Front Page Fridays Week-34
Front Page Fridays Week-34
Welcome to Front Page Fridays Week-34. On Fridays I showcase the first page of a brand-new book.
My Front Page Fridays Week-34 guest is Cara Clayton and her brand-new historical novel, Mistress of the Manor.
Here’s the opening page:
Lincolnshire, September 1342
Clémence Masson gave no thought to what lay ahead. She bounded along the path towards the woods with joyful abandon. Her hair, the same colour as the autumn leaves, was already escaping from her coif. Followed at a more sedate pace by her older sister Agnes and younger brother Mattie, Clémence strode along, carrying her basket, as the bells of the abbey on the Grimsthorpe Castle estate rang for Prime, calling the monks to prayer at the first hour of daylight.
Clémence recognised the trill of a wren somewhere in the undergrowth nearby. She’d learned much about wildlife from Father Robert and took joy from all the learning she’d received from the elderly monk.
Suddenly a voice called out to them. “Where are you off to so early?”
It was young serf Daniel Farmer, watching the siblings from the doorway to his parents’ cottage.
“Only to pick berries,” Clémence shouted back.
“I was asking Agnes,” said Daniel, though he stared right back at Clémence. “You be careful in those woods. Anyone or anything could be in there,” he added.
When he frowned, his dark brows met across the top of his broad nose and he looked quite fearsome, Clémence thought.
She glanced at her sister, who moved on with her head down, ignoring the conversation. Although Daniel hoped to marry Agnes, there was no formal arrangement between their parents and his. Agnes cared only for her piety, and as for herself, she wasn’t ready for marriage. Surely there must be more awaiting her than simply becoming the wife of a local farmer’s son or an apprentice.
“Your work will be awaiting you, Daniel — the day has already begun, you know.” The words would sting, and Clémence regretted that, but she disliked the way he was always waiting for them, or watching.
Once again, Clémence was grateful that her father — the master mason and therefore important within the community — had encouraged her to learn to read and write. She could even speak Latin.
About Mistress of the Manor
A compelling new historical series set in an English Manor House! For fans of Alison Weir, Elizabeth Chadwick, Conn Iggulden and Philippa Gregory.
Life is wonderful at the manor … or is it?
1342, Lincolnshire, England
Clémence Masson has always yearned for more than her expected marriage to an apprentice or farmer’s son.
So when an opportunity arises at the nearby Grimsthorpe Manor House to be a companion to a newly-arrived bride-to-be, Clémmie is excited by the opportunity.
The young bride is soon to be handfasted to the lord of the manor, Ruadhán Amundeville, who is recently returned from battles with the Scots.
Ruadhán’s uncle Ulric has been overseeing the estates in the young lord’s absence, and it soon becomes clear to Clémmie that Ulric does not have Ruadhán’s best interests at heart.
But Clémmie does. She has found herself falling for the charming lord of Grimsthorpe.
When Ruadhán leaves for war with the French, Clémmie is left with Emma to deter Ulric’s unwanted advances.
And with the Black Death threatening, all of their lives could be at stake…
Will Clémmie achieve her dream of rising above her station? Could Grimsthorpe hold the key to her happiness?
Or will the darkness surrounding the manor destroy everything in its grasp…?
Purchase links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mistress-Manor-Tapestry-Tales-Medieval-ebook/dp/B0F6NZWW4H
Universal link on Facebook, X (Twitter), Bluesky - getbook.at/Mistress Manor
https://saperebooks.com/books/mistress-of-the-manor-tapestry-tales-medieval-sagas-book-1/
About the Author
After taking early retirement as a Headteacher, when Ros Rendle had to write many policy documents and also had fun story-writing for children, she moved with her husband and dogs to France. She lived there for over ten years and began writing seriously for adults. She joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme. This afforded a detailed critique of her first novel and subsequently she was fortunate enough to gain a publishing contract. Ros has eleven historical and romance books published, frequently featuring the French countryside and sometimes even a handsome, enigmatic Frenchman!
The new mediaeval series (first book published 25/07/2025 and two others, so far, to follow), is published under the pseudonym of Cara Clayton.
