Often our lives can be changed by one event that continues to impact the rest of our days. Causing us to live lives of regret hoping somehow to rewrite the past that is the situation Aldwin Treynarde, hero of Catherine Kean’s A Knight’s Temptation finds himself in. He accidentally is responsible for the death of the only girl who would stand up to him.
Leona Ransley realizes it is up to her to save the family since both her brother and mother are dead and father can’t see to climb out of an ale mug after their deaths. The main problem is the evil baron and the malevolent Veronica and their hired mercenaries who have taken control of their home. There is a way to remove the two, a risky plan that involves stealing a ruby necklace and then collecting the ransom. The only real barrier is an arrogant knight who was responsible for her near death years ago.

Aldwin’s ability to secure the ruby necklace will win him his knight’s spurs, a goal that has eluded him so far. His family refuses to acknowledge him due to his many missteps often caused by his impulsive nature and drive to succeed. The only thing that stands in his way is a willful wench who entices him with the necklace and with herself. She seems oddly familiar, but he would remember such a woman, wouldn’t he?

Leona and Aldwin engage in a fiery battle of wills as they fight their mutual attraction while attempting to elude the hired mercenaries. Aldwin realizes that this headstrong vixen is the woman he thought was dead years ago. How can he expect to win the hand of the strong-willed woman? Better yet, how could he convince her father? In the meantime, how can he save Leona’s father and her home?

The dynamics between the Aldwin and Leona are tense and compelling as they both struggle to reach conflicting goals. The secondary characters, with the exception of Veronica, are not well fleshed out, leaving the novel to be carried by the two main characters. Aldwin’s continual habit of making rash choices makes him a less than heroic figure. In some ways it makes him more vulnerable and lovable.

A Knight’s Temptation should fulfill any romance junkie’s need for a historical romance fix. The heroine is strong. The antagonist is pure evil. And it does come with an appropriate happy ending.

Reviewed by Morgan
© January 2009