Places and Castles - THE LEGEND OF THE KING'S GUARD

More Places and Castles from my books! Legend of the King's Guard is a series I wrote a couple of years ago. I got the idea for the story when a TV commercial came on for the A-Team, you may or may not remember that TV show. Anyway, my heroes are mercenaries who help others, they are outlaws because they were witnesses to Robert the Bruce murdering Comyn at Greyfriars. These stories are somewhat darker-toned.

The men have defied RTB and returned to the mainland against his orders. So the places are scattered throughout Scotland in these books.

With the folklore of RTB, my heroes hide out in a cave close to Edinburgh and Stirling.

And because they didn't stay in keeps or castles, my heroes were often on the road, rescuing their heroines or saving someone from peril.

When our heroes finally do return home, it's to the open arms of their clans.

I hope you enjoyed this little insight into the places in the Legend of the King's Guard series.

Kara

PLACES AND CASTLES - The Gunn Guardsman series

The Gunn Guardsman series was the avenue to me being obsessed with Highlander romance. I wrote Highlanders in the Pith series, but the men in the Gunn Guardsman books really inspired me. They have such a connection, a brotherhood that makes them the perfect Highland heroes.

In One and Only, we meet the Gunn clan. The Gunn's clan home was built near Wick, Scotland. As you can see, the original building was destroyed by the fierce king of Norway. The Gunn's home was attacked and destroyed and many of the clan were killed.

The artistic reconstruction by Andrew Spratt shows how the castle may have looked in 1250.

In On A Highland Hill, one of my favorite stories - Kenneth and Elisa had such a turbulent relationship. There are various places listed in the book. Even though I didn't write about Fingal's cave, it is on MacQuarrie's property, Elisa's home.

In A Highlander In Peril, we visit various places as well. Our story starts with our villain. He's in Selkirk, Scotland doing his vile deeds...

We also visit Maiden's Castle, but alas, it was a wooden fort back in the day. The remains are sadly lost to us forever.

In the last book, In Love With a Warrior - we travel afar and spend some time in Wales. I must say I absolutely fell in love with Wales while writing this book. It is just as magical as Scotland. Here is a picture of the seat of Emlyn's home, long gone - but you can see how amazing it is.

I hope you enjoyed this little foray into the books of The Gunn Guardsman series. I loved all the books and the heroes and heroines. I love revisiting those stories when I can. I hope, if you read them, you enjoy them too.

 

Places & Castles - Claimed By A Charmer and Lass' Valor

Today in the monthly theme of Places & Castles, we look at the places in the books CLAIMED BY A CHARMER AND LASS' VALOR. These books are part of a three-book series, The Pith Trilogy.

In Claimed By A Charmer, our villain is at Fairview Asylum, trying to secure a place for his sister. He's a vile villain who has dubious plans for her. In medieval times, it was easy to place someone in an asylum. You just needed a connection and some coins. Below are examples of what an asylum might have looked like.

 

Our Heroine spends time with her relatives, the Gordons where she befriends a lass. They make promises to each other when our heroine is called home.

At the Kerr Clan keep in the Highlands of Scotland, our Hero is coerced to retrieve our Heroine from a nasty place - Fairview.

This story will take you to various places. You'll enjoy the vivid descriptions and characterization of our hero and heroine.

In Lass' Valor, we are visiting King Henry, a relative of the heroine in Warrior's Pledge. Our heroine becomes embroiled in helping a young child return home to the Highlands. From England to Scotland, we traipse the lands and end the tales of The Pith Trilogy. Below is Whitehall Castle in its latter days. It was in use during medieval times as a residence for England's kings.

Be sure to comment to be entered to win a print copy of one of my books (US only) or download. Next up, we'll be talking about the places in the Gunn Guardsman series.

Places & Castles - Warrior's Pledge

 

WARRIOR'S PLEDGE - Places & Castles

My love of Scotland and its lands, places, and castles came because of my love of reading. I devoured as many Historical Romances as I could, sometimes reading a book each day. When I started writing my first story, Warrior's Pledge, I had to research and find the perfect places for the setting.

The story starts off in Dover Castle, the Royal residence of King John. Julianna is a wee lass whose life forever changes on the night of a storm. Years later, we next see our heroine in Langdon's forest on her way to her friend's wedding. I love writing descriptions for forests in my books. In medieval times, the lands weren't as barren as they are now. Unfortunately, it was the medieval people who took from the forest to make their homes, heat their home, and use the wood of trees for so many things.

Our hero, Colin MacKinnon unbeknownst to him, has much family drama lurking in the closets of his home in the areas of the islands of Mull and Skye, in the Inner Hebrides. Little is known about their land/home before the Scottish Wars of Independence, so I really had to use my imagination to create our hero's world. Above is a picture of a wall on lands occupied by the MacKinnons. The ruggedness of it is beautiful.

Another place featured in the book is a convent. In medieval times, places of the clergy, i.e. convents, kirks, churches, cathedrals, and monasteries were predominant in all people's daily lives.

Of course, our hero and heroine have allies/friends in the KirkConnell clan. Throughout the book, we get a glimpse of England and the Scottish Highlands. Their journey to love takes them from the northern region of Scotland to the highest climate of Scotland.

If you haven't read Warrior's Pledge, I hope you do and take the time to enjoy the Places & Castles within the story.

Author Kara Griffin

P.S. Be sure to comment. All commenters will be entered to win a print copy of any of my books. The winner will be picked on January 31st and announced on my Author Facebook Page.

January BLOG Theme

Good Day Historical Romancers -

This month on my blog I am going to feature Places & Castles that are mentioned or are the Hero and Heroine's homes in my books. I'll be sharing short excerpts featuring these places and links to online sites that give a more in-depth description.

As you know, I write Historical Romances mainly set in Scotland. Many of the places I will feature are towns and villages that actually existed in medieval times. I'll also be sharing Castles. 

Unfortunately, many of the Places & Castles my heroes and heroines lived in no longer exist. I have used descriptions of the castles or towns/villages in my books or created my imagined view of them.

I hope you enjoy this month's look into Places & Castles. Be sure to comment. I'll be giving away a print copy of my latest book release THE WARRIOR AND THE WAIF (US only) or a download for any International reader at the end of the month.

First up are the Places & Castles of my very first book: WARRIOR'S PLEDGE. I'll be sharing on Wednesday, January 3rd. Be sure to visit often and comment.

Fondly,

Kara Griffin