Book "How to Train Your Knight" by Stella Marie Alden

About the Book: Year of our Lord, 1276.

In the hours just before dawn, blasphemous curses echo throughout the stone manor. A knife clatters to the floor, and a feisty young widow is bound, blindfolded, and led to the marriage altar. The king couldn’t possibly have sanctioned this farce of a marriage, could he? After all, she alone transformed a few mud huts and starving serfs into a flourishing town, never once hesitating to pay generous taxes to his royal kingdom. Abandon her beloved people to be ruled by her new husband, an ignorant Templar knight? Never! the Lady Ann vows.

A murderous witch for a wife? The Beast of Thornhill finds himself in the middle of either a cruel jest or an evil conspiracy. After returning from the Holy wars, he accepts bestowment of a small parcel of land in return for saving King Edward’s life. But the reward comes with a warning regarding the estate’s mistress. Despite his insatiable attraction to the black-haired beauty, he allows her time to warm to him while observing her strange, forward-thinking ways. But when all is on the line, will he stand by her through the inquisition or will they both hang for her secrets?

About the Author: Stella Marie Alden loves Zumba, yoga, watercolor painting, and fixing up her house.

Her mother said it's not nice to brag but her first book...

In 2014:

* Won the coveted 'The Molly' Contest

* Won the 'Show me the Spark', too!

* Came in second for RWA's 'Heart2Heart' contest

* Third place in the 'Melody of Love' Contest

* Finalist in 'Joyce Henderson' contest.

* Finalist in 2013's 'Golden Acorn' contest

Growing up in Vermont, she loved to make up stories. Crayons fought each other over size and placement in their cardboard box and imaginary friends crowded the house. Her brother often complained. "Tell her no one's here, Mother.".

Her career paths have varied. She's been a librarian, a classical clarinetist, recording studio engineer, broadcast electronics repairman, and now she architects software programs. She lives in Bergen County, NJ with her life-long hero and their two cats. Her two girls are grown but ever supportive. You go Mom!

My Review: The author did a superb job creating a very enjoyable and strong heroine (Lady Ann) and hero (Marcus). The relationship between the two send sparkles all over at every turn of pages in this delicious book. All characters are very well constructed and the medieval environment is described in rich details. We feel ourselves in the middle of the story, cheering for our heroine and hero. This is a story of love, betrayals, misunderstandings, lust, insecurity, basically all the good ingredients that will keep the reader entertained for hours.

I recommend this book to all readers who enjoy a very well written romance. They will not be disappointed.

I received this book from the author. I was not requested to post a positive review. Opinion expressed here is my own.

If you read my review, feel free to leave a comment.