Quinn de Sayerne vowed never to return home while his wicked father drew breath. Twenty years after his departure, the knight and crusader is summoned to claim his family holding after his father’s death. But the overlord decrees that Quinn must wed Melissande, the beautiful but frosty heiress of neighboring Annossy. Quinn resolves to win the heart of his lady wife, no matter what the cost, and … and thence the seal of Sayerne.
Melissande cannot believe that her liege lord has ignored her betrothal and wed her to a mercenary. Worse, he has granted her beloved Annossy to her new husband against her every protest. Though Melissande finds herself the chattel of this rough knight, she is determined to fight Quinn on every front—for the sake of her betrothal, Annossy, and her own pride.
But Annossy itself is in danger with brigands raiding its borders. Quinn is charged to oust the villains, but soon fears his lady wife is in peril—or is she allied with the brigands? Can this pair come to trust each other in time to work together for the sake of the future, or will a villain’s evil scheme cost them both everything they hold dear?
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Masterful crafting of a complex story of a medieval knight and a very capable woman managing her father’s holding after his death. This was not a love match but a union by the overload to protect and grow two holdings within his realm. These two people do manage to fall in love and find each completes the other to create a very effective whole to govern their lands.
Melissande has been managing Annossy since her father’s death five years ago. She was raised to do this job being an only child. She doesn’t need a husband even if she’s been betrothed to Amaud de Privas since childhood by their fathers. The only thing that plagues her is brigands at her borders raiding. She’s breathing easier now that her cruel and scheming neighbor Jerome de Sayerne has died. He always coveted Annossy and tried to unite them.
She’s called to her overload Tully’s keep she finds he has other plans. Tully has called Sayerne’s heir Quinn home, a crusading knight in the holy lands. When he arrives he finds Tully is requiring him to marry Melissande and defeat the brigands if he wants to earn Sayene. They have little choice but to obey, even though neither one is happy about it. Quinn goes about trying to unravel the mystery of the brigands while trying to win Melissande’s trust. There are mysteries to solve and counterplots exposed as well as a delightfully drawn love story. Quinn learns how to run a keep from Melissande and Melissande learns Quinn is not his father’s son. I’m so impressed with this author’s voice.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
SETTING: February 1102
Quinn de Sayerne has returned home. It has been 20 years since he left his home, being taken by his leige Lord de Tulley to be trained as a knight, then serving in the Crusades. Several of his men accompany him, willing to serve him for a while as reclaims his home. What he finds—rubble. Turning back to Lord de Tulley’s castle for respite from the winter, he finds himself the ‘victim’ of de Tulley’s plans to strengthen the defense of de Tulley’s borders— wedding Melissande, the young female ruling over a neighboring holding! Both Quinn and Melissande are displeased by having their hand forced in this way. However each so wants to rule over their own inheritance, that they give in rather than abandon their holding. Under such inauspicious beginnings, Melissande and Quinn marry, and thus begins the adventure!
CRITIQUE: This is a delightful story, written with the richness I have come to expect of Ms. Delacroix. Quinn is the quintessential knight, honorable, strong, able to give his heart fully to one woman. He is humble enough to recognize areas Melisssande surpasses him and is willing to let her use her skills, rather than usurp her place. He takes control of her soldiers and quickly discerns wherein the problems might lie, and then takes action to root out the traitors. Melissande is the classic heroine, beautiful, but strong of mind. When faced with danger, she takes action and fights back!
The storylines are intriguing and the reader keeps turning the page to see: will our couple come to an understanding? will they make peace with each other and trust each other? will the source of the raiders be uncovered and have peace restored to the good people of the land? Another excellent story from a beloved author who has perfected her craft.