Now includes audiobook review:

This read is powerful! I read it five months ago and have just finished listening to the narration, narrated by Brian J. Gill.

Gill depicts the emotional and character conflict superbly. A great story with a good narrator gives me great satisfaction in revisiting the story. If you have purchased the book, then consider the audiobook. Audible.com gives a special price discount for these customers.

Recently, I read about another author who has taken the four knights who assassinated Thomas Beckett, Archbishop of Canterbury, and given them each a story. I wish I could remember the author, because I’d love to follow-up with the historical event. If any of you readers know, please let me know!
Simply, when an author is able to turn back time, reliving a historical event, humanizing it, breathing life anew into it, I think the author has done more than a service of entertaining. For these reasons, Le Veque gets my vote of confidence and my turn-to author for Medieval Historical Romance reads.

A story of tragedy on many fronts, with heartwarming moments -- and above all love conquers the many challenges man faces

Valor, its meaning, not the name of the main character, plays a large part in this story whose powerful setting and writing style took me from the heights of happiness to the depths of despair. Author Kathryn Le Veque picks the perfect period in history where so many intrigues take place, where valor and honor are challenged and where love flourishes even amongst its vestiges.

Valor has a job to do--Itinerant Justice of East Hampshire. He has faithfully executed all the king’s commands with fortitude and aplomb. He has gained favor with the King Henry and those who support the king. A command once again comes to Valor with a missive delivered by one of the knights of the king’s inner circle. This particular missive challenges Valor, for he’s damned if he follows his king’s demand and damned if he does not. He is commanded to arrest Thomas Beckett, the Archbishop of Canterbury at that time.

Vesper seems demure enough. She appears quite the lady, well-educated for the times, has a beautiful voice Valor falls in love with. The hidden spirit of Vesper comes to play when she realizes she loves Valor and will move the world to keep him safe. Yes, my kind of heroine!

Valor’s mother, Margaretha, is an interesting character. She’s a woman of much perception, rather sharp-tongued, with a deep love for her son. She gets me eye-rolling! Her greatest desire is to have grandchildren, since Valor is the only one to produce the heirs for the House of De Nerra. There are several scenes where she is a total harpy, badgering her son to marry, to have children. I could see myself in her position with our son! Valor doesn’t have a well of patience either, but I do marvel at what patience he has! She is also one who accesses the worth of people quickly – sometimes spot-on, sometimes misses the mark by a wide margin. I feel she'd be a great character to continue learning about. A story of her own, perhaps.

Another character I’m certain we shall see again in the de Nerra series is an old friend and knight, Sir McCloud d’Avignon, father to the lovely heroine, Vesper. He is a man who has changed with time, not the knight Valor once knew. I enjoyed the way author Le Veque layers this story – for McCloud has a story of his own. He is the one who changes the most, but can he be forgiven for his past?

It’s marvelous how the author takes a momentous historical event weaving into it a story of love, pain, untruths and honor. All her books tug on my emotions.

There are scenes where I cry and laugh at the same time. Wonderfully heartwarming and at the same time, heart-wrenching. Don't miss reading the first of a new series by Kathryn Le Veque. ( )