When the beautiful and strong-willed Beatrice Marlowe sets her eyes and heart on Philip, their fate is sealed. Wanting to marry her, Philip confronts his father about giving him some land. Hearing that news, the legitimate, but extremely jealous and cruel Gareth kills his father and falsely accuses his stepbrother. When Philip is forced to flee for his life, the star-crossed lovers take a vow of love, knowing their future may be forever doomed.

When Phillip gets word that Beatrice has broken her vow and married Gareth, he becomes even more bitter against God and filled with anger and vengeance. But, did God really have a purpose for him, if he could only cool down and listen?

With her meticulous research, Judith Pella has woven a colorful and inspirational adventure tale, resplendent with fast changing fortunes and circumstances arising from the tumultuousness of the civil war period in England and the Crusades in the Holy Land. A skillful storyteller, this renowned author effectively highlights the circumstances of both the high and low by her use of well-sketched secondary characters and attention to detail. You will enjoy a suspenseful and thrilling ride as you follow the differing paths taken by Beatrice and Philip on their way to maturity and the consequences of love and jealousy.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Mildly sensual

Reviewer: Audrey Lawrence
August 9, 2006