Review: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz,

Step back to an English village in 1255, where life plays out in dramatic vignettes illuminating twenty-two unforgettable characters.

Maidens, monks, and millers’ sons — in these pages, readers will meet them all. 

There’s Hugo, the lord’s nephew, forced to prove his manhood by hunting a wild boar; sharp-tongued Nelly, who supports her family by selling live eels; and the peasant’s daughter, Mogg, who gets a clever lesson in how to save a cow from a greedy landlord. 

There’s also mud-slinging Barbary (and her noble victim); Jack, the compassionate half-wit; Alice, the singing shepherdess; and many more. 

With a deep appreciation for the period and a grand affection for both characters and audience, Laura Amy Schlitz creates twenty-two riveting portraits and linguistic gems equally suited to silent reading or performance.

 Illustrated with pen-and-ink drawings by Robert Byrd — inspired by the Munich-Nuremberg manuscript, an illuminated poem from thirteenth-century Germany — this witty, historically accurate, and utterly human collection forms an exquisite bridge to the people and places of medieval England.

Hardcover, 96 pages

Published July 24th 2007

by Candlewick

3/5 stars

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! is the 2008 John Newbery Medal Winner.  I am not totally sure what the criteria is to win this honour but Good Masters is a different format to other medal winners that I have read. 

Told is a series of plays/skits geared for a younger audience its pretty much a history lesson with different members of society from different classes.  It's educational, told in verse mostly and illustrated nicely. It was a fun read, I even learned a few things about medieval England. It was well researched and would make a nice addition to class rooms.

My copy was from my bookshelf and not just part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

 but also reading the John Newbery Medal Winners.

Review/Giveaway: His Castilian Hawk by Anna Belfrage

For bastard-born Robert FitzStephan, being given Eleanor d’Outremer in marriage is an honour. For Eleanor, this forced wedding is anything but a fairy tale.

Robert FitzStephan has served Edward Longshanks loyally since the age of twelve. Now he is riding with his king to once and for all bring Wales under English control.

Eleanor d’Outremer—Noor to family—lost her Castilian mother as a child and is left entirely alone when her father and brother are killed. When ordered to wed the unknown Robert FitzStephan, she has no choice but to comply.

Two strangers in a marriage bed is not easy. Things are further complicated by Noor’s blood-ties to the Welsh princes and by covetous Edith who has warmed Robert’s bed for years.

Robert’s new wife may be young and innocent, but he is soon to discover that not only is she spirited and proud, she is also brave. Because when Wales lies gasping and Edward I exacts terrible justice on the last prince and his children, Noor is determined to save at least one member of the House of Aberffraw from the English king.

Will years of ingrained service have Robert standing with his king or will he follow his heart and protect his wife, his beautiful and fierce Castilian hawk?

Publication Date: September 28, 2020

Troubador Publishing

4.5/5 stars

Genre: Historical Fiction

Available on Amazon

I was excited to hear about this new series by Anna Belfrage. Her Graham Saga is one of my absolute favourite series - historical, family drama, mystery, adventure all mixed with some time travel.

His Castilian Hawk is the start of another series set during the reign of the first King Edward and it’s during the Welsh conflict that this book centres on. It didn’t take long to get sweep away into the pages. With an unlikely couple, Robert FitzStephan and Eleanor d’Outremer, who are forced upon each other. I felt a real connection with these two, different backgrounds both conflicted, one committed to the King and the other part Welsh. Throw in a disgruntled Edith, some treason worthy secrets and it’s a match well worth watching.

With so many layers going on Anna has once again delivered a yummy historical drama that was authentic, emotional and entertaining. Her knowledge of history shines through once again. There are scenes of battle and of love - if you've read any of her books you know exactly what I mean.

I can’t wait to see what’s next as this series continues with The Castilian Pomegranate. If you haven't read an Anna Belfrage book I highly recommend both The Graham Saga and The King's Greatest Enemy

My thanks to Amy at HFVBT for the invite to be part of this tour. Also to the author for a print copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About the Author

Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with two absorbing interests: history and writing. Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as the equally acclaimed medieval series The King’s Greatest Enemy which is set in 14th century England.

More recently, Anna has published The Wanderer, a fast-paced contemporary romantic suspense trilogy with paranormal and time-slip ingredients. While she loved stepping out of her comfort zone (and will likely do so again ) she is delighted to be back in medieval times in her September 2020 release, His Castilian Hawk. Set against the complications of Edward I’s invasion of Wales, His Castilian Hawk is a story of loyalty, integrity—and love.

Find out more about Anna on her website or on her Amazon page. You can also follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

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Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away two paperback copies of His Castilian Hawk! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

The giveaway is open internationally and ends on November 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Castilian Hawk

Review & Giveaway: In Another Life by Julie Christine Johnson

 

Historian Lia Carrer has finally returned to southern France, determined to rebuild her life after the death of her husband.

But instead of finding solace in the region’s quiet hills and medieval ruins, she falls in love with Raoul, a man whose very existence challenges everything she knows about life–and about her husband’s death. As Raoul reveals the story of his past to Lia, she becomes entangled in the echoes of an ancient murder, resulting in a haunting and suspenseful journey that reminds Lia that the dead may not be as far from us as we think.

