When Duty, Honor, and Love Collide
Julian Blunt, a former sea captain and a despised Catholic, is stunned when Queen Elizabeth proposes that he help carry a betrothal locket to Tsar Ivan the Terrible in Moscow. It means an alliance between England and Russia is brewing, and the queen warns that should the locket fall into the hands of the Pope or his minions, it could mean war.
Julian joins the … war.
Julian joins the queen’s messenger, the lofty and spirited Jessandra Calcross, in a perilous voyage across the Baltic Sea and into the very heart of Russia. When a papal assassin determined to prevent the royal marriage strikes, Jess turns to Julian as the only man she can trust. Although at odds over religion and station, a slender emotional bond grows. Stalked by the relentless murderer, Julian is soon torn between abandoning his mission so he can better safeguard Jess, and fulfilling his vow to the queen. If he fails the queen he’ll never captain a ship again. But if he and Jess continue on to Moscow, they face a darker peril in the mercurial and sinister Tsar Ivan—a peril that will drive courage and dawning love to the breaking point.
“I enjoyed the setting, the play-by-play of action, and the chemistry between Jess and Julian was off the charts. This is an astonishing story that had me hooked from the beginning …” —Rabia Tanveer for Reader’s Favorite
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The Tsar’s Locket is the first book I have read by Ken Czech. I thought it was a great introduction to his work, as his talent really shines through with this story. I enjoyed getting to know Julian. He gets into a lot of adventure and danger. I liked the twists and turns that made me feel as though I was on the ride with him. I thought it was great.
The Tsar’s Locket is getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend this one for readers who enjoy reading Historical Fiction. I can not wait to read more by Ken Czech in the future. This book is not one to be missed.
I received The Tsar’s Locket from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
Reading this book is like stepping into a swashbuckling high seas adventure the likes of which you rarely see in novels anymore. Settle in for grand scenes, sweeping panoramas, exciting vistas and grandiose historical warfare, love, death and betrayals. You have to read this book to experience it. It’s beautifully written and totally captivating. I’m definitely putting this author on my auto read list and am thrilled that he has enough of a backlog of titles to entertain me for some time to come. If you like the perfect blend of action, adventure, history and romance, this is the book for you. Just like a great movie, when it was over, I felt like experiencing it all over again.
***I received a copy of this book from the author. This review is strictly voluntary.**
It’s London, 1581 and Julian Blunt has just been give a secret mission by Queen Elizabeth. Deliver a locket to the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible and Elizabeth will ignore the fact, that Julian Blunt is a Catholic and allow him to captain a ship once more. If Blunt fails, it may mean war. Tsar Ivan wants to marry a cousin of the Queen and has requested to see a picture of his prospective bride. Blunt is to accompany her envoy to Russia and act as interpreter. The marriage will cement a deal between England and Russia, allowing trade, military aid and ships, which the Tsar desperately needs in his war against Poland and Sweden. However, the Pope has other ideas and has sent a papal assassin to stop the mission at any cost.
This novel is a delight. Non stop adventure keeps the reader enthralled to a dramatic conclusion. Early into the voyage, Blunt discovers the envoy, Jess Calcross, is a young woman in disguise. Storms, murder and sabotage, lost at sea, Cossacks, a travelling fair, war and a siege all come into play. With his academic background the author has written an entertaining story highlighted by brilliant descriptions of the period and interwoven with true events. The reader steps into the Russian court in awe, just as the characters do.
This book is a definite must for those, who love historical fiction.
Ken Czech – The Tsar’s Locket – Reviewed 10/5/20 – Read 9/28-29/20
When the Queen requests you personally to save your country from WAR, you cannot deny her!!
Julian Blunt has not had an easy life! While he was at sea as Captain of his ship, his wife died. They had not been married for long, but she was the only woman that he had ever loved. Then the Queen found out that he was a Catholic and stripped him of his ship. He could no longer return to the sea and lead his men. Life goes downhill from there.
One night while making his way as it rained to his wife’s grave, which had been placed in an area of disgrace on the fringe of the cemetery due to her religion. He was wet as a drown goose as the rain came down, everywhere he looked he could see that the graves had been desecrated. Many smashed, even some toppled over. All of this was not unusual because after all, this was the Catholic resting place. As he approached her marker, which was just a pinewood cross crudely scratched out with her name and the dates: Katherine Marie Blunt 1558-1580 at rest. He could see her in his mind’s eye, dancing with her green eyes, and strawberry colored hair, laughing and teasing him.
He was surprised by one of the Queen’s men mounted and waiting under a tree. He knew that he could be there to throw him in the gallows. Nothing was said, as he kneeled at Katy’s resting place. He was remembering her, but the pain was there also because he knew this was as close as he would ever be to her again. Then he heard the horse approaching!! He knew that he could never best the man, so he waited. The soldier spoke, telling him that he was only a messenger and some particularly important people wanted to speak to him, IN PRIVATE!
And now the story begins…
What did I like? I know the account of the Catholics and the hatred that the English had for them, during this period of our history, so I could feel for poor Captain Blunt. I also know that the English are very loyal to their country and their Queen, so I can understand his need to comply with the request the Queen gave him. Knowing this, I can see him doing everything in his power to accomplish that task. Delivering the betrothed locket to Tsar Ivan the Terrible, even though I know too, that he was shaking in his boots to do so. The stories and legends for the Tsar were well known. Knowing this was what the Queen wanted, and it would save his beloved country, I know that he would do it.
What will you like? Just to start off with, the sadness is unbelievable, and yet the excitement of sending Captain Blunt on this incredible mission, and him knowing that the papal assassin will be determined to stop him at all costs is exhilarating. The intrigue, mystery, danger, and a touch of romance, even if it is only in one person’s mind, will enchant you from the first to the last page. Ken will capture your imagination and bring it to life in your mind’s eye, the race, the danger, the intriguing task, and the amazing characters will have you on the edge of your seat! This is an adventurous journey, that you do not want to miss! Captain Blunt and his companion, Jess, are characters that will live in your mind forever, for the enduring way that they make their way from England to Russia. Exciting is just a word till it jumps from the page, right into your mind, and you will soar with the eagles. Available now!
• File Size: 1923 KB
• Print Length: 308 pages
• Publication Date: April 30, 2020
• Publisher: Fireship Press
• ASIN: B085RNFHZ2
• Genre: Assassination Thrillers, Historical Thrillers, Action-Adventure
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