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A Templar Tale #1
The Spymaster's Protection
Chief intelligence officer for the Knights Templar, Lucien de Aubric, finds himself in a valiant fight to defend a divided kingdom that teeters on the brink of civil war while facing the growing forces of the mighty Saracen leader, Saladin.
In the midst of trying to avert war and provide accurate intelligence for his Order and Jerusalem's rulers, Lucien crosses paths with a beautiful, compassionate noblewoman who is in desperate need of a guardian angel.
Struggling to build a worthy life for herself after being set aside by her brutal and powerful husband, Gabrielle de Chatillon is determined to aid the smallest victims of war-torn Palestine. Then a cynical spy with tarnished idealism and uncompromising chivalry walks into her life and offers to aid her in her search for Muslim homes for her orphans.
Their involvement quickly turns dangerous when Gabrielle's estranged husband re-enters her life. Seeking to wed another heiress who would greatly expand his power and influence in the kingdom, he puts Gabrielle under a fatwa, a death contract with the deadly Hashshashin.
Lucien is compelled to aid the courageous noblewoman he has come to admire and care deeply for. Fleeing an assassination attempt in Jerusalem, he takes Gabrielle along on his mission to restore unity to the divided political factions in the region and to assess the Saracen threat. Their journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, then behind enemy lines allow their feelings for one another to deepen.
Caught up in the turbulent months before the fall of Jerusalem in 1187, Gabrielle and Lucien find their forbidden relationship challenged on every level. Together they risk all to survive a murderous husband, a fanatical Grand Master, the bloody battle of Hattin, and a secret that is as liberating as it is treacherous.
Like the other books in this series, The Spymaster's Protection highlights the life of a Templar during the time of the Crusades and his struggle with the forbidden temptation of love.
In the midst of trying to avert war and provide accurate intelligence for his Order and Jerusalem's rulers, Lucien crosses paths with a beautiful, compassionate noblewoman who is in desperate need of a guardian angel.
Struggling to build a worthy life for herself after being set aside by her brutal and powerful husband, Gabrielle de Chatillon is determined to aid the smallest victims of war-torn Palestine. Then a cynical spy with tarnished idealism and uncompromising chivalry walks into her life and offers to aid her in her search for Muslim homes for her orphans.
Their involvement quickly turns dangerous when Gabrielle's estranged husband re-enters her life. Seeking to wed another heiress who would greatly expand his power and influence in the kingdom, he puts Gabrielle under a fatwa, a death contract with the deadly Hashshashin.
Lucien is compelled to aid the courageous noblewoman he has come to admire and care deeply for. Fleeing an assassination attempt in Jerusalem, he takes Gabrielle along on his mission to restore unity to the divided political factions in the region and to assess the Saracen threat. Their journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, then behind enemy lines allow their feelings for one another to deepen.
Caught up in the turbulent months before the fall of Jerusalem in 1187, Gabrielle and Lucien find their forbidden relationship challenged on every level. Together they risk all to survive a murderous husband, a fanatical Grand Master, the bloody battle of Hattin, and a secret that is as liberating as it is treacherous.
Like the other books in this series, The Spymaster's Protection highlights the life of a Templar during the time of the Crusades and his struggle with the forbidden temptation of love.
- GenresHistorical Romance
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2012
7 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
S.A. Monk
9 books4 followersS.A. Monk is a retired teacher who lives in Southern California with her family and husband of forty-five years. Reading and writing and romance, here and now or in the past, are one of her life's obsessions. Love is, after all, the greatest of all blessings. Sometimes relationships have rocky starts, and sometimes they click right away. Everything else in-between, of course, is possible, and oh what fun it is to craft romantic heroes and heroines with all those possibilities and quirks of fate to work with! Coming together to overcome the difficulties, trials, and dangers life throws at us is one of her favorite themes.
The author loves to hear from her readers. Keep writing those reviews and comments. They are all read and appreciated.
The author loves to hear from her readers. Keep writing those reviews and comments. They are all read and appreciated.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 7, 2017
I just love stories about Knights Templars, those almost mystical, mysterious warriors of eons past. "The Spymaster's Protection" was a decent novel about two souls finding each other and love in the midst of chaos and war.
Gabrielle - wow - I truly sympathized for the heroine of the story. Given the life she had, I'm so glad she got her HEA with her knight. I'm thankful S.A. Monk took time to develop the relationship between Gabrielle and Lucien. It wasn't a mere case of insta-love or insta-sex. Also, there was an actual B story amidst the A story of our two lovers. Bravo! Too many other romance novels skimp on telling an actual story, with events happening beyond the world of two people.
A final note: I'm sure there are people who may decry the depiction of Knights Templars, or the battles described in the novel or the role of women in the time period, etc. but I was willing to go along for the ride. The only one thing I thought was egregious was the sheer coincidence of Gabrielle finding her real father. This plot point was just a little implausible for me, but doesn't detract that much from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
Gabrielle - wow - I truly sympathized for the heroine of the story. Given the life she had, I'm so glad she got her HEA with her knight. I'm thankful S.A. Monk took time to develop the relationship between Gabrielle and Lucien. It wasn't a mere case of insta-love or insta-sex. Also, there was an actual B story amidst the A story of our two lovers. Bravo! Too many other romance novels skimp on telling an actual story, with events happening beyond the world of two people.
A final note: I'm sure there are people who may decry the depiction of Knights Templars, or the battles described in the novel or the role of women in the time period, etc. but I was willing to go along for the ride. The only one thing I thought was egregious was the sheer coincidence of Gabrielle finding her real father. This plot point was just a little implausible for me, but doesn't detract that much from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
May 11, 2013
A Templar tale with a difference. Strong main characters you root for and enough "bad" guys to keep you reading with joy.
Sex: numerous sex scenes; detailed but not too graphic
Violence: appropriate to war
Sex: numerous sex scenes; detailed but not too graphic
Violence: appropriate to war
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews