A Medieval Trilogy - Elizabeth Lowell

Written by Elizabeth Lowell
Read by Anne Flosnick, Sarah Scott
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

Early in her career, Elizabeth Lowell wrote traditional romances. This series was 1993-1994

Untamed
Narrator: Anne Flosnick

Medieval Series, Book 1
Publisher: Brilliance Audio, 2015
Length: 11hrs

Returning home triumphant from the Crusades, Dominic le Sabre is determined to claim the bride promised to him by the king, but the highborn Celtic beauty is equally determined to resist him.

Lowell opens her medieval trilogy with a fanciful story of Lady Margaret, who marries the Norman knight Dominic le Sabre in the hope that he can protect her Saxon home, Blackthorne Keep, during troubled times. In marrying him, she defies the dying wish of John of Cumbriland, who raised her: that she wed his illegitimate son, Duncan of Maxwell. Meg and Dominic are surrounded by threats: Duncan is poised to disrupt the wedding; Eadith, Meg’s attendant, hates the Normans, who killed “her husband, father, brothers, and uncles” (women relatives seem of no concern); Meg’s powerful home-brewed medicine has been stolen and her “Glendruid” psychic powers indicate impending danger. Lowell’s clumsy tale appears to glorify a system that ranks females as less valuable than males. Dominic seeks a male heir, but Meg’s eccentric Glendruid reproductive system may deny him his wish: Glendruid women are not known for producing sons. If Dominic gives Meg “great pleasure” in bed, he will earn himself a daughter, but it takes “great love” to produce a son.”

Forbidden

Narrator: Sarah Scott
Medieval Series, Book 2

FOREWARNED

Throughout the Disputed Lands she is called Amber the Untouched — a chaste, golden-haired beauty fleeing the remarkable love that was prophesied at her birth … and the death that must inevitably follow.

FORESEEN

He comes to her in darkness, as had been foretold — a wounded warrior with no memory … a promised lover seared by passion’s fire, irresistibly drawn to the innocent enchantress who divines truth with a touch.

FORGOTTEN

In a time of war, their romance is legend — until a lost past returns to Duncan and labels Amber his enemy. But he cannot forsake the beautiful woman who has healed his body and his heart. He vows to defy to the death the dread forces that have proclaimed their love … FORBIDDEN

They call her “Amber the Untouched” throughout the Disputed Lands — a chaste, golden-haired beauty who fears the remarkable love that was prophesied at her birth . . . and the death that must inevitably follow. Now Duncan has come to her in darkness, as was foretold — a wounded warrior with no memory, seared by passion’s fire and irresistibly drawn to the innocent enchantress who divines truth with a touch. Their romance is legend in a time of war. But when Duncan’s memory returns, he sees Amber as his enemy. Still, he cannot forsake the lover who healed his body and heart. And he will defy to the death the dread forces that have proclaimed their love . . .

Enchanted (1994)

Narrator: Anne Flosnick
Medieval Series, Book 3

Simon the loyal has vowed never to love, for love makes a warrior weak. His arranged marriage to a beautiful Norman heiress would be duty and no more. But more than duty stirs his blood when he first sees Ariane. She has known only coldness from men and a betrayal so deep it all but killed her soul. Wanting no man, trusting no man, speaking only through the sad songs she draws from her harp, Ariane comes to Simon an unwilling bride. They wed to bring peace to the disputed lands, but marriage alone is not enough. Simon must teach Ariane passion, she must teach him trust. And both must surrender to the sweet violence of love’s enchantment . . .or die.

Publishers Weekly—
Simon the Loyal must marry Ariane the Betrayed in order to bring peace to the Disputed Lands. The catch? A brutal rape and her people’s betrayal (hence the name) have left her unable to love and with an unreasonable fear of the marriage bed. This conflict drives the plot, but it is unnecessarily belabored during the first quarter of the book when it could have been cleared up by Ariane’s simply explaining the situation to the seemingly understanding and compassionate Simon. This is not the only cause for confusion in this romance of 11th century England: Characters are hard to distinguish, having such similar names as Ariane and Amber, Dominic and Duncan and equally similar mystical powers–whether they be Learned, truth seers or witches. Lowell hones her writing skills in the second half of the book, finally displaying the talent behind the eight million copies of her titles in print. Her characters come into their own once freed from the mantle of a wearying plot device. The love scenes sizzle, motivations are plausible and the story becomes engrossing. Out of confusion comes a love story, which will no doubt leave Lowell’s loyal readers satisfied.