Holiday Historical Fiction
Blowout!
Welcome to the Holiday Historical Fiction Blowout!
Join me and seven other authors for a tour of the world of historical fiction. From ancient Greece through Roman times, the medieval era, the Wars of the Roses, the golden age of piracy and the Regency, as well as alternate history, there's something for everyone.
On his/her assigned day, each author will post a blog about their respective historical eras. More information about the authors and their books follows my blog post.
And all the books listed here are 99 cents from December 1 to December 8, 2015. Have fun!
I'm up with my Regency romantic comedy, A Similar Taste in Books. Here's my post about Regency libraries, which figure large in the story.
REGENCY LIBRARIES
Free public libraries as we know them today did not exist in the Regency. Libraries were part of book shops, and a fee was required to check out books.
Most of the bookshops were concentrated in large cites, such as London. Here’s a list of booksellers in London, with their specialties: http://www.londonancestor.com/leighs/books.htm
Some booksellers kept libraries, and some had Reading Rooms only.
Two of the best known Regency libraries are Hatchard's and Hookham's. Hatchard’s, which figures most prominently in Regency romances and still exists today at its Regency location of 187 Piccadilly, had a Reading Room, while Hookham’s had both a Reading Room and a circulating library.
Libraries were not for the poor. Hookham’s yearly fee for taking out twelve books was forty-two shillings (two guineas, or two pounds, two shillings), about $150 in today’s money. Part of the large fee was due to Hookham’s location in high-priced Mayfair, but some was also due to the cost of books. Books were expensive, thanks to being made from rags and also to a tax on paper, and only the well-heeled could afford to buy or borrow.
Here’s Hookham’s library catalog: http://books.google.com/books/about/A_catalogue_of_Hookham_s_circulating_lib.html?id=WJYIAAAAQAAJ
Here’s Hookham’s ad for its library: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/ecco/004773836.0001.000/1:4?rgn=div1;view=fulltext
In my Love and the Library series, my heroes and heroines meet in Hookham’s circulating library over a copy of Pride and Prejudice. Since they all like Pride and Prejudice, can love be far behind?
The books in the series so far are A Similar Taste in Books, A Mutual Interest in Numbers and A Distinct Flair for Words.
Library picture is of the British Museum Reading Room, from Wikipedia.
And now, here are the books!
(December 1st)
A Similar Taste in Books (Love and the Library Book 1) – by Linda Banche
Historical Period: Regency
Synopsis:
Book 1 of Love and the Library: Clara and Justin
"Pride and Prejudice" has always brought lovers
together, even in the Regency.
Justin has a deep, dark secret—he likes that most despised form
of literature, the novel. His favorite novel is "Pride and
Prejudice", and, especially, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Intelligent, lively,
fiercely loyal Miss Elizabeth. How he would love to meet a lady like her.
Clara’s favorite novel is "Pride and Prejudice" and
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Intelligent, steadfast and willing to admit when he is
wrong. Can such a splendid man exist? And can she find him?
One day in the library, they both check out copies of their
favorite book. When Justin bumps into Clara, the magic of their similar taste
in books just might make their wishes come true.
A sweet, traditional Regency romantic comedy novella, but not a
retelling of "Pride and Prejudice".
Sales Link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/247691
On sale for 99 cents at Smashwords only with coupon code FF67C (not case sensitive). All formats are available at Smashwords.
(December 2)
Kingdom of Rebels – by Derek Birks
Historical Period: Fifteenth Century – the Wars of the Roses
Sales links
Amazon UK: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00MQA6826/
Synopsis:
When all hope is gone, only death lies in wait…
England in 1468 is a nervous kingdom. King Edward IV has fallen
out with his chief ally during the Wars of the Roses, the powerful Earl of
Warwick.
Ned Elder, a young lord whose sword helped to put Edward on the
throne, has been forced out of England by Warwick.
