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Jewels of Tomorrow #1
Diana By The Moon
He is Arthur's man. His duty is his life. She fears and mistrusts him. The only way they will survive is to work together.
Britain, 469 A.D.: Shortly after the Roman legions returned to Rome, leaving Britain open to Saxon attacks, Diana's abusive parents die during a Saxon raid on their villa farm, the same day her brother takes most of the male slaves and servants to join the rebel Celt, Arthur.
Diana, who no longer trusts anyone, must find a way for the women in her household to survive after the enemy has stolen everything. They struggle to eke out a living from the meager provisions remaining.
Alaric, proud Celtic warrior and trusted lieutenant to the upstart British leader, Arthur, has been sent by him to establish and maintain a line of signal beacons -- one of which must be built on a strategic hill on Diana's property.
His mission is critical to the security of Britain. Alaric must overcome his hatred of Romans if he is to fulfill Arthur's ambitions in the north. He forces Diana to agree in return for the protection of Alaric and his men. Diana is pulled into a deadly political net, when Roman British enemies, including the Bishop of Eboracum, take exception to her new Celtic allies.
A haunting tale of two lives touched by the coming of King Arthur, and two hearts and souls struggling to come together against odds as great as those against Britain itself. Only together will they survive, or else be sundered...forever.
Diana by the Moon is part of the Jewels of Tomorrow series.
Britain, 469 A.D.: Shortly after the Roman legions returned to Rome, leaving Britain open to Saxon attacks, Diana's abusive parents die during a Saxon raid on their villa farm, the same day her brother takes most of the male slaves and servants to join the rebel Celt, Arthur.
Diana, who no longer trusts anyone, must find a way for the women in her household to survive after the enemy has stolen everything. They struggle to eke out a living from the meager provisions remaining.
Alaric, proud Celtic warrior and trusted lieutenant to the upstart British leader, Arthur, has been sent by him to establish and maintain a line of signal beacons -- one of which must be built on a strategic hill on Diana's property.
His mission is critical to the security of Britain. Alaric must overcome his hatred of Romans if he is to fulfill Arthur's ambitions in the north. He forces Diana to agree in return for the protection of Alaric and his men. Diana is pulled into a deadly political net, when Roman British enemies, including the Bishop of Eboracum, take exception to her new Celtic allies.
A haunting tale of two lives touched by the coming of King Arthur, and two hearts and souls struggling to come together against odds as great as those against Britain itself. Only together will they survive, or else be sundered...forever.
Diana by the Moon is part of the Jewels of Tomorrow series.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2000
6 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Cooper-Posey
209 books976 followersTracy Cooper-Posey is an Amazon #1 Best Selling Author. She writes romantic suspense, paranormal, urban fantasy, futuristic and science fiction romances. She has published over 100 novels since 1999, been nominated for five CAPAs including Favourite Author, and won the Emma Darcy Award.
She turned to indie publishing in 2011. Her indie titles have been nominated four times for Book Of The Year and Byzantine Heartbreak was a 2012 winner. Faring Soul won a SFR Galaxy Award in 2016 for “Most Intriguing Philosophical/Social Science Questions in Galaxybuilding” She has been a national magazine editor and for a decade she taught romance writing at MacEwan University.
She is addicted to Irish Breakfast tea and chocolate, sometimes taken together. In her spare time she enjoys history, Sherlock Holmes, science fiction and ignoring her treadmill. An Australian Canadian, she lives in Edmonton, Canada with her husband, a former professional wrestler, where she moved in 1996 after meeting him on-line.
She turned to indie publishing in 2011. Her indie titles have been nominated four times for Book Of The Year and Byzantine Heartbreak was a 2012 winner. Faring Soul won a SFR Galaxy Award in 2016 for “Most Intriguing Philosophical/Social Science Questions in Galaxybuilding” She has been a national magazine editor and for a decade she taught romance writing at MacEwan University.
