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The Knights' Prizes #3
Απαγορευμένες επιθυμίες
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Η Σελέστ αφήνει προσωρινά το μοναστήρι της Αγίας Αγάθης και πηγαίνει στο Ντάνμπρο, με σκοπό να μάθει την αλήθεια για τη δολοφονία της αδερφής της. Όμως από τη στιγμή που συναντά τον Τζέραρντ, τον ήρωα των παιδικών της χρόνων, η νεαρή δόκιμη αρχίζει να ονειρεύεται απολαύσεις που θα είναι απαγορευμένες όταν ορκιστεί μοναχή.
Ο Τζέραρντ παλεύει με την επιθυμία του για την πανέμορφη, αθώα Σελέστ. Μετά τον αγώνα που έδωσε για να αποκαταστήσει το όνομά του, δεν πρόκειται να αποπλανήσει μια καλόγρια. Ωστόσο, καθώς η αποστολή της Σελέστ τους φέρνει πιο κοντά, γίνεται ξεκάθαρο ότι το πάθος τους είναι πιο δυνατό από οποιονδήποτε όρκο!
Η Σελέστ αφήνει προσωρινά το μοναστήρι της Αγίας Αγάθης και πηγαίνει στο Ντάνμπρο, με σκοπό να μάθει την αλήθεια για τη δολοφονία της αδερφής της. Όμως από τη στιγμή που συναντά τον Τζέραρντ, τον ήρωα των παιδικών της χρόνων, η νεαρή δόκιμη αρχίζει να ονειρεύεται απολαύσεις που θα είναι απαγορευμένες όταν ορκιστεί μοναχή.
Ο Τζέραρντ παλεύει με την επιθυμία του για την πανέμορφη, αθώα Σελέστ. Μετά τον αγώνα που έδωσε για να αποκαταστήσει το όνομά του, δεν πρόκειται να αποπλανήσει μια καλόγρια. Ωστόσο, καθώς η αποστολή της Σελέστ τους φέρνει πιο κοντά, γίνεται ξεκάθαρο ότι το πάθος τους είναι πιο δυνατό από οποιονδήποτε όρκο!
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 15, 2015
8 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Moore
227 books175 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Award-winning author Margaret Moore actually began her career at the age of eight, when she and a friend concocted stories featuring a lovely, spirited damsel and a handsome, misunderstood thief nicknamed "The Red Sheik."
Unknowingly pursuing her destiny, Margaret graduated with distinction from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. During that time, she also became a Leading Wren with the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, where she learned to use a variety of weapons and had the weepy experience of being tear-gassed.
In addition to being a wife and mother of two, she's also been an award-winning public speaker, synchronized swimmer, an archer, and studied fencing and ballroom dancing.
Margaret sold her first historical romance and the premiere book of her Warrior series, A WARRIOR'S HEART, to Harlequin Historicals® in 1991. Since that time, she's written over 25 historical romance novels and novellas. She has also written for Avon Books, as well as a young adult historical romance for HarperCollins Childrens Books. She now writes for Harlequin's new single title imprint, HQN.
Her books have been published in France, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Australia, Belgium, Switzerland, Brazil, Korea, Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands, Russia, Poland and India.
Award-winning author Margaret Moore actually began her career at the age of eight, when she and a friend concocted stories featuring a lovely, spirited damsel and a handsome, misunderstood thief nicknamed "The Red Sheik."
Unknowingly pursuing her destiny, Margaret graduated with distinction from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. During that time, she also became a Leading Wren with the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, where she learned to use a variety of weapons and had the weepy experience of being tear-gassed.
In addition to being a wife and mother of two, she's also been an award-winning public speaker, synchronized swimmer, an archer, and studied fencing and ballroom dancing.
Margaret sold her first historical romance and the premiere book of her Warrior series, A WARRIOR'S HEART, to Harlequin Historicals® in 1991. Since that time, she's written over 25 historical romance novels and novellas. She has also written for Avon Books, as well as a young adult historical romance for HarperCollins Childrens Books. She now writes for Harlequin's new single title imprint, HQN.
Her books have been published in France, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Australia, Belgium, Switzerland, Brazil, Korea, Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands, Russia, Poland and India.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 25, 2017
Hearing of her sister’s murder, Celeste D’Orleau leaves her cloister and returns to Dunborough. She reunites with her childhood friend, handsomely wicked Gerrard and all her sinful feelings for him returns. She’s on a mission to uncover the identity of her sister’s murderer, even if it means sacrificing herself and her vows of chastity.
