Shadowheart (The Medieval Hearts Series Book 2)

I'm a recent fan of Laura Kinsale. Each book is so very different and I love the storytelling; it is very easy to become involved with her characters and their worlds. I loved the darker elements of the relationship in this story.

Excellent condition

I could never praise Laura Kinsale books enough. They are so intelligent and insightful and not even in the same league as so many frivolous romance novels.

A magical book. Pure escapism. Developed characters. A gripping story. Highly recommended read.

I had really high hopes for this book- but to be honest I just think the author is just not my cup of tea. I really gave her writing a chance- because I really like the male heroes she creates- they are amazing. However, there is always this big climax which ends up in a big, well, *poof*. I cannot tell you how many times I had to skip parts in this book- it was just too boring, I mean it is always good to be a little historically referential but the main word being "little". I understand that love isn't just sickly sweet but I didn't really see much love to be quite frank. As this is written for older readers, its not supposed to be 'fairy- taled' structure but it really was in the sense you had to wait till the very end to see their love blossom a little. Still, don't regret reading it, and she is a good writer but not one of my favourite authors like; Lisa Kleypas, Julie Garwood etc.

It's been a long draught for Kinsale fans. I believe I heard rumours of a crippling writers-block. Well, the dam must have broken, but because she is back and better than ever! This is one of THE MUST-READS of this Spring. The book is a marvellous tour de force for the returning author and sure will quickly win back old fans and make new!I love heroes that are alpha (strong, dominant personalities), but the more complex, dark ones are the Gamma rogues - the males that are outside of society, that chew up the Alpha males and spit them out as a pastime, men in the genius Anne Stuart's Bad Bad Boys vein. Stuart is the Queen of the dark and deadly male, but Kinsale is shaking the leg of throne with Allegreto. He is a brilliant creation that leaps off the pages. A trained assassin, he is determined to regain his rightful place in the Italian Principality of Monteverde - and he does not care what he has to do to achieve his aim or whom he uses. And in reaching his goal, he sees Lady Elena, the lost Monteverde Princess as the perfect pawn, thus sealing her fate.Elena is returning to Monteverde, betrothed to the man now running Monteverde. Her ship is overtaken and captured by pirates - lead by none other than Allegreto. She is first his prison, then later forced to wed him. Captive, lover, wife, Elena is naturally furious, as he is a hard man, nearly cruel, but flashes of moments when he displays a tenderness toward her begins to cause her to look part the killer veneer and see the man - the real man there - a man driven.Take a killer and making him a hero is, as they say, "a hard row to hoe". Anne Stuart did it in her brilliant "Moonrise", a book that haunts me years after putting it down. Kinsale now does it with "Shadow Heart". It is amazing the craft and magic both writers breathe into these hardened men, yet make the women love them for what they are - just as the readers will.Kinsale's love for this story shines, and like a master storyteller of old around the fireside, she weaves a tale that mesmerises, compels and leaves you breathless.You may want to buy three copies of this book - 1) to read more than once 2) to give to your best friend - she will love you for it and 3) to put on your keeper shelf and treasure!!Welcome back Ms. Kinsale!! Don't make it so long next time!!

Allegreto is the illegitimate son of a sadistic tyrant. Forced to spend his youth as his father's pawn and his assassin, it is no wonder he becomes a brooding, violent man. Shadowheart is the story of his salvation, in the capable form of the wild Elena Monteverde, lost heiress to the most powerful and fought over piece of land in Italy.Shadowheart is the story of their trials in regaining their rightful places and of healing the wounds of Allegreto's terrible youth. It is not always pretty, is far from usual romance fare, but it is gripping and emotional in its own right.Laura Kinsale is a romance writer par excellence and although this is slightly darker than her usual writing, it is still going to be a keeper. I have to say though, I thought that Elena, although having good reason to be aggrieved at Allegreto, was maybe a little too spiteful at times. In my opinion it sometimes compounded the way he had been treated all of his life. Yet it is only fiction, so treated as such it is a wild, superbly absorbing book, but don't take my word for it, grab a copy and see.