What do you think?
Rate this book
Lady & Knight Chronicles #1
Heart of War
The Hundred Years War rages around Adalira Mortimer's life and country, but she is not what is expected of a Lady; instead of dresses and tea, she dreams about weapons and war.
Bastian Kyros is not typical royalty. Being a warrior is in his blood, not paperwork and peace-keeping.
Tradition drives their families. She is expected to don her manners and win a worthy husband, and he is expected to drop his sword and do what's right for the sake of his family's name, land, and future.
Their chance meeting at the party of the season may offer them both the chance to find what they desire. Brought together by their longing for battle, their greatest fight may be in winning over their families and conquering their own pride.
A lull in battle does not mean there is peace. The greatest of wars are fought in the heart.
Bastian Kyros is not typical royalty. Being a warrior is in his blood, not paperwork and peace-keeping.
Tradition drives their families. She is expected to don her manners and win a worthy husband, and he is expected to drop his sword and do what's right for the sake of his family's name, land, and future.
Their chance meeting at the party of the season may offer them both the chance to find what they desire. Brought together by their longing for battle, their greatest fight may be in winning over their families and conquering their own pride.
A lull in battle does not mean there is peace. The greatest of wars are fought in the heart.
394 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2014
About the author
C.L. Foster
43 books250 followersCL is eclectic, geeky, positive, nature-loving and completely non-"normal" (just the way she likes to be). She has been a fan of literature since she was a small child and finally decided to take her dreams (both waking and sleeping!) and do something positive with them.
CL has lived all over the world and has a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, minoring in Psychology and Forensics. Which means you don't want to cross her because she knows how and where to hide a body so it's never found! She proudly admits to hearing voices in her head, but at times, her characters' impromptu visits can be rude and annoying. Thankfully, she has adequate patience for their shenanigans and can out ninja them any day of the week.
CL's voice is boisterous, sassy, and not finished yet! Stay tuned!
Can be found on Facebook, Twitter (#ASMSG, #CLFNinjas, #TeamBadAss), and many others.
My Amazon author page is: http://www.amazon.com/C.L.-Foster/e/B...
Twitter @CLFoster1
CL has lived all over the world and has a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, minoring in Psychology and Forensics. Which means you don't want to cross her because she knows how and where to hide a body so it's never found! She proudly admits to hearing voices in her head, but at times, her characters' impromptu visits can be rude and annoying. Thankfully, she has adequate patience for their shenanigans and can out ninja them any day of the week.
CL's voice is boisterous, sassy, and not finished yet! Stay tuned!
Can be found on Facebook, Twitter (#ASMSG, #CLFNinjas, #TeamBadAss), and many others.
My Amazon author page is: http://www.amazon.com/C.L.-Foster/e/B...
Twitter @CLFoster1
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 14, 2014
CL Foster is one of my favorite authors and she does NOT disappoint with Heart of War! I was pleasantly impressed with the story line and couldn't put the book down. I was hooked from beginning to end. This was my first time reading anything from ER Rada and I can tell you it won't be my last either. Excellent writing, character description, scenes from one of the best love stories I've read beautifully arranged and vividly described. It was everything I love in a book and more! Must read!! I absolutely loved this book!! Highly recommend!
July 14, 2014
Originally posted on Big Girls *Heart* Books.
Heart of War is the first book in what I hope and pray will be the longest series ever, The Lady & Knight Chronicles by C.L. Foster and E.R. Rada. The story is about Adalira Mortimer and Bastian Kyros, two young misfits who are simply too stubborn to obediently follow the rules. Both of them have monstrous responsibilities to attend to, but would much rather use their skills on the battlefield.
Now, I had the pleasure of beta-reading this puppy, AND THEN reading it once again in pretty-pretty paperback format, so I know this novel front-to-back at this point...and honestly there is no way you cannot LOVE this book. I don't care if you like historical romance or not, I don't care if you don't like book written in the third person, THIS is the novel of the year. The story is original and beautifully crafted and and and UGH. It's just so amazing!
There were moments where I just had no idea if I was going to SURVIVE this book. It was a full on attack of FEELS and I swear, more than one of those damn twists had me chucking things across the room. I went from--
--to--
--and then it got really interesting when I got to this point--
BUT IT WAS JUST SO GOOD AND IT ENDED SO NICE EVEN THOUGH I THREW MY iPOD ACROSS THE FLOOR SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE WERE TEARS AND THERE WAS SCREAMING BUT THE END WAS SOOOOOO CUTE AND IT LEFT ME HAPPY-SIGHING and and and...
*heavy breath* Okay, got the gif explosion out of me...
Needless to say this book was an insane roller coaster of emotions. It had me screaming, crying, laughing and happy-sighing almost every moment and I was NEVER bored. I already adored Foster and her ah-mazing work, but with this and Rada's work in The Best Thing I Never Had, I will officially be creepy-fangirl-stalking him, as well. These two work FABULOUSLY together and I am SO SO SOOO happy this is going to be a series!! I NEED an explanation for that one thing I can't mention here because it gave me whiplash and I would hate myself forever if I were the one to spoil that evil, horrible twist for you all...
Heart of War is THE best historical romance you could EVER find and I SWEAR to you, it will become your new favorite novel. It has the perfect amount of action, romance, suspense and tension that once you pick it up, you cannot simply put it down and walk away. The single best book I have read in YEARS.
So... Christy, Eric, THANK YOU for sharing this beautiful story with the world. This is for you ->
Now. *flails* PLEASE GOD WRITE THE NEXT BOOK. Before the gross sobbing begins again... *rocks back and forth in the corner waiting...mostly patient...*
January 3, 2015
I read it cover to cover in one sitting
There are some fantastic plot points and lovable characters. My only complaint was in some of the anachronistic language. Regardless, I definitely wanted to know what would happen with them and would love to read another book.
There are some fantastic plot points and lovable characters. My only complaint was in some of the anachronistic language. Regardless, I definitely wanted to know what would happen with them and would love to read another book.
July 27, 2022
Absolute twaddle July 2022
If the writing was good I would have persevered but it was not. This is allegedly the 14th century but sounds more like the 19th. On every page there are glaring mistakes, inappropriate vocabulary, wrong clothing, inaccurate manners!
If the writing was good I would have persevered but it was not. This is allegedly the 14th century but sounds more like the 19th. On every page there are glaring mistakes, inappropriate vocabulary, wrong clothing, inaccurate manners!
August 19, 2014
C.L. Foster and E.R. Rada have teamed up to deliver a fresh new take on historical romance that is sure to leave readers in awe. Heart of War is set in the majestic era of knights and kings and the Hundred Years War. Adalira and Bastian are the children of nobles with their hearts set on the battlefield. Adalira is expected to be prim and proper as a Lady usually is, but she longs to wield a sword. Bastian is expected to be a diplomat, but his dream is to be a knight. When they meet, they just might be each other's key to breaking free of the mold and winning their families over.
I had the brilliant opportunity to beta-read this lovely story and I fell in love from the beginning. The characters are very well-rounded and easy to love, each of them unique with a great deal of personality. The world in which they live is vividly detailed, leaving nothing to the imagination while allowing the reader to become lost in the story. I'd consider this artwork at its finest, a picture painted in words dripping with creativity, talent, and passion for the craft.
The collaboration between C.L. Foster and up-and-coming author E.R. Rada is genius. They compliment each other well without breaking the story. While they each have their own writing style, the chapters flow together nearly seamlessly and, if you had not known better, it would be easy to believe that this book was penned by only one author.
I am looking forward to the next book by these two inspiring novelists, be it a collaboration or solo work. If you haven't picked up Heart of War yet, I urge you to do yourself a favor and take a chance on it.
P.S. My favorite character is Ezra. I'd say it was almost like he was written specifically for me. *wink* <3
I had the brilliant opportunity to beta-read this lovely story and I fell in love from the beginning. The characters are very well-rounded and easy to love, each of them unique with a great deal of personality. The world in which they live is vividly detailed, leaving nothing to the imagination while allowing the reader to become lost in the story. I'd consider this artwork at its finest, a picture painted in words dripping with creativity, talent, and passion for the craft.
The collaboration between C.L. Foster and up-and-coming author E.R. Rada is genius. They compliment each other well without breaking the story. While they each have their own writing style, the chapters flow together nearly seamlessly and, if you had not known better, it would be easy to believe that this book was penned by only one author.
I am looking forward to the next book by these two inspiring novelists, be it a collaboration or solo work. If you haven't picked up Heart of War yet, I urge you to do yourself a favor and take a chance on it.
P.S. My favorite character is Ezra. I'd say it was almost like he was written specifically for me. *wink* <3
July 9, 2014
Rarely do I read books from this historical period, and so this was a bit of a stretch outside of my comfort zone. Oftentimes when I take a risk, I am rewarded, and this was the case several times over! This is the absolute perfect historical romance. Completely clean (a few minor words that I hardly remember), no bedroom scenes, and absolutely delightful humor!! I lost track of how many times I practically laughed out loud. I was completely taken with the relationship between Bastian and Adalira. Why can't love be like that today. The writing was fantastic, and I the brevity of the tale only made me want more. And creating characters that break away from the cultural norms of the day--absolutely genius! I highly recommend this book to anyone who thrills to savor an amazing romance. I hope the authors write a sequel.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
July 30, 2014
This novel was a great read especially since it was co written and it flowed beautifully together to where you couldn’t even tell. The plot was well encased and flawless to give the readers an insight on where or what was happening in the story line and scenery. While you were introduced to many characters, the authors did not fail to make it entertaining to the audience and even had me laughing at some points. I especially loved the letters that was written back and forth because it gave you more insight into the main characters (there were lots of letters). To me it helped to build the romance between the two. However, lets not forget that the lady in question definitely has a strong mindset and I will have to say she was my favorite character. Great job to both of the authors and I look forward to reading more!