She is addicted to Irish Breakfast tea and chocolate, sometimes taken together. In her spare time she enjoys history, Sherlock Holmes, science fiction and ignoring her treadmill. An Australian Canadian, she lives in Edmonton, Canada with her husband, a former professional wrestler, where she moved in 1996 after meeting him on-line.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 11, 2021
It was okay . It kinda dragged some places. As for diane, she got on my nerves sometimes. The one sad death at the end wasn't necessary. Again just an okay read.
August 21, 2023
I received this epic read way back when from the Author when i joined her email list. The characters are all well rounded and literally step off the pages. It’s not like your usual “Historical Romance”. This one has the brutal realities of that time period and Diana’s intelligence and strength combined with Alaric’s loyalties blew me away. The ending was bittersweet but nonetheless Absolutely Enthralling. I’m gladly volunteering to give this review
February 22, 2014
Book Info
ebook, 0 pages
Published April 8th 2010 by Cerridwen Press (first published August 1st 2000)
ISBN 141992379X (ISBN13: 9781419923791)
URL
other editions (3)
Source:Ecopy from author
Book Buy Links
AMAZON
B&N
He is Arthur's man. His duty is his life. She fears and mistrusts him. The only way they will survive is to work together.
Britain, 469 A.D.: Shortly after the Roman legions returned to Rome, leaving Britain open to Saxon attacks, Diana's abusive parents die during a Saxon raid on their villa farm, the same day her brother takes most of the male slaves and servants to join the rebel Celt, Arthur.
Diana, who no longer trusts anyone, must find a way for the women in her household to survive after the enemy has stolen everything. They struggle to eke out a living from the meager provisions remaining.
Alaric, proud Celtic warrior and trusted lieutenant to the upstart British leader, Arthur, has been sent by him to establish and maintain a line of signal beacons -- one of which must be built on a strategic hill on Diana's property.
His mission is critical to the security of Britain. Alaric must overcome his hatred of Romans if he is to fulfill Arthur's ambitions in the north. He forces Diana to agree in return for the protection of Alaric and his men. Diana is pulled into a deadly political net, when Roman British enemies, including the Bishop of Eboracum, take exception to her new Celtic allies.
A haunting tale of two lives touched by the coming of King Arthur, and two hearts and souls struggling to come together against odds as great as those against Britain itself. Only together will they survive, or else be sundered...forever.
Diana by the Moon is part of the Jewels of Tomorrow series
Reader Advisory: This book contains references to rape in war.
Publisher’s Note: This book was previously published elsewhere.
In the times after the Roman legions withdrew from Britain the invasions of Saxon hordes caused the loss of life of many. Diana and the inhabitants of her families villa are some of the casualties of war. Even though she and other womenfolk survived the consequences of losing the menfolk whose labour provided for their families means privation and hardships heretofore unknown.
Diana herself lost her parents, older sister and brother-in-law during a Saxon raid and this thrusts a once shy retiring young woman into the role of head of house and responsible for the welfare of all those who were left alive by the raiders. Having taken on the task of providing for those in her care Diana has finally found the purpose for her life that she thought had passed her by, however by Roman law an unmarried female cannot possess nor manage property and this becomes a dilemma in her future.
Alaric is first and foremost a soldier, so when he finds himself having to negotiate a way which is acceptable to both Diana and himself that allows him to carry out his mission he is at first angered. However as time goes on and he becomes aware of the dire straits that Diana and her people face from lack of provisions to carry them through the winter his attitude changes and he enlists his men to add their labors to helping ease the burden as well as fortify the villas defenses.
Over time the daily interactions of Alaric and Diana draw them closer, their alliance becomes even more pressing when a mutual enemy tries to force Diana into an unlikely marriage. Their story is one of sacrifice, courage, loyalty and ultimately a love that erases boundaries of culture and upbringing providing hope for a better future for themselves and those who followed in their footsteps.
Like other well researched historical romances this one relies heavily on events that are common to the time period and add flavor as well as realism to the story constructed around it’s characters. My favorite legends are those of King Arthur so this was a great addition to showcase the man’s ability to inspire loyalty as well as his grand vision to unite the peoples of Britain.
