Hi and welcome! It’s my pleasure to welcome Catherine L. Byrne with her book, KJARTAN THE GENTLE. I couldn’t resist the idea of two Vikings in love — guy Vikings that is. I’ve traveled to Scandinavia several times and seen the model houses and boats of these amazing people. They were fierce fighters who, interestingly, rowed their own boats, so they were very strong physically. Countries throughout what we now call Europe literally set aside money — Danegelt — to pay off the Vikings and keep them from attacking their cities. So check out this book and be sure to enter to win a copy.
Author Name: Catherine L. Byrne
Book Name: Kjartan the Gentle Series: Tales of Forbidden Love From the Danelaw, book 3. This is the only M/M book of the trilogy and can be read as a standalone.
Blurb:
916 A.D. East Anglia under the Danelaw.
In Dark Age Britain, you knew your place and if you didn’t keep to it, you faced the consequences…
Hot-blooded Kjartan, accidental hero, has settled down into married life, with a baby on the way. But when he meets handsome glass maker Lini, their unlawful relationship provokes angry and passionate reactions from their kinfolk.
They have to fight back against the prejudice of Norse culture, and find out who their real friends—and enemies—are. And this conflict leads to murder.
But who is the victim, and who the killer?
![600x600Banner[1]](https://taralain.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/600x600Banner1.jpg)
Excerpt:
Lini then went to the kiln and put the glass blowing rod into it, collecting a blob of molten green glass. He wore gloves, but there were old burns on his arms above the glove cuff. He blew into the cloth mouthpiece of the iron rod carefully, and Kjartan gasped as the bubble expanded. Lini spun it round and held a tool to it, shaping it into a symmetrical bowl shape. When finished, he put it into the low-heated oven so it would cool down slowly and not crack. He then repeated the process a few more times.
By this time, Kjartan had completely forgotten what he was talking about and stood just gazing, mesmerized.
“It’s wholly different to fighting in a battle, yes?” Lini smiled and wiped the sweat from his brow with his arm. “Quite calming.”
Kjartan just nodded, staring at the sweat running down Lini’s tanned back.
“So, the fighting school? You got as far as saying what you were going to teach them.”
“Oh. Yes. I’ll think of something.” It was far too hot in the forge and stopped his mind from working properly.
Sales Links:
http://www.extasybooks.com/Kjartan-the-Gentle/?keyword=kjartan
About the author:
Catherine L Byrne amused herself writing as a hobby for some years until she had her daughter, but becoming a mum made her realise she now had a purpose and time was limited, so she must get on with writing seriously.
The winter of 2009 was severe and as she and her family live in a small village, they were house bound by unusually deep snow for southern England. So she settled down in her office (i.e. the corner of her bedroom) and began her first book, which was published in 2010.
She hasn’t stopped writing since, generally on the theme of forbidden or unrequited love, and often including erotic scenes.
Where to find the author:
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catherines-Creations-and-Concerns/235748973239333?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/catherinelbyrne
Other (WordPress blog): https://catherinelbyrne.wordpress.com/
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24796002-kjartan-the-gentle?from_search=true
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Cover Artist: Carmen Waters
Thank you for coming by!
Thanks so much for featuring Kjartan and me on your blog today 🙂