The Conqueror (Mass Market Paperback)

Ceidre is the bastard daughter of a deceased Saxon lord and half sister to Lady Alice, the legitimate heir of their home, Aelfgar. Now that the dead Saxon lord's sons have double crossed William the Conqueror twice, the new king has awarded their home to one of his most loyal knights, Rolfe de Warenne. William has directed Rolfe to marry Lady Alice, thereby cementing his new ownership of this large holding. Rolfe first encounters Ceidre in the opening pages of the book when his knights are burning a village for hiding Saxon rebels. He mistakes her for a peasant and decides he will have a taste of her. When his men identify her as Rolfe's future bride, Rolfe realizes he must behave but is extremely pleased with his future bride. He had not expected to be drawn so fiercely to someone who would one day be his bride. Ceidre takes advantage of Rolfe's misunderstanding of her identity and travels back to Aelfgar with him - hoping to find an opportunity to escape. Upon reaching Ceidre's home, Aelfgar, Rolfe soon discovers that his future bride is Lady Alice, not Ceidre. Rolfe is enraged, very disappointed, and feels Ceidre has played him for a fool. From this point on, it is a battle of the wills as Rolfe attempts to put Ceidre in her place, fighting attraction every step of the way, and Ceidre defying Rolfe at every turn as she continues in her loyalty to her rebel Saxon brothers.

Now although I do appreciate a well-written alpha hero, I do not especially relish a violent hero. However, although this hero, Rolfe de Warenne, was just that - violent at times - there was this underlying enormity of loving feelings he had towards the heroine, Ceidre. Of course, being the typical romance hero written even today, he did not even want to admit much less explore his feelings for Ceidre. But those underlying feelings caused him to stay close, ever protecting her - even from her own foolish actions, and taking care of her when she was sick or injured. He did not want to banish her because it would mean separation from her although they had no official relationship - not even physically. At times, Rolfe really mistreated Ceidre and at other times, he was honorable, and still at other times, loving. It can safely be stated that his feelings for Ceidre certainly confused him. Despite Ceidre's negative treatment, I still loved The Conqueror because it portrayed an ongoing tenderness between the leads that was very engaging. There were many obstacles for these two to overcome and Brenda Joyce is able to make common romance situations highly intriguing without even one boring page.

This was an extremely good love story and one that will keep you anxiously reading one page after another. The sensual rating for this is high at a solid 4.5 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). The Conqueror is a strong keeper and I know I will relish reading it again. Now I am eagerly perusing Brenda Joyce's backlist. She is a very talented author who keeps the action mainly on the love affair. Although there are some interesting secondary characters and conflict in the background, the leads definitely carry this story. And that is the way I love the romances I read to be - about the romance!

I agree with other readers who have said that Rolfe is an unsympathetic hero. He is a rapist, there is no getting away from that and however sexy and assertive you may think him just think that if you met him now would you really fall for him? I think not so would the heroine have fallen for him then?

The heroine has a problem with her eye. Why? Was it to show Rolfe really had a tender side and could love her regardless? The man we were introduced to wouldn't have given her a second glance and would probably have burnt her at the stake or sent her to a nunnery.

I was surprised at the USA reviewers who seemed to think that because this book is set in 1069 it is reasonable to assume that the hero would be a rapist, that all Norman knights acted like ravaging sex-maniacs and that this book was a perfect history lesson.

The man was a knight with all the related vows of chivalry knighthood entailed in those times. Just because he was a conquoring soldier did not mean that his oaths would be discarded lightly. He would probably have been viewed with derision by his men for such lack of self-control and would have been answerable to the King for how he acted. In 1069 William was still trying to pacify a conquered country and didn't want to ignite a tinder-box situation.

For readers who thought this story a perfect example of how life was lived in 1069 I would recommend hopping on a 'plane and come visit English Heritage at Battle Abbey/Hastings or buy some good medieval history books! The real story would really get your pulse beating.

Rolfe the Relentless(!) Was no hero and I defy anyone to have forgiven him - ever!