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Knights
In medieval England, Gloriana, Lady of Kenbrook, awaits her husband, Dane St. Gregory, whom she has not seen since childhood. She is stunned to discover that he has returned with a betrothed; beautiful Gloriana is to be cast into a nunnery. Dane's mysterious sister-in-law, Elaina, counsels her to win Dane's heart or see the entire Kenbrook line imperiled.
Entranced by her passionate will, he cannot resist Gloriana's potent charm, while she falls ever more deeply in love with Dane, her valiant swordsman. But their newfound happiness is brief — suddenly, Gloriana is swept across the chasm of time to a dazzling future. Trapped centuries apart, Gloriana and Dane suffer the torment of their longing, knowing that only their love for one another and the strength of their desire can reunite them at last.
Entranced by her passionate will, he cannot resist Gloriana's potent charm, while she falls ever more deeply in love with Dane, her valiant swordsman. But their newfound happiness is brief — suddenly, Gloriana is swept across the chasm of time to a dazzling future. Trapped centuries apart, Gloriana and Dane suffer the torment of their longing, knowing that only their love for one another and the strength of their desire can reunite them at last.
376 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1996
About the author
Linda Lael Miller
549 books3,280 followersThe daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West. Raised in Northport, Washington, Linda pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a spacious property outside Spokane.
Linda traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold Fletcher’s Woman in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Long a passionate Civil War buff, Linda has studied the era avidly for almost thirty years. She has read literally hundreds of books on the subject, explored numerous battlegrounds and made many visits to her favorite, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she has witnessed re-enactments of the legendary clash between North and South. Linda explores that turbulent time in The Yankee Widow, a May 7, 2019 MIRA Books hardcover, also available in digital and audiobook formats.
Dedicated to helping others, “The First Lady of the West” personally financed fifteen years of her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, which she awarded to women 25 years and older who were seeking to improve their lot in life through education. She anticipates that her next charitable endeavors will benefit four-legged critters.
More information about Linda and her novels is available at www.lindalaelmiller.com, on Facebook and from Nancy Berland Public Relations, nancy@nancyberland.com, 405-206-4748.
Linda traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold Fletcher’s Woman in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Long a passionate Civil War buff, Linda has studied the era avidly for almost thirty years. She has read literally hundreds of books on the subject, explored numerous battlegrounds and made many visits to her favorite, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she has witnessed re-enactments of the legendary clash between North and South. Linda explores that turbulent time in The Yankee Widow, a May 7, 2019 MIRA Books hardcover, also available in digital and audiobook formats.
Dedicated to helping others, “The First Lady of the West” personally financed fifteen years of her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, which she awarded to women 25 years and older who were seeking to improve their lot in life through education. She anticipates that her next charitable endeavors will benefit four-legged critters.
More information about Linda and her novels is available at www.lindalaelmiller.com, on Facebook and from Nancy Berland Public Relations, nancy@nancyberland.com, 405-206-4748.
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July 13, 2026
Whoo, boy!
Have you ever read a romance, where the author unintentionally made every other man so much more appealing than the MMC? So much so, that you didn't even want our FMC to end up with him anymore, just because he was so undeserving of her (and of you, even, by extension)?
For this review, I won't go into the time-traveling or other fantasy aspects of the novel, just for the sake of saving time. Besides, you can easily find that in the other reviews if you so wish. I'll talk primarily of the MMC and the romance itself, since that's the engine of the novel anyway.
THE MAJOR CHARACTERS:
GLORIANA: FMC
DANE: MMC
MARIETTE: Dane's mistress. That's right. The fucker has a mistress.
GARETH: Dane's older brother
EDWARD: Dane's younger brother; Gloriana's best friend who is also in love with her
SETTING: late-medieval England | modern-day America.
BACKGROUND: Gloriana and Dane were married as children, but neither was even present on their wedding day, as it was orchestrated by their parents for family alliance. These two never actually spent time together, and saw each other maybe twice when their parents hosted feasts in their respective great halls.
Now, both Gloriana and Dane are adults. Dane is returning from France with a woman named Mariette, whom he claims to love and intends to be with.
Unfortunately for him, he is officially married to Gloriana, and divorce isn't a thing in medieval England, so Mariette can only be a mistress.
But our not-so-bright MMC wants to give her Gloriana's place, have children with her, etc. And, in order to do this without making his mistress feel uncomfortable, his solution is to send his poor wife to the nunnery, getting her out of the way. He tells himself that Gloriana would be happy with this arrangement anyway, though deep down he feels uneasy about the idea (because it's morally reprehensible, you jerk).
So, Dane returns to England with his retinue and Mariette. Gloriana excitedly goes to meet him, as she is ready to finally start their life together. Edward, his younger brother, meets him first.
Edward is extremely angry over Dane's plan, saying that it is cruel and indecent, and that Gloriana deserves better. Edward goes as far as saying that it is appalling to send one's wife to the nunnery just to give her position--as the rightful lady of the castle--to a mistress.
Dane angrily reminds Edward, "Gloriana is my wife, and I can do with her as I wish."
Edward goes to find Gloriana to let her know that Dane hasn’t returned alone. Gloriana is devastated and while she is aware that many men do take up mistresses and even have children with them, she has also seen enough marriages with love--or at least respect--to believe that it is possible for a husband and wife not to dishonor each other in this manner.
Gloriana cries and asks Edward what she should do. Edward tells her that maybe they can reach an agreement with Dane. Since she and Dane have not consummated their marriage, perhaps she can ask Dane for an annulment and marry him (Edward). Edward promises her that he will love her and honor her.
