Sir Simon Lemagne has just been appointed the Warden of Roselynde, as well as Alinor, by Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine.  Although it's not a position the noble knight would have sought, Simon is finding his new post to be something he does not want to do without.  Alinor defies him at every turn, debates his every decision, and challenges him in every way a woman can dare a man.  And yet for all that, he would not have her any other way – for she touches a part of his soul that he thought long dead.  And it's because of how strongly he feels for her that he must deny his only happiness.  No good can come of a relationship between Alinor and one as lowly as him.
 
What Simon doesn't factor into the equation is that Alinor will have none but him for a husband.  And what Alinor wants, Alinor most certainly gets.  Courtly intrigue, political machinations, and brave battles are par for the course.  And as long as Alinor and Simon remain steadfast with one another, surely the King and Queen's displeasure can be successfully navigated.  Hopefully their vast reserves of strength, fortitude, and cunning aid their cause, because that's what it's going to take to bring about their happy-ever-after.
 
The first of Roberta Gellis' six-book series, ROSELYNDE is a sweeping historical romance of epic proportions.  Originally published in the 70's and 80's by Playboy Press and Jove, this reissue is a welcome one into the digital world, especially when many of the books are out-of-print.  Loyal followers of the ROSELYNDE saga no longer need to bemoan the tattered bindings of their repeatedly re-read books because their prayers have been answered.
 
That said, this is my first foray into THE ROSELYNDE CHRONICLES, and in rigorous research fashion (because honestly, the historical foundation for the series is astounding, all on its own), I was compelled to learn more about the writer and what happens in the rest of the books.  What I found in my research is that not only do Ms. Gellis and the CHRONICLES have an amazingly large following, but the rest of the series sounds as compelling, meticulously researched, and romantic as their predecessor.  
 
In this first installment, the reader is effortlessly transported from the English Court, whisked half-way across the world into exotic Byzantium, and ultimately arrives in the Holy Land.  Rich, lush descriptions never fail to captivate, proving that whoever originally penned, "It's all in the detail”, could not have been more right.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Third Crusade, as well as the problems that arose in England because of Richard's abandonment.  Books of this quality, genre, and girth are few and far between, making ROSELYNDE one of the meatiest historical books readers will ever encounter.
 
The build-up of the sexual tension is nicely done, especially when both protagonists are equally headstrong, albeit in very different ways – Alinor in her steamroller logic and Simon in his patient, meticulous ways.  That these characters are extremely intelligent and butt heads most of the time, endears them to the reader because their quips are laugh out loud funny or snort-through-the-nose sarcastic.  And the age difference, despite Simon's fear of its influence over Alinor's affection, never deflects from the reader's hope for a happy-ever-after.  But what is most rewarding is when Alinor and Simon fight for their right to stay together.  Satisfaction to the nth degree.
 
A classic historic fiction, ROSELYNDE is armed with rigorous historical research, and characters a reader can easily fall in love with.

By Romance Junkies Reviewer: Chris Click here to Buy this Book Now!   Romance Junkies Content Editor: Dorine Romance Junkies Publishing Editor: Chrissy   Top of Page