Category: Medieval (1066-1540)

Heart of the Highlands: The Raven by April Holthaus

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Medieval (1066-1540)Leave a comment

Heart of the Highlands: The RavenHeart of the Highlands: The Raven by April Holthaus
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Protectors of the Crown #3
Publication Date: 8/1/21
Period: Medieval Scotland (1529)
Number of Pages: 215
*** 3.5 Stars ***

Adelyn Scott was forced into a marriage she didn’t want. The Englishman she was forced to marry, Lord Langton, was a cruel, promiscuous man with many enemies. When he was murdered on their wedding night, Adelyn was immediately blamed. Knowing she was innocent, but sure she’d be hung for the murder, Adelyn fled north to Scotland where she’d seek sanctuary with her cousin King James.

Eamon MacLeish is the personal protector of the king, his trusted advisor, and his friend. Eamon has pledged his fealty to King James and is his staunchest supporter. However, there is more to Eamon than meets the eye – and his dedication to the king will be sorely tested before the story ends.

The attraction between Eamon and Adelyn is strong and immediate. Eamon cannot afford any entanglements, but the draw toward Adelyn is strong and unyielding. When Adelyn is in danger, Eamon will have to make a choice between serving his king and saving the woman he loves.

While this is the third book in the series, it is actually the prequel for the series. It nicely sets up the need for the Protectors of the Crown and introduces the male protagonists in the first two books of the series. This is why the order of this book just didn’t make sense to me. If you decide to read this series, read book three first and then go to book one.

This story was just a straightforward story with little real excitement and the characters don’t just jump off the page and sizzle. The characters’ backstories are interesting and the ending is unexpected. The romance is the focus of the story with very little emphasis on the mystery of Adelyn’s husband’s murder.

This was a nice read, but a bit slow-paced and lacking real excitement. I liked the characters and am happy to have met them. It is the strong attraction and commitment of the lead characters that make the tale enjoyable.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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A Marriage Made In Secret by Jenni Fletcher

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

A Marriage Made in Secret: A gripping romance set in the Royal courtA Marriage Made in Secret: A gripping romance set in the Royal court by Jenni Fletcher

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: June 29, 2021

Sent to court to serve Queen Isabella, Lady Mathilde Gosselin of Rudstone was definitely a fish out of water and was thrown headfirst into the mystery, viciousness, and intrigue of court life. Not long after she began to serve the queen they went to France on a diplomatic mission and that is where she met Henry Wright of Ludlow.

Henry is a base-born man with obvious ties to the Mortimer family and he serves Roger Mortimer, whom he believes may be his father – but he really doesn’t know, his mother abandoned him at Mortimer’s estate when he was just six years old and he never saw her again. He hopes to gain lands and maybe a knighthood for his service to Roger and even though he is smitten with Mathilde, he has nothing to offer her. But that doesn’t stop him from wanting to protect her and to get to know her better.

As the years pass and the plots and machinations grow increasingly more dangerous, Henry worries for Mathilde and the hold Isabella seems to have on her. For his service during the removal of Edward II from the throne, he was awarded a manor house and land, finally, he has the means to support a wife and asks Mathilde to marry him in secret, as things are tense at court with Isabella and Roger acting as regents and Scots rebelling. He proposes they marry and wait until things calm down before asking permission to marry. Not happy about deceiving the queen, but wanting to have a life with Henry, Mathilde agrees.

More years pass and the time is never right to reveal their secret, but when the barons begin to grumble about Isabella and Roger’s regency, choices must be made and Henry and Mathilde find themselves caught in the middle and sadly on opposing sides. To save the woman he loves, Henry does the unthinkable and breaks Mathilde’s heart, hoping and praying that one day he will get the chance to beg her forgiveness.

This was a well-written, nicely paced, epic tale that spans over six years. This fictional romance is embedded into the true history of the deposing of Edward II by his Queen, Isabella of France, and her lover, Roger Mortimer. Our hero and heroine’s romance is definitely slow-burning, due to their positions at court, so they don’t spend a lot of time together, but when they do, their chemistry is undeniable and their concerns and fears are valid. The story is not as “romantic” as most historical romances, but it is steeped in historical fact and ends up being a very gripping and intriguing read. The story has secrets, lies, betrayal, heartache, warm love scenes, difficult choices, great secondary characters, and finally, a well-earned HEA. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, especially the author’s notes at the end, and would happily recommend it!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*