Sherry Gloag: Vidal's Honor

Showing posts with label Vidal's Honor. Show all posts

10 February 2013

Hearts Through History Hop 10th - 16th

Welcome to the Hearts through History Hop.

This is probably the oldest surviving Valentine's letter in the English language. It was written by Margery Brews to her fiancé John Paston in February 1477. Describing John as her 'right well-beloved valentine', she tells him she is 'not in good health of body nor of heart, nor shall I be till I hear from you.' She explains that her mother had tried to persuade her father to increase her dowry - so far unsuccessfully. However, she says, if John loves her he will marry her anyway: 'But if you love me, as I trust verily that you do, you will not leave me therefore.' There was a happy ending to the story, as the couple would eventually marry.

The letter comes from one of the largest collections of 15th century English private correspondence, known as the Paston letters. The collection offers a unique glimpse in to the personal lives of the Paston family from Norfolk - the family name comes from a Norfolk village about twenty miles north of Norwich. The Pastons had risen from peasantry to aristocracy in just a few generations: the first member of the family about whom anything is known was Clement Paston (d. 1419), a peasant, who gave an excellent education to his son William, enabling him to study law. John and Margery's son, William, would become a prominent figure at the court of King Henry VIII.

While my Regency romance, Vidal's Honor, is not set in Norfolk, its opening scene is based on historical fact.

The Battle of Salamanca -part of the then Earl of Wellington's (later to become the famous Duke of Wellington) Peninsula campaign, took place in Spain in July 1812, and while my historical heart throb, Charles Vidal is not present in the first scene, he is definitely one of the strong silent and detirmined heros of the time.

For him it is a 2nd chance to win the love of his life. But circumstances are against him.

Betrayal, espionage, and mistrust abound and it hard for him to know who his eneies are. Could it be possible that the only woman he's loved betrayed his best friend?

He soon discovers his attempt to maintain a discreet distance from Honor, Lady Beamont, is drawing unwanted attention from another enemy...

“You will draw more attention if you continue to ignore Lady Beaumont than you would if you occasionally conversed with her. I see the duke watching you very carefully.”

“He’s been watching all of us.”

“Indeed,” Juan agreed, and laid a hand on Vidal’s sleeve, “but now it is more calculating. He notices how you avoid Honor, and I’d wager is conniving how he can turn this to his advantage. If you do not take care you will arrive home to find yourself accused of plotting her husband’s death so you can marry her.”

It made a macabre kind of sense, Vidal acknowledged. He’d avoided Honor to prevent the very conclusions Juan predicted.

“In my endeavour to prevent that, it seems I have leaned too far the other way.”Available from:-
Amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/bpu7o75 ($o.99c)

Amazon.co.uk http://tinyurl.com/cgonnnk (£0.49p)

smashworlds http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/250882

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vidals-honor/1113726614?ean=2940015900422

Book Strand http://www.bookstrand.com/vidals-honor

Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Vidals-Honor/book-pGNWcYHNukSsEwGrXE4TnA/page1.html?s=_AyuW9PrgUe6i8iafiHdSw&r=9

All Romance https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-vidal039shonor-987501-152.html

GIVEAWAY:-

Just answer the following question for one luck commenter to win a pdf copy of Vidal's Honor. (Don't forget to include your email address to be in with a chance.)

The winner will be announced before the 20th Feb.

Who is your favourite historical hearthrob and why?

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

List of Links to include at the end of each post:-

Hop Participants

or return to http://authormariagrace.com/2013/02/09/hearts-through-history-blog-hop/

17 December 2012

Purrrfectly Giftastic Christmas Blog Hop

http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/

Christmas Blog Hop

FROM DECEMBER 14th - 17th

Winner announced on the 15th

Now isn't tha pic just the cutest? A little furry kitten looking for affection.
Here iin the UK lot's of families/parents look to buy their child a pet for Christmas.
Isn't that lovely?

Well, sorry no it's not.

For every pet bought as a Christmas present, here in the UK, a huge percentage of older (no longer wanted pets) are left at animal shelters. Afraid, bewildered and firghtened. Why am I talking about such a morbid topic at a time of merriment and cheer?