WHY DANE IS UNDESERVING AS AN MMC, FROM THE FIRST TO THE VERY LAST PAGE: I'll even go in order.
1) Gloriana meets with Dane, and he tells her of his intention to send her to the nunnery. She asks how can he be so cruel, but he is unmoved.
2) She tells him that what he plans to do is putting her into a position that is even worse than that of a widow, because she is discarded at 20, never able to marry anyone else or have a family of her own. He is still unmoved.
3) Gloriana spends chapters after chapters trying to appeal to his reasoning (of which he has none), even agreeing to just leave him, as long as she doesn't get sent to the convent, but he refuses to accept her negotiations because he doesn't want to be seen as a laughingstock among other men. To him, it's better for him to unjustly send her away and be with his mistress, than to be seen as someone who "loses" his wife.
4) Another reason why Dane doesn't want an annulment is because that would void all the perks that come with the political marriage, such as family alliances, military power, etc. Mariette doesn't come with anything that can replace what he'd lose by annulling his marriage to Gloriana.
5) During this time, Dane allows Mariette to sit beside Gloriana at the high table of the great hall, in front of the entire household. By "household," I don't mean just immediate family, but everyone: the stewards, the vassals, the knights, the squires and pages, the servants, everyone. If you understand how feudalism, hierarchy, and legitimacy work in medieval England, this is extremely humiliating to Gloriana. Dane is basically telling his wife, "My mistress is your equal."
The hight table in the great hall isn't just "seating," remember, but also hierarchy made physical, and legitimacy on display. It's the lord's public endorsement of rank, and the wife's formal recognition as lady of the household.
This is extremely traumatizing and humiliating for Gloriana, and made even more painful because she is carrying this with a straight face and a smile publicly. Again, that mistress is sitting right there next to her, on the dais. Appalling and unforgivable!
6) Dane has no excuse to do any of this. He was brought up in this system, he understands etiquette and protocol. Instead, he is being a weak man who is exercising poor judgment.
7) Edward is Dane's younger brother, who has no inheritance and is just a knight, yet is much more honorable. Pretty damning, if you ask me, since Dane is also a knight (in addition to being a lord).
8) If you're wondering why Dane is doing all this, it's to acclimate the household to seeing Mariette on the dais, before he sends Gloriana away.
This is strategic. He's gradually teaching the household, "Get used to seeing her here. Begin viewing this woman as the future lady."
9) He doesn't allow anyone to refer to or see Mariette as a mistress, even though that's what she really is.
10) Throughout all this, we see and feel Gloriana's pain. The reader's heart aches alongside hers.
11) Dane talks to Mariette about having daughters and sons with her, and calling her the future lady of Kenbrook Castle, when there already is a lady (Gloriana).
12) The never-ending disrespect and humiliation ritual Dane inflicts on Gloriana, on a daily basis, is difficult to stomach.
13) Dane pulling something like this isn't just humiliating toward his wife, but also himself. If I were a visiting lord or lady and saw that? I would think that this is a shameless man who doesn't know how to keep his household in order. And that's just embarrassing. I can't even respect Dane because of that. What a poor, pathetic excuse of a man.
14) It's not even Dane taking a mistress that appalls me (though it is appalling), but that he's so nonchalant and indiscreet about the whole thing. I seriously feel secondhand embarrassment on his behalf.
15) Throughout all of Gloriana's attempts to reason with Dane, he keeps insisting how much he loves Mariette and will not let her go. How do you even come back from that?
16) The narrative shows Gloriana holding back tears as she tries to reason with him, it shows us that he can hear the pain in her voice and recognize the pain in her eyes, it lets us see her waiting until she is alone in her room--where she cries herself to sleep in the dark.
Through all this, Dane continues to double down on his cruelty.
17) When Gareth, Dane's older brother, asks him, "You are a knight. Where is your honor?"
Dane laughs him off.
18) Dane then tries to pass Gloriana onto Gareth. He tells Gareth that since Elaina (Gareth's wife) hasn't given him an heir, and is now "feeble-minded, her mind gone, she would be none the wiser."
Gareth is disgusted and says that he loves his wife and will never abandon or dishonor her, regardless of what her state of awareness is.
19) Dane fails to accompany Gloriana to the great hall because his mistress has a headache (aw, how sad...whatever). In medieval England, the lord and lady of the castle always enter the great hall together, as a way to show that they are a united front. Instead, it's Edward who accompanies Gloriana and whispers to her, "Have no fear," promising that he'll be right there with her.
20) Even the steward is on Gloriana's side. When Dane decides to make an appearance in the great hall for dinner after all, Gloriana shoots up from her seat with the desire to bolt out of there. The steward gently grabs her by the wrist and whispers that doing so would make it too easy on Dane.
The steward tells her, "Stay, Lady Kenbrook, for it is your right to dine at this table."
21) Dane tells everyone who'd listen that Mariette is not his mistress, but his betrothed, making it very clear that Gloriana's days are numbered.
22) Dane even brings his mistress to morning mass with him, where husband and wife are expected to attend together. Poor Gloriana has to accompany them, as if Dane and Mariette are the legitimate couple, when she is the wife.
23) Despite all this, Dane is having lustful thoughts toward Gloriana because of her beauty. Mind you, just before this, he was marveling over Mariette's beauty as well. Ultimately, he ends up being unfaithful to both women.
24) If Dane is as in love with Mariette as he has been insisting, why is he now readily making love to Gloriana? Yes, she is his wife, but as he is getting ready to have sex with her, he knows that he wants to send her away after. He's only consummating the marriage with her, so that she can't have the marriage annulled and take her dowry back.
