DNF. It had such potential. I am totally into enemies to lovers but this was toxic with a capital T.

The constant anger that Adrian has towards Danielle made me so uncomfortable. I mean, he's supposed to be 10 years older than her but it doesn't mean he was mature. As a child she played mean tricks on him (pepper in his wine, honey in his boot) but a man should be able to handle it. From then on his default was to immediately have violent thoughts when he saw her. The anger felt irrational in my opinion.

Then, for crying out loud, he walks into her room while she is bathing before the wedding and just won't leave. It felt out of place for a time period when such emphasis is put on "proper behavior" if that makes sense.

Then, raping her on the wedding night and I noped out really fast. ( )

The King’s Pleasure by Heather Graham is a rare hidden gem. Taking place in the 1300s in Europe, this is not your typical smell the roses romance. There is a lot of fighting throughout the novel with the English king and the French king constantly battling along with the two main characters, Adrien Maclachlan and Danielle D’Aville.

Danielle D’Aville’s town was conquered by the English when Adrien Maclachlan, a Scottish lad who was ten at the time, found a way to breach the walls. Danielle hated Adrien from that time forward, while Adrien became the English king’s right-hand man. After Danielle’s mother dies, she becomes the king’s ward and with the king wanting to reward Adrien, he bestowed many titles and lands on him along with Danielle’s hand in marriage. From that day forward, Danielle and Adrien butted heads at every turn. Danielle was trying to protect the French king, while Adrien furtively defended the English king. How can this marriage work when they both hate each other so much? How can it work with Danielle going behind Adrien’s back to commit treason against the English king?

This novel for me was a little hard to get into and understand what was going on. However, after a few chapters, you get a hang of the flow of the novel and who all the characters are and you instantly fall in love and can’t put it down until you are finished. Heather Graham writes delish romance novels that don’t fit easily into the clique romance category. If you like Heather Graham’s writing or you just love romance novels, I highly recommend giving The King’s Pleasure a read. ( )

Pseudonym for Heather Graham, one of my favorite authors. This book has an interesting setting in 1300s in England. Plot twists are courtesy of the plague, war, and political intrigue. A really good read. ( )

Author: Heather Graham
Published By: Open Road
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 4
Review:

"The King's Pleasure" by Heather Graham was a good historical fiction romantic that I found very interesting as well as a entertaining long read. "The King's Pleasure" can be found to be well written that will keep you reading till the end. This hero Adrien and the heroine Danielle were really made for each other but will this work out? Be ready for a 'tug of war' that seems to go on continually in this read...whether its on the battle fields ..of the Scotsmen,Englishmen, Frenchmen... and as these two people that will only keep you on the edge of your seat reading to find out what is going on.

Each of the characters were very "spirited and independent" but also a bit complexed in the way they maintained their own loyalties. Be ready for a read of long fighting scenes that shares a real description of this historical time.
What secrets will finally come out from this novel? This is where I say you must pick up "The King's Pleasure" to get all the these questions answered and just what is going on in this good read.

If you are looking for a good long historical fiction romantic that is full of action with many twist and turns ...you have come to the right place and yes I would recommend "The King's Pleasure" for you.

From BackCover:
SWEEPING FROM SCOTLAND's UNTAMED HIGHLANDS TO THE TOWER OF LONDON AND WAR-TORN FRANCE... TWO PEOPLE DESTINED TO LOVE IN A DIVIDED LAND.

Danielle D'Aville was the ward of Edward III, sworn to obey the King's order to marry her enemy Adrien MacLachlan, the legendary Scot who masterminded the fall of her beloved home. Suddenly she was the arrogant knight's reluctant wife, pledged to a marriage neither desired. But swept off to his castle in the Scottish highlands, and into his strong embrace, Danielle was soon possessed by a raging passion for the husband she had vowed to despise...

Adrien MacLachlan couldn't afford to trust the emerald-eyed spitfire who carried the blood of French kings in her veins. Danielle's divided loyalties only inflamed the ware that raged between them. Still, he could not control the intense desire his bartered bride inspired, or make her surrender to his will, until he had conquered the headstrong beauty on the battlefield of love.... ( )