The Crusader's Bride


Book Description

Gaston battled for duty and honor—until Ysmaine tempted him to fight for her love... When the Templar knight Gaston unexpectedly inherits his family estate, he knows he needs a wife and heir. A marriage of convenience to a widow in need of assistance is a practical solution and the newly-wed pair leave Jerusalem, entrusted with the delivery of a package for the Templars. Away from the life he has known for years, Gaston quickly realizes that little is following his plan—especially his mysterious wife, whose presence awakens an unexpected fire... Twice widowed, Ysmaine doubts she will ever wed again, let alone have a marriage of merit—until she is charmed by the gruff knight intent upon defending her. Ysmaine weds again, not only by her own choice but to a warrior whose honor she admires. She is determined to show Gaston that marriage has more to offer them both than an heir, but first she must win the trust of the wary man she has impulsively wed... Neither realize that Gaston has been entrusted with the treasure of the Templars—much less that someone in their small party is intent upon claiming the prize at any cost. In a company of strangers with secrets, can Gaston dare to trust his new bride? Can Ysmaine convince Gaston to confide what he knows? Can they solve the riddle together before the villain’s plan comes to fruition and all is lost? * * * The Champions of St. Euphemia series follows the quest of a group of knights entrusted with a treasure in Jerusalem which they must deliver safely to Paris on their way to their respective homes. They find adventure and peril on the way, as well as romance. Since the stories overlap and build upon each other, they should be read in order. 1. The Crusader's Bride 2. The Crusader's Heart 3. The Crusader's Kiss 4. The Crusader's Vow 5. The Crusader's Handfast * * * medieval romance, series starter, first-in-series, historical romance, Templar, knight, medieval, action adventure, quest, treasure, disguise, secret identity, lost heir, widow, arranged marriage, marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, scottish, highlander, may december, warrior, jerusalem, venice, paris, scotland, england, robin hood, fish out of water




The Crusader


Book Description




The Crusader's Heart


Book Description

Isobel Campbell is on a secret mission to find sanctuary for Scotland's most holy relic. She is determined to see it to safety, but every step she takes brings her closer to an uncertain future. When the fate of the relic is assured, she must decide her own course. A lonely path forward seems inevitable, but her protector, a mysterious crusader, makes her yearn for a life filled with his love. Alexander MacKinnon returns home to Scotland to face his clan's dire prospects. Escorting a noblewoman to a nunnery delays his reckoning with the family he left behind and presents dangers he cannot face alone. Isobel, his beautiful charge, may prove to be the greatest danger of all, for the powerful connection between them could lead to their ruin. But this crusader's heart cannot deny what it wants, even if it means putting everything at risk.




The Crusader's Vow


Book Description

Fergus’ heart was broken forever—until Leila tempted him to love again… Returning home to Scotland triumphant and entrusted with the precious relic of the Templars, Fergus is stunned to learn that his beloved Isobel has wed another man. He knows he will never love again, so a marriage of convenience to his friend and comrade, Leila, seems a fitting compromise. At least it will give Leila the security of a home and husband, even if it offers far less than Fergus desired of marriage… Leila fears her past will pursue her, compelling to return to her former life, until Fergus offers the ideal solution. She yearns for more than a practical match with the valiant Highlander, but hopes to win his heart before revealing the love she has kept secret from him. All might end well, if Fergus’ former betrothed would just relinquish her hold upon him… When those who hunt the Templar treasure in Fergus’ possession identify its location, both Fergus and Leila could lose far more than their marriage. Will they triumph over the past and trust each other in time to find happiness together? * * * The Champions of St. Euphemia series follows the quest of a group of knights entrusted with a treasure in Jerusalem which they must deliver safely to Paris on their way to their respective homes. They find adventure and peril on the way, as well as romance. Since the stories overlap and build upon each other, they should be read in order. 1. The Crusader's Bride 2. The Crusader's Heart 3. The Crusader's Kiss 4. The Crusader's Vow 5. The Crusader's Handfast * * * Templar, knight, medieval, action adventure, quest, treasure, disguise, secret identity, lost heir, widow, arranged marriage, marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, scottish, highlander, may december, warrior, jerusalem, venice, paris, scotland, england, robin hood, fish out of water




The Crusader's Handfast


Book Description

Duncan loved and lost—until Radegunde convinced him to surrender his heart again. After the loss of his wife, Duncan has earned his way as a warrior-for-hire, certain he will never have a home of his own again. Merry Radegunde convinces him to celebrate the life he has and Duncan finds himself unexpectedly beguiled—though he knows the difference in their ages means any match is doomed… Radegunde has never cared for the rules of others and sees no reason to deny true love. She vows to win Duncan’s reluctant heart and convince the honorable warrior to not only love again but hope for more than mere survival—and Duncan is seduced. He takes her hand in his, vowing a match for a year and a day, hoping he can build them a future in that time… But possession of the Templar treasure imperils those they serve and love, compelling Radegunde and Duncan to choose between their own desires and the greater good. Duncan’s own legacy holds the key, but can he claim his birthright without sacrificing his dream of a future with Radegunde? * * * The Champions of St. Euphemia series follows the quest of a group of knights entrusted with a treasure in Jerusalem which they must deliver safely to Paris on their way to their respective homes. They find adventure and peril on the way, as well as romance. Since the stories overlap and build upon each other, they should be read in order. 1. The Crusader's Bride 2. The Crusader's Heart 3. The Crusader's Kiss 4. The Crusader's Vow 5. The Crusader's Handfast * * * Templar, knight, medieval, action adventure, quest, treasure, disguise, secret identity, lost heir, widow, arranged marriage, marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, scottish, highlander, may december, warrior, jerusalem, venice, paris, scotland, england, robin hood, fish out of water




