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mommasaystoread's review against another edition
4.0
First, let me say that this book reads like the author has certainly done her research of the time period. At least it feels that way. I can't say that I'm an expert of that period by any means, but for the first time in a while, I've read a book in the genre that didn't have me rolling my eyes every few minutes. That's not to say some things aren't a stretch of believability, but then, it is a romance and there are knights and damsels and all that. William and Isabel make for some great romance. They have witty banter, which I always enjoy, and Isabel has just enough feistiness to not be a complete pushover, but not so much that she's like a modern woman set down in the past. The story has a good combination of romance, danger, and a bit of mystery. It's an entertaining read that made for a good way to while away a few hours curled up on the couch.
littlebookjockey's review against another edition
5.0
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a road trip romance! I actually didn’t know that going into the book. I read Oliver’s debut, The Rebel Heiress and the Knight, a couple of weeks ago in preparation for reading this ARC, and I’m happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this as much as the first one!
This book actually has a line that should go down in the Annals of Historical Romance: “How dare he believe he was not good enough for her, as though he was beneath her” (264). How many times do we see this scenario? Many times past and many times future. Does it ever get old? Sometimes, but not really. In this case, Will believes he’s not good enough for Isabel, even though he proves himself time and again. Not only that, but Isabel explicitly tells him that they are both good enough for each other. Eventually, his friend Hugh helps him out, and it all clicks—naturally.
Our heroine, Isabel de Clancey, feels lost, as if she doesn’t belong anywhere. That’s part of what makes her relationship with Will feel so special. They become each other’s person, a home for one another. Will is on a self-imposed exile for what he perceives is his fault and his greatest shame, while Isabel feels disregarded and unwanted. Together, they build each other up without really trying, and they grow to love each other deeply and believably.
The adventure in this book tops that of the previous one, and that’s saying something. In the first book, we have a Robin Hood-esque heroine with a knightly hero, and in this one, we have a noble lady disguised as a peasant with another knightly hero. You’d think the first would have more action, but in truth, this book has several assassination/kidnapping attempts, actual Knights Templar (even though my feelings for them are less than stellar), defense lessons like those in the first (but more pertinent because Isabel has to repeatedly use them, saving both herself and Will), a voyage across land and sea, and a plot to steal a very important spoilery item—which I never guessed until it was revealed! Kind of ashamed of myself for that, really, after reading Dan Jones’s The Templars fairly recently.
One thing I really like about Melissa Oliver’s writing is that she keeps the action and the plot moving, spending only the amount of time necessary on each scene. She has yet to fail to make me feel for her characters, and I look forward to reading more from her. She’s definitely an author to put on your radar.
Review at Little Book Jockey.
This is a road trip romance! I actually didn’t know that going into the book. I read Oliver’s debut, The Rebel Heiress and the Knight, a couple of weeks ago in preparation for reading this ARC, and I’m happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this as much as the first one!
This book actually has a line that should go down in the Annals of Historical Romance: “How dare he believe he was not good enough for her, as though he was beneath her” (264). How many times do we see this scenario? Many times past and many times future. Does it ever get old? Sometimes, but not really. In this case, Will believes he’s not good enough for Isabel, even though he proves himself time and again. Not only that, but Isabel explicitly tells him that they are both good enough for each other. Eventually, his friend Hugh helps him out, and it all clicks—naturally.
Our heroine, Isabel de Clancey, feels lost, as if she doesn’t belong anywhere. That’s part of what makes her relationship with Will feel so special. They become each other’s person, a home for one another. Will is on a self-imposed exile for what he perceives is his fault and his greatest shame, while Isabel feels disregarded and unwanted. Together, they build each other up without really trying, and they grow to love each other deeply and believably.
The adventure in this book tops that of the previous one, and that’s saying something. In the first book, we have a Robin Hood-esque heroine with a knightly hero, and in this one, we have a noble lady disguised as a peasant with another knightly hero. You’d think the first would have more action, but in truth, this book has several assassination/kidnapping attempts, actual Knights Templar (even though my feelings for them are less than stellar), defense lessons like those in the first (but more pertinent because Isabel has to repeatedly use them, saving both herself and Will), a voyage across land and sea, and a plot to steal a very important spoilery item—which I never guessed until it was revealed! Kind of ashamed of myself for that, really, after reading Dan Jones’s The Templars fairly recently.
