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Age of Faith #7
The Awakening
From USA Today Bestselling author, Tamara Leigh, the seventh book in the inspirational AGE OF FAITH series—featuring Lady Laura Middleton of THE YIELDING and Sir Lothaire Soames of THE VEXING.
FAR BETTER TO LOVE WITHOUT PROFIT…
Even if she must sell herself in marriage to the highest bidder, Lady Laura Middleton is determined to provide her daughter a home and protector. But when Queen Eleanor presents her cousin with four suitors, among them is one who believes Laura betrayed him ten years past. Despite her attempts to discourage his pursuit, he is determined to have her for the dowry needed to save his lands. Should he prevail, how is she to shield her daughter from the enemy who lurks within his walls? And what of her heart? If she reveals the truth of her betrayal, might he love her again?
…THAN LOVE NOT AND REAP BITTERNESS
Beware the Delilah, my son. Beware the Jezebel—advice Baron Lothaire Soames should have heeded as a young man. Now in need of funds, he faces marriage to the woman he lost to scandal. Though he vows to find another way to return prosperity to his lands, his former betrothed proves his only hope and he grudgingly vies to become her worthiest suitor—only to be struck by how little it takes his heart to pick up where it left off. Can he forgive what cannot be forgotten? More, will she forever yearn for the man who fathered her child?
FAR BETTER TO LOVE WITHOUT PROFIT…
Even if she must sell herself in marriage to the highest bidder, Lady Laura Middleton is determined to provide her daughter a home and protector. But when Queen Eleanor presents her cousin with four suitors, among them is one who believes Laura betrayed him ten years past. Despite her attempts to discourage his pursuit, he is determined to have her for the dowry needed to save his lands. Should he prevail, how is she to shield her daughter from the enemy who lurks within his walls? And what of her heart? If she reveals the truth of her betrayal, might he love her again?
…THAN LOVE NOT AND REAP BITTERNESS
Beware the Delilah, my son. Beware the Jezebel—advice Baron Lothaire Soames should have heeded as a young man. Now in need of funds, he faces marriage to the woman he lost to scandal. Though he vows to find another way to return prosperity to his lands, his former betrothed proves his only hope and he grudgingly vies to become her worthiest suitor—only to be struck by how little it takes his heart to pick up where it left off. Can he forgive what cannot be forgotten? More, will she forever yearn for the man who fathered her child?
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2018
168 people are currently reading
679 people want to read
About the author
Tamara Leigh
70 books968 followersTamara 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
April 14, 2018
I will try to write my review soon but I loooooooved it!!!
January 21, 2018
My favorite time setting for fictional novels is the medieval period. Tamara Leigh does this very, very well indeed. This is the 7th book in Leigh's 'Age of Faith' series, a series that I dearly love. I've read the first five books twice each!
This book is Lothaire Soames's story and also Laura Middleton, whom we met long ago. It's a sad story, a heartbreaking one at times, but Leigh weaves her deft hand and creates the most awesome story! I had a difficult time tearing myself away from the book for necessary tasks. I purely loved every minute of it. Seemingly real life characters jump off the page and worm their way into the reader's heart. Her descriptions of the period are impeccable and I was lost for two days during the reading in the twelfth century! Now...we wait for Book 8.
This book is Lothaire Soames's story and also Laura Middleton, whom we met long ago. It's a sad story, a heartbreaking one at times, but Leigh weaves her deft hand and creates the most awesome story! I had a difficult time tearing myself away from the book for necessary tasks. I purely loved every minute of it. Seemingly real life characters jump off the page and worm their way into the reader's heart. Her descriptions of the period are impeccable and I was lost for two days during the reading in the twelfth century! Now...we wait for Book 8.
July 30, 2018
Ms. Leigh's writing is superb! She really has a knack for transporting her readers to Medieval England, I always feel like I have stepped back in time when reading one of her books.
Lady Laura and Baron Lothaire are both very likable characters. They were once betrothed and in love, but a betrayal separated them. The story picks up ten years later when once again they are to be wed. This time though, there is years of misunderstandings and hurt between them and neither wants the match. This is a sweet story of two people who have been given a second chance at love. They have a LOT of obstacles to get through and people trying to sabotage their relationship. It's not an easy road, especially when Laura has secrets she wants to keep hidden.
As always, I'm glued to the pages whenever I read one of Ms. Leigh's books. She is a gifted storyteller and always brings her characters to life. While I enjoyed this book, it was not a light read and dealt with serious subjects, definitely realistic, and I thought Laura's character and behavior seemed very realistic. I don't think it's too big a spoiler, since it's brought up really early in the story, but for sensitive readers:
This is the seventh book in the Age of Faith series. I've read all the books, but I still had to take a minute to remember who previous characters were and what their stories were. This could stand on its own, but would be a good idea to read previous books, especially The Yielding where we meet Laura and The Vexing, where Lothaire is first introduced (I believe). I personally wish I would have read the books closer together. But again, it could stand well on its own.
Content
Romance: Pretty clean. Married couple undress in front of each other (not descriptive), and closed door intimacy.
Language: None, that I remember
Violence: Moderate. Talk of previous rape and the after effects. An attempted attack, which is stopped.
Religious: Mild, not preachy but religion was a big part of the time period and people's lives so it is a part of the story.
Source: Amazon
Lady Laura and Baron Lothaire are both very likable characters. They were once betrothed and in love, but a betrayal separated them. The story picks up ten years later when once again they are to be wed. This time though, there is years of misunderstandings and hurt between them and neither wants the match. This is a sweet story of two people who have been given a second chance at love. They have a LOT of obstacles to get through and people trying to sabotage their relationship. It's not an easy road, especially when Laura has secrets she wants to keep hidden.
As always, I'm glued to the pages whenever I read one of Ms. Leigh's books. She is a gifted storyteller and always brings her characters to life. While I enjoyed this book, it was not a light read and dealt with serious subjects, definitely realistic, and I thought Laura's character and behavior seemed very realistic. I don't think it's too big a spoiler, since it's brought up really early in the story, but for sensitive readers:
This is the seventh book in the Age of Faith series. I've read all the books, but I still had to take a minute to remember who previous characters were and what their stories were. This could stand on its own, but would be a good idea to read previous books, especially The Yielding where we meet Laura and The Vexing, where Lothaire is first introduced (I believe). I personally wish I would have read the books closer together. But again, it could stand well on its own.
Content
Romance: Pretty clean. Married couple undress in front of each other (not descriptive), and closed door intimacy.
Language: None, that I remember
Violence: Moderate. Talk of previous rape and the after effects. An attempted attack, which is stopped.
Religious: Mild, not preachy but religion was a big part of the time period and people's lives so it is a part of the story.
Source: Amazon
February 1, 2018
In love with this book...with this entire series! So thankful for he opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. Tamara Leigh continues to hold her top spot on my favorite authors list! Full review to come.
January 26, 2018
No one writes books like Tamara Leigh. *all the heart eyes*
October 29, 2018
Another great book in the series.
October 23, 2018
Complete series review on Faithfully Bookish.com
Who can resist a tale of knights in shining armor and damsels in distress?! Medieval times are often romanticized but if it's wrong, I don't want to be right!
