The Knights of England Series by Mary Ellen Johnson

A grand, full-blown historical love story, The Cherry Fair relates the story of a passionate ménage a trios played out against the bloody backdrop of war-torn 14th century England. In 1317, at the d’Arderne family’s annual cherry fair festival, Maria d’Arderne is unhappily betrothed to a much older baron. Maria laments her fate and often ponders a well-known saying, “Life though pleasant, is transitory, even as is the Cherry Fair... moreA grand, full-blown historical love story, The Cherry Fair relates the story of a passionate ménage a trios played out against the bloody backdrop of war-torn 14th century England. In 1317, at the d’Arderne family’s annual cherry fair festival, Maria d’Arderne is unhappily betrothed to a much older baron. Maria laments her fate and often ponders a well-known saying, “Life though pleasant, is transitory, even as is the Cherry Fair.” She fears that life is passing her by, and is torn between duty and her attraction to a fabled knight, Phillip Rendell, who arrives for the festivities. Minstrels sing the praises of Phillip, who once saved the life of his lord, Richard of Sussex, at the infamous battle of Bannockburn. Maria is enchanted by the tales and the handsome man before her. Recently returned from years abroad, Phillip knows it’s time to forgo his wandering ways and, as all men must, settle down. While both are betrothed to others, Maria and Phillip brave scandal to elope, seeking shelter and protection from their powerful lord and Phillip’s friend, Richard of Sussex. Following their hasty marriage, Maria happily settles into what she assumes will be a quiet, uneventful life with her beloved husband forever at her side. But there is nothing quiet about the reign of Edward II. Attractive, charming, weak, incompetent and largely disinterested in affairs of state, King Edward is haunted by the legacy of his fabled father, Edward I. Increasingly, as Edward II scandalizes his barons with his “unnatural” attractions to foolhardy male favorites, they rebel. Hit and run skirmishes occur; enemies are hanged, drawn and quartered. Civil war looms. Richard of Sussex, who is Edward’s half brother, remains the king’s champion, but most others grow increasingly hostile. One, Roger Mortimer of Wigmore, a ruthless Marcher lord who was imprisoned for his treasonous acts against Edward II, covets England’s crown for himself. Seducing Edward’s French queen, Isabella, both plot to invade England. Mortimer’s ultimate plan is to depose the nation’s hapless sovereign, replace him with Edward II’s heir, and position himself, Roger Mortimer, as the power behind the throne. Meanwhile, Phillip Rendell has grown frustrated by his day-to-day life as lord of the manor. Increasingly, he hears the siren song of travel and when he departs England, a devastated Maria eventually turns to Richard of Sussex for solace. While England collapses about them, Richard tries to save his brother’s kingdom. But Roger Mortimer, as brilliant as he is brutal, captures and imprisons Edward II. Even Queen Isabella becomes uneased by the resultant violence and the knowledge that her lover will stop at nothing to realize his ambition. Following a three year absence, Phillip returns to England just as Mortimer is readying troops to capture Richard of Sussex. Wearied of traveling and having realized that it was his wife and family, rather than exotic places, that made him happy, Phillip arrives at Dover. There, he is greeted by the news that his wife and his liege lord are lovers. The two people he loved most in the world have committed the ultimate act of betrayal against him. What will Phillip do now? How will he extract his revenge? As events reach their climax, Richard is imprisoned, Edward II is murdered in one of history’s most sordid executions, Maria is publicly shamed for her sins, Phillip must decide where his true loyalties lie, and all are painfully reminded that “Life though pleasant is transitory, even as is the Cherry Fair.” Originally published to glowing reviews as The Lion and the Leopard (Crown Publishers), The Cherry Fair has been reworked and re-edited. Nearly 70 pages have been added, including a new ending, to bring it more in line with the author’s original vision. less

A Cocksure Knight and His Fair Lady Face Deception and Betrayal in the Medieval Historical Romance, The Lion and the Leopard, by Mary Ellen Johnson -- Medieval England during the reign of Edward III, from 1348 to 1361 -- Following his return from battle with a life-threatening sickness, Margery Watson nurses Golden Knight Matthew Hart back to health. A bond deepening between them, Matthew--who refuses to marry so his younger brother may inherit all--begs Margery to openly live with him... moreA Cocksure Knight and His Fair Lady Face Deception and Betrayal in the Medieval Historical Romance, The Lion and the Leopard, by Mary Ellen Johnson -- Medieval England during the reign of Edward III, from 1348 to 1361 -- Following his return from battle with a life-threatening sickness, Margery Watson nurses Golden Knight Matthew Hart back to health. A bond deepening between them, Matthew--who refuses to marry so his younger brother may inherit all--begs Margery to openly live with him. Margery agrees. Like her grandmother before her, she will risk all for love. But a scheming adversary concocts a deception in Matthew's absence that leaves Margery the unwitting wife of a wealthy goldsmith--who seeks only to trade on her family name--while believing she was betrayed by Matthew. When Matthew returns from London to find Margery wedded and bedded, he accuses her of betraying HIM. Now, both Margery and Matthew foolishly believe that time, distance and heartbreak will be enough to keep them forever apart. From the Publisher: Readers with a passion for history will appreciate the author's penchant for detail and accuracy. In keeping with being authentic to the era, this story contains scenes of brutality which are true to the time and man's inhumanity. There are a limited number of sexual scenes and NO use of modern vulgarity. Fans of Elizabeth Chadwick, Bernard Cornwell and Philippa Gregory as well as Tamara Leigh and Suzan Tisdale will not want to miss this series. "Author Mary Ellen Johnson strides through history with the reader in the front seat." ~Karen Lausa ". . . it challenged my intellect as well as my heart." ~Margaret Watkins, eBook Discovery Reviewer THE KNIGHTS OF ENGLAND, in series order The Lion and the LeopardA Knight There WasWithin A Forest DarkA Child Upon The ThroneLords Among the Ruins less

