At Her Service [Hardcover]

Shari Anton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2005

LadyJoanna has seen how merciless men can be, and she has no desire for one in her life. But when outlaws raid her land, terrorizing he rdaughter and the villagers, she realizes she can't handle this alone. Yet if it is a man she must have, then let it be one she can control-a mercenary who will restore the peace, then be on his way

Product Details

• Hardcover: 340 pages
• Publisher: Warner Forever (2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0739448420
• ISBN-13: 978-0739448427
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,737,785 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shari Anton's publishing career began in 1997. Since then she has written several historical romances for Harlequin Historicals and Grand Central Publishing. Ms. Anton lives in Wisconsin, loves to ride on the Harley, and visit Civil War battlefields, medieval fairs and historical societies. This award winning author is a member of Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America (WisRWA), Novelists, Inc., and The Authors Guild.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly Entertaining Medieval, January 31, 2005

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: At Her Service (Warner Forever) (Mass Market Paperback)

Setting - England, 1350 --- Seven months into widowhood, Lady Joanna Lynwood knew men could be cruel and now the beast she'd been married to was dead, she had no desire to ever have another one in her life. Yet, when outlaws began terrorizing her people and upsetting her plans for a peaceful life, she knew she had to do something. Having lost two children to the plague, and now seeing her lone daughter Ivy narrowly escape a more serious injury, she would take necessary steps to see those outlaws caught and punished. So be it, if it was a man she needed, she would hire the best and sent the captain of her guards for a mercenary whose name alone would strike terror in the hearts of those that would dare take away her peace.

Logan Grimm, was located recovering from a leg wound awaiting the next offer to hire out his sword. The job sounded too good to be true, a simple task, until he learned he would be working for another widow and he turned it down flat. Sweetening the pot, Joanna's agent offered a week's wages to at least travel and meet the widow first before his final decision.

Meeting Joanna, and her daughter Ivy, he was more than convinced in still planning to leave the following morning as Joanna was far too beautiful and he'd had his fill of conniving beautiful widows. But, after a quiet nighttime talk, Logan took her measure realizing deep down that he could trust her word and decided to stay and help.

Vowing to keep things strictly business, Joanna fought her attraction to the darkly handsome warrior but the attraction was mutual and she recognized that the ferocious and fearsome mercenary had gentleness in his heart and manner that was quickly melting hers. Terrified by her feelings, Joanna had to decide if she should take a chance to know love or would this be just another job and another conquest that he'd leave when the job was over.

*** Ms. Anton has spun another spell binding medieval tale that is sure to please her most ardent medieval loving fans. Without going into a tremendous amount of detail one can sense the dread Joanna had of ever allowing another man to rule over her. Having buried two children, and a beast of a husband, the terror of losing her one remaining daughter to marauding outlaws gave her the courage to send for a mercenary - the title alone envisioning the brutal men who would kill for hire. Yet, over the objections of her advisors, she stuck to her guns. Logan was beautifully created as the loner, a man who never expected much, never dreamed of a family or of belonging, yet Joanna and sweet Ivy both showed him a kindness and acceptance he'd never thought to have. The story and characters all blended together beautifully in a highly entertaining and memorable medieval tale that I can highly recommend. --- Marilyn, for www.romancedesigns.com ---

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anton delivers again, October 18, 2005

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: At Her Service (Warner Forever) (Mass Market Paperback)

Shari Anton writes in period I know well and enjoy. It's my favourite historical period so I tend to be picky. I don't bash for anachronisms or bad history, I am just disappointed, and often won't read the writer again. Anton never disappoints me. She has a feel for the period and is able to take the reader and help them into the world of knights and people. Makes the story real.

In the 1300s of England, Lady Joanna Lynwood was very aware of the limits and extremes in men, especially their cruelty. She had been married to one of the worst, but thankfully, he is now dead. This bad experience causes Joanna to hope never to marry again. Only, a lady alone in these perilous times is a target for more of the evils of men. When outlaws begin terrorizing her people, she knows she must face the situation. She needs a man. Knowing the depravity of men, she sends her Captain of the Guard to hire a mercenary who would make even hard-bitten men turn pale.

Logan Grimm - even his name sets the tone of this mercenary - is found, only he is recovering from a wound, while awaiting to be hired. To him, the task as outlined is rather simple, maybe too good to be true. When offered a week's pay to come to Lady Lynwood and assess the situation, he jumps at the chance.

Upon meeting Joanna and her daughter Ivy, he is leery of accepting the job. However, Joanna convinces him the job is just as she outlines it. Logan sees a woman of strength, honour and beauty - and she needs his help desperately.

Joanna is instantly attracted to the dark warrior, senses there is more to the man than the fierce warrior mean he projects. Only, Joanna was hurt so deeply by the beast of a husband, she is not sure she could ever take the chance again and open herself to loving another man. Worse, she fears once the job is finished, the knight will move on, leaving her daughter and her alone once more.

Shari Anton spins a strong tale of scarred people struggling to heal, fighting to find a better way. Joanna and Logan are "real" people that make you care. She is able to imbue the tell with rich medieval details that should please her fans and fans of the genre.

Very highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good on historical detail, a little low on actual romance, June 16, 2006

By 

Gemma "bookworm" (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: At Her Service (Warner Forever) (Mass Market Paperback)

AT HER SERVICE was the first book I tried by Shari Anton, and while I wasn't blown away, I wasn't dissapointed, either. This was a well-written medieval romance, if a bit predictable.

I liked the author's writing style. She was true to the dialogue of the period, but refrained from making her prose match it. Thank goodness. So many historical romance authors these days like to write thick, flowery prose that's more work to read than it is enjoyable.

The characters were likeable, if not the most rounded that I've read. I knew what drove them, but even by the end of the book, they didn't feel like old friends. But I did so love the character of Ivy, the heroine's daughter. She was just so adorable and precocious that I would dare any reader not to be in love with her by the time they finish the book.

An interesting aspect of this story was that the author revealed very early on who the villian was. Unusual, but I think it worked. The story didn't suffer for it, even if there were no plot twists at the end.

However, I often felt that I was reading a work of historical fiction, rather than one of historical romance. The relationship was often pushed to the side, while the rest of the story took centre stage. And while that story was well executed, I was left wanting more romance.

One other complaint: I felt that the character's sexual relationship was a bit irresponsible. The risk of pregnancy is never even considered, not even once. Considering that the heroine is a widowed woman who'd had three children, you'd think the thought of a child out of wedlock would cross her mind before taking a lover, but it never did. If a teenaged girl were to read this (and many do start reading romances while still in high school--I did), she might come away with the impression that casual sex is no big deal, as if STDs and unplanned pregnancy don't really happen. Again, the word I use for it is irresponsible. Not a huge complaint, but it still bugged me.

AT HER SERVICE reminded me a lot of the stories penned by Karyn Monk. Great on historical detail and interesting plots, but little lacking on actual romance. I might try more books by Anton, but AT HER SERVICE wasn't good enough to send me rushing out to find more. Recommended, but not highly. If this is your first try of Anton's work, you might want to borrow this one rather than buying it.