A sweeping saga that combines bits of the legend of King Arthur and a love affair that heralds a new regime for the people of opposing cultures. Filled with suspense as well as darker subject matters this tale rings true and was a pleasure to read from start to finish!
ebook, 0 pages
Published April 8th 2010 by Cerridwen Press (first published August 1st 2000)
ISBN 141992379X (ISBN13: 9781419923791)
URL
other editions (3)
Source:Ecopy from author
Book Buy Links
AMAZON
B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS
He is Arthur's man. His duty is his life. She fears and mistrusts him. The only way they will survive is to work together.
Britain, 469 A.D.: Shortly after the Roman legions returned to Rome, leaving Britain open to Saxon attacks, Diana's abusive parents die during a Saxon raid on their villa farm, the same day her brother takes most of the male slaves and servants to join the rebel Celt, Arthur.
Diana, who no longer trusts anyone, must find a way for the women in her household to survive after the enemy has stolen everything. They struggle to eke out a living from the meager provisions remaining.
Alaric, proud Celtic warrior and trusted lieutenant to the upstart British leader, Arthur, has been sent by him to establish and maintain a line of signal beacons -- one of which must be built on a strategic hill on Diana's property.
His mission is critical to the security of Britain. Alaric must overcome his hatred of Romans if he is to fulfill Arthur's ambitions in the north. He forces Diana to agree in return for the protection of Alaric and his men. Diana is pulled into a deadly political net, when Roman British enemies, including the Bishop of Eboracum, take exception to her new Celtic allies.
A haunting tale of two lives touched by the coming of King Arthur, and two hearts and souls struggling to come together against odds as great as those against Britain itself. Only together will they survive, or else be sundered...forever.
Diana by the Moon is part of the Jewels of Tomorrow series
Reader Advisory: This book contains references to rape in war.
Publisher’s Note: This book was previously published elsewhere.
My Thoughts
In the times after the Roman legions withdrew from Britain the invasions of Saxon hordes caused the loss of life of many. Diana and the inhabitants of her families villa are some of the casualties of war. Even though she and other womenfolk survived the consequences of losing the menfolk whose labour provided for their families means privation and hardships heretofore unknown.
Diana herself lost her parents, older sister and brother-in-law during a Saxon raid and this thrusts a once shy retiring young woman into the role of head of house and responsible for the welfare of all those who were left alive by the raiders. Having taken on the task of providing for those in her care Diana has finally found the purpose for her life that she thought had passed her by, however by Roman law an unmarried female cannot possess nor manage property and this becomes a dilemma in her future.
Alaric is first and foremost a soldier, so when he finds himself having to negotiate a way which is acceptable to both Diana and himself that allows him to carry out his mission he is at first angered. However as time goes on and he becomes aware of the dire straits that Diana and her people face from lack of provisions to carry them through the winter his attitude changes and he enlists his men to add their labors to helping ease the burden as well as fortify the villas defenses.
Over time the daily interactions of Alaric and Diana draw them closer, their alliance becomes even more pressing when a mutual enemy tries to force Diana into an unlikely marriage. Their story is one of sacrifice, courage, loyalty and ultimately a love that erases boundaries of culture and upbringing providing hope for a better future for themselves and those who followed in their footsteps.
Like other well researched historical romances this one relies heavily on events that are common to the time period and add flavor as well as realism to the story constructed around it’s characters. My favorite legends are those of King Arthur so this was a great addition to showcase the man’s ability to inspire loyalty as well as his grand vision to unite the peoples of Britain.
A sweeping saga that combines bits of the legend of King Arthur and a love affair that heralds a new regime for the people of opposing cultures. Filled with suspense as well as darker subject matters this tale rings true and was a pleasure to read from start to finish!
[Ecopy from author in exchange for honest review]
February 17, 2018
Lady writes a good story
It's been a while since I've read a book that was exciting and great to read from beginning to end.
It's been a while since I've read a book that was exciting and great to read from beginning to end.