As a Kingdom Trembles With Revolt, a Knight and His Lady Must Choose Between Duty and Love in the Medieval Historical Romance, A Child Upon the Throne, by Mary Ellen Johnson --Medieval England following the death of Edward III in 1377 through the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381-- With a child king upon the throne and England’s lucrative martial victories a faded memory, Knight Matthew Hart wants only to reunite with his long-time lover, Margery Watson, and their son, to live out his days far away... moreAs a Kingdom Trembles With Revolt, a Knight and His Lady Must Choose Between Duty and Love in the Medieval Historical Romance, A Child Upon the Throne, by Mary Ellen Johnson --Medieval England following the death of Edward III in 1377 through the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381-- With a child king upon the throne and England’s lucrative martial victories a faded memory, Knight Matthew Hart wants only to reunite with his long-time lover, Margery Watson, and their son, to live out his days far away from the royal court. But Margery's loyalties are torn. To settle down with the knight she’s loved since childhood or commit treason and side with the commoners overburdened with servitude and taxes. When revolt sparks among the masses, thousands march on London, vowing to overthrow all those in power. Now Margery must choose between her place in society with a knight she loves and her true beliefs about freedom, justice and equality. From the Publisher: Readers with a passion for history will appreciate the author's penchant for detail and accuracy. In keeping with being authentic to the era, this story contains scenes of brutality which are true to the time and man's inhumanity. There are a limited number of sexual scenes and NO use of modern vulgarity. Fans of Elizabeth Chadwick, Bernard Cornwell and Philippa Gregory as well as Tamara Leigh and Suzan Tisdale will not want to miss this series. "Author Mary Ellen Johnson strides through history with the reader in the front seat." ~Karen Lausa ". . . it challenged my intellect as well as my heart." ~Margaret Watkins, eBook Discovery Reviewer From the Author: When crafting a story, I am ever mindful of the parallels between the past and present. Endless wars, indifferent rulers, rising taxes, and corruption, all of which inevitably resulted in a bloody insurrection. An insurrection that, while unsuccessful in the short term, was even referenced by our Founding Fathers during their struggle for freedom. As William Faulkner said, “The past isn’t dead; it’s not even past,” so a knowledge of history is imperative. THE KNIGHTS OF ENGLAND, in series order The Lion and the LeopardA Knight There WasWithin A Forest DarkA Child Upon The ThroneLords Among the Ruins less

As the Fourteenth-Century Closes, So Does the Rule of England's Most Tyrannical Monarch in the Medieval Historical, LORDS AMONG THE RUINS, by Mary Ellen JohnsonMedieval England from the Aftermath of 1381 Peasants’ Revolt to the Deposition and Murder of Richard II on 14 Feb 1400As the former boy king, Richard II, approaches his third decade, Matthew Hart and England’s other great lords struggle to deflect his more destructive impulses, which increasingly threaten the kingdom... moreAs the Fourteenth-Century Closes, So Does the Rule of England's Most Tyrannical Monarch in the Medieval Historical, LORDS AMONG THE RUINS, by Mary Ellen JohnsonMedieval England from the Aftermath of 1381 Peasants’ Revolt to the Deposition and Murder of Richard II on 14 Feb 1400As the former boy king, Richard II, approaches his third decade, Matthew Hart and England’s other great lords struggle to deflect his more destructive impulses, which increasingly threaten the kingdom.Amidst attempted assassinations, growing civil war and political intrigue, Matthew Hart, his beloved wife, Margery Watson, and their offspring live and love and war their way through the last years of the fourteenth century, seeing the deposition and murder of England’s most tyrannical monarch.Publisher's Note: Readers with a passion for history will appreciate the author's penchant for detail and accuracy. In keeping with the era, this story contains scenes of brutality which are true to the time and man's timeless inhumanity. There are a limited number of sexual scenes and NO use of modern vulgarity.From the Author: There is nothing new under the sun. If we seek to understand today’s events, history will always provide the answer. By 1398 the megalomaniacal Richard II had consolidated his power, executed or banished all his enemies and destroyed all those who might speak out in opposition to him. Two years later Richard was deposed, thrown into a dungeon in Pontefract Castle and starved to death. Lessons: We can never predict the future; actions always have unintended consequences; we sow the seeds of our own destruction and payback’s a bitch!THE KNIGHTS OF ENGLAND, in series orderThe Lion and the LeopardA Knight There WasWithin A Forest DarkA Child Upon The ThroneLords Among the Ruins less