Skip to main content

Book Blast: Ascent (House of Normandy #1) by Cathie Dunn

Ascent by Cathie Dunn

Publication Date: April 8, 2022
Ocelot Press

Series: House of Normandy, Book One
Genre: Historical Fiction


Synopsis: A brutal Viking raid heralds the dawn of a new, powerful dynasty – the House of Normandy
     Neustria, Kingdom of the West Franks
     AD 890

     Fourteen-year-old Poppa’s life changes when Northmen land near Bayeux. Count Bérengar, her father, submits to them, and she is handfasted to Hrólfr, the Northmen’s heathen leader, as part of their agreement.

     To her relief, Hrólfr leaves immediately in search of further conquest, only returning to claim her years later. In the face of retaliating Franks, they flee to East Anglia, where she gives birth to their son and daughter.

     When Hrólfr and Poppa return to reclaim Bayeux, his new campaign strikes at the heart of Frankish power, and King Charles of the West Franks offers him a pact he cannot refuse. In exchange for vast tracts of land in Neustria, Hrólfr must convert to Christianity and accept marriage to Gisela, the king’s illegitimate daughter.

     Poppa’s world shatters. She remains in Bayeux, with her daughter, Adela. When Gisela arrives one day, demanding she hand over Adela, to be raised in Rouen, Poppa’s patience is at an end. But Gisela makes for a dangerous enemy, and only one woman will survive their confrontation high up on the cliffs.

     Will Poppa live to witness the dawn of a new era?

      ASCENT is the first in a new series about the early women of the House of Normandy – women whose stories have been forgotten through time.

      Until now!

       Readers of Viking and medieval fiction will enjoy ASCENT, a fictional account of the life of Poppa of Bayeux, handfasted wife of Rollo the Viking.

Ascent is on sale for eBook for only $.99 across all Amazon platforms!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble


About the Author

 

     Cathie Dunn writes historical fiction, mystery, and romance. The focus of her historical fiction novels is on strong women through time.

     Cathie has been writing for over twenty years. She studied Creative Writing, with a focus on novel writing, which she teaches in the south of France. She loves researching for her novels, delving into history books, and visiting castles and historic sites.

     At the moment, Cathie is working on two novels: Treachery, #2 in the House of Normandy series, about Sprota the Breton, handfasted wife of William Longsword, the son of Poppa and Rollo; and The Alchemist's Daughter, #2 in the Affair of the Poisons series. She also continues to plot a medieval murder mystery series set in 13th century Languedoc at the height of the Cathar persecutions.

     Cathie's stories have garnered awards and praise from reviewers and readers for their authentic description of the past.

     Cathie is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Alliance of Independent Authors, and she organises historical fiction blog tours for The Coffee Pot Book Club.

     After many years in Scotland, Cathie now lives in south of France with her husband, and rescued Charlie Cat and Ellie Dog.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube | Goodreads


Book Blast Schedule

Monday, January 9
Gwendalyn's Books

Tuesday, January 10
History from a Woman’s Perspective

Wednesday, January 11
Lisa Everyday Reads

Thursday, January 12
Historical Fiction with Spirit

Friday, January 13
Bookworlder
CelticLady's Reviews

Monday, January 16
Michelle the PA Loves to Read

Tuesday, January 17
Passages to the Past

Thursday, January 19
Reading is My Remedy

Friday, January 20
Coffee & Ink
Jathan & Heather

Giveaway

     Enter to win a signed copy of Ascent by Cathie Dunn!

     The giveaway is open internationally and ends on January 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Ascent Book Blast


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Age of Witches by Louisa Morgan: A Book Review

The Age of Witches Author: Louisa Morgan Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal Publisher: Redhook Book Release Date: 2020 Pages: 449 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis : In Gilded Age New York, a centuries-long clash between two magical families ignites when a young witch must choose between love and loyalty, power and ambition, in this magical novel by Louisa Morgan.           In 1692, Bridget Bishop was hanged as a witch. Two hundred years later, her legacy lives on in the scions of two very different lines: one dedicated to using their powers to heal and help women in need; the other, determined to grasp power for themselves by whatever means necessary. This clash will play out in the fate of Annis, a young woman in Gilded Age New York who finds herself a pawn in the family struggle for supremacy. She'll need to claim her own power to save herself-and resist succumbing to the dark...

Queen of Lombard Street by Lisa Kleypas: A Book Review

Queen of Lombard Street Author: Lisa Kleypas Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense, Romance Publisher: Avon Book Release Date: October 20, 2026 Pages: 448 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis : From New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas—a sweeping, richly layered Victorian novel about a trailblazing female economist who’s determined to build Britain’s first women’s bank, but she must fight both financial corruption and a system intent on destroying the newly found family she’s created.        In Victorian England, no woman—not even a brilliant economist like Reina Martin—is allowed to open her own bank account. Men will take care of everything, women are told. But Reina knows better. As the illegitimate daughter of a Spanish immigrant mother, she’s haunted by the memory of living with unpaid grocer’s bills and no coal for the hearth.        So together with her ...

A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin: A Book Review

A Time of Witches Author: Madeline Martin Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense, Fantasy, Paranormal Publisher: Hanover Square Press Book Release Date: September 1, 2026 Pages: 380 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis : Two women, bound by blood and betrayal, must break silence across centuries—or be silenced forever, in the dazzling new novel by New York Times bestselling author Madeline Martin.        Lilith Legare’s life is unraveling. Since her mother’s death, strange things have been happening - plants turn toward her touch, animals linger in her path, and the birthmark on her arm has started tingling. Worse still is her recurring nightmare of being burned alive at the stake.         Her search for answers brings her from Savannah to England, to the decaying Brackenmere Manor where the past blurs with the present. There, Lilith discovers a legacy she never asked...