Read
August 12, 2022Finished Reading August 2, 2014
I don't remember enough about this story to rate it.
I'd have to do a reread & I don't do rereads any longer.
Purchased from Amazon August 2, 2014
I don't remember enough about this story to rate it.
I'd have to do a reread & I don't do rereads any longer.
Purchased from Amazon August 2, 2014
March 5, 2025
Slow moving and wasn't able to get into it.
January 2, 2014
Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews
Get ready for a detailed, emotional story about love, loss and triumph. Diana by the Moon is a roller coaster of a story that embraces a more realistic feel for the time period in which it takes place.
The Romans have long since abandoned Britain and those who have remained loyal to the empire have no patience for the young British leader named Arthur, or his ideas for uniting Romans, Celts, free men and slaves against the Saxons.
In a matter of hours, young Diana's world is shattered. Her oldest brother has left her with their abusive parents to fight for Arthur's cause, taking with him most of the men in her village. On the very night he leaves, Saxons invade, her parents die and her innocence is ripped away from her. A year later she is struggling to keep the survivors of that night alive on the little they managed to save. The last thing she needs is Celtic warrior Alaric on her doorstep with a mission from Arthur. Alaric needs the hill on Diana's property to build a signal beacon in order to begin establishing security in Britain. Prejudices and tempers begin to fly when Alaric and his men move into what's left of Diana's home.
Diana by the Moon was for me, a great story of courage, triumph and love. The romance between Alaric and Diana takes a long time to develop but they both had a lot of growing and thinking to do and the problems that were between them were not going to be solved over night. The pacing of the story was moderate, not too slow and not too fast and there was plenty of events, details and character growth to go though and all of it was very interesting.
Author Tracy Cooper-Posey doesn't shy away from darker themes and while the themes of rape, murder and abuse aren't explored in explicit detail, they are still present. Without these themes, readers would have been at a loss for what drove Diana to be so stubborn and unwilling to accept help from Alaric. On a basic level, I understood and applauded Diana for her choices. To say she was hurt badly in the past would be a grave understatement and an injustice because then it would make it sound like she was just stubborn and stupid. She was traumatized after the Saxons raided, raped and murdered people in her home. She felt abandoned and had to push past her timidity to become the best leader she could for the surviving people, most of whom were women.
I admired Diana as a character. She went from being a timid, shy woman resigned to her fate as an unmarried, unwanted daughter of Roman parents to a brave, loyal and stubborn woman who was willing to fight tooth and nail to survive and to keep control of at least one part of her life. I often forgot that Diana was still a young woman because of all the responsibilities she had on her shoulders.
Alaric was a surprise as well. He was a very honest character in his behavior. Neither saint nor the devil, he had his faults and didn't try to hide them. He had a deep rooted sense of honor above every thing else and a need to protect those he perceived as defenseless, which is part of why he and Diana kept butting heads. He was a patient man even though he was in a hurry to complete his mission and he grew to admire and respect the women in Diana's villa.
The romance between Alaric and Diana is virtually non existent in the first half of the book, it takes a while for them to even begin to feel an attraction towards one another but that doesn't mean that Diana by the Moon is a dull read, quite the contrary, I really enjoyed this book. It was a dark and emotional story and the characters really have to fight for their happy ending.
Get ready for a detailed, emotional story about love, loss and triumph. Diana by the Moon is a roller coaster of a story that embraces a more realistic feel for the time period in which it takes place.
The Romans have long since abandoned Britain and those who have remained loyal to the empire have no patience for the young British leader named Arthur, or his ideas for uniting Romans, Celts, free men and slaves against the Saxons.
In a matter of hours, young Diana's world is shattered. Her oldest brother has left her with their abusive parents to fight for Arthur's cause, taking with him most of the men in her village. On the very night he leaves, Saxons invade, her parents die and her innocence is ripped away from her. A year later she is struggling to keep the survivors of that night alive on the little they managed to save. The last thing she needs is Celtic warrior Alaric on her doorstep with a mission from Arthur. Alaric needs the hill on Diana's property to build a signal beacon in order to begin establishing security in Britain. Prejudices and tempers begin to fly when Alaric and his men move into what's left of Diana's home.
