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. When a threat against the king leads Isobel into mortal danger, Stephen must prove that he is more than a knight of pleasure … and that love can conquer all.
November 24, 2009
Historical Romance
400 pages, paperback
Forever
Book received from publisher
Isobel has not had luck in love. Her father forced her to marry a very old man to gain enough money to buy back his lands from King Henry after losing them from siding against the King. Luckily for Isobel, her first husband dies after a short time and she is free of that misery – but more awaits her. Her late husband leaves all of his property to a very conniving man – one that Isobel wants nothing to do with. In desperation, she is given an option – marry a man that will help the King of England secure an allegiance to Normandy or marry the leech that stole the lands from her. Seeing as she has no real choice, she submits to the King.
Once in the castle, she must wait for her new betrothed to arrive. Robert, an advisor of the King is kind of given the role as chaperon, until her betrothed can arrive. He becomes her friend and ally at her time at the castle. She also meets William and his younger brother Stephen. Stephen is quite the ladies man but when he sees Isobel, something changes in him. He wants her like no other woman – but he can’t go against the King’s decree. Isobel is also smitten and gives into temptation. She has been tied down to a dirty old man, and feels like she deserves this small opportunity to have some fun before she is handed over to the next man. The more they flirt and seduce, the more they realize they want this to be more than a fling.
Knight of Pleasure is kind of a middle of the road read for me. Stephen is very much care-free and lighthearted character, but he is also deadly with a sword and extremely protective of Isobel. He is so good natured and funny, quite a contrast to his older brother William who was the hero in Margaret Mallory’s Knight of Desire. He is very exuberant and full of life life and a fun character to read.
Isobel has a very mature attitude, but also has that “what the hell” vibe when it comes to Stephen. She was truly in misery during her first marriage and betrothed to another “winner,” so why not have some fun with Stephen.
To her astonishment, Stephen threw his head back and laughed. He had a wonderful, infectious laugh. It filled the small garden and lightened her heart.He dropped down beside her. Smiling his most wicked smile, he leaned too close and asked, “You will pretend you do not know why I keep my distance?”She swallowed and shook her head. “I do not know.”“You lie, Isobel, but I will tell you all the same.”She could not breathe with him this near.“I stay away because whenever I see you”–he kept his eyes fixed on hers as he ran his finger slowly up her forearm–“all I want to do is drag you off to bed, and keep you there for a week.”
While the characters themselves were enjoyable, their actions didn’t always sit well with me. Isobel is in love with Stephen, and it is not a secret. They have clandestine meetings and Stephen always acts noble in her presence, even if he gets a bit carried away with his lust. Isobel is not a stupid woman, so when Stephen steers her in the direction of marriage, she refuses him because she thinks he is still a playboy and she is jealous of a woman that she has no idea what he is really doing with her. Then minutes after her refusal, she is in his arms again. I understand if she refuses him because of her commitment to the man the King has chosen, which I don’t think is the case here. But to refuse Stephen because you don’t trust him with other women, and then fall in arms a short time later does not rest well with me.
Later on in the story, Stephen rescues two children, around eleven years in age and employs the boy as his page and the girl as Isobel’s maid. The kids in my opinion were a bit too smart and devious. They were spying on noblemen who report to the king like it was nothing acting a bit too mature for their age.
Overall this book is good – Stephen had a very playful attitude which I enjoyed, and I really liked Robert in this book and thought his character really added to the story.
Knight of Pleasure is a fun read and one I think many will find enjoyable.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Hi Mandi, welcome back ;) I still have bk 1 KNIGHT OF DESIRE to read and will find out if this is a historical romance author for me. Going by your review I'm a bit on the fence…the actions you described would irk me a bit too.
I sometimes have trouble with the do I choose love or betray my king historical romances-they either work really well or not at all.
I do like giving new authors a shot though, so I'll have to keep this one in mind for a future read.
I haven't read Knight of Desire yet.
Like I said, it was a good book – didn't love it, but by no means was it bad. Just good.
Nice review Mandi.
I love this cover, would love to read it cos of that and it sounds good.
But yeah those things would bother me too
I have her first one in my TBR pile… and I love the set up of the book. Your review is great and honest. But those few things would irk me too… But until we dive in, we never know how a book will sweep up… But I do love your review!
Hope you had a great Mini-cation!! And I hope you are doing well for a normal, run of the mill Monday… LOL!!!
Blodeuedd – I like the cover too!
Cecile – I'm hanging in for a Monday..wish I was in vegas still..LOL!
Lucky for her her husband dies? haha – you're so funny! Nice honest review. I do love this cover!
I'm such a sucker for a man with man bracelets it so Viking.
PS The book quote made my toes curl
Patti – hey – out with the old, in with the young..or new ;)
Smokin hot – HA..that is a nice touch on a man :)
Thank you Mandi. Did you mention that Isobel is a swordswoman? Does that come into the book at all?
Hmmm. I don't think any book will ever topple my favourite medieval – Knight's Move (Jennifer Landsbert) – from it's perch *grin*
Yes! Is she quite good with a sword..and Stephen makes sure they
practice" a lot together ;)
Must check out Knight's Move now!
Hmm, I don't know. I'm not a big fan of the whole petty jealousy/not trusting thing.
Thank you Mandi :) I just adore Knight's Move. It's OOP though, and worse, the only book the author wrote!
They have Knight's Move at Paperback Swap!!! I just ordered it :) No idea when I will be able to get to it but I am putting it to the top of my tbr :)
The cover alone is enough to make me want to read this. Very nice. I may add this to my "give it a try" list. Great review Mandi.
I haven't tried this author out yet but I did enjoy the review, "what the hell' vibe" lol
This sounds okay – but what really grabs me is the cover. I am such a cover slut – and that one is quite lovely. I really like the green dress.