Lionheart

by Connie Mason

While on a quest to defeat the haughty White Knight, Lionhart encounters a different kind of battle when he discovers a beautiful maiden waiting for him at the castle he had been sent by Prince Edward to destroy. Original.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Medieval, Medieval Romance, Historical Fiction, Adult

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Connie Mason or Cara Miles is the best-selling author of more than fifty historical romances and novellas. Her tales of passion and adventure are set in exotic as well as American locales. Connie was named Story Teller of the Year in 1990 by Romantic Times and was awarded Career Achievement award in the Western category by Romantic Times in 1994. Connie makes her home in Tarpon Springs, Florida with her husband Jerry.

Prior to her first published work in 1984, Connie was a full time homemaker. Always an avid reader, writing was one of Connie's dreams.

In 1995 Connie was featured on a segment of the CBS news show 48 Hours, a television production that devoted an entire program to the romance novel industry. Connie was also featured in an article published by National Inquirer.

In addition to writing and traveling, Connie enjoys telling anyone who will listen about her three children and nine grandchildren, and sharing memories of her years living abroad in Europe and Asia as the wife of a career serviceman. In her spare time Connie enjoys reading, dancing, playing bridge and freshwater fishing with her husband.

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hero is the trusted knight of Lord Edward. He conquers and takes control of our heroine's castle. She defies him and fights him all the way but they end up married. Lionheart searches for his foe, the White Knight. Imagine his surprise when his finds out the White Knight is his feisty and fearless wife.

Amazing book. Feisty heroine, alpha hero, lies, betrayal and true love. I could not put this book down. Vanora and Lionheart are soulmates and their chemistry was sizzling. My heart broke for Lionheart. Abandoned by his mother, raised by a cruel father he is afraid of emotions. He loves his wife but he does not trust that feeling. He feels unworthy of love but his sassy wife proves to him that true love exists. Their HEA was swoon-worthy. I adore baby-filled epilogues and Connie Mason delivered. Love scenes were passionate. No cheating. Heroine is a virgin and hero's ex lover comes to castle and tries to stir trouble but nothing happens. Heroine's betrothed is a villain and he even tries to rape her but he does not succeed.

One of the best medieval books out there! 5 stars!

[Aou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love swordswoman h!

[Mary23nm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lionheart is more like a 'Medieval Lite' than a standard medieval romance. The hero talks like a typical medieval hero at times, but doesn't really follow through on any threats. He is a kinder, gentler version of an alpha hero. One beef I had is that sometimes his language was too modern for the 13th century, when he used terms like "making love". There is some controversy over the wedding night scene, but it didn't strike me the way it did some other readers. There is no cheating, which is a bonus for me. The second half of the book was better than the first, in my opinion. Initially, I didn't think I would like Lionheart as much as I did. 4/5 stars.

[Tash · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was amazing, I could not stop reading it.
It puts you into the whole trans of those days, u quite can feel the hunger that the heroin was feeling when the Hero started courting her, The author did a good job in also bringing to Life the characters...Because you can almost feel everything that's happening to the Heroin...The hunger, the lust, the pain, the suspense...the list is endless.

I loved it! :)

[Amy Wilder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took this one out of the library and then went back for every other book by Connie Mason I could find. They are not all equally good, but they are all equally steamy.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

AHH A CONNIE MASON NEVER LETS ME DOWN. IT'S A CLASSIC HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVEL. EXPECT THE EXPECTED.

LIONHEART is vassal to Prince Edward and in their attempts to subdue the Welsh, he and his men are sent to Cragdon Castle to take it down, and to apprehend the Welsh rebel leader. Instead, Lionheart is faced with a mysterious White Knight who embarasses him, and from then Lionheart vows to see the knight dead. Unbeknowed to him, this knight is linked to his future wife, also the Lady of Cragdon whom he falls in lust with enough to marry. Like most of C.M's hero, he's pretty much the stereotypical English warrior of his time. He believes women shouldn't be warriors or equivalent to men, but he's not impervious to wild, passionate females who tend to argue and contest his every order. Lionheart has mommy issues, believing that his own mother abandoned and never loved him, thus he is incapable of love. Women are useful to sate his lust, but what is love? Meeting Vanora will teach him that not all women are the same, and not every woman can be subdued so easily. I enjoyed watching him fall under his wife's spell even if he denies it. I quote from him ""Love can unman a warrior and make him weak. Love can make a man want to protect his woman. It can drive all thought from his mind but the need to hold her close and pleasure her. Love can blind a man to what is important in life."

