Marina Oliver - Writer - of Historical Fiction

My favourite period in history is the 17^th century, when so much was happening in England.
I have divided my novels of this time into three groups:
1640s - Civil War - on this page
1650s - King in exile
1660s - Restoration
All these novels are now available as ebooks from:
Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Sony, Diesel, Kobo, Apple, and W H Smith.

* = also in large print; + = also on audio tape

In the turbulent 1640s, English families and friends were divided by war, their loyalties fragmented.
Lysbeth was one who came to hate both factions.
Her first encounter with the realities of war came when she clashed with Sir James Howard, a Royalist officer, requisitioning sheep to feed the army.
Opposing her Royalist family, she turns for reassurance to her childhood friend, Tom Bridges, who is a soldier for Parliament.
As the conflict grows, she experiences Parliamentary atrocities, witnesses the bloody carnage of the battle of Naseby, and is threatened by the unbridled, battle-weary soldiers in its aftermath.
She has to resolve the turmoil of her own emotions, influenced by the two men who, in their different ways, have helped to shape her life.

Drusilla's family are urging her to accept an offer from another merchant's son, but she is reluctant, even more so when she meets the dashing Cavalier, Sir Randal Thornton, and he aids Drusilla during the Parliamentary siege of Reading.
She realises how impossible it would be for her attraction to come to anything, especially as her brother is fighting for Parliament, and joined the protest against the King's Ship Money tax.
Then the town of Reading and its inhabitants are in greater danger, and Drusilla longs to go back to her home in Devizes.

Cornwall is remote, but not therefore isolated from the war in the rest of England.
Kate, living in Saltash, is looking forward to marriage with Jonathan, and disappointed it has to be delayed when he joins the King's army.
Then the arrogant Petroc Tremaine, owner of a ship which harasses Parliamentary vessels, sweeps into her life and insists Jon is not the right man for her.
Kate longs to be safely married and away from his perturbing influence, especially when she discovers his suspicions about Jon and Jon's dislike of Petroc.
As the war comes closer Kate and her mother go to stay with relatives in Fowey, and she sees more of Petroc whose family live nearby.

Lucy has been brought up with her cousins, and never knew her parents, or even who her father was.
When she hears that her grandmother, living in a small village, is ill, she insists on going to care for her.
At first all is well, but after the grandmother dies the villagers begin to treat Lucy with suspicion, claiming she is a witch.
When Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General, arrives, Lucy is in great danger until there is unexpected relief from the reclusive Squire and his heir.

After the Battle of Naseby Sir John Emrey brings a dying Highland chieftain's heir to his home, and promises to restore his sword to his clan.
When his mother and sister Blanche are driven from their home in the north of England, they plan to go to relatives in Ireland after delivering the sword, but are persuaded to stay in Scotland where Blanche becomes a friend and companion to Fiona Macdonald, the new heir.
Sir John goes to fight with Montrose, while Fiona is beseiged with suitors eager to take control of her inheritance.
There are her cousins, and her neighbour the Black Campbell.
And there is danger from her aunt and uncle, the next in line to rule the clan.

Determined not to allow a band of roaming Cavaliers to enter her home, Caro threatens their leader with a pistol.
When he ignores her challenge she shuts her eyes and fires.
Compelled to nurse him when her shot grazes his head, she gradually realises she must protect him from his enemies.
But that is not enough. His enemies become hers, and to escape them she has to trust herself to his protection.

Previously published under the pseudonym Livvy West Ulverscroft 2001 ISBN 0708997422
Based on Honor and Passion * previously published under the pseudonym Vesta Hathaway
Ebooks 2011: Smashwords ISBN 9781465965622 Amazon

Marina Oliver - Writer of Fiction and Non-Fiction