Veronica Reviews - HIGLAND LEGEND by Kathryn LeVeque

 

Highland Legend 

(Scots & Swords #3)

by

Kathryn Le Veque

★★★★

4 Stars

Historical Romance

“When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching—they are your family.”—Jim Butcher, Dresden Files

Welcome to the Ludus Caledonia, an elite training compound where worthy men may sign on years of service to become highly trained warriors.  Magnus Stewart has hidden the truth behind his royal bloodline and has fought his way to becoming the top gladiator known as “The Eagle”.  Magnus is a proud man that struggles with opening up to his fellow fighters about his past, but when he’s in need of assistance to protect the woman he loves, Magnus discovers he’s not alone in this world…the Ludus Caledonia has become his family…a clan of powerful fighters who would lay their life down to defend one of their own…

Diantha de Mora remembers Magnus from her youth.  Both being held hostage for political reasons, their younger years were filled with misery and loneliness.  While Magnus was released from his bondage, Diantha finds herself betrothed to a man that is beyond cruel.  Seeing a way to save herself, Diantha escapes and flees to the Ludus Caledonia begging Magnus to help her get back to her homeland.  An agreement between them is reached, and over the next few weeks, Magnus finds the chip on his shoulder whittled down by this beautiful woman that sees so much more in him than just a fighter…

 Is it possible for these two lost souls find a home with each other and in all places a fight club?  

Dear reader, I’ve so enjoyed Kathryn LeVeque’s Scots & Swords series, and in her third installment, we have a sweet romance between Magnus and Diantha, where true love does indeed become legendary!  

“I love ye…Ye have been mine since the beginning of time and ye’ll be mine until the end of all things...”  If you are a fan of her medieval romances, be prepared for the same epic adventure and swoon worthy hero!  Highly recommend!

Sharing what I love, 

Veronica

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

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Veronica Reviews ~ HIGHLAND GLADIATOR by Kathryn LeVeque

 

Highland Gladiator 

(Scots & Swords #1)

by

Kathryn Le Veque

★★★★

4-Stars

Historical Romance

“In this life or in the next, I’ll always be true tae ye…”

“I love ye…until the end of all things, I’ll love ye and only ye…”

Lor Careston is a humble smithy living with his grandfather.  Despite his size, fighting has never been his first choice.  Always preferring to work out disagreements with his brain rather than his brawn, Lor is content with his life in the quiet Highland village where he and his grandfather live and work.  But when his village is raided and burned to the ground leaving death and destruction of both his grandfather and his home, Lor remembers a tale told to him about the Ludus Caledonia, an elite training compound where worthy men may sign on years of service to become highly trained warriors.  With vengeance in his heart, Lor leaves all behind to be taught to fight in order to gain his retribution…never dreaming that the path he has set to travel will lead him in an entirely different direction…

Isabail Keith, the daughter of the Chieftain of Clan Keith, has given up on finding love.  What man would want a warrior for a wife?  That is until her path crosses once again with Lor Careston…with Lor she is accepted for being both fierce and beautiful.  Lor doesn’t judge her for her choice in being trained for battle, and willingly asks for her guidance.  Over time, Lor and Isabail find a love that will last a lifetime and beyond…

Oh, dear reader, I did so enjoy the first installment to Kathryn Le Veque’s Scots & Swords series!  If you are a fan of her medieval romances, be prepared for the same epic adventure and swoon worthy hero!  Looking forward to the next in the series and highly recommend!

Sharing what I love,

Veronica

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**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

Winter of Solace, A Medieval Romance by Kathryn Le Veque (The Executioner Knights Series)

Winter of Solace takes the reader into the Medieval Ages, the thirteenth century in and around London.  
After a drinking game amongst knights at The Pox, Sir Caius d'Avignon finds himself drunk and in front of the Earl of Pembroke.  The Earl requests Caius to lead the Earl's army to settle a dispute between two castle Lords.
Sounds simple enough, but intricate issues feed off each other and create a quagmire. Caius would defend the de Wrenvilles, and that's where the problems start.   De Wrenville married the Earl's niece ("Ugly Alice") for one reason only.  De Wrenville is loyal only to himself and uses anyone to get what he wants. He's imprisoned the Lady of the opposing castle, Emelisse.  
She is beautiful and kind and unknown to her, promised to De Wrenville's son.
Caius sees the wrong in De Wrenville. He must stop the warlord from wrecking a lot of lives, especially the lovable Emelisse.  And Alice and Hallum- De Wrenville's knight who adores Alice- need a chance to express their hidden feelings.
The bad people put down with swords and the multiple love matches bound are exhilarating and bring the reader into the story.
Enjoying this novel will lead you to download or flip many pages of Le Veque's storylines, which contain casts of characters followed through the lands of Great Britain and showing up repeatedly in multiple titles. I highly recommend getting into this era of historical romance!

Happy reading,
Dawn

Veronica Reviews: RISE OF THE DEFENDER (THE DE LOHR DYNASTY) by Kathryn Le Veque

Rise of the Defender 

(de Lohr Dynasty)

by

Kathryn Le Veque

5-Stars

“Do you still love me?”
“More than my own life…I will love you in this life and beyond.”

