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Synopsis:

Sir Philip d'Apremont, is confident he can fulfil the King's orders to find Lady Rosawyn, the Earl of Liskard's beautiful daughter, marry her and regain her father's lands.

Kidnapped by her ruthless brother-in-law, Sir Hugh Noirville and imprisoned in a remote Cornish convent, Lady Rosawyn Liskard, prays fervently for deliverance. When that arrives in the handsome, muscular shape of Philip D'Apremont she finds herself swiftly married and embroiled in a struggle for her inheritance and for her heart.

Philip D'Apremont is the illegitimate son of a Norman knight and a Greek captive. Dubbed the 'Saracen' by his enemies Philip has fought all his life to wipe out the slur of his birth. Using his legendary bravery and skills as a warrior he is now in high favoured with the newly crowned Henry II of England. Henry has offered Philip the chance to gain land and a title by marrying Lady Rosawyn Liskard, the daughter of the ailing Earl of Cornwall. There are, of course a few hurdles.

Rosawyn and Philip, strangers as they took their vows, marry for very different reasons. Will they be able to overcome betrayal and capture, separation and misunderstanding to finally stand together for their people and for their love?
 

SRR GRADE:  A
 

I have to say Ellie Tremayne really knows how to write to a good historical romance, and in today's literary world where historicals are few and far between that is saying quite a lot. The Price of a Sword starts out in a fairly traditional manner with a brutal villain who kidnaps the beautiful maiden, next enters the brooding yet handsome hero to the rescue. Naturally, quite a few adventures occur during that time period, and there are a number of conflicts between the hero and the maiden as well. If we did not have these "conflicts" to advance the storyline there would be little reason for us to continue reading the book, and Ms. Tremayne seems reluctant to disappoint her readers!

Rosawyn Liskard is not the typical heroine, being more feminist in her outlook and her attitudes than her fellow characters and not shy about expressing her views. While she is "rescued" by Philip d'Apremort, at no time does she appear to be beholden, or subservient to him. Ms. Tremayne seems to have tremendous fun propagating the mistrust between Rosawyn and Philip, and between the pair and their enemies, keeping the pace of the book at a fast clip and the reader ever guessing what will happen next. I recommend reading the book to find out, it is a wonderful example of what historical fiction can and should be!