His Captive Lady was not a book I planned to write. I was about to start writing another novel (my current work in progress) when out of the blue the hero of His Captive Lady barged into my mind. Wulf told me in no uncertain terms that his story had to be told next! Wulf is a warrior and at times he is most persistent, this was one of those times. There was no escape for me, just as in the story there was no escape for Lady Erica. These alpha males, it doesn’t seem to matter whether they are living in the eleventh century or the twenty-first, they are pretty determined characters.
And that is one of the things I adore about writing medieval romance. It’s about people, people who are just like us. They have loves and hates and goals and ambitions. There are differences, of course. Eleventh century attitudes to sex were not the same as ours. How could they be? Birth control was practically non-existent, and there were strict ideas about morality and marriage. For a woman to have a child out of wedlock was thought most shocking.
Human beings being what they are – well, human – it did happen! Quite a lot. But it was increasingly frowned upon by the early Norman Church, and the children of unsanctified unions often bore the stigma for the rest of their lives. Illegitimate. Wulf was such a man, born on the wrong side of the blanket, he is set on overcoming his inauspicious background.
His Captive Lady is a stand-alone book, but it is also the third in the Wessex Weddings Series, which focuses on the early Anglo-Norman period. It was a turbulent time, with Norman incomers trying to grab as much land as possible, while Anglo-Saxons fought like demons to keep what had been theirs for generations.
All of which goes to explain how, when Seawulf Brader meets Lady Erica, romance is the last thing on his mind…
Sounds great, Carol! What a wonderful time period too… I’ve been reading a lot about the Saxons recently. Nodded my head vigorously about human nature remaining consistent through time. I enjoy thinking about that as I write. It helps me be able to step into someone else’s shoes when I consider my heroine might have felt just like I do about some things.
Hi Carol,
Beautiful cover you have there! I love medievals!
Though I don’t know much about that time period, I learn lots from authors such as yourself, who do a great job of entwining history with romance!
Nice cover Carol. I love alpha males. They’re mad, bad and dangerous to know to paraphrase Lady Caro Lamb’s comment about Byron.
Ditto on the cover, Carol. It is so romantic–just gorgeous! I love reading medievals–isn’t that the time period for Camelot and Robin Hood? I remember enjoying Penelope Williamson’s A Kingdom of Dreams and Kathleen Woodiwuss–The Wolf and the Dove. I guess I pretty much know history from then due to romance novels
Hi Joanne!
Saxons, yes! I have been thinking about a book or two set slightly earlier than this one, I would love to write them, but the word is that everyone likes knights best. Except…I do remain drawn to Sutton Hoo etc etc. I guess the jury is still out though as I have a couple of books backing up in my head and they need writing first…I usually write the one that is speaking the loudest at the time! Hence Wulf elbowed his way in…
Hello Charlene,
I love this cover too, and am curently wondering if the book is going to have the same cover when it comes out in the UK in the Spring.
And Georgina,
Alpha males – well, we all love them but, yes, they can be dangerous! Not to mention ruthless. I think that is why we love to hear about their antics when they are safely within the pages of a book! Reality might be a little much.
Best wishes
Carol
Hello Kathryn,
It is almost the exact period of Kathleen Woodiwiss’s The Wolf and the Dove. OK, a couple of years later. And while it is slightly earlier than Robin Hood, there is a definite outlaw theme because the heroine, Erica, (like Hereward the Wake) is battling against the Normans in the fens (marshes) of East Anglia. There was a fab book which helped with the research called The Outlaws of Medieval Legend by Maurice Keen. I have a feeling it might spark off more stories!
Best wishes
Carol
Hi Carol! I’m a western gal who ventures occasionally into medievals, especially HHs. I can tell from your blog that I’m going to love this story. Wulf sounds like a wonderfully complex hero. I Can’t wait!
Hello Victoria,
I am going to try and type this very quickly as my internet connection keeps cutting off. What I just tried to post was:
I love westerns and have read a number of yours! Westerns and medievals have something in common, and it is not just the heroes on horseback, I think that sense that the characters are teetering on the edge of the known world helps to give the novels some edge.
And, yes, Wulf is complex, he is troubled by divided loyalties even before he meets Erica. I loved writing their story.
Best wishes
Carol
Don’t you just love the diversity in Harlequin Historicals? I’m amazed at the creativity of my colleagues who write wonderful stories in any time period.
Diane
The Wolf and the Dove is what got me more into historical romances many years ago. Love medievals, knights and Saxons all, Carol.
The story sounds wonderful, Carol! It’s a grand thing when the characters shout for their own story…even if their timing leaves a lot to be desired. And, natch I like the cover. LOL. It was used on a medieval in the UK last year. I don’t know if they reuse them that fast or not.
Denise
Beautiful cover, Carol! And yes about human nature not having changed all that much over the years. In fact, when I was researching for a Christmas novella I did a few years back, I read some of the Ramayanna, (the heroine grew up in India and told some of the stories to entertain the wounded hero)written over a thousand years ago. There are fantastic happenings, but the love story between the hero and heroine could have been penned yesterday. That special bond between a man and a woman is timeless!
HI Carol, I enjoyed reading this book. The hero Wulf is a fantastic creation although maybe you would say he emerged fully formed and needing to be heard! I liked the conflict of loyalties he displays between Saxon and Norman, and his ambition and his attraction to Erica. And he sounds irrisistably attractive as well. Erica is a great character too – I like feisty courageous girls in my romance and although she allowed herself to be manipulated by the Saxon Thane it was in full knowledge of what she was doing and why, which takes immense courage. I’ve read An Honorable Rogue too, and cant wait to read His Captive Lady now.
Hi Diane and Pam,
I like the wide range in HH too. And The Wolf and the Dove really got me thinking about writing and romance.
And Denise, yes, I know about the cover being used in the UK ;)! I do love it, and was wondering if enough time had elapsed. Must ask my editor.
Best wishes
Carol
Ooh Julia,
Those very old stories are fab! One of my favourites is the Romance of Tristan, although having said that I am not comfortable with much that relates to the moral code behind it! The story fascinates though and says a lot about human nature. Another is the Odyssey, but I do pity poor Penelope having to wait so long for the wanderer’s return!
Hello Michaela,
Thanks for your comments!
Best wishes
Carol
Hi Carol,
Those alpha heroes can be very pushy. There are not that many books written in that time period but it is fascinating how strongly the church influenced and dictated people’s opinions.
Hello Maureen,
You are right, of course, the church was very influential in the eleventh century, and this was a time when it was working to become even more so. One of the reasons that marriages started taking place in a church was because the church was gradually increasing its power.
Also warrior bishops were not unknown, they even had their own special weapons, but I’d better not get too gory here!
Best wishes
Carol
Hi Carol,
sorry not to visit sooner, but I have been away from computer all day working on…gasp…horror…paper! With a pen!!
Wulf sounds wonderful. Can’t wait to get to know him. I love reading about this period, with the conflict between Normans and Saxons, and knowing that in a few generations they had managed to mesh. It gives such a wonderful springboard for vibrant romances like yours,
luv,
Annie Burrows
Hi Annie!
Pen & paper, quill and ink, it’s how I always start off… First drafts, anyway. It’s freeing somehow and shuts off that part of me that wants to start editing before the story is told!
Not to mention that it’s more in keeping with the period ;). Now where’s that oak gall…?
Best wishes
Carol
I haven’t read this book. But I would love to. I’m adding it to the TBB pile. Great excerpt and cover.
Hello Kimmy,
Thanks!
Best wishes
Carol