HISTORICAL
ROMANCE
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MEDIEVAL
ROMANCE
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Henry II of England
1154 – 1189
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Diarmait MacMurrough (Dermot
Mac Murrough), 1126-1171.
King of Leinster, the man who invited the Normans to Ireland. It
is believed that this is true representation of Dermot, taken from life.
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Medieval chess, illustration from 1283, a period later than the
action of this romance
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The Knight's Return
by Joanne Rock
Divided loyalties, betrayal and the quest for a name
and legacy
Awakening in a cloud of unknowing, a
man remembers only his name --- Hugh. A vague memory perhaps of
Ireland is the only clue available to him. On a quest to discover
his identity and his legacy, he travels from north of London to Ireland
in hopes of discovering the truth of his past. He might find the
answers he seeks but then again, the journey might only lead him into
greater danger. Without knowing his identity, how can he
distinguish between alliances or threats? In Ireland he comes
across a woman alone. In a world where women are often under the
protection of someone, her boldness attracts him, but is she a danger
to him? What terrible deed made her an outcast? Exiled by
her father, Scorcha ingen Con Connacht senses the presence of a
stranger. The resemblance of this trespasser to her son's father
unnerves Scorcha. Knowing she must protect her child first, a
wariness overcomes her. He seems more polite than the average
Norman or mercenary but could he have been sent by her father and for
what purpose? Having been duped by a man once before, she now
trusts no man. When Hugh returns to Scorcha, this time at the
king's request to protect her, Hugh finds himself in the tenuous
position of doing the bidding of man who exiled her. The more
time he spends with this exiled princess, the more he feels captivated
by her independence and passion. A sudden turn of events puts her
in even more danger. In order to protect her, the race to
discover his identity takes on a new urgency. Can he gain her
trust while working through the intricate layer of alliances and
enemies to both himself and Scorcha before it is too late?
Joanne Rock's 12th century Irish medieval romance THE KNIGHT'S RETURN
combines a refreshingly unique cast of characters with a fast-paced
suspenseful plot that keeps the reader guessing until the final piece
of the puzzle falls into place. As an exile and a fallen woman,
Scorcha makes for an intriguing romance heroine. Bold and
independent to the point of being headstrong at times, she has become
more at home in the wilderness than the court. She will protect
her child at all costs. Despite not knowing his true name, Hugh
is a man of mental prowess. With the danger of unexpected
alliances and motivations threatening at every corner, he must maneuver
a fine line between enemies and friends as he seeks to discover the
truth. Like a chess player, he must plan several moves ahead,
especially when he promises to protect Scorcha and her
child. Without a past, Hugh remains a mysterious character
at times, but his true spirit shows in his interactions with
others. Without a name to define him, Scorcha and the reader see
his character from within from the beginning. As the external
battle to discover the truth behind a web of lies that endanger Scorcha
heats up, the physical attraction and feelings between Scorcha and Hugh
draw them to one another. Before Hugh can take her as his own,
however, he must learn the truth of her past as well as his own.
As the two must both face the demons of their past within themselves,
the external dangers mount. Joanne Rock creates a wonderful
balance between the internal and external pressures on the couple that
heightens each as the romance moves to the final pages. In THE
KNIGHT'S RETURN, Joanne Rock not only creates a delightfully wicked
villain but she also adds just the right measure of plot twists to make
their journey riveting from start to finish.
In THE KNIGHT'S RETURN, the medieval world is an integral part of the
romance, not just in terms of historical authenticity but also the
spirit beyond the words. Hugh's journey, including the boon he
asks of Scorcha's father, are true to theme of the quest in medieval
literature. Those familiar with medieval quest stories will take
a special delight in Joanne Rock's faithfulness to the genre while also
relishing the manner in which she steps up the level of intrigue as
different alliances and past secrets come to light throughout the
quest. THE KNIGHT'S
RETURN is a wonderful mix of Jason Bourne's hunt and Sir Gawain's
impossible task before the Green Knight. In the process of the
quest, Hugh must question himself and those around him to discover his
true identity, not just a name but the sense of honor within
himself. To the themes of the classic medieval tale, Joanne Rock
brings two refreshingly different characters and the vision of romance,
not only in the passion that Hugh and Scorcha feel for one another but
also in the family relationships that surround them. To Medieval
lovers, THE KNIGHT'S RETURN is a special treat, not only for the
authenticity of her historical presentation, but the way she renews the
period with the imagination she brings to the story.
Publisher: Harlequin
Historical (April 2009)
Author Website
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Medieval Book Reviews
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