Tag Archives: In love and War

BLOOD OF THE STARS (In Love and War 3) by Monica James-review

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BLOOD OF THE STARS (In Love and War 3) by Monica James-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 3, 2026

My beloved England is finally saved, for I am now queen.

The rules have changed, and peace now settles over the Kingdoms. This is the life I was destined for.

However, this life isn’t without regret because I’m missing an integral piece of my heart. I believed we were forever. But for England to prosper, I had to give up everything for the only man I ever loved.

And that man is Skarth the Godless.

I do not know where he is. But this is the sacrifice I must make because a Saxon queen cannot love a Northman. But I do. I always have.

A love fated in the stars…stars which I wish to set alight—for what good is love if you cannot embrace it with both hands?

Skarth and I are connected in more ways than one. And when our children’s lives are at risk and everything I fought so hard for is about to be destroyed, I forget I am Queen Emeline.

I am Hugrekki. I must find Skarth, and only one person can help me. Ulf the Bloody.

This is our final battle—a battle of the heart—and I fear it’s a war we’re all about to lose.

••••••

REVIEW: BLOOD OF THE STARS is the third instalment in Monica James’ adult IN LOVE AND WAR dark, historical, Viking romance series. This is the continuing story of Northman Skarth the Godless, and Queen Emeline. FALL OF THE STARS should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events of book one NORTH OF THE STARS. BLOOD OF THE STARS advances the series several years.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Skarth and Emeline) BLOOD OF THE STARS follows in the wake of Emeline’s ascension onto the throne of England but the man she loves is unable to stand by her side. Seen as a betrayal to have fallen in love with a Viking, Emeline rules without her consort, raising her sons without their father but a betrayal will send Emeline in search of the man whom she loves, a man who has also been betrayed by the people he trusts.

BLOOD OF THE STARS is another dramatic, powerful, tragic and startling addition to Monca James’ dark, historical IN LOVE AND WAR. A tale of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, torture and abuse, death and reconciliation. The premise is gritty and edgy; the characters are desperate and determined. BLOOD OF THE STARS ends on a happily ever after for now-Skarth’s friend ULF the Bloody is missing, and I suspect the author has plans for his story line arc.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson.

When she is not writing, Monica is busy running her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two. She enjoys writing honest, heartfelt, and turbulent stories, hoping to leave an imprint on her readers. She draws her inspiration from life.

She is a bestselling author in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and the U.K.

Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her wonderful family, and menagerie of animals. She is slightly obsessed with cats, chucks, and lip gloss, and secretly wishes she was a ninja on the weekends.

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FALL OF THE STARS (In Love and War 2) by Monica James-Review Tour

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FALL OF THE STARS (In Love and War 2) by Monica James-REVIEW TOUR

 

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Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/4k52f25v

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 11, 2022

England is bleeding.

And there isn’t a thing I can do about it.

I am once again a prisoner to Wessex, captured by King Egbert because holding me hostage will bring them to him—my two Vikings who will risk heaven and earth to save me.

But I don’t need saving.

I am Princess Emeline, and I was taught by the best, and his name…Skarth the Godless.

The man whom I love more than anything in this world.

But things begin to blur when Ulf the Bloody reminds me of the promise I made, and that promise is that I belong to him.

We must work together to overthrow King Egbert, but the war I fight within my heart is far more dangerous than anything I will ever face on the battlefield.

The choice is not simple because we all must make sacrifices. But I soon realize that all is not fair in love and war.

Lives will be lost.

Hearts will be broken.

And come dawn, life as we know it will be changed forevermore.

••••••

REVIEW:  FALL OF THE STARS is the second instalment in Monica James’ adult, IN LOVE AND WAR dark, historical, Viking romance series. This is the continuing story of Northman Skarth the Godless, and Princess Emeline. FALL OF THE STARS should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events of book one NORTH OF THE STARS.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise there WILL be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Skarth and Emeline) FALL OF THE STARS picks up immediately after events and cliff hanger of book one NORTH OF THE STARS in which Princess Emeline, once again, finds herself the prisoner of another man, a king who sees the benefit of aligning his land with those of our story line heroine but secrets are revealed, alliances and allegiances are made, betrayal is but a daily occurrence and Emeline is caught between mother and son, brother and sister, son and father, a man and his past. As Emeline struggles to barter for her freedom she is yet another pawn, a bargaining chip between kings, to be used and abused by at every turn and rescue. Once again, God and Christianity are a force between the Vikings and other men, a force used to separate Emeline from the man that she loves.

FALL OF THE STARS is another viscerally dark, gritty, raw, tragic, twisted and often difficult read. Monica James pulls the reader into an intense, impassioned, and dramatic tale of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, torture and abuse, acceptance and love. Like book one, there are no lighthearted moments, and the happily ever after, for now is questionable. Heed my warning, there will be triggers,

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one NORTH OF THE STARS

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson.

When she is not writing, Monica is busy running her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two. She enjoys writing honest, heartfelt, and turbulent stories, hoping to leave an imprint on her readers. She draws her inspiration from life.

She is a bestselling author in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and the U.K.

Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her wonderful family, and menagerie of animals. She is slightly obsessed with cats, chucks, and lip gloss, and secretly wishes she was a ninja on the weekends.

TWITTER /  FACEBOOK /  PINTEREST / AUTHORGRAPH /  WEBSITE

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North of the Stars (In Love And War 1)by Monica James-Review Tour

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NORTH OF THE STARS (In Love and War 1) by Monica James-Review tour

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 1, 2021

England is burning.

And the cause…men are too afraid to utter in nothing but a whisper.

The Northmen.

My father is King Eanred.

And me?

I am Princess Emeline.

My father wants to protect our kingdom against the ruthless Vikings who continue to raid England, so he has betrothed me to Aethelwulf, the son of King Egbert of Wessex—the most powerful realm in all of England. Without this union, Northumbria will fall, which is why I must submit. I must do this for my people.

However, it is not in my nature to surrender. So when my father captures the most savage Viking known in our land, I do what no good, God-fearing Christian would do—I help him.

His name…Skarth the Godless.

People fear what they don’t understand, but I will not allow that to control me. Fear makes us blind to the truth, and I refuse to cower because Skarth soon becomes my teacher—in all things. And when his rival, Ulf the Bloody, shatters my world, it becomes clear the lessons have only just begun.

My soul is tarnished.

I am a sinner.

Lord, hear my prayer

••••••••

REVIEW: NORTH OF THE STARS is the first instalment in Monica James’ adult IN LOVE AND WAR dark, Viking, historical, fiction story line focusing on Northman Skarth the Godless, and Princess Emeline.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise there WILL be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Skarth and Emeline) NORTH OF THE STARS covers approximately five years in the life in ninth century AD. Princess Emeline was only twelve years old when her father captured a clan of Northmen including Viking Skarth the Godless, and our heroine took an immediately liking to the man who would break her heart but life was never easy in Northumbria, and our heroine had been promised to the son of a man who reigned another kingdom. To prevent the execution of Skarth the Godless, our heroine made a deal, that would find her on a dark and dangerous journey wherein Emeline became nothing more than property sold to the highest bidder, a pawn to be used and abused by every man with whom she would come in contact but throughout the years Emeline always remembered the Viking that had stolen her heart, a heart that was now broken along with her body and mind. While our heroine suffered five years of abuse at the hands of so called ‘God fearing men’, Skarth never forgot about the young woman that had claimed his soul.

NORTH OF THE STARS is a dark, gritty, raw and often times difficult read. There are no hearts and flowers, no solace for a woman who never felt loved, no lighthearted moments to take a breath of fresh air. NORTH OF THE STARS is an intense, dramatic, heart breaking and powerful tale of survival for one woman who is unable to escape the destiny her God and men have wrought.

NORTH OF THE STARS ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson.

When she is not writing, Monica is busy running her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two. She enjoys writing honest, heartfelt, and turbulent stories, hoping to leave an imprint on her readers. She draws her inspiration from life.

She is a bestselling author in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and the U.K.

Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her wonderful family, and menagerie of animals. She is slightly obsessed with cats, chucks, and lip gloss, and secretly wishes she was a ninja on the weekends.

TWITTER /  FACEBOOK /  PINTEREST / AUTHORGRAPH /  WEBSITE

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