The Derbfine Series 1-3 by Ashley York-a series review and giveaway

CURSE OF THE HEALER
The Derbfine Series #1
by Ashley York
Release Date: March 31, 2017
Genre: adult, historical, medieval, romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: After the death of Brian Boru in 1014, a legend arose of a healer so great she could raise a man from the dead, with a power so strong it could make any warrior the next high king of Éire…and to steal it away from her, he need only possess her.

Fated to be a healer…

Aednat has spent her entire life training to be the great healer, knowing she must remain alone. When she meets Diarmuid, the intense attraction she feels toward him shakes her resolve to believe in such a legend. If she gives in to the passion he ignites in her, can she settle for being less?

Destined to be his…

Diarmuid of Clonascra is renowned for his bravery in battle. Only one thing daunts him: the prospect of taking a wife. The safest course would be to keep his distance from Aednat, the bold, headstrong healer who’s far too tempting for his peace of mind. But his overking orders him to protect her from a group of craven warriors intent on kidnapping her to steal her power.

What starts as duty for Diarmuid quickly transforms into something more. Aednat’s power might be at risk, but so is his closed-off heart

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REVIEW: Curse of the Healer is book one of the Derbfine series. This is the story of Aednat and Diarmuid. The story begins in Clan Meic Lochlainn, Eire 1095.

This story is very well written with lots of action and building romance. Aednat is a wonderfully kind and lovely woman who has been told all her life that her club foot would make her undesirable to all men. Her won grandfather had her thrown out as an outcast, where she and her grandmother and others had to hide in a cave to survive. She’s settled herself on a life of being a healer for her clan now under the direction of her cousin Sean, the over-king of smaller territories.
Dairmuid is a king of a small area and one of Sean’s dearest friends. He’s come to Sean’s home at his request for a meeting of several of the larger clans, the reason a bit vague to him.

Author Ashley York has entwined misunderstanding of motives and insecurities well, in the meeting of the main characters, making their chemistry a very interesting mix.

An old myth has been spread around that says if a warrior takes the maidenhead of a great healer, her power will become his, making him a great king. This leads a band of horrible men led by an aging and unscrupulous ragtag king to hunt down healer women. Sean is afraid for Aednat, as her reputation as a great healer has spread. During an attack during the meeting, he asks Diarmuid to protect her by taking her away to safety. Failing to lose the followers, Sean asks Dairmuid to take her to wife as protection against this group.

This sets up the romance and building love and understanding of the two. This tale is well plotted and told with loving care of traditions of the times. I found it entertaining and exciting, well worth the read. I’m looking forward to the next installments.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Georgianna S

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EYES OF THE SEER
The Derbfine Series #2
by Ashley York
Release Date: July 31, 2017
Genre: adult, historical, medieval, romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: In ancient Ireland, men and women take to the legends for answers. Different-colored eyes are the mark of a Seer, it is said, and those who can see the future are in league with the devil. They cannot be suffered to live.

He wishes to prove himself…

Marcán of Clonascra bears the bloodline of Brian Boru, the legendary high king, and his prowess as a warrior has earned him great respect. But he was born with different-colored eyes, and there are some who would have him suffer a Seer’s fate. His fiercest adversary is Beibhinn, mother to Diarmuid, his close friend and king, and Astrid, the woman who holds his heart. If Astrid ever showed him any interest, he would fight Beibhinn and any army to wed her.

She is desperate to escape…

Astrid is sick of her mother’s belittling, but her brother is in no hurry see her married, so she decides to see to her own match-making. The man she approaches quickly reveals his lack of honor, but her overbearing mother pushes her to wed him anyway. When Astrid discovers Marcán’s love for her, she realizes that what she wants has been in front of her all along. True happiness awaits them, but only if they can put a stop to her mother’s plans.

•••••••••

REVIEW: Eyes of the Seer is book two of the Derbfine series by Ashley York. This is the story of characters introduced in book one of this series Curse of the Healer. This is the story of Astrid (sister of Dairmuid) and Marcan (Dairmuid’s second in command). While it can be read as a stand-alone, it is better enjoyed if you read the stories in order.

This story begins with scenes that happened in book one, with more vision and explanation seen from Astrid and Marcan’s point of view.

This story gives much deeper information on Astrid and Dairmuid’s father and mother. An intriguing look at how they came to be man and wife. The motives of marriage between clans is always interesting, as are the differences between the rules and traditions of each clan.

Astrid has been led astray by her own mother (Beibhinn). She plays at enticing the son of the current king of the clan MeicMurchadha, Padraig into taking her to wife (her mother’s wish). She is naïve and thinks he’s handsome and a gentleman. She finds out quite differently.

I don’t do spoilers, so I’ll leave out how she finds out. She finds that the strong and handsome warrior that has been protecting her is the love of her life. Maran has loved Astrid for a long time but thought her out of his reach.
They commit to loving each other and want to be married, but the things happening with Dairmuid and Aednat.