Diana by the Moon was for me, a great story of courage, triumph and love. The romance between Alaric and Diana takes a long time to develop but they both had a lot of growing and thinking to do and the problems that were between them were not going to be solved over night. The pacing of the story was moderate, not too slow and not too fast and there was plenty of events, details and character growth to go though and all of it was very interesting.
Author Tracy Cooper-Posey doesn't shy away from darker themes and while the themes of rape, murder and abuse aren't explored in explicit detail, they are still present. Without these themes, readers would have been at a loss for what drove Diana to be so stubborn and unwilling to accept help from Alaric. On a basic level, I understood and applauded Diana for her choices. To say she was hurt badly in the past would be a grave understatement and an injustice because then it would make it sound like she was just stubborn and stupid. She was traumatized after the Saxons raided, raped and murdered people in her home. She felt abandoned and had to push past her timidity to become the best leader she could for the surviving people, most of whom were women.
I admired Diana as a character. She went from being a timid, shy woman resigned to her fate as an unmarried, unwanted daughter of Roman parents to a brave, loyal and stubborn woman who was willing to fight tooth and nail to survive and to keep control of at least one part of her life. I often forgot that Diana was still a young woman because of all the responsibilities she had on her shoulders.
Alaric was a surprise as well. He was a very honest character in his behavior. Neither saint nor the devil, he had his faults and didn't try to hide them. He had a deep rooted sense of honor above every thing else and a need to protect those he perceived as defenseless, which is part of why he and Diana kept butting heads. He was a patient man even though he was in a hurry to complete his mission and he grew to admire and respect the women in Diana's villa.
The romance between Alaric and Diana is virtually non existent in the first half of the book, it takes a while for them to even begin to feel an attraction towards one another but that doesn't mean that Diana by the Moon is a dull read, quite the contrary, I really enjoyed this book. It was a dark and emotional story and the characters really have to fight for their happy ending.
May 2, 2010
I received this book as a review copy from the author and I have to admit I was not sure if I would like it at all. My skepticism is rooted in my prejudices concerning historicals. I'm super critical with those and often only expect the typical clichés. Yeah, I know that this totally wrong and there are good ones out there but that's what I think before I start reading one. I just can't seem to find a positive attitude concerning this genre and yes it makes is even harder for this genre to earn my praise. But enough about me and back to the book at hand.
The story is about Diana, a Roman girl living in Britian around King Arthur's time. Her life was hard to say it nice. Nightmarish horrible would describe it more accurately. The story starts with a big bang, a really bad one. I felt so bad for Diana and her sister Minna and I wasn't sure if I could stand reading more of this story. I know that this time was rather harsh but I'm always not very comfortable reading about war and even worse rape. I'm a wimp and I know it but these are things I just can't stomach. I don't want to say to much just it's not described directly so it was more bearable for me. I really felt for the girls and I wanted a HEA for them.
Alaric is a warrior at heart. He also had a rough past and has his own prejudices to battle. He is send to Diana's property on Arthur's command and he's not very happy about that. He wants to fight for the cause of freeing Britain and unite them. He's headstrong and knows how to give orders but he has to learn to be a little more sensitive around Diana.
The lovestory between this two developed rather slow. I noticed that I really got impatient with this. I wanted them to just accept that they want each other but they both are way too stubborn for that. The whole relationship is rather tame through the whole book and this disappointed me a bit but it could be that I'm just getting greedy smut-wise. I loved the way Tracy handled the whole rape thing. It felt real and I would have hated it if she would have handled it differently.
The plot was okay but I have to say nothing exceptional. It was entertaining the whole time but I think a little twist here and there would have made it so much more. One thing I found rather surprising was that all the characters talked normal. No strange old accent, they just said everything the way people talk today. It's not that I miss that but I was something I expected of a historical or is that me and my prejudices again? I was aso a bit disappointed with the end. I wanted it to be more of a HEA as it was.
