A True and Perfect Knight [Mass Market Paperback]

Haven and his party are traveling in the rain when they come upon a bedraggled, sodden group about a league away from Dreyford Castle, which is where the expected to find the widow after talking to the new lord who threw her out of his new home. Now Roger's letters to Haven described an unattractive, nagging woman and Haven expected to find a woman with a black soul, but not this sodden lump standing in the road, but he rides closer and the woman has the nerve to challenge him. It's all he can do to maintain control and not run her over with his horse, but something about her husky voice grabs his attention. Oh, but when he sees her face - it is hideous; how could Roger marry one so ugly? She has purple blotches over her eye and her face looks deformed. On closer look Haven notices lumps and calls her closer. He lifts her chin and it's so smooth he wants to stroke it, but all of a sudden he recognizes her beauty and realizes those marks are bruises. Questioning Genvieve, he learns the king's yeomen stoned her because she is the widow of a traitor. Before Haven touched the woman he thought hanging would be too good for her; however, when Genvieve hands him a stone to cast at her, he is stunned. He quickly regains his composure and advises the woman the king commands her presence and that he's to return her to face Edward's judgment.

Many trials and tribulations later, Haven does deliver Genvieve before Edward, but he has mixed feelings for the woman by this time. Even so, when Edward commands his presence beside the lady's and they face a priest, he believes the worst is about to happen after all, believing she will now receive her sentence for assisting her husband in his traitorous acts. Hmmmm...maybe it is the worst sentence that could happen. Rather than execute the woman, the priest begins the marriage ceremony and the king commands them to marry. And, what a tangled web Susan Charnley begins to weave.

A TRUE AND PERFECT KNIGHT is a true and perfect story! A forced marriage with a happy ending, but not before much adventure occurs. It could be nothing less with a true alpha male matched to an alpha female. Passions of more than one kind ignite, and Genvieve learns what pleasure in the bedroom is as Haven is most happy to teach the still innocent lady. But, will either one ever trust the other? Genvieve wonders how a man's best friend could betray him as Haven did Roger; and if he could do that to his best friend, would he allow the king's command to come before her as well? Meanwhile, Haven continues to have doubts about the lady's part in Roger's traitorous acts. Ms. Charnley has some tricks up her sleeve and will deliver them one at a time while taking you through her story.

You'll meet a lot of characters through this merry adventure and hope to see them again maybe in another story. Owain and Soames are two I'd like to learn more about - An Englishman and a Welshman, both of whom become trusted knights who aid Haven. Then there is Watley, Haven's young teenage squire - seems as though he may have his own adventures and love story just around the corner. Yes, A TRUE AND PERFECT KNIGHT leaves room for more to come from Susan Charnley, and while I'm hoping there is one to follow, I'll be placing this one on my keeper shelf to savor again.

As written and submitted to Under The Covers for posting.

Carol Carter, Reviewer

On the Trek to court, Haven is stunned how kind and compassionate Gennie is to everyone but him. By the time they reach Edward, Haven believes his prisoner is innocent and the memory of his friend false. Expecting the death penalty Edward shocks Haven and Genvieve when he orders them to wed and control a keep in Wales, a hot bed of anti English royalty sentiment. As they fall in love, Gennie trusts the Welsh with open arms while Haven remains wary, leaving their relationship precariously in trouble.

Though A TRUE AND PERFECT KNIGHT follows the standard of the medieval romance, Susan Charnley reaches high marks with her debut tale. The story line is exciting and vividly depicts the era. The support cast adds depth to the period description, but the plot belongs to the lead couple, especially the hero whose feelings for Gennie change from abomination to cherished admirer. This metamorphosis brilliantly handled by a rookie writing like a seasoned veteran.

Harriet Klausner