Jennifer Blake’s BY HIS MAJESTY’S GRACE – Worthy Medieval Read from Tudor England

By His Majesty’s Grace is set in 1486 when Henry Tudor was king of England. Lady Isabel Milton is commanded to wed Sir Randall of Braesford, as reward for his loyalty to his king. Isabel would be wed by now but it seems all the suitors for her and her two sisters have been dying off. Isabel, wanting to allow them to stay single, perpetuates the myth of the Graydon curse, that only a man who loves them can claim them without mishap. All potential suitors are put off and the girls stay free until Sir Randall who doesn’t believe in the curse.

 

Rand is under a shadow, accused of murdering the child of the king’s French mistress. There is much court intrigue and politics and various agendas working as Isabel helps to sort out the real facts while Rand is held under house arrest (in the Tower of London).

 

Blake’s stories always have a good plot and historical detail. And this one has clever twists, a rich medieval feel and enough history to make you feel like you were there (and don’t forget to read her Author’s Note). King Henry is a character, as is his wife, Elizabeth of York, and there are interesting tidbits about each. It is a very worthy medieval that will satisfy the historical romance lover’s craving for a virile, strong hero, a clever heroine and a tapestry of fast moving events. I recommend it.

 

Three Graces trilogy:

 

His Majesty’s Grace

By Grace Possessed

Seduced By Grace

Jennifer Blake’s NOTORIOUS ANGEL – Unusual and Exciting Story Set in Nicaragua

This story is set in the exotic locale of Nicaragua, Central America during the years 1855-1857. It tells of Eleanora Colette Villars from an aristocratic New Orleans family. Because of her brother’s folly, she loses her home and ends up following her brother to Nicaragua where he has joined the mercenaries serving William Walker, an American who is trying to take over the country.

Colonel Grant Farrell, head of Walker’s private military, takes Eleanora’s brother as hostage, forcing Eleanora, an innocent, to pose as his mistress. Then he holds her prisoner in his home without even clothes to wear. She even begins to make excuses for the colonel (he’s a half-breed Apache with a poor childhood).

 

Once her brother is released and she is free, Eleanora doesn’t tell her brother she was raped and, when her brother wounds the colonel in a duel, she returns to Colonel Farrell’s house to tend his wound. While tending the colonel, Eleanora introduces herself as his mistress, apparently resigned to the role. (He has such a low view of women he will not offer her marriage).

 

Impressed with Eleanora’s medical knowledge, the local doctor invites her to tend the wounded American mercenaries. She takes on the task and, for her valiant efforts, is dubbed “the colonel’s angel.” But she has rivals who seek Eleanora’s demise.

 

The writing is excellent. Blake really makes you feel like you’re in the hot, dusty streets of Nicaragua in a tumultuous time. I could suggest you might want a map, too, so I’ve included one. Blake has obviously done much research for the book and it is seamlessly woven into the story. The scenes as they tramp from Granada to the coast through the jungles and rivers are very well done, and very realistic. The characters are richly developed, too. (Luis was one of my favorite characters.)

 

This one will capture you, I promise.

 

 

Jennifer Blake’s PERFUME OF PARADISE –Exciting Adventure with a Privateer Hero to Love!

Well-written and well-researched, this is a story set in 1803 beginning on the island of Sanit-Dominque in the Caribbean (today modern Haiti) in the time of violent slave uprisings. Elene Larpent returns from school in France to find her papa has betrothed her to Durant Gambier, a man she thinks is harsh. Worried about whether he’ll be kind and gentle, her maid comes to her with a solution…a perfume that will enthrall any man and keep him her slave.

 

Before Elene can be wed, the island’s slaves attack and she and her maid flee into the sugar cane field where she is rescued by the privateer Ryan Bayard.

 

To escape the violence, a mulatto friend of Ryan’s hides them in a pit under his dining room…only 4’ x 7’…for 3 days—and of course, Elene’s perfume drives Ryan wild. You can guess the result. Since she has lost everything, when they escape the island, Ryan persuades her to come with him to New Orleans where much is happening in the change of countries ruling Louisiana. Ryan asks Elene to marry him, but she thinks it’s only due to the perfume and refuses—but is it?

 

Blake sets her story in a time of great upheaval in the island and in Louisiana and did the hard research to make the background and historic details authentic as indicated in her “Author’s Note” at the end. The descriptions are rich, the dialog clever and there are some wonderful characters. There is also a mystery as people keep dying of arsenic poisoning and Elene is determined to find the culprit.

