Wounded Spirits by April Gardner

Amid the ruggedness of frontier America, Adela McGirth and her family struggle to carve a new life for themselves. When a handsome young military officer declares his love for her and intention to marry her, Adela hesitates. She is unsure whether she loves him enough to marry him.

Life on the American frontier is fraught with discord. Soon, a dispute between the natives and the settlers surfaces and explodes into a raid on the fort where Adela and her family have sought safety. The slaughter results in the deaths of hundreds. Away at the time, Zachariah McGirth, Adela’s father is unaware of fate that befalls his family. His wife, Adela and one sister survive and are taken as captives, while Elizabeth is slaughtered. Zachariah vows to revenge their deaths.  Adela soon learns what is important in life. 

Totka is a peaceful Creek warrior caught between his friendship with the Whites and the hate of the Red Stick for the white man. He finds himself reluctantly in charge of the McGirths.

Wounded Spirits is a Christian novel of early America. It starts slowly, but the plot becomes riveting during the raid, which was brilliantly written and described. It is an enjoyable read that explores the faith of one family to endure despite the impossible hardships they find themselves embroiled in.

Crestmont by Holly Weiss

Crestmont is novel about a young woman named Graicie in 1920’s Pennsylvania who has fallen for her sister’s husband. To prevent things from escalating, she leaves her home and family to pursue a career as an opera singer. She finds work as part of the cleaning staff at an enchanting lakeside inn named Crestmont.


The inexperienced Gracie soon finds herself amongst patrons and a colorful cast of fellow employees, including Bessie who proves to be a most difficult colleague. She is befriended by the inn’s owners and their two daughters. Gracie is dependable and a hard worker, and soon she is given better tasks, one of which is to care for an older woman named Mis Cunningham one day a week, which brings down a realm of new problems for Gracie.

Crestmont is very much a character driven novel about how a group of people, thrown together in the confines of a mountain resort, learn to live and interact with each other, each growing and developing along the way.

Author Holly Weiss developed the novel after she visited the hotel. From there, after a bit of research, she developed the characters and story incorporating the inn’s history, architecture and furnishings, and its beautiful surroundings.

Although the heroine tends to be a little weak and the plot is more gentle and flowing than riveting, what I enjoyed most about this novel was being swept away, as if I were on vacation, to the quaint inn. The author did a great job of describing historical details. The prose was pleasant and flowing and allowed one to fall into the story easily. All in all, a delightful, tender summer read.

Marcus of Umbria by Justine Van der Leun

Marcus of Umbria: What an Italian Dog Taught an American Woman about Love is a memoir recounting of the author’s own experience. Told in first person narrative in novel style, it is the story of a young woman from New York who visits Italy on vacation and falls in love with a handsome Italian gardener named Emanuele. Although she returns home after her vacation, the draw to Italy disturbs her peace. Within a few weeks, she abandons her job and life in New York and returns to Italy to move in her new Italian boyfriend and live with him and his family in Collelungo an Umbrian town of 200 people.


However, building a relationship between two people of vastly different cultures is challenging to say the least. As the author immerses herself into a new Italian life, she faces numerous challenges, makes a realm of good friendships, and ultimately finds an unusual, but true love of the heart.

Being first generation Italian Canadian and having travelled to Italy on numerous occasions, what I enjoyed most was that the novel gave a very clear and accurate picture about rural Italian life. The author captured the essence of the culture, the traditional roles of men and women within a family and the bonds that bind them together. She went into wonderful detail about the food, a simpler lifestyle, and the generosity of the Italian villagers. The relationship between rural Italians and their pets was also accurately portrayed in that animals often serve a utilitarian purpose rather than kept as pets.

The author has a nice easy writing style, peppering her prose with poignancy and humour. For the animal lovers or anyone who loves Italy and it’s rich culture, this is a wonderful, satisfying story. Because the story arose from the author’s direct experiences, the novel was rich and vivid and a true pleasure to read.

Book Giveaway: Excerpt From On Falcon's Wings

Avicia stumbled into the courtyard and headed for a dense copse of thick leaves. Her eyes watered with every step. She wiped the tears aside as soon as they fell, intent on the solitude the thicket offered.

“Avicia?” In her path sat the source of her embarrassment.

When Edric rose, she stepped back. He advanced and she put her palms up, warding him off. His fingers closed on her wrists.