Far
away on the Scottish border, a beleaguered fort, Crag Tower, desperately awaits
Ned’s return. Led by his fiery sister, Eleanor, the dwindling garrison is all
that remains of his brave army of retainers. Unknown to all except the loyal
knight, Ragwulf, Eleanor has Ned’s young son in her charge - a son who has
never seen his father. But, as border clansmen batter the gates with fire, the
castle seems certain to fall.
One by one Ned’s family and friends are caught
up in Warwick’s web of treason. The fate of the Elders and those who serve them
lies once more in the balance as all are drawn back to Yorkshire where they
face old enemies once more. Eleanor can only hope that Ned will soon return.
She must fight to keep that hope alive… and when Lady Eleanor fights, she takes
no prisoners...
(December 3)
Search for the Golden
Serpent (Servant of the Gods,
Book 1) – by Luciana Cavallaro
Historical
period – 600 BCE Ancient Greece
Synopsis:
The story is
about Evan, an architect whose been having strange dreams. He received an
unexpected phone call from an entrepreneur from Greece who wants Evan to
restore his Family’s home. He dismissed the caller and regarded the person as a
crank. During a dream, he met the mysterious entrepreneur, Zeus, who catapulted
him back in time, five hundred years before the birth of Christ. Evan, an
unwilling participant finds himself entangled in an epic struggle between the
gods and his life.
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/520605
(December 4)
Children of Apollo (Eagles and Dragons –
Book I) – by Adam Alexander Haviaras
Historical
Period: The Roman Empire, A.D. 202
Synopsis:
At the peak of
Rome’s might a dragon is born among eagles, an heir to a line both blessed and
cursed by the Gods for ages.
Lucius Metellus
Anguis is a young warrior who is inspired by the deeds of his glorious
ancestors and burdened by the knowledge that he must raise his family name from
the ashes of the past. Having achieved a measure of success in the emperor’s
legions in North Africa, Lucius is recalled to Rome where he finds himself surrounded
by enemies, cast into the deadly arena of Roman politics
Amid growing
fears of treachery, Lucius meets a young Athenian woman who fills his darkening
world with new-found hope. Their love grows, as does their belief that the Gods
have planned their meeting, but when an ancient oracle of Apollo utters a
terrifying prophecy regarding his future, Lucius’ world is once more thrown
into chaos. Ultimately, he must choose sides in a war that threatens to destroy
his family, his faith and all that he has worked for.
Available here
on Amazon, iBooks, and Kobo: http://eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/books/children-of-apollo-eagles-and-dragons-book-i/
(December 5)
Sea Witch (Voyage One) – by
Helen Hollick
Historical
Period: The Golden Age of Piracy – 1716
Synopsis:
Escaping
the bullying of his elder half brother, from the age of fifteen Jesamiah Acorne
has been a pirate with only two loves - his ship and his freedom. But his life
is to change when he and his crewmates unsuccessfully attack a merchant ship
off the coast of South Africa.
He is to meet Tiola Oldstagh an insignificant
girl, or so he assumes - until she rescues him from a vicious attack, and
almost certain death, by pirate hunters.
And then he discovers what she really
is; a healer, a midwife - and a white witch.
Her name, an anagram of "all that is good." Tiola and Jesamiah become
lovers, but the wealthy Stefan van Overstratten, a Cape Town Dutchman, also
wants Tiola as his wife and Jesamiah's jealous brother, Phillipe Mereno, is
determined to seek revenge for resentments of the past, a stolen ship and the
insult of being cuckolded in his own home.
When
the call of the sea and an opportunity to commandeer a beautiful ship - the Sea
Witch - is put in Jesamiah's path he must make a choice between his life as a
pirate or his love for Tiola. He wants both, but Mereno and van Overstratten
want him dead.
In
trouble, imprisoned in the darkness and stench that is the lowest part of his
brother's ship, can Tiola with her gift of Craft, and the aid of his loyal
crew, save him?
Using
all her skills Tiola must conjure up a wind to rescue her lover, but first she
must brave the darkness of the ocean depths and confront the supernatural
being, Tethys, the Spirit of the Sea, an elemental who will stop at nothing to
claim Jesamiah Acorne's soul and bones as a trophy.