All in all I enjoyed Diana by the Moon. It exceeded my expectations and was heart-wrenching from the start till the end. A thoughtful book that really handled this topic adequately.
The story is about Diana, a Roman girl living in Britian around King Arthur's time. Her life was hard to say it nice. Nightmarish horrible would describe it more accurately. The story starts with a big bang, a really bad one. I felt so bad for Diana and her sister Minna and I wasn't sure if I could stand reading more of this story. I know that this time was rather harsh but I'm always not very comfortable reading about war and even worse rape. I'm a wimp and I know it but these are things I just can't stomach. I don't want to say to much just it's not described directly so it was more bearable for me. I really felt for the girls and I wanted a HEA for them.
Alaric is a warrior at heart. He also had a rough past and has his own prejudices to battle. He is send to Diana's property on Arthur's command and he's not very happy about that. He wants to fight for the cause of freeing Britain and unite them. He's headstrong and knows how to give orders but he has to learn to be a little more sensitive around Diana.
The lovestory between this two developed rather slow. I noticed that I really got impatient with this. I wanted them to just accept that they want each other but they both are way too stubborn for that. The whole relationship is rather tame through the whole book and this disappointed me a bit but it could be that I'm just getting greedy smut-wise. I loved the way Tracy handled the whole rape thing. It felt real and I would have hated it if she would have handled it differently.
The plot was okay but I have to say nothing exceptional. It was entertaining the whole time but I think a little twist here and there would have made it so much more. One thing I found rather surprising was that all the characters talked normal. No strange old accent, they just said everything the way people talk today. It's not that I miss that but I was something I expected of a historical or is that me and my prejudices again? I was aso a bit disappointed with the end. I wanted it to be more of a HEA as it was.
All in all I enjoyed Diana by the Moon. It exceeded my expectations and was heart-wrenching from the start till the end. A thoughtful book that really handled this topic adequately.
November 19, 2013
The first book in the Jewels of Tomorrow series is an enthralling romantic suspense that captures the imagination with a fantastic mix of historical and mythological imagery.
Diana is struggling to keep her people alive after the enemy kills her family and steals everything from them which leaves her trusting no one. Alaric is a trusted lieutenant in Arthur’s army who must overcome his hatred of Romans if he is to fulfill Arthur’s ambitions in the north. When he’s needs access to Diana’s strategic hill for Arthur’s plan, he forces her to agree in exchange for protection. Alaric’s mission is critical to the security of Britain and when Roman British enemies pull Diana into a deadly political net, they must work together in order to survive.
The plot flows smoothly at a steady to fast pace and is set shortly after the Roman legions returned to Rome leaving Britain vulnerable to Saxon attacks. The author brings the story to live with vivid imagery and realistic details without overwhelming the reader with too much immaterial historical detail. The characters are strong and compelling and are easily related to. The author conveys the emotional turmoil of the characters with an intensity that invokes the reader’s empathy, making them feel as if they are part of the story.
Alaric is one of those male heroes that sometimes you love and sometimes you just want to hit him upside the head. Diana is a courageous character that overcomes a terrible and traumatic past with an admirable strength. Their romance progresses at believable pace with all the obstacles they must overcome.
From the very beginning, I was caught up in this captivating world created by this spell weaving author and she deserves lots of applause for the giving the reader a historical overview of the time period before the story begins which adds depth and helps set the mood for this haunting and moving tale. I found the story to be very entertaining and I will definitely reading more in this series.
Diana is struggling to keep her people alive after the enemy kills her family and steals everything from them which leaves her trusting no one. Alaric is a trusted lieutenant in Arthur’s army who must overcome his hatred of Romans if he is to fulfill Arthur’s ambitions in the north. When he’s needs access to Diana’s strategic hill for Arthur’s plan, he forces her to agree in exchange for protection. Alaric’s mission is critical to the security of Britain and when Roman British enemies pull Diana into a deadly political net, they must work together in order to survive.