“Get away from me! By your own recent observation, I am a lowly retainer, worth no one’s notice.”

“Stop this. I did not mean to hurt you.”

She wriggled from his grasp, desperate for an escape. “Let me go, or I shall scream.”

“You behavior draws unnecessary attention. The King’s guards look at us.”

Two huscarls, who warmed themselves by a fire, nudged each other with shrewd leers. One winked at her and gave a raspy chuckle before he whispered to his companion, who also laughed.

“Come with me,” Edric urged.

She bridled. “Leave me be! How dare you?”

His hand clamped on her wrist. He dragged her toward a timber structure. Behind them, the sounds of laughter echoed.

He pried open the door and pushed her inside. Birds squawked in loud protest at the intrusion. They stood in the King’s mews.

“I am the wife of a knight, not some peasant you can abuse. Let me out, my lord, or I shall scream this place down!”

He barred the door and stepped closer.

Her stomach fluttered and she licked her dry lips.

She wiped her clammy hands in her skirts before she balled them into fists. Her senses grew attuned to the sound of his even breath, the smell of horses and grass that lingered on him. Masculine power emanated in his square shoulders and powerful legs.

“I acted without foresight. I regret my earlier behavior, my lady.”

“You regret it? You regret it! You embarrassed me before my friend, my husband, and a woman whom I despise. Yet you can counter my feelings with simple regret.”

“Shall I fall on my knees and beg forgiveness? I shall if you want!”

As if giving proof of his words, he did so. His body hit the earthen floor with a heavy thud. She held his rapt gaze in silence. The King’s birds quieted.

“Why did you do it?” Her eyes watered again.

“It was unforgivable. I was angry. I did not expect that you might marry, might love another.”

“Should I have brooded forever in your absence?”

He smiled but it seemed insincere, forced. “Was it too much to hope?”

She turned her back on him. “You are an English lord’s son. I lived by the whim of my uncle. Your status and mine dictated our fates.”

“My father is dead. I am the lord of his lands now. Your fate changed for the better, too. You left Lille and your cruel uncle behind.”

“Philippe rescued me.”

Stillness descended in the room again. Stifling warmth grew and swelled in the enclosure. Edric’s boots scraped the earth behind her. She whirled and faced him. He stood with arms rigid.

Perspiration glided down her back underneath her garments. She backed off, but he reached for her and held her firm.

“Do you love the Frenchman?”

“I married him.”

He jerked her toward him. “That is no answer. Do you love him?”

His breath warmed her cheeks. His mouth drew her gaze for a moment before her eyes flitted back to his. “I love him! I carry his child. Did you believe I would never find love again, content with shallow memories of you? There is a great divide, which separates us forever. Hope forsook me when you told me you belonged to another. Philippe found me. He desired and loved me. I chose to love him, too.”

Edric released her so fast, she stumbled a moment. He turned from her, his shoulders hunched. Waves of misery cloaked him. Her heart wrung with pity at the sight.

“Cynwise is no true wife,” he muttered. “She does not love me. I married her because Godwin wished it. She tolerates me at best.”

Avicia blinked back tears. His voice seemed so wooden, remote. With trepidation, she put a hand on his shoulder. Muscles bunched beneath her touch.

“I am sorry for you, my lord.”

He spun around, his face a dark mask. “Do you think I want your compassion? Am I some object of your pity, scorned and ridiculed for my loveless marriage? Do you congratulate yourself for the happiness of your union with the Frenchman?”

“Please, I meant no such thing! I would never pity you, or think myself above you. You have confused me and made me say things I do not mean.”

Edric captured her face in his hands, forced her gaze upward.

Her eyes traced the contours of his mouth. She remembered the pleasure of his lips on hers. Her heart fluttered in tiny ripples.

He loomed closer. “Did you forget me, Avicia?”

She tugged at her lips with her teeth. He inhaled sharply, desire warming his gaze.

“Please release me. I am a married woman, my lord.”

“What did you feel when you first saw me? Why did you stare openly? Did you remember our days together? Have you missed me as much as I have missed you?”

“I love my husband. Edric, do not do this….”

His lips hovered dangerously close to hers. “You forgot to say ‘please’.”

She drew breath in one space. In the next, the feathery light touch of his kiss trailed across her mouth. So softly, her mind scarcely acknowledged it. She leaned toward him, seeking proof of the phantom caress. With a low, urgent chuckle, his mouth pressed against hers in full. She responded with keen insistence. Their lips and breath melded together. Her hands swept up his arms to his face. She held it firm between her fingers.