Gerrard’s trying to clean up his image and the last person he’d expect to see is beautiful Celeste. She brings out the best and worst in him yet no matter how much he wants her, he won’t seduce a nun. But when Celeste entraps the real murderer, he’ll do whatever it takes to save her.
A juicy, intriguing historical romance. I loved Celeste and her viper tongue. Celeste and Gerrard ignite between the pages and I swooned more than once. Both have been hurt in the past and the time has come to bury the hatchet. But is Celeste running away from love or is it her calling to be a nun? A twist on the classic Harlequin historical romance. A must read!
Favorite Character/Quote: Gerrard. I really loved him because he knows what he wants and yet his weakness is Celeste. She makes him angry with her wicked tongue but she also speaks the truth, which is rare. He’s a good man and the historical version of sex-on-a-stick.
My Rating: 5 stars
Gerrard’s trying to clean up his image and the last person he’d expect to see is beautiful Celeste. She brings out the best and worst in him yet no matter how much he wants her, he won’t seduce a nun. But when Celeste entraps the real murderer, he’ll do whatever it takes to save her.
A juicy, intriguing historical romance. I loved Celeste and her viper tongue. Celeste and Gerrard ignite between the pages and I swooned more than once. Both have been hurt in the past and the time has come to bury the hatchet. But is Celeste running away from love or is it her calling to be a nun? A twist on the classic Harlequin historical romance. A must read!
Favorite Character/Quote: Gerrard. I really loved him because he knows what he wants and yet his weakness is Celeste. She makes him angry with her wicked tongue but she also speaks the truth, which is rare. He’s a good man and the historical version of sex-on-a-stick.
My Rating: 5 stars
October 17, 2020
Meh. I've been craving a good HQN medieval, but this is not the droid I'm looking for.
So, let's be honest. As my regular GR peeps know, yours truly is no great stickler for extreme accuracy of minutiae in historicals. While I expect generalities & easily Googled factoids to be correct, I don't GAF if every social convention, costume, travel time, colloquialism, marriage procedure, or whatever is observed to the detriment of the story's flow or character interaction. While it's nice when authors are skilled enough to incorporate these things into their book, my first priorities are voice, pace, vividness, & entertainment value -- ALWAYS -- & medieval fiction is no exception. Observe some favorites: THE RAIN MAIDEN, LADY OF THE FOREST, THE SAXON OUTLAW'S REVENGE, LOVE'S FIERY DAGGER...need I say more?
I've included this infodump of personal background for one reason, & one reason only: when I claim this book has subzero medieval ambiance, you'll understand how truly bland it must be.
Because sweet mother of pearl. This couldn't feel less medieval if it tried. I'm sorry, but including a nunnery, a castle courtyard, & veils doesn't make a 11th-c romance. (I think it was 11th? I'm too lazy to check.) Instead, we have the excess parental baggage. The hero that's desperate to be liked by everyone. The heroine who emasculates the hero at every opportunity. The battle-of-sexes dialogue-happy drivel. The asides of servants rehashing everything that just happened. The kidnapping, the hidden treasure, the SO ADORABLE!!! madcap rush for a priest to officiate three weddings simultaneously (*gag*), the drunken outpouring of feels, the obsessive nutball villain (who was so screamingly obvious that it hurt)...all of these things could've happened in any period that involved travel by horse. Indeed, this felt like an f'ing Regency novel; simply replace a few minor details & you'd have the exact same story.
So incredibly bland & disappointing. This author appears to have a cult following, but I won't be back for more.
So, let's be honest. As my regular GR peeps know, yours truly is no great stickler for extreme accuracy of minutiae in historicals. While I expect generalities & easily Googled factoids to be correct, I don't GAF if every social convention, costume, travel time, colloquialism, marriage procedure, or whatever is observed to the detriment of the story's flow or character interaction. While it's nice when authors are skilled enough to incorporate these things into their book, my first priorities are voice, pace, vividness, & entertainment value -- ALWAYS -- & medieval fiction is no exception. Observe some favorites: THE RAIN MAIDEN, LADY OF THE FOREST, THE SAXON OUTLAW'S REVENGE, LOVE'S FIERY DAGGER...need I say more?
I've included this infodump of personal background for one reason, & one reason only: when I claim this book has subzero medieval ambiance, you'll understand how truly bland it must be.
