A Knight with a mission, a Maiden with a plan

Synopsis

He’s her protector…

She’s his forbidden temptation!

Part of The Knights’ Missions. Sir Leopold’s first mission is supposed to be a chance to prove his valour. But, tasked with safely escorting Lady Arianwen to her husband-to-be, Leo finds he is little but a glorified bodyguard. Only the seemingly simple mission goes awry when Ari proves that she’s willing to do anything to get away from her impending nuptials. As attraction sparks between them, can Leo choose knightly duty over love and deliver Ari to her wedding?

My review

Sir Leopold has been trained to be a knight. Training was not easy, but he has loyal friends in Hugh and Tristan. In fact, they are more brothers than their brothers by blood. Yet all their careers are in jeopardy, even not by their fault. So to protect them all, Leopold has agreed on this new task: to safely escort Lady Arianwen to her husband – to – be. Obviously it’s a task that doesn’t need a Knight, as it’s just playing bodyguard to the Lady. But what Leo doesn’t know, is that Arianwen has a plan of her own. Because she has absolutely no intention of getting married, especially not to the man chosen by her stepfather. Now it’s just seeking the right opportunity for Ari to escape to be never found again. However, while on the journey, Leo and Ari have sparks flying around, where Ari surprises Leo more than once with her skills, and Leo shows Ari that he is not that easily fooled. And the pair become close in a way they both didn’t expect. But when the time comes, will duty come before the heart?

Knights and Maidens in distress, how many stories have already been written with this theme? And how many of them are just so repetitive? Yes, we know how it will all end, but so many stories have also the same complete storyline, that you may think that once you have read one of them, you have read them all.

And believe me when I say that I have read many stories. Luckily, I have also read many stories written by this author. And yes, while the end is not a surprising one, I enjoyed reading the whole story, getting a unique story, without ever getting the feeling of ‘been there, done that’.

So of course I needed to read the start of a new series from her, and I was eager to discover where Ella would take us this time, and what kind of journey we would embark to.

In present times, especially in our modern world, it’s unimaginable that a young woman, merely an adult, is being sent off to marry not only a man she doesn’t even know, but also to a man that is way too old for her, only for the benefits that bring the union. But of course there was a time that this was the normal way of marriage.

So seeing Arianwen forced to get marry, not by her father, but by her stepfather, for me was really cringy. Especially as her beloved father, who sadly passed away, had other ideas for her, as he was perhaps the only person who truly got her. Ari has been trained by her father, and isn’t the typical maiden at all. She stands her ground and even when men underestimate her, she can for sure take them down.

Of course Ari wouldn’t go down without a fight, although she doesn’t want to hurt her mother by her actions. Because despite what Ari is forced to do, she loves her mother, who doesn’t understand her or is afraid to speak up, and Ari adores her little sisters. But I could understand her being ‘selfish’, if we can call it that way.

She hasn’t been herself for just too long, and even if it comes at a cost, she deserves to be herself and to be free to do what her heart tells her to do. Even if that means trying to escape during the journey in the presence of a knight.

Unfortunately for her, luckily for us, that knight is Sir Leo. And for sure I thought when I first set eyes on him, what an amazing man he is!

It couldn’t be more obvious that he truly is one of the good guys, no matter what others may think of him and his friends Hugh and Tristan. Leo has always wanted to be a Knight for the King, and mainly also prove to his parents that he is worthy, that he isn’t just a spare. And that perhaps he is even a better person, a better knight than his older brother, the favourite son.

Even if protecting Ari is beneath his strengths, he does what is expected from him, and is adamant on fulfilling his mission, no matter how difficult Ari  is making it for him to bring it to a success.

But while Leo is getting frustrated at Ari’s attempts, and Ari is angered as each time Leo finds her or ‘intercepts’ her, I was having several laughs! Because these two characters for sure get under each other’s skin! I felt proud when Ari shows her abilities in a fight, and I was amazed at Leo’s general skills. And I liked the playfulness, the banter between this unlikely pair.

But while I also greatly enjoyed reading this story, seeing the two of them getting closer, also broke my heart a little bit. Because there is no way that they will find a way to make things work. Ari is supposed to get married. And yes, she can find a way to escape her fate. But that would mean that Leo would fail, and that he would have to pay a hefty price for his failure.

And Leo could help Ari getting away, but he is on a mission, and betraying that mission, would also mean betraying his best friends, that are more brother to him. His heart is torn and choosing is losing anyway…

Yet their connection is undeniable. And it was truly sweet to how these people with so many expectations from other, and hidden feelings, find each other. They do not only connect in a physical way, but the more they talk, the more they see that in fact, they have so much in common. Reading how people find each other, in strange circumstances always just hits me, as it shows that there is always hope. And that there is always someone for everyone out there.

I enjoyed reading this first chapter of a brand new series. It shows us the strength and determination of women in a difficult time set. It shows us the loyalty of Knights, or rather of Brothers. It shows us a deep connection that makes you question everything you thought you knew. But most of all, it shows us love and what it makes you do…