Sometimes, a guardian angel comes in the most unexpected way... and a forbidden love is born.
Gabriel “Gart” Forbes is the most powerful knight in the arsenal of David de Lohr, Baron Thornden, brother to the mighty Earl of Hereford. When Julian de Moyon, Baron Buckland, summons Thornden for critical support, Gart travels to Dunster Castle to meet with Buckland. Upon arrival, he is set upon by three young boys who try to rob him, all sons of Baron Buckland. Gart discovers that their mother, the Lady Emberley de Moyon, is the sister of his long-dead best friend. Remembering the lovely young girl from the days of his youth, Gart quickly realizes she has grown into a woman of magnificent beauty. He also comes to realize that Julian is a monster who beats his wife. At first, Gart is protective of an old friend but soon, he cannot control the emotions he is feeling for Emberley. A beaten and emotionally starved woman, Emberley cannot help her feelings for a man she has loved most of her life. Succumbing to a forbidden love, Gart and Emberley find powerful allies in Baron Thornden and the Earl of Hereford as they plot to convince Julian to divorce his wife. Adding to the chaos is the fact that Julian has taken up in a love affair with Queen Isabella. When the queen begins to find interest in another man, Julian is furious and wants to use Emberley to make the queen jealous. Gart, however, keeps Emberley well hidden from her husband, even as the Church seeks to intervene. Through trickery, Julian discovers where Gart has hidden his wife and traps the woman, intending to kill her for her treachery. Gart is unable to help her, listening to her screams of terror, when aid comes from the most unexpected of sources. Divine intervention comes in many forms in this deeply passionate love story.
The de Lohr Dynasty can all be read as stand-alones, but the chronological order is: While Angels Slept Rise of the Defender Steelheart Shadowmoor Silversword Spectre of the Sword Unending Love Archangel
Juggernaut Indie author Kathryn Le Veque is a 'tour de force' in publishing.
Kathryn is a critically acclaimed 21-time USA TODAY Bestselling author, a charter Amazon All-Star author, an Indie Reader top seller, and a #1 bestselling, award-winning, multi-published author in Medieval Historical Romance with over 100 published novels.
Among her many accomplishments, she is the CEO of Dragonblade Publishing, the #1 Historical Romance e-book publisher on Amazon. In 2020, Kathryn collaborated with Sourcebooks publishing for a Medieval Fight Club series set in Scotland.
Gabriel “Gart” Forbes has come to meet with his Liege David who is asking for his help in a matter. Gart upon his arrival he is set upon by three young boys who are trying to rob him to get money to buy their mom a gift to make her happy. Lady Emberley de Moyon is the mother of the three boys and also a little girl. Gart and Emberely recognize one another from their younger days. Gart used to be her brothers best friend before her brother died. We find that Emberley used to love him but Gart didn't notice her other than a sister to his best friend. In the present day we learn that Emberley is married to a very abusive husband that beats her regularly and is having a public affair with the Queen. Gart quickly finds that he is in love with Emberley and of course Emberley feelings have never died. Gart goes to take her and her children away from the husband and move forward trying to get a divorce for her. This was a emotional, sweet and funny book due to the story set of abuse and to the young children being so cute/funny in some issues.
Another Le Veque story that I absolutely loved!!! I couldn't put this book down,I read it in one day. I liked the love story between the two main characters, Gabriel "Gart" Forbes and Emberley de Russe de Moyon, but I really loved Emberley's children. Their antics and mischievous natures were so cute to me, as well as hilarious. I like how this story was a love story, but it had a sense of adventure and tackled a very difficult theme of domestic violence and its effects on the victims and their children; who are essentially victims as well. While reading the story, I liked how Le Veque wove in humor and levity as a way to break up some of the serious moments of the book. I really loved the way Gabriel took care of Emberley after witnessing the aftermath of one of her husband's assaults on her, as well as his relationship with the children. I enjoyed the way little Romney and his brothers planned and decided they had to exact fees from guests at their home, as a way to buy their mother and sister gifts; to help them not cry and be happy, after their father made Emberley the object of his rage. The children obviously, really loved their mother and baby sister and felt that it was up to them to cheer them up and protect them the best they could, as little more than babes themselves. Archangel, also made me think about how difficult it was to be a women back in medieval times, since Emberley had no rights as a woman and a wife. She was basically her husband's property that he could do whatever he wanted with, in the eyes of England and church law. It shows us how far we have come from that type of thinking, but there are still many women who face social injustices today and/or abuse at the hand of their partners/spouses. Overall, I loved the story and the theme. Also, I really enjoyed how far Emberley and Gabriel had to go for her safety, the children and their love. The story makes you ponder how far you would go to be with the ones you love and at what cost to your values, morals and beliefs.
5***** Wow! What a great book. I have read many of Kathryn Le Veque's books now and each one is very different. This one deals with adultery a very serious offence in the middle ages. I could not guess how our hero was going to workout this problem. Kathryn shows us just how women were treated then and how impossible their lives could be. the great love shown in this book is incredible. The ending exciting and very surprising. You should definitely read this book.
This is the second book I have read by Kathryn, and I loved it. I love medieval romance! I mean love it. I like that this author writes epic stories...long and eventful. This story is emotional, funny, heartbreaking, and heart lifing and thats EXACTLY how I like my books. I want to feel someting when I read.
SPOILER: With all that said there was one part I was bummed about in the book. I didn't like the killing of ------- at the very end. You will realize who this is when you read it. I felt bad after he had worked so hard to bring this couple together. Regardless, READ THIS BOOK. Its worth it just to fall in love with "kissy" baby!
What a performance! Between the exquisite story and the dynamic way delivered by Narrator Daniel Dorse, I am speechless! (but not so much I can’t write this review!) After the horrific event close to the end of the book, you’ll regain your equilibrium with humor and another of Le Veque’s epic happy endings.
First of all, Le Veque’s Medieval romances capture history as well as the emotions of mankind – what tie us together and what pull us apart.
The situation is this story is extreme for the heroine, Lady Emberley, with four children she loves dearly married to a crazed, on-the-verge lunatic husband. Marriage in those days didn’t leave much of a life for a woman. Equally, if not married, she may become a burdensome spinster aunt and a ‘nanny’ for life. Then again, she may end in a convent. Such poor choices which make these stories even more emotional for present-day readers.
Our hero, Gart Forbes, is a knight of chivalrous and honor intent, who falls in love with a married woman, the Lady Emberly. How can love survive in this environment? How can Gart tolerate seeing Lady Emberly brutalized by her husband? And what of his own code and that of the law?
The husband, Julian de Moyon, Baron Buckland, has his own agenda. He’s been bedding the queen for a year, but times are changing, and finds himself loosing ground with her. He intends to make the queen jealous by bringing his wife and children to London. Nothing quite works the way he wants.
The narrator’s voice totally fascinated me. I put the speed of the audio on 1.25X; otherwise it was too slow. His depiction of Julian held the overpowering moments of this tragic story. I do believe Dorse must know someone as demented as Julian, for he is totally convincing!
If you haven’t read any of Le Veque, you are in for such a treat. Her stories are full of grit, brutality, honor, greed and passion! Archangel, which tells the story of Gabriel and Emberly, is no exception.
If you enjoy the antics of small children you will like this book. There are very entertaining child characters in 'Archangel'. It's all beautifully written, transporting the reader to a world of noble knights, slobbering babies and mischievous little boys.
Taciturn knight Gabriel is horrified to discover his childhood friend in an abusive marriage. Normally a calm person, Gabriel takes steps to try and rescue battered lady Emberley. Much of the book is about Emberley's attempts to find freedom at a time when women couldn't divorce their husbands, no matter how violent. To make matters worse Emberley's husband is powerful because he is the lover of the queen of England.
As a result being involved with Emberley, Gabriel engages with her four children, all under 7 years old. Three of them are boys with criminal habits. The baby girl is a slobbery hugger. All four children provide the laughs in this romance/action story, and the humour is sorely needed to balance the horrors of domestic abuse. But despite the grim theme this is a highly entertaining and hopeful book.
Archangel is a brutal and gritty romantic adventure of love and life. Kathryn really shows how life for women would have been, having no say, being used as chattel and allowed by law to be abused by their husbands. But out of this darkness comes Sir Gart Forbes, a huge hero, both in size and reputation, this handsome giant falls in love with the beautiful and miserable Lady Emberley de Moyan, whose life has been an absolute nightmare since her marriage to the Baron Buckland. Sir Gart has known Emberley for many years, but he didn't realise that she has always been in love with him. But for me, it is the children that steal the show! Gart's relationship with Emberley's three young sons and baby daughter, will make you smile on many occasions and Gart's friendship with Romney is especially poignant. This is a very emotional book, but it is also humorous and romantic. I loved it and could not put it down.
