Sea of Shadows by Amy Maroney

 

Welcome to the Book’s Delight and the book tour of Sea and Shadows by Amy Maroney. We have a great excerpt to tease you with, so grab a cup of something warm and settle into a comfy chair and check out this fab book.

 

The Details

 Book Title: Sea of Shadows

Series: Sea and Stone Chronicles, Book 2

Author: Amy Maroney

Publication Date: 12th April 2022

Publisher: Artelan Press

Page Length: 396 Pages

Genre: Historical suspense/romance

 

 

The Blurb:

 

1459. A gifted woman artist. A ruthless Scottish privateer. And an audacious plan that throws them together—with dangerous consequences.

No one on the Greek island of Rhodes suspects Anica is responsible for her Venetian father’s exquisite portraits, least of all her wealthy fiancé. But her father’s vision is failing, and with every passing day it’s more difficult to conceal the truth.

When their secret is discovered by a powerful knight of the Order of St. John, Anica must act quickly to salvage her father’s honor and her own future. Desperate, she enlists the help of a fierce Scottish privateer named Drummond. Together, they craft a daring plan to restore her father’s sight.

There’s only one problem—she never imagined falling in love with her accomplice.

Before their plan can unfold, a shocking scandal involving the knights puts Anica’s entire family at risk. Her only hope is to turn to Drummond once again, defying her parents, her betrothed, even the Grand Master of the Knights himself. But can she survive the consequences?

With this captivating tale of passion, courage, and loyalty, Amy Maroney brings a lost, dazzling world to vivid life.

Sea of Shadows is Book 2 in a series of stand-alone historical novels packed with adventure and romance.

 

Buy Links:

 

This novel is available on #KindleUnlimited

 

Universal Link: https://mybook.to/SeaOfShadows

 

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09T3M2HM3

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09T3M2HM3

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09T3M2HM3

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Sea-Shadows-Stone-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B09T3M2HM3/

 

 

Meet the Author:

 

Amy Maroney studied English Literature at Boston University and worked for many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction. She lives in Oregon, U.S.A. with her family. When she’s not diving down research rabbit holes, she enjoys hiking, dancing, traveling, and reading. Amy is the author of The Miramonde Series, an award-winning historical fiction trilogy about a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern-day scholar on her trail. Her new historical suspense/romance series, Sea and Stone Chronicles, is set in medieval Rhodes and Cyprus.

 

 

Follow Amy on Social Media:

 

Website: https://www.amymaroney.com/

Twitter: twitter.com/wilaroney

Facebook: www.facebook.com/amymaroneyauthor

Instagram: www.instagram.com/amymaroneywrites/

Pinterest: pinterest.com/amyloveshistory/

BookBub: www.bookbub.com/profile/amy-maroney

Amazon Author Page: author.to/AmyMaroneyAmazonPage

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/15831603.Amy_Maroney

 

The Excerpt:

 

Excerpt 13 (1166 words)

 

Summer, 1459

Rhodes Town

 

They joined the restless mass of citizens waiting to file through the immense doors of the Sea Gate. Anica watched the Catalan and Basque sailors being rounded up by their officers while several guards of the Order dispersed along the harbor to keep the peace.

 

Aunt Rhea turned to Anica, her eyes gleaming. “You’ve always been a brave one.”

 

“Only when I have to be.” Anica tried to steady her breath.

 

Papa gave her a stern look. “Brave? Or foolish? You’ve no weapon, for one thing—”

 

“Oh, go easy on the girl,” Aunt Rhea broke in. “She was only protecting the ones she loves.” She shaded her eyes with a hand, studying the quays. “That was no brawl—just a scuffle, easily mended. See there?” She pointed. “The knights have sent guards to straighten things out, and the sailors are all back to work. I’ve a mind to return, see what I can get from those merchants now that all my competition has scattered like leaves in the wind.”

 

Aunt Rhea was one of the few women in Rhodes Town who moved through the world like a man. She had taken the helm of her husband’s many businesses after his illness struck and grown them into a small empire. Papa called her bossy, a henpecking busybody—but even he admitted she had a good heart.

 

“Rhea!” Mamá said sharply. “You’re not serious.”

 

“Where there’s danger, there’s opportunity,” Aunt Rhea retorted. “Believe me, I’ve been knocked around plenty in my life. A little flap in the harbor doesn’t scare me. Besides, I don’t travel with armed manservants for show. They’re trained to use their weapons.”

 

“Paolo, go with her,” said Mamá after a moment’s hesitation. Then she took Anica’s hands in hers. “You go, too,” she said softly. “Keep your aunt and father company.”

 

A bit bewildered by her mother’s words, Anica watched their manservant clear a path toward the Sea Gate, Maria and Heleni following close on Mamá’s heels. Then she reached for her father’s arm.

 

“The Basques will take ages to unload all their cargo.” A sheen of sweat glimmered on Aunt Rhea’s upper lip. “I’ve a long list of items to buy, starting with wine from that merchant over there.” She indicated a hulking ship that was a frequent visitor to the harbor. It trundled back and forth between Cyprus and Rhodes, its hold stocked with the finest Cypriot wines. “He’s one of my best suppliers. Let’s see what he’s got today.”

 

She took firm hold of Papa’s other arm, clearly pleased to have an escort for her outing. Anica fought a smile at the resigned look on Papa’s face. Aunt Rhea’s husband was trapped at home, crippled by a strange illness that years ago had robbed him of his speech and sapped the strength from his legs. It had been years since he’d squired his wife around the harbor, and he likely never would again.

 

“As you wish, Auntie,” Anica said.

 

“The sun shines upon us, the breeze is pleasant, the harbor is full of merchants carrying fine goods. And I’m with you. Family is my greatest joy, you know.”

 

“And ours as well,” Anica said, her heart warming at the tenderness in her aunt’s voice.

 

“How are plans for Valossi’s wedding?” Papa asked absently.

 

Anica’s uncle, a notary in Lindos, had lost his wife and three of his five children to the sweating sickness last year, but he was now betrothed to wed again.

 

“His new wife will be a balm for his soul,” Aunt Rhea replied. “She is a sweet little thing, eager to wed, and her dowry is generous. He’ll have a fresh start.”

 

“I’m happy for him,” Anica said, sure that Aunt Rhea had engineered the match.

 

“I promised Valossi I’d buy only the finest Cypriot wine for the wedding,” Aunt Rhea continued. “If I can get it at the right price today, I will. Why wait? Who knows if this merchant will be back again before spring. All the pirates in these seas, plus the Turks and the Mamluks. You never know if a ship will disappear forever, whether a storm takes it or a raid.” She clucked her tongue.

 

Papa made a vague sound of agreement.

 

“Speaking of weddings,” she went on, glancing at Anica sideways, “we are all eager for a joyous occasion to look forward to in the Foscolo household.”

 

Anica’s face grew hot. This was one of her father’s main gripes about Aunt Rhea: she barged into personal matters without being invited.

 

“We’ve been in mourning, Auntie,” she pointed out, trying not to sound rude. “My marriage plans have to wait.”

 

Aunt Rhea made a sympathetic noise in the back of her throat. “Our dear Cali is in no state to make betrothal arrangements, but I am.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Your mother’s asked me to help, and I’ve given her my promise to assist in any way I can.”

 

The sun was now directly overhead. Sweat coursed down Anica’s back, tickling the knobs of her spine. Before she could speak again, a turbaned spice trader displaying samples of his wares on an olive-wood tray bustled up.

 

“Good day, kyria,” he said to Aunt Rhea, then turned to Papa. “Kyrie, surely you are in need of the best spices available on this island.”

 

Papa studied the tray. “Offering a bit more variety would bolster your claim. So many peppercorns. They’re as common as figs and grapes here.”

 

The man gave him an odd look. “Peppercorns and cloves! See? The finest, rarest cloves.”

 

“Ah! So they are.” Papa straightened, shrugging. “My wife buys the spices, not me.”

 

The man returned his gaze to Aunt Rhea, his lips curling in a smile. “Ah, kyria, forgive me. What a lovely gown you wear—”

 

“Save your breath. I am not his wife. But I do consider myself an expert on spices.” Aunt Rhea leveled a hard stare at the trader. “Give me a sample, and I’ll decide for myself if your wares are as good as you say.”

 

The man reluctantly scooped out a few cloves and peppercorns and deposited them into Aunt Rhea’s outstretched palm.

 

“Now away with you!” she ordered him. “If I like what I taste, I’ll find you again.”

 

Frowning, he scurried off. Anica held back a laugh. Aunt Rhea was like a sirocco that blew in without warning, leaving all in her wake stunned and disoriented.

 

“The plain fact is you must wed soon,” Aunt Rhea went on briskly as if their conversation had never been interrupted, stuffing the peppercorns and cloves into a cloth sack attached to her belt. “You long to be married, don’t you, poor girl?”

 

Anica hesitated, glancing at her father. Yes, it was time for her to marry. But until he had a new, reliable apprentice, how could he even contemplate letting her leave their household? Papa could not execute the fine details of a portrait without her—something she was certain Rhea knew nothing of.