The Kindling

Age of Faith #4

by Tamara Leigh

Alt Cover ASIN: B00GXFRNRE

'TIS SAID FAMILY CREATES A MULTITUDE OF SINS. Helene of Tippet is not her father or her brother's keeper. Yet when she is enlisted to use her healing skills to aid a fallen knight, the secret she holds close threatens to visit her family's sins upon her. Now she is in danger of loving where she should not-a man of the nobility, and one who has cause to despise her if ever he learns of the blood that courses through her veins. Dare she reveal herself? Dare she trust a warrior so bitter and intent on revenge? Dare she love? Sir Abel Wulfrith, a man bred to battle, has the scar to prove one should never trust a woman. But when he is wounded by his family's enemy, he finds himself at the mercy of one who could prove his undoing. Now he faces a battle against which no strategy can prevail, no blade can defend, no heart can escape unscathed. Can he forgive Helene the sins of the father-more, the sins of the brother? Can he reclaim his faith? Can he love?

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Medieval, Historical, Christian Fiction, Historical Romance, Christian

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2013

About the author

Tamara Leigh signed a 4-book contract with Bantam Books in 1993, her debut medieval romance was nominated for a RITA award, and successive books with Bantam, HarperCollins, and Dorchester earned awards and appeared on national bestseller lists.

In 2006, the first of Tamara’s inspirational contemporary romances was published, followed by six more with Multnomah and RandomHouse. Perfecting Kate was optioned for a movie, Splitting Harriet won an ACFW Book of the Year award, and Faking Grace was nominated for a RITA award.

In 2012, Tamara returned to writing historical romance with the release of Dreamspell and the bestselling Age of Faith and The Feud series. Among her #1 bestsellers are her general market romances rewritten as clean and inspirational reads, including Lady at Arms and Lady of Conquest. In late 2018, she released Merciless, the first book in the new AGE OF CONQUEST series, followed by Fearless and Nameless, unveiling the origins of the Wulfrith family. Psst!—It all began with a woman. Watch for Heartless in Spring 2020.

Tamara lives near Nashville with her husband, a German Shepherd who has never met a squeaky toy she can’t destroy, and a feisty Morkie who keeps her company during long writing stints.

Connect with Tamara at her website www.tamaraleigh.com, Facebook, Twitter and tamaraleightenn@gmail.com.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really sad that I never reviewed all the books in this series, because it's one of my favourites and it's just so AWESOME.

The Kindling is definitely in the top three of all eight books in the Age of Faith series. I loved everything about it.

I was interested in Abel from the moment we met him in The Unveiling, and couldn't wait to read his story. He might just be my favourite Wulfrith (although I quite like the mighty Lord Wulfrith himself...). And Helen was a fantastic heroine!

I read this ages ago, but I remember an exciting and suspenseful plot and an absolutely thrilling romance. I remember a scarred hero who pushed everyone away and a gentle but firm healer who was accused of being a witch...I remember tender, firelit scenes, I remember a breathless chase, I remember a swoon-worthy kissing scene, and I remember being just as delighted at the mention of any of the previous characters.

It's quite fun, actually, to review a book a few years after reading it and seeing all the wonderful things you remember about it, and the beautiful feelings it still evokes.

Such a great story, such a great series!! (I'm still going through withdrawal lol)

[Toni Shiloh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was right, this one is better than the last. I love how all the books tie together and are a continuation of one another though each Wulfrith sibling gets their own spotlight.

[My_every_day_chilling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Positive thoughts:
- I loved the angst created by Able and Helene as they fought to overcome their hardships.
- This book was focused on healing, and it was super interesting to see how it was done in the 1100's by using herbs and flowers. Whether it was used for relieving one from gas or healing a cut wound made by a sword.
- For this book I opted to listen to the audio and I loved it. The language style is pretty much written as they sort of spoke in the 1100's so it took me a while to get used to it in the first book I read. It was much easier with the audio.

Negative thoughts:
- Because I chose to listen to the audio, I had to wait for quiet times in the house, when the kids were sleeping. So the "read" wasn't as consistent as if I had read it.
- Because I'm not used to audio books, I wish I had the text to follow the audio.
- Although I can't say this was a romance, It did have loads of chemistry. I'd rather categorize this one as a drama with romance.

