Thief of My Heart
Sir Thomas Lynford, the brooding, powerful hero of Lynna Banning’s Thief of My Heart, is a staunch defender of King Henry II and his queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine; he’s just the kind of hard man to send out to quell a rebellion or serve as royal bodyguard, but he’s also cash-poor, relying on the purses gained at jousting tournaments to keep his expenses paid.
So he’s nettled when he’s summoned to Court by Eleanor and charged with discovering the identity of the thief who has recently been stealing valuables from nobles; the Queen promises he will be amply compensated for his trouble, but such promises are never sure things, and the task itself rankles.
As Thomas begins his investigation, he comes to know one of Eleanor’s ladies-in-waiting, the spirited and enigmatic Yvonna del Raphael, a recent refugee from the court at Cyprus, and Banning quickly and skillfully weaves Thomas and Yvonna into a tale of intrigue (and a dash of romance) that’s both well-researched and fast-paced.
Her two main characters, Thomas and Yvonne, are well-balanced, and her portrait of imperious, alluring Eleanor of Aquitaine is consistently enjoyable.
A treat for Plantagenet romance fans.