Now, as well as writing, Ros and her husband are raising a guide dog puppy for the blind and enjoy walking him and their new pet dog.
Social media links
Website – https://www.rosrendleauthor.co.uk
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RosalindRendleauthor
X (Twitter) – RR Cara Clayton - http://X.com/ros_rendle
Bluesky – https://rrcaraclayton.bsky.social
I hope you enjoyed reading Front Page Fridays Week-34. Please come back next time when I’ll be featuring a different author and the first page of their book.
And please take a look at books already featured on Front Page Fridays:
1. Blood Ribbons by Lin Le Versha – https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/front-page-fridays-week-1/
2. Fatal Blow by Brian Price – https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/front-page-fridays-week-2/
3. Can I Trust You? by Rob Gittins – Front Page Fridays Week-3 – Rachel Sargeant
4. The Last Bird of Paradise by AJ Aberford – Front Page Fridays Week-4 – Rachel Sargeant
5. Never Forgive You by Hilly Barmby – Front Page Fridays Week-5 – Rachel Sargeant
6. The Mists of Pencarrack Moor by Terri Nixon – Front Page Fridays Week-6 - Rachel Sargeant
7. The Thief of Joy by Stacey Murray – Front Page Fridays Week-7 - Rachel Sargeant
8. Edge of the Land by Malcolm Hollingdrake – Front Page Fridays Week-8 - Rachel Sargeant
9. The Mind of a Murderer by Michael Wood - https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/front-page-fridays-week-9/
10. The Midnight Man by Julie Anderson – Front Page Fridays Week-10 - Rachel Sargeant
11. Dark Road Home by Sheila Bugler – Front Page Fridays Week-11 - Rachel Sargeant
12. Her Charming Man by Rachel Sargeant – Front Page Fridays Week-12 - Rachel Sargeant
13. Wedding Bells at the Lakeside Hotel by Linda Huber – Front Page Fridays Week-13 - Rachel Sargeant
14. Dark Island by Daniel Aubrey – Front Page Fridays Week-14 - Rachel Sargeant
15. The Shame by Maureen Myant – Front Page Fridays Week-15 - Rachel Sargeant
16. Dead Mile by Jo Furniss – Front Page Fridays Week-16 — Rachel Sargeant
17. The Violin and Candlestick by David Jarvis – Front Page Fridays Week-17 — Rachel Sargeant
18. New Memories by S.E. Shepherd – Front Page Fridays Week-18 — Rachel Sargeant
19. Young Blood by Victoria Gemmell – Front Page Fridays Week-19 — Rachel Sargeant
20. Private Investigations by Rob Gittins – Front Page Fridays Week-20 — Rachel Sargeant
21. The Car Horn revolution by A.J. Aberford – Front Page Fridays Week-21 — Rachel Sargeant
22. What Lies Beneath by Maureen Myant – Front Page Fridays Week-22 — Rachel Sargeant
23. A Safe Place by Stephanie Carty – Front Page Fridays Week-23 — Rachel Sargeant
24. Fatal Image by Brian Price – Front Page Fridays Week-24 — Rachel Sargeant
25. Run For Your Lies by A.A. Abbott – Front Page Fridays Week-25 — Rachel Sargeant
26. A Walk in the Park by Natalie Kleinman – Front Page Fridays Week-26 — Rachel Sargeant
27. A Storm in a Teacup by Rachael Gray – Front Page Fridays Week-27 — Rachel Sargeant
28. The Midnight Bookshop by Amanda James – https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/blog/front-page-fridays-week-28
29. A Death in the Afternoon by Julie Anderson – Front Page Fridays Week-29 — Rachel Sargeant
30. Justice by Madalyn Morgan – Front Page Fridays Week-30 — Rachel Sargeant
31. Let Me Out by Amanada Brittany – https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/blog/front-page-fridays-week-31
32. A Pocketful of Poisons by Brian Price – https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/blog/85orb6bc15cs2voyn37yv3jprw0jec
33. Tribute by Madalyn Morgan – Front Page Fridays Week-33 — Rachel Sargeant