The Truest Heart

In fury over being thwarted by the suicide of a would-be assassin before disclosing his accomplice, King John orders the burning of his castle and the death of his son and daughter. To do this heinous deed he picks a knight who has not taken sides in the political conflict and holds his son hostage until the deed is done. Gillian and Clifton were secreted out of their home when their father was captured and taken to separate locations, not knowing where the other is, for safety sake. When a ship wrecks off the coast of Cornwall with only one barely alive survivor, Gillian and Brother Baldrick nurse him back to health not knowing that he is Gareth, her would-be executioner. As he revives he remembers his name only and snatches of his show more past. As he improves, more and more of his memory returns and eventually his task. By then he cannot fulfill it and he must figure out a way to avoid the King's wrath and save Gillian and get his son free. This was an interesting set up and likable main characters, lots of action and intrigue. I did have fault with Gillian's sudden refusal to go along with Gareth's plan and his reaction to that. It seemed contrived to make conflict between them. Otherwise satisfying romance. show less