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Summary: A great medieval romance with wonderful characters!
Review: Ann Lawrence's second book, Lord of the Keep, from LoveSpell's Perfect Heroes series is a great medieval historical - quite different from the paranormal Virtual Heaven, her first book. The physical image conjured in my mind by the series title, Perfect Heroes, doesn't exactly match forty year old Gilles d'Argent, but the label fits him nonetheless. What a wonderful story this is with delightful characters and some unusual twists.Gilles meets Emma, a talented weaver, when her uncle brings her before him claiming she has given away her virtue and therefore cost him the benefit of a marriage arranged for her. Emma refuses to name her lover, to whom she considers herself married because of the private vows of marriage they exchanged. Two years later, when Gilles rescues Emma and her baby, Angelique, from the attack of mad dogs, she comes back to his notice. He brings her into his household and makes her his private weaver. Of course, the lover she thought she married, and who subsequently abandoned her and their baby, is Sir William, a member of Gilles's household. Although she is only a weaver, Emma is befriended by Sarah, wife of Gilles's close friend Roland and apparent housekeeper of Hawkwatch Keep. Although fascinated with Emma, Gilles is hesitant to take her as a wife, given her lowly station, or as a leman, her obvious dignity. He also fears rejection due to his advancing age and Emma's obvious appeal to the younger and more handsome men of the Keep. They cannot deny the feelings they have for each other, however, and become both friends and lovers. When Emma realizes the feelings she had for William cannot compare with the love she develops for Gilles, she agrees to become Gilles's leman. The jealousies that arise between Gilles and William make for some interesting scenes, and eventually lead to a crucial turning point for Gilles and Emma. I was enchanted by this sweet story, by Gilles and Emma, Sarah and Roland, and other secondary characters, as well as the story as a whole. Even Sir William is a complex villain, who causes some complicated plot twists. I liked the fact that Gilles, a great warrior and Lord of the Keep, was nonetheless insecure in his appeal due as compared to younger men, while Emma never gave this fact the least thought. Lord of the Keep is a wonderful tale, which I strongly recommend. Ann Lawrence is obviously a new author to watch. Enjoy!
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Summary: Travel to England and 1190 to meet a Perfect Hero...
Review: Dear Readers I hope you will enjoy my second perfect hero book for Love Spell. This is the story of "perfect hero" Gilles d'Argent. He's not your average hero and Emma, the humble weaver he grows to love, is not the average heroine. Travel back to the medieval world of 1190 and discover a story of abiding love as Emma weaves a spell around Gilles...you won't be sorry. I love to hear from readers so don't hesitate to visit me on the web at www.annlawrence.com and tell me how you liked LORD OF THE KEEP. And if you love perfect heroes, try my paranormal romance, VIRTUAL HEAVEN, for the story of another extraordinary man and woman. Enjoy! Ann Lawrence
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Summary: LORD OF THE KEEP - Highly Recommended
Review: Giles d'Argent does not look forward to his new duties now that his father died and passed them on to him. As the new Baron of Hawkwatch Castle he tires of listening to petitioners presenting their complaints. But, when an old man and a young woman enter his hall, a mystical-like feeling came over him and he stopped the proceedings to listen to them immediately. Emma, a young weaver, was brought before Lord Gilles by her cruel uncle, now her guardian, in an attempt to force her to marry the knave who stole her innocence. Emma believed the man she made 'vows' with would marry her so she refused to offer up his name. Beset with confusion when Lord Gilles did not judge her harshly, she returns to the home of her uncle. She is cast out when he learns she's to have a babe and lives among the beggarly in the village on the side of a wall of the castle. Denying he spoke 'vows', and unwilling to claim the child as his, her 'lover' refuses to aid in any way. Weaving and selling at market earns Emma very few pennies, and it is her only friend the Widow Cooper who keeps her and her baby from starving. Two years pass before Gilles will see Emma again, but he has not forgotten her. He is out hunting when a sense of urgency comes over him and in a panic he follows his instincts to find Emma circled by a pack of hungry dogs. When he fights away the dogs Emma falls into a faint and cracks her head on a rock. Gilles hears a mewling sound and is surprised when he finds a tiny blonde-headed babe wrapped in her mother's arms. He immediately recognizes Emma and has his squire tend her and stitch her wounds. Still unconscious she is taken to the castle until she wakens. Both Emma and Lord Gilles are again struck by their mysterious feelings for each other. Returning to her meager dwelling Emma weaves a unique belt as a gift to thank Lord Gilles for saving the life of her baby and herself and he is speechless when he opens it. Gilles is overcome by the pleasure of the gift and tells Emma that she must join his weavers immediately. Emma agrees, and thus begins the story of LORD OF THE KEEP. Ann Lawrence delivers a story that is filled with excitement. Just when you think you have things figured out, the author offers another twist to unravel. She writes so expressively that readers are returned to the days of old, living among her cast of characters. LORD OF THE KEEP is a medieval reader's dream, offering enough romance, steamy sensuality, and adventure to keep readers spellbound to the end of this definite keeper.
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Summary: Imperfect hero
Review: Hard to believe they published this one in the "Perfect Heroes" series.Our "Hero" cheated on his wife while she was pregnant,raised his [illegitamate] son to be a real [jerk], then seduced said [jerk]'s common law wife into becoming his mistress in order keep her own [illegitamate] child from starving. Heck of a nice guy,huh? Obviously, the heroine is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, either. The characters in Ms. Lawrence's other books"Virtual Heaven"&"Virtual Desire" may have been fantasy figures, but at least they were likeable and somewhat nice.
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Summary: Dissapointed
Review: I was looking forward to reading this book when I bought it from the book store. What a dissapointment, the book was drawn out, the heroine got on my nerves. She kept putting herself in situations with William. She know how he is why try and talk to him he's a SOB. Gilles got on my nerves about his age get over it. The book just wasn't good even from the beginning.
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Summary: Lord Of The Keep
Review: is one of the best books I have read in a very long time. It has realistic characters, deep emotions and a page turning plot. I am very picky in what I read and this book had nothing to pick apart. It was in a word; Wonderful. Ann Lawerence has a great career ahead of her and I will be there every step of the way buying her books.
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Summary: a wonderfully written romance
Review: Lord of the Keep is definately a Keeper! I loved this book. I have read An Lawrence's Virtual heros romance and liked them but I really enjoyed her other Lord book which actually follows this one. Her historicals seem to be more enjoyable to me because the heros have real fears and real problems that they must overcome to find happiness. In this story our hero and heroine first meet when Emma's uncle drags her before Lord Gilles's court to be judged for being unpure and refusing to name the man. She is not afraid to stand alone because she believes that her love will do right by her because even though they haven't spoken vows infront of a priest they spoke them to each other. Gilles is drawn to her imediately and admires her courage and convictions. When next they meet 2 years later. Gilles has just saved her and her babe from sure death by wild dogs. He takes her to his keep and into his life. Gilles is not a young man. He is 40 and is starting to really feel his age. He is feeling that time has passed him by and he can't compete with the younger men. He feels some jealously over how the women seem to flock to a his bastard son William. He fears that Emma will also like William over him. Emma falls hard for Gilles and has no desire to be anywhere near William. She has her babe to tend to and now Gilles to love. She doesn't think him to old at all and tries to make him beleive that every time they touch. They admit they care for each other but before they can find true happiness tragedy occures. Gilles must again save Emma's life and his very own. The secondary characters in this book bring it all together. There is plenty of humor and lost of passion to this tale. I laughed and cried over this book and when that happens it makes a story I'll read and reread over and over again. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves a great romance.
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Summary: Awesome Book
Review: Loved the story about the older guy falls for the younger woman. The story about Gilles and Emma was well written. Ann Lawerence did a wonderful job. It was a book that once you started reading you couldn't put down. Liked all the plots and twists the story had. Ann kept the readers on their toes during the whole story. This is one book that I will definitely keep. Ann Lawerence has another reader for life. Hope all of her future books are like this one was.
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Summary: Ms. Lawrence does it again!
Review: Ms. Lawrence's first book Vitural Heaven was a very good read but with her newest book she has surpassed herself. Gilles and Emma's story is a beautifully written tale. Ms Lawrences characterizations are wonderful and well detailed. You also come away with a sense of what Medieval times must have been like, especially for women. There are enough twists and turns in this story to keep you reading till the very end, you won't want to miss one single detail . This is a definite Keeper!
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Summary: What Historicals Should Be Like
Review: The hero is rewarded "Lord of The Keep" and comes to realize he's no longer the young knight he once was. She's brought before him when her uncle learns she's been ruined. The heroine is younger, of a different class, and has a past to deal with but they still fall in love with obstacles to overcome. Later, when she's suspected of murder, he risks all to find the truth. Very well done characters, a plot that keeps going for an eventful read, and trust that builds into a wonderful ending.
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