Garland of Straw
by Stella Riley

The marriage of a well-bred Royalist lady and an illegitimate Roundhead Colonel is less a match made in heaven than a union doomed to hell. Unfortunately, Sir Robert Brandon’s last will and testament leaves Venetia Clifford and Gabriel Brandon with little choice in the matter — deeply though they both resent it.

Their tempestuous relationship is reflected in the stormy events buffeting the nation as England slides inexorably into a second Civil War. Gabriel continues to serve in the New Model Army while, behind his back, Venetia engages in clandestine activities on behalf of the King; and the lives of both are further complicated when Gabriel’s legitimate half-brother — to whom Venetia was formerly betrothed — returns from exile abroad.

While the Army and Parliament argue over the fate of the King, Gabriel realises that he has a dangerous anonymous enemy and Venetia finally begins to see the man rather than the Roundhead Colonel. As events gather pace, bringing the King to trial, the tangled web of danger and deceit surrounding both Gabriel and Venetia slowly tightens its grip.

Set against the compelling times which led to the execution of Charles I, Garland of Straw is the story of a seemingly impossible love and also provides further chapters in the lives of characters previously encountered in The Black Madonna and A Splendid Defiance.

Originally April 1993 in hardcover by Headline Book Publishing and self published November 2013 in eBook.

Alex Wyndham is currently recording Garland of Straw (Roundheads & Cavaliers Book 2) and the audio should be released before the end of August, 2020.

Other Books by Stella Riley

The Shadow Earl

The Montesoro Legacy
Brandon Brothers - Leo

The King's Falcon
Roundheads & Cavaliers Book 3

Under A Dark Moon
Brandon Brothers - Adam

Midwinter Magic
Rockliffe Christmas Novella

A Trick of Fate
Brandon Brothers - Max

The Black Madonna
Roundheads & Cavaliers Book 1

Cadenza
Rockliffe Book 6

Rockliffe: Books 4-6
Rockliffe Book 4-6

Hazard
Rockliffe Book 5

The Wicked Cousin
Rockliffe Book 4

Rockliffe: Books 1-3
Rockliffe Book 1-3

Lords of Misrule
Roundheads & Cavaliers Book 4

The Marigold Chain

The Player
Rockliffe Book 3

Show all >

Stella Riley's Bio

Readers' Favorite 2019 Gold Medallist and 2021 Book Excellence Award winner for CADENZA and eleven times a B.R.A.G. Medallion honoree, Stella Riley lives in Kent. She enjoys theatre, reading, travel and playing the harpsichord. She is fascinated by the English Civil Wars and has written six books set in that period. The seven book Rockliffe series (recommended in The Times newspaper!) is also available in audio, narrated by Alex Wyndham. And the final book in the Brandon Brothers trilogy, THE MONTESORO LEGACY, is already available for pre-order.