Claiming

The Gresham Chronicles/Norfolk Knights #1

by Saskia Knight

After her father's death, Lady Rowena Gresham wants nothing more than to be left alone to run her estates and live a life free from the destructive passion that had ruined her mother's life. But the year is 1207 and her father bequeaths the estates to a distant relative.Sir Saher de Bohun fought alongside her father for the King and has been rewarded with the wealthy Gresham estates, and the feisty Lady Rowena. But he will not take her by force and is determined to woo her into his bed.But will Saher's courtship be enough to allay her fears, enough to stop her from putting into action a plan, the discovery of which would incur both his displeasure and the King's wrath?Passion, hot enough to melt the heart of the iciest maiden, contained within.Claiming his Lady is a 23,000-word novella and was previously published as 'Claiming', book 1 in the Gresham Chronicles. —Norfolk Knights— Book 1--Claiming his LadyBook 2--Seducing his LadyBook 3--Awakening his LadyBook 4--Defending his Lady **full length novel**

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Medieval, Novella, Historical, Historical Fiction, Ebooks

98 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2014

Reviews

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars - English Ebook 🦋🌹🦋
Adult romantic reading

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars - English Ebook
A mix of historical romance and adult reading. Red ear reading.

[Autumn (Triquetra Reviews) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not exactly what I thought it would be. It was short, got through it in a few hours.

I noticed that the speech of the time period fluctuated and that ruined part of the story for me. I also didn't like how quickly things progressed. It was 2 days or something or other and then they were in love. A little too unrealistic for me.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/15/2020)! 🎁

[Elizabeth Bennet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has almost everything I look for in a read and while in a series is a stand alone. It really brings home how women were treated in medieval times. The h of this story is Lady Rowena Gresham and she has just learned, after the death of her father, that her keep, lands and her future all lies in the hands of Sir Saher de Bohun. Everything she thought to be her birth right is stripped away in an instant and she is further devastated when Saher informs her that they are to wed.

I liked Saher he is kind, gentle and fearless. We don't actually get to see the knight in battle but you just know he would have been awesome. The story focuses on the love story itself and bringing the two in a tight, unbreakable bond. That's what I liked about it. A little bit of action or suspense would have put it over the top but as it is it worked for me. The love scenes are hot as another reviewer described and the two are really sweet to one another once all fear is laid aside. I couldn't deduct a star when the story delivered the heat and romance as it did. Enjoy!

[Sarah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet historical read with a lot of passion being awoken. Claimed is definitely the right word as that’s what Sir Saher de Bohun wants to do with Rowena from the moment they meet. And if she’s really being honest with herself she wants to be claimed by him just as much.

Rowena was always her fathers’ favourite daughter. Almost like his shadow with helping running the castle and its land. It’s all she’s ever wanted to do, as she has no intention of ever marrying for she fears where it might lead. Her sisters’ paths are set – one married and the other taking orders to be a nun – and so she thought hers until their father died. Her father always led her to believe that the castle, land and all it makes would be hers to run after his passing. She is in for quite the shock when the sheriff and a priest turn up to tell her otherwise. It seems her father left the castle and all its land to another, one Sir Saher de Bohun. That’s not all he left, as it seems she is now within that deal also. If she leaves she will lose that which she loves most and have nothing but if she stays she will live with a stranger. One she fears will draw forth her passionate nature and in doing so seal her fate like her mothers.

Saher always wanted land of his own and is pleased to take over the Gresham estate. He knew Rowena’s father well and trusted him. He might have spoken of his daughters strong will but its not until he meets Rowena that he truly believes the force of it. He knew what he was to be promised and is keen to set a life forward but he will not force her to stay. Going further when they are married he will not force himself on her either. No matter how much she temps him. One kiss sparks more passion than either was expecting and it’s not long before he sees a way forward with his new wife. He must woo and seduce her to come to him, her reactions only fueling him on to what he knows they both want. It’s her passionate nature that pulls her back though with fear, this fear he wants to rid her of.

She wants to plan an escape all the while he is trying to get to know her. The longer they are in each other’s company the more her mind, and body, changes with what she wants. Can she truly trust him with her heart and body as well as her land?

