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Tour Hashtag: #LostDuchessBlogTour #LostDuchessBookBlast
Paperback Publication Date: June 5, 2014
Ebury Press
Paperback; 448p
Blurb:
An epic Elizabethan adventure with a thriller pace and a high tension love story that moves from the palaces of England to the savage wilderness of the New World.
Emme Fifield has fallen about as far as a gentlewoman can.
Once a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, her only hope of surviving the scandal that threatens to engulf her is to escape England for a fresh start in the new America where nobody has ever heard of the Duchess of Somerset.
Emme joins Kit Doonan's rag-tag band of idealists, desperados and misfits bound for Virginia. But such a voyage will be far from easy and Emme finds her attraction to the mysterious Doonan inconvenient to say the least.
As for Kit, the handsome mariner has spent years imprisoned by the Spanish, and living as an outlaw with a band of escaped slaves; he has his own inner demons to confront, and his own dark secrets to keep...
Ever since Sir Walter Raleigh's settlement in Virginia was abandoned in 1587 its fate has remained a mystery; 'The Lost Duchess' explores what might have happened to the ill-starred 'Lost Colony' of Roanoke.
My Review:
“The Lost Duchess” by Jenny Barden is an excellent work of
historical fiction. I enjoyed reading it from beginning until end! Emme’s
character is great. She is the type of character that you are rooting for from
the beginning of the novel. She goes through so much hardship, but is such a
strong person that she is able to pull through whatever is put in her way. She
is definitely braver than most women of that time, I doubt many women would
push to go across the world to start a new colony! It’s crazy to think of a
woman at that time traveling across the ocean without a husband. I also enjoyed
the instant attraction between Kit and Emme. They are a perfect fit, and the
chemistry between them is awesome. Kit comes across as a hard adventurer, who
doesn’t have time for love, but Emme changes all of that. Kit hasn’t allowed
anyone into her heart since his last “wife” died, but Emme is able to get him
to open up to love again. The author did a great job with descriptions and
imagery. You could really visualize the surroundings in the new settlement, and
also the different indian tribes and villages. She also did an awesome job at
keeping me on the edge of my seat during the battle between the Indians and the
colony! I could hardly breathe as the planning for the battle and the actual
battle were going on. I had no idea what was going to happen, and was actually
nervous for the outcome of the battle!
I would definitely recommend this novel to any fan of
historical fiction. Not only do you get the English viewpoint in this novel,
but you also get the viewpoint of some of the different indian tribes. I was
interested throughout, and can’t imagine that any one will be disappointed with
this novel.
I give “The Lost Duchess” a solid FIVE out of FIVE stars.
Buy the Book
Amazon (AUS)
Amazon (UK)
Book Depository
About the Author
I've had a love of history and adventure ever since an encounter in infancy with a suit of armour at TamworthCastle. Training as an artist, followed by a career as a city Jenny (Portrait 2)solicitor, did little to help displace my early dream of becoming a knight. A fascination with the Age of Discovery led to travels in South and Central America, and much of the inspiration for my debut came from retracing the footsteps of Francis Drake in Panama. The sequel centres on the first Elizabethan 'lost colony' of early Virginia. I am currently working on an epic adventure during the threat of invasion by the Spanish Armada.
My work has appeared in short story collections and anthologies and I've written for non-fiction publications including the Historical Novels Review. I am active in many organisations, having run the 'Get Writing' conferences for several years, and undertaken the co-ordination of the Historical Novel Society’s London Conference 2012. I am a member of that organisation as well as the Historical Writers' Association, the Romantic Nevelists' Association and the Society of Authors. I'll be co-ordinating the RNA's annual conference in 2014.
I have four children and now live on a farm in Dorset with my long suffering husband and an ever increasing assortment of animals.
I love travelling, art, reading and scrambling up hills and mountains (though I'm not so keen on coming down!).
Author Links
Website
Jenny Barden's Blog
English Historical Fiction Authors Blog
Also by Jenny Barden
Publication Date: June 20, 2013
Ebury Press
Formats: Paperback, Ebook
Mistress Cooksley may be a wealthy merchant's daughter, but she blushes at my words and meets my eyes look for look. Yet I cannot hope to court her without fortune, and a dalliance with a pretty maid will not hinder me from my path.
Captain Drake's endeavour might bring me gold, but I, Will Doonan, will have my revenge.
The Spaniards captured my brother and have likely tortured and killed him. For God and St George, we'll strike at the dogs and see justice done.
I thought I'd left Mistress Cooksley behind to gamble everything and follow Drake, and here she is playing the boy at the ends of the world. She's a fool with a heart as brave as any man's. Yet her presence here could be the ruin of us all...
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