This is one of my top five KL books. I love these people and their story, and you can’t help but root for them to have an unlikely HEA. Gart is a knight’s knight. He is robbed by three little hooligans, and falls hard for their antics, and their beleaguered mother and baby-kisses-sis. Turns out she’s a childhood friend, and his bestie was her hero bro. But, they are star-crossed, as her brutal selfish husband makes their lives a fear filled hell. Emberley is engaging, humorous and gentle. The children are absolutely delightful and so loyal. The deLorhs have a heartbreaking choice. Gart is steadfast, earnest, sensual, and fair minded. How will they ever find their way out of her medieval marriage, that protects even the most vile of men but never the women and children? A great “what would you do,” if you were the bright and clever author that is KLeveque?
I loved this book. It was filled with so much love and also a horrible, mean violent man. Kathryn remind s us that in the years of the knights and the Christian Church having so much say over the people.of Europe and the British isles That women were either the property of their father or their husband. They had no say in court , could not vote , and if their husband wanted to spank them , he could. This book shows howa real man acts toward a woman he loves and her children.
I loved this book. Gary was a favorite in another book by this author so I’m to read his story here. His quiet strength and character is endearing. When he unexpectedly meets the sister of his dead best friend when he is on a visit to Dunster castle with David de Lohr, he can’t help but be drawn to her. Emberley is beautiful and engaging and she needs his help. From that point on, he would do anything to protect her and her children from her abusive husband, even take her away. This story made me cry and laugh and hope. I loved it.
The castle is full of tiny thieves taking tolls on wayward travelers. Undaunted and unrepentant they lurk with sticks and wooden swords waiting for unsuspecting victims. The lady of the keep is powerless to end the rein of terror. The Lord of the keep produces his own form of terror, when he bothers to be at his keep and away from the queens bower. A noble knight will set everything to right.
This was a very good book, but I had trouble with the marriage Emberley and Julian de Moyon. Domestic violence and bullying are never good and I was afraid for a bad ending. I think the acquaintance of Gart Forbes and Lady Emberely gave her the strength to do as she must. I was happy their love prevailed.
I am so glad that women are not considered property in this time and age. My heart was so wrapped up in Emberly and my heart went out to her. I related to her because my sister was abused by her husband the first seven years of their marriage. This is another great book that requires reading and keeping. !!!!!!
I read every novel that Kathryn writes. Since I have been reading her novels I have fell in love with the de Lohr and the Dr Wolf families!! I look forward to each new novel that comes out! These books would make an awesome. TV series!! Thank you Kathryn Le Veque! A huge fan!! Ella Lanham 918-815-3471 !
The adultery put me off. I know that Leveque tries to justify by saying their love transcends all but that's just bs. I wish she could have left it at kisses but I will always consider Garth a man without honor.
As with all of Ms. LeVeque's books pageantry, history and romance abound! Each story is filled with passion and heroism , chaos and courage and the excitement of a time long past.
I knew from the first few pages this was going to be a great read. Some love stories just have to be told. An abused woman with four beautiful children is saved by a fearsome knight...Archangel Gabriel. Intense and very emotional.
As always Catherine's characters are all somehow intertwined in her books. I can never put her books down until the end. I always have to read them all the way through.
This is a very passionate love story with the loving couple going through much drama and tragedy. This story is very different from any of Le Veque 20 stories I have read. I highly recommend it!
This book was so well written and really enjoyed listening to the story. The narrator did a great job. I didn’t think I’d like his raspy voice but he did a great job. I hated turning it off every night I just wanted to keep listening
Too bad such a beautiful love story is ruined by using the Lord's name in vain and sexual content not fit for the Christian world and even young adults. PLEASE close the bedroom door!!!
3.75 stars I love Gart and Em. Lots of twists. HEA. No cheating. I was wary of reading it because Im not big on "affair" books but this one is not laid out in that manner. Good read.
This was not as good as other LeVeque novels, not as much character depth. I did find the narrative about the lack of married women’s rights interesting.
Having read a good number of her books i look forward to more. I love the history and her characters are believable. The littlest of details are very interesting.