The Crusader's Kiss


Book Description

Bartholomew burns to avenge the past—until Anna gives him a future… Bartholomew returns to England to avenge his parents and reclaim his stolen legacy, only to be challenged by a band of thieves in the woods of the estate that was once his home. He captures the bold leader, only to discover that she is a maiden in disguise, with the wit and audacity that seizes his attention. He suggests a mock marriage to gain access to the keep, never guessing the union will tempt them both to desire more—but can Bartholomew trust a woman who survives by deception? Anna wants only justice for the people of Haynesdale, no matter what the price, and does not welcome the interference of a foreign knight, however handsome he might be. Bartholomew could be a useful ally, if only she could be certain of his goals. Is this maddening and charming knight just using her to learn all she knows of the holding’s history for some mysterious cause? When Bartholomew’s identity as the lost heir of Haynesdale is revealed, he becomes the prey of those who destroyed his family. Can he and Anna forget their distrust and work together for the future of Haynesdale—and their dawning love? * * * The Champions of St. Euphemia series follows the quest of a group of knights entrusted with a treasure in Jerusalem which they must deliver safely to Paris on their way to their respective homes. They find adventure and peril on the way, as well as romance. Since the stories overlap and build upon each other, they should be read in order. 1. The Crusader's Bride 2. The Crusader's Heart 3. The Crusader's Kiss 4. The Crusader's Vow 5. The Crusader's Handfast * * * Templar, knight, medieval, action adventure, quest, treasure, disguise, secret identity, lost heir, widow, arranged marriage, marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, scottish, highlander, may december, warrior, jerusalem, venice, paris, scotland, england, robin hood, fish out of water




The Crusader States


Book Description

“An enriching account of the expansion of the political and cultural frontiers of the Latin West in the central Middle Ages.”—History Today When the armies of the First Crusade wrested Jerusalem from control of the Fatimids of Egypt in 1099, they believed their victory was an evident sign of God’s favor. It was, therefore, incumbent upon them to fulfill what they understood to be God’s plan: to re-establish Christian control of Syria and Palestine. This book is devoted to the resulting settlements, the crusader states, that developed around the eastern shores of the Mediterranean and survived until Richard the Lionheart’s departure in 1192. Focusing on Jerusalem, Antioch, Tripoli, and Edessa, Malcolm Barber vividly reconstructs the crusaders’ arduous process of establishing and protecting their settlements, and the simultaneous struggle of vanquished inhabitants to adapt to life alongside their conquerors. Rich with colorful accounts of major military campaigns, the book goes much deeper, exploring in detail the culture of the crusader states—the complex indigenous inheritance, the architecture, the political, legal, and economic institutions, the ecclesiastical framework through which the crusaders perceived the world, the origins of the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers, and more. With the zest of a scholar pursuing a life-long interest, Barber presents a complete narrative and cultural history of the crusader states while setting a new standard for the term “total history.” A Choice Outstanding Academic Title in the Western Europe Category “Barber is a highly distinguished scholar, whose touch is continually deft, and he navigates the basis of the main narrative histories with care . . . a delight to read.”—Literary Review







The Crusader's Heart


Book Description

Wulfe knew his place—until Christina taught him to hope for more... An orphan and a man who has fought for his own survival, Wulfe is a Templar knight sworn to the order for life. He will defend the order and his brethren to his last, but protests when he is included in a mission to deliver a package to Paris on the cusp of an attack on Jerusalem. The assignment so vexes him so that he seeks distraction in a Venetian brothel. Wulfe does not expect to encounter a courtesan of beauty and wit, her appeal for his assistance—much less his own desire to fulfill her request... Christina recognizes immediately that the grim knight offers the chance to escape a despised life and reclaim her legacy. All she has to do is convince Wulfe to accompany her out of the city, a challenge that demands more than the power of her touch—when Wulfe is attacked, she seizes the opportunity to prove her value to him and his quest, uncertain whether her wits will be sufficient. As attacks mount and danger engulfs the small company, Christina is the one who guesses the contents of the Templar package—and holds the key to its successful delivery. Wulfe is shocked to realize that she has awakened the heart he forgot he possessed—and when she risks herself to see his mission completed, he must choose between his duty and his newfound love... * * * The Champions of St. Euphemia series follows the quest of a group of knights entrusted with a treasure in Jerusalem which they must deliver safely to Paris on their way to their respective homes. They find adventure and peril on the way, as well as romance. Since the stories overlap and build upon each other, they should be read in order. 1. The Crusader's Bride 2. The Crusader's Heart 3. The Crusader's Kiss 4. The Crusader's Vow 5. The Crusader's Handfast * * * Templar, knight, medieval, action adventure, quest, treasure, disguise, secret identity, lost heir, widow, arranged marriage, marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, scottish, highlander, may december, warrior, jerusalem, venice, paris, scotland, england, robin hood, fish out of water




God's Battalions


Book Description

In God's Battalions, award-winning author Rodney Stark takes on the long-held view that the Crusades were the first round of European colonialism, conducted for land, loot, and converts by barbarian Christians who victimized the cultivated Muslims. To the contrary, Stark argues that the Crusades were the first military response to unwarranted Muslim terrorist aggression. Stark reviews the history of the seven major Crusades from 1095 to 1291, demonstrating that the Crusades were precipitated by Islamic provocations, centuries of bloody attempts to colonize the West, and sudden attacks on Christian pilgrims and holy places. Although the Crusades were initiated by a plea from the pope, Stark argues that this had nothing to do with any elaborate design of the Christian world to convert all Muslims to Christianity by force of arms. Given current tensions in the Middle East and terrorist attacks around the world, Stark's views are a thought-provoking contribution to our understanding and are sure to spark debate.