Website: www.helenhollick.net
Amazon Author
link: viewAuthor.at/HelenHollick
Universal
Amazon link: viewBook.at/SeaWitch
(December 6)
INCEPTIO – by
Alison Morton
Historic Period: Modern/Roman (alternate
history)
Synopsis:
New York, present day, alternate timeline. Karen Brown, angry
and frightened after surviving a kidnap attempt, has a harsh choice - being
eliminated by government enforcer Jeffery Renschman or fleeing to mysterious
Roma Nova, her dead mother's homeland in Europe.
Founded sixteen centuries ago by Roman exiles and ruled by
women, Roma Nova gives Karen safety, at a price, and a ready-made family in a
strange culture she often struggles with. Just as she's finding her feet, a
shocking discovery about her new lover, Praetorian special forces officer
Conrad Tellus, isolates her.
Historic Period: Modern/Roman (alternate
history)
Synopsis:
New York, present day, alternate timeline. Karen Brown, angry
and frightened after surviving a kidnap attempt, has a harsh choice - being
eliminated by government enforcer Jeffery Renschman or fleeing to mysterious
Roma Nova, her dead mother's homeland in Europe.
Founded sixteen centuries ago by Roman exiles and ruled by
women, Roma Nova gives Karen safety, at a price, and a ready-made family in a
strange culture she often struggles with. Just as she's finding her feet, a
shocking discovery about her new lover, Praetorian special forces officer
Conrad Tellus, isolates her.
And the enforcer, Renschman, is stalking her in her new home and
nearly kills her. Recovering, she is desperate to find out why this Renschman
is hunting her so viciously. Unable to rely on anybody else, she undergoes
intensive training, develops fighting skills and becomes an undercover cop. But
crazy with bitterness at his past failures, Renschman sets a trap for her,
knowing she has no choice but to spring it...
website: http://alison-morton.com
Purchase links:
Amazon (universal link): http://authl.it/B00K5OO4QW?d
iBooks (US): https://itunes.apple.com/book/inceptio/id903741754
(December 7)
Men of
the Cross (Battle Scars I) – by Charlene Newcomb
Historical period: Medieval - 12th century
Synopsis:
War, political intrigue and passion… heroes…
friends and lovers… and the seeds for a new Robin Hood legend await you…
Two young knights’ journey to war at Richard the
Lionheart’s side sweeps them from England to the Holy Land in this historical
adventure set against the backdrop of the Third Crusade.
Henry de Grey leaves Southampton in high spirits, strong in his
faith and passionate about the mission to take Jerusalem back from Saladin’s
army. Stephan l’Aigle’s prowess on the battlefield is well known, as are his
exploits in the arms of other men. He prizes duty, honour and loyalty to his
king above all else. But God and the Church? Stephan has little use for either.
Survival will depend on more than a strong sword arm.
Website: http://charlenenewcomb.com
(December
8)
Flavia's
Secret –
by Lindsay Townsend
Historical
Period: Ancient Roman Britain, 206 AD
Synopsis:
Spirited young scribe Flavia hopes for freedom. She
and her fellow slaves in Aquae Sulis (modern Bath) have served the Lady Valeria
for many years, but their mistress' death brings a threat to Flavia's dream:
her new master Marcus Brucetus, a charismatic, widowed officer toughened in the
forests of Germania. 
Flavia
finds him overwhelmingly attractive but she is aware of the danger. To save her
life and those of her 'family' she has forged a note from her mistress. If her
deception is discovered, all the slaves may die.
For
his part torn between attraction and respect, Marcus will not force himself on
Flavia. Flavia by now knows of his grief over the deaths of his wife Drusilla
and child. But how can she match up to the serene, flame-haired Drusilla?
As
the wild mid-winter festival of Saturnalia approaches, many lives will be
changed forever.
Website: www.lindsaytownsend.co.uk
On sale at
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/flavias-secret
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