Winter's Heat [Kindle Edition]

Denise Domning (Author)

Book Description

WINTER'S HEAT, 1994 winner of Romantic Time's "Best First Historical" by best-selling author Denise Domning

PRAISE FOR WINTER'S HEAT

"Splendid...A superstar in the making" ---Romantic Times

"Riveting...full of sizzling passion, tension and intrigue...you should not miss this one!"
--- Penelope Williamson

"Enchanting...Vivid...Exciting!"---Susan Wiggs


OVERVIEW OF WINTER'S HEAT
A powerful baron forced to marry for want of an heir.  A woman's expectation to rule an abbey torn from her.  Now, a tide of treachery rises around them and their only hope is to trust, to cherish and to love unconditionally.

More Praise for Winter's Heat

Five out of Five Stars
"To say that Ms. Domning is ... a gifted writer is an understatement of the gravest sort. That compliment does not do her justice. I love this series and am now reading them for the second time."---a reader

"I have read the entire book in almost one sitting. This is the first time in 10 years I have been this entranced by a novel."---C L Hastings "bookwriter"

This book is only for readers who love their history accurate, their knights Medieval and their women strong. 

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ms. Domning's first novel brings to light the harsh realities of life in medieval England, but also the passion and tenderness of which these hearty people were capable. From the hardness of the knights to the softness of the ladies, this well-written first novel gives us the flavor of the time without overpowering the real story of a family's battle to find peace and happiness with themselves and each other.  Ms. Domning wields a powerful pen!" --- Diane Potwin -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

From the Author

This book, and the series that follows it, all started in 1978 when I had a dream about two people, Rannulf and Rowena, in Medieval England, a time in history I didn't know at all. In the dream they conveyed to me some of their complicated relationship. As I woke up I caught myself saying "I have to write this book!" But I also knew I wanted to write an accurate novel because I believe wrapping historical facts up in a good fictional story will teach you more about history and the way people lived than any textbook. Twelve years of research ensued before I felt capable of recreating this amazing time period. In Winter's Heat I intended to explore life in a Medieval Castle, or how a mid-level baron might have lived, someone affected deeply by the actions of those holding the true reins of power.

Then I started writing.  A few years, several marriages and an international move followed before I one day sent the first seven chapters to Denise Marcil of the Denise Marcil Literary Agency. Much to my surprise, she requested more chapters to read. I sent the next five finished chapters to her.  A few weeks later she requested more chapters. Yipes! They weren't done. With that I got serious and plowed my way through the rest of the book and got them off to her.

She responded with, "This is the first book in seven years to knock me off my chair." Wow! She went on to sell Winter to what was then the new Topaz Line of books. We were all astonished at how well it was received and I was honored and thrilled that Winter's Heat won the coveted Romantic Times award for "Best First Historical" of 1994.

And that, as they say, is history.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 798 KB
• Print Length: 384 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004H4XRJ6
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,818 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond Romance September 24, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I have purchased 5 of Ms. Domnings books titled, Winter's Heat, Autumn's Flame, Spring Fury, Summer's Storm and A Love for All Seasons. I had never heard of Ms. Domning before but I so love the Medival era. To say that Ms. Domning is such a gifted writer is an understatement of the gravest sort. That compliment does not do her justice. I love this series and am now reading them for the second time. Even though I know what will happen next, its like reading them for the first time. Every description is so vivid, it's as if I'm there witnessing it all with my own eyes. I HIGHLY recommend her books for those that love romance and the Medival Era. Ms. Domning has found a life-long fan in me!!!

37 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Overall Rating: 4.85 February 14, 2011

By LoveMy5Dogs

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Overall Rating: 4.85 // Action: 3.5 / Emotion: 4.5 / Romance: 3 / Sensuous: 2 / Intrigue: 4 / Medieval Flavor: 5 // Humor: 3 / Tears: 2

Readers of medieval romances will want to read "Winter's Heat," the first book in Denise Domning's five-book series, 'The Graistan Chronicles.' This book was so engaging and intriguing that it was almost impossible to put down. Not only did Domning write a book filled with action, suspense, romance and emotion, but she did so while keeping the dialogue, descriptions and feelings true to the era in which the book was set (twelfth century England).

The hero, Rannulf FitzHenry, Lord of Graistan, was portrayed as a tortured, yet driven, alpha warrior, who was determined not to fall in love with the heroine. Rannulf had to keep reminding himself that he was marrying Rowena for the lands she would bring to him. Rowena of Benfield, was a strong-willed, sharp-tongued, convent-bred heroine, who wanted to find a secure place in the world -- having been uprooted from her home to be given to a convent; whereupon she then strove to make a place for herself, only to be uprooted again to be married against her will.

Domning included several secondary characters that added a lot of depth and interest to the story -- and instilled interest in reading the future books of the series. Rannulf's love of his family was revealed by the male camaraderie that flowed between him and his older, bastard brother Temric and the caring he had toward his youngest brother (and current Graistan steward), Gilliam.

"Winter's Heat" is a must read. Domning kept the story running at a fast pace, full of adventure and intrigue. The characters were well-developed and so realistic they inspired strong emotions (whether sympathy or hated).

A more detailed, spoiler-ridden synopsis/review of "Winter's Heat" appears at Wolf Bear Does Books.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great start to a great series. May 1, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Looking for a new author, I picked up Ms. Domning's book "Autumn's Flame". While reading this book I discovered that this was the third book in a series of four. After reading "Autum's Flame" I then purchased the other three books. "Winter's Heat" is the first in the series. Lord Rannulf and Lady Rowena are the main characters and Ms. Domning does a wonderful job of writing their story. Lady Rowena is a strong woman for this era (12th century) and proves to be an important figure in Lord Rannulf's life. I thoroughly recommend this series to all who enjoy the medieval times. "Winter's Heat" and "Spring's Fury" were my favorite two in this series. Oh yea, "A Love for all Seasons" has a surpise for readers.

More About the Author

May 20, 2013
Last night we watched from the porch as a beaver swam up the ditch beneath our house, sat on the weedy stuff that's growing way too thickly this year (it didn't get cold enough this winter to put it in check) and dined on crayfish, most likely. Firstly, beavers are scary big. Secondly, they're really not that pretty. But most importantly, as long as it's eating crayfish it's not taking down my peach tree. Yet.

Now back to our regular programming.

Denise Domning is the award-winning, best-selling author of eleven historical novels and the co-author with Monica Sarli of one gritty, hard-bitten memoir of addiction and recovery. Of the two genres she frankly prefers the rats, grime and fleas of the Twelfth Century over the ghettos and drug use of modern Kansas City. For Denise, writing means using words as her time machine and painting an accurate portrait of a past. Open any of her novels, whether Twelfth, Thirteenth, Sixteenth or Nineteenth Century, and step into a bygone era. As one reviewer put it "...you live the life and the language, smell the odors of unwashed humanity, and hear the sucking sounds as your flimsy shoes slog through mud and muck." Now doesn't that sound romantic?

Denise and her husband Ed live on a farm in Cornville (yes, Cornville), Arizona, where they plant veggies, milk cows and have an Easter egg hunt every day.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#58 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Historical

#80 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Historical Romance

#86 in Books > Romance > Historical

#98 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical

#58 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Historical

#80 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Historical Romance

#86 in Books > Romance > Historical

#98 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical