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Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Blog Tour, Review, Excerpt: Honor

I am pleased to introduce Rachel Rossano's newest book, Honor, book two of the Novels of Rynan Series. Book one, Duty, was one, if not the first book I ever reviewed. I enjoyed it so much, I have been following Rachel's publications ever since. I hope you will enjoy her books as well.

Description

Honor
Rachel Rossano

The Earl of Dentin excels in his position as Securer of the Realm. But the king’s order to pluck an orphaned child from a loving home unsettles Dentin. When a dark-eyed woman challenges his honor regarding the mission, Dentin finds himself unable to justify his actions or get her out of his mind. Something about her lack of fear intrigues him.

Lady Elsa Reeve attempts to avoid the marriage of convenience her brother and mother demand of her. She understands the need to pay off her brother's massive debt. She only wants her family to consider her wishes in the process.

As Elsa becomes further entangled in a snare of her brother’s creating, only one man defends her. But can she trust Dentin, her unlikely champion, and his motives? With a murderer on the loose, Elsa’s fate in jeopardy, and a traitor plotting against the king, Dentin finds his priorities shifting in an unexpected direction.



About Rachel Rossano


Rachel Rossano lives with her husband and three children in the northeastern part of the United States. Homeschooled through high school, she began writing her early teens. She didn’t become serious about pursuing a career as an author until after she had graduated from college and happily married. Then the children came.

Now she spends her days being a wife, mother, teacher, and household manager. Her evenings and free moments are devoted to her other loves, writing and book cover design. Drawing on a lifelong love of reading and history, she spends hours creating historical feeling fantasy worlds and populating them with characters who live and breathe on the page.


Reveiw


In Honor, Elsa is the daughter of a noble who is deeply in debt because of her brother’s foolish bets. She refuses to play into her brother’s plans by helping him out of his debt, but his debt might take her family down regardless. Dentin, however, is the second in command to the king. But this king has asked him to do things that are against Dentin’s moral standards and that make many people hate him. Will Elsa and Dentin find a way to marry? And will Dentin and Elsa choose to honor the king or to honor God?

Honor by Rachel Rossano, is a lovely story combining action and politics with romance. It was a refreshing change from those books I have read of Rachel’s whose romances are focused on arranged marriages in which the characters fall in love after the wedding. This one breaks away from that theme somewhat in bringing the characters together through love first, before bringing in the necessary marriage.

The characters were deep and had their struggles. Lady Elsa was rebelling against society’s stereotype in which women have value only through marriage. Her brother was horrible and tried to use her as a tool instead of a human. Elsa stood up for herself and for others as much as she could. I admired her kindness and determination.

Dentin was strong and fought for honor and obedience to his king. But he had to choose whether to follow a corrupt king or do what he knew was right. I admire his growing integrity.

The story was as much a story of history and politics as it was of romance. The action and turmoil it brought about added to the story and raised the risks for the characters. The author portrayed the country’s problems, even those stemming from the previous war, very well.

I also enjoyed the involvement of the main characters of book one, Duty. Tomas and Brielle were a delightful couple whose influences on Elsa and Dentin was beneficial. In addition, a portion of the turmoil of the story revolved around their family.

Honor is a sweet romance and an intriguing story I might read again.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.


Honor Book Trailer





Exerpt


“Elsa.” Lander tugged on my skirts with grubby fingers, leaving smudges behind.

“Yes, sweet.” I lowered myself to his level. Meeting his serious blue eyes, my heart ached at how his world would change in a matter of days.

“I can’t find Darnay. Marmay said to find him, but he’s hiding. You’re so good at finding things. Can you help me?”

I smiled. “I will try.” Standing up to my full height, I scanned the growing crowd for Darnay’s dark mop of hair. Finally I spotted him just as he darted under the table closest the fireplace. “He is under the table there.” I pointed. Before I could say anything else, Lander took off at a run. “Walk!” I called after him.

He obediently slowed his pace for about three steps before resuming a headlong charge between the clustered skirts of my younger sister and two of her friends. They scattered like geese, scolding him as he ran deafly on seeking his best friend.

“Elsa Maude.”

I shied away from my mother’s voice in my ear, but her sudden grip on my upper arm stopped me from going far.

“I thought I made myself clear.”

“You did. Flirt with all the eligible and titled men in the room.”

Her grip tightened painfully. “Watch your tongue.” Her fingers eased. “Stop playing with the children and mingle with the adults. These men want a wife, not a nursemaid.”

I opened my mouth to argue that the men would want children and a woman who knew how to raise them, but thought better of it. “Yes, mother.”

“Now go.” She released my arm, smoothing the fabric creased by her fingers. “Spine straight and shoulders back.” Sending me off with a tight smile, she motioned off toward the other end of the hall.
I obeyed, but as I surveyed the crowd of people before me, my gaze fell on Lord Dentin sitting at the high table on the other end of the room. Resting his forearms on the linen-covered table before him, he clutched a goblet between his large hands and frowned at it grimly. The hunched line of his wide shoulders somehow reminded me of a little boy. Despite my half-hearted resolve to at least make a show of obedience to my mother’s instructions, my feet carried me to his side instead.

“May I join you?” I asked.

He lifted his head and reminded me instantly that I spoke with a man full grown. His perceptive gaze swept over me from the ribbon in my hair to the hem of my skirt before returning to my face. Then, just as abruptly, he looked away again.


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2 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for reviewing and hosting me and my book. :)

    ReplyDelete