Dear Reader,
Thank you for picking up my book. Your interest makes everyone
involved with the publication process happy to know we caught your attention.
I am delighted you have given me the opportunity to carry
you away to my imaginary world.
This story you’re holding waltzed across my mind, enticing
me with its possibilities and characters until I gave in and sat down to switch
on my computer.
As I plotted, new situations and words popped up and I opened
my search engine to find out if such a thing where possible. I studied and
researched until I came to a new situation, and then I did it again.
I have been astonished by what I’ve learned as I’ve written each
novel. I had no idea Roman were the first to use glass windows or that fireworks
and explosives have been around since the second century in China. I learned the
difference between a castle and a palace, and so much more.
Each search is a labor of love for you, my dear reader, to
make sure my story is historically correct. My protagonist is here to tug at
your heartstrings and keep you turning pages to see what happens next. My antagonist
is modeled after a specific personality to make you hate them and want them to
get their just rewards.
The secondary characters are crafted to give reality and
credence to the tale and to help my protagonist along her way. The ending has
been carefully constructed to answer all the questions and bring the story to
its natural conclusion. Every time I end a tale and send it off to the
publisher, I feel a piece of my heart went with it.
My dear friend of the last five years died this last week.
She was my biggest fan and greatest support. She worked a forty-hour a week job
and took care of her elderly parents, one of whom suffered with dementia and
took up much of her time.
In her last
communication with me, my friend thanked me for writing stories so she could
close her door at night and escape to a different world for a time. She said it
helped her cope with the situations in her life and gave her what she needed to
get up and do it again. I’m at a loss to express my grief with her passing, but
I’m also gratified I could help in my small way.
Such a comment from her makes all my efforts worthwhile, and
it is my hope I can encourage and enliven you as well.
The greatest reward an author can receive is the knowledge they
helped their reader through a difficult time and gave them a moment of escape. May
the same be true for you.
Cheers!
With love,
Virginia Barlow
I enjoy my grandchildren, and the time I share with them. They make me smile with their antics. I like to quilt, crochet, knit and sew. Cooking and baking are occasional itches I scratch. The rest of the time, they are necessary evils. LOL.
My greatest support comes from my husband. He has been my sounding board for all my stories. My daughters are also a great support to me. I couldn’t do it without my family.
Virginia Barlow’s recent release is the paranormal romance, The Witch of Rathborne Castle.
You can visit Virginia’s website at https://www.virginia-barlow.com or connect with her on Twitter, Goodreads and Facebook.
Lady Jane Lenwood is abandoned and alone in an empty castle in the middle of a dark twisted forest. The locals call her a witch because she has the “sight.”
When a wounded stranger is found within the gates, she is warned he carries secrets and their lives will be intertwined.
Lady Jane walks with a limp following a riding accident the night her mother left her. And had given up on having a normal life. She blames her misfortune on the current Duke of Rathborne.
Max Radley is sent by the king to find a traitor. His search leads him to Rathborne Castle and the beautiful woman living there. He must keep his identity a secret in order to find the traitor.
Lies, deception, and a grand scheme to relieve him of his wealth have the real villians framing him for treason.
Only Jane and her supernatural ability can save him, but in order to find the answer she must face her past and the feeling she has for him.
The Witch of Rathborne Castle is a riveting historical paranormal romance from start to finish. I hadn’t read more than a few pages before I was hooked. The plot unfolds at a nice easy pace with descriptive narration and a heroine to root for. Lady Jane is a mysterious character and her backstory plucked at my heartstrings. Max is a hero on a mission. Can he root out the traitor? The stakes are high for both Jane and Max which added to the anticipation. I did find the obstacles Jane and Max have to face a little over the top. But with each obstacle, they drew closer as a couple. There’s a wonderful gothic vibe to this story. There are quite a few twists I didn’t see coming, especially near the end. I may have gasped a few times. The ending was so unexpected, I got a little emotional. The Witch of Rathborne Castle is an engrossing historical romance with paranormal elements I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Fans of both historical romance and paranormal romance will love The Witch of Rathborne Castle. Reminiscent of classical historicals romance from the ’90s, The Witch of Rathborne Castle will sweep the reader away. Highly recommend! – N.N.Light’s Book Heaven Five Star Review
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