Part of Series
Sexual tension and chivalry make a compelling combination with daring exploits and devout prayer in Claudia Dain's delightful medieval romance. As an orphaned heiress of marriageable age, Isabel of Dornei knew that safety lay in a swift wedding. But, instead of seeking out the man to whom she'd been promised, upon her father's death she rode to the nearby abbey in search of Richard, the one man she trusted above all others—handsome, chivalrous Richard, who sought his own redemption in the monastery, even as rebellious Isabel prayed to be free of her betrothal to a man she did not love. Richard had been the most promising squire at the estate where she'd been fostered. And though she was his brother's promised bride, they'd soon become inseparable friends. Before she'd left for home, they'd shared a single, forbidden kiss that had ever since fueled all of Isabel's hopes and prayers. Surely a man capable of such a kiss, who was also renowned for his skill at arms, was not truly meant to be a monk. On this, it seemed, both heavenly and temporal powers agreed, for Isabel's arrival at the abbey was quickly followed by the news that both of Richard's brothers were dead—and Richard had been commanded to fulfill the pact between their families and make Isabel his wife. The wedding was quickly arranged—but it would take more than prayers, and soul searching, and passionate memories to forge a true marriage between this beautiful maiden and her unwilling lord.
Author
It was while writing a descriptive essay in seventh grade English (that was the assignment, to write a 'descriptive essay') that Claudia first fell in love. With descriptive essays. Boys being what they are in seventh grade, there was hardly much choice. By her ninth grade year, Claudia was spending hours each week in her bedroom writing descriptive essays that heavily featured older boys (eleventh grade). She also practiced her kissing technique on a pole lamp next to her bed. It was less than satisfactory, but the writing was fun. She attended the University of Southern California as an English major. She'd mastered kissing by this time and writing, strangely enough, was still fun. 'Strangely' because while it had become obvious to her that almost everyone enjoyed kissing, it was equally obvious that very few people enjoyed writing. This was as peculiar to her as, well, not enjoying kissing. Clearly, something had to be done. The idea of combining kissing and writing seemed the obvious course of action. While Claudia does not claim to have invented the romance novel, she certainly has a lot of fun describing kisses and inventing men to bestow them upon. And not a one of her heroes looks remotely like a pole lamp. (And don't act like one either.) Claudia was first published in 2000, is a two-time Rita finalist, and a USA Today Bestselling author. Which just goes to prove that you can make a career out of kissing and writing about it.
