Customer Reviews

My Lady's Treasure

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A legendary treasure waiting to be found, a treasure so valuable that one has schemed, betrayed loved ones and killed for to get it, but sometimes the real treasure does not consist of gold and coins...

This story takes you back to medieval England, back to a time where the legend of King Arthur's treasure is still very much alive. You immediately get introduced to Lady Faye Rivellaux, a headstrong penniless widow, who lives at Caldstowe Keep thanks to the grace of Lord Torr Lorvais. She has vowed to protect the child of her best friend, but now the little girl has been kidnapped and she has to pay ransom to get the girl back, but all she has to offer to the kidnapper is a gold cup.

Brant Meslarches is a fierce, scarred warrior who has just returned from the crusade, during this crusade his brother was murdered and now he has to deal with his inner turmoil. He is determined to leave no stone unturned to accomplish his brother's dream, namely to find King Arthur's legendary treasure. Against his will he has to collect ransom for an acquaintance, he is astonished when this beautiful bold lady shows him a gold cup as ransom. Finally Brant has proved that the treasure exists!

They need each other to achieve their goals, so they make a deal. He will help her find the girl and she will join him on his quest to find the treasure. But they soon discover they are in danger, for they are not the only ones hunting the treasure...

From the first chapter Catherine Kean pulled me into her book and I could not put it down. This story is an easy and delightful read. Basically the plot is simple with only one major subplot, but it is refreshing, original and very well written with an astounding surprise at the end. It speaks of love, trust, commitment and betrayal.

Ms. Kean writes with such intensity that you hold your breath in anticipation of what will happen next. She describes things so vividly that you can actually picture medieval England, the scenery, Caldstowe Keep and its population. With great detail she has captured the daily life and traditions of the people in the dark ages.

She has a gift to bring her characters to live, in this story she focus mainly on the hero and heroin, page by page you get to know more of Faye and Brant. Their relationship is built up very slow, you see the subtle changes, from mistrust to trust, but right from the start you feel the chemistry between them. Their encounters leap off the pages and are always sensual and interlaced with passion and that made me devour the pages. Their relationship is so believable and moving that my heart cried out for them when they got separated due to misunderstandings and lack of faith in each other.

This story does not really have strong secondary characters, except for Torr. He is an intriguing man of great strength and just like Faye and Brant he has his own secrets to protect, but there is definitely more to him than meets the eye.

Catherine Kean delivers a medieval story so enchanting, dazzling and full of passion that it will keep you at the edge of your seat. Faye and Brant's quest will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride and will keep you flipping the pages till there are no more pages to flip. Ms. Kean sweeps you off your feet with the intensity of her writing and I cannot wait to read her next novel!

reviewed for Realms on our Bookshelves by Dream-Mistress

Courtesy of Realms on our Bookshelves

Faye Rivellaux made a promise to her dying friend, Elayne, to take care of her child after she was gone. The promise had been easy to make. Faye loved Elayne's daughter, Angeline, almost as if she had birthed the child herself. Protecting the child proves much harder, especially after the girl is kidnapped. Willing to do almost anything to get the child back, even giving up a King's ransom in the form of an ancient golden goblet, she meets with the stranger who has demanded payment.

Sir Brant Meslarches isn't comfortable with his mission - but he has his oath to uphold, and so he must go along with it. He has no idea why he needs to meet with the woman by the lake and demand a ransom, but when she shows him the golden goblet, he is fascinated. The golden goblet could have come from only one source: the legendary King Arthur's hidden treasure. Knowing that the lady, Faye, is his only hope of finding the treasure, Brant strikes a tentative bargain with the beautiful woman.

Willing to do anything to save Angeline, Faye agrees to the knight's proposal. She really has no other choice if she is to find the child and uphold her promise. But their bargain holds more danger than either of them could imagine, and the price to save the child might prove more costly than even the richest of king's treasures.

MY LADY'S TREASURE was a thoroughly splendid read: engrossing, rich in detail and wonderfully witty! Author Catherine Kean writes with a beautiful, lyrical style that is a rare find in today's modern carbon-copy literature. Kean has brought back the beauty of the written word!

Filled with lively characters, a strong, suspenseful plot and a myriad of romantic scenes MY LADY'S TREASURE is a powerful, poignant tale that will keep reader's turning pages until the very end. I highly recommend that readers who love a good historical romance pick up a copy of MY LADY'S TREASURE today.

Catherine Kean burst upon the historical romance scene with her first medieval romance Dance of Desire and captivated fans further with A Knight's Vengeance. In this newest release, My Lady's Treasure, she can easily be declared the upcoming Queen of Medieval Romance!

The beautiful and enchanting widow Lady Faye Rivellaux has promised her dying friend Lady Elayne Lorvais that she will care for her daughter Angeline. Living at Caldstowe Keep with Elayne's husband Torr as guardian, soon becomes a nightmare for Faye when Angeline is kidnapped. In a strange twist, the kidnappers send the ransom note to Faye instead of Lord Lorvais, demanding she secretly bring a ransom of silver, otherwise Angeline will be killed. Faye in her impoverished state has no silver to give. She then remembers the Celtic Treasure that she and Elayne discovered at the lake on the grounds of Caldstowe Keep; a solid gold chalice that is thought to be part of the legendary King Arthur Treasure. It is at this lake where Elayne, Faye and Angeline enjoyed picnics and played during happier times where she is to make the exchange.

Sir Brant Meslarches is the knight that arrives to collect the ransom. This mysterious, dark, and handsome man lives not only with a scar to his beautiful face, but deeper, emotional scars and a deep secret. Upon seeing the gold chalice he realizes this may be part of the legendary treasure his brother Royce spoke of, wrote about, and searched for his entire life before his death in the Crusades and where the journal regarding the legend and location of the treasure disappeared. When Faye realizes she will give up the chalice and not immediately receive Angeline in the exchange, she becomes enraged and strikes out at Brant. In the struggle she falls and is knocked unconscious. In a raging storm Brant takes Faye to his room at the local inn so that he can treat her wounds. There Brant and Faye struggle emotionally with their personal secrets and growing desire for each other.

Faye realizes she must protect the whereabouts of the Arthurian treasure while at the same time see to the safe return of Angeline. When Faye escapes the following morning, stealing back her treasure, Brant follows her to Caldstowe Keep. It is there that the real mystery begins with questions and suspicions arising regarding the circumstances of Angeline's disappearance, Torr's evil plots and secrets, and Elayne's death. Added to the mystery and intrigue are the possible connection of these events to Brant's deepest struggle, the murder of his brother Royce and the disappearance of Royce's journal. Brant desires to find the treasure that his brother searched for his entire life, as a form of personal retribution, while Faye wants Angeline safely returned. They decide to work together to unravel the mysteries. These searches bring Brant and Faye closer together and while their attraction grows, Brant struggles with his desire for Faye, feeling dishonorable, while Faye struggles with her desire for Brant, knowing he is somehow involved in Angeline's kidnapping. Their desire continues to build to an intense moment of passion while the many secrets and mysteries at Caldstowe Keep unravel. Soon they find themselves in an intense struggle to save their lives. In the exciting conclusion mysteries are solved and longtime secrets are revealed.

My Lady's Treasure blends the beauty and pageantry of the medieval period together with Arthurian legend and mystery to form an intense and sensual romance. It is masterfully written and researched with characters of depth. Another beautiful book outside as well as in, as Catherine Kean's books are noted for their beautiful medieval Celtic covers. Another 5 Star medieval romance to add to your collection!

MY LADY'S TREASURE by Catherine Kean
August 12, 2007

Amazon rating 4/5

"My Lady's Treasure, taking place in 1100s England, is one of the best historical romances I've read in quite a while. Lady Faye Rivellaux, a recent widow, had been a good friend of Lady Elayne. On her deathbed, Elayne asked Faye to take care of her young daughter Angeline.

Unfortunately Angeline has gone missing, and Brant Meslarches demands a fee for her return. All Faye has is a gold chalice. Brant is shocked to see it, believing that it belonged to the legendary King Arthur, for whose treasures Brant's own brother once searched. Upset about Angelina's disappearance, Faye will do anything to get her back. But Elayne's widower Torr does not seem disturbed by his daughter's absence and Faye notices other oddities. Brant knows that Torr is involved with the kidnapping and tries to warn Faye. As the two search for Angelina with Torr and his men in pursuit, they fall in love." -- complete review found at BOOKLOONS. M. Lofton

Fast paced and the language in the book felt true to the time period (medieval), I enjoyed this historical romance by Catherine Kean. Fans of historical romances will not be disappointed in this tale of lost treasures and romance.

This story is set in England and begins in early December, 1192. Lady Faye Rivellaux is an impoverished widow. She resides in Caldstone Keep. One of her dearest friends, Elayne, was the wife of Lord Torr Lorvais. Elayne is now deceased; however, before Elayne died, Faye was her companion. Faye would often go with Elayne and little Angeline (Elayne's daughter) to the river for picnics. It was during the last picnic together that Angeline found the slightly dented golden chalice in some mud and rocks. The goblet became a secret of the trio.

Though Elayne is now deceased, Faye cares for eighteen month old Angeline as if the child were her own. Angeline is kidnapped and a ransom for silver is sent to Faye, along with a warning to tell no one of the demand. Faye meets a man at the arranged destination and offers the gold goblet instead of silver.

Sir Brant Meslarches does not care for Lord Torr Lorvais. Yet due to the last words uttered from his older brother, Royce, Brant must comply to Lord Lorvais's demands. Brant had been assured Faye would not have the ransom. Lorvais's orders were to scare Faye and leave. So Brant is shocked when Faye offers a gold goblet! It looks to be part of King Arthur's legendary treasure.

Faye does not trust Brant to not disappear with the goblet and never return Angeline. Faye does not believe Brant when he confesses that he has no idea who Angelina even is. At the same time, Brant desperately wants to locate the rest of the treasure that Royce had been positive existed. The two must team up, even though there is very little trust between them, in hopes of locating the untold riches, rescuing the little girl, and foiling the plans of an insane overlord.

***** An excellent tale which surrounds one of my favorite legends and set within the days of yore. The descriptions of events, such as the fateful picnic, were so realistic that I could almost feel the chill from the wind on my face. I consider this story to be MY treasure and it will go directly to my Keeper Shelf. Filled with drama, betrayals, romance, suspense, and mystery, this adventure will remain in your mind long after you finish reading the last page. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

During the winter of 1192 in England, Lady Faye Rivellaux and her friend, Elayne Lorvais, married to Lord Torr Lorvais, and their eighteen month old daughter Angeline, often enjoyed picnics by the river. On an idyllic day, little Angeline discovers a valuable chalice buried beneath some mud and rocks. Recognizing its immense value, aye and Elayne keep the discovery a secret.

Elayne falls ill and on her deathbed, she extracts a promise from Faye to protect and care for little Angeline as if the child were her own. Faye takes this promise to heart and becomes a loving, substitute mother to the small child.

Then one day, Angeline is mysteriously kidnapped. Faye receives a demand for a large ransom of silver and is told of a location to make the exchange. An impoverished widow who survives on the charity of Lord Lorvais, Faye does not have the silver to pay the ransom, but she is in possession of the golden chalice and will gladly relinquish it to save Angeline. Dedicated to fulfilling her promise to her friend, Faye sets out to meet an unknown man at an arranged destination.

Sir Brant Meslarches' past is inextricably tied to that of Lord Torr Lorvais, and he harbours a deep dislike for the man. Because of a dying request by Brant's brother, Royce, Brant is compelled to obey Lorvais' demands and recognize him as overlord. But it is Lorvais who orchestrated the kidnapping of his own daughter in order to win the affections of fair Faye. Lorvais knows Faye does not have the silver to pay for the ransom, so he orders Brant to only scare her. When Faye offers Brant the golden chalice, he is shocked. How did she acquire it? Rant believes it is part of King Arthur's lost treasure that his brother Royce spent his life searching for.

This wonderfully rich medieval tale encompasses a little mystery, an abundance of love, an insidious sprinkling of evil, and enough adventure to keep the reader reading throughout the gripping climax to the very end.

Catherine Kean writes a rich medieval prose that draws you into this masterfully weaved tale. The novel's flowing prose allows the reader to immerse themselves completely in the story. The plot is uncomplicated with not too many characters. It is an enjoyable read with a gripping climax that held my attention long into the night until I reached the very satisfying ending.

A Knight's Reward (Knight's series)Dance of DesireA Knight's Vengeance (Knight's series)

Brant Meslarches is sent to collect a ransom from Faye Rivellaux for the kidnapped baby, Angeline. Instead of the silver the kidnappers demanded, Faye offers a golden chalice. Brant is shocked to discover that the treasure his deceased brother Royce desired actually exists. When Brant and Faye discover that all is not as it seems regarding Angeline's disappearance, they team up to find the little girl and the rest of the hidden treasure. Brant and Faye have secrets, but Torr Lorvais, Angeline's father, is hiding deadly ones.

My Lady's Treasure is a romantic story laced with lies and danger. Brant and Faye are wonderful characters and they make a good match. In My Lady's Treasure, the excitement and mystery builds until the very end.

