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League of the Blade #1
Thrill of the Knight
A lady's deception Lady Elizabeth Hutton will never succumb to the ambitions of a neighboring lord—even after his soldiers imprison the newly orphaned heiress in her own bedchamber. Ever resourceful, the proud beauty has devised a strategy to escape the devil who's determined to possess her and her great she will switch roles with her loyal maid so that she can save herself and her people. A knight's rapture Sir John Russell's love of adventure has always carried him to far-flung places and dangers—and now he must ride to the rescue of the noblewoman he's betrothed to but hasn't seen since boyhood. However, it is not his bride-to-be but her bewitching servant who enflames his passion—and Sir John's desire for the fiery beauty threatens to undermine his sacred, sworn oath, forcing a noble knight into the most devastating choice of his between duty and honor . . . or ecstasy and disgrace.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 27, 2007
4 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Julia Latham
8 books26 followersGayle Kloecker grew up in Erie, Pensylvaina, daughter of Renee and Francis Kloecker. In the college, she started to study engineering, but she left it. She married James Callen, and they had three children: Jim, Michelle, and Laura. The family resides in a suburb of Central New York.
She needed 13 years to sell her first novel in 1999. Named the "Notable New Author of 1999," Gayle has also won the Holt Medallion and the Laurel Wreath Award, and finaled in the National Readers Choice Awards. A past President of the Central New York Romance Writers, she is also a member of Romance Writers of America, the Authors Guild, and Novelists Inc. She wrote also under the pseudoyms of Julia Latham and Emma Cane. Besides writing, she loves to read, sing, crochet, and delve too deeply into historical research.
She needed 13 years to sell her first novel in 1999. Named the "Notable New Author of 1999," Gayle has also won the Holt Medallion and the Laurel Wreath Award, and finaled in the National Readers Choice Awards. A past President of the Central New York Romance Writers, she is also a member of Romance Writers of America, the Authors Guild, and Novelists Inc. She wrote also under the pseudoyms of Julia Latham and Emma Cane. Besides writing, she loves to read, sing, crochet, and delve too deeply into historical research.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 26, 2015
Protagonista femenino: Lady Elizabeth, una mujer super independiente, super dedicada con la causa de salvar a su gente, sacrificada, blablablabalba, me dieron ganas de darle tirones de pelo en ciertas situaciones, pero bueno, si ella quiere ser carne de cañón de todo, ¿qué le voy a decir yo?
Protagonista masculino: Lord John, aaaa.. Noble es una palabra que lo describe a la perfection(?). Muchas ganas de ayudar, muchas ganas de ...qué se yo, comprometerse con la causa.. Es atento, bueno. No mucho más que decir.
Historia: Promete al principio, y por un momento creí que sería algo interesante, pero caí como una tonta, porque aunque la trama tiene su ritmo no era lo que prometía, y no estuvo mal, pero tampoco es algo que recordaré toda mi vida.
Villano: no es tan malo, ninguno de ellos en realidad. No comete graves maldades, no corre sangre en ningún momento, es como si a la autora le diera cosita matar a algún personaje o dañar a alguien, así que todos son terriblemente.. humanos, no son malas! No realmente malas. El villano no comete villanias!
Trama: A causa del "villano" no hay mucho que decir, creí que todo sería un tira y afloja en toda la historia, pero en realidad.. fueron muchos acontecimientos sin mucha relevancia que.. bueno.. ensachan la historia en todas sus páginas.
Romance: me gustó, no hay amor a primera vista del que tanto me asqueo, me gusta su relación, o sea pude ver que después de que "todo" pasara, serían una buena pareja. Pero, son terriblemente cursissss.. hasta yo tengo mis límites.
Pegas: Siglo XV, si hay un período histórico que no me gusta, es ese.. Siglo XV, No puedo imaginarme cómo se visten, cómo se bañan, cómo comen (con las manos :O) cómo hablan .-. Caballeros, damiselas, castillos, y toda la onda como que no es lo mío..
Protagonista masculino: Lord John, aaaa.. Noble es una palabra que lo describe a la perfection(?). Muchas ganas de ayudar, muchas ganas de ...qué se yo, comprometerse con la causa.. Es atento, bueno. No mucho más que decir.
Historia: Promete al principio, y por un momento creí que sería algo interesante, pero caí como una tonta, porque aunque la trama tiene su ritmo no era lo que prometía, y no estuvo mal, pero tampoco es algo que recordaré toda mi vida.
Villano: no es tan malo, ninguno de ellos en realidad. No comete graves maldades, no corre sangre en ningún momento, es como si a la autora le diera cosita matar a algún personaje o dañar a alguien, así que todos son terriblemente.. humanos, no son malas! No realmente malas. El villano no comete villanias!
