Customer Reviews

Her One Desire (Zebra Debut)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Handsome and strong Broderick Maxwell is held captive in the Tower of London, now Laird to the Maxwell clan, due to his brother's death while they both experience the intense torture endured in order to discover important, life-threatening information about their King. In the midst of Broc's torture an angel appears that relieves him of his pain, saves his life, and plans his escape. He discovers this beautiful and kind savior to be none other than Lisbeth Ives, the daughter of England's Lord High Executioner, the very man responsible for his torture! She pleads for Broc to take her along in the escape, as she has proof that she is keeping to herself about the King being in danger from a powerful Lord close to the King that will also exonerate her father, who has been forced to do his cruel work for many years.

Broc is reluctant to take this beauty along for several reasons. The obvious is that she is the executioner's daughter whom he blames for his brother's death, but also because he is strangely sensually drawn to the kindness and beauty of Lisbeth. When he agrees, they must escape the evil forces chasing them both. Lisbeth and Broc's attraction strengthens and grows as their escape plan twists and turns physically and emotionally. Broc is confused about his growing desire and passion for Lisbeth as the new Laid of the Maxwell clan because he knows he must not only honor the betrothal to another lady arranged by his family for his brother and to cling to his clan and brother's honor, but he will have to face the clan's disapproval for making the High Executioner's daughter their laird's wife. During their personal struggles and the many evil forces chasing them, Lisbeth, who has grown to deeply love Broc, holds her secrets from him in order to keep him and his clan safe when he returns to Scotland. The story is enticing and grips the reader from the first all the way to the end with secrets, passion and action making this book difficult to put down.

Kimberly Killion is a talented debut author to look forward to for many more exciting in-depth stories. She has a keen talent for holding the reader to the story and creating interesting characters of depth, mystery and action like a writer who has written for years. This is a debut writer that has already written a keeper with this debut!

"Her One Desire" provides all the elements necessary for a thoroughly satisfying historical romance. Broc is an alpha hero with just enough insecurity to render him endearing. Lizbeth is a plucky heroine who earns the sympathy and support of the reader as surely as she wins the hero's heart, and Lord Hollister is definitely a villain worthy of contempt.

This stunning England/Scotland set medieval historical romance by talented debut author Kimberly Killion is a fast-paced, sensual, emotionally engaging story that not only delivers the exciting story promised by the cover blurb, but also manages to deliver a fresh plot that deftly balances tense drama with scenes of tenderness and humor.

With themes of redemption, salvation, hope--and most of all, the power of love--"Her One Desire" allows the reader to witness Lizbeth's growth from the timid "Lady Ives," daughter of England's Lord High Executioner, into Scottish chieftain Broc's beloved wife "Lizzy." Lizbeth holds her own against a mother-in-law who comes equipped with a sword and a villain determined to steal everything Lizbeth has ever valued in life. This author is one to watch, and I'm looking forward to her next novel, "Highland Dragon."

The Lord High Executioner's daughter releases and runs away with a Scottish Lord that has been locked away and beaten by her father in order to save herself from a fate similar or worse than his. Now that makes for a steamy novel!

Historical romance is not something that is usually on my to be read pile. I am more of a paranormal romance kind of gal. Somehow, I ran across the teaser of the first chapter of Her One Desire and immediately ordered it. I am glad I did. I could not put it down. I enjoyed everything about this book; the plot, the characters, the witty lines.

After learning that this was Kimberly Killion's debut novel I was shocked. I am curious to see where she takes us in her next novel and I am sure it will be just as captivating.

Broderick Maxwell a Scottish Spy is in The Tower being tortured when Lady Lizbeth Ives - the executioner's daughter comes bursting through seeking help from her father. A man - Lord Hollister is seeking a document she stole exposing him as an accomplice to treason and murder of King Edward IV. When guards start breaking down the door, Lisbeth escapes with the prisoner into a secret tunnel and away from The Tower.

Running for their lives, each with a different agenda. Lisbeth wants to get the document to the Duke Of Gloucester - Broderick's nemesis. Broderick wants to get the document to King James so he might align Scotland with France. However, Broderick promises Lizbeth that he will escort to his nemesis and they form a strong and protective bond as they flee England toward Scotland, with Lord Hollister and his guards chasing and tracking their every move.

HER ONE DESIRE by debut author Kimberly Killion is what I've been looking for in a medieval novel for a long time. Is it steamy and sensual; the fact that they are both engaging and intelligent characters enhances the passion between Broderick and Lizbeth. The secondary characters were also enlightening and often times providing humorous and eye-opening statements that made for a witty trek into Scotland amidst the danger and betrayal surrounding them.

I like the fact that Kimberly Killion took a mysterious piece of history and wrote a powerful plot while not overpowering the love story or characters with facts and data. There are not many Medieval's set in this era anymore and it was refreshing and a nice change of pace that perfectly balanced the good and evil in this story. HER ONE DESIRE went automatically on my keeper shelf, it's a novel I'm sure every Medieval romance fan will devour and cherish for years to come. I also hope the author plans to continue writing about these characters and time period, as I miss them already.

I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I purchased it after seeing a few recommendations on the forums, but did not have very high expectations. I read a lot of historical romances and must say that I really enjoyed it. I can't say that it is my favorite, but found it entertaining. I particularly like the scene "on horesback" (very unique). I am looking forward to reading other books by this author.

