I'm thrilled to take part in
Sunrise Publishing's Cover Reveal
for
Blood of Kings: Legends #8
Jill Williamson presents Andrew Swearingen
Title: Shield of Honor
Series: Blood of Kings: Legends, Book 8
Authors: Jill Williamson and Andrew Swearingen
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Pre-order sale price: $4.99 (ebook)
Retail price after release: $7.99 (ebook)
Release date: January 5, 2027
Available in ebook, print, & coming to audiobook
at Sunrise Shop: https://sunrisepublishing.myshopify.com/collections/blood-of-kings-legendsor at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shield-Honor-invented-marriage-feelings-ebook/dp/B0H5ZLSN6C
SYNOPSIS
She invented a husband to save him. She didn't expect him to take the job so seriously.
Squire Derby Wenk has one goal: sail south to his sick mother.
The last person he expects to find on a merchant ship full of ruffians is Lady Lathia Livna — cousin to the queen, daughter of the house he serves, and the last woman in ErRets who should be traveling alone.
She's clearly hoping he'll pretend he didn't see her.
Not a chance. His duty is plain: see her safely home.
But Lady Lathia isn't turning back. She came to Land's End to help her best friend — and to finally live on her own terms. She didn't plan on Derby following her off the ship. When thugs close in and the black knights come to detain Derby, she blurts out the only thing that can save him: "He's my husband!"
Derby is the squire she spent years outmaneuvering, dismissing, and deliberately mispronouncing his name just to watch him flinch. Now she's trapped inside Volstone Castle, in a fake marriage, trying to help her best friend survive a treacherous courtship.
Except Derby is not who she thought he was. He swears the Shield Oath — a warrior's vow to stand between her and all harm, freely given, when nothing requires it. He's kind. He's steady. He would give his life for her.
And the lie she invented to save him keeps growing inconveniently real.
But someone wants control of Land's End — and they'll burn everything in their path to take it. When Lathia is caught up in danger, she'll have to trust the one man she never wanted to rely on…her husband.
She came here to disappear. She never planned on being found.
An epic story about a runaway noblewoman who stopped believing in rescue, a loyal man who can't stop showing up, and a God who keeps standing in the gap.
Now for the cover!
Blood of Kings: Legends
Book 2: Lord of Winter
Book 3: Lady of Shadows
Book:4: Heir of Light
Book 5: Queen of Reckoning
Book 6: Son of Embers
Book 7: Guardian of Hope
Book 8: Shield of Honor
About the Authors:
Jill Williamson is a multi-passionate creative who loves the arts. She’s written over two dozen books for readers of all ages and is best known for her Blood of Kings fantasy series, two of which won Christy Awards and made VOYA magazine’s Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror list. She produces films with her husband and teaches about writing at conferences. Visit her at jillwilliamson.com.
Andrew Swearingen is a speculative fiction author who loves writing epic tales of courageous heroes, pulse-pounding adventures, and the occasional sea monster just to keep things interesting. In his nonwriting time, Andrew enjoys hiking in the Shawnee National Forest with his wife, building sprawling Lego cities with his son, and searching for his next favorite nerdy board game. For more information, visit him at AndrewSwearingen.com.
Additional information and suggested posts
Primary Tropes
Fake marriage
Runaway noblewoman
Loyal squire / protective hero
Forced proximity inside an enemy castle
She falls second (he falls FIRST)
The Shield Oath (a warrior's vow, freely given)
Political conspiracy
Slow-burn romance that earns every page
A faith that keeps standing in the gap
Clean. No spice.
READERS WILL LOVE…
• A fake-marriage romance that starts as a desperate lie and becomes inconveniently, beautifully real.
• A loyal squire hero who keeps showing up—long after duty requires it—and swears to stand between her and all harm.
• A runaway noblewoman who stopped believing in rescue—and the man who can't stop proving her wrong.
• Forced proximity inside a foreign castle, a political conspiracy closing in, and a faith that keeps standing in the gap.
• Clean fantasy romance. Big stakes. No spice. A slow burn that earns every page.
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