Greetings, commies!
If you are looking for a quick engaging read between your Thanksgiving meal courses, consider Kim Rendfeld's short story Betrothed to the Red Dragon.
Synopsis
Dinas Powys, 479: Queen Gwenhwyfar is content to rule alone. But with
her captain dead and the Saxons raiding their way toward her stronghold,
she turns to the general Artorius to lead her warriors. His price is
more than she wants to pay—her hand in marriage.
My thoughts:
I hope this short story develops into a novel. I have read both of Kim Rendfeld's prior novels set in the Dark Ages, The Cross and the Dragon and The Ashes of Heaven's Pillar and found both to be meticulously researched and satisfying. I also follow her blog in which she sheds light on many common misconceptions about the social norms in the Middle Ages. There are so many takes on the iconic power couple Art and Gwen. In the past decades there has been a shift in the portrayal of King Arthur and his consort. Unsurprisingly, Rendfeld's queen Gwen is no shivering submissive lamb. Even though she does not disdain cosmetics, she is a savvy politician. I can see her played by a younger Kristen Scott Thomas. I hope that "Betrothed to the Red Dragon" blossoms into a full-length novel.
Commies,
Halloween has technically passed, but there is still plenty of cheap candy and sparkles floating around. Fans of paranormal romance shouldn't miss the second installment of Maggie Tideswell's paranormal series.
PS: I Love You is the second book in Maggie Tideswell's paranormal romance series. I first the first novel Goodbye, My Love and made an instant connection to the classic "Jane Eyre", from the grumpy, socially offensive yet sexually compelling employer (think a hotter version of Mr. Rochester), a high-maintenance special needs child and a well-meaning governess/therapist female protagonist who finds herself drawn into the family secrets. By becoming romantically involved with her employer Ben, Jess inherits a load of psychological burden.
Any other girl would have run away screaming, but Jess seems to revel in the drama and family secrets, even the antagonism of her employer's former sisters-in-law (who somehow evoked the images of the weird sisters from "Macbeth"). Jess is the kind of girl who will do everything wrong, go against what most women would consider good judgment. Her reward? The chance to get involved in a paranormal mystery featuring her predecessor/rival Roxanne, the woman her boss/lover used to worship and had a hard time relinquishing. It's much like lurking on social media, pulling up pictures of your lover's ex.
