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claire delacroix wedding night holy land exchange for an honest crusaders bride gifted by the publisher copy gifted templar knight publisher in exchange gaston and ysmaine saint euphemia historical romance highly recommend looking forward really enjoyed well written return home bad luck good read forward to the next
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Sandy Milan
3.0 out of 5 stars This is a 3.5 stars story
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2016
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I wavered between giving this book 3 or 4 stars. I enjoyed medieval romances and this book is the first in a series about templar knights undertaking to get treasures to safety. The H is a templar knight, who finds out his older brother has died and now he needs to leave the order to go and take up his title. He is aware of his responsibilities and knows he also needs a virtuous wife to help him produce heirs. He spies the h, a widow a number of times and decides that she has the right qualities he's looking for. The h meanwhile had come to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage because she has survived two husbands but never consummated either marriage. She thinks she has put a curse on her former husbands. In coming to the holy city, she lost all of her material possessions and her guard. She is desperate and now her maid is extremely ill but she has no money to pay for medicine. This is how the main characters first interact. After arranging for her to get the medicine for her maid, the H offers marriage. He has been a pretty virtuous and celibate knight so their intimacy is pretty sad to start with. Both are good people and want to make the best of things but the H has one last secret task for the Templars before they both can return to his family estate.

+++Minor Spoilers+++
I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second half. I didn't like how the h became so managing and responsible for everything. She was stubborn and went ahead and did stuff even when it was foolish. There are a number of incidents like this. I also didn't like how there had to be a public shaming of the h, and the H allows it. The H was also continuously being told that the h wasn't a good person for various reasons by his companions on the journey to Paris, to restore the treasure to the church there. I will go on and read the next book though.
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Book Lover
4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly entertaining!
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2018
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I didn’t expect this book to be so entertaining. Yes, there were some moot points in the plot but generally speaking this was a good book.

The location was very interesting for a historical romance. I very much liked how the author captured the angst that reigned a few days before Jerusalem was lost to Christendom. There was historical “lecturing” but it was so well integrated into the plot that it offered depth to the book without making it long-winded.

Gaston and Ysmaine were an interesting match. They both had their weaknesses but I thought that her secularity and innocence whereas his experience in politics and as Templar made an interesting mix as base for their relationship. Just 1 small issue: I wasn’t really enthusiastic about how Gaston decided that Yasmaine would be the ideal bride, which reminded me somehow of a horse trade.

As a subplot the suspense part of the book was surprisingly well written and really had me guessing!

I know that this is just the first installment to a series and that therefore certain threads might be in the developed in more detail in the next installments. Consequently I don’t know if one of the future books will cover what happened at Gaston’s castle and how he would find his way in his new life. I think I might have appreciated a glimpse...
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Evelina
4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story!
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2018
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I enjoy well-researched Medieval fiction, romance in particular. This novel is well-written and historically accurate. The characters are wonderfully drawn. The heroine and hero have wonderful chemistry, even though the hero was a bit clueless about "coupling" at first, and the heroine felt something was lacking, although she was not exactly sure what that was. I prefer clean romance, but the somewhat mild instances and mentions of sex weren't bothersome at all. Some were rather humorous. While the villain's identity came as no surprise, the backstory behind said villain did. This was my first Delacroix novel and won't be my last.
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Beverly Ann McCall
4.0 out of 5 stars The Crusader's Bride
Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2020
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In the Crusader’s Bride: A Medieval Romance by Claire Delacroix we meet two strong and dynamic protagonists. Ysmaine de Valroy is a healer and two times widow. Each of her husbands were aged and frail and unfortunately died on their wedding nights without consummation. Hence those around Ysmaine, and she herself, belief that she is cursed. To rid herself of this curse and seek God’s forgiveness, Ysmaine goes a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. There, along with her maid, Radegande, Ysmaine falls on hard times. She finds herself stranded and penniless.

Meanwhile, the male protagonist a twenty-year veteran Templar knight named Gaston de Chaumont. Gaston receives word that he is the sole heir to the family estate and the title of baron. Retiring as a Templar, Gaston must return home, but he needs a wife and decides to look for one in Jerusalem. Enamored with Ysmaine Gaston seeks her out with his proposal of marriage. Prior to leaving Jerusalem, Gaston is given one last quest to be a courier and take a parcel back to France as part of a small caravan. Caravans face many dangers, and Gaston’s caravan is no exception. As rumors spread that the caravan maybe transporting Templar treasure Gaston’s caravan is in peril. Sabotage exists in the caravan. Will they make it back to France safely? Will they be able to deliver the parcel? How will Ysmaine and Gaston fair in their new marriage? Will they learn to trust each other?

Ms. Delacroix has written an intriguing romance filled with mystery. I appreciate the amount of research she’s done to paint this medieval setting. I also like the way she incorporated dialog between her characters. Her descriptive language pulls the reader into each scene. If you want to know who is responsible for sabotage and how Ysmaine and Gaston fare, then you must pick up this book.
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Top reviews from other countries

Evelyn Tidman - historical fiction author
5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpectedly good read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2016
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This was an unexpectedly good read, excellent story, readable and intriguing. A sort of medieval who-dunnit. In fact it kept me guessing right up to the end, but then I realised there were little pointers on the way which did hint at the villain. Ysmaine and Gaston made a really believable couple falling in love, while at the same time learning to trust each other in an atmosphere full of distrust. And when Ysmaine's plans to help her husband threatened to scupper their love, I found myself mentally telling her off!

Historically, the background seemed to me to be well-researched. I knew very little about the crusades, what it was like in the Holy Land when Saladin conquered, or even before he conquered. I knew nothing about the Templars, for example, I did not realise they were celibate, like monks. The author paints a very believable picture of the last quarter of the 12th century. The dialogue too was sufficiently historical to give a flavour of the period without being over the top. I have to say I loved it and I have already ordered the other two books in the series for my Kindle.
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2019
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This was a book that was very easy to get into. The story follows an unfortunate lady who meets a Knight and the two fall in love. They go on a mission to deliver a package from Jerusalem to Paris along with others and someone in their party is willing to do anything to steal the package.

The story is well written and easy to get in to; I enjoyed the novel right from the beginning and found it very hard to put down by the end.

The story between Gaston and his Lady Mine is enjoyable and held my interest throughout. I really liked both characters, as well as Radegunde and Fergus, and even Wulfe down the line.

The grammar is incorrect in a handful of places, but the errors are so minor they do not affect the flow of the prose.

The story ended almost like a chapter, and I can envisage the path a second book would follow.

I would definitely read more from Claire Delacroix, and I would recommend this book. A delightful surprise, I rate it 4 out of 5.
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A P
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2020
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Loved this book. Couldn't put it down. It has mystery, anticipation, fear, love and sensuality. The journey was gripping. I kept changing my mind who was the villain. Loved the characters, loved the plot. I would have to have had a bit more. So I could find out what happened when they finally reached his home. What would they find. Still a great book. Hope the next one is just as good.
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M Mercer
5.0 out of 5 stars Accurate history. Charming romance. Great read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2018
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Really enjoyed this book. I love the history of this period. The book was well researched and delivered a vivid flavour of the times without getting bogged down in endless exposition. The romance was charming and believable. (That's rare.) The dialogue referenced the time and customs without going over the top. Going to buy another.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2021
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Very intriguing book and well written. I enjoyed reading this book from beginning to end, the storyline was interesting and strong, the characters were interesting and romantic. Well worth reading.
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