Title: Nocturne
Author: Elaine Corvidae
Published in by New Concepts Publishing
Genre: Fantasy Romance
ISBN: N/A
Lady Anne Greensward feels the harsh stabbing like a knife slicing through her heart after learning that King Robert has discovered a new love, a new mistress, so Lady Anne is being shipped away to wed a man that came from a family that King Robert’s father regarded highly. Her family might be happy that she is advancing in her life, but she is definitely not happy about the situation because Anne is very much in love with Robert. She was his mistress and now he is tossing her aside, and if this was considered her recompense it sure wasn’t any prize. This was one part of her life she certainly wasn’t going to enjoy.
Anne is certainly not enjoying her ride to her new home at Greymuir. The coach appeared to be hitting one pothole after another, and even her cousin, Edward feels they are traveling in nothing but a wasteland area. She can’t blame Edward, it certainly isn’t his fault that she is forced to go somewhere else to live, and wed a man she has never met. Before arriving they are met by bandits and all of Anne’s dowry and jewelry is taken, but what is strange is the man who robbed her also is the one that came to her rescue. The masked bandit seems to stir something inside Anne and she wonders is he a rogue chymist. She doesn’t know if the chymists possess power but this highwayman, who entered their mist, appeared to be a bit dangerous, and once he disappears into the way, she thinks on the events.
Alaric, Baron of Greymuir, is happy to see Anne when she arrives. When he hears about the attack on the coach, there is nothing he can really do but write a strong letter to protest to the Minister. After learning that it was Nocturne, the bandit who did the robbing, Alaric says there is nothing that can be done, many have tried to catch him at this game, but none have succeeded. He assures Anne that the wedding will continue and she will be well taken care of in his home. Alaric has his own little secret that he must keep from Anne but for now he is looking forward to making her his wife.
Anne and her cousin, Edward are attacked on their way to her new home. She is surprised by the masked person who robbed them. He is sort of an enigma. She is bothered that the necklace that Robert had given her, the man stole. But with the approaching wedding, she cannot think much on anything but the impeding ceremony that appears to be going as planned. Word gets around that Nocture never knowingly robs the poor. He steals from the rich to give to the poor and as a wanted brigand he feels his duty is to protect the citizens. After Anne has the acquaintance of being with Nocturne, she finds he only pretends to be righteous when he is in fact nothing but a command brigand. She sees him as nothing but a common outlaw.
Yet there is something that stirs inside her every time she is near him and the more time she spends with her new husband, she begins to learn more about him and this Nocturne, and she sets out to unlock the mystery. Alaric soon confesses that he loves Anne but his brother, Gerard fears he is putting his life at risk. Every time that Anne feels she and Alaric are drawing closer together, he always has to leave, only making her furious with men. It makes her wonder can she even trust any man again. She soon finds herself hating Robert, Alaric and even Nocturne. When Anne finally realizes that she must put Robert completely out of her mind, because he really didn’t love her, she seeks to find real love with the man who carries her heart.
Nocturne is an intriguing read that kept this reader entertained from the first page to the last. I enjoyed the spirited character of Anne, and was glad when she finally got a backbone and forgot about Robert. I like the way she was sharing a meal after Alaric said he had to go out for the night and each time she stabbed her fork into her meat she thought it as stabbing it in Alaric’s privates. Alaric is the perfect hero in this book. He has style, class, sophistication and a sex appeal that comes across well. This story made me immediately think of the handsome heroes of the Robin Hood movies, dashing and protective men. It almost sweeps the reader into the pages and carries them right along on the journey.
Elaine Corvidae takes a theme and incorporates a new clever approach to an age old-romance that brilliantly captivated this reader. She sketches refreshing characters that tip the scale reaching out to the reader keeping them thoroughly engrossed. This is one recommended tale that I would truly say should be on the shelf to read over and over again. It is a lovely tale of a masked man who wears his identity well, and the lovely woman searching for romance and love with the perfect man who has a way of stealing her heart. Such beautiful passion shouldn’t be missed.
Sincerely good reading,
Linda
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