Roberta Gellis Books In Order

This Scepter’d Isle

The FarSeers among the Sidhe of Elfhame Avalon have seen two visions of the future. In one, an evil queen will take the throne and welcome the Inquisition in, debauching the nation and threatening even the elf strongholds throughout the land. In another, a red haired child will grow up to take the throne and usher in a golden age of literature, music, and art. The evil Unseleighe Sidhe, who draw power from pain and misery, welcome the coming of a ruler of humans who will increase their strength, and are determined to prevent the red haired child from coming to the throne. Unless the good Sidhe can find the child and protect her from the evils and dangers of both the human and elven worlds, she will never grow up to become Elizabeth, Queen of England in the Sixteenth Century.

Ill Met by Moonlight

England in the sixteenth century: a nation at a fatal fork in time, leading to two possible futures forseen by the Sidhe of Elfhame Avalon. Either an evil queen will join forces with the Inquisition and rule with a blood spattered iron hand, threatening humans and elves alike or a benevolent, red haired queen named Elizabeth will rule wisely and well. But the evil Unseleighe Sidhe, who feed on human suffering and dark emotions, are determined that the little girl Elizabeth shall never grow up to take the throne. Opposing them are the good Sidhe of elfland, who have so far managed to protect the young girl. Denoriel had foiled one attempt to kidnap both Elizabeth and her half brother and replace them with changelings, almost at the cost of his own life. But a few years have passed, and Denoriel has healed and returned to guard the young princess, now all of eight years old, secure in the knowledge that his enemy Vidal, leader of the evil Unseleighe, is dead, killed with an iron bolt fired from a primitive gun. Unfortunately, he is wrong: Vidal’s armor was far stronger than any of the good elves realized. Though the wound was deep and Vidal was forced to bide his time in his own slow healing, his recovery is complete, his determination to hurl England into a new dark age is as strong as ever, and he has set in motion a plan to achieve this end of which Denoriel and his comrades are dangerously unaware…
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By Slanderous Tongues

Great Harry is dead, and England is ruled by a dour Protector for 10 year old Edward VI a Protector intent on keeping total control over the young king and no friend to Lady Elizabeth because of her brother’s fondness for her. In the great lens and the dark pool that hold Visions for the FarSeers of the Bright Court and the Dark, the images change and waver. A pale, thin girl sometimes wears a crown and sometimes has no head; King Edward and his Court grow misty as he changes from boy to stripling. But the fires of Mary s reign still burn bright as they swallow writhing men, women, and children, and if she ever reigns the red haired queen brings a burgeoning of art and joy. Elimination of that last possibility for England is Vidal Dhu s prime purpose, but he has been forbidden by King Oberon to attack Elizabeth. Though he may not attack her directly, still he hatches schemes within schemes. And if his plan to involve the young princess in a scandal that would render her unfit to rule in the opinion of the Proctor and his Council, he has more twisted plans to eliminate Elizabeth once and for all.

And Less Than Kind

When it became certain that Edward VI was dying, the duke of Northumberland, who had been ruling England in his name, made a plan that would let him hold onto his power. He dared not let Mary come to the throne because she was fiercely Catholic and he had espoused the Protestant cause. He did not want Elizabeth to rule because he knew her imperious nature would never defer to him. But there was more than one puppet master at work: The evil elf lord Vidal Dhu had no intention of losing the flood of power the misery of Mary’s reign would bring the Dark Court, and intervened so that Mary was proclaimed queen. Urged by her Chancellor and the Imperial ambassador to order Elizabeth s death, Mary chose a different to insure that Elizabeth would never reign. She must marry and bear a child to be the Catholic heir. Vidal Dhu, replete with power from the pain and terror of Mary s burning of heretics, agreed with Mary. Vidal Dhu had very special plans for that child. And since Oberon and Titania had disappeared, there now was no one except the double pair of twins to stand between the mortals of England and the rule of Evil.

Bull God

MOMMA DOESN’T TALK ABOUT THAT PARTY…
When gods still walked the Earth, a king could pray for a sign and have a white bull rise from the sea to confirm his claim to the throne. But a god’s price was high, and when Minos did not keep his promise to the god Poseidon, the god meddled with Minos’ wife…
and the Minotaur, a child with the head of a bull, was born. The question is, did Poseidon intend his son to be worshiped as a new god, or is he the god’s curse on Knossos, a monster that will destroy it? Ariadne was the Minotaur’s half sister, the only one who would touch him and care for him when he was born. She was also high priestess of Dionysus, sworn to interpret his Visions, but one Vision destroys her peace. Dionysus Sees that the bull head must die or bring disaster upon the realm. Can Ariadne agree to the slaughter of the deformed half brother who clings to her as the only one who cares for him? Can she protect the Minotaur in defiance of Dionysus’ vision and dare the god’s wrath? Should she?

