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The Warrior #2
The Warrior's Maiden
Josce FitzBaldwin holds the sheriff of Knabwell responsible for the death of his lord father and his two young stepsisters and intends to shed the sheriff's blood to avenge them. Instead, the noble bastard finds himself enmeshed in a tangled web of deceit and betrayal where thieves don't empty purses of their gold but slaughter innocent children. The last thing he expects is to lose his heart to the sheriff's honest daughter or to beg her aid in securing the vengeance he so craves.
Elianne du Hommet, the destitute sheriff's useless third daughter, has no future. She is doomed to a life as her father's unpaid servant and his hapless pawn in his hopeless, money-making schemes. Then a slain nobleman's bastard son rides through her gate, threatening to kill her father while offering Elianne the chance to know, just once, the joy of a man's touch. She cannot resist, even though what he wants from her will result in her complete destruction.
Elianne du Hommet, the destitute sheriff's useless third daughter, has no future. She is doomed to a life as her father's unpaid servant and his hapless pawn in his hopeless, money-making schemes. Then a slain nobleman's bastard son rides through her gate, threatening to kill her father while offering Elianne the chance to know, just once, the joy of a man's touch. She cannot resist, even though what he wants from her will result in her complete destruction.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 5, 2002
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580 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 6, 2012
What I did like:
Reading how Reiner screwed everybody (not in the sexual sense). He was a real piece of work.
Important to note how others thought of Elianne and how her character progressed.
Mystery behind the robberies.
What I did not like:
Lose of virginity was way ay ay too easy.
Beatrice personality should have dictated that she was in the middle of the action with the other 3 main characters. Instead she was falling apart and in bed.
Do the following words offend you? his manhood; nipple; breasts; shaft; nether lips. Well they are in the book. If not.....read on
Reading how Reiner screwed everybody (not in the sexual sense). He was a real piece of work.
Important to note how others thought of Elianne and how her character progressed.
Mystery behind the robberies.
What I did not like:
Lose of virginity was way ay ay too easy.
Beatrice personality should have dictated that she was in the middle of the action with the other 3 main characters. Instead she was falling apart and in bed.
Do the following words offend you? his manhood; nipple; breasts; shaft; nether lips. Well they are in the book. If not.....read on
October 21, 2013
This was my October book for the pick-it-for-me over in Western and Medieval Romance Lovers. It'd been on the TBR for a year or two, and that's why I like the pick-it-for-me deal, because it motivates me to get some of the books I've had for awhile moving off the pile. Makes me feel accomplished when I finally get em read, like a notch on the bedpost, or bookshelf if you will. It's also been a little while since I read a medieval, so I was kind of excited to get this one read. I had never read this author before, had picked this one up on one of my many Goodwill adventures because it sounded interesting. The story was interesting, and I was pleased that it was very easy to get into, with an easy style that had me continuing on with good speed. The style was kind of light, not real deep, though the story wasn't really light, if that makes any sense. The writing wasn't dark or angsty or cold like some medievals can be. I liked the characters, though sometimes they'd flip moods so fast it left me whirling, like wait, weren't you just thinking murderous thoughts a second ago? Aside from that, my only other wee gripe would be that the h/H were all in love and such awfully quick considering they'd never met before. I liked the story though. It was simple, straightforward, with no overabundance of melodrama or convoluted happenings. The villains were suitably villainous, even if the sheriff did edge into wacko territory a bit. The end bit was the best though, the confrontation with du Hommet, the race on horseback to the priory, the battle there before the gate... I like battles in my medievals, and this part had me racing through the pages. I knew there would be a HEA, but I had to see the fight first. I liked how it turned out, and especially how Sir Adelm redeemed himself and got his revenge, though it also made me a little sad. I liked him, though he had done bad things under the sheriff's command. This was a decent little story, happy I got it read. Might even check out something else by the author in the future.
*Note: Just realized that this story has been republished under the author's other name as The Warrior's Maiden, and is book 2 in a trilogy, book one, The Warrior's Damsel (repub'd as The Warrior's Wife) is about Josce's best friend Rafe, who made a brief appearance in this book. Book three is The Warrior's Game.
*Note: Just realized that this story has been republished under the author's other name as The Warrior's Maiden, and is book 2 in a trilogy, book one, The Warrior's Damsel (repub'd as The Warrior's Wife) is about Josce's best friend Rafe, who made a brief appearance in this book. Book three is The Warrior's Game.
