Elizabeth Kingston’s FAIR, BRIGHT AND TERRIBLE – A Rich Tapestry of Emotions in this Story of Love after England Conquered Wales

October is Medieval month when I present reviews of stories set between the 5^th and 15^th centuries. This is a good one by a great author. Set in the late 13^th century, it’s the story of love between a Welsh noblewoman and an English knight after Wales has been brutally conquered by Edward I.

 

Eluned has lost her country and her hope. But she intends to have her vengeance on Mortimer, the English nobleman who was responsible for the death of the Welsh leaders. She has a calculating mind and plans carefully how she will do it. When her husband dies and she has the chance to marry Robert de Lascaux, the man she fell in love with 18 years earlier, she takes it as it will give her access to the English nobility.

When Robert is asked to marry the woman he loves but has been denied, he gladly accepts thinking he will at last have the woman he wants. But the lady who greets him at the altar has so little in common with the girl he adored that he begins to doubt that there is anything left of her.

Kingston weaves a rich tapestry of intrigue, treachery, stalwart love and lost dreams realized. Medieval Wales is brought to life. The story will draw you in as you eagerly hope for love to at last to be regained. A beautifully told tale, one not to be missed!

 

I recommend reading the series in order as they are closely related. The Welsh Blades:

 

The King’s Man

Fair, Bright and Terrible

Desire Lines

 

Elizabeth Kingston’s A FALLEN LADY – A Gallant Earl and a Fallen Lady of the Ton

Set in 1820, this is the story of Lady Helen Dehaven who, six years before, suddenly refused to marry the man to whom she was betrothed. She told her brother of the man’s horrible deeds done in Ireland but her brother didn’t believe her. Helen now lives alone in the village of Bartle where she has made friends, one of whom is a scandalous French woman who is very charming.

 

One day, Stephen Hampton, the Earl of Summerdale shows up at her door, claiming his horse lost a shoe. In reality, he is there at her brother’s request to check on his sister in light of a pending business deal with her former betrothed. Stephen is instantly enchanted with Helen and enjoys her whimsical friends. Helen will not warm to him, despite his handsome looks and his great efforts to make her happy.

 

Each hides something from the other, reluctant to trust based upon their past. But, in time, Stephen comes to care deeply for Helen and to see her real self. She finds she looks forward to his many visits. And yet, still the truth eludes them both.

 

This a well-written, deeply absorbing story. The emotions are so well done. Once the earl and his fallen lady find love, however, all is not sanguine. The earl remains gallant but his lady seems eager to believe the worst—and does. Of course, that added conflict but it also made the heroine look a tad unworthy of her gallant lord, notwithstanding the wrongs done to her years ago.

 

Kingston is an excellent storyteller and I continue to enjoy her books.

Elizabeth Kingston’s DESIRE LINES – A Keeper of a Medieval Romance set in 13th-century Wales

Gryff was a Welshman raised as a noble hostage in the Norman court. Now he hides his true identity, saying only that he is a falconer, while he flees from one danger to another, longing to return to his homeland. (The word “Hiraeth” comes up repeatedly, meaning the Welsh concept of longing for home.) Meanwhile, a beautiful woman, who is very good with knives, saves him from a pack of villains.

Nan has no doubt the ragged Welshman she has saved was born to better things, far different from the servant’s life she has led. For one thing, his speech is more proper. Nan has suffered much and was always saved by women. That part of the story is intriguing, I must say, and so well done.

 

Nan’s first priority is to find her younger sister, who was lost to her long ago. Alas, that will prove a disappointing task as Nan discovers they are now very different women.

 

Rich in history, this story reflects much research on England and Wales in the 13^th century and on falconry and Wales’ part in raising the noble birds. It’s also very well told, capturing the medieval era perfectly. I love Kingston’s writing, the emotion in her characters and the complex motives that compel them forward to their fate.

 

This is definitely a keeper, a true love story of the genre and so much deeper than most. I guess you can say I loved it!  

