A Knight's Temptation (Knight's Series Book 3) [Kindle Edition]

Catherine Kean (Author)

Book Description

When Lady Leona Ransley sets eyes upon the handsome, arrogant warrior who enters the back room of the tavern, she recognizes him: Aldwin Treynarde, the earl’s son who almost caused her death in a childhood game twelve years ago—and the only man who has ever kissed her. Shocked, she fights her stirred up emotions, determined to hand him the ruby pendant in exchange for the reward offered by Lord Geoffrey de Lanceau, and then vanish.

Aldwin is intrigued by the husky-voiced beauty. He believes she is a courtesan who not only has the valuable pendant stolen from de Lanceau, but has information on the whereabouts of his lordship’s enemies, Veronique Desjardin and Baron Sedgewick, who are conspiring against him. She is a prize he cannot let slip through his grasp, for the knowledge she has could save many lives—and she might be his way to earn what he wants most: knighthood.

He takes Leona hostage and spirits her away, intending to deliver her and the pendant to de Lanceau. She, however, fights him at every chance. He desires his captive more than any noble woman he’s ever met, and when he discovers who she really is, he knows he has one last chance to protect his lady’s life. Only by resolving what happened between them years ago and by fighting side by side can Aldwin and Leona defeat the conspirators and surrender to their greatest temptation—love.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

A sinister couple threatens to have their revenge on Aldwin’s lord by taking over his land. Their first target? Lady Leona’s father. He’s weak-minded from the loss of his wife, and owns a pendant they can sell to raise money for their army. Aldwin and Leona were at odds in childhood, after Aldwin unwittingly committed an act that risked her life. But this is no longer a child’s game, and they soon realize that they must band together to stop the destruction of what they both hold dear. Although her villains are often more caricature than characters, weakening an otherwise well-rounded cast, Kean nevertheless offers an entertaining medieval romance brimming with sass, action, adventure, and lots of sexual chemistry. --Nina C. Davis

Review

"Full of action with twists and turns . . . fast-paced with plenty of tension and drama."  —Night Owl Romance

"I could not bring myself to stop reading long enough to fix dinner. (I ordered pizza and kept on reading)."  —Huntress Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 511 KB
• Print Length: 404 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1933836520
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0080P5RYG
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,718 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable Medieval March 29, 2009

By Amy C VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

The first book, A Knight's Vengeance, is about Geoffrey de Lanceau and his Lady Elizabeth. Geoffrey kidnaps Elizabeth as part of his plot for revenge for the foul deeds against his name and his murdered father's name. Geoffrey believes Elizabeth's father is responsible. Now enter a love sick fool who is deceived into believing that Geoffrey has hurt his Lady Love, Elizabeth. Aldwin Treynarde, the hero of A Knight's Temptation, shoots de Lanceau in the chest, thinking he is protecting Elizabeth and her father, but boy, was he wrong! Three years later, after pledging himself to serve de Lanceau, he finds himself kidnapping his own lady, the Lady Leona in A Knight's Temptation.

Twelve years earlier, a childhood game of Damsel in distress turns tragic when eight year old Leona is reluctantly tied to tree by her brother and a boy that he befriends that is visiting their household. Aldwin. Leona is not happy that they leave her there, alone, she wants to be part of the sword fighting also, not the trussed up lady needing rescue. But young Aldwin doesn't leave before he places an innocent kiss upon her lips, which just infuriates Leona even more. Then tragedy strikes when a swarm of bees sting her little body that nearly caused her death.

Now twelve years later, Aldwin and Leona's paths cross again over a stolen ruby pendant that belongs to de Lanceau. Aldwin believes all these years later that Leona died from the bee stings she suffered. His shame and dishonor from that fateful day and then the shooting of de Lanceau three years earlier weigh heavy on him.

Aldwin winds up taking Leona against her will to de Lanceau. And the journey begins as Aldwin and Leona discover an attraction that neither can resist. Between their battle of wills, Leona finds herself dreaming of the next kiss Aldwin might steal from her, wanting his heat and the feelings he provokes within her.

There were some interesting twists that added to the plot from A Knight's Vengeance regarding de Lanceau and Veronique. I enjoyed revisiting the characters from the first book. The two antagonists were once again front and center in this one. However in A knight's Temptation one gets what is deserving of their foul deeds, and one gets away to live another day, Veronique. Oh, she's a cruel, disturbed woman. I can only hope she gets whats due her in a future book. And I'm curious to see how one of the events plays out in future books.

If you like the kidnapped heroine who falls for her capture as they journey to their destination, a strong-willed heroine who isn't afraid to fight, a hero who wants honor and respect but doesn't quite go about it in the best of ways, a lot of action, and some stolen heated kisses, then check this book out. However, I would recommend reading A Knight's Vengeance first. There are a lot of references to that book in this one. I don't know if you would also benefit by reading A Knight's Reward (Book two in the Knight's series) before A Knight's Temptation. I didn't read it and everything seemed okay

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Knight's Temptation March 25, 2009

By M. Nix

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Aldwin Treynarde was tasked to return a stolen ruby pendant to his lord. Lady Leona Ransley has it, and thought to ransom it, both for the money and to protect her father's potentially treasonous activity regarding the pendant. Aldwin kidnaps her, planning to deliver the necklace and her to his lord. He is shocked to discover she is the Leona of his childhood, whom he thought dead because of his wayward antics. In the meantime, Leona's home is under siege by two evil people bent on revenge against Aldwin and his lord. As they travel to the castle, battling each other every step of the way, love fights to triumph.

