The Lion of Kent by Aleksandr Voinov and Kate Cotoner
M/M Historical Romance
August 30, 2010
E-Book
Carina Press

Reviewed by Mandi

All squire William Raven wants to do is prove to everyone he is worthy of being a knight. Very hot headed and with no patience, William has made a name for himself as being outspoken and a bit immature. But soon William will have his chance. Sir Robert de Cantilou arrives back to the castle after a five year absence a changed man. He left cold and bitter, but he arrives with a smile on his face, and eyes that often meet William’s gaze. William is very grateful to Robert, whose late wife took him in many years ago.

Robert brings news of French nobility coming into town and he plans a big hunt for entertainment. William sees this as his chance to prove himself and maybe catch the eye of a noble. As William prepares for the visitors, he has a secret midnight visitor of his own that meets him in bed. Too dark to tell who it is, all William knows is that it is another male – and that pleases him just fine. Besides figuring out who his secret lover is, he also hears whispers of a possible threat against Sir Robert, and he knows performing his best at the hunt could be a matter of life and death.

The Lion of Kent isn’t a bad story, but it never really grabbed me. The actual setting of 1176 England and the plot kept my interest. I don’t read a ton of books set in the medieval time, and I thought this one did a nice job transporting us back to that time period. Told in the point of view of William, I liked his character. Very short tempered, and wanting nothing more in the world to prove himself worthy, you can’t help but root for him.

Where I find the story lacking is in the romance department. This book doesn’t lack for sex scenes, but I just didn’t see the romantic connection between William and Robert. Only having William’s POV, we are not privy to Robert’s thoughts, but I’ve read other books in the same fashion where you can still feel the love or lust between the two. In this one, it feels more like Robert found William attractive, but his feelings never run deeper than that. It didn’t feel intimate. This is a short book, and I can definitely see their romance building into something more if there are future books.

Rating: 3/5

Recent Reviews:
Reviews by Jessewave – 4.5/5
Leontine’s Book Realm – 3.5/5
Goodreads

Aleksandr Voinov Website.
Kate Cotoner Website.