Overall:
- It was a clean, historical drama with a splash of romance and quite a bit of chemistry.
- I'd say reading the book will not be a fast easy read because of the language style, it take some concentration. But the audio was very easy to listen to, and it took me a day to listen to the book.
- I did not read the books in order of this series, so I'd say this book could be read as a stand-alone.

Romance: 1/5
Chemistry: 4/5
Drama: 4/5
1st kiss: 46% in
Spice: 0/5 (it's a clean one Y'all)
Suspense: 2/5
Humour: 0/5

Tropes:
- 12th century historical
- Hidden identity
- Single mother
- Scared hero
- Knights in shining armor
- Redhead heroine
- Widower hero
- Healer heroine
- Second chance

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made the mistake of reading books four and five back to back, I should have paused to write the review for book four before starting book five. I guess, that just shows how addicting the series is that I couldn't wait to start the next book.

I have looked forward to Abel's story from the beginning, I was always curious about how this fierce warrior would fall in love. I admit, I was a little surprised there was not that much action in this one, just considering his reputation. He is wounded at the end of book three and the majority of this book is spent on his rehabilitation. Not only does he have to learn to fight again, but he has to learn humility. It was actually a nice surprise to see their hardened warrior soften, especially under the hands of Helene. I liked Helene quite a bit, I understood her wanting to keep her history secret, considering the family she was working for I would have done the same. Helene and Abel had kind of an insta-love going on, they were drawn to each other from the beginning, a little different than the other stories where it was more enemies turned lovers. I liked that their feelings were clear, but that does not mean it was easy for them. I won't give it away, they have their own obstacles to overcome.

Overall, I did enjoy this one and thought it was a fun addition to the series.

Content
Romance: Clean
Violence: Mild
Religious: Mild-Moderate

Source: Amazon

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

2017 re-read: Love it just as much this time around. Helene is quite possibly my favorite heroine of the Age of Faith series. And Abel. Oh Abel. Strong, stubborn, loyal, fiercely protective Abel. Love him.

I am so excited to move onto The Longing (usually my favorite in this series every time I re-read them...we shall see if that sticks this time around!)...and even more so this time knowing I have ANOTHER book after Everard’s story.

Side note: the audiobooks for this series are superb. I’m so glad I “splurged” on them! I love having both formats to continuously read, so even if I can’t whether sit down and physically read the book, due to cleaning, doing laundry, cooking, driving...you name it...thanks to the audiobook, I can keep “reading”... :) And Mary Sarah Agliotta, the narrator, is phenomenal.

Original review:

Every time I finish a book in the Age of Faith series, I say to myself, "That was my favorite one." I simply love this series.
I was so excited to read Abel's story, because he's been one of my favorite secondary characters throughout the series. I love his tenacity, loyalty, sense of honor and commitment to his family. Helene was so compassionate, loving, but also strong. I thoroughly enjoyed reading their love story. And once again, Ms. Leigh's writing is beautiful and flawless...she is such a wonderful storyteller!
I am excited to move on to the fifth (and final?) book of the series, and am hoping to see more of Abel and Helene in that book.
This was another superb addition to the Age of Faith series! Loved it!

[Andrea Luhman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book four out of five stars for being an entertaining book, a journey of physical and emotional recovery, with a fun cast of characters.

What I liked:
1) The characters, both Helene and Abel were complex and interesting people. I like how Abel’s family interact with him, doing things because they know he will or will not tolerate it.
2) The romance between Helene and Abel was initially a love at first sight kind of thing, but their attachment truly grew as they got to know one another in this book. I also like how Abel and Helene consciously made decisions to benefit the other that were not always to their personal betterment.
3) Helene’s bold honesty. I just loved how unusual a character trait this was, but it worked so well for her. It was great to see her articulate difficult things most people would cave and never be brave enough to say openly.

What I didn’t like:
1) Helene holding onto the secret of her parentage as long as she did. I thought it should have at least been revealed to her brother. I do not understand why Helene did not confess it to him in the last book, if for no other reason than to at least benefit her son.
2) The ending could have been stronger. It was a little anti climatic after the rescue of Helene. I like the conversation with Lady Isobel, and Abel playing with John, but there could have been more discussion between Abel and Helene. So much time is spent with them miserable a part, or together in strife, I was looking forward to seeing them happy together.

[Grace Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Austin Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I said the last book in the Age of Faith Series was my favorite. But... After meeting Abel and Helene, I don't think that's true.
Abel's struggles with his identity/anger/faith after his injuries are so raw and so easy to relate to. Helene's struggles to feel accepted, and then to be called "sister" is everything. This book was hard to put down, and it will stay with me long after I scrolled past the last page.

My favorite part of this series, is that I get to keep reading about the excellent characters (former and future main characters alike), seeing them through new main characters' eyes, and follow their lives throughout the series. This is perfect fiction 💖

2019: This is still perfect fiction.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book 5 stars... however there was a scene towards the end involving a father and his daughter that Helene helped that was a little ... uncomfortable. I understand things like that would have happened at the time (and happen today!) but it just felt out of place and weird for this particular story. My heart really ached for Helene and I was rooting for Abel to overcome his demons. I admire his strength and desire to do good. When they *finally* came together in the end, it didn't have as much fireworks as I was hoping for. It was still sweet, but they had been through so much and had amazing chemistry, it just fell short of what I was expecting. Overall, I still love the story and love the relatable Christian themes.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I worried. I sighed. I panicked. I swooned. And I enjoyed this story about Sir Abel Wulfrith, who was greatly injured and desiring to die at the end of book three, The Redeeming, in the Age of Faith series. Helene of Tippet is summoned to tend Sir Abel from his physical wounds that may well leave him less than the respected warrior he once was. As she works with the stubborn, angry knight, she challenges his mental and spiritual wounds to heal too. Their close proximity reveals their desire for one another, but Helene knows that as a commoner nothing can come of it, especially if Sir Abel discovers her true identity; that she is the sister to the wicked, Sir Robert... the man who greatly wounded Sir Abel.
I loved Helene's character. Her compassion, intelligence, strength, and awareness of her own weaknesses and the weaknesses of others, makes her easy to love and respect. I have adored Sir Abel's tempestuous character since The Unveiling, and longed to see his restless, fierce character tamed with love, especially after learning of the cruelty of his first wife and marriage. Helene's noble character, despite her common birth, keeps her from giving into the powerful attraction she feels for Sir Abel and becoming his mistress. Her self-control keeps the passion simmering, and Sir Abel has to reconcile the past with what he truly wants for his future. The cameos by past Wulfrith family members give the story a strong sense of community and a longing for more Age of Faith stories. I will agree with one reader review that felt the ending for Helene and Abel a bit too short after so much struggle, but it is my hope we will see them happily situated in book five. I very much enjoy this series and encourage readers of medieval romance to give it a try.

[Jessica Leigh Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kindling is the fourth book in The Age of Faith series by Tamara Leigh. This is the story of the youngest Wulfrith brother, Abel and Helene of Tippett, the Healer whom he fell in love with in book 3, when rescuing her from her father, Aldous Lavonne.

As with the other books in the series, this book contains plenty of sword fighting and romantic tension. I did enjoy this story and it leads itself into the next book which focuses on the last brother, Everard. I've also learned that book 6, which focuses on Sir Durand, comes out in May. I am so excited to continue this series!

[Courtney Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

With each book, I love this series more. This SUCH a story of longing and forgiveness. And how important it is to cling to both faith and hope. The complexity of the relationships and character interactions has been set up by the previous books, especially book 3, so I recommend reading (at least) it first.

[Historyprincess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Premise: At first glance, Helene of Tippet is just a respected village healer, a widow with a young son. But lately, her past has been catching up to her, especially now that she's tending Abel Wulfrith, the youngest of the formidable Wulfrith brothers, and potentially the most dangerous where Helene is concerned. Having never lost his warrior skills for long, Abel is determined not to forsake them now – and his lovely nurse is one of the reasons why. But what will happen when Abel learns that the woman healing him is kin to the man who made him bleed?

