Series:
Roselynde Chronicles (Book 1)
In an era made for men, Alinor is at no man's mercy.
Beautiful, proud and strong-willed, Alinor is mistress of Roselynde and of her
own heart as well--until she meets Simon, the battle-scarred knight appointed
to be her warden, a man whose passion and wit match her own.
Boldly Alinor defies lionhearted King Richard's command
to marry one of the land-greedy nobles swarming around her and shrewdly
maneuvers through Court intrigues and alliances to be near the man who has
awakened her to tender yet volatile love. Their struggle to be united against
all obstacles sweeps them from the pageantry of the Royal Court to a daring
Crusade through exotic Byzantium and into the Holy Land. As they plunge into
the events of a turbulent age, they endure bloody battles, political
treacheries and heart-rending separations before their love conquers time and
destiny to live forever.
I read this book when it first came out and have reread
it multiple times. I love the well-researched setting and insights into
historical figures. The main characters are well-written and realistically
portrayed for their times. The author did a skillful job weaving fact and
fiction, creating a story that has kept me coming back to it year after year.
Alinor is the sixteen-year-old heiress of the vast lands of
the Sire of Roselynde. She is bold, beautiful, confident, and unwilling to cede
her rights to any man. After her parents' deaths when she was a child, her
grandparents (The Sword and the Swan) raised her. Lord Rannulf taught her how
to care for the land and lead those under her, while Lady Catherine guided her
in caring for the people. When Lord Rannulf dies (after an incredibly long life
for the period), Alinor is unmarried and, therefore, a rich prize for any man
who can take her. Her situation comes to the attention of Queen Alinor, who
ensures that Alinor becomes a ward of King Richard, a method of protecting her.
The book opens as the Queen arrives to visit Alinor and Roselynde, and the
opening scenes are vividly described. Here, Alinor learns the Queen's right-hand
man, Sir Simon, will become her warden to protect her and her lands in the
King's name.
Simon is a knight who has been the Queen's man for many
years and fulfilled many roles. He is a king's justiciar, as a younger man, he
spent time as Prince Richard's shield bearer (protector) and most recently was
the one sent to release the Queen from the confinement imposed by the late King
Henry II. He is an experienced warrior in his forties and well-versed in Court
intrigues and behaviors.
I loved the first encounter between Alinor and Simon. He
is struck dumb by her beauty, while Alinor looks at him as the Queen's man. But
Fate, and the Queen, have a twist in store for them. The Queen is unwilling to
leave Alinor unprotected and must ensure the King receives the funds earned
from Roselynde's lands, so she assigns Simon to be Alinor's warden. Simon is
not exactly happy about this assignment, believing it to be more punishment
than reward. Alinor is angry and worried that Simon will strip her lands to
help the King. He has no idea how deeply involved she is in managing everything
to do with her properties, and his investigations do nothing to make him
believe that everything is okay. I always laugh at his reaction to "my
lady's book" and the disaster he thinks it holds. The confrontation with Alinor
is hilarious and eye-opening for Simon, and it is also the beginning of the
volatile relationship between them.
The chemistry between Simon and Alinor is undeniable, but
they are also trapped in the reality of their time. As an heiress and King's
ward, Alinor is a pawn awaiting her turn to be given in a marriage that will
add to someone's power. Simon is not a noble and has no real wealth or power of
his own. But Alinor is determined to have the man she wants and will do
whatever is necessary to make it happen.
The action moves from Roselynde to the King's Court,
where Alinor works her wiles to get what she wants. Going from an active life
to being a court member is a recipe for disaster, and she draws her share of unwanted
attention. Alinor is quick-witted, and I loved how she used those wits to
change her situation. The scenes of her work with the Queen were great, and her
stolen moments with Simon showed their longing to be together. There's a bit of
miscommunication when Simon's honor runs up against Alinor's misunderstanding
of something the Queen says. I loved seeing Alinor's satisfaction with her work
and the difference it made to her time at court.
Significant changes are ahead when King Richard announces
his plans to go on Crusade. The politics involved were fascinating, both in
what it meant for the Crusaders and those left in England. After some political
wrangling, Simon commits to going with Richard, and Alinor accompanies the
Queen, who will collect Richard's bride-to-be and deliver her for the wedding.
The trip's details were fascinating and gave a vivid picture of the conditions
and activities. The Queen and her party, including Alinor, follow Richard to
the Holy Land.
The ins and outs of the fighting and the royals'
personalities created many edge-of-the-seat situations. Simon and Alinor possess
a dangerous secret that puts them both at risk. Through it all, their love
never falters, nor does their determination to find a way to marry. Though they
get their wish, the circumstances are less than ideal and make for an awkward
wedding ceremony.
Even with their long-desired arrival back in England,
their troubles are still ongoing. Unaware of her marriage, others have plans to
cement alliances using Alinor, and her resistance is not well-received. The
consequences put both her and Simon in danger. I loved Simon's solution, and
seeing his plan carried out was great fun.
I love the characters in this book. Alinor has an
unusual, but not unheard of, upbringing, which frequently puts her at odds with
those around her. She is strong-willed and stubborn, sometimes getting her in
hot water with authority figures. She can be manipulative in pursuit of her
goals, but always with the best intentions. I loved her clear vision regarding
other characters and their personalities, motives, and failings. There were
plenty of scenes of Alinor's interactions with people, some impressive in their
forcefulness.
Simon is written accurately for a man of his time, which
can make things a little uncomfortable for modern sensitivities. Overall,
though, he is a man whose honor is a huge part of who he is. As much as he
desires Alinor, he refuses to do anything underhanded to gain her hand in
marriage. His interactions with Alinor can be sweet or explosive, as she
frequently tries his patience. He is an experienced knight who relates well to Alinor's
vassals and castellans and quickly earns their respect. He is respected by King
Richard and the Queen also, which pays off for him in the end.
No comments:
Post a Comment