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Linda Weaver Clarke

Linda Weaver Clarke

About

Linda Weaver Clarke travels throughoutthe United States, teaching a “Family Legacy Workshop,” encouraging people to writetheir family history. She is happily married and is the mother of six daughtersand has several grandchildren. Clarke is the author of the historical romanceseries, “A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho,” which includes: Melinda and theWild West - asemi-finalist for the “Reviewers Choice Award 2007,” and a new mystery series,“The Adventures of John and Julia Evans.”

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

Awards: Semi-finalist for Reader Views “Reviewers Choice Award” Historical “Sweet” Romance: In 1896, it doesn’t take Melinda Gamble long to realize how wild the West really is when she encounters a notorious bank robber, a vicious grizzly bear, and a terrible blizzard that leaves her clinging to her life. But it’s a rugged rancher who instantly grabs Melinda’s attention.

Media Links

American Chronicle Press Release

🔗 http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/49982

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Reviews

<span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">From the first page I was captivated by this book. I had to continue reading, rushing to turn the page, I had to see what next adventure would catch up with Melinda. The plot is interesting: mixing history with fiction, adventure with romance. Melinda is an endearing character and you can’t help but see things through her eyes. This is good Christian fiction. It is a great honor to highly recommend this book to readers of historical fictions and romance. Ms Clarke, this is a piece to be proud of, well done! <strong>- Debra Gaynor – Reader Views</strong></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">&quot;Melinda and the Wild West&quot; is rich with historical settings and provides as much of a 'historical' education as entertainment. Linda Weaver Clarke displays an easy and excellent style of writing, blending adventure/romance/history/humor and courage. &quot;Melinda and the Wild West: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho&quot; is an instant classic and should put this author on the literary map all over the world. A MUST read! <strong>– Page One Literary Book Review</strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">For anyone who likes to read classic-styled romance novels that also have a drop of history, this is the book for you. From one of her students coming to class with skunk oil that explodes, to her encounter with a black bear, there’s always something for the imagination in the book. It is very easy to picture the scene you are reading. Clarke was able to write about love in a soft fashion, not full of the same type of sexual writing of most romance novels. I was impressed with the eloquence in which Clarke spun her story. It was dramatic in some spots and yet contained simply placed bits of humor. I would recommend this to anyone. <strong>- Melynda Gascoyne – The Amherst Bee Newspaper: Buffalo, New York</strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">I absolutely loved this book. Now, I may be biased that I adore late 1800’s and anything to do with Wild West areas, but this story just amazed me. Creating a story based upon an independent, educated and strong woman character, brings to light the type of women that helped make this country what it is today. Melinda learns to keep her guard up when she needs to, but letting it down can bring happiness into your life. The themes of family, love, communication and friendship can be found throughout the book. If you want to read a book that makes you smile at the end, this would be one of those books. <strong>- Allison King – Allison’s Attic Book Reviews</strong></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Reading Melinda and the Wild West was very enjoyable. Linda Weaver Clarke blends fact and fiction and brings the story to life through wonderful descriptions, of the characters' thoughts and emotions and of the untamed landscape. I felt as if I was surrounded by the vast wilderness of Idaho, experiencing the story firsthand. Although this book is set in the past, the romance in this story is beautiful and passionate and timeless. I want to know what happens next and look forward to reading more of the books in this series. – <strong>Suko’s Notebook</strong></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">This series has loads of heart. It’s historical accuracy won me over and h</span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';" xml:lang="en-ie" lang="en-ie">as the power to charm all ages. It can even work its magic on blokes who usually like their fiction hardboiled with a lot of spice.</span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';" xml:lang="en-ie" lang="en-ie"></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><strong>- </strong></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';" xml:lang="en-ie" lang="en-ie"><strong>Mick Halpin – Critical Mick Reviews, Dublin, Ireland</strong></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><strong></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><em>Melinda and the Wild West</em></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"> by Linda Weaver Clarke is a tender love story. Clarke’s characters are well developed and her setting is compelling. But what separates this book from others is Clarke’s historical accuracy and meticulous attention to detail. The reader feels transported to another time and place – experiencing bank robberies and skunk oil and even exposure to stinging nettles right along with Melinda. Readers of all ages will enjoy this book from the exciting beginning to the satisfying end. <strong>- Betsy Brannon Green – Best-Selling Mystery Author</strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;">Linda Weaver Clarke crafts a beautiful romance set in the late 1800s. Melinda and the Wild West is a heartwarming, tender love story, one of four in A Family Saga. I look forward to reading the other three. </span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><strong>- <span style="color:#000000;">Kim Atchue-Cusella – Book Loons</span></strong></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Melinda and the Wild West… despite the wild, untamed nature of the Bear Lake Valley… Ms. Clarke has succeeded in presenting to her readers the beauty of the area. The scenery is portrayed so vividly that you can see each and every color. You can feel the crispness of the air in winter or smell the flowers in the field in spring. You can feel the peace Melinda feels while walking through the woods or feel her fear when she comes face to face with a bear. And amidst such a beautiful portrayal of life, you see a love story unfolding like no other. Melinda’s spirit is fiery, but her tenderness touches those she meets. Ms. Clarke is a talented author! <strong>- Diana Broadhead – The Senior Sampler Newspaper: St. George, UT<span style="color:#000000;"></span></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;">Linda Clarke has a writing style which opens the mind in a way that lets us see what her character sees, and allows the reader to feel the thoughts and emotions of the characters. It is impossible to avoid becoming part of the story she so skillfully develops. She writes historical fiction as if she were taking the reader back in time. </span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><strong>- <span style="color:#000000;">Lloyd E. Reid – Library Director of Washington County Libraries</span></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Linda Weaver Clarke seamlessly weaves true ancestral stories of a schoolteacher who lived in the place and time of an untamed Wild West with a fictional storyline to create a tale, which pulls the reader more than one hundred years into the past. The reader is able to see the colors and gape at the awe-inspiring beauty of the Idaho landscape, taste fresh, cold spring water from within the mountains, inhale the clean mountain air, and gasp with fear at the unfamiliar and varied hostilities encountered in the journey. The novel feels more like a conversation with a close friend, than a book full of words. A recommended read for those who love historical stories that transport you back in time with ease. <strong>- Lisa Haselton – AllBooks Reviews</strong></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"></span></p>