A Twilight Clear [Mass Market Paperback]

Linda Cook (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

Gideon de Macon returns home to his raven-haired wife after three years fighting for King Henry Plantagenet. But Gideon comes bearing a burden: Henry's pregnant mistress whom he must keep hidden from Welsh spies. Desperate to keep his beloved wife and daughter safe, Gideon must conceal the truth about the woman, even if it costs him the love and trust of the wife he yearns for.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

When William de Macon returns home, scarred and weary of fighting for Henry Plantagenet, he brings with him a dangerous secret he thinks he can never share with his wife. But Catherine has secrets of her own and a promise to keep, which leads her into the woods, where she discovers to her dismay what William has been hiding. A strong, pragmatic heroine and a loyal, brave hero; a plethora of secondary characters, real and fictional; and an abundance of rich historical detail combine to create a fascinating, complex tale. This work will be especially appealing to fans of medieval romance, who will appreciate the strong sense of time and place (the novel is set in central England in 1164); good characterizations, especially of the women (Catherine, Dame Alflega, and the king's beautiful mistress); and a Yuletide emphasis that is muted but integral to the story. The author of several other historicals, Cook (Silver Wind) lives in Toronto.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

After marrying Catherine of Lundale, the daughter of a failed rebel, William de Macon left his new wife to go fight for Henry Plantagenet. Now William is finally returning home for the winter to Catherine and his young daughter, but he brings with him a secret. Traveling with William is one of the king's paramours, who is with child. William must not only keep the woman safe from the king's enemies, but also hidden from his own wife. Old customs mingle with new yuletide traditions in this superbly crafted medieval romance. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zebra Books; Regular Print/Single Titl edition (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821773437
• ISBN-13: 978-0821773437
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,126,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sleeper Romance, August 31, 2003

By 

Tara A. Green (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Twilight Clear (Mass Market Paperback)

Set in Nottingham, England in 1164, this tale picks up after three years have passed since Willian and his wife, Catherine have wed. William de Macon, battle-scarred and tired, is finally returning home to his wife and daughter, who he hardly knows. However he brings with him a secret he must keep from his wife. In tow is the King, Henry Platnagenet's, pregnant mistress. In order to protect her, he sets the mistress up close to where his wife lives so he might protect her through the winter from Welsh spies. As he conceals the woman's identity from his wife Catherine de Macon and in doing so casts doubt on whether the woman is his own mistress.
While I enjoyed Linda Cook's writing style rich in historical detail with good secondary characters, both real and fictional, it left gaps in time and development. William and Catherine share a daughter together yet hardly know each other. Budding passion developed over their first initial weeks together, but three years later they are virtually strangers. William is a worn-down warrior, scarred and limping, his glory days seem past.

The joy of seeing William as a doting father, and also as a fiercely protective loving husband still makes this a hero worth reading about. Catherine, a strong and devoted wife, also helps hold this story together. Though lacking in action and punch, this is still a good read with a definite uniqueness in its presentation.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Match Well Made, January 15, 2003

By 

Regina Pounds "novelist" (Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Twilight Clear (Mass Market Paperback)

William, a war-weary soldier, returns home to a wife he hardly knows but of whom he dreamt throughout the years he spent in service to his King. Meeting his little daughter and his loyal wife, William finds himself enchanted and enamoured of both. His longing for a life in peace, however, cannot be fulfilled before his secret duty to his King comes to a sucessful end. Without his resolute wife's trust and help, William cannot win his place at home. Can he secure his place in her heart?

Ms. Cook's firm knowledge of her era (the 12th century) makes this story as enjoyable as her earlier works. A Twilight Clear is a satisfying tale for those who particularly like to follow the development of a tender relationship in marriage. The hero and heroine's feelings for one another are firmly in focus here.

4.0 out of 5 stars great,but more Historical Fiction......., August 17, 2008

By 

retroredux - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Twilight Clear (Mass Market Paperback)

than Romance. This well written Medieval tells the realistic story of a couple who married two years before. The marriage is more of an advantageous arrangement to restore the estate that the heroine's family lost but has been given to the hero, Willian, a Knight, from King Henry as a reward for valor. Henry then sends the hero on a secretive mission which may cost William his marriage.

This story is very detailed to the time period and both the hero and heroine are good, decent people put into an untenable circumstance by the King. The romance is more love story than passion-in fact the book has almost NO love scenes. But in the case of this book, the story itself is good enough to carry the book-a nice change of pace from the "mostly raunch" bodice rippers that have zero storyline. Readers of clean romance as well as Historical Fiction should enjoy this book. Extra points for the lovely cover as well.

4 stars.