Story/Writing: So out of all the "Age of Faith" books I've read so far, "The Kindling" is probably the most…interesting, for lack of a better word. And for lack of a better way to put it, when I first read this book a long time ago, this is the one I remember liking the least. Not because it's bad! Not at all! Maybe it was just a little harder for me to follow back then. But now that I've read a dozen "Warriors" super editions, which usually take their time much like this book does, maybe I'm more used to that style now than I was before. All that said, I'm now fine with books that take their time as long as there's a big emotional payoff in the end, whatever that is. And this book definitely has an emotional payoff! There may not be a big battle like there was at the end of "The Redeeming," but there is a big trial (of sorts) and big stakes similar to the climax in "The Yielding." I think I've said before that I usually don't care for books that have romance as the main plot point. But if it is going to be the main plot point, there has to be enough interesting stuff going on around it and of course characters that I care about and want to get together. And this book does that in spades! In all fairness, the romance featured in this book arguably began first in "The Redeeming," which focuses on Gaenor and Christian whereas the focus here is on Helene and Abel. What makes this book good though is that it doesn't rely completely on what happened between them in the previous book. In "The Redeeming," we got to see the seeds of romance between Helene and Abel planted. In "The Kindling," we have the privilege of seeing the resulting romance grow from those seeds. Both are facing huge obstacles to their relationship and the people they want to be as opposed to what they start out as. There's legit tension from both outside and inside sources that threatens to tear them apart, not to mention some great commentary on the behavior of common people from back then and how different yet similar it is regarding the way people behave today. All of that combines to make this yet another spectacular edition to this series!

Characters: Depending on your point of view, the fact that the romance has already started between our two leads at the time this book takes place can be a pro or a con. For me, it's definitely a pro. While there was some light shed on the moments when Helene and Abel start feeling for each other in "The Redeeming," "The Kindling" is focused entirely on them, showing how far they've come and how far they still need to go to strengthen their relationship and become the people they want to be. Not to mention both leads have been married before, so that adds a flavor of uniqueness which is always welcome.

Helene of Tippet – I liked the spotlight Helene was given in the previous book, and here, she really gets to shine! She may not be a warrior in the traditional sense, but she is very much a fierce fighter! She's already gone through so much trauma and abuse and goes through so much more in this book that I was rooting for her the entire time! She's kind and compassionate, always willing to tend to those in need even if they treated her badly. But she's also cunning and clever, always thinking ahead both in regards to her son's safety and when she should use the Wulfrith dagger. Not to mention her no-nonsense attitude, her assertiveness in standing up for herself, and the way she challenges others to change for the better. She's also in her early to mid-twenties whereas the previous three ladies were in their late teens, which is a nice change. And whereas her marriage with Willem was built on love between friends, you know Abel is the true love of her life. Of course, it doesn't help that she's the daughter and full-sister of Aldous and Robert Lavonne, respectively. Both men wreaked such havoc on the Wulfriths and Abel in particular that, even if you think she should've revealed the truth earlier, it's totally understandable why she hesitated. And even if you think she also made a mistake in going to Parsings to avoid Abel before he comes to Abingdale, not once does she break or give in to despair, even when Jacob harasses her and especially when she's accused of witchcraft. Yet never does she succumb to vengeful anger either, such as when she pleads for mercy on behalf of the villagers who persecuted her. Helene's greatest strength, aside from her complete and utter devotion to her loved ones, is her ability to adapt and cope remarkably well with whatever life throws at her. Her perseverance, strong faith, and fighting spirit very much make her a great match for Abel!

Abel Wulfrith – While definitely the most impulsive and brash of the Wulfrith brothers, Abel nonetheless goes through such a great character arc in this book! He's come so far since he was first introduced in "The Unveiling" as the goofy youngest brother who's bad at wagering and good at attracting the ladies. While he is flawed and makes mistakes, we always understand and get behind him even as we don't condone his mistakes. He starts off in such a bitter place, having (likely) suffered nerve damage to his dominant hand and his leg. But when Helene comes into his life, he finally gets the push he needs to break out of his funk and do the hard work of regaining, even if in part, what was lost. Yet he's not doing it entirely for her. While Helene certainly was the catalyst, he comes to see how much he does need God and to think life rather than death. Sure, he'll always have a fierce temper, but now he knows to direct it toward defending both himself and his loved ones rather than just seeking his opponent's death. He also has to come to terms with the fact that vulnerability is required for the relationship he wants to sustain with Helene. He has to realize that, though Helene did hold the truth about her heritage from him, she's nowhere near in the same league of deceit as Rosamund. And he has to learn not to hold someone accountable for their family's sins. Yes, he does initially reject Helene when she first tells him the truth. But by the time he goes to Wulfen to train again, he sees how wrong he was and wants to be worthy of her. Yet while he does want to protect her and her son, Abel also recognizes Helene is capable of defending herself. If nothing else, it's shown in the best way possible when he gives her his own Wulfrith dagger. I was rooting for Abel just as much as I was rooting for Helene, and may they finally have the marriage they both always wanted!