Fun short historical read to chill out to on a cozy afternoon. Would be interesting to see how her sisters fare from here on too.

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[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Rowena's father has died. She had shared in the running of the estate for years and was sure he had left it to her. But instead, it is now the property of Sir Saher. It is her father's desire that they marry, and since that is the only way she can keep her family's estate, she agrees. But Saher is a kind, good man who refuses to force her, instead vowing to woo her. And he does. The dialog at the end about trust being built and not instant is spot on. Liked it a lot and will be continuing the series.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone looking to read a steamy story?

If you're looking for well written sex you've come to the right place. With a good underlying message, the book was the perfect escape. My only problem...too short! It didn't feel like a story, not enough tension. Regardless, I recommend this to anyone looking for a steamy tale.

[Rosemary Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unfamiliar take on a foreign world

When Rowena's father died suddenly, her world is upended. The life, the wealth, the power she believed she was promised vanished when she learns the disposition her parent had made of her and her property. Now she has no choice but to pursue other options.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew

Not quite the book I expected. I have been reading the De Wolfe books. They have more action in them. A different period in English history I guess. It was a really a good read, but not what have come to expect from Kathryn Leveque.
Us

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short read. Pov from her side and only one from his side?
I wanted more from him I can glean more thru what he said. But I wanted to know his thoughts. 🙁

Happened to quickly for my taste. Of course anything can happen in a day....

Sahr ❤️Rowena
Glad of their happiness 💖

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahead of her time

Headstrong heroine, seemingly patient hero. Good to see that her fears were not summarily dismissed. Moving on to the next in the series.

[kattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claiming

I loved this story, I recommend everyone to read this book. I look forward to reading more of her books. Kattie 11/10/17.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story that has all of the elements necessary to make you swoon! Romance, danger, and a hot, sexy, and dangerous knight.

[Cynthia Roberts Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was awesome

I enjoyed reading this book. I had a hard time putting it down. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters and storyline so much that I actually wanted more.

[Evelyn Derenzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing!

Loved the strong characters, the story plot, and the love that envelopes the oldest sister with an unknown knight chosen by her father.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very quick read. Hard to tell if it was lust or love.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betrayed by her father

Rowena felt betrayed after her father died, she didnt know the plans he laid out for her. And she didnt believe her father would do that to her.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, fast story with quite a few steamy scenes interspersed throughout.

[Thom Swennes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Until the beginning of the last century, women have had to struggle in a man’s world. During the Middle Ages the position of women was perilously low as to be almost nonexistent. This is the first book of The Gresham Chronicles – Three Sisters… Three Loves… The three sisters are Lady Angelique (Angel), Lady Melisende (Melly) and Lady Rowena Gresham. The first two sisters have both appeared to conform to the times in which they lived but Rowena, was as rebellious as her father. Living the life she had always dreamed of, assisting her father in the running of his castle and estate, Rowena was happy and fully expected to continue this life even after the death of her father. In this assumption she was wrong. Shortly after his death she is visited by the sheriff and a priest. The sheriff informs her that the castle, estates and indeed herself have been given to a distant and hitherto unknown and distant family member. How will she weather this unexpected storm? Will she go gentle in the night or fighting like the she-cat she’s always been? This is an interesting novella that keeps the reader’s hands and eyes busy as it they consume the words like a thirsty man water. If this is any indication of the rest of The Gresham Chronicles, many people will be reading and enjoying them as I will.

[Marren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A combination of attraction and the result of two lustful world colliding. The former line serves as an apt assessment of Claiming. I felt that the story was too short and certain events like Rowena’s fear of the Tower could be a lengthier subplot to add more taste to a vivid story. However, it is advertised as a novella so what can I say? Claiming introduced me to the shortest courtship in the history of getting to know someone. It was dynamic and attention grabbing moment; I had to read more to find out how Sir Saher and Rowena would axe down dividing walls.
It is a novella with erotic material; one may even describe it an erotic novella. The cover page depicts one of the riveting sex scenes. One of the benefits of Claiming is its guide for first time or inexperience lovers. If you do not desire asking anyone about lovemaking, well Sir Saher will tell you exactly what to anticipate. [You got extra points Sir Saher points for sharing the sex education. *winks*]
I am not an expert on all things medieval but I thought that the sex talk however did not sound like medieval dialogue. Maybe I am wrong but based on other readings, at times the novella reads like a post-modern one.