 

Elizabeth Kingston’s FAIR, BRIGHT AND TERRIBLE – A Rich Tapestry of Emotions in this Story of Love after England Conquered Wales

October is Medieval month when I present reviews of stories set between the 5^th and 15^th centuries. I’m starting with a good one by a great author. Set in the late 13^th century, it’s the story of love between a Welsh noblewoman and an English knight after Wales has been brutally conquered by Edward I.

 

Eluned has lost her country and her hope. But she intends to have her vengeance on Mortimer, the English nobleman who was responsible for the death of the Welsh leaders. She has a calculating mind and plans carefully how she will do it. When her husband dies and she has the chance to marry Robert de Lascaux, the man she fell in love with 18 years earlier, she takes it as it will give her access to the English nobility.

When Robert is asked to marry the woman he loves but has been denied, he gladly accepts thinking he will at last have the woman he wants. But the lady who greets him at the altar has so little in common with the girl he adored that he begins to doubt that there is anything left of her.

Kingston weaves a rich tapestry of intrigue, treachery, stalwart love and lost dreams realized. Medieval Wales is brought to life. The story will draw you in as you eagerly hope for love to at last to be regained. A beautifully told tale, one not to be missed!

 

I recommend reading the series in order as they are closely related. The Welsh Blades:

 

The King’s Man

Fair, Bright and Terrible

Desire Lines

Elizabeth Kingston’s FAIR, BRIGHT AND TERRIBLE – A Rich Tapestry of Emotions in this Story of Love after England Conquered Wales

August is Exotic Locales month when we look for that true escape to novels set in places we may not frequently encounter. This one is a great story from one of my favorite authors.

 

Set in the late 13^th century, it’s the story of love between a Welsh noblewoman and an English knight after Wales has been brutally conquered by Edward I.

 

Eluned has lost her country and her hope. But she intends to have her vengeance on Mortimer, the English nobleman who was responsible for the death of the Welsh leaders. She has a calculating mind and plans carefully how she will do it. When her husband dies and she has the chance to marry Robert de Lascaux, the man she fell in love with 18 years earlier, she takes it as it will give her access to the English nobility.

When Robert is asked to marry the woman he loves but has been denied, he gladly accepts thinking he will at last have the woman he wants. But the lady who greets him at the altar has so little in common with the girl he adored that he begins to doubt that there is anything left of her.

Kingston weaves a rich tapestry of intrigue, treachery, stalwart love and lost dreams realized. Medieval Wales is brought to life. The story will draw you in as you eagerly hope for love to at last to be regained. A beautifully told tale, one not to be missed!

 

I recommend reading the series in order as they are closely related. The Welsh Blades:

 

The King’s Man

Fair, Bright and Terrible

Desire Lines

Elizabeth Kingston’s FAIR, BRIGHT AND TERRIBLE – A Rich Tapestry of Emotions in this Story of Love after England Conquered Wales

 

Set in the late 13^th century, this is the second in a wonderful series, a story of love between a Welsh noblewoman and an English knight after Wales has been brutally conquered by Edward I.

Eluned has lost her country and her hope. But she intends to have her vengeance on Mortimer, the English nobleman who was responsible for the death of the Welsh leaders. She has a calculating mind and plans carefully how she will do it. When her husband dies and she has the chance to marry Robert de Lascaux, the man she fell in love with 18 years earlier, she takes it as it will give her access to the English nobility.

When Robert is asked to marry the woman he loves but has been denied, he gladly accepts thinking he will at last have the woman he wants. But the lady who greets him at the altar has so little in common with the girl he adored that he begins to doubt that there is anything left of her.

Kingston weaves a rich tapestry of intrigue, treachery, stalwart love and lost dreams realized. Medieval Wales is brought to life. The story will draw you in as you eagerly hope for love to be regained. A beautifully told tale with deep emotion... one not to be missed!

 

I recommend reading the series in order as they are closely related. 