Because, it doesn't hurt to think of those less blessed than ourselves at this time. To take a moment out of time to remember how fortunate we are, regardless of our setbacks and stresses.

In my latest story, Vidal's Honor, my heroine, Honor, Lady Beaumont faces treachery, betrayal, the murder of her husband, the prospect of being accused of treason and yet she keeps moving forwards, keeps hoping in the future, in the goodness of truth.

Tagline:Which will Honor lose first? Her head or her heart?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blurb:

When plunged into a world of spies, agents and espionage during the Peninsula wars, Honor, Lady Beaumont, flees for her life when the French capture her husband at Salamanca, and relies on his batman to arrange her safe passage back to England.

Viscount Charles Vidal is ordered by Robert Dumas, the First Lord of the Admiralty, to travel to Spain and escort the only woman he’s ever loved, Lord Devlin Beaumont’s widow back home before the French discover her whereabouts.

Excerpt:

While Vidal joked with his cousin, the viscount scanned the room. The smell of fine wine, whiskey and cigar smoke blended into a rich aroma that was as much a part of Whites as the card games, the background chatter, and outbreaks of lewd laughter from the younger members of the club.
One member in particular interested Vidal tonight, and he watched Robert Dundas, second Viscount Melville, and First Lord of the Admiralty, take leave of his friends and head in his direction.

He wondered why the man spent the best part of the night watching his every move, and paused in the act of fobbing his snuff box while he waited for the viscount to join him.

“Take a walk with me?” Although couched as a question, Vidal noted the quiet steel of command in the other man’s voice. Dundas laid a hand on his arm; a companionable gesture for anyone interested enough to observe the two men leaving the club together. “I believe I live not far beyond your own house. I’d appreciate your company, and this is not the place for such a discussion. ”

With an indolent twist of the wrist Vidal returned the modish lacquered box, unopened, to his pocket and nodded agreement. A man’s club was no setting for private conversation, and it was plain the man wanted to talk about something away from flapping ears.

Together they strolled across the room stopping to take leave of several mutual friends.

What are people saying about Vidal's Honor?

"This is a full-length novel, not a traditional Regency but a surprisingly intricate cloak-and-dagger, spy-and-adventure story with a generous splash of romance. The amount of plotting, organization, and research that went into this book's preparation leave me astonished. The clever, well-sorted resolution, and the sweet romance, are more than satisfying."

You can buy Vidal's Honor from:

Amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/bpu7o75

Amazon.co.uk http://tinyurl.com/cgonnnk

smashworlds http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/250882

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vidals-honor/1113726614?ean=2940015900422

Book Strand http://www.bookstrand.com/vidals-honor

Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Vidals-Honor/book-pGNWcYHNukSsEwGrXE4TnA/page1.html?s=_AyuW9PrgUe6i8iafiHdSw&r=9

All Romance https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-vidal039shonor-987501-152.html

Giveaway

I am giving away two pdf copies of Vidal's Honor

All you have to do for a chance to win is leave a comment and include your email contact.

To visit other participants in the hop please return to http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/

9 December 2012

A Regency Christmas Blog

This blog runs from the 3rd or 10th December

Welcome to Astraea Press's Regency Christmas Blog hop, where there will be lots of prizes on offer at each stop.
Each stop will include certain information

The first is an author Bio:

Multi-published author, Sherry Gloag is a transplanted Scot now living in the beautiful coastal countryside of Norfolk, England. She considers the surrounding countryside as extension of her own garden, to which she escapes when she needs "thinking time" and solitude to work out the plots for her next novel. While out walking she enjoys talking to her characters, as long as there are no other walkers close by.

Apart from writing, Sherry enjoys gardening, walking, reading and cheerfully admits her books tend to take over most of the shelf and floor space in her workroom-cum-office. She also finds crystal craft work therapeutic.

The second is a copy of Mrs. Peabody's scandal sheet whic covers information about my story, Vidal's Honor, and Kristin Vayden's Redeeming the Deception of Grace.

