A PRINCE TO BE FEARED: THE LOVE STORY OF VLAD DRACULA by Mary Lancaster
Europe’s most fearsome prisoner, Vlad Dracula, gifted military commander and one time Prince of Wallachia, the notorious Lord Impaler himself, is about to be released after twelve long years, in order to hold back the tide of Ottoman aggression. The price of his new alliance with his Hungarian captors is the king’s cousin Ilona.Ilona does not wish to be married. In particular, she doesn’t wish to marry Vlad. Gentle, faded and impossibly vague, Ilona is hardly fit for court life, let alone for dealing with so difficult a husband.
But Ilona’s wishes have nothing to do with Vlad’s reputation and everything to do with a lifelong love affair that finally broke her. Ilona’s family blame Vlad; Vlad vows to discover the truth and sets out by unconventional means to bring back the woman who once enchanted him. Among court intrigues, international manoeuvrings and political deceptions, Vlad reveals himself more victim than villain. But he’s still more than capable of reclaiming his lost rights to both Wallachia and Ilona; and Ilona, when it counts, has enough strength for them both.
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Mary Lancaster's first love was historical fiction. Since then she has grown to love coffee, chocolate, red wine and black and white films - simultaneously where possible. She hates housework.As a direct consequence of the first love, she studied history at St. Andrews University, after which she worked variously as editorial assistant, researcher and librarian. Although she has always written stories for her own entertainment, she began to make serious efforts toward publication in order to distract herself from a job she disliked. She now writes full time at her seaside home in Scotland, which she shares with her husband and three children.
Mary is the author of three historical novels:
AN ENDLESS EXILE - the story of Hereward, 11th century outlaw hero
A WORLD TO WIN - a Scottish governess finds love in revolutionary Hungary
A PRINCE TO BE FEARED: the love story of Vlad Dracula
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Good morning Mary and super congrats on the new release - what a fantastic cover and an fascinating subject!
ReplyDeleteSince you're new here to AuthorIsland, please tell us a bit about yourself and your new book. How did the idea for this book come to you?
Thanks for choosing AuthorIsland to help you kick off your Book Tour and we wish you the very best with your new release! Hope it's your biggest seller yet!
Have fun today and enjoy your weekend.
Hi DeNita - thank you, and I'm thrilled to be part of Author Island!
DeleteGlad you like the cover - Kimberly Killion at Hot Damn Designs is responsible, and I have to say I think she did a lovely job :).
About me, I live in Scotland with my husband and three children and I write historical fiction - more romantic historical novels than historical romances, but the romance is definitely there :).
I've certainly taken a romantic angle from which to tell Vlad's fascinating story, so let me say at the outset that a) this isn't a vampire story :); and b) I don't think "Vlad the Impaler" was as black as history has painted him. So I've tried to imagine what sort of a man he really was - ruthless and hard and single-minded I'm sure, but also far-sighted, loyal and caring.
The story's told largely through the encounters of Vlad with the woman who eventually became his wife - full of intrigue and adventure, revenge, emotion and romance. And I have it on the authority of my down-to-earth proof reader that you might need copious tissues for part of it :).
Mary
Did you have a hard time coming up with the character names? Shared via email.
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Hi there! Actually, no, that was the easy part! Because most of the characters in the book are real people, they already had names! I only had to christen a few minor characters :).
DeleteMary
I saw your launch announced on fb and came to wish you good luck! I love historical fiction.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Very glad you dropped by :).
DeleteMary
This sounds fascinating. I love historical novels.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kelly! I do too :)
DeleteMary
Stopped in to say Congrats on your new book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And I shared on facebook
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DeleteThank you on both counts! Glad you came :)
DeleteMary
I love historical fiction, and A Prince to Be Feared sounds remarkable. I'll try to stop by FB today.
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DeleteThanks, Catharina! I caught you on FB too :). So glad you could come!
DeleteMary
This is an intriguing premise. It's hard to do something new with Vlad the Impaler but it looks like you've succeeded. Congratulations on your new release.
ReplyDeleteVeronica Tower