Mousy Lady Laura Middleton from the second book is finally taking life by the reins in The Awakening. She is a mom on a mission yet Baron Lothaire Soames is the last man she ever expected to face in her husband hunt. This story demonstrates the power to either hurt or heal is most potently held by those we love.
I have immensely enjoyed reading and rereading the Age of Faith series over the last few years and highly recommend it for delightful binge reading. One of my favorite aspects of this series is the way each plot is skillfully intertwined with the other installments. The characters' lives interconnect in genuine relationships forged by struggle, strife, and love. Tamara Leigh's stories are guilty pleasure reading without the guilt and are among my all-time favorites.
These books were either purchased by me or borrowed through the Kindle Unlimited program. The opinions expressed are my own.
Who can resist a tale of knights in shining armor and damsels in distress?! Medieval times are often romanticized but if it's wrong, I don't want to be right!
Mousy Lady Laura Middleton from the second book is finally taking life by the reins in The Awakening. She is a mom on a mission yet Baron Lothaire Soames is the last man she ever expected to face in her husband hunt. This story demonstrates the power to either hurt or heal is most potently held by those we love.
I have immensely enjoyed reading and rereading the Age of Faith series over the last few years and highly recommend it for delightful binge reading. One of my favorite aspects of this series is the way each plot is skillfully intertwined with the other installments. The characters' lives interconnect in genuine relationships forged by struggle, strife, and love. Tamara Leigh's stories are guilty pleasure reading without the guilt and are among my all-time favorites.
These books were either purchased by me or borrowed through the Kindle Unlimited program. The opinions expressed are my own.
January 29, 2018
I say it with every Tamara Leigh book I read. This time, though....
She's absolutely brilliant. More than that, the heartache, tenderness, passion, depth, and all the adjectives you can possibly think of, have made this book do what I thought was impossible: move past Dreamspell to become my absolute favorite TL book.
Seriously. My favorite. I *really* didn't think it would be possible.
The writing, as always, is tight, beautiful, and masterful. The storyline is fabulous. It's the connection between Lothaire and Laura that is utterly divine. I don't laugh out loud or cry easily at books. I might smile if it's funny or my eyes might water if it's touching or sad. But laugh out loud or actually cry? I don't remember the last time that happened. But it did in The Awakening. And to me, that makes what will probably be my number 1 book of 2018.
She's absolutely brilliant. More than that, the heartache, tenderness, passion, depth, and all the adjectives you can possibly think of, have made this book do what I thought was impossible: move past Dreamspell to become my absolute favorite TL book.
Seriously. My favorite. I *really* didn't think it would be possible.
The writing, as always, is tight, beautiful, and masterful. The storyline is fabulous. It's the connection between Lothaire and Laura that is utterly divine. I don't laugh out loud or cry easily at books. I might smile if it's funny or my eyes might water if it's touching or sad. But laugh out loud or actually cry? I don't remember the last time that happened. But it did in The Awakening. And to me, that makes what will probably be my number 1 book of 2018.
January 25, 2018
Tamara Leigh is my go-to author for medieval romance, and this has been one of my all-time favourite series ever since I discovered it several years ago. Needless to say, I’m lapping up these new releases as quickly as she can get them published. That said, I wasn’t sure my heart was ready for this one, knowing the painful past betwixt Lady Laura and Lothaire and the misunderstanding that surrounds it. But despite adamantly protesting the match while they had the chance, both characters worked hard to make the best of their situation, and that helped my poor little heart cope with this story so much better than it might have!
It’s a while since I’ve read the first five books in this series, so perhaps my memory is failing me a little, but there was a gentleness about Lothaire, despite his pain, that seems to set him apart from the heroes who have come before him. I loved the way he interacted with Laura’s daughter, Clarice, balancing firm with nurturing, and I loved watching him soften toward Laura.
As for the other members of Lothaire’s family...well, there’s quite a bit going on there, most of which you’ll have to discover for yourself. Let’s just say Lothaire’s mother made no secret of the fact that she did not welcome Lady Laura and her daughter to High Castle. The question is, how desperate is she to prevent the marriage? It wasn’t until towards the end that I began to suspect what was really going on there, so this added a nice element of suspense to the plot.
In more general terms, this novel had all the usual things I love about Tamara Leigh’s writing. She integrates elements of faith that are appropriate for the time period, her writing is evocative of the medieval era without being incomprehensible to the modern reader, and her settings are thoroughly authentic. And she incorporates work and leisure activities of medieval life into her scenes so well—in this case, sheep farming!
Now to patiently await Sir Elias's story—because patience is a virtue. Not because it's actually going to be easy or anything. ;-)
It’s a while since I’ve read the first five books in this series, so perhaps my memory is failing me a little, but there was a gentleness about Lothaire, despite his pain, that seems to set him apart from the heroes who have come before him. I loved the way he interacted with Laura’s daughter, Clarice, balancing firm with nurturing, and I loved watching him soften toward Laura.
As for the other members of Lothaire’s family...well, there’s quite a bit going on there, most of which you’ll have to discover for yourself. Let’s just say Lothaire’s mother made no secret of the fact that she did not welcome Lady Laura and her daughter to High Castle. The question is, how desperate is she to prevent the marriage? It wasn’t until towards the end that I began to suspect what was really going on there, so this added a nice element of suspense to the plot.
In more general terms, this novel had all the usual things I love about Tamara Leigh’s writing. She integrates elements of faith that are appropriate for the time period, her writing is evocative of the medieval era without being incomprehensible to the modern reader, and her settings are thoroughly authentic. And she incorporates work and leisure activities of medieval life into her scenes so well—in this case, sheep farming!
Now to patiently await Sir Elias's story—because patience is a virtue. Not because it's actually going to be easy or anything. ;-)
January 25, 2018
You might ask me why I read Tamara Leigh’s books and I would tell you, they are books full of flair and colorful word pictures. I’ve said this before, yet it still holds true, each of her books is an invitation to travel back in time to an era we can only imagine. An era where the king and queen determine whom you can marry, where you can go, and what your life status will be.
This story is full of family drama, intrigue, love lost, and found. It’s packed full of emotions which will draw you in as a reader and won’t let you go even after you’ve finished the book. It’s a story which in the end shows what true forgiveness looks like and how healing can be found.
This journey captures the lives of Lord Lothaire Soames and Lady Laura Middleton. They have struggles which are overwhelming it seems, but through time they learn things might not be as they appear. Tamara Leigh writes in such a way we deeply feel all their struggles and emotions.
This book is another one in the Age of Faith Series and is a wonderful addition to these stories. It even brings in a few of the past characters from previous books.
I can’t wait to continue to read more of these wonderful stories.
I highly recommend picking this book up and reading it.
Actually,
READ THE WHOLE SERIES you won’t be disappointed!
This story is full of family drama, intrigue, love lost, and found. It’s packed full of emotions which will draw you in as a reader and won’t let you go even after you’ve finished the book. It’s a story which in the end shows what true forgiveness looks like and how healing can be found.
This journey captures the lives of Lord Lothaire Soames and Lady Laura Middleton. They have struggles which are overwhelming it seems, but through time they learn things might not be as they appear. Tamara Leigh writes in such a way we deeply feel all their struggles and emotions.
This book is another one in the Age of Faith Series and is a wonderful addition to these stories. It even brings in a few of the past characters from previous books.