March 13, 2014
When Josce’s father and two young sisters are murdered, he and his stepmother decide to confront the sheriff, the lazy or incompetent jerk who has let the murdering thieves who did the crime run rampant in his shire for years. Josce, in his rage and grief, lashes out and tells the sheriff he has a fortnight to bring the criminals to justice, or Josce will take his life instead.
Elianne, the sheriff’s daughter, hears all this with horror. Her horror turns to hurt and outrage when her father offers Josce and his ailing stepmother the use of his home while said stepmother recuperates—it would have been much better if stepmum had been taken into the local convent for care, but for some reason Elianne's father bows to Josce's demand that the lady be cared for in a place where he can remain by her side. Worse, Elianne's father orders her to stay and see to their needs. He, the sheriff, will reside in town.
Elianne has always known that she will never marry. She will spend her days serving her father, and when he’s gone she’ll enter the nearby convent. She’s too tall and gangly, and much too outspoken to appeal to suitors, and her father can’t afford to dower her. What makes her father’s demand so outrageous is that, for reasons I don’t quite fathom, the situation ruins Elianne’s hopes for her own future.
Josce also finds the whole thing fishy. Why would a man he’s just threatened to kill want him to stay in his home, with his daughter? The question gives rise to suspicion, and Josce sets about investigating the crimes that have been taking place in the shire for himself. Once again, I have the sense that Domning has done enough research into the era that all this makes sense, but my own questions as a less-informed reader remain unresolved. WHY, if Elianne has always known she would never marry, would she find this scenario more outrageous than the things her father has already done to make her unmarriageable?
As to the whodunit, there’s no mystery here—you know from the outset of the story who committed the crimes, and why.
I’ll go along with another reviewer in saying that for a gal bound for the convent, who’s held onto her virtue for a couple decades, Elianne was a bit too easy, though we do get insight into why that is and it does make sense. And to the reviewers who objected to the sex scenes, I suggest they do what I do—skip them. Some readers love those scenes, feeling they add a dimension to the romance and some interest in the story. More often than not, I feel they have nothing to do with the story and in fact pull me out of it. I’m eager to know what happens next in the actual plot, so once the clothes start coming off, I just skip a page, read a sentence, and if there’s still heavy breathing going on, skip another until everybody’s back on earth. But I digress…
The storyline is simple, but it does still put you in the era. I liked the H/h, and there were a number of secondary characters that were very well-developed and complex. The killer, for example, is not the sociopath most romance villains tend to be. Not quite as good as Domning’s best, but 3.5 stars.
Elianne, the sheriff’s daughter, hears all this with horror. Her horror turns to hurt and outrage when her father offers Josce and his ailing stepmother the use of his home while said stepmother recuperates—it would have been much better if stepmum had been taken into the local convent for care, but for some reason Elianne's father bows to Josce's demand that the lady be cared for in a place where he can remain by her side. Worse, Elianne's father orders her to stay and see to their needs. He, the sheriff, will reside in town.
Elianne has always known that she will never marry. She will spend her days serving her father, and when he’s gone she’ll enter the nearby convent. She’s too tall and gangly, and much too outspoken to appeal to suitors, and her father can’t afford to dower her. What makes her father’s demand so outrageous is that, for reasons I don’t quite fathom, the situation ruins Elianne’s hopes for her own future.
Josce also finds the whole thing fishy. Why would a man he’s just threatened to kill want him to stay in his home, with his daughter? The question gives rise to suspicion, and Josce sets about investigating the crimes that have been taking place in the shire for himself. Once again, I have the sense that Domning has done enough research into the era that all this makes sense, but my own questions as a less-informed reader remain unresolved. WHY, if Elianne has always known she would never marry, would she find this scenario more outrageous than the things her father has already done to make her unmarriageable?
As to the whodunit, there’s no mystery here—you know from the outset of the story who committed the crimes, and why.
I’ll go along with another reviewer in saying that for a gal bound for the convent, who’s held onto her virtue for a couple decades, Elianne was a bit too easy, though we do get insight into why that is and it does make sense. And to the reviewers who objected to the sex scenes, I suggest they do what I do—skip them. Some readers love those scenes, feeling they add a dimension to the romance and some interest in the story. More often than not, I feel they have nothing to do with the story and in fact pull me out of it. I’m eager to know what happens next in the actual plot, so once the clothes start coming off, I just skip a page, read a sentence, and if there’s still heavy breathing going on, skip another until everybody’s back on earth. But I digress…
The storyline is simple, but it does still put you in the era. I liked the H/h, and there were a number of secondary characters that were very well-developed and complex. The killer, for example, is not the sociopath most romance villains tend to be. Not quite as good as Domning’s best, but 3.5 stars.
