Snow in July by Kim Iverson Headlee
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Sir Robert Alain de Bellencombre has been granted what every man wants: a rich English estate in exchange for his valiant service at the Battle of Hastings. To claim this reward, the Norman knight must wed the estate's Saxon heiress. Most men would leap at such an opportunity, but for Alain, who broke his vow to his dying mother by failing to protect his youngest brother in battle, it means facing more easily broken vows. But when rumors of rampant thievery, dangerous beasts, and sorcery plaguing a neighboring estate reach his ears, nothing will make him shirk duty to king and country when people's lives stand at risk. He assumes the guise of a squire to scout the land, its problems, and its lady.
Lady Kendra of Edgarburh has been granted what no woman wants: a forced marriage to an enemy who may be kith or kin to the man who murdered her beloved brother. Compounding her anguish is her failure to awaken the miraculous healing gift bequeathed by their late mother in time to save his life. Although with his dying breath, he made her promise to seek happiness above all, Kendra vows that she shall find neither comfort nor love in the arms of a Norman…unless it snows in July.
Alain is smitten by Lady Kendra from the first moment of their meeting; Kendra feels the forbidden allure of the handsome and courtly Norman "squire." But a growing evil overshadows everyone, invoking dark forces and ensnaring Kendra in a plot to overthrow the king Alain is oath-bound to serve. Kendra and Alain face a battle unlike any other as their honor, their love, their lives, and even their very souls lie in the balance.
BOOK INFORMATION
TITLE – Snow in July AUTHOR – Kim Iverson Headlee GENRE – Young Adult Paranormal Historical Romance PUBLICATION DATE – July 2014 LENTH (Pages/# Words) – 386 pages/94K words PUBLISHER – Pendragon Cove Press COVER DESIGNER – Natasha Brown
EXCERPT
FIFTEEN THOUSAND MEN and horses writhed across the valley below, appearing as toys in a children’s game.
Many might consider war a game, but Sir Robert Alain de Bellencombre, knight of Normandy bound to the service of Duke William and commander of a unit in the cavalry reserves, did not number among their ranks.
Edward the Confessor, King of England via his Saxon father but Norman by his mother, was dead. This battle, raging near the coastal hamlet called Hastings, would decide the right of one man to wear the English crown: William the Norman, acknowledged by Pope Alexander to be Edward’s lawful successor; or Harold the Saxon, brother of Edward’s wife, the man alleged to be Edward’s deathbed choice.
Stroking his war horse’s glossy charcoal neck to calm her, Alain pondered Harold’s claim. It had to be true. This many men would not sacrifice their lives for a lie. Yet the vast majority of Harold’s supporters were Saxons harboring no wish to bear the Norman yoke. Perhaps such men might be desperate enough to fight for a lie that promised to restore Saxon rule.
A trumpet blared. He signaled his men forward, couched his lance, and spurred Chou to send her careening into the melee.
Harold’s shield wall, which had seemed impregnable, began to crumble under the onslaught of Alain’s unit, hastened by the desertion of men who no doubt decided they weren’t quite so willing to die. Their lord stood exposed just long enough for a Norman archer to sight his mark. Harold fell, screaming and clutching an arrow that protruded from one eye.
Harold’s supporters closed ranks around him, blocking Alain’s view and giving him more than enough to do as the Saxons redoubled their efforts to guard their lord’s body.
A familiar whirl of colors caught Alain’s attention. The saffron leopard prowling on a green field—Étienne! A Saxon knight, with a blue arm and fist blazing defiance across his gray shield, bore down upon Étienne with leveled lance. Étienne tumbled from his horse. He scrambled to his feet and retrieved his sword, putting it to good use on the Saxons surrounding him, although the knight who’d unhorsed him had already ridden in search of other targets.
Lance long since discarded and sword now rising and falling with fatal precision, Alain surged to reach his brother’s side. Protection of her youngest son had been their dying mother’s wish, and he had sworn on his own life to keep Étienne safe.
Before he could close the distance, another Saxon knight fought past Étienne’s guard to thrust a war-knife into his throat. Through the visor the knight’s eyes gleamed with startling, fathomless malice. Alain could only watch in stunned disbelief as he laid his hand upon Étienne’s chest for a few moments. Uttering a soul-freezing howl, the Saxon yanked out his seax and disappeared into the press with Étienne’s shield, denying Alain vengeance.
Shame and grief rent his heart asunder.
He had failed the two he loved most; failed them so utterly that he could never beg their forgiveness in this lifetime.
Pain slammed into his shoulder, toppling him from the saddle. Étienne’s body broke his fall. He tried to roll clear, but a spear through his chest pinned him to Étienne. His gut convulsed, and bile burned his throat. Blinding agony killed his struggle to free himself. Death’s stench invaded his nostrils.
He closed his eyes and waited for his final journey to begin.
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An interview with Lady Kendra:
I am Lady Kendra of Edgarburh, and I bid you warm greetings on this cool day in the year of Our Lord 1067. You bestow upon me great honor with your thoughtful questions, and it is my humble pleasure to answer them for you.
Are you able to express your opinions on political matters?
It is my lot as a daughter of Eve to suffer her eternal curse—not only in the travails and dangers of childbed, but to be subject to the will of my lord father and, one day, the will of my lord husband. I am ever thankful my father Thane Waldron has demonstrated gracious forbearance with me, for my tongue is ever quick to let slip things of a nature that a lady of my rank and breeding ought not utter, even privily. Father does have the right of it, for England’s new king shall stop at nothing to see his crown secure, even executing a person for treasonous speech. If it does transpire that I must marry one of King William’s retainers, I pray with all my heart that he is not like his sovereign in this regard.
We know that you are dead set against marrying that foreigner.
I also hear you had one proposal from a countryman a few years your senior.
You've vowed only to marry for love. As you were growing up, were there young men your age that caught your eye? Someone you could daydream about marrying?
What a fair question! And I fear I must disappoint you with the answering of it, but I was always ever so busy seeing to the needs of my family and our people. No man ever turned my head…until he rode to Edgarburh: he of the enchanting smile and captivating voice, he of the courtly manners and kindly spirit, he whose rank as a squire stood well beneath mine…he whom I must despise because his king slaughtered my countrymen to win the throne.
He who, I confess, haunts my dreams by night and by day.
He who, I confess, haunts my dreams by night and by day.
Your brother taught you how to use a blade. Do you feel confident you would be able to defend yourself? Has the need to use it ever come up?
We live in a dangerous world, and my dear brother Del—may God rest his soul—knew this as well as any man does. Three years ago, at Cristes mæsse, the season that you are pleased to call Christmas, Del presented me with the dagger I now carry upon my person, and he did teach me the basic wielding of it. But what he taught me above all was to guard myself from becoming ensnared in a situation wherein I would need the weapon to survive. Thus far I have heeded his advice, and I pray that the dagger’s need shall not arise in the future.
Your mother had a gift for healing but did not bequeath that to you before she died.
Your family believes your healing powers are quite strong. Are they the result of studying natural means of healing? Do you believe you have some magical abilities?
Kind soul, prithee do not speak to me of the magical arts, for talk such as this could cause both of us to be excommunicated…or worse. Nay, my healing skills, as poor as they are, come only from study, practice, and prayer.
I thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts, and I wish many blessings upon you.
Thank you for featuring SNOW IN JULY and Lady Kendra's interview on your blog today!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for featuring Kim on your blog and I just loved your interview with Lady Kendra, great questions. - Tonya
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