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The Hand of Maud
She kept the past buried for sixty years. The past refused to stay there.
Eleanor MacLean has outlived everyone who might have believed her story. She’s in possession of a secret no living person knows. For decades she has carried the impossible weight of years lived in medieval England—a love left behind in the stone corridors of a medieval castle and knowledge of the lost crown jewels of England that no modern woman should possess.
She thought silence was enough. She thought if she simply never said it aloud, the past would stay where she left it.
She was wrong.
When word breaks that the treasure lost by King John in 1216 has been located, Eleanor’s quiet life cracks open. She knows exactly what is buried in that quicksand—because she was there when it was lost.
Now, for the first time in 60 years, Eleanor is going to have to tell the truth.
— ♡ —
The year is 1964. One moment she’s laughing with her friend, entirely certain of who she is. The next, she’s lying on the ground at a real medieval battle—with a knight on a white warhorse bearing down on her with a raised sword.
What follows is a sweeping journey into the vivid, dangerous world of medieval England, where the court of King John seethes with betrayal, where loyalty is the rarest currency, and where an ordinary woman must find a way to survive in a world that has no place for her.
His name was Thomas.
A man forged in the brutal realities of medieval life—faith-driven, stubborn as iron, tender as a prayer. He has no earthly reason to trust this bewildering woman who appeared from nowhere on a battlefield and cannot explain herself. And yet the love that grows between them is the kind that refuses to be restrained, aching, complicated, and tested by the knowledge that surrendering to it could change the course of history forever.
It is the kind of love a woman carries quietly for decades. Still unresolved. Still real. Still burning.
Now the past is surfacing—and it remembers her.
Eleanor’s granddaughter believes she knows her grandmother better than anyone in the world. Then Eleanor quietly informs Donna that she spent two years in 13th-century England and was married to a man she never stopped loving—long before Donna’s grandfather was ever in the picture.
And in present-day England, the man with the metal detector is getting closer. Eleanor knows what he is going to find—and what will be missing. Some people, even now, even in this century, will stop at nothing to possess not just the treasure, but the full truth of its history.
Knowledge that only one woman alive holds.
Will her love rewrite history—or destroy her future?
The Hand of because some stories are too important for any one lifetime to contain.
Perfect for fans
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
And for readers who
Time travel romance
Eleanor MacLean has outlived everyone who might have believed her story. She’s in possession of a secret no living person knows. For decades she has carried the impossible weight of years lived in medieval England—a love left behind in the stone corridors of a medieval castle and knowledge of the lost crown jewels of England that no modern woman should possess.
She thought silence was enough. She thought if she simply never said it aloud, the past would stay where she left it.
She was wrong.
When word breaks that the treasure lost by King John in 1216 has been located, Eleanor’s quiet life cracks open. She knows exactly what is buried in that quicksand—because she was there when it was lost.
Now, for the first time in 60 years, Eleanor is going to have to tell the truth.
— ♡ —
The year is 1964. One moment she’s laughing with her friend, entirely certain of who she is. The next, she’s lying on the ground at a real medieval battle—with a knight on a white warhorse bearing down on her with a raised sword.
What follows is a sweeping journey into the vivid, dangerous world of medieval England, where the court of King John seethes with betrayal, where loyalty is the rarest currency, and where an ordinary woman must find a way to survive in a world that has no place for her.
His name was Thomas.
A man forged in the brutal realities of medieval life—faith-driven, stubborn as iron, tender as a prayer. He has no earthly reason to trust this bewildering woman who appeared from nowhere on a battlefield and cannot explain herself. And yet the love that grows between them is the kind that refuses to be restrained, aching, complicated, and tested by the knowledge that surrendering to it could change the course of history forever.
It is the kind of love a woman carries quietly for decades. Still unresolved. Still real. Still burning.
Now the past is surfacing—and it remembers her.
Eleanor’s granddaughter believes she knows her grandmother better than anyone in the world. Then Eleanor quietly informs Donna that she spent two years in 13th-century England and was married to a man she never stopped loving—long before Donna’s grandfather was ever in the picture.
And in present-day England, the man with the metal detector is getting closer. Eleanor knows what he is going to find—and what will be missing. Some people, even now, even in this century, will stop at nothing to possess not just the treasure, but the full truth of its history.
Knowledge that only one woman alive holds.
Will her love rewrite history—or destroy her future?
The Hand of because some stories are too important for any one lifetime to contain.
Perfect for fans
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
And for readers who
Time travel romance
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2025
About the author
Patti A. Pierucci
4 books5 followersPatti is a former newspaper writer and editor, and former owner/publisher of her own Christian newspaper in Lynchburg, VA.
She is the co-author of the Amazon best-seller Twilight in America, a non-fiction book published in 2012, documenting the existence and danger of Islamic terrorist training camps located throughout the United States.
Today she writes clean historical romance woven with faith, mystery, and timeless love. Known for blending meticulous historical detail with emotional depth, her stories transport readers across centuries—from medieval England to the Tudor court—where romance and destiny meet across the boundaries of time.
She is the co-author of the Amazon best-seller Twilight in America, a non-fiction book published in 2012, documenting the existence and danger of Islamic terrorist training camps located throughout the United States.
Today she writes clean historical romance woven with faith, mystery, and timeless love. Known for blending meticulous historical detail with emotional depth, her stories transport readers across centuries—from medieval England to the Tudor court—where romance and destiny meet across the boundaries of time.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 28, 2025
Beautifully Written
Eleanor’s journey is both heart, wrenching and exhilarating. The historical detail brought medieval England to life, and the slow burn romance with Thomas was perfectly paste. I couldn’t put this book down. They must read for fans of historical romance with the touch of magic.
Eleanor’s journey is both heart, wrenching and exhilarating. The historical detail brought medieval England to life, and the slow burn romance with Thomas was perfectly paste. I couldn’t put this book down. They must read for fans of historical romance with the touch of magic.
December 11, 2025
This story lacks character depth. Yes this story has Christian ideas but does not accurately portray the character of the sovereign God. I don’t think this series or book should have that title because it is deceptive to people who don’t know Christ. The MC does kill 2 people and just shrugs it off like it was nothing. Traumatic events like this and just glossing over it only hurts the story.
This has an alright pacing. I think more fast pacing would work better and building up to an event that builds anticipation, should be in the 2nd book.
This book does have an alright ending that I didn’t see coming, it does set up for book 2 really well.
But if you want to dip your toes into the time travel theme, this is a good popcorn read. If you are looking for a story that has any amount of depth and crazy character arcs, look elsewhere.
This has an alright pacing. I think more fast pacing would work better and building up to an event that builds anticipation, should be in the 2nd book.
This book does have an alright ending that I didn’t see coming, it does set up for book 2 really well.
But if you want to dip your toes into the time travel theme, this is a good popcorn read. If you are looking for a story that has any amount of depth and crazy character arcs, look elsewhere.
March 31, 2026
Definitely worth the read.
I don't give a lot of 5 star reviews, but this book deserves one. I can appreciate a well written historical romance meets science fiction. I appreciate that it is a clean Christian romance that can be shared by all book enthusiasts. I read it nonstop from one cover to the other. I won't give spoilers but it has some Outlander and Wheel of Time vibes in the best ways.
I don't give a lot of 5 star reviews, but this book deserves one. I can appreciate a well written historical romance meets science fiction. I appreciate that it is a clean Christian romance that can be shared by all book enthusiasts. I read it nonstop from one cover to the other. I won't give spoilers but it has some Outlander and Wheel of Time vibes in the best ways.
June 2, 2026
Hooked From Start to Finish
I listened to this book on Audible and knew I just had to read it. Although it was incredible to listen to reading took me to a whole other place. Seeing the words in front of me transported me in a way. The author writes so eloquently and weaves a story like no other. Not only did I feel like i was in the story but I could perfectly visualize every detail! Love love love this series!
I listened to this book on Audible and knew I just had to read it. Although it was incredible to listen to reading took me to a whole other place. Seeing the words in front of me transported me in a way. The author writes so eloquently and weaves a story like no other. Not only did I feel like i was in the story but I could perfectly visualize every detail! Love love love this series!
September 15, 2025
Not my typical genre but ended up enjoying!
February 24, 2026
Was ALMOST a DNF. Can’t say much but found it boring. Not my cup of tea.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews