Sir Roark will do anything to gain land, even beguile an unwilling lady into marriage. He knows she’s much better off with a man to take control of her besieged castle, to say nothing of her desirable person. But it isn’t long before he discovers that, although her eyes sparkle like sunlight on sea waves, her stubbornness alone could have defeated Saladin. Lady Alyss is determined to hold her … family’s castle, protect her people, and preserve her freedom– until her brother’s dying wish binds her to a stranger. Still, she’ll allow no rugged, over-confident, appealing knight to usurp her authority, even if she must wed him. Especially since he thinks a lady’s duties begin and end with directing servants. Alyss has a few surprises for her new all-too-tempting lord. But when a common enemy threatens everything, Roark and Alyss face a startling revelation: Without love, neither land nor freedom matters.
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With her brother gone to fight with King Richard and her father taken to his death bed, Lady Alyss must protect her people and secure Chauvere Castle. Under a barrage of attacks, she stands tall and wins every battle. She knows she’s defenseless against the power of Sir John once news surfaces about her father’s death. But when Sir Roark shows up suddenly with a death bed plea, she’s unsure what to believe. Did he truly know her brother, Henry, or is this just a ploy to get under her skirts and take possession of her lands? A marriage of convenience it may be, but she’ll never give her heart to Sir Roark or will she discover true strength lies in building a life together with Sir Roark?
This story captured my heart from the very first page. Set in a time period where women were property and any man with the strength and fortitude could secure lands and titles, For This Knight Only is a breath of fresh air. A strong heroine with a backbone to rival the greatest knight, a hero searching for a place to call his own. . . it’s a battle of sexes set in medieval times.
Breathtaking descriptive narration with historical accuracy right down to cutlery, this is a must-read. The romance, while set against a battle-strewn landscape, melted my heart. The action, suspense and drama combine to make this one of the best medieval romances I’ve read in a very long time. Emotional, gripping with a few twists I didn’t see coming, For This Knight Only will keep you turning the pages to the conclusion.
Perfect for fans of Robin Hood and medieval times, For This Knight Only is a gem.
Favorite Character/Quote: Lady Alyss. She’s such a strong woman who has had to deal with so much in her young life. She’s spunky, intelligent and I loved her. But as the book went along, she learned valuable lessons about the softer side of being a woman and that true strength lies within the arms of love.
My Rating: 5 stars
For This Knight Only is a historical novel that will ensnare you deep in the time of the Crusades. Barbara Bettis has created captivating characters to tell her story. Alyss is a strong woman overseeing her dead father’s castle and lands in England as she awaits word of her brother Henry fighting for King Richard. Sir Roark, a knight under the reign of King Richard, realizes his liege lord is part of a plot to kill the king. After Sir Roark flees the deadly battle, he travels to Alyss’s homeland and convinces her that Henry’s dying wish was for her to marry Roark. It takes a lot of persuasion, for she is very stubborn, but Alyss reluctantly marries the stranger to save her people and falls in love with the man. Roark proves to be a loyal leader, protecting Alyss’s people from danger and attack. Alas, Roark’s deceit surfaces at the most inopportune times and the love Alyss and Roark share is threatened.
Bettis has contrived a delightful love story in the midst of war. The language and dialogue is perfect for the time period. I felt as if I was right there witnessing all the hardships and sufferings Alyss and Roark faced. My heart broke over and over as Alyss endured numerous injustices. This book is hard to put down once you discover Roark’s cunning scheme, tapping into your emotions as love heats up and you feel the sting of loss. An interesting and educational read!
I found the very beginning to be a little slow for my liking but then oh my it turn into one of those page turners I just couldn’t put down. You name it, this story has it all – action, suspense, romance, etc. Loved the development of the characters and the interaction between them. Loved the strong feisty female character and how she wouldn’t take flack from anybody and did what was not the norm for females back then. Loved the comradeship, honesty, and loyalty that was portrayed. I totally became immersed in the story and felt I was right there alongside them. Definitely a story I would recommend.
A knight seizes the opportunity to claim a home when the heir to a castle is killed in a surprise attack against King Richard. Knowing he must marry the heir’s sister is his first task, defending the castle is his next. A shaky foundation with every possibility that he could lose it all. A new author for my list, who writes a well put together romance with a few tears to a happy ending.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Young women were seldom able to choose their own husband in 1194. Alyss of Chauvere, however, is determined not to marry the neighboring lord, the one at the gates of her father’s castle. If only her brother and his men would return, the defenses would be strengthened.
Sir Roark of Stoddard is one of many knights defending his recently-released-from-exile king. When the party is attacked, he does his part, learning of betrayal from within.