Steeped in the rich history and romantic landscape of the Languedoc region, In Another Life is a story of love that conquers time and the lost loves that haunt us all.

(Historical Fiction/Contemporary Women’s Fiction/ Fantasy/Romance) 

Release date: February 2, 2016

Sourcebooks 368 pages 

Website | Goodreads

***

I love the premise of this book, reincarnation. It's a subject that fascinates me and sadly I haven't really stumbled on many books involving it.  Dual time period books are a favorite of mine and this just adds that little extra twist.  The cover also drew me in with the synopsis clinching my desire to read In Another Life.

This book is about grief, new beginnings, reincarnation, love, religious persecutions and history - all the makings of a good story. The author conveyed the feel of France nicely here.  Her descriptions made it easy to not just visualize but feel the life style and countryside.  Based on real events back in 1208 she showed her knowledge and amount of research that went into this book.

I love learning history while reading and this book provided insight into the Cathars as well as the Knights Templar, both subjects that are unfamiliar to me.

Lia was an interesting character, still grieving the loss of her husband she returns to Languedoc for a change of pace and fresh start.  I struggled at times to connect with her, some of her behavior was erratic, though then again she is still grieving and that can make one do things not just out of character but impulsively as well. 

The storyline itself was interesting, however at times it moved at a slow pace. This is the author's debut and I think it was a nice one.

Thanks to France Book Tours for inviting me to be part of this tour, and netgalley for provided an arc.

 Julie Christine Johnson is the author of the novels In Another Life (February 2016, Sourcebooks Landmark) and The Crows of Beara (September 2017, Ashland Creek Press).

Her short stories and essays have appeared in several journals, including Emerge Literary Journal, Mud Season Review; Cirque: A Literary Journal of the North Pacific Rim; Cobalt, the anthologies Stories for Sendai; Up, Do: Flash Fiction by Women Writers; and Three Minus One: Stories of Love and Loss and featured on the flash fiction podcast, No Extra Words.

She holds undergraduate degrees in French and Psychology and a Master’s in International Affairs. A runner, hiker, and wine geek, Julie makes her home on the Olympic Peninsula of northwest Washington state with her husband. In Another Life is her first novel.

Visit Julie’s website and blog Follow Julie Christine Johnson on Twitter | on Facebook

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Review: A King's Ransom by Sharon Kay Penman

From the New York Times-bestselling author of Lionheart comes the dramatic sequel, telling of the last dangerous years of Richard, Coeur de Lion’s life.

This long-anticipated sequel to the national bestseller Lionheart is a vivid and heart-wrenching story of the last event-filled years in the life of Richard, Coeur de Lion. Taken captive by the Holy Roman Emperor while en route home—in violation of the papal decree protecting all crusaders—he was to spend fifteen months chained in a dungeon while Eleanor of Aquitaine moved heaven and earth to raise the exorbitant ransom. But a further humiliation awaited him: he was forced to kneel and swear fealty to his bitter enemy.

For the five years remaining to him, betrayals, intrigues, wars, and illness were ever present. So were his infidelities, perhaps a pattern set by his father’s faithlessness to Eleanor. But the courage, compassion, and intelligence of this warrior king became the stuff of legend, and A King’s Ransom brings the man and his world fully and powerfully alive. 

Hardcover, 685 pages

Published March 4th 2014 by Marian Wood Books/Putnam

personal library

 ***** 

I couldn't decide which cover to include here so I put 2 of them, different but yet both reflecting the time period.

Part of me thinks that if I just say the words 'Sharon Kay Penman' than everyone should nod their heads and understand my feelings here.  That they would know her name is synonymous with epic historical fiction, door stopper sized books and has the ability to cause one to mourn figures long departed this world.

I love reading a time period that I know next to nothing about and A King's Ransom is one of those time periods.  The 5th book in her Plantagenet Series, though it does work as a standalone I highly recommend starting at the beginning with When Christ and His Saints Slept.  It's been awhile since I finished Lionheart but SKP was able to get me up to speed in no time, not with drawn out scenes but enough to refresh my memory.  What I loved about this series is the authors ability to make everything extremely realistic.  I could feel the fear and anxiousness of Richard and his travelers as they try to make it across Europe undercover.  His capture, sub sequence captivity and then the aftermath of adjusting to life again showed his physical and emotional state, humanizing him.  There is more that I would love to say and expound on, but I must stop myself for fear of spoilers, I don't want to give anything away of this wonderful book.

This book wasn't just about Richard, but his sister Joanna and the ever courageous Eleanor.  It was sad to say goodbye to them all and I will admit that this was one of those books where I had to take a breath (or two) before I could start something fresh, such emotional writing.

Suffice to say Sharon Kay Penman is a favorite of mine, it isn't hard to get lost in her books.   I have taken to going to ebook route for the sheer fact that my arms get tired holding her books (they are huge).  I had the awesome opportunity this past June of not just meeting her but talking with and listening to panel discussions that she was involved in.  An absolutely friendly lady, she took time to chat, eager to listen to me - it was truly a privilege.