The Rogue

I was hooked right from the first page. Claire Delacroix has an amazing writing style. This is my first book of hers and I can't wait to start the next in the trilogy. The chemistry between the H/h was perfect and the dialogue was quick and witty. Talk about a strong heroine! Merlyn was dark, mysterious and wonderful. I absolutely loved the way this book flowed. Wonderful!

You will love this book! Make sure you start it on a weekend so you can sink into a chair and never leave.

Adventure and love, what more could you ask for in a book. Another great one!!!

A portent arrives in the form of a raven, and Ysabella of Kinfairlie is not surprised when her estranged husband appears. Their two week marriage ended when she fled after learning Merlyn peddles religious relics when she had believed his livelihood was in textiles. She could not live with his crimes. Five years have passed since those glorious two weeks, and now Ysabella brews ale to support her sister and brother. After an explosive encounter, he leaves, only for word to come the following day of his death. Ysabella inherits her husband's estate, Ravensmuir. During her first night in the keep, Ysabella dreams of making love with Meryln. When she awakens with proof of their passion, Ysabella seeks answers. Merlyn confesses to staging his demise because someone seeks to kill him. He hopes to flush out his aggressor by giving Ysabella his property. Merlyn demands her trust even while withholding all the information she demands. Somewhere within the keep lies a treasure men will kill for.Clair Delacroix pens an intriguing medieval romance with THE ROUGUE. Delacroix demonstrates a remarkable creative flair with THE ROGUE as it vividly creates a marvelous fourteenth century tale. Her vividly realized characters create a fabulous world of fierce loyalty and dangerous betrayal. Ysabella's five years of struggle to provide for her family, thereby clinging to her moral and ethical values despite starvation and deprivation proves her a powerful heroine. Her common background and lack of education and breeding sharply contrasts the laird of Ravensmuir, even as they are spiritually matched. While the choice of a first person narrative distances readers from the roguish hero, it also adds a beguiling sense of immediacy. THE ROGUE comes highly recommended.

In 1371, Merlyn Lammergeir goes to see his estranged wife Ysabella, but she rejects him as she has done for the past five years since she learned he peddled religious relics. Ysabella works extremely hard as an ale maker to provide food and shelter for her sister and brother. The next day she finds out that her spouse died and she inherited his estate Ravensmuir. She moves into the hold.That night she dreams of making love with Merlyn only to awaken in the morning and know he still lives as her dream was real. When she confronts him, he admits he faked his death because he was framed for murder. Merlyn believes that Ysabella will uncover the culprit and so set in motion his plan by giving her the property. Unbeknownst to Ysabella is that Merlyn has a second objective to reconcile with his spouse.THE ROGUE is an exciting historical romance that lives up to its title through the dynamic charming Merlyn. Ysabella is a fine lead character, but at times one must wonder about the cost of her obstinacy on her relatives so that she can comply with her so-called values. The intrigue is cleverly handled so that the audience receives a wonderful fourteenth century tale as expected from the gifted Claire Delacroix.Harriet Klausner