I can’t wait to continue to read more of these wonderful stories.
I highly recommend picking this book up and reading it.
Actually,
READ THE WHOLE SERIES you won’t be disappointed!
December 31, 2018
I have been waiting for the story of Laura Littleton for a while and I have to say, it was worth it! As soon as I started reading, I was plunged into a medieval world filled with intrigue, mystery and unique traditions and mores unfamiliar to us today but so binding on the men and women of that time. I couldn't put it down. Literally. I stayed up most of the night reading it.
I was enthralled with Laura's story and longed to know how it would end. Tamara Leigh's gift is making you feel for the characters, and my emotions were taken for a ride along with this young woman. This is a terrific read, even if you're unfamiliar with the characters, as the author does a great job of painting both Laura and Lothaire fully on the pages of these books. But you won't regret going back to read the others in the series.
On a technical level, as usual, the writing was excellent, the characters realistic and complex adding intensity and tension to a plot that felt authentic and compelling.
The question the story asks about God was poignant and important and the answer given wasn't an easy platitude. Instead, it wove in answers about how a loving God works in a broken world in a way that felt natural and never preachy.
This was a beautifully and skillfully told story about how, if we will let Him, God can heal what man has broken and create beauty from ashes. Another winner by Tamara Leigh.
I was enthralled with Laura's story and longed to know how it would end. Tamara Leigh's gift is making you feel for the characters, and my emotions were taken for a ride along with this young woman. This is a terrific read, even if you're unfamiliar with the characters, as the author does a great job of painting both Laura and Lothaire fully on the pages of these books. But you won't regret going back to read the others in the series.
On a technical level, as usual, the writing was excellent, the characters realistic and complex adding intensity and tension to a plot that felt authentic and compelling.
The question the story asks about God was poignant and important and the answer given wasn't an easy platitude. Instead, it wove in answers about how a loving God works in a broken world in a way that felt natural and never preachy.
This was a beautifully and skillfully told story about how, if we will let Him, God can heal what man has broken and create beauty from ashes. Another winner by Tamara Leigh.
January 28, 2018
4+ Stars
I have really enjoyed the Age of Faith series; and Leigh had me once again caught up in her story. In fact, I started this last evening and stayed up WAY too late to finish it. But I just couldn't put it down until I reached the end. All, the elements are present that mark the books of this series; wonderful characters, the tension, the romance and the faith lessons you glean along the way. I am looking forward to the next installment, The Raveling due our this Spring/Summer!
I do highly recommend reading this series in order, because characters do carry over and parts of one story are built upon another. For fans of the series, you are aware of the baseline of this story. But for those who have not read the previous novels, this story does deal with the issue of rape. It is not explicit and this is a clean read but you do gain an understanding of Laura's suffering. So those sensitive to this subject matter may need to be cautious.
Again, another well written, page turner from Leigh!
I have really enjoyed the Age of Faith series; and Leigh had me once again caught up in her story. In fact, I started this last evening and stayed up WAY too late to finish it. But I just couldn't put it down until I reached the end. All, the elements are present that mark the books of this series; wonderful characters, the tension, the romance and the faith lessons you glean along the way. I am looking forward to the next installment, The Raveling due our this Spring/Summer!
I do highly recommend reading this series in order, because characters do carry over and parts of one story are built upon another. For fans of the series, you are aware of the baseline of this story. But for those who have not read the previous novels, this story does deal with the issue of rape. It is not explicit and this is a clean read but you do gain an understanding of Laura's suffering. So those sensitive to this subject matter may need to be cautious.
Again, another well written, page turner from Leigh!
January 19, 2018
Beware the delilah.....
Lady Laura has been living her life as in a dream ever since that awful day. Now she must awaken to give her daughter the life she deserves.
Lothaire Soames was betrayed by more women then he wishes to remember. Can he ever forgive Laura and move on with a happier life for both of them?
Wow!! I loved this book! Even more then the previous, The Vexing, which is saying something. Every book in this series just seems to get better and better.
I am looking forward to Elias' story with much impatience and anticipation!
Lady Laura has been living her life as in a dream ever since that awful day. Now she must awaken to give her daughter the life she deserves.
Lothaire Soames was betrayed by more women then he wishes to remember. Can he ever forgive Laura and move on with a happier life for both of them?
Wow!! I loved this book! Even more then the previous, The Vexing, which is saying something. Every book in this series just seems to get better and better.
I am looking forward to Elias' story with much impatience and anticipation!
February 12, 2020
Premise: With Laura Middleton in need of a home for herself and her daughter, and Lothaire Soames in need of funds to restore his barony, Laura's cousin, Queen Eleanor, sees an ideal match. Or it would be had their previous betrothal not been broken ten years prior. Lothaire wonders if Laura still loves the father of her child, while Laura wonders if Lothaire will ever love her again – let alone believe the truth behind her supposed betrayal. Yet just when both believe their lost love can be redeemed, an adversary on the inside is determined to drive them apart.
Story/Writing: Geez…where do I start with this review?! First off, I will say, this was a bit of a long read, only just a bit longer than "The Longing." I thought this book was utterly amazing, but I did feel the length at times, particularly toward the end (though maybe I was just tired). On the bright side, it's not long just for the sake of being long. There is a ton of content in this story that, once again, Tamara Leigh thought about almost down to a meticulous level. Not to mention, this book covers some pretty touchy subject matter, to say the least. Writing about things like this is like handling dynamite. Highly explosive if not handled with care. I'm not against exploring sexual assault in fiction, but if you are going to write about it, you'd better know what you're talking about. Thankfully, Leigh crafts a tale that delivers on the heavy-handed stuff without exploiting it just to get a reaction. And again, like "The Vexing," this is a story that feels large in scope yet personal in nature, which is fitting because things that happen in "The Vexing" lead into this, just as I know things that happen here will lead into "The Raveling." And not just because we once again travel between England and France. We also go back to pivotal points in time. And in both the past and present, the writing is masterful and feels vivid, making me feel like I'm watching a movie or a TV show (Man, wouldn't this series make a great one?!). Not to mention, the travels back into the past don't feel out of place. They come right when they should, executing the perfect emotional gut-punch. It also reminds us of how humanity's nature has not changed since that time period. The people in this story suffer things that plenty of people suffer from even now. And that's another thing I love about this book. This is arguably Leigh's most risky installment in this series to date, given how timely the subjects she delves into currently are. And even though she is a Christian writer, she doesn't shy away from how people, even those we know and may even love, can descend into dangerous levels of evil, regardless of an underlying cause. I'm all for grace and forgiveness, but I'm glad she doesn't go easy on the perpetrators.
Characters: Man, the book on it's own is already good. But if you've read about some of these characters in previous titles, it makes it all the more poignant. Leigh takes us on an emotional journey with these characters from their highest highs to their lowest lows. I daresay, some of them even feel like Shakespearean tragedies. I know it's often said, but these characters really do feel like actual people. Even ones who chose a dark path to follow in life are given a reason – and then, not necessarily an excuse – for why they chose that path.
