"Medieval romance"

During the reign of Henry Plantagenet, several English prisoners escape captivity in the Holy Land because of the sacrifice of some of their peers. One of these Lord Stryker has become the King's Champion, but also remains loyal to the Brotherhood of the Sword consisting of those surviving knights incarcerated together in the Holy Land.

Lady Rowena de Vitry, the "Lady of Love" troubadour hates knights whom she believes are barbarians who take what they want from the defenseless. However, when she meets Stryker sparks fly though neither wants to acknowledge it. She is shocked when he comes to the defense of his half-brother, a troubadour like her.

King Henry wants Rowena married, but no one seems capable of attaining that status. His wife Eleanor suggests Stryker wed Rowena so that the monarch can feel secure that a major supporter owns a critical estate. Rowena has vowed she will never marry any knight while Stryker has pledged he will never marry as insanity runs in his family. However, the queen pulls strings using the duo as puppets by insisting that Rowena teach Stryker to sing for an upcoming contest.

Though an exciting treachery subplot seems an afterthought as this is a Brotherhood of the Sword tale, fans will appreciate this terrific gender war between a gentle acerbic troubadour and a caring hard-boiled knight. The story line works when the lead couple battle while falling in love as predicted by that masterful manipulator the Queen. The secondary characters enable the audience to either see inside the reign of Henry Plantagenet or understand the prime players. Medieval romance readers will enjoy this tale and look forward to more novels starring other brothers.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted April 21, 2004

Summary

Fearless men, their allegiance is to one another, to the oppressed, and to the secret society known as the Brotherhood of the Sword -- and they must never surrender to the passionate yearnings of their noble hearts. A Lady of Love Beautiful, peace-loving Rowena knows that Stryder of Blackmoor is a warrior, and is therefore a man to be shunned. But something burns in the eyes of this powerful knight that she has never seen in others of his kind: a tenderness, and a need to love and be loved. Yet to enter his world would be madness -- against every principle by which she has lived her life -- so she must resist the yearning that would draw her into his arms. A Man of War Duty bound to battle for right, Stryder has never desired the comforts of home and hearth -- until he gazed upon the exquisite face and form of the incomparable Rowena. He dares not succumb to her sensuous charms, for Stryder is a man sworn to know no love. But when treachery and danger threaten, the noble knight must stand as the unsuspecting lady's champion -- though his actions could cost him his honor, his heart. . . and his forbidden dream of happiness.