25) Edward tells Dane something along the line of, "If you send your wife to a convent, people will assume the worst of her. They will think that she has dishonored you somehow, that she's an adulteress, or unable to perform her duty as lady of the estate."
But Dane remains unmoved, even when Edward brings up the social repercussions on Gloriana if she gets sent away, the loss of her good reputation, etc.
26) The list of Dane's transgressions can go on forever, but I'll end here. However, just because I've stopped typing them, it doesn't mean that he becomes better. He is unrepentant to the very last page.
THE OUTCOME:
Of course, Dane and Gloriana end up together.
He callously says that Mariette can either go back to France or enter a convent. The cruelty is chilling. Dane never stops being cruel; his cruelty just transfers.
The fact he can fall into and out of love so easily makes him an unreliable and untrustworthy love interest.
The transition is so abrupt because he's loved Mariette enough to humiliate his own wife, and now suddenly he's so in love with his wife that he's ready to ruin the life of the woman who's followed him all the way from France to England, where she barely speaks English. Mariette has followed him because of her faith in him, and he lets her down, too.
There isn't one single apology or addressing of the harm done by him. The narrative even makes it clear that the social and emotional harm has stuck with Gloriana long after the couple chooses to stay together.
For example, Gloriana would make comments or express concerns over being used, or cast aside again, etc., and all she gets from Dane is, "You'll just have to take my word for it."
Even when she rightfully brings up the discrepancy--how Dane goes from choosing Mariette over her, claiming to love Mariette, before ultimately choosing her (Gloriana) without sparing Mariette a second thought, he doesn't apologize.
CONCLUSION:
For me, Dane is a weak romantic hero. Not weak in the physical sense, but weak in presence. The romantic hero in a novel is expected to be impressive, but here he is constantly outshone by his brothers--from the beginning to the end.
A man doing less for his wife than the bare minimum that his brothers do for her, is pretty pathetic, especially in medieval context.
THE BIGGEST ICK: When Mariette has the audacity to be smiling and friendly toward Gloriana, knowing very well of the pain that Gloriana is feeling. She even tells Gloriana, "I hope we can be friends."
Girl, shut the fuck up.
THE BIGGEST LOVE: Gloriana! She continues fighting to defend her position because she knows what she is entitled to. Also, throughout all this, she is 100% aware that everything is due to Dane's actions, not Mariette's. That's a very admirable and fair take.
DO I RECOMMEND THIS NOVEL: Yes! Read it for Gloriana and her supporters. Though the author takes the easy out by handwaving everything away instead of having Dane work to earn Gloriana's trust and forgiveness (that is the only low point of the novel, tbh), it is well-written and the other characters (except for Mariette and Dane) are very lovable.
REASON BEHIND MY 3-STAR RATING: I knocked down two stars not because I dislike the MMC. I can easily rank a book highly even if I disliked its characters. The reason why I took off a star was because even though the author took her time to write all of the harmful acts committed by the MMC, she doesn't even have him address any of his wrongdoings, let alone uttering a single apology or offering to make amends. As an author, for every cause there must be an effect. The second star was knocked down because the time-traveling aspect doesn’t really make the story any better, nor does it contribute to the plot in any way.
Have you ever read a romance, where the author unintentionally made every other man so much more appealing than the MMC? So much so, that you didn't even want our FMC to end up with him anymore, just because he was so undeserving of her (and of you, even, by extension)?
For this review, I won't go into the time-traveling or other fantasy aspects of the novel, just for the sake of saving time. Besides, you can easily find that in the other reviews if you so wish. I'll talk primarily of the MMC and the romance itself, since that's the engine of the novel anyway.
THE MAJOR CHARACTERS:
GLORIANA: FMC
DANE: MMC
MARIETTE: Dane's mistress. That's right. The fucker has a mistress.
GARETH: Dane's older brother
EDWARD: Dane's younger brother; Gloriana's best friend who is also in love with her
SETTING: late-medieval England | modern-day America.
BACKGROUND: Gloriana and Dane were married as children, but neither was even present on their wedding day, as it was orchestrated by their parents for family alliance. These two never actually spent time together, and saw each other maybe twice when their parents hosted feasts in their respective great halls.
Now, both Gloriana and Dane are adults. Dane is returning from France with a woman named Mariette, whom he claims to love and intends to be with.
Unfortunately for him, he is officially married to Gloriana, and divorce isn't a thing in medieval England, so Mariette can only be a mistress.
But our not-so-bright MMC wants to give her Gloriana's place, have children with her, etc. And, in order to do this without making his mistress feel uncomfortable, his solution is to send his poor wife to the nunnery, getting her out of the way. He tells himself that Gloriana would be happy with this arrangement anyway, though deep down he feels uneasy about the idea (because it's morally reprehensible, you jerk).
So, Dane returns to England with his retinue and Mariette. Gloriana excitedly goes to meet him, as she is ready to finally start their life together. Edward, his younger brother, meets him first.
Edward is extremely angry over Dane's plan, saying that it is cruel and indecent, and that Gloriana deserves better. Edward goes as far as saying that it is appalling to send one's wife to the nunnery just to give her position--as the rightful lady of the castle--to a mistress.
Dane angrily reminds Edward, "Gloriana is my wife, and I can do with her as I wish."
Edward goes to find Gloriana to let her know that Dane hasn’t returned alone. Gloriana is devastated and while she is aware that many men do take up mistresses and even have children with them, she has also seen enough marriages with love--or at least respect--to believe that it is possible for a husband and wife not to dishonor each other in this manner.
