"Doing the deed -- medieval-style"

Emmaline Eberhart, a beautiful, naive young widow, is about as big-hearted as they come. Her delightful naivete captivates her servants and family, and it also gains the attention of the king. So enchanted is he by Emma that he promises to help her keep her home out of the clutches of the evil Lord Bertrand, a sniveling boy who is more pathetic than he is evil.

Help comes in the form of Amaury de Aneford, a favored knight whose service to the crown has earned him the king's gratitude. Amaury marries Emma in the most hurried of circumstances -- Lord Bertrand and his horrid mother are riding toward the castle and Amaury is trying to consummate the marriage with half the castle outside the room yelling out updates on Bertrand's progress. Fortunately, the deed is done and Bertrand has no further claim on Emma or her land. Or does he?

Emma is a fantastic heroine. She is feminine and soft, but can bellow like a banshee when necessary, shoot a bow and arrow, fling rocks with the best of them, and defend her husband's life tirelessly.

Amaury, of course, doesn't always appreciate his wife's strengths, but what medieval husband does? His kindness and tenderness were rather unexpected, considering his less-than-gentle upbringing and hardened emotions, but he eventually learns what it means to love and be loved.

The dialogue, richly drawn characters, and their outlandish behavior made this a thoroughly enjoyable story. I was extremely impressed when I learned that this was Ms. Sands' first historical. Her writing is top-notch and I can't wait to read more from her.

Reviewed by Kelley Hartshorn
Posted November 15, 2002

Summary

An innocent young beauty finds herself the fulcrum of a struggle for feudal power. Along with her ample dowry, Emma finds herself promised to Amaury de Aneford, a landless knight whose able sword has preserved the King's crown—and whose rugged good looks make her heart skip a beat. But on the wedding day, as a rival knight gallops toward the bridal chamber, Amaury will find that making love to his naive new bride will take consummate skill. For in the conjugal bed, Emma is astonished to learn there is more to a wedding night than just a sound sleep-and more to true love than she's ever imagined.