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dianne sweeney

dianne sweeney

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The Sons of Godwine: Part Two of The Last Great Saxon Earls

The Sons of Godwine: Part Two of The Last Great Saxon Earls

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Description

<p>Emerging from the long shadow cast by his formidable father, Harold Godwineson showed himself to be a worthy successor to the Earldom of Wessex. In the following twelve years, he became the King's most trusted advisor, practically taking the reins of government into his own hands. And on Edward the Confessor's death, Harold Godwineson mounted the throne—the first king of England not of royal blood. Yet Harold was only a man, and his rise in fortune was not blameless. Like any person aspiring to power, he made choices he wasn't particularly proud of. Unfortunately, those closest to him sometimes paid the price of his fame.<br /><br />This is a story of Godwine's family as told from the viewpoint of Harold and his younger brothers. Queen Editha, known for her Vita Ædwardi Regis, originally commissioned a work to memorialize the deeds of her family, but after the Conquest historians tell us she abandoned this project and concentrated on her husband, the less dangerous subject. In THE SONS OF GODWINE and FATAL RIVALRY, I am telling the story as it might have survived had she collected and passed on the memoirs of her tragic brothers.<br /><br />This book is part two of The Last Great Saxon Earls series. Book one, GODWINE KINGMAKER, depicted the rise and fall of the first Earl of Wessex who came to power under Canute and rose to preeminence at the beginning of Edward the Confessor's reign. Unfortunately, Godwine's misguided efforts to champion his eldest son Swegn recoiled on the whole family, contributing to their outlawry and Queen Editha's disgrace. Their exile only lasted one year and they returned victorious to London, though it was obvious that Harold's career was just beginning as his father's journey was coming to an end.<br /><br />Harold's siblings were all overshadowed by their famous brother; in their memoirs we see remarks tinged sometimes with admiration, sometimes with skepticism, and in Tostig's case, with jealousy. We see a Harold who is ambitious, self-assured, sometimes egocentric, imperfect, yet heroic. His own story is all about Harold, but his brothers see things a little differently. Throughout, their observations are purely subjective, and witnessing events through their eyes gives us an insider’s perspective.<br /><br />Harold was his mother's favorite, confident enough to rise above petty sibling rivalry but Tostig, next in line, was not so lucky. Harold would have been surprised by Tostig's vindictiveness, if he had ever given his brother a second thought. And that was the problem. Tostig's love/hate relationship with Harold would eventually destroy everything they worked for, leaving the country open to foreign conquest. This subplot comes to a crisis in book three of the series, FATAL RIVALRY.</p>

Story Behind The Book

“ I'm the average, thirty-something, working woman of today--sometimes sarcastic, sometimes too honest for my own good--but I do tell it like it is. Professionally, I'm set. Friends--I have plenty. But love...well, isn't that what we're all looking for? ”