Gloriana cries and asks Edward what she should do. Edward tells her that maybe they can reach an agreement with Dane. Since she and Dane have not consummated their marriage, perhaps she can ask Dane for an annulment and marry him (Edward). Edward promises her that he will love her and honor her.
WHY DANE IS UNDESERVING AS AN MMC, FROM THE FIRST TO THE VERY LAST PAGE: I'll even go in order.
1) Gloriana meets with Dane, and he tells her of his intention to send her to the nunnery. She asks how can he be so cruel, but he is unmoved.
2) She tells him that what he plans to do is putting her into a position that is even worse than that of a widow, because she is discarded at 20, never able to marry anyone else or have a family of her own. He is still unmoved.
3) Gloriana spends chapters after chapters trying to appeal to his reasoning (of which he has none), even agreeing to just leave him, as long as she doesn't get sent to the convent, but he refuses to accept her negotiations because he doesn't want to be seen as a laughingstock among other men. To him, it's better for him to unjustly send her away and be with his mistress, than to be seen as someone who "loses" his wife.
4) Another reason why Dane doesn't want an annulment is because that would void all the perks that come with the political marriage, such as family alliances, military power, etc. Mariette doesn't come with anything that can replace what he'd lose by annulling his marriage to Gloriana.
5) During this time, Dane allows Mariette to sit beside Gloriana at the high table of the great hall, in front of the entire household. By "household," I don't mean just immediate family, but everyone: the stewards, the vassals, the knights, the squires and pages, the servants, everyone. If you understand how feudalism, hierarchy, and legitimacy work in medieval England, this is extremely humiliating to Gloriana. Dane is basically telling his wife, "My mistress is your equal."
The hight table in the great hall isn't just "seating," remember, but also hierarchy made physical, and legitimacy on display. It's the lord's public endorsement of rank, and the wife's formal recognition as lady of the household.
This is extremely traumatizing and humiliating for Gloriana, and made even more painful because she is carrying this with a straight face and a smile publicly. Again, that mistress is sitting right there next to her, on the dais. Appalling and unforgivable!
6) Dane has no excuse to do any of this. He was brought up in this system, he understands etiquette and protocol. Instead, he is being a weak man who is exercising poor judgment.
7) Edward is Dane's younger brother, who has no inheritance and is just a knight, yet is much more honorable. Pretty damning, if you ask me, since Dane is also a knight (in addition to being a lord).
8) If you're wondering why Dane is doing all this, it's to acclimate the household to seeing Mariette on the dais, before he sends Gloriana away.
This is strategic. He's gradually teaching the household, "Get used to seeing her here. Begin viewing this woman as the future lady."
9) He doesn't allow anyone to refer to or see Mariette as a mistress, even though that's what she really is.
10) Throughout all this, we see and feel Gloriana's pain. The reader's heart aches alongside hers.
11) Dane talks to Mariette about having daughters and sons with her, and calling her the future lady of Kenbrook Castle, when there already is a lady (Gloriana).
12) The never-ending disrespect and humiliation ritual Dane inflicts on Gloriana, on a daily basis, is difficult to stomach.
13) Dane pulling something like this isn't just humiliating toward his wife, but also himself. If I were a visiting lord or lady and saw that? I would think that this is a shameless man who doesn't know how to keep his household in order. And that's just embarrassing. I can't even respect Dane because of that. What a poor, pathetic excuse of a man.
14) It's not even Dane taking a mistress that appalls me (though it is appalling), but that he's so nonchalant and indiscreet about the whole thing. I seriously feel secondhand embarrassment on his behalf.
15) Throughout all of Gloriana's attempts to reason with Dane, he keeps insisting how much he loves Mariette and will not let her go. How do you even come back from that?
16) The narrative shows Gloriana holding back tears as she tries to reason with him, it shows us that he can hear the pain in her voice and recognize the pain in her eyes, it lets us see her waiting until she is alone in her room--where she cries herself to sleep in the dark.
Through all this, Dane continues to double down on his cruelty.
17) When Gareth, Dane's older brother, asks him, "You are a knight. Where is your honor?"
Dane laughs him off.
18) Dane then tries to pass Gloriana onto Gareth. He tells Gareth that since Elaina (Gareth's wife) hasn't given him an heir, and is now "feeble-minded, her mind gone, she would be none the wiser."
Gareth is disgusted and says that he loves his wife and will never abandon or dishonor her, regardless of what her state of awareness is.
19) Dane fails to accompany Gloriana to the great hall because his mistress has a headache (aw, how sad...whatever). In medieval England, the lord and lady of the castle always enter the great hall together, as a way to show that they are a united front. Instead, it's Edward who accompanies Gloriana and whispers to her, "Have no fear," promising that he'll be right there with her.
20) Even the steward is on Gloriana's side. When Dane decides to make an appearance in the great hall for dinner after all, Gloriana shoots up from her seat with the desire to bolt out of there. The steward gently grabs her by the wrist and whispers that doing so would make it too easy on Dane.
The steward tells her, "Stay, Lady Kenbrook, for it is your right to dine at this table."
21) Dane tells everyone who'd listen that Mariette is not his mistress, but his betrothed, making it very clear that Gloriana's days are numbered.
22) Dane even brings his mistress to morning mass with him, where husband and wife are expected to attend together. Poor Gloriana has to accompany them, as if Dane and Mariette are the legitimate couple, when she is the wife.