The English Heiress

First in the Heiress series. Leonie de Conyers’ life had been destroyed by the French Revolution. Her mother and brother died in the prison where she had been raped and starved for no greater crime than her father’s title. And her father died in an escape engineered by a stranger who claimed he had come to bring her to England where she would inherit the property and wealth of an uncle. Did Leonie dare to believe in such altruism? Roger St. Eyre’s life had been destroyed by the girl he fell passionately in love with. Solange did not love him; she was selfish and vicious and extravagant. By the time she died, Roger felt dead himself. Perhaps he was hoping for the peace death brings when he set out to wrest his old friend Henry de Conyers from the murderous grip of the French Revolution. Instead, Roger and Leonie found love and reasons to live if they could escape exposure to the revolutionary fanatics and their favorite toy, the guillotine. Publisher Note: This book was originally published elsewhere in 1979.

The Cornish Heiress

Megaera’s father sold her in marriage at fifteen to Edward Devoran. Edward’s extravagance mortgaged her estates and induced him to join a band of smugglers. Meg paid the interest by selling her jewels and when they were gone Edward was gone too, murdered by his partner Black Bart. Meg became the smuggler Red Meg, took Edward’s place and Edward’s profits and kept paying her mortgages. Philip St. Eyre wanted to fight Napoleon. Raised as a Frenchman and able to pass as French, he was the perfect spy and had a way to reach France through his father’s old friend, the smuggler Pierre. Thus Philip met Red Meg and fell in love. Meg thought Philip was Pierre’s by blow, Philip thought Meg was a common smuggler. To both gently born lovers the match was impossible. Until Black Bart tried to murder Meg, and Philip had to take her to France where her handiness with a pistol saved his life and his mission and exposed all their secrets. Publisher Note: The book was previously published elsewhere in 1981.

Fortune’s Bride

Robert Moreton loved his life and duty in the army, it was all he ever wanted. He was happy to be sent to Portugal…
until he came across Esmeralda Talbot, shipwrecked in a small Portuguese village and in danger of being forced to marry the headman’s son. Robert rescued Esmeralda, intending to send her immediately to England. Only there was no way he could do so, and to save her reputation from ruin, he married her. Esmeralda could not believe her luck. She had been in love with Robert since years before when he had danced with her at the Governor’s ball in India. Married to her dream! Now all she had to do was keep him from fulfilling his promise to annul the marriage. Robert knew life was brighter and better than it had ever been before but he had no idea why. Esmeralda did not dare hint at her passion for him, lest her too honorable husband send her to England. How was she ever to get Robert to realize he was in love and wanted to keep her beside him forever? Publisher’s Note: This book was originally published elsewhere in 1983.

A Woman’s Estate

Fifth in the Heiress series. Abigail Lydden, widow of Francis, Lord Lydden, left America for England in the middle of the war of 1812 because her husband’s father had died and her son was now heir to an earldom. Sir Arthur St. Eyre was also taken by surprise by Lord Lydden’s death, finding himself executor of the earl’s estate. Sir Arthur and Lady Lydden are thrown together and find it an attractive association, which becomes more and more intense when Victor’s and Abigail’s lives are threatened. But those threats are not the only problems. Sir Arthur is a Member of Parliament and eager for a British victory in America. Although British by birth, Abigail’s sympathies are mainly with ‘poor little America’, as a victim of Britain’s armed power. The heat of contention only adds to the heat of attraction, but can Sir Arthur allow Abigail the independence she needs-and can he forgive her when he discovers she has committed treason? Accusation and enlightenment explode family ties, leaving Arthur and Abigail to reorder their lives…
if they can. Publisher’s Note: This book was originally published elsewhere in 1984.

A Mortal Bane

Roberta Gellis, acclaimed author of The Roselynde Chronicles, brings medieval London to life and death with her latest tale of splendor and squalor. Magdalene la B tarde is the madam of the Old Priory Guesthouse in Southwark. She and her women are expected to engage in a number of sinful delights, but bloody murder isn’t one of them until Baldassare, the messenger, dies. Though Baldassare wasn’t a regular client of the Old Priory Guesthouse, Magdalene and her women refuse to allow his death to go unavenged. Of course, their efforts aren’t completely altruistic. Chances are if they don’t find the killer, they will be assumed guilty because they are who*res, and they will be gutted and hanged. Into this sea of intrigue steps the handsome Sir Bellamy of Itchen. The bishop of Winchester, who was served for many years by Baldassare, orders Bellamy, his most trusted knight, to investigate the murder and tells him that Magdalene has been accused of the crime. Bellamy is instantly captivated by his chief suspect but is also convinced that she is hiding something. Sure that she is involved in the messenger’s death right up to her beautiful eyebrows but unable to believe she’s a killer, Bellamy must find out how and why Baldassare died or watch the mysterious Magdalene meet her fate on the gallows.

