Her Majesty, My Love

Sharon Long

Publisher:
Samhain Publishing

Release Date:
January 2, 2007

Genres:
Historical Romance

ISBN:
eBook
9781599983042
Print
ISBN
Kindle
No ISBN

Bookmark Rating:

Reviewed by
Jennifer Ray

Review Posted:
May 2008

Princess Isabella Chastain has lost everything, and with it, her ability to trust has been shattered.  To avenge her family’s murders and save her country, however, she must learn to trust a man faithful to the very country she fears responsible for their deaths – England.  She cannot deny her attraction to him, but she is very aware that the maddening man who has captured her (for her own protection, he claims), is more than he seems.  Unsure of whether she can trust him, she resigns herself to the hope that at least his agenda might align with her own, and will serve her in her quest to regain her family’s throne and prevent war with England. 

Even inheriting the family title, becoming the Earl of Merrick, has not swayed Simon Rothmore’s dedication to serving England.  When he is tasked with finding and protecting the missing Leaudorian Princess, he discovers the mission is much more than he ever bargained for – as is Princess Isabella herself.  Returning the beautiful royal to her country uncovers betrayals that run deeper than he ever suspected, and threaten everything he believes in.  As he slowly gains Isabella’s trust, he realizes he is simultaneously losing his heart.  But there can be no future for an English Earl and a Leaudorian Queen – or can there?

Writing under the name Sharon Long, popular author Maya Banks proves her talent with the release of Her Majesty, My Love.  This beautiful historical romance is entirely reliant on the plot to succeed, with nothing more than a handful of romantic scenes, as opposed to the plentiful erotic scenes prevalent in her Maya Banks titles.  Don’t get me wrong, I love her erotic stories just as much as I love Her Majesty, My Love, but it is wonderful to watch this skilled writer confirm beyond a shadow of a doubt her proficiency as a story teller by publishing a tale without the steamy scenes we are so accustomed to with her pen name.   

In my opinion, a good romance, erotic or not, must be enjoyable even without the romantic scenes.  If the story cannot stand up without the love scenes, then it isn’t a good story.  I’ve seen this author’s talent with a good plot in her other books, but this book, perhaps above all her currently published works, is a testament to that skill. 

Sharon Long creates one heckuva kick-ass heroine (literally!) with Princess Isabella Chastain.  Although raised as a princess, she proves she can more than hold her own when it comes to her own protection, time and time again.  As the last living member of the Chastain family, she is driven not only to save her own life, but to avenge her family and prevent war for her country.  She is no shrinking violet, but being on her own for so long with no one she can trust has taken its toll, and she is more than ready to meet the dangerously competent Simon Merrick – even if she doesn’t know it yet.   

Isabella may be a Princess living in a historical time, but any modern woman can easily identify with her.  One passage in particular resonated so strongly with me, that it stopped me in my tracks:  “But deep within was a woman who was tired of being alone against the world. A woman who wanted very badly to be held and told everything would be all right.”  How many of us, whether single, divorced, or even married feel the same way?  It doesn’t matter if you are trying to save your dethroned kingdom, get the kids to soccer practice, or simply handle the day to day chores and decisions of life – this is a sentiment most of us will echo.  And like the modern woman, Isabella continuously brushes aside her own needs and fears, digging deep to find the strength and resilience to do what must be done. 

In Simon, Isabella finds a man as devoid of family as she now finds herself, and as devoted to his country as she is to hers.  Both wholly commit themselves to fulfilling their duties, at the expense of their own desires and lives.  But in Simon, Isabella unexpectedly finds a rock.  Near the point of collapse, she is running on empty when he finds her, and although she does not give him her trust easily, he proves worthy of it time and time again.  In addition to winning her trust, he allows her to be the strong, capable woman she is, rather than trying to undermine her authority and independence.  In short, Simon Merrick is the stuff dream men are made of, and it is easy to see why Isabella falls hopelessly in love with him. 

Fans of Maya Banks work who aren’t certain if they want to read a Sharon Long title because it lacks the spicy scenes her work as Banks includes should know that once you start reading Her Majesty, My Love you will be so captivated by the story, you won’t miss having spicy scenes in it at all.

Note:  This review was originally written by Jennifer Ray for another review site.  It is being reposted at Wild on Books.

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