The Conqueror's Lady - Terri Brisbin

Published by Harlequin (Historical - Medieval)

Last year Harlequin started a great new line of ebooks called 'Historical Undone' - shorter (and a bit spicier than their print historicals). The majority of the ones that have been released are Regency but a few months ago a medieval by Terri Brisbin was released called "A Night For Her Pleasure". It was a sweet (if not also hot) telling of the wedding night between a Knight and his new bride. It was also serving as a prequel for Ms. Brisbin's new series, "The Knights of Brittany". So when I saw the first print book in the series this summer I jumped on it.

Lady Fayth has no choice but to marry the man who has taken over her father's lands - Giles Fitzhenry. She's heard tales of the conquerors who are taking over lands and she fears for her father's people that she now feels responsible for. But this man is different - he seems just as concerned over his new people as she is. Gradually she begins to fall in love with him and wants to enjoy him as her husband. But she feels that she's betraying her father's memory (not to mention this could be the very man who killed her father) and her people with her feelings for this man. Soon another conqueror is determined to take, starting with Fayth and she has no choice but to trust her husband.

I don't know a lot about this period of history but it's clear that Ms. Brisbin does. She admits in her author's note that she takes some liberties but the weaving of the historical details, right down to "old English" spellings fills this book with a richness that even the most strict of history buffs should enjoy. Fayth is a strong woman who wants to be her father's daughter even as she's falling for the not so horrible knight that's taken over her people's lands. Her knight is actually a bastard son who feels he doesn't deserve any lady, let alone one like Fayth. I loved that they voice aloud their doubts to each other and you get to see their love build and grow despite their misgivings.

I really loved this book and plan on passing it on to a friend who is reading a medieval that she's not enjoying. I for one can't wait for the next "Knights of Brittany" novel to come out.