Updated 3/1/2013 - While doing a re-read with my local book club I was anxious to see if this would stand the test of time. I once again devoured the book and I’m glad to find it's still one of my all time favorites.Ranulf, The Black Lyon is a fierce, alpha warrior. He’s well known for his viciousness on the battle field and none can best him. Bitterness from a past rejection has shaped him into the callous man he is. His self worth took a beating at the hands of a woman. He doesn’t believe in love nor does he trust the fairer sex. Lyonene is a beauty, an innocent who quickly wins his heart and brings laughter to this hardened man. The chemistry sizzles and Ranulf is amazed at his response to her. After only a few days spent together they are betrothed. Shortly after, Ranulf must return to his home. While there, the doubts and insecurities start to plague him, and by the time he returns for the wedding, Lyonene encounters a stranger, one who is harsh and brutal. This story is filled with jealousy, angst and even though you must be able to suspend disbelief along with a fair amount of cheesiness, I still found this to be one of my all time favorites. This is an older written book, (I believe 1980?) and may not appeal to many. There are no explicitly written sex scenes and no deeply written historical content. Many of the character's thoughts and actions are as they would be for the time period. Women are treated harshly and this is portrayed in the story. I first read this many years ago. I immediately fell in Love with Deveraux's writing. This is the prequel to her Montgomery Series and their Taggert cousins. Deveraux has given me many hours of pleasure with her books. I’m glad to find this bodice ripper still sits on my favorite shelf.
Fanciful Medieval Bodice Ripper with Strong Heroine and Stronger HeroSet in what appears to be England in the 13th century (Edward is King of England, though his queen is “Eleanora” rather than Eleanor), this is the story of Lady Lyonene, a baron’s daughter, and Ranaulf de Warbrooke, 3rd Earl of Malvoisin, aka “the Black Lion.” When they meet at her family’s keep, Lyonene and Ranaulf are instantly attracted. She is the golden lioness and he’s the black lion (a lot of lion images here). Over the next few days, he commits to marry her because she makes him laugh. Ranaulf has a dark secret in his past—an unfaithful wife who died condemning him. So he is ever suspicious of Lyonene being after his money and ever jealous of any man who comes close to her. This story takes the reader on some wide swings from wedding night rape to a loving and attentive husband (though he remains arrogant to the end). Deveraux did a great job of portraying a winsome, clever and strong heroine and the dark, sometimes cruel and brutal lord. There isn’t much history in this tale, which often appears fanciful rather than historical romance but there is a clear medieval tone, which I very much enjoyed. And there is some lively dialog between Lyonene and Ranulf in the course of their many adventures with some wonderful secondary characters and an evil female villain.All in all, it’s a worthy read if you like medieval romance, but expect some bodice ripping scenes and don’t look for serious history in this one.
What do You think about The Black Lyon (2007)?
I'm going to try one of the other books in this series because I've heard they are better than this one. One thing I couldn't get past was when the author put the heroine in a room with a closed door, alone, with a naked man who she is supposed to help bathe. This, in a time when propriety was severe, makes no sense. Asking a maiden to bathe a man who is not sick or incapacitated? I don't think this would have happened. Couples were forced to marry for just being found alone together, fully clot
—S.J. Drum
An A-Team project failure!I knew it was too good to last! The Black Lyon by Jude Deveraux was originally released in 1980...and it shows. I just couldn't complete this story. I was taken aback at the amount of violence displayed toward the heroine aka victim in this story and that abuse is perpetrated by the so called hero. Not only does he rape her (and I do mean rape), he backhands her, he has sex with a serf (actually his wife in disguise, I guess that makes it ok), and he's wayyyy out of con
—SidneyKay
" Each time i make love to you , i tell you i love you "wow , just wow !!! this book was just pefect , it wasn't my kind of thing but i decided to read it because i felt that the story would be beautiful n i was NOT desappointed at all ! this book became at the top of my dearest books ever , it made so emotional that i cried most of the time and i swear to God my heart actually hurt at times !! when i finished i was just lost for words , and if you ask any one of my friends they would assure you that that does NOT happen very often !!! i loooooooved it ...
—Shatha
