| |||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
The story was fresh for the characters were down-to-earth, and did very wrong but human things. Ann is strong in historical element (which is amazing when you consider her other series of books for Dorchester are the Virtual ones where her characters keep finding themselves inside a Video Game World!!). She always gives you very touching heroines and men that are flawed, but rise above their mistakes.
In this Lord series, it is sort of a Sins of the father and how it carried on to affect everyone in the book. Gilles first meets Emma when her uncle drags her before his castle court to be judged impure because she is pregnant (with Gilles bastard son though he does not know this because Emma refuses to name the father of her child). Gilles admires her pride despite the uncle's humiliation and rules to help her. Two years later, they meet again when the hunts dogs try to attack her and her babe (his grandson). He takes her into the keep and as his mistress.
But trouble comes again, when his illegitimate son returns. Gilles is ageing, somewhat insecure about his relationship with Emma and fears she may be drawn toward his son as all the women are. His son wishes to cause problems between Emma and his father because he hates him, and she tries to prevent this, but Gilles fears often complicate this.
All in all the characters make this a very memorable work, and a book that caused me to be an Ann Lawrence fan.
Gilles meets Emma, a talented weaver, when her uncle brings her before him claiming she has given away her virtue and therefore cost him the benefit of a marriage arranged for her. Emma refuses to name her lover, to whom she considers herself married because of the private vows of marriage they exchanged. Two years later, when Gilles rescues Emma and her baby, Angelique, from the attack of mad dogs, she comes back to his notice. He brings her into his household and makes her his private weaver. Of course, the lover she thought she married, and who subsequently abandoned her and their baby, is Sir William, a member of Gilles's household.
Although she is only a weaver, Emma is befriended by Sarah, wife of Gilles's close friend Roland and apparent housekeeper of Hawkwatch Keep. Although fascinated with Emma, Gilles is hesitant to take her as a wife, given her lowly station, or as a leman, her obvious dignity. He also fears rejection due to his advancing age and Emma's obvious appeal to the younger and more handsome men of the Keep. They cannot deny the feelings they have for each other, however, and become both friends and lovers. When Emma realizes the feelings she had for William cannot compare with the love she develops for Gilles, she agrees to become Gilles's leman. The jealousies that arise between Gilles and William make for some interesting scenes, and eventually lead to a crucial turning point for Gilles and Emma.
I was enchanted by this sweet story, by Gilles and Emma, Sarah and Roland, and other secondary characters, as well as the story as a whole. Even Sir William is a complex villain, who causes some complicated plot twists. I liked the fact that Gilles, a great warrior and Lord of the Keep, was nonetheless insecure in his appeal due as compared to younger men, while Emma never gave this fact the least thought. Lord of the Keep is a wonderful tale, which I strongly recommend. Ann Lawrence is obviously a new author to watch. Enjoy!
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
