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An Uncertain Choice #3

For Love and Honor

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Lady Sabine is harboring a skin blemish, one, that if revealed, could cause her to be branded as a witch, put her life in danger, and damage her chances of making a good marriage. After all, what nobleman would want to marry a woman so flawed?

Sir Bennet is returning home to protect his family from an imminent attack by neighboring lords who seek repayment of debts. Without fortune or means to pay those debts, Sir Bennet realizes his only option is to make a marriage match with a wealthy noblewoman. As a man of honor, he loathes the idea of courting a woman for her money, but with time running out for his family’s safety, what other choice does he have?

As Lady Sabine and Sir Bennet are thrust together under dangerous circumstances, will they both be able to learn to trust each other enough to share their deepest secrets? Or will those secrets ultimately lead to their demise?

239 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2017

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About the author

Jody Hedlund

62 books3,877 followers
Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over forty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet historical romances with plenty of sizzle. Find out more at jodyhedlund.com.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.




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5 stars
1,167 (38%)
4 stars
1,117 (37%)
3 stars
554 (18%)
2 stars
138 (4%)
1 star
26 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 417 reviews
Profile Image for Storm.
87 reviews
Want to read
June 30, 2016
WOW all I can say is, Jody Hedlund has some of the most beautiful covers!! Can I have that dress? PLEASE???
Profile Image for Beth.
783 reviews318 followers
March 30, 2017
For Love and Honor is a fun, quick read that is a lovely way to while away a few hours in a world of knight, ladies, chivalry and danger. Sir Bennet is an excellent knight, but he also has an appreciation for beautiful, sacred relics and works of art. Lady Sabine is a collector as well as practical in nature, in the habit of keeping to herself because of a birthmark found on her arm. Sir Bennet has returned to his family home in order to pay the debt accrued by his older brother; in order to do so, he knows he must marry a wealthy lady, when he desires to only marry for love. Drawn to Sir Bennet's home by the promise of viewing and perhaps buying some of his collection, Lady Sabine has no idea that her protective grandmother has plans for Sabine and Bennet that goes well beyond priceless relics.

Despite their rocky start over the confusion of the true purpose of Lady Sabine's visit, Bennet and Sabine connect over their shared passion of beautiful art, books and priceless collectibles. It was refreshing that they were attracted to each other's mind first, and their connection was not based on their physical appearance. Yes, there are some sweet, swoon-worthy moments, but Hedlund strikes a nice balance here between action and romance. Sabine's insecurity over her blemish and her love of reading make her an endearing character for this reader. I appreciated how the story line holds a deeper feeling of authenticity, highlighting how differences in physical appearance like Sabine’s birthmark were viewed with suspicion and superstition at that point in history, while also showing character growth as Sabine tries to accept herself, flaws and all.

I’ve really enjoyed this series, and this story is definitely my favorite of the three. While there are some mentions of previous characters, they could easily be read as standalone titles. Despite the fact that these are shorter books, I personally think they are appropriate for teens and above, but not middle grade age readers, due to the romantic thread. Everything is clean, but the characters do deal with physical attraction. I recommend this series for teens and adults who enjoy a romantic historicals. Sometimes you just want a fun, quick read with an uplifting, faith-and-life-affirming element, and For Love and Honor was just the thing!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions here are my own.
Profile Image for Kaytlin Phillips.
Author 8 books115 followers
October 31, 2022
4.5
Okay, I actually really enjoyed this one and almost finished it in a day...lol...I docked half a star cause I got a little bored in the beginning but not too bad...lol...the ending a lot going on and definitely made up for the slow start.

I'm not gonna do my normal review style because I'm being lazy...lol...but I really enjoyed this!
Profile Image for English .
736 reviews
May 31, 2020
I shall humbly admit, the first two thirds of this book were an improvement on the last two, without all the silly, historically inaccurate rubbish that marred the two previous titles, and the disturbing obsession with torture. It was actually rather enjoyable with some of the banter between the two main characters, Sir Bennett and Lady Sabine. I would even go as far as to say that some of the details were quite credible, with Sabine’s interest in reading and some of the works mentioned. There were the usual problems with Americanisms though, and the mention of certain animals that would not have been found anywhere in Medieval Britain (or a fictional country based on it) such as mink and vultures.

Then things went rapidly downhill, when someone accused Sabine of being a ‘witch’ because of a birth mark, and in scenes reminiscent of Monty Python or Blackadder, wanted to grab her and burn her straight away, then and there. But that’s correct, cos’ those Medieval people were all so superstitious and ignorant that they would think anyone who was ‘different’ was a Devil worshipper? No. Witchcraft was a religious offense, and in most of Europe, a person could only be tried and convicted by a church court under Canon Law. Trial oy Ordeal was banned on the orders of the Pope in 1215, and the real paranoia about witchcraft did not start until the sixteenth century, reaching its height in the seventeenth. The sort of things that happened to Sabine would fit into a seventeenth century setting under the Puritans, or in Salem Massachusetts, they don’t belong in the fourteenth century.

And honestly, the whole premise of her being suspected of 'witchcraft' for having a birth mark/skin condition is crazy. I mean crazier than a box of frogs. There was literally a King of Jerusalem in the 12th century who had Leprosy. Baldwin IV, known as 'The Leper King' (the one who features in the movie Kingdom of Heaven), and there were a couple of British Kings who had major skin conditions too.
I don't think a birthmark would really have been a big deal.

description

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Why do I even bother to mention this? Mostly because there are people who treat this series as accurate Historical Fiction, and have even recommended it for history courses. It’s not Historical Fiction- it’s not set in England just because some of the place names are the same. Other details do not fit in with an English setting at all- for instance there being a High King. This story is fantasy, and should be taken as such- not accurate history. There are far too many inaccuracies and inconsistencies for a Medieval English setting, not to mention the downright silliness of the characters.

To be, honest, the fictional country that he characters inhabit must be the single worst-run state in Medieval History, with nobles constantly attacking and killing each other, every single forest and road crawling with bandits, and the central authorities only stepping in to ‘save the day’ when it’s almost too late.

description

Do people think Late Medieval England was actually like that? It was not. Nobles very rarely attacked each other, except during times of civil war, or on the borderlands with Scotland and Wales, which were notoriously lawless.

It’s a shame, because this could have been a great love story, with a lot of positive messages about not judging by appearances. It could have been better executed without all the silliness about ‘witchcraft’ which was totally inaccurate, and could just been copied from some movie. I wish authors would take the trouble to do their research before writing Medieval Fiction, and if they are going to use a lot of artistic licence make it clear where they have done so.

I requested an e-book version of this title from Zondervan via Booklook Bloggers for review. I was not required to write a positive one and all opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Susan Snodgrass.
2,002 reviews202 followers
February 21, 2017
This is marketed as YA, but it's wonderfully interesting for all ages, in my opinion. I've loved Jody Hedlund's writing since her very first book and I haven't missed one yet.

Set in the Middle Ages, my favorite time period for a novel, Sir Bennett must marry a wealthy woman to pay the debts his older brother has incurred or face a war from his creditors. Lady Sabine is definitely a wealthy noblewoman, but she has a blemish that many fear mark her as a witch.

From here this book just gets better and better. The characters are very well developed and the locale, as I mentioned earlier, is amazing. These characters must decide whether they will trust God with their futures or try and handle it themselves. God knows the beginning from the end and everything that looks bad isn't always bad. We must trust Him to guide our lives. Will Sir Bennett and Lady Sabine allow Him to do the same for them? Don't miss this latest offering from Jody Hedlund.

