Thursday, March 29, 2018

What the Templars did for us -- #KnightsTemplar #History #Romance @KryssieFortune

A Knight

By Kryssie Fortune (Guest Blogger)

Even the name Knights Templar sounds romantic. I picture powerful knights fighting in organized jousts to win a lady’s favor.

The Templars were nothing like that. They were an order of fighting monks formed to escort pilgrims to the Holy Land.

Ever been on an escorted holiday led a guide? In England, Thomas Cook started a travel company on that principle. In 1841 he organized a group excursion from Leicester to Loughborough. Everyone hailed it as a success and the UK’s first travel company was born. No one realized the Templars had done something similar back in the time of the crusades. Of course, they had to fight off infidel attacks along the way. 

Back to modern holidays. Do you use travelers’ checks? They’re a great way to keep your money safe, aren’t they? The banks did good when they thought of them.



Well…not really.

The Templars beat them to it. When someone set out on medieval pilgrimage, they needed a way to protect their valuables. They could pay money to the Templars before they set off and withdraw it along the way. Just like modern bankers, I’m certain the Templars charged for the privilege.

While I’m on the subject of bankers, who do you think started the banking system? The Gnomes of Zurich? Well…only if those gnomes wore a white tunic emblazoned with a red Templar cross. 

On the 13th October, 1307 the whole Templar organization was condemned by Pope Clement and King Philip lV of France. They owed the Templars a fortune and didn’t want to pay it back. Instead, they arrested every Templar they could lay their hands on and put them to death. A few survivors supposedly escaped to Switzerland and fought with the Swiss cantons against foreign oppressors. Once the battle was won, they moved to Zurich and worked with the one thing they knew. Money.

Did you notice the date of the Templar’s fall? 13th October doesn’t sound all that important, until I tell you it was a Friday. Friday the 13th. No one can prove it, but many people think that’s why the date’s considered unlucky.

Of course, the Templars were crusader knights. Along with other travels, they brought new foodstuffs with them. As a caffeine addict, I’m glad they brought coffee. I live in Yorkshire’s famous rhubarb triangle, so that’s something else I’m grateful to them for—along with dates and spices.

Not hungry? Okay, but I bet you use mirrors and writing paper. Carpets add comfort, and they came from the Holy Land too. Are you a chess player? You guessed it. Chess was a game played in the Holy Land and adopted by visitors.

I know I’ve been flippant, but let’s face it, the Templars and their ilk really did do lots for us.

So why the interest in the Templars?

In my latest book One Knight Stand the hero once belonged an order of religious Knights based loosely on the Templars—one I invented. He’s was a Knight Defender.


Now he’s a modern-day billionaire with a philanthropic streak. And fangs. That’s why he’s a Knight Vampire. Not that my heroine knows that.

Boy, is she in for a surprise!


Blurb

Crusader knight, Blaxton de Ferrers rises as a vampire after the Knights Defender steal his soul. Murdered by his cousin, he preys on the people he once swore to protect. His emotions leach out of him. Gradually, he forgets how to feel. 

Eight hundred years later, he meets Harriet.

Harriet Mortlake’s a strong, sassy woman who battles her weight and her temper. She’s the modern-day archivist in the castle which was Blaxton’s childhood home. She’s supposed to ferret out the castle’s secrets. Instead, she finds the love of her life.
When danger threatens Harriet, Blaxton steps in. Harriet and Blaxton are a match made in heaven. Except… he’s a vampire and he’s destined for hell. 

Note: this book was previously released under the title Knight’s Vampire. It has been updated and re-edited for this release.

Buy Links

Amazon Canada http://amzn.to/2FYZKhT
Amazon Australia http://amzn.to/2FSUUiV

Excerpt

How dare you embarrass me like that?” Harriet Mortlake planted her hands on her hips and glowered at the man she’d cornered outside the cafe. Her normal iceberg cool deserted her, and she wanted to slap the condescending smile off his face. Around this stranger, she felt as though lightning bolts flashed from her eyes.

It’s a temple, not a chapel,” he insisted.

Stubborn. Damn. Male. She’d been showing the big guns from the Castles’ Management Trust around the building. They’d already made it clear they thought her too young for the archivist’s role. This know-it-all had infuriated her when he sounded off in the chapel. Now he antagonized her all over again.

As if!” Harriet snorted. “No way would medieval Christians build a pagan temple on their grounds. Superstitious locals would have accused them of devil worship. They burned heretics at the stake, remember?”

Despite Mr. Condescending’s interference, she’d impressed the big bosses—she thought. Now the sexiest male, ever, clung to his ridiculous belief the chapel had been a pagan temple.

He flashed her a smile which would have lit up the underground chapel where he’d embarrassed her earlier. He should keep his mouth shut and let her admire his looks. Everything about him radiated sex appeal. Looking at him almost made her anger evaporate, but he gave her the know-it-all look that made her bristle.

You need to get your facts right,” he told her, determined to have the last word.

Stupid, arrogant male. She couldn’t decide whether to show him her diplomas and degrees or kick his shins. She’d reined in her temper while the higher-ups carried out their inspection. Now they’d left, she felt free to vent her rage. Hands still on her hips, she tapped her foot at him.

Lost for words without an audience? Or don’t you have any facts to back up your cock-and-bull story? Put up or shut up, Mister. Tell me why you think it’s a temple.”

Mr. Condescending sat outside the castle’s tearoom as if he hadn’t a care in the world. His interference when she’d shown the bigwigs into the chapel could have cost her the job she loved. Whitborough Castle’s extensive records needed cataloging, and Harriet couldn’t wait to get her hands on them.

More about Kryssie Fortune


Kryssie Fortune writes the sort of hot sexy books she loves to read. If she can sneak a dragon into her paranormal books she will. Her paranormal heroes are muscular werewolves, arrogant Fae or BDSM loving dragons. 
 
Kryssie likes her contemporary heroes ex-military and dominant. Her heroines are kick ass females who can hold their own against whatever life - or Kryssie - throws at them.
 

Kryssie's pet hates are unhappy endings, and a series that end on a cliff hanger.
 

Her books are all stand alone even when part of series. Plot always comes before sex, but when her heroines and heroes get together, the sex is explosive and explicit. One review called it downright sensual.

Kryssie Fortune Social Media








Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/2hA0ZVO

2 comments:

Kryssie Fortune said...

Thank you for hosting me. It's always a pleasure to drop by your blog.

Lisabet Sarai said...

Hi, Kryssie,

Sorry I didn't drop by to welcome you yesterday. I was at a conference all day--Lisabet had to wait!

Hope the new release does really well!

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