Sandy M’s review of The Christmas Knight by Michele Sinclair
Historical Romance published by Zebra 1 Oct 10
Michele Sinclair has created one of those romantic couples that I just love to read. A scarred hero who has buried his feelings and emotions so deep he never expects to love or be loved and a heroine who looks past those scars into his soul. And when they finally come together, the story only gets better.
Ranulf is a reluctant new nobleman, taking over when a cousin dies and King Henry bestows the title and land on him. We learn about Ranulf when the heroine’s father finally tracks him down and very cleverly forces his cooperation. I enjoyed this relationship between Laon and Ranulf as they sail toward home. It’s the first time a stranger has looked Ranulf in the eye — literally one eye, the result of an accident years before, leaving him sight-impaired and with the nickname Deadeye — and not been repulsed by what they see and is also honest in their dealings with him. When a shipboard accident takes Laon’s life, Ranulf promises to marry the man’s youngest daughter and keep the others safe.
During her father’s absence, Bronwyn takes care of all and sundry, including watching after her sisters. But when she’s confronted by a neighboring baron, a man who wants her only for the coin and land a joining would bring, she realizes he’s more dangerous than she’d ever imagined. And then when the new lord hies Bronwyn and her siblings to their old home, their only chance to be safe, now that they’re alone, is to leave, making their way to kin in Scotland. But when Ranulf is accidentally injured, Bronwyn is duty bound to nurse his wounds, and one of my favorite scenes in the book is Bronwyn caring for Ranulf, speaking to him, asking questions she would otherwise never ask because she thinks he’s asleep. Her caring, loving self emerges for him and his reaction to her words and touches is quite telling.
Life takes on a calmness for Ranulf, just being around Bronwyn. He’s a bit perturbed she’s chosen to lie about who she is, thinking to save her sister from him. But even that doesn’t diminish his admiration, his respect, his desire for her. She’s like no other woman he’s ever met, especially when it comes to his scarring. He becomes comfortable with Bronwyn and her people, finally comes to know what it means to be home. And when he loses her, nothing in the world matters any longer. Revenge taken for that loss doesn’t come close to healing the deepest wound Ranulf has ever endured.
This couple is very enjoyable to read about. Ranulf is a favorite of the king, a battle-hardened warrior who is also kindhearted, despite the tension he goes through when everyone he meets reacts to scars. But Bronwyn sees beneath all of that to the man he truly is. She gives him something more to live for than fighting and his contentment to be alone. I like that we get to read about their life together, working against conflict as partners for the most part, instead of that conflict keeping them apart too much.
I also like the secondary characters, especially Bronwyn’s sister, Edythe, and Ranulf’s best friend, Tyr. I’m going to assume, because their story is left up in the air by the end of this book, that they’re up next, but there’s nothing on the author’s web site to let us know for sure. They are an intriguing couple and their book should be a lot of fun.
The only nitpick I have is the head hopping. It’s back and forth and back and forth and back and forth over and over and over again throughout this book. It doesn’t take away from the story a lot, I was used to it by halfway through. But before that I kept looking back to figure out who’s POV we were now in and when it changed. Sometimes it’s every second or third paragraph that it changes, one time even changing from Lily to Bronwyn in the same paragraph. I’m not sure why this is happening more and more lately, but it reminds of the bodice rippers of the 1980s and it’s more difficult to read at times.
Other than that, this is a solid historical read which incorporates the medieval descriptions of the twelve days of Christmas at the beginning of each chapter to correspond with the day’s occurrences in that chapter, all quite interesting if you’re not familiar with any of it.
Grade: B+
Summary:
Her Only Hope For The Season
With their father gone this Christmastide, Bronwyn de Breton and her two younger sisters are utterly vulnerable at unprotected Hunswick Castle. And their troubles are compounded when a fearsome knight arrives on the king’s orders to take Hunswick as his own—and the youngest de Breton daughter as his wife.
Is A Man She’s Never Met
Bronwyn would never let her little sister be forced to marry a man as rough and wild as the new lord is whispered to be. Yet someone must form an alliance with him, or all of Hunswick will be at risk. So she steps forward, pretending to be her own sister.
And A Love She Never Expected
But the new lord is not so easily fooled. He knows Bronwyn is not the woman he has promised to marry. And yet, no matter how duty-bound he may be, there is no resisting the golden-haired beauty who so fearlessly gives herself to him…and awakens a passion unlike any he’s ever known.
Read an excerpt.
