Ride with the Moonlight (Thunder on the Moor, Book 2)
Author: Andrea Matthews
Publication Date: 25th November 2020
Publisher: Inez M. Foster
Page Length: 387 Pages
Genre: Historical, Time-Travel, Romance
After rescuing sixteenth-century Border reiver Will Foster from certain death at her family’s hands, time traveler Maggie Armstrong finally admits her love for the handsome Englishman, though she can’t rid herself of the sinking suspicion that her Scottish kin are not about to let them live in peace. What she doesn’t expect is the danger that lurks on Will’s own side of the Border. When news of their plans to marry reaches the warden, he charges Will with March treason for trysting with a Scot. Will and Maggie attempt to escape by fleeing to the hills, but when Will is declared an outlaw and allowed to be killed on sight, they can no longer evade the authorities. Will is sentenced to hang, while Maggie is to be sent back to her family. Heartbroken, she has no choice but to return to Scotland, where her uncle continues to make plans for her to wed Ian Rutherford, the wicked Scotsman who she now realizes murdered her father in cold blood. With Will facing the gallows in England, and herself practically under house arrest in Scotland, she continues to resist her uncle’s plans, but her efforts are thwarted at every turn. Will’s family, however, is not about to stand by and watch their youngest lad executed simply because he’s lost his heart to a Scottish lass. A daring plan is set into motion, but will it be in time to save Will’s life and reunite the lovers? Or will Ian’s lies prompt Maggie’s family to ensure the bond between them is forever destroyed?
Trigger Warnings
Violence, sexual content.
Buy Links:
This novel is available on #KindleUnlimited
Universal Amazon Link: https://books2read.com/u/m0B0DP
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ride-Moonlight-Thunder-Moor-Book-ebook/dp/B08P5D24QS
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Ride-Moonlight-Thunder-Moor-Book-ebook/dp/B08P5D24QS
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Ride-Moonlight-Thunder-Moor-Book-ebook/dp/B08P5D24QS
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Ride-Moonlight-Thunder-Moor-Book-ebook/dp/B08P5D24QS
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Often writers started out as readers. Was there a particular book that inspired you to be an author?
ANDREA: I’ve always loved to read. Books had the power to carry me away to distant lands and times, and made it possible for me to do and be whatever I wanted. The first book I really remember falling in love with was Pride and Prejudice, and I have to say, Mr. Darcy still holds a place in my heart. However, that’s not what inspired me to be an author. I think, perhaps, it was the other way around. Since I’ve always had a vivid imagination, it was easy for me to become engrossed in a book, where I could clearly envision the scenes and the characters, but when I wasn’t reading, I was daydreaming and coming up with stories of my own. My daydreaming use to baffle my teachers, because they’d think I wasn’t paying attention. But when they called on me, I had the answer. That was the beginning of my skill at multitasking. And it has served me well. An added advantage is that I really never get bored since I’m always thinking about the next story or rehashing a scene in my head.
Do you tend to read the same genre you write?
ANDREA: Yes, and no. I do prefer to read historical and time travel romance and mysteries, which is what I write, but I also enjoy some fantasies and an occasional thriller. One thing I’m not a big fan of is bildungsroman or domestic fiction. They tend to be too deep for me. I do a lot of “deep” reading when I’m involved in the research for my books, so when I’m reading something for enjoyment, I usually prefer light-hearted romances or cozy historical mysteries. But whatever I read, there always needs to be a little romance, even in my mysteries.
Do you have a favorite time period to write about? If so, why?
ANDREA: I majored in history and tend to enjoy anything pre-nineteen twenties, though I do occasionally stroll forward past the early 1900s. I’m not sure the period matters so much as the story. When writing the Thunder on the Moor series, I wanted the Border Reivers at their height, which was the mid-sixteenth century. My Cross of Ciaran series needed a time on the cusp of Christianity in Ireland. Generally, the story, the characters, and the events within the story will determine the time period. It just seems to be that most of those plots end up finding their home more than a hundred years ago.
