|
Lady Leonie of Montwyn was sent away by her father shortly after her mother’s death. Her home is Pershwick, one of her mother’s holdings, that has been passed on to her. She’s not free of her father, in fact, harassed by her him and his new bride; all her hard work and rents would go to her father, a man she hasn’t seen in six years. Leonie’s only fault? She so resembles her beautiful deceased mother, that she was banished by her father. However, things are not all as they seem.
Rolfe d’Ambert, the mercenary Lord of Kempston, also the hated “Black Wolf”, is said to be cruel. Believing he's done the unthinkable towards a childhood friend, who has fled England, Leonie curses the man she’s never seen. Her people, of Pershwick, in their unfailing loyalty towards her, begin to create problems for Rolfe. Rolfe decides that he must wed Lady Leonie in order to get control of her keep, Pershwick, just one of many that he’s taking control over.
So, a marriage begins based on revenge – and gossip, along with a situation that creates strife and jealousy between the newly wed couple from the very beginning. Believing that Lady Leonie denied him outright, Rolfe appeals to King Henry to force Leonie to wed him. Other forces are in place, however, and it takes a long time for either Rolfe or Leonie to realize why so many obstacles are in there.
Led to believe Leonie hideously disfigured, Rolfe decides that he’ll wed her and bed her, but then they’d lead separate lives, yet he’ll have true possession of her home, Pershwick. Time quickly reveals, however, how wrong the rumors of Leonie were, and Rolfe finds that he has a beautiful wife. Yet, things are grossly wrong in Rolfe’s household, and he doesn’t set matters right. This gives Leonie no cause to trust her husband, but especially not to give her his heart.
Rolfe is enamored by his wife. Though time after time, they enjoy their sexual union, but Leonie keeps pulling back, keeps fighting him. Rolfe wants Leonie’s heart, but the deceit that began in their marriage continues until there is almost a point that it seems that these two might never find happiness.
WHEN LOVE AWAITS is thoroughly captivating. I found myself so caught up in the story that hours had passed and I sped through this book like no other. There are many layers to this tale, and I think that leads to the reason that it was so difficult to put down. Leonie’s strength is one of those factors. Her history with her father, Rolfe’s apparent attachment to his previous paramour, and other problems, don’t break her, but make her stronger. There is also an element of intrigue in this story, one that leads to danger for Leonie.
This book had me nearly screaming NO when I reached its end. When the love they shared became so apparent, so powerful, I felt as if I needed another hundred pages, just to revel in a love so beautiful. This reprint of Johanna Lindsey’s is a good indication as to why she’s a NY Times bestselling author. Written in the twelfth century, with vivid characters, powerful descriptions, and the web of lies that nearly destroyed something destined to be a beautiful, encompassing love, make WHEN LOVE AWAITS a fantastic story, one that is going to be remembered by me for a long while.
Reviewer's note: Mass Market Paperback release, January 2004. Originally release date, 1986.
Reviewed by Robin Taylor
for The Road to Romance
August 27, 2004
|
