I am delighted to share an extract today ~ thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for organizing.
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Genre: Historical Romance (medieval)
Publication Date: November 21, 2024
Publisher: Mills and Boon
Standalone Second book in the Knight’s Missions series
Estimated Page Count: 262
Introduction to the extract: In The Knight’s Bride Prize Bronwen is a young lady desperate to escape her home and her oppressive father. A tournament is held for with the winner offered her hand in marriage. Sir Hugh is one of the contestants but he is not who he seems, for he is there to investigate her father for treason, a fact he must keep hidden from Bronwen. In the below extract, Bronwen waits for the contestants to arrive.
‘How about that one?’ Delaine nudged Bronwen in the ribs, nodding towards a young knight whose long legs were swinging over the side of his horse as he made to jump down. ‘I bet he’s big all over.’ Delaine waggled her eyebrows and Bronwen couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her.
Growing up, Delaine had been Bronwen’s closest female companion, but over recent years that friendship had gradually faded away. Delaine was now a wife and mother, but the distancing had begun before that change had taken place and had more to do with Bronwen than she would care to admit.
The worse her father’s behaviour had become, the more Bronwen’s mother had retreated into herself and the more awkward Bronwen had become around the other castle inhabitants. It was hard to know what to tell those close to her when she also had no idea what mood their lord and master would be in. Her father either made castle life miserable or he made grand over-the-top gestures, this extravagant tournament being a prime example of his more grandiose ideas. Some people would be expected to work until they dropped, others would get to drink, eat and be merry on Lord Geraint’s expense, and there was no telling who her father would pick to be the ones who toiled and the ones who didn’t.
When drunk, which was almost always, he could be vile and unforgiving, his wife bearing the brunt of his ill behaviour. In recent years, he had worn Bronwen’s mother down with his constant criticism until she had become a shadow of the woman she had been during Bronwen’s younger years. The shifting sands of her father’s moods kept everyone around him as taut as a string on a lyre. No one wanted to be subject to his derision; they had seen how that had destroyed his wife. Bronwen had been left with no one to talk to as her mother faded away.
Sometimes the days stretched out long and empty before Bronwen, and she had yearned for someone to whom she could talk, someone to ease the loneliness. In her imaginings, she pictured talking and laughing with her own daughters, on whom she would shower love and attention. To do that, she needed a husband.
Today, Delaine was talking to her, but she knew the conversation would stay on the surface. The two women watched as the long-legged knight stumbled when his feet touched the ground. ‘Perhaps not him after all,’ continued Delaine. ‘You want someone sure-footed to be your husband.’
‘I’d be content with one who was steady in character, even if he flounders on his dismounts.’ She wanted a husband who was the exact opposite of her father. He must be constant in his moods and, above all, not have the power to hurt her the way her father had hurt her mother with his snide remarks and cutting comments. She wanted someone reliable, someone she could respect but not love. Love only destroyed a person, as her parents’ behaviour had proven.
Bronwen turned back to face the new arrivals. The tournament would take place over a week or two at the most, depending on the weather, and in that time she had to ensure she didn’t bind herself to a man who was worse than her father.
Book blurb:
A dramatic Medieval convenient marriage story
Will he risk his mission… for her hand in marriage?
Part of The Knights’ Missions. On a secret quest to expose a traitor, Sir Hugh enlists in a tournament to win the hand of his target’s daughter, Lady Bronwen. But the clever, driven maiden jeopardises his plans when their unexpected attraction threatens to distract him from his duty! She’s desperate to escape her father, and Hugh can protect her by claiming his prize and marrying her. Yet honour demands the noble knight keeps their desire at bay, for completing his mission means betraying his new bride’s trust…
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Author Bio – Ella Matthews writes sweeping historical novels with a dash of danger, steamy scenes and full of romantic heart. She writes for Mills & Boon / Harlequin but is also planning some self-published novels, so watch this space for those.
She writes in beautiful South Wales, where you can’t go for a walk without tripping over the remains of a castle. She lives with her husband, who’s very technical and who’s set up her website but still doesn’t seem to know how to use a washing machine, her two children and an exceptionally timid rescue guinea pig. When she’s not writing, she’s working with teenagers on their literacy skills (she’s discovered there’s nothing a thirteen year old loves more than discussing commas!). She loves to hear from her readers, so please get in touch – ella@ella-matthews.com
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This one sounds interesting.
Give it a whirl!