Kathleen L. Maher interviews Debbie Lynne Costello NEW RELEASE and GIVEAWAY

 Welcome back, Debbie Lynne! Last we spoke to you, on August 18 to be exact, you were releasing your sultry southern historical romance Bride by Blackmail.  (This is a phenomenal and intriguing read, people, with a yummy Scottish hero. You must find this and read it immediately) :-D

I wanted you back today because I am fan-girling over your almost-ready-to-release Medieval romance, Sword of Trust, book two in the Winds of Change series. This is your full-length sequel to your breakout debut Sword of Forgiveness which earned you a best-seller rank with Amazon in more than one category, as I recall, and currently boasts 286 reviews on Amazon, with an impressive 4.4 out of 5 rating! (Again, stellar romance with action-packed pace and very yummy medieval lord with castle and issues that only a feisty woman can tame…. Swoon!)

I’m not bragging, but I got to read this awesome, even-better-than-the first-book sequel *before* its release because I am Debbie Lynne’s critique partner. Oh, who am I fooling.  Yes, I am bragging. But only because it’s sooooo good!

Okay, enough intro. Please, Debbie Lynne, tell us what your fans have all been dying to know. Is Bryce Warwick, Royce’s brother, as yummy as he was? Give us a description of him, and don’t leave out a detail.  Is he tall, is he blond, dark haired, is he a knight? I mean, two brothers can’t both own their own castle, can they? Dish, girlfriend!

Bryce is tall and muscular as he was a knight for many years before he became Lord of Rosen Craig. You know those knights, always out on the practice field honing their skills. Being second best could be the death of them, literally. Unlike Royce’s light brown hair, Bryce’s hair is dark brown, almost black. He shares the same honey-brown eye color as his brother. Bryce is nobility, a baron and yes, his brother, though not nobility is lord of his own castle, Hawkwood.  It is possible. Royce became Lord of Hawkwood through marriage.

 And who is the lovely, sweet, shy damsel who steals (—hee hee, I said steals—) his heart? I’m sure she’s as mild as milk and would never dream of crossing any boundaries ( –hee hee, almost like borders—) of etiquette or otherwise…. Am I right? 😉

LOL, yes that would be the soft-spoken, Deirdre. Not! Deirdre has a temper that matches her fire-red hair. She will go toe to toe with Bryce and even if she is a wee bit intimidated by the man, she will never show it! She meets the handsome English lord when she crosses from Scotland to England to reive (steal). It just so happens that the land she reives from is Bryce Warwick’s and he doesn’t take kindly to Scottish lasses who dress as lads to take his cows.

 Those who have read and loved book one will love seeing some familiar characters return. I’ve already mentioned Royce Warwick, but we also reacquaint ourselves with Brithwin, his lovely lady. Pater, Lucas, Nog, and the healer lady, too.  Life in a medieval castle needed a full staff, and your cast of characters is not only useful in fulfilling necessary roles, but each one is incredibly charming. If you had to pick a favorite among your secondary characters, who would that be and why?

Boy that is tough! I have loved so many of them. I love Nog and Millicent who are older and get away with speaking their mind to Bryce. Lucas has been a hoot the way he falls in love with older women and says funny things. Pater is so wise and has a way of putting people in their place with his words of wisdom. And then there is Michael. Another knight with a rather unusual pet. A red squirrel!  Michael is Bryce’s best friend but he is a friend who likes to speak his mind and likes to talk. He’s been a blast to write! So do I have to pick my favorite because I love too many of them!

 

What do you find the most romantic about medieval castle life and the days of courtly chivalry? And the most challenging? 

For romance I think the knight’s code of honor and that they were supposed to be held to a higher standard. (Not saying all Knights abided by that but my heroes do!) And I also think it was romantic that women were treated as women and special. Today many would cringe at that but I love it! I also enjoy the lovely gowns during the medieval time. They were so feminine and if you were nobility, very beautiful! As to the most challenging, that would be speech and words. Trying to give a flavor of medieval dialog while not weighing it down so much that it is distracting to read is tough. Especially when you throw in a Scottish character or two. Saying words are difficult may sound strange, but I try to keep my words in the book within my time period. You’d be amazed at how many words were not used in the 14^th century! I do extend my use to the 15^th century, but even at that it makes it difficult.

