I’m proud to say my latest novel, Rodanthe’s Gift, is now on sale in Crete at Eklektos Book Shop, Elounda, and Nikitakis Gift shop in the upper square of Kritsa. Both the book and the Kindle version are available from Amazon via this universal link – viewbook.at/Rodanthe
The atrocities in Milatos Caves and the terrible siege of Messolonghi on mainland Greece are woven into this historical novel. Although the book follows on from Kritsotopoula, Girl of Kritsa, it is a stand alone story.
Milatos Caves, now house a chapel to remember those who were massacred.
The Garden of Heroes, in Messolonghi on mainland Greece is now a haven of peace within the city walls. The stacked caskets represent the kegs of gunpowder a brave man used to blow up the old and infirm rather than allow them to be captured by the besieging Turk and Egyptian force.
RICOH IMAGING
Here are three of the early reviews on Amazon.
Mr. R. Clark 5.0 out of 5 stars Rip-roaring historical adventure
Yvonne Payne has managed to weave many of the major events in the battle for Greek independence into this rip-roaring historical adventure. Her novel reaches epic proportions as the struggle for freedom shifts between the island of Crete and mainland Greece. The author is a great storyteller this, in harness with her great attention to historical detail, makes Rodanthe’s Gift a terrific read.
Suzi Stembridge 5.0 out of 5 stars Ever imagined how it must be to be caught up in war or massacre?
This has to be some of the most realistic writing about war, siege and massacre that I have read. Added to incredible detail about the effects of the Greek War of Independence in Crete and Messolonghi in Central Greece and the research required to produce this narrative then, like me, you should not be far into this story before you will be full of admiration. Several of the characters are based on real people, Kazanis in Crete, Bouboulina and Byron in Messolonghi and also Captain Notis Botsaris (grandfather of the highly revered General Markos Botsaris) who survived the Third Seige at Missolonghi. Woven into this gripping and sickening tale is a story of romance, of life and customs in the nineteenth century all achieved with the style and attention to detail that followers of Payne’s work have come to accept. This book is a follow-on to her first historical novel but can be read independently.
I absolutely loved the first book and was very much looking forward to reading the follow up and boy was I not disappointed. If anything I think this was even better than the first and it certainly doesn’t hang about but gets straight into the story effortlessly interweaving historical events as it goes along (I now know exactly how Hassan Pasha died 😉 :-)) with fascinating character development. I also love how you get extra background on some of the characters from the first book and this just adds even more to the read. Having said that this book would also stand up as stand alone novel as well.
I can’t recommend this highly enough to anyone who enjoys a fantastic gripping historical story that is full of human emotion, as well as anyone with a love of Crete.
I enjoyed this so much that the next thing I am going to do is go back and read Kritsotopoula Girl Of Kritsa again (for the third time).
If you’d like to know more CLICK HERE.
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Congratulations!
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Thank you. x
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Huge congratulations!
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Thank you, I am excited already. x
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