The plot flows smoothly at a steady to fast pace and is set shortly after the Roman legions returned to Rome leaving Britain vulnerable to Saxon attacks. The author brings the story to live with vivid imagery and realistic details without overwhelming the reader with too much immaterial historical detail. The characters are strong and compelling and are easily related to. The author conveys the emotional turmoil of the characters with an intensity that invokes the reader’s empathy, making them feel as if they are part of the story.
Alaric is one of those male heroes that sometimes you love and sometimes you just want to hit him upside the head. Diana is a courageous character that overcomes a terrible and traumatic past with an admirable strength. Their romance progresses at believable pace with all the obstacles they must overcome.
From the very beginning, I was caught up in this captivating world created by this spell weaving author and she deserves lots of applause for the giving the reader a historical overview of the time period before the story begins which adds depth and helps set the mood for this haunting and moving tale. I found the story to be very entertaining and I will definitely reading more in this series.
November 21, 2013
Diana by the Moon takes place in Arthurian England - but it is far from your typical story from this time period. Diana is a young Roman woman left to run her family's estate after a Saxon raid kills the men. She is a very strong character, but the experiences she had during the raid have left her emotionally scarred with a very hard edge to her personality. The other women left behind, as well as her little sister Minna, are doing everything they can to try and run the estate to make food for them to survive.
Alaric is a soldier with the celt, Arthur. Diana hates Arthur - she places part of the blame of the Saxon raid on his shoulders. Alaric is one of the most loyal soldiers Arthur has and everything he does is for Arthur. When he offers Diana protection in exchange for food and shelter he has no idea how slim things are. As they work the estate together they become more and more close, with an uneasy friendship developing between them.
There is a lot of charcter building in the story which I love. Both Diana and Alaric are so very well developed with a depth to them I don't see very often in a romance. There were a few side storylines amongst the other characters to help keep the story interesting at all times as well. This would have gotten five starts but for two things. One is a pet peeve about either of my main characters having sex during the book with someone other than the other leading character. I know that it happened during the time and it was historically accurate, but it's just something I'm not a fan of. This was a great story and I'm so glad I read it.
Alaric is a soldier with the celt, Arthur. Diana hates Arthur - she places part of the blame of the Saxon raid on his shoulders. Alaric is one of the most loyal soldiers Arthur has and everything he does is for Arthur. When he offers Diana protection in exchange for food and shelter he has no idea how slim things are. As they work the estate together they become more and more close, with an uneasy friendship developing between them.
There is a lot of charcter building in the story which I love. Both Diana and Alaric are so very well developed with a depth to them I don't see very often in a romance. There were a few side storylines amongst the other characters to help keep the story interesting at all times as well. This would have gotten five starts but for two things. One is a pet peeve about either of my main characters having sex during the book with someone other than the other leading character. I know that it happened during the time and it was historically accurate, but it's just something I'm not a fan of. This was a great story and I'm so glad I read it.
December 4, 2013
I didn't expect to get sucked into this book like I was. From Diana's first appearance as a cowering young woman chained by the expectations and the disdain of her family to her transformation into a strong woman who stands beside what she believes in, I was hooked. As a Roman woman, she had few rights and fewer prospects. So when she took up the running of her family's estate, she was already bucking the trend. Honestly, though, that wasn't even the beginning of what she was willing to do to protect those who looked to her.
It probably comes as no surprise that I love strong female leads. Diana isn't perfect. She suffers from panic attacks and the bone deep fear that everything she's been able to claw out for her people isn't enough. It's the drive to succeed for them that pushes her into trying new things and listening to those who others dismiss. After her horrific experience at the hands of Saxons, she could easily have crawled into herself (as her sister did) and shut out the world. Instead, she fills her days with planning how to survive another winter and learning everything she can about planting and harvesting.
Alaric has his own set of issues. He's not a fan of Romans and Diana's prickly attitude pushes all his buttons. But he's a fair man and once he begins to understand everything Diana and her family have been through, he steps up and helps out.