*I was given a preview copy of this book by the author. My opinion is honest and my own.
Profile Image for Jenny Jo Weir.
1,549 reviews79 followers
August 20, 2020
I love christian fiction and I love historical books, but this one fell a bit flat. The main thing I could have done without was the weak flaw she's given. I'd have either left it out, or written something more meaningful. Also, his whole reasoning behind trying to help his family retain their wealth seemed a little flawed to be. I just found this book to be a little too materialistic and superficial for me, especially considering I was expecting to get something uplifting or inspiring out of it.
Profile Image for Sarah Ryder.
557 reviews93 followers
September 23, 2023
Such a sweet love story even though for some reason the drama annoyed me a twinge this time around though I suspect this more had to do with my mood at the time and not the actual book. 😂

If you want top notch banter though Sabine and Bennet are the literal queen and king of banter and I love it and how funny and witty these two are with Sabine’s grandmother being a close third. And while this is a short book with a short time frame I never felt like the romance was rushed or unrealistic, and Sabine and Bennet fit each other perfectly. Not to mention both of their separate journeys of growth are nothing short of powerful and moving and I love them both so much.


‼️Content‼️

Violence: fighting with weapons (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); a character is nearly drowned

Sexual: kissing (not detailed); mild suggestive hints; kisses on the hand, palm, and arm

Drug/Alcohol: a drunk man; characters drink mead

Other: bandits hold up a carriage; a character is called a witch due to a skin blemish; a man gambled away all his family’s money; a character has depression; grief over a dead loved one; a character is locked in a cage; characters are tied up; a threat to burn a woman at the stake; a siege
Profile Image for Melanie.
2,029 reviews559 followers
June 4, 2017
For Love & Honor is the third book in this series and definitely my favorite. I loved the story and it was interesting throughout. The romance was sweet and I loved the humorous banter.

The setting was great and I liked the fight scenes. Also, the last part was the book was intense and almost impossible to stop reading.

All in all, very good and I recommend it. Not sure if this is the final book in the series, but (if so) it was a great way to end things.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
Profile Image for Carrie Schmidt.
Author 1 book366 followers
March 29, 2018
Oh my goodness. What a delightful heroine is Sabine! Her sense of humor speaks my language and had me smiling often while I was reading. Along with her wit, her insecurity about her appearance makes her real and honest and relatable.

Sir Bennet may not have outward blemishes but he’s not without flaws. Or insecurities. Yet, I’ve been waiting for his story ever since we first met in An Uncertain Choice, because he is so loyal to those he loves and respects. Which is why he finds himself in the predicament he’s in – trying to save his family’s castle and their priceless relics and treasures after his brother’s gambling debts are called up.

Which brings us to Aldric, Sir Bennet’s brother. Tragedy in his life has led to depression (as it so often does) which has in turn led to addiction. His addiction to gambling – and his passivity when it comes to taking responsibility – has put his family in dire straits. Watching his development through the course of the novel is actually one of my favorite aspects, and I am not above begging Jody Hedlund to write his story!

Besides the sweet romance and the layered characters, there is an underlying message that is timely for us today. Namely, that we are each priceless masterpieces fashioned by our Creator, our self-perceived flaws making us all the more precious. If He sees us as beautiful, how can we not see each other the same way?

Bottom Line: For Love and Honor by Jody Hedlund may be my favorite of the series, though I’ve loved them all. Sabine is my kind of heroine – witty, sweet, intelligent, inquisitive, brave. While geared toward young adults, this book and series appeal to the not-so-young adult as well. Dashing knights, ladies beautiful of heart and face, witty repartee, dastardly villains, sword fights, stolen kisses and a sweet reminder that we are valued and priceless to our Creator. Highly recommended!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
Profile Image for Rissi.
447 reviews9 followers
December 31, 2017
For Love and Honor by Jody Hedlund – Medieval Fable Echoes ‘Beauty and the Beast’

The third, and presumably final, novel in Jody Hedlund’s YA historical series rounds to its end with its final Knight, Bennet, finding his own story. In this story there’s a distinct fairy tale quality that doesn’t overshadow the story’s quiet nature, but rather enhances it. There are nods to the Beauty and the Beast fable because of the secret Sabine hides, only the difference here is that Bennet doesn’t know what it is for the majority of the story.

