Review: She became his very reason for living...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 29, 2012
What a fabulous adventure full of the perils and intrigue of Knights and Kings.  I read approximately 3-4 books per week - - where have I been to have never read this fabulous author before now?  I'm amazed she's been hiding from me for so long.  This story was off the charts fascinating...it held such emotional, dramatic dimension.Elizabetha Aleanora de Tobins Cartingdon (Toby) is such a fascinating character.  She's composed, brave, intelligent and independently strong.  She's also very beautiful.  Toby has been through so much in her young life with caring for her drunken father (who is Mayor and founder of their township), her invalid mother and younger sister whom she's raised since infancy.  She manages a thriving farm as well as the household.  She keeps the accounts and books as well as shoulders the responsibility of feeding much of the township.  They depend upon her for their livlihood.Sir Tate Crewys de Lara comes into the Cartingdon township (with his entourage of Knights) to solicite funds and support for the crusade of young King Edward III.  His intentions are noble and honorable but the end result is Toby's world being destroyed.  I absolutely adored Sir Tate de Lara.  He holds all the usual personality traits that make him a striking and strong character.  He's powerful, cunning and logical.Even though Tate is dedicated to his duty as a Knight and protecting the future King of England (young Edward III) from the multitude of murder attempts - - he is still undone completely by Toby.  They become betrothed and Tate is blindsided by the sudden powerful onslaught of emotions that he feels for her...emotions he never thought himself capable of.  They cause him to lose control and feel weak when Toby is near him.I absolutely loved this story. Ms. Le Veque painstakingly draws the readers into this delicious plot and leads them, inch by wonderful slow inch, through each step and phase of progression. There's no rush and because of her talented capabilities..because of her expert writing, the reader has no choice but to feel connected as one with the main characters...there is no other alternative than to fall into the emotional abyss facing Tate and Toby. The journey is absolutely exquisite.  I loved the attraction between Toby and Tate and how it gradually grew into an inferno.I loved the tender compassion of these three burly, powerful Knights towards Ailsa (Toby's little sister).  I loved how this author portrayed the deep love of Toby and her little sister, Ailsa.  The relationship between these two sisters was so touching and real- - I bawled buckets!  And Ailsa wound her charm on these men...she magically affected these big, astoundingly strong Warlords and the result was so sweetly profound.I thought this story was well developed with close attention to descriptive detail.  It had it's warm, humorous moments as well.  The thrust of the book held true throughout the plot, intertwining the passion of Tate and Toby with the drama of King Edward.  I cannot wait to begin book #2 in this Trilogy.