Laura Middleton – I seriously gotta hand it to Leigh for how she wrote Laura's character. Granted, it helps that she probably knew someone who suffered something similar, but it's always hard to write characters like this, not just in trying to be sensitive but also making them relatable to readers who haven't gone through something so bad. That all said, Laura is a heroine that I think anyone can get behind, and not just because of what she's suffered. When she was first introduced in "The Yielding," she seemed mousy and broken, though understandably so. In "The Awakening," she shows herself to be not only a survivor but a fighter! What I particularly like is that, even though she's suffered horrific trauma and stigmatization, her experiences and how they've made her who she is are neither dismissed nor exploited, nor do they prohibit her from growing as a character. She's definitely far more cautious and wiser than she was as a teenager. And now that Maude is gone, she realizes she hasn't been there for her daughter as much as she should've been, and immediately starts to make amends. She's even willing to admit that refusing to marry Lothaire could've resulted in more suffering for her and Clarice. While she's clearly been affected by what happened to her, she's not constantly crying or feeling sorry for herself. If anything, in both the past and present, she stands up for herself and fights as much as she can as long as she can. Even when Lothaire comes to her rescue, she's already unleashing on the guy who tried to assault her. I admit was a bit frustrated that she didn't tell Lothaire sooner. But when we cut to a flashback of the events leading to her assault, I totally understood why she had such a hard time. She has arguably the most gut-wrenching backstory out of all this series' main characters so far. But that makes her happy ending all the better!
Lothaire Soames – When I read "The Vexing," I didn't find Lothaire the most likeable guy and hoped he would be in "The Awakening." And, for all his flaws and mistakes – even if their mostly done out of ignorance – I'm happy to say that Leigh has won me over with the way she wrote Lothaire. As much as I wanted him to know Laura was innocent and didn't betray him, I wouldn't have felt that way if I didn't see potential in their marriage. Despite everything they endured both directly and indirectly, I wanted them to regain their lost love. It's such a rare thing (at least in fiction) for people who are betrothed to one another be in love, and I'm so glad it wasn't ultimately for naught, just delayed. Yet even without having to fall back in love with his former beloved, Lothaire has got a lot on his plate. Not only is he a baron reduced to a common labor – though that in all actuality shows how dedicated he is to Lexeter and its people – he also has to deal with an overbearing mother who caused this financial ruin by running Lexeter to the ground. Not to mention, she keeps undermining her son (supposedly) even though he's made it clear she's no longer in charge – despite delaying her departure to her dower property out of guilt. His father disappeared (or rather died) when he was only six years old, yet he's grown to be a more honorable and faithful person than either of his parents put together. Though it does help that he had Father Atticus in Thistle Cross to go to. Not to mention, he's surprisingly patient and even forgiving, especially when Sebille confesses to being the real mastermind behind Raisa's schemes. I'm glad he's on good terms with the Marshals and owns up to how he wronged Beata. But more importantly, I'm just happy he now knows how much he wronged Laura and that they finally have the happy marriage they once thought to be impossible!
Clarice – In many ways, Clarice reminds me of Judas from "The Longing." Both have gone through a lot (even if it was way more in Judas's case), and they're pretty mature for their age – though to be fair I guess a lot of kids, whatever their class, had to be back then. That said, despite being a product of rape and indirectly responsible for her mother's broken betrothal with Lothaire, I'm so glad that neither Laura nor Lothaire think ill of her. If anything, you could say she ironically symbolizes the restored love of her mother and stepfather. No kid should have a rapist for a father – and I'm glad it's left open-ended in regards to whether or not she ever knows – but it's clear she brings a lot of joy to Laura and even Lothaire. I loved the scenes where she and Lothaire are bonding over helping with the sheep. If nothing else, she's very fortunate to have him for a stepfather. Plus, I'm glad Laura is also taking responsibility for her as her mother. And even if they argue every once in awhile (as all kids and parents do), you can tell Clarice does love her mother and will not tolerate anyone saying or doing anything bad to her. In spite of her origins, I can tell Clarice is going to be a very pretty and charming young lady!
Raisa Soames – First we had Aldous Lavonne as the bitter, bedridden parent, now we have Raisa Soames! That said, she doesn't feel like just a female copy of Aldous. They do have plenty in common, but they're also pretty different and distinct. For one thing, while Aldous did have traces of goodness in him, there's next to none of that with Raisa (with a bit of an exception toward the end, when she has her stroke and dies). I get that her vanity, selfishness, and insecurities likely come from marrying much later than most noblewomen and being married to a man of mistresses. I even get how hurt she no doubt was when she learned that the Sebille she knew and loved was not the one she gave birth to. But still, she was prepared to let her real deformed daughter be left out in the woods and took out her rage on her stepdaughter by rejecting her and emotionally abusing her! And even though that debacle helped me at least somewhat understand her scorn toward Laura – misguided and terrible though it was – but how much crueler can you get by bruising your daughter-in-law and insulting her nine-year-old girl?! Even if she wasn't behind all those things, and even if she was pitiful by the time she died, I won't miss her.
Sebille Soames – I like that even though this story was the culmination of a character we'd met before (in Laura), the book centers its final climax on arguably one of the most complex characters in the "Age of Faith" series: Lothaire's sister (or half-sister), Sebille. I will admit, I did think it was a little convoluted at first when it was revealed she was behind all these schemes (even if they were only staged as such) to make Raisa look bad and convince Lothaire to finally send her to her dower property. But looking back on it, the way the story leads into the reveal is really pretty clever. On the one hand, I wanted to be mad at Sebille for sabotaging Laura's wedding to Lothaire, using money Lexeter needed to fund her false schemes, and putting Laura and later Clarice in danger. But on the other, I could tell she did love and care about her brother, not to mention her own trauma at finding out she's not Raisa's daughter, losing her beloved father, and bearing the brunt of her stepmother's hatred and emotional abuse. And to top it all off, she obviously loved Sir Angus but was too burdened by false guilt and an equally false sense of obligation to marry him. Still, I am glad she genuinely repented and was forgiven by both Laura and Lothaire.
Various Other Characters – Just to get this out of the way, I was chilled and disturbed (in a good way) at the portrayal of Simon D'Arci in this. I thought he was bad enough in "The Yielding." But then, when we get to the flashback sequence where he decides to have his way with Laura…I was shocked…that was… Wow. While the act itself is not described (Thank heaven!), I had to force myself to keep reading and by the end of that chapter I felt sick. What made it even worse was that not only was he barely seventeen years old, he was someone Laura knew and grew up with and was friends with. All I can say is I'm glad he's out of her life! As for another character we love to hate, I'm glad that Martin the physician gets a taste of his own medicine (no pun intended) every time he gives it to other people. But, moving on to more pleasant characters, I liked Sir Angus and felt bad for his own lost love with Sebille. That said, I like how he stood up to her on Laura's behalf. Speaking of Laura, I liked how her maid Tina was not only happy to do her duty but also actively stood up for her mistress, particularly when she shoves Martin away. It was also great to see Durand and Beata again and see them reconciling with (at least) Lothaire by returning his father's body. And I'm so happy they're having twins! Speaking of Ricard, I like how he at least cared enough about Raisa to give her the daughter he thought she wanted – misguided though it was – and was as honest as he could be with Sebille, in addition to doing what he thought was best by taking her to the Abbey where she was born. And I love that that ends up being the reason why he'd stopped at the home of Beata's family that same day he was killed. He was on his way to warn Sebille's real mother! I also liked Father Atticus and how he seemed a genuine man of God, counseling Lothaire and Sebille even when their mother threw him out. And once again, I loved the portrayal of Eleanor of Aquitaine! While she can kinda come across as manipulative, she clearly cares about her cousin and wants her to be happy and well in her marriage to Lothaire. If anything, she proves herself right in knowing what was best for them both!
