Knight of Pleasure (All the King's Men) [Mass Market Paperback]

Margaret Mallory (Author)

Book Description

Series: All the King's Men | Publication Date: December 1, 2009

THE GREATEST PASSION
Lady Isobel Hume is an expert swordswoman who knows how to choose her battles. When the king asks her to wed a French nobleman to form a political alliance, she agrees. But that's before the devilishly charming Sir Stephen Carleton captures her heart-and tempts her to betray her betrothed, her king, and her country.

IS WORTH THE GREATEST PERIL
Sir Stephen Carleton enjoys his many female admirers-until he dedicates himself to winning the lovely Isobel. So when a threat against the king leads Isobel into mortal danger, Stephen has a chance to prove that he is more than a knight of pleasure...and that love can conquer all.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mallory has an amazing ability for creating a riveting story, intertwining adventure and history overlaid with great depth of emotion and laced with a constantly increasing level of sensuality. Such depth and sensuality are a rare treat." (4 Stars, RT Book Reviews )

"Ms. Mallory gives us amazingly vivid details of the characters, romance, and intrigue of England. You're not just reading a novel, you are stepping into the story and feeling all the emotions of each character." (TheRomanceReadersConnection.com )

"This is one of those mouth-watering stories where the reader needs to turn off the ringer, brew up some of their favorite tea, and curl up in front of the fireplace and enjoy this passionate, fast paced romance." (4 1/2 stars, Affaire de Coeur on Knight of Pleasure )

"Thrilling, romantic, and just plain good reading." (RomanceReviewsToday.com )

"An impressive debut...Margaret Mallory is a star in the making." (New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh on Knight of Desire )

"A wonderful new voice in the tradition of Gellis and Woodiwiss." (New York Times bestsellling author Bertrice Small )

"Spellbinding! Few writers share Margaret Mallory's talent for bringing history to vivid, pulsing life." (New York Times bestselling author Virginia Henley on Knight of Desire )

"A lavish historical romance, evocative and emotionally rich. KNIGHT OF DESIRE will transport you." (USA Today bestselling author Sophie Jordan )

"Medieval romance has a refreshing new voice in Margaret Mallory!" (Paula Quinn, author of A Highlander Never Surrenders )

"Mallory spins a masterful tale, blending history and passion into a sensuous delight." (Bestselling author Sue-Ellen Welfonder on Knight of Desire )

"With the perfect attention to detail, Margaret Mallory instantly pulls you into the midst of medieval life..." (FreshFiction.com on Knight of Desire )

"Mallory's debut is impressive. She breathes life into major historical characters...in a dramatic romance."
(4 Stars, RT Book Reviews on Knight of Desire )

"The story sizzles with romance and adventure." (RomRevToday.com on Knight of Desire )

"With the perfect attention to detail, Margaret Mallory instantly pulls you into the midst of medieval life..."
(FreshFiction.com on Knight of Desire )

About the Author

MARGARET MALLORY recently surprised her friends and family by abandoning her legal career-and her steady job-to write tales of romance and adventure. At long last, she can satisfy her passion for justice by punishing the bad and rewarding the worthy-in the pages of her novels, of course. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two college-age children. KNIGHT OF DESIRE is her first book so she would dearly love to hear from readers. You can contact her via her Web site at www.MargaretMallory.com.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Forever; Original edition (December 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446553387
• ISBN-13: 978-0446553384
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #223,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Margaret Mallory started out as a Midwest girl. Except for two years in Africa, she grew up in small towns in northern Michigan. She received degrees from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan Law School, and then headed to Washington, DC to save the world. When that failed, she packed up and moved to the Pacific Northwest with a vague notion of finding herself a park ranger with a dog. The man she met was not a park ranger, but he was willing to get the dog.

Margaret spent many rewarding--but rather wearing--years in jobs devoted to improving services for abused children and care for the elderly. Not long ago, she surprised every single person who knew her by abandoning her legal career--and steady job--to write novels. She is thrilled to spend her days writing stories of love and adventure, rather than go to endless meetings. After all, she has always loved romantic tales, heroic deeds, and happy endings. And, at long last, she can satisfy her passion for justice by punishing the bad and rewarding the worthy--in the pages of her novels.

