Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle by Jennifer Ivy Walker | Review ~ Excerpt ~ $25 Gift Card | #HistoricalFiction #MedievalRomance | @GoddessFish @bohemienneivy @jenniferivywalker
A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.
Welcome to my review of Winter Solstice at the Crystal Castle by Jennifer Ivy Walker. This book is part of the seven-book holiday series Christmas in the Castle. Each book in the set is a stand-alone novel.
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Book Details
Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle by Jennifer Ivy Walker Series: Christmas in the Castle
Published by Wild Rose Press on November 15, 2023
Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 198
Source: Goddess Fish PromotionsGabrielle is a flame haired, fire hearted French princess who dreams of becoming a Valkyrie warrior queen like her Viking ancestors from Normandy. Sent to Paris to learn the proper etiquette for a future French queen, she is called home to le Château de Beaufort for a forced marriage to a man she loathes when her father the king’s precarious health takes a sudden turn for the worse.
Chivalrous, solitary knight Sir Bastien de Landuc suffers an impossible love for Gabrielle, the unattainable princess he can never have. Without a title of nobility, he is ineligible to compete in the tournament for her hand in marriage, despite his unparalleled equestrian skills and inimitable swordsmanship. Yet, Yuletide wishes for a wondrous winter solstice in the glorious Crystal Castle might make impossible dreams come true.
Can the valiant knight win the coveted hand of his Viking Valkyrie?
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Excerpt from Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle
Seven years of holding her close, inhaling her rose-scented, luxuriously long red hair.
Seven years of admiring the soft, porcelain skin he longed to touch.
Seven years of perfectly molding her strong, athletic body to his own.
Tantalizing, torturous torment.
“I shall be a warrior queen,” she’d told him, emerald eyes ablaze with fierce pride as she’d blocked and parried his blows. “A Valkyrie shield maiden, like my ancestor, Brunnhild.” Agile and graceful as a dancer, she’d spun with stunning elegance and surprising force, disarming him with a glorious, gloating grin. “And I shall defend this kingdom with my sword… thanks to you.”
She’d strolled across the heather blooms to pick up and return his fallen blade. And– long red hair whipping in the salty sea spray like a victorious Viking goddess– she’d kissed him, her full, sensuous lips bestowing a generous gift of gratitude.
And the promise of invigorating, intoxicating, impossible love.
L’amour impossible.
The courtly love of a chivalrous knight for a lofty Lady he could never have.
So, he’d worshipped her in his young heart, suffering in silence as she honed her impressive skills and shared her secret hopes for the future as a powerful, invincible queen.
A Viking warrior queen.
A valorous Valkyrie shield maiden.
A voluptuous vixen who danced in his daring dreams.
Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.
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Purchase Links for Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle
Amazon – OneLink for every country
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My thoughts on Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle
“Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle,” penned by Jennifer Ivy Walker, is a delightful addition to the “Christmas at the Castle” series. Nestled within the medieval romance and historical fiction genres, this book promises a whirlwind of emotions and adventures.
The story revolves around Gabrielle, a fiery French princess yearning to become a Viking Valkyrie queen. Her dreams, however, are thwarted when she’s summoned back to her home at le Château de Beaufort for a forced marriage, brought about by her ailing father’s sudden decline in health. As a fiery, headstrong character, Gabrielle’s yearning for independence and her unique heritage makes her an instantly likable protagonist. Readers are bound to empathize with her desire to forge her own destiny.
Opposite Gabrielle stands the gallant and solitary knight, Sir Bastien de Landuc. His forbidden love for the unattainable princess forms the crux of this heartwrenching tale. Bastien’s lack of noble status, despite his exceptional skills as an equestrian and swordsman, makes his quest for Gabrielle’s affection all the more poignant. The tension between these two characters, their evolving relationship, and the obstacles they face deliver a compelling narrative brimming with forbidden love, angst, and chivalry.
What sets “Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle” apart is its well-crafted world, vivid settings, and engaging characters. Walker’s meticulous attention to detail allows readers to become fully immersed in the medieval backdrop, painting a picturesque scene of life in the Crystal Castle. The characters are multi-dimensional and relatable, making it easy to root for their success and happiness. Walker’s prose is eloquent, and her storytelling skill shines through, making this a quick and engaging read.
The book’s themes of forbidden love, adventure, knights, and a strong warrior princess, all set against the backdrop of a meticulously crafted medieval world, are sure to captivate the hearts of historical fiction lovers, particularly those fond of medieval romance. While the plot follows a somewhat predictable path for the genre, the unique characters and the beautifully rendered world elevate it to a must-read.
In “Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle,” Jennifer Ivy Walker has succeeded in delivering an enchanting tale that is bound to make readers fall in love with the characters, the setting, and the heartwarming story. This is a delightful addition to the “Christmas at the Castle” series, and I recommend it to anyone seeking a quick yet satisfying historical romance read.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!
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About Jennifer Ivy Walker
Enthralled with legends of medieval knights and ladies, dark fairy tales, and fantasies about Druids, wizards, and magic, Jennifer Ivy Walker always dreamed of becoming a writer. She fell in love with French in junior high school, continuing her study of the language throughout college, eventually becoming a high school teacher and college professor of French.
As a high school teacher, she took her students every year to the annual French competition, where they performed a play she had written, "Yseult la Belle et Tristan la Bête"--an imaginative blend of the medieval French legend of "Tristan et Yseult" and the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast", enhanced with fantasy elements of a Celtic fairy and a wicked witch.
Her debut novel, "The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven"--the first of a trilogy-- is a blend of her love for medieval legends, the romantic French language, and paranormal fantasy. It is a retelling of the medieval French romance of "Tristan et Yseult", interwoven with Arthurian myth, dark fairy tales from the enchanted Forest of Brocéliande, and otherworldly elements such as Avalonian Elves, Druids, forest fairies, and magic.
Explore her realm of Medieval French Fantasy. She hopes her novels will enchant you.
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Purchase Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle online from a local bookstore.
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Easy Amazon Info Link
Amazon – OneLink for every country
If the above link does not take you to your country, here are a few more:
Please send me a note if your country isn’t listed and you would like to purchase using my links. Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share.
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Giveaway!
Jennifer Ivy Walker will award a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle
Full Tour Schedule:
October 31: Maggie Blackbird
November 7: The Faerie Review
November 7: Country Mamas With Kids
November 14: Long and Short Reviews
November 14: Gina Rae Mitchell
November 21: The Avid Reader
November 21: Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
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Thank you again for reading, reviewing, and hosting me to promote Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle. I truly appreciate it!
Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle sounds like a wonderful wintery read!
Thank you so much for featuring my new release!
You are most welcome. I hope you have a fantastic tour.
Cover is just beautiful!
Thank you so much!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle, I love the cover, synopsis and excerpt and I can’t wait to read this book and series myself!
Thank you so very much, Bea! I hope you love it!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the book. Sounds good.
Thank you very much, Elaine!
We appreciate you reviewing today.
I appreciate it very much, too!