Smitten by Books

A Knight’s Persuasion
Author: Catherine Kean
Publisher: Medallion Press
Pub. Date: May 1, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1605420967
Retail: $7.95
385 pages

When Edouard de Lanceau, son of Moydenshire’s great Lord Geoffrey de Lanceau, finds an unconscious wounded woman lying in a river, he’s shocked to recognize Lady Juliana de Greyne, to whom he was once almost betrothed. When Juliana’s sister deceived him into betrothing her instead, Edouard became honor-bound to wed her; yet he still desires Juliana. Taking her in his arms, he vows to discover who would want her dead—and why.

Lord Geoffrey’s enemies, Veronique Desjardin and her grown son Tye, have returned to Moydenshire to destroy him. Alerted to Edouard’s mission, they take him prisoner and chain him in a tower. Now a hostage, he must fight not only for his life, but for Juliana’s as well.

When Juliana wakes, she has no memory of who she is or what happened to her. She only knows she’s captive in a chamber alongside a man in chains who insists he knows her. For reasons unknown, her feelings for this stranger run strong. Were they once lovers, or is he a cold-blooded killer? Determined to regain her memories and know the truth, Lady Juliana discovers that nothing can vanquish love or the power of a knight’s persuasion.

~*~*~

Catherine Kean has captured the story of two star-crossed lovers perfectly.

Edouard deLanceau is a hero to whom honor is everything. And his honor is at once his greatest good and his greatest flaw, causing him to almost lose his love, Lady Juliana de Greyne, forever. At every turn, Edouard’s attempts to do the right thing and secure Lady Juliana’s love are thwarted by his pesky sense of honor—yet without it, he wouldn’t be the hero to die for that he so clearly is.

This novel has everything—a romance that goes terribly wrong, a treacherous villain in the form of a woman scorned, and a hero who manages to reclaim all he’s lost while remaining true to his honor. Edouard is a very engaging hero, the kind any woman would want to rescue her. Even when the lovers are imprisoned, Edouard never gives up in seeking a way to free them both. Lady Juliana, who has lost her memory, learns to trust this man from whom she’d once turned away and manages to help free her knight.

The story is filled with the tension of the brave knight and his lady trying to escape the woman and her son who have vowed to destroy everything Edouard’s father, Geoffrey deLanceau holds dear—starting with Edouard. The story is set in the reign of King John (yes, the wicked king who was forced to sign the Magna Carta by his barons), but the plot revolves around an unexpected turn of events when Geoffrey deLanceau sends his son Edouard to discern the loyalty of one of his vassals. There is considerable violence in the story and at times the tension seems to be almost unbearable and all seems lost. Almost until the very end, it seems this story simply can’t have a happy ending. But plot surprises abound right up until the very end. If you like Kathleen Givens’ early medieval historical romances, you’ll find this one a treat. But comparing Catherine Kean’s A Knight’s Persuasion to any other writer just doesn’t seem fair. This story is unique—and unforgettable.

A Knight’s Persuasion rates a definite 9+ on my scale. In this case, the story is so memorable I probably won’t have to reread it to keep in mind forever!

Rating: 9 (Excellent )

Heat-Level: 4 (Hot)