Love the series -- Sir Michael is an absolute book boyfriend!

I felt sorry for Michael Devereux, a young boy at the beginning of this tale. No young person should have to deal with what he does. He has a father who apparently doesn’t care a damn for him, treating him harshly, and a mother who loves him beyond anything else. His father not only is harsh with this son, but feels his wife is having affairs behind his back.

A day Michael will never forget and festers in his heart, is the day his father beats his mother and kills a knight, all because of jealousy and not based on any truth. Here we see what a loose canon the man is. Michael leaves his father with the intention never to see him again, returning to his fostering knight. A young boy of ten, plump and seemingly clumsy turns into a knight of great standing, serving an admired and respected knight, Lord Geoffrey de Montfort.

Elysande meets Michael Devereux by chance. He quickly sets his heart upon her, but finds she is to marry in just a few days, betrothed to Hendry. In fact, Elysande, wishes with all her heart she could marry Michael instead. Once Elysande is told her betrothed, Hendry, dies on the very journey to Castle Hopeston, she's elated. Then she's told his father, Lord Ingram, wants to marry her. Be warned! Lord Ingram is despicable. His words:

“You better get used to a man telling you what to do. In and out of bed. Women are here to serve men. Nothing more.”
Elysande is an adorable, adventurous and totally devoted person to horses. She mid-wife’s two mares with help from Michael which encourages their relationship. Her heart and feelings quickly are focused on Michael.

“I’ve always been yours,” she replied. “From the moment of my birth. I knew not who you were and when we were fated to meet, but now that we have?” Elysande kissed him. “It will always be you. Never another. You are my light and my life, Michael Devereux.”
Young love is rocky. Sir Michael discovers something from his youth which will change everything, devastating to Elysande and Michael’s future.

Elysande is pursued by Lord Ingram, even after he’s been told not to; his interest is not reciprocated. He nearly succeeds in capturing her, the devil, with the intent of showing her what little power she has over her own life and body.

Author Alexa writes an entertaining and moving story, moments of optimism and hope, then plummeting the reader to despair. I was hooked from the beginning of the read with its emotional highs and lows forcing me (I went willingly!) to stay with the story to resolve the calamity.

I’ve enjoyed the series thus far, and would recommend this read to readers who crave danger, suspense, honorable knights and strong women who know what they want. ( )