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Mercedes Rochelle

Mercedes Rochelle

About

I write Historical Fiction about 11th Century Britain. Come witness the tumultuous events surrounding the Viking Invasion with Canute the Great and his heirs. Visit late Anglo-Saxon England with Earl Godwine, Harold Godwineson, and King Edward the Confessor; see Macbeth's and Malcolm III's Scotland, and watch events unfold leading to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest..

Murdo

Murdo

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Description

<p>When Jessica Bryant pesters her wealthy parents to allow her to have a dog as a pet, the answer is a resounding &quot;No&quot;; but they soon come to regret their decision when thier home is broken into one evening whilst they are out and their daughter kidnapped and held for ransom. The kidnappers, in the form of four seedy and incompetent characters wearing Disneyland-type masks, take her hostage and keep her incarcerated in a place from which there appears to be no escape. However, they reckon without the resourcefulness of our heroine, and the courage of a wonderful stray dog who comes to her aid and whom she names 'Murdo'. And so begins an exciting and humurous accounting of the couples' adventures together as they consistently foil and outwit the abductors whilst on the run together.<br /> This is a lovely story of the friendship between a girl and a dog, bringing out themes of responsibility, camaraderie, redemption, salvation and self-sacrifice. It includes some wonderful dialogue sequences as Jessica teaches her new four-legged friend how to communicate with her, with additional delightful conversations between the animals when a rabbit and a sparrow join forces with them in an effort to outwit the kidnappers and restore Jessica safely back to her parents' home. </p>

Story Behind The Book

If you’re a fan of Shakespeare’s play about Richard II—like I was—you might be surprised to discover that the tragic ending was the culmination of 20+ years of struggle between the young king and his nobles—especially his own family. Richard did not have an easy time of it from the very beginning. Crowned at age 10, he faced the horrific Peasants’ Revolt at only 14, and still managed to save the day when his elders failed to support him. Throughout his minority he was at odds with his uncles—first John of Gaunt, and then almost fatally with Thomas of Woodstock, the Duke of Gloucester, who persuaded Parliament to execute and outlaw Richard’s friends and advisors. Henry of Bolingbroke, who deposed him at the end of the play, was Richard’s first cousin. With a family like that, who needs enemies? A KING UNDER SIEGE is volume one of “The Plantagenet Legacy” and takes us through the king’s minority which lasted until he was twenty-two, setting the stage for the king’s retribution and final downfall.

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Reviews

<p><span>I thought the portrayal of Richard II was a historical triumph. Richard grows from this unsure youth to a man who is facing a war from those who should be on his side. Forget the war with France, it is the war within parliament that Richard has to try to win. </span><span>This story is rich in historical detail. It has so obviously been meticulously researched. I cannot but commend Rochelle for this exceptional work of scholarship. </span><span>A King Under Siege: Book One of The Plantagenet Legacy is one of those books that once started is impossible to put down. This book is filled with non-stop action. There are enough plots and conspiracies to satisfy any lover of historical fiction. This is storytelling at its very best.&quot;  <i>Mary Anne Yarde from Myths, Legends, Books &amp; Coffee Pots blog</i></span></p>