Because sweet mother of pearl. This couldn't feel less medieval if it tried. I'm sorry, but including a nunnery, a castle courtyard, & veils doesn't make a 11th-c romance. (I think it was 11th? I'm too lazy to check.) Instead, we have the excess parental baggage. The hero that's desperate to be liked by everyone. The heroine who emasculates the hero at every opportunity. The battle-of-sexes dialogue-happy drivel. The asides of servants rehashing everything that just happened. The kidnapping, the hidden treasure, the SO ADORABLE!!! madcap rush for a priest to officiate three weddings simultaneously (*gag*), the drunken outpouring of feels, the obsessive nutball villain (who was so screamingly obvious that it hurt)...all of these things could've happened in any period that involved travel by horse. Indeed, this felt like an f'ing Regency novel; simply replace a few minor details & you'd have the exact same story.
So incredibly bland & disappointing. This author appears to have a cult following, but I won't be back for more.
March 9, 2025
I was really engaged by this one. Although what the appeal of Gerrard is I don't know - guy's a bit of a wiener but whatever the heroine seems to love him. I hadn't read the first two books (this was a charity shop buy) so we have all this backstory about the hero and heroine as children, and one day the hero pins her down and hacks her hair off, she breaks his collar bone, and all this causes her to get sent to a nunnery for TEN YEARS and they both treat the whole incident as a whole-lotta-nothin. No biggie. Sorry about the hair - yo s'cool I forgot about it tbh. I don't understand why this HUGE childhood backstory is such a non event.
The villain(s) of this book really landed with me - they were creepy as hell because at the end of the day they were simply men who hated women and were willing to kill them to get what they wanted out of them. Nothing is more frightening or chilling to me than fatal acts of misogyny.
Five stars for me because I was genuinely glued the whole time.
The villain(s) of this book really landed with me - they were creepy as hell because at the end of the day they were simply men who hated women and were willing to kill them to get what they wanted out of them. Nothing is more frightening or chilling to me than fatal acts of misogyny.
Five stars for me because I was genuinely glued the whole time.
February 16, 2019
An enjoyable read with a steady paced plot. I did guess who the villain was but there were enough characters in the plot to throw you off the scent. I liked the disreputable hero, Gerrard who, on gaining responsibility, was trying hard to reform. The heroine, however, towards the end the novel was a little exasperating in her attitude towards him and perhaps a little self righteous.
And after looking for her fathers treasure throughout the book, finding them at the end was a little simplistic.
A good story however and worth a read.
And after looking for her fathers treasure throughout the book, finding them at the end was a little simplistic.
A good story however and worth a read.
November 10, 2017
Piatto e noioso, ma poi, dov'era il porno surreale che era mio di diritto? Eh, signora cara, non li fanno più gli Harmony di una volta. Un tempo era tutto un fiorire di possenti verghe dell'amore e profondi abissi di femminilità, adesso a stento affiora un monte di Venere di qua e di là. Sono tempi difficili.
November 7, 2020
Pese a que este ha sido el que menos me ha gustado de la saga, esta trilogía merece muchísmo la pena. Son historias de amor preciosas, con una buena ambientación histórica y personajes muy interesantes. Una pena haberla acabado porque la disfruté mucho, espero seguir leyendo más de esta autora y que me gusten tanto como estos.
May 29, 2021
I love a good redemption story and this ticked all of the boxes for me. The main couple were both likeable and their motivations made sense. I enjoyed Gerrard's character in the last book so was pleased it continued.
December 8, 2024
Just okay.
June 29, 2018
Encerrando a trilogia de forma ok. Não me encantei, mas serviu para passar o tempo.
Eu não gostei de Gerrard no livro anterior, era um chato, reclamação, bêbado e invejoso. Aqui ele recebeu o que merecia.
Levou na cara tantas vezes que cheguei a ficar com dó... por um segundo e logo acabou, mas o sentimento existiu. A rendenção foi plausível e interessante.
Na contra partida em termos de comportamento tem Celeste, uma noviça que volta a Dunborough depois da morte de sua irmã. Ela quer apenas resolver os problemas deixados por Audrey, conseguir se livrar da madre superiora mala e conseguir fazer seus votos. Quer paz, quer segurança, mas se saísse como planejado não haveria livro.
Ela dá um trabalhão a Gerrard (merecido), mas também não gostei muito dela, suas hipocrisia me deu preguiça.
Fora isso, o livro aborda uma questão triste, real e assustadoramente frequente. Homens obcecados por mulheres, que se sentem no direito de obrigar a reciprocidade e sempre das piores maneiras possíveis. O final é como vemos em jornais e estatísticas.
Eu não gostei de Gerrard no livro anterior, era um chato, reclamação, bêbado e invejoso. Aqui ele recebeu o que merecia.
Levou na cara tantas vezes que cheguei a ficar com dó... por um segundo e logo acabou, mas o sentimento existiu. A rendenção foi plausível e interessante.
