Secret Vows

by Mary Reed McCall

A DESPERATE CHOICE… After suffering under the iron fists of powerful men her whole life, Catherine of Somerset considers herself fortunate when fate makes her a widow and frees her two children from a cruel father’s tyranny. But her relief is short-lived. Her even more brutal brother-in-law Eduard, a High Champion of the king, arrives to claim his estate, and Catherine is swept into a nightmare. Eduard offers Catherine a terrible Either she will assume a false identity and marry the fierce warrior knight who is his chief rival, paving the way for the man’s murder…or her children will die. That the handsome stranger she is bound to destroy proves honorable and good – deadly on the field, yet gentle and compassionate with her – wrenches her heart. Yet she cannot falter, or her innocent babes will pay the price. A FORBIDDEN PASSION… Baron Grayson de Camville bears a secret of his own – a haunted past that helped shape him into a relentless force of justice as King Henry III’s most skillful High Champion. When he agrees to take a bride, Gray merely fulfills his king’s command, but neither he nor Catherine is prepared for the passionate completion they find in each other’s arms. Desire grows with each moment together, with each sweet touch and soul-shattering kiss, until there is no escape from the ecstasy of their union…or from the lies that threaten to tear them apart. It is a tender trap, and one that can only be broken by surrendering to love and the most dangerous action of all – relinquishing once and for all every one of their… SECRET VOWS

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Medieval Romance

214 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Award-winning historical author MARY REED MCCALL also writes contemporary fiction as M. REED MCCALL . She was a finalist for Romance Writer's of America's Best First Book RITA Award and has won the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Medieval Romance. She grew up in a rural area of Upstate New York as part of a large and loving family. Before becoming a writer, she first considered a career in national security, studying for a brief time at the University of Leningrad before completing undergraduate degrees in Russian and English back in the United States, followed by a Master's degree in English Literature. The sixth of seven girls in her family, Mary now makes her permanent home in New York State, with her husband and children. When she is not writing or involved with family activities, she teaches high school and college level English.

Reviews

[Monique Takens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Candlelight Historische roman 866 .
Dit is het 1e boek van deze auteur en was genomineerd voor een RITA award voor beste nieuwkomer . Eerlijk gezegd begrijp ik niet helemaal waarom , het is een vrij standaard ridder / jonkvrouw verhaal en wist mij nergens te verrassen .

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing! I could care less about any of the characters. Only character with any depth was the villian. If the book had been only 100pgs it could have been good.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine, at first, seemed weak and that's what Grayson thought at first. But after he, and we, learn of the fear she's been living with she is seen as she is, strong. Very strong.

Beware, there's a bit of sexual brutality. Not much but it is not pleasant. Gray, however, is. Pleasant, that is. He is an honorable, caring man who is so self-confident that he does not run from his feelings for Catherine for very long. I fell in love with him almost immediately.

The evil BIL/uncle has a violent end but I was disappointed that his true nature was never made public. I guess that is consistent with the time period but I still would have liked to have Catherine's suffering be vindicated.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Secret Vows - G+
Mary Reed McCall
Abused widow is forced by her brother-in-law to set a noble up for murder.

[Daneesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a quick read. i liked it, but it didn't really excite me.

[Brainorgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Secret Vows by Mary Reed Mccall (2001)

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read, a decent book. 3++, but not quite making it to be a 4.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

[Farah (Zahra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secret vows was a very pleasant surprise! I did not expect this novel to be so interesting and emotionally gripping! Love, tension, villainy, sensuality... It has everything!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful book could not put down