July 19, 2016
A great Medevial Romance!
Well written with captivating characters and an intriguing storyline. Hair raising adventure, danger, secrets, suspense, a bit of mystery, loyalty, vengeance and hot, sizzling romance. The heroine, had many trials, indecisions, while, trying to believe her father is a good sheriff and a liar, their and corrupt. The hero vowed to avenge the wrong done Hus family.
Can the H/H overcome one family's deceit and lies, while, the other vows to learn the truth and avenge his family's grief? Or will they lose everything to outside force.
I enjoyed this story and hope to read the next installments, soon. I was delighted, held captured by these characters, and this intriguing Medieval Romance. A great read!
*Personal buy*
Rating: 4
Heat rating: Hot
Reviewed by: AprilR
Well written with captivating characters and an intriguing storyline. Hair raising adventure, danger, secrets, suspense, a bit of mystery, loyalty, vengeance and hot, sizzling romance. The heroine, had many trials, indecisions, while, trying to believe her father is a good sheriff and a liar, their and corrupt. The hero vowed to avenge the wrong done Hus family.
Can the H/H overcome one family's deceit and lies, while, the other vows to learn the truth and avenge his family's grief? Or will they lose everything to outside force.
I enjoyed this story and hope to read the next installments, soon. I was delighted, held captured by these characters, and this intriguing Medieval Romance. A great read!
*Personal buy*
Rating: 4
Heat rating: Hot
Reviewed by: AprilR
March 19, 2012
I very much enjoy Ms. Domning's Medieval romances and this book was great. I think I may have liked it even better than some of the others because of the characters.
1. Josce just sounds great
2. Elianne's dad makes a super villian
3. The catharsis of Elianne's half brother
4. The ending
There wasn't much that I didn't like, but the age of Josce's lady stepmother and him didn't make sense to me if his lord sire was supposed to be married to her when he was born....
Looking forward to The Warrior's Wife.
1. Josce just sounds great
2. Elianne's dad makes a super villian
3. The catharsis of Elianne's half brother
4. The ending
There wasn't much that I didn't like, but the age of Josce's lady stepmother and him didn't make sense to me if his lord sire was supposed to be married to her when he was born....
Looking forward to The Warrior's Wife.
August 6, 2016
Rating: 2 / 5
The writing wasn't so bad, but it was a bit (read: a lot) insta-love. That kind of killed it for me. Our warrior felt a little bit too soft, or so I perceived him as when I'd read it. Not much to say about it. It wasn't a book that threw me into a hangover, far from it, but it wasn't really that bad as in "want-to-throw-it-out-a-window". And the ending kind of... tied everything with a bow (not neat, but a bow nevertheless).
Two stars fit it well.
The writing wasn't so bad, but it was a bit (read: a lot) insta-love. That kind of killed it for me. Our warrior felt a little bit too soft, or so I perceived him as when I'd read it. Not much to say about it. It wasn't a book that threw me into a hangover, far from it, but it wasn't really that bad as in "want-to-throw-it-out-a-window". And the ending kind of... tied everything with a bow (not neat, but a bow nevertheless).
Two stars fit it well.
July 24, 2016
While I liked the first book in this series more, this one is good too. It's a lesson in how little control women had over their own lives and how horrifying it is to be a sole survivor. Fortunately an honorable knight from book 1 does the right thing.
May 5, 2017
Another great read 💞
Another great read,realy enjoyed it. Very realistic and made you feel you were part of this era. A stand alone with a happy ending. Five 🌟 from me. 💘 it.
Another great read,realy enjoyed it. Very realistic and made you feel you were part of this era. A stand alone with a happy ending. Five 🌟 from me. 💘 it.
July 15, 2017
The ending saved it for me. I was getting quite frustrated with the story before that.
March 23, 2017
Pretty good story of revenge, betrayal and redemption.
September 1, 2013
The characters in this book are very well written - complex, with back stories and motivations - and that made for an a decent read. Elianne waffles between strength and pawn and I wouldn't call her a heroine so much as the love interest - she's not a woman of action or determination so don't go looking for a strong female lead her. Her half brother is our antihero and is probably the most complexly developed of all the characters. Their father? An evil, raging, manipulative character who makes for an excellent villain. And Sir Josce, the other half of the love interest, is probably least complex of crew with his bastard heritage and honor and promises.