This heightens Sabine’s reactions to Bennet (from the reader's perspective), and her emotional turmoil is all the more poignant and heartbreaking as we struggle along with her.

Inside the artifacts and marble “pages” of this story lies a beautiful gem. Hedlund has again crafted a sweet, nostalgic tale that revisits a time when men were gentleman and let nothing stand in the way of honor. The characters complement one another, all at some point willing to sacrifice anything (even their lives) for the good of others. Surface level may pit For Love and Honor as sweet, but underneath, this is a story of loss, hope, honor, forgiveness, and love.

Those who enjoy Hedlund’s adult historical reads or YA historical fiction will find a treasure in this series. It’s an easy, quiet kind of read that ups the excitement in the latter half (in rapid fashion). The most important thing being that there is a happy ending. It’s just one that comes at the cost of time, adversary and misunderstandings. All of which serve a greater purpose. For the characters (and us!) to realize that sometimes the most precious things come at the cost of patience and persistence.

Fans of "A Daring Sacrifice" (book two) and "An Uncertain Choice" won't want to miss this adventurous (and romantic!) story.

Sincere thanks to the author and publisher for providing a copy of this book; all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Hallie (Hallie Reads).
1,544 reviews120 followers
May 9, 2017
The third Noble Knight, Sir Bennet, gets his chance for love (in the most unexpected way) in Jody Hedlund’s A Daring Sacrifice. With all the beloved elements of An Uncertain Choice and A Daring Sacrifice, this novel takes readers on a medieval adventure, full of danger, deception, and romance.

Full review posted on Book by Book.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit, I received a complimentary copy of For Love & Honor and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Carissa (Regency Woman).
261 reviews50 followers
March 9, 2017
I didn't think it possible. But I actually enjoyed For Love and Honor. Considering how much I detested, and yes I know it's a strong word but very true, the first two books in the series, I wasn't holding out much hope.

Lady Sabine is wealthy, considers herself plain, practical, and hides a skin blemish that could very easily get her accused of witchcraft. Sir Bennet is the younger son of a family whose eldest son suffered great personal loss and in his grief managed to gamble enough of the inheritance away as to threaten the livelihood of the castle they own. Sir Bennet must find money and fast, but refuses to sell the family's treasured artwork and artifacts. He's a bit of a history nut, and since I too live with one in the form of my sister, I get where he's coming from. Lady Sabine happens to be incredibly wealthy and is tricked into visiting Sir Bennet by her grandmother, a woman who is desperate for her grandchild to find love. While Sabine thinks she is visiting Bennet to purchase artwork, grandmother has plans that involve matrimony. As it happens, Sabine and Bennet connect through their genuine love of art, history, and learning, and together prove that unlikely couples can find true love.

I'm pleased to say that Ms. Hedlund finished strong (I suspect this is the last in the series), and I thoroughly enjoyed the majority of Sir Bennet and Lady Sabine's tale. I think it had just enough of Ivanhoe in the story to hold my interest. Plus, there was no direct descriptive mention of medieval torture methods (EWWWWW!), and I felt like the characters were more relatable to me as a person than the previous novels.

Where For Love and Honor is concerned, I can honestly recommend it. In fact, I might even consider reading it again, which says a lot since I can't even fully remember what the first two novels entailed. There was a bit more authenticity to the relationship this time, and a lot less medieval torture. I still didn't see much in the way of Christian faith being represented, which disappointed me, but you can't have everything. It's simply a good read on a wintery day when you can curl up with a blanket and a warm cat and read for several uninterrupted hours.