VANORA is a warrior Lady. After her sire's death, she's left to govern Cragdon Castle and she'll not relent it to the English pomps who are here to seize it. Neither will she let the arrogant Lionheart to kill her men or the rebel leader she has been protecting for the sake of her country. If Vanora were a man, things would turn out so much differently for her. Sadly, she's a woman, yet she's one with a fierce spirit, indomitable passion not just for country but also for the man she eventually marries. Poor Vanora stood no chance against her husband who is wise with the ways of a woman's body. She succumbs to her own passion for him, yet she bears a secret identity that might make him kill her or hate her.

OVERALL this was one of the more interesting novels by Connie Mason. Even though her stories all have the same character types, plots and there's always a LEMAN involved, for some odd reason I just enjoy every one of them. I guess I'm a sucker for the whole jealousy angst and there's also the fact that her characters weren't like those you find in BODICE RIPPERS where there's ZERO emotional content or connection.

[Simona · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be quite unfair to leave this empty. So I've come back to write a proper review.

The story is set in medieval times when English kings were trying to conquer Wales. H is the trusted knight of Lord Edward, son of King Henry. I've fallen in love with this time period, especially with Ms Connie Mason's formula, as the backdrop is always a conquering knight takes control of a castle and after being enchanted by heiress of the castle, seduces her.

The story is pretty much the same here. However this time the animal lust of the hero was so beautifully written, I had already settled for five stars. Our heroine is passionate about Wales and defending her castle. Ms Mason takes us through how this passion drives her against H in real sword fight and then in bed. The love-making scenes are graphic and since I loved them graphic, they left me breathless.

And to top it off, this one had an epilogue with their fourth kid on the way. I absolutely miss baby-filled epilogues in many of my reads. I wish Ms Mason had done so frequently.

[Michele Lacroix · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish this book. I gave it one star because I can't abide rape in any books. I don't care what century it takes place in. No means No.

[Севдалина · Rating 5 out of 5]

Сър Лайънъл дьо Кьор/Лъвското сърце и лейди Ванора Крагдън

📣🚨🛑РЕВЮ СЪДЪРЖАЩО СПОЙЛЕРИ🛑🚨📣

Лайънъл, спечелил прозвището Лъвското сърце, е дясната ръка на принц Едуард. Биейки се в Уелс, за да потушат въстанието водено от Луелин Гъфид, прнц на Гуинед, Лъвското сърце пленява в името на Едуард крепостта Крагдън, вярвайки, че Луелин се укрива в нея. Но след битка с неизвестен рицар облечен в бяло, Лъвското сърце не намира никъде врага. Вместо това в Крагдън го очаква единствената дъщеря на покойният лорд, лейди Ванора.

Ванора е единственото дете на лорд Крагдън и като такава баща й я е обучавал да се сражава не по-зле от всеки друг рицар. Облечена в бяло, тя се изправя срещу английските завоеватели, за да даде шанс на Луелин и на годеника си Дафид да избягат от крепостта. Сега известният рицар Лъвското сърце търси под дърво и камък Белият рицар, имайки намерението да го убие, но Ванора няма никакво намерение да се предаде без бой. Решена да прогони англичаните от дома си, тя, заедно с дойката си и свещеника на крепостта ще се постараят да дадат отпор на английските окупатори и да спасят верните си уелски воини.

Привличането между Ванора и Лъвското сърце е толкова силно, колкото е силна и омразата между двата им народа. Двамата се карат непрестанно и все пак, сякаш не могат един без друг. Когато Ванора осъзнава, че годеникът й не е мъжа, който е вярвала, че е, тя е по-склонна да се предаде на чара на Лъвското сърце, въпреки, че не е готова да го признае дори пред себе си. С всеки изминал момент обаче желанието на на Лъвското сърце да открие Белият рицар и да го убие става все по-силно, и може би единственото, което ще спаси и двама им, е любовта.

На моменти ината на главната героиня, и арогантността на главният герой ми идваха в повече. Нямам нищо против концепцията "от врагове до любовници" обаче тези двамата ми скъсаха нервите. В един момент се обичат, в следващия някой изръсва поредната тъпотия и се хващат за вратовете,почват да се карат и обиждат и просто в един момент ми беше трудно да ги изтърпя. Това е и причината тази сравнително къса книга да ми отнеме толкова време да я прочета. Голямо дърлене голямо нещо беше. Че се и лъжеха, казвайки, че са направили неща, които не са, само и само да се наранят. Свещеникът пък беше... нямам думи. Как само се влачеше подир Лъвското сърце дуднейки му на главата и прекъсвайки опитите му да съблазни Ванора, така че да го принуди да се ожени за нея. Голям образ беше. Иначе самата история е интересна, преплетена с малко исторически факти. Имаме няколко битки, имаме отвличане, пленници, имаме проблеми с бивша любовница и като цяло доста неща се случват в книгата. Това, което ми беше супер странно е как казваха на главния Лъвско сърце... до края никой не го нарече с името му. Луда работа. Иначе книгата е типична за Кони Мейсън.

[Maura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gave this one a re-read and had to drop it two stars. Maybe in my old age (some 10 years after the first read) I have come to despise heroes like this. He thinks he's a good an honorable man and that it's not rape just as long as she's turned on when he does it. Honestly...he's so overcome with lust that he just has to have her. He doesn't care if it will ruin her or that she'll be thought a whore or later when they're married that she might get pregnant and he'll still leave... All he wants is to get some. He even goes through with a marriage just to get laid. I rather agree with the hero when he claims to be unlovable.

My favorite (ironic) quote: "I could have take you long ago were I the kind of man who enjoyed forcing a woman, but I am not." "I swear you will find enjoyment in my arms, Vanora, and I promise you will come to me willingly...nay, you will beg me to take you."

Later on in the book (and read this as a pattern because she says this sort of thing frequently): "I would prefer you did not."

He replies, "Do not attempt to resist me, sweeting, for it will do you no good. I can make you want me, and well you know it. I can be tender if you allow it, or I can take what I want. Tis up to you how our relationship proceeds." (But of course, he's not a man who enjoys forcing a woman...)

This may not be violent rape - but I still believe the word no has the same meaning it always has. This sort of thing is not romantic to me at all.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good read. There were times that I wanted to smack either Lionheart or Vanora or both. You just can't help but love how they clash and mesh together. The last paragraph of this book almost made this novel sound like an actual historical account. It was just the right touch to end this wonderful story.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay read! Lion is the sexy, alpha Male. Ariana immaturity and hate of Normans got annoying. Her impulsiveness is frustrating. She jumps from one problem to the another. This could have been a better read if Ariana had matured and faced realities.

Too many sex scenes.!

[Debbie]

verra good

[Gardavson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lionheart searches for his foe, the White Knight. Well, guess who is the White Knight in desguise? It actually was pretty good. Sassy and spunky.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I was very bothered at how Lionheart treated Vanora. He straight up sexually assaulted her and she called him out on it. Driven mad by lust she caused in him was a poor excuse and angered me, because it was not her doing but his own choices that resulted in his assaulting her. Granted, he stops and realizes his mistake and doesn’t repeat it, but does get to the point he marries her just to have sex with her. SMH. It was a little annoying, but I get it. Back then, women were chattel, so I brushed it off and got back to the story. I really enjoyed Vanora’s antics and kept thinking she’d get caught. I about panicked when she tells Daffid an important detail after she rashly tried to save someone. I about screamed “no!”. Luckily, what I thought would’ve immediately happened didn’t. I absolutely adored the priest and Mair. Amazing support characters. Loved them. The evolution of how Lionheart begins to trust others and love others was actually reasonably done and well understood. Overall, I loved this story and Vanora was very well written. :)

[Shellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. Read this for Regan Walker’s Historical Romance Review blog, Oct. is Medieval month. I’m not usually a fan of the trope where the woman is a great warrior. However, I was ok with it after it was played out. To me this is a typical Connie Mason book. I do like her books some of them rise to a 4 for me, but this one didn’t quite get there because I didn’t get into it at first. After 100 or so pages the book really picked up and I was eager to finish it. Liked the H and the h and there were some ok secondary characters. Good story, nothing new, and I ended up enjoying it quite a bit.

