Publisher: Harvest House
Year of Publication: 1997
It is the second book in The Abbey Series
This book, although part of the series, does not continue the story in the first book.
It does not have the same characters as the first book, Conquered Heart.
Genre: Romantic Fiction

Setting
This book is set in 1229 in England. The majority of this story unfolds in Marchemont Castle, the home of the Alexander de la Marche, Earl of Lambeth. This castle is situated on the Thames, on the ourskirts of London. It is also within a short distance of Westminster Abbey.M
Main Characters
Jane Lighfoot is the head of the kitchens at Marchemont Castle. This is a huge job as often she must cater for over 200 people and during a tournament, she must cater for over 2000 people for four days. She is admired by all the kitchen staff, who are thrilled to be lead by Jane. She is only 31, young for such a job, but she is reknown for her excellence in the culinary arts.
Jane was seduced by a stranger 15 years previously and as a result she bore a child, Nicholas. Following the death of her father a year after Nicholas' birth, Jane searched for work. She found work in the kitchens of Marchemont and slowly worked her way up to be the head of the kitchen. Jane's past is not known, it is just assumed by all that she is a widow.
Jane has a great love for God, Westminster Abbey and her son, Nicholas. She also has a passion for caring for the ill. She knows many different herbal remedies for malaises and so she is often called upon to give advice to many people.
Nicholas Lightfoot is, at 15, closely approaching manhood. He is a "strapping lad", who is admired by most of the "young castle wenches". He still works in the kitchen for his mother, but he adores the stables and would prefer to work out there. Nicholas thrives on challenges and has a large capacity for perseverence in tasks that he is set. His father was a nobleman, and apart from the braclet given to his mother, neither Nicholas or Jane know anything about him. Nicholas wonders who his father might be.
Doctor Patrick MacBeth is a handsome, Irish doctor. He, like Jane, has a great love for God and for Westminster Abbey. He is the doctor for many wealthy Nobles throughout London. Amongst his many patients, is Lady Alison Hastings, the sister of the Earl of Lambeth. Lady Alison is one of his most demanding patients. Patrick is a wonderful doctor, and is admired by all. He does however, have a past that most people do not know about and Patrick is very content to leave it that way.
Alexander de la Marche is the Earl of Lambeth and the master of Marchemont Castle. He is married to Lady Marie who is frequently absent from the Castle on overseas journeys. The Earl is well loved by his numerous servants for his very generous nature. He has been married for 20 years, but he is childless, so his nephew, Percy will inherit Marchemont Castle. The Earl is a good friend of King Henry.
Lady Alison Hastings is the widowed sister of the Earl. She lives at Marchemont, and is essentially the Lady of the house, as Lady Marie is frequently absent. Lady Alison is often ill and is demanding of Doctor MacBeth, who faithfully attends her. She only has one child, Percy, who is the Earl's heir. In nature, Lady Alison is vindictive, power hungry and jealous of anyone who will not let her have her own way.
Percival Hastings is the Earl's heir. At 22, he is similar in nature to Lady Alison, his mother. He is not well liked by the Earl, who hasn't really trained Percy for his future position as the Earl. Percy practices sword fighting for many hours a day and he is reknown for his skill with the sword.
Walter Skeets has been at Marchemont since before the Earl was born and now, at 60, he is well loved as the Earl's faithful Steward. Walter is a good friend of Jane Lightfoot and he has personally seen to the care of Jane and Nicholas since they arrived at Marchemont 14 years ago.
Critique
I really enjoyed this novel. It has many twists that are totally unpredictable. On the surface it appears predictable, but although some facets of the story are predictable the way in which certain events occur is hard to predict. The complex nature of the main characters is not fully understood either until towards the end of the novel the more complex characteristics are revealed. It does need to be known that herbal remedies were the only real medicines that were available in 1229 in England. Most of medicine in those times was based on supersition, which is not really covered in this book. This book touches on evil and the consquences of going against what God wants us to do. Please read this book and enjoy it, I am sure you will find it as good as I did!







8/10
