About Gypsy Knight, a Torquere Menage
by Patricia Logan
437 pages / 126900 words
ISBN: 978-1-61040-715-1
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Gavin Kentworth, Gypsy half-breed knight, has just returned to Sheffield, the estate in England where he grew up. He’s brought along his lover Malik Shahosseini, a warrior crusader who fought by his side in the Holy Land. Gavin has returned to keep a vow to his friend and mentor the old Lord Sheffield, who he’s just buried. He is to serve the young heir to a mighty dynasty, the teenaged Thomas James, new Lord of Sheffield.
Gavin is honored to serve young Thomas but has forgotten the beauty of Thomas' older sister Bree. Malik, though deeply in love with Gavin knows that his lover must marry and have sons. He sees Bree as Gavin’s opportunity for everlasting love. When Gavin finds himself falling for the beautiful young virgin, he is torn, not wanting to give up the man he also loves.
When Lord Thomas becomes the target of a vicious killer the knights realize that they have more than love to worry about. Then, unexpectedly, Gavin’s shameful past comes back to visit him as well. Join our three in an all consuming ménage of action, adventure, love and sex that burns up the sheets.
Review
Alexa Snow, author of Sleeping Stone, writes:
When young Bree James has a terrifying near-drowning experience, Gavin Kentworth saves her life and is offered a place in her father Lord Sheffield's service. It isn't until Bree's younger brother Thomas becomes the new Lord of Sheffield and Gavin returns from the Holy Land with his lover, warrior Malik Shahosseini, that Bree is reminded of her feelings for the Gypsy knight. Gavin's affection for Malik is strong, but he is also attracted to Bree. Will the three of them find some kind of compromise in the face of a killer targeting the new Lord Sheffield?
This book is an exciting, lengthy romp that really lets the reader become immersed in the world the author has created. The characters are interesting, and the dynamics between them authentic and three-dimensional. A compelling storyline is sure to keep the reader's interest without being so complex that it's confusing, something that's particularly important in a long book like this one. In addition, the intensity of the relationships between the main characters really requires significant development, something the author achieves with deft skill. There is a sense of joy woven into this story, an appreciation for love and loyalty that makes it shine. Readers with a fondness for historical fiction and ménage à trios will surely be satisfied with this well-written and charming romance!
Sample
Bree took in Gavin’s form as he leaned against the doorway, arms crossed before him. From his curly black hair and twinkling golden eyes, she gazed down the lean, muscled length of his body, rippling in the firelight.
He was taller than she remembered with amazingly broad shoulders that tapered to a lean waist. He was clothed in a brown tunic which tightly fit his muscled torso closed with cross strings of soft leather. Beneath the tunic, were buck-colored chausses, the stockings snug along his hard thighs. The fit, stretched across the male hardness of him was exquisite. He watched as she admired him and as her eyes returned to his face she saw a sly smile tug his full lips.
He uncrossed his arms and strode forward, bowing. “Milady.” As he rose, his heated gaze rested on her face. At this distance he was even more magnificent, she noted. His sculpted face and square jaw was closely-shaven and his nose tapered perfectly, set between thick arching eyebrows. The lashes of his eyes were so long, they curled at the ends.
“Oh,” she breathed unsteadily, as she exhaled slowly. “Sir Gavin, I didn’t expect…, I didn’t expect to see you here,” she stuttered. After a long moment, Bree tore her gaze from him and it settled on the tall stranger at his side. “I…, I see you’ve brought a visitor.”
Gavin’s large dark friend, Malik, stepped forward and bowed to Bree. “My lady,” he intoned in a melodic voice. “Gorbunet behram eloji, khanoum” I sacrifice myself for you, he said, bowing again with his hand over his heart. It was a very respectful greeting from such an intense man.
“May I present Khodamalik Shahosseini,” Gavin stated. “I call him Malik. We met in Jerusalem but his roots are Persian. He was a great friend to Lord Sheffield.” Gavin’s gaze raked Malik’s body and Malik returned it with as much intensity as the knight’s.
Bree smiled broadly at the mention of her father.
God she was beautiful, Gavin thought. Heated blood surged through his veins and pooled in his loins. He’d never seen any woman smile like that, or maybe he had, but a smile had never had that effect on him. With a slow sweep, he took her in. She was small, not only in stature, but so…delicate…and…sweet. There, it was again, that feeling that had come over him so many years ago when she was just a child. That she had such sweetness about her, innocence that she couldn’t hide. But, she was no child this time.
The woman before him was full-grown now. Her hair was magnificent, hanging freely, cascading below her waist in thick delicate blue black waves. It shone healthy and soft in the firelight and immediately, he wanted to wrap his hands in it, draw her close and breathe in her scent. He was startled to note that those glorious crystal blue eyes still had the same heart-stopping effect on him, which had haunted his dreams for many a night. They were set beneath delicately arching brows. Above her left brow, was that crescent scar, now faded and almost unnoticeable, but he saw it.
His eyes drank in her face, her complexion soft and white, her lips…, sensuous…, delicious. His gaze settled on them. Just one small taste..., he thought. He gathered his wits long enough to allow his eyes to travel the length of her. She wore a long sleeved blue woolen gunnae, which flared, at the wrists, and beneath it, a soft grey woven kirtle. Tied on around her hips was her silver girdle, set intricately with sapphires. His eyes halted on her full, rounded breasts and then descended to her flat belly. Her gently curving hips tapered down to shapely legs, completing his eye’s journey. His eyes returned to her smile, which still played about her lips…, until she met his eyes. Then she dropped her lashes and turned shyly away.
“Sir Gavin,” Bree said unsteadily; she could feel his intense gaze burn into her. “Please, sit and tell we in the hall of your adventures in the Holy Land. Tell me of my father.” Her eyes were sad as she lifted them to his once again.
“Aye,” Gavin sighed as he sat at the long table, ridding himself of his quiver and arrows, setting them on the table to one side. He took up a horn of ale and drank thirstily. Thomas sat beside him. “There are many things I will not speak of.” He sighed again thinking how difficult this was. He’d been over this conversation a million times on the journey home. How he’d explain this to Bree and Thomas. If it hadn’t been for Malik, he wouldn’t have been able to do this. The nights he’d spent with the gentle giant were the only things that kept him sane. “Your father, Lord Sheffield, was brave and strong, but he died amongst friends, and with honor on the battlefield.” The dark knight stared at Bree. “He did not suffer, milady.”
Bree bent her head over hands clasped in her lap as tears began to fall upon them. Suddenly her mind was on Honey, her fallen mare. She thought of her dark angel again, taking her life quickly, to spare her from suffering. She almost couldn’t stand it as memories of her father came flooding back. Tears stung her eyes, then, freely coursed down her cheeks. She had promised herself that she wouldn’t let this happen in front of everyone, she’d prayed daily, since learning of her father’s death. She hadn’t wanted to show this sign of weakness.
Bree abruptly pushed away from the table and rose knowing that the wound was still too fresh to hear about all of this now. She stepped over the bench and with a sob, her hand covered her lips and she fled the hall.