BOOK SYNOPSIS
A haunting time-slip mystery of runes and romance
When Dr Viv DuLac, medievalist and academic, finds a mysterious runic inscription on a Rune Stone in the graveyard of her husband’s village church, she unwittingly sets off a chain of circumstances that disturb their quiet lives in ways she never expected. Once again, she feels the echoes of the past resonate through time and into the present. Can she unlock the secrets of the runes in the life of the 6th century Lady Vivianne and in Viv’s own life?
Lives of the past and present intertwine alarmingly as Viv desperately tries to save them both, without changing the course of history.
For fans of Barbara Erskine , Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, Christina Courtenay.
The Rune Stone is the romantic mystery story of a runic inscription found in a country churchyard and the chain of circumstances it triggers, events that disturb the lives of Dr Viv and Rev Rory. Echoes of the past resonate through time to the present, but can Viv unlock the secrets of the past for the Anglo-Saxon Lady Vivienne and for herself before it's too late?
This extract from my book The Rune Stone is from the chapter where we first meet the feisty Lady Vivienne in 520 AD, the leader of an Anglo-Saxon settlement, having troubles with her teenage daughter,a taste of troubles to come....
“Oh, my Lord in heaven! How did I manage to breed such a disobedient daughter?”
Lady Vivianne jumped as Nymue slammed the wooden door behind her leaving a drift of anger and frustration behind her across the mead hall. Her shoulders slumped and she clutched the folds of her over-gown in a tight grip in vexation. It was at times like this that she missed her long-ago parents so keenly. Surely they would know what to do with such a wilful child. She felt that familiar pain deep in her soul, the echo of loss.
She swung around as she heard the snort behind her. Sir Roland, her beloved husband, grinned at her. “She becomes more like her mother every day.” He held out his arms to her. “My love, do you not recognise her strong will?”
She slipped into the warmth of his embrace, but she gently beat her fists against his broad muscular chest. “She is but a child still.”
“No, my sweet. She is into her second decade already and has a mind of her own , as you did then and so do now. But calm your mind, my beautiful wife. Nymue will too. Let her scream and shout at the hens or the sheep or the pigs until she tires. Then presently we can talk to her about Gareth Swineson.”
“But he is the son of the swineherd, Roland! She cannot be consorting with him. Not as the daughter of the chieftain of the settlement, the first ǣtheling!”
She felt Roland stroke her back gently to calm her. He bent to her and spoke softly in her ear. “My love, it will do no good to cast that at her. She will only want him all the more. She is at that age of questing for freedom, from her parents, from the restrictions of her station in life, from the conventions of the settlement, and so we must act with great care. We cannot afford to drive her away from us. She is our future, the next in line.” Vivianne had fought hard with the thegns of the Witan to secure Nymue’s succession as ǣtheling though she was a woman. Slowly Vivianne steadied her breathing, as she felt his kiss on the crown of her head. He made sense. He always did. He always had.
He had rescued her from the foul clutches of Sir Pelleas so many years before, when the Saxon usurper had wheedled his way into her late parents’ affections and taken hold of the chieftaincy after their untimely death. Roland had been calm and strong and determined then, and now, as her marriage partner, he was still. Strong and supportive through that awful time of losing those dear babies before they could even breathe the world’s air. Before her precious ones began to arrive safe and healthy at last.
“You are always so wise,” she whispered into his chest. “My strength and stay.”
She remained there for a few moments more, as long as she could before the thegns would start to arrive for the Witan. It was the main council of the year and there was much business to settle. Then she reluctantly pulled away from him.
“I will speak with her later when she is calm.” She was aware that he drew in his breath sharply and was inclining his head . “We will speak with her together. I value your authority.”
“I am glad of that,” he laughed. “I have to admit that I do not see that very often!”
AUTHOR INFO
Her books will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful story-telling’, ‘evocative and well-paced storylines ’,‘brilliant and fascinating’ and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’.
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Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Julia-Ibbotson/e/B0095XG11U/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1499443387&geniuslink=true
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PURCHASE LINK....
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rune-Stone-haunting-time-slip-mystery-ebook/dp/B09NCF6LZX/ref=sr_1_7?crid=3OI14167KFKCL&keywords=the+rune+stone&qid=1645743719&s=books&sprefix=the+rune+stone%2Cstripbooks%2C653&sr=1-7
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Many thanks again for featuring my book in the Dr DuLac series. Very grateful for your participation in my book tour.
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