Experience the drama unfolding in this medieval forbidden romance set around the wild Cornish coast
Caught between duty…
And forbidden desire!
Lady Elowen is traveling to her loveless arranged betrothal when she’s rescued from a storm by Lord Simon Trebarr—the enigmatic knight whose family has long been enemies of her own. She should hate him, yet an unwanted attraction has always simmered whenever he’s near…
Within the walls of Simon’s Cornish castle, can Elowen resist experiencing passion before condemning herself to a life without it…even if it’s with the man who should be her enemy?
| Title: | Stranded with her Forbidden Knight |
| Author: | Melissa Oliver |
| Series: | n/a |
| Pages: | 254 |
| Category / Genre(s): | Harlequin / Mills & Boon Historical Romance |
| Trope(s): | Enemies to Lovers Close Proximity |
| Point of View: | Third Person, Past Tense, Dual Viewpoint (H&h) |
| Location: | Cornwall |
| Setting: | 1347, Medieval |
| HEA: | ✔️ |
| Release Date: | 20th June, 2024 |
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Loving some enemies to lovers yearning
I’ve always enjoyed a Melissa Oliver Mills & Boon Historical story and was keen to see where she would take us and what adventures she take us on with her newest book. The answer to the first question is the wilds of the Cornish coast and the answer to the second is a delicious tale of love conquering convention, legacy and expectations.
We start off with a prologue that both explains and shows not just the relationship between our eventual couple, Simon and Elowen, but why they specifically might be at odds. As neighbours, their families have been enemies for as long as both can remember – but that doesn’t stop the pull that each feels towards the other.
Before Simon rescues Elowen from the storm, the pair do encounter each other – and each time gave me that lovely swooping feeling in my tummy. The long stares, the yearning, the wanting – gah – it was an absolute delight. Part of me wanted them to stay in a permanent state of longing but of course I also wanted them to get together. That’s why I’m here, after all.
“The long stares, the yearning, the wanting – gah – it was an absolute delight.”
With Lady Elowen stuck in close quarters with Simon during the storms, their dynamic changes and they start to get to know each other to go alongside that sizzling chemistry. It was lovely to see our pair divulging secrets and finding common ground – it really cemented their relationship. And the chemistry never goes away and we get some nicely hot scenes between our pair as their relationship progresses.
Both Simon and Elowen were likeable, relatable characters who were easy to root for. Simon seemed more jovial of the two but that’s not to say Elowen was dour. She was just a woman of her time (Medieval, 1347) and knew that she was essentially beholden to the whims of the men in her life. This is the reason that I cut her some slack when I (and Simon) wanted her to just follow her heart and choose her own future. She wasn’t daft was our Elowen. But fear not, it all worked out in the end, thankfully!
As always, Ms Oliver paints a picture with her words and transports you into the time period that her books are set; I loved living in medieval Cornwall for the duration of this story. This book was a delight from start to finish and I really felt the highs and the lows, the joy and the tears of Elowen, Simon and their love story. Definitely 5 stars and recommended.
* I received this book in exchange for my honest review *
Melissa Oliver is from south-west London where she writes historical romance novels. She lives with her lovely husband and daughters, who share her passion for decrepit, old castles, grand palaces and all things historical.
Melissa is the WINNER of The Romantic Novelist Association’s Joan Hessayon Award for new writers 2020 for her debut, The Rebel Heiress and the Knight.
When she’s not writing she loves to travel for inspiration, paint, and visit museums & art galleries.
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