My biggest problem with this book was the choice of "period" speech, mostly in the dialog. Lots of long sentences with strange constructions just to say, "let's go" or "I'm in trouble." The dialog was also well written and consistent, I just don't care for the antique-ification of speech as I find it distracting because it just sounds so fake to me. (Because it is an imagined mode of speech, but I'll avoid the rest of the linguistic rant.)
My biggest problem with this book was the choice of "period" speech, mostly in the dialog. Lots of long sentences with strange constructions just to say, "let's go" or "I'm in trouble." The dialog was also well written and consistent, I just don't care for the antique-ification of speech as I find it distracting because it just sounds so fake to me. (Because it is an imagined mode of speech, but I'll avoid the rest of the linguistic rant.)
April 5, 2013
The author makes a story about every character in the book being able to read the motivations of every other character in the book. Everyone is quite astute in body or facial expressions, so much so, that there does not have to be much meaningful dialogue between anyone. These amazing abilities get quite annoying, as do the sexual descriptions, that are for 20 year old girls. Not that anything is perverse or tortuous, but it is obvious they are put there just to keep the reader enthralled and to continue reading, lest any of the few history facts thrown in bore them. The ending of this not so magnificent story is laughable and just happily jotted in so the author could finish the book and get to bed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2014
Again a bit predictable but not in a negative way. The instant attraction between Josce and Elianne was a plus but the totally cliché sheriff as the instant villain was a bit dull. I can't believe I'm saying this but I was hoping for more knights battling . This was ok; I didn't hate it. It just left me feeling flat. There are some good moments. I just wish I could give 2.5 stars but I think 3 stars is more than I want for this one.
February 22, 2012
I would have given this book a 5-star review if it had only been a clean romance. I had to skip over 3 different places that left little to the imagination. The story would have been just as good...even better...if those scenes had been omitted. All things said, Denise Domning is a very gifted writer.
March 31, 2012
I really enjoy Denise Domning's medieval stories. Her characters are interesting, and her writing is very good, and seems historically accurate. But be warned - they are not 'clean' romance (breaking my own rule). She usually throws in a few descriptive pages - which I prefer not to read & really annoys me, because I so enjoy her stories.
January 30, 2015
Great, authentic medieval mystery and romance in one
This author has it all. I never want her books to end. Her characters are real people and their motivations are those of the Middle Ages be it salvation, greed, or loyalty to family and vows. I can almost smell the incense, the sweat or the perfume, not to mention the animal dung.
This author has it all. I never want her books to end. Her characters are real people and their motivations are those of the Middle Ages be it salvation, greed, or loyalty to family and vows. I can almost smell the incense, the sweat or the perfume, not to mention the animal dung.
January 18, 2016
light read, medieval setting saves this from a one star rating.... Would have enjoyed it a lot more if there weren't so many blasted sex scenes (even worse than the first in the series). I'm walking away from this author
August 28, 2016
Finding the one
Denise Domning has done a excellent job on this story about a knight and a woman. The knight is the son of the man who was killed with his two half sisters and he finds out who killed them. I feel in love with this story.
Denise Domning has done a excellent job on this story about a knight and a woman. The knight is the son of the man who was killed with his two half sisters and he finds out who killed them. I feel in love with this story.
October 27, 2016
Kept me guessing
This was a good book that kept me guessing at almost every plot twist and turn. Handsome, but not beautiful, Elianne is caught up in a tale of theft, murder, and revenge as surely as she is swept up in her lover's arms. I enjoyed it and I hope you will, too.
This was a good book that kept me guessing at almost every plot twist and turn. Handsome, but not beautiful, Elianne is caught up in a tale of theft, murder, and revenge as surely as she is swept up in her lover's arms. I enjoyed it and I hope you will, too.
March 20, 2012
The story was well-written and I became a fan of the author's style of delivery. Great read!
July 27, 2012
Previously published under the title of My Lady's Temptation which may have given me a better clue of what to expect. This was more Barbara Cartland than I anticipated. I finished it though.
October 18, 2012
Denise Domning at her best! Romance, mystery, medieval accuracy and a very happy ending. Can't wait to read book number 2 in this series.
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December 4, 2012enjoy Denise's work, and the picturs she paint for us.
kindle-i-own-to-read
November 3, 2012Amazon Freebie 11/2/2012
March 3, 2013
great book by a good writer
December 24, 2013
Enjoy this author's writing.
June 11, 2014
So romantic!
February 16, 2015
Not as good as Warriors bride. Still it was interesting.
February 27, 2015
Great book. Better than the first one in the series! Loved the two main characters - they were perfect for one another.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews