in an abrupt reversal, James is back on her doorstep with the offer she’d yearned to receive…two weeks and one woman too late.
In the face of her unwavering refusal, James launches a war to win back her passion, her trust, and her love. A war as ruthless as it is seductive. With the wounds of her heartbreak still fresh and raw, can he convince her that far from the second choice, she has always been the only choice for him?
It’s on sale for 2.99 here.
We enjoyed this historical mystery. In our review, our reviewer said:
Hugh Corbaille was orphaned at the age of seven and taken in by the Sheriff of Lincoln, Ralf Corbaille, and his wife, Adela. They are the only parents Hugh has ever known, since he has lost all of his early memories. As the book opens, Ralf has just been killed, and Hugh is devastated. Since Adela died previously, Hugh is now alone, and devastated. When a chance encounter with Nigel Haslin, vassel to the Earl of Wiltshire, reveals the information that Nigel believes Hugh to be the kidnapped son of the previous earl, Hugh is not interested at first. Months later, Hugh decides that pursuing the matter might help occupy his time and his mind.
The story is set against the Civil War involving Stephen and Matilda. The author does an excellent job demonstrating how divided the barons and families of England were at this period. Nigel has sworn for Stephen, but as Hugh delves deeper into his family history, he meets his maternal uncle Simon, who has sworn for Matilda. Hugh manages to deftly maneuver the political climate without declaring himself for either side. As the story progresses, his main focus is not on the war, but on who killed his true father. Guy, Hugh’s paternal uncle and the new earl, is a definitely a suspect. As with any good mystery, however, there are many suspects, and the true villain is not readily revealed.
While trying to unlock the secrets surrounding his father’s death, Hugh forms an instant bond with Nigel’s daughter, Cristen. Their bond deepens into love over the course of the book, and it is only Cristen that has no ulterior motives for befriending Hugh. Hugh is a strong and interesting character, who suffers from severe migraines. He also agonizes over coming face to face with his real mother, since he truly loved Adela and considered her his mother.
It’s on sale for 0.99 here.
This historical romance is my personal favorite in Dunsmore’s well-reviewed and popular historical romance series. In her review, Caz wrote:
Hattie Greenfield is studying art at Oxford University, but is frustrated at not being taken seriously – even by her professors, who are condescending to all the female students. She longs to create more meaningful work and paint more challenging subjects – and hopes to gain some inspiration from the work of the Pre-Raphaelites. To this end, she arranges to join a tour to view John Everett Millais’ famous painting of Ophelia, which is currently in the collection belonging to one Mr. Blackstone – a man with a reputation so black society has dubbed him “Beelzebub”, and who happens to be one of her father’s business rivals – but when she arrives at the gallery at the appointed time, she’s concerned to discover that either she’s late for the tour, or that nobody else has arrived. While she’s waiting to view the painting, a man enters the room – a darkly attractive man with hard grey eyes and unruly black hair – who offers to give her the whole tour… and promptly kisses her instead.
Lucian Blackstone (whom we met briefly in A Rogue of One’s Own) is a self-made man with a reputation for cold-blooded ruthlessness in his business dealings. Born into a Scottish mining community, he’s survived real hardship and suffering, but has pulled himself up from nothing to become a captain of industry and amass a fortune along the way. He never forgets where he came from though, and is determined to do whatever he can to improve the lots of the people who work for him. But while he’s very wealthy, he has little real power or influence, and he needs both if he’s going to be able to bring about the changes he wants to effect; so in order to make himself more… acceptable to society, he has begun the attempt to rehabilitate his fearsome reputation. Unfortunately, he hasn’t met with much success so far, but his brief meeting with Greenfield’s daughter has given him the germ of an idea as to what his next move should be. And while there are a number of well-bred young ladies in society who would suit his purpose, he’s rather surprised to find there’s really only one of them he wants.
It’s on sale for 2.99 here.