July 17, 2014
This review is from: Heart of War (Lady & Knight Chronicles Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
I admit that I have read everything written by C.L. Foster. I am a true fan and I found this to be one of the best. Her writing has combined with that of Eric Rada to make a wonderful free flowing romantic story for all ages. There are no breaks in the story due to a change in writer. This is a true collaboration.
The writing has hit a strong and mature level in this story of a feisty princess and her royal knight. There were a few times that modern language slipped through that I lost my time period thinking but that was a minor point. I am looking forward to the continuing story and much more writing from this Dynamic Duo!
I admit that I have read everything written by C.L. Foster. I am a true fan and I found this to be one of the best. Her writing has combined with that of Eric Rada to make a wonderful free flowing romantic story for all ages. There are no breaks in the story due to a change in writer. This is a true collaboration.
The writing has hit a strong and mature level in this story of a feisty princess and her royal knight. There were a few times that modern language slipped through that I lost my time period thinking but that was a minor point. I am looking forward to the continuing story and much more writing from this Dynamic Duo!
July 16, 2014
I had not read anything from these two authors previously and as I like to try out new authors this was a great time to do it.
I usually try not to read historical romances but this one just leapt at me and I am so glad I had the opportunity to read it.
I really enjoyed Heart of War, I like romance novels and this had that extra bit too it. It had a rollercoaster of emotions and it kept me interested.
The characters were all likeable, they were described well and the story flowed evenly at a pace that kept me wanting to read it.
I particularly liked Adalira she reminded me of myself, doing things girls really shouldn't do but making sure she does it anyway regardless of what her parents say or do.
I am looking forward to reading the next instalment of the series.
I usually try not to read historical romances but this one just leapt at me and I am so glad I had the opportunity to read it.
I really enjoyed Heart of War, I like romance novels and this had that extra bit too it. It had a rollercoaster of emotions and it kept me interested.
The characters were all likeable, they were described well and the story flowed evenly at a pace that kept me wanting to read it.
I particularly liked Adalira she reminded me of myself, doing things girls really shouldn't do but making sure she does it anyway regardless of what her parents say or do.
I am looking forward to reading the next instalment of the series.
October 22, 2015
I fell in love with this book and the story the author wove. My imagination took flight and the characters came alive. I especially loved Adalira's self confidence and independence.
When Bastian is introduced in the story I really wanted to fall in love with him, it wasn't till later on that I did fall and I fell hard. He just has this character about him that even if he rubs you the wrong way he gets under your skin.
The author kept my interest and kept me hanging on to every word as this love story came to a close. I wanted nothing more than to pick up book two right away! <3
When Bastian is introduced in the story I really wanted to fall in love with him, it wasn't till later on that I did fall and I fell hard. He just has this character about him that even if he rubs you the wrong way he gets under your skin.
The author kept my interest and kept me hanging on to every word as this love story came to a close. I wanted nothing more than to pick up book two right away! <3
July 12, 2014
C.L. Foster and E.R.Rada have writing a romance story that I love! As a rule I do not like romance novel, but I really enjoyed this one! I had it read in two days. I really like the interaction between Bastian and Adalira. They put their true feelings into their letters.I also enjoyed the characters of Ryland and Nyota, and I look forward to reading more of these two couples.Surely there must be a great adventure in the future! I will be impatiently waiting for the next book.
August 15, 2014
First of all- Adalira is pretty much my favorite person ever. She is strong, independent, caring, and friggin hilarious. From the very beginning I wanted to be her best friend. And Bastian is everything you could ever want in a love interest. I mean, he's literally a Knight in shining armor♡. The two of them together was just awesome sauce, and I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet love story. :-)
July 18, 2014
First, I would like to thank the authors C.L. Foster & E.R. Rada for giving me this book for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. The characters are well developed and written. The story-line is really good. I am hoping this is the start of a series. The authors did a great job working together writing this book. I look forward to reading more from them.
July 8, 2016
Modern dialogue a little too hard to overcome
I liked the characters and they were well drawn. Also, I really liked the love story, but the dialogue or 21 st. Century ideals put together were just a little bit too hard to overcome. Shakespeare, it was not. Take heart! I'm a tough critic.
I liked the characters and they were well drawn. Also, I really liked the love story, but the dialogue or 21 st. Century ideals put together were just a little bit too hard to overcome. Shakespeare, it was not. Take heart! I'm a tough critic.
January 4, 2015
Is a great book to read
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews