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Juliana was only five years old when she wed the Earl of Langlinais' heir, a young boy not much older than her. Immediately following the wedding, Juliana was sent to live among the Sisters of Charity, to await her husband's summons and assume her duties as wife and keeper of his vast domain. "The Langlinais Bride" was her title among those in the convent, but whispers behind her back (and some none too quietly) would forever echo in her ears as "Juliana the Timid". As hurtful a nickname as it is, a naïve and often silent Juliana believes it to be true. Twelve years pass before her husband finally calls her to his side. And it is with great trepidation that Juliana braces herself to fulfill her wifely duties... that is, until she's told it won't be necessary.
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Sebastian, the Earl of Langlinais, is renowned throughout England for his fighting prowess in tourneys. But it's the last five years, which he spent fighting in the crusades and then imprisoned, that define him. The Knights Templar paid Sebastian's ransom and obtained his merciful release, but their intentions are far from benevolent. Sebastian must find a way to repay the impossible ransom amount to the Order, or forfeit Langlinais forever. And the only way he can do that is with the help of his wife.
In name only. That's the proposition Sebastian intends to place before Juliana – that she acknowledge him as her husband, both lawfully and conjugally, and in return, can live in freedom at Langlinais to spend her time doing whatever she likes. In name only, however, soon becomes a sentence of torment... for both of them. Sebastian knew when he called upon his bride to save Langlinais that he could never be with her as a true husband. He just never imagined how badly he would want to be. Juliana, on the other hand, had no idea what to expect when Sebastian called for her, least of all a man with a hulking physique, shrouded in monk’s garb. And yet for all that, she can’t help but be intrigued by him and the purposeful elusiveness he speaks with. If he won’t tell her why she can never be a true wife to him, she’s going to have to find out why on her own. And God help Sebastian when Juliana the Timid embraces her inner power.
Karen Ranney’s MY BELOVED takes pathos to an all new level. With an impossible love that condemns its lovers to loneliness and despair, readers will be hard-pressed to find a more enthralling happily ever after.
It’s hard to imagine being a child, barely out of toddlerhood, repeating words taught to you by your parents, and then learning that you’ve just been married. Even more difficult to fathom is spending the next 12 years of your life in a convent, hearing rumors about your husband’s glory in tourneys and eventual departure for the crusades, and being constantly envied and pitied by everyone around you. What kind of woman does such a child grow into? Modest, hard-working, guileless, to be sure. But Juliana is infinitely so much more and that’s why I absolutely adore her. She’s inspiring, incredibly brave, and when she comes into her own strength, has a will of iron. Is there a man that can deny such a woman? Incredibly enough, Sebastian is just such a man. But it’s more because of his circumstance than lack of desire. And that’s what makes Juliana so perfect for Sebastian. When you have a hero who has given up fighting and relegates his soul up to the powers that be, that hero needs a heroine willing to fight for him. And none but Juliana could ever fit the bill. It’s a lovely journey to behold, Juliana’s search for companionship in a man who seemingly wants nothing to do with her, and Sebastian’s last ditch effort to make Juliana happy while forever keeping her at arm’s length. Really, really lovely.
MY BELOVED is disarmingly charming, leaving readers awash with a sense of hope.
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