Rydaria lives as a prisoner in a tower library. Captured as a child, her past is a mystery. Maintaining the literary treasures within her care, she studies the world through books that give her a glimpse of the freedom she craves.
A scribe by trade, Crispin has devoted the last three years of his life seeking the lost heir of Avalene. He travels to Worthenave’s famed library in hopes of finding the key. Instead, he discovers a new mystery, a beautiful librarian who is locked in with her books every night.
As the days pass, Crispin must choose. Rydaria’s precarious situation is deteriorating. Meanwhile, his duty demands he leave before the Duke of Worthenave uncovers his quest. Still, the scribe can’t bring himself to abandon the captive in the library tower, even if it costs him his mission.
Inspired by Rapunzel and East of the Sun West of the Moon
Distantly the noon bells sounded as I lifted the first of the scrolls into place. Hoping that the stranger would leave for his meal, I continued to replace the scrolls until at least a score of minutes had passed. The last one slid home with satisfying ease. Dusting myself off a bit, I descended to the first floor to check if my meal had arrived.
It had.
Only one meal, the standard shavings of meat, a small loaf of bread, a pot of salted butter, and a bit of yellow cheese, lay on a tray at one end of the table. The jug of ale and a wooden cup sat next to the food.
The stranger still lingered. His satchel lay half-empty next to a mess of supplies and logbooks, scratch paper, and empty ink bottles covering the other half of the table. Pens in varying states of decay or disrepair were scattered about as though someone had sought a functional implement in haste and found them all lacking. Then, all of it had been shoved toward the end of the table to make room for the tray and such. The delivery boy had shown his customary lack of concern for anything beyond his task.
“Just push anything that is in the way aside.” The stranger himself stood next to the shelves where I had directed him, bent over the oldest log on the shelves.
“There is plenty of room, thank you,” I replied as I set about breaking the loaf into pieces. “Did you take your meal in the great hall?”
“I am well enough for now, thank you.” He didn’t look up from his perusal of the ledger.
From all I had read, large men seemed to require vast quantities of food. I glanced at the invader. He definitely fit the definition of large, but he didn’t have the manner of a warrior. I had seen many of those from my window perch and at my tower’s gate over the years. Though, I would definitely not consider him flabby or soft either.
As I considered the best descriptors for him, he lifted his gaze from the ledger and met my gaze. One golden-brown eyebrow rose in a silent question.
“You do not have the appearance of a man who skips meals regularly.”
“True, I don’t usually, but this is an exception.” He gestured to the laden shelves around us. “I have no way of knowing I will be allowed in again tomorrow.”
I shrugged. “I suspect you will. Worthenave likes showing off his collection, and admirers cannot fully appreciate it in only a single survey.”
“I prefer not to risk it.” His attention returned to the page.
Breaking my bread into two hunks, I opened up one of the linen napkins on the tray. Spreading it out, I set the bread hunk, half the cheese, and the meat shavings on it. I then folded the linen so that the food wouldn’t fall out.
Delivering the bundle took a bit more bravery, but I forced myself to act before I thought on it over much.
“To hold you until the evening meal,” I explained as I dropped it on the open shelf near his elbow. I returned to the table to focus on my own meal.
For a few moments, I feared he would reject it, or worse, take offense that I had not believed him. Only the sounds of him eating put me at ease enough to devour my own meal efficiently. As I cleared away the remnants, he approached and dropped the crumpled napkin on top of the pile.
Rachel Rossano specializes in clean romantic fiction set in historical-feeling fantasy worlds. She also dabbles in straightforward historical romance and not-so-strict speculative fiction. A happily married mother of three children, she divides her time between mothering, teaching, and writing. She endeavors to enchant, thrill, entertain, and amuse through her work. A constant student, she seeks to improve her skills and loves to hear from readers.
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Three Reasons You Should Read This Dual Timeline WWII Historical Fiction:
Beyond This Broken Sky by Siobhan Curham presents a non-traditional war hero that I absolutely fell in love with.
As an ambulance team, Ruby and Joseph make an interesting pair, and it really allows them to get to know each other under some very trying circumstances, and they build a bond that may be hard to break.
The story of London being bombed (repeatedly) was vivid and there were times I could almost feel the ground shake, feel the heat of the flames, and hear the crack of impact.
1940, London: An unforgettable novel about the strength of the human spirit in the face of war and the remarkable women who put themselves in danger on the front lines during the Battle of Britain.
As a volunteer for the ambulance service, Ruby has the dangerous task of driving along pitch-dark roads during the blackout. With each survivor she pulls from the rubble, she is helping to fight back against the enemy bombers, who leave nothing but destruction in their wake.