Na contra partida em termos de comportamento tem Celeste, uma noviça que volta a Dunborough depois da morte de sua irmã. Ela quer apenas resolver os problemas deixados por Audrey, conseguir se livrar da madre superiora mala e conseguir fazer seus votos. Quer paz, quer segurança, mas se saísse como planejado não haveria livro.
Ela dá um trabalhão a Gerrard (merecido), mas também não gostei muito dela, suas hipocrisia me deu preguiça.
Fora isso, o livro aborda uma questão triste, real e assustadoramente frequente. Homens obcecados por mulheres, que se sentem no direito de obrigar a reciprocidade e sempre das piores maneiras possíveis. O final é como vemos em jornais e estatísticas.
January 4, 2017
This novel presents the reader with a capable and resourceful heroine and an anxious hero, one who’s keenness on having people be fond of him nearly registers as a fearful need albeit a very basic one. In-depth analysis isn’t the order of the day with romance novels set in distant times. Yet there’s an unexpected touch of it here as we see people grappling with the burdens left by harsh and cruel fathers. Even when there is love involved, a parent’s expectations can be more of a crutch than a help.
I found myself liking the determination of Celeste (known as Sister Augustine) to resist her own desires and the temptation of Gerard of Dunborough. The latter has a distasteful reputation and Celeste means to steer clear of the trouble he presents. She wishes to enter a convent, partially out of religious conviction but also because she’s fearful of the secular world. Her reasoning is sound: the outside world is fraught with peril, violence and bloodshed, much of it stemming from men. Having been forced to witness her father’s psychological torment of her mother and know how badly Gerard’s father treated him, her decision makes a lot of sense.
Gerard has issues to overcome as well. His outer toughness hides a desperate need for warmth, love, acceptance and respect. The author leads us to see that a man can change and be eager to shed his reputation as a womanizer, wastrel and drunkard. Many bad boys in romance novels delight in their positions as rogues. Not Gerard—he wants to better himself in the eyes of his community, his household and his would-be lover. It’s a refreshing change.
There’s a villain here too, one who is giving vent to his own dark desires. His psychological underpinnings form a neat triangle to those of Celeste and Gerard. But this also forms a weak point in the novel. I could see the identity of this would-be bad guy long before it’s actually revealed in the last quarter of the book. So the only excitement of his confrontation with Celeste stems from the subsequent chase scene when—not if—Gerard comes to the rescue.
This is otherwise a gripping yarn, a notch above the typical panoply of your workaday romance. It also makes me curious to read the other books in this series, especially the one regarding the staid Roland, Gerard’s elder twin brother. I wonder what could motivate a character as dour as he. Worth a peek, perhaps.
I found myself liking the determination of Celeste (known as Sister Augustine) to resist her own desires and the temptation of Gerard of Dunborough. The latter has a distasteful reputation and Celeste means to steer clear of the trouble he presents. She wishes to enter a convent, partially out of religious conviction but also because she’s fearful of the secular world. Her reasoning is sound: the outside world is fraught with peril, violence and bloodshed, much of it stemming from men. Having been forced to witness her father’s psychological torment of her mother and know how badly Gerard’s father treated him, her decision makes a lot of sense.
Gerard has issues to overcome as well. His outer toughness hides a desperate need for warmth, love, acceptance and respect. The author leads us to see that a man can change and be eager to shed his reputation as a womanizer, wastrel and drunkard. Many bad boys in romance novels delight in their positions as rogues. Not Gerard—he wants to better himself in the eyes of his community, his household and his would-be lover. It’s a refreshing change.
There’s a villain here too, one who is giving vent to his own dark desires. His psychological underpinnings form a neat triangle to those of Celeste and Gerard. But this also forms a weak point in the novel. I could see the identity of this would-be bad guy long before it’s actually revealed in the last quarter of the book. So the only excitement of his confrontation with Celeste stems from the subsequent chase scene when—not if—Gerard comes to the rescue.
This is otherwise a gripping yarn, a notch above the typical panoply of your workaday romance. It also makes me curious to read the other books in this series, especially the one regarding the staid Roland, Gerard’s elder twin brother. I wonder what could motivate a character as dour as he. Worth a peek, perhaps.
January 22, 2016
For a pretty short book, it took me awhile to read it. I liked the story, but Celeste would start to get on my nerves and I would have to put the book down for a bit.
It wasn't so much that Celeste was unlikeable - but she was extremely hypocritical and judgmental. I really got sick of her condemning Gerrard at very turn. Was Gerrard perfect - NO, far from it in fact, but he was trying and she would never give him the benefit of the doubt. She was friends with him as a child - but has not seen him in ten years as she has been living in a convent. She has come home to settle her families affairs now that her sister has passed away.