Note: I received this ARC free from the publishing house in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
Profile Image for Moriyah C.
83 reviews17 followers
March 5, 2023
“Whatever the case, through the long hours of the night, I'd come to the conclusion that I needed to be the first to accept myself, flaws and all, before I could expect anyone else to. If I constantly hid my true self, if I was ashamed of the way God had made me, then it stood to reason that other would be ashamed of me too. But if I stopped hiding the real me - if I accepted and embraced everything about myself, including the mark on my skin - then I'd take the first step in showing others that they had nothing to fear from me.”
Jody Hedlund, For Love and Honor


Rating: ★★★★★
Cleanness: ★★★.5*

This is such a sweet book! I loved this so so much! I loved the message and themes in this story! It’s so good! And the BANTER! It was so cute and I couldn’t stop smiling!

I love Sabine’s story! She was insecure and struggled with who she was and her looks. She doubled in herself and her self worth. Her joinery was learning to love and accept herself for who she was made to be. She had to learn to trust in who God created her to be. She had to learn about her worth—that she is special even with the markings on her hand no matter the reaction of others.

Bennet! He is so cute! I loved his and Sabine’s banter and how much they had in common with each other! They became friends first before anything else. Though it was strange circumstances that brought them together it was still so sweet. I loved that Bennet’s journey was learning to not judge from outward appearances, whether that was with his brother or Sabine. He had a wonderful character transformation and grew in maturity!

I do wish there was a bit more faith content in this book but it is far superior to the first book in the series (there was still a bit of torture but not as much or descript as An Uncertain Choice was thankfully).

I also loved the Grandmother character! She was fun and crazy and caring and just so fun! I love how much she loves and cares for Sabine and jokes with her too!


*Cleanness: this is a wonderful and pretty clean book! There is nothing beyond a few sweet kisses. There is talk about a girl's reputation being ruined and needing to marry to save it.
There are some violence and fight scenes. A castle is attacked and the people within are injured from battle or starving. A girl is put in a cage, attacked, and threatened to be burned as well as kidnapped then to be drowned. Witchcraft is a fair part of this story though it is played as superstition and threats. There are talks about how a woman died while giving birth.
These are some of the things to look for when reading (I think I noted everything), but otherwise this is a clean book and I highly recommend reading!



To read more bookish content make sure to check my blog https://fablerosemc.blogspot.com & my instagram @fablerosemc !!!
Profile Image for Irene Sim.
743 reviews83 followers
June 26, 2017
UPDATE 04/26/2017
For readathon-2017: 6/26
In the category: "A book that takes place before 1800"
Woman author: 4/14
************

What I love the most about reading a clean romance is that when you remove all the hotness, lust and sexiness (even though they have their uses at times) of many romances, you are left with a huge dosage of pure, undiluted, heartwarming feelings. And in this series, Jody Hedlund left me with a full heart.

"She was a cool drink for my parched soul."

I loved Sabine and Sir Bennet's story. They were two very unique characters, each one having doubts about his worthinness and value. I liked how at the beginning they weren't instandly impressed of each other, but their similarities, common interests and beauty at heart made them fall in love at the end. This is how love usually works. I don't want to diminish good looks, but most of the time I think that what makes us love someone isn't just his appearance. It's all the small things about him, his actions, the way he speaks, or moves, or treats other people that makes us single him out and love him.
Profile Image for Maddie J.
329 reviews67 followers
September 9, 2022
If I could give this book 5000000000000 stars I would. I stumbled upon this book by accident at my local library and decided: "Aw what the heck? Let's give it a try." And so, as I was supposed to be cleaning my room, I started it. I had such a hard time putting it down! It just sucks you in from chapter 1 and is amazing. I loved the passion between Bennett and Sabine and love how unique and good and pure and happy there love is.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,760 reviews6 followers
December 16, 2017
This was an ok read. The story had potential, but the telling of it was a little lackluster. First person narratives aren’t my favorite so I️ don’t think that helped things. The historical aspect of this was fair but unfortunately undermined by the modern language spoken by the characters.