Earlier this year Astraea Press invited several authors to write a Christmas Rgency story that must include certain perameters.

a) A character called Lord Kringle.
b) the sotrty must take place in the year of 1812
c) there must be a scene that included a Christmas Eve Ball at Holy Hall, the home of Lord and Lady Kringle.

For the rest of the story - the sky, as the saying goes, is the limit.

Eleven authors participated and thier stories couldn't be more varied if they'd tried. :-)

Here is the Blurb for Vidal's Honor

Which will Honor lose first? Her head or her heart?

Their journey is fraught by danger, least of all knowing whether they are surrounded by friends or foe. Will they survive long enough to explore the possibility of a future together or will whispers of treason be enough to see Honor dispatched to Tyburn first?

Excerpt:
While Vidal joked with his cousin, the viscount scanned the room. The smell of fine wine, whiskey and cigar smoke blended into a rich aroma that was as much a part of Whites as the card games, the background chatter, and outbreaks of lewd laughter from the younger members of the club.

One member in particular interested Vidal tonight, and he watched Robert Dundas, second Viscount Melville, and First Lord of the Admiralty, take leave of his friends and head in his direction.

He wondered why the man spent the best part of the night watching his every move, and paused in the act of fobbing his snuff box while he waited for the viscount to join him.

“Take a walk with me?” Although couched as a question, Vidal noted the quiet steel of command in the other man’s voice. Dundas laid a hand on his arm; a companionable gesture for anyone interested enough to observe the two men leaving the club together. “I believe I live not far beyond your own house. I’d appreciate your company, and this is not the place for such a discussion. ”

With an indolent twist of the wrist Vidal returned the modish lacquered box, unopened, to his pocket and nodded agreement. A man’s club was no setting for private conversation, and it was plain the man wanted to talk about something away from flapping ears.

Together they strolled across the room stopping to take leave of several mutual friends.

What are others saying about Vidal's Honor ~~
"Vidal's Honor" is a captivating book. It's rich in history and beautiful descriptions...

"This is a full-length novel, not a traditional Regency but a surprisingly intricate cloak-and-dagger, spy-and-adventure story with a generous splash of romance...The clever, well-sorted resolution, and the sweet romance, are more than satisfying...."

GIVEAWAY ~ PRIZES

Astraea press have published three of my stories,

and I am giving away three prizes -

winners will be chosen by random.org

All you have to do is leave a comment,

and the winners will get a book of their choice

Before you take off for the next hop, this is what people are saying about Kristin Vayden's - Redeeming the Deception of Grace.

"I really enjoyed this story. The chemistry flew off the pages..."

"This is a great, short read that will warm your heart!"

"This is my first from this author. And I LOVE it!!! Since I love Christmas and love story this is definitely for me. I would recommend it to anybody."

Don't miss this opportunity to visit Kristin Vayden's hop.

I hope you have a wonderful and romantic holiday.

All authors included in this hop are:-

Kay Sprinsteen - The Toymaker

Vivian Roycroft - Scandal on Half Moon Street

Sherry Gloag - Vidal's Honor

Lindsay Downs - Christmas Surprise

Patricia Kiyono - Partridge and the Peartree

Ruth Hartman - Time for a Duke

Christina Graham Parker - Ghosts of Christmas Past

Kim Bowman - The Duke Of Christmas Past

Rachel Van Dyken - The Devil Duke Takes a Bride

Leah Sanders - Two Turtledoves

Kristin Vayden - Redeeming the Decption of Grace

Find more information about all these books

1 December 2012

Sweet Saturday Sample

For this week's Sweet Saturday Sample I am offering you another short sample from my current Regency Christmas Romance, Vidal's Honor

Blurb:

~ ~ ~ ~

“Are you aware we’re being followed?”

“Impossible!” The denial exploded into the night air.

“Shh. I believe it is a fact.” Vidal grabbed Juan’s arm and hauled him into the shadows. “Mrs. Beaumont told me this afternoon she’s been aware of it for several days now, but was not certain enough to mention it before.”

“And she decided to confide in you today, why?”