A Personal Devil

When Sabina, the blind who*remistress of the Old PriorityGuesthouse, accepts the offer of Master Mainard to live exclusively with him, everyone expects that Mainards wife Bertrild would be glad to be rid of him since his face is horribly birthmarked, and he is not as wealthy as Bertrild thought. But this was far from the truth. Bertrild attacks Sabina and demands that Mainard send her back to the who*rehouse. Before Mainard and Sabina can decide what to do, Bertrild is murdered, and Mainard is the chief suspect. Fearful that her love will be hanged for murder, Sabina flees to her old who*remistress Magdalene la Batarde for help. Magdalene is no stranger to murder, and will use her powerful friends to help the women who work for herfriends who include Sir Bellamyhof Itchen, who reunites with Magdalene in unraveling this tangled tale of hatred, fear, and blackmail.

Bone of Contention

Magdalene knows there is trouble brewing in Oxford, with King Stephen bringing together his great council, and her patron, William of Ypres, immediately summoning her. But she never expected it would be murder, or that the accused would be one of Williams own men, Niall Arvagh of Murcot. Ordinarily, nobody would believe that Niall would stab a man in the back, even so gross a creature as Aimery St. Cyr. But this was a special case. Had Niall killed St. Cyr because he claimed to be betrothed to the pretty heiress whom Niall wanted for himself? Or, as rumor claimed, had Niall only been following the orders of his master, William of Ypres?hile the debate rages in Oxford, Magdalene teams up with her old friend, Sir Itchen of Bellamy, to clear up the mess that threatens to lead to a political scandal. Fortunately for Magdalene, she still has friends in Oxford. Her former co workers, the who*res and barmaids of Oxford, may be able to bring her news which will help her to untangle a murder.

Joanna

Letting her passionate nature be frozen by her fears, iron willed heiress Joanna defies every outward peril in King John’s decadent court, until she comes face to face with Geoffrey, a knight whose presence unleashes terror and desire in her heart.

Alinor

Alone and afraid since the death of her husband, Lady Alinor Lemange finds she will risk anything for the forbidden and dangerous love of dark knight Ian de Vipont.

Roselynde

The end of her world…
and the beginning of her greatest adventure In a time of lords and ladies, Lady Alinor Devaux was an anomaly. The mistress of Roselynde was young, uncannily intelligent, wealthy and had a reputation for being as fierce and protective as any feudal lord before her. Alinor was unmarried and a rich prize for greedy men seeking power and wealth. When the Queen makes Alinor a royal ward and assigns a warden to oversee the running of Roselynde, Alinor must deal with not only fighting off unwanted suitors, but with the warden as well! Not willing to be any man or woman’s pawn, she is determined to make Sir Simon Lemagne’s life miserable. But the seasoned knight isn’t quite what Alinor expects. What belongs to Alinor remains with Alinor, and God help any woman, man or holy crusade that gets in her way…

Gilliane

Caught in a political feud between rival barons, Gilliane is forced to marry a man she abhors, but, after being taken prisoner by Adam, her husband’s sworn enemy, she finds herself both captive and captivated.

Rhiannon

Medieval battles test the love of the court’s most elusive nobleman and a Welsh princess Rhiannon who is untamed and beholden to none, as they encounter betrayals and wars.

Sybelle

Two free spirits bound by honor and passion, the beautiful, headstrong heiress to the Roselynde dynasty and a handsome rebel leading a revolt against the king are caught in a powerful, heart stopping love destined to consume them both.

Siren Song

First in the Royal Dynasty series. William of Marlowe and Elizabeth of Hurley loved each other from childhood and swore to marry no other. Their fathers had more practical and profitable intentions. William was told Elizabeth had gone to Ilmer to be married to Mauger and in his pain and rage took Mary of Bix to wife. Elizabeth, who had withstood starvation and beatings, yielded at last when a priest swore to her William had married Mary. But Mauger had taken Elizabeth for more than her moderate dowry. Soon her brothers were both dead and Elizabeth was heir to her father’s lands. When Elizabeth s father died, Mauger moved his family to Hurley. And when he saw the rich lands of Marlowe across the river, he decided to marry his son to William s daughter, be rid of William, and have Marlowe too. William should have seen through Mauger s false front, but his heart and mind were paralyzed by the horrible thought of Elizabeth in Mauger s arms. And he nearly, so nearly, also became Mauger s victim.

