Summer in Scotland by Laurel A. Rockefeller Book Tour and Giveaway :)
Mary
Queen of the Scots: The Forgotten Reign
The
Legendary Women of World History Book 3
by
Laurel A. Rockefeller
Genre:
Historical Fiction
Queen
Mary Stuart was one of the most beloved and controversial women in
Scottish history. The granddaughter of King James IV and his wife
Margaret Tudor, Queen Mary's status as heiress-apparent to Queen
Elizabeth's throne in England paired with the violence of the
Scottish Reformation set the stage for one of the most dramatic and
poorly understood lives of the 16th century.
Mary
Queen of the Scots tells Mary's true story, focusing primarily on her
reign as queen of Scotland, celebrating her life more than her death
and showing us all why she was truly a woman ahead of her
time.
Features
a detailed timeline, a list of Latin prayers with their English
translations, and the lyrics to all four featured period songs
performed in the book.
**Available
in 6 languages!**
Amazon
* B&N
* Kobo
* Smashwords
“Sing for us, David!” laughed Queen Mary. Sitting at the head of her dining table in her private apartment, the queen drank deeply, her ladies in waiting and dearest friends Mary Seton, Mary Fleming, Mary Livingston, and Mary Beaton enjoying the dinner party along with David Riccio. “What song would you hear from me tonight?” asked David as he rose from the table to retrieve his lute from across the room. “A bit from Goddesses, if you please!” requested Mary Seton. “Excellent choice!” smiled David as he played the chorus as an instrumental introduction before singing the first two verses. “A north-country lass up to London did pass, although with her nature it did not agree. Which made her repent and so often lament, still wishing again in the north for to be. Oh the oak the ash, and the bonny ivy tree doth flourish at home in my own country. Oh the oak the ash, and the bonny ivy tree doth flourish at home in my own country. “Fain would I be in the north country where the lads and the lasses are making of hay. There should I see what is pleasant to me: a mischief light on them entic’d me away. Oh the oak the ash, and the bonny ivy tree doth flourish most bravely in our country! Oh the oak the ash, and the bonny ivy tree doth flourish most bravely in our country!” “Bravo! Ben cantato. La tua voce è come gli angeli in cielo!” applauded Queen Mary in Italian as David put down his lute. “Vostra Maestà è troppo gentile,” replied Riccio in Italian with a kiss to Queen Mary’s hand. Just then ten Scottish nobles burst into the room with drawn swords, their leader Henry Stewart strutting behind them with a drawn pistol in his hand. Henry motioned to Mary Seton, Mary Fleming, Mary Livingston, and Mary Beaton, “Leave or die!” “What will you do?” screamed with horror Mary Seton as the men shoved her out of the room. “None of your concern,” snarled Henry as he grabbed his wife and pinned her against a wall, his pistol aimed and pointed at their unborn child. In full sight of the queen the nobles surrounded David Riccio with blades drawn. Horrified Queen Mary was forced to watch as the nobles stabbed Riccio repeatedly, even after he was clearly dead. Crying, screaming, weeping, the queen’s body shook uncontrollably in horror, “WHY?!” “You will give me the crown matrimonial and make me king of Scotland in my own right!” “NEVER!” screamed the queen. “You will! When the child inside you dies this night; I promise you: you will give me what I want!” shrieked Henry as he turned and left her alone.
First off, I have to say that getting to read this book was AMAZING! I am obsessed with anything Tudor and Mary Queen of Scots - I watch anything I can, read anything I can find whether it be historical or fictional, and love it all :) So this was awesome for me!
I have not been able to finish reading the book, I am working on it and will have my review up within a day or so :) It is REALLY good though and so far I recommend it!!!
Born,
raised, and educated in Lincoln, Nebraska USA Laurel A. Rockefeller
is author of over twenty-five books published and self-published
since August, 2012 with editions spanning across ten languages and
counting. A dedicated scholar and biographical historian, Ms.
Rockefeller is passionate about education and improving history
literacy worldwide.
With her lyrical writing style, Laurel's
books are as beautiful to read as they are informative.
In her
spare time, Laurel enjoys spending time with her cockatiels,
travelling to historic places, and watching classic motion pictures
and classic television series. Favorites: Star
Trek, Doctor
Who, and Babylon
5.
Laurel
proudly supports Health
in Harmony, The
Arbor Day Foundation,
and other charities working to protect and re-plant forests globally.
Walking in Queen Mary’s
Footsteps: Palaces and Castles
By Laurel A. Rockefeller
Welcome to “Summer in Scotland,”
our month-long celebration of Scotland and in particular the Scotland
known and loved by its most famous queen, Mary Stuart, better known
simply as “Mary Queen of Scots.”
