Knight of the Captive Heart

Picture a medieval fair, with the sun shining brightly overhead and banners flapping smartly in the wind. Horses are prancing, armor is buckled down, and the crowd holds its collective breath as Rowan du Veau, the Dark Knight, challenges all comers to the joust. He defeats all of them, and even when an opponent behaves treacherously, Rowan’s honor remains spotless.

Christiana hates being a girl; she wants to joust and use the long sword. She binds her breasts and appears to be a boy, fooling even Rowan, who rescues her from some stable lads. They feast after the joust, and Rowan’s nearness ignites the woman inside Christiana. He can’t help but compare her to his soon-to-be-intended Lady Diantha, and he notices how much more vivacious and unconcerned Christiana is with fripperies and lace.

The earl has decreed that Christiana will cease her playing as a boy and learn the duties of the lady of the keep. Her rebellious heart protests, but she complies. Then Rowan pledges fealty to her father and Christiana and Rowan are thrown together as her father tells her to familiarize Rowan with the castle. The fly in the ointment is the loathsome Sir Guy. He is a repulsive man in word, deed, and manner, as well as the heir apparent to the earl’s holdings.

Carolina Valdez writes this book with such stunning and realistic imagery that you feel the excitement of the crowd as the joust unfolds. The longer Rowan is around Christiana, the more her complete innocence and lack of artifice shows, and the more he admires her. As the fragile bond of trust grows between them, so does the danger surrounding them. There is a traitor in their midst. Knight of the Captive Heart is everything a great medieval story should be - romantic, lusty, historically accurate, and filled with calls to arms and bloodshed. Ms. Valdez is now an auto-buy for me; it only took this one book to hook me! I am pleased to award Knight of the Captive Heart our highest rating - 5 Angels and a Recommended Read!

Reviewed by: Michelle