Shadow of the Swan {+ Giveaway}

Shadow of the Swan
Judith Sterling
(The Novels of Ravenwood #3)
Publication date: January 31st 2018
Genres: Historical, Romance

Lady Constance de Bret was determined to be a nun, until shadows from the past eclipsed her present. Marriage is the safest option, but she insists on a spiritual union, in which physical intimacy is forbidden. Not so easy with a bridegroom who wields unparalleled charm! But a long-buried secret could taint his affection and cloak her in shadow forever.
Back from the Crusades, Sir Robert le Donjon craves a home of his own and children to inherit it. From the moment he meets Constance, he feels a mysterious bond between them. When she’s threatened, he vows to protect her and agrees to the spiritual marriage, with the hope of one day persuading her to enjoy a “real” one. She captivates him but opens old wounds and challenges everything he thought he believed.
Two souls in need of healing. Two hearts destined to beat as one.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

Robert turned to Constance but said nothing.
After a moment, she met his gaze. “Why do you stare at me?”
He grinned. “On the morrow, I want to show you something.”
“What?”
“You’ll see.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why won’t you tell me?”
“’Tis a surprise.”
“I don’t like surprises.”
“Neither do I, on the whole. But you’ll like this one.” He reached toward his belt.
She stepped back. “What are you doing?”
“Undressing.” He set his belt on the table.
Her stomach dropped. “Why?”
“Aren’t you the suspicious one?” He pulled off his boots. “’Tis customary to doff one’s clothes at bedtime.”
She whirled around, turning her back on him. “I slept fully clothed at the nunnery.” She stared hard at the stone wall.
“I hate to state the obvious, but this isn’t a nunnery.”
“Well, how do you sleep?”
“Naked, of course.”
Heat flooded her cheeks and forehead. “Is that necessary?”
“I could wear my breeches.”
She sighed. Whew!
“On one condition.” His tone was loaded with meaning beyond her grasp.
What condition? What does he want from me?
She turned to face him. Apart from his calf-length breeches, he was nude. Her gaze locked onto his chest.
Sculpted by combat. Scarred by war. Covered with black hair.
“Any objection?” His voice was soft, deep.
She forced her gaze to his eyes. They looked darker now. Was it a trick of the light?
He’s waiting for an answer. Say something! “No.”
“Good.”
“How did you undress so fast?”
“The battlefield teaches one to do everything fast.” His eyes sparkled. “Well, not everything.”
Did her heart still beat? She couldn’t tell. His tone was so suggestive.
“You blush, my lady.”
Her hands flew to her cheeks. “And whose fault is that?”
He gave her a rueful smile. “Mine. But if we’re to be friends, I have to speak honestly.”
“About sexual matters?”
“About all matters. Can you live with that?”
She hesitated, then gave him a nod. “I can. And in that vein, what is the condition you proposed?”
“Right. If I’m to smother myself with added linen—”
“Breeches, Sir Robert. They’re just breeches.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “So say you. But if I do that, you must sleep in your chemise only.”
Her jaw dropped. Then she frowned. “Why?”
“For the sake of comfort.”
“I’m comfortable clad.”
He looked down, and his fingers seized the tie to his breeches. “Fine. If you’d rather I drop my—”
“Stop!” She grumbled. “Very well. I’ll sleep in my chemise.”
He smiled. “I’ll go lie in bed and shut my eyes, if you’d like.”
“I would like.”
“Do you prefer one side of the bed to the other?”
She shrugged. “It matters not.”
“Then I lay claim to the left.”
As soon as the bed creaked beneath his weight, she removed her headdress. Then she disrobed as quickly as she could and scurried to the bed.
“Why such haste?” he asked as she slid beneath the covers.
“My feet are cold.”
“Mine are warm. You’re welcome to—”
“No, Sir Robert. I’ll warm up soon enough.”

Author Bio:
Judith Sterling's love of history and passion for the paranormal infuse everything she writes. Flight of the Raven, Soul of the Wolf, and Shadow of the Swan are part of her medieval romance series, The Novels of Ravenwood. The Cauldron Stirred is the first book in her YA paranormal fantasy series, Guardians of Erin. Written under Judith Marshall, her nonfiction books--My Conversations with Angels and Past Lives, Present Stories--have been translated into multiple languages. She has an MA in linguistics and a BA in history, with a minor in British Studies. Born in that sauna called Florida, she craved cooler climes, and once the travel bug bit, she lived in England, Scotland, Sweden, Wisconsin, Virginia, and on the island of Nantucket. She currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her husband and their identical twin sons.

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GIVEAWAY!
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California’s Mission Phase Inspires a Novel

I’m delighted today to welcome author Barbara Crane (and a friend) to Thoughts in Progress to celebrate her release WHEN WATER WAS EVERYWHERE.

Her story is about a young St. Louis man who goes west to L.A. in the 1800’s during California’s mission phase. The book won a Beverly Hills Book Award and is inspired by the life of John Temple and Rancho Los Cerritos.

Barbara has brought a friend along to give us a different perspective. I’ll let Barbara explain.

Don Rodrigo Tilman is an important character in my historical novel, “When Water Was Everywhere.” He is inspired by the real historical figure Don Juan Temple, as he was known in the early 19^th century Pueblo of Los Angeles. Today we’ll look at Tilman from his wife’s point of view. She shared his adventures in the early days of Los Angeles and at their cattle ranch, located in the present-day city of Long Beach, California. Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1970.

My name is Señora Maria Alejandra Arenas de Tilman. My husband, Don Rodrigo Tilman, a man of fine character, was a Yankee sea captain.  When he settled in the pueblo of Los Angeles in the late 1820s, he became a Mexican citizen. You see, Mexico had recently fought a war of independence with Spain.  Alta California, claimed by Spain since the 16^th century, became a part of Mexico. By becoming a Mexican citizen, my husband became eligible to own land.

I’m proud of what my husband has become in his adopted homeland. He owned the first store in the pueblo and rapidly became its wealthiest citizen. In 1843, he purchased Rancho Los Sierritos, which means “Ranch of the Little Hills”. Rancho Los Sierritos is 25 miles south of the pueblo of Los Angeles along the Los Angeles River. You should see the river. It is wild and beautiful at Rancho Los Sierritos, lined with willow and cottonwood trees.

My husband has plans for the ranch. He wants to raise an enormous herd of cattle, then sell the hides to the numerous trading ships that dock in San Pedro Bay’s harbor. First, though, he will build a ranch house, where we can live during the summer, away from the pueblo’s heat and dust. Our daughter, nine years old, will like that, too.

I can see that my husband is worried about the future. Mexico has not been a good steward of Alta California. The governors it has sent are not equipped to oversee such a vast territory. On the other hand, if Alta California does become part of the United States, which the American president wants, my husband isn’t sure that his claims to his ranch would be honored.

This is a time of uncertainty for us, but I’m sure my husband will find a way for us to keep our ranch and continue to prosper.

Barbara (and Señora Tilman) thanks for visiting today and sharing this insight. A fascinating look at a part of history.

Author Barbara Crane

Barbara Crane’s most recent novel, When Water Was Everywhere, won a Beverly Hills Book Award. She lives in Long Beach, CA near Rancho Los Cerritos and other sites she used in her novel.

For more on Barbara and her writing, visit her at the following sites:

www.barbaraecrane.com

www.whenwaterwaseverywhere.com

www.lagoonhousepress.com/about-us/

Thanks for stopping by today. Do you enjoy getting the perspective of a character from a story?