Assigned to her crew is Joseph, who is unable to fight but will stop at nothing to save innocent lives. Because he is not in uniform, people treat him with suspicion and Ruby becomes determined to protect this brave, compassionate man who has rescued so many, and captured her heart. Even if it means making an unthinkable choice between saving her own life and risking everything for his…
2019: Recently divorced Edi feels lost and alone when she moves to London to start a new life. Until she makes a discovery, hidden beneath a loose floorboard in her attic, that reveals a secret about the people who lived there in the 1940s. As she gradually uncovers a wartime love story full of danger and betrayal, Edi becomes inspired by the heroism of one incredible woman and the legacy that can be left behind by a single act of courage…
A sweeping tale of bravery and self-sacrifice that shows that even in the midst of war, hope and love can bloom. Perfect for fans of The Alice Network, The Secret Messenger and The Lost Girls of Paris.
The main story in Beyond This Broken Sky takes place in London during the WWII air raids. Ruby seems to be a carefree, nothing can go wrong, sort of gal. But when she is teamed up on an ambulance team with the Joseph, a conscienscious objector and the man who lives in the upstairs apartment, we see a much different side to her.
Joseph is not the standard hero of a story. Instead of the brave soldier, we have a pacifist. As a conscienscious objector, he is subjected to a lot of derision from the peopl of London. They don’t understand why he can’t join the fight alongside their husbands, brothers, sons, fathers. But Joseph is a hero in another way. His is kind and compassionate, thoughtful, and pretty selfless. And I loved when Ruby decides that he’s an ok guy and starts to stand up for him a little.
But there’s a lot more to this story than Ruby and Joseph – although they do the place as our mains. Kitty is the sweetest, most vulnerable person I’ve seen on a page in a long time. And if there’s a heartbreaking romance in this book, it’s going to be her. But romance isn’t the main theme. The main theme is overcoming, moving forward, and living life to your fullest with no regrets.
And this theme carries over into the present dya side of the story. I felt like this didn’t fit quite as well as some of the dual timelines I’ve read recently. It almost felt unnecessary and unconnected. I enjoyed Edi, and Pearl was a hoot, but most of their story just left me confused. In the end, it all comes together in an interesting way – but I’m not sure if it was really needed.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Siobhan Curham is an award-winning author, ghost writer, editor and writing coach. She has also written for many newspapers, magazines and websites, including The Guardian, Breathe magazine, Cosmopolitan, Writers’ Forum, DatingAdvice.com, and Spirit & Destiny. Siobhan has been a guest on various radio and TV shows, including Woman’s Hour, BBC News, GMTV and BBC Breakfast. And she has spoken at businesses, schools, universities and literary festivals around the world, including the BBC, Hay Festival, Cheltenham Festival, Bath Festival, Ilkley Festival, London Book Fair and Sharjah Reading Festival.
Madalynne Life can be cruel and unexpected, ripping your heart out when you least expect it. You never think it can be you, and then it happens and you’re left to pick up the pieces of your broken life. I was grieving, understandably so, each stage pushing me further and further from him. There was never a doubt in my mind that Parker and I were soul mates. No one had ever made me feel the way he did, and I didn’t want them to. Through all the hard times, he was there. Parker was the only person I could lean on, the only person I could talk to about my feelings. He pulled me out of my depression. He helped me see the light again.
Parker She was hurting, and I wanted to be there for her. When my brother Bo passed, I slipped into a deep depression, and even though I pushed Madalynne away at every turn, she never gave up on me. I owed her my life, and I wanted to spend the rest of mine making her happy. Even with our connections to others, my love for her never wavered. It was something embedded in my bones, so deeply she would always be a part of me. That’s why I never gave up hope that somehow, someday, we would be together again.
My Forever is the third book in the Infinite Love series.
“You’re making the biggest mistake of your life you know,” my best friend, Kendall Walker, states as we approach the front doors of our high school.
“About what?” I ask, my hand on the door handle, frozen, waiting for an answer.
“Pushing Parker away—you’re going to regret it, Maddy. He’s amazing and you know it.” Her green eyes twinkle when she speaks about him. Kendall has a soft spot for Parker because his best friend also happens to be her boyfriend. We all
grew up together.
“Kendall, you have no idea what I’m going through,” I snap, causing her to jerk backward, her blond curls whipping back with her.
“Oh, I’m sorry I don’t know what it’s like to lose a brother in war…but you forget my mother died when I was four years old. Try experiencing that and then come back and tell me I have no idea what you’re going through.” Her tone is hurtful, and guilt immediately washes over me.
“Kendall.” My fingers reach for her arm. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry.”
She stares back at me, her icy green eyes piercing through me. I couldn’t move a muscle even if I tried. “You know what, Maddy? Save it. I’m tired of your bitchy attitude and your selfish ways.” She turns on her heel, tearing open the front
