Knave of Hearts

Marian de Lacy had met dashing Stephen of Wilmot six years ago when they were both 16 years old. They had explored their lust for one another, and after Stephen left Marian had found herself pregnant. Her father demanded she tell him the baby's father, but Marian refused and was forced from her home. She took refuge with her uncle William and cousin Carolyn. Now, for nearly six years, Marian has lived in a small hut with her two twin daughters, Audra and Lyssa, eking out a peaceful and simple life for them. Marian's peaceful world shatters, however, once she discovers that Stephen is courting her beautiful cousin Carolyn, and she wonders if she made the right decision six years ago when she had not told Stephen of his daughters. Stephen had no idea that he had two daughters. In fact, he had had no idea that Carolyn and Marian, his first love, were related until after he started pursuing Carolyn. Marian had been his first love, but he thought that Carolyn would make a suitable wife. Stephen loved to travel and detested being tied to any woman, and Carolyn was accepting of that. Still, once he saw Marian again his heart was drawn only to her and her beautiful twin daughters. Could he truly marry one cousin while being in love with the other? I read this book because it was a sequel to Ms. Anton's "Lord of the Keep." Although this book was also good, it didn't match "Lord of the Keep's" appeal to me. Still, it was a good read. Stephen, the wandering soul, finds himself wanting to be tied down to his first love, after all, but wonders if he'll make a suitable husband and father. Marian doesn't want to crush Stephen's wandering spirit, and fears that he will only grow to resent her and the children if he must marry her and settle down. Several characters in the book appeared in other novels by Ms. Anton, most notably Gerard, Ardith, and Richard. Both Stephen and Marian visibly grew in depth during the tale, so it was interesting to watch them blossom. This book is a fine addition to any historical novel library.

This is the third book in the Wilmont brothers series...By King's Decree is the first and Lord Of The Manor is second. I usually end up reading these kind of series out of order, which is the case with this book, but you don't really need to have read the previous two to enjoy this one. While they do make references to things that happened in the hero's past, it's usually only enough to make you think...hmmm, I need to get those books to find out what happened!! This story is a sweet story about a woman who is raising her twins which she had out of wedlock and a man who discovers that there is more to life than wenching & wandering! Not much sex here...but a nice story indeed!

Following "By King's Decree" and "Lord of the Manor", Shari Anton's latest literary work tells us the story of the youngest Wilmont brother, Stephen. Having never read the predecessors to "Knave of Hearts", I can safely say this book stands alone. And better yet, it's a medieval romance definitely worth reading. Stephen of Wilmont and Marian de Lacy became lovers at the age of sixteen and carried on a brief affair. Stephen, unaware of the fact that he'd made Marian pregnant, sets off to find himself and explore the world after their time together comes to an end. Marian, meanwhile, leaves her father's home under his threat of banishment because she won't divulge the name of the noble that has impregnated her.Six years and a lot of maturity later, Stephen meets Marian's cousin Carolyn and, not realizing them to be related, begins courting her because he believes the beautiful Carolyn will make him a sensible if not particularly endearing wife. When Stephen claps eyes on his first lover again, however, it isn't long before his thoughts begin straying toward and remaining on Marian.At the same time, Marian begins to entertain doubts that she had made the correct decision six years ago by not telling Stephen about his twin daughters and giving him the opportunity to do the right thing by them. She wonders how long it will take before people begin to notice the resemblance between them and also wonders if she can bear to watch her own cousin marry the only man she has ever loved...The plot is suspenseful, and the primary and secondary characters are intriguing...definitely worth reading.(Sexual content = PG-13)