Monday 30 November 2009

Review

This is a fabulous review for THE LOVEDAY CONSPIRACY from the review website redrosesforauthors.blogspot.com. It is a great site for readers of romance.

From the master storyteller, Kate Tremayne, comes a new episode in her epic tale of the Loveday family. Anyone who has read any of Tremayne's powerful Cornish sagas will have eagerly awaited this latest.

Tristan, the outcast, grandson of a rogue and despised by his superior cousins, now has the upper hand. Because of Adam Loveday's twin's perfidy, the home Adam adores – Trevowan Manor - now belongs to his hated cousin and his twin brother is in his grave. Adam thirsts for revenge, while all Tristan wants is to be accepted by the proud family who once threw him back into the gutter from whence he came. Yet he too dabbles in things that may lead him into danger.Adam and Japhet, his more favoured cousin, both have enemies and they meet regularly to practise their deadly skills so that when the time comes they will be able to engage and kill their foe. However, as the twisting tale of love, hate and revenge winds on, a very different fate awaits the cousins. Caught up with French spies and the rescue of a beautiful lady, they may find themselves temporarily on the same side.

Tremayne skilfully juggles a large cast of characters, each with their own enthralling story, keeping the reader eagerly turning the page and although the book reaches a satisfactory conclusion, we know that this tale does not end here. This quarrelsome, powerful family will continue to delight and engross thousands of readers for a while yet.This author deserves a bouquet of red roses for her wonderful sagas.

Tuesday 10 November 2009

Second bite at the apple




THE LOVEDAY CONSPIRACY has been in the Amazon Historical bestseller lists for SEVEN WEEKS. For some of the time it was also joined by THE LOVEDAY SECRETS. The excitement just keeps mounting.

For those who missed the new extract from Conspiracy that I had posted on Historical Romance UK blog.
Here it is below.

For new readers this is the story background in the earlier books of the series - Japhet Loveday was falsely accused of highway robbery by Sir Pettigrew Osgood, found guilty and transported to th enew penal colony at Sydney Cove. He is now back in England and wants revenge. His cousin Adam also wants revenge on the man he blames for his twin’s death.

Cornwall 1802.

Japhet dismounted and flung the reins at a young groom. Gwendolyn came out of the house and waited for him. There was a look on her lovely face that warned him she had seen through his ruse. He should have known that nothing missed his wife’s concerned eye.‘Another dawn ride, husband. The fifth in three weeks.’‘I could not sleep. The horses need their exercise.’ He dragged his fingers through his black hair that lapped over his collar; unfashionably long, it added to his roguish features and his hazel eyes could melt a woman’s heart by their smouldering intensity.‘With a sword strapped to your saddle?’ Her colour was high as she voiced her anger. Her features were striking rather than beautiful, but Japhet had known many beautiful women who had left his heart cold. Gwen had won his love by her courage and faith that the character of a rogue and reprobate he showed to the world but masked more noble sentiments beneath. That faith had saved him in his darkest hours and given him the strength to prove that she was right. Though there were times when he wished his wife did not know him so well. There was resignation in her eyes when she continued. ‘Are these meetings with Adam? I can guess their purpose.’He shrugged and gave a reassuring grin. ‘Adam and I always practised our swordplay in the old days. It is a sport we both enjoy.’‘And I doubt either of you are doing this for old times’ sake. You promised me you would not pursue Osgood.’ She was trembling in her distress.Japhet took his wife into his arms. ‘I would not break my word to you, Gwen.’She pulled back from him, her eyes accusing, and her skin pale against the rich chestnut of her hair. ‘But this swordplay is not innocent. Adam is capable of calling out Tristan. And you…. You will not let Osgood escape your justice, will you? But we have been home for just a few months.’ Her voice rose in alarm.‘A gentleman should never neglect his fencing skills.’ Japhet was deliberately flippant.She struck his chest with her fist. ‘Do not humour me. I know what you plan. If not this week, this month, this year, or the foreseeable future, but you will not let this matter rest. Forget Osgood. He is a cowardly knave.’‘I am not the only one of our family whom Osgood planned to ruin. Adam said that Osgood’s lecherous eye also singled out my cousin’s half-sister, Tamasine, during a visit she had made to London. When she refused his advances Osgood had tried to abduct her. Fortunately, Tamasine had been rescued by Maximillian Deverell – the man she later married.’‘But that was years ago when you were still on ship to the penal colony.’ She breathed heavily in her exasperation. ‘Tamasine had been staying in London with cousin Thomas. He called Osgood out. Family honour is satisfied. He even scarred the knave’s face in the duel. Since then little had been heard of the baronet. He retired to his country seat to hide his disfigurement.’‘And he was there until last year.’ Japhet announced. ‘He has since disappeared – rumoured to have gone abroad. So you see your fears are in vain. He is out of reach.’Her stare searched his and showed no sign of being reassured. ‘Promise me that you will not seek him out.’He took her into his arms and his voice was husky and seductive. ‘Have I not promised that I will live quietly and concentrate on establishing a racing stables and stud? That is my intention.’ Hi s hand stroked her cheek and his gaze lingered upon her lips before capturing them with his own. There was the briefest resistance before she surrendered to his kiss and he felt her body melt against him. Then with a sigh she pulled away. ‘I will not be sidetracked by sweet words and caresses, my love. Say you will not go after Osgood?’ When he did not immediately answer, she gripped the front of his greatcoat, her eyes beseeching. ‘Promise me, Japhet.’He cupped her lovely face gently in his hands. ‘I certainly have no intention of going off on a wild goose chase hunting him down. But I will make you no false promises, Gwen. If Osgood crosses my path then that is a different matter. But he is not likely to search me out. He has proved himself too craven for that.’He kissed her until he felt her anger melt and the tension leave her body. ‘Do you think that I would risk all that we have for that knave? I am no longer the hothead, the reckless rakehell. You and our sons and this stud farm are what is important.’ His arms held her tight but over the top of her head, his stare was uncompromising.When the time was right Osgood would face his retribution and pay for his treachery.Kate Tremayne

