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Medieval Stories
Another Accolade for LADY OF LINCOLN!
Book Award, Book Reviews, Lady of Lincoln, Nicola de la Haye Rachel Elwiss Joyce Book Award, Book Reviews, Lady of Lincoln, Nicola de la Haye Rachel Elwiss Joyce

Another Accolade for LADY OF LINCOLN!

Besides winning a gold medal and ‘Book of the Year’ from the Coffee Pot Book Club, a ‘Notable Book’ Award from BlueInk Review (their highest accolade), and Five Stars from Reader’s Favorite, LADY OF LINCOLN has now been shortlisted for the Chaucer Award by the Chanticleer International Book Awards!.

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Lady of Lincoln Awarded the Prestigious BlueInk ‘Notable Book’ Seal!

Lady of Lincoln Awarded the Prestigious BlueInk ‘Notable Book’ Seal!

I’m delighted to share some wonderful news:
Lady of Lincoln has been awarded the BlueInk Notable Book Seal — an honour reserved for a very small number of books judged to be of exceptional merit.

BlueInk Review is one of the publishing industry’s most respected editorial review services, created by professional critics and editors who have written for outlets such as Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and major newspapers.

The Notable Book Seal is BlueInk’s highest distinction, highlighting titles that stand out for their literary quality, authenticity, and craftsmanship. Fewer than five percent of submissions receive this accolade.

Here’s some of what the reviewer wrote about Lady of Lincoln:

“Joyce’s rich characterization unfolds against a vivid, meticulously researched historical backdrop… a gripping account of courage amid the brutal realities of civil war.”

For a historical novel rooted in the real life of Nicola de la Haye, England’s indomitable Lady of Lincoln Castle, this accolade is deeply meaningful. It celebrates not only the countless hours of research and writing but also the historical women who refused to be forgotten.

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Finalist in Book of the Year! 🥳

Finalist in Book of the Year! 🥳

I was overwhelmed last night to receive this surprise email:

“I am pleased to announce that your book, Lady of Lincoln, is a Finalist in The Coffee Pot Book Club Book Of The Year Awards 2025.”

Lady of Lincoln is a finalist for Book of the Year Award with the Coffee Pot Book Club

I’m overjoyed and delighted. 🎊🎊🎊🎊🥂🥂🥂🥳🥳🥳

In particular, I’m so pleased that Nicola (Nicholaa) de la Haye’s story is gaining recognition! 🏰

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Hugh de Morville: The Knight Who Would Not Repent
Great Rebellion 1173-4, Henry II, Thomas Becket Rachel Elwiss Joyce Great Rebellion 1173-4, Henry II, Thomas Becket Rachel Elwiss Joyce

Hugh de Morville: The Knight Who Would Not Repent

Lord of Westmorland and Knaresborough, de Morville escaped execution, but not history’s judgment.

When Thomas Becket fell beneath the knights’ swords on that winter night in Canterbury, Hugh de Morville was there, but whether he struck or simply stood aside remains one of history’s greyest shadows.

He was the oldest of the four and the most powerful: Lord of Westmorland and Knaresborough, baron of the north, and keeper of one of the most formidable castles in England. While Reginald FitzUrse raged, William de Tracy hesitated, and Richard de Brito delivered the fatal blow, de Morville watched . But his silence proved to be as damning as any sword.

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Lady of Lincoln Receives a 5-Star Review from The Coffee Pot Book Club!

Lady of Lincoln Receives a 5-Star Review from The Coffee Pot Book Club!

I’m absolutely delighted, and a little bit overwhelmed, to share that Lady of Lincoln has received a 5-star review from the highly respected Coffee Pot Book Club!

For those who don’t know, The Coffee Pot Book Club is one of the most trusted and independent voices in the historical fiction community, known for its thoughtful, in-depth reviews and support for authors who bring history vividly to life.

As a debut author, it’s both humbling and thrilling to have Lady of Lincoln recognised by such an esteemed platform.

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Reginald FitzUrse: The Bear Knight Who Slayed a Saint
Great Rebellion 1173-4, Thomas Becket, Henry II Rachel Elwiss Joyce Great Rebellion 1173-4, Thomas Becket, Henry II Rachel Elwiss Joyce

Reginald FitzUrse: The Bear Knight Who Slayed a Saint

On 29 December 1170, four armed knights pushed through the freezing rain towards Canterbury Cathedral. Their leader was Reginald FitzUrse—a man whose very name meant “son of the bear.” He would live up to it in every sense: fierce, proud, and dangerously impulsive.

When Thomas Becket fell beneath their swords that night, FitzUrse’s roar echoed through the nave. It was he who first laid hands on the archbishop, striking the blow that turned a quarrel between king and church into one of the most shocking crimes of the Middle Ages.

A Knight of the King’s Household

Little is known of FitzUrse’s early life. He came from a respectable Somerset family, holding lands at Willeton and Barham. Like many younger sons of the gentry, he found advancement in royal service. By the 1160s he was one of Henry II’s household knights—trusted, well-paid, and fiercely loyal to the king who rewarded courage and obedience above all else.

That loyalty, however, would prove fatal.

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