Valerie Anand Libri

To William Rufus’ corrupt and opulent court comes the young Norman Ralph des Aix – Eager to win his knight’s fee from the new English king. But although fortune – and King Rufus – seems to smile on him, Ralph rapidly discovers that to be King’s favourite is bewildering – and not always pleasant. And many feel that the rundown holding of Chenna’s Tun, deep in the heart of the New Forest, is a poor reward for his services. In the remote heart of the great wood, Ralph and his passionate young wife, Sybil of Fallowdene, are relentlessly drawn into the growing conflict between the greedy sophistication of the Norman court and the dark world of the Saxon forest with all its hidden rites. A net of danger closes round Ralph, Sybil and the glittering, lonely figure of King Rufus. And to be truly lord of his own manor, Ralph learns that he must bear the ancient title, King of the Wood, with all its mysterious and barbaric responsibilities…

I want a quiet life from now on. And I don't want to fall in love.... I think I shall do better to stay away from affairs of the heart. One can be so hurt. I don't want to go through that again. Ninian Whitmead, almost forty years old, has already loved deeply, then lost once in his life. He has resigned himself to life alone on his seaside Cornish estate, Polmawgan House, without wife or family. But he is not prepared for the shipwreck of a Courteen pirate ship off the coast of Cornwall that leaves Parvati, a young Indian girl, stranded in a foreign land as its only survivor. At first out of charity, then out of growing affection, Ninian takes the lost girl into his home, and when his attachment deepens to love, he marries her and they have a son. Though Parvati adopts a Christian name and is baptized into the Anglican church, their solemn Puritan community finds her foreign blood and unfamiliar customs unacceptable. As the stirrings of Civil War in England increase, tragedy seems imminent. Anand's fourth radiant installment in The Bridge Over Time series follows the Whitmead family through the political and religious tumult of the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution. "Valerie Anand has been building a remarkable body of work, a series of historical novels that have recreated England's history both accurately and vividly."-The Anniston Star"

Melanie Purvis faces a significant life change as she marries Indian doctor Avtar Singh, leaving behind her cherished countryside life in England and her close ties to her grandfather. Despite the challenges of adapting to a new culture and living with Avtar's family in India, her love for him drives her willingness to embrace this transition and immerse herself in his world. The story explores themes of love, sacrifice, and cultural integration.

Set in the late eighteenth century, the story follows Lucy-Anne Whitmead, a modern heroine navigating the complexities of marriage and societal expectations. Building on the rich history of the Whitmead family established in earlier volumes, this installment explores themes of love, resilience, and the evolving role of women during a transformative period in history. Valerie Anand's narrative captures the essence of personal and familial challenges against the backdrop of significant historical events.

Set against the backdrop of Norman England, the story follows Ivon de Clairpont, a knight grappling with his status as an unwelcome guest in a foreign land. Accompanying Alfred Atheling, the exiled son of a deposed king, Ivon senses impending danger as he struggles to find peace by the blacksmith's fire. His instincts are soon validated when the tranquility of Gildenford shatters, marking the end of his freedom. The narrative explores themes of loyalty, exile, and the tumultuous emotions of a knight caught in political upheaval.