Durand Marshal – Whereas Durand was more of a minor character in the last two books, he definitely earns his place here as a main character! Given what he's endured and how hard he's worked to make up for his mistakes in the last two books, I was rooting for Durand almost as much as I rooted for Helene and Abel! I really liked the brother-sister friendship he and Helene shared, his willingness to be open to her about what he's done, and the lengths he was willing to go to help her, probably because he knows what it's liked to be rejected. I liked how Helene stood up to Abel for her right to be friends with Durand, whatever anyone thought. I also like how he and Abel did reconcile as much as they could, and how he challenged Abel to admit to both himself and Helene how much he loves her. You really feel for this guy and can see that he wishes he had a woman to love and protect as Abel does Helene, but at the same time he carries a great amount of dignity. He didn't have to help Helene or her son, yet he goes out of his way and even goes so far as to not only enlist Christian's help but also ride all the way to Wulfen to get Abel. In spite of his past sins, Durand has more than proven himself a hero since!

The Wulfriths – I love the way the Wulfrith family was portrayed here, and how they influenced Helene and Abel for the better. Once again, Garr has the bearing of a man of his class while being a really likable guy. I liked how he realized early on that the only healer his brother would respond to – whether Abel liked it or not – was Helene, and convinced the D'Arcis to send for her. I liked the conversation he and Helene shared in the garden at Soaring, where they reached an understanding and got to see where the other was coming from, even though they were from families that used to feud, as well as different social classes. I liked how Beatrix stood up for Helene and was willing to be as open with her as possible in regards to the recently soured relationship between Durand and the Wulfriths, while acknowledging that it wasn't her story to tell. I liked how Gaenor used her closeness with Abel to push him to acknowledge his feelings for Helene. I liked the conversation he and Everard shared in the chapel at Wulfen, where they spoke of how they both prayed for things that were out of reach. And of course, I was so happy at the end, when Lady Isobel shared a hug with her new daughter-in-law and warmly welcomed her into her family!

Jacob and Margery of Parsings – I liked how Tamara Leigh took the opportunity to reveal through these two both the differences and similarities between medieval and modern societal behavior. It also makes you wonder how many women were accused of being witches for the same reasons Helene was. It's obvious there's some abuse going on in this family, even if it's not specified. At first, Jacob seems like a decent enough guy just wanting a mother for his children. He's even the first to warn Helene of the danger she and John are in. But then we quickly realize he's just doing this for his own gain, and we see the kind of guy he really is when he tries to force his "affections" on her. Not to mention, even if he does eventually let Helene escape after she helps Margery, he would rather let his own grandchild die than let his daughter's "sin" be known! Margery in turn initially just seems bitter at having to wait until her father remarries so she can herself marry, until you realize with surprising pity that she's pretty much a teen mom, in both ways. It's just good that she eventually does admit that she lied and, in a way, forces her father to answer for his actions as well. While I didn't exactly like her, I definitely felt for her and her plight.

Various Other Characters – Even if he doesn't play too big a role in this book, I really liked John and how much he loved both his mother and new stepfather! It's kinda surprising how well he's recovered from the trauma he no doubt received in "The Redeeming," when his mother got kidnapped right in front of him after Robert broke into their home in Tippet. If nothing else, it's miraculous that he was spared being traumatized again when Helene was accused of being a witch, and she arranged a "great adventure" for him while she was hauled off to be imprisoned in the village stables. And given his enthusiasm for his wooden sword, I see a bright future ahead of him as a Wulfen-trained knight! Even if he doesn't remember his birth father and Abel is the only father he's ever known, John couldn't have a better one! Speaking of whom, I liked that we got to know characters that, while dead, nonetheless had an impact on Helene and Abel. Since Helene was only three when she was sent to be raised in the convent after her mother died, Sister Clare was the only mother-figure she ever knew. Despite not being overly affectionate, Sister Clare clearly loved her in her own way, given she taught her the healing arts and of course the Christian faith. And even if Helene was only seventeen when she left the convent and went to the village of Tippet where she met and married Willem, she obviously had good taste. If nothing else, even if she did marry him just to stop the witchcraft accusations, he was a way better guy than Jacob ever was and accepted that her love for him wasn't the same as his for her. As for Rosamund, even if she did try to kill Abel in the dead of night (no pun intended), even if she and her family hid the truth about the extent of her mental illness, there's this sense of tragedy and pity about her, especially given that she committed suicide. That said, I liked that Tamara Leigh treated the subject with care. Mental illness is always tricky to write about. And to her credit, people in the middle ages didn't have the remedies for such things that we do now. Maybe she could've been better had she had those remedies? Maybe not. Still, hers was a pretty sad story.

