This is the 3rd book in the Knights Miscellany series of Gaelen Foley which began with The Duke and followed by Lord of Fire (LOF). This book centres on the story of Lord Damien Knight, the war hero twin of Lucien Knight (the hero of LOF). Damien made intriguing appearances in that book that compelled me to read this book back to back with LOF, which was a bit “risky”.So far, I’ve read some books that form part of romance series written by highly-rated/bestselling romance authors (eg Jill Shalvis, Kristan Higgins), and the problem I had with reading these books back to back is that often I feel like I’m reading the same book over and over again as the authors always seem to put in the same elements and characters (albeit with different names or names for their pet dogs).However, this is not the case for this series. One of the major strengths of Ms Foley’s series is that though the books are set in the same time period, each novel has a very different story and the characters are quite differentiated, so you don’t feel you are reading the same thing over and over again.This book follows the events of LOF, and the first scenes of Damien briefly includes references to his “post-traumatic episode” that took place in LOF. While knowing what had happened in LOF would be helpful, readers can read this book without reading the first two books in this series.[As always, I apologise for the spoilers, but I have to say them to give an honest review.]What I like about this bookIn the looks department, Damien is the identical twin of Lucien, so that is a big plus for me because as I’ve mentioned in my review for LOF, Lucien reminds me a lot of the actor, Henry Cavill, so having visions of another Henry Cavill clone in a romance novel is a major plus for me! (Yes, I’m shallow, sorry! :-)). Compared to how Lucien met his wife, Alice, and how their relationship developed in LOF, the way Damien met Miranda and how their relationship developed felt less contrived in this novel. In some ways, I also liked better how Damien and Miranda overcame the “blockers” to achieve their HEA. (The “blockers” were quite formidable: (1) Miranda’s greedy relatives who were after her fortune; (2) the fact Damien was her designated guardian upon the death of her uncle; (3) Damien’s post-traumatic stress disorder; (4) Napolean coming back and igniting another war.)Compared to Alice, I also loved Miranda’s “spunk” and feistiness and how she is able to hold her ground against the very formidable, domineering, icy but vulnerable Damien.As always, I enjoyed and admired Ms Foley’s way of blending the story with historical fact and context. Compared to other authors in the genre, I find her stories showing more thought in including them in the story.I also liked that the other characters of her books, Robert, Belle, Lucien and Alice, all made appearances giving readers a peek into their lives after their respective HEAs in the previous books.Overall, I would say that after The Duke, this is my second favourite book in the series, though I’m only currently reading Book 5. (There are seven books in the series.)What I didn’t like or more like what is harder “to swallow” about this bookI wouldn’t say that I didn’t like the stuff I list here but other readers may find them hard to swallow. (I know I did.)Of the two twins, I must say, I prefer Lucien from LOF as he is more “easy-going” even though he has his own “war demons” to live with. In fact, in some ways, Damien is not exactly a very easy hero to like. Why?(1)tDamien likes prostitutes. Though the author did imply “he treated them well”, I honestly wonder how he never got caught any venereal disease or have bastards around the countryside of France, England or Spain or wherever the war campaigns took him given the contraceptives available historically during those times were hardly as effective as those we have now.(2)tBecause of his weakness for prostitutes, he basically treated Miranda like one in the beginning. Granted he didn’t know she was his ward when they first met, the fact remains he nearly forced himself on her, then suddenly just like that, he changed the way he treats her when he realised later on who she really is.(3)tHe has severe post-traumatic stress disorder which could make him susceptible to killing someone when he has one of his “episodes”.I suppose, in some ways, Damien’s character is a bit more “real”, in that he acts like someone (a solider) who lived in the historical times this story is set and someone who experienced the horrors of war without the benefit of modern psychiatric treatment. In some ways, this was one aspect of the book that I find hard accepting -- would his love for Miranda or even that first night when Miranda gave him a blowjob be enough for him to overcome his post-traumatic stress? I know love overcoming any trauma is a common theme/device/plot in romances, but seriously you kind of ponder whether just being hit by an arrow from Cupid is enough to “fix everything” as implied.There is also a bit of an “ick-factor” to overcome about the fact that Damien is Miranda’s guardian which makes him almost like a foster father in my opinion. I know back then, guardians marrying their wards was acceptable, but being part of this century, for me, there is just something icky about it. While Ms Foley took great pains to point out Miranda was “older”, I believe she was 19-21 years old when she married Damien, it was still a bit of an “ick-factor” for me. Damien was around 32, I think and given their age difference, all I could think about is Prince Charles (then 30?) when he married Lady Diana Spencer (then 19) back in 1981 and you know how that marriage ended up. But I guess this is the strength of Ms Foley’s writing – she writes characters and scenarios that are “more realistic” and “faithful” to how they were in Regency England, but somehow manages to make you suspend disbelief or accept an HEA despite the unpalatable realities of that historical timeframe.
