About the Book
THE WULFRITHS. IT ALL BEGAN WITH A WOMAN.
A battle. A crown. The conqueror. The conquered. Medieval England—forever changed by the Battle of Hastings. And the rise of the formidable Wulfriths.
A HEARTLESS NORMAN
Chevalier Maël D’Argent lost more than his striking looks when he aided the Duke of Normandy in taking the English throne from King Harold. As much by his own actions at the Battle of Hastings as those of the enemy, he lost his sire and his honor in breaking faith with his family. Believing himself unworthy of forgiveness, his ruined face the least due him, Maël now serves a ruthless man bent on subduing Saxons resistant to Norman rule. But when his mission to safeguard King William’s dignity leads to the rescue of a curiously familiar Saxon woman who causes the empty place inside him to strain its seams, he discovers he may not be as heartless as the one he serves—nor resistant to the wiles of one he ought to count an enemy.
A FALSE ABBESS
In the guise of Abbess Mary Sarah, the illegitimate Mercia has served the Saxon resistance for years in anticipation of learning who sired her. At last ordered to cast off the habit and veil, Mercia is told that revelation of her parentage hinges on acceptance of another role that could see her sacrificed by the noble family who refuses to acknowledge her. When she resists and is abducted by Saxon allies, her savior proves the scarred Norman warrior who spared her following the great battle. Once more, something sorrowfully empty in Sir Maël makes her long to fill his emptiness with what little she possesses, even if his captivity renders it impossible for him to forgive one as deceptive as she. Even if she never discovers who she is…
Excerpt
She arched pale eyebrows. “You will not accompany me to Exeter.”
Mercia caught her breath. “My punishment is to be parted from you?”
“Not punishment. Reward. A pity I took you from the convent ere your profession was made, but you were raised well enough to play the part so none will discover your true purpose.”
Mercia frowned. “What part and what purpose?”
“I am sending you to Wulfenshire.”
“For what?”
“‘Tis where you are needed, and since God has made a place for you there, it is His will.”
Heart pounding, Mercia clamped her teeth lest she spill words that would see her dealt another blow.
“Mercia,” her grandmother murmured as if to herself. “Though few know what you are to me, that name could prove your undoing in the midst of our enemies. You must take another, and methinks a biblical one bests serves where you go.”
Somewhere upon Wulfenshire, far northeast of the city of Exeter where her grandmother would journey without her.
“Have you a name to mind, Mercia?”
“I must think on it.”
“Best one similar to your own so you not forget to answer to it.”
Fearful of the pressure in her chest evidencing screams circled there, Mercia lowered stinging eyes.
An aged hand settled on her arm. “Look at me, Granddaughter.”
Never named that, neither in private nor public, Mercia flew her gaze to rheumy eyes darkened by vengeful sorrow and resolve.
“Other than the danger which names present in the face of our enemies, they are no longer of great import. Who you are inside is all you must be.” She stepped nearer. Skirts brushing Mercia’s, she cupped the younger woman’s jaw. “Never forget—ever embrace—you are Saxon. Strong of mind, body, and spirit. True to the blood, the bone, the marrow.”
Mercia shivered over words with which her grandmother had rallied thousands of noble and common Saxons since the flower of England were slain upon that meadow, many of whom were now dead as well.
Thus, it mattered not the exact role she would play. It was enough to know that just as she had been no mere companion to the lady she served less than a year, no mere companion would she be upon Wulfenshire. This, however, would be dangerous. Like it or nay, Mercia of Mercia’s aid in overthrowing the usurper would make of her an enemy to Normans.
A rebel.
Review
Another thoroughly engrossing tale from my favourite author of medieval romance! There has been an air of mystery around both Abbess Mary Sarah (Mercia) and Sir Maël up until now, in large part because their roles have been secondary ones in the previous books in the series, but I’ve always suspected there was more to Abbess Mary Sarah than met the eye, and I was right! She had my sympathy from the first, having grown up knowing she was an illegitimate Godwine and little more than a pawn for her grandmother to move or sacrifice as served her purpose. Neither is Sir Maël’s life his own as captain of the king’s guard—a position he has accepted partly as penance for failing his family at the battle upon Senlac.
In addition to all the things I normally find to love about a Tamara Leigh novel, I loved the contrasts in this story. Although both Mercia and Maël are in positions of authority within their daily sphere of influence (the abbey and the king’s guards), they are at the same time powerless to have any meaningful say in the courses their lives take. They are more restrained emotionally than any of the characters we have journeyed with so far, but that only served to highlight their strength of character, sorely tested as the events of their tale unfold. And, of course, we once again have Saxon against Norman.
Nowhere was contrast more sharply drawn than between the “false” Abbess and the king’s brother Bishop Odo—one showing true inward devotion and reliance upon the Lord despite her lack of vows, the other merely the outward trappings of a life dedicated to a religious institution. And I might add Bishop Odo’s portrayal here completely lines up with what I know of him from history. Just another one of the things I love about Tamara Leigh’s books—the accuracy of her historical setting.
And the romance…well, Tamara Leigh always comes through in that department too, in this case allowing the characters’ feelings to slowly unfurl as they get caught up in the political machinations of those who continue to seek the overthrow of Le Bâtard. The odds are truly against Mercia and Maël getting their happy ever after, and I was enthralled by every step of their journey.
Your appetite will also be well and truly whet for the next story in the series featuring Nicola D’Argent, the reckless! And then there’s that epilogue… So much to look forward to!
I purchased my own copy of this novel, and as always, this review is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Previous Books in the Series
About the Author
Tamara 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 places 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 the historical romance genre 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, Lady of Eve, and Lady of Conquest. In winter 2018/2019, watch for the new AGE OF CONQUEST series unveiling the origins of the Wulfrith family. Psst!—It all began with a woman.
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: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
This story kept me riveted, the romance had me swooning and that reckless Nicola and her antics had me laughing out loud. The D’Argent family always keeps me coming back for more. And I will. For. Every. Single. Book. And then….AND. THEN. THAT Epilogue-Excerpt-Prologue?!?! My medieval lovin’ heart was giddy with happiness. 🙂
Thank you so much, Amy! I’m thrilled you enjoyed Sir Maël and Mercia’s tale. Yes, the Age of Honor series is brewing 🙂
Thank you for the beautiful review of Heartless! You bless me!