Rating: 
Summary: Another Great Series In The Making!!
Review: Although this is considered the first book in the Brotherhood of the Sword series this is actually the third time we've been introduced to some of these characters. I think that, this is one of the reasons I love Ms. MacGregor's books. You are almost always gauranteed a chance to visit with old friends. This is Stryder of Blackmoor's story and I must admit I didn't care for this knight in the anthology "Where's My Hero?" where Ms. MacGregor introduced us to not only this series but this character. My fears were totally misplaced and I found that Stryder is a complex character who was easy to care about. His feelings and thoughts are results of his past. Although this is a rather complex story with many characters they are easy to manage if you're paying attention to what your reading. Trust me it dosen't require a map nor brain surgery to keep it all straight. Rowena is a great character and does not have her head turned by a pretty...okay handsome face. She actually has no use for knights and the things they stand for. That is until she finds herself in the strong arms of Stryder. Now she must keep her wits about her or she may just fall in love with not only a man but a knight who just me leave her to fight the injustices in the world. The fact that Stryder does not help by keeping his distance, and his kisses touch something in her that she thought was never there only adds to her confusion. Stryder has made a vow and nothing and no one will keep him from it. Add to the fact that he is constantly ambushed by women who are anxious to be his countess he has grown rather allergic to the female race. That is until he saves a lady from a nasty spill. Now he can't keep his mind nor his lips off of her. She is so different from the normal ladies he runs into. She actually sees deeper then the surface and has not run screaming. Together they face the chanllenges and threats that follow them. Stryder's past is catching up and fellow members of the Brotherhood are being killed. They must find out who the assasin is before he strikes again. This is a strong story to mark the beginning of another great series. The groundwork has been set by introducing us to several of Stryder's knights that hopefully will be appearing again soon. The romance between Rowena and Stryder is sweet and spicy. There are laughs and tears aplenty in this read. I highly recommend Ms. MacGregor (AKA Sherrilyn Kenyon) for a wonderful read regardless of the time period or genre! I can't wait for the next in this series!
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Series In The Making!!
Review: Although this is considered the first book in the Brotherhood of the Sword series this is actually the third time we've been introduced to some of these characters. I think that, this is one of the reasons I love Ms. MacGregor's books. You are almost always gauranteed a chance to visit with old friends. This is Stryder of Blackmoor's story and I must admit I didn't care for this knight in the anthology "Where's My Hero?" where Ms. MacGregor introduced us to not only this series but this character. My fears were totally misplaced and I found that Stryder is a complex character who was easy to care about. His feelings and thoughts are results of his past. Although this is a rather complex story with many characters they are easy to manage if you're paying attention to what your reading. Trust me it dosen't require a map nor brain surgery to keep it all straight. Rowena is a great character and does not have her head turned by a pretty...okay handsome face. She actually has no use for knights and the things they stand for. That is until she finds herself in the strong arms of Stryder. Now she must keep her wits about her or she may just fall in love with not only a man but a knight who just me leave her to fight the injustices in the world. The fact that Stryder does not help by keeping his distance, and his kisses touch something in her that she thought was never there only adds to her confusion. Stryder has made a vow and nothing and no one will keep him from it. Add to the fact that he is constantly ambushed by women who are anxious to be his countess he has grown rather allergic to the female race. That is until he saves a lady from a nasty spill. Now he can't keep his mind nor his lips off of her. She is so different from the normal ladies he runs into. She actually sees deeper then the surface and has not run screaming. Together they face the chanllenges and threats that follow them. Stryder's past is catching up and fellow members of the Brotherhood are being killed. They must find out who the assasin is before he strikes again. This is a strong story to mark the beginning of another great series. The groundwork has been set by introducing us to several of Stryder's knights that hopefully will be appearing again soon. The romance between Rowena and Stryder is sweet and spicy. There are laughs and tears aplenty in this read. I highly recommend Ms. MacGregor (AKA Sherrilyn Kenyon) for a wonderful read regardless of the time period or genre! I can't wait for the next in this series!
Rating: 
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: Any type of child abuse is intolerable, physical, sexual, verbal, mental. However, I don't think a romance book is the place to try to raise awareness of long ago abuse. When I read any book, I am trying to find a little time away from the hurtful things in life, that's why I look forward to Kinley MacGregor books, her characters and the humor I find in the books. If you are looking for either humor or strong characters about which you can care, don't purchase this book. I'm not even sure why I finished this book, I guess I was hoping it would improve.