Nannette reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Lady Faye promised her best friend on her deathbed that she would always protect her little girl. When the child is kidnapped, Faye would do anything to rescue young Angeline from her dastardly kidnappers, but she is a woman without means of her own. Her only hope is the gold chalice she has hidden away.

When Brant lays eyes on the legendary chalice, he knows it must be a part of the treasure that once belonged to King Arthur! While the gold cup is certainly worth plenty on its own, there must be much more secreted away where the chalice was buried. Determined to find the remaining treasure, he strikes an uneasy bargain with Lady Faye - he will help her rescue the child she holds dear if she in turn leads him to King Arthur's not-so-mythical hoard.

But Brant and Faye have both been betrayed by the same person - one who would sooner see them all destroyed than let the famed treasure out of his clutches...

My Lady's Treasure is a pleasant read, with competent writing and an enjoyable story. Author Catherine Kean did a commendable job fleshing out the main characters very well, although I found the supporting characters to be somewhat two dimensional.

In addition, I found the plot to be somewhat predictable, with no real surprises to keep me hanging on the edge of my seat. I was able to discern very early on who the villain of the piece was, as well as the most likely reason for that villain's actions. When the big reveal finally came at the end of the story, I was right in all of my suspicions.

Faye was a likable heroine, although fairly oblivious in the most stereotypical way. She seemed to not see the flaws in those around her. While she was written as a fairly strong female in some ways, her naiveté concerning the motivations and true character of others cast her squarely in the role of the damsel in distress.

Although a seasoned warrior, Brant was just as naïve as Faye in many ways. Although he recognized the villain's duplicitous nature, he is still easily duped by the scoundrel time and again.

While I found My Lady's Treasure to be somewhat banal, I will say that Kean was able to spin the tale with skill, engaging me in the story even though I knew what would happen. I would categorize this story as good, and I will make note of Catherine Kean as an author to revisit in the future.

Lady Faye Rivellaux made a death bed promise to her friend Elayne that she would watch over her daughter Angeline. It's a vow Faye's taken to heart and loves the child as if she were own. Her determination to care for Angeline is put to the test when the eighteen-month-old child is kidnapped and Faye is forced to pay a ransom she can ill afford or face losing the child of her heart forever.

Brant Meslarches has been sent to retrieve the ransom from Lady Faye. He's aware of her financial circumstances and the fact that there's no way she could possibly meet the demands for Angeline's return. The last thing he expects is for her to offer him a gold cup in exchange for Angeline. Not only is it worth a fortune, it's evidence that the lost fortune of King Arthur does exist - just as Royce, his murdered brother, believed.

Faye is devastated over Angeline's disappearance and would give anything to get her back. She arrives at the designated place with the intent of exchanging a gold chalice for the little girl but the man who greets her doesn't have Angeline. He seems far more interested in finding out more about the cup and where she found it than he does in seeing that the little girl is returned to her. In fact he believes he should take the cup and leave her with naught but his word that she'll be informed of the kidnapper's decision as to whether or not Angeline will be returned. During the ensuing argument and scuffle, Faye falls and is knocked unconscious. Brant knows he can't leave her hurt and alone and so he takes her back to the inn where he's staying and cares for her throughout the night - or at least until the following morning when Faye steals the chalice back and flees. Brant has no reason to chase after her. He knows exactly where to find her. Who would kidnap an eighteen-month-old child and why? What part does Angeline's father play in the kidnapping? Brant and Faye are both unwitting pawns in a game neither of them have any interest in playing but they'll rise to the occasion and find that some things are for more valuable than gold - like the passion that broils between them.

Catherine Kean's MY LADY'S TREASURE is one book historical romance fans are sure to love. This storyline is captivating from the very beginning and contains as much of a playful overtone as it does a serious one. I found it extremely easy to identify with Faye's emotional devastation and worry over Angeline's kidnapping. Brant won me over with his playful attitude toward Faye despite the seriousness of the situation. I loved how they interact with each other and the sexual undertone that is present in each of their confrontations. Ms. Kean's books leave readers with a good feeling about what they've read and looking forward to each of her new releases.

Ms. Kean's next release A KNIGHT'S REWARD isn't due to be released until April 2008 but I just read the blurb on her website and it sounds like another book to add to my "buy as soon as it's available list."

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

Well written, but boring and predictable from the very beginning. The first couple chapters gave away the entire book for me.