A knight’s protection…That she doesn’t want…or need?
Joan Lovent may be losing her sight but she refuses to lose her independence too. So when Sir Warin de Talmont tells her it’s too perilous to be out alone in the city, she doesn’t pay him any heed. But with threats surrounding them, she begins to value his protection and helps with his dangerous work in return. If only the powerful connection between them wasn’t so impossible to ignore!
Purchase Links
UK Harper Collins - https://bit.ly/3isA6ng
Harlequin US - https://bit.ly/3Jwt397
Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09N1RD4D2/
Amazon US - https://amzn.to/3udgZmC
Review
The typical historical romance of knights and ladies is given a fresh twist by an unconventional heroine. I really loved that Jean is disabled - her sight is failing irreversibly - and yet she knows her own value enough to not care about the scorn of others. The downsides of going blind are not erased but she has learnt to use her other senses to understand the world around her. I did get impatient when she insisted on being included in everything - and yes, sometimes staying with the knight is safer than staying on her own, but given her vision, there are still things she simply shouldn’t or can’t do. On the other hand, she generally acknowledges her mistakes and apologises, so I can't get too mad.
The romance is natural and believable, because while lots of people assume they know what is best for Jean, particularly her loving brother and sister in law, and Warin quickly realised to treat her as a person and not an invalid. Their antagonistic relationship soon morphs into interest and friendship, even though Warin has vowed never to marry again. His gruff exterior hides a core of honour and a painful past.
There's an ongoing mystery that provides a sense of danger and forces Jean and Warin into proximity (mostly because Jean keeps turning up in the wrong places until Warin agrees to let her tag along), but in this instalment it's more of a plot device. Quick note: while this is first in a series, it features protagonists from a previous series, but they all stand alone with no spoilers needed or given.
Overall, this is a romance all about finding someone who can 'see' you as you truly are, and that's really all one can ask for!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own
Author Bio
Melissa Oliver is from south-west London where she writes historical romance novels. She lives with her lovely husband and daughters, who share her passion for decrepit, old castles, palaces and all things historical.Melissa is the WINNER of The Romantic Novelist Association’s Joan Hessayon Award for new writers 2020 for her debut, The Rebel Heiress and the Knight.
When she's not writing she loves to travel for inspiration, paint, and visit museums & art galleries.
Social Media Links
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www.melissaoliverauthor.com
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