Book Extract: Ripples Through Time by Christina Courtenay

I’m so pleased to be welcoming Christina Courtenay back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Ripples Through Time.

A love that will change them forever

A treasure that will bring them home

West Mercia, AD 873 – Merewen’s settlement is on guard against the outside threat of the ‘Heathen’ Norsemen. But for Merewen, the real threats come from within, as her future is cruelly snatched away from her.

Eirik, a Norseman, finds himself abandoned and injured after his uncle’s plunder of Mercian land goes wrong. He thinks his fate is sealed – until Merewen saves his life.

Hereford, Present Day – Left reeling after a huge betrayal, Alix moves to her grandfather’s farm in Hereford to heal her broken heart. There, after being given a family heirloom, she soon finds herself haunted by memories of a life she never lived, a relationship she never had, and a time in which she never existed.

Local farmer Noah is being hounded by the police to find the Viking hoard that his sister and her criminal boyfriend stole from his farm. Noah must prove his own innocence while struggling to decipher the curious connection he has to newcomer Alix – a bond that seems to transcend their own reality.

As they search for the lost treasure, Alix and Noah start to feel the whispers of a love they never expected, one powerful enough to echo through history.

Christina has shared an extract from Ripples Through Time with us today. We hope you enjoy.

*****beginning of extract*****

Chapter One (abridged) – heroine is given bad news – Mercia AD 873

As she entered the hall, Merewen halted momentarily, taken aback by the sight of her betrothed, Oslac, sitting next to her father Beorthric. She hadn’t realised he was due to visit today or she would have made more of an effort with her appearance. She frowned as she registered that her sister Burghild was sitting next to him looking smug. Never a good sign. In contrast, Oslac kept his gaze fixed on the floor. That was strange. Normally he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Merewen. What on earth was going on?

‘Father? Is there something amiss?’

‘Not as such.’ Beorthric cleared his throat before launching into speech. ‘I merely wished to inform you that I have decided your sister will make a better match for Oslac than you. As you know, her betrothed was recently killed by the heathens. She is my eldest child, and whomsoever she marries will inherit this settlement since I have not been blessed with any sons. Oslac will take over his own father’s domains in due course, and as Burghild’s husband he can eventually merge the two properties into a larger one. That will create a very rich holding and increase our families’ standing in the area. So from this moment on, I declare your betrothal to Oslac at an end.’

Merewen simply stared at him for a moment. ‘You’re giving my betrothed to Burghild?’ she asked, anger stirring inside her. ‘And what about me? Am I to be palmed off to that old widower with six children instead?’ Godric, a man almost her father’s age, was currently the only other marriage prospect in these parts, as most of the younger men had gone off to fight the heathens and hadn’t come back.

‘Do not be impertinent. I have other plans for you.’ Beorthric scowled at her, although she could see him squirming slightly, as if he was fully aware of the fact that he was hurting her.

‘And what, pray tell, might those be?’

‘I have it in mind to send you to the nuns at Hreopandune. I have heard they are in need of healers, and you have the necessary skills. Your dowry isn’t large, as I have to provide for your two younger sisters as well, but it should be enough to secure you a place with them. Once there, you can pray daily for the souls of everyone in our family. You might even rise to the rank of abbess one day. They wield a lot of power, or so I’m told, and that could benefit us as well.’

‘You’re banishing me to a monastery?’ Merewen could not believe what she was hearing.

That morning she’d had a bright future, but now all her dreams had been dashed in one fell swoop. It could be viewed as an honour to serve the Lord, but to her it sounded more like a prison sentence. And it was all to benefit her sister, who in Merewen’s opinion did not deserve it.

‘Do not be so dramatic. It is a good life, and what’s more, you can help defeat the enemy with prayers.’

She snorted in disbelief. As if prayers had any effect on the Norsemen. Fury made her clench her fists and fix her erstwhile betrothed with a glare. ‘And you are amenable to this change,

Oslac? Am I to take it that all the sweet words you’ve been plying me with were a lie? You no longer prefer me over Burghild, as you’ve said time and time again?’

That last sentence made her sister’s superior expression disappear. They both knew that Merewen was the prettier of the two. She was convinced this was at least partly to blame for the enmity Burghild bore her, but her appearance wasn’t something she could do anything about. And Oslac had told her repeatedly how attractive he found her. How he couldn’t wait to make her his in every way. She saw him flinch, and there was guilt and conflicted emotions in the depths of his eyes.

He swallowed hard. ‘You know I meant it, um, at the time, but … circumstances change. Your father’s arrangements make sense. Had Burghild not already been betrothed, I would have asked for her hand in marriage instead of yours from the beginning.’

A huff of incredulous laughter escaped before she could stop it. ‘Is that so?’ she scoffed. It wasn’t true. He’d mentioned on several occasions that he had always had his eye on Merewen and wanted no one but her. The loathsome liar. ‘Well then, I wish you well and I hope you don’t live to regret your decision. Forgive me if I don’t pray for your future happiness and prosperity. I shall concentrate my efforts solely on the Norsemen.’

‘Merewen!’ her father barked, but for once his outrage did not scare her. She turned on her heel and stormed out of the hall, slamming the door behind her. Sceadu, her dog, was waiting for her outside, and he followed without hesitation as she ran back to her hut. Once inside, she sank down onto the floor and allowed her emotions free rein. He leaned his head against hers, giving her the occasional lick to show his sympathy.

‘Oh Sceadu, what am I to do? I don’t want to become a nun! And what will happen to you? I doubt they allow animals in the monastery.’ The thought of having to leave him behind made her sob even harder.

Eventually she calmed down and tried to accept her fate. Perhaps God had never meant for her to have a husband and family. He might have intended her for His service all along. She’d have to make the best of it, but until such time as she left this settlement, she would only speak to her father or sister when strictly necessary. And as for that lying toad Oslac, he could rot in hell.

*****end of extract*****

About Christina Courtenay –

Christina Courtenay writes historical romance, time slip/dual time and time travel stories, and lives in Herefordshire (near the Welsh border) in the UK. Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden – hence her abiding interest in the Vikings.

Christina is a Vice President and former chairman and of the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association and has won several awards, including the RoNA for Best Historical Romantic Novel twice with Highland Storms (2012) and The Gilded Fan (2014) and the RNA Fantasy Romantic Novel of the year 2021 with Echoes of the Runes. 

RIPPLES THROUGH TIME (dual time historical romance published by Headline Review 21st November 2025) is her latest novel. Christina is a keen amateur genealogist and loves history and archaeology (the armchair variety).

Say hello to Christina via her website, Facebook, X, Instagram and Bluesky.

Ripples Through Time was released by Headline Review on 21st November 2025. Click to buy on Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.