Secret Thunder

When her husband is reported killed in battle, a woman is forced to marry an infamous Norman warrior, with whom she nevertheless falls in love, a love that is tested when he is accused of murdering her late husband. ReviewHaving lost her first husband to the Normans, Faithe of Hauekleah is given in marriage to a Norman knight known as the Black Dragon. Faithe has no choice but to accept her new husband or lose Hauekleah. She bravely awaits her new husband, hoping that perhaps he will tire of farm life quickly and return to being a soldier. But once she gets to know the man behind the reputation, Faithe feels quite differently. She cannot stop thinking about her handsome husband and how he refuses to consummate their marriage until she can trust him. He is a man of honor and honesty-- and Faithe falls in love with her husband. Luke de Perigueux is happy at Hauekleah. He has a beautiful wife who wants to make the best of their marriage and Luke has no intention of leaving her. As the Black Dragon he was expected to be a warrior, but as Luke of Hauekleah he can be the man his wife sees in him. When the truth about Faithe's first husband comes out, Luke will have to face his violent past. Treachery and deception threaten to tear apart the lovers and Luke will risk losing Faithe forever if he tells her the truth. Patricia Ryan is a masterful author of medieval romances. Without question, Secret Thunder is her best work to date. Set in England during the time of the Norman Conquest, the tale is rich in history and romance. Luke is a tortured hero, maintaining his bloodlust during battle only because of the herbs he chews. He is not the beast he thinks he is but it takes the love of Faithe to heal his soul. As is typical of Ms. Ryan's heroines, Faithe is a strong woman devoted to her home-- and to the husband she comes to love. Secret Thunder is a magnificent love story and Patricia Ryan has surpassed this reviewer's highest expectations!This is as good as it gets! Once again Patricia Ryan dazzles us with her amazing story telling abilities! Secret Thunder will steal the hearts of readers everywhere! A marvelous love story from the queen of medieval romance! Patricia Ryan is a gifted author-- and I will buy anything she writes! Don't miss Patricia Ryan at her finest! If you read only one historical romance this year it should be Secret Thunder!Kristina Wright -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary TimesAbout the AuthorPatricia Ryan has written more than two dozen books, which have been published in over 20 countries and won numerous awards, including Romance Writers of America's RITA for her medieval romance SILKEN THREADS. A four-time RITA nominee, she is also the recipient of two Romantic Times Awards and a Mary Higgins Clark Award nomination for the first book of her Gilded Age mystery series, written as P.B. Ryan.(Please note that there is another author who has started writing romance ebooks for Extasy Books as "Patricia Ryan." If a book was published by Extasy, this author did not write it.) --Patricia Ryan