Melissa Oliver

A delightful end to the series
5 stars

This is the third and final book in the Protectors of the Crown series. Each follows one of a trio of Knights Fortitude - highly skilled and trained soldiers that work, mostly undercover, to protect the English crown - as they find and fall in love. This last story focuses on Savaric Fitz Leonard and Marguerite Studal - characters we’ve met in the previous books. But I don’t think you have to have read either earlier book to understand and enjoy Savaric and Marguerite’s tale.

Savaric and his fellow Knights are really close to bringing down the Duo Dracone - a sinister organisation determined to bring down the Crown. (This part of the plot has been running through all three books but seriously, you’ll be fine if you’re new to the series or Melissa Oliver!) I do enjoy a mystery to be solved and a little bit of skullduggery, so this added element to the book was both intriguing and fun. It also helped to throw our couple together which was a nice added bonus.

Savaric seemed to me to be both a flamboyant character as well as someone who had a mystery about him. Being of mixed heritage, he’s treated differently - and indifferently - so he understandably feels set apart from others. Yet he’s also very dedicated to his cause and is quick on his feet. His past interactions with Marguerite - told to us by both characters throughout the story - left him feeling out of sorts which led to him hurting her for what he thinks is her own good. It sounded like a stupid male move - but as the book continues, we get to see why he feels this way and I could see his reasoning. But I do so like to see men like this fall and fall hard.

It’s always nice to see feisty, heroic heroines, especially in times when they would more likely have been overlooked or dismissed. Marguerite, when she first met Savaric, was a shy and quiet girl. But since his departure, she turned into a deadly, independent and fierce woman who is hell-bent on getting what she wants. She just has to convince Savaric that they want the same thing. And I was 100% convinced she would get her man.

I always love a second-chance romance - even if, as in this case, nothing really happened between our pair previously. But there’s still hurt, especially on Marguerite’s side, which means anger and dislike. Anger and dislike that gives sparks between our couple and delicious feelings in me. Marguerite and Savaric definitely have chemistry - whether fighting each other, fighting their feelings or getting down to the loving - and I was here for it. While there are sexual situations (and good ones), our couple never actually go all the way. But it felt right for the story and the emotions and chemistry were still there throughout.

I’ve really enjoyed my time with the Knights Fortitude and the Protectors of the Crown series. Melissa Oliver always writes in a way that I can feel myself in the medieval world that she builds for her characters - the good and the bad of it! This was definitely my favourite of the three books and not just because there was a lovely, happy endings for all type epilogue that perfectly concluded what has been a fun and immersive set of stories. I’m looking forward to the next adventures that Ms Oliver will take us on. 5 stars for this story and very much recommended.… (mais)

Engaging intrigue and romance
5 Stars

A Stolen Knight’s Kiss in the second book in Melissa Oliver’s medieval set Protector’s of the Crown series. There is an overarching mystery of the shadowy Duo Dracones group that started in the first book and will continue on through the series - so we don’t get the conclusion of the larger mystery, but the love story of Eva and Nicholas and the smaller intrigues involving our pair, are all contained within the pages of this story. If you’re worried that you need more of the background, then pick up A Defiant Maiden’s Knight as I’ve no doubt you’ll love that story, too.

When we first meet our heroine, Eva, I admit that I wasn’t completely on board with her - she was a little too cheeky and mouthy for me. But I suppose she didn’t know, as we readers did, that Nicholas was actually her knight in shining armour. But as she let her walls down, I started to like her more and more, until finally I liked her immensely and was rooting for her. She never lost that feistiness of spirit or her loyalty and, thankfully, she never did stupid things when presented with the possibility of doing so. Good job, Eva.

Nicholas was a minor character in the first novel and I already was half in love with the laid back, cheeky and charming knight. His character built over the course of the novel and we learnt so much more about him and what made him tick. And while I liked him before, as a more rounded character - he was perfection. And did I mention that the poor lad had that broken, squishy inside covered by a hot, solid exterior? Carrying his mama’s ring? Remembering his childhood pain? He just needed the love of a good woman.