One thing I really like about Melissa Oliver’s writing is that she keeps the action and the plot moving, spending only the amount of time necessary on each scene. She has yet to fail to make me feel for her characters, and I look forward to reading more from her. She’s definitely an author to put on your radar.
Review at Little Book Jockey.
onebookmore's review
5.0
Her Banished Knight’s Redemption is a wonderful historical romance that follows Isabel and Will as they travel to reunite Isabel with her family. Will is determined to atone for his past and knows this last task of finding and bringing Isabel home is his chance. However, the closer Will and Isabel get to her home, and to each other, the more dangerous their journey becomes. Why must Isabel return home, and will the pendants that Will and Isabel share help them figure out why their lives are at risk?
I absolutely adored Will and Isabel’s love story! They first met when they were young, and Will rescued Isabel after witnessing the brutal murder of her traveling companions. Years later, they meet again when Will is commissioned to find Isobel and bring her back home. Their connection is strong from the start, and as they travel and have adventures together, their bond only deepens. Many obstacles, both internal and external, stand in their way, including the mystery of the pendants, societal expectations, and Will’s past. Through it all, I wholly rooted for this couple and hoped for their happy ending!
Isabel and Will are well-developed and endearing characters. Isabel is bright and positive. She always looks on the positive side of things and sees the goodness in people. She is also incredibly brave. Will is also valiant, and he is also honorable and just. Isabel’s life is threatened often during their travels, and Will fiercely protects her showing just how brave and selfless he is. They understand each other well and connect on such a deep level, which I loved. Both are torn between love and duty, and both are tormented by events from the past. However, they find love, peace, and acceptance in each other. I like how the author created such a well-layered and fascinating pair, and their love story is the highlight of the novel.
They mystery surrounding the pendants is also intriguing and filled with unexpected twists and turns. The more Isabel and Will investigate the significance of the pendants, the more dangerous and deadly their journey becomes. The story also wove interesting historical elements into the plot, which added depth and vividness to the story.
This is a suspenseful and swoon-worthy historical romance with dynamic characters and an interesting plot. Plus, there’s an adorable and lovable dog that was so cute!! I think that readers who enjoy romantic stories with great characters and a bit of intrigue will love this novel! Thanks so much to Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely adored Will and Isabel’s love story! They first met when they were young, and Will rescued Isabel after witnessing the brutal murder of her traveling companions. Years later, they meet again when Will is commissioned to find Isobel and bring her back home. Their connection is strong from the start, and as they travel and have adventures together, their bond only deepens. Many obstacles, both internal and external, stand in their way, including the mystery of the pendants, societal expectations, and Will’s past. Through it all, I wholly rooted for this couple and hoped for their happy ending!
Isabel and Will are well-developed and endearing characters. Isabel is bright and positive. She always looks on the positive side of things and sees the goodness in people. She is also incredibly brave. Will is also valiant, and he is also honorable and just. Isabel’s life is threatened often during their travels, and Will fiercely protects her showing just how brave and selfless he is. They understand each other well and connect on such a deep level, which I loved. Both are torn between love and duty, and both are tormented by events from the past. However, they find love, peace, and acceptance in each other. I like how the author created such a well-layered and fascinating pair, and their love story is the highlight of the novel.
They mystery surrounding the pendants is also intriguing and filled with unexpected twists and turns. The more Isabel and Will investigate the significance of the pendants, the more dangerous and deadly their journey becomes. The story also wove interesting historical elements into the plot, which added depth and vividness to the story.
This is a suspenseful and swoon-worthy historical romance with dynamic characters and an interesting plot. Plus, there’s an adorable and lovable dog that was so cute!! I think that readers who enjoy romantic stories with great characters and a bit of intrigue will love this novel! Thanks so much to Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
jessbookishlife's review against another edition
5.0
This was Melissa Oliver's second book, and it's also the second of a series. I must confess, I haven't read many Medieval Romances, not as much as compared to other subgenres of Historical Romance, but Melissa Oliver is getting me to join the band and go on tour.