Author Ashley York has done a magnificent job of detailing parts of this story with more details not yet disclosed to make Astrid and Marcan’s story an exciting and intriguing one filled with legends, old wrongs and plans. This story gives so much depth and understanding to the series and the characters. It is well written and entertaining. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

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Reviewed by Georgianna S

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DAUGHTER OF THE KING
The Derbfine Series #3
by Ashley York
Release Date: March 17,2018
Genre: adult, historical, medieval, romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: A mistaken identity. A gruesome murder. Was it defense? Or Regicide?

Brighit is a trained warrior who hates the trappings and demands of womanhood…

Selfish dreams need to be set aside for the good of the clan, but revealing the murderer can only cause more turmoil. With no one to turn to, can Brighit find escape in the arms of her new husband or will he require she reveal her inner most secrets?

Darragh is expected to follow his father into kingship with little desire for the coveted title…

But his willful wife is another matter, he has great desire for her. Despite her denial, he sees her womanly virtues, as well as her hidden passion, and it sets him aflame to know her both body and soul. Will she resist his overwhelming need to possess all of her?

••••••••••

REVIEW: Daughter of the King is the third book in the Derbfine series by Ashley York. This is the story of Brighit and Darragh. It takes place in Ireland about 1095 or so.

Brighit is the daughter of the over-king Sean and has been raised with riding, hunting and arms training. This is pretty much unheard of for a female. However, she’s her father’s pride and joy and he allows her to do all this until she finally begins her menses, then he expects her to put this all aside and take to what was commonly thought the womanly arts of cooking, sewing, being sweet…you know, like all the other girls (reviewer is laughing at this point). I love this wonderful girl, even if she’s a bit naïve and spoiled. I like her spirit and the things she likes to do, but then again, I don’t live in 1095.

Darragh is the son of the king Tadhg and his healer wife Tisa, lifelong friends of Brighit’s parents. He’s very tall dark and handsome, she doesn’t dispute this at all. But she thinks he’s too reserved and needs his father’s approval. Darragh is, in fact, a wonderful young man and is intrigued by her beauty and spirit.

Brighit and Darragh have been betrothed since birth and she’s accepted it will happen but has spent much of her youth irritating him or staying away from him. She often dresses in boys clothing and rides out to adventure with her brothers and friends. Darragh has caught her at this as they got closer to their wedding and made her promise to stop. In exchange he gives her a fortnight to delay the wedding if she behaves.

Everything was going fine, then the night before the wedding, Brighit being Brighit, is invited to join her uncle and her brothers in a mock night raid. She sneaks out, despite her assurances to Darragh for one last bit of freedom. Then all hell breaks loose.

I don’t do spoilers, but just know this is probably my favorite book in this series. Author Ashley York has written this with so many plot twists and a great deal of excitement. I love the characters and the storyline. It’s a wonderful romance, with threads of learning about each other, betrayal, misunderstanding, and deception. If you like historical romance, this is a definite must read.

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Reviewed by Georgianna

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Two things you should know about me right up front. I’m a hard-core romantic! And I love history!

I believe true love does exist and once found, can transform your life from a solitary journey into a passionate adventure. Easier said than done sometimes but writing about the infinite number of possibilities, working out the exact when and where, and developing the character’s personal journey to get there, thrills me to no end.

I love history with larger than life heroes, chivalrous knights, lords and ladies, castles, manors, battles and conquests. These are the foundations for passionate, historical romance novels. That’s what I write.  There is nothing like the intense emotions sparked between a driven, hard-working medieval warrior and a feisty damsel in  a quandary, often not of her own making.

It only makes sense that I use my MA in History and all those research techniques to create romantic characters from the past. Although I’m writing fiction, I like to incorporate authentic places, events, and people, embellishing the past. I use real history but with an artistic flare.  I love research, especially from primary documents, and could get lost in them! You’ll discover a world of fiction wrapped around historical people and events in my stories. Some events you may recognize, some you may recognize but a little different than you remember, and some are just from my imagination.

I’m fascinated by the High Middle Ages in Scotland, England, and Ireland. There are so many world-changing events taking place here from their participation in the Crusades to the Battle of Hastings that permanently connected the islands to the continent. Before the Declaration of Arbroath, before William Wallace,  before the Doomsday Book, the area was ripe for great events and they never failed to deliver. It is on this combustible backdrop that I create characters with the same desires and motivations as we have today.

When I’m not writing, I enjoy cooking. It’s relaxing and I always like to find something new and easy. On Fridays I occasionally share simple recipes with Foody Friday. Sometimes entrees. Sometimes desserts. Sometimes snacks. Always delicious.

Check out my Website. Sign up for my Newsletter .

Ashley York is graciously offering a paper copy of all three books in the DERBFINE series to ONE (1) lucky commenter

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