His Forbidden Touch

From the inside front cover: Her perilous fate... Hidden away during years of war, the beautiful princess Ciara knew little of the world outside--until the conqueror came and the castle was lost. Now, in the cause of peace, she must wed the brute who destroyed her home and happiness. And the man charged with delivering her safely to the shameful ceremony is a heartless mercenary! His forbidden touch... Recalled from exile, Royce Staint-Michel can now win back his confiscated title and land if he transports the proud, defiant princess to her powerful fiance. But the road is long and dangerous, prowled by assassins who wish the marriage thwarted and the lady dead. And the greatest threat to the impending union is Royce's own yearning heart, enflamed by Ciara's courage, her fire, her innocence, her beauty--and by the promise of a passion for which Royce would gladly forfeit all he stands to gain...including, if necessary, his life. And my review: This was the first book I tried by Shelly Thacker, and it will certainly not be my last. This book was absolutely wonderful. It's one of the best medieval romances I've ever read, and I've been reading romance since I was 11! Thacker created wonderful, loveable characters. Both of them. Royce, the brooding hero, was not bitter or too dark of a character. He was a wonderful, honorable man (more honorable than most romance heros), and I would dare any reader not to be just the tiniest bit in love with him by the end of the book. Ciara, the heroine, was a wonderful, strong woman. While she was a little sheltered because of her pampered and protected life, she grew up quickly, and was never shrewish or unlikeable. This is very rare in romance today, to find to such lovely characters in the same book. Both characters did some growing up by the end of the book, yet you loved them the whole way through it. The romance between them was also beautifully paced. And it wasn't all based on lust, either. Yes, there was physical attraction between them, but it wasn't the only influence that brought them together. This was a book where you could clearly see why they should love one another. You didn't feel like they fell in love just because they were thrown together, or because their libidos were doing all the talking. It's very rare in the lust-soaked world of romance writing for an author to create a romance where the love between the characters is first, and the sexual attraction is an added bonus. Not that this wasn't a sensual book--it was, but it was in its proper place. It wasn't paramount in this book; the love story was. That's just as it should be. There was none of the "I love you but I'm going to act like I hate you" or "I hate you but I just can't keep my hands off you" garbage in this book. When Ciara and Royce did fall in love (and it never felt rushed), they freely admitted it to each other. It was so refreshing to read a book where the hero and heroine didn't play mind games with each other. Als

---- HIS FORBIDDEN TOUCH Shelly Thacker Avon, May 1997 In 1302 near the French border, the mercenaries of Prince Daimon have overcome the strong defense of the local militia of the small principality of Chalons. The heir to the throne of Chalons, Prince Christophe, dies in the fight. The peace settlement provides Daimon with some land and the hand of the Chalons royal daughter, Princess Ciara. While waiting for the betrothal to occur, a rebel who wants to continue the war, tries to kill Ciara. The king sends for an exiled knight Royce Saint-Michael, to safely escort his only living child to Daimon's keep. Though bitter about being stripped of his name, honor, and land, and stunned by his countrymen's defeat, Royce agrees to escort the princess for the good of Chalons and to regain what he lost. What he did not count o n was falling in love with the intrepid Ciara during the perilous journey and for her to return the feelings. Both Royce and Ciara must choose between honor and country, and love with either decision impacting the future of their war-torn nation. HIS FORBIDDEN TOUCH is a brilliant blending of THE BODYGUARD and ROMAN HOLIDAY into a fantastic Medieval romance. The return of characters from the classy FOREVER HIS brings an additional warmth to a tale that oozes thermo-energy. Sagacious Shelly Thacker triumphs with one of the top Medieval romances of the midyear. Harriet Klausner -----