This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Biography
Barbara Gaskell Denvil was born in Gloucestershire, England but after living in half a dozen different European countries and cruising the Mediterranean for some years, has now temporarily moved to rural Australia.
When younger she worked in many literary capacities and published numerous short stories and articles, but now writes full length novels.
Her passion for late English medieval history and this forms the background for her historical fiction. She has published three hictorical novels - SATIN CINNABAR which is a crime adventure actually commencing on the Bosworth battlefield, SUMERFORD'S AUTUMN which is an adventure mystery with strong romantic overtones, set in the early years of the Tudor reign, and BLESSOP'S WIFE (published in Australia as THE KING'S SHADOW) which is a crime/romance set in England during 1482-3 during the turbulant years around the death of King Edward IV.
Barbara is also an author of fantasy and will shortly be publishing two of these - descriptions to come soon.
Both fantasy and historical fiction take us into new worlds and Barbara's books do exactly this - being multi-layered, and rich in atmosphere and depth of characterisation.
Reviewed by Fiona Ingram for Readers' Favorite
August 1485. The first Tudor King Henry VII claims victory at the Battle of Bosworth and ascends the throne of England by vanquishing Richard III. Young Sir Alexander Quyrril, now Baron Mornington after the death of his father and older brother on the battlefield, escapes by throwing off the armour that would mark him as one of the defeated Yorkists. In these tumultuous times, loyalties change sides, new alliances are forged, and the once mighty are brought to their knees. It is dangerous for Yorkists to show themselves, lest they be executed, or imprisoned for treason. Alex hides in a barn where he meets a young girl disguised as a servant. This brief meeting blossoms into something deeper when Alex, having made for London and the refuge of his cousins, meets up with Mistress Katherine Ashingham again. By now, he has found himself a job in the new Earl of Sheffield’s home, disguised as a member of the kitchen staff. Alex discovers the servant girl he had met is in fact a lady of quality, about to be wedded to his new employer. He also discovers his newly released and pardoned cousin, Merevale Corby, murdered a short time later. Somehow, Alex is implicated in this murder, as well as that of another close relative. In the meantime, his employer dies of the sweating sickness, leaving Katherine free to marry again. A zealous priest of the household accuses Alex, who had prepared various drinks for the earl, using spices that could also be poisons, of murder. The odds seem stacked against Alex, who is quickly arrested. In Newgate, he will hardly be able to prove his innocence and court the woman he loves. Katherine’s brief and unconsummated wedding has put her off marriage, and Alex needs to fathom out who the double murderer could be.
This novel combines the best elements of historical romance and murder-mystery-adventure. The author is a gifted wordsmith, combining lyrical, poetic descriptions with a wealth of detail that never overpowers the reader. The natural use of language also enhances the historic elements, creating believable, appealing heroes, both in the major players and the secondary characters. The author’s captivating style takes the reader from the sweeping vista of the blood-drenched battlefield, mired in muck and gore, to the raucous chaos of medieval London, to the subtle intimacies of the bedchamber in an intricate plot. Alex and Katherine work out their destinies against a backdrop of complete turmoil. The author creates an eminently believable, realistic, and accurate depiction of fifteenth-century England as the country struggles to survive all the inevitable power tussles, politics, and disorder accompanying the beginning of the new Tudor dynasty. I loved this book and found I could not put it down. Highly recommended.