23) Despite all this, Dane is having lustful thoughts toward Gloriana because of her beauty. Mind you, just before this, he was marveling over Mariette's beauty as well. Ultimately, he ends up being unfaithful to both women.
24) If Dane is as in love with Mariette as he has been insisting, why is he now readily making love to Gloriana? Yes, she is his wife, but as he is getting ready to have sex with her, he knows that he wants to send her away after. He's only consummating the marriage with her, so that she can't have the marriage annulled and take her dowry back.
25) Edward tells Dane something along the line of, "If you send your wife to a convent, people will assume the worst of her. They will think that she has dishonored you somehow, that she's an adulteress, or unable to perform her duty as lady of the estate."
But Dane remains unmoved, even when Edward brings up the social repercussions on Gloriana if she gets sent away, the loss of her good reputation, etc.
26) The list of Dane's transgressions can go on forever, but I'll end here. However, just because I've stopped typing them, it doesn't mean that he becomes better. He is unrepentant to the very last page.
THE OUTCOME:
Of course, Dane and Gloriana end up together.
He callously says that Mariette can either go back to France or enter a convent. The cruelty is chilling. Dane never stops being cruel; his cruelty just transfers.
The fact he can fall into and out of love so easily makes him an unreliable and untrustworthy love interest.
The transition is so abrupt because he's loved Mariette enough to humiliate his own wife, and now suddenly he's so in love with his wife that he's ready to ruin the life of the woman who's followed him all the way from France to England, where she barely speaks English. Mariette has followed him because of her faith in him, and he lets her down, too.
There isn't one single apology or addressing of the harm done by him. The narrative even makes it clear that the social and emotional harm has stuck with Gloriana long after the couple chooses to stay together.
For example, Gloriana would make comments or express concerns over being used, or cast aside again, etc., and all she gets from Dane is, "You'll just have to take my word for it."
Even when she rightfully brings up the discrepancy--how Dane goes from choosing Mariette over her, claiming to love Mariette, before ultimately choosing her (Gloriana) without sparing Mariette a second thought, he doesn't apologize.
CONCLUSION:
For me, Dane is a weak romantic hero. Not weak in the physical sense, but weak in presence. The romantic hero in a novel is expected to be impressive, but here he is constantly outshone by his brothers--from the beginning to the end.
A man doing less for his wife than the bare minimum that his brothers do for her, is pretty pathetic, especially in medieval context.
THE BIGGEST ICK: When Mariette has the audacity to be smiling and friendly toward Gloriana, knowing very well of the pain that Gloriana is feeling. She even tells Gloriana, "I hope we can be friends."
Girl, shut the fuck up.
THE BIGGEST LOVE: Gloriana! She continues fighting to defend her position because she knows what she is entitled to. Also, throughout all this, she is 100% aware that everything is due to Dane's actions, not Mariette's. That's a very admirable and fair take.
DO I RECOMMEND THIS NOVEL: Yes! Read it for Gloriana and her supporters. Though the author takes the easy out by handwaving everything away instead of having Dane work to earn Gloriana's trust and forgiveness (that is the only low point of the novel, tbh), it is well-written and the other characters (except for Mariette and Dane) are very lovable.
REASON BEHIND MY 3-STAR RATING: I knocked down two stars not because I dislike the MMC. I can easily rank a book highly even if I disliked its characters. The reason why I took off a star was because even though the author took her time to write all of the harmful acts committed by the MMC, she doesn't even have him address any of his wrongdoings, let alone uttering a single apology or offering to make amends. As an author, for every cause there must be an effect. The second star was knocked down because the time-traveling aspect doesn’t really make the story any better, nor does it contribute to the plot in any way.
September 14, 2012
This is an "oldie" but "goody," and I thoroughly enjoyed the reading. It is a story which really touches the heart. A young child who is left abandoned by her wealthy parents at a boarding school across the ocean in England unknowingly summons a rescuer thru the ages and is transported back into medieval England where she is surrounded by a loving family and grows to be happy and whole. Of course, life does not always turn out as we plan or expect. No one knows this better than this child herself who has grown into a lovely woman. She has become a woman scorned by the only man she has ever loved and one to whom she has long been engaged to. However, with perseverance and a little magic all might still be well. This story epitomizes the strength and adaptability of the human heart. It had my own heart plummeting with one breath, and then exhilarating in the next. I loved the heroine. I liked the hero, but he really took a backseat in the story. So although the quality of his character did not reach the same level as the heroine, it really did not detract from the story itself. There was just too much wonderful story going on around him. Truly a magical, heart-lifting story. Please read it!
May 9, 2009
First off, I'm not a big fan of this author. Not because she's not a decent writer, because she is, but because what she writes normally doesn't appeal to my tastes. However, Knights is one of four of her books that I own, and tend to reread once every couple of years or so.
In a lot of ways, this is a typical 'historical' romance novel. What I like about it that sets it apart, for me, is that there's an actual plot involving time travel, which I'm sort of a sucker for. Sometimes the heroine is a little Too feisty for believability in the 12th century and the hero is a little too amazingly masculine, but it all works for the most part and the supporting characters are likable and charming. It's not going to be deep, philosophical reading by any means, but for what it is it's more entertaining than most and a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
In a lot of ways, this is a typical 'historical' romance novel. What I like about it that sets it apart, for me, is that there's an actual plot involving time travel, which I'm sort of a sucker for. Sometimes the heroine is a little Too feisty for believability in the 12th century and the hero is a little too amazingly masculine, but it all works for the most part and the supporting characters are likable and charming. It's not going to be deep, philosophical reading by any means, but for what it is it's more entertaining than most and a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
September 22, 2025
being unfamiliar with the author, the level of explicit content in this one took me by surprise & wasn't something i particularly enjoyed. i'm glad to be done with it.
July 10, 2024
The first half was enjoyable. Second half was just confusing and messy.
I enjoy some time travel, but this served no purpose other than a unique element to a medieval love story.
The thing that bothers me is that it was setup as if it had a purpose. A character talked of the great perils to come if she didn't , the thousands of prayers, to make this happen. Then she came back and erased all that had happened (which is fine), only for this other super random thing to happen that felt so rushed and silly.
I was just over it by the time I finished.
She went through time twice, nothing happened, they live happily ever after, the end.
I enjoy some time travel, but this served no purpose other than a unique element to a medieval love story.
The thing that bothers me is that it was setup as if it had a purpose. A character talked of the great perils to come if she didn't , the thousands of prayers, to make this happen. Then she came back and erased all that had happened (which is fine), only for this other super random thing to happen that felt so rushed and silly.
I was just over it by the time I finished.
She went through time twice, nothing happened, they live happily ever after, the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2011
*** "Knights" are Dane St. Gregory, large of body and spirit, back from the Turks, and the men of his family and time, 1254 in Britain. Dane wed feisty Gloriana by proxy, as children. Now twenty, she barely recalls taking her name from the beloved Queen Elizabeth I doll clutched in her tiny 5-year old hands, and carried from 1996, when Linda Mael Miller penned this time travel romance. The couple spar and eventually, love, repeatedly and explicitly, a Miller trademark.
Historical details are mostly painlessly seamless, part of the story, though some of Glory's memories seem clumsy and jarring. Would they be so? Or is Miller excusing how easily the heroine adapts when thrust forward in time?
How do time travellers always meet such helpful strangers? The characterization is smoothest in medieval times, but plausible in minor 1996 characters, such as Doctor Lyn and his sister, who welcome, feed, clothe, even employ and love our courageous overwrought girl [spoiler - twice].
Newly knighted younger brother Edward, almost mistress Mariette, magical aunt Elaina, older brother [spoiler - father] Gareth, and even apparently wicked neighbor [spoiler - uncle] Merrymont are all drawn complexly with love, inspiring our curiousity (rather than the impatient annoyance I often feel for authors milking series as purely money-makers) for more of their individual stories. I have enjoyed current romance tales by Miller. I will look for more fantasy.
Historical details are mostly painlessly seamless, part of the story, though some of Glory's memories seem clumsy and jarring. Would they be so? Or is Miller excusing how easily the heroine adapts when thrust forward in time?
How do time travellers always meet such helpful strangers? The characterization is smoothest in medieval times, but plausible in minor 1996 characters, such as Doctor Lyn and his sister, who welcome, feed, clothe, even employ and love our courageous overwrought girl [spoiler - twice].
Newly knighted younger brother Edward, almost mistress Mariette, magical aunt Elaina, older brother [spoiler - father] Gareth, and even apparently wicked neighbor [spoiler - uncle] Merrymont are all drawn complexly with love, inspiring our curiousity (rather than the impatient annoyance I often feel for authors milking series as purely money-makers) for more of their individual stories. I have enjoyed current romance tales by Miller. I will look for more fantasy.
July 3, 2020
Gloriana leeft in Engeland in 1254 en is op haar 7e uitgehuwelijkt en getrouwd met Dane, de 5e baron van Kenbrook. Dane is op dat moment soldaat en bevind zich niet in Engeland tijdens het huwelijk. Wanneer Gloriana 20 is komt Dane weer thuis. Tot Dane zijn thuiskomst hebben man en vrouw elkaar nog nooit ontmoet. Dane komt echter niet alleen thuis maar samen met de Franse Mariëtte de Troyes. Hij wil zijn huwelijk met Gloriana ongeldig laten verklaren en met Mariëtte trouwen. Gloriana blijft op nobele wijze voor haar man en eer vechten maar Dane is niet gemakkelijk over te halen.
De setting sprak mij ontzettend aan. Het speelt zich grotendeels af in 1254 en op en kasteel. Dit boek gaf mij voor mijn gevoel echt een inkijkje in die tijd. Het leven op het kasteel, de brute gewoontes, het leven met de verschillende klassen maar ook hoe mannen tegen vrouwen aan keken. Dit vond ik dan ook erg interessant om te lezen.
De verhaallijn die naast de romance afspeelde vond ik ook leuk. De uitwerking viel mij alleen een beetje tegen. Er is mij nog steeds veel onduidelijk over wat er gebeurd is en hoe dit mogelijk is.
De romance zelf sprak mij minder aan. Het voelde te gemakkelijk aan. Bij thuiskomst van Dane was Gloriana al helemaal verliefd op Dane terwijl ze hem nog nooit gezien had. Dit voelde voor mij ongeloofwaardig maar wellicht dat dit in die tijd gewoon was. Zowel Gloriana als Dane waren wel leuke personages al bleven ze beiden wel wat oppervlakkig.
De setting sprak mij ontzettend aan. Het speelt zich grotendeels af in 1254 en op en kasteel. Dit boek gaf mij voor mijn gevoel echt een inkijkje in die tijd. Het leven op het kasteel, de brute gewoontes, het leven met de verschillende klassen maar ook hoe mannen tegen vrouwen aan keken. Dit vond ik dan ook erg interessant om te lezen.
