The Darkland

Publisher Marketing: 1515 A. D. - The Lady Micheline le Bec was pledged in marriage to Edmund de Cleveley, Baron Bowland, in payment for her father's gambling debt. When de Cleveley's big Irish captain, Sir Kirk Connaught, arrives to escort Micheline to her marriage, Micheline is apprehensive but submissive. In fact, she's not the real problem; the real issue is her sister, the Lady Mara. Dark-haired and beautiful, she is fiery and reckless. When Kirk should be focused on his liege's bride, he finds himself talking a foolish young woman off the window ledge. Mara comes down, but not before a struggle nearly costs both her and Kirk their lives. So begins their fire and ice association. Upon arriving at de Cleveley's seat, Anchorsholme Castle, Mara and Micheline are informed by the servants that the fortress has another name, a far more sinister name - The Darkland. The House of the Death. Young women that have visited the castle have never been seen again. All of the deaths have one thing in common - Kirk Connaught. When Mara finds out, she tries to flee in fear, but Kirk catches her and explains the rumors behind the disappearances. They are not as Mara has suspected. She discovers that Kirk is not the perpetrator; he is the victim as much as the young women were. As Mara and Kirk fall more deeply in love, dark forces are working against them. There is an uprising in Ireland on de Cleveley lands and Kirk is called away to quell it. Meanwhile, Edmund de Cleveley secretly betroths Mara to a local baron in order to remove her from Anchorsholme and away from Kirk. Mara is scheduled to marry the baron even as Kirk fights his own people in Ireland, unaware of his beloved Mara's predicament. But he accidentally discovers the truth and Kirk races back to England to prevent the marriage even as a mad series of event happen at The Darkland that will change all of their lives forever. It's an exciting ride to the finish as good triumphs over evil. Contributor Bio:  Le Veque, Kathryn Kathryn started out at age 13 writing a space-travel novel, inspired by a recently-released film called "Star Wars." The following years were filled with minimal writing, mostly on spiral notebooks in the days before personal computers. Then, in 1992, Kathryn decided to get serious. "Your writing can either be a hobby or it can be who you are. Make your choice." That was some advice she received from an established author. So she made a choice; she was going to make writing who she was. Historical fiction was her passion and she learned everything she could about it. The writing field isn't like being an actor or a singer; actors can be 'extras' and singers can be 'back up singers'. A writer is on her/his own. There are no supporting roles. A writer must stand on her/his own talents, so Kathryn decided to take the time to hone her craft. And that involved writing novel after novel, deciding what her style was, what worked for her, what didn't, and understanding how to write tight and perfect. It's still an ongoing process, but she's well on her way. Kathryn's Medieval Historicals have been called 'amazing' and 'character-rich'. She believes that total immersion in a time period and a subject is essential to create the perfect story. It's all a formula, like a mathematical equation: First, you need a great title. It sets the mood. Then, you need the perfect hero and heroine. Give your people flaws, because real people have flaws. And then hammer out the most interesting, touching and romantic story you can. Although Kathryn's passion is her Medievals, she is very prolific and proficient at writing her Contemporary Adventure Romances. Those are her most popular books and she has five of them to date, including three that are in a series, that are her best sellers. Her objects of interest? Biblical Relics, Egypt and the mysterious jungles of the Yucatan to name a few. Her heroines are strong, intelligent and beautiful, and her heroes are usually tall, dark, very handsome and VERY big. Kathryn doesn't have a hero in her contemporary novels under six feet four inches. But, just like her Historicals, the Contemporary novels are extensively researched and written with great thought and detail. Kathryn has been described as a reader's writer - she knows what readers like and she writes from the heart. Read Kathryn Le Veque's novels and fall in love again... and again... and again.... Kathryn is the author of 21 novels and counting.