

The hero had a horrible father and a mother ruined by a past crime so he didn't even know what love looked like though some part of him yearned for roots and stability since he'd never known them. The heroine was an unexpected romantic but because of past betrayals didn't believe she could find it even though she wanted to. Neither character expected to find love for various reasons. It was gripping and so different from my cushy life with air conditioning and a grocery story that I found it to be fascinating to read about (and make me thank my lucky stars for my luxuries!)Īnd the romance to me felt very satisfying. It was as much about how men without alliances or noble bloodlines survived as well as how independent women could use their wits against those stronger than them. Instead it focused on one keep, Kilderrick, and how a group of unlikely allies slowly fit into the new area while dealing with the locals, fighting the elements (and predators), understanding superstitions, and unlocking old mysteries. However, this story didn't shape up like that at all and I loved it. In addition, to me I thought it was going to be more of a road trip or lots of battle. Nothing felt forced and I could feel the struggle with both and while I wanted to shake them sometimes it wasn't because it was stupid or forced-it was because to me it felt like a real struggle and I cared for both characters and I wanted to help them! There was so much push and pull as the characters recognized their physical attraction early on, but also realized that they made a good team and tentatively built some trust while also still hesitating to reveal all due to past loyalties, some misunderstandings, and a long history of betrayal for both. While I flew through pages and felt I HAD to keep reading to know what was happening, critical details were revealed in an unrushed pace and in particular, a detail about Alys really shocked me when it came to light but it made the story all the more interesting.
#Black blood brothers book series#
I also felt like Delacroix used dialogue and character reflections to deftly reveal a lot of exposition to set up the series without feeling like I was just reading a dry recitation of what was going on. I really enjoyed how Delacroix used various characters and their POVs to establish the characterization of her leads and how their past experiences had shaped them.

This was such a thrilling and engrossing story that hit all the right notes for me but still felt like it retained appropriate trappings for the time period. Nevertheless, I found every spare moment I had to return to reading about Alys and Maximilian. I have a million things that must be done. My friends, I read this book in two days. Subscribe to her monthly newsletter to keep up to date and receive special offers: In October and November 2009, she was the writer in residence for the Toronto Public Library, the first time that the library has hosted a residency focused on the romance genre. She is an avid reader of medieval vernacular literature, fairy tales and fantasy novels.įor books written under the pseudonym, Claire Cross, see:įor books written under Claire's own name, Deborah Cooke, please see: She has an honours degree in history, with a focus on medieval studies.

Since then, she has published over sixty romance novels and novellas, and has also been published under the names Claire Cross and Deborah Cooke. New York Times bestselling author Claire Delacroix sold her first book in 1992, an historical romance called ROMANCE OF THE ROSE. When anger turns to passion, will either of them be able to resist temptation? And when Kilderrick itself is in peril, will they be able to join forces to save the unexpected love they have come to value above all else? Alys has no intention of capitulating to the proud and illegitimate son of the rogue who stole everything from her, and she does not share his avowed compulsion to fight fair.īitter enemies from the outset, Maximilian and Alys’ match is a battle of wills. A woman rumored to be a witch is the sole one bold enough to defy him but Maximilian has a solution-he will take her to wife, whether she be willing or nay, and seal his claim.īut this powerful warrior has yet to match wits with Alys Armstrong, a maiden with a thirst for vengeance and a fury that might exceed his own.

Allied with his two forgotten half-brothers, he descends upon ancient and mysterious Kilderrick, determined to claim it at any price. The three sons of a notorious mercenary should never have met…but now that they are sworn allies, the Scottish Borders will never be the same…ĭenied his rightful legacy, Maximilian de Vries devised a plan to avenge himself upon his father and see his own future secured.
