Book Review – A Knight's Temptation

Author Catherine Kean Writes Another Exciting Medieval Romance

Apr 29, 2009

An impetuous young man trying to become a knight and redeem himself from past mistakes comes face to face with his first mistake: Lady Leona.

As in her previous Medieval romances, Catherine Kean weaves together the lives of a colorful cast of men, women, and children whose lives interconnect. Readers who have enjoyed Kean’s earlier novels will delight in meeting some old friends from her other books taking on minor roles in A Knight’s Temptation.

A Warrior Dreams of Becoming a Knight

Coming to the forefront this time is Aldwin Treynarde, a rash, impulsive, and confident warrior who excels at the crossbow. He was introduced in earlier novels as the man who was deceived by an evil baron and conniving courtesan into nearly killing Lord Geoffrey de Lanceau, a great leader and one of Aldwin’s dearest friends. When a valuable ruby pendent belonging to Geoffrey disappears, Aldwin goes on a mission to find it and bring the thieves to justice. He hopes that a successful mission (plus his earlier years of loyal service to Geoffrey) will lead to complete forgiveness and a promotion to knighthood.

Lady Leona Gets Attacked by Bees

Aldwin never anticipates, however, that the ruby pendent would be delivered to him in a seedy tavern by a cloaked female figure who in reality is Lady Leona Ransley, the sister of a childhood friend. Long ago, Aldwin had come to terms with the fact that through his youthful impetuousness Leona had died from bee stings after a hive was disturbed while the children played nearby. Believing her dead, Aldwin fails to recognize the lovely young woman who holds the secret to the stolen ruby pendent and to his heart.

As in her previous Medieval romances (Dance of Desire, A Knight’s Vengeance, My Lady’s Treasure, and A Knight’s Reward), Kean fully develops her characters and clearly establishes their place in time. The characters feel real; the dialogue, clothing and furnishings seem authentic; and the sexual tension practically pulses from the pages. Her amazing attention to small details fully engages the senses and brings readers right into the dangers, heartbreaks, victories, and, of course, desires faced by her characters.

Kean has received numerous writing awards since her debut novel Dance of Desire won two Reviewers Choice Awards and Best Medieval in Affaire de Coeur’s 2006 Readers-Writers Poll. Her second book, A Knight’s Vengeance was a finalist in the 2007 Maggie Awards, in addition to winning third place in the Historical category of Volusia Romance Writers’ 2007 Laurel Wreath Contest. My Lady’s Treasure received a Reviewer’s Choice Award from The Road to Romance.

Kean, Catherine. A Knight’s Temptation. Medallion Press, 2009. ISBN: 9781933836522 , 422 pages, $7.95 U.S., Historical Romance, Paperback.

The copyright of the article Book Review – A Knight's Temptation in Historical Romance Fiction is owned by Leslie C. Halpern. Permission to republish Book Review – A Knight's Temptation in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.