Poitevin Hearts

The blood of the barons of Poitou runs hot against the English crown. Can any of them be trusted? Heléne de Laurant has not forgotten how the English Earl of Gunthar destroyed her father's castle during King Henry II's war with his sons. Apparently neither have her family and friends, for when someone tries to murder Gunthar, every sign points in their direction. Heléne realizes the only way to prove her loved ones' innocence is by exposing the true assassin. But what if one of them is guilty? Can she forsake her bonds of love and loyalty to face the truth? Gunthar views Heléne as at best naïve, at worst potentially complicit when she continues to deny the obvious. Her family betrayed the king once before in the county of Poitou. The attack on Gunthar's life proves that one, if not all, of them are eager to exact revenge for the king's humiliating defeat of the Poitevin rebels by murdering his most staunch supporter. Gunthar vows he will not return to England until he has uncovered and ruthlessly squashed this new threat to himself and his royal master. As Heléne and Gunthar spar over the identity of the traitor, fierce determination gives way to mutual attraction. Heléne must race against time and dark secrets of the past to unmask the would-be killer before the kingdom plunges back into war. But even if she succeeds, will the love that grows between her and Gunthar be strong enough to break the webs of loyalty that threaten to keep them forever apart? Poitevin Hearts, Book 1: Men and women living and loving amidst the political intrigues of medieval Poitou (a region of France once ruled by the Kings of England.) Loyalty's Web is a PG-13 rated historical romance. The Poitevin Hearts romance series is linked together by recurring characters, but each title is written as a stand-alone novel. They can be read and enjoyed in any order.

When Siri de Calendri's brother dies, his will sends her from Venice and the medieval illuminating workshop she loves to the faraway county of Poitou. Siri becomes the ward of her brother's friend, Triston de Brielle, but she does not intend to stay that way. She is determined to find employment as an illuminator in this strange land-until Triston unexpectedly snatches her heart away with a kiss. Triston is a man of quiet honor and courage, but the guilt he carries for the death of his wife, Clothilde, has left him numb and hesitant to love again. Worse yet, Siri bears an uncanny resemblance to his lost love. Or does she? Her merry laughter and twinkling eyes are very different from his late wife's shy smiles and quiet ways. Yet when he gazes into Siri's face, all he sees is Clothilde. Then Triston's past returns to threaten them both. Trapped between the rivalry of the king's sons on the one hand and a neighbor out for vengeance on the other, Triston knows it would be safer to send Siri away. But Siri is determined not to be cast off and not to live in another woman's shadow. She has illuminated many a priceless book with pen and paint, but can her own vibrant spirit illuminate the darkness in Triston's soul and make his heart beat for her alone? Poitevin Hearts, Book 2: Men and women living and loving amidst the political intrigues of medieval Poitou (a region of France once ruled by the Kings of England.) Illuminations of the Heart is a PG-13 rated historical romance. The Poitevin Hearts romance series is linked together by recurring characters, but each title is written as a stand-alone novel. They can be read and enjoyed in any order.

She thought love had passed her by. Sir Balduin de Soler gave up long ago on love. He never had the means to support a wife until an unexpected advancement in his fifties allows him to reassess his future just as the lovely Lucianna enters his life. Lucianna Fabio harbors a secret, painful memory from her past that has kept her unwed, as well. Now in her forties, she thought herself too old to marry until she meets Sir Balduin. Now suddenly their lonely autumn lives feel very much like spring again... until Lucianna's brother appears without warning and threatens to revive the secret that will destroy Lucianna's second chance at love. Poitevin Hearts, Book 3: Men and women living and loving amidst the political intrigues of medieval Poitou (a region of France once ruled by the Kings of England.) Loving Lucianna is a PG rated historical romance. The Poitevin Hearts romance series is linked together by recurring characters, but each title is written as a stand-alone novel. They can be read and enjoyed in any order. Note: This is an updated cover to the original 2014 edition of Loving Lucianna, which was subtitled "A Hearts in Autumn Romance." I have re-subtitled it as a Poitevin Hearts romance and renumbered it as #3 in that series. The story itself remains unchanged from the original.

Mathilde needs a champion. Her father has been accused of stealing from the king, an allegation that has reduced her family to poverty. She has one chance to find and marry a man who can help her prove her father's innocence. Lord Therri, heir to a rich barony, has the wealth and connections Mathilde needs to delve into the mysteries of her father's past. Furthermore, Therri embodies all her romantic dreams. Etienne, the younger son of a disgraced family, has neither wealth nor connections, but is smitten with Mathilde at a glance. She finds the knight intriguing, but believes he is only out to seduce her. While she seeks for a way to win Therri's attention, Etienne tricks her into granting him her favor, an embroidered white ribbon, for a tournament, setting in motion a dangerous chain reaction of events. Can Etienne save Mathilde from a nightmare from her past and prove himself the true hero of her dreams? Poitevin Hearts, Book 4: Men and women living and loving amidst the political intrigues of medieval Poitou (a region of France once ruled by the Kings of England.