A Defiant Maiden’s Knight
A knight’s protection…That she doesn’t want…or need?
Joan Lovent may be losing her sight but she refuses to lose her independence too. So when Sir Warin de Talmont tells her it’s too perilous to be out alone in the city, she doesn’t pay him any heed. But with threats surrounding them, she begins to value his protection and helps with his dangerous work in return. If only the powerful connection between them wasn’t so impossible to ignore!
Purchase Links:
UK Harper Collins ~ Harlequin US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US
Author Bio:
Melissa Oliver is from south-west London where she writes historical romance novels. She lives with her lovely husband and daughters, who share her passion for decrepit, old castles, palaces and all things historical.
Melissa is the WINNER of The Romantic Novelist Association’s Joan Hessayon Award for new writers 2020 for her debut, The Rebel Heiress and the Knight.
When she’s not writing she loves to travel for inspiration, paint, and visit museums & art galleries.
Social Media Links:
Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram
Tracy’s Review:
A Defiant Maiden’s Knight by Melissa OliverTracy’s rating: 4/4.5 of 5 stars
Series: Protectors of the Crown, #1
Release Date: June 28, 2022
Sir Warin de Talmont along with his brother knights have formed a new league of knights known as the Knights Fortitude of the Order of the Sword and have made it their mission to protect Hubert de Burgh, their liege lord, and the crown from all threats. Currently, Warin is investigating a group known as the Duo Dragcones, who seem bent on discrediting Hubert. But his investigation is hampered when his superior and good friend Sir Thomas Lovent asks him to watch over his sister Joan while he accompanies Hubert on a mission to clear his name. Warin agrees but regrets it almost immediately when Joan tries to insert herself into his investigation.
Joan Lovent is slowly losing her sight and is the only survivor of a fire that destroyed their family home and claimed the life of their mother and sister. For years she blamed herself, but has found peace and redemption in the church and spends a lot of time volunteering, knowing that someday her sight will be gone and she will no longer be able to help. Knowing that her sight is failing has made Joan fiercely independent – sometimes to the point of being reckless. It is that recklessness that puts her in Warin’s path.
Joan refuses to let Warin set her aside, and even he has to admit that she has given him valuable information about the man he is looking for. But Warin can’t bear to see Joan in harm’s way and though he is attracted to her, he vowed to never love again after the death of his wife and daughter, something that he blames himself for. Will Warin hold fast to the past or will Joan be able to break through the wall around his heart?
This was a nicely-paced, well-written story that picks up where the “Notorious Knights” series ended. In this spin-off series, the reader is reunited with several characters from the previous series, including the hero and heroine. The book is a lovely second-chance at love romance, filled with emotion and featuring a heroine with a disability and who is a bit too reckless for her own good. The story has a bit of intrigue, some warm love scenes, great secondary characters, and finally a nail-biting ending and a very heartwarming HEA. This is the first book in a new series and it is every bit as enjoyable as the previous series! I am happy to recommend this title and will be looking forward to the next 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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