My latest release, Th
e Knight’s Scarred Maiden, is about journeys. A journey with food, with self-worth, with love – all while the characters travel to York.You see, Helissent, is a maiden whose family died in a fire. She’s been working in an inn, but the owner sold her off to some ruffians, who intend to abuse her. Well, she’ll have none of that. So, she bargains with some travelling mercenaries to take her to York.
Enters the hero, Rhain, a mercenary with a price on his head. Though he has a vengeful warlor
d after him, he reluctantly agrees to take Helissent.Along the way, they fall in love. And though Rhain tries to leave her in other locations (because he doesn’t want to risk her life), she’ll have none of that as well. She wants York. Why? Because from the fire that took her family, she’s terribly scarred on the right side of her body. She wants a large enough city to get lost in, but also where she can find employment.
York in Medieval times was everything Helissent needed. I’ve travelled there several times, and marvelled at the vastness of the City Walls, and the beauty of the Minster.
I love narrow streets of The Shambles, and always indulge in too much food.
I also have a favourite spot. It’s on the Wall, more specifically it’s a stone on the Wall, where it looks as if someone once played a game. Was it done in Medieval times or more recently? I don’t know. But I do know there’s a story behind it, and that’s why it’s my favourite, if peculiar, place in York.
Do you have a favourite, if peculiar, place in the world?
About Nicole Locke:Nicole first discovered romance novels hidden in her grandmother's closet. Convinced hidden books must be better, Nicole greedily read them. It was only natural she should start writing them (but now not so secretly). If she isn't working on the next book in the Lovers and Legends historical series, she can be reached at:
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The Knight's Scarred Maiden (Lovers and Legends)
A maiden for the mercenary
Mercenary knight Rhain is living on borrowed time. With a vengeful warlord pursuing him, he has accepted his fate—though first he must get his men to safety.
When he rescues mysterious and deeply scarred Helissent from her attackers, Rhain soon wishes he wasn't marked for death. He can never be the man she deserves—his scandalous lineage alone dictates that—but Rhain can't resist the temptation to show this innocent maiden how beautiful she truly is…
Lovers and Legends A clash of Celtic passions
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I've been to New York one time when I went there with hubby.
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting. I love a good love story. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds very good!
ReplyDeleteWhat a touching story. Sad, yet with a glimpse of hope. I've never been to York, but your description paints a vivid picture in my mind. Congratulations on your latest story.
ReplyDeleteNice photos. Sounds like an interesting book.
ReplyDeleteI've only been to New York once as well. Always meant to return, but there's so many places to visit! What was your favourite spot in New York?
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam! I love reading and writing HEAs. And that's a great picture of The Partners In Crime! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Christine! It's been a joy to hear from readers who liked reading Rhain and Helissent's story almost as much as I liked writing it!
ReplyDeleteThank you Beverly. I have to admit I shed a few tears when I wrote Rhain and Helissent's HEA, but there's humour in the story as well....mostly when the heroine compares the hero to cake (she loves to bake).
ReplyDeleteThanks Ellen. I love taking pictures of places I visit...most of them turn out terrible, but a few survive. I also loved writing Rhain and Helissent's story, and am very excited to be chatting about it now. Here's what RT Book Reviews has to say about it: Locke's latest entry to her Lovers and Legends series is a beautifully written tale of loss, faith and the magic of love between a scarred maiden and the deadly mercenary she rescues. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds interesting. I like visiting York, so that gives the story added interest.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to York, but I love anyplace that's steeped in history, Then again, I'm pretty easy... my "favorite place" is generally wherever I happen to be, especially if water is involved.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your new book. It sounds terrific!
I have to agree with Susan about the water comment. ~grin~ Thank you for sharing. Happy Writing and best wishes!
ReplyDeleteI want to go to York now!
ReplyDeleteYork is one of the places I intend to visit if and when I ever get out to the Isles. I'm so jealous.
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are so amazing! I've visited New York while riding with someone who needed to pick up her sick daughter, and it was quite an adventure for about hours! Happy Saturday! Hugs...
ReplyDeleteMy favorite places are in the woods, near waterfalls, rivers, or oceans.
ReplyDeleteI've read a few good historicals set in York and I can see from your pictures why it makes a great setting, as old as it is and all the events that have happened there. I haven't read a good medieval in a while so I'll keep this one in mind.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I don't really have a favorite spot as such. There are lots of neat things. Although, Nicole's rock reminds me of the rocks in Idaho's City of Rocks Nat'l Park where pioneers along the Oregon Trail stopped and left their names and dates on the rocks. It's neat reading them all.
Hello Nicole, I love York too, but I’ve not visited for good few years, and I’ve never found ‘your’ stone.
ReplyDeleteHello Nasreen!
Thanks Barbara for stopping by. It's funny because I've only been to York a few times, but unerringly my eyes find that stone on the footpath of the Wall. I don't look for it...I think it finds me! :-)
ReplyDeleteI always love reading those types of carvings/graffiti as well. They add history to history!
ReplyDeleteHello Tamara! There is something special about water. The vastness, the possibilities, the sounds...
ReplyDeleteI've only been to New York once, but it most definitely was an adventure!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many places to visit, my list keeps growing, too!
ReplyDeleteHello Kelly! I never get tired of York, but the more you travel, the more you want to travel... Need to figure out how to get more time in my day! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Darla! I live near water now and even if I can't get to it every day, I can at least smell the saltwater, etc. while I'm writing...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan! I'm envious that your happy place is wherever you happen to be. I hope I get to that point someday. I'm so restless all the time (which makes writing difficult!). :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Clowie. Well, next time you go to York let me know if you spot the stone on the Wall!
ReplyDeleteFavorite places? Hmmm. I have so many. One is in a hammock at The Scuba Club in Cozumel, Mexico. It's right next to the water, under a thatched roof. Watching the sun set there is magical.
ReplyDelete