Publication Date: April 24, 2015 (US & UK)Top Hat Books
Formats: Kindle eBook, Paperback
351 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
READ AN EXCERPT.
Harold Godwineson, the Last Anglo-Saxon King, owed everything to his father. Who was this Godwine, first Earl of Wessex and known as the Kingmaker? Was he an unscrupulous schemer, using King and Witan to gain power? Or was he the greatest of all Saxon Earls, protector of the English against the hated Normans? The answer depends on who you ask. He was befriended by the Danes, raised up by Canute the Great, given an Earldom and a wife from the highest Danish ranks. He sired nine children, among them four Earls, a Queen and a future King. Along with his power came a struggle to keep his enemies at bay, and Godwine's best efforts were brought down by the misdeeds of his eldest son Swegn. Although he became father-in-law to a reluctant Edward the Confessor, his fortunes dwindled as the Normans gained prominence at court. Driven into exile, Godwine regathered his forces and came back even stronger, only to discover that his second son Harold was destined to surpass him in renown and glory.
My Review:
Four Stars
Copy received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
Goodwine was a great hero. The story is primarily from his perspective which I really enjoyed because it made it easy to relate to him. Goodwine had some aspects of his power given to him but most of his decisions were based on survival. When he joins with the Danes it seals not only his fate but that of future generations as well. Because I am a romantic at heart, I loved to story between him and Gytha. Yes theirs was a union of convenience and power but it grew to be more.
I always struggle with the Anglo-Saxon history and the Normans but I did not let that deter me because I've read Mercedes Rochelle before and knew that she would be able to grab my attention. No matter how many stories I read about history I am always amazed at the tumultuous struggle between the Anglo-Saxon and English. Aliases were so important and many times it made all the differences because it meant a victory or defeat. Aside from the political tensions there was also the religious differences that affected society of the time. Just like "Heir to a Prophecy" "Goodwine Kingmaker" was a very informative, entertaining and enjoyable read.
Official Book Trailer
Pre-Order the Book
Amazon USAmazon UK
About the Author
Born in St. Louis MO with a degree from University of Missouri, Mercedes Rochelle learned about living history as a re-enactor and has been enamored with historical fiction ever since. She lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they built themselves.For more information please visit Mercedes Rochelle’s website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
Godwine Kingmaker Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, April 20Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views
Spotlight at Genre Queen
Tuesday, April 21
Review at Book Nerd
Spotlight at Unshelfish
Wednesday, April 22
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Guest Post & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books
Thursday, April 23
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Saturday, April 25
Spotlight at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Tuesday, April 28
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews
Wednesday, April 29
Review at Broken Teepee
Thursday, April 30
Guest Post & Giveaway at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time
Spotlight at The Writing Desk
Monday, May 4
Review at Impressions in Ink
Character Interview at Boom Baby Reviews
Tuesday, May 5
Guest Post & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Thursday, May 7
Review at Bookramblings
Spotlight at The Never-Ending Book
Friday, May 8
Review at Layered Pages
No comments:
Post a Comment