Moydenshire, England - 1194

When her abusive husband, Ryle, slashed Gisela Balewyne with a knife, she fled with her young son, Ewan. In the town of Clovebury, she assumed a new life, took her middle name Anne, and became a tailor to support herself and Ewan. She works hard to save money to flee further north before Ryle can discover her. Gisela never loved Ryle. Dominic de Terre, a noble-born knight gone off on crusade, claimed her heart and unknowingly left her pregnant. Her prosperous merchant parents forced her marriage to prevent a scandal. A commoner, Gisela knows Dominic must marry a noble lady, but she will always love and protect the part of him he left with her, Ewan. One of her dreams comes true when, after four years, Dominic returns, but to protect her son, she must lie to his father.

Sent on a mission to learn who stole his lord’s expensive shipment of silk, Dominic de Terre is disguised as a peddler when he recognizes Gisela. His discovery of his lost love leads to trouble in his investigation. Who left his beautiful Gisela living in fear? And has she a part in the theft of the silks? After he discovers her lie, can he trust her?

A KNIGHT’S REWARD takes a different turn on the medieval romance. Rather than taking place in a castle with aristocratic characters (although there is a touch of this), it deals with the lives of commoners. Some, like the aristocrats should be, are truly noble. Others define baseborn. Until near the end, only Dominic is of the aristocratic class, a knight returned from the crusades and an honorable man. However, Gisela shines and redefines the genre’s typical heroine. She is a working woman, protective of her child, and a person capable of great courage. Author Catherine Kean brings the medieval village of Clovebury to life and gives the reader a glimpse of living outside a castle or keep. Add the danger of Ryle finding Gisela and Dominic’s search for the criminals trying to cheat their lord, and you can be assured of a hair-raising read.

Robin Lee