This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨

First Impressions
DarkWolfe is a story that I was very eager for because it features another half to a story that I had read previously from this series. In reality I think you should read DarkWolfe and Shadowwolfe together as they are twins and they both suffer a tragedy but yet go different paths. I was very intrigued to get the story from DarkWolfe and seeing the POV from Troy as I have already read Scott's view of the event. And Troy definitely went a very different route in facing grief than Scott ever did. I really adored Troy. He was left and abandoned by his twin and forced to face up to the grief. And we see how that has worn on him but in some ways he is more closed off to love than even Scott. But this story was very different than I expected it to be and I adored seeing these two who begin as enemies and form a strong bond to each other and work together in their arranged marriage that I just loved seeing.

First Line
She was cold to the touch.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Troy de Wolfe
Twin to the first born of William de Wolfe. A powerful knight in his own right and just as capable of being a leader and a fighter. He is a widower having lost his wife and two daughters in a accident. Has one surviving son in training.

The Heroine: Rhoswyn Whitton Kerr
Rhoswyn was the only child to her father, and when her mother passed, she was trained as if she was a son and a warrior. All she knows is how to be a man and to fight on the battlefield.

Summary
When the de Wolfe go to protect their lands and people from raiders on the Scottish border, they claim the tower on a Scottish land, but Troy finds himself the honorary warrior to not only battle their best fight to claim the land but no matter who wins or loses both of them will be forced to marry because this fight will be one pitting a man against a woman. But Troy and Rhoswyn are both pawns in this game. And even though at first they are enemies, they quickly call a truce with each other and start working as a couple in their new marriage that neither of them have had a choice in. But as they start to work together in learning what it means to be husband and wife, there is a dangerous plot that could destroy everything that they are working to build...

What I Loved
DarkWolfe was a delightful installment and I had a blast breezing through this one here. It was really interesting seeing how Le Veque set this one up. Just be warned that it takes a while before our characters meet each other, about 30%. It didn't bother me though, it really was needed to set up their marriage and their battle haha But I really enjoyed seeing how these two get on. The heroine does have a lot to learn though. And I felt like Troy is just the perfect teacher. He is so patient and understanding with her. Even the third act conflict definitely made sense. What really impressed me the most was that when it matters, these two make a truce and make the best of the circumstances that they are both thrown in. They act like adults when it comes to being responsible and giving honor to their parents, which back in medieval times, was pretty vital to survival back then. I loved the family connections that we see focused on.

The relationship that builds between Troy and Rhoswyn was so wonderful to see. They both are like babes when it comes to learning what it takes to building home. Rhoswyn knows literally nothing on what it means to be a wife or being a chatelaine. And does she learn but not without some help from friends of Troy. I really enjoyed seeing Troy and Rhoswyn find their way together. They never give up on each other and keeping working on their marriage which I found so encouraging. We see some great depth in the last act especially and boy does Le Veque really tackle on the emotion so brilliantly there. You will definitely need your box of tissues with this one.

What I Struggled With
There wasn't too much that I struggled with, I kinda wish that the relationship had been more flushed out and it could have used at least another 50-100 pages to focus on the romance more. We spend the first 30% of the book building up to their first meeting, so I do think there could have been more relationship building time put into the story.

Overall View
DarkWolfe was a superb read that delivered in the atmospheric vibes that I adore seeing a medieval romance and all the feels that the author placed in the story captured the moments perfectly! Definitely eager for more!

Favorite Quote(s)
“I am not strong,” he said. “I simply did what needed to be done. Running from grief does not make it go away.”

“Things like this… they happen, Atty. Women die and men die. It is the way of life. But I would like to think that in the grand scheme of things, a death serves a higher purpose. Mayhap we do not understand what the purpose is when it happens but, in time, we will see the light. We will see that everything in life happens as it should.”

You were in the dream and you told me that I must come to you. I am here if you want me and for the rest of my life, I shall belong to you and only you. And I will adore you until the day I die.”

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Time Era: England= Plantagenet + House of Lancaster
Character Types: Warrior/Soldier, Knights and Ladies, Highlander, Widower, Single Parent, Single Dad.
Themes: Family Saga, Kick Ass
Tropes: Arranged Marriage, Enemies to Lovers

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A mix of both

Song This Book Inspires
Somewhere-Glee Cast

Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standalone

Steam/Spice Explanations

Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments. ( )

World-building is an art. Truly. As I read each one of Le Veque’s over 60 novels, I become more and more immersed in her stories. It’s like going home, time after time when I again encounter William de Wolfe, his sons, wives and offspring. The author creates such noteworthy personalities, full of charm, honor and charisma you are compelled to understand the inner demons woven into a man’s soul. Even though set in days long gone by, human frailty and what pushes a man to react as he does, stands in good stead for these times.

Her characters with their challenges and emotion drive the story forward in a setting which has always captivated me. If you haven’t had the chance to experience her world, make sure you begin this series.

As far as Troy was concerned, twin brother to Scott, life ceased to exist when his wife Helene and his two children were swept away in a drowning. For three years he’d only existed, but always obedient to his father, William de Wolfe.

A battle ensues, removing reivers from Monteviot Tower, property of Keith Kerr, a keep not far from his father’s outpost, Castle Questing.

Red Keith Kerr decides it is time to remove the English as a threat, although he hadn’t had a problem with the de Wolfe’s. It is against the Scots makeup to want any English around to monitor their comings and goings. Keith’s a crafty man, but also a man with compassion buried beneath his haughty exterior and dirt. He cooks up the idea he’d like to have his daughter marry the son of de Wolfe, Troy. The English wouldn’t be enemies, but tied together in marriage. Crafty he is, as I said.

Scenes follow where two fathers try to reason with their young. William has an easier time of it, because Troy, as a knight, knows he must obey his father, and the girl did win the fight. But Rhoswyn is a little she-devil, escaping and fighting her own people, something like a mad woman. But apparently, her da helped her see reason, also honor is at stake from her side. It all happens so fast! I’m sure they are both in shell-shock.

Red Keith Kerr wanted a son from his wife, but a girl child was born. Once his wife passed on, he molded his daughter, Rhoswyn, into a warrior. She’s smart, clever and not above using surprise of her gender in battle as you’ll see when facing Troy in battle garb. It’s just enough of a hesitation she needs to get the upper-hand. She’s also exceedingly beautiful, that is, when she discovers there are such things as soap and a comb! I so enjoyed seeing her transformation. I loved Rhoswyn’s esprit de corps and determination to fit into Troy’s life after she finds Troy to be only kind and encouraging to her.

You can take the warrior out of battle, but you can’t take the battle out of a warrior. A another point, you’ll enjoy in this story.

Troy learns a lot about himself in this story. He learns life does offer second chances, and love can be found again if you are willing to let it.

As in any wonderful romance, the writer creates scenes which keep me teary-eyed and others all-out bawling. I hope you’ll take time to discover the de Wolfe’s. A family made of grand stuff! ( )