Trama: A causa del "villano" no hay mucho que decir, creí que todo sería un tira y afloja en toda la historia, pero en realidad.. fueron muchos acontecimientos sin mucha relevancia que.. bueno.. ensachan la historia en todas sus páginas.
Romance: me gustó, no hay amor a primera vista del que tanto me asqueo, me gusta su relación, o sea pude ver que después de que "todo" pasara, serían una buena pareja. Pero, son terriblemente cursissss.. hasta yo tengo mis límites.
Pegas: Siglo XV, si hay un período histórico que no me gusta, es ese.. Siglo XV, No puedo imaginarme cómo se visten, cómo se bañan, cómo comen (con las manos :O) cómo hablan .-. Caballeros, damiselas, castillos, y toda la onda como que no es lo mío..
December 15, 2017
priča je zanimljiva i ima sve atribute da bude odlična ali način pisanja autora mi nikako ne odgovara, fali mi ono nešto
April 1, 2015
Shhhhh I'm not saying it's a good book but it sure made for some excellent guilty pleasure reading!
April 17, 2009
This is one of books that were thrown out of our local library and brought home by my old landlord. I was too embarrassed to admit to it until now my conciensce bids me confess to I accidently falling down the slippery slope of the hooky plots that these cotton-wool soft porn novels so easily ensnare the reader with in the first few pages and continue to drag the hapless victim through hours and hours of dreary and sordid reading until the last page is finally attained like a prison release.
Neverthless I cannot say that I truly regret reading this one. Set in the ‘Middle Ages’ this novel reads like a throwaway hollywood romance. Not even lip service is bothered with in regards to historical accuracy and some idiosyncrasies are quite funny. The characters say “nay”instead of no a bit, the syntax is slightly archaic and that’s about it.
There are only two or three sex scenes in it and I think that therin lies its charm and value. It is a book about courtship written from a female perspective. I learned much from it.
LESSON I: WOMEN'S BRAINS TURN TO MUSH IN THE PRESENCE OF ATTRACTIVE MEN.
It would appear that women may not like the idea of accepting a man, because they think that they are worth more but their brains actually turn to mush when the physical presence of the suitor and his attentions are directed towards them. Useful bit of info that. Apparently all the meticulously resolved reservations that they have regarding the suitor go out the window as soon as he is actually there.
LESSON II: MEN THINK THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO WHATEVER THEY CAN GET THEIR HANDS ON. (WHICH INCIDENTALLY MAKES PERFECT SENSE)
WOMEN THINK THAT THEY DESERVE TO BE GIVEN STUFF SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE SO WORTH IT. (HMMMM.... OK.)
And lots of little lessons besides. A thoroughly pleasant snog with a middle American housewife who likes the Middle Ages.
Neverthless I cannot say that I truly regret reading this one. Set in the ‘Middle Ages’ this novel reads like a throwaway hollywood romance. Not even lip service is bothered with in regards to historical accuracy and some idiosyncrasies are quite funny. The characters say “nay”instead of no a bit, the syntax is slightly archaic and that’s about it.
There are only two or three sex scenes in it and I think that therin lies its charm and value. It is a book about courtship written from a female perspective. I learned much from it.
LESSON I: WOMEN'S BRAINS TURN TO MUSH IN THE PRESENCE OF ATTRACTIVE MEN.
It would appear that women may not like the idea of accepting a man, because they think that they are worth more but their brains actually turn to mush when the physical presence of the suitor and his attentions are directed towards them. Useful bit of info that. Apparently all the meticulously resolved reservations that they have regarding the suitor go out the window as soon as he is actually there.
LESSON II: MEN THINK THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO WHATEVER THEY CAN GET THEIR HANDS ON. (WHICH INCIDENTALLY MAKES PERFECT SENSE)
WOMEN THINK THAT THEY DESERVE TO BE GIVEN STUFF SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE SO WORTH IT. (HMMMM.... OK.)
And lots of little lessons besides. A thoroughly pleasant snog with a middle American housewife who likes the Middle Ages.
December 15, 2010
OK, I like medieval romance, but I'm always frustrated when I can see a simple solution to the central conflict of the story, and the author either skims over it, or, as in this case, invents a reason that it couldn't work. Here, the heroine simply had to marry the hero, and the whole problem would be solved. The author makes mention of a necessity of having the banns read - theoretically, without a special license (which the villain got, not surprisingly) there could be no sudden marriage, despite the fact that hero and heroine were officially betrothed.
In point of fact, the Council of Trent, where the law began to require the reading of banns, didn't get passed until 1563, and this story takes place early in the reign of Henry VII (1485-1509). I'm no expert on the marriage laws of this period, but I think prior to the Council of Trent, if a couple was betrothed, the mere consummation of the marriage made it official, or at the very most, the exchange of vows before a witness did the trick.
Otherwise, this is a wonderfully entertaining story, though as is often the case, the heroine endures bad treatment (not from the hero this time, thank God) far more docilely than I'd like.
In point of fact, the Council of Trent, where the law began to require the reading of banns, didn't get passed until 1563, and this story takes place early in the reign of Henry VII (1485-1509). I'm no expert on the marriage laws of this period, but I think prior to the Council of Trent, if a couple was betrothed, the mere consummation of the marriage made it official, or at the very most, the exchange of vows before a witness did the trick.
Otherwise, this is a wonderfully entertaining story, though as is often the case, the heroine endures bad treatment (not from the hero this time, thank God) far more docilely than I'd like.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2014
I took a break from Regency romances to try this series of a Middle Age betrothal gone wrong. Meh I was looking for something like the comaradierie of the Brotherhood of the Black Dagger without the vamps. Alas the League of the Blade appears minimally other than rumors of them and a brief showing late in Thrill of the Knight. Instead this story is about a young woman whose wedding contract stipulated she be married to the heir of ___. (Forgot title). After the first 2 brothers died she is awaiting the 3rd one to show up. Meanwhile she is running her estate without a male which left her vulnerable to be considered needing guardianship. When the king's cousin shows up to "protect" her Elizabeth switches places with her servant Anne. They stall hoping that John the sword fighting 3rd son will come to save her. John comes with one servant and disguises himself to gain entry. Unfortunately he has limited funds due to the reckless spending of his perfect and now deceased eldest brother. There is a lot of mistrust in this book and confusing switching identities. I will try book 2 to see if The League of the Blade becomes more prevalent and makes a better book. Another goodreads' reviewer said book 2 is better. I hope or it is Good knight to this series.
July 22, 2017
Ik heb de in het Nederlands vertaalde versie gelezen : Bevrijd me - Candlelight Historische roman 748
Ik heb een beetje moeite met het geven van een rapport cijfer ( een 5je ) voor dit boek , het is uiteindelijk een naar boven afgeronde 3 sterren geworden .
Het verhaal is niet slecht geschreven maar er is gewoon helemaal niets verrassends in , het is het standaard verhaal van de jonkvrouwe in nood die gered wordt door de nobele ridder .
Ik heb een beetje moeite met het geven van een rapport cijfer ( een 5je ) voor dit boek , het is uiteindelijk een naar boven afgeronde 3 sterren geworden .
Het verhaal is niet slecht geschreven maar er is gewoon helemaal niets verrassends in , het is het standaard verhaal van de jonkvrouwe in nood die gered wordt door de nobele ridder .
November 12, 2019
Kind of boring
December 30, 2019
Entretenido, sin más. Clásica historia de caballero rescata dama.
October 20, 2008
It is a good thing that I read the second book first. If I would have read this to begin with, I probably would have given up on this series. I was so frustrated while reading this book. The character of Elizabeth just irritated me to no end. She just kept blathering on about how great Sir John's brother was to his face. I had to force myself to finish this one. Needless to say, I really don't give it many high points. The characters of Lady Elizabeth and Sir John just annoyed me. I would pass this one up.
December 11, 2012
Despite several attempts, I just couldn't stay interested in this one. I would read a chapter or two at a time -- having to re-read pages that made no real impression the first time around -- and then put it down in favor of something else. Eventually, I gave up altogether without getting even halfway through the book.
October 25, 2014
Great Book #1. I was reading this while my son was doing his homework. He would read for 20 minutes & so would I. I got to the middle of the book when John & Elizabeth found out who each other was & I had to finish it that very night because I couldn't put it down. On to Book #2.
March 6, 2009
Strong heroine, strong hero, great story. Lots of action and romance.
July 7, 2009
Enjoyable!
March 23, 2015
Nothing really special or memorable, but I did enjoy it.
May 13, 2014
Don't judge me for reading this. It wasn't as bad as the cover suggests. It was good for a quick read to kill time. Also, it was free from the library...
December 30, 2015
4.5 stars. A nice quick read.
March 30, 2016
Just nice,...nothing more,.........
July 24, 2017
Leído en Enero 2010
Un romance Medieval que no es un periodo que me guste mucho... por eso he leído pocos de este tiempo... pero estuvo bien la trama y algunos personajes
Un romance Medieval que no es un periodo que me guste mucho... por eso he leído pocos de este tiempo... pero estuvo bien la trama y algunos personajes
January 31, 2023
Uno más de tantos de histórica que he leído.
Neus, no lo intentes más con esta autora.
Neus, no lo intentes más con esta autora.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews