Just Got Back From My Trip to France!

I just returned to 2012 Arizona after totally immersing myself in 12th century France via Joyce DiPastena's book, "Loyalty's Web" (Walnut Press, 2007). Now Joyce and I have know each other for a quite a few years, ever since we lived in the same small town and attended the same small ward over ten years ago with my husband's first job out of college. I remember translating (well, my husband and I) some family history from Italian into English, and in return we got a wonderful copy of their family's Italian cookie recipes. Which I still have and use.

I've been eying her books for a while. I've always enjoyed history, but was more familiar with the regency/Victorian eras. So I followed Joyce slowly into the past. But it only took a page before I, too, was ensnared in "Loyalty's Web".

Take a look at her gorgeous trailer:

And here is the back cover blurb:
In twelfth-century France, King Henry II of England has just finished crushing a rebellion by his power-hungry sons and now seeks to tame the lawless barons who supported them in this corner of his “Angevin empire.” To this end, the king has sent the Earl of Gunthar as his royal representative to ensure that Prince Richard and his former cohorts faithfully adhere to the terms of the peace treaty.


Far from being welcomed with open arms, Gunthar no sooner steps foot in the county of Poitou than he is greeted by a series of assassination attempts. All appear to be linked to the former rebellious prince through the agents of the family and friends of young Heléne de Laurant. A clever, intrepid young woman, Heléne realizes that the only way to prove her loved ones’ innocence is by exposing the true assassin. Heléne races against time—and dark secrets of the past—to unmask the killer before the kingdom plunges back into war.

Now that I've returned to the present, I need to give you a review of her book. The first thing I have to say is that even though it is a "romance", and there are descriptions of beautiful people, clothing, and homes, it was more like stepping into a time travel wormhole and being a fly on the wall. The setting was so realized, so clear and breathtaking in its scope that I felt SMARTER when I had finished. I was sure that I was now an expert in all things medieval. Alas, it was only Joyce's brilliant prose, seamless characterization, and fully realized world that made me think that way.

In the end all I can say is READ IT!!! ENTER THIS CONTEST SO YOU CAN WIN YOUR OWN COPY! And to sweeten the purse, Joyce is holding her own giveaway for her new novel, "Dangerous Favor" (Walnut Springs, Jan. 2012). Hustle on over, follow her blog, and enter HER contest, too!

Here are her vital places. In poking around, she has a great resource for other medieval writers (or fantasy writers that use many medieval tropes, like me.)

Entry Rules:
ALL ENTRIES TO WIN MUST BE MADE BY 11:59PM PST TONIGHT January 18th 2012

 1. You can leave a comment about today's blog post.
2.You can earn an entry by being a follower or becoming a follower on MMW's blog/facebook page. Then leaving a comment on this post telling us.
3. You can earn an entry by advertising MMW's Blog Anniverary Giveaway Extravaganza on your blog or facebook page. Then leave a comment below letting us know you have done so.
4. You can earn an entry by following Joyce DiPastena at any of the following links:

My website: http://www.joyce-dipastena.com

Author blog: http://jdp-news.blogspot.com

Research blog: http://medievalresearch.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoyceDiPastena

LDS blog: http://myldscorner.blogspot.com

Good luck, and don't forget to check out her new book coming out soon! Squeak! I can't wait!