I am so glad to be a stop on the Blog + Review Tour for The Call of the Sea by Sian Ann Bessey, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I love a Viking story!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: The Call of the Sea
Author: Sian Ann Bessey
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: November 1, 2022
Genre: Inspirational Historical/Viking Romance
On the eve of her betrothal to a nobleman she’s never met, Rhiannon seeks comfort on the shores of the sea she loves so well. But instead of offering peace to her uneasy heart, the ocean heralds doom with the arrival of dreaded Viking ships. A vicious raid leads to the death of her beloved father and leaves Rhiannon’s life in tatters. Heartbroken, she travels to Ynys Môn, where she takes up residence at the royal court of Owain Gwynedd.
Leif loves voyaging on the open water. As the son of a Viking chief, he’s accustomed to his people’s practice of plundering and looting. But when one of his companions ruthlessly kills an old man in front of the man’s beautiful daughter, Leif is haunted by the memory. Desperate to find forgiveness for the atrocity he allowed to occur, he’s offered a chance at redemption through the kindly teachings of an Irish priest and the unexpected arrival of a royal fugitive. Suddenly thrust into the midst of the Cymry’s political turmoil, Leif is reunited with the dead man’s daughter—Rhiannon. Forced to work side by side to uncover the truth behind the turmoil, they come to discover that love can grow from even the most tragic of beginnings. But with such incompatible backgrounds, surely a future together can never be theirs.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub
EXCERPT
“There is much I have to learn.” He reached out to touch the circled cross again. “This symbol, for example. I have seen it elsewhere. What is the meaning behind it?” A look of veneration fell upon the priest’s face. “It would take more than a few minutes in the graveyard t’ explain the significance of the holy cross.” “How long?” Leif asked. The priest cocked his head to one side and studied him silently for a moment. “Come with me into the church,” he said. “And we shall see.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sian Ann Bessey was born in Cambridge, England, but grew up on the island of Anglesey off the coast of North Wales. She left her homeland to attend university in the U.S. and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in English.
She began her writing career as a student, publishing several magazine articles while still in college. Since then she has published historical romance and romantic suspense novels, along with a variety of children’s books. She is a USA Today best selling author, a Foreward Reviews Book of the Year finalist, and a Whitney Award finalist.
Although Sian doesn’t have the opportunity to speak Welsh very often anymore, she can still wrap her tongue around, “Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.” She loves to travel and experience other cultures, but when she’s home, her favorite activities are spending time with her family, cooking, and reading.
Connect with Sian by visiting sianannbessey.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a signed copy of The Call of the Sea, $25 Amazon Gift Card, swag bundle (including stickers, bookmark, button, cross necklace), virtual book club kit, and ebook of The Heart of the Rebellion.
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 31, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 7, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Suspense and adventure seem to abound in this novel. It sounds exciting!
Sounds great. Thank you for sharing.
I look forward to reading this.
thanks so much for being on the tour, Beckie!
Sounds like an interesting book.
Marion
The cover art is beautiful.
Great excerpt, love the cover and The Call of the Sea sounds like a fantastic Viking read for me!
Thanks for sharing it with me and have a splendid day!
Sounds like an epic adventure!
A gorgeous cover and an intriguing synopsis and excerpt, The Call of the Sea sounds like a must read for me. Thank you for sharing the author’s bio and book details