| Title | : | Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 133552276X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781335522764 |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 288 |
| Publication | : | Published May 22, 2018 |
…and she must not fall for him!
When her mistress is claimed as an enemy knight’s betrothed, handmaiden Aelfhild knows it would be too dangerous for her lady; she must go in her place. But there’s more to the scarred knight than she first thought—she isn’t expecting to fall for him! As the line between friend and enemy blurs, Aelfhild realizes she might be protecting her mistress, but not her heart…
Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight Reviews
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Am I allowed to give more star's? I so want... No that should be need to give more stars!
My goodness me, this is good! When I say good, I a mean unbelievable good, I have been a fan of Hobbes’ work for a while now and this is a terrific addition to her CV. Hobbes’ knowledge of the era is absolutely spot, she never holds back with the history, her descriptions and detailing of this particular era is superb the author has a genuine fondness for this era, you get a sense of that through out her work.
Set just after the Norman conquest, this is a hard and brutal time when Saxons and Normans are at logger head’s just before the peace. This is a time where the North of England is a battle ground, I really like how Hobbes has brought attention to what was happening in Yorkshire at the time, the plight of the ordinary people and how they were suffering during what was a very bloody time. You see the both Saxon and Norman perspectives throughout the story.
Soldier and Archer Guilherm Fitzlannion; or Gui is charged by his Lord and friend, Gilbert du Respez to take on Gilbert’s identity, travel to the Priory in Byland and retrieve the woman who is set to marry Gilbert, on the King’s orders no less. So that the house of Haxby be joined with the du Respez name. I’d say Gilbert is a dandy, he is impulsive, spoilt and has a bit of a short fuse whereas his right hand man Gui is calm and diplomatic, he knows to pick his fight’s Gilbert doesn’t want to marry anyone which is why he get’s Gui to do his dirty work for him with the promise that on Lady Sigrun’s return Gui will have his reward in land of his own.
Feisty and straight to the point Aelfhild, who is the life long companion to Lady Sigrun ever since she was taken in to the Haxby household as a child, because Sigrun has taken refuge at the Priory to be hidden away from the ‘evil’ Norman’s, Aelfhild had no choice but to go to. Sigrun is a mild-mannered little thing, who really wouldn’t say boo to a goose. She is very lady-like and has this aristocratic aura about her that shouts out who she is. Aelfhild hates the restrictive Priory life, she wants to be able to do what she wants to, to have freedom. But Sigrun is like a sister to her and she will follow her anywhere, so when her bridegroom; ‘Gilbert’ turns up to take Sigrun back, the two women decide that until they can escape him Aelfhild will take on her mistress’s identity.
Gui what a character! Oh, my word!! Getting to know him has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions, he breaks my heart, he intrigues me, and I have fallen head over heels for this rough around the edges, vulnerable and proud man. Gui is so strong and yet so he is so broken, he feels useless and grotesque he has resigned himself to being alone. I wanted to take him in my arms and try to bring him the peace he so desires and deserves. Yet, the little water sprite or how he funnily likes to call her; the human Gorse bush! You need to read it to fin out why 😊
There are so many great moment’s in this book, scenes that I know will stick with me for a long time. My particular favourite two have to be when Gui and Aelfhrild first meet – that is tense, sexy and equally as funny, especially when they he is telling her he is “all man” 😉. And when Gui is teaching her how to use a bow and arrow, who knew that Archery could be so sexy? I love that scene the chemistry is smoking and intimate while he teachers her. I am telling you now those scenes are scorching hot, sexy as hell moment’s that will make you rather hot under the collar.
This book is right up there with the best Medieval Romances I have read, from an author who knows her craft and isn’t ashamed to share that knowledge. ‘Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight’ is cleverly written, supremely romantic and engaging from that very first page. I do love a ‘Enemies to Lover’s’ trope and this has all the component’s that you would want in historical romance, a character driven story that is full-bodied, mesmerizing and sensual romanticism all wrapped up with a big bow of emotional angst. -
Everyone knows about my teenage obsession with Mills and Boon but in all that time I had never read an historical romance. The first one I read was by Elisabeth Hobbes and I adored it so much that I’ve read all her books since then. She has also opened my heart to other books in this genre although Elisabeth still remains my favourite author of historical love stories! I was looking forward to Beguiled by The Forbidden Knight but I had no idea that I would end up loving this book so much that it’s shot straight onto my favourite books of 2018 list! Honestly, this is Elisabeth Hobbes best book so far-I absolutely LOVED IT!