Sir Christopher de Lohr is King Richard’s Champion. As a reward for his faithfulness and courage during battle, King Richard agrees to a deathbed promise between his knights…Sir Christopher will become the Baron of Lioncross Abby Castle once he weds the Lady Dustin Barrington.

Christopher has no wish for a wife nor the responsibilities associated with running a castle, preferring to spend his days in battle with his brother and fellow knights. But being honor bound, he agrees to travel to Lioncross and wed Lady Dustin. What he didn’t count on was a bride that is feisty as she is beautiful with a heart of a warrior.

Dustin can’t believe her father has died and upon his death, ordered her to be wed to the King’s Champion. Having been spoiled and use to being allowed to do whatever she wished, Dustin does not make Christopher’s life easy as a new groom. But with time, and a little discipline, Christopher and Dustin find a way to overcome what they perceived married life would be and embrace each other’s differences.

As days pass into weeks into months, Christopher and Dustin prevail over each obstacle life throws their way, and begin a dynasty that will be heralded throughout time…and show the naysayers that true love conquers all…

Dear Reader, this book is HUGE! It’s an epic journey between two soulmates that grows over years. When picking up this story, keep in mind that during this time, it was nothing for a husband to bed a serving wench or to strike his wife. It was harsh times, and if you are looking for sunshine and rainbows in the medieval times, keep on looking. You will not find it here. Dustin is a petulant child that grows into a brave and heroic wife and mother. Christopher is a hardened knight that cares for nothing but the next battle and glory in winning and grows into a loving husband and father. Rise of the Defender is exactly what the title eludes…two lovers that rise up to defend what is theirs and woe be those that stand in the way of their love. This story has all the feels…you will scream at Dustin’s childish antics, yet cheer when she raises a sword to defend what is hers. You will want to hit Christopher over the head for his bullish behavior, then swoon over his pledge to love his family in this life and into the next.

Kathryn Le Veque writes beautiful and historically accurate romances. Loved and highly recommend to lovers of this genre! 

Sharing what I love, Veronica

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Veronica Reviews - THE RED FURY by Kathryn Leveque

Review by Veronica of The Red Fury by Kathryn Leveque 

“I love you, Joey…for all time, I shall love you, more than my own life.”
“And I love you…If you should die tomorrow, wait for me at Heaven’s gate. I shall not be far behind you.”

Josephine de Carron is a powerful Countess that has inherited the title and Castle Torridon after the passing of her brother and father. Determined never to be considered weak, Josephine learns the skills of fighting and is known as “The Little Soldier”. But regardless of her courage and fighting skills, her beloved home has been under siege from a rival Clan, and she is left with no choice but to hire out assistance. Andrew d’Vant is a ruthless mercenary with a liege of 1,000 men fighting under the banner of The Red Fury; a name that strikes fear in all. Andrew and Josephine are soulmates drawn to each other from the first day they meet. “I think I have always loved you…I cannot remember when I have not.” There is nothing they won’t do for each other. But there are dark forces working against the lovers, and even the powerful King of Scotland is no match for the evil that dares to try to take the beloved Josephine from The Red Fury.

The Red Fury is absolutely one of the best books I have read in the genre! I cannot recommend it enough!!! 

Sharing what I love, Veronica

Red Fury Blurb: 

If you loved The Wolfe, Rise of the Defender, and The Dark One: Dark Knight, welcome to the original Le Veque epic Medieval saga of THE RED FURY. England and Scotland collide in this blockbuster tale of revenge, betrayal, hope, and passion.

1233 A.D. - A young woman forced to command her father’s battered Highlander army upon his death. Her only hope in saving her home, and her life, is with a fearsome mercenary called The Red Fury. 

Elisabel de Carron is a young woman with a massive legacy weighing on her slender shoulders. As heiress to the Earldom of Ayr, she is a cousin to the king through her mother, and the king considers her a most valuable bargaining tool in the politics of Scotland. But Elisabel isn’t a willing pawn for the king – she’s only concerned with saving her family home, Castle Torridon, from the repeated attacks of a former ally. After a particularly nasty siege, Elisabel realizes that they cannot withstand another and she is forced to summon the most feared mercenary in Scotland, a man known as The Red Fury. 

Andrew d’Vant is a paradox – an English knight, he escaped his wicked brother years ago and fled to the highlands of Scotland, forming one of the most rag-tag and fiercest mercenary armies the world has ever seen. He has become very rich by fighting – and winning – other men’s battles. Summoned by Elisabel, Andrew’s price is too high for the beaten castle but his instant attraction to Elisabel has him accepting the task for far less than his usual fee. There’s something about the strong, battered, and beautiful woman that draws him in. 

But The Red Fury gets more than he bargained for.

A simple task of defending a castle becomes an enormous and complex tale of adventure, suspicion, royal intervention, and dark family secrets. When Elisabel is thrust into the king’s politics in spite of her resistance, she finds herself pledged to none other than Andrew’s wicked brother. Now, Elisabel finds herself at the heart of the Kingdom of Scotland and deeply in love with Andrew, and he with her. Andrew must join with former adversaries in order to save the woman he loves from the man who ruined his life.

The Red Fury is in for the fight of his life with the prize being Elizabel.

Veronica is an avid reader with a flair for writing honest reviews. She lives in West Virginia with her husband and son.