The only man who’s tempted her…
Now poses as her husband!
When an injured knight arrives on Brida O’Conaill’s doorstep, the village assumes he’s her long-lost husband. But her only previous connection to Sir Thomas Lovent was an intense shared moment at a tournament years ago.
Brida maintains the pretense while she nurses him, yet once he’s back to full, virile health, she cannot reveal Thomas is not her husband—or that she’s unmarried!—when everyone is expecting them to act like husband and wife…
| Title: | The Knight’s Convenient Alliance |
| Author: | Melissa Oliver |
| Series: | Notorious Knights (Book 3) |
| Pages: | 265 |
| Category / Genre(s): | Harlequin / Mills & Boon Historical Romance |
| Trope(s): | Second Chance Romance |
| Point of View: | Third Person, Past Tense, Dual Viewpoint (H&h) |
| Location: | England / Wales |
| Setting: | 1221, Medieval |
| HEA: | ✔️ |
| Release Date: | 25th November, 2021 |
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Absorbing and involving
This is my first book by Melissa Oliver but incidentally the fourth in her Notorious Knights series. Fear not, however, as each book stands alone with a separate couple complete with HEA for every book. Characters from previous books do appear in this one – especially Gwen and Ralph from The Return of Her Lost Knight – and they definitely tease you to go back and read their stories after you’ve finished this one.
The first thing I noticed about this book was that the language and writing style immediately transported me to medieval Britain where this is set – 1221 to be precise. I have absolutely no idea how, but so subtly the language and style gave me a medieval vibe which stayed with me throughout the book. It was clear that Ms Oliver knows and loves the details of the medieval period and wants to share them with her readers.
I love a fake relationship trope but actually this book is so much more. There’s a mystery element due to Sir Thomas’s work for the Crown as well as something of a road trip romance element as our pair go on a journey together – which then gives us some forced proximity. So many things to force our couple together and make me giddy at the same time.
“…fantastic chemistry as well as a writing style that really envelops you into the author’s medieval world.”
Brida was definitely an interesting character for me and I have to say that I liked her a lot. As an independent woman in a time when it probably wasn’t the norm, Brida had to be strong and feisty. She also has a sharp tongue – especially, it turns out, when it comes to Sir Thomas. While she gives the outward appearance of infallibility, she’s actually quite vulnerable based on her past and her inability to reign in her attraction to Tom. She was complex and while it confused me at times – it was also very real.
Sir Thomas was a great hero – something of a Scarlet Pimpernel with his laughing, teasing facade which hides a more complex man on a furtive mission. I loved his teasing nature and the way he couldn’t help but try and push Brida’s buttons – it was surprisingly sweet. Like a little boy pulling at the pigtails of the girl he likes! You could definitely see the two different sides of the man and, like Brida, it revealed a layered and likeable character.
While our book starts with a blistering kiss between our pair, after that it’s something of a slow burn. But that works well as the couple need time to get to know each other and then like each other before taking things further. When things did get steamy, I got those lovely butterflies in the tummy which signal some great chemistry. The sex scenes are there but not overly explicit and perfectly fit the tone of the book.
The book had some moments that startled a laugh from me and, like I said, fantastic chemistry as well as a writing style that really envelops you into the author’s medieval world. I would have loved an epilogue to see Tom and Brida at some point after their HEA, but since there wasn’t, here’s hoping that this series continues and I can meet them again sometime in the future. I really enjoyed this story and felt absorbed into this world and the lives of Brida and Tom. I’ll look out for more stories by Melissa Oliver in the future as this one was definitely a winner. 5 stars.
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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Notorious Knights Series:
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Review: A Defiant Maiden's Knight by Melissa Oliver - Jo Reads Romance
28 June 2022 at 11:01 pm[…] a new series, our heroine, Joan, is the sister of the hero from a previous Melissa Oliver book, The Knight’s Convenient Alliance. Tom and his wife, Brida, also feature in this story but each book stands alone and has its own […]