The Savage Curtain (The Dragonblade Trilogy #3) by Kathryn Le Veque

Book Blurb :

1333 A.D. – In the aftermath of the battle of Halidon Hill when the second Scots rebellion was essentially quelled, Sir Stephen of Pembury is appointed garrison commander of the recent-surrendered city of Berwick Upon Tweed. In order to secure his position, he marries the eldest daughter of the defeated Scots commander. The Lady Joselyn Seton is a spectacular beauty with dark hair and pale blue eyes, having spent the last eleven years of her life sequestered at Jedburgh Abbey. Bound for the cloister, she unexpectedly finds herself wed to the enormous English knight and the first hours of the marriage are filled with rebellion and hatred.

BlackTulip

Review:

When you have already loved not one but two books by the same author, at the third one you have very high expectations … and once again, it went beyond!

For centuries, the city of Berwick, due to its eminently strategic position as a border town between the kingdoms of England and Scotland, has been the scene of many battles and sieges. The time is AD 1333, the aftermath of the Battle of Halidon Hill. This story opens just after the English troops retake the city and the Scots surrender after a long and arduous siege. Scotland has suffered humiliation once again. These are hard and brutal times!

This is an epic tale full of passionate love and bitter war where the scenery and the action are so vividly depicted that you feel transported to another time and place. The story is long, complex and full of incredible depth but it never gets slow or boring at any time. There are ample medieval battles to appeal to male readers, and abundant romance and sentiment to touch every female reader.

The first couple of chapters are dramatically intense and rough but events get better for a time. However, as the story continues danger and uncertainty arise.

The Lady Joselyn de Velt Seton and Sir Stephen of Pembury are ordered to join their destiny to ensure peace. As an English knight, Stephen has a duty to his king but Joselyn does not. They are thrown together very unwillingly into high drama and an impossible situation. When it could be a disaster, it is anything but.

Two people sworn to hate, forge a love so deep and without reserve that it rises above any obstacle. They both open their hearts to love that they never expected or even suspected could exist. You cannot but fall in love with them … well I did!

The building relationship between the hero and heroine is beautiful to watch. I love characters that act, react and evolve as the story progresses. This book is a perfect example of that and it grabs at emotions in a very positive and exciting manner.

Ms. Le Veque’s characters are, as always, extremely well done. They have an emotional depth and reasoning behind their actions. I love her fertile imagination and her very special way she tells her story. She always seems to be able to bring something different to each book, something that you cannot find anywhere else.

This was a fantastic and captivating tale with characters both enthralling and endearing. A good deal of suspense and danger keep the book going with numerous twists and turns and even a touch of humor in the dialog from time to time. She weaves here an original tapestry where she interlaces very skillful fiction with actual history.

Despite the fact that this book is the third in the Dragonblade Series, not once did I find myself lost or feeling that something was missing. All I know is that I want to read Tate de Lara’s and  Kenneth St. Hever’s stories too and I will as soon as I can. I want this wonderful adventure to continue. For now, I give it 5 couples.

Pubisher :

Source : Personal Copy (Author requested review)

Released : September 24th 2012

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