Overall: If you don't mind books that take their time yet have an emotional payoff, you're gonna LOVE this! One nitpick is that you do kinda have to read "The Redeeming" to know the basis of the relationship between Helene and Abel. Still, I had a blast reading this book and I'm sure you will, too!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably my least favorite in the series so far, although it is still a great read.

[Tamara Tilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two amazing series from author Tamara Leigh, THE AGE OF FAITH SERIES and THE FUED are absolutely incredible!

I’m not going to review the books individually, because I read both series so fast (nine books in all), I have too many stories buzzing around in my head; I would not do them the justice they deserve. Needless to say, it was an incredible journey filled with knights and ladies, castles and baronies, romance, intrigue, and tragedy.

The true center of THE AGE OF FAITH SERIES is the Wulfrith family. Baron Wulfrith, Lady Beatrix, Lady Gaynor, Sir Abel, and Sir Everard, these are the main characters, and each has a book devoted to them. Everything about their stories captivated me, including the alluring covers. Currently, there are six books in this series, with the seventh to be released in Winter 2018. I can’t wait!

The FUED series tells the tale of three noblemen: the Baron of Godsmere, the Baron of Blackwood, and the Baron of Emberly, and their family feud that spans twenty-five years. The King wants an end to the feud, so he demands that the families inter-marry, creating bonds instead of rivals. Begrudgingly, the families follow the King’s command, and the stories that unfold keep you turning page after page.

My genre of preference is usually contemporary pieces. I’m not one for Regency era, Amish, or fantasy, so I don’t generally give period pieces my attention. However, a blogger I follow and respect, showcased books by Tamara Leigh, on more than one occasion, so I decided to give them a try. After reading, THE UNVEILING from THE AGE OF FAITH SERIES, and THE BARON OF GODSMERE from THE FUED SERIES, I was hooked, and immediately bought the other seven books that completed these two series. Each story transported me to a dark but magical era. Passion and pride, rivals and rogues, deception and dalliances. These series are escapism at its best! Exactly what I look for in a book. Thank you, Ms. Leigh, for an incredible journey.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly I took off points honestly because 1) I wanted more romance between the M & F leads, and 2) I wanted more family time between little John and Abel with them getting to know each other and all the cuteness that goes with that, but we got very little of that!

Like the book started with her already having feelings for him, huh...? when did that happen??? and why wasn't I present for it? Annoying!!! Ugghhh sorry but I want to know all about the butterflies when she first develops feelings for him and vise-versa hello?

And then they got separated mid book, and instead of them working through their problems they got separated... very frustrating that. And then at the end they didn't even get married... u see what I mean? I felt so robbed by the whole thing!

Which is why I'm going to skip right over Everett's book and go straight to Durand's bcuz I've been rooting for Durand throughout books 3 & 4, like I totally loved him in this book, and I'm so ready for him to get his happy ending already!!! I really hope his book is more romantic than this one. I mean I loved all the action and drama that happened here, but I prefer more romance ok? Lol

[Rosanne Lortz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helene of Tippet is a healer by trade, and unbeknownst to the world, the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman. When Abel Wulfrith nearly loses his life at her brother’s hands, she journeys to be near him, to help him, to heal him. The fiercest of the Wulfrith brothers, Abel has saved Helene’s life once before, but crippled by his injuries, he now feels that he has nothing left to live for. How can he take a wife that his injured swordhand can never protect? And what will he think of Helene when the secret of her parentage is revealed?

