My Thoughts on The Feud series by Tamara Leigh

 

My Thoughts:

I purchase every author Leigh book when it comes out. I cannot believe that I have let this series, of wonderful, swoon worthy romances, and battle of wills between lord and lady sit on my shelf for so long. Each story is good, read together as a series, great.

These are definitely rereads and let me tell you, I did not want to leave their world. I stayed up late too many nights reading this series and thought about them often.

Three families caught up in a feud for over twenty-five years. Ordered by the king to make peace with marriage to one another. All wanting the same thing, all blaming each other, and all have one enemy. Packed with chivalry and sacrifice, this is their stories. These are higher on the romantic scale, and I am very appreciative of how the author handles the intimacy in their marriages.

About:

THE FEUD

England, 1308. Three noblemen secretly gather to ally against their treacherous lord. But though each is elevated to a baron in his own right and given a portion of his lord’s lands, jealousy and reprisals lead to a twenty-five year feud, pitting family against family, passing father to son.

THE DECREE

England, 1333. The chink in Baron Boursier’s armor is his fondness for a lovely face. When it costs him half his sight and brands him as one who abuses women, he vows to never again be “blinded” by beauty. Thus, given the choice between forfeiting his lands and wedding one of his enemies to end their feud, he chooses as his betrothed the lady said to be plain of face, rejecting the lady rumored to be most fair.

THE ENEMY

On the eve of the deadline to honor the king’s decree of marriage, the fair Elianor of Emberly takes matters into her own hands. Determined none will suffer marriage to the man better known as The Boursier, she sets in motion her plan to imprison him long enough to ensure his barony is forfeited. But when all goes awry and her wrathful enemy compels her to wed him to save his lands, she discovers he is either much changed or much maligned. And the real enemy is one who lurks in their midst. One bent on keeping the feud burning.

My Thoughts:

Bayard's time is up and he now must choose a bride from one of the other warring families. Since he was already messed up with his first wife from the Verdun's, he chooses the young Thomasin de Arell. That is until Elianor of the Verdun's sets her plans in motion and changes everything for all three of the families.

This first in the series deals with mistaken identity and a marriage that neither individual wanted. But what was wrought in vengeance becomes something so much more. A second marriage between two people deeply hurt from their first. One from adultery and the other abuse. Can two hurt people let go of the past and embrace a future where love rules?

This was a beautiful emotion fueled story that at times was heart wrenching as we find out what exactly happened to these two. And their romance, was just what was needed, even though Elianor was not the Boursier's chosen bride.

I purchased a copy of this novel for my own reading pleasure and all views and opinions are my own.

About:

A WARRIOR DANGEROUSLY IN CONTROL

England, 1334 ~ In the second book of The Feud series, Baron Magnus Verdun is a warrior whose handsome face gives little indication of the darkness he struggles to contain. While pursuing the murderous brigands who plague his lands, he becomes the unwitting savior of the woman the king has decreed he wed—the reckless Lady Thomasin, whose very presence threatens his carefully ordered life. And more so when she proves outspoken beyond what is required of a dutiful wife. Can he tame this woman whose willful ways ought to offend, but instead captivate? More, dare he allow her near and risk exposing the secret that could push her away?

A LADY PERILOUSLY IMPROPER

Despite efforts to make a proper lady of her, the illegitimate Thomasin de Arell knows she is no match for the Baron of Emberly. Though she expects her new husband will think her beneath him, she is unprepared when he insists on separate chambers. When he also demands she control her behavior, the spurned Thomasin rebels—and unknowingly becomes the pawn of forces determined to further the feud. But upon finding herself in Magnus’s arms, she discovers he is not as indifferent as he would have her believe. And when she glimpses his torment, she is determined to shine light on his darkness. Will he let her in? Or will their enemies use the distrust between husband and wife for their own ends?

In this sequel to the bestselling medieval romance, Baron Of Godsmere, join Baron Verdun and his lady as they discover that true love seeks first the soul, and is as easily seen in the dark as in the light.

My Thoughts:

Whelp, I did not think I could like the next story more than the first, but this is my favorite of the series. Thomasine and Magnus's romance was so good I can barely wrap my head around it. As we know from the first book, Elianor of the Verdun's changed everything. Now Thomasine is wed to Magnus, Baron of Emberly. Magnus is described as very handsome, so much so they call it a curse. He has other issues that weigh on his mind, and that has much to do with his keeping in control.

However his wife is the illegitimate daughter of Griffin de Arell and she has not lived the life of a noble woman for long. In fact she was a servant and commoner until her father rescued her. And she is described as plain. Needless to say, Thomasine is less in control than what Magnus would like.

But oh their love story was one for the ages. So intense and new. And like the first couple, they are surrounded by danger and traitors in their midst.

I purchased this book for my reading enjoyment. All views and opinions are my own.

About:

THE PRIZE

England, 1333. When Lady Quintin Boursier leads an army against the Baron of Blackwood to demand the release of her abducted brother, she finds the same fate awaits her. Now she must free herself and discover where Griffin de Arell holds her brother before her family’s lands are forfeited. But as the long winter nights unfold and those prowling the black wood move the feud nearer its deadly end, Quintin realizes she may have wronged her captor. And he is as much a captive to her—she whose secret will spoil the prize others seek to make of a woman no man should want.

THE VICTOR

Baron Griffin de Arell protects those who belong to him, and now that the tempest who dared put a blade to his throat is his, he intends to protect her—if only from herself. However, Quintin Boursier yet has games to play. Though Griffin resists her wiles, when it appears her family’s lands are forfeited, a glimpse of her woman’s heart tempts him to make the lady his in truth. Now with the enemy responsible for inciting the feud determined to claim her as his prize, Griffin must join his grudging allies in bringing peace to their lands and protecting the woman who first set herself at his walls—then his warrior’s heart.

Join Griffin and Quintin in the third and final book in this best-selling medieval romance series as the Boursiers, De Arells, and Verduns seek the light at the end of their long, dark feud.

My Thoughts:

Now onto Griffin and Quintin's story, a sigh worthy conclusion if there ever was one. This story goes back and recaps and gives us a panoramic view of the first and the second book. This story is told through Griffin and Quintin's eyes. I know some people don't like that sort of storytelling, but I had been most excited about getting their stories from the get-go. And what a story.

These two were quite snarky with one another. However, the attraction for them was there from the beginning. They had but to hide it from the world. Quintin needed a man like Griffin, and I am so glad that Elianor messed up the alliances as they were going. And as danger closes in on all three families, secrets come out, and the whole of the villain's plan is shown.

I enjoyed the comradery between the barons and their ladies as they became family and confidants. I have such a book hang over now after reading this entire series in a week, I feel quite lost in our modern world. This is one of the best series I have ever read.

I purchased a copy of this novel for my reading enjoyment. All views and opinions are my own.