Rating: 
Summary: A pleasure to read!
Review: I'm amazed that more people don't like this book! Only three stars overall, were are the literary appreciators in this world, standing behind the door me thinks!It was a great read from beginning to end, and it reminds me a lot of the Cadfael series of books in that it is set in the same time period but follows the fortunes of the young Hugh Corbaille (de Leon) and his search for his true identity and the murderer of his true Crusader father Roger de Leon. We are treated to a mystery within a mystery, first there is the mystery of who Hugh actually is and then there is the mystery of who murdered his real father. Hugh has been raised the as the adopted son of the Sheriff of Lincoln but his early childhood is shrouded in mystery. The Sheriff took him in after finding him half dead one winter's night and quickly realised the boy was not a Saxon child as he spoke Norman French and for the next thirteen years Hugh lived a happy half life, unable or unwilling remember his past but with the death of his beloved Foster Father, he finds himself travelling down a path that could either free him from his unspoken nightmares or kill him as it had killed his real father so many years before... Joan Wolf obviously did a lot of research before writing this book and I found it exciting and interesting, even enjoying the romance between Hugh and the 16 year old daughter of the Knight Nigel Haslin along with a cast of other savoury and unsavoury characters such as Hugh's Uncle, now the Earl of Wilshire, a title that in reality belongs to Hugh as his father' heir, and his troubled birth mother, the beautiful Isabel who has many secrets of her own she'd rather keep to herself. All in all it was a very good book, enjoyable all the way through and well worth reading if you get the chance.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT!!
Review: Normally I wait for the paperback release; however, I decided to get this one in hardback and I'm very glad I did! It's an excellent read and I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Characters who actually have half a brain
Review: Some previous reviews note the lack of steamy sex or passion, and a hero who is a bit too controlled. I personally found this a big plus in the novel. Wolf actually grounds her characters in the mores of the time (with reasonable deference to modern sensibilities, such as making our heroine an herbalist). That means sex had consequences; marriage was a serious business. So I enjoyed this story where the hero and heroine are in love, yet somehow manage to plan rationally about how to be together. I find it jolting to read a historical romance where the virginal heroine engages in steamy sex two minutes after meeting the hero. Hellloo! What alternate reality was that? Wolf's realism is one reason several reviewers commented they wanted to learn more about the era -- she actually tells us something about this period. NET, if you want an intelligent love story, with people you'd actually like to have a conversation with, in a historic period that actually occurred in this reality's timeline, I highly recommend this book. Also: Kinsale's My Lady's Heart. Kinsale takes it one step further to use time-appropriate language in a way that really transports you into the period.
Rating:
Summary: Characters who actually have half a brain
Review: Some previous reviews note the lack of steamy sex or passion, and a hero who is a bit too controlled. I personally found this a big plus in the novel. Wolf actually grounds her characters in the mores of the time (with reasonable deference to modern sensibilities, such as making our heroine an herbalist). That means sex had consequences; marriage was a serious business. So I enjoyed this story where the hero and heroine are in love, yet somehow manage to plan rationally about how to be together. I find it jolting to read a historical romance where the virginal heroine engages in steamy sex two minutes after meeting the hero. Hellloo! What alternate reality was that? Wolf's realism is one reason several reviewers commented they wanted to learn more about the era -- she actually tells us something about this period. NET, if you want an intelligent love story, with people you'd actually like to have a conversation with, in a historic period that actually occurred in this reality's timeline, I highly recommend this book. Also: Kinsale's My Lady's Heart. Kinsale takes it one step further to use time-appropriate language in a way that really transports you into the period.
Rating: 
Summary: A mean disappointment
Review: The first Joan Wolf book that I read was "Born of the Sun" and I absolutely loved it! (THAT one, I highly recommend) Thrilled to have found an author who could touch me like that, I immediately assumed that another book by her hand would be as tantilizing. Nope. This book was a crushing disappointment. It's hard to believe that this could even be the same author. I have great respect for her earlier work, but this book seemed (how can I put it?)....clumsy. It was nothing like the polished, heartfelt dramas she had written before. If you'd like to read Joan Wolf, definitely try "Born of the Sun" or "Road to Avalon" -- that way you'll get a good taste of what her talent truly is. Leave this one on the shelf.
Rating:
Summary: Forget it
Review: This book is being marketed as an historical mystery. It belongs in the historical romance genre. The research behind it is rudimentary. The mystery itself is pretty silly. The level of writing is very, very low and cliched. And frankly, if Our Dashing Hero developed one more headache and vomited again, I was going to throw the book across the room. Sheesh. If you like this sort of thing, go for it. However if what you want is a medieval mystery with some impressive research and excellent writing, try Candace Robb, Sharan Newman, Margaret Frazer, Edward Marston, P.C. Doherty and Ellis Peters.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Historical/Mystery/Romance
Review: This book was hard to categorize... Other reviews have touched on the plot, so I'll skip that and dwell more on content. As a Historical-Romance, it doesn't have the physical sex of a Susan Johnson (super-hot!) book. Instead it has a more classical romance feel where most of the sex takes place off page. This doesn't mean Hugh & Cristen lack passion. They smoulder very nicely, thank you, and the few love scenes they have are intense. In fact, the biggest problem I have with this book is that the first love scene between Hugh & Cristen is an almost word-for-word copy from one of Joan Wolf's older regency romances "A London Season" (By the way, an excellent book if you can find it) As a Historical-Mystery, it lacks in the detecting/clue-following department. Candace Robb's "Apothecary Rose" books have a better feel for history & detective work. The conclusion of this book comes all in an expository, less than satisfactory finish to the mystery of Hugh's past. Despite all this, I found "No Dark Place" to be a very satisfying read. Joan Wolf writes well about the period, and afterwards I found myself going through the encyclopedia looking up King Stephan and Matilda. I *care* about what happens to Hugh & Cristen, and their romance. I look forward to Joan Wolf's next book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Way to Pass an Afternoon
Review: This novel is entertaining and the author does a good job of moving the story along while also providing information about the time period. This is especially helpful because a major portion of the story revolves around the allegiance of various land-owning families to claimants in a struggle for the throne of England. The author outlines the basic situation without getting too bogged down in minutiae and without talking down to her readers. As another reviewer noted, the novel also develops the romantic side of its plot within the mores of the time rather than having these medieval characters pursue a modern-style courtship. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
Rating:
Summary: Most excellent, doesn't harp on the romance
Review: You really get to know the male protaganist in this story. The romance is sweet, but not over the top/in your face. The real story here is uncovering the past for the male protaganist, and, in doing so, finding out who really murdered his father. Highly recommended. Light weight historical romance. Does make you want to go find out more about the King Stephen / Empress Matilda era of England, and how THAT issue was resolved.
Rating:
Summary: You won't put this book down until the end. EXCELLENT!!!!!
Review: You will fall in love with this author. She brings you into the story with the characters. You are drawn into another period in time. Excellent Reading, You will enjoy this book.
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