Bound to the Warrior Knight by Ella Matthews ~ Blog Tour

On By TracyIn Blog Tour, Book Publicity, Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Part of a Series, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Bound to the Warrior Knight

Wed to a stranger

Awakened by his touch

As the new wife of stoic knight Benedictus Monceaux, innocent Adela finds herself in a whole new world… Their union is one of convenience and power, but her feelings for the warrior unsettle and excite her. Hiding an inner strength, Adela knows she can be a strong ally to her husband but first she must walk a fine line between duty and desire, both in court and in the bedchamber.

Purchase Links:

UK – US

Author Bio:

Ella Matthews lives and works in beautiful South Wales. She writes medieval romances for Mills & Boon. When not thinking about handsome heroes she can be found walking along the coast with her husband and their two children (probably still thinking about heroes but at least pretending to be interested in everyone else).

Social Media Links:

Website ~ Twitter ~ Instagram

 

Tracy’s Review:

Bound to the Warrior Knight (The King's Knights, #4)Bound to the Warrior Knight by Ella Matthews

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The King’s Knights, #4

Release Date: March 28, 2023

After years of waiting for her betrothed to claim her, the day has finally come and Adela couldn’t be happier. Not because she is in love with Sir Benedictus Monceaux, she doesn’t even know him, it is because she will finally be freed from the prison her father has kept her in to keep her “pure” for her betrothed. At first, Benedictus refuses to let her join him at Windsor, but when Adela makes it clear that she will follow him if he doesn’t let her go with him, he gives in. Windsor is a huge adjustment for Adela, as is being married to the very stoic Sir Benedictus, but soon they are getting along very well and if it isn’t the love that her new friends Medea and Theo share, that is all right, not everyone is that lucky and what she shares with Beneditus is enough, right? Yet, as her feelings deepen, she wonders what Benedictus really feels for her and if maybe they could be lucky too.

Sir Benedictus Monceaux is the leader of King Edward’s elite guard and acts in the king’s stead while he is abroad. Knowing the king needs funds for his wars, Sir Benedictus decides it is time to collect his bride and her hefty dowry. He expects to wed her and leave her with her family, as he doesn’t have time to coddle a wife. Men may quake in his presence, but his new wife stands up to him, this is a big surprise and somewhat arousing. He isn’t sure what to make of her, but now that he has her, he isn’t going to let her go. But feelings and sweet words are not Benedictus’ forte and may cost him the love of a lifetime if he can’t find a way to let Adela know what she has come to mean to him. But when the worse happens, she gets her answer and is heartbroken. Now choices will have to be made as the fate of two hearts hangs in the balance.

In the final installment of the King’s Knight series, readers are in for a treat – Benedictus is a treasure and a man with hidden depths. Throughout the series, he has been portrayed as a bit of a stick in the mud and very rigid, but beneath that tough hide beats a tender heart of gold – he is first and foremost the king’s man and he is unapologetic for that, and rightly so, but he is not without a heart and it is Adela who brings those softer feeling out in him. This book was the crème de la crème of the series, it is filled with emotion, spies, steamyish love scenes, some surprising twists and turns, a bit of heartache, family reunions, toxic parents, a slow-burn romance that lead to a HEA with a very sweet epilogue. My only complaints were that the villain didn’t die (Yes, I am a bloodthirsty wench) and that the epilogue didn’t include all the former characters. Other than those minor things, this book was practically perfect! This is the fourth and final book in the series, and while it can be read as a standalone title, reading the series in order will give you more insight into Benedictus and his brother knights, giving you a better reading experience for this book.

*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.*

 

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To Bargain with a Rogue by Lana Williams

On By TracyIn Author Collaboration Series, Book Publicity, Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

To Bargain with a Rogue (Wicked Widows' League, #3)To Bargain with a Rogue by Lana Williams

Tracy’s rating: 4/4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Widows’ League, #3 (Author Collaboration Series)

Release Date: March 28, 2023

Alicia Radcliff, the widowed Countess of Hawthorne is finally finished with her year of mourning and is ready to reenter society. She has decided that she deserves to enjoy the freedom being a young widow affords her, namely taking a lover to find out what she was missing all years she was married. But she needs to take care, because she has no desire to marry again nor does she want to shame her young son, nor does she want to fall in love. She is sure she will be able to avoid that trap, but that was before her son was in danger and she met him.

Matthew Aston, the new Earl of Slayton, never expected to inherit, in fact, he never planned on returning to England. But with the unexpected death of both his father and his older brother, Matthew had no choice but to return and take care of his younger sister Clarissa and the estate. He had no idea that the estate was in such dire straights or that his father and brother had wracked up such high debts. Even with the money that Matthew made while in the Caribbean, he realizes that he will have to marry an heiress and fast if he has any hope of saving the estate and giving Clarissa a season. He is delighted when he meets Alicia, she is everything he has ever wanted in a wife, she is kind, lovely, and rich. But she makes it clear that she will not marry again, but she isn’t averse to an affair and is willing to help launch Clarissa into society. Their affair is sizzling, but Matthew knows he has to marry to protect his sister and ends things, but soon wonders if he gave up too soon, can he convince Alicia that his heart is hers for the taking or will he have to settle for a loveless marriage?

This was a delightful, well-written short novel with very likable characters. The book has a little of everything, interfering relatives, spying servants, a once-bitten, twice-shy heroine, a hero thrown into an impossible situation, a creepy villain, a bit of angst, steamyish love scenes, a bit of heartache, and finally a very satisfying ending that leads to HEA. I did feel like there were some loose ends that didn’t get addressed, but overall they were minor and didn’t really impact the story. This book is part of a loosely connected author collaboration series and it does feature secondary characters from one of the author’s previous series, but the book can easily be read as a standalone title. I enjoyed this story and would be happy to recommend it and am looking forward to more stories in this series!

*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.*