Brida O'Connaill and Sir Thomas Lovent...
...two hearts thrown together by circumstance...
...but two souls that were meant to be..
...whether they can admit it or not!


The thing with these particular stories from author Melissa Oliver is that while there is a bigger picture going on all around them...you know, plots against peace, the king, and what have you...it doesn't take away from the romance at its heart. I loved Brida and Thomas' spark. Their witty banter and constant need to annoy each other to no end was delightful! It added a dose of fun, of humor, of something much needed to brighten the darker things that surrounded and haunted them both. The chance Brida took on living a lie to gain a modicum of freedom was understandable. The "unfortunate" assumption that the knight in poor health was the seed of that long held lie, story building. The dash for their lives, the near misses at meeting their maker earlier than planned, and the potential for a bittersweet ending to arrive unwanted, all went into making those tethers in your heart pull tight again and again. But by book's end, the fruit of their labors, however unintentional they may have been, see the light of day...and readers get something they could only truly hope for...with a side of entertainment to boot!

All in all, another great pair in the making from an author who spins the story round her characters with care, knowing that even though danger was at every turn, love, light, and laughter should rule the day...and the heart!


**ecopy received for review...but have purchased one for myself as well; opinions are my own ( )

Absorbing and involving
5 stars

This is my first book by Melissa Oliver but incidentally the fourth in her Notorious Knights series. Fear not, however, as each book stands alone with a separate couple complete with HEA for every book. Characters from previous books do appear in this one - especially Gwen and Ralph from The Return of Her Lost Knight - and they definitely tease you to go back and read their stories after you’ve finished this one.

The first thing I noticed about this book was that the language and writing style immediately transported me to medieval Britain where this is set - 1221 to be precise. I have absolutely no idea how, but so subtly the language and style gave me a medieval vibe which stayed with me throughout the book. It was clear that Ms Oliver knows and loves the details of the medieval period and wants to share them with her readers.

I love a fake relationship trope but actually this book is so much more. There’s a mystery element due to Sir Thomas’s work for the Crown as well as something of a road trip romance element as our pair go on a journey together - which then gives us some forced proximity. So many things to force our couple together and make me giddy at the same time.

Brida was definitely an interesting character for me and I have to say that I liked her a lot. As an independent woman in a time when it probably wasn’t the norm, Brida had to be strong and feisty. She also has a sharp tongue - especially, it turns out, when it comes to Sir Thomas. While she gives the outward appearance of infallibility, she’s actually quite vulnerable based on her past and her inability to reign in her attraction to Tom. She was complex and while it confused me at times - it was also very real.

Sir Thomas was a great hero - something of a Scarlet Pimpernel with his laughing, teasing facade which hides a more complex man on a furtive mission. I loved his teasing nature and the way he couldn’t help but try and push Brida’s buttons - it was surprisingly sweet. Like a little boy pulling at the pigtails of the girl he likes! You could definitely see the two different sides of the man and, like Brida, it revealed a layered and likeable character.

While our book starts with a blistering kiss between our pair, after that it’s something of a slow burn. But that works well as the couple need time to get to know each other and then like each other before taking things further. When things did get steamy, I got those lovely butterflies in the tummy which signal some great chemistry. The sex scenes are there but not overly explicit and perfectly fit the tone of the book.

The book had some moments that startled a laugh from me and, like I said, fantastic chemistry as well as a writing style that really envelops you into the author’s medieval world. I would have loved an epilogue to see Tom and Brida at some point after their HEA, but since there wasn’t, here’s hoping that this series continues and I can meet them again sometime in the future. I really enjoyed this story and felt absorbed into this world and the lives of Brida and Tom. I’ll look out for more stories by Melissa Oliver in the future as this one was definitely a winner. 5 stars. ( )