Lady Jocelyn Ashburne suspects something is amiss at her family’s castle because her father ceases to write to her. When she overhears a plot to force her into vows—either to the church or a husband—she disguises herself and flees the convent in desperation to discover the truth. Malcolm Castillon of Berkham is determined to win the next tournament and be granted a manor of his own. After years … After years of proving his worth on the jousting field, he yearns for a life of peace. Rescuing a scrawny lad who turns out to be a beautiful woman is not what he bargained for. Still, he cannot deny that she stirs his heart like no other, in spite of her conniving ways.
Chaos, deception, and treachery threaten their goals, but both are determined to succeed. Learning to trust each other might be the only way either of them survives.
Written for the General Market (G) (I): Contains little or no; sexual dialogue or situations, violence, or strong language. May also contain some content of an inspirational nature.
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Loved this debut from Ketchersid! If you enjoy medieval romance, check it out!
This sweetly steamy medieval romance absolutely made my day! From the opening scene, the setting leaps off the page and characters are endearing and relatable… except, of course, for the ones which aren’t… but conflict is an essential element of good storytelling so that’s actually another way the author completely nailed it! What a debut!!!
Since my schedule is packed right now, I picked up this book planning to simply take a peek then save it for a rainy-day pleasure read. Ketchersid immediately drew me into the story and ruined my plans as I became completely lost in the book. Once I started reading, the story literally did not leave my hand until I devoured every last word and the fact that I have to wait for another installment slays me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
What fun!! This is the first book by Sherrinda Ketchersid that I have read and I was completely enthralled. Set in 1198 England, the world of medieval times with lords, knights, tournaments, and clouds of secrecy and betrayal for power is captivating, as are the characters. The well-loved trope of a lady disguising herself as a young boy is carried out thoughtfully and convincingly. Jocelyn, who is determined to go back home from the convent to find out why her father has remained aloof, must flee those who would force her to take the vow to the church or marry a terrible stranger. She has enough spunk, gumption, stubbornness, and determination (and impatience) to disguise herself well as a boy and meets Malcolm, a celebrated knight, on his way to a tournament on her father’s grounds. Malcolm, though bruised by his past, is indeed a noble and loyal knight, looking for a land to call his own from winning the tournament. There is intrigue, fun plot twists, a good deal of medieval action, and toe-curling romance in the midst of great dialogue and fast-paced plot.
If you enjoy medieval historical romance, you will absolutely love this book!
Via Kindle Unlimited, I read this book as a part of JustRead Publicity Tour and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
I love a good medieval read! What’s more romantic than knights, fair ladies, and castles? Sherrinda Ketchersid nails all of that, plus a bit of mystery, a dash of danger, and a hearty sprinkling of humor. This is not a dark, gothic read. It’s an engaging story with characters who’ll stay with you long after you’ve closed the book. If you’re new to the medieval time period, this is a great book to start with! (Beware: this time period can be addicting.)
If you love Tamara Leigh you will love Sherrinda Ketchersid! Get a hold of a copy as soon as you can – you’re not gonna want to miss this one.
Lord of My Heart by Sherrinda Ketchersid was an enjoyable medieval experience. It contained a good mix of romance, danger, and intrigue. Malcolm made a great hero and Jocelyn made a appropriate match for him.
Buy this book now! I brought the paperback to the beach with me and devoured this wonderful story! I highly recommend this read and am looking forward to more stories from this fantastically talented author.
I don’t normall read historical fiction, but I’m so glad I picked up this book. It’s a great story! If you like romance, you’ll enjoy Lord of Her Heart!
Great clean Christian story set in history! I love stories with plenty of sword fights and evil plots!
The author does a great job conveying so many Christian values in her characters that are actually a little rare to see namely, Jocelyn is very submissive in many ways and is always seeking to serve her husband in ways that are often lacking in historical books. It was refreshing and inspirational! But I’d sure have loved to smack Malcolm upside the head a few times during the story. 🙂
I loved it!
Amazing!!! I absolutley loved this book. It was so great !! Cant wait to read more stories from Sherrinda Ketchersid. I would say that if you like Tamara Leigh, you have found yourself a new author to follow!
Lord of Her Heart by Sherrinda Ketchersid is debut novel set in the time of knights, sword-fighting and jousting. It took me a couple chapters to orient myself to the time period, but once I did, whew, the story took off and I couldn’t read it fast enough.
Lady Jocelyn Ashburne fears something has happened to her father as she’s not heard from him in months. Currently in a convent, she overhears plans to force her into taking vows or marrying. She hatches a plan, escaping the convent in disguise and begins the trek home.
Malcolm Castillion has been participating in jousting events for years and is seen as unbeatable. Highly skilled, Malcolm heads to an event where the winner comes away with a manor of his own.
Lady Jocelyn and Malcolm meet along the way, and she becomes his aid, except Malcom has no clue that the scrawny boy he calls Jack is actually a beautiful woman with a mission of her own. Concerned that both of them would be in danger should it be discovered that an unmarried man and woman, “Jacks” maintains the disguise.
Distracted by their mutual attraction to each other, Lady Jocelyn and Malcolm pursue their goal nonetheless.
I’ve enjoyed Lord of Her Heart and I believe you will too!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Just Read Tours and am not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own, and freely given.
Confession: it’s been a long time since I read a medieval book. And I wasn’t sure about this one until probably a third of the way through, when the tournament began. Then it felt like a book version of “A Knight’s Tale” movie (which is a very, very good thing)! The main character is even named Jocelyn! #fangirl
If you enjoyed “A Knight’s Tale” — you’ll enjoy this read. It’s clean, faith-based, and entertaining; fun to watch the characters develop; and full of mystery as Jocelyn works to determine who is blackmailing whom.
Malcolm is also completely fangirl/swoon-worthy. I would like a present-day version of him, please. 🙂
The only thing I would note is that, similar to “A Knight’s Tale”, I wish the fade-to-black occurred earlier a few times. It did get a bit descriptive for my taste. But still, a read I very much enjoyed, and I’d definitely check out more by the author! This was absolutely an impressive debut.
I received a copy of the book as part of JustRead Publicity Tours. All opinions are my own.
It has been a long time since I’ve read a good medieval love story and I forgot what I was missing! Lord of Her Heart has A Knight’s Tale feel to it, with Malcolm an expert in battle, headed to a tournament in Ramslea, hoping to win and gain land with which to finally settle down and plant roots. Jocelyn is escaping a convent, disguised as a boy named Jack, hoping to make it home to Ramslea to check on her father and get her life back. Jocelyn and Malcolm cross paths and “Jack” becomes Malcolm’s squire, both of them traveling to Ramslea together, and secrets being revealed along the journey.
Though incredibly predictable, it is a charming story, with a will they/won’t they feel throughout. I fell in love with Malcolm’s spirit and character but Jocelyn continued to bother me the further I read into the book. I could understand the choices her character made but it was frustrating and made it hard for me to really connect with her.
I would’ve loved a little more action with more twists and turns, the book lacking spontaneity, and being way too foreseeable. The ending is so incredibly sweet, leaving the reader with no doubt to what the future holds in Ramslea, and truth be told, left me with a goofy grin on my face, which is the best way to end a story in my opinion.
A cute, though predictable medieval love story that captures the imagination, taking you to the wonderful land of Ramslea, and leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy. A gratifying read!
This was such an exciting book. It grabbed me from the beginning and did not let go. I loved Jocelyn’s tenacity and her spunk to go after what she wanted. Malcolm had an integrity that shone through all the bad experiences that he and Jocelyn went through. The romance brews between the couple even when it was not allowed. Circumstances breaks the trust that had grown between Malcolm and Jocelyn. Jocelyn is on a quest to find out what happened to her father and is floored to find out he has died and that she is assumed dead. Jocelyn must tread carefully as she reveals who she really is. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves romance, action, adventure and intrigue based in the medieval times.
If you love novels with knights in shining armor, you’ll want to read Lord of her Heart. I especially appreciated the excellent pacing, likable characters, and positive message. Here’s a romantic tease:
Malcolm put a finger to the full lips. He leaned in close and watched with satisfaction as her eyes grew wide. “Today, however, you surprised me. You said not a word about having to wait on me. And you brought me water.”
His finger moved from her lips, and he gave in to the temptation to caress her smooth, rosy cheek. “I have been thirsty of late.” How he wanted to drink from those lips again. Captivated, he watched her mouth part.
Sherrinda Ketchersid’s debut novel will have a prominent place on the top shelf of my bookcase. It’s that good!
Having been sent to the convent for education several years ago, Lady Jocelyn has lost contact with her father. She then learns she will soon be forced to take her vows, either to the church or in marriage to a very distasteful man. She makes plans to disguise herself as a lad and run away from the convent in an attempt to try to make it home and learn what has become of her father.
Malcolm is on his way to a jousting tournament, eager to win so that he might receive land from the king. When his squire falls ill, he must find another, but the young lad he encounters leaves much to be desired as a stand-in squire. Little does he know that he has just met Lady Jocelyn, heiress to the property he now travels to for the tournament.
Joceleyn (aka Jack) and Malcolm will face many adventures and trials along the way, but when they finally arrive at their destination, they face even more difficult challenges than the journey provided them. As the tournament ensues, Jocelyn is faced with a difficult choice as she realizes she has fallen in love with the handsome jouster, who if he wins, will marry the lady of the manor.
Travel along this treacherous and romantic road with Malcolm and Jocelyn as they find danger, intrigue, and even love. Lose yourself in the medieval setting, the customs of the day and the adventures of this fascinating pair and those who would plot to see them fall. This is one novel you won’t be putting down anytime soon, but it will surely live in your heart long after you’ve turned the final page.
Hero Malcolm melted my heart!
I was captivated by this medieval romance. This book has it all! The story includes intrigue in a fortified castle, chivalrous knights facing danger, a fierce maiden hiding her identity …and most importantly, a hero who will melt your heart….not perfect, mind you, but a strong protector striving to do his best.
I enjoyed the nonstop action as tournament champion Malcom Castillon and feisty damsel Jocelyn Ashburne raced to reach their dreams. He desires his own land, and she wants to return home. However, difficulties await the couple. They must survive various threats and learn to trust before they have a chance for happiness. The twists and turns along the way keep the excitement high. And the exchange of tender kisses keep the romantic moments heated. *sigh*
I loved this story! The details provide a glimpse into life during the medieval times…a fascinating historical period. Faith-filled advice on the requirements of a good marriage are thoughtfully included.
Author Sherrinda Ketchersid’s debut is a skillfully written novel. I’m anticipating more heart-gripping books by this author! If you like fast-paced storytelling, with hidden identities, swoon-worthy knights, and intriguing maidens, this tale is for you!
Favorite quote: Jocelyn had known from the beginning of her escape that her life would be in danger. She had not thought her heart might be as well.
*I was given an ecopy of this book with no requirement to write a positive review. I’m delighted to offer my honest opinion.
Lord of Her Heart will capture you from the very beginning, keeping you hostage page by page with stellar fight scenes, an intriguing mystery, and a heartwarming and realistic romance.
I enjoyed the fast pace of the book, and how it had you hooked within a matter of pages. The heroine, Jocelyn, is independent and outspoken, yet kind and selfless. I came to admire her for her bravery and her generous heart. Sir Malcolm, the hero, is the ultimate example of a chivalrous knight. Although he is keenly aware of his brawny good looks and exceptional skill with the sword, his heart is gentle and always willing to aid those less fortunate than himself.
I enjoyed this book. I have just started reading in the medieval genre, and one thing that really stood out to me in this book was the action/fight scenes. It really felt like I was present for the tournament, and could see blow for blow what was happening in the scene. I also enjoyed watching the characters grow as they navigated through their relationship. Jocelyn blossomed as she strove to love others around her through Christ’s eyes, and Malcolm was humbled as he fought to trust those closest to him.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. It is full of mystery, action, and romance, and it will not disappoint you!
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
Fans of Medieval Historical Romance have a new author to watch in Sherrinda Ketchersid. Her debut novel, Lord of Her Heart, is an absolute treat.
As Lady Jocelyn escapes the convent disguised as a boy, she soon finding herself taken on as squire to an imposing, impressive, and chivalrous knight, Malcolm Castillon. More than luck is at play, as they are both bound for her home of Ramslea. He to win a title and land, and she to avoid an unwanted marriage and discover why her father has not written to her for a year.
As the story progresses and Malcolm discovers the first of her subterfuges, the way in which “Jack” pulls off her disguise as long as she does is aided by a clever bit of storytelling. And the plot only thickens once they arrive at Ramslea, where the tournament is accompanied by intrigue, and Malcolm and his Lady find that her lies and his past may be the biggest challenges to their happily ever after.
This story brought to mind a romance novel I read in the 1980’s with similar lady-disguised-as-knight’s-squire plot points, and while that novel had been a great favorite at the time, Lord of Her Heart has supplanted it as a new favorite both for that plot device and for medieval romance. That Ketchersid’s story involves their spiritual lives in an organic and believable way is, no doubt, part of what makes Lady Jocelyn and Malcolm’s story stand out.
This is a story to get lost in and any small issues were swept aside by sheer enjoyment of the main characters and the challenges and perils they face. Highly recommended, with a warning that this very promising debut may leave you anxiously waiting for more Medieval Inspirational Romance from Sherrinda Ketchersid.
While written as part of the review tour, a positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own. This review refers to a purchased e-book.