Luckily for him and us, Eva was that woman. She and Nicholas had a nice little spark going on from the moment they meet. Actually from the moment their eyes meet on practically sentence one, page one! They have that delicious attraction disguised as arguing and banter that causes bouts of spontaneous kissing - which I’m always here for. There’s also just enough sex to keep things fresh and interesting.

As with other books I’ve read from Ms Oliver, her writing style transports you into the world her characters inhabit. I don’t know how she does it - because it’s so well-written that you forget you’re reading and just live in the story - but I often found myself seeing, smelling, tasting the things along with our characters. I have to say that I again noticed the author’s quirk of full-naming her characters at random times when it didn’t seem necessary. But ach - it is what it is!

As I mentioned the love story of Nicholas and Eve stands completely alone and while I’m always hoping for an epilogue - I content myself with the fact that this book up set up what will hopefully be the next book in the series with Marguerite and Sir Savaric Fitz Leonard as the couple. Hopefully Eve and Nicholas will appear in that story as Joan and Sir Warin did in this one - and really cutely, too!

This is a great, engaging and engrossing read with just enough intrigue and suspense to keep you on your toes. The love story is never overshadowed by the skullduggery but instead blends well together to make a satisfying read that’ll leave you happy and content.… (mais)

Brida O'Connaill and Sir Thomas Lovent...
...two hearts thrown together by circumstance...
...but two souls that were meant to be..
...whether they can admit it or not!


The thing with these particular stories from author Melissa Oliver is that while there is a bigger picture going on all around them...you know, plots against peace, the king, and what have you...it doesn't take away from the romance at its heart. I loved Brida and Thomas' spark. Their witty banter and constant need to annoy each other to no end was delightful! It added a dose of fun, of humor, of something much needed to brighten the darker things that surrounded and haunted them both. The chance Brida took on living a lie to gain a modicum of freedom was understandable. The "unfortunate" assumption that the knight in poor health was the seed of that long held lie, story building. The dash for their lives, the near misses at meeting their maker earlier than planned, and the potential for a bittersweet ending to arrive unwanted, all went into making those tethers in your heart pull tight again and again. But by book's end, the fruit of their labors, however unintentional they may have been, see the light of day...and readers get something they could only truly hope for...with a side of entertainment to boot!

All in all, another great pair in the making from an author who spins the story round her characters with care, knowing that even though danger was at every turn, love, light, and laughter should rule the day...and the heart!


**ecopy received for review...but have purchased one for myself as well; opinions are my own… (mais)

Lady Gwenllian and Ralph de Kinnerton...a promising couple then, but an explosively brilliant couple now, if only they'd let each other in. Guess that's what happens when you've years that separate, but that's better than the veil of death that hung between them when they first met for the second time.

I regarded Gwenllian with a full heart for her bravery, her determination, and her kindness. When she met young William, you can't help but smile at their time spent together. When she and Ralph try to move beyond the past pulled together by the connection that runs so deep between them, you can't stop yourself from hoping against hope that it will turn out brilliantly perfect. When trouble comes calling, the breath is taken from your lungs as you keep reading to see if everyone survives the fallout. When the final battle is waged, that same breath stolen will be held along with the most ardent wishes for truth and love to prevail. On the other hand, Ralph's return to the land of the living was nothing short of a miracle, making him equally worthy of our admiration, and while he was cloaking himself in mystery, it was very much warranted considering those he is trying to evade. The thing about him that stands out though isn't his battle scars, or knightly swordplay, but the power of his heart, his strength of spirit, and his desire to set things to right.

In the end, I loved the story for its darkness and light, spirit and heart, and most of all, its enduring love! It wasn't easy for any of them, and the trials they faced were all thanks to others that couldn't accept what was and was not theirs in life for the taking, but it made them who they were and for that, I wouldn't want it any other way!



**ebook received for review; opinions are my own… (mais)