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Lady Solay, alleged daughter of Sir William of Weston was more infamously known as “the Harlot’s Daughter”; for everyone knew the daughter of Lady Alys Westion, the deceased king’s mistress, was sired by King Edward III. Recently come to London, Solay was presented to his son King Richard II purposely to regain a place in court in order to provide for her mother and sister, whom Parliament had stripped of most everything after King Edward had died. Lord Jason Lamont, was a lawyer serving the Duke of Gloucester and members of Parliament. One of Lord Jason’s duties was to see that the King wasted no more money on flatterers – of which he immediately put Lady Solay in that category. Believing the rumors, and thinking her a seductress like her mother, his immediate distrust of her was apparent as he tried to keep his physical attraction under control. Tricked and backed into a corner by the king, Jason found himself declaring for Solay IF she could prove she loved him. Attracted to the Jason, Solay became a pawn in a political game of duplicity and treason, forced to make a choice of betraying the man she’d come to love, or lying to the king. *** Since her impressive debut novel, THE KNAVE & THE MAIDEN, I’ve waited to see what author Blythe Gifford would come up with next and THE HARLOT’S DAUGHTER most definitely lived up to my expectations of her talent. Taking her inspiration from true historical events and real people, the author took literary license in embellishing history by fictionalizing what little history was recorded of the two daughters borne by the notorious Alice Perrers, mistress of King Edward III. Creative and imaginative, Ms. Gifford engrossed this reviewer much as the real Lady Alice enthralled the King. In true romance fashion, the two protagonists Lord Jason and Lady Solay were brought together by fate, but distrust was shown to overshadow their physical attraction to one another. Jason had been bewitched and betrayed once before vowing to never trust again. Like all the rest of the court he believed the gossip depicting Lady Solay to be as avaricious and greedy as her mother who reputedly stripped the rings off the dead king’s hands. In Lord Jason’s mind, the courts would see justice served and laws were to be followed to the letter – right from wrong with no place in between. The author depicted Solay as caught between a ‘rock and a hard place’. Her reason for coming to court was simple, trying to regain for her mother and sister a stipend allowing them shelter and food, after Parliament had stripped her mother of all their property and gifts from the former king. Solay had to charm and ingratiate herself to the new king (her half brother) for support. Jason represented the members of Parliament, and firmly believed that the Laws worked in providing justice. Afraid to be hurt again, Jason insisted he would only marry Solay if she could prove she loved him; a hard task when he assumed every thing she said was a lie. With her and her family’s livelihood hinging on spying for the king and reporting the council’s plans, Solay was forced to make an impossible choice. Complete with trials and tribulations, plus an exciting action packed and surprise ending, this wonderful historical new novel by Blythe Gifford fulfilled this reviewers expectations with fast paced excitement and nicely sensual romance. A must read for fans of medieval history, Ms. Gifford brings history to life complete with political intrigue and turbulent passions. Marilyn Rondeau – Reviewers International Organization (RIO) |
The Harlot's Daughter
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