The distance and time between them faded. His kiss outmatched the hesitant, exploratory embrace of their past. He grew bold and brutal, possessive. She moaned when his hands slid down her waist, cupped her buttocks beneath the coarse wool and lifted her against him. He hardened beneath the layers of cloth, and pressed against her firm, rounded belly where the child grew inside her. Philippe’s child.

Don't forget to leave your comment to win a copy of On Falcon's Wings. Open to Canadian and US residents only.

Review: On Falcon's Wings by Lisa Yarde

The story opens in Lille in 11th Century Flanders, with an emotive scene of a public whipping meted out to Avicia, a Normal noblewoman as punishment for the killing of a pet merlin belonging to her mistress. Edric of Newington, a Saxon warrior and the man she loves, witnesses the punishment but is powerless to prevent it.

Orphaned young, Avicia was raised by her uncle, Count Roland and his wife, Countess Gisele, securing a position for her as Lady Matilda’s attendant. Fearing she may never see Edric again, who is on his way back to England, Avicia seeks solace among the falcons she loves.

Edric’s parents, Lord Tunwulf and the Lady Emmeline, arrange his marriage to Cynwise, the former lover of Earl Sweyne, Earl Harold Godwinson’s brother. Resentful, but obedient, Edric embarks on a loveless marriage, made no better when he learns Sweyne was his wife’s attacker, not her lover.

In Flanders, Avicia is rescued from a skittish horse by two brothers in Duke William’s entourage, Hugh of Montford sur Risle and his brother, Phillipe. She treats them both with disdain, but Phillipe comes to her rescue again when, after interrupting a liaison between a woman and her Uncle Rudolf in the mews, he attacks her. Philippe asks for her hand and although Avicia welcomes the opportunity to escape Lille, she is apprehensive of the dark stranger.

Philippe convinces her they belong together and Avicia relents. Alice de Beaufort becomes her close friend in Rouen and they are married at St Ouen church in Normandy.

In Kent, Edric celebrates the birth of a son, and Tunwulf leaves for Sandwich with Earl Godwin. Edric says goodbye to his father, only for him to be lost at sea.

Avicia discovers she is pregnant and persuades Philippe to let her accompany him to England with Duke William. Edric and Cynwise are also bound for London, where Cynwise is asked to care for the two small boys – Wulfnoth, Earl Harold’s son and Haakon, his brother Sewyn’s bastard. Avicia faints when she sets eyes on Edric and informed of her pregnancy Philippe demonstrates his anger at her for keeping it a secret.

Edric and Avicia are thrown together when the English Court moves to Gloucester. Resentful of her happy marriage, Edric insults her previous station in life. Avicia is hurt, but begins to see imperfections in her own husband. She provokes a fight and runs out, straight into Edric. He apologises, but although Avicia acknowledges her feelings for him, she is a married woman and knows they have no future.

Time passes and William, Duke of Normandy casts covetous eyes on the English throne. It is not the first time Edric and Avicia are thrown together, but their repressed mutual passion cannot be disregarded and they embark on a dangerous affair.

Bishop Odo of Bayeux, Duke Harold’s half brother, accuses Avicia of adultery. Reviled by her husband and friends, she is imprisoned, awaiting trial. Edric refuses to abandon Avicia, but his king commands him, saying he can do nothing other than watch her suffer if he stays.

Pregnant, Avicia is sent to the convent of Montivilliers, where the daughter she recognises as being Philippes is born. She travels to Rouen to face her accusers, but before she leaves, she tells Alice she will pledge baby Cecelia to the convent. Alice is confused but Avicia has her reasons.

In Rouen, Avicia will not confess to adultery and is subjected to the ordeal of iron; carrying a hot iron three paces to the cathedral door. Her hand is bandaged and sealed with wax for three days, but if it shows no signs of healing, Avicia will be found guilty. Despite Bishop Odo’s protests, Avicia’s hand begins to heal and she is allowed to leave.

1066 dawns: King Edward dies and Harold becomes king. Edric is now a grandfather and his home is happy, but he is tormented by thoughts of his abandonment of Avicia, who remains at the convent with her daughter. However, she too is haunted by the past and at Alice’s behest, she sets off for England and Saltwood Castle.

Edric joins King Harold in Hastings to repel Duke William of Normandy who has arrived to destroy the Saxon kingdom. The battle is a victory for the Normans, but at a heavy cost to both countries, to Avicia and Edric, as well as the English royals. Will Edric and Avicia find each other again, and will the fates be kind and allow them happiness? Or will they be apart forever?

This Medieval Romance is a story of two lovers separated by fate, wars, loyalties and responsibilities. The inappropriateness of their reunions conspires to separate them even further, though both know there is nothing they want more than to be together. Duty, rage, betrayal and abandonment work against them through their lives, until the final defeat of one king over another offers them a chance.

Ms Yarde has excelled in her debut novel, On Falcon’s Wings by offering a colourful portrayal of Medieval France and England at a time where events change the country forever. Her detailed account of the different factions and the ambitions that resulted in the Norman Conquest is fascinating as well as informative. This book is a must-read for all those who love authentic middle age settings with two star-crossed lovers at its core.

An Interview with Christopher Gortner

A very warm welcome to Christopher Gortner. I'm thrilled to have you visit us at History and Women.  Can you tell us what inspired you to write a novel about Catherine de Medici?

Thank you for inviting me. Anyone with an interest in famous women of history will have heard of Catherine de Medici: she’s that evil queen who allegedly poisoned her enemies and orchestrated a massacre. Or, so the legend says. Initially, I was attracted to her precisely because of her legend. I figured, when someone has such a bad reputation there has to be more to her story. I wanted to know who Catherine de Medici truly was, to search beyond the lurid accusations and hyperbole for the person she may have been. Of Italian birth, Catherine was the last scion of her legitimate Medici blood; she dominated France in the latter half of the 16th century, a contemporary of Elizabeth I and mother-in-law to Mary, Queen of Scots. Left a widow with small children and confronted by one of the most savage conflicts of the time, she fought to save France and her bloodline from destruction. As I researched her, I realized that, like with most dark legends, especially those pertaining to women, there was far more to Catherine than popular history tells us. I thought how interesting it would be if Catherine herself could tell us her side of the story. If she had the chance to explain herself, what would she say?

What hardships did women face in this particular century and what lessons can today's woman learn from it?

Women, particularly noble and royal women, often had no say in who they married. Marriages were by and large political alliances, organized by their family to further standing at court, strengthen international ties and increase power. Princesses like Catherine— I consider an Italian princess, daughter of the Medici, one of Italy’s most influential dynasties— were wed to strangers, men they’d never met and usually had never seen, except perhaps in portraits. The success of the marriage likewise fell upon the woman; because the union was most often a strictly dynastic one, love was not a factor, and the birth of children, particularly sons, was of utmost importance. Everything depended on it—for the woman. A wife who failed to give her husband a healthy heir could be cast aside by annulment and end up in a convent. We see Catherine struggling over these very issues in the first years of her married life. While in Western culture, these are fortunately no longer survival matters for women, we need only look to other cultures in the world to find women who are powerless against their fate; every day, marriages are arranged and women are forced into them. They lose all rights to decide their lives and can be physically and emotionally abused, even imprisoned or killed, by their spouses and the male-dominated society they live in. I think today’s women and men must continue to fight for gender equality everywhere; the injustices that women of the 16th century faced are not relics of the past but rather still very much a part of some women’s lives today, in our 21st century.

Where do you get your inspirations for a novel?

I find inspiration in legend. Many of the characters I’m attracted to have some type of myth surrounding them, usually a controversial one. Juana of Castile was accused of being mad; Catherine de Medici of being evil; and so on. These legends are the result of centuries of male-centered history, where women are pigeonholed into easy clichés. This approach to history has cast a decidedly misogynistic taint on famous people and events of the past, especially on those women who do not easily fit the criteria. Even Elizabeth I has suffered from this; while she’s more acclaimed than many famous women, she’s also known as the Virgin— sexless and therefore unsullied, a woman who rules, and often acts, like a man. Of course, Elizabeth had her sexuality, as do all human beings, and her decision to live as she did cost her emotional and physical fulfilment. On the other hand of the spectrum, Cleopatra is the Siren, a temptress who ends up dead for her ambitions and unbridled passion. While we’re now in the midst of re-writing such women back into their real places, as complex, vibrant, and powerful figures in their own right, their legends are what inspire me—by questioning what the legend tells us, I begin to uncover the untold story underneath it.