The love story is sweeping and sexy, the setting is easy to get lost in, and the characters suck you in like you wouldn't believe. I think I'm going to like traveling through history with this series.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
It probably comes as no surprise that I love strong female leads. Diana isn't perfect. She suffers from panic attacks and the bone deep fear that everything she's been able to claw out for her people isn't enough. It's the drive to succeed for them that pushes her into trying new things and listening to those who others dismiss. After her horrific experience at the hands of Saxons, she could easily have crawled into herself (as her sister did) and shut out the world. Instead, she fills her days with planning how to survive another winter and learning everything she can about planting and harvesting.
Alaric has his own set of issues. He's not a fan of Romans and Diana's prickly attitude pushes all his buttons. But he's a fair man and once he begins to understand everything Diana and her family have been through, he steps up and helps out.
The love story is sweeping and sexy, the setting is easy to get lost in, and the characters suck you in like you wouldn't believe. I think I'm going to like traveling through history with this series.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
December 22, 2013
When two mighty forces collide, chaos ensues.
This is an exciting story filled with intrigue, danger, action, and fiery passions. The war raging on between these two nations is violent and causing turbulent emotions within each nation's citizens, especially hatred. It seems highly unlikely for two people from opposing sides to fall in love, but their is a fine line between love and hate. The imagery and descriptions used in this book were detailed and yet she was able to handle more sensitive issues well without overdoing it. I loved the world building and the raw emotion this book evoked.
The characters were all well done and had tons of personality.
Diana is a fiery woman who dies what needs to be done. She is in a time of uncertainty and trusts no one. However, she does have a softer side which I liked. Diana is a fierce warrior and I really enjoyed getting to know her. She doesn't back down to anyone and her courage knows no bounds.
Alaric is just as fierce and proud. So when these two come together sparks fly. The romance in this story was handled very well and not overdone. I also liked that there was no insta love happening. We got time to see these two get to know one another and slowly, but surly build trust. I loved their interactions which were always passionate and interesting.
This is a book you won't want to put down!
This is an exciting story filled with intrigue, danger, action, and fiery passions. The war raging on between these two nations is violent and causing turbulent emotions within each nation's citizens, especially hatred. It seems highly unlikely for two people from opposing sides to fall in love, but their is a fine line between love and hate. The imagery and descriptions used in this book were detailed and yet she was able to handle more sensitive issues well without overdoing it. I loved the world building and the raw emotion this book evoked.
The characters were all well done and had tons of personality.
Diana is a fiery woman who dies what needs to be done. She is in a time of uncertainty and trusts no one. However, she does have a softer side which I liked. Diana is a fierce warrior and I really enjoyed getting to know her. She doesn't back down to anyone and her courage knows no bounds.
Alaric is just as fierce and proud. So when these two come together sparks fly. The romance in this story was handled very well and not overdone. I also liked that there was no insta love happening. We got time to see these two get to know one another and slowly, but surly build trust. I loved their interactions which were always passionate and interesting.
This is a book you won't want to put down!
February 16, 2016
So Romantic!
I absolutely loved it. It was so detailed for the time period as well as the characters which grip at your heart with both their loves and their struggles with the past. To learn to put some of the past behind them and show trust and allow love to grow is a great thing indeed.
I absolutely loved it. It was so detailed for the time period as well as the characters which grip at your heart with both their loves and their struggles with the past. To learn to put some of the past behind them and show trust and allow love to grow is a great thing indeed.
November 26, 2015
My rating is related to my feelings and does not say anything bad about the writing.
Any book that has rape isn't a like for me. However, the hero shines with his treatment of the heroine and the happy ending kept me from hating this story.
Mature content
Any book that has rape isn't a like for me. However, the hero shines with his treatment of the heroine and the happy ending kept me from hating this story.
Mature content
October 31, 2014
It's not often that I read such well written historical romance. Very well developed characters and storyline. I absolutely loved the writing and intend to read more of this author's books.
September 19, 2014
Excellent love story, war story, Arthur story...
I want more!
I want more!
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