Not everyone wants the protection of a knight

Synopsis

A knight’s protection…That she doesn’t want…or need?

Joan Lovent may be losing her sight but she refuses to lose her independence too. So when Sir Warin de Talmont tells her it’s too perilous to be out alone in the city, she doesn’t pay him any heed. But with threats surrounding them, she begins to value his protection and helps with his dangerous work in return. If only the powerful connection between them wasn’t so impossible to ignore!

My review

Joan Lovent has lost so much in her young much, and not even the prospect of losing her sight takes away her wish for independence.
When her brother, her only family member she has, asks Sir Warin de Talmont to protect and keep Joan safe, Joan still does as she wants, with a frustrating Warin as a result.
But the both of them quickly learn the advantages of spending time together. Joan start to value his protection and sees a side of Warin she didn’t expect. And Warin finds himself being helped in his dangerous job, as Joan shows her capability of sensing things that no one with sight would see.
But joined forces means also growing feelings, however with both having lost so much and still have to lose, will they stand a chance? 

By now I have read many stories in this genre and several books by this author. And while the ending isn’t coming as a big surprise, I loved the whole journey towards it. 

In this tale, there are two characters, that are strong in their own ways, but also stubborn in their own ways.

The tragedy Joan has faced, and even the tragedy that is waiting for her, would have been easy to turn her into a depressed character, just sitting back and wait for her destiny to arrive, without any happy prospects. Having a loving husband and her own family is something she only dreams about, but she is also realistic that no man will want a marriage with a woman who in the end will lose her sight.
But Joan won’t allow her progressing disability to hold her down. And that is what I truly admired in her. She still ventures outside to help those in need, and turned her disability into a good thing, as she reinforced her other senses and can easily pick up what no one does. 

She also is determined to not become dependant from her brother or anyone else, as she doesn’t want to be a burden to anyone. Somehow, despite the pains she has, she will stand on her own two feet and find her purpose in life. 

And seeing how she keeps fighting for her causes against Warin, was just hilarious! Warin, who feels his duty to look after Joan, is doing whatever he can to keep Joan safe, but she just won’t hear any of it!
Warin, who has his own guilt to carry, and put his life at service of the Crown… Warin who is working so hard to find out who is against the Crown, but is also fighting his growing feelings towards Joan.
Warin, who as only one, is able to put a smile on a little girl’s face…  

It was great to see how these two broken persons joined forces, and learned to not underestimate each other. While their scars were so alike, they let those scars change their lives in different ways. And together they learned from each other how a great grief and loss can be overcome and see the joys and beauties of life again.  

I was glad the direction the author took with this story, showing us not only to never underestimate a woman, but also showing us that missing one sense doesn’t mean that we are completely useless.
Even with something missing, we are strong, important persons in our own way.
And that even the most broken person can be healed by the power of love and that it’s only fear that makes us hold back.
But fear shouldn’t be able to have that effect on us, because everyone is worthy of receiving love.