De verhaallijn die naast de romance afspeelde vond ik ook leuk. De uitwerking viel mij alleen een beetje tegen. Er is mij nog steeds veel onduidelijk over wat er gebeurd is en hoe dit mogelijk is.
De romance zelf sprak mij minder aan. Het voelde te gemakkelijk aan. Bij thuiskomst van Dane was Gloriana al helemaal verliefd op Dane terwijl ze hem nog nooit gezien had. Dit voelde voor mij ongeloofwaardig maar wellicht dat dit in die tijd gewoon was. Zowel Gloriana als Dane waren wel leuke personages al bleven ze beiden wel wat oppervlakkig.
May 21, 2024
Linda and I have had an interesting reading relationship. The first book I ever read of hers was Yankee Widow and I literally was mesmerized by the storytelling in that book. Since then I’ve read others by Linda and felt they didn’t have the same level of writing.
This one has that magical, fairytale writing from the first prolog. When I read other reviews that this was the one of hers they always reread, I grabbed it from the thrift store when I found it. The time period is my favorite. Knights, barons and maidens. It also has the time travel element to it like outlander. But I think the best part that kept me wanting to read it was the marriage that was made when Gloriana was a child and Dane wanting out, being clueless of never having truly met her. What happens next in the first half is the best kind of story.
Once she time travels again, without notice except from Elaina telling her it would happen, I stopped loving the story. I wanted to stay in medical England with Dane the whole time, fighting battles. The book really ended for me when Dane and Gloriana get locked into the tower to finally be married. After that I got so frustrated with the time travel back and forth. But the ending made up for it when she returns back again to the right time with Dane.
The first half of the book is basically 5 stars for me. The second half drops down to 3 starts. Giving it four stars as a whole. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This one has that magical, fairytale writing from the first prolog. When I read other reviews that this was the one of hers they always reread, I grabbed it from the thrift store when I found it. The time period is my favorite. Knights, barons and maidens. It also has the time travel element to it like outlander. But I think the best part that kept me wanting to read it was the marriage that was made when Gloriana was a child and Dane wanting out, being clueless of never having truly met her. What happens next in the first half is the best kind of story.
Once she time travels again, without notice except from Elaina telling her it would happen, I stopped loving the story. I wanted to stay in medical England with Dane the whole time, fighting battles. The book really ended for me when Dane and Gloriana get locked into the tower to finally be married. After that I got so frustrated with the time travel back and forth. But the ending made up for it when she returns back again to the right time with Dane.
The first half of the book is basically 5 stars for me. The second half drops down to 3 starts. Giving it four stars as a whole. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 21, 2020
Mum has a heaping collection of old romance novels. This was one of them, recommended to me. It was quite enjoyable.
What i like about "old" romance novels is that they don't pretend to be anything else. Many of them, unironically, use similar phrases tropes that make you want to laugh, yet here it doesn't detract from my enjoyment. Despite being dated, they just have a certain charm.
Many books today where romance is a subplot, try to cram it where it doesn't fit, or have room to breathe. Here, romance gets to flourish, unabashedly, and BE the driving force of the plot:
It's not just some one-off travel in time. It's multiple. The blurb even says so. What's nice is how they go through it.
Knowing the main characters are married made it a bit easier on my peace of mind to read some of the steamier scenes. They fight for their marriage, they grow as a couple, despite their bumpy start. They remain together not because they have to but because they want to. There was never a time where I didn't think they'd end up together (come on, look at the genre lol) but that wasn't the point.
Let's see more healthy marriages in fiction.
What i like about "old" romance novels is that they don't pretend to be anything else. Many of them, unironically, use similar phrases tropes that make you want to laugh, yet here it doesn't detract from my enjoyment. Despite being dated, they just have a certain charm.
Many books today where romance is a subplot, try to cram it where it doesn't fit, or have room to breathe. Here, romance gets to flourish, unabashedly, and BE the driving force of the plot:
It's not just some one-off travel in time. It's multiple. The blurb even says so. What's nice is how they go through it.
Knowing the main characters are married made it a bit easier on my peace of mind to read some of the steamier scenes. They fight for their marriage, they grow as a couple, despite their bumpy start. They remain together not because they have to but because they want to. There was never a time where I didn't think they'd end up together (come on, look at the genre lol) but that wasn't the point.
Let's see more healthy marriages in fiction.
August 18, 2016
Despite what everybody else is saying, I loved this book. Imagine what it must have been like for the women back then. They did not have any rights. They were considered as property. They were bought and sold by their fathers as soon as they were born. When I read a book, I place myself as the protagonist. I become the female in the story that is in love with a certain young knight who still considers me as a child and not a woman in love. He comes from the battlefields bringing another woman whom he plans to marry but she doesn't want to marry him. She wants to marry another. Hence we have the problem. How will they ever get to be with their one true loves? Read the book to find out.
November 15, 2013
An interesting early tale from this author. There's a lot of interesting things going on in this storyline. There's time travel involved and it's interesting to see the author's take on the belief that if you travel in time and change something in the past history changes. There are all kinds of odd happenings going on in the past but the love story meshes it all together. It's interesting to see what the author has written early in her career, because the subject matter is not what I'm used to from this author.
September 30, 2013
as usual for this author...if banner o'brian takes almost in the end for the hero to admit to the heroine that he cant stay faithful.....here....its on the beginning of the book....there was a part that narrates her god-who-relative who adores and love their wife yet they took a mistress hidden in the ireland, placed on the cottage beside the lake..ARGH....what a waste.....i stopped to read this pronto
March 2, 2024
One of my favorite books!
