Daniel O’Connell, who in the early 19th century was one of the leading barristers in Ireland, led the campaign for Catholic Emancipation, which had consumed England for many decades, beginning in the 18th century. He was a brilliant voice, speaking for the Irish in a way that England could not ignore. His actions would gain him the title “The Liberator of Ireland”.
 
Though a Deist in his youth, after the infamous duel in 1815, where he killed John D'Esterre, a leading member of the Protestant Ascendancy who had challenged him, O’Connell returned to his faith. In 1816, he became a devout Catholic, to the great joy of his wife.
 
In 1817, he stated,
 
“My political creed is short and simple. It consists in believing that all men are entitled as of right and justice to religious and civil liberty…I have taken care to require it only on that principle which would emancipate the Catholics in Ireland, would protect the Protestants in France and Italy, and destroy the Inquisition, together with inquisitors, in Spain. Religion is debased and degraded by human interference; and surely the worship of the Deity cannot but be contaminated by the admixture of worldly ambition or human force.”
 
Until the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829, Catholics could not, among other things, hold public office nor serve in Parliament. Ironically, the Prince Regent opposed Catholic Emancipation even though he married (illegally) Maria Fitzherbert, a twice-widowed Roman Catholic, who was arguably the love of his life. He did not, however, veto the new law in 1829, pressed by the Whigs and opposed by the Tories, which emancipated the Catholics.
 
In 1828, when Daniel O’Connell stood for election in County Clare and won, he could not take a seat in the House of Commons—not until 1829 with the new law.
 
Daniel O’Connell was a tall, handsome man with a head of dark curls and shinning blue eyes. My hero in The Shamrock & The Rose, Morgan O’Connell, is Daniel’s fictional Protestant cousin with the same dark good looks. Daniel O’Connell did have a Protestant cousin and Protestant friends, so it’s quite possible. In his younger days before he married, when he was training in England, Daniel was quite the rake. My fictional Morgan O’Connell was one as well until he met Rose Collingwood.
 
Put yourself in the mood and grab a copy of my novella, The Shamrock & The Rose, FREE on Amazon on St. Patrick’s Day.
 
 
"A great short story of suspense and romance; I loved it..." ~ Sinfully Tasty Reads

I first developed this list for a friend of Irish descent who loves Irish historical romances. I have come to love these stories that feature Ireland and/or Irish heroes and heroines. The books on this list cover all time periods. Some transcend typical historical romance as they bring to life heartrending tales of the Irish fight for freedom and/or the wonderful Irish people who survived much hardship to help make great their adoptive countries.
 
If you’re looking for stories of the Emerald Isle or handsome Irish hunks, or worthy Irish heroines, you will find them HERE.

Who doesn’t love a good pirate or privateer story? All that capturing, swashbuckling and romancing on the high seas—oh yes! Gets my blood boiling just thinking about it. Some of these do not have pirates as such, but may have a swashbuckling sea captain or a privateer. See the list.

If you haven’t discovered my newest series, The Clan Donald Saga, the stories of the Lords of the Isles, I highly recommend them to you. The first two books, Summer Warrior and Bound by Honor have both won awards. You can see them on Amazon here. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HVHTYHJ
 
Right now, I am writing book 3, The Strongest Heart. It’s the story of Donald Macdonald, Lord of the Isles.

A brief description:
 
In the late 14th century, the Kingdom of the Isles was under assault from the ambitious Albany Stewarts, who were taking advantage of Scotland’s empty throne to increase their power. Jealous of the Macdonald lordship to the west, the ruthless Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, thwarted Donald, Lord of the Isles, at every turn.
 
A man of keen intelligence and strategy, educated at Oxford and a frequent guest of England’s kings, Donald did not intend to allow a traitorous royal thug to rob him of his legacy. The Earldom of Ross was the buffer he needed to keep the Isles safe. Not unmindful of all that was at stake, he took as his bride Mariota Leslie, heiress to the Earldom of Ross.
 
What he could not achieve through diplomacy or marriage, Donald was prepared to claim by right of the sword. In the greatest battle Scotland has ever seen, he would demonstrate the power of the Isles to become the Hero of Harlaw.
 
If all goes well, it will be out later this year. Be sure to follow me on Amazon or sign up for my newsletter to get word of new releases.

Every now and then I love a good Viking story. Not fantasy, not paranormal, just straight up historical love stories from the time of the raiding Northmen. The Viking Age was that part of the medieval period from the end of the 8th century to the middle of the 11th century, although there are Norse pirates still around beyond that. It was an age of valiant and sometimes ruthless warriors and raiders.
 
There’s nothing like a Viking raid and a strapping tall warrior to get your blood boiling, right? Well, of course, it must be well done and we want a strong heroine to give the guy some grief. And a little history thrown in doesn’t hurt either. If you like ‘em, here’s a list of those I’ve rated 4 and 5 stars!

It’s that time of year when I share my favorite heroes and heroines from the novels I have rated 5-stars. Noble men, who overcome tortured pasts, flaws and the odds against them to pursue great deeds and love, and heroines who persist against overwhelming obstacles to be with the man to whom they would give their heart—strong, intelligent women of character. Every one a worthy hero and heroine. The best are set deep in history.
 
See my favorites, my Christmas gift to you--HERE! This just might be your next year’s reading list!

Who among us ladies hasn’t dreamed of a knight in shining armor? A valiant hero living in a time when honor prevailed and a woman of character who loved him. (I did say we were dreaming, right?) These historical novels will take you there.
 
Since the medieval period in European history spanned the 5th century to the 15th century, all the stories on my list take place during that time and all have garnered 4 or 5 stars from me. See the list.

The Isle of Iona is a very special place as anyone who has been there can tell you. A small isle that lies about a mile off the west coast of the larger Isle of Mull in the Scottish Hebrides, Iona has a long and illustrious history. Today is it a tourist destination and the faithful make pilgrimages to its shores and its Abbey Church. I have walked the white sand beaches, felt the constant breeze on my face and experienced the tranquility that characterizes this sacred place. See more.

In my research for the award-winning Medieval Warriors series, I learned much about the Nordic peoples who at one time raided and ultimately settled in England and Scotland. These included the Danes, who settled in Yorkshire and what became known as the Danelaw, as well as other Nordic groups. To write scenes in the home of my half-Danish heroine in York for Rogue Knight, I had to understand the names, the personal grooming habits and the clothing, even the jewelry. And for Rebel Warrior, I had to know about the weapons they preferred and whether the leader of a Viking attack might be dark-haired. Take a look at some of the things I discovered about “Vikings” from my research.

Every now and then I love a good Viking story. Not fantasy, not paranormal, just straight up historical love stories from the time of the raiding Northmen. The Viking Age was that part of the medieval period from the end of the 8th century to the middle of the 11th century, although there are Norse pirates still around beyond that. It was an age of valiant and sometimes ruthless warriors and raiders. See the "best" on Historical Romance Review.