My Lady Imposter

Rating:
Summary: Dreams of magic and of miracles -- highly recommended
Review: Pestilence decimated those living at the convent, leaving behind the old Sister Berenice and young Aurelie. When strange knights approach begging shelter, they cannot turn the men away. The fortune hunters, however, have no qualms about killing the old nun and robbing the convent of its treasures. One knight is soon pitted against the other, however, in defense of the young woman, whom they at last leave behind, but not before she's badly beaten.

Damon of Wufere returns from the king's campaigns in France, and a year spent in a dudgeon, to find his father dead, his four young sisters running amuck, and his estates in disarray. He determines to claim the bride long promised so that she might assume some of the duties of the castle. However, when Damon arrives at the convent, he only finds one survivor, a badly beaten yet vulnerably beautiful young woman who wears his betrothal ring. Despite her protestations, he carries her to the castle so they might be wed. As his bride gently reaches beyond his well place guards to touch the man behind the warrior, Damon soon finds his heart is captive to this beauty. Yet he can't help wondering what secrets she keeps.

Author Suzanne McMinn brings the pageantry, intrigue and danger of medieval England vividly alive in MY LADY IMPOSTER. Like a breath of fresh air, McMinn stirs ancient history into a vivid account that includes mischievous children, betrayal and love. Her obvious delight in the period gives the background and characterizations both believability and depth. While I often become short tempered with characters who purposefully mislead, the heroine circumstances and reasons lend her motivation a unique and convincing twist. MY LADY IMPOSTER has been added to my keeper shelf and comes highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: enjoyable
Review: This is the first book of this series The sword and the Ring. This book has mystery, violence, innocence, longing, and love all wrapped up in a enjoyable story. The characters are a bit undefined and I would have liked a bit more substance to the main as well as to the secondary characters but it still was an enjoyable read.

The story starts off with a young woman and an old nun alone as the only survivors of a horrid year. They are almost to the point of starvation when two knights appear. They give them shelter only to regret it. The two knights rob them, kill the nun and beat the young woman. she is only saved by the fact that one of the knights does have some honor. She is found later by Lord Damon of Wulfere. He is shocked to find her beaten and takes her to his home. He was going to the convent to pick up his bride Lady Lorabelle who was residing there. When he finds the woman he beleives her to be Lorabelle because she wears the engagement ring. he is determined not to really care for her but he soon finds himself drawn to her.

Belle, as her new husband calls her, must overcome her wounds and become the lady of the keep. she takes his sisters under her wing and tries to make this cold castle a warm home, but the uglyness she has faced before is threatening her happiness. She must gain Damon's trust and love in order for her to prevail.

I look forward to reading other books in this series.