Tag: #LoversandLegends

Reclaimed by the Knight by Nicole Locke

On By TracyIn Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Reclaimed by the Knight (Lovers and Legends #7)Reclaimed by the Knight by Nicole Locke

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Lovers and Legends, #7

Release Date: September 1, 2018

If you read the previous book The Knight’s Scarred Maiden then you already know Nicholas of Mei Solis, he is the scarred knight that helped Rhain escape the vengeance of Reynold of Warstone. If like me you wondered about his past, the wait is over!

Commanded by Rhain to return home and settle his past, Nicholas dreads returning to his holding and the only woman he ever loved, the woman who promised to marry him and married his best friend while he was away. Six years ago, Nicholas was happy and in love, he left Mei Solis to earn coin for the property, he said he would return in two years and left even after Matilda begged him to stay. Two years turned to three and with it a horrific injury and the news that his love married his friend Roger. That news kept him alive, alive to seek vengeance on his erstwhile friend and his faithless love. Now three years after receiving the news, he is back and ready to put the past behind him and move on with his life.

Matilda loved Nicholas with all her youthful heart and begged him not to leave, but leave he did, without even a proper goodbye. At first he wrote her letters and she wrote back, but then his letters to her suddenly stopped without explanation, but he continued to correspond with Louve, the estate steward. Believing he broke their betrothal, Matilda marries his friend Roger, she writes to him one last time to tell him of her marriage, and tries to love her husband as he deserves. Nicholas, Matilda, Roger and Louve all grew up together and were dear friends, but what Matilda felt for Nicholas was much deeper and she was heartbroken when he broke their betrothal.

She was content with Roger, but never loved him as she did Nicholas and feels guilty about that. Roger is dead and she is pregnant with his child, she has tried very hard to change and become the type of person she believes Roger wanted her to be, she curbs her adventurousness and her temper, but Nicholas’s returns and treats her like she betrayed him, she cannot let that go without speaking her mind.

They talk and argue, each believing they are the wronged party and slowly they begin to accept their own roles in the break down of their relationship. They form a tentative peace, but Matilda is sure Nicholas is leaving again and refuses to trust him. When Matilda goes into labor, Nicholas is by her side and after the baby is born, keeps his distance for weeks, until he hears her crying.

Something breaks in Matilda after Julianna’s birth and she feels like she is drowning in despair and grief. When Nicholas comforts her, it feels right and later when he insists that she stay in the manor, they finally have it out – the love they shared, never truly died, but hurt and mistrust are not easy to let go of, and when Reynold shows up, Matilda is sure Nicholas is lost to her forever.

This was a very emotionally charged book filled with misconceptions, mistrust, forgiveness, second chances and growing up. I personally felt that they both could have tried a little harder to communicate while he was away and Matilda was more angry than I believe warranted (for someone who married and had a child with another man) and I would have liked the ending to be a bit more specific regarding their HEA. But it was a very good story and makes me want to read Reynold’s book all the more!!!

The Knight’s Scarred Maiden by Nicole Locke

On By TracyIn Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Knight's Scarred Maiden (Lovers and Legends)The Knight’s Scarred Maiden by Nicole Locke
Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Lovers and Legends, #5

Release Date: August 1, 2017

Helissent is the sole survivor of a fire that killed her entire family, an event that left her scarred, both inside and out. She was taken in by the local innkeepers and after she healed, she worked hard to pay back their kindness, first at the inn and then later as their caregiver until they passed away. Now their son Rudd has come to claim his inheritance and considers Helissent part of his due.

Rhain of Gwalchdu has secrets, five years ago he learned everything he believed about his life was a lie, he left his home and became a mercenary, traveling and looking for answers. But after a moment of recklessness in which he killed Guy of Warstone, he is on the run for his life. Because now, Guy’s brother Reynold is hunting him and he knows his time is almost up. He wants to save his men from Reynold and is making his way to King Edward’s camp outside York, he will leave his men there and then deal with Reynold. Taking the road less traveled, he comes upon Helissent’s village and stays longer than he should – because of his fascination with her.

When he and his friend Nicholas save Helissent from Rudd’s plans for her, he unknowingly sparks something to life in her. She decides to leave the village and will start a new life in York. So when she shows up at his camp the next morning with honey cakes and all her possessions, Rhain grudgingly agrees to take her with them.

Helissent is surprised by the treatment she receives, the men do not ignore her, nor do they treat her differently because of her scars. For so long she has used her scars for penance, she lets people look at her in horror, she believes she deserves this for failing to save her family. But Rhain refuses to let her be shamed. He cares for her but knows nothing can come of it, as he will soon be dead. But he desperately wants to help her. They travel to Tickhill castle, where he shares some of his past with her and she with him. He agreed to take her to York, but he needs to keep her safe from Reynold and tries to leave her at Tickhill castle, but she refuses to stay and he is unable to say no to her.

The threat of Reynold looms and when then reach York, he becomes almost frantic wanting to ensure Helissent is not harmed by Reynold. He tries to keep his distance from her, but they are drawn to each other and when they share a kiss, Helissent knows her heart is lost to him. Rhain berates himself for giving into his desire for her, he knows he needs to stay away, but he can’t let her go thinking her scars are the reason for his withdrawal. He finds her and they share a moment of passion, but afterwards, he is cruel and tries to sever their bond, he is not worthy of her and with Reynold so close, he will do anything, even hurt her feelings, if it means he can keep her safe.

But Helissent is not willing to be cast aside and she will save the man she loves, from Reynold and from himself.

I thought this was a very sweet story of healing, forgiveness and learning to move on from ones past. The writing was very good and the story moves quickly. However, I felt like there were a lot of unanswered questions and the ending was a bit anti-climatic. I really would have enjoyed an epilogue set a few years later that perhaps wrapped up the loose ends. But overall, this was a good read with wonderfully flawed characters, great secondary characters, very mild love scenes, a few too many baking references and a lovely declaration scene.