Wulfson

As good as the first book in the series, "Master of Surrender", and I couldn't put it down! Original and compelling, and never once rehashed anything in the first book. Strong, well-developed characters with a story that moves. Such a delight to read, and now must wait until May for the next book in the series.

I absolutely loved this book! A strong heroine and a hero to make your knees weak. This entire series in fabulous and I'm just drooling while I wait for the next one!

This 2nd novel is as excellent as the 1st one Master of Surrender. Highly recommended if you like Sasha Lord & Hannah Howell.

The Blood Sword Legacy Series: Master of Surrender Master of Torment Master of Craving (May '09) Yes, the book titles are a bit cheesy... But don't let that stop you from reading this terrific series. The first in the series gives you a quick background on how the Blood Sword knights became bonded. From there, the story takes off. The second in the series picks up just a few months after the first leaves off. A key point that I love about this author is the fact that she does not write her heroes out of the action once they marry the heroines. They remain loyal, and although they don't love having to leave their women for a few months at a time, these men are soldiers who continue to fight for their king. The Blood Swords are never completely domesticated. Master of Torment: Wulfson is King William's captain of the guard. His loyalty knows no bounds. When the king sends Wulfson to slay a murderous widow, he doesn't hesitate. However, when Wulfson's eyes meet the brave and tortured eyes of the widow Tarian, he can't put his sword through her heart. Learning that she may be with child, and that she has royal Welsh relatives who may seek retribution against William if she is slain, Wulfson stays his hand. He decides to send a messenger to William with the new information. For now, Tarian has a short respite. Although it cuts his honor to shreds, Wulfson believes he will still be ordered to murder the woman and her unborn child. Always loyal to his king, Wulfson will follow William's command. Tarian is a warrior woman who fought bravely at King Harold's side until he was slain by William. Her strength has gained her the loyalty of her own army of knights. After years of fighting, she wishes most for a family. No man wants to marry a woman said to be a witch. When she finally does marry an English earl, her new husband tortures her until she kills him in defense of her own life. Armed with a signed and witnessed will, and with no living heir to fight her claim, Tarian is ready to fight for her right to all of her dead husbands lands. The earl's uncle is determined to have not only the lands and title, but Tarian herself. When she refuses to wed him, he captures and tortures her. The uncle is even worse than the late earl. Near death, Tarian is rescued by William's knights. It is a short respite, for she knows that the knights were sent to murder her. Over weeks of waiting to hear Tarian's fate, Wulfson finds himself besotted with the brave and beautiful warrior princess. He and the rest of the Blood Swords are bound to their oath to William, but none of them can bare the thought of slaying Tarian. The English want to possess her for her royal blood, the Welsh want to use her to produce a new king of England, and the Norman king wants her dead. With so many enemies lurking, Tarian's fight for her life grows more desperate each day. Will Wulfson be her champion, or her murderer? Will his honor and heart win her su

Tarian of Trent is officially a widow. Having married and consummated her vows to a vile molester of young boys, Tarian's livelihood depends on whether or not she was able to conceive a child during her short time as a bride. Upon her husband's demise, his uncle seeks the aid of England's new king to remove Tarian from her late husband's castle and there is nothing Tarian can do - she has been taken captive and is slowly being tortured to death in the castle's dungeon. King William trusts few men - Wulfson of Trevelyn is one of them. He has entrusted Wulfson with the task of eradicating the bloodline of Lady Tarian of Trent. It seems the female warrior has the blood of former English kings running in her veins and to a man like William the Conqueror, that will not suffice. Vowing to complete the mission he has been given, Wulfson is unable to understand and handle the feelings Tarian's beauty and feisty demeanor invokes within him when he sees her for the first time. Even half starved and beaten severely, Tarian is still striking. With one look at this remarkable woman, Wulfson's mission falls by the wayside at the expense of his position in William's court. If he allows Tarian to live, treason will be the least of his worries. I adore watching a strong male hero fall under the spell of his heroine. For years Wulfson has taken orders from King William without question. As such, when he is given the charge to dispose of Tarian, he does not hesitate to agree or question his assignment. When Tarian is rescued, bruised and battered, from the dungeon in which she has been imprisoned, Wulfson is thrown for a loop because of the feelings she invokes in him. All of a sudden, this tough warrior is the one captured and held spellbound. MASTER OF TORMENT by Karin Tabke is a thoroughly engaging historical romance worthy of any library. The plot is suspenseful and superbly written - I despised Tarian's uncle by marriage the first time he arrived on the scene - the characters were realistic with human failings and with passionate human emotions. I sat on pins and needles and aching for a happy ending. Don't miss MASTER OF TORMENT. Karin Tabke has taken a medieval setting with genuine historical figures and added vibrant fictional characters to equal a magnificent historical romance. As an added bonus, I highly recommend going back and reading the first installment of this fabulous series, MASTER OF SURRENDER. You'll be glad you did! ***Natalie S. for Wild on Books***