In the second book from the Eleanor of Aquitaine Series, as the blind seer from Antioch predicted, Eleanor marries the love of her life, Henry II of England. Passion rules the marriage as alpha male and alpha female compete for dominance. Meanwhile, to drag his war-torn kingdom back from the brink of anarchy, Henry must rely on the resources of the Eleanors Aquitaine. Marriage to the beautiful, intelligent Eleanor delivers Henry an empire from Scotland to the Pyrenees. Often, she must act as his regent in England while he tries to dampen dissent from across the Channel. Henry comes to fear that Eleanor is a more successful ruler. Only she can control the nobles of the Aquitaine, and, much to Henrys jealousy, she tames and enchants the rebellious Welsh king. Over ten years, Eleanor gives birth to nine children. Again, as foretold, many are sons, future competition for Henrys crown and his affection for their mother, which makes him an ambivalent father. T hen there is the ambitious Thomas Becket., who Eleanor suspects is the greatest threat of all to her regal plans...
Helen Rayson-Hill trained as an infant teacher, and taught in country Victoria, Melbourne and the UK. Later, she became a drama teacher following a long interest in the theatre. After a family transfer to Brisbane, she was appointed Queensland Manager of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust. On returning to Melbourne, Helen held a position at the Victorian Arts Centre in the Membership and Fundraising and Development Department. For two years she was an adjudicator for the Victorian Drama League. Helen has also performed both on the stage in Melbourne and Brisbane and on television in Neighbours on Channel 10 and Somethings in the Air on the Australian ABC network. Writing has always been an interest of Helens and she is a member of the Writers Circle at Melbournes Lyceum Club. She has written plays for her drama students as well as sketches for amateur theatre. Helen has long been interested in Medieval history, especially in the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine. After many years of research, inspired originally by the play The Lion in Winter by James Goldman, Helen was motivated to write about Eleanors amazing life. Consequently, Eleanor, the Firebrand Queen became the first in a planned series of historical novels about this Medieval feminist.
"The Lion and The Tigress evokes, so brilliantly, the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine during her marriage to Henry II, King of England. You travel each onerous step with the feisty, highly educated queen. You hear the snort of her horse and smell its sweat. You feel the intensity of her fury as she defends her children and her realm against all comers, including Henry. An immersive experience and a highly recommended read." -- Kerry Cue, author of Target 91
"Rayson-Hills Eleanor of Aquitaine is a masterful creation: brilliant, mercurial and vital. This is history brought to life." -- Toni Jordan, author of Addition