Winter Song

Second in the Royal Dynasty series. Alys of Marlow was a simple knight’s daughter, Raymond d Aix was of the high nobility. But Alys and Raymond had fallen deep in love when Raymond was in England, and Alys dowry was large enough to make Alys acceptable to Raymond s father. But in taking hold of that dowry, Alys makes a deadly enemy. Worse, Raymond s mother is not pacified by the rich dowry. Lady Jeannette resolves to make Raymond hate Alys and control him herself. She causes a violent quarrel between Raymond and Alys just at the time Raymond must go off to deal with his father s vassals. At that critical moment comes the news that Raymond s grandfather is dead. Raymond s father must hurry to the court of Louis of France to save Aix from a harsh overlord and Alys must somehow get her hysterical mother by marriage and sisters by marriage to the capital of Provence to attend Raymond Berenger s funeral. Alys gets caught up in an attempt to abduct the heiress of Provence, and Raymond must rescue Alys from an unassailable fortress.

Fire Song

Third in the Royal Dynasty series. Fenice d Aix and Aubery of Ilmer both had unhappy first marriages. Both had guilty secrets related to those marriages, but each found in the other what had been lacking in their first union. Each longed for the passionate love offered by their new partners. Nonetheless, neither dared expose their hidden secrets lest they lose everything. The hidden deceptions make Aubery’s political duties more hazardous. Having failed twice in his attempts to kill Aubery, an old enemy decides to violate and then murder Fenice as his only fit revenge. Fenice s abduction makes truth a necessity between Fenice and Aubery. But it is not until he loses Fenice that Aubery s pride bends enough to allow him to declare his love almost too late.

A Silver Mirror

The headstrong and beautiful daughter of an English earl, Lady Barbara fights to unite her family, which has been divided by a wicked war, and to win the man who first aroused her passions.

A Delicate Balance

Heiress Linda Hepler wished to learn something of real life and hired as companion to elderly Mrs. Bates on her trip to Corfu. But accidents threatened her employer’s life, and Linda had to determine whether it was Mrs. Bates smooth talking nephew Donald, or her heir, hot tempered Peter, who was behind the mischief. Both men professed interest in Linda and she struggled for a balance between duty and desire. Contemporary Romantic Suspense by Roberta Gellis; originally published by Leisure

Overstars Mail

Cyn Lystris leaves Free Trade because he is tired of making deliveries with the goods in one hand and his blaster in the other. Overstars Mail offers him a mail delivery job on a government approved route. Life as a mailman, however, proves no less exciting when Cyn finds himself embroiled in Imperial politics. The younger son of the Mother Empress intends to challenge his corrupt brother for the throne. The Imperial Challenger boards Cyn’s ship in disguise, followed by agents who want to capture or kill him. The trouble is that Cyn has no idea which of his six passengers is the Imperial, which the anti Imperial agents, and which if any are just innocent bystanders along for the ride. Beside that, one of the passengers, Aimie, is particularly intriguing in an entirely different way. However pleasant, romantic adventures only add to the confusion. Foiling one attempt at sabotage and diversion from his route after another, Cyn manages to deliver the mail and the Imperial Challenger in a quick witted, hair raising ride through the galaxy.

Lucrezia Borgia and the Mother of Poisons

‘Poisoner!’ The bellowed accusation strikes into silence all those in Lucrezia Borgia’s audience chamber. Lucrezia has fled Rome to a loveless marriage with Alfonso, heir to the duke of Ferrara, to escape the rumors that she is utterly depraved incestuous, a lecher, a poisoner. To her delight she is warmly welcomed in Ferrara, by the duke, by his court, by the people, indeed by everyone except her husband. And then, after only six weeks of basking in the warmth of general approval, Alfonso rushes into her apartment and accuses her of poisoning Bianca Tedaldo, one of her ladies in waiting and mistress to Alfonso. Immediately, Lucrezia sees the nightmare of her life in Rome recurring. The whispers behind her back, the signs to ward off evil, people making out their wills when she invites them to share a meal. To deny the charge is useless. Lucrezia knows all too well the futility of claiming innocence even when the claim is clearly and plainly true. The only way for her to retrieve her reputation is to discover who committed the crime and expose the true murderer.

How to Write Historical Fiction

How to Write Historical Fiction By Roberta Gellis

One of the decade’s most respected writers of this genre details the types of historical fiction, and gives the basics of research to enable you to make the setting authentic, pin down the period, pick the key event and get the details on how people lived and felt at the time.

1 tape – 90 minutes