Title Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle
Author Jennifer Ivy Walker
Genre Medieval holiday romance
Publisher The Wild Rose Press
Book Blurb
Gabrielle is a flame haired, fire hearted French princess who dreams of becoming a Valkyrie warrior queen like her Viking ancestors from Normandy. Sent to Paris to learn the proper etiquette for a future French queen, she is called home to le Château de Beaufort for a forced marriage to a man she loathes when her father the king’s precarious health takes a sudden turn for the worse.
Chivalrous, solitary knight Sir Bastien de Landuc suffers an impossible love for Gabrielle, the unattainable princess he can never have. Without a title of nobility, he is ineligible to compete in the tournament for her hand in marriage, despite his unparalleled equestrian skills and inimitable swordsmanship.
Yet, Yuletide wishes for a wondrous winter solstice in the glorious Crystal Castle might make impossible dreams come true.
Can the valiant knight win the coveted hand of his Viking Valkyrie?
Although Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle is a stand alone novel, it does feature many of the characters introduced in The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven trilogy!
Excerpt
He loved watching her long red hair billow in the briny wind, sheathed sword strapped at her slender hip, black cloak unfurling like the enormous swan wings of a Valkyrie shield maiden.
Marivée, her fleet footed gray Andalusian, flew across the heathered moors, the horse’s incredible speed a sheer, thrilling delight to the free spirited, flame haired, fire hearted Gabrielle.
Every morning, they zigzagged through the dense woods, racing to the expansive plateau on the peninsular clifftop where—a dozen royal knights standing guard at the edge of the forest—Bastien honed the equestrian and weaponry skills of his princess protégée.
She’d surpassed her previous expertise in the saddle and accuracy with the bow and arrow, yet struggled to regain her precision with the blade. So, after riding and archery, they focused on self-defense moves with the dagger. And offensive attacks with the sword.
Holding her against him as she struggled to break free was agonizing, torturous pleasure. Her intoxicating scent, the feel of her body moving against his, the unbearable desire building more each day…the only way he was able to maintain control was by withdrawing into a sullen, solitary soldier focused solely on battle.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/winter-solstice-in-the-crystal-castle-jennifer-ivy-walker/1144031968?ean=2940186024446
Google Books: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Winter_Solstice_in_the_Crystal_Castle/6sAm0AEACAAJ?hl=en
Kobo:
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Author Biography
Enthralled with legends of medieval knights and ladies, dark fairy tales and fantasies, Jennifer Ivy Walker always dreamed of becoming a writer. She fell in love with French in junior high school, continuing her study of the language throughout college, eventually becoming a high school teacher and college professor of French.
“Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle” is a blend of her love for medieval romance, the French history of Vikings in Normandy, and chivalrous valor. It’s a steamy, passionate romance between a fiery French princess descended from Viking Valkyrie and the sullen, solitary knight who suffers an impossible love for her.
Social Media Links
Website: https://jenniferivywalker.com/