The Darkest Knight

Welles Trilogy #1

by Gayle Callen

Trained as a knight, yet sworn to the monastery, Reynold Welles had always lived by a strict code of honor. Yet the night he rescues beautiful Lady Katherine Berkeley from a treasonous kidnapper and an arranged marriage, he is captivated by the power of her enchanting loveliness. As she trembles within his protective embrace, he knows she is unaware of the fire she has ignited within him--a passion that burns with greater fury each day.

Though he is powerless against her innocent sensuality, Reynold is duty bound to bring the lady to the king, whose life may depend on the secret she holds. Yet when the dark knight discovers that Katherine is to be married, he is torn between doing his duty... or claiming Katherine as his own.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Medieval, Medieval Romance, Amazon, Ebooks

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author Gayle Callen writes historical romances for Avon Books. Her twenty-second novel, The Wrong Bride, was published in November 2015.

Gayle’s novels have won the Holt Medallion, the Laurel Wreath Award, the Booksellers’ Best Award, and finaled in the National Readers Choice Awards. She was a nominee for RT Book Reviews Magazine’s Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She also writes the contemporary romances as Emma Cane.

Gayle resides in central New York with her husband. Now that her three children are grown, she has time to read, sing, and delve too deeply into historical research. A past President of the Central New York Romance Writers, she is also a member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists Inc. Visit her website at http://www.gaylecallen.com

Reviews

[Wee Lassie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just...I just couldn't finsih it.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is so delightfully angsty. For reasons pertaining to his past and family, Reynold enters a monastery where he rescues a betrothed Katherine from a kidnapping. He agrees to take her to the king (and these two keep secrets from each other all the way). Along the way they find love, lust, betrayal (by self, each other and others) and a lot of angst! I liked this book quite a bit, and I felt for the hero and the heroine - desperately yearning for their happy ending. A very emotional roller coaster.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story. Loved it so much.

Thankyou very much for such a
interesting story and lovely happy ending. Hope the next one is about Welles sister. She sounded nice.

[Sherelyn Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Good read for clearing your mind after an intense read. The characters are fascinating and you know it will end well, but how?

[Elaina Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner

I couldn't stop reading. Reynold was so good! Poor Katherine not anymore she is so brave. She overcame her weaknesses.

[Renea L Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good story

I loved reading about the adventure of Katherine and Reynoud. Reynoud is such a reluctant and tormented hero and Katherine is a sad neglected young woman who was brutalized by someone who was someone who was suppose to be trusted and look up to. The plot is very interesting and the characters are not so easy to figure out, I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the authors other books.

[Venetia Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great opening chapters. I love a mysterious and tormented monk and a lady with a secret mission. The initial distrust and secrets kept me intrigued and engaged. 5 star opening. Unfortunately the tension slipped in the latter part of the book. Nice love scenes, interesting political context, good character development, but a few plot elements left unexplained: why was Katherine's mother so cold and nasty? Why did Katherine's betrothed keep away for 5 years? Still, an enjoyable read.

[Charity Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Darkest Knight by Gayle Callen was an Adventure with a Sweet Resolution.


Brother Reynold Welles, the "H", and former Knight with a mission, and Lady Katherine, the "h", proved to be resourceful in there interactions.


My favorite aww quote from this story was from Reynold, "Forget everything but you and me. I will wash your past and your hurts away."

[Jeanie Womack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katgerine's mission

Learning of a plot against her king, Katherine knows she can trust no one but herself to deliver a warning to his Highness.
Despite her best efforts, someone knows what she has learned and will do anything to stop her!

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well so la la

[Mary Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets on both sides

This is a good midevil romance full of deceit, murder and mayhem. Both along comes romance it its mist. Good read.

[Janet Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Times of intrigue

War is coming and many are choosing sides. Two people are caught in the middle trying to survive. Who's side will win?

[sharon sobzak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warrior

The characters in this story are engaging, although repetitive at times. The late 1400s were a turbulent time and family duties might not consider personal preferences.

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical Fantasy Aimed at Women.
An unlikely scenario in this time period but interesting .

[Wendy Dresen]

DNF

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75☆

[Karen Callen]

Enjoyed this historical fiction

Pretty close to realism. Enjoyed this story by an author who shares my family name. Thank you for this book.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book as I hadn't read a book by this author before. I liked how she portrayed Reynold's struggle between his attraction to Katherine and his duty to the church. I also enjoyed the twists in the story and how we are kept guessing who the bad ones are.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is great for an early work in a writer's career. I love Medieval stories, and Callen does a good job with her history, for the most part.

[Maddux · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read. There were a few inconsistencies that bothered me.

[Doris Mahala · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Her Warranty Secret Mission

Book 2 is as exciting as the first!
Wondering if the 2 best friends meet again!
Wonderful characters!
Great world!

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.