Tamara Leigh has written a classic--a
real "keeper" in medieval romances and I'm ranking it up there with
the best.
The story is of Gabriel de Vere, the oldest son of a Norman lord who rejected him as his heir to a barony in England because on her deathbed his mother confessed to having had other lovers. Since Gabriel and his younger brother Blase have her dark looks, the father wonders if they are really his. He chooses as his heir the fairer third son. Gabriel leaves, vowing to make it on his own. He succeeds, becoming a powerful knight fighting in the Crusades and gaining the favor of King Richard who gives him a castle and estate in Normandy.
The story is of Gabriel de Vere, the oldest son of a Norman lord who rejected him as his heir to a barony in England because on her deathbed his mother confessed to having had other lovers. Since Gabriel and his younger brother Blase have her dark looks, the father wonders if they are really his. He chooses as his heir the fairer third son. Gabriel leaves, vowing to make it on his own. He succeeds, becoming a powerful knight fighting in the Crusades and gaining the favor of King Richard who gives him a castle and estate in Normandy.
Gabriel’s close friend, Bernart
Kinthorpe, blames him unfairly for a wound that robbed him of his manhood in
the Crusades. When Bernart returns home, he marries Gabriel’s betrothed
Julianna without telling her they can have no real marriage. Since Bernart cannot
consummate his marriage to Julianna, he decides to gain a son with another
man's seed. Out of revenge, he picks Gabriel, so that he can take from him what
he feels Gabriel robbed him of--the capacity to sire an heir. So, he lures
Gabriel to his castle in England with a high stakes tournament and then, using
threats against her much loved sister, forces Julianna to go to Gabriel's bed
in the dark of night disguised as a castle wench. Julianna complies, though she
is against the whole idea. (She is a faithful, albeit virgin, wife.)
Believing Bernart's lies about Gabriel,
Julianna initially has no feelings for Gabriel other than disdain, but soon discovers
him to be a man of courage and honor. In their moments of passion over the week
he's at her husband's castle she gives her heart to Gabriel. When Gabriel
discovers the ruse, he vows to claim any child that results and have his
revenge on both Julianna and Bernart who he sees as co-conspirators.
The author captures well the 12th century, balancing the language of the time with a need to be understandable to modern readers. Hence we know clearly what is going on but we know we are back in the time of Richard the Lion Heart. Great attention is given to castle life, preparation for battle, food, dress, customs and the history of the time so that you feel you are living it. But since this is a romance, the love story is central and this is a good one that kept me reading late into the night (always a good sign).
The author captures well the 12th century, balancing the language of the time with a need to be understandable to modern readers. Hence we know clearly what is going on but we know we are back in the time of Richard the Lion Heart. Great attention is given to castle life, preparation for battle, food, dress, customs and the history of the time so that you feel you are living it. But since this is a romance, the love story is central and this is a good one that kept me reading late into the night (always a good sign).
The characters are well defined and you
care about them, the love scenes realistic, and the tale very well told. You
won't regret reading this one!
I SO want to read this! It, and Tamara, just went onto my list.
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