While in the convent she heard a lot of rumors about Gerrard - none of it flattering. Instead of letting him explain, she just makes assumptions. Considering the secrets and lies she is keeping, I found this annoying.
Gerrard is not the same man he was in the last book. He is making a sincere effort to change and be a better man. He tries so hard to show Celeste that he is not the man she thinks he is. But she keeps shooting him down. I am not sure when these two fell in love - they both mention that they had always loved the other - but considering Gerrard's reputation and Celeste's attitude - I found that hard to swallow.
The villain in this book was fantastic - he was beyond creepy and I thought Ms. Moore did a really stellar job with his character!
I think to really understand and enjoy this book, you would have had to have read the previous book - there is a bit of backstory, so you wouldn't feel totally lost - but I think you would benefit from reading the series in order.
I usually love Ms. Moore's work - so I may have expected too much from this book and ended up a little disappointed. The first book in the series Castle of the Wolf was a 5 star read for me and set the bar for the series (in my mind). Sadly, this book was not at that level, but it was still an enjoyable read.
It wasn't so much that Celeste was unlikeable - but she was extremely hypocritical and judgmental. I really got sick of her condemning Gerrard at very turn. Was Gerrard perfect - NO, far from it in fact, but he was trying and she would never give him the benefit of the doubt. She was friends with him as a child - but has not seen him in ten years as she has been living in a convent. She has come home to settle her families affairs now that her sister has passed away.
While in the convent she heard a lot of rumors about Gerrard - none of it flattering. Instead of letting him explain, she just makes assumptions. Considering the secrets and lies she is keeping, I found this annoying.
Gerrard is not the same man he was in the last book. He is making a sincere effort to change and be a better man. He tries so hard to show Celeste that he is not the man she thinks he is. But she keeps shooting him down. I am not sure when these two fell in love - they both mention that they had always loved the other - but considering Gerrard's reputation and Celeste's attitude - I found that hard to swallow.
The villain in this book was fantastic - he was beyond creepy and I thought Ms. Moore did a really stellar job with his character!
I think to really understand and enjoy this book, you would have had to have read the previous book - there is a bit of backstory, so you wouldn't feel totally lost - but I think you would benefit from reading the series in order.
I usually love Ms. Moore's work - so I may have expected too much from this book and ended up a little disappointed. The first book in the series Castle of the Wolf was a 5 star read for me and set the bar for the series (in my mind). Sadly, this book was not at that level, but it was still an enjoyable read.
November 27, 2016
Margaret Moore remains one of my favourite authors of Medieval period historical romance titles - although quality does vary. This one falls squarely in the middle in terms of preference. Our heroine Celeste is a novice who was sent to a convent twelve years ago after breaking the hero's collar bone after he cut off her hair. She has yet to take her vows because the mother superior considers her too unruly. She returns home to sort out her family property after her sister is brutally murdered by her infatuated bodyguard. She re-encounters the hero Gerrard who is finally starting to settle down, looking after his brother's estate after 12 feckless years of drinking, wenching, fighting and hanging out with dubious company. The pair have to solve the mystery of her sister's murder - The killer is dead, but did some mastermind put him up to it? As well as escape the clutches of the harsh mother superior come to take Celeste back to the convent.
Over all I thoroughly enjoyed this one - it's a bit like a brother Cadfael story mixed in with historical romance. Only thing is the villain is a bit obvious and melodramatic. The romance is average, nothing particularly wrong - you never doubt that these two should be together, but it never tugged at my heartstrings and its not as sexy as many other stories of this ilk. Still I did really like the plot and the setting and thought this was solid, if not one of Moore's best.
Over all I thoroughly enjoyed this one - it's a bit like a brother Cadfael story mixed in with historical romance. Only thing is the villain is a bit obvious and melodramatic. The romance is average, nothing particularly wrong - you never doubt that these two should be together, but it never tugged at my heartstrings and its not as sexy as many other stories of this ilk. Still I did really like the plot and the setting and thought this was solid, if not one of Moore's best.
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January 26, 2016"Moore ends The Knights’ Prizes series with an exciting tale of murder, secret treasure and lust between a saint and a sinner. We love that the heroine is strong-willed and loyal, and that the hero is a rascal out to redeem himself. There’s great conflict, authentic setting and enough heated embraces to melt readers’ hearts" (RT Book Reviews, 4 stars).
Miniseries: The Knights' Prizes
Miniseries: The Knights' Prizes
April 6, 2016
always enjoy Margaret's books
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February 14, 2016Miniseries: The Knights' Prizes
January 18, 2016
Harmless and light
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews