The Executioner Knights are back, now with one of their own falling in love with a Welsh princess who holds the key to a renewed rebellion. Will love win out over his sense of duty?Kress de Rhydian is a man on a mission. The second Executioner Knight is given a very important directive –William Marshal is determined to make a match between a Welsh princess and a great marcher lord. With King John … great marcher lord. With King John having recently married his daughter to the last Prince of Gwynedd, the Marshal seeks to balance that power with a strategic marriage of his own. Kress is tasked with protecting the Welsh princess, no matter what the cost, until she can reach her destination.
The cost may be his soul.
Cadelyn of Vendotia is the daughter of two powerful royal bloodlines. Having been raised in the house of the Earls of Arundel, she is more English than Welsh, and she has no desire to be part of a political marriage. An educated woman with a penchant for naughty poetry, Cadelyn is one of the last full-blooded Welsh princesses and a very valuable commodity. But there is a complication – the princess falls in love with Kress along the way, and in spite of himself, Kress cannot deny his growing feelings for her.
But there is a rebellion afoot, one tied to her betrothed. A group calling themselves the Rebels of Rhos, led by Cadelyn’s long-lost mother, is determined to use Cadelyn to feed their cause. They have promised lands and wealth to the greedy brothers of Cadelyn’s betrothed in exchange for their support of the rebellion, one that neither William Marshal – nor Kress – have any idea about. They will be taking Cadelyn straight into a firestorm if she makes it to Wales, and the center of this storm is a place called Mynydd Twywll (Mountain Dark).
It is the heart of the rebellion.
When the terrible plans for Cadelyn finally become known, it is nearly too late to save her, but Kress and her escort give it a valiant try. When reinforcements arrive from an unexpected source, Kress risks his life to take Cadelyn to safety.
Will his sense of duty and his loyalty to England win out? Or will the love of a Welsh princess be his downfall?
Read the entire Executioner Knight series:
By The Unholy Hand
The Mountain Dark
Starless (coming Winter 2019)
Also read The Promise (February 21, 2019)
more
Kathryn le Veque always brings so much into her books and in Kress and Cady’s story she didn’t disappoint. Kathryn always brings mystery, honor, loyalty, laughter, sadness and love to all her books and as each one comes out the scale just explodes with all the fans wanting more and more.
In Mountain Dark, there is the mystery of a princess being the last living Welsh Princess , living somewhere secret. And William Marshal brings the Executioner Knights into it. With a secret rebellion being planned that the Princess would lead them to victory. Meanwhile King John had set the marriage of his daughter to the last Prince of Gwynedd, William decides to use his “ace” Cadelyn of Vendotia, by having her wed the Earl of Ellesmere. So, William Marshall decides to counter that move with a marriage of his own choosing.
Kress, is then asked by William to escort the Princess to Paladin then to Mountain Dark to wed the Earl. But as he finally meets Cadelyn he knows that something is different, then he sees that she is hiding something and when he confronts her, he’s astounded.
When Cadelyn meets Kress she also knows that something is different even though she understands that she is betrothed to another she starts to have feelings for Kress. Meanwhile, you have the female bodyguard, Susanna and Achilles going at each other, which will have you laughing so hard.
You also will see that the two half brother’s of the Earl plotting with the “supposed” mother of Cadelyn and the Welsh. Who will win? Will Kress and Cady get together? And will there be a wedding? All these questions and more that will come out while reading will be answered only in Kathryn’s special way.
You will love this book just as I have and you will continue to see that Kathryn le Veque has brought you back in time to the Medieval era where Knights and Ladies do exist and that Kathryn can tell their stories and you will feel as if you are there, that you are helping the characters and laughing and crying with them, and cheering them in their battles but for one thing when the story ends it still lives on in your heart….now for another Kathryn le Veque book
This is the second book in the Executioner Knights and all I can say is WOW, I loved this book. I just fell in love with Kress and Cadelyn. They are quite a pair. Kress of course is a strong handsome knight and Cadelyn is beautiful and feisty! I did giggle a lot when I was reading this and I could just picture the looks on Kress’s face at times. It was just such a pleasure and fun to read this story. This is definitely one of those Calgon take me away books to read. Although a second in a series it is definitely a stand alone book, but you do want to read the first as it is just as wonderful as this one.
Kress de Rhydian is a knight with a reputation for getting things done. He takes orders from his liege, and completes any kind of task, no questions asked, no matter how dangerous or dirty the deed required. A member of a trio of knights called “ The Unholy Trinity”, he does not fail. Kress and his cohorts are assigned the job of escorting a young woman to meet her betrothed and ensuring that the marriage actually takes place.
This young woman, Lady Cadelyn, is a Welsh Princess, who has been hidden away for years, as she is the last of her royal bloodline. The betrothal is for political reasons, but the man planning it doesn’t quite have all the information.
While traveling toward their destination, Kress and Cadelyn begin a relationship with a little secret. Cadelyn has a special talent. Kress discovers it, and finds it amusing. He finds her more than a bit attractive. The two have a chemistry and longing that becomes enflamed as their entourage journeys toward their destination which only serves to create conflict for them. How can Kress just give her to another man? Will Cadelyn really be able to marry another? There are other dark forces at play that intend to use this marriage for nefarious ends.
This is a wonderful story! It has a terrific plot with intrigue, action, romance and humor. I loved it! I am soooo looking forward to the story of Achilles too…the last knight of the Unholy Trinity- as they are a fabulous trio. I highly recommend it.
William Marshal has sent Executioner Knight Kress de Rhydian on a mission into Wales to escort Cadelyn of Vendotia, a young woman who’s a full blooded Welsh princess to her betrothed. Kress along with his fellow Knights, Bric, Achilles and Alexander must escort her to her betrothed Tatius De Shera.
Cadelyn is one of the last full-blooded Welsh princesses who has a mind of her own. Kress has his hands full with this little spitfire, she’s not exactly what he expected when he started this mission. The attraction between them is instantaneous, I live the witty banter of course the naughty poems she writes and distributes with clerics help. Caddie and Kress fight their attraction, they both know what they feel doesn’t matter her destiny is already set by William Marshall. Caddie gets to the point she does not want to wed the man of William’s choice, but fate seems to have other ideas for them. Will Kress fight for Caddie, he can’t just give her to another man, force her to do her duty Cadelyn refuses to be given to another man when she loves Kress. It’s such an emotional roller coaster for these two as they feel there is no hope for them. A great story and I can’t wait for the next Executioner Knight story!!! 5 STARS!!! I voluntarily read and reviewed this excellent story filled romance, strong characters with witty banter, betrayal and strong loyalties.
William Marshall gives his Executioner Knights, a very special mission to take a Welch Princess to her betrothed. Since King John had married off his daughter to a Welch Prince, he is hoping to balance that power with the marriage of Cadelyn of Vendotia to Tatius de Shera. Kress de Rhydian and the knights are to take her from Castle Rising to The Paladin and then to be married at Mountain Dark. What starts out as a normal assignment, turns into a rebellion, one that is tied to Tatius, his brothers, and a group of Welch Rebels led by Catelyn’s mother. Along the way, romance seems to enter the adventure when Kress and Cadelyn fall in love with each other. However, it can not be, as honor comes first. What a page turner and the action does not stop. Kathryn has given us a new wonderful group of knights to fall in love with. Wonderful read.
1206 London Prepare to sit back and spend some time reading, because once you start this story there is no stopping! I always look forward to being engulfed in the brilliant imagination of Kathryn Le Veque and prepare for the emotions that are certain to come out. Oh yes they did!
This is Kress de Rhydian’s tale, one of three fierce Executioner Knights, sworn to William Marshall above all. Now Kress is directed to go to Wales to escort a Welsh princess to the man William has set her up to marry. One of the King’s greatest enemies.
Let the adventure begin! A journey that will see Kress and Cadelyn grow close to the point she does not want to wed the man of William’s choice. The emotions run rampant as these two feel there is no hope for them. What will happen now?
But all is not as it seems and Cadelyn has her own loyal rebels and is not willing to be a political pawn for William. Of course that starts all kind of trouble. So buckle in and enjoy the amazing adventure of a strong knight (yes just look at that cover!) and a beautiful, strong princess work toward their happy ending!!
Sir Kress de Rhydian is one of the Executioner Knights. They earned their reputation by doing any dirty job the King or their leige lord asked of them. This time looks to be an easy task. Escort a woman to her betrothed, even if she doesn’t want to go.
Cadelyn ferch Rhys only found out about her true bloodlines a short while ago. Now she is to be used as a political pawn. She had been hoping for a normal life with a man of her choosing to marry and writing her poems for fun.
There is a grand adventure for both of them. The plans of others will put so many people in danger all for greed.
This is a wonderful tale full of excitement and fun. Those of us who have read this author’s work before will meet a few old friends and one interfering Marshal who nearly always starts the problems. Will he get his way this time???
I loved every page.
“When that moment comes and you pass through the veil between life and death, wait for me. When my time comes, I will be looking for you.”
William Marshal has a political alliance made that will strengthen the borders by betrothing a Welsh princess to one of the marcher lords. In order to see that this comes to fruition, he calls upon his most trusted knights…known as the Executioner Knights, these men will do anything to see that their orders are fulfilled…at any cost. But what happens when a hardened knight that has killed without thought becomes enthralled with a beautiful princess…well, dear reader, you will have to read the book to find out!
Kathryn Le Veque is a master storyteller when it comes to medieval romance. Highly recommend and look forward to reading more adventures of the Executioner Knights!
Loved this book. Now on to Starless. Love love love
I like Kathryn Leveque’s historical romances. The stories have a nice blend of action (knights in battle) heroics and appealing, plucky women. The characters are solid despite the standard story line that most historical romance writers follow. This author does it in an appealing way.