 

On a more serious note, when you began this story (was it seven years ago or so?) did you ever imagine the turbulent background of Henry Bolingbroke and Richard II would be so eerily familiar? Some will understand this—no need to elaborate unless you want to. Just a yes or no is fine.  

It has been six or seven years ago that I started researching and I plotted Sword of Trust out. And your words couldn’t be truer on how it is eerily familiar to the climate of today. There are so many parallels it’s uncanny. Especially, when we are talking an English government of 1399 and an American government of 2021. I have to wonder if that was God choosing this time for this book.

When will this story be available for preorder/purchase? Approximate dates are fine. 

Sword of Trust will be available for purchase by March 15^th. It may be up for preorder earlier. Here is a teaser of the story.

Deirdre Mackenzie has spent her life hiding from her father and hating the English. However, when she is caught stealing from an English laird, his unexpected kindness begins to melt away her hatred and strums lonely heartstrings longing for love.  Bryce Warwick can’t believe the boy his men caught is actually a young woman. After several attempts to lure the truth from her, he determines she is as deceitful as his late fiancée who nearly cost him his life. But the woman is the least of his worries with the turbulence brought on by threats of another border war and by King Richard's distrust of the nobles. With the boundary in unrest, Bryce entertains a Scottish chieftain unaware it is Deirdre’s father, seeking peace for his people. Fearful that her father will discover she is alive, Deirdre steals Bryce’s signet ring, hoping a missive from the laird will keep her father away. But when the ring is used instead for treason, she realizes too late she’s been betrayed and Bryce will hang for the crime. With old wounds that need to heal and adversaries who could end their chances at true love, both must learn to trust in a way they never knew possible.

  

Please tell us how our readers can watch for the release by following you on social media, your blog, newsletter, etc. 

Below are my links for connecting with me. You’ll be able to find out about my new releases on them. The newsletter I do a giveaway with each email I send out.

Website: www.debbielynnecostello.com

Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/Debbie-Lynne-Costello/e/B00TRT6RYS/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/debbie-lynne-costello

Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/276616916748/debbielynnecostello

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9458076.Debbie_Lynne_Costello

FB: https://www.facebook.com/authorDebbieLynneCostello/?modal=admin_todo_tour

 Debbie Lynne Costello is the author of Sword of Forgiveness, Amazon's #1 seller for Historical Christian Romance. She has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina with their 4 horses, 3 dogs, a miniature donkey, and 6 pekin ducks.

Okay, giveaway time!

We are offering reader’s choice of any of Debbie Lynne’s books. I highly recommend Sword of Forgiveness, so you’ll be up to speed on all the wonderful history at the castle Rosen Craig.

After the death of her cruel father, Brithwin is determined never again to live under the harsh rule of any man. Independent and resourceful, she longs to be left alone to manage her father’s estate. But she soon discovers a woman has few choices when the king decrees she is to marry Royce, the Lord of Rosencraig. As if the unwelcome marriage isn’t enough, her new husband accuses her of murdering his family, and she is faced with a challenge of either proving her innocence or facing possible execution. Royce of Hawkwood returns home after setting down a rebellion to find his family brutally murdered. When all fingers point to his betrothed and attempts are made on his life, Royce must wade through murky waters to uncover the truth. Yet Brithwin’s wise and kind nature begin to break down the walls of his heart, and he soon finds himself in a race to discover who is behind the evil plot before Brithwin is the next victim.

Your question for readers in order to enter…..

What would be the characteristics of your perfect hero and a heroine?

We will announce a winner Tuesday February 9. Share this post for extra entries! And don’t forget to leave your email so we can be sure to get a hold of you if your name is selected by random dot org as our winner. Good luck!