The Forenoon Bride

by Jeffrey Hantover

Overview

When given the choice between love and honor, what are you willing to sacrifice? Destiny, longing and betrayal await you in this sweeping historical novel set in Elizabethan England and the Ottoman Empire of the late 16th century.

England, 1591. Eager to see the world and travel the seas before settling down with a wife, English Lord William Bateman sets out for adventure while leaving his secret admirer, a local young lady named Elizabeth, behind.

However, during his journey to the East, he is falsely imprisoned as a spy by the Ottoman governor of Rhodes. William is given two choices: endure torture in an Ottoman prison or convert and serve the Sultan, Murad III. Staying true to his family, faith and country, William refuses to give in.

By a twist of fate, William gains an unexpected ally in the form of the young governor's daughter Safiye who falls in love with the mysterious and handsome prisoner. Captivated by their immediate bond and attraction, both vow to remain faithful for seven years until they can be together again.

Meanwhile in England, William's family suffers tragedies and misfortune. The years of absence left their estate in jeopardy but turned Elizabeth - still hopelessly in love with him and awaiting his return - into a beautiful and spirited woman. Can William escape his fate in Turkey and save his legacy . . . and if he does will he keep his promise or betray his honor?

The Forenoon Bride is the second novel by Jeffrey Hantover, inspired by the centuries' old British ballad Lord Bateman. This book is a great read for everyone who enjoys historical fiction with a romantic twist!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781448312368
Publisher:	Severn House
Publication date:	02/27/2024
Edition description:	Main
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.43(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Jeffrey Hantover has had a varied career, working as a sociologist, a social service executive, a labor rights consultant, and an art critic. He's written extensively on social issues, art, and culture for international publications. He lived in Hong Kong for more than a decade and resides with his wife in New York City. A published poet, he is also the author of the critically-acclaimed historical novel The Jewel Trader of Pegu.

Editorial Reviews

This is a first novel of merit, a quiet and thoughtful read about different kinds of freedoms, about prejudice and about finding oneself, about culture shock and cultural differences . . . A book to reread and cherish.

The Historical Novels Review on The Jewel Trader of Pegu

Dreamy and lyrical, steeped in the customs and atmosphere of a world long lost, The Jewel Trader of Pegu takes the reader on a deep emotional journey through the meanings of what is precious.

author of The Tale of Murasaki on The Jewel Trader Liza Dalby

A thinking reader's tale with all the trappings of an exotic historical romance.

bestselling author of The Madonnas of Leningrad on Debra Dean

[Readers] will be swept away by Hantover's lavish descriptions of an exotic, lost Asian kingdom; the gentle love story; and the tale of one man's thoughtful journey to his heart's home.

Booklist on The Jewel Trader of Pegu

A vivid portrait of life in Southeast Asia of the 16th century . . . Abraham's travails sweep the reader along in this compelling debut novel.

The American Jewish World on The Jewel Trader of Pegu

This is a first novel of merit, a quiet and thoughtful read about different kinds of freedoms, about prejudice and about finding oneself, about culture shock and cultural differences . . . A book to reread and cherish.

Historical Novels Review on The Jewel Trader of Pegu

2023-03-28
Elizabethan ingenue loves dashing adventurer; complications ensue.

The year is 1591. An elliptical prologue, written by “the one who disappeared like chimney smoke on a windy day,” describes “a heartbroken maid” who throws herself into the Thames. This might well be a spoiler but for the fact that Hantover’s historical novel has two potentially heartbroken maids. Has one of them taken this fatal plunge? Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Hilliard pledges her heart to Lord William Bateman, 19. But her swain is infected with wanderlust and sets sail in search of adventure. She remains chaste and faithful, writing him encouraging and heartfelt letters. William, meanwhile, travels by sea from Venice to Rhodes, where he is imprisoned by a Turkish governor, whose daughter, Safiye, engineers his escape and, unbeknownst to the older but not necessarily wiser young traveler, follows him back to England with faithful protector Zahir, a towering Moor, in tow. Her steely determination provides a contrast to William’s more seemingly heedless gallivant. “She could hold a dagger steady in her hand and didn’t shudder at the thought of using it to protect her honor.” William does at last propose to Elizabeth, in a letter. Hantover’s prose is both economical and poetic, suspense simmering subtly beneath top notes of romance and adventure. The story rotates among three perspectives, from Elizabeth to Safiye (called “The Turkish Lady” in chapter titles) to William. Only the seemingly guileless Elizabeth narrates in first person. This gives the reader welcome space to form opinions about the characters and the mores during this epoch. The second half of the story is considerably enlivened by the appearance of Will Kemp, a former actor in Shakespeare’s troupe who aligns himself with Safiye.

A crisp and lyrical romance with a protofeminist subtext and authentic period flavor.

Kirkus Reviews