How long have you been writing, and how long did it take before your first book was published?
ANDREA: I’ve always loved creating stories and have been writing for as long as I can remember. It started with poems and song lyrics, then around 1992, while recovering from the loss of my gall bladder, I decided to try something a little more in depth, just to keep me busy while I recuperated. I gave a few chapters to some friends, and at their insistence, ended up finishing the book. It’s tucked away, and some day may see the light of day again, but I had already thought of a few other tales I wanted to tell. That first novel did wet my taste for something more however and gave me the incentive to put some of those other stories to paper — on a typewriter, no less. PCs and word processing programs were still a few years away. And so, I began to write novels, even shopped some around a bit. However, I still had a family to raise, and then I returned to school to get my MLS and became a full-time librarian, so I concentrated on improving the works when I could, not thinking much more about publishing them. Finally, a few years ago with my children grown, and about seven or eight drafts of my first novel under my belt, I decided to take the publishing plunge.
What is the scariest thing you face as a writer? How do you handle it?
ANDREA: Probably reading reviews. It’s almost like I want to close my eyes and peek through my fingers, praying they’re good. And the good ones are wonderful. They give me encouragement and let me know what I got right. The bad ones, however, can be a bit daunting, at least until you accept the fact that not everyone out there is going to like what you write. But that’s okay. You can’t please everyone, and once you get past their sting, there are some that might even help you improve your writing. Of course, there are always going to be those that serve no constructive purpose whatsoever, but I’ve learned that as long as they’re not in the majority, you just have to push them aside and move on. There are a million reasons why someone may not like your work, many of which have nothing to do with how good your writing is. It may be someone who doesn’t usually read the genre you write, or someone who has a favorite book that no one else can ever compete with, or even someone who just doesn’t believe in giving a good review. Whatever the reason, I’ve finally learned to that they are going to appear from time to time, but I am thankful for the vast majority that are good.
If you could pick your top 3 favorite books of all time, what would they be?
ANDREA: Wow, that would really be tough. Pride and Prejudice, of course, then probably the Harry Potter series, and . . . I guess there is no single book I could list as number three. Having been a librarian, I’ve been exposed to so many wonderful books, it would be hard to choose. So, I’m just going to have to say number three is whatever I’m currently reading. I employ the fifty page rule. If a book hasn’t captured my interest in the first fifty pages, it’s not going to and I’m not going to continue reading it. I used to feel as if I’d have to finish a book if I started it, but I finally realized that there are just too many good books out there to waste time reading those I don’t enjoy.
What do you think is the most important thing to remember when following your dreams?
ANDREA: First of all, be realistic with yourself. If you want to be a doctor, but have no aptitude for science, it’s going to be a hard row to plow. Once you’ve decided your dreams are something within the realm of possibility, however, don’t let anyone talk you out of them or make you feel like they’re impossible or not a real job. One thing more you need to remember. Whatever your dreams are, be prepared to work hard at them and do the best you possibly can. There are going to be ups and downs, but if you work hard and hone your skills, you will succeed.
Does your family support your writing?
ANDREA: Absolutely, my family has always encouraged me and listened with untiring patience to my various story ideas. By the time they were in their teens, my kids were already giving me suggestions about things they did and didn’t like. They still are, and I continue keep their suggestions in mind as I write. They’ve all always had faith in me and never made me feel like I was wasting my time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrea Matthews is the pseudonym for Inez Foster, a historian and librarian who loves to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogical speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science, and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. She is the author of the Thunder on the Moor series set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Border, and the Cross of Ciaran series, where a fifteen hundred year old Celt finds himself in the twentieth century. Andrea is a member of the Romance Writers of America.
Social Media Links:
Website: www.andrea-matthews.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMatthewsAuthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andreamatthewshistoricalromance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreamatthewshistoricromance/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/andrea-matthews
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Andrea-Matthews/e/B07ZSCWZ6L
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19718311.Andrea_Matthews
