Lespada

De: Kathryn Le Veque

Narrado por: Tim Campbell

1264 A.D. - Davyss de Winter is the champion for King Henry III, a powerful and arrogant man that descends from a long line of powerful knights. He is also a much-sought after man and has had more than his share of female admirers, including a besotted baron's daughter who bore him bastard twins.

His mother and family matriarch, the Lady Katharine de Warrenne de Winter, loses patience with her son's behavior and betrothes him to a woman she hopes will tame his wild ways. She selects a young woman from a lesser noble family with no political ties or ambitions, a perfect match for her son's prideful personality.

Enter the Lady Devereux d'Arcy Allington; a young woman of astounding beauty, she wants nothing to do with Davyss. When Davyss, in protest of the marriage, sends his sword Lespada to the marriage ceremony, Devereux is beyond offended. Livid, she battles tooth and nail, refusing to marry a sword by proxy, until Lady Katharine intervenes. Cornered, Devereux is forced to marry Lespada because her groom refuses to show up for the ceremony. When Davyss gives in to his curiosity and meets his wife for the first time, he is overwhelmed with her beauty.

Roughly consummating the marriage, he has set the tone for what both Davyss and Devereux believe will be a loveless, hateful marriage. But when Davyss begins to realize what he's done, he swallows his considerable pride and is determined to get to know the woman he married, a woman of grace and compassion like nothing he has ever known before.

Though trials and tribulations, Davyss and Devereux's bond only strengthens. When Davyss is involved in the Battle of Evesham against Simon de Montfort, Devereux faces her own life and death situation.

©2012 Kathryn Le Veque (P)2014 Kathryn Le Veque

I loved it***great read****loved the narrator

So far most of her books a wonderful, I especially loved this one. The only reason I say most and not all is because of the narrator. Even if the story is good I can not get thru the first chapter if the narrators voice is bad. In this case the story and characters were great but what makes it so good is the narrator. In my opinion Tim Campbell is the best!

one of my favorites now on audio book!

Where does Lespada rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Since this is one of my favorite books to read from Ms. Kathryn Le Veque whether it be on my kindle fire or the actual paperback book which I have both having brought the audio book just makes it even better! I at first was apprehensive of Mr. Tim Campbell’s narration and his modulated deep voice. But as the story progressed I started to imagine Davyss de Winter going from the bratty whiny guy in the beginning to becoming a true heroic chivalrous knight and man in my head that I could actually just see him almost wishing he was real.

What did you like best about this story?

If I just said it was the ignorant handsome audacious hero Davyss than that is just a small part of it. The story is one of Ms. Le Veque’s earlier works and still one of her best! Davyss de Winter is one of King Henry’s premier knights his champion and he believes that he can do no wrong. His overbearing controlling mother decides in order to knock Davyss off his high horse and to collect his inheritance to betroth him to a common stubborn selfless compassionate but beautiful woman Devereux d’Arcy who also has no political ambitions whatsoever. The marriage is what neither one wants starting off quite precariously due to Davyss nearly ruining it himself. Davyss roughly consummates the union and his mother has to save the marriage and himself. Can these two ever find common ground and love?

Which scene was your favorite?

I think my favorite scene had to be in the beginning when Davyss is too cowardly to marry Devereux sends his sword lespada instead. So Devereux must marry and kiss the sword by proxy. When Davyss’s knights are attempting to forcibly take Devereux to the church to marry is one of the best highly entertaining ever written and had me laughing so hard that I was rolling on the floor laughing! Devereux has so much fight and gumption to take down all those knights truly a girl after my own heart!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No I did try to do that in the beginning but then I kept going back to certain parts of the book I wanted to listen to and also I couldn't help restart the book again several times so I think I listened to the book over-all about six times completely through but this didn't diminish the story or get old for me either!

Any additional comments?

This is the first audio book I have of Mr. Tim Campbell and I will definitely get more audio books with his narration. He really has a nice harmonious surprisingly sexy voice that I would love to listen to it again with other books too!

Amazing medieval romance!

If you could sum up Lespada in three words, what would they be?

Suspense, passion and action

Who was your favorite character and why?

Davyss de Winter is a beautiful knight filled with honor and passion!

What does Tim Campbell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Tim brings this story to another level that makes it more captivating. Love his voice!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Some scenes are filled with a touch of humor!

Any additional comments?

If you love KLV's novels, then you will love this audio and all the other ones she is offering!

really nice

it was so romantic. Not predictable at all. makes want to listen to it non stop.