Overall: While this book deals with sensitive subject matter, I thought it was handled with care and dignity. It is a bit long, but not for the wrong reasons. Ultimately though, I had an absolute blast reading this book! I wish nothing but the best for Laura and Lothaire and can't wait to read "The Raveling!"
Story/Writing: Geez…where do I start with this review?! First off, I will say, this was a bit of a long read, only just a bit longer than "The Longing." I thought this book was utterly amazing, but I did feel the length at times, particularly toward the end (though maybe I was just tired). On the bright side, it's not long just for the sake of being long. There is a ton of content in this story that, once again, Tamara Leigh thought about almost down to a meticulous level. Not to mention, this book covers some pretty touchy subject matter, to say the least. Writing about things like this is like handling dynamite. Highly explosive if not handled with care. I'm not against exploring sexual assault in fiction, but if you are going to write about it, you'd better know what you're talking about. Thankfully, Leigh crafts a tale that delivers on the heavy-handed stuff without exploiting it just to get a reaction. And again, like "The Vexing," this is a story that feels large in scope yet personal in nature, which is fitting because things that happen in "The Vexing" lead into this, just as I know things that happen here will lead into "The Raveling." And not just because we once again travel between England and France. We also go back to pivotal points in time. And in both the past and present, the writing is masterful and feels vivid, making me feel like I'm watching a movie or a TV show (Man, wouldn't this series make a great one?!). Not to mention, the travels back into the past don't feel out of place. They come right when they should, executing the perfect emotional gut-punch. It also reminds us of how humanity's nature has not changed since that time period. The people in this story suffer things that plenty of people suffer from even now. And that's another thing I love about this book. This is arguably Leigh's most risky installment in this series to date, given how timely the subjects she delves into currently are. And even though she is a Christian writer, she doesn't shy away from how people, even those we know and may even love, can descend into dangerous levels of evil, regardless of an underlying cause. I'm all for grace and forgiveness, but I'm glad she doesn't go easy on the perpetrators.
Characters: Man, the book on it's own is already good. But if you've read about some of these characters in previous titles, it makes it all the more poignant. Leigh takes us on an emotional journey with these characters from their highest highs to their lowest lows. I daresay, some of them even feel like Shakespearean tragedies. I know it's often said, but these characters really do feel like actual people. Even ones who chose a dark path to follow in life are given a reason – and then, not necessarily an excuse – for why they chose that path.
Laura Middleton – I seriously gotta hand it to Leigh for how she wrote Laura's character. Granted, it helps that she probably knew someone who suffered something similar, but it's always hard to write characters like this, not just in trying to be sensitive but also making them relatable to readers who haven't gone through something so bad. That all said, Laura is a heroine that I think anyone can get behind, and not just because of what she's suffered. When she was first introduced in "The Yielding," she seemed mousy and broken, though understandably so. In "The Awakening," she shows herself to be not only a survivor but a fighter! What I particularly like is that, even though she's suffered horrific trauma and stigmatization, her experiences and how they've made her who she is are neither dismissed nor exploited, nor do they prohibit her from growing as a character. She's definitely far more cautious and wiser than she was as a teenager. And now that Maude is gone, she realizes she hasn't been there for her daughter as much as she should've been, and immediately starts to make amends. She's even willing to admit that refusing to marry Lothaire could've resulted in more suffering for her and Clarice. While she's clearly been affected by what happened to her, she's not constantly crying or feeling sorry for herself. If anything, in both the past and present, she stands up for herself and fights as much as she can as long as she can. Even when Lothaire comes to her rescue, she's already unleashing on the guy who tried to assault her. I admit was a bit frustrated that she didn't tell Lothaire sooner. But when we cut to a flashback of the events leading to her assault, I totally understood why she had such a hard time. She has arguably the most gut-wrenching backstory out of all this series' main characters so far. But that makes her happy ending all the better!
Lothaire Soames – When I read "The Vexing," I didn't find Lothaire the most likeable guy and hoped he would be in "The Awakening." And, for all his flaws and mistakes – even if their mostly done out of ignorance – I'm happy to say that Leigh has won me over with the way she wrote Lothaire. As much as I wanted him to know Laura was innocent and didn't betray him, I wouldn't have felt that way if I didn't see potential in their marriage. Despite everything they endured both directly and indirectly, I wanted them to regain their lost love. It's such a rare thing (at least in fiction) for people who are betrothed to one another be in love, and I'm so glad it wasn't ultimately for naught, just delayed. Yet even without having to fall back in love with his former beloved, Lothaire has got a lot on his plate. Not only is he a baron reduced to a common labor – though that in all actuality shows how dedicated he is to Lexeter and its people – he also has to deal with an overbearing mother who caused this financial ruin by running Lexeter to the ground. Not to mention, she keeps undermining her son (supposedly) even though he's made it clear she's no longer in charge – despite delaying her departure to her dower property out of guilt. His father disappeared (or rather died) when he was only six years old, yet he's grown to be a more honorable and faithful person than either of his parents put together. Though it does help that he had Father Atticus in Thistle Cross to go to. Not to mention, he's surprisingly patient and even forgiving, especially when Sebille confesses to being the real mastermind behind Raisa's schemes. I'm glad he's on good terms with the Marshals and owns up to how he wronged Beata. But more importantly, I'm just happy he now knows how much he wronged Laura and that they finally have the happy marriage they once thought to be impossible!
Clarice – In many ways, Clarice reminds me of Judas from "The Longing." Both have gone through a lot (even if it was way more in Judas's case), and they're pretty mature for their age – though to be fair I guess a lot of kids, whatever their class, had to be back then. That said, despite being a product of rape and indirectly responsible for her mother's broken betrothal with Lothaire, I'm so glad that neither Laura nor Lothaire think ill of her. If anything, you could say she ironically symbolizes the restored love of her mother and stepfather. No kid should have a rapist for a father – and I'm glad it's left open-ended in regards to whether or not she ever knows – but it's clear she brings a lot of joy to Laura and even Lothaire. I loved the scenes where she and Lothaire are bonding over helping with the sheep. If nothing else, she's very fortunate to have him for a stepfather. Plus, I'm glad Laura is also taking responsibility for her as her mother. And even if they argue every once in awhile (as all kids and parents do), you can tell Clarice does love her mother and will not tolerate anyone saying or doing anything bad to her. In spite of her origins, I can tell Clarice is going to be a very pretty and charming young lady!
Raisa Soames – First we had Aldous Lavonne as the bitter, bedridden parent, now we have Raisa Soames! That said, she doesn't feel like just a female copy of Aldous. They do have plenty in common, but they're also pretty different and distinct. For one thing, while Aldous did have traces of goodness in him, there's next to none of that with Raisa (with a bit of an exception toward the end, when she has her stroke and dies). I get that her vanity, selfishness, and insecurities likely come from marrying much later than most noblewomen and being married to a man of mistresses. I even get how hurt she no doubt was when she learned that the Sebille she knew and loved was not the one she gave birth to. But still, she was prepared to let her real deformed daughter be left out in the woods and took out her rage on her stepdaughter by rejecting her and emotionally abusing her! And even though that debacle helped me at least somewhat understand her scorn toward Laura – misguided and terrible though it was – but how much crueler can you get by bruising your daughter-in-law and insulting her nine-year-old girl?! Even if she wasn't behind all those things, and even if she was pitiful by the time she died, I won't miss her.