Across Queen Mary’s forty-four years
she lived in France, reigned in Scotland, and died in England. Though
not all of the places she guested at, lived at, and/or worked from
still exist (notably Fotheringhay Castle
where she was executed in 1587), these six palaces and castles are
not only still standing, but they are open to the public for you to
visit this summer.
Built as a retreat from court life at
Edinburgh Castle by the Stewarts, the peace and quiet of Linlithgow
makes it the perfect getaway for royals and modern visitors alike.
Overlooking Loch Linlithgow, there is scenic beauty and waterfowl
aplenty to melt away whatever stress comes your way. No wonder it was
the Stewarts preferred place to give birth and is Queen Mary Stuart’s
birth place.
Open year round except on 25 December,
26 December, 1 January, and 2 January. Tickets start at £7.20 and
are available at
https://tickets.historic-scotland.gov.uk/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?cg=TKTS&c=WSLOTHIANS.
Château
Blois (Loire Valley, France)
Located in the Loire Valley about
halfway between Orléans and Tours, Chateau Blois was 15th
and 16th century France’s preferred royal residence.
Here Queen Mary and Prince François spent countless weeks in the
year at court. Later, in 1617, it became home to Marie de Medici’s
court in exile. Along with her came her very loyal chief advisor,
Armand-Jean du Plessis, better known as Cardinal Richelieu (see “His
Red Eminence, Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu”).
Open year-round, tickets start at €12.
Go to
http://en.chateaudeblois.fr/EvenementChateauVisite/2040-prepare-your-visit.htm
for details and tourism package options.
Favoured by Queen Mary’s
father-in-law Henri II and designed in part by Leonardo da Vinci,
Chambord is an architectural masterpiece that takes you into the mind
of its creator. Features a unique double-helix staircase designed by
da Vinci so that no one going up can meet anyone going down on it.
Open year-round except on 25 December
and 1 January, you can stroll the outside grounds for free. Tickets
to visit the castle and private gardens start at €14,50. Go to
https://www.chambord.org/en/plan-your-visit/opening-hours/
for more information.
Edinburgh
Castle (Edinburgh, Scotland)
At the heart of Queen Mary’s reign
stands Edinburgh Castle which, appropriately, dominates the Edinburgh
skyline. Situated on a cliff high above the rest of the city, it is
easy to see why King David I (son of Margaret of Wessex and brother
to Empress Matilda of
England) chose the site for his castle. Queen Mary and her
parliament ruled from here and on 19 June 1566 she gave birth to King
James VI in the same bedroom you can visit today. Queen Mary herself
made several improvements to the castle which intially she found dark
and cold compared to the airy grandeur of the French court, adding
wall-coverings and art to warm both body and soul, especially in
winter.
Open year-round except on 25th
and 26th December. Tickets start at £17.50 if you
purchase
your tickets online or £19.50 if you purchase at the gate.
Stirling
Castle (Stirling,
Scotland)
Built
in 1107, Stirling Castle is one of the historically most significant
landmarks in Scotland’s long pursuit of freedom and independence
from English conquest. William Wallace and Andrew Moray famously
fought the Battle of Stirling Bridge near here in 1297 to retake the
castle from England. Robert the Bruce’s 1304 victory at Bannockburn
likewise returned it to Scotland. In 1503, King James IV built its
Great Hall. Queen Mary held her baptism service for her son James
(VI) here in 1566. When it was James VI’s turn to baptise his son
Henry in 1594, he also held the baptism and its celebrations at
Stirling Castle.
Open year-round
except on 25th
and 26th
December. Tickets start at £15 if you purchase
online or £16 at the gate.
Lochleven
Castle (Kinross,
Scotland)
Built in the 14th Century,
Queen Mary guested at Lochleven before its tower turned into her
prison in 1567. This is where she miscarried or aborted James
Hepburn’s baby, and where she abdicated her throne in favour of her
son James.
Open 1 April to 31 October. Closed from
1 November to 31 March. Access by boat only. Tickets start at £9.00
which includes boat fare. Go to
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/lochleven-castle/prices-and-opening-times/
to purchase advance tickets (strongly recommended).
Wherever your summer takes you, I hope
you will spend part of it with Queen Mary Stuart and will make “Mary
Queen of the Scots: the Forgotten Reign” your first and best
introduction to Scotland’s most tragic and famous queen. Available
at your favourite bookstore world-wide in English, Chinese, French,
Spanish, German, and Italian. See http//www.laurelarockefeller.com
for complete links to all editions.
Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
So glad you are enjoying the book! Queen Mary's story continues in "Queen Elizabeth Tudor: Journey to Gloriana" which is the next book in this series. Given you like the Tudors, I'm positive you will love Gloriana as well!
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