HISTORICAL
ROMANCE |
MEDIEVAL
ROMANCE |
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Richard I
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The Near East in 1190, before Richard's conquest of Cyprus
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Ruins of Dürnstein Castle, where Richard
the Lionheart was kept captive.
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BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Medieval Book Reviews
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Crusader's Lady
by Lynna Banning
Disguises,
oaths and and danger in a medieval historical romance
Jerusalem,
1192. The Third Crusade. Marc de Valery swore an oath to
protect the king. Marc however is not blind to the realities of
the Crusades. Hardened by war, he sees beyond into the ugly
ground experiences of war and the Crusades. Soraya al-Din swears
revenge against Marc when Khalil, a man she calls her uncle, is
killed. Dressed as a lad, she only hopes she can
maintain the disguise long enough to exact her revenge. First she
must complete Khalil's task of delivering a message. For his
part, Marc is not an easy man to hate. At every turn, he
surprises her with his kindness and inner nobility. Soraya
herself is not like any lad Marc has ever encountered. She speaks
Arabic and Norman French and her eyes are not the typical color of a
Circassian. When he discovers that she is no lad, but rather a
woman, she only seems to mystify him even more. Drawn to her, yet
sworn to protect the king, Marc walks a fine line as his party travels
through from Jerusalem to Cyprus, from Italy to a journey over the
French Alps. Will Marc be able to protect Richard without
revealing his disguise to his enemies? Will Soraya and Marc be
able to find love or will duty and danger thwart their romance?
In CRUSADER'S LADY, Lynna Banning makes an exciting entry into the
world of medieval romance. Previously known for her western
romances, Lynna Banning adds a freshness, giving readers a look at the
lesser explored landscapes and alliances of the medieval world.
Soraya's disguise provides the ground for several humorous and sexy
scenes as her innocence and womanhood are awakened by Marc's
body. Lynna Banning unmasks the disguises for the reader, but not
for her characters, creating a suspenseful atmosphere as two characters
missions overlap and diverge from one another. Outside Marc's
small group, danger threatens from the outside, adding another layer of
suspenseful action as Marc and Soraya travel across the landscape, a
landscape of countries with their own allegiances and political
aims. At each step, one slip could spell danger for the king or
the members of their party.
CRUSADER'S LADY makes medieval history an integral part of the romance,
bringing real historical events and persons into key moments of the
romance's plot as well as the development of her characters.
Lynna Banning's ability to synthesize history and imagination into the
very heart of this romance makes CRUSADER'S LADY an
exciting romance for medieval lovers. The exquisitely placed
portrait of Eleanor of Aquitaine brings a whole layer of richness to
this romance and the transformation of her characters as romance enters
their hearts. Medieval history lovers will find a special delight
in Lynna Banning for upping the level of historical detail to more than
just a backdrop. The romance, the themes of disguise and
unmasking, and the layers of suspense are an added bonus that just make
this romance fun reading from cover to cover.
Publisher: Harlequin Historical
(March 2007)
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Medieval Book Reviews
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