With her two children off to college, Margaret spends most of her time working on her next books. Visit her at www.MargaretMallory.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Marvelous, March 28, 2010

By 

Jessica Cave "Jess" (Seattle, Wa) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Knight of Pleasure (All the King's Men) (Mass Market Paperback)

Knight of Pleasure surely exceeded my already high standards. I read Margaret Mallory's previous novel, Knight of Desire (All the King's Men) and quickly fell in love with William and rooted for Catherine. This book was no different. We met Stephen in William and Catherine's story, where he was a young man and utterly in love with Catherine. In this novel, he's outgrown that love, but he has never stopped looking for his own bride that has a will just as strong as his sister-in-law's. In comes Isobel Hume, who is fiery, passionate, and just can't help but make you root for her. She fits in well and it is so fun to see Stephen fall head-over-heels for her. The tale is full of twists and tales that I could not have possibly predicted. I greatly look forward to Linnet and Jamie's story, as both of them have become favorite characters of mine. Margaret Mallory has become an automatic-buy author for me and I will buy anything else this exquisite author writes.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Series: All the King's Men, November 26, 2009

By 

Mary J. Gramlich "The Reading Reviewer" (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Knight of Pleasure (All the King's Men) (Mass Market Paperback)

Lady Isobel Hume had gone from a rambunctious child to a married woman at the tender age of 13. After suffering through a miserable relationship to Lord Hume she finds herself a widow by the age of 22. Assuming that her late husband had left his lands and wealth to her she finally breaths of sigh of relief only to be slammed with the reality that her dead husband left it to a man who convinced him that he was his son. Another man has deceived her and led her down the road of betrayal.

Now Isobel is requested by King Henry to make a political marriage to Lord Phillippe de Roche to ensure Phillippe's acceptance of the King's takeover. Isobel does not want this match but knows that as a woman in this time and place she has no choice or say in the matter. How she hoped to be free of another husband that would dominate her and not let her spirits soar. Yet just as she is prepared to wait out her fate of meeting deRoche in walks Sir Stephen Carleton one the dashing fighters in King Henry's army. He is a known womanizer and true scoundrel but none of that stops her heart from reaching out for the man she should not want. Stephen feels the same and he knows as well that the last person he should be pursing is Isobel - she is too good and kind for the likes of him. But that does not stop him and when his heart becomes tangled with hers the swords are clashing and the emotions are running unchecked.

But when deRoche arrives to take his intended and secure the marriage contract it is an unwilling Isobel that goes even though the passion and lust she feels is for Stephen not Phillippe. Isobel quickly learns of the deceitful nature of her future husband and knows that she can beat him at his own game and once she learns of his true intentions toward King Henry nothing will stop her from saving everyone's lives even at the risk of her own.

When I think of this book the word that comes to mind is lovely. The character of Isobel is written with a fiery personality but yet she has a passionate heart and a kind and gentle nature. Isobel has known pain and suffering and resents her father for giving her up in marriage at the age of 13 but all this is nothing in comparison to her love for Stephen and the loyalty she feels for her King and country. Lovely is the relationship between Stephen and Isobel and your own heart weeps with all the issues that are keeping them apart.

[...]

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Author not to be Missed, February 15, 2010

By 

Theresa M. Studer "Terra57" (Hopedale, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knight of Pleasure (All the King's Men) (Mass Market Paperback)

[close] Knight of Pleasure by Margaret Mallory is a savory delight that is sure to please. This is book two of the series of three and even more delectable than it's previous installment in book one. Most assuredly Margaret Mallory is an author with much promise and passion to keep us satisfied for quite some time.

Lady Isobel Hume is a sight to behold. Married off to an old man in her early teens, she has been through hell and back with a marriage made of profits to both sides instead of one of love. Now that her husband is dead, all she can hope for is a match made by the King to a man of respect, courage, honesty and all the things that we have come to think of in a knight of the realm. Aah, but will that indeed be her fate?

Sir Stephen Carleton is a ladies man to the T. A rogue to be sure but a man of honor with a strong set or morale's that will make him appealing in one respect and appalling in the other. Sir Stephen is a classic case of never judge a book by its cover. He is a King's man and his loyalty to the crown is never questioned. Unfortunately for him and his roving eyes, can he stay away from the fair Lady Isobel?

Our author has done a superb job with this installment of "All The King's Men". Non stop action, romping steamy scenes that are sure to fog your glasses and enough court intrigue to have you drooling from beginning to end. A book that you will not want to miss if you are a lover of Historical Romance