The Sword and the Flame

Rating:
Summary: This Novel Didn't Move Me
Review: Adele St. Clare had functioned as Lord and Lady of the castle following her father's death as her brother has been held hostage by the king in the hope that it would make a more loyal subject of Adele's father. And that's where the trouble with this novel begins.

A minor, Adele is made a ward by the King and Gilbert Bohun is being sent with troops to function as the castellan. But more bad news comes along with the cruel Bohun's arrival. Rafe De Montford has been sent to take Adele to the man the King has selected as her husband. A man who is likely to be no more appealing than Gilbert Bohun. A man who, Adele now knows, has held her brother captive all these long years.

But, in the course of their travels, Rafe and Adele find they have fallen in love with one another and Rafe vows not to deliver the lovely Adele to her court-appointed husband-to-be. Rather, he will attempt to strike a bargain with her would-be husband and hope that he accepts - and that the King doesn't dish out punishment for going against his orders.

"The Sword and the Flame" was rife with problems from the first page. Logistical problems abound in this tiresome novel and there is nothing spectacular about the writing or storyline. Rather, the flat characters are led by their own selfish desires and there is nothing to endear one to the other - let alone make one fall in love with the other. This novel didn't move me.