Review: Going Medieval
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 20, 2013
A Lily on the Heath by Colleen Gleason is a wonderfully told tale about life, love and allegiance. It took me back to a period in history that I love reading and learning about, the medieval times.Lady Judith of Kenworth and Malcolm de Monde, Lord of Warwick are well matched. They are both fiercely loyal and loving. The prologue of this book sucked me in quickly, and I was entrenched in the world created by Gleason right away.  I loved being able to watch the progression of their relationship from beginning to end. I rooted for Lady Judith from the beginning. I didn't really like Malcolm de Monde right away, though I was curious about him. It was through my connection with Judith that I began to understand him. I fell for him, at the point, when he agreed to "rescue" Lady Judith in her bid to escape the talons of both King Henry and Queen Eleanor. At this point, my heart was breaking for her, but despite what he might have believed, he was man enough to stand up for a woman in need. It is most fortunate that he had feelings for her.I fell more in love with Malcolm because he was such an honourable man, and watching him develop as his relationship with Lady Judith was challenged, endeared him to me. I love a strong male character, and he was that. I also love a hero that is willing to change, and not be overbearing. Though he sought a wife, a partner to warm his bed and be his steward, Malcolm finds in Lady Judith, an independent woman who challenged him, made him laugh, and gave sound advice. It was great to see them both grow and change throughout the story. The story was riddled with conflicts that were believable, especially those caused by miscommunication and "he said, she said" situations. I was so immersed in the story, that it took pains to stop reading. I cried, I laughed, I felt pain and confusion, panic and distrust, and I got mad along with the characters. I love that!Gleason is a master craftsman. She weaves words into wonderful tales that evoke visceral reactions in the reader. I love all her books, no matter what genre they are. Her voices are different, yet distinctive. Gleason's knowledge of the medieval times was evident in the conflicts presented as well as the relationship that bloomed between her characters. I love that there was also a secondary storyline, especially when I felt I couldn't handle the depths of emotions I was feeling as I read. Those situations helped me to cope and added much needed humour, at times. I cant wait to find out more about those characters in future books. My feelings ran the gamut, and that made my reading of A Lily on the Heath that much more enjoyable.