Knight of Desire: All The King's Men Series, Book 1

By: Margaret Mallory

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

His surcoat still bloody from battle, William FitzAlan comes to claim the strategic borderlands granted to him by the king. One last prize awaits him at the castle gates: the lovely Lady Catherine Rayburn. Catherine risked everything to spy for the crown. Her reward? Her lands are declared forfeit and she is given this choice: marry FitzAlan or be taken to the Tower. Catherine agrees to give her handsome new husband her body, but she's keeping secrets, and dare not give him her heart. As passion ignites and danger closes in, Catherine and William must learn to trust in each other to save their marriage, their land, and their very lives.

©2009 Peggy L. Brown (P)2013 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Set during the Welsh rebellion against the English, Mallory's debut is impressive. She breathes life into major historical characters and presents varied political viewpoints in a dramatic romance." ( RT Book Reviews)

A VERY ENJOYABLE WELL WRITTEN ADDICTIVE LISTEN

Prepare to be whisked back to Medieval times to join in all the trials and tribulations of beautiful, strong and independent Lady Catherine who has been forced, not once but twice, into an arranged marriage. Her first husband was abusive and made her life a living hell..... but her second husband just might turn out to be her Knight in Shining Armour (and who doesn't love one of those!).

As the action-packed emotional story unfolds Catherine slowly has to learn to trust her new husband William who's an honourable, handsome, thoughtful and kind Knight and she also learns there's more to the marriage bed than abuse - desire, passion and fulfilment. It's a deep emotional romance with a lot of hurt, anger, mistrust and misunderstandings but there's also lots of passion, intrigue, excitement, witty banter and adventure with betrayal, kidnapping a few skirmishes and murder thrown in too. As well as the likeable H/H, it's also packed full of great secondary characters and, whether they're nasty or loveable, they will all entertain you and, as the hours fly by and you finally share in the couple's much awaited HEA ending, you can't help but be thankful that this enjoyable listen is in your Library.

However, for me it lost a star because of William's ever changing yes/no trust issues which eventually made him seem a little lost and I prefer my heroes to be all 'break the doors down' Alpha types but, despite his flaws, he was very likeable, caring and loving but also sadly all too ready to believe the worst of Catherine rather than the best.

Worth a credit? Well IMHO, as this was her debut novel, MM should be congratulated because not only has she given the listener a touching love story that had many twists and turns, she also managed to accurately portray all the intrigue and political unrest that went on between England and Wales 600 years ago. So, for any historical romance lover, this has to be a credit well spent.

Good Listen/Read

I have the paperback and enjoy reading it. Listening to it was just as good as reading.

Knight of desire

The story started out with the couple meeting one another falling in love and not realizing it. Then to meet many years later to be married and fall for one another with others wishing that they were the one.

God's Beard!

I like the narrator, brings the story to life! God's Beard!!! hilarious! I am enjoying Historical romantic fiction and appreciate authors research

loved it

Really liked this story. I laughed a lot and in a few places felt it was intense enough for me to hold my breath (while walking) to see what will happen next. I cannot wait to read her next book.