Heart of Vengeance

Finally another author not afraid to include historic details in her historical romance. After all isn't that the reason many of us read historicals opposed to other genre's? This was a wonderful story and as I stated earlier full of rich historic details and great characters. I truly felt that I was with Helena of York on her quest to find her father's killer brought to justice. While doing this she treads a fine line between two different kings and one man that knows her secret, and one man she finds is her strength and her love. Stephen is Count Dinan from Normandy. King Richard has turned his back on him and now he is known as the Black Knight. While in Oxford during a council meeting he finds himself drawn to the beautiful Isolde of Brittney. Stephen knows that Isolde is not what she appears to be. He once played with the young Isolde and the beauty before him is not the little girl he played with. Soon he finds himself drawn to Helena and he makes a promise to always be there for her no matter what. Little did he know that he was actually going to pay a price larger then he ever thought he would and that he would do it again if it would keep Helena safe. Together the work to find a traitor and killer. The chemistry between the two main characters is wonderful. It doesn't detract from the story and in fact only adds to it. You can tell that the author did her homework on York and Oxford. I have lived in England previously and have visited both of these wonderful cities. Ms. Cooper-Posey did justice to them both. Not to mention the fact that I loved that she included the myth of Robin Hood. But the most important part of any historical is actual historic figures being included. Again Ms. Cooper-Posey gets added points for including both King Richard and his brother John as part of the colorful cast of characters, as well as creating wonderful secondary characters that are very much a part of the story.I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves rich details, and a wonderful story that will pull you into the time period. The romance is wonderful and well written. Ms.Cooper-Posey is a truly talented author and one that I will look forward to reading again in the future!

In 1197 Oxford, per the orders of King Richard, the Chief of Justicular Hubert Walters calls a meeting of the Great Council. Prince John's supporters prefer not to be there, but even the most loyal of Richard's lords would rather be elsewhere. Only the Black Baron Stephen of Dinan wants to be there. He gave an honest opinion to Richard several years ago and since has been in royal disfavor that everyone treats with contempt. His only hope to regain his former status is courage by the King's side in war. Hubert informs Stephen he is not to attend the meeting.Stephen meets Isobel at the Great Council feast, but insists she is an imposter as he knew Isobel in Brittany. The masquerade Isobel is actually Helena daughter of a deceased aristocrat murdered allegedly by a Saxon villager, but she believes a Norman lord did the dastardly deed. She has gone undercover to learn who murdered her father. Stephen soon helps Helena on her quest when attacks on her life begin. As they fall in love her heart remains filled with vengeance making little room for Stephen.HEART OF VENGEANCE is an exhilarating medieval romance that transports the audience to the late twelfth century through historical tidbits and persona interwoven into the delightful plot. Stephen and Helena carry heavy emotional loads so that love is out of the question for both of them yet neither can deny their feelings for the other. The support cast especially the also obsessed Prince John adds the feeling of being in Oxford. Though one of the most frequently used eras in novels and movies, readers receive a refreshing vivid picture of courtly intrigue inside a fabulous love story.Harriet Klausner