Synopsis
To her, he represents authority and power. To him, she spells sedition and danger.
Orphaned at birth, Cecily Neville owes more than her name to the former hospitallers of Temple Roding. She was still a child when the reformation wrenched her home and adopted family from her and now, like the few surviving monks, she lives in fear that her past could take a deadly toll. Her closest friend is her precious peregrine falcon, Charlemagne. Her greatest enemy is Allan Smythe, the new owner of Temple Roding.
Grieving over the loss of both wife and child, Smythe throws his heart and soul into reviving the old hospitaller commandery that he’s bought in partnership with his brother-in-law, Kennett Clark. He can’t risk being distracted by the mysterious but tempting Cecily and her murdering bird. However, when Smythe is forced to save her from his brother-in-law’s lecherous clutches, the unscrupulous Kennett vows to destroy them both.
On a knife-edge, Smythe can’t afford to relax the rents owed by Cecily and her fellow villagers. If he doesn’t demolish her former home for profit, he risks losing everything to Kennett. But when necessity forces him to employ Cecily, there’s more at stake than his future and his battered heart. Something lies hidden in the depths of the hospitaller commandery that could solve all of Smythe’s problems… or threaten his life.
It all depends on whether he, or the very determined Cecily, finds it first.
Review
This book was so hard to put down once I started reading. I adored every character and loved the setting as well as descriptions. It paints a beautiful, idyllic, quaint town; taking use back to the past. I have to say, books like this one are the reason I enjoy historical fiction so much. Everything about it is beautiful.
Cecily is a mysterious character. She poses as one of the poor villagers, but somehow, she doesn't fit in with them. There is more to her story, and Smythe wants to know all about it. She intrigues him. But right now he has too many worries of his own. His brother-in-law turned out to be an unreliable co-investor. Now, he must find a way to pay him back and keep himself afloat. Financial worries consume him.
On the other hand, Cecily finds it to a perfect opportunity to use Smythe's financial problems and make her way back to the hospitaller commandery. There is a secret that she must uncover without letting Smythe know. It will benefit her and her people. However, she never thought she would actually like the new property owner. For some reason, Smythe is growing on her. Things are definitely going to get interesting.
I enjoyed every second of this book and would recommend it to all historical fiction lovers. This is a must read.
P.S. I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley.