Karen Fenech, Betrayal

Betrayal

Karen Fenech

Five Star, November 2006, $26.95

ISBN: 1594145237

In 1122, William Norris dies in combat after betraying an ally. He leaves behind his pregnant wife Lady Katherine Stanfield, who would prefer the odious man, went to hell, but for the sake of her soon to be born child she gives him a Christian burial. Less than two weeks later, Katherine gives birth to twins with her daughter dying in childbirth. At about the same time Lord Ranulf invades the keep with plans to make Katherine his wife. She flees, leaving behind her dead child so Ranulf will not know that a son lives.

Her loyal Commander Sir Guy takes her son into hiding, while she asks her former betrothed De Lauren for help. He agrees on the condition she marry him right then. He retakes Stanfield keep, but the slaughter of innocent people and the destruction of property are horrifying. De Lauren buries her daughter because he does not want the woman he loves but mistrusts to see that Ranulf decapitated the infant. As Katherine realizes she too loves her spouse like she did when she broke off their engagement five years ago, Ranulf plots to assassinate De Lauren and make sure his enemy's loyal brother Stephen thinks Katherine betrayed them again.

Though Ranulf is a too over the top psychopath (ask his late wife as he literally bled her dry), medieval romance readers will welcome this fine twelfth century tale; more so because of the hero, who seems so realistic, especially his code of justice. The excitement in the entertaining storyline resides in anticipating the confrontation and learning why Katherine broke off with De Lauren and defied her father to marry an odious Norris. Karen Fenech writes a fun historical.