| |
PURCHASE LINKS:
BOOKS 2 READ
EXCERPT ~ from Chapter One:
"He is out there,” Catheryn, Lady of Brezden,
whispered into the empty darkness.
It had
been three nights since her dream began. Each
night, during her fitful slumber, she’d
witnessed the deadly attack. The destruction of
her home and the deaths of her people at the
hands of an unknown warrior. Only then did he
turn his ferocious attention toward her. But
tonight…tonight the dream—nay, the
nightmare—seemed not just a vision of her sleep,
it seemed more a portent of the future.
Between the castle walls and the forest, nothing
moved. Cold spring rain fell on the surrounding
terrain, yet the blustering wind carried the
scent of a man bent on destruction, a
destruction that she herself had unwittingly
called forth. Perhaps her own destruction. But
she would not regret it. One simple charm, meant
to give her a glimpse of the man who would be
her life’s love, had worked well. Far too well.
She felt his nearness in the chill of the night
air.
The rustle of the trees vibrated
with his strong, steady heartbeat, and Catheryn
shivered—not from the cold or the rain, but from
the knowledge that, no matter his true form and
visage, her vision would soon come to life. What
exactly had she summoned? To trust her dream, a
helmeted demon with hard, unforgiving eyes. She
would meet her “true love,” and surely not in
the manner or shape she had imagined. Not that
she had encountered any such gentleness from
men. Not for many years.
“My lady, you
should be abed.”
“He has come, Agnes.”
Catheryn despised the alarm she heard in that
simple declaration, a fear she would never
voluntarily show to anyone. But she could never
successfully hide the emotion from her
nursemaid. Since the murder of Catheryn’s
mother, Agnes had been more than just a servant;
she had become the very strength that kept
Catheryn from falling into an abyss of despair.
“Who is here?”
“My ‘true love.’”
Catheryn almost laughed at the thought. She
turned the sachet over in her hands one more
time then relinquished it. “The dark knight of
my dreams has arrived.”
“Fie,” Agnes
said, examining the pouch. “That isn’t
possible.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
Catheryn peered deeper into the night. Her dark
intended’s heartbeat drummed in her blood. “But
regardless of what was supposed to happen with
that sachet, I cannot deny what I know without
doubt will happen.” And she did know. At least
part of it. She resisted the urge to give in to
the hysterical laughter threatening to bubble
forth, turned away from her chamber’s single
window and lit the tallow candles ensconced on
the wall.
“This is impossible. Mistress
Margaret said—”
“I don’t care what the
midwife said.” Catheryn pulled a gown from the
clothing chest and tossed it atop her bed. “All
I know is that the good mistress’s charm must be
stronger than we thought.”
Agnes grabbed
the gown before Catheryn could slip it on. “What
are you doing?”
“Preparing to meet my
destiny.”
“But you said he was leading an
assault. You are not going to meet him at the
gates!”
“What else can I do? He will find
me regardless.” Catheryn retrieved the dress
with a gentle tug and slipped it over her head.
“And shall I let Brezden’s true sons be attacked
without giving them notice? Shall I stay here in
my chamber quivering like a coward?”
“Pike is the master here. Let him deal with any
invaders.”
This time Catheryn did
laugh—with disdain. Months after her father’s
death, a little over four years ago, King
Stephen had appointed Pike her family’s guardian
and steward of Brezden. Her two sisters had been
sent away when Catheryn’s mother received news
regarding the man’s appointment.
Rumors
of Pike were plentiful, and they confirmed what
her mother already knew, so she wanted the girls
as far away as possible to keep them from his
reach. She’d sent them and a couple of her
father’s older, trusted guards to France to live
with distant relatives until she could find a
way to get rid of him. She never had. Catheryn
had adamantly refused to go, and her mother had
been unable to sway her. Catheryn was glad she
stayed. She’d been able to offer at least a
little comfort to her mother, especially in
those final days. No matter the cost to herself.
“Pike? What do you think he will do? He will
consult his minion, de Brye.” A shiver coursed
down her spine. “Then the two of them will save
their own hides, using whatever means they can.”
It was a shame. She’d like to see the pair try
to meet the oncoming assault.
“But what
about—?”
“No!” Before Agnes could say
anything more, Catheryn strengthened her
resolve. “I must do this. Don’t you see? A man
comes to sack Brezden, a man who will surely
succeed. No one else is aware of his presence,
and since I am the only one here, it is my
responsibility to warn what few loyal soldiers
we have left to seek safety.”
Without
allowing her nursemaid another word, Catheryn
opened the door to her chamber then walked out
into the dark corridor beyond. She’d resisted
the urge to soothe the worry lines from the
woman’s brow, and as she walked she fought the
need to return to Agnes and provide reassurance.
Not that she could. How could she ease the
concerns of another when she didn’t know herself
what this night would bring?
REVIEWS:
This is medieval romance at its best -- full
of intrigue, pageantry, and steamy sensuality. A
wonderful debut from a very talented author!