Her first book was amazing and her second was as lovely.
Will and Isabel... I loved them! I love that Will was honorable and still broken, it made me want to hug him and help him. And Isabel was such a strong woman, I wanted to be her friend. And them together, Lord have mercy, they were cute and their interactions let me dream.
Okay, I do love a good Historical Romance because the characters take me back in time, and let me dream of romance. And I do need that, specially now. But the truth is, the author didn't just had romance in her story. It had drama and action, and definitely secrets and flawed characters that felt very real.
Overall, you know it's expected to have a happy ending, yet that don't takes it away from the amazing journey we take with the characters as they grow, feel in love and fight for themselves and for what's right and true. And Melissa Oliver gave me that and I can't wait for her next work. I'm a fan.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Melissa Oliver for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
Her first book was amazing and her second was as lovely.
Will and Isabel... I loved them! I love that Will was honorable and still broken, it made me want to hug him and help him. And Isabel was such a strong woman, I wanted to be her friend. And them together, Lord have mercy, they were cute and their interactions let me dream.
Okay, I do love a good Historical Romance because the characters take me back in time, and let me dream of romance. And I do need that, specially now. But the truth is, the author didn't just had romance in her story. It had drama and action, and definitely secrets and flawed characters that felt very real.
Overall, you know it's expected to have a happy ending, yet that don't takes it away from the amazing journey we take with the characters as they grow, feel in love and fight for themselves and for what's right and true. And Melissa Oliver gave me that and I can't wait for her next work. I'm a fan.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Melissa Oliver for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
giuliaskye's review against another edition
5.0
This was such an enjoyable story. Full of fun, mystery and adventure - and lots of sweet, tender romance. I read the first in the series, and this second one does not disappoint. I've already pre-ordered the third one! Highly recommended.
rubywren's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
3.0
When disgraced knight William Geraint sets out to find and escort Lady Isabel de Clancey back to England and her family, she is no longer the biddable young girl he once rescued on her travels to France. Instead, she is more beautiful than he could have imagined and thinks more highly of him than he could have hoped. And both are unaware of how deep their attraction, and the conspiracy that dogs their steps, will grow.
Second in Melissa Oliver’s Notorious Knights series, Her Banished Knight’s Redemption is a loosely linked follow-up to The Rebel Heiress and the Knight with a cameo appearance by that book’s romantic lead, Sir Hugh de Villiers. Both are medieval romances that, in spite of their adventurous and romantic storylines, never quite grab onto my imagination. But where the previous book has the heroine playing a masked Robin Hood type character, William and Isabel’s story has the added interest of intrigue involving Templar Knights and a pair of necklaces that Isabel has been taught should never be kept together.
An open door romance between two wounded characters who believe they cannot remain together, Her Banished Knight’s Redemption is Melissa Oliver’s second book with Harlequin Historical and fans of medieval romance will want to watch for this author’s future books.
I voluntarily read a digital galley of this book through NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and these are only my own honest opinions.
Second in Melissa Oliver’s Notorious Knights series, Her Banished Knight’s Redemption is a loosely linked follow-up to The Rebel Heiress and the Knight with a cameo appearance by that book’s romantic lead, Sir Hugh de Villiers. Both are medieval romances that, in spite of their adventurous and romantic storylines, never quite grab onto my imagination. But where the previous book has the heroine playing a masked Robin Hood type character, William and Isabel’s story has the added interest of intrigue involving Templar Knights and a pair of necklaces that Isabel has been taught should never be kept together.
An open door romance between two wounded characters who believe they cannot remain together, Her Banished Knight’s Redemption is Melissa Oliver’s second book with Harlequin Historical and fans of medieval romance will want to watch for this author’s future books.
I voluntarily read a digital galley of this book through NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and these are only my own honest opinions.
cuppacora's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
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