A Knight's Vow (Zebra Debut)

Customer Reviews

• Enjoyably romantic taste of the medieval  May 6, 2008 (4 of 5 found this helpful)

  Guillelm de la Rochelle may be a hardened crusader, but young Alyson of Olverton brings out his tender side. She has dark fears to contend with as well as the scheming of a malevolent fellow-soldier of Guillelm's, but their love grows and when, at last, Alyson's life is at stake, Guillelm shows he is a true hero. High drama interweaved with engagingly human scenes between Guillelm and Alyson make this a read to curl up with. The twelfth-century English setting is well done, too.

• 4.5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies!  Jul 19, 2008 (2 of 3 found this helpful)

  Lindsay Townsend has penned a gripping historical romance set during the Crusades. Alyson of Olverton has loved Guillelm since she was a teen. Thought dead, he is back from the grave and the Crusades and she loves him still.
  
  Years ago, Alyson of Olverton loved Guillelm de la Rochelle and dreamed of becoming his wife. When he asked her to marry him, Alyson's heart sang with joy until her father shattered her world and refused to allow the match. Because of this, Guillelm went on a crusade to the Holy Land and if rumors are true, died there. Alyson prays daily that the rumors prove false, and when Guillelm finally returns Alyson's prayers are answered. Alyson still loves her knight and can only hope his love for her is just as strong despite being away from each other for seven long years.
  
  Guillelm de la Rochelle has returned to his father's castle a changed, if not `risen', man. Scorning the stories of his demise, Guillelm is amazed at the changes in his father's home since his departure. Not only is the only woman he ever loved living in his deceased father's home and thus Guillelm's ancestral castle, but he finds out she was betrothed to his father as well. While Guillelm finds this disconcerting, the fact remains that Alyson is in danger. Now that he has found Alyson again, Guillelm will stop at nothing to keep her safe. Even marry her himself.
  
  A KNIGHT'S VOW drew me in with the pageantry of this medieval time and I was compelled to read this book. My heart melts any time a knight fights to win his lady love. Watching Guillelm do just that kept me sighing at the wholly romantic nature of his actions. Stoic at times, sinfully sexy and seductive at others, Guillelm is the ideal knight in shining armor. I think Alyson agrees with me one hundred percent!
  
  A KNIGHT'S VOW is a gripping historical tale of love, life, and chances. It is a heady and passionate read which rapidly took me to a place that is timeless. I couldn't have asked for a better story!
  
  

• Knight needs to be bolder  Apr 30, 2008 (3 of 6 found this helpful)

  In this medieval tale Alyson has dreamed about marrying Guillelm de la Rochelle since she was a little girl. Alyson's father rejected his proposal and he set off for the Holy Land. Later Alyson is betrothed to Guillelm's father, who dies before their wedding. Guillelm returns from the Crusades startled to discover Alyson was betrothed to his deceased father.
  
  He offers her marriage but is deeply troubled about Alyson's feelings for his father. Did she love him, were they intimate? These questions are nagging. Furthermore, Guillelm struggles with his own self image. He has been told by a woman that he is big and brutish and no sane woman would ever want to be with him.
  
  Alyson is thrilled that Guillelm wants to marry her but is fearful that he will discover that his father was not the upright man that he believes he was but was a tyrant and at times sadistic. She is trying to win him over but is not in the least helped by one of Guillelm's men at arms who is sabotaging her every effort to win over Guillelm.
  
  This novel has some nice moments but the mistrust the two leads have for each other goes on too long. At first, Guillelm's fears of intimacy were understandable but when Alyson showed him she was more than willing to be with him he hid behind angst. He was oblivious to his friend's machinations and could not discern his own father's actions. Alyson on the other hand was loyal and stouthearted, much too smart for Guillelm.
  

• A really good read  May 13, 2008 (1 of 3 found this helpful)

  A sweeping romance and adventure with an intelligent, lovable heroine and a compelling, interesting hero. I am looking forward to reading more of Lindsay Townsend,s work.

• I liked it, love the period storyline but......  Apr 21, 2009 (0 of 2 found this helpful)

  So this was a very well written love story full of all the new questions and insecurities that every new couple has. I really love the time that it was written and the historical timeline. They had loved eachother since childhood and when he leaves, life does go on and choices are never easy for a women to make to save thier own social standing. The only thing I wish was different was that for me personal preference, the main characters didn't become intimate until almost the end of the story! It lacked much physical intrigue for me compared to the other Zebra books I have read in the past. I know that every author and storyline is different but I wish there would have been more encounters with the two star crossed love birds. Other than that I really enjoyed the book! A great first book!!!