Kimberly Killion has brought 15th century England to life in her debut novel, Her One Desire, due out in July from Zebra Books. She writes a splendid romance, imparting factual details with a deft hand.

Lizbeth Ives, daughter of King Edward's Lord High Executioner, saves a Scottish spy, Broc Maxwell, from certain death at her father's hands. They flee across England, pursued by a truly evil villain who conspires to kill the King. Broc must reach the protection of his homeland and take his place as laird of his clan, as well as honor the betrothal plans his father negotiated. Lizbeth seeks to bargain her father's soul for the proof she possesses of the conspiracy against the King, knowing she will eventually live within the protection of the church.

Ms. Killion makes a fascinating time in history more accessible to the casual reader without overwhelming us with her research. The sexual tension sizzles, while Lizzy and Broc find their way to each other. This book is highly recommended, and the author is one whose future work I eagerly await.

This book was really good. It kept me interested throughout the whole thing. As a matter of fact, it was one of those books that you want to keep reading to see what's going to happen next, then you're disappointed when you finish it.

I very rarely get so wrapped up in a book that i lose sleep reading, but Kimberly Killion`s tale of love, hate, and desire kept me on the edge of my seat. I cannot wait to start reading her next book, Highland Dragon. Ms Killion has a real knack for writing.

With the Lord High Executioner as her father, Lady Lizbeth Ives knows people look at her with disgust as they keep their distance. Planning to escape the clutches of Lord Hollister, the king's chief warder, Lizzie intends to expose this man's treason and rid herself once and for all of this man's evil. As she takes her leave, she comes across an all too familiar scene of her father at work --- a man with a whip raised, meting out punishment on two men accused of crimes. Knowing Broderick Maxwell is a prisoner in the Tower, Lizzie Ives knows she must do something. In helping him to escape, she also escapes herself from her dark tortured past and an arranged marriage which will kill her soul. But, in doing so, she has just put herself at risk. Will this Scottish spy protect her? Who is a danger to whom? She works to protect the crown from a treasonous plot. He seeks a means of getting France to side with Scotland as a means of protecting the borderlands. How can these two enemies at such cross purposes, ever come to love one another --- yet love is exactly what they do, a love that awakens each to their fullest, a love that breaks the darkness in their hearts and souls.

Having seen suffering first hand, Lizzie Ives is a woman determined to alleviate the suffering of others. Not only does she render assistance to prisoners, but her determination to actively stop from being a victim herself to Lord Hollister adds a richness to her character. Broderick Maxwell, heir to the Warden of the West Marches, feels a responsibility to his family and the people of the Scottish border lands. As determined as Lizzie is to expose the treason against King Edward IV to the Duke of Gloucester and seek refuge, as a spy, Broc knows more about the political alliances beneath the surface. Torn between protecting her and his need for the information she possesses, Broc is a man true to his vow. Handsome and strong, Broc is also a man troubled in spirit. Lizzie is English, not at all the type of wife for a Scottish laird. As the two work together despite their different political loyalties, somehow can these two wounded spirits find joy deeper and more rewarding through love than all the forces, internal and external, that would separate them?

HER ONE DESIRE combines rich characterization, a sexy romance, and a suspenseful plot into a riveting read from start to finish. Although darker than many of the medieval romances I have been reading, HER ONE DESIRE hits just the right chord for me. Choosing the Lord High Executioner as a character, Kimberly Killion allows the reader to see a darker side of the period, but a darker side that renders the romance between Lizzie and Broc all the more moving. Kimberly Killion does a magnificent job in her creation of a mean, horrible villain, one who is simply wicked on multiple levels. Don't pick this one up expecting a light read but rather a romance with a wide range of emotion from humor, to sensuous tension, to something more soulful. In HER ONE DESIRE, Kimberly Killion creates a portrait of transforming love, one that reaches into the very darkness and brings a very special happy ending to the hero and the heroine --- two people whose troubles and triumphs make them feel destined for one another on the deepest levels. Amid the tension-filled political dangers, Kimberly Killion creates moments of delightful, humorous twists that lighten the heart. The language here is full of colloquialisms, giving a nice texture to the book. On a medieval level, this book has a certain tone that encapsulates the medieval world. Without resorting to the sometimes coarse levels of such genres as the earlier medieval fabliaux and later fabliaux-influenced English/Scottish tales recently being printed right before the start of this book, the colorful slang in HER ONE DESIRE gives a certain realistic feel for the everyday language used among people. What a bold and wonderful move to choose the Lord High Executioner as a character to give a certain window into the Medieval world not often seen! Dramatic, dangerous and full of passion, HER ONE DESIRE makes the reader feel the tensions of love amidst this precarious time in English history, a time rife with intrigue, while also giving the reader a glimpse at the tensions between England and the Scottish border lands. Kimberly Killion's debut medieval romance is fresh in vision and a very welcome addition to the genre.

Her One Desire: this book is extremely compelling from beginning to end. We finally have a story where the characters are very realistic to their setting, their struggles, their feelings of compassion towards others and their surrender to their growing love for one another.

Although the heroine's aquaphobia is understandable, it lasts far too long within the book. One scene in particular (during her capture by the story's villain) would've had her confronting her phobic fear but the author changes the escape plan and has her later endure a torture involving said phobia in which she miraculously doesn't even break under to halt said torture. However, although every story deserves a happy ending, one could not hope for such happiness as the author still had one guessing its climatic ending. The romantic love scenes were deeply erotic and very exciting.