Series:
Ladies of the Keep (Book 2)
Widowed Viking beauty Lady Eyreka learns that the king
plans to gift Merewood Keep to one of his Norman warriors…
Merewood Keep is just beginning to earn revenues with
Garrick as its overlord. When the king decides to gift the keep to one of his
favored knights, Garrick's mother is devastated until she hears rumors that the
Norman is widowed.
Lady Eyreka seeks an audience with the king without her
sons' knowledge. She offers marriage, and the continued stewardship of the
profitable keep if Garrick remains on as seneschal. She never intends to fall
in love again.
Norman Warrior Augustin de Chauret cannot refuse the
king…
De Chauret has no desire to marry or live in England. But
cannot refuse his liege lord. They marry and Lady Eyreka retains her family's
holding, but she must convince her sons and the keeps' people to accept de
Chauret.
De Chauret knew he would battle to win his wife's loyalty
and that of her keeps' people. He never expected to have to battle to convince
his men or his young daughter to accept his wife.
Though the Saxons were defeated in the Uprisings, small
militant groups remain, striking out at the new Norman lord by capturing his
daughter and wife.
Norman and Saxon must work together to rescue them. De
Chauret will move Heaven and earth to save his daughter and the woman he has
fallen in love with.
This book picks up where the previous book (
Liberating the Lady of Loughmoe) left off. The keep does well under Garrick and Dunstan's
management, and life is somewhat more settled. Then word arrives that King
William intends to give the keep to one of his warriors. Widowed Lady Eyreka fears
for the safety of her family and her people, so when she learns that the Norman
is a widower, she develops a plan. She sneaks away to see the king and offers
marriage to the Norman in exchange for her family's cooperation in running the
keep.
Augustin loved his late wife and had no desire to remarry
or stay in England. However, no one says no to the king, and Augustin quickly
finds himself married and on the way to Merewood. He is an honorable man though
also a bit arrogant and does not realize how unprepared he is to take over
Merewood.
I loved watching the relationship between Eyreka and
Augustin develop. They get off to a rough start, as Augustin is accustomed to
having his orders obeyed, and Eyreka is used to a full partnership with her
late husband. Their clashes of will are fun to watch as each strives to come
out on top. Unexpected attraction complicates their interactions.
Melding Saxon and Norman into a cohesive unit doesn't
come easy. The antagonism, both overt and subtle, keeps everyone on edge. Eyreka
and Augustin realize that their resistance to the sparks between them adds to
the tension. I liked seeing them get to know and respect each other before
giving in to their attraction. The bigger question is whether they can let go
of the past and make a future together.
I loved watching the Normans and Saxons learn how to work
together. The initial distrust between them is evident and understandable.
There are stronger undercurrents with some of Augustin's men, and I ached for Eyreka,
who found herself the target of some of those resentments. There are some
terrific scenes of Augustin as he settles into life at Merewood and begins to
make progress.
But there is trouble looming. When Eyreka and his
daughter become the targets of revenge, Augustin must bring together both sides
if he will save them. The confrontation was intense, and I was on the edge of
my seat until it was over. I loved the depth of emotion displayed at the end
and what it meant for their future.
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