Blue Heaven, Black Night

I've read (and reviewed) several medieval romances by Shannon Drake (aka Heather Graham) and loved them all. She writes with passion and great talent that brings alive the time of knights and their ladies and simply sweeps you away. This one is, in my opinion, right up there with Princess of Fire and Knight of Fire, two others I've given 5 stars to (see my other reviews).First, there is the legend of the Plantagenets: the story of a beautiful woman with blue green eyes and red gold hair, Melusine, whose fire could not burn, and of the knight who takes her as the spoils of war to find he is mesmerized by her beauty and craves her love. He becomes obsessed with her. But when he tries to test her, she disappears into thin air, leaving him with their two children whose heirs are Henry II and Richard the Lion Heart.So begins the complex story of Sir Bryan Stede, a knight who rose from humble beginnings to become the favored knight of Henry II and then his son, Richard the Lion Heart. Set in the late 12th century, Stede rises in reputation to earn the respect of his king's enemies, like Saladin, who Richard fights for Jerusalem in the the 3rd crusade in the Holy Land. In a case of mistake, Bryan captures Henry's illegitimate daughter, Elise, Duches of Montoui in France believing her to be a thief. She fights him and lies to him. In his anger, he takes her believing she is no innocent and then he becomes obsessed with her. But each is promised to another. At the point when they both hated each other, I couldn't see how Drake could bring them together, but she did and it was masterful.The story leads to the Holy Land and to an Arabian prince, Jalahar, who fights Bryan. Once he sees Elise, like the legend, he also becomes obsessed with her and will not give her up after he captures her. What a story!! I do recommend you read "the legend" intro twice so as not to forget it as it gives clues to the rest of the book. If you're a Shannon Drake fan, as I am, this is one you'll want to read again.

I read a book for enjoyment. I did not enjoy this book. While Heather Graham is an awesome writer and has an obvious gift, the themes of hate, anger, name calling, arguing and accusing gets old quick. They didn’t stop with their bickering until about 75% or more of the book had been read! The story had such great potential! Loved the general plot and time period. There is a lot of history woven into the story which I like, too. But please, Mrs. Graham, a little less war between the two main characters makes for much more enjoyable reading!

Beyond Terrible! I had promised myself to stay away from this author since most of the heroes in the historical romances I have read written by her, were verbally and mentally abusive to the heroine (I have never read her contemporary stories). However, I was totally enthralled with The Legend in the very beginning of the book sample. Big Mistake! I feel like such a sucker. This terrible book has nothing in common with the Legend (unless you consider a passing, patch-up reference a connection). And Bryan was nothing (and I mean nothing) like Fulk and his feelings for his Melusine. This particular hero treated the heroine with callous disregard, even cruelty for most of this story, however it gets worse, see below.I never like it when the hero sleeps with a former lover after making love with the heroine, but this so called hero certainly did, at least once. But it goes down hill from there: Toward the end of the book, after been married to the heroine, and at last finally admitting to himself that he indeed loves her after all, he still is unfaithful to her. His excuse? they are apart, and he is not cut out for celibacy, REALLY? And because the book is mostly written from the She point of view, and the heroine is often separated from the hero, the reader is subjected again and again to her anguish thoughts. But what bother me the most is that she fell in love with him in the first place. Just as in real life, I don't understand (and never will) how a woman can fall in love with a man who treats her shabbily, just because she likes what he does to her in bed. Yes, I understand lust, but love? And even when there is only lust involved, I expect the heroine to have some self control and personal pride (not to become a puppet without will the minute the hero gets amorous). But Elise eventually falls madly in love with a man who has treated her contemptuously and with callous disregard. If I wanted to indulge in this despicable scenario I would stick with real life. I read romance novels to enjoy myself, not to be irritated and offended by a man whose behavior toward women is demeaning to say the least. Yes, this is a historical romance, and men behave differently back then (so do many men now-day), but and this a big BUT, romance novels, though based in history are just a fantasy to escape from our reality, such as the "Dark One" written by Kathryn Le Veque. I mean this is not a history book, nor a literary classic.

I love historical romance. I think I maybe had too high expectations for this one. It's good, and there are some good scenes but I don't know... Not my favorite.

I love this kind of book. It has history and a good story. I would like to be able to find more like this one. Of course I would recommend it to others it doesn't have bad words or startling clear sex scenes

I enjoyed the drama it contained.

I rarely give five star's, even to my favorite Author's. Heather Graham's storytelling whisks me, as the enjoyer along with the characters. Sometimes, I feel as though I'm there also.I recommend my favorite Author's to both women & men. There's enough action/adventure to attract guys too!

Miss your wit an talent in weaving a good story of Knights and their ladies. Detailing feels as if your there couldn't but it down. A wonderful read welcome back please write another!

A well written story, set in a turbulent time in history. I could relate to the feelings of the strong willed but nieave heroine as she comes to terms with her feelings and reality.Also the hero who while honourable, is also frustrated, and human in his interaction with her, which leads to quite a sparkling relationship and an engrossing tale.

A brilliant and intelligent read, I would recommend to anybody who likes historical romance

read this book in 1999,had difficulties in getting it here in GERMANY;a wonderful love story that i can read over and over again,highly recommended for lovers of historical romance,