 

I recommend it.

Jennifer Blake’s SOUTHERN RAPTURE – A Wonderful Post Civil War Story with an Intriguing Hero and a Winning Heroine

Lettie Mason, a Boston schoolteacher, lost her brother to an outlaw’s bullet in a small Louisiana town during the Civil War. As a result, when the war is over, she travels to that same town to learn about her brother’s death. She believes he was killed by an outlaw known as the “Thorn”. She has heard tales of his many good deeds as well as the bad. And when she encounters him in the dark, he kisses her and then, later, makes love to her. She does not resist.

 

Meanwhile, she has begun to teach two young men at Splendora, the estate where she is staying. One, the very handsome Ransom Tharp, who returned from the war with a head injury that left him “not quite right”. Or is he?

 

A local hero carries on with two personalities to help his people…a disguise that keeps him from the woman he would have. But Lettie suspects all is not as it seems.

 

A great story, well told by a master of historical romance. Highly recommended.

Jennifer Blake’s THE STORM AND THE SPLENDOR – Captivating Adventure with a Mysterious Ship’s Captain Sailing From New Orleans to London to Algiers!

 

Set in 1818, three years after the Battle of Waterloo, this is a sweeping saga that begins as a group of Napoleon loyalists in New Orleans plot to free the former emperor from his captivity on St. Helena. Well-educated and independent Julia Marie Dupre, a beautiful French Creole, is deeply involved, her father being one of the conspirators. Joining the group is a handsome English sea captain, Captain Rudyard Thorpe, who looks down on Julia as a mere woman. He says he’s in it for the money, and offers his ship the Sea Jade to assist in the daring attempt to free the former emperor, but Julia doesn’t trust him. By her father’s bidding, and her own desire, she and her father will accompany the Sea Jade on its mission. Soon, however, she is alone and far from home. Left with no other option, Julia must become Rudyard's bride or abandon the undertaking.

Many adventures befall them including treachery at sea as they travel to London and onto St. Helena and then toward Rio. A wild storm at sea results in Rud and Julia being captured by pirates. Julia, deceived by the man she was forced to trust, ends up in the harem of the dey of Algiers where dangerous games are played and her wisdom will be tested. Rud becomes a privateer for the dey’s nephew, a contender for the next dey.

 

It’s a brilliant, captivating tale, well told with wonderful characters, rich historic detail based on considerable research. Absorbing storytelling at its best! I highly recommend it.

 

Jennifer Blake’s SWEET PIRACY – Wonderful Story of a Privateer in Louisiana

Set in 1815, this is the story of Caroline Pembroke, governess to a young charge. She is accompanying her from France to the Delecroix plantation in Louisiana when American privateers attack the ship and their leader claims a kiss from Caroline.

 

Safely arriving with her charge, soon a mysterious marquis moves into the plantation next door. Can he be the privateer who stole a kiss from her?

 

I can’t say enough good things about this story. It’s so well written at times I had to read a sentence again just to enjoy it. It has enough historical setting to make you realize just what time they are living in. The plot develops slowly as we are introduced to the life of Louisiana Creole gentry and a wonderful cast of characters in the Delecroix family. The ending is sweet and surprising and will make you sigh.

 

A lovely read by a great author. Well done!

Jennifer Blake’s THE STORM AND THE SPLENDOR – Captivating Adventure with a Mysterious Ship’s Captain Sailing From New Orleans to London to Algiers!

Set in 1818, three years after the Battle of Waterloo, this is a sweeping saga that begins as a group of Napoleon loyalists in New Orleans plot to free the former emperor from his captivity on St. Helena. Well-educated and independent Julia Marie Dupre, a beautiful French Creole, is deeply involved, her father being one of the conspirators. 

Joining the group is a handsome English sea captain, Captain Rudyard Thorpe, who looks down on Julia as a mere woman. He says he’s in it for the money, and offers his ship the Sea Jade to assist in the daring attempt to free the former emperor, but Julia doesn’t trust him. By her father’s bidding, and her own desire, she and her father will accompany the Sea Jade on its mission. Soon, however, she is alone and far from home. Left with no other option, Julia must become Rudyard's bride or abandon the undertaking.

Many adventures befall them including treachery at sea as they travel to London and onto St. Helena and then toward Rio. A wild storm at sea results in Rud and Julia being captured by pirates. Julia, deceived by the man she was forced to trust, ends up in the harem of the dey of Algiers where dangerous games are played and her wisdom will be tested. Rud becomes a privateer for the dey’s nephew, a contender for the next dey.