I love this book. I have it on my Kindle, as a paperback on one of my book cases, and in hard back on another shelf. This and Daniel's Bride are my two favorite all time reads from Linda Lael Miller. I can't recommend this book highly enough. A great read!!
I love this book. I have it on my Kindle, as a paperback on one of my book cases, and in hard back on another shelf. This and Daniel's Bride are my two favorite all time reads from Linda Lael Miller. I can't recommend this book highly enough. A great read!!
September 3, 2024
I’m pretty sure I stopped reading this book after reading the line “the tips of her succulent breasts turned as hard as brook pebbles.” I’ve read a lot of bad lines in erotic novels over the years, but this one really takes the cake.
March 19, 2022
Imitation
Liked the book. Was their ever a Proofreader? Many misspelled words. I am glad it ended the way it did. Was tired of change.
Liked the book. Was their ever a Proofreader? Many misspelled words. I am glad it ended the way it did. Was tired of change.
August 29, 2017
'Knights' has been on my bookshelf for so many years that the pages are musty and yellow, and it is more of a family member than some of my actual family members. And less fusty too.
I am a sucker for the two key elements in this novel; a couple who were married young and now must come to know one another and time-travel. I have to say that I really enjoyed the whole plot. I was so tense when Gloriana kept time-hopping, forcing myself not to skim ahead to see whether she made it back to Dane.
The only element that I didn't enjoy was the speed at which Dane and Gloriana fell in love. I loved the early sass and the fiery exchanges of words but with the noticeable attraction underlining everything. Unfortunately I felt that while the attraction was natural, the romance elements were forced and there wasn't enough development for me to truly believe the sudden change of heart on both sides.
Overall, an interesting and compelling plot which really emotionally affected me, but perhaps needed to rein in the insta-love a little bit to make it totally enjoyable.
I am a sucker for the two key elements in this novel; a couple who were married young and now must come to know one another and time-travel. I have to say that I really enjoyed the whole plot. I was so tense when Gloriana kept time-hopping, forcing myself not to skim ahead to see whether she made it back to Dane.
The only element that I didn't enjoy was the speed at which Dane and Gloriana fell in love. I loved the early sass and the fiery exchanges of words but with the noticeable attraction underlining everything. Unfortunately I felt that while the attraction was natural, the romance elements were forced and there wasn't enough development for me to truly believe the sudden change of heart on both sides.
Overall, an interesting and compelling plot which really emotionally affected me, but perhaps needed to rein in the insta-love a little bit to make it totally enjoyable.
January 7, 2025
What a good story! Reminded me a bit of Outlander.
The beginning was a bit slow, but it really picked up. So many twists and turns….. everything just kept you reading!
I would have given this book a 5, but there were a few things that could have been tapped into more.
1. How Gloriana and Dane fell in love (They seemed to have gone from mere associates to lovers in a day)
2. How exactly did Gloriana overcome time jumping? (Not too sure on this. Wish there was a deeper explanation)
Recommend read on a cold winter day!
The beginning was a bit slow, but it really picked up. So many twists and turns….. everything just kept you reading!
I would have given this book a 5, but there were a few things that could have been tapped into more.
1. How Gloriana and Dane fell in love (They seemed to have gone from mere associates to lovers in a day)
2. How exactly did Gloriana overcome time jumping? (Not too sure on this. Wish there was a deeper explanation)
Recommend read on a cold winter day!
September 7, 2018
All the time travel at the end was absurdly random, as was the introducing of a new characters the last few pages.
Much of the book felt odd and incomplete. The romance triangle ended abruptly and Gloriana and Dane's deep instalove unearned.
I'm glad I gave this best selling author a read.Though I was not too impressed, I still may give one of her westerns a try, where her true expertise supposedly lies.
Much of the book felt odd and incomplete. The romance triangle ended abruptly and Gloriana and Dane's deep instalove unearned.
I'm glad I gave this best selling author a read.Though I was not too impressed, I still may give one of her westerns a try, where her true expertise supposedly lies.
May 17, 2024
It was a good read; however, it was never explained why it was specifically Gloriana who had to be brought back in time to marry Dane. And I did not understand the purpose of her coming back to the future twice more. Nothing was accomplished other than Gloriana taking back some medicine & herbal books. Confusing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2021
Re-reading a book that I picked up at a library sale and that I remembered from years ago. It was a nice enough story for that historic romance genre and the travel component was interesting but just really seemed not to have as much bearing on the overall story as it should have.
May 31, 2023
The book itself was short but felt so long because I was immersed. I didn't expect to like it at first, but soon enough I couldn't put it down. Drastically exceeded expectations, I am going to be thinking about this book for a long time.
July 26, 2025
Been reorganizing my bookshelves and saw this book. Decided to reread it. What’s not to like. There are castles and time travel. Romance too which may or may not be your cup of tea. Either way, good afternoon escape in to medieval times
February 6, 2017
Fun time travel romance. I enjoy Linda Lael Miller's writing. She creates strong characters and interesting story lines.
February 3, 2022
Medieval smut with time-traveling elements. Boy, was I in for a ride.
June 10, 2023
Perfect pool book! Super low stakes outlander.
February 18, 2025
This is a perennial fave, I absolutely love the heroine.
March 19, 2025
Rounding up from 3.5. I thought it was kind of ridiculous how easily everyone just accepted it as gospel that Gloriana was a time traveler, but overall I enjoyed this far more than I expected to
April 28, 2025
Time travel romance.
July 19, 2025
A bit into this book, I realized I'd read it already, but read it again as I remembered it was a good book. I was not disappointed in spending the time to read it again.
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