Despite all that, I️ appreciated how clean this was and how there wasn’t really any OP drama. The H was a genuinely good guy and the h, even with all her tstl moments, was likable and tried to make the best of her lot in life. The message was a nice touch if not a bit heavy-handed. Overall a fair read. I’m unsure I️ would read anything else by this author. It’s just a case of “it’s not you, it’s me.”
Profile Image for Rebecca.
1,905 reviews107 followers
February 21, 2017
"They're priceless treasures. Each marking or chip makes them even more special."

Can Lady Sabine ever consider herself free of blemish; constantly hiding her marked skin beneath the covering of her gloves? Will it be her demise; being that her fellow countrymen think such disfigurement is a sure sign of witchery? Can it prevent her from a suitable engagement; denying her marital bliss in spite of her kind nature, independent spirit, considerable knowledge of the arts; not to mention her vast fortune? When Lady Sabine's wily grandmother learns of Lord Bennett's desperate circumstances, she arranges a visit to Maidstone Castle with her granddaughter, having a lot more in mind than the mere purchase of ancient relics and paintings.

Lord Bennett is aghast at his mother's sudden suggestion to marry a rich wife in order to remove their family out from under the weight of extreme debt; debts incurred by Bennett's grieving brother who drank and gambled his way through personal loss. When a neighboring lord forces his hand, Bennett becomes more open to the idea of entertaining the lovely Lady Sabine as his guest; she is witty, learned, and forthright; surprising him again and again with the pleasure of her company. Nevertheless, Sabine and Bennett are both harboring secrets, secrets that have the potential to ruin their chances at a uniquely happy "happily-ever-after".

"For Love and Honor" is everything that fans of Jody Hedlund have come to appreciate and enjoy; regaling her readers across the generations with the timeless reminder that God-given uniqueness is a priceless gift, bestowed out of everlasting love.

I received a copy of this book from the author. The opinions stated are entirely my own.
Profile Image for Brittany .
2,299 reviews148 followers
March 7, 2017
I have loved each of the stories in the An Uncertain Choice series. The books can be read as stand alone novels or enjoyed as a collection. They are perfect for teens and adults, alike. As wonderful as each novel has been, For Love and Honor is my favorite of the three!

The way Lady Sabine felt about herself throughout most of the novel really caught at my heart. Not only did she view herself as plain when compared to others, she just knew that no one could ever love her with the terrible skin blemish she hid beneath her glove.

Sir Bennet caught at my heart for completely different reasons! I admired him for his good intentions in trying to help his family recover from devastating financial conditions. I also thought he did an admirable job in trying to get to know Sabine. He was a kind and honorable man and I loved seeing him begin to realize that he cared for Sabine. However, there were a couple of times that he simply did or said the exact wrong thing to Sabine, causing her much angst! How very human and real he was in those moments. These two characters had great chemistry on the pages.

This story reminds us that no one is perfect, except for God, and that the outside appearance is not what is important to Him. An excellent message for everyone to remember. For Love and Honor was truly a joy to read from beginning to end. I could hardly set this book down! I’m looking forward to hearing my teen’s thoughts on it once she reads it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
Profile Image for Caitlyn Santi.
Author 4 books78 followers
March 7, 2017
I've been loving these books ever since the first one released and I remember being so excited when I learned that we would get a chance to see each of the three handsome knights find love and happiness! While I was thrilled at getting to read Bennet's story I was also a bit saddened that this is the last book in the series (At least as far as I know) forcing me to say goodbye to these characters that have become like friends to me!
I really liked Sabine, and thought she and Bennet were a perfect match. It was so cool that we got to see both Derrick and Collin again in this book!
This book was truly fabulous on so many levels, but I think the message about learning to love yourself and see the beauty that God sees in you was my favorite thing about this book, it is a reminder that I need pretty much daily and the message really spoke to where I am right now in life!
I don't want to risk spoiling anything so I will just say that Jody Hedlund has written another fabulous YA that I absolutely loved! And highly recommend, all of the books in this series can standalone but I would recommend reading them in order to fully grasp their awesomeness! I can't wait to read any and all YA books this author writes next!


I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher to help promote it. No review required. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.
Profile Image for Amy.
266 reviews37 followers
February 16, 2018
I have read every book Jody Hedlund has ever written, and while I've enjoyed them all, I do believe the three books in this YA medieval fantasy series are my favorites. Packed with action, adventure, daring rescues, chivalric heroes, brave heroines, swoon-worthy romance, and strong themes of faith and sacrifice, these stories really do have it all, and For Love and Honor is no exception! Hedlund's truly hit a stride with these books, and I hope this won't be the last!

I received and advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion, which I have given.
Profile Image for Emily.
560 reviews39 followers
March 29, 2017
Lady Sabine has kept a terrible secret, a skin blemish that could have her branded as a witch and burned at the stake or drowned. Because of this secret, she has given up on her dream of marriage because she cannot let herself hope that any man will see beyond it to who Sabine really is. So when her grandmother cooks up another matchmaking scheme, Sabine is ready to deflect it … until she starts feeling attraction to the man, Sir Bennet.

For Love and Honor is yet another of Jody Hedlund’s fantastic YA romances. Sir Bennet, the last of Lady Rosemarie’s suitors from book one, An Uncertain Choice, features as the male lead and wealthy Lady Sabine is his love interest. Secrets abound in this historical romance, from the harebrained matchmaking scheme at the beginning to the deeper secrets that could put the lives of all the residents in the castle in danger. But I loved it! The secrets were layered on top of each other, and while that does not make the greatest basis for a relationship, it makes a great basis for a novel, and the characters worked through the mistrust to fall beautifully and wholly in love with each other. They were indeed the perfect match.

What I loved most about For Love and Honor was the banter. Lady Sabine’s quick wit from the first page she is introduced had me laughing and loving her. Then when she was paired up with Sir Bennet, my happiness doubled from his responses. It was fantastic! The romance, which I already described, is probably the next greatest thing about this novel. And my third favorite part was the theme of the novel. It spoke of beauty in a person’s character, personality, and the value placed on everyone by God rather than beauty only in physical appearance, talents, or wealth. One of my favorite quotes, on page 181, says this: “But if I stopped hiding the real me—if I accepted and embraced everything about myself, including the mark on my skin—the I’d take the first step in showing others that they had nothing to fear from me.”

I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially teen girls and fans of YA historical romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Zondervan. All opinions are expressly my own.
Profile Image for Aimee (Getting Your Read On).
2,998 reviews251 followers
April 22, 2017
This is the third book in this series that I LOVE. I've been waiting and watching for this book- it was a pre-order, auto buy for me. It's one of my favorite series. You don't have to read them in order, but there are some cross over characters that you may appreciate more if you do.

The characters really make this story shine. They are perfectly imperfect. Strong with weakness. Insecurities, but still courageous. I loved them.
Profile Image for Joleen.
2,123 reviews1,211 followers
October 21, 2017
April 1391
Hampton, England

Synopsis:

During this time period Lady Sabine's skin discoloration could mean a death sentence if seen. She would be called out as a witch, and not much could exonerate her nor save her from being burned at the stake.

Her grandmother has devised a way for her to marry; unfortunately it's to a man who needs her money to save the family estate, which his older brother has put in extreme debt.

Sir Bennet returns home to find he has possibly only a month to protect his family from attack by neighboring lords who are owed a treasure in unpaid obligations. He realizes his only option is to marry a wealthy noblewoman, as repugnant as that is to him.

