relzreviewz.com Heartless by Tamara Leigh

Synopsis:~

THE WULFRITHS. IT ALL BEGAN WITH A WOMAN

A battle. A crown. The conqueror. The conquered. Medieval England—forever changed by the Battle of Hastings. And the rise of the formidable Wulfriths.

A HEARTLESS NORMAN

Chevalier Maël D’Argent lost more than his striking looks when he aided the Duke of Normandy in taking the English throne from King Harold. As much by his own actions at the Battle of Hastings as those of the enemy, he lost his sire and his honor in breaking faith with his family. Believing himself unworthy of forgiveness, his ruined face the least due him, Maël now serves a ruthless man bent on subduing Saxons resistant to Norman rule. But when his mission to safeguard King William’s dignity leads to the rescue of a curiously familiar Saxon woman who causes the empty place inside him to strain its seams, he discovers he may not be as heartless as the one he serves—nor resistant to the wiles of one he ought to count an enemy.

A FALSE ABBESS

In the guise of Abbess Mary Sarah, the illegitimate Mercia has served the Saxon resistance for years in anticipation of learning who sired her. At last ordered to cast off the habit and veil, Mercia is told that revelation of her parentage hinges on acceptance of another role that could see her sacrificed by the noble family who refuses to acknowledge her. When she resists and is abducted by Saxon allies, her savior proves the scarred Norman warrior who spared her following the great battle. Once more, something sorrowfully empty in Sir Maël makes her long to fill his emptiness with what little she possesses, even if his captivity renders it impossible for him to forgive one as deceptive as she. Even if she never discovers who she is…

From the coronation of William the Conqueror at Westminster, to the amassing of the Danish fleet intent on dethroning England’s Norman king, Sir Maël and Mercia’s tale unfolds in the fourth book in the AGE OF CONQUEST series revealing the origins of the Wulfriths of the bestselling AGE OF FAITH series. Watch for RECKLESS: Book Five releasing Autumn 2020.

Necee’s take:~

“Do you think ever it has been and ever it will be this way, Abbess? The conquerors conquered, the oppressors oppressed, no peace for those who but wish to live and love so their children may do the same?”

No truer words spoken from Lady Nicola’s lips to Abbess Mary Sarah. They are both strong willed and faithful to their causes. There is so much heart to this story and a beautiful spiritual theme. I loved seeing the views of those impacted from the Saxons, to the Normans, and even the Danes. Of course, seeing the strength of the women of that time period is very refreshing and I love the protective and yet warrior hearts of the men.

Leigh has a way of bringing history to life in the midst of fiction that makes for an engaging read. Beautifully written, this is an intriguing storyline of faith blended with the deception and ravages of war. It was a struggle seeing so many lies, and yet, Leigh gave a greater understanding of how many survived during wartime and it’s impact afterward. She even gives a glimpse of how much convents brought shelter to many. This story tells one aspect of how that shelter may have been used for protection and subterfuge.

“This was not how she would have chosen to escape God’s house. Were she yet a bird amongst the rafters, less harrowing that than being forced to depart the abbey as she had.”

As Abbess Mary Sarah, also known as Mercia by a few, is stolen away she wonders if her life will ever be her own. To know who she really is…

“To be where I wish to be, to live as I wish to live,” she whispered, “to be with whom I wish to be, to be loved as I wish to love.”

Chevalier Maël D’Argent finds himself in the crosshairs rescuing his cousin, Nicola and the Abbess. His heartless manner begins to change as he learns more about the mysterious background that seems to follow her. As more trouble follows them and they draw closer, God may have more to their story planned than they ever expected. I loved how there connection grew stronger as they shared their secrets and wounds that shamed them. Through this revealing, God brought much healing to them both as they journeyed through His Word.

““Then we should both embrace Psalm thirty-one.” In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust, she silently recited as her heart strained toward a man who was not her enemy in this moment and perhaps none henceforth.”

This is a story of hope, redemption, and love…of how God can redeem our past and bless us in ways we never imagined. I loved reading Psalm 31 and found it added to my understanding of the story. It holds the promises God has for all of us. That through our trust in Him, we can handle both the good and bad times in life. That we have a hope that is greater than anything man has to offer.

I received an ARC from the author, but purchased the ebook for myself. I have only given my honest opinion.

Rel’s take:~

There’s nothing I love more when stepping back in time in a novel than immersing myself in a medieval romance penned by the talented, Tamara Leigh. She is especially gifted at bringing both her characters and the era alive, so that you feel you are walking the battlefield alongside her warriors, whispering in the silent walls of a convent, and praying that the love blossoming between, in this instance Maël D’Argent and Mary Sarah, will take root and flourish.

I love Tamara Leigh’s leading men and Maël is no different. Yes, he’s a warrior, manly and courageous, but it’s his loyalty to family and bone deep integrity that sets him apart. Mary Sarah has a few more hurdles to cross before I took her to heart, but as the pages turned and her motives and heartache became clear, she was safely ensconced before too long. Given the personalities of these two, this was a more gently flowing tale, no doubt softening us to the maelstrom that will be Vitalis and Nicola’s story in this beautifully executed Age of Conquest series.

With thanks to the author for my review copy. All opinions remain my own.