Guest Blog: Marie Laval

This week, we're welcoming author Marie Laval, whose novel THE LION'S EMBRACE is set in North Africa. The author will offer a free copy of the book to a lucky blog visitor; please, leave your email address along with a comment. Here's the blurb:

Arrogant, selfish and dangerous, Lucas Saintclair is everything Harriet Montague dislikes in a man. He is also the best guide in the whole of the Barbary States, the only man who can rescue her archaeologist father from the gang of Tuareg fighters that has kidnapped him. As Harriet embarks on a perilous journey across Algeria with Saintclair and Archibald Drake, her father’s most trusted friend, she discovers a bewitching but brutal land where nothing is what it seems. Who are these men intent on stealing her father’s ransom? What was her father hoping to find in Tuareg queen Tin Hinan’s tomb? Is Lucas Saintclair really as callous as he claims—or is he a man haunted by a past he cannot forgive? Dangerous passions engulf Harriet’s heart in the heat of the Sahara. Secrets of lost treasures, rebel fighters, and a sinister criminal brotherhood threaten her life and the life of the man she loves.

Does forever lie in the lion’s embrace?

**Q&A with Marie Laval**

Your second historical romance, The Lion's Embrace, is set in North-Africa. Why did you choose this setting?

I was always fascinated by Algeria and the Sahara desert. My French-Italian mother was born and brought up near Algiers. Although she left when Algeria became independent in the 1960s, she told us so many stories about the place and showed us so many photos that my sisters and I grew up dreaming of going there one day.

I was always particularly attracted to the Sahara desert and the Hoggar mountains in the far South, which are not only breathtakingly beautiful, but have a rich history too. The Sahara wasn’t always a desert, as testify the thousands of rock art paintings and engravings that can be found there.

Did you do a lot of research for the novel?

I did, and I loved every minute of it! I was very lucky to find a 'Guide Bleu' travel guide of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco dating from 1923. Although my novel takes place in 1845, the guide provided me with invaluable information about travel times between towns and provinces, maps, lists of hotels or facilities, prices even, as well as an overview of past local customs and traditions.

I surrounded myself with photos and paintings by Delacroix, Dinet or Gérôme. I completely fell in love with the Tuaregs’ poetry and legends, with their music and the ‘imzad’ - the monochord violin which women play and which produces poignant, haunting melodies.

What kind of hero is Lucas Saintclair?

I am tempted to answer 'the best!' but then I am biased! He seems totally cold, cynical and callous, and appears not to care about anyone but himself. The truth, of course, is quite different...

What attracted you to Harriet Montague as a heroine?

I loved Harriet's determination and poise, and her total commitment to her father which pushes her to brave the dangers and discomfort of a journey across Algeria in order to rescue him from the gang of Tuareg who abducted him...or so she believes. She is a scholarly young woman, who was brought up by her archaeologist father and dreams of carrying on in his footsteps.

Is The Lion’s Embrace part of a series?

Although the novel is stand alone, it is kind of a sequel to my first historical romance Angel Heart, also published by MuseitUp Publishing. Angel Heart is the story of Lucas Saintclair’s parents, Hugo and Marie-Ange and mostly takes place in France, and the Lyon area where I come from.

What are you working on now?

I am working on my third historical romance, Dancing for the Devil, which is the story of Rose Saintclair, Lucas’ sister, as she sails to the North of Scotland to be reunited with the man she married in Algiers a few weeks before. As she sails around Cape Wrath, Rose's ship is caught in a violent storm and she is rescued by Bruce McGunn, Wrath's local laird and her husband's mortal enemy.

'Dancing for the Devil' is darker than my two previous novels and I hope to finish the first draft this summer. 

Where can we buy  The Lion's Embrace?

The Lion's Embrace is available from

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Lions-Embrace-ebook/dp/B00BACDSK6

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/183-0994619-8518933?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=marie+laval+the+lion%27s+embrace

Where can we find you?

I have a blog, and a Facebook page. Please visit and leave comments!

 http://marielaval.blogspot.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/marie.laval.9

Excerpt Thursday: The Lion's Embrace by Marie Laval

This week, we're welcoming author Marie Laval, whose novel THE LION'S EMBRACE is set in North Africa. Join us on Sunday, when the author will offer a free copy of the book to a lucky blog visitor. Here's the blurb:

Arrogant, selfish and dangerous, Lucas Saintclair is everything Harriet Montague dislikes in a man. He is also the best guide in the whole of the Barbary States, the only man who can rescue her archaeologist father from the gang of Tuareg fighters that has kidnapped him. As Harriet embarks on a perilous journey across Algeria with Saintclair and Archibald Drake, her father’s most trusted friend, she discovers a bewitching but brutal land where nothing is what it seems. Who are these men intent on stealing her father’s ransom? What was her father hoping to find in Tuareg queen Tin Hinan’s tomb? Is Lucas Saintclair really as callous as he claims—or is he a man haunted by a past he cannot forgive? Dangerous passions engulf Harriet’s heart in the heat of the Sahara. Secrets of lost treasures, rebel fighters, and a sinister criminal brotherhood threaten her life and the life of the man she loves.

