Running away from her catastrophic life, historical journalist Eva MacKay joins an archaeological dig at the battleground of Loudoun Hill. Unearthing the seal of William Wallace, Eva gains notoriety. But her dreams of Bowie knives—the weapon that murdered her husband—morph into great swords and dirks.
Drawn to a ruined monastery, Eva drifts into the worst nightmare of all. Awaking to the sharp point of a madman’s sword, she’s hurled into the midst of a bloody thirteenth century battle. Just when certain death is eminent, brutal arms surround the lass, dragging her deeper into unknown terror.
When Eva realizes she’s been hauled to the hideout of rebel William Wallace, a revelation dawns—she’s landed the story of a lifetime—if she can stay alive and find a way home to tell her tale.
What she doesn’t count on is her mounting chemistry with the greatest legend Scotland has ever known…or the absolute love swelling in her heart.
**Review
"There comes a time in every author's career where all words that have been written before are surpassed by one great piece. RISE OF A LEGEND is Ms. Jarecki's pivotal work of perfection." - InD'Tale Magazine
From the Author
I have always been fascinated by William Wallace's tale, and got the idea for this story when I visited Scotland in 2013. Interestingly, there are many unknowns in this stage of history. The poet, Blind Harry, wrote an epic poem about William's life in the sixteenth century, 150 years after Wallace. It is not clear where he sourced his information, but as history has unfolded, it is clear many of Harry's musings were conjecture. One of my greatest sources for accuracy was William Wallace by Andrew Fisher. Throughout this series, I referred to Fisher's work for key benchmarks relating to William's life. I also referred to On the Trail of William Wallace by David R. Ross for landmarks. Ross's attempt to piece together the reality of Wallace's life is well done, though does not strictly adhere to the facts as Fisher does.
After I was about three-quarters through writing the Rise of a Legend manuscript, I watched the movie Braveheart. I hadn't seen it in years, and after my research, I wanted to give it another go. Though Braveheart is a wonderfully entertaining film, it lacks in historical accuracy. I do not want to downplay the riveting story of Braveheart, but just say that I attempted to seek more accuracy in Rise of a Legend and its sequel, In the Kingdom's Name.
Once I'd finished the first draft of Rise of a Legend, I again traveled to Scotland to stand in the places about which I had written. One of the craziest experiences of this trip was when I went to Fail. I wanted to see the monastery foundations, but wasn't allowed on the property by the owner. He was quite upset that I had arrived with camera in hand, and at first thought I was a police officer or government official. Once I convinced him I was merely an author, he made me leave my camera in the car while he answered a few of my questions. He did tell me that the foundation was still visible, though the wall that I referred to in this book was removed in the 1950's. He remembered the wall as a child, and said it was as tall as an enormous ash tree to which he pointed.
It was pouring rain when I visited Loudoun Hill. Though most of the surrounding land has been cleared for grazing, I tried to picture the scene forested. As a major pass to the north, in Wallace's day it would have been thick with trees which made it ideal for an ambush.
Interestingly, nearly all of the castles existing in Wallace's day have either been completely ruined, partially ruined, or improved so much over the centuries they are hardly recognizable. Nonetheless, if you are a Scottish history zealot like me, I urge you to follow the path of William Wallace. He rose from the common ranks and led a nation when it was embroiled in a time of crisis and tyranny.
Indeed, William Wallace is a man and legend who must never be forgotten.
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