Abel was a relatable but frustrating character. Devolving into self-pity after his injury, he needs the quiet grace of Helene to incite him to rise from his sickbed. But at the same time, he needs a different kind of grace to help him forgive the faults of her father and brother instead of visiting them on her own head. Interestingly, Sir Durand comes into this story once again, this time able to redeem himself from his sin with Gaenor, and although Abel wins Helene, the stage is set for Durand to find a bride of his own in a future book.

[Caryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Medieval romances are so swoony! Handsome knights and lovely damsels in distress in kingdoms wrought with conflict.

Helene of Tippet, single mother and healer, is desperate for true love and security. She is courageous and resourceful. I enjoyed following her journey to her destiny.

Sir Abel Wulfrith, mighty warrior who has experienced betrayal at the deepest level. I enjoyed watching him in the midst of the dark night of his soul.

I was immediately immersed in the story. The twist and turns kept me turning the pages. I so appreciate the spiritual truths woven throughout.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy medieval romance.

I borrowed a copy through Kindle Unlimited. All views expressed are my own.

[Flora W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

Abel was such an interesting character. He suffered a lot with his injury, and now to unknowingly fall in love with the half sister of the man who caused his injuries was I am sure very traumatic. Helene was a wonderful character, strong and kind hearted, and I felt not deserving of all of the things she has to suffer in this book , and the last for that matter. Well written and well researched book, as always. Tamara Leigh is one of the best in this genre. Also, there is no foul language and it is a clean romance, as are all of her books that I have read so far( which is 13!)

[Vicky Dedda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Tamara Leigh is the best of writers. I couldn't put the book down, I took every opportunity to read it. This story had so much in it. It was just so full of love hope intrigue suspense everything you would want in a book. I could not fault it, it was perfect. In fact I have just bought the next one in the series and cannot wait to read about the last of the Wulfrith brothers and the families I have come to love. This would be one of the best books you will ever read. Enjoy.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I'm addicted to this series. I am reading each book in order, straight through. This series is a bit different In addition to the story line, we gt a closer look ant the background of the importance of faith and adherence to it's practice. This adds an element to the story that is usually ignored or glossed over, when in reality is was the bedrock of the time. This, on top of a fabulous story full of well defined characters, makes the book and the series keepers.

[Liza Lehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a refreshing plot change in that the main couple is neither forced into an arranged marriage nor enemies at the start. In contrast, they start with open feelings for each other, but must overcome a variety of personal demons in order to be together. I love that many of the former characters have supporting roles in this book, especially Sir Durand, whose story I am greatly looking forward to reading.

[Julie Gastler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little worried after the resolution occurring in the first three books of this series what would even happen in this one. And while I was a little disappointed with the lack of a main villain they are against, I appreciate the different take here. I also appreciated not having to wait until the end for the characters to figure some things out.

[Catarina Águas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. This two were so meant to be. My heart went to Abel and everything he went through, I was so glad when he finally recovered. I liked Helene too, I just thought that she was too quick in her decision to move on from Abel, despite the fact that I also understood her reasoning

[Abigail Harris]

Due to content I do not recommend this book. Personally... Most will be fine with them however I just didn't really like how descriptive or suggestive they were at points.

I read the whole of the series and I liked them but may places I skimmed or skipped due to sexual content, fade to black scenes, or too many details.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really like

I'm not much of a series reader. They kind of drive me nuts if I read them back to back. However I'm a big fan of this series. I like the characters, the setting, and Tamara weaves a beautiful story.

[Ann Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow, but good

This is another good book in the story. There is less action in this story and it causes the story to go by slower than the others. I loved the telling of Helen and Abel's story. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Sabra Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one sucked me in. I read it in one sitting because I kept telling myself, "one more chapter." I made the mistake of starting it in the evening, so I stayed up way too late to finish and now I'm only disappointed the story is over. Maybe I will get to take a nap today 😁

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humm

Somehow the author just ropes you in, honestly, each time the beginning is a bit slow. Understandable for there are a lot of building blocks to the plot of the story. And then the longing for the h&h to be together just ties you up til the end.

[Jean Fauble · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. How hard headed are men..... To watch a knight go through all of this. How different times are know. How I would loved to have lived when men were so. Thank you again for continuing to include the whole family so we can keep tabs on all of them.