Return of the Warrior (Brotherhood of the Sword, Book 2) [Mass Market Paperback]

Kinley MacGregor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 26, 2005

Fearless men, their allegiance is to each other, to the oppressed, and to the secret society known as the Brotherhood of the Sword -- and they must never surrender to the passionate yearnings of their noble hearts.

Fiercely devoted to her people and her land, Queen Adara refuses to let a power-mad usurper steal her crown. But the only way to protect what is hers is to seek out the man she married in childhood.

A proud, tormented warrior, Christian of Acre owes allegiance only to the mysterious Brotherhood -- and has no wish to be king over anyone but himself. Now a bold and beautiful stranger has appeared in his rooms, tempting him with an irresistible seduction and demanding he accompany her back to their kingdoms ... or, at the very least, provide her with an heir to her throne. Though he cannot abandon the brave regal lady to her enemies, Christian dares not give in to his traitorous body's desires. Yet how can he deny the passion that is rightfully his and the ecstasy that awaits him in Adara's kiss?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Plenty of passion can't save this weakly plotted second entry in MacGregor's Brotherhood of the Sword series (after Dark Champion). Queen Adara must find the husband she hasn't seen since they wed as children if she is to save her small kingdom near Byzantium. Unfortunately, Adara's quest reaches an obstacle in Prince Christian himself, who not only has forgotten their marriage but wishes to avoid anything restricting his freedom. Raised in a monastery after the death of his parents and recently released after having spent six years in a squalid prison, Christian wants only to avenge wrongs done to fellow knights who shared his sufferings as a captive of the Saracens. While evidently set during the Crusades, the book has only a perfunctory sense of time and place. The trite, simplistic dialogue ("Fine, Adara. Whenever you decide to grow up and act responsibly, I shall be in our tent") as well as Adara's ability to say good-bye in several anachronistic languages ("Bon voyage. Auf Wiedersehen. Vaarwel. Arrivederci") show that MacGregor, who scored highly with her MacAllister series (Claiming the Highlander, etc.), has really stumbled here.
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Review

"One of the best historical romance series!"
-- Cathy Maxwell --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon; Reprint edition (April 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060565438
• ISBN-13: 978-0060565435
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Touching And Emotional Read!!!, May 22, 2005

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Return of the Warrior (Brotherhood of the Sword, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

So far this read has been my favorite in the "Brotherhood of the Sword" series. Christian of Acre is a wonderful hero who will touch the reader. Adara is a perfect complement to him and their romance is touching to read.

Christian of Acre is known as the Abbott to his fellow breathern. His job...keep those safe that can't do for themselves. He has known love from his parents, and he is also more than familiar with the pain of it's loss. He has put his heart behind many a wall in order to protect it from further pain. He was not counting on a Adara his wife to come and force him to accept all that he is. For doing so could cost him more than he is willing to give. He doesn't want the responsiblites of being King to Adara's Queen and ruling a country he doesn't even call home. But Adara won't take no for an answer. Instead she sets seige to his heart knowing there can only be one outcome. She must win.

Adara has forever kept in her heart the one memory of Christian. She longs to know the love that she knows he can give. Her childhood was fraught with pain and suffering. She has never known the emotion and now that she needs her King by her side she is done waiting for his return. She sets off to look for her long absent husband. She must bring him back in order to end the scheming of one man that has brought so much pain to so many in his quest for a crown that is not his to take. Will Christian accept Adara and all she has to offer, or will this damaged knight walk away from the one person who will love him always?

This book made me laugh, and cry. Adara and Christian are one of my all time favorite romantic couples. Ms. MacGregor (Sherilyn Kenyon) has deftly woven a story that will capture the readers interest from the first page. This is a very sensual but emotional read. These are truly characters that the reader will come to care about and they will stay with them long after the final page has been read.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars engaging medieval romance, April 27, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Return of the Warrior (Brotherhood of the Sword, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

In the Kingdom of Taagaria, Queen Adara worries that the neighboring monarchy Elgedera, ruled by the Regent Selwyn, will force her to acknowledge that his nephew her spouse Prince Christian is dead and she must marry his son Basilli. Desperate she needs her spouse and demand he either come home to rule over both lands, make her pregnant or allow her to divorce him and marry someone else. Adara's cousin Thera agrees to pretend to be her temporarily.

A few months later, a naked Adara meets Christian in England hoping to claim him as hers. Although tempted, he rejects her, but is shocked when she proves they were married as children. She pleads with him that she needs him to secure her country's borders from his uncle and cousin and that his uncle killed Christian's parents and left him for dead in the monastery.

After a few attempts on their lives, Christian concludes he must take Adara home and become king, but not stay or begat a child into this dangerous ugly world. She has the Europe crossing to persuade him that love beautifies the world.

The second Brotherhood historical novel (see A DARK CHAMPION) is an engaging medieval romance starring a strong lead couple and ably supported by a solid secondary cast especially the mysterious Phantom and the Fool. Although the villains fail to live up to their reputation and it is doubtful that so many foreign soldiers could wander England without an alarm being raised, the story line grips the reader as danger accompanies the crossing. Fans will take immense delight with RETURN OF THE WARRIOR and want Phantom's tale soonest.

Harriet Klausner

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NEW HISTORICAL ROMANCE FAN, October 18, 2005

By 

Tonia Davis "AVID READER" (Decatur, Ga United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Return of the Warrior (Brotherhood of the Sword, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

HISTORICAL ROMANCE IS NOT MY USUAL GENRE, BUT I ENJOYED THIS BOOK SO MUCH THAT I AM PLANNING TO READ MORE BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR.