A Knight Well Spent (Zebra Historical Romance) [Paperback]

Jackie Ivie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 7, 2008 | Series: Zebra Historical Romance

He's a giant of man; what's more, he's the enemy. These truths should be enough to send Aislynn running far and fast from the wounded stranger in the woods. But he needs her help - and the reward he bestows changes her forever...Formidable knight Rhoenne Guy de Ramhurst has been gifted with a fiefdom - and the unenviable task of taming the rebellious Highlanders that populate it. He also has a castle full of dissidents, led by his own half brother. Yet these challenges pale in comparison with attempts to forget the healer who saved his life and captured his heart...Rhoenne believes a family curse places any woman he loves in mortal danger. When Aislynn is abducted by his profligate sibling, Rhoenne becomes her protector - even as he tries to resist her. But Aislynn has secrets of her own - as deception and danger swirl ever closer around them, the truth may be their only salvation...

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zebra; First Thus edition (October 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 142010165X
• ISBN-13: 978-1420101652
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #777,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sexy historical with just a hint of magic--and great humor, October 23, 2008

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Knight Well Spent (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

Rhoenne is one of the great nobles of Scotland, but he can hold his fief only as long as he's seen to be unstoppable. When he picks up a wound in battle, he pretends he's unhurt, leaving the injury to fester--until he arrives at a pond in time to see a beautiful woman practicing some pagan rite. The woman, Aislynn, is a healer and is able to save Rhoenne's leg, but Rhoenne finds himself drawn to her with a power almost beyond his rigid control. He desperately wants Aislynn, but he knows he cannot have her.

As a sworn liegeman of King David, Rhoenne cannot simply marry--he must marry whom the King commands, and all know that the King has decided to bind this powerful lord to him more closely by giving him his own daughter. Worse, Rhoenne's family has been cursed--every member of the family is born an orphan and Rhoenne has no desire to murder any woman, let alone the beautiful Aislynn.

Good intentions and lofty promises don't mean much when they conflict with desire, and Rhoenne and Aislynn find themselves drawn together--and falling in love. But when Aislynn learns that the love they share will lead to Rhoenne's destruction at the hands of his king, she knows that she must do something to save him--even if it means her own destruction.

Author Jackie Ivie spins an emotional and exciting story set in the 12th century. Ivie's strong writing, with plenty of humor mixed with danger and emotion, kept me turning pages. Aislynn, with her magical healing powers and her occasional but important psychic abilities, makes a wonderful heroine while Rhoenne is a powerful, yet loving man. For me, the real hero of the story is Harold, Rhoenne's lieutenant--a man with a big mouth who can say what needs to be said, and make decisions for the greater good, no matter the cost to him. I certainly hope that Harold will get his own story in the future.

If you're looking for a sexy historical with just a hint of magic, you'll definitely want to grab A KNIGHT WELL SPENT.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unforgettable., January 6, 2009

By 

Detra Fitch "Always hunting good books." (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Knight Well Spent (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

Set in Scotland, 1141. King David sits upon the throne. Formidable knight Rhoenne Guy de Ramhust has been gifted a fiefdom. As liege lord, Rhoenne has the difficult task of taming the Highland people that live there. Rhoenne arrives and receives the warm welcome of a lance in the leg before he even reaches Tyneburn Hall. (In Rhoenne's absence, his half-brother, Brent, has been in charge and ignoring the orders left for him.) Rhoenne would have expired had he not been found by a lovely healer with one brown eye and one green eye. Once tended, Rhoenne wanted her name and residence so he could send payment. She wished only to be forgotten. Yet as Rhoenne continued his ride to Tyneburn Hall, he could not get the image of the healer out of his mind.

Soon afterward Rhoenne finds Brent entering the hall with an unwilling wench. Once Brent is dealt with, Rhoenne seeks out the wench and is amazed to see it is the healer. Her name is Aislynn. Rhoenne becomes her protector. Due to his family curse, she is to be his healer. Nothing more - ever. In return, she gets control of the household and should she need or want anything, it will be granted.

Aislynn has secrets of her own. Upon her hip is the god-mark. Unpredictable dreams come to her; nightmares warn of imminent disasters and horror. Fear of being branded a witch, Aislynn has told no one. And when Rhoenne's actions on her behalf threaten to destroy Rhoenne and his people, Aislynn and his senior vassal, Sir Harold Montvale, must pretend to betray him so he will do what is best for the fiefdom.

***** BUY THIS! I totally believe this to be the best book Jackie Ivie has ever written. All the characters, including the secondary ones, are well developed and the plot is solid, believable. I came to care for Old Rosie and Sir Harold very much, but what I came to feel for Aislynn and Rhoenne was deep. I seldom cry while reading, but I actually felt the anguish of Aislynn and Harold as they did what they thought best for Rhoenne and the people. And I could not stop tears from forming when Aislynn must face Rhoenne after he believes she betrayed him.

Author Jackie Ivie writes scenes that will dance wildly upon readers' emotions. Unforgettable! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Romance story, February 9, 2009

By 

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

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This review is from: A Knight Well Spent (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

Rhoenne Guy de Ramhurt, First Earl of Tynebury a Sassenach Warrior and leader of men found himself wounded and still bleeding many hours after the last battle that he had led and won. Now he finds himself dealing with another force that he has no experience with - attraction. Aislynn was known as the Lady of the Brook a healer in all respects of the phrase with her touch, eyes that change colors based on her mood and herbs she grew and tended to. When she finds Rhoenne suffering and unable to help himself Aislynn knows that she is facing her destiny to heal this man and absorbing the impact of instantaneous attraction that she is unfamiliar with.

Rhoenne allows her to heal him but knows that he is in trouble with this exquisite creature in ways he cannot understand. He will not let her touch his heart as he fears what will happen should he find love and let it in. He knows how to run a castle, direct men in the battlefield but not how to manage love. He has experienced lust yes but not anything that would involve a lifetime with a woman that might love him and bear his child. Too much rested on his not falling in love or committing to one woman.

This plan would have held were it not for Rhoenne's half brother taking Aislynn prisoner and once Rhoenne see what has been done he steps in to take her away and secure her in his castle, his life and heart even though this is not what he wants to happen but he could not resist her magical ways and charming existence even pushing aside his family's curse and depth of responsibility that one feels as the Lord of his people.

While so much worked for them King David worked against whatever lifelong plans they made. King David had lorded the castle and lands to Rhoenne based upon his marriage to his daughter but now that time has arrived and Rhoenne says "nay". He takes a firm stand and lets the King know through months of missives that this marriage is not going to happen.

Rhoenne sets up his forces to fight off whatever attack will come his way but could he ever see betrayal as the one that takes him down. No he never could have thought that the love of his life and the man he most trusted would be the ones to turn against him - but is all what it seems or is this another one of the healer's tricks to make all that is wrong right?

This love story is one that touches your heart and challenges your ability to see beyond that which is being said. How much of what is happening could change with a word or be taken away with a direct order - so much but can love heal all wounds? Lovers of romance always believe that it can but Ms. Ivey makes you work for the trust!