Get Lost with Brethren of the Coast from Bestseller Barbara Devlin

On sale at Amazon

Bestselling author Barbara Devlin writes ruthlessly accurate historical romances that feature flawed heroes who may know how to seduce a woman but know nothing of marriage. And she prefers feisty but smart heroines who sometimes save the hero, before they find their happily ever after.

Here's a taste of Book 1 of the Brethren Origins.

WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE.

It is the year of Our Lord 1307, and by papal decree, Templar Knight Arucard of Villiers is a hunted man. One of a handful of mariners to escape the Inquisition and Philip the Fair’s treachery, Arucard sets sail for England, where good King Edward II has outlawed torture. While the Crown is more than happy to offer exile and create a new Order to accommodate the famed warriors of the Crusades, such assistance comes with a price. But is the cost one Arucard is willing to pay?

The world in which Isolde de Tyreswelle exists defines her as chattel. Nothing more than a means to an end, she is a puppet in her unscrupulous father’s dastardly play and is thrown into the courtly arena. To further her family’s political aspirations, she is betrothed to a man she has never met and, with her husband, must fight to survive the intrigues and betrayals of her new life. With good reason, she fears men. Can Isolde learn to trust Arucard before they are destroyed by their enemies?

Arucard Excerpt

       The battle for control of Winchester commenced the following morrow.  Side by side, in an impressive display of military might, the Nautionnier Knights of the Brethren of the Coast rode into the storm, wearing the unique ailette with the wind-star design.  Yet Arucard fought not for His Majesty, his faith, or his honor.

       As he charged into the fray, unconcerned for his own being, he suspected he had left the noblest part of himself in Chichester, with Isolde, to shield her whilst she recovered, as he owed her that much.  That bit of himself, unspoiled and unsullied, belonged to her.  What remained was the beast inside him, and the animal was hungry.

       Killing indiscriminately, he maimed, beheaded, impaled, and slaughtered untold numbers, ignoring their cries for mercy, as no one had spared his wife.  Whereas before he always struggled with guilt when taking a life, on that miserable day he suffered no such compunction and, therefore, tempered not his rage. 

       Given no one had pardoned her, he would extend no reprieve.  Every enemy combatant he struck down he counted as right and good retribution for Isolde, as none of them had defended her, and no matter how many souls he claimed it was not enough.  It would never be enough.  Not until he came face to face with the person responsible for her suffering—the earl of Rochester.

The entire Brethren of the Coast series, plus Arucard, book 1 of the Brethren Origins, is on sale in July for just 99 cents each. 

Learn more about Barbara's series on her author page at Amazon.

Meet Barbara

Bestselling author Barbara Devlin was born a storyteller, but it was a weeklong vacation to Bethany Beach, DE that forever changed her life. The little house her parents rented had a collection of books by Kathleen Woodiwiss, which exposed Barbara to the world of romance, and Shanna remains a personal favorite. 

Barbara earned an MA in English and continued a course of study for a Doctorate in Literature and Rhetoric. She happily considered herself an exceedingly eccentric English professor, until success in Indie publishing lured her into writing, full-time, featuring her fictional knighthood, the Brethren of the Coast.

Author Contact Info:

Website:  BarbaraDevlin.com

Facebook  

Twitter:  @barbara_devlin

E.E.: How often do you get lost in a story?  

Barbara: Well, if it’s someone else’s work, that depends on the author.  I love horror, and I read Stephen King, Dean R. Koontz, and John Saul.  They are masters of storytelling, and I can always find an escape in their work.

E.E.: What turns you off like nothing else? 

Barbara: If I’m reading historical fiction, my biggest turnoff is contemporary dialogue, although it seems to be a trend in historical romance. When I pick up a book, I want to be transported to that place and time, and nothing pulls me out of the story like inconsistent dialogue.

E.E.: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?

Barbara: I met a real-life hero more than twenty years ago.  He’s a 30-year veteran firefighter, and he happens to be my husband.  In the wake of 9-11, Americans realized the dedication to duty and bravery inherent in the fire service, but my husband was my hero long before 9-11.  He earned the Congressman’s Medal of Valor for pulling five children from a burning house, and that’s just one of many amazing deeds he’s performed.  He’s a wonderful provider and, much like my heroes, a good man.

E.E.: What sound or noise do you love? 

Barbara: I love the sound of ocean waves crashing ashore.  My husband and I married on Maui, and we honeymooned on the Hawaiian Islands.  Everywhere we stayed, we booked a place on the beach, and I loved going to sleep and waking to the sound of the incoming tide.

E.E: Do you write while listening to music?  If so, what kind? 

Barbara: I usually have something playing in the background while I write, and, more often than not, it’s P!nk.  She writes raw, edgy, and emotional songs that hold nothing back, and I like to think I write in the same vein.  I compose stories of acceptance—of ourselves and others, and P!nk’s music captures that feel for me.

E.E.: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book? 

Barbara: Begin another book.  Seriously, it’s not enough to write a book—you have to keep going.  You don’t ever want to lose the momentum.  I actually keep a document open on my desktop, in case any spur of the moment ideas strike, so I can jot down my thoughts while they’re fresh.

E.E.: If you were given a chance to travel to the past, where would you go? 

Barbara: I’d love to visit the Regency era and meet Jane Austen.  I’d love to exist in a time of elegance and conquest, given the Peninsular Wars.  It was such a brutal yet refined world.  I’d love to know Lord Nelson and Wellington, and I’d give anything to attend a ball at Almack’s or Vauxhall Gardens.

E.E.: What one thing about your hero drives his heroine crazy?  

Barbara: He’s a virgin.  

E.E.: What one thing about your heroine drives her hero nuts?  

Barbara: She’s a virgin.  Yes, both the hero and the heroine are virgins, which made for an interesting consummation, as neither party knew what they were doing, but it was a lot of fun to write.

Today Barbara is generously giving away a 6" KINDLE FIRE HD loaded with the eBook Arucard to one lucky commenter. Four runners up will get an eBook copy of Arucard.

If you could travel back to the past, where would you go and who would you like to meet?

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