Gui and Aelfhild had an incredible chemistry with the heat factor off the scale at times!! Their attraction to each other was immediately brought to life with a well constructed scene when they first meet and the build up continued at a perfect pace. I loved the “switched identity” confusion with Aelfhild pretending to be Lady Sigrun when Gui turns up at the sanctuary to take Sigrun back home to be married. Unfortunately Gui is also pretending to be someone he’s not! So neither of them want to fall in love as they think they are already taken by another but some emotions are too hard to ignore! Gui melted my heart and I think I fell more than a little in love with him myself!
The historical detailing here is exquisite, this author certainly knows her stuff as I felt as though I was traveling alongside the characters here on the journey that they must take. I could practically smell the death and desperation that they encountered along the way! I don’t know much about the period after the Norman Conquest but my interest was piqued by the wonderfully descriptive narrative that brought a very real sense of time and place to the story. There was a darkness to parts of their journey that saddened me as I watched this unknown moment in history come alive again through the magic of creative writing.
This is one of the easiest 5 stars I have ever given to a book! Elisabeth Hobbes is an incredible writer and I highly recommend that even if you think you aren’t a Mills and Boon fan, you still need to experience the wonderfully natural way with words that she has. Beguiled by The Forbidden Knight is a captivating seduction of the senses with two intriguing and likeable lead characters who spark off each other perfectly, creating an enchanting but heart wrenching romance.
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it before but I loved this book so much! It’s intelligent, well observed and utterly spellbinding. And I’m still not quite ready to let Gui and Aelfhild go yet! Any chance of meeting them again please? I’d love an update on what they’re doing now! -
Naughtiness 2 *
Absolutely utterly loved this book, as always Elisabeth most definitely does not disappoint us. Though I've loved the books I've read so far by Elisabeth, I think this is my favourite most definitely.
As always I will not give spoilers, it would be unfair to our author and potential readers not forgetting that there is a Blurb available, however I will say this book has everything you could want, intriguing hero and heroine, aswell as amazing acompany of friends and foes, adventure, heartbreak and not forgetting love, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next adventure we are taken on.
Thank you Elisabeth for writing this amazing book, I highly recommend to all who love historical romance, to those who haven't tried it but love romance is say this is one that could definitely get you into historical. -
It's 1071 and the war between the English and the French has been brutal. Because the French are dominating the English, several nobleman have traveled to England to claim land and marry English ladies. Lady Sigrun and her companion Aelfhild are staying in a convent for safety, but Sigrun has been promised to a French nobleman. Gilbert gets an offer he can't refuse and decides he'd rather hunt than go on a dangerous trip. The man doesn't fancy the journey to fetch his wife in the least and sends his best friend Gui instead. Gui is supposed to tell Sigrun he's Gilbert and bring back his friend's bride, but ends up with two ladies instead of one. Aelfhild pretends to be Sigrun, so Sigrun can escape the clutches of the man she's been promised to, will this trick actually work?
Gui hasn't come out of the last battle he fought unscathed. He's scarred and misses a hand. He's positive he will scare the ladies, but can't resist spending time with Aelfhild. Her fiery spirit intrigues him and he feels drawn to the woman who's destined to be his friend's wife. What will happen when they fall in love? Can this charade end well or will it turn into a huge disaster with grave consequences and broken hearts?
Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight is a fascinating romantic story. Aelfhild has a fierce personality. She speaks her mind, can stand up for herself, isn't afraid to fight and doesn't stay away from confrontation. Sigrun is shy and easily scared, so it's up to Aelfhild to protect them both. She comes up with a plan to make Sigrun's future husband believe she's his intended bride and the gentle and damaged Gui falls for the lie. He's lying himself as well, so they're both not of noble blood and free to marry whomever they want. However, there are so many misunderstandings between them and that makes the situation pretty impossible. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to find out where that would lead.
