Knight of Pleasure

I really enjoy this new author, her books are funny, visual, charming and hard to put down. I recommend this book to anyone who feels they are out of good authors and books to read, this one got me out of my slump.

Lady Isobel agrees to wed a French nobleman, Sir Stephen, at her king's request. When the man that she is to marry asks her to defy her current king and the place that she calls home, she is faced with a difficult decision. This man who will soon be her husband has stolen her heart and now she is torn between what has been and what could be. Sir Stephen has always been a ladies man. He may have met the one woman with the power to tame him. Will she succeed and make this man her partner in life or will she will be forced to choose between the man she's fallen in love with and the people she has loved all her life? Hot and steamy with lots of action, need I say more?

In 1417 Lady Isobel Hume does not grieve the death of her spouse as she did not want to marry him when she was just thirteen and dreamed of the Knights of the Round Table; after they exchanged vows her older spouse did nothing to rectify her opinion over the next eight years until he died. However, instead of liberating her, his death leaves her at the mercy of men as the deed to his estate goes to a man she despises. She turns to King Henry who arranges a marriage to a French aristocrat. Undercover operative Sir Stephen Carleton works in France allegedly to neutralize arguments before they turn ugly. He has been named Isobel's guardian until she marries. To both their chagrin, Isobel and Stephen are attracted to one another. However, both remain loyal to their monarch and ignore their feelings until they rescue two children, and she learns her fiancé Lord Roche is a traitor. This is a terrific fifteenth century romance filled with intrigue and two strong lead characters. Isobel and Stephen know the price is their respective heads if they betray their monarch, but love is a difficult emotion to ignore. Although "eliminating" the fiancé with sedition eases their perilous plight, fans will enjoy Margaret Mallory's marvelous medieval romance. Harriet Klausner

Summary: THE GREATEST PASSION Lady Isobel Hume is an expert swordswoman who knows how to choose her battles. When the king asks her to wed a French nobleman to form a political alliance, she agrees. But that's before the devilishly charming Sir Stephen Carleton captures her heart-and tempts her to betray her betrothed, her king, and her country. IS WORTH THE GREATEST PERIL Sir Stephen Carleton enjoys his many female admirers-until he dedicates himself to winning the lovely Isobel. So when a threat against the king leads Isobel into mortal danger, Stephen has a chance to prove that he is more than a knight of pleasure...and that love can conquer all. I have read a ton of romance novels, many of them excellent, some not so excellent. This book is the first romance novel I have ever read that truly captures the essence of raw lust. It actually places your brain in the equation and you can see the characters, their feelings, emotions, and the total scope of the decisions they are making when they choose to be together. It is breathe taking and totally amazingly written...I was in complete shock as I was turning each page, that it continued to be the perfect representation of what a normal person feels like in that situation. I know the author must have put some of herself in these characters. I am still a bit shaky after reading it...crazy. I know, what's the big deal? its just a romance novel? I know this...but as I said no romance novel I have ever read made my mind latch to emotions and situations as fiercely as this one did. Ok, on to the rest of this...the plot was good, I don't know the history of King Henry V but everything seemed pretty normal, no crazy twists of history from what I can tell. It moved at a pretty good pace and there was no waiting around or gratuitous love-making inserts. The characters are amazing, and I can't wait to read the next book as well...I noticed that the two main characters in the next book should be together already before I read the next novel's page. *generously provided for review by Forever, an imprint of Hachette Book Group*