“She didn’t, it obvious she’s been worried about something for a while but put it down to the loss of her husband and her concerns for the future.” He hadn’t but had no intention of revealing more information on anything than he had to.

“And you believe her?”

“Not at first, but I spent more time this afternoon watching our backs, and believe she may be right.”

The air filled with Spanish curses.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Return to Sweet Saturday Sample to visit many other awesome Samples.

18 November 2012

Six Sentence Sunday

I'm taking Six Sentences from my current Regency novel, Vidal's Honor, this week. I hope you enjoy.

Vidal took her hand in both of his. “He didn’t make it.”

“I’m sorry.” And she was. If he’d spoken the truth he’d acted to save his own family, the same way Devlin would have protected her, and Vidal was doing so now. That didn’t mean she could forgive his duplicity, but in the hard cut and thrust of war, with betrayal and counter-betrayal rife perhaps he felt he had no option.

There are hundreds more six Sentence offerings for you at Six Sentence Sunday

4 November 2012

Six Sentence Sunday

It is a while since I participated in Six Sentence Sunday, but today I'm carrying on from yesterday's post and offering more from my latest release by Astraea Press, Vidal's Honor.

“You—!” Honor remembered to lower her voice and started again. “Are you implying we are going to ride through the water?” Consuela, she noted, didn’t appear any more pleased with this plan than she did. “But it is dark, what if we slip and fall?”

“What if those behind us catch up?” Juan snapped back, his patience dwindling.

There's plenty more to read at Six Sentence Sunday

2 November 2012

Sweet Staurday Sample

It's the weekend, so it's time for another Sweet Saturday Samples. The week I'm sharing a snippet from Vidal's Honor, my latest Christmas Regency Romance published by Astraea Press.
Thanks for swinging by, because I always I appreciate it whe you share your thoughts.

http://tinyurl.com/d9572w9

Befuddled from lack of sleep and the struggle to don her ever-damp garments, Honor let Vidal hoist her onto her mule.

“Why the urgency to move on in the dark? I thought Juan declared this an ideal spot to spend the night.”

“I told him of your belief we are being followed and that afterwards I spent the rest of the journey checking and am almost certain you are correct.”

“If this is the result, I wish I’d kept my mouth shut.”

Vidal’s chuckle, low though it was, warmed her heart if nothing else.

“No, you were right to mention it. If we thought it safe enough, one of us would hold back to see if we can identify them, but it’s not, so we move on under the cover of darkness.”

From her perch on the back of the mule, Honor found herself eye-to-eye with Vidal. “Won’t the sound of our movements alert them to our intentions?”

“We have to risk it. Juan is sure if we go now we can gain enough ground to keep them guessing for a day or two.”

“Well, I hope he is right.” She tugged at the shoulder of her jacket in an effort to persuade the sleeve to line up more comfortably, and winced at the sharp stab of pain in her neck. “At least it has stopped raining, which will give our clothes a chance to dry.”

She swung round when Juan coughed on her other side. Even in the night-light Honor saw him shuffle. “We follow the river.”

“So I gather.”

“You do not understand. We follow the river by using it to cover our tracks from those you say are following us.”
There are many more Samples to read at Sweet Saturday Samples.

18 August 2012

Sweet Saturday Sample

It's a while since I particpated in SSS and it feels good to be back. Today I am sharing a scene between Honor, the heroine in my Christmas Regency wip, and 'le Duc' a French agent.
I hope you enjoy.

“Be calm, my friends,” the duke laughed, a carefree sound, and turned to the men. “The south pavilion houses the Musée des Douanes and not only displays the history of Bordeaux as a port town, but models of different ships, various navigational instruments and much more. I thought it might interest my lord Vidal and your friend Juan.”

When both men hesitated the duke held their gaze and shook his head. “Both ladies are safe in my care. Shall we say,” he pulled his watch from his pocket and studied it. “An hour? Perhaps more? I believe it has extensive displays, we will enjoy a stroll and find somewhere to enjoy another sample of the local wine.”

Reluctantly the men set of in the direction of the museum.

