3.5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an unbiased and honest review

It's 1066 and the Normans have invaded, Serena's father is dead and her brother is unaccounted for in the north. As William and his men sweep across the land, The Conqueror gifts his loyal knights with property and English ladies for wives. The combination of these two gifts allows the Normans to entrench and guard what they have bled for and hopefully ingrain themselves more smoothly into English's lives. Understandably, a few English women have a problem being gifted to their Norman overlords and flee to seek the veil. Our heroine Serena also flees but not to seek the veil, to hopefully, meet up with her brother Steinar in the north. For you see, not only has her home been given to The Red Wolf, a fearsome legendary Norman knight, but also her hand in marriage. Alas, Serena flees too late and is caught by the Wolf's men and brought back. However, with the aid of some walnut hair dye and her people's silence she pretends to be Sarah, the handmaiden to the escaped Lady Serena. Renaud, The Red Wolf, is clueless to the fact that his intended is right under his nose and is starting to harbor some inappropriate feelings for Sarah, a mere servant. While Serena is starting to find her hidden identity a very heavy burden with every act of mercy Renuad shows her people and every tingle of pleasure she feels in his presence.

First off, I have to mention that I love the map, list of characters, and pinterest board ( https://www.pinterest.com/reganwalker123/the-red-wolfs-prize-by-regan-walker/ ) the author provides as supplements to go along with the book. I don't know if this is considered the extra mile or what but all of it combines to fully immerse you into the past and world Ms. Walker has created. The time period really did steal the show for me. The tensions of the time are felt as conquerors and the conquered must now learn to live together, especially our leads Serena and Renuad.

For the first 40% or so, Renuad does not know who Serena truly is and I felt like this hurt their ability to connect not only in the story but with me as the reader. The flow is a little disjointed at bits as blocks of time are skipped through and to and the characters almost seemed like actors on a stage performing everything by rote. This could be looked at as story growing pains as the relationship and romance aspect ramped up in the second half of the book with the reveal of Serena's identity.

Even though Serena has a couple "the lady doth protest too much" instances, you really feel for her. Her uncertainty and conflicted emotions about who she is actually betraying in the end by denying her feelings for Renuad create quite a few heartfelt moments. Renaud was a nice change of pace from the usual sword thrusting rape threatening male lead typically found in medievals. He is the boss but acknowledges the need to form good, strong lasting relationships with the people of his domain; Renaud is a strong armed knight with a gentle grip. Each time he treats her people with respect, the reader can see Serena fall in love with him a little bit more. Serena and Renuad have a gentle romance that clashes wonderfully with the outside atmosphere of bitter strife.

There are also a couple secondary romances, with one being resolved and another that will probably be the star of the show in a following book in the series. The romance involving the past mistress to Serena's father and one of Renaud's knights had some particular aching moments involving not feeling worthy enough that had me wanting to see more from this couple. For the most part though, the secondary characters helped move the story along but never stole the spotlight from our leads.

As newly published medievals are pretty rare, the excellent attention to detail and emotional feeling, in regards to the time period, Ms. Walker has created make The Red Wolf's Prize a strong addition to the romantic retellings of William the Conqueror and his knights. ( )

Good

I enjoyed reading this book. It was fun and the characters were well developed. Learned about the time period as well. I’d look up the history while reading. ( )

The Red Wolf's Prize by Regan Walker is a 2014 publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Has anyone else been wondering what happened to Medieval romance? Are we destined to read of Earls and Dukes forever? Will there never again be a historical romance with depth, true authenticity, emotion, and the guts to portray life in the times that were fraught with war and danger? I for one was past ready to read a historical romance with some meat on its bones. If you have been missing these types of romances too, then your wait is over. This book was just what I have been waiting for.

Sir Renaud, aka The Red Wolf, is a Norman Knight rumored to be in King William's favor. Renaud was given the lands of the English Talisand by the king as a reward. The lands were once owned by an Engish Thegn who was slain in battle. He left behind a castle and beautiful daughter named Serena. Serena was promised to Renaud along with the lands and castle.
Before he arrives to claim his stake and his bride, Serena vows she will never wed a Norman. To avoid this fate she will take desperate measures.
When Renaud arrives in Talisand and discovers his intended has fled, he finds a servant girl that captures his interest. He pursues her relentlessly only to be spurned over and over. But, soon Renaud begins to suspect something is going on with the servant girl who is deadly accurate with a bow and knife and can sing like an angel. Then the truth hits him right between the eyes. Now the warrior is more determined than ever to claim his bride- not just her body but her heart as well.

This book has everything you could hope for in a historical romance. It was like a soothing balm to once more read a Medieval tale that took me away to a time long ago where everything around me just fell to the wayside and I was completely absorbed with ladies of honor, pride, boldness and tenacity. Warriors with valor and loyalty who inspired others in their wake. The brutality of war and the emotional tug of war Serena fought within herself as she suffered the loss of her lands and watched helplessly as William tore through English lands burning and pillaging everything in sight. Her heart ached with the loss and fear for her brother , leaving her to feel disloyal to to her people, her brother, and her father's memory as she slowly falls in love with her Norman husband.
This book is so well researched and I am so happy to see an author learn her subject and the era in which she chooses to write. The language was authentic, the actions true to the times, no modern slang or terms, which I absolutely loath, and was as accurately depicted as our modern world will allow.
My eyes stung with tears as I struggled along with Serena and her fight to find a common ground with her warrior husband. How difficult this must have been for her. Renaud was realistically depicted as he made no excuses or apologies for the war to his bride, but was sensitive to her feelings nonetheless. While this was not a likely love match, the two find that despite all the differences between them, each respected the other and the love they shared was the the most powerful weapon of all.
Beautifully written, perfectly paced, action packed, with a passionate and epic love affair...what more could you ask for? 5 stars ( )