Eight-year-old Geoffrey de Lanceau knew his father was no traitor to the king. He wept bitterly as his father took his final breath, vowing that Lord Arthur Brackendale would pay for killing his father and laying siege to their home. Now Geoffrey is a strong and powerful knight with the cunning to exact the revenge he promised his father 18 years ago. His plan is to kidnap Lord Brackendale's only daughter and ransom her for the return of Wode and the estates to which only he is the rightful heir.

Lady Elizabeth knows well the name of the man who has sworn vengeance against her father. He is but a rogue and a traitor's son and she is not overly fearful of him despite her father's warnings. When Lady Elizabeth is kidnapped, Geoffrey and Elizabeth are forced to admit that neither of them are what the other expected. Elizabeth is sorry for Geoffrey's life of pain, but believes her father innocent and refuses to hear Geoffrey's tales of treachery. Geoffrey is amazed at Elizabeth's strength and ability to make the best of whatever he dishes out. He must guard his growing feelings for her. Nothing must get in the way of his revenge and his vow to kill the man responsible for his father's death. What Geoffrey and Elizabeth have in common is a search for the truth, but too many lies and too many years may have passed for that to be possible. A budding love for each other is all that can save them at a final showdown, but a knight's need for vengeance may prove to be too much.

Another superbly written novel by an author who's quickly become a favorite. Once again, Ms. Kean captures the reader's attention with all the elements of a must-read. The hero and heroine's first meeting is innocently seductive and filled with promise as the story unfolds and the tension builds. While revenge is key to the storyline, the relationship between the hero and heroine is the driving force and their love a final saving grace. Another book for the keeper shelf, and I'm eagerly awaiting this author's next novel promised for 2007!

Book Summary

A quest for revenge . . .

Geoffrey de Lanceau is a knight, the son of the man who once ruled Wode. His noble sire died, however, branded as a traitor. But never will Geoffrey believe his father betrayed their king, and swears vengeance against the man who brought his sire down in a siege to take over Wode.

A quest for love . . .

Lady Elizabeth Brackendale dreamed of marrying for love, but is promised by her father to a lecherous old baron. Then she is abducted and held for ransom by a scarred, tormented rogue who turns out to be the very knight who has sworn vengeance against her father.

A quest for truth . . .

The threads of deception sewn eighteen years ago bind the past and present. Only by Geoffrey and Elizabeth championing their forbidden love can the truth - and the lies - be revealed about . . .