Ms. Bettis presents a classic tale with enough twists to keep you turning the pages.
Roark and Alyss what a story, an amazing adventure, lot’s of suspense and a dabble of romance all while stepping back in time through the pages of this amazing story.
I loved this book! The characters were interesting, multi-layered, and developed along the way. The setting was well written, visual, and authentic. The action was outstanding. It didn’t stop for a single page. Warning: once you open this book, you won’t want to put it down. Congratulations on another great book, Barbara Bettis.
Fall in love with the swoon-worthy hero as you devour the pages of this medieval romance, and cheer for the heroine as she matches wits with those who want to take away her home.
I absolutely loved this story!!! Once you start reading it, you won’t want to put it down, it’s that good! Sir Roark shows up at Lady Alyss’s castle with a made up story that her brother’s dying wish was that Roark would marry Alyss to keep her and her village safe. He’s always dreamed of having his own lands and he figures this is an easy way of getting it. He finds out Alyss is no pushover and really has a mind of her own! She will NOT make this easy for him!!!
There are so many twists and turns in the story, filled with mystery and suspense….as well as passion! My thanks to the author, Barbara Bettis, for writing such a wonderful story for us to read!!
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I absolutely loved “For This Knight Only”. It’s filled with action and emotion and it’s thoroughly medieval. I’ve never enjoyed reading about a siege so much! Barbara Bettis has clearly done her research and she writes with such sensitivity that you feel as if you’re there.
Lady Alyss and Sir Roark are wonderful characters. Their personalities are revealed gradually, naturally, like a door slowly opening to reveal what’s inside. Lady Alyss’ determination and sheer stubbornness are impressive. Like Sir Roark, it took me a while to comprehend the strength of her character, the rightness of it. She is no damsel in distress. She is smart and strong and very protective of her people.
Sir Roark is courageous, compassionate, and a man of his time. He expects Lady Alyss to step back and allow him to protect her. It takes him a while to understand that she has no intention of doing so. Amidst all the twists and turns, his love and respect for her — and hers for him — grow throughout the story.
With some amazing details, knights in shining armor, and a castle to defend, For This Knight Only is a thoroughly medieval romance. Richard the Lionheart even makes an appearance. But best of all is how Lady Alyss and Sir Roark grow as individuals, how their love for each other unites them and creates new possibilities. These are people you can root for. These are characters you can love.
I can hardly wait to read more of the Knights of Destiny series.
I loved the way the author opened the book with Chauvere getting attacked. I was immediately drawn into the story, and itching to learn more. Alyss’s character intrigued me from the beginning. She has a strong mind, and even when everything is falling apart around her, literally, she remains strong and takes charge.
The interactions between Sir Roark and Alyss were entertaining, especially in the beginning when they first met. The book was well-written with beautiful and descriptive imagery. I recommend this read!
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. The beginning seemed just a little slow to me, though I did enjoy the characters. There was just a lot to lay out for the story to make sense. It didn’t take long though, for me to totally get caught up in the intrigue and all that was going on.
I loved the interactions between Lady Allyss and Sir Roark. They were both very strong people who’d pretty much been forced by circumstances to stand alone and strong.
I loved the ending, and I think, that if you like this type of story, you will too!
During a time where women had very little choice on whom they could marry, Alyss proves to be a very strong determined woman on her options. Enter Sir Roark, a knight that has just come from battle to tell her that her brother perished in the bid to aid King Richard…along with the desire to marry her for the land that she lives on. I was turning pages quickly as the story writing kept me intrigued. Well written and thought out book.
this book was actually really great! he wants her land. she is trying to keep her castle. he wants to marry her to gain the land. bad people want everything. read to find out what happens.
This is a slice of history infused with a fiction to make a name be historical romance. I enjoyed the characters and the story line. The story is well written and has great imagery within it.
I thought that Roark and Lady Alyss were a well-matched couple. Both were honorable, intelligent, and had strong leadership qualities. Although both wanted a life of freedom and to be valued for their personal virtues and not for their property or status, they entered into a union that would serve for the protection of Lady Alyss’s family holdings and the people who lived there.
The writing drew me into their internal lives and made me want to see them succeed as a couple as they grew to respect each other. They each recognized they had feelings for the other that weren’t all about physical attraction. I didn’t want Roark’s secret to tear them and apart when it became known. There were unexpected plot twists that surprised me and kept the story fresh. I recommend this for readers looking for medieval characters of depth and integrity.
I voluntarily read an advanced review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley and I offer my honest opinion in response.