The Earl’s Treasure by Nancy Lee Badger – Guest Post

Tags

book feature, guest post, historical, Nancy Lee Badger, romance

I have officially released my long-awaited book The Earl’s Treasure. Must I remind y’all that a pandemic made many things grind to a halt?  Through moving mom to NC from FL, hubby’s surgeries, and temp work with my local Board of Elections, I pushed back the official release of my book several times. I decided that releasing the book December 1^st could give my readers laughter, suspense, and romance in time for the holidays. Even though I do not consider it a Christmas novel, it takes place in the weeks before Christmas Eve.

This is my 30^th romance and having it set partially in Scotland is due to my love of that country. I have volunteered at the New Hampshire Highlands Games for over 25 years with family (even this huge festival was canceled) but I only recently discovered I am partially of Scottish descent. The urge to write a Scottish historical novel grew. This book takes my characters from England, to Gretna Green, and beyond.

 Here’s the short blurb:

After Stone is wounded and thrust into an earldom, and Adele is widowed by an abusive husband, these star-crossed childhood friends meet at an English country ball, escape a kidnapper searching for a mysterious treasure, and depart for Scotland ahead of those intent on killing anyone in their way.

**********************

Excerpt from The Earl’s Treasure

Holding tight to Satan’s reins, Adele returned to the churchyard. Murray lay on his back in the middle of the graveyard. The Highlander who had come to her aid now fought with Ike. The clang of Ike’s long knife against the kilted man’s thin black, pointed spear reverberated again, and again. The plaid warrior’s weapon wasn’t a sword, but he swung it fast enough to keep Ike’s weapon from hitting home.

It was difficult to take her eyes off the flying, clanging steel and iron, but she forced her gaze to the kilted warrior’s face. “Stone?”

She must have said it very loud, because he glanced her way. Ike moved in, aiming his dagger at Stone’s stomach.

“Watch out!” Adele kicked Satan’s flanks and they galloped toward the fighters. Stone parried Ike’s lethal strike, sending the dirk flying. Ike cursed, turned on his heel, and ran toward a pair of horses.

“Nay, love. We need to leave, while he’s alone.”

“Is Murray dead?” she asked, as she stared at the other stranger’s limp form.

Stone ran to her side, and swung up behind her. “No, but we should leave before he wakes up. Ike is our current problem.”

Loud curses rose from the tree where the men had tied their mounts.

“What is going on?” Stone said as he reached around her and grabbed the reins.

As they trotted toward the lane, she explained “When Ike let me go, then ran to fight ye, I untied the ribbon from my dress and hobbled the horses’ front hooves together.”

Stone’s heated breath warmed the skin beneath her left ear, as he leaned closer. “Smart lass.”

**********************

What’s Next?

I hope to write several other books that feature secondary characters from this book. I have recently released a tie-in historical novella about a guy, a girl, and a Highland bull titled Love, Hamish and you can find out how to get a copy FREE HERE.

**********************

Links

Add The Earl’s Treasure to your Goodreads shelf:

Purchase The Earl’s Treasure:

Amazon US          Amazon UK          Amazon CA           Amazon AUS

**********************

About the Author

Nancy Lee Badger grew up in Huntington on New York’s Long Island. After attending Plymouth State, in New Hampshire, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree and met and married her college sweetheart. They raised two handsome sons in Rumney, New Hampshire while dreaming of being a writer. When the children had left the nest, and shoveling snow became a chore, she retired from her satisfying job as a 911 Emergency Medical Dispatcher and moved to North Carolina, where she writes full-time.

Nancy is a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, and the Triangle Association of Freelancers. She finds story ideas in the most unusual places. Connect with her here:

Website          Twitter          Facebook         Amazon Author Page

Blog          BookBub          Goodreads

The Princess Knight (Scarred Earth Saga, #2) by G.A. Aiken

Tags

5 stars, Book Review, fantasy, G.A. Aiken, humor, romance, series

About The Princess Knight by G.A. Aiken

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN
 
Gemma Smythe dedicated her life to the glory of battle. With her fellow War Monks, she worshipped the war gods, rained destruction on her enemies, and raised the dead when the fancy took her. Until her sister Keeley became the prophesied Blacksmith Queen, and Gemma broke faith with her order to journey to the Amichai Mountain and fight by Keeley’s side.

