Spotlight New Release "A Noble Bargain" by Jan Sikes
Please welcome back to the tavern my dear friend and talented author, Jan Sikes! We're celebrating her new book release, A Noble Bargain, Book 2 – The Bargainer Series. The tavern is serving cheese scones and mead, so get comfy and let's hear what Jan has to say about her new story...
Thank you, Mary, for allowing me to take over your blog so I can talk about my new release, A Noble Bargain. I’m deeply grateful for your generosity and support!
If you’ve been following along on this tour, you know that Rose Blaine is my second main character in A Noble Bargain. And while she faces unimaginable hardships, she finds a hidden strength she’s unaware of. When her uncle shares a special gift with her, she begins to understand a little about her bloodline. The woman I chose to be Rose’s ancestor is a real historical figure, Flora McDonald. The role she played in Scotland during the Jacobite wars in the 1700s is well documented. It seemed fitting to give Rose this strong ancestor. This excerpt is a bit longer than I usually like to share, but I couldn’t find a way to make it shorter. So bear with me.
A Sneak Preview from A Noble Bargain:
As the sun started its slow descent, Rose scooted to the edge of the couch and gingerly touched the rectangular piece of cloth lying beneath the tissue paper, along with a silver brooch. While the cloth seemed fragile, the vivid forest green, red, and blue plaid colors appeared new. She’d never been more puzzled.
Jack peered over her shoulder. “What is it, Rose?
“I’m not sure. It feels very old, though.” She turned the silver brooch over in her hand. It had four decorative thistles forming the basic shape and in the center was a crown, a cross, and some foreign words she couldn’t decipher.
Uncle Rube leaned forward. “Katie said she put a full explanation in the bottom of the box. Perhaps you could read it out loud.”
Rose nodded and lifted the tissue paper with the treasures and laid them on the table. A large piece of linen paper lay underneath. Her hand shook as she read, “This is a surviving piece of an ancient Scottish Tartan and the brooch that represents the McDonald clan. Your great-great grandmother, Flora McDonald, managed to save these, and pass them down to her daughter after the fall of Scotland to the English in the 1700s. A short bit of history: When England invaded Scotland, the Highlanders fought to keep their lands and way of life. A powerful group called Jacobites formed to save their country and Flora played an important role.”
She glanced up. “The 1700s. Can you imagine?”
Jack whistled. “No, I can’t. But I hate the idea of one country taking over another and trying to change their way of life. Is there more?”
“There is.” She continued. “After the battle of Culloden, Prince Charles of Scotland was a fugitive with a price on his head. Flora, who was a widow at the time, took him into her home, disguised him in women’s clothing, and introduced him as a housemaid named Betty Burke.”
Jack chuckled. “How humiliating that must have been for a prince. Keep going.”
She nodded. “While Prince Charles eventually managed to escape the English, Flora was arrested and imprisoned for a year. She was described as a slight, genteel woman with nerves of steel. Not long after her release from prison, she set sail for North Carolina in America with her new husband and daughter.”
“Wow! What a story.” Jack leaned back against the sofa. “Is that all?”
“Almost.” She stopped to take a sip of tea. “So, Rose, whatever life throws at you, always remember you are a direct descendant of Flora McDonald and you have the strength to overcome anything. Cherish this treasure always, and promise to keep it in the family. Love, Your Aunt Katherine.”
Tears ran down her cheeks and dripped off her chin. “This is too much.”
Oliver pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and passed it to her. “See, Rose. You have ancestral strength in your blood. You’re always going to be able to handle anything that comes your way.”
Have you ever included a real historical figure in any of your writing? If so, how did it impact the story? Let’s chat!
A true testament of character, resilience, and the magic of never giving up.
The year is 1948 and folks in the sawmill town of Crossett, Arkansas, work hard and play hard. Oliver Quinn does both. Oliver is the son of Irish immigrants who firmly believe in pursuing the American dream. His deepest desire is to play major league baseball. He only needs one chance to prove himself.
Rose Blaine is living in a nightmare where dreams don’t exist. She’s suffered for years at the hands of her violent moonshiner father and his partner. During a brutal attack, she must fight back or die. The aftermath is devastating.
Fueled by desperation, Rose strikes a life-changing bargain with Oliver. If he’ll take her and her brother to St. Louis, Missouri, she’ll introduce Oliver to her uncle, a baseball legend.
While their journey is fraught with unseen perils, they forge an unbreakable bond and make surprising allies.
When destiny throws them a curve ball, they must find the courage to create a hopeful future out of the ashes of shattered dreams with newfound fortitude.
UNIVERSAL PURCHASE LINK: https://books2read.com/u/booMQR
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