Tuesday 3 November 2009

Are you feeling all adrift?


Don't feel like the Lady of Challot sailing to your doom. Cheer yourself up. On 1st November I posted a different extract from THE LOVEDAY CONSPIRACY from what appears on my website or this blog. It is on the historical romance UK blog so click on the link above to read.

Sunday 1 November 2009

Feeling the buzz


It has been an exciting week with the publication of the paperback of THE LOVEDAY CONSPIRACY and a special thank you to the readers who contacted me saying how much they enjoyed the hardback edition. Such emails always give me a boost when I am struggling with the current work in progress and the plot seems to be flagging. They make me dig deeper and some of the memorable scenes from the series have been created after receiving such emails. I thought my readers would like to know that in their own way they do become part of the Loveday creation.


HISTORICAL NOTE
When writing the Loveday novels it is important to me that I involve the characters in the more commonplace historical events that are happening at the time. In the earlier books following on from the revolution France had been at war with England since 1793 and Adam was involved in working for the British government rescuing our agents, and sailors from French prisons. He also helped French émigrés flee their country and was involved in sea battles. In 1799 Napoleon was elected First Consul and in 1801 he had set up a dazzling court at the Tuileries. At this time there was a strong Royalist movement in both France and England to restore Louis XVIII to the throne.
Much has been written about the major battles and lives of the leaders involved but how an individual copes during a crisis brings a freshness to any given historical event.
At the time The Loveday Conspiracy was set, 1802, England and France were enjoying a short truce. The English nobility and gentility flocked to Paris and it was a period of great merriment. However I suspect suspicion would still have been running high between both countrymen. This was the perfect time for Adam and Japhet to track down Sir Percy Osgood who was believed to be a double-agent. It would also have been plausible that Lady Alys would also be seeking to prove that her husband was not a traitor as she could safely travel to France at this time. Yet the truce was fragile. Within France were many dissenters and Napoleon was far from popular. He was promoting members of his family to high positions of power that more worthy men resented. To secure his place as First Consul he needed more victories and he was also planning to make himself Emperor.
After the years of bloody terror when the guillotine had eradicated the monarchy and their followers, the people of France did not want to replace the ancien regime with another potentially corrupt one.
In 1803 the end of the truce with England was sudden with Napoleon amassing a fleet at Boulogne to invade England. Fortunately most of the foreign visitors had fled the country, those who remained were being seized and detained by Napoleon, and it is into this situation our family have to fight for their lives. A few months after Japhet, Adam and Tristan escaped France. Napoleon crowned himself Emperor and a new reign of war spread across Europe.