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Misha Crews

Misha Crews

About

I have always loved stories!  When I was very young my father used to tell me stories to keep me entertained when we traveled, even if it was just on the bus ride to the zoo.  When I got older, my mother (bless her) coaxed me away from the television and into reading by offering to pay me two cents a page of my picture books!  Well, of course I was hooked before I'd earned enough to buy a pack of gum, and when I got older I realized that not only could I fall in love with stories created by others, I create my own stories to fall in love with!  September of 2008 brought the culmination of a lifelong dream when my first novel, Homesong, was published by Vanilla Heart Publishing.  My second novel, Still Waters, will be out this summer.  Now that I am finally telling my own stories, I hope you find yourself falling in love with them!

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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<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

Homesong is the story of two families whose fates are intertwined. Children, parents, grandparents...how did all these stories begin? And who can say how they'll end?

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Reviews

<font size="2"></font> <p>&quot;I received <em>Homesong </em>as a Christmas gift from my niece with the promise that 'it is really good, you've gotta read it.' She was right. I couldn't put it down, but at the same time not wanting to read so fast that it ended. The story of love lost and then found again touches the heart of every romantic and a bit of mystery placed just right keeps the reader riveted to the pages. All the characters are realistic and interesting. I am very impressed that this is Misha's first novel. She is a gifted writer and I wish Misha continued success with her future novels. Misha Crews has been added to my list of favorite authors.&quot; – Gail Kobialka</p><font size="2">&quot;I have to say that I'm having a ball reading this novel! I absolutely love it and don't want to put it down. It's taking all my will power to read it only when I should be reading! <em>Homesong</em> is a very well-constructed story, it's believable fiction with believable characters. The book does not come across as the 'first novel' of a novice; Misha Crews has writing skills comparable to experienced authors in this genre.&quot; – Cynthia McIver </font> <p>&quot;I literally could not put <em>Homesong</em> down. I finished the whole thing in one day! It is exactly what I look for in a book: compelling and uplifting. The characters are alive. Misha Crews has a gift for telling a great story. She keeps you riveted. This is an absolutely wonderful story!&quot; - Mary Ellison</p><font size="2" face="Verdana"><font size="2" face="Verdana"></font></font><font size="2">&quot;I had trouble putting it down. I am duly impressed! There is a lot of intensity to <em>Homesong;</em> lots of mystery and questions, even though you know that everything has to turn out alright. And in the end, it all comes together! Whew! I hope that Misha is working on her next book. I think her readers are going to demand it!&quot; - Linda Konzik </font> <p>&quot;Weeks after I finished <em>Homesong</em>, my thoughts kept going back to Kate and Reed. The characters are so alive I felt as if I've known them all my life. <em>Homesong</em> is a wonderful blend of romance and mystery. God has certainly blessed Ms. Crews with an amazing talent for weaving an intricate web of suspense and intrigue. Move over Nora Roberts and make room for Misha Crews.&quot; - Phyllis Sersen</p> <p>&quot;Misha Crews has created a saga that seeps into the reader's soul. It is at once a tale of youth and innocence and first love, of ragged and mellow elder years, and of the time between. Crews takes us through the endless drama that is life with seamless ease. She draws out people's lives in a thorough yet gentle way, reminiscent of storytelling on languid summer nights as she wraps the listener in a strong, gentle voice. She knows where she's taking you, with twists and turns along the way, and leaves you knowing you have made friends for life. I cannot wait for her next book!&quot; - Helen Collins</p><font size="3" face="Calibri"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span></span></font></font>