[Debora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davvero bello mi è piaciuto come hanno raccontato sia la loro storia che quello che stava accadendo in galles durante quegli anni, le guerre che ci sono state, le morti insensate, lei una donna che è anche una guerriera, una donna che vuole essere alla pari con la persona che sposerà, odia profondamente quel bellissimo inglese che ha attaccato il suo maniero e lo ha preso, ma poi andando avanti capisce che è una persona buona e di buon cuore, lui che come la vede la vuole, ma deve affrontare il suo disprezzo.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lion heart was prince Edward's right hand man. While in battle in Wales in pursuit of chasing Thier king he takes over a castle but is greeted by the white knight. With determination to capture the Welsh king and the white knight he has to deal with the vixen Lady Venora.

Filled withist he wed the Welsh lady and then learns she is his white knight. With trying to learn to trust her English husband and he trusting her he learns how intelligent and skilled his wife is. Good book

[Helen Nk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pls I want to read this novel over and over again. Love every bit of it

[E Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this story

I really enjoy Connie Mason books and this is one of her best for me.
I love her style and the way she brings her characters to life.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved these two 💕

[Elena Micheli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Kathy Brittain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every minute. Connie Mason never lets me down in a good read.

[lqmzjjx · Rating 2 out of 5]

终于知道为什么这些浪漫小说都枯燥乏味得好像工厂流水线产品，因为没有一丁点文化。作者根本懒得去查证中世纪英格兰威尔士的民俗风俗，整个故事换个背景就是另一本全新的作品——粗制滥造，雷同，没有亮点。成为浪漫小说作家没有任何门槛和要求（只要你识字就行），导致浪漫小说唯一的优点就是，极大降低了阅读难度。。好了 说回本书，我喜欢白骑士这个设定。阅读完毕。

[Vivisection · Rating 2 out of 5]

About 50 pages in to this novel, I realized I didn't want to read it. But I kept on keeping on because fundage is a little low at the end of the month and the good used bookstore is a bit far away. Plus I was over loading on Nina Reilly novels. I really like those but three in a row made them all seem the same. I thought this book might be just the light, fluffy break from heavy lawyering and M-U-R-D-E-R, murder.

The surprise of this book? The fact that I thought it might be good. I was sooooooooooo bored. The story doesn't even get interesting until the last 100 pages and the Freudian mommy thing was just...weird.

I finished it though! Take that book challenge counter. It sucked but it counts.

[Daneesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

i never used to like medieval romances, but i have had the fortune of reading quite a few great ones! i'm beginning to see a pattern: the men are always knights, arrogant, virile, totally good looking, and battle-hardened. the women are only children sometimes, spoiled by doting fathers, treated like sons, and usually beeotchs to the highest power.

this book was pretty good. i enjoyed the verbal sparring between the hero and heroine. of course, she tried to resist him, but you know he laid it down in the bedroom. there was of course danger and battle and intrigue mixed in. this is probably the 3rd medieval book by connie mason that i have enjoyed.

[Methos · Rating 2 out of 5]

prendete una fanciulla convinta di poter risolvere qualsiasi cosa, senza un briciolo di logica e al limite della demenza; aggiungeteci un giovine guerriero temprato da tante battaglie e ansioso di assaporare nuove guerre (nonche perennemente arrapato) che snocciola discorsi poetici sull'amore e sui suoi sentimenti più profondi e feriti; condite il tutto con tanto assurdo buonismo e un happy ending per tutti (ma proprio tutti) con tanto di riappacificazione praticamente immediata con la genitrice insultata pesantemente per 300 pagine...e avrete il succo di questo romanzo. Ho sempre adorato la Mason, ma onestamente questo libro non sembra neanche scritto da lei! è terribile!!!

[Usagi Tsukino · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not even 1 star, but I can't give "0" stars. =/
Oh my... cat. ಠ▃ಠ First book I've read of this author, and probably the last.
I despise the main male character, the main female character had some guts at first, but not enough. Awful. And don't tell me that wasn't rape, because I classify it as that.

[Readaholic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great and well written book. I really liked the hero but I only gave this book a three star because there were many times I wanted to wring the heroine's neck. Other than that it was a great read.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyed this book