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Lady of The Castle:
A Medieval Epic of Love, Loyalty, and Betrayal
The Nicola de la Haye Series, Book 2
by Rachel Elwiss Joyce
November 30th – December 11th, 2026
Publication Date: September 21st, 2026
Publisher: Hedgehog Books
Page Length: 550
Audiobook Narrator: Sara Kempton
Genre: Medieval Historical Fiction / Historical Romance /
Biographical Historical Fiction
Biographical Historical Fiction
For a woman, to hold power in a man's world is dangerous; to hold faith in an intolerant one is deadly.
England, 1185. Nicola de la Haye, constable of Lincoln Castle, commands her fortress with hard-won authority. Determined to protect her family from a kingdom fracturing around her, she discovers the hardest battle is the one inside her own walls.
When the king's chancellor marches an army to her gates and her husband stands accused of treason, Nicola must hold her castle against a siege—and hold her family together against something far harder to fight. As her marriage buckles under the weight of loss, jealousy, and the ghosts of their pasts, Nicola must choose between the walls she has built around herself and the man she has never fully let in.
Miles away, Nicola's Jewish childhood friend Bella has built her world on different foundations: a husband she adores, a strong, vibrant community, and a faith and traditions kept alive despite centuries of persecution. When crusading fervour sweeps the nation, Bella's family is stripped of its fortune and forced to flee to York—only to find themselves trapped in a castle tower by a mob demanding baptism or death.
As King Richard the Lionheart departs for the Holy Land, leaving England to turn on itself, both women face the same impossible question: what do you love enough to sacrifice everything for?
Based on the true story of a medieval heroine history nearly erased, Lady of the Castle is an immersive, deeply moving epic of love, loyalty, and betrayal in a kingdom torn apart by violence, prejudice, and the ambitions of powerful men.
If you love sweeping medieval epics, political intrigue, forbidden love, and emotionally charged second-chance romance—Lady of the Castle is for you.
GOLD MEDAL WINNER — Readers’ Choice Book Awards (2026)
GOLD BOOK AWARD — Literary Titan (2026)
★★★★★ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED — The Coffee Pot Book Club (2026)
SHORTLISTED — Historical Novel Society First Chapters Competition (2026)
GOLD BOOK AWARD — Literary Titan (2026)
★★★★★ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED — The Coffee Pot Book Club (2026)
SHORTLISTED — Historical Novel Society First Chapters Competition (2026)
Praise for Lady of the Castle:
"'Lady of the Castle' is a superb sequel that builds upon everything I loved about the first novel while continuing to develop its memorable cast of characters. Rich in historical detail, full of emotion, and impossible to put down, this is historical fiction at its very best. Whether you are already familiar with Nicola de la Haye or are discovering her story for the first time, I wholeheartedly recommend this outstanding novel."
~ The Coffee Pot Book Club 5* Editorial Review
"I can only applaud the author for another amazing book, and it is well worth reading the notes at the end to learn more about the characters and the historical foundation on which the story is based."
~ DaniLovesBooks 5* Review
~ DaniLovesBooks 5* Review
Buy Link:
This title is available on #Kindle+.
Rachel Elwiss Joyce
After a rewarding career in the sciences, Rachel returned to her first love—history and the art of storytelling. Fascinated by the women history neglected, or tried to forget, she creates meticulously researched, emotionally resonant fiction that brings her characters’ stories vividly to life.
Her fascination with the past began early. At six years old, she was already inventing tales about medieval women in castles, inspired by her treasured Ladybird books and other picture-rich stories that transported her to another time. By the time she discovered Katherine by Anya Seton as a teenager, she knew the joy and escape that only great historical fiction can bring.
Rachel’s two grown-up children still tease her (fondly) about childhoods spent being “dragged” around castles, archaeological sites, and historical re-enactments. For Rachel, history and imagination have always gone hand in hand.
There was, however, a long gap between the stories of her childhood and her decision to write her own novel. The spark came when she discovered the remarkable true story of Nicola de la Haye—the first female sheriff of England, who defended Lincoln Castle against a French invasion and became known as “the woman who saved England,” Rachel knew she had found her heroine, and a story she was destined to tell.
Rachel lives in the UK, where she continues to explore the lives of women who shaped history but were left out of its pages.
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