Sunday, June 3, 2012

Berengaria Brown dips her toes into Medieval Romance

Ever since I was a little girl I’ve been fascinated by Medieval stories, particularly medieval romance. As I got older the attraction got stronger. What’s not to like about pretty ladies in flowing robes and long hair. Not to mention half-naked warriors waving swords around.
When I was looking for a new story idea I remembered my love of medieval history. My Regency romances very strictly adhere to the rules of the Regency time period, but I had no idea where to begin researching a medieval, so decided to get things as right as I could, but put a disclaimer in the books that the setting was simply my imagination. The weather needed to be just right for the plot, so instead of trying to find a part of Europe where that would happen, I went with a slightly “fantasized” medieval setting.
I began with the Lady Elinor, who is left alone to care for her family’s castle, people, and lands when her father and two brothers are killed in battle. But the story wouldn’t end. Her new husband’s cousin arrived needing protection. Lord Jeffrey refused to be defeated…
And then, when I thought I was done, I remembered all those stories about Robin Hood, and knew there was still one more hero needing his happy-ever-after. 
All four books in the medieval romance series, “Elinor’s Stronghold” are now available!
 Book1: “Pillaging Elinor’s Castle” blurb:
Lady Elinor's father and two brothers are killed in battle, and Lord Rhys loses his demesne. To protect her people Elinor decides she will marry Lord Rhys, but only if he agrees the Captain of the Guard, Hammond, will share their bed and the decision making from now on. They agree and seal their contract in blood. Rhys and his people move into the stronghold.
After the wedding they begin to plan for how to survive the attack that will inevitably come. The stronghold is a wealthy one, and many will consider it an easy target with its lord and his sons dead. They also have to blend the two households together and prepare for the coming winter. At night Hammond and Rhys work hard in bed, learning to share Elinor, finding out what pleases her best, and arousing each other to new heights along the way.

Book 2: “Defending Rhyannon’s Inheritance” blurb:
Hated and incompetent Lord Jeffrey wants to marry Rhyannon, and her bad-tempered cousin, Coll, wants to steal her jewels. She needs a good protector.
Alistair has loved her faithfully for years, but he has no assets and can’t support them both. Lord Devon is a suitable husband, but does he even like Rhyannon? It’s a big challenge, but maybe together Alistair and Lord Devon can protect her and her jewels from Lord Jeffrey and Cousin Coll.
Meanwhile, winter is settling on the stronghold and Lord Jeffrey is attacking the people once again. And Cousin Coll is determined to get her jewels any way he can. Surviving the winter is hard enough to do without all these other things happening as well. Everyone in the stronghold is living on a knife edge. Alistair and Lord Devon focus on Rhyannon. They’ll love her and protect her—and each other as well.


Book 3: “Restoring Garnet’s Heart”: blurb
Tragically widowed, Garnet is loved by two men. If a noble lady can have two men, why can’t a mere sewing woman? Garnet decides she’ll marry them both! Then she adopts two orphaned, starving little girls.
Garnet, Byram, and Carlysle are sent to repair the demesne. Can they achieve this huge task before the harvest is gathered in? First a high stone wall needs to be built to protect them from attackers. The buildings must be cleaned and repaired, the crops sown, weeded, cared for, and hopefully reaped. Is it possible to complete such a huge undertaking before the next vicious winter arrives? Will the peasants help them?
Meanwhile Lady Elinor gives birth to the heir of the stronghold, and Lord Rhys and Lady Rhyannon, with Alistair and Lord Devon, go to court to sort out her inheritance.

And what about Garnet’s threesome relationship? Will that be successful?

Book 4: “Bringing Claire Home” blurb:
A year ago, Paul took his sister Claire away to escape Lord Jeffrey’s attacks on the hamlets. Mitchell and Claire were in love, but Mitchell hadn’t asked her to marry him before she left. Now he aches for her, and goes in search of her to bring her back to his home as his bride. But no one has seen or heard of her, and the hamlet where she was to go is empty.
Finally Mitchell meets Ivan, who takes him into the forest where Claire and Paul, and Ivan himself, have been living for the past year. But Ivan loves Claire, too, and Claire owes him her life. Mitchell suggests he and Ivan share Claire. Can this possibly work—two men with no tie to each other and the one woman they both love? And can they survive a dangerous journey home?
BUY Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/bringing-claire-home

Story Excerpt from “Defending Rhyannon’s Inheritance”.
“Lord Devon, you are the only suitable unmarried noble here.” Lord Rhys stared at the warrior. He was good-looking, broad of shoulder, and strong of arm. His hair was a pale gold, his eyes blue, and Rhys thought a lady would not find him unappealing. Certainly he was neither old, nor did he dribble.
“I don’t— I haven’t—” Lord Devon visibly pulled himself together and bowed. “Yes, lord, I will marry the Lady Rhyannon. It will be an honor. I should tell you, I was reared only with men and know nothing about ladies, but I shall endeavor to learn, and I give you my solemn vow to protect her from all dangers, not just Lord Jeffrey.”
Lady Elinor leaned forward across the high table. “Lord Devon, as a soldier you are used to sharing everything with your fellow warriors, are you not?”
“Yes, lady, of course.”
“And you know that the Lady Rhyannon and Alistair love one another?”
Lord Devon’s fair face colored red. He swallowed and said, “Yes, lady.”
“It is you who must marry her. You are noble and a fitting match. But there is no reason why Alistair could not assist you with caring for the Lady Rhyannon. As a soldier always has a man to watch his back, Alistair would be the one to watch your back, and Lady Rhyannon’s.”
Father Augustus drew in a breath noisily, but no one said anything. Then, to Rhys’s relief, Lord Devon nodded again. “That sounds reasonable, Lady Elinor.”
Rhys’s heart was pounding, the blood pouring through his body making him feel hot and cold all at once. Had his wife just said, in front of a group of men, one of them a priest, that Lord Devon should marry Rhyannon and then allow Alistair to fuck her as well? Yes, she had, and with a straight, innocent face. What’s more, Lord Devon had agreed! Never would Rhys have suggested such a thing, even if he’d thought of it, which he hadn’t. But then, he and Hammond shared Elinor, and that had been her idea, too, so he supposed he shouldn’t be too shocked she’d done it again.
Rhys lifted an arm, and Byram, the steward, came over to the high table. “Yes, lord.”
“Please ask Alistair to join us.”

Berengaria Brown
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1 comment:

anny cook said...

I read them all! They're great!