“That was very naughty of you,” Honor offered a smile with her mild rebuke.

When Consuela ran ahead the duke turned a serious face to her. “It has come to my notice that my enemies are closing in.”

Not a trace of humour remained in his eyes or round his mouth. He stopped walking and placed a preventative hand on her arm. Not knowing what to say, or what the duke expected from her, she remained silent.

“While you need not fear your wretched brother-in-law any more, I am afraid he managed to spread his rumours far and wide before he left England.”

“So you told me.” Her empathy ebbed with his reminder of what lay in store for her once she reached home.

“There is little I can do that will not exacerbate the situation, and it might amuse you to learn that while he betrayed his brother, and you, he also betrayed me, too.”

“He told you?” Vidal had warned her of Cedric’s villainy, but this? She watched the duke’s lips tighten, his eyes grow hard.

“Indeed, almost his last words were his boast that he’d been paid twice for the same information.”

“Then surely they are nothing more than idle threats of an evil man bent on causing mischief to the end.”

“So I thought,” the duke agreed. “Sadly, this time he did not lie. If I return to England there will be no room for explanation. There is, I believe a bounty on my person, and so it grieves me to admit that I will not be visiting your country anytime soon if ever again.”

“What does this have to do with me?” A quick glance revealed Consuela studying some wares displayed outside of a building across the square.

“I have done what I can to restore your good name, but, as I said, now my own position has been compromised, it may not be enough. Indeed it could work against you.” He looked down, real regret in his eyes.

“I told you, did I not, that I have only one mistress?”

“You did.” Honor confirmed. “Your country.”

“I knew I could rely on your good memory for I have a confession to make. One I hope will not distress you, rather you will remember with a little fondness.” He let go of her arm, and dug into his pocket once more.

“I once thought myself in love with a woman, but she taught me well never to trust her gender again, and until I met you I never deviated from that vow.”

Puzzled more than embarrassed Honor shook her head in semi denial of what she knew was coming.

“I will not go so far as to describe what I feel for you as love, rather that no other woman has touched my heart the way you do, and that is why I have taken it upon myself to escort you and your friends through France.” He looked round at the people. “I intended to use my yacht to send you across the Channel a final damning of your character in the eyes of your authorities. Now I find I cannot do it, so I have arranged for another vessel to carry you from France to England. Remember the name, it is important. Marie Anne. You will ask the captain 'if this is the Marie Anne, not the queen'. Only then will he let you onboard.”

“But will you not be there to see us set sail?”

When the duke shook his head, Honor couldn’t identify the feelings swirling through her. She’d feared him, loathed him, been grateful to him for the provisions he’d left them, and more than a little wary of his motivation for meeting them at Irun and escorting them across France.

“No, my dear, it is unlikely I will be there when you set sail.”

There are more great offerings at Sweet Saturday Samples.

31 July 2012

Tuesday Tales - Prompt - Blue

:-) Another week, another Tuesday Tales promt. This week it is BLUE. I have skipped forward in my WIP from last week and now my hero and heroine are heading for the Pyrenees and the French border.

From the vast acres of deep green foliage of the woods several feet below them now, Honor took in the tranquil blue of the Mediterranean sky, the vast expanse of green slopes dropping away from them, criss-crossed with hard-packed tracks that would turn into muddy rivers after a downpour of rain. Shiny outcrops of rock spearing through the green shimmered in the sunlight. Bird song, not the cry of battle, filled the sky. Only the clip-clop of the mules’ hooves disturbed the humming insects as they passed. And still the heaviness of intuition told Honor they were not alone.

"How can you be sure we have moved away from Phillipe's recommended routes? Have you been here before?"

“Of course not. We alway took our leave in a town where we could relax and top up on our personal items of need.”

“A hard life.”

Honor barely heard the words he spoke so quietly.

“We knew how to play, make no mistake, we had good times. I can’t deny it, life could be tough, and yet the friendships are the sort that will last a lifetime.”

Her voice trailed off as the image of three men pulling her husband off his horse and dragging him out of the camp ambushed her.