At Her Service

Shari Anton writes in period I know well and enjoy. It's my favourite historical period so I tend to be picky. I don't bash for anachronisms or bad history, I am just disappointed, and often won't read the writer again. Anton never disappoints me. She has a feel for the period and is able to take the reader and help them into the world of knights and people. Makes the story real. In the 1300s of England, Lady Joanna Lynwood was very aware of the limits and extremes in men, especially their cruelty. She had been married to one of the worst, but thankfully, he is now dead. This bad experience causes Joanna to hope never to marry again. Only, a lady alone in these perilous times is a target for more of the evils of men. When outlaws begin terrorizing her people, she knows she must face the situation. She needs a man. Knowing the depravity of men, she sends her Captain of the Guard to hire a mercenary who would make even hard-bitten men turn pale. Logan Grimm - even his name sets the tone of this mercenary - is found, only he is recovering from a wound, while awaiting to be hired. To him, the task as outlined is rather simple, maybe too good to be true. When offered a week's pay to come to Lady Lynwood and assess the situation, he jumps at the chance. Upon meeting Joanna and her daughter Ivy, he is leery of accepting the job. However, Joanna convinces him the job is just as she outlines it. Logan sees a woman of strength, honour and beauty - and she needs his help desperately. Joanna is instantly attracted to the dark warrior, senses there is more to the man than the fierce warrior mean he projects. Only, Joanna was hurt so deeply by the beast of a husband, she is not sure she could ever take the chance again and open herself to loving another man. Worse, she fears once the job is finished, the knight will move on, leaving her daughter and her alone once more. Shari Anton spins a strong tale of scarred people struggling to heal, fighting to find a better way. Joanna and Logan are "real" people that make you care. She is able to imbue the tell with rich medieval details that should please her fans and fans of the genre. Very highly recommended.

I enjoyed this book. The characters were well rounded and the two main characters didn't spend the entire book hating each other (a common occurence in romance novels). It's a great read, but pretty predictable. I pretty much knew how it was going to end after the first chapter. But then again, it's a romance novel and most of them tend to follow a certain formula. It's not a keeper on my bookshelf, but I might read it again before passing it on to someone else. I recommend you read it.

Setting - England, 1350 --- Seven months into widowhood, Lady Joanna Lynwood knew men could be cruel and now the beast she'd been married to was dead, she had no desire to ever have another one in her life. Yet, when outlaws began terrorizing her people and upsetting her plans for a peaceful life, she knew she had to do something. Having lost two children to the plague, and now seeing her lone daughter Ivy narrowly escape a more serious injury, she would take necessary steps to see those outlaws caught and punished. So be it, if it was a man she needed, she would hire the best and sent the captain of her guards for a mercenary whose name alone would strike terror in the hearts of those that would dare take away her peace. Logan Grimm, was located recovering from a leg wound awaiting the next offer to hire out his sword. The job sounded too good to be true, a simple task, until he learned he would be working for another widow and he turned it down flat. Sweetening the pot, Joanna's agent offered a week's wages to at least travel and meet the widow first before his final decision. Meeting Joanna, and her daughter Ivy, he was more than convinced in still planning to leave the following morning as Joanna was far too beautiful and he'd had his fill of conniving beautiful widows. But, after a quiet nighttime talk, Logan took her measure realizing deep down that he could trust her word and decided to stay and help. Vowing to keep things strictly business, Joanna fought her attraction to the darkly handsome warrior but the attraction was mutual and she recognized that the ferocious and fearsome mercenary had gentleness in his heart and manner that was quickly melting hers. Terrified by her feelings, Joanna had to decide if she should take a chance to know love or would this be just another job and another conquest that he'd leave when the job was over. *** Ms. Anton has spun another spell binding medieval tale that is sure to please her most ardent medieval loving fans. Without going into a tremendous amount of detail one can sense the dread Joanna had of ever allowing another man to rule over her. Having buried two children, and a beast of a husband, the terror of losing her one remaining daughter to marauding outlaws gave her the courage to send for a mercenary - the title alone envisioning the brutal men who would kill for hire. Yet, over the objections of her advisors, she stuck to her guns. Logan was beautifully created as the loner, a man who never expected much, never dreamed of a family or of belonging, yet Joanna and sweet Ivy both showed him a kindness and acceptance he'd never thought to have. The story and characters all blended together beautifully in a highly entertaining and memorable medieval tale that I can highly recommend. --- Marilyn, for www.romancedesigns.com ---

In 1350, Widow Lady Joanna worries about how to keep her surviving daughter Ivy safe and alive when terrorist outlaws constantly plunge Lynwood Manor, knowing no lord sits in the manor. The male villagers do their best, but they are not skilled to match the outlaws. Desperate for a swordsman, Joanna tries to hire mercenary Logan Grimm, whose loyalty goes as far as the person who pays his bills. Logan rejects the service until the townsfolk treat him like a pariah due to his profession. As Logan battles with the outlaws, he finds Joanna and Ivy make him dream of settling down in one place. Joanna is stunned by his patience and kindness starting with a tart to Ivy, whose abusive father had no use for a daughter beyond potentially selling her as a spouse to the highest bidder. Soon Joanna falls in love with her hired gun and he reciprocates as her courage reaches deep into his gut. Still both know when the job is completed, he will move on seeking his next sponsor. This exciting medieval romance comes across as a fourteenth century version of the Magnificent Seven although in this case there is only one defender. The story line is action-packed as Logan battles the outlaws, struggles with villager contempt, wants to keep Ivy safe at the cost of his life if necessary, and falls in love with his employer. His transition starting with giving Ivy the last tart makes for a fine historical romance. Harriet Klausner