Elisabeth Hobbes has a fantastic compelling writing style. She's chosen an original time frame for her story and makes the eleventh century come to life in an amazing captivating way. Her writing is dynamic and fitting and therefore the story is absolutely delightful. I was spellbound by Aelfhild's adventures and loved her story from beginning to end. There's plenty of chemistry between the main characters and their impossible situation gives the story a fabulous entertaining quality. Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight is a gorgeous love story that melted my heart. I highly recommend this true gem of a book. -
Eh. Disappointing. I really liked THE SAXON OUTLAW’S REVENGE, but this was just kinda…there. 😶
The plot was tepid + overloaded with tropes (road trip, double-mistaken-identity, beauty & the beast); the heroine was forgettable + cliché (seriously, how many Tiny Angry Women do we need in romance?). I did like the hero, Gui. He was a former soldier, burly & scarred & missing a hand. He reminded me of Sandor Clegane, but more handsome & angsty & not so rude. Awesome. :D
…Alas, Gui was wasted. He deserved a better heroine & more interesting story that didn’t rely on the same-old, same-old dance of overextended tropes, most of which felt like unnecessary padding. It wasn’t all bad—there were some good scenes, & I liked that Hobbes touched on a couple tricky subjects like mercy killing & PTSD—but as a whole the book felt too safe & chaste. (Yeah, that’s right—no sex. Humbug.) I know some people like ‘safe’ medievals, but I do not. I prefer grit, violence, & torrid passion to go with arrows, girdles, & swords. 😈 -
A refreshing reading experience. Medievals have gone out of fashion, and it's hard to find good ones anymore, but the HQN Historical line is a good place to start.
This is exactly what it says on the tin: Gui agrees to retrieve his friend (and lord) Gilbert's bride-to-be from the priory where she has sheltered during the conquest in exchange for a parcel of land and a place to build a home. He assumes Gilbert's identity for the journey, because the prioress will be expecting Gilbert to show up and won't hand Lady Emma's valuable daughter off to just anyone.
Before he arrives, he decides to take a dip in a local river, and he runs into Aelfhild there. She's escaped from the priory to visit the sick in the local village, and has decided to fish for her dinner, something to supplement the meager meal she'll receive at the priory. Gui doesn't mean to startle her, but he does, and she lashes out with her fishing hook, leaving him with a nasty scratch. Their encounter is brief and awkward but piques their collective curiosity. Aelfhild returns to the priory before she's missed, and she's shocked when Gui shows up there, looking for his 'bride' - her mistress, Sigrun.
Aelfhild assumes Sigrun's identity because she's curious about the foreigner and because Sigrun is terrified of marrying anyone, much less a hulking man with a disfigured face. They decide to escape, but they don't get far before Gui finds them, and they all decide that rather than return to the priory, they will head back to Yorkshire as originally planned.
Along the way, Aelfhild and Gui fight their mutual attraction valiantly, each under the erroneous belief that the other is out of their reach. They are attacked by a band of vagrants and have to work together to escape with their lives, which tips the balance of their feelings for each other.
The characters' UST is off the charts, and it is good. There are a couple of packed emotional scenes that are absolutely exquisite in their detail, and the final battle was riveting. The road trip was otherwise a bit on the 'meh' side, and considering it only lasted a couple of days, it was a little hard to believe that the main characters' lust for each other had deepened into love (especially since they did not consummate their lustful urgings at any point, though they came close). There were also just a few too many tropes competing for attention on the page: beauty and the beast, double mistaken identity, forbidden fruit, forced proximity, road trip, big misunderstanding...I think if the author had chosen one or two and really honed in on those, it would have deepened the conflict and characterization.
This author can definitely write, and I'm willing to try her other work. Though I respect her for taking the fade-to-black route, it did make the story feel a bit unbalanced, as did the fact that the Big Reveal of Identities didn't happen until the last chapter. It would've been nice to see something at stake on the table, and maybe even a bit of fallout. Instead we have a happy marriage proposal after buckets of angst and self-denial. A bit too pat of an ending, especially given the setting of desolation and destruction. -
It is a long time since I have read a medieval story and this one is good, times were really hard back then, the land and people have been ravaged by war and there will be many changes and when Lord Gilbert du Rospez arrives at Haxby to claim his bride Lady Sigrun, he is told she has been sent away to a priory, and he must go and fetch her, he is not overly keen to do so, instead he sends his best friend Guilherm Fitzlannion in his place.
Lady Sigrun was sent to the priory by her mother when things were getting bad during the war and this has left her very quiet and she enjoys being at the priory and keeps to herself but she is close to her handmaiden Aelfhid. So when a Lord arrives to take her back to be his bride she and Aelfhid run away determined to get back home and work this out, but they don’t get far before the Lord catches up with them and they decide to switch roles.
Guilherm agrees to help his friend out on this with the promise of land when he returns with his bride, but along the way Guilherm meets a feisty sprite while bathing and is shocked to find her at the priory when he arrives, but when he learns that she is to be Gilbert’s wife and her and her handmaiden run he high tails it after them, and seeing as how he too has taken on the role of Gilbert and with danger around every corner Guilherm and Aelfhid get closer every day.