Sebille Soames – I like that even though this story was the culmination of a character we'd met before (in Laura), the book centers its final climax on arguably one of the most complex characters in the "Age of Faith" series: Lothaire's sister (or half-sister), Sebille. I will admit, I did think it was a little convoluted at first when it was revealed she was behind all these schemes (even if they were only staged as such) to make Raisa look bad and convince Lothaire to finally send her to her dower property. But looking back on it, the way the story leads into the reveal is really pretty clever. On the one hand, I wanted to be mad at Sebille for sabotaging Laura's wedding to Lothaire, using money Lexeter needed to fund her false schemes, and putting Laura and later Clarice in danger. But on the other, I could tell she did love and care about her brother, not to mention her own trauma at finding out she's not Raisa's daughter, losing her beloved father, and bearing the brunt of her stepmother's hatred and emotional abuse. And to top it all off, she obviously loved Sir Angus but was too burdened by false guilt and an equally false sense of obligation to marry him. Still, I am glad she genuinely repented and was forgiven by both Laura and Lothaire.
Various Other Characters – Just to get this out of the way, I was chilled and disturbed (in a good way) at the portrayal of Simon D'Arci in this. I thought he was bad enough in "The Yielding." But then, when we get to the flashback sequence where he decides to have his way with Laura…I was shocked…that was… Wow. While the act itself is not described (Thank heaven!), I had to force myself to keep reading and by the end of that chapter I felt sick. What made it even worse was that not only was he barely seventeen years old, he was someone Laura knew and grew up with and was friends with. All I can say is I'm glad he's out of her life! As for another character we love to hate, I'm glad that Martin the physician gets a taste of his own medicine (no pun intended) every time he gives it to other people. But, moving on to more pleasant characters, I liked Sir Angus and felt bad for his own lost love with Sebille. That said, I like how he stood up to her on Laura's behalf. Speaking of Laura, I liked how her maid Tina was not only happy to do her duty but also actively stood up for her mistress, particularly when she shoves Martin away. It was also great to see Durand and Beata again and see them reconciling with (at least) Lothaire by returning his father's body. And I'm so happy they're having twins! Speaking of Ricard, I like how he at least cared enough about Raisa to give her the daughter he thought she wanted – misguided though it was – and was as honest as he could be with Sebille, in addition to doing what he thought was best by taking her to the Abbey where she was born. And I love that that ends up being the reason why he'd stopped at the home of Beata's family that same day he was killed. He was on his way to warn Sebille's real mother! I also liked Father Atticus and how he seemed a genuine man of God, counseling Lothaire and Sebille even when their mother threw him out. And once again, I loved the portrayal of Eleanor of Aquitaine! While she can kinda come across as manipulative, she clearly cares about her cousin and wants her to be happy and well in her marriage to Lothaire. If anything, she proves herself right in knowing what was best for them both!
Overall: While this book deals with sensitive subject matter, I thought it was handled with care and dignity. It is a bit long, but not for the wrong reasons. Ultimately though, I had an absolute blast reading this book! I wish nothing but the best for Laura and Lothaire and can't wait to read "The Raveling!"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2021
I was nervous going into this story because Sir Lothaire Soames did something in The Vexing that, well, vexed me! Could he be redeemed? Would I be able to like him? Would he be good enough for Laura? That answer is a resounding yes! I loved this story! Everything about it, especially Lothaire Soames!
Second chance romances are a favorite of mine and this one is definitely one of my favorites! I loved Lothaire and Laura! I loved how they reconnected and fell back in love. I also loved how Lothaire helped Laura through her fears. I also really enjoyed the twist that I didn’t see coming at the end of this wonderful story!
This entire series wonderful! Every story has been a keeper for me. I’m sad that there’s only one left! If you have not read a Tamara Leigh story, I highly recommend anything she writes!
Second chance romances are a favorite of mine and this one is definitely one of my favorites! I loved Lothaire and Laura! I loved how they reconnected and fell back in love. I also loved how Lothaire helped Laura through her fears. I also really enjoyed the twist that I didn’t see coming at the end of this wonderful story!
This entire series wonderful! Every story has been a keeper for me. I’m sad that there’s only one left! If you have not read a Tamara Leigh story, I highly recommend anything she writes!
December 31, 2019
If Lothaire hadn't have been so pigheaded, this book would've taken a different course...I'm not displeased with how things ended up, but the pig-headed rudeness of the male characters in Leigh's books is starting to get a tad old. I understand they are all fairly proud knight dudes, but come on...do NONE of them ever act kindly towards someone who has hurt them?--or rather, even to someone they IMAGINE has hurt them but hasn't?
July 9, 2018
My review today is on the Medieval Romance, The Awakening. This is book seven in the Age of Faith Series. I have loved this series, in fact it is the only one I have bought. Most of the books I read are sent to me by the authors. This book is well written, heart warming, and full of faith. I really love the way Tamara writes. I know you will love this one too.
Ten years ago Lady Laura became betrothed to the Lord Lothaire. He visited several times and they both fell in love and were thrilled with the upcoming wedding. Childhood friend Simon reminds Laura that she promised to wed him. When she tells him she was but a child he ravished her, beat her, and left her in the basement broken. When Lathaire returns several months later the engagement is broken. He seeks her out at the lake but it is evident that she is with child. Feeling betrayed he left. Laura tells no one but withdraws from life. She allows Simon's mother to raise her daughter. After her grandmother's death her daughter is caught in a situation that causes Laura to awaken. She must help her nine year old daughter before the same thing happens to her. She contacts her cousin Queen Eleanor about finding her a husband.
Baron of Owen, Lord Lothaire Soames was betrayed by his betrothed. He marrys soon, this woman he chose in hopes of saving his lands and his people. But his wife was in love with another. He finds her in the arms of her lover, she then soon dies. His second wife was to save his lands but loved another and the queen had the marriage annulled. Lothaire goes to the Queen to find him a wife to save his lands.
The Queen has her own plans and insists that Laura and Lothaire must marry. The journey of these two is anything but straight. His overbearing mother, a sister that has lost herself in carrying for her mother, and a daughter who has been spoiled cause all kind of dips and bumps along their way. God has a plan for these two. a good plan for a hope and a future. God has a plan for you too, a good plan and not for evil. Give Him your heart and watch him turn your life around.
Ten years ago Lady Laura became betrothed to the Lord Lothaire. He visited several times and they both fell in love and were thrilled with the upcoming wedding. Childhood friend Simon reminds Laura that she promised to wed him. When she tells him she was but a child he ravished her, beat her, and left her in the basement broken. When Lathaire returns several months later the engagement is broken. He seeks her out at the lake but it is evident that she is with child. Feeling betrayed he left. Laura tells no one but withdraws from life. She allows Simon's mother to raise her daughter. After her grandmother's death her daughter is caught in a situation that causes Laura to awaken. She must help her nine year old daughter before the same thing happens to her. She contacts her cousin Queen Eleanor about finding her a husband.
