The Black Thorne's Rose

Rating:
Summary: Intoxicating , glorious -a real classic !
Review: In glorious , Medieval England, Emlyn de Ashbourne is to be stripped of her family castle. A charter from King John hands it over to Whitehawk, the cruel Earl of Greymere, along with all its contents- including Emlyn herself. With her elder brother imprisoned and herself bound for a marriage she cannot escape, she plots to rescue her younger siblings who have been given into the care of Whitehawk's son, Nicholas, the hero of the novel . Meanwhile, a mysterious outlaw, the Black Thorne, who is thought to be part demon, part legend, haunts the nearby forest. It is whilst being taken through this forest to the home of her intended husband that Emlyn manages to flee and is rescued by Thorne himself. Emlyn sees him for what he is, a real, flesh and blood man; no demon's kisses would taste of Heaven and no thief would steal something only to give her more in return- her heart for his! Emlyn and Thorne exchange vows in a gorgeous scene that you'll remember even after you've turned the very last page. Then, in order to retrieve her siblings, she goes to deceive Nicholas de Hawkwood in the guise of a Nun, unaware that he wears a guise of his own.

This is a fast paced, complex book, with the Black Thorne and Nicholas turning out to be one and the same, but Susan King brings it off beautifully with great flair. The deception gives rise to some amusing, fascinating scenes, but the romance throughout takes precedence- tender, gentle, suspenseful- I did not eat, sleep, or answerthe phone until I had reached the very last page, and then wished I had not! I have enjoyed all of Susan King's novels, and have read hundreds of historical romances since I first read this one, but it still remains at the top of my favourite list. If you have never read The Black Thorne's Rose, then you are missing out on a rare treat- stop by Ms King's web site and drop the publisher a line- I did, and hopefully soon, we'll see this stunning, captivating novel back on the bestseller list, where it truly belongs !

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful story
Review: Ms. King's early work is far more entertaining than her new stuff. The romance is captivating and the characters well defined. The plot keeps you guessing - I'd definitely recommend this one.