Aelfhid is a very feisty and strong woman and plays the part of her friend very well but as she falls in love a little bit more each day keeping her secret gets harder and the same goes for Guilherm he has been damaged badly by the war and this plays a part in their getting closer Aelfhid is so easy to talk to and open up to that it is also easy to fall in love with her as well. When they escape danger together and arrive back to Haxby and the truth is revealed then there are smiles all around for them and this reader was left feeling very happy, this was a story that I thoroughly enjoyed and can highly recommend. -
This wasn't the book for me--completely chaste. So if you like your romance going past mere kissing, skip this one.
At first the "mistaken identity" theme was cute, similar to Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." But after awhile I found it irritating. In reality, there's no way anyone could keep this kind of secret for as long as they did. It was also poorly executed in the writing of this story. The author plays mental mind games with the reader and expects the reader to follow along as she constantly changes the frame of reference from whose eyes the story is supposed to take place. She constantly reassigns the name "Sigrun" and "Aelfhild" back-and-forth between both women until your head is spinning so full of confusion. We shouldn't have to be playing guessing games as to know whether "Sigrun" is from Gui's point-of-view or Aelfhild's point of view.
But what really bothered me was that this was, yet, another Medieval book in which the characters are forced into close proximity from the journey they must take together. It's another long journey with rationed food and uncomfortable camping situations. We don't even know what kind of footwear they wore--I'm assuming leather-soled shoes, as were fashionable in those days, and for as fatigued and starving as they were, they were arguing about who should be riding the horse! Stupid! Instead of riding, they continued to walk, and there was no mention of the blisters they must have endured while walking all those miles. And near the end of the book--after not having eaten well or slept well--the characters are supposedly strong enough to fight men who have had enough to eat and beds in which to sleep. -
This is the first book I have had the pleasure of reading by author Elisabeth Hobbes and I must say it was just a fantastic read!! Will definitely be reading more from this author.
This book is set in 1071 right after the Norman conquest. Lord Gilbert is to marry Lady Sigrun by order of King William. When Lord Gilbert and his friend Guilherm (Gui) Fitzlannion shows up to meet his betrothed, they find out she had been sent away along with her handmaiden Aelfhild two years ago because of the war. We then have Lord Gilbert asking his best friend Gui to impersonate him and retrieve his bride in return for a piece of land to settle on once he returns.
This is how our hero Gui & our heroine Aelfhild meet. Gui believes Aelfhild is Lady Sigrun, his friends betrothed and Aelfhild believes Gui is Lord Gilbert....
Gui was such a fantastic hero! Scarred from the war inside and out, he's a strong but vulnerable man who finds himself falling for his friends betrothed...
Aelfhild an orphan who was raised with Lady Sigrun was a wonderful heroine, feisty, strong and loyal. Gui and Aelfhild together were a wonderful couple with great chemistry. Elisabeth Hobbes did a wonderful job of giving us a compelling story rich with history, adventure and a fabulous romance. Loved the ending when the truth is finally revealed! I highly recommend it! -
4 1/2 STARS!
Falling for the wrong knight! The beginning of the story is a tad confusing, as is trying to follow who is being talked about on the trip because of the swtich-a-roo but once you get the characters and setting down pat, it's a very enjoyable book! The characters are drawn to each other even though they think they're each someone else, so watching them try to fight the temptation of their attraction is entertaining. I enjoyed seeing what came of all four of them in the end!
Feisty handmaiden Aelfhild isn't willing to let her friend Lady Sigrun be at the mercy of an enemy Knight even though he tells a story of her mother promoting their marriage. She steps forward and takes her place on the long journey home, but never expects to start falling for the scarred man herself!
When Guilherm FitzLannion is sent to claim the betrothed bride of his lord Gilbert du Rospez, he never expects to encounter such an outspoken lady. He doesn't understand why her companion is so meek while she is the one to step forth and lead the charge when they face danger along the way, but he finds himself falling for her even though she's promised to his best friend! -
Úvod – určitě Vás překvapí její znalost historie.
To jako že ví, že William dobyl Anglii? Nic historického tam v podstatě není. Nedá se říct, že by šla do hloubky. Kdo ví jestli si aspoň přečetla článek na wiki.
s. 12 Gui velmi pochyboval o tom, že se Gui vůbec hodlá ženit.
Jeden Gui bude asi Gilbert.
Na s. 51 večeří jeptišky „vodnatou ovesnou kaši“. Ze stejného stolu pak vezme večeři pro hrdinu (s. 52, 55) - mastně vypadající dušené maso a chleba?
s. 231 zatímco muž, kterého zasáhli do slabin, vytáhl šíp z rány a blížil se k těm dvěma
No... blížil.
s. 233 Muž s šípem ve slabinách se k nim konečně doplazil.
Až tak?
s. 101 jako by právě prošla nějakou velmi obtížnou zkouškou
Tedy ON.
as if he had passed some unsuspected test
s. 29 unavovat. měl
s. 33 Prohlédl si šrám, které mu to děvče udělala broží.
s. 141 které [která]
s. 261 omamujícího [omamujícímu]
ji/jí - s. 41, 50, 92, 124, 179, 180, 184, 185
špatné dělení slov - s. 122, 165, 199 -
There is a gorgeous chemistry between Aelfhild and Gui that makes reading this book such a pleasure. Elisabeth Hobbes sets the scene perfectly and shows the reader some history along with creating two wonderful characters. Gui has a sensitive side that I loved then when you pair him with the strong and feisty Aelfhild it really is a match made in heaven. Their first meeting is heated, tense and brilliantly written.
I loved the premise for this book with some secrets between the characters that made for some entertaining moments. Along with fabulous chemistry and fiery interactions that will make you smile. I also really enjoyed the friendship that Aelfhild shares with Sigrun, how she protects and looks out for her.
A wonderful combination of romance, friendship and I loved the journey these characters went on. A gorgeous medieval romance!
Five stars from me!
With thanks to Elisabeth Hobbes for my copy. -
"Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight" by Elisabeth Hobbes is a really good Historical Romance. There is a case of mistaken identity between handmaiden Aelfhild and Guilherm FitzLannion. He thinks she is betrothed to his best friend, and she is stepping in for her friend Lady Sigrun and thinks Gilherm is her friend's fiance. The sparks between these two are unmistakable. The beginning of the book is a little confusing, but once you keep reading the story it is great. I actually couldn't put this one down.
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Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight by Elisabeth Hobbes is a solid, provoking read that warrants praise for its compelling plot and brilliant prose! Not only are these characters well-rounded, but the writing is effortless and confronting at the same time. The sacrifices of Aelfhild and the dark tormented past of Gui takes a refreshing twist when what once started out as an act of loyalty turns into a passionate experience! All in all, this one is entertaining from beginning to end.
Highly Recommended
4.5 Stars -
I really enjoyed reading this book. The author portrays the chemistry really well between Gui who has fought in battles and Aelfhild who doesn't have any real family. The story deals with false identities. I liked how the character Aelfhild looks out for her friend Sigrun. This book has a historical romance storyline and the author has worked hard to ensure that the storyline is realistic for the time period just after the Norman conquest.
My favourite scene is where Gui first sees Aelfhild and she is unaware that he is there. This is a funny scene. -
Beguiled By The Forbidden Knight is an historical romance set in Yorkshire, a few years after the Norman Conquest. King William has decreed that England shall be held and secured through marriages to create alliances. To this effect, Gilbert du Rospez has been sent to Haxby to meet his betrothed, Sigrun. Alas, she is not there, because she was sent to a priory for safety while Yorkist rebels tried to hold out against William’s armies. See here for full review
https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-bjt -
Hidden identities, forbidden romance and satisfying action: Elisabeth Hobbes is a masterful writer and her true talent lies in creating characters the reader can really root for. I greatly look forward to reading more from this author, as I bet she has a few mega-works up her sleeve. This is merely the start to what will be a wonderful career in gripping historical fiction.
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I love Elisabeth’s books - and she’s getting even better as time goes on. What a fantastic mix of deceptions and confusions and battles and passion. A most excellent way to spend the Bank Holiday weekend. I believed Sir Roger was my favourite Hobbes Hero, but Gui is up there with him :-)
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I grabbed this off the library shelf on a whim and am glad I did! I liked the hero, he’s serious and stern and tormented without being a snarky, brooding jerk. Though the ending was a bit rushed, and I do wish we’d gotten a sex scene, considering their excellent sexual tension.
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This is the first book that I have read by this author. I will be reading many more. Very good story.
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Love reading stories in this time period. Good pace and romance level.
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Järjekordselt lõpetan raamatuklubi raamatu mõttega “Miks? Miks ma seda endale teen?”
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2.8
No smut! -
I love Elisabeth Hobbes. Her Wager for the Widow is one of my favorite books but this story was just not up to a standard that I expected from her.
Very disappointed. Plot was simple and tension between main characters very artificially fabricated I just couldn't take it. I ended up skipping so much just to see how the plot will be revealed. -
"Hobbes’ medieval world comes alive with believable details, especially the reality of Northern England just after William the Conqueror’s arrival. While the author handles war wounds and the internal scars with sensitivity, and the hero and... " (RT Book Reviews).
