Medieval Monday Week 5 with Barbara Bettis

He must pursue his enemy; she must protect her people. Can their love survive the duties that drive them apart?

Welcome to Medieval Monday Week Five! This season's theme is "First Kiss" and I'm delighted to host author Barbara Bettis, who writes deliciously medieval romance. The Lady of the Forest is from her Knights of Destiny series. I absolutely love this story -- the feeling of being deep in a medieval forest with beautiful characters who are endearing from the start. 

For more amazing medieval romance, be sure to visit Medieval Romance Lovers on FB! We can also be found on Twitter, #MedMonSpring21.

About this book:

When her elderly husband dies, Lady Katherine fakes her own death and disappears into the forest with others escaping the brutish new lord. Determined to protect her people, she knocks the wrong man senseless. But Lord Henry isn’t an enemy, he’s the brother of her childhood friend. Although his tender confidence tempts her, she’s bound by duty.

Henry of Chauvere has found the one lady he wants for his own, never mind she’s tied him hand and foot. When he learns the king has ordered her to wed Stonehill’s ruthless new master, he insists Kate seek haven with his sister. But she won’t desert her friends. Henry vows to solve her problem, provided he catches a traitor before the threat from Kate's past catches her.

When a daring rescue compels Henry and Kate to join forces, their attraction grows into love. If only duty didn’t drive them apart.

And now for the romantic snippet!

What had led Lady Katherine of Glenmore Manor to become his lady of the forest?
“How is it Sir Mortimer believed you had died?”

She tensed and made to straighten.  His hands gently curled around her upper arms.

 “Never mind. We needn’t speak of it,” he said. “Rest now. Today has been a trial. I can think of no other woman who could have done what you have.”

Kate angled around as if to speak, the movement bringing her closer. So close, her warm breath traced along his cheek, a tantalizing taunt of want and need and shouldn’t-have. His skin itched and his lips tingled. Light from a particularly bright star reflected in her eyes. Surely it wasn’t tears. 

Available at Amazon. 

For last week's snippet from The Lady of the Forest, visit Mary Morgan's Tavern.

Follow along next week at Cathy MacRae's blog!

For this week's snippet from Tremors,  see Barbara's post.