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Book Title: Sea of Shadows
Series: Sea and Stone Chronicles, Book 2
Author: Amy Maroney
Publication Date: 12th April 2022
Publisher: Artelan Press
Page Length: 396 Pages
Genre: Historical suspense/romance
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| About the Book |
1459. A gifted woman artist. A ruthless Scottish privateer. And an audacious plan that throws them together—with dangerous consequences.
No one on the Greek island of Rhodes suspects Anica is responsible for her Venetian father’s exquisite portraits, least of all her wealthy fiancé. But her father’s vision is failing, and with every passing day it’s more difficult to conceal the truth.
When their secret is discovered by a powerful knight of the Order of St. John, Anica must act quickly to salvage her father’s honor and her own future. Desperate, she enlists the help of a fierce Scottish privateer named Drummond. Together, they craft a daring plan to restore her father’s sight.
There’s only one problem—she never imagined falling in love with her accomplice.
Before their plan can unfold, a shocking scandal involving the knights puts Anica’s entire family at risk. Her only hope is to turn to Drummond once again, defying her parents, her betrothed, even the Grand Master of the Knights himself. But can she survive the consequences?
With this captivating tale of passion, courage, and loyalty, Amy Maroney brings a lost, dazzling world to vivid life.
Sea of Shadows is Book 2 in a series of stand-alone historical novels packed with adventure and romance.
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| Read An Excerpt |
Summer, 1459
Rhodes Town
A door slammed. The quick slap of sandals on stone echoed in the corridor.
The servants and slaves walked so silently they often appeared in a room without warning, like puffs of smoke. As for Anica’s parents, they both moved through the world with calm, measured steps.
But not her sister.
“Anica!”
Heleni flung open the door, Maria close on her heels. The two of them were about the same age, but Maria looked much older than Heleni. In her sixteen or so years on the earth, she had experienced enough heartbreak for a lifetime—and the furrow of worry between her brows was already deep. Heleni, in contrast, was coming into the bloom of womanhood like a flagrantly scented scarlet rose. Her full lips and enormous brown eyes turned heads whenever she left the house, and to their parents’ dismay, she loved the attention.
“A merchant fleet is approaching Rhodes,” Heleni reported breathlessly. “Along with Hospitaller ships from France.”
Anica turned to the slave with a questioning look.
“It’s true.” Maria drew two eggs from a pouch and laid them on the table. “I heard the news in the lane from the soap man.”
Anica nodded her thanks for the eggs. “And you had to tell my sister because . . . ?”
Maria shrugged. “She asks so many questions. I can’t lie to the girl, can I?”
“Everyone’s going to the harbor in the morning to watch the crews unload their cargo.” Heleni turned to Papa with a pleading look. “Can’t we go, too?”
“Your mother—” he began, then trailed off, looking thoughtful.
“It would be good for her to get out of the house,” Anica said. “A distraction could raise her spirits.”
He nodded slowly. “You’re right. Perhaps I can talk her into it.”
“Help me sand some panels while Papa speaks with Mamá,” Anica said to Heleni.
Heleni stayed where she was. “I hate such work.”
Her sullen tone was nothing new, but for some reason it grated on Anica more than usual.
“Do you like this house, Heleni?” Papa asked, his voice flaring with irritation. “Do you like to eat? Do you want fine silks, pearls, and silver plate in your dowry chest?”
She glowered at him in silence.
He gestured at the easel, the pots of pigment, the brushes lined up on a rectangle of canvas. “The gold earned in this studio makes your comfortable life possible. It’s your duty to help. In fact, we won’t go to the harbor unless you sand the panels Anica prepared.”
Without another word, Papa stalked from the room.
Anica went to the table where the pine panels lay. In silence, she handed one to her sister.
Snatching up a square of parchment coated with a fine layer of crushed seashells, Heleni set to work with a heavy hand, making deep slashes in the gesso.
“Gentle!” Anica warned. “You’ll go all the way down to the grain.”
“Who cares?” Heleni flung a dark glance at her.
“I do. Papa does. Mamá does. Your attention to the smallest details is important.”
Heleni rolled her eyes. Anica tried to steady her breath. Later, she would have to go over Heleni’s work and correct any mistakes.
Her father’s reputation—indeed, their entire family’s—depended on it.
Buy Links:
This novel is available on #KindleUnlimited
Universal Link: https://mybook.to/SeaOfShadows
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09T3M2HM3
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09T3M2HM3
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09T3M2HM3
Amazon AU:
Helen has read Sea of Shadows - a definite 5 star rating!
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| About the Author |
Amy Maroney studied English Literature at Boston University and worked for many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction. She lives in Oregon, U.S.A. with her family. When she’s not diving down research rabbit holes, she enjoys hiking, dancing, traveling, and reading. Amy is the author of The Miramonde Series, an award-winning historical fiction trilogy about a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern-day scholar on her trail. Her new historical suspense/romance series, Sea and Stone Chronicles, is set in medieval Rhodes and Cyprus.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.amymaroney.com/
Twitter: twitter.com/wilaroney
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amymaroneyauthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amymaroneywrites/
Pinterest: pinterest.com/amyloveshistory/
BookBub: www.bookbub.com/profile/amy-maroney
Amazon Author Page: author.to/AmyMaroneyAmazonPage
Follow the tour for previous and next excerpts
Twitter Handles: @wilaroney @maryanneyarde
Instagram Handles: @amymaroneywrites @coffeepotbookclub
Hashtags: #HistoricalSuspense #HistoricalRomance #Renaissance #Knights #GreekIslands #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub
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