In the third of the Knight's series, Catherine Kean brings to life a story of chivalry and romance. Aldwin is tormented by mistakes from his past and his knightly tendencies make his pain all the more acute. Leona represents one of those mistakes, and as he gets to know her, his heart opens to her. Aldwin is a wonderful character and Leona is a strong woman. She doesn't ever give up on trying to escape and is clever and resourceful. A Knight's Temptation is a tale of nonstop action, suspense and blossoming love.

Niki Lee
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Marvelous Addition to The Saga! Medieval Magic! May 3, 2009

By M. Rondeau VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Hoping to right a great wrong perpetuated on Lord Geoffrey de Lanceau after shooting him in the chest with a crossbow bolt, Aldwin Treynarde plans to make amends and finally earn his knighthood spurs by retrieving a stolen ruby pendant stolen by the treacherous Baron Sedgewick and his ruthless mistress Veronique. The Baron had set Aldwin up into firing at de Lanceau so he had much to gain by accomplishing this task.

At the same time, Lady Leona Ransley was trying to save her distraught father from destroying himself as he allowed the Baron & Veronique to lead him astray. Leona overheard their plans and stole the ruby pendant so she could return it to Lord de Lanceau before her father could be accused of treason. Making arrangements to collect the reward and return the pendant, Leona never expected that she would be dealing with Aldwin, a childhood tormentor who almost caused her death twelve years before. If Aldwin uncovered her true identity, all would be lost. Only the tormentor of her youth, was tormenting her still only now with stirring images of passion that she could not deny.

*** As always when it comes to sensually stimulating romances combined with adventuresome medieval plotting, Ms. Catherine Kean is carving out her own special niche. In A Knight's Temptation she has excelled at creating two lively multi-faceted characters in Lady Leona and Aldwin. As a child, Aldwin was a privileged young son who was Leona's brother's best friend. Not wanting to lose the closeness with her brother, Leona would sneak away to join their games rather than follow young lady pursuits. The accident that occurred when Leona was tied to a tree housing a bee's nest and the subsequent attack that nearly killed her was only one of the accidents that perpetuated Aldwin's fall from grace and subsequent banishment from his own home. Aldwin had a lot riding on retrieving the stolen jewel and discovering who had stolen it. As much as he assumed that the young woman calling herself Lady L was not who she appeared to be, he had even more trouble, believing her to be the young girl he had caused to die after being attacked by a swarm of angry bees.

Lady Leona had no reason to trust or like Aldwin, the "arrogant turd", who had caused such an upheaval in her life but the good looking young man, had indeed turned into a very handsome man and her mind was imagining all kinds of sensual feelings she really should not be feeling. Unfortunately, knowing of his allegiance to Lord de Lanceau, Leona could not risk Aldwin discovering her identity and having it lead back to her father who was not in his right mind and was being drugged by Baron Sedgewick and Veronique. Her only thoughts were to return the jewel; get the reward money; and hurry back to try and repair the damage before her home was completely overrun and destroyed by the Baron and his mistress.

After Aldwin kidnapped Leona to bring both she and the jewel back to de Lanceau their lives kicked into high gear with fast paced action; believable dialogs, dangerous mercenaries and high adventure. This story is terrific and A Knight's Temptation, following A Knight's Vengeance and A Knight's Reward is completely stand-alone. But for extra pleasure, I highly recommend all three of these fabulous books while anticipating Kean's next Knight book which should continue the same high adventure and fascinating stories she's created in this marvelous de Lanceau saga. Highly Recommended!

Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

More About the Author

Catherine Kean has always loved tales of heroic knights and stubborn damsels. She penned her first novella at age twelve and her first full-length manuscript at sixteen. After completing a B.A., double major (first class), in English and History from the University of Victoria, B.C., Canada, she was accepted into the post-graduate Works of Art Course run by Sotheby's auctioneers in London, England, where she studied centuries of history, antiques, and fine art. She worked in Canada for several years as an antique and fine art appraiser.

Her debut medieval historical romance, Dance of Desire, was the launch title of Medallion Press's Sapphire Jewel Imprint. Dance of Desire won two Reviewer's Choice Awards, Best Medieval in industry review magazine Affaire de Coeur's 2006 Reader-Writers' Poll, and finaled in four contests for published romance novelists.

Her other medieval romances have also garnered accolades. Among them, My Lady's Treasure won the historical category of the 2008 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Contest and finaled in the 2008 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. A Knight's Reward was a 2008 National Readers' Choice Awards finalist.

Catherine also writes contemporary romances under the pseudonym Cate Lord.

Busy working on her next novel, Catherine lives in Central Florida with her husband, daughter, and a spoiled rescue kitty. For excerpts and more book details, visit Catherine's website at http://www.catherinekean.com