Damian, the Earl of Winterly, returned from the war with Napoleon scarred for life. Every time he heard a sudden, loud noise, his mind was plunged back to the battlefield. Immediately, he became a ruthless killing machine, literally ripping out the throats of his assailants with his bare hands! Although it is long past time for him to secure a wife and settle down, Damian is troubled. What if he unleashed such violence on his family or on an innocent? For their own protection, Damian Knight set himself aloof from society.Thankfully, fate intervenes. Upon the death of one of his officers, Damian becomes the guardian of Miranda FitzHubert. He has no idea how to take care of a child, but Miranda surprises him. His ward is no child. The graceful, long haired beauty rocks him to his soul, touching his heart in a way Damian couldn’t foresee. Still, if he cares for her, he must keep Miranda at a distance. Miranda, however, has ideas of her own. Miss FitzHubert continues to prod the remote Earl of Winterly, little by little revealing the man within. Killing angel or vengeful demon – which is Damian Knight? As an adversary closes in on Miranda, she may very well need both.
What do You think about Lord Of Ice (2006)?
Loved loved loved it. I have read the first two books in this series some time ago but for some reason haven't reviewed nor rated them on Goodreads. As I've got the whole series on my 'to read' pile in the bookshelf then I obviously enjoyed them enough to order the remainder of the series.Just the right combination of drama, romance, humour, sweetness and steaminess. Adored Damien Knight, twin of Lucien from Lord of Fire. Damien is a decorated war Colonel isolating himself away from the glitz of London and his family trying to overcome the PTSD he is suffering after witnessing the gruesome side of war. Orphan Miranda FitzHubert becomes Damien's ward after her Uncle is murdered in London. Watching them come to care for each other was truly delightful. Can't wait to read Lady of Desire next.
—Karen
Review taken from my Blog Post (#83) in February 2011, after borrowing the book from the local library.Another in the Knight family series, this time the twin brother of Lord Lucien, Damien the Earl of Winterley.Damien is a a dangerous and damaged war hero, who gains a young ward following the death of his friend Major Jason Sherbrooke.Although it turns out that Miranda is not actually that young, she's 19 and in a boarding school in near Birmingham. She is the illegitimate daughter of Major Sherbrooke' elder brother and his famous actress mistress. They had both died when Miranda was a small girl in a boating accident.Jason arrives in Birmingham too late to go to the school so to kill time he visits a theatre and is knocked sideways by a beautiful young actress, that he must have. He waits for her outside the threatre, but gets rejected by her after a steamy kiss. She runs away, but he goes after her just in time to save her from a gang of kidnappers, and she goes on her way leaving him with a heap of dead kidnappers.Imagine his surprise the next morning when he finds out that beautiful actress is in actual fact his young ward.Hardly able to take care of himself, how do they go on from there? Well ......... you'll have to read it too........ a 4 star read.
—Kay Bolton
Somehow I enjoyed Lord of Ice more than Lord of Fire. :)Damien's post traumatic syndrome (PTSD) was vividly real. And how to overcome it is nothing simple especially after so many wars and death. He is the deadliest man yet the gentlest. You've got that right, Miranda. He's a force to be reckoned and yet he's the most gentleman. Damien is blunt but caring and considerate. Miranda is a feisty little thing. She's so passionate about performing at the beginning because she craves the attention and applause which she takes it as the nearest form of love she could ever receive for being an orphan and bastard.It's a bit surreal that she didn't want to continue performing but she now have unconditional love from the Knights. And I think that's why she no longer obsessed about performing. After their marriage I was so happy for them. And Damien is a responsible soldier and husband. And I am glad that Miranda bucked up and went to war with Damien. Oh I just loooove the epilogue. ^^One thing I did not like is that I think Ms Gaelen Foley emphasized too much on the fact that Miranda is a "child" and she need to be protected etc. Well this is a nice read. :D
—QiJia (On Hiatus) 치쟈