This one is good

Hate to say it, but this is really the only good book by Ms. Le Veque. I have read a number of her other books and they are all...or nearly all...very poorly written. I dont know where this book falls in her writing library but it is definitely worth the listen. Other than this book I can't recommend any others.

This is not a great epic and the story is pretty predictable but it is a good romance. if you want really well written historical novels you need to go to Allison Weir...but if you are looking for good romance with some historical background this may be for you.

The h/H are likable characters and it is fun to read a midevil romance...or romance in general...where the h/H fall in love fairly early and are basically devoted to each other for the remaining story. I recommend.

Lespada

Loved both the story and the narration! Tim Campbell has long been one of my top 5 favorite narrators due to his extreme talent in giving voice to Kathryn le Veque's well developed, Intriguing characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audible book

I'm so happy to see I have so many more to listen to the author and narrator are great

Lespada

This is one of the best audiobooks I have listened to. The narrator was able to give each character a distinct voice and bring about the emotions that each character was feeling as the went through different situations. Some of Lespada was typical, for example the arranged marriage, the bride and groom despising each other and pregnancy shortly after marriage.

I started out thinking that this was typical medieval romance, but that was not the case. This story surprised me with all its twist and turns. I especially liked how the author was able to show, and the narrator was able to capture, the emotions of Devereux when she found out disturbing information about her husband's past.

This is not Christian fiction, but I love how the author showed that past transgressions can affect you and your spouse. And Kathryn Le Veque did an excellent job of showing how love can grow from an arranged marriage and how being honest and vulnerable with your spouse can be painful but also bring joy and freedom. I thought the love scenes between Davyss and Devereux were beautiful.

Wonderful!

This was a heart rendering story. I had every emotion possible. Such love and devotion! I read the book and enjoyed it, but listening to it meant so much more. Don't miss this one!

A man's marriage of obligation changes his world

Memorable Quote: “Esteem comes from the heart, not the hand.”

My Thoughts:  This story strikes a sweet chord with me. Hero is obliged to marry Lady Devereux, because Lady Katharine, his mother, decides the matter.  Lady Katharine, a bitter, strong, determined old woman is very controlling and neither son, Davyss or Hugh, dare go against her.  Holding the purse strings of the de Winter family, the men can’t deny her wishes.  She holds losing their inheritance over their heads, which makes a delicious story when you learn what each character is made of.

Davyss is the kings champion, leading his army. His uncle and godfather, whom he loves very much, a last link to his father, other than his mother, is against the king.  In fact, his uncle uses his close relationship with Davyss to undermine his fealty to his king.

Davyss marries Lady Devereux through proxy – his sword Lespada, is sent to represent him. He does what his mother wants, but does it his way, with a bit of distaste. 

Unfortunately, Lady Devereux is not a woman to submit to such a marriage without her wishes or desires met.  She fights tooth and nail with the knights, including Hugh, to keep from being abducted from her home, for that is how it feels to her. She is obliged to submit, but not before bruising the knights, and Hugh’s ego.  While Davyss sees Lady Devereux as proud and arrogant, I, on the other hand, see him and his brother as arrogant and just plain jerks!

Eventually Lady Katharine intervenes and logically talks Lady Devereux down.  She kisses the sword, unwillingly, along with saying yes to the marriage.  Unbeknownst to her, Davyss had come to the ceremony hiding in the shadows.  He’s stunned by her beauty and reconsiders how he’s handled the whole thing. He has a lot of work to mend the situation.
He isn’t aware what a jerk he is, vis-à-vis the way he treats his virgin wife consummating the marriage.  But soon realizes, he was the only one feeling lust, while she was scared, hurt and used.
Hugh is also quite despicable.  He’s an extremely good-looking man, is used to having woman run after him.  After he met Lady Devereux and tried to keep her from flailing around trying to escape the abduction, he whispers in her ear, if she handles it right she could have two brothers and not just one.  Of course, this infuriates Lady Devereux further.

Davyss tries to make amends with his initial approach to Lady Devereaux, but his lusty past of bedding any and all women, time and again, comes to haunt him. Hugh continues making life miserable for both his brother and Lady Devereux.

Davyss comes to love his new wife, to distraction.  She becomes the sun and moon to him. 
Lady Devereux for all her spunk and feistiness, isn’t the most careful person and often steps into dangerous situations.

Lady Katharine is a surprise to me. For such an old woman, she is made of steel, a lioness when it comes to protecting her sons.  She is one of my favored characters.

Tim Campbell narrates par excellence, very much in the spirit of the story pacing befitting the action.  His portrayal and desperation of Davyss had me in tears.

All in all, Le Veque once again comes away with a winner.  This tale takes me to a world of excitement, tenderness and passion.