It’s a brilliant, captivating tale, well told with wonderful characters, rich historic detail based on considerable research. Absorbing storytelling at its best! I highly recommend it.

Jennifer Blake’s SWEET PIRACY – Wonderful Story of a Privateer in Louisiana

Set in 1815, this is the story of Caroline Pembroke, governess to a young charge. She is accompanying her from France to the Delecroix plantation in Louisiana when American privateers attack the ship and their leader claims a kiss from Caroline.

Safely arriving with her charge, soon a mysterious marquis moves into the plantation next door. Can he be the privateer who stole a kiss from her?

I can’t say enough good things about this story. It’s so well written at times I had to read a sentence again just to enjoy it. It has enough historical setting to make you realize just what time they are living in. The plot develops slowly as we are introduced to the life of Louisiana Creole gentry and a wonderful cast of characters in the Delecroix family. The ending is sweet and surprising and will make you sigh.

A lovely read by a great author. Well done!

Jennifer Blake’s SOUTHERN RAPTURE – A Wonderful Post Civil War Story with an Intriguing Hero and a Winning Heroine

Lettie Mason, a Boston schoolteacher, lost her brother to an outlaw’s bullet in a small Louisiana town during the Civil War. As a result, when the war is over, she travels to that same town to learn about her brother’s death. She believes he was killed by an outlaw known as the “Thorn”. She has heard tales of his many good deeds as well as the bad. And when she encounters him in the dark, he kisses her and then, later, makes love to her. She does not resist.

Meanwhile, she has begun to teach two young men at Splendora, the estate where she is staying. One, the very handsome Ransom Tharp, who returned from the war with a head injury that left him “not quite right”. Or is he?

A local hero carries on with two personalities to help his people…a disguise that keeps him from the woman he would have. But Lettie suspects all is not as it seems.

A great story, well told by a master of historical romance. It’s part of the boxed set, “The Best of Jennifer Blake. Highly recommended.

Jennifer Blake’s SWEET PIRACY – Wonderful Story of a Privateer in Louisiana

Set in 1815, this is the story of Caroline Pembroke, governess to a young charge. She is accompanying her from France to the Delecroix plantation in Louisiana when American privateers attack the ship and their leader claims a kiss from Caroline.

Safely arriving with her charge, soon a mysterious marquis moves into the plantation next door. Can he be the privateer who stole a kiss from her?

I can’t say enough good things about this story. It’s so well written at times I had to read a sentence again just to enjoy it. It has enough historical setting to make you realize just what time they are living in. The plot develops slowly as we are introduced to the life of Louisiana Creole gentry and a wonderful cast of characters in the Delecroix family. The ending is sweet and surprising and will make you sigh.

A lovely read by a great author. Well done!

Jennifer Blake’s THE STORM AND THE SPLENDOR – Captivating Adventure with a Mysterious Ship’s Captain Sailing From New Orleans to London to Algiers!

Set in 1818, three years after the Battle of Waterloo, this is a sweeping saga that begins as a group of Napoleon loyalists in New Orleans plot to free the former emperor from his captivity on St. Helena. Well-educated and independent Julia Marie Dupre, a beautiful French Creole, is deeply involved, her father being one of the conspirators. Joining the group is a handsome English sea captain, Captain Rudyard Thorpe, who looks down on Julia as a mere woman. He says he’s in it for the money, and offers his ship the Sea Jade to assist in the daring attempt to free the former emperor, but Julia doesn’t trust him. By her father’s bidding, and her own desire, she and her father will accompany the Sea Jade on its mission. Soon, however, she is alone and far from home. Left with no other option, Julia must become Rudyard's bride or abandon the undertaking.

Many adventures befall them including treachery at sea as they travel to London and onto St. Helena and then toward Rio. A wild storm at sea results in Rud and Julia being captured by pirates. Julia, deceived by the man she was forced to trust, ends up in the harem of the dey of Algiers where dangerous games are played and her wisdom will be tested. Rud becomes a privateer for the dey’s nephew, a contender for the next dey.

It’s a brilliant, captivating tale, well told with wonderful characters, rich historic detail based on considerable research. Absorbing storytelling at its best! I highly recommend it. It's part of the 2-book Love and Adventure, Part 1 boxed set, a bargain because it comes with her first novel, Love's Wild Desire.