The Knight of Rosecliffe

In the second book of Becnel's medieval trilogy, Englishman Jasper FitzHugh has spent the last 10 years helping his brother clear Welsh loyalists such as Rhonwen ap Tomas from the wild woods of Wales. Jasper remembers Rhonwen as the child who once saved his life. Now she is a beautiful, stubborn temptress who stirs his lust and his ire: she tries to assassinate him, steals his horse and then breaks into his home, kidnapping his niece. In retaliation, he captures her alleged lover, the rebel leader Rhys, and demands the return of his nieceAand Rhonwen as wellAin exchange. When she reluctantly agrees, Jasper loses no time in bedding Rhonwen, and soon she becomes a pawn in a deadly plot against her new lover. Torn between loyalty and love, Rhonwen fleesAstraight into the arms of a new and treacherous enemy. Becnel (The Bride of Rosecliffe) brings the Middles Ages to life with an elaborate plot, daring adventures and satisfyingly complex characters. (June)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The sequel to Becnel's The Bride of Rosecliffe (1998), this is another captive-captor story set in 12th-century Wales, when the English were first building their castles. Rhonwen is a Welsh loyalist. Jasper FitzHugh is the younger brother of the English lord of the castle. Ten years ago, as a child, Rhonwen saved Jasper's life, and now they meet again when she tries to kill him. When she is given to Jasper as a hostage in exchange for a captured leader of the loyalists, Rhonwen is torn between her hatred for all English and the strong attraction she feels for Jasper. She fears the worst but instead learns the power of love. Becnel's latest work features thoroughly enjoyable characters and is strongly plotted and quickly paced. And her subtly formal prose style lends itself nicely to the medieval setting. This romance should appeal to fans of Penelope Williamson. Ann Bouricius