"A splendid Historical"

As people reading my reviews can tell I am in a Sandra Heath and Shari Anton mood. I have been going through some of my "keeper" books, sorting them into new categories. I hadn't really noticed just how many of Anton's is there. She has her own shelf now! I was sticking them on my Medieval shelf and hadn't realized just how many of her books I bought and kept.

But these earlier Harlequin Historicals are a delight as well. In this one we have Judith Canmore. She is niece to England's Queen Matilda. Unfortunately for her, being of royal birth makes her the perfect pawn for the plans of men. Henry sees marriage to her will be a nice bonus for a noble of his choosing. Only, Judith dreams of another life, one where she will be married for love like her friend Ardith. She spends her days in the convent to protect her virginal state and dreaming of things she fears will never be for her.

Just a bit of a rebel, she slips outside the walled convent to pick herbs and is shocked when she is kidnapped! The men abducting her, again, want to use her as a pawn. This time the plot is to marry Judith to their lord, then take over England and put Judith on the throne of England. Still, Judith is not too disappointed in her abduction. In her heart when she dreamed of being married for love, she always envisions a Saxon knight, Corwin of Lenvil. She is surprised to find Corwin in there with her kidnappers.

Corwin has also been attracted to Judith, but kept his distance knowing a Saxon knight could never marry Judith. Corwin is there on a mission to find who is trying to create the civil war. If he succeeds in rooting out the traitors, he knows Henry will reward him with lands and coin. But he knows Henry would never offer Judith in wedlock.

It's a fast paced read, with Judith a charmingly feisty heroine. Corwin is her perfect mate and their saving England and finding love wins the readers heart. This book follows BY KING'S DEGREE (Gerard and Ardith's tale), LORD OF THE MANOR(Lucinda and Richard) then this one. The final in the series is KNAVE OF HEARTS (Marian's and Stephan's story). I suggest reading them all in order, though each stands alone.

Reviewed by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Posted October 31, 2005