A hardened Norman warrior, Lord Aymon has lived through atrocities no man ever should. With the invasion of England over, all he wants is a quiet life and a wife who will give him heirs and obey his every command. Instead, he finds himself wed to feisty and outspoken Laila. But when she learns the truth of his treasonous act, can Aymon count on her to keep his secret?
This story really pulled me in from the beginning, as it has the type of set-up that REALLY keeps me turning the pages; the reluctant relationship.Laila (with no choice in the matter) enters into a marriage arrangement with Aymon, and he's really no too thriller with her, either. But reading how their relationship evolved and how they were forced to lean on each other kept me glued to the book!The final conflict was gripping. Thank goodness this is a romance novel (which guarantees a happy ending), otherwise I would think that both Laila and Aymon were doomed. Still, knowing the relative outcome, the thrill of reading the action-and-adventure of what they had to go through to GET to the end was a nail-biter.Louise did a fantastic job of writing the "love" between Laila and Aymon and I enjoyed reading the interactions they had. While the ending was not entirely what I expected, it seemed fitting given the time-period of the book. This was just an all-around fantastic historical romance!***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
Aymon caught a flicker of movement from a window on the second story. “I think we’re about to meet the welcome party.” An arrow zoomed toward him and landed on the pommel of his saddle. A half an inch closer and he would no longer be able to sire children. As if in demonstration of his ability with the bow and arrow, the shooter fired again. This time directed toward Hugh. The second arrow too came within a half an inch of his friend’s manhood.
“You missed!” Aymon called toward the shooter. He questioned his stupidity for mocking someone with such a good aim.
“You want me to show you how good an aim I really am?” a woman’s voice echoed out across the yard.
“Bloody hell,” Hugh half cursed, half laughed. “Where does a woman learn to shoot like that?”
Aymon was shocked and admittedly a little impressed a woman had such remarkable shooting skills. He could use such a sharp shooter on his side in battle. After all, it was better to have someone so skilled firing for you than at you.
Aymon raised his black leather gloved hand in surrender. “No. I’m firmly attached to my balls, thank you very much.”
“Who are you?” the shooter demanded. “And what do you want? There is nothing of value here for you to steal. Be on your way, man, and leave me in peace.”
“Some would say a female is of value,” Aymon drawled sardonically.
A second arrow lodged firmly on the pommel between his legs.
“I do not give third chances. I’ll give you to the count of three to leave. Or else you will find an arrow straight through your heart.”
Aymon’s warhorse whinnied, and he fought to control the beast whose temperament was as black as his coat. “Put down your weapon!”
“One!”
“We mean you no harm!”
“Two!”
“I am Lord Aymon, and this is Lord Hugh. I’ve come to claim what is rightfully mine.”
Silence.
The two men looked at one another unsure what to do. “Should we storm the building and lay claim to what is yours?”
Aymon shook his head. He dismounted but never took his eyes from the door to the manor.
“She will soon make her appearance.”
Hugh, too, dismounted. “How can you be so sure?”
Aymon looked at his friend. “We do not have arrows through our hearts.”
Louise grew up in country Victoria, Australia, before moving to England, where for sixteen years she soaked up the vibrancy of London and the medieval history of England. She has since returned to Australia and now lives in Melbourne. “You missed!” Aymon called toward the shooter. He questioned his stupidity for mocking someone with such a good aim.
“You want me to show you how good an aim I really am?” a woman’s voice echoed out across the yard.
“Bloody hell,” Hugh half cursed, half laughed. “Where does a woman learn to shoot like that?”
Aymon was shocked and admittedly a little impressed a woman had such remarkable shooting skills. He could use such a sharp shooter on his side in battle. After all, it was better to have someone so skilled firing for you than at you.
Aymon raised his black leather gloved hand in surrender. “No. I’m firmly attached to my balls, thank you very much.”
“Who are you?” the shooter demanded. “And what do you want? There is nothing of value here for you to steal. Be on your way, man, and leave me in peace.”
“Some would say a female is of value,” Aymon drawled sardonically.
A second arrow lodged firmly on the pommel between his legs.
“I do not give third chances. I’ll give you to the count of three to leave. Or else you will find an arrow straight through your heart.”
Aymon’s warhorse whinnied, and he fought to control the beast whose temperament was as black as his coat. “Put down your weapon!”
“One!”
“We mean you no harm!”
“Two!”
“I am Lord Aymon, and this is Lord Hugh. I’ve come to claim what is rightfully mine.”
Silence.
The two men looked at one another unsure what to do. “Should we storm the building and lay claim to what is yours?”
Aymon shook his head. He dismounted but never took his eyes from the door to the manor.
“She will soon make her appearance.”
Hugh, too, dismounted. “How can you be so sure?”
Aymon looked at his friend. “We do not have arrows through our hearts.”
She has been writing the moment she picked up a copy of Diana Gabaldon's first Outlander novel twenty something years ago. She thought to herself, 'this is what I want to do' - not travel back in time, but become a novelist! She has always had snippets of dialogue and scenes floating around in her head with characters screaming at her to bring them to life.
In 2013, Louise won first prize in the Crested Butte Sandy Writing contest – Historical category for her story, The Promise, which is now called, Of Love and Vengeance.
When not writing, she can be found covered in mud, crawling under barbed wire and hoisting herself over twelve foot walls - under the guise of competing in Spartan races all over Australia.
From grade prep to grade four, I attended a primary school which only had fourteen students in its entirety and only one teacher.
Growing up, I wanted to be a songwriter.
I have three sisters, five nieces and one nephew.
I can play the guitar, piano and drums - badly!
My favorite TV shows are; Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: UK, Criminal Minds, Reign, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, and Game Of Thrones.
I often wonder how I'd cope in a zombie invasion.
The most 'famous' person I have met is Stephen Hawking. I said 'hi, hello' to him in the parking lot of a university I once worked at.
My favorite 'Dr' (as in Dr Who) is Christopher Eccleston.
I met the most popular 'Dr' David Tennant at the National Television Awards in London, the same night he announced he would be giving up his role as the Dr.
My favorite saying is - 'Everything has it's beauty, but not everyone sees it...' my other favorite is - 'Bang on enough doors and one is bound to open...'
I have a deep rooted fear of flying.
I openly admit to being obsessed with Facebook.
My favorite fictional character is none other than, Jamie Fraser, from the Outlander novels by Diana Gabaldon.
If I could, I would eat chocolate for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
Growing up, I wanted to be a songwriter.
I have three sisters, five nieces and one nephew.
I can play the guitar, piano and drums - badly!
My favorite TV shows are; Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: UK, Criminal Minds, Reign, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, and Game Of Thrones.
I often wonder how I'd cope in a zombie invasion.
The most 'famous' person I have met is Stephen Hawking. I said 'hi, hello' to him in the parking lot of a university I once worked at.
My favorite 'Dr' (as in Dr Who) is Christopher Eccleston.
I met the most popular 'Dr' David Tennant at the National Television Awards in London, the same night he announced he would be giving up his role as the Dr.
My favorite saying is - 'Everything has it's beauty, but not everyone sees it...' my other favorite is - 'Bang on enough doors and one is bound to open...'
I have a deep rooted fear of flying.
I openly admit to being obsessed with Facebook.
My favorite fictional character is none other than, Jamie Fraser, from the Outlander novels by Diana Gabaldon.
If I could, I would eat chocolate for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
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ReplyDeleteThis was a great review and really good excerpt.
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DeleteGreat excerpt, thank you.
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DeleteI love the blurb. Sounds like a great book
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DeleteOh, I do like page turners....thanks for your review.
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DeleteGreat review and excerpt...thanks for the contest and chance to win!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Glenda!
DeleteOhhhhh, I enjoy historical romances and this one sounds great !
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DeleteI think the fun facts are great !
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DeleteI liked both the excerpt and the beautiful book cover too.
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DeleteI am so sorry, I missed this! Please please please accept my apologies! Thank you so much for hosting me!
ReplyDeleteNo worries! Thank you for the opportunity to review Of Love and Vengeance! Aymon is one hot hero!
DeleteOh yes, I'll have to agree with you about Aymon!
DeleteImpressive cover!
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