Does forever lie in the lion’s embrace?

** An Excerpt from The Lion’s Embrace**

It was a narrow valley where the river curved into a bend, secluded by thick bushes and reeds. After a quick glance around to make sure she was alone, she stripped and walked naked into the water. It was so cold it took her breath away. She gritted her teeth, clutched her bar of soap, and walked into the river until the water reached her hips. Getting rid of the grime and sweat of the past few days was worth the torture…

Holding her breath, she dipped into the water before standing and lathering soap over her body and her hair.

The light was changing. A transparent gold dust touched the hillside, the top of the trees. The sunrise streaked the sky with red, orange, and pink hues, reflecting into the river. She was alone in the world, in a bubble hovering between sky and water.

It was then she heard the growling. Stones tumbled down the hillside seconds before a male lion jumped onto the river bank, sleek and agile. It approached the river and started drinking. It hadn’t seen her. Yet.

Her heart thumping with terror, she ducked under the water very slowly, careful not to make any ripples on the surface. How long would she have to hold her breath? How long did it take a lion to quench its thirst after a night spent hunting? What if it saw her and came after her? Did lions, like cats, hate water? Her lungs started to burn, she felt close to choking. When she couldn’t hold on any longer, she popped her head above the water and took a long, long breath.

The lion had gone.

“You are one lucky woman,” a voice called from the bank.

Still breathless, she spun round. Saintclair crouched near the water, a knife in one hand, a pistol in the other.

“How l-long have you be-been here?” she stuttered, her teeth chattering from cold and shock.

“Long enough.”

Had he watched her undress and get into the water? Actually, she’d rather not know.

She moved her legs and arms, numb and stiff with cold.

“Is it safe? Has the lion gone?” She looked toward the hillside.

“You’re safe. From the lion, that is.” He narrowed his eyes. “I, on the other hand, might just want to throttle you for disregarding my orders. I knew taking you with us was a mistake. I knew you were stubborn. I didn’t realize just how reckless, how stupid you were. You could have been mauled to death just then.”

“I handled the lion perfectly well on my own.” She tilted her chin. Her heart had almost stopped with fright, but there was no reason to tell him.

He stood up, put his pistol in the holster on his hip, slid the knife in his boot, and walked toward the edge of the water. His face was so tense, his eyes so steely, that she recoiled. He was going to walk into the river, pull her out and…

“Damn it, woman, you were told not to leave the camp alone. You were warned about lions roaming this area. There are all sorts of dangers here—wild animals, snakes, scorpions.” He looked up towards the hillside. “Raiders.”

She swallowed hard, followed his gaze toward the top of the hills.

He shook his head.

“If that lion hadn’t been so old and half-blind, you wouldn’t be talking to me now.”

“It seemed pretty sprightly to me,” she muttered.

He snorted.

“Get out. You’re freezing, and your lips are blue,” he said without a trace of sympathy in his voice.

She shivered, nodded. “Only if you turn round.”

“It’s a bit late to play the prude,” he muttered, but he obliged and faced the other way.

So he had seen her naked. Well, he wouldn’t see her now. She covered her chest with her arms and walked to the shore. She threw a nervous glance in his direction before stepping out of the water, but he remained immobile, his back to her, as if he had been turned into rock.

She gathered her clothes as fast as she could, stumbling on pebbles in her haste, and chose a large bush behind which to get dressed.

Her fingers were too cold, too stiff to fasten her tunic’s tiny buttons. She had to leave it open for now. She put her boots on and ventured out of the bushes. Saintclair took one look at her and snarled.

“You can’t go back to camp half dressed.”

She pulled her tunic across her chest to cover up, shifted uncomfortably on her feet.

“I can’t do the buttons up,” she said, showing him her hands still red raw with cold.

He tightened his lips but didn’t answer.

The sun now peeped above the rugged hilltop, a huge orange ball setting the sky on fire. Dazzled, Harriet caught her breath.

“This is…magnificent. We don’t have sunrises like that in England.”

He gazed at her face, at her eyes filled with wonder.

“No but you have rain, summer storms.”

He stepped closer and looked down into her eyes. “I always wanted to stand outside in a thunderstorm.” Her eyes were a rain cloud right now, cool and soothing.

She smiled. “You might get hit by lightning.”

“Maybe, but what a beautiful way to die,” he said. His breathing was a little faster, his gaze heavier.

She parted her lips but didn’t answer. The colour of her cheeks deepened. In the opening of her tunic, the gold pendant gleamed against her milky white skin. His fingers itched to toy with it and bring it to his lips, still hot and fragrant from her body.

The Lion's Embrace is available from

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Lions-Embrace-ebook/dp/B00BACDSK6

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/183-0994619-8518933?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=marie+laval+the+lion%27s+embrace