THE LOVES OF THE LIONHEART - History's Forgotten Princesses

The Loves of the Lionheart

History's Forgotten Princesses  This is a novel I have wanted to write for some time, since I became interested in the Queen of Richard the Lionheart. She was the only Queen of England who never set foot in the country and I found her a fascinating subject. However, as I got involved in the research for Queen Berengaria, in relation to Richard, I thought his first serious love interest, Princess Alys of France, deserved a mention. Alys turned out to be a very interesting character, a sympathetic character, although very little is known about her. In fact, very little is known about either of these princesses, and I hope I have done them justice. I have studied many chronicles of the time, a lot of which contradict each other, but none of them really describe the thoughts and feelings of these two young women, especially Alys, who I feel was exploited and much maligned. Anyway, this has been a new venture for me, to write about real people instead of fictional ones, to know where the story has to go because it is history, it has happened. I do hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It is available from today in both kindle and paperback versions. The kindle version will be on special offer for this week only. As always, thank you all for your continuing support.

I MADE IT TO THE FINALS!!  Now I need your vote if I am to have any chance of winning and I know I can count on everybody on my list. Here's how:  Go to this link Scroll down until you come to 'Best Historical' and you will see my book, Once Loved, at the top of the list. Just click on it and your vote will be registered. Then, if you will, scroll down a bit more until you come to 'Best Romance' where you will see my book, The Minstrel's Lady, again at the top of the list. Just click on that to register your vote. It only takes a few minutes. I was thrilled to have two books nominated for this award and I never expected to make it to the finals. With your help, I might even go farther. Thank you so much! Margaret

THIS WEEK ONLY - The Wronged Wife only .99 cents (or pence)

THE WRONGED WIFE

This has been a very popular book since it was first published in 2014. It is controversial, but it must always be remembered never to read historical fiction through 21st century eyes. Things were different then, attitudes and expectations were different then.

The story concerns Lord Richard Morton, an earl and courtier to King Henry VIII. In service of that King, Lord Richard is obliged to leave his wife and daughter for a whole year, to fight the King's war with the French.

On his return, he is heartbroken to find his beloved wife with child by his brother. In a blind rage, he lashes out at her and leaves, taking his five year old daughter with him.

It is seven years before he discovers his mistake when his dying brother sends for him and make his deathbed confession.

Now he is even more heartbroken, to think that he tore their lives apart, turned against his wife when he should have known better and given her his support. How is he ever going to make it up to her and to his daughter, who has been kept away from her mother for all those years?

He knows he must return to his Cornish home and reunite his daughter with her mother, he knows he can never ask forgiveness of either of them. 

But when he finds his wife studying the illicit and heretical teachings of Martin Luther, he fears he may have left things too late. He cannot leave his child with a mother who is likely to be arrested and charged with heresy, nor can he bear to separate them again.

This will be the hardest battle he has ever had to fight.

GET YOUR COPY NOW, WHILE IT IS $4 off!   It won't stay that way for long.

Martin Luther

By Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder - http://img.over-blog-kiwi.com/1/59/80/42/20150602/ob_92f938_942363-martin-luther.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54910617

One of the founders of the reformation was Martin Luther, a German priest who began to question the dogma of the Roman Catholic Church. 

He particularly objected to the Church's sale of indulgences and the idea that entry into Heaven could be bought with money. In 1517, he posted his 95 thesis of objections on the door of a church, thus rousing others to begin to question in their turn. 

For centuries after Luther's rebellion, possession of his writings was illegal, heretical and could be punished by being burned alive.