Media Links

KRTY

🔗 www.krty.com

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Tucson Citizen

🔗 www.tucsoncitizen.com

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Reviews

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" align="right" width="0">  </td> <td valign="top" align="left" width="100%"> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;">7 of 7 people found the following review helpful: </div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><span style="margin-left:-5px;"><img height="12" alt="5.0 out of 5 stars" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._V47081849_.gif" width="64" border="0" /></span><strong>AMAZING book!!!</strong>, December 16, 2009</div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">By </td> <td><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2GJLMFOAGZTNF/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><font color="#004b91">Vanessa<img class="custPopRight" style="border-right:medium none;border-top:medium none;border-left:medium none;border-bottom:medium none;" alt="" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/carrot._V47081519_.gif" /></font></span></span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2GJLMFOAGZTNF/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&amp;sort_by=MostRecentReview"><font color="#004b91">See all my reviews</font></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>This is a honest, funny, witty, and charmingly written book!! It's one that you will not want to put down! In addition to the authors commentary and perspective of things, it includes the emails and instant messages that were sent back and forth from the author and her potential &quot;princes&quot;. I found myself laughing out loud for much of the book. Don't miss out on this one!! <div style="clear:both;width:100%;padding-top:10px;"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"> <div style="padding-right:15px;"> <div style="padding-bottom:5px;"><strong class="tiny" style="color:#666666;white-space:nowrap;"><font size="1">Help other customers find the most helpful reviews </font></strong>  </div> <div>Was this review helpful to you? <span style="margin-left:-3px;"></span>&quot;); } function restoreYesNoDefaultMessage(uId){ var msgLayer = document.getElementById(&quot;thanks&quot; + uId); msgLayer.innerHTML = &quot;&quot;; } function showYesButton(vUrl, uId){ var yesImg = ' ' + '<a>' + '<img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-yes-sec-md._V8278393_.gif" width="35" alt="Yes" height="18" border="0" />' + '</a> '; document.write(yesImg); } function showNoButton(vUrl, uId){ var noImg = '<a>' + '<img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-no-sec-md._V8278393_.gif" width="35" alt="No" height="18" border="0" />' + '</a>'; 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+ uId); if ( result == &quot;SUCCESS&quot; ) { msgLayer.innerHTML = &quot;<br />Thanks for your feedback.&quot;; } else { showVoteErrorResponse(msgLayer,result,value, &quot;&quot;); } }  <a><img height="18" alt="Yes" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-yes-sec-md._V8278393_.gif" width="35" border="0" /></a> <a><img height="18" alt="No" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-no-sec-md._V8278393_.gif" width="35" border="0" /></a><span class="tiny"></span> </div></div></td> <td width="1" bgcolor="#cccccc"> <div></div></td> <td valign="top" align="left"> <div style="padding-left:15px;"> <div style="white-space:nowrap;"><span class="tiny"><a href="http://www.freado.com/users/settings/#"><font color="#004b91" size="1">Report this</font></a><font size="1"></font></span><span style="color:#cccccc;">|</span> <span class="tiny"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R10D3Y03VAF7NY/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm"><font color="#004b91" size="1">Permalink</font></a><font size="1"></font></span></div> <div style="padding-top:5px;white-space:nowrap;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R10D3Y03VAF7NY/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&amp;ASIN=0578041790&amp;nodeID=#wasThisHelpful"><font size="1"><img height="16" alt="Comment" hspace="3" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/comment-sm._V47082363_.gif" width="16" border="0" /></font></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R10D3Y03VAF7NY/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&amp;ASIN=0578041790&amp;nodeID=#wasThisHelpful"><font color="#004b91">Comment</font></a> </div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a></a><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" align="right" width="0">  </td> <td valign="top" align="left" width="100%"> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;">6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: </div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><span style="margin-left:-5px;"><img height="12" alt="5.0 out of 5 stars" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._V47081849_.gif" width="64" border="0" /></span><strong>Relevent for men!</strong>, December 20, 2009</div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">By </td> <td><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AZY436IXAXQ5H/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><font color="#004b91">Miles <span style="white-space:nowrap;">Hansen<img class="custPopRight" style="border-right:medium none;border-top:medium none;border-left:medium none;border-bottom:medium none;" alt="" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/carrot._V47081519_.gif" /></span></font></span></a> (Oslo, Norway) - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/AZY436IXAXQ5H/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&amp;sort_by=MostRecentReview"><font color="#004b91">See all my reviews</font></a><br /><a href="http://www.freado.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=cm_rn_bdg_help?ie=UTF8&amp;nodeId=14279681&amp;pop-up=1#RN"><font color="#004b91"><img height="15" alt="(REAL NAME)" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reputation/c7y_badge_rn_1._V47060296_.gif" width="70" border="0" /></font></a>    </td></tr></tbody></table></div>This book was recommended to me by a friend who insisted that I read it. Oh my god! This is not a book to read on the bus unless you want to look like a crazy person!! I was laughing so hard out loud that the entire bus was staring! Not only is it a riot, but it is definitely easy for a man to relate to. I have already told my cube-mates at work to read it. Nice work Sweeney! <div style="clear:both;width:100%;padding-top:10px;"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"> <div style="padding-right:15px;"> <div style="padding-bottom:5px;"><strong class="tiny" style="color:#666666;white-space:nowrap;"><font size="1">Help other customers find the most helpful reviews </font></strong>  </div> <div>Was this review helpful to you? <span style="margin-left:-3px;">  <a><img height="18" alt="Yes" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-yes-sec-md._V8278393_.gif" width="35" border="0" /></a> <a><img height="18" alt="No" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-no-sec-md._V8278393_.gif" width="35" border="0" /></a><span class="tiny"></span> </span></div></div></td> <td width="1" bgcolor="#cccccc"> <div></div></td> <td valign="top" align="left"> <div style="padding-left:15px;"> <div style="white-space:nowrap;"><span class="tiny"><a href="http://www.freado.com/users/settings/#"><font color="#004b91" size="1">Report this</font></a><font size="1"></font></span><span style="color:#cccccc;">|</span> <span class="tiny"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R258NXGTOQ4AWW/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm"><font color="#004b91" size="1">Permalink</font></a><font size="1"></font></span></div> <div style="padding-top:5px;white-space:nowrap;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R258NXGTOQ4AWW/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&amp;ASIN=0578041790&amp;nodeID=#wasThisHelpful"><font size="1"><img height="16" alt="Comment" hspace="3" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/comment-sm._V47082363_.gif" width="16" border="0" /></font></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R258NXGTOQ4AWW/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&amp;ASIN=0578041790&amp;nodeID=#wasThisHelpful"><font color="#004b91">Comment</font></a> </div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a></a><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" align="right" width="0">  </td> <td valign="top" align="left" width="100%"> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;">5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: </div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><span style="margin-left:-5px;"><img height="12" alt="5.0 out of 5 stars" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._V47081849_.gif" width="64" border="0" /></span><strong>If this doens't make you laugh....then I don't know...</strong>, December 15, 2009</div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">By </td> <td><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1UMRNVSSI6R3C/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><font color="#004b91">Deborah A. Lang &quot;Deborah <span style="white-space:nowrap;">Lang&quot;<img class="custPopRight" style="border-right:medium none;border-top:medium none;border-left:medium none;border-bottom:medium none;" alt="" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/carrot._V47081519_.gif" /></span></font></span></a> (San Jose, CA) - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A1UMRNVSSI6R3C/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&amp;sort_by=MostRecentReview"><font color="#004b91">See all my reviews</font></a><br /><a href="http://www.freado.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=cm_rn_bdg_help?ie=UTF8&amp;nodeId=14279681&amp;pop-up=1#RN"><font color="#004b91"><img height="15" alt="(REAL NAME)" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reputation/c7y_badge_rn_1._V47060296_.gif" width="70" border="0" /></font></a>    </td></tr></tbody></table></div>Hysterical, insightful, relevant and honest journey negotiating the cyberspace waters of on-line dating. <br />Great read regardless of your relationship status. <br />This is a Brave new world of dating and Dianne Sweeney has taken us along on her journey. <br />And if you don't find yourself laughing outloud...then I don't know what to say. <br />Highly recommended! <br /></td></tr></tbody></table>