23 Feb Mercedes Rochelle A King Under Siege Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiction #RichardII #Plantagenets #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @authorRochelle @maryanneyarde

FEATURED AUTHOR: MERCEDES ROCHELLE

Welcome the featured author, Mercedes Rochelle, as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between January 6th  – March 10th, 2022. Mercedes Rochelle is the author of the Historical Fiction, The King Under Siege (The Plantagenet Legacy, Book 1), which was released by Sergeant Press on 5th January 2019 (313 pages).

Below are highlights of The King Under Siege, Mercedes Rochelle’s biography, and an excerpt from her book.

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HIGHLIGHTS: A King Under Siege

A King Under Siege

(The Plantagenet Legacy, Book 1)

By Mercedes Rochelle

Audio Narrated by Kevin E. Green

Richard II found himself under siege not once, but twice in his minority. Crowned king at age ten, he was only fourteen when the Peasants’ Revolt terrorized London. But he proved himself every bit the Plantagenet successor, facing Wat Tyler and the rebels when all seemed lost. Alas, his triumph was short-lived, and for the next ten years he struggled to assert himself against his uncles and increasingly hostile nobles. Just like in the days of his great-grandfather Edward II, vengeful magnates strove to separate him from his friends and advisors, and even threatened to depose him if he refused to do their bidding. The Lords Appellant, as they came to be known, purged the royal household with the help of the Merciless Parliament. They murdered his closest allies, leaving the King alone and defenseless. He would never forget his humiliation at the hands of his subjects. Richard’s inability to protect his adherents would haunt him for the rest of his life, and he vowed that next time, retribution would be his.

Buy Links:

Universal Link  ♣  Amazon UK  ♣  Amazon US  ♣  Amazon CA  ♣  Amazon AU  ♣  Barnes and Noble

AUTHOR BIO: KERRY CHAPUT

Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. The next series is called The Plantagenet Legacy about the struggles and abdication of Richard II, leading to the troubled reigns of the Lancastrian Kings. She also writes a blog: HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story. Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the Univ. of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to “see the world”. The search hasn’t ended! Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

Social Media Links:

Website  ♣  Twitter  ♣  Facebook  ♣  BookBub  ♣  Amazon Author Page  ♣  Goodreads

EXCERPT: WHO WILL REPLACE KING RICHARD

Henry of Bolingbroke was not a man to take insult graciously. And Gloucester’s behavior was bordering on insult. Richard’s question had echoed his own. Just who was he referring to when he threatened to replace the king?

After dining at the Tower, Henry was in no mood to return to his own quarters. He and Mowbray rode directly to Gloucester’s town house and were satisfied to see that no one had retired yet—in fact, all three Appellants were still there. Plotting, in all likelihood. The servants let them in and Henry stood at the door pulling off his gloves while the others turned from the table.

“Ah, there you are,” said Thomas, beckoning them over. “Had a nice supper with the king?”

Henry frowned. “It was not terribly pleasant.”

“What did he say?”

The other shrugged. “Nothing of consequence. He was shaken.”

“I would certainly hope so,” laughed Arundel shortly. “It’s time he understood we are resolute.” He moved over as Mowbray took a place next to him.

Sitting at the end of the table, Henry leaned forward to grab an empty cup. As he lifted it a servant poured some ale. The others watched him uncomfortably as he drank; they didn’t know where to start.

Henry finally put his ale down. He cocked his head. “The king wanted to know who you were referring to,” he said finally. “A full-grown heir. I wondered the same thing.”

Thomas cleared his throat. “I think we’ve had enough of Richard’s rule. He has proven himself unworthy of his great position.”

“Unworthy.” Henry twirled his cup. “And who is worthier?”

“Why not the son of a king?” Gloucester said, almost defensively. “We are in a position to compel that boy to step down.”

“We?” Henry raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you putting the cart before the horse?”

Gloucester stood and began pacing. “All right. Let us come out and say it. We can dethrone him. Now. There will be no better time. We have Richard at our mercy and there is nothing he can do about it.”

“And put you in his place?” Henry’s voice was not cordial.

Thomas whirled around. “Any why not? I am the better warrior. I am more acceptable to the Commons, more deliberate—”

“You forget yourself, uncle.” They stared at each other, one on his feet, the other sitting tensely at the table. “You are not next in line.”

“Does it matter? My brother Edmund wouldn’t want the responsibility. Your father has other interests. He already has a crown.”

“But I do not.”

It was as though they were the only two people in the room. They stared at each other before Warwick broke the tension; he was ever the moderate. “What about Mortimer? I thought Richard favored him as his heir.”

“Another boy? We don’t need another boy king.”

“That is not for you to decide,” Henry retorted. “Or are you so sure of your position?”

Gloucester made a deprecating sound. “We must strike while the iron is hot! This is our moment.”

“And I say it is not,” Henry objected, finally standing. “Who is going to tell my father that his interests were passed over? How do you think he will react?”

Eyes flashing, Gloucester turned toward the fire. He stood before the hearth, taking an iron and thrusting it through a burning log. A shower of sparks flew up the chimney.

“Then we must bend the king to our will.”

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