Can you describe a typical writing day?

I don’t really have one. Because I still hold a 32-hour a week job, I write in bursts, at odd hours. I do try to write 2 pages every day; I find this approach less daunting and it helps me stay focused on the story without losing my rhythm. Two pages a day add up over time; within 9 months or so, I have the draft of a novel. I don’t work on Fridays so on those days I usually get up early, walk my dog, then sit down and work for several hours, often reviewing and revising what I have written. I eat lunch, nap, walk my dog again, and in the evening I work for several more hours, usually writing new pages. I can make a lot of headway on Fridays, if I stay focused. My theory when it comes to writing is that 10% is inspiration and 90% is just doing it. I can’t afford to wait for the muse; I have deadlines, instead. I prefer it this way: the muse is fickle and can just as easily grace me with ideas as leave me high and dry. The act of getting those 2 pages out, regardless of how inspired or uninspired I feel, gives me the discipline to master my craft.

Biographical historical novels are very difficult to write. Can you tell me how you create the plot?

I use history as a skeletal framework for my books; I usually create a year-by-year timeline of all the historical events I want to cover in the novel to guide my story decisions. Not everything will make it into the final published version and some events I decided at first not to cover may appear much later during revisions but in general the timeline helps me envision the arc of the plot. I also create character sketches for each major character that include a physical description and psychological and emotional details that I found during my research that define the character as an individual. What is more elusive and must develop during the writing itself are the details and scenes that breathe life into characters and the era. I don’t like to pre-plan too much of my actual story. I prefer to let my characters grow and show me the way; if this doesn’t happen, if I get stuck, then it usually means I have not done enough groundwork beforehand and so I go back and revisit my timeline and my character sketches, and do more research.

I have collected all your books and am already looking forward to the next one. Can you give us a sneak preview? Who is it about and where are you in the writing/publishing process?

I am currently working on Princess Isabella, a historical novel about Isabella of Castile, tracing her life from her dramatic youth to her accession as queen of Castile and the first twelve years of her exciting, controversial reign. I covered the latter years of Isabella’s life in my previous novel The Last Queen; while researching that book, I was captivated by Isabella as a character. She’s been lauded as a saint by some and a fanatic by others; she set in motion the terrors of the Inquisition yet she also financed Columbus and united Spain after centuries of internal strife. Isabella is the first queen of the Renaissance; yet few people know the incredible story of her tumultuous rise to the throne, her love affair with her husband, or of the events that led to the most climatic of years: 1492. I hope to bring to life her incredible vision and strength, as well as illuminate her intentions. Princess Isabella will be published in 2012 by Ballantine Books.

I’ve also recently finished a thorough editorial revision of my first novel, The Tudor Secret, a suspense tale told by a spy for Elizabeth Tudor, which takes place in the final days of Edward VI’s reign. The Tudor Secret is the first in a series of novels that will trace this spy’s rise to power as Elizabeth’s intimate and his own breathtaking struggle to survive those seeking to destroy him, amongst whom is a very dangerous Robert Dudley. Fans of my work will recognize The Tudor Secret as a re-issue of my self-published novel ‘The Secret Lion’; I was very fortunate last year to sell three books in this series to St Martin’s Press and to now be working with a talented editor who’s helping me revitalize the story. As soon as I finish writing Princess Isabella, I’ll begin writing the second book in my Tudor series, which is untitled as yet.

The Tudor Secret will be published in early 2011 in trade paperback by St Martin’s Press.

Thank you so much for inviting me, Mirella. I appreciate your generosity and support and hope your readers will enjoy The Confessions of Catherine de Medici. To find out more about me and my work, please visit my website at: http://www.cwgortner.com/

Christoher, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit.  It was a pleasure learning more about you and your work.  Now hurry and write, I'm anxiously awaiting the next one!

Win a Pendant of Catherine de Medici

It's Catherine de Medici week! I'm excited to announce that we'll be giving away a beautiful pendant of Catherine de Medici.






All you have to do to win is:

1. You must be a Canadian or U.S. resident.

2. You must be a follower of this blog.

3. Visit Christopher Gortner's blog Historical Boys and tell us the name of his constant companion.

4. Leave a comment with your email address and tell us what it is that you find most fascinating about Catherine de Medici.

Winner will be announced in August!

Good luck to all! This is one week not to miss!