Baron of Owen, Lord Lothaire Soames was betrayed by his betrothed. He marrys soon, this woman he chose in hopes of saving his lands and his people. But his wife was in love with another. He finds her in the arms of her lover, she then soon dies. His second wife was to save his lands but loved another and the queen had the marriage annulled. Lothaire goes to the Queen to find him a wife to save his lands.
The Queen has her own plans and insists that Laura and Lothaire must marry. The journey of these two is anything but straight. His overbearing mother, a sister that has lost herself in carrying for her mother, and a daughter who has been spoiled cause all kind of dips and bumps along their way. God has a plan for these two. a good plan for a hope and a future. God has a plan for you too, a good plan and not for evil. Give Him your heart and watch him turn your life around.
January 22, 2018
Lady Laura Middleton is damaged goods. Once betrothed to the Baron Lothaire Soames, Laura has fallen into scandal and must find a way to care for herself and her tainted daughter. She approaches her distant cousin Queen Eleanor for help and is given four suitors to choose from - one happens to be her former betrothed the handsome Baron Lothaire Soames. Ten years since he last saw Laura, but his desperate need for funds overrides his feelings of her past betrayal. Can Lothaire put aside his hurt and bitterness to make a marriage work with his former betrothed? Can Laura see herself as anything but damaged goods?
Leigh weaves a magnificent story of devastation and betrayal. But who is the true Judas? The Awakening is by far the most intricate of plot lines that I have read of her Age of Faith books. I could not put the book down and read far into the night. My only qualm is that she doesn’t give as much physical description of her characters all throughout the book that I would like. But the Medieval language is so accurate that it takes a few pages to get into the swing of reading her steady cadence.
“She stepped forward and placed on Lothaire’s arm the slender fingers recently familiar with the other man. ‘Your rival, Lord Benton, the handsome Baron Soames of Lexeter. The fourth of four-well, I believe ‘tis only four – suitors.’ She made a face that once more sent Lothaire into the past. ‘We shall see, hmm?’ She released him, and he breathed again. But only for a moment. As she turned away, the ends of her unbound hair swept his wrist and the back of his hand, and he remembered the feel of strands he should never have drawn his fingers through.”
Another magnificent tale and one I highly recommend. Although The Awakening can stand on its own as a single read, the series is best read as a whole.
Leigh weaves a magnificent story of devastation and betrayal. But who is the true Judas? The Awakening is by far the most intricate of plot lines that I have read of her Age of Faith books. I could not put the book down and read far into the night. My only qualm is that she doesn’t give as much physical description of her characters all throughout the book that I would like. But the Medieval language is so accurate that it takes a few pages to get into the swing of reading her steady cadence.
“She stepped forward and placed on Lothaire’s arm the slender fingers recently familiar with the other man. ‘Your rival, Lord Benton, the handsome Baron Soames of Lexeter. The fourth of four-well, I believe ‘tis only four – suitors.’ She made a face that once more sent Lothaire into the past. ‘We shall see, hmm?’ She released him, and he breathed again. But only for a moment. As she turned away, the ends of her unbound hair swept his wrist and the back of his hand, and he remembered the feel of strands he should never have drawn his fingers through.”
Another magnificent tale and one I highly recommend. Although The Awakening can stand on its own as a single read, the series is best read as a whole.
April 16, 2019
Everyone knows that Lady Laura Middleton fell prey to seduction in her youth. Formerly engaged to Baron Lothaire Soames, her unexpected pregnancy by another man ended that betrothal most abruptly. Now, ten years later, she must make an advantageous marriage to oblige Queen Eleanor, and Lothaire Soames is the man the queen has chosen. Enticed by Laura’s sizable dowry, the impoverished Lothaire assumes that the only benefit to this obligatory marriage is the funds he’ll be able to pour into his failing estate. After all, who knows whether Laura will cuckold him again? And what is this lie she insists on telling, that she never stopped loving him even though all evidence (including her nine-year-old daughter) stands to the contrary?
This second-chance romance was intriguingly plotted. Lady Laura, overwhelmed by her past circumstances, has not been mentally present enough to guide and train her daughter into virtuous womanhood. She needs to come out of her cocoon and live again, and Lothaire, once he overcomes his pique, is just the man to help her do it. The story also has a Gothic flair to it as an unknown person in Lothaire’s keep attempts to sabotage their relationship with mischief of one kind or another.
This second-chance romance was intriguingly plotted. Lady Laura, overwhelmed by her past circumstances, has not been mentally present enough to guide and train her daughter into virtuous womanhood. She needs to come out of her cocoon and live again, and Lothaire, once he overcomes his pique, is just the man to help her do it. The story also has a Gothic flair to it as an unknown person in Lothaire’s keep attempts to sabotage their relationship with mischief of one kind or another.
March 16, 2021
This book has been on my TBR list forever, or so it seems. I read book 1-6 years ago. No clue why I didn't finish the series. So, I had to rack my brain over the characters. Some I remembered, some I didn't. However, that didn't make the book any less enjoyable. After several failed books this year, it's nice to have one that really pleased me.
Laura is stained, damaged, ruined. As a daughter of Eve instead of a sister of Mary (no clue the origins of this supposed religious diatribe), her reputation and engagement has been shattered beyond repair. Or so she thinks.
Lothaire believe himself cuckolded not once but twice needs to marry to save his estates. He is summoned by Queen Elanor's with the understanding that she has the perfect wife for him. Little does he know, it is his former fiancée. The one who wasn't faithful before their marriage.
This story is about love, restoration, forgiveness, and so many more wonderful traits. While also possessing hints of betrayal, attempted murder, ravishment, and sheep!
I laughed, I swooned, it moved me Bob! What a beautiful story! I'm very eager to reacquaint myself with the Wulfriths again. Especially after the Age of Conquest series.
I can rely on Tamara to provide me a great story to pull me out of book slumps!!
Laura is stained, damaged, ruined. As a daughter of Eve instead of a sister of Mary (no clue the origins of this supposed religious diatribe), her reputation and engagement has been shattered beyond repair. Or so she thinks.
Lothaire believe himself cuckolded not once but twice needs to marry to save his estates. He is summoned by Queen Elanor's with the understanding that she has the perfect wife for him. Little does he know, it is his former fiancée. The one who wasn't faithful before their marriage.
This story is about love, restoration, forgiveness, and so many more wonderful traits. While also possessing hints of betrayal, attempted murder, ravishment, and sheep!
I laughed, I swooned, it moved me Bob! What a beautiful story! I'm very eager to reacquaint myself with the Wulfriths again. Especially after the Age of Conquest series.
I can rely on Tamara to provide me a great story to pull me out of book slumps!!
December 9, 2023
3 stars I struggled with this for several reasons but was determined to finish the story because Leigh writes well. This is more historical fiction than romance although the plot was based on second chance love. There was unrequited love and heartbreak but still passionless.
The MCs felt stilted with no warmth between them, actually I bonded with none of the characters. The MMC (I can’t call him a hero) was bland and if not for the only dramatic moment, he’d still be plodding along, clueless.
The narrative sidled through the lives of the dysfunctional Soames family, too much introspection which stirred no one into action, slow, no burn. In spite of the secrets and potential drama, they still seemed grey and passive.
