Kingdom of Love

3 Medieval Romances

By: Tracie Peterson

Narrated by: Polly Lee

Length: 17 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Kidnapping … Murder … Revenge. If Only the Fortress Walls Could Talk!

From bestselling author Tracie Peterson come three unique historical novels, rereleased for longtime and new fans alike. Liberty and love—even life itself—are fragile commodities for those living in medieval England. Will God’s love and power triumph in the lives of three courageous women? Find out in soul-searing historical novels of romance and suspense!

A Kingdom Divided

Raised in a home filled with violence, Arianne Pemberton experiences love and gentleness only after her arranged marriage to Richard, Duke of Gavenshire. But before she can feel confident both in Richard’s love and God’s personal care for her, a mysterious enemy from Richard’s past overpowers the castle and takes Arianne hostage. Who is Tancred, and why is he set on revenge?

Alas, My Love

England in the Middle Ages is far from a jolly place for an unprotected young woman. Yet the savagery of her stepbrother has driven Helena Talbot from her home. Afforded protection by the magnanimous Duke of Gavenshire, Helena nonetheless lives under an assumed name, ever fearful her whereabouts will be revealed. Only one dream transports her above her worries—the desire to be reunited with brave Tancred. Years have passed since they were together, and now an ocean and a king’s decree keep them apart.

If Only

As the bubonic shadow spreads across England, Mary Beckett is alone and desperate. Her father, a physician, has been murdered. Mary’s only hope is to journey north to the home of her grandmother, a woman her father once rejected. Pilgrims cross her path, as does Peter Donne, a knight on a mission from the king, and hundreds beg her to heal them. If only she could reach safety, if only she could be of help, if only she could find the faith …

©1996 A Kingdom Divided ©1995 by Tracie Peterson / Alas, My Love ©1996 by Tracie Peterson / If Only ©1996 by Tracie Peterson (P)2024 Recorded Books

Inspirational Medieval romance collection

I thoroughly enjoyed this Medieval romance collection by Tracie Peterson. Kingdom of Love contains three intriguing novellas with castle sieges, murder, intrigue, swoon worthy romance, and even the Bubonic Plague. I found myself eagerly turning the pages to find out what happened next.

A Kingdom Divided is the story of Arianne & Richard. Arianne’s forced to marry by her father, but her husband-to-be. Richard is a kind, thoughtful man who offers her a choice in whether to marry him. Arianne agrees to the marriage and travels with him to his castle. Richard’s mysterious past comes back to haunt them though when a bitter enemy vows to take everything Richard has including Arianne. It’s a fast-paced arranged marriage romance with plenty of action & adventure. I was thoroughly engaged in this story and couldn’t wait to see if/how things would work out. I loved how the arranged marriage grew into real love. In addition to the action and sweet romance, there’s a lovely message of forgiveness and repentance woven throughout the story.

Alas My Love is the continued story of Tancred from A Kingdom Divided, and Hannah. Hannah has been in love with Tancred since she was a child and holds out hope that he’ll return to her. She refuses to give in to her step-siblings’ demands to wed. Barely escaping with her life, she winds up at Richard’s & Arianne’s castle where she’s reunited with her lost love. Hannah’s determined to keep Tancred safe from her conniving family even if it means letting him go. I loved this story! Hannah’s step-siblings were awful, especially her stepsister. The romance was so good and I enjoyed Hannah’s strength in standing up for herself as well as her reliance on faith. Everything from the first story and this story is neatly wrapped up at the end.

If Only is a standalone novella that takes place during the Bubonic Plague. In this story, the author vividly brings to life the fear, loss, and devastation of the plague. Peter is a knight sent on a quest by the king to document the effects of the plague. Along the way, he meets Mary, the daughter of a physician with a gift for healing. They team up and work together to care for a group of orphans as they journey to Mary’s grandmother. This was a tender, heartwarming story that deals with love, loss, and the battle between science and faith. The characters are truly humbled by the effects of the plague and each finds a path to God through their experiences.

Each story was so compelling and really brought Medieval times to life. I loved each romance along with the action. In addition to reading, I listened to the audiobook version and enjoyed the narrator. She really brought these characters to life and I appreciated the emotion she injected into the story.

Definitely recommend to Medieval inspirational romance fans! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher but also purchased the audiobook version from Audible. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. 4-4.5 stars.

Loved 2 out of 3 stories. The 3rd is ok, but not a favorite.

Tracie essentially gave us a trilogy compiled into one novel. I really appreciate it. It was great to see how the characters change from the first story into the next. I appreciated seeing their story of redemption, transformation and healing thanks to the saving grace of God. I really enjoyed the characters and storylines of the first two stories. The last story’s heroine was why I didn’t love the last story as much. She’s selfish, whiny, untrusting, and insecure. It’s not surprising at first considering she had a hardened heart, but she still continues to struggle with her character flaws late into the story. For example, why would you go into despair over thinking your love is leaving you for the temptations of court when he gave zero indication he would? It’s frustrating. She’s clearly immature. Yet Tracie wrote a believable character. I guess I simply can’t comprehend such people, nor would I have patience to be in relationship with one. All that to say, it may be the last story isn’t my favorite because of my own views on how strong women should behave and not for any fault of the author. She wrote a lovely story and I appreciated hearing about the struggles of life during the plague years. Their struggles probably added to my own having a 2024 perspective and understanding of germ theory and how to deal with such pandemics.

surprisingly delightful stories

I enjoyed the backdrop of medieval England, a refreshing change of pace from contemporary love stories