Lady Sabine believes she is visiting Maidstone Castle to look over Sir Bennet's art treasures, and make purchases to help him out of his mounting financial problems. The visit lasts much longer than she expected. She's unaware the delay is because her grandmother has made different arrangements.

Life threatening circumstances arise as they are beginning to have feelings for one another. Neither one feel worthy of the other, nor will they admit their growing regard. Lady Sabine knows he will be disgusted by her birthmark, and Bennet knows she's too fine a lady to be saddled with the financial ruin his estate has become.

When time runs out, and things kept from the other are revealed, options become limited and the horizon looks bleak.

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Plenty of conflict, but satisfying resolution (albeit slightly cheesy).

The cute bantering was endearing at first, but not so much during the last half. Just my opinion. But Sabina's grandmother was a hoot, and I loved the way Sir Bennet's brother stepped up and grew as an individual. The honor each paid to the other (Sabine/Bennet) was refreshing, and the faith element was evident throughout. Although the gospel was never shared, it was clear, especially at the end, that Christ was the focus of their faith.

One thing that kept surprising me was that this was a Jody Hedlund book. I kept forgetting. Normally I'm focused on the author I'm reading, but since I hadn't read any other in this series, this didn't feel like her writing. Maybe that's good....that an author can be so well rounded and creative! I believe the intended audience was young adults, but all adults can enjoy this.
Profile Image for Kara.
761 reviews
March 31, 2017
Wow, I have simply loved this series!! This one might be the most beautiful cover of the three and ALL three have gorgeous covers :) Lady Sabine is another fave character of mine, her quick wit and sense of humor was delightful! Sir Bennet is truly an honorable man and has such growth from the beginning to the end. Also LOVED an appearance from the other knights and the Duke of Rivenshire, they arrive JUST in time and are perfect in the story!!

My favorite character was Sabine's grandmother, for some reason I pictured her like Meryl Streep with the pursing of the lips :) Loved this part,
"Appearances aren't always what they seem." Lady Sherborne continued to circle around and assess me as though I were a life-sized marble sculpture she was considering purchasing. She even had the audacity to wrap her hand around my arm, perhaps testing for the presence of muscles. She poked me in the chest, prodded my back, grabbed my hand, and studied my fingers before finally assessing my facial features, pushing my cheek first one way and then the other to study my profile. I waited for her to demand that I open my mouth so she could count to make sure I had all my teeth.

Loved the banter between Lady Sabine and Lord Bennet, non stop enjoyment throughout the story. LOVED the ending, it's the kind of story that makes both Bennet and Sabine equally heroic in this lovely saga that I have enjoyed since Book 1!

Beautiful cover, adventurous and clean romance, faith, and knights!! I truly hope Hedlund writes more YA because she is brilliant at it, but if not then For Love and Honor is more than enough. Highly recommended and this is definitely the kind of series you read more than once!
Profile Image for Sarah Jayyn.
152 reviews26 followers
February 4, 2021
description

This book was rather like watching an episode of a teen drama; I guess a lot of things happened and they weren't altogether unenjoyable, but I can't really remember that much of it now... I enjoyed this book mostly because it is a continuation of an interesting enough series. The story is nice and the characters are nice and it is precisely the kind of book I like to read before bed. I felt like the actual climax of the story was almost annoyingly avoidable, though. So... three stars? Lol

Content Warnings for this book: public execution, abduction, wrongful imprisonment, arranged marriage, themes of war and battle, physical violence
Profile Image for Gretchen.
263 reviews36 followers
September 3, 2020
Love anything by Jody Hedlund! I started this series on the third book and can't wait to read the first two, plus the newbie that will be coming out later this spring!

Reread August 2020: It was fun reading this one again after having read the first two books. Bennet is a great hero who sees Sabine’s inner beauty. The theme of inner beauty versus outward appearance makes this book great for young girls.

Aldric is my favorite character from this series. (I guess I just love a tortured soul 😂).
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