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to read a trashy (I mean that in the best possible way here, I'm using trashy as a complement), fun, bodice ripping over the top story. I was searching my kindle, going over the insane amount of free books I downloaded without thinking about it and chose this baby. I guess I wasn't really in the right mood after all when I first started reading this story, it annoyed me to no end. So I put my kindle down and came back to it a few days later. When I picked up the story again I started to enjoy it a little better and appreciated it for what it was. The arrogant, conceited, extremely self assured sexy beast of a man who steals his woman's land and fortunes, forces her to marry him, treats his woman kind of crappy, only thinks about ripping her cloths off and ravaging her senseless is someone the heroine desperately wants for reasons, and is completely a hero to the readers eyes because he won't rape or beat his wife when she won't sleep with him even though she desperately wants to is still pretty annoying. It is what it is. Not a bad read upon rethinking about it, it's exactly what this type of bodice ripping romp sets out to be. The sex scenes could of been written a little more steamy. It's not horrible, a quick read.

[J. Kahele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blurb:
After her father's death, Lady Rowena Gresham wants nothing more than to be left alone to run her estates and live a life free from the destructive passion that had ruined her mother's life. But the year is 1207 and her father bequeaths the estates to a distant relative.

Sir Saher de Bohun fought alongside her father for the King and has been rewarded with the wealthy Gresham estates, and the feisty Lady Rowena. But he will not take her by force and is determined to woo her into his bed.

But will Saher's courtship be enough to allay her fears, enough to stop her from putting into action a plan, the discovery of which would incur both his displeasure and the King's wrath?

Passion, hot enough to melt the heart of the iciest maiden, contained within.

It was the first time that a blurb has perfectly matched the story, to a tee. I enjoyed the medieval romance.

[Cozen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was exactly what I thought I was going to read. That was it. There wasn't anything out of the basic story to pull me in. The only really issue I had was at the beginning. The constant use of the term "liege lord" irritated the dickens out of me. Maybe it was how they talked at that time but it sounded awkward and out of place. Not to mention it sounded redundant. I have heard the word and used "liege" before but never with lord. Do they not mean exactly the same thing? Like if I was to say, "I have total loyalty to my spouse wife.” I haven't studied the subject ever so I just may be off in my musings.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and somewhat predictable in places, this book is entertainment without the twists of other historical romances.

I enjoyed the book, the story flowed nicely – taking the reader on a historically accurate trip through the rites of monetary ownership and woman’s place within the times.

Rowena is fantastically portrayed and the interactions depicted with Saher are wonderfully and passionately written.

This book is definitely worth reading as it allows for an entertaining read while letting the mind wander free.

[Petula · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★
Lady Rowena's father has recently died, and she is devastated to find little that her inheritance is dependant on taking a husband. The husband her father chose for her is Sir Saher de Bohan.
Rowena has many reasons not to want a husband. Some are because of the smuggling that she and her father were involved in. The other is a personal fear.

I enjoyed this book. It has a bit of adventure and a lovely romance. Our hero is strong, gentle and determined. Our heroine is also strong and determined but vulnerable.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid start to an enjoyable medieval romance. A sexy, compassionate, emotionally complex hero finds his match in a brave, but vulnerable and emotionally injured young woman. Truly enjoyed this dramatic, heated love story, but too short to gain a favorites place. Another author who shows much promise and one who I will gladly read the works of.

[A.B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grabbed this off iBooks as a free read while stuck in a waiting room. It’s an interesting story though I did not like the main character for most of it, the plot was quick and the price was right. I will probably check out a sample of the next book to see if I like the MC more and decide whether or not to continue on with the series.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a good no-thinking fluff book. Knight got me interested in the other two stories as this one progressed, but also kept the books separate, which I think speaks volumes to talent. This was a great mental fluff book, but if you are wanting sucked in, deep thinking drama, you'll need another book.