relzreviewz.com Valorous by Tamara Leigh

Synopsis:~

THE WULFRITHS. FIRST. IN BETWEEN. IN THE END.

The late middle ages. England’s king seeks to recover the French lands of his ancestor William the Conqueror and claim the continental throne. France’s king aspires to seize the remainder of his royal vassal’s lands and retain his throne. So begins the Hundred Years’ War, the backdrop against which the formidable Wulfriths of the AGE OF CONQUEST and AGE OF FAITH series continue their tale.

THE HONOR OF HECTOR WULFRITH

Pale rider. For all the wives lost to him, it is what some call England’s renowned trainer of knights, a name that reaches beyond those losses to the plague come out of the east. Believing it God’s will he not wed again, Hector Wulfrith resists being drawn to the courageous lady who enters a country at war with her own and, disguised as a man, trespasses on his home. However, when her resolve to obtain training for a boy she claims is Wulfrith kin drags him into her mess of murder and thievery, mutual attraction becomes something more. If he can save her, dare he risk gaining her for himself knowing her fate could prove the same as his doomed wives’? Would it not be better to encourage her to return the affections of his heir—a brother wronged for what Hector stole from him?

THE MESS OF SÉVERINE DE BARRA

Since the surrender of her town to English forces, the greatest kindness shown Séverine is that of an enemy of silvered dark hair who saved her from his own when she sought to protect her cousin. Years later, she crosses the channel to keep her word to the boy’s departed sire to place him with distant kin for knighthood training. But the trouble awaiting them in England follows them to Baron Wulfrith whom she must deceive to gain an audience—one that comes to naught though he proves her former savior. Desperate to secure her cousin’s future before the fugitive made of her endangers him, Séverine furthers her deception to obtain the baron’s aid and finds her heart turning to him. But to what lengths will one of fortified emotions go to save a French lady destined for imprisonment in the Tower of London—and possibly death?

From USA Today Bestselling author Tamara Leigh, the first book in a new medieval romance series set in the 14th century during The Hundred Years’ War. Watch for BEAUTEOUS, the second book in Summer 2022.

Necee’s take:~

“Do not love me, Séverine.”

A stunningly beautiful story of heartbreak, love, healing, and redemption. I was mesmerized by the continued story of the Wulfrith family…years after the prior series. It was truly inspiring, especially the family fortitude through many trials and losses that brought joy and love. This first book in the Age of Honor series had me greatly looking forward to more from the Wulfrith family. I loved this quote:

“Do we accept first we are answerable to God, we will not be rendered helpless in the shadows of men who think themselves giants because of the size of the dark they cast. As best we can, we move in the light all sides of those shadows, and when we fail and they cover us, the faith we carry into that dark will aid in extricating us.”

If you are looking for a writer that brings history to life with poetic words that draw in your soul, Tamara Leigh is truly inspiring with her novels. Adventure, suspense, swords and romance with an air of faith, “Valorous” has it all. The romance hooked me right in and had me hoping for a happy ending. I’m looking forward to the second book “Beauteous” and the future of the Wulfriths.

“Les Wulfriths. D’abord. Entre. À la fin.—The Wulfriths. First. In between. In the end.”

This was my personal copy.

Tamara Leigh signed a 4-book contract with Bantam Books in 1993, her debut medieval romance was nominated for a RITA award, and successive books with Bantam, HarperCollins, and Dorchester earned awards and places on national bestseller lists. In 2006, the first of Tamara’s inspirational contemporary romances was published, followed by six more with Multnomah and RandomHouse. Perfecting Kate was optioned for a movie, Splitting Harriet won an ACFW Book of the Year award, and Faking Grace was nominated for a RITA award.

In 2012, Tamara returned to the historical romance genre with the release of Dreamspell and the bestselling Age of Faith series. Among her #1 bestsellers are her general market romances rewritten as clean and inspirational reads, including Lady at Arms and Lady of Conquest. In late 2018, she released Merciless, the first book in the new AGE OF CONQUEST series unveiling the origins of the Wulfrith family. Psst!—It all began with a woman.

Tamara lives near Nashville with her husband, a German Shepherd who has never met a squeaky toy she can’t destroy, and a feisty Morkie who keeps her company during long writing stints. Connect with her at: www.tamaraleigh.com, Facebook, Twitter and tamaraleightenn@gmail.com