 

The Welsh Blades:

The King’s Man

Fair, Bright and Terrible

Desire Lines

Elizabeth Kingston’s A FALLEN LADY – A Gallant Earl and a Fallen Lady of the Ton

Set in 1820, this is the story of Lady Helen Dehaven who, six years before, suddenly refused to marry the man to whom she was betrothed. She told her brother of the man’s horrible deeds done in Ireland but her brother didn’t believe her. Helen now lives alone in the village of Bartle where she has made friends, one of whom is a scandalous French woman who is very charming.

 

One day, Stephen Hampton, the Earl of Summerdale shows up at her door, claiming his horse lost a shoe. In reality, he is there at her brother’s request to check on his sister in light of a pending business deal with her former betrothed. Stephen is instantly enchanted with Helen and enjoys her whimsical friends. Helen will not warm to him, despite his handsome looks and his great efforts to make her happy.

 

Each hides something from the other, reluctant to trust based upon their past. But, in time, Stephen comes to care deeply for Helen and to see her real self. She finds she looks forward to his many visits. And yet, still the truth eludes them both.

 

This a well-written, deeply absorbing story. The emotions are so well done. Once the earl and his fallen lady find love, however, all is not sanguine. The earl remains gallant but his lady seems eager to believe the worst—and does. Of course, that added conflict but it also made the heroine look a tad unworthy of her gallant lord, notwithstanding the wrongs done to her years ago.

 

Kingston is an excellent storyteller and I continue to enjoy her books.

 

Elizabeth Kingston’s DESIRE LINES – A Keeper of a Medieval Romance set in 13th-century Wales

October on Historical Romance Review is Medieval month, one of my favorite subgenres. I’m starting with a new favorite author, Elizabeth Kingston and book 3 in her Welsh Blades series.

Gryff was a Welshman raised as a noble hostage in the Norman court. Now he hides his true identity, saying only that he is a falconer, while he flees from one danger to another, longing to return to his homeland. (The word “Hiraeth” comes up repeatedly, meaning the Welsh concept of longing for home.) Meanwhile, a beautiful woman, who is very good with knives, saves him from a pack of villains.

Nan has no doubt the ragged Welshman she has saved was born to better things, far different from the servant’s life she has led. For one thing, his speech is more proper. Nan has suffered much and was always saved by women. That part of the story is intriguing, I must say, and so well done.

Nan’s first priority is to find her younger sister, who was lost to her long ago. Alas, that will prove a disappointing task as Nan discovers they are now very different women.

Rich in history, this story reflects much research on England and Wales in the 13^th century and on falconry and Wales’ part in raising the noble birds. It’s also very well told, capturing the medieval era perfectly. I love Kingston’s writing, the emotion in her characters and the complex motives that compel them forward to their fate.

This is definitely a keeper, a true love story of the genre and so much deeper than most. I guess you can say I loved it!  

Elizabeth Kingston’s THE KING’S MAN – Rich in History, a Great Medieval Romance!

Set in Wales, beginning in 1280, this is the story of Ranulf Ombrier, King Edward I’s favorite killer, famous for his skill with a sword. After years of doing his king's bidding, he begins to fear for his mortal soul and follows his conscience to the wilds of Wales.

When one of Gwenllian of Ruardean’s men nearly kills Ranulf, as a Welsh daughter of a powerful Marcher lord, she has every reason to leave Ranulf for dead, but instead, she heals him. As a girl she was married by proxy to a man Ranulf murdered, making her a widow before she ever met her groom. In the years since she has studied warfare and the healing arts.

I loved the characters and the history woven into this wonderfully written tale. It’s such a good story. Gwenllian takes Ranulf to London… to the king where they are soon caught up in dangerous intrigue and the king’s plans to bind Wales to him. Forced together, they discover how alike they are and how much they want each other. But even hard-won love cannot thrive when loyalties are divided.

A “hard to put down” story from the conflict between Wales and England. A very worthy romance!