The Heart of a Hussar
(The Winged Warrior Series, Book 1)
By Griffin Brady
Publication Date: 12th September 2020. Publisher: Trefoil Publishing. Page Length: 434 Pages.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Poland is at war. He must choose between his lifelong ambition and his heart.
Exploiting Muscovy’s Time of Troubles, Poland has invaded the chaotic country. Twenty-two-year-old Jacek Dąbrowski is an honorable, ferocious warrior in a company of winged hussars—an unrivaled, lethal cavalry. When his lieutenant dies in battle, Jacek is promoted to replace him, against the wishes of his superior, Mateusz, who now has more reason to eliminate him.
Jacek dedicates his life to gaining the king’s recognition and manor lands of his own. Consequently, he closely guards his heart, avoiding lasting romantic entanglements. Unscathed on the battlefield, undefeated in tournaments, and adored by women eager to share his bed, Jacek has never lost at anything he sets out to conquer. So when he charges toward his goals, he believes nothing stands in his way.
Upon his return from battle, Jacek deviates from his ordinarily unemotional mindset and rescues enemy siblings, fifteen-year-old Oliwia and her younger brother, Filip, from their devastated Muscovite village. His act of mercy sets into motion unstoppable consequences that ripple through his well-ordered life for years to come—and causes him to irretrievably lose his heart.
Oliwia has her own single-minded drive: to protect her young brother. Her determination and self-sacrifice lead her to adopt a new country, a new religion, and a new way of life. But it’s not the first time the resilient beauty has had to remake herself, for she is not what she appears to be.
As Jacek battles the Muscovites and Tatars threatening Poland’s borders for months at a time, Oliwia is groomed for a purpose concealed from her. All the while, Mateusz’s treachery and a mysterious enemy looming on the horizon threaten to destroy everything Jacek holds dear.
Excerpt
After the meal, Jacek’s unseeing eyes fixed on an empty wooden platter before him. He drummed his fingers on the tabletop while his mind turned over the conversations in the solar—conversations that dispelled the euphoric homecoming and replaced it with the unpleasantness that was Mateusz.
Mateusz had done the talking, recounting his version of the campaign. That version shamelessly painted him in the bravest, brightest light as a stalwart commander and strategist, and he availed himself of every opportunity to expound on his false virtues while jabbing at every other member of the company. Jacek had taken most of the blows and had felt Eryk’s eyes on him with each slight, as if appraising him. But Jacek’s irritation paled in comparison to his outrage over Mateusz’s careless, heartless depictions of the fallen.
“He was long in the tooth anyway,” or, “He was only a pacholik,” or worse, “If he’d been a better warrior, he wouldn’t have died.” Never mind that they had been part of their brotherhood, that they had sacrificed their lives, or that their loved ones would never lay eyes on them or hear them call their names again.
Lost in his morose meanderings, Jacek jerked when light fingers tapped his shoulder. Oliwia’s crystal-blue eyes danced above her hesitant smile, and Jacek was instantly pulled from his morass.
Have her eyes always resembled shimmering aquamarines?
“Oliwia!” He stood at attention, knocking over—and catching—the heavy armchair. Curious faces turned to him, then turned back again. Remembering he still wore his road attire, he dusted his arms and chest.
“I am sorry, Lieutenant. I did not mean to disturb your thoughts. I called to you, but I don’t believe you heard me.” She covered her mouth with her hand. Despite the effort, her smile peeked out.
“You did not disturb me. I’m glad of the distraction. You’ve saved me from brooding.”
“It was bad, then?” She’d dropped her hand and the smile with it, and she seemed to study him with her wide eyes.
“Not so bad, no. Well, that is”—he cleared his suddenly sticky throat—“the casualties are always difficult to reconcile.” He glanced around and noticed Henryk watching him with a peculiar expression.
“Then it’s no wonder you brood. I merely wanted to welcome you back and tell you how delighted Filip is to have you safely home again.”
And what of you, Oliwia?
Jacek pulled a hand through his hair. “I … It’s good to be home,” he spluttered. “I look forward to spending time with him again. Of course.”
She nodded, a quizzical look on her face. “Did you make many stops on your journey home? Perhaps you visited old friends or familiar towns?”
He shrugged, trying not to stare at her throat, or the exquisite, creamy skin above her modest neckline, or the point where her silver necklace dove under said neckline, just above a hint of cleavage.
He cleared his throat again. “We were all of us anxious for home, so we spent as little time dawdling as possible. With the exception of a few estates and villages where we lingered.” He grumbled inside, remembering how Mateusz’s dalliances had slowed them up.
Oliwia’s face scrunched in a frown, but as quickly as it had overtaken her features, it disappeared. She brushed her fingers lightly over her upper lip and raised her eyebrows. “This is new, yes?”
Only when he raised his fingers to his own lip did he remember the moustache. “Yes, it is. Well, no, not so new. It’s … I’ve had it months now. For a time, I wore a beard.”
What an imbecile! Sweet Jesus, what in blazes is wrong with me?
“It’s … thick. Does it get in the way when you drink?”
He detected, he was certain, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“Well, no. No, it does not.” Now he was sure he detected disapproval. He caught himself staring at her rosy mouth and pulled his eyes back to hers. “The barber will shave it off tomorrow,” he announced on a whim. When her expression didn’t change, he suspected she hadn’t been looking at him disapprovingly, after all.
As his thoughts spun, so did his innards. People still surrounded them, and he caught stray words in the buzz of quiet conversation. From the kitchen, Beata screeched at a dog.
Oliwia gathered her skirts. “I had best get upstairs and prepare my lady’s chamber.” She beamed him a beautiful smile. “Again, welcome home, Lieutenant.”
He looked around and dropped his voice. “Jacek.”
“Of course.” She dipped her head. “Jacek.”
He watched her glide away. What an oaf! I didn’t ask what she’s been doing or what has happened to her in the last eight months! He resisted the urge to smack his forehead with the heel of his hand.
“Oliwia.” He took three quick strides and caught her up. “How have you been?”
Just as she turned, Eryk hailed him. He glanced at his lord and nodded, then looked back at Oliwia.
“I have been hearty and hale, thank you.” Turning once more, she headed toward the stairs.
“I wish to hear more,” Jacek called.
She stopped and regarded him over her shoulder. Her burnished sable hair cascaded down her back in waves. The curve of her cheek reminded him of something, someone …
Spirit of God!
She snatched his breath away.
You can pick up your copy of this book from the following online stores: Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon CA, Amazon AU. This novel is available to read on #KindleUnlimited
Griffin Brady is a historical fiction author with a keen interest in the Polish Winged Hussars of the 16th and 17th centuries. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. The Heart of a Hussar took third place in the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ 2018 Colorado Gold Contest and was a finalist in the Northern Colorado Writers’ 2017 Top of the Mountain Award.
The proud mother three grown sons, she lives in Colorado with her husband. She is also an award-winning, Amazon bestselling romance author who writes under the pen name G.K. Brady.
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Thank you so much for hosting today's tour stop for The Heart of a Hussar.
ReplyDeleteMary Anne
The Coffee Pot Book Club
I seldom see books with this setting. It sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for featuring the book!
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