It picked up at about the halfway mark but not until 75% was there any real progress in the story. Finally the characters stepped out of their passivity, resolved key issues which actually made it more interesting going forward instead of wrapping up the story. I enjoyed this latter part, but just because comparatively the story seemed interesting.
Goodreads crashed so I lost my train of thought. A review for me is clearing the palate to enjoy the next, and I was not able to fully recreate my initial thoughts.
The MCs felt stilted with no warmth between them, actually I bonded with none of the characters. The MMC (I can’t call him a hero) was bland and if not for the only dramatic moment, he’d still be plodding along, clueless.
The narrative sidled through the lives of the dysfunctional Soames family, too much introspection which stirred no one into action, slow, no burn. In spite of the secrets and potential drama, they still seemed grey and passive.
It picked up at about the halfway mark but not until 75% was there any real progress in the story. Finally the characters stepped out of their passivity, resolved key issues which actually made it more interesting going forward instead of wrapping up the story. I enjoyed this latter part, but just because comparatively the story seemed interesting.
Goodreads crashed so I lost my train of thought. A review for me is clearing the palate to enjoy the next, and I was not able to fully recreate my initial thoughts.
January 26, 2018
I love her ability to tell a story. She weaves all of their lives together effortlessly and manages to discuss heavy and hard topics while infusing her novels with the feel of faith, hope, redemption and love. This book, though dealing with very difficult topics was a good reminder to not judge others, to be forgiving and that God can heal broken things. I am not sure how she does this, but Tamara manages to do it all with out being preachy. Laura, the Heroine, throughout the novel talks about being “awake” now. She went through something that was truly horrible that made her a shell of herself. But little by little throughout the story she wakes up more and more to live her life. I love how she uses that imagery. She also does it with water and how Laura just wants to feel clean. I love how in the end it is Lothaire, her twice betrothed whom helps her realize she is and always was clean.
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June 6, 2018
Nice story about Lothaire Soames who I felt somewhat sorry for in the last novel, The Vexing, and good to see him get a happy ending! Also interesting to see the background of Laura Middleton's character. I barely remembered her, but she was apparently introduced in the second novel. I don't remember her, I'm afraid!
I even liked most of the characters including young Clarice, and some of the details about Medieval life including sheep farming. I just can't put my finger on what I did not like about this book.
I enjoyed it overall: but I think perhaps certain plot- lines have started to become quite repetitive. And certain types of characterization as well.
A couple of Americanisms stood out as well like 'a quarter-hour': which probably would not have meant much to an 11th century person, since they went by the canonical hours for the most part. And they were of different lengths at different times of year.
I even liked most of the characters including young Clarice, and some of the details about Medieval life including sheep farming. I just can't put my finger on what I did not like about this book.
I enjoyed it overall: but I think perhaps certain plot- lines have started to become quite repetitive. And certain types of characterization as well.
A couple of Americanisms stood out as well like 'a quarter-hour': which probably would not have meant much to an 11th century person, since they went by the canonical hours for the most part. And they were of different lengths at different times of year.
April 19, 2020
I enjoy medieval romance. Handsome knights and lovely ladies in distress in the midst of spectacular kingdoms.
Lady Laura Middleton had true love thwarted by a traumatic event. Numbness has become her means of survival.
Baron Lothaire Soames has been under the manipulations of his mother for years. His view of women has been severely altered from reality.
I loved watching Lady Laura and Baron Lothaire's journey of deliverance and wholeness. I so appreciated the spiritual truths woven throughout. This book is hard to put down. I'm looking forward to the last installment of this series.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy medieval romance.
I borrowed a copy through Kindle Unlimited. All views expressed are my own opinion.
Lady Laura Middleton had true love thwarted by a traumatic event. Numbness has become her means of survival.
Baron Lothaire Soames has been under the manipulations of his mother for years. His view of women has been severely altered from reality.
I loved watching Lady Laura and Baron Lothaire's journey of deliverance and wholeness. I so appreciated the spiritual truths woven throughout. This book is hard to put down. I'm looking forward to the last installment of this series.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy medieval romance.
I borrowed a copy through Kindle Unlimited. All views expressed are my own opinion.
March 16, 2022
wonderful
At first, I didn’t think I would like Laura. She seemed shallow and child-like. But then I realized it was an act she put on, since now she was “awakened “ from the depression and apathy that had claimed her for many years. She was a minor character in the book about Beatrix, and it was learned there that she had been raped by Simon, who had died while assaulting Beatrix. Now we get to see her salvation from a terrible event. This book was heartbreaking in many ways. Because of scenes of rape and sexual assault, I hesitate to say it’s a clean romance, but the descriptions were not graphic. They are disturbing because of their nature, and not offensively depicted. I highly recommend this series.
At first, I didn’t think I would like Laura. She seemed shallow and child-like. But then I realized it was an act she put on, since now she was “awakened “ from the depression and apathy that had claimed her for many years. She was a minor character in the book about Beatrix, and it was learned there that she had been raped by Simon, who had died while assaulting Beatrix. Now we get to see her salvation from a terrible event. This book was heartbreaking in many ways. Because of scenes of rape and sexual assault, I hesitate to say it’s a clean romance, but the descriptions were not graphic. They are disturbing because of their nature, and not offensively depicted. I highly recommend this series.
October 15, 2019
I listened to the audio version of this book and was so immersed in the story that I could hardly make myself take off the earbuds. Great story by Tamara Leigh, in fact the entire series is excellent. I love this narrator who captures the essence of the characters whether male or female, adult or child and brings them fully to life. Secrets that have been too long kept by Laura Middleton and others finally come to light, breaking the hold of bitterness and sorrow in the Simms family. Redemption and many kinds of love come to light in the closing pages of this absorbing historical romance!
June 29, 2022
"But - oh! - the times I have tried to excuse my behavior by making as if I misplaced it. If you use your heart an think, speak, and act first out of love for Him, your marriage may prove one that seems of too short duration. Thus, when one of you loses the other, the pain will be bearable knowing your destination is the same, you r own journey but delayed."
If your want a read that is pure escapism to Medieval England filled with castles and Knights with real life issues, this is your author.
If your want a read that is pure escapism to Medieval England filled with castles and Knights with real life issues, this is your author.
November 4, 2019
Lost love redeemed is twice blessed!
I didn't like Sir Lothaire Soames in previous books but am so pleased the author was able to correct my misunderstanding of his character! His hurt was masked by arrogance and I loved immersing myself in his journey back to his first love, Lady Laura Middleton, and was ever so pleased they were able to learn that neither one gave up their love for the other and their lost love rekindled despite all their sufferings!
I didn't like Sir Lothaire Soames in previous books but am so pleased the author was able to correct my misunderstanding of his character! His hurt was masked by arrogance and I loved immersing myself in his journey back to his first love, Lady Laura Middleton, and was ever so pleased they were able to learn that neither one gave up their love for the other and their lost love rekindled despite all their sufferings!
January 26, 2018
Tamara did it again!! I never grow tires of her books and specially the Age of Faith serie. I love the idea of everyone knowing everyone from the other books and love the Wulfriths! As I know that Sir Elias romance soon comes, I wonder if Sir Angus and Sebille would also find theirs......
Thank you Tamara
Thank you Tamara
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