A Twilight Clear (Zebra Historical Romance)

Rating:
Summary: Sleeper Romance
Review: Set in Nottingham, England in 1164, this tale picks up after three years have passed since Willian and his wife, Catherine have wed. William de Macon, battle-scarred and tired, is finally returning home to his wife and daughter, who he hardly knows. However he brings with him a secret he must keep from his wife. In tow is the King, Henry Platnagenet's, pregnant mistress. In order to protect her, he sets the mistress up close to where his wife lives so he might protect her through the winter from Welsh spies. As he conceals the woman's identity from his wife Catherine de Macon and in doing so casts doubt on whether the woman is his own mistress.
While I enjoyed Linda Cook's writing style rich in historical detail with good secondary characters, both real and fictional, it left gaps in time and development. William and Catherine share a daughter together yet hardly know each other. Budding passion developed over their first initial weeks together, but three years later they are virtually strangers. William is a worn-down warrior, scarred and limping, his glory days seem past.

The joy of seeing William as a doting father, and also as a fiercely protective loving husband still makes this a hero worth reading about. Catherine, a strong and devoted wife, also helps hold this story together. Though lacking in action and punch, this is still a good read with a definite uniqueness in its presentation.

Rating:
Summary: I liked it....
Review: The cover is what compelled me to buy this book, I liked the picture of the lady in the snow. I found the excerpt on the back a bit misleading... it led me to think that Catherine was going to be angered by the presence of William's "pregnant mistress", and that never happened.

I liked the trust and communication between William and Catherine, there seemed to be a definite bond between them, they desired each other and were nervous with each other... despite the presence of their daughter Alflega, the two barely have any time spent together as a couple, and I liked how they both seemed to genuinely care about one another and yearned for the "family" security that had been denied them.

The scenes on the keep's tower were interesting, I liked the author's descriptions of the surrounding fields and forest, and being able to see fires and people in the distance, etc... the author's knowledge of the historical period seemed intensive, and was interesting.

There was an emptiness to the story, though, and I'm not sure how to define it. William and Catherine's relationship, and cute interludes with Alflega, was what kept me interested. I wish Mathilde, the pregnant woman, had been made into a bit more of a character, she was important to the story and yet seemed very faceless. Catherine has much concern for Mathilde, yet we don't get to know anything about her.

Secondary characters were good, like the Dame Alflega, John, and Robert... but again, there was an emptiness to the book. Maybe if it had been longer. And the climax of the story, which in my opinion should not have been the King's arrival, but the events at the forest house when Catherine rides out to warn Mathilde, are not explored at all. I found this quite absurd... it definitely left me wondering what exactly happened at the forest house, and it's strange that the author does not elaborate whatsoever on the main character's boldest move in the book.

A pleasant read though. :)

Rating:
Summary: A Match Well Made
Review: William, a war-weary soldier, returns home to a wife he hardly knows but of whom he dreamt throughout the years he spent in service to his King. Meeting his little daughter and his loyal wife, William finds himself enchanted and enamoured of both. His longing for a life in peace, however, cannot be fulfilled before his secret duty to his King comes to a sucessful end. Without his resolute wife's trust and help, William cannot win his place at home. Can he secure his place in her heart?

Ms. Cook's firm knowledge of her era (the 12th century) makes this story as enjoyable as her earlier works. A Twilight Clear is a satisfying tale for those who particularly like to follow the development of a tender relationship in marriage. The hero and heroine's feelings for one another are firmly in focus here.