Rating:
Summary: fine Medieval romance
Review: During the reign of Henry Plantagenet, several English prisoners escape captivity in the Holy Land because of the sacrifice of some of their peers. One of these Lord Stryker has become the King's Champion, but also remains loyal to the Brotherhood of the Sword consisting of those surviving knights incarcerated together in the Holy Land. Lady Rowena de Vitry, the "Lady of Love" troubadour hates knights whom she believes are barbarians who take what they want from the defenseless. However, when she meets Stryker sparks fly though neither wants to acknowledge it. She is shocked when he comes to the defense of his half-brother, a troubadour like her. King Henry wants Rowena married, but no one seems capable of attaining that status. His wife Eleanor suggests Stryker wed Rowena so that the monarch can feel secure that a major supporter owns a critical estate. Rowena has vowed she will never marry any knight while Stryker has pledged he will never marry as insanity runs in his family. However, the queen pulls strings using the duo as puppets by insisting that Rowena teach Stryker to sing for an upcoming contest. Though an exciting treachery subplot seems an afterthought as this is a Brotherhood of the Sword tale, fans will appreciate this terrific gender war between a gentle acerbic troubadour and a caring hard-boiled knight. The story line works when the lead couple battle while falling in love as predicted by that masterful manipulator the Queen. The secondary characters enable the audience to either see inside the reign of Henry Plantagenet or understand the prime players. Medieval romance readers will enjoy this tale and look forward to more novels starring other brothers. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Light Entertaining Read
Review: I agree with the 4 stars for this book. It is a light, entertaining read. Kinley MacGregor is also Sherrilyn Kenyon, therefore I expect to get a good read from her books. Although some of this is not accurate history, we are reading for fun not history. Stryder is the kind of man any woman, of any time, would want. He is strong, caring, determined, as well as tall, dark and handsome. Rowena is a strong woman, trying to make sense of the maddness in the world at that time. She wants a man of peace and understanding. These two face each other at odds. But each finds what he or she needs is not what they think.
Through a fast paced plot, they come to know and realize they love each other. It is a story that could well be placed in our own time.
I enjoyed the romance, and look forward to more of these stories.
Rating: 
Summary: A 5 star keeper
Review: I don't even know where to start. This is one of the best books I've ever read and when you consider I read an average of 3-5 books a week and have been doing that since I was 15, that says a lot. Kinley MacGregor has a way with heroes that blows my mind. Stryder was so solid and tough and at the same time, he had a heart for his friends and for the heroine. Rowena was smart and funny. She wasn't about to let anyone take her for granted. Their battle of wills had me laughing and the scene where she teaches Stryder to write had my heart aching. This has all the makings of a true romance classic keeper. I can't wait to read the next one in the series.
Rating:
Summary: A rare gem of a keeper
Review: I don't know what the deal is with the criticism on Kinley MacGregor's historical accuracy. First off, when I want total accuracy, I read nonfiction or real medieval literature written by medieval authors. In case no one has noticed, there is quite a tradition of romances written during the Middle Ages that should satisfy anyone craving true accuracy. As a long time member of the SCA and a reenactor whose persona is a member of Queen Eleanor's court, I have to say this is the most accurate portrayal I have ever seen in a medieval by any author. Please see the Women's Crusade led by Eleanor when she was queen of France that was made up of noblewomen dressed in armor who went down to the Holy Land with the men and let us not forget Marie de France who was a well renowned troubadour during this time who ran her own school. Everyone who knows anything about this period knows Eleanor's court was rife with female troubadours. Did we miss the whole point of the Art of Courtly Love? Read Anna Comnena, Marie de Pisan, and many, many others. Please stop relying on other modern fiction authors to get your history and then bashing the first author who tries to get it right. I found this book to be deep and engrossing. It was highly entertaining. Unlike most of the fluffy historical romance novels out there, this one made me stop and think. Most of all, it made me feel. Not just for the hero and heroine, but for all the characters in it, large and small. Even the villian had depth and I found myself feeling for him almost as much as I felt for Stryder, if not more since he seems to be in an impossible situation. I love the complexity of this book and the fact that Ms. MacGregor didn't talk down to me or insult my intelligence. I appreciate an intelligent and emotional read once in awhile and this one more than fulfilled that. To me a keeper is a book that touches my heart and makes me care. It's a book where I dream about being the heroine and being able to fall in love with a real hero. That is why I read this genre and Kinley MacGregor gave me all that and more. I don't keep many books anymore, but I kept this one and to me at least that says it all.
Rating:
Summary: Predictable
Review: I felt the need to commit everything to memory. The history of the brothers, their descriptions, traits, deeds ... Whew! Would that those characters actually had something to do with this story, or at least the same series. I was relieved when Rowena came onto the scene without a blow-by-blow of her and her ladies'-in-waiting entire life stories. If you can overlook the women chasing after Stryder whose looks are exaggerated beyond reason and ignore the idea of a singing contest, you might recognize the second half as KM's book (w/ a little mystery).
Rating:
Summary: Best Historical of the Year
Review: I had all but given up on reading historicals and only bought this one because the woman in the bookstore promised me it was worth it. Was she ever right. Stryder is a knight who learned long ago that sword and poetry don't mix. He saw the misery of his parent's failed marriage because they couldn't find common ground and after being orphaned and then captured in the Holy Land, he has spent his life trying to save other people from his fate. Rowena is a lady who wants nothing to do with war since an act of treachery on the battlefield robbed her of her beloved father. Like many of us, she wants peace at any cost. The last thing she wants is to fall in love with a man who lives his life by the sword. But the king and queen have other plans and together they scheme to make these two a couple. This story is brilliant. The characters are so rich and well drawn that I ached for them and wanted them to win at any cost. They were wonderful. This is a true medieval tapestry that has stayed with me. I read it twice in one weekend. It's not often a book can make me laugh and cry, but this one did. Do yourself a favor, make a date with A Dark Champion tonight. You won't be sorry.
Rating: 
Summary: Confused and mislead
Review: I have read all of Kinley MacGregor's books and loved Sin's story the most. However, I'm still puzzled after reading A Dark Champion. It started out boring and eventually became confusing with too many characters and subplots. I was confused regarding the time that transpired between events and characters. I feel as though I missed important details and there were gaps in the story. Also, the book description is misleading. The main characters change drastically not very far into the book. I hope the next book is better.
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