The Amichai warriors are an unruly, never-to-be-tamed lot, especially their leader-in-waiting, Quinn. But when the War Monks declare support for Gemma’s ruthless younger sister Beatrix, the immaturity of her key ally is the least of Gemma’s problems. She has to get to the grand masters, dispel their grudge against her, and persuade them to fight for Keeley and justice. If her conviction can’t sway them, perhaps Quinn’s irritating, irreverent, clearly unhinged, ferocity will win the day . . .

**********************

Review of The Princess Knight

Gemma is the princess knight because she is the sister of the Keeley, the blacksmith queen.  While Keeley doesn’t really need protecting, Gemma and centaur Quinn, lend their swords whenever needed, and even when they are not.  Needed.

Gemma and Quinn act like that can’t stand to be around each other, but in fact, each carries a great deal of respect for the other. Because we all know that there is going to be a bit of romance in this adventure, I waited for love (or at least attraction) to develop.  It very nearly didn’t.  Let’s just say that Gemma has her hands full with keeping the kingdom safe.  Quests, battles, innocents to save, swords, battle axes, evil plotters, and blood-thirsty companions.  Oh, and an undead horse.  And humor. Lots of humor.

And finally, maybe, a link to the madwoman Annwyl.  Admit it.  We’ve all been reading this new series because this is what we want!

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

**********************

Links

Add The Princess Knight to your Goodreads shelf:

Purchase The Princess Knight:

**********************

The Veiled War (The Viper and the Urchin, #8) by Celine Jeanjean – Review

Tags

5 stars, Adventure, Book Review, Celine Jeanjean, fantasy, favorite series, series, Steampunk

About The Veiled War by Celine Jeanjean

Adelma is out of action
The Varanguards are suspended
And Longinus is going on a blind date
Things are taking a turn for the disturbing in Damsport.

Rory and Longinus have their hands full. Adelma is in a bad way, and it will take a lot of work to bring her back to herself.

On top of which, Longinus has to prepare for a blind date. The premium matchmaking service he joined assures him that she’s his soulmate. The pressure in selecting the right outfit is, therefore, immense.

Distracted and occupied, it takes Rory and Longinus a while to realise that a number of worrying changes are slowly happening in Damsport. On top of which the Marchioness refuses to see anyone, and Lady Martha is nowhere to be found.

What is happening in the Mansion? And who or what is behind the odd changes taking place in the city?

Rory and Longinus are about to face some challenging times—and not just because Longinus is determined to make avocado shirts the next hot fashion item.

**********************

Review of The Veiled War

The Veiled War is the penultimate book in the Viper and the Urchin series.  Penultimate is such a big word.  And fitting because The Veiled War is a big part of the story.

While Viper Longinus and Urchin Rory are the characters that hold the series together, this is really an ensemble story.  Adelma, Cruikshank, Rafe and even the kids, Pip, Alice and Tommy all have critical roles in The Veiled War.

The title refers to the subtle, underhanded way that Damsport’s enemies are attacking the country.   But the veil will be lifted in a blatant and horrible way when the children of the Rookery are rounded up for ‘education’.

I am drawn to this series because of the wonderful characters. Adelma would lend her strength to any of her friends in a heartbeat, whether she is sober or not.  Cruikshank is the conscience of the group, which has her ruefully regretting her invention of the certain weapons.  Pip, Alice and Tommy, using their street smarts, do their best to ‘educate’ the people that rounded them up.

Longinus has an unequaled sense of fashion and can make anything look fabulous. And in this story, Longinus is looking for love (in all the wrong places).

Then there is Rafe.  In The Shadow Palace, we saw a darker side of Rafe, and in this book, that less that perfect side returns.  I didn’t like Rafe in this book.  Rafe’s one redeeming quality is that he makes Rory see the best in herself.  In my eyes, Rafe has a long way to go to become a hero.

Rory has always been a heroine.  Whether it is her astute observations, her connections, or her unwavering support for her friends, Rory is the shining light in these stories.  I loved the scene where she takes Rafe to task and then, later, does the same to someone else on behalf of Rafe.

There is definitely a cliffhanger ending in The Veiled War.  The final book in the series, The Rising Rooks, is due to be released in early January.  I have no doubt I will be as eager to read that book as I will be sad to see the series end.

Thanks to the author who provided a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.

**********************

Links

Add The Veiled War to your Goodreads shelf:

Purchase The Veiled War:

**********************