Denise Lynn is fantastic!" ~ New York Times
Bestselling Author ~ Lara Adrian
----------
Get ready to put aside those waiting chores
as you will find yourself riveted to the tale of
the Dream Knight!!! You may not want this
heroine's initial dream but you will definitely
crave the devouring love that ensues and grows
despite formidable barriers! ~ Viviane for What
I'm Reading
----------
". . . New
author Denise Lynn weaves a girlish fantasy, the
dream bag, with the reality of 12th century
politics and intrigue. The horror of war is a
compelling contrast to the dreams and hopes of a
young woman. Readers of medieval romance will
enjoy this well-researched story with its
richness of detail as they root for these
strong-willed characters to put aside the past
and embrace their future. I hope to see more
from this talented writer." ~ Diane Burton ~
Scribes World Reviews ~ 4 1/2 Stars
----------
". . . Catheryn and Gerard's
rocky path to love makes for a good story, with
mystery and intrigue propelling the characters
along. Time spent with Gerard and Catheryn is
most pleasant, indeed."~ Writers Club Romance
Group on AOL
----------
"This is a
wonderfully written story, set in Medieval
England...This is one of those books that suck
you in so completely that you leave dishes in
the sink and forget to cook dinner! The love
scenes are exquisite! Super sexy dialogue and no
skipping to the morning after. Denise Lynn has a
remarkable gift for bringing her characters to
life. If you are looking for a wickedly sexy,
humorous, mysterious medieval, then this book is
for you!" ~ Reviewed by Susie Burkett for
Romance Fiction
----------
". . . well
written, enjoyable read. The writing is done
well, the dialogue clear and not overdone with a
good balance of action and narrative throughout
the book. The love scenes belonged in the book,
and did not seem forced, were not overdone and
did not go on incessantly. Catheryn and Gerard
are both well-rounded, three-dimensional
characters...The fact that while Catheryn
accepted Gerard as the man in her dream and
didn't just bend to his will was an important
aspect to the story, and made her in my eyes a
strong heroine. I would recommend this book to
anyone who enjoys medieval romances and is a
book I would read again." ~ Reviewed by Susan E.
DeWitt for Simply eBooks
----------
"Reminiscent of Jude Deveraux's earlier work,
Denise Lynn tells a wonderful tale of a tortured
hero whose heart yearns to be free from pain,
and a heroine whose heart is yet to be won."~
Reviewed by April Redmon for RT Book Reviews
----------
I found myself engrossed in
the reading of this book. It was easy to
visualize the time period and feel as if I were
there while the story was going on. This book is
excellent reading. This is a book definitely
worth buying. ~ Carol Castellanos for SIME-GEN
----------
With a glorious historical
setting and characters that draw attention, Ms.
Lynn's writing is exciting and enjoyable. I was
swept up in the drama of the events and carried
away by the romance between Catheryn and Gerard.
In a classic style, the hero and heroine are
wonderful people kept apart by outside forces
and misunderstandings; the villains are truly
despicable; and the action is reminiscent of a
dramatic saga. A touching story of betrayal and
romance, This book is well worth an afternoon
spent reading. Brew a cup of tea, turn off your
phone and dive into this wonderful historical
romance! ~ Sally G. Laturi for Ivy Quill
----------
In Ms. Lynn's novel she has
written an engaging medieval romance that fans
of the genre are sure to enjoy. There's plenty
of conflict, and while the love scenes are few,
they are well done and tasteful. For a trip back
in time to knights and damsels in distress,
don't miss this book! ~ Terrie Figueroa for
Romance Reviews Today
----------
Ms
Lynn's story won my heart with such warm and
engaging characters that had me actually
swooning from the hero's words, and the heroines
loyalties. It's not often I find a book written
in this period that I don't grow weary of the
story...this book surpasses the norm in it's
poetic form of two people who are drawn to each
other and learn to trust one another despite the
odds and obsticles. It is the heart of this love
story that carries it through and makes this one
just a little different. ~ Rita Hestand for
Romanceing the Web
----------
This
book is a beautifully crafted novel with bold
characters and a finely tuned plot. Ms. Lynn is
already a master, or perhaps, a temptress of
anticipation. This gripping tale is loaded with
suspense and sexual tension. Reveur vows to not
only protect his new wife from the fiend de
Brye, but to give the passionate Catheryn time
to want him without hesitation before the
marriage consummation. Which takes longer than
the count anticipates, but the sexual dance
toward that goal is a treat to read. ~ Debbie
Jett, Author's Den
----------
DREAM
KNIGHT is a historical romance set during the
Middle Ages, which happens to be my favorite
historical period of time. Reading the blurb, I
hoped that this would be a good read. What I got
was a superior story full of intrigue, fast
action, and romance. While Gerard and Catherine
don't trust each other, they do share a strong
physical desire. Gerard's treatment of Catherine
is poignant and utterly sensual. Anticipating
the action before it happened, I found myself on
the edge of my seat, oftentimes yelling at the
characters like they could hear me. Realistic
emotions, poignant love scenes - DREAM KNIGHT
delivered both in spades. This novel is well
written and sensual; I quite happily placed it
on my keeper shelf when finished. DREAM KNIGHT
definitely gets a "thumbs up" from this
reviewer! ~ Natasha Smith, Romance Junkies
==========
|
|
