De Russe Legacy Series by Kathryn Le Veque

1356 A.D. It is warring times for England as the Black Prince sweeps his way through France, waging nasty warfare on the population. Masterminding this brutal strategy is the knight they call the Black Angel. Brandt de Russe, Duke of Exeter, is the brains behind the prince’s war machine, a mountain of a man who is as cunning as he is frightening. In battle, no man is his equal... more1356 A.D. It is warring times for England as the Black Prince sweeps his way through France, waging nasty warfare on the population. Masterminding this brutal strategy is the knight they call the Black Angel. Brandt de Russe, Duke of Exeter, is the brains behind the prince’s war machine, a mountain of a man who is as cunning as he is frightening. In battle, no man is his equal. The Lady Ellowyn de Nerra, granddaughter of the great mercenary Braxton de Nerra, has been sent to London by her crippled father to collect the men he has donated to the Black Prince’s wars in France. De Nerra men are mingled with the Duke of Exeter’s men and Ellowyn is at the dock when the duke disembarks his ships. In her attempt to introduce herself to Brandt and explain her purpose, the duke has little time for the beautiful young woman and mistakes her for a whore. Grossly insulted, Ellowyn threatens the man that all sane men fear. And so begins the fiery, passionate, and deep love story that transcends families, kings, and two continents, building to the Battle of Poitiers where Brandt is on the front lines. In battle, no man is his equal but even the most powerful of men are prisoners of their own hearts. less

1486 A.D. Fresh from his treacherous turning of the tides against Richard III in the Battle of Bosworth, Sir Gaston de Russe’s reputation is dark and dirty. Those loyal to Richard hate him and those loyal to Henry Tudor fear him. He is, after all, The Dark One. In order to gain a strong foothold in Yorkshire, Henry sends Gaston to one of the largest fortresses in the north, a massive bastion called Mt. Holyoak Castle... more1486 A.D. Fresh from his treacherous turning of the tides against Richard III in the Battle of Bosworth, Sir Gaston de Russe’s reputation is dark and dirty. Those loyal to Richard hate him and those loyal to Henry Tudor fear him. He is, after all, The Dark One. In order to gain a strong foothold in Yorkshire, Henry sends Gaston to one of the largest fortresses in the north, a massive bastion called Mt. Holyoak Castle. Having formerly belonged to Sir Guy Stoneley, who is now a prisoner in the White Tower after his capture at Bosworth, the castle is still the home to Guy’s wife, Remington, her three sisters, and her son. Gaston takes possession of Mt. Holyoak, pleased with his acquisition and intrigued with Lady Stoneley. Beautiful, somewhat shy and demure, Gaston soon comes to find out that Mt. Holyoak harbors a horrible secret of rape and abuse. Guy Stoneley abused his wife and sisters, so much so that the women look to Gaston as their saviour for taking Mt. Holyoak from Guy. As Gaston struggles to administer the North and form alliances with those still loyal to Richard, something more is taking place that threatens to distract him from his task. The lure, the power, is more than he can resist. A strong bond is forming between the knight believed to be the ultimate traitor and the lady who has known nothing but sorrow and horror. And with that realization, a delicate love story begins as two lonely people find solace and comfort with each other. Gaston soon realizes he loves Remington more than anything, which sets the stage for the biggest battle of his life: the fight against the Catholic Church in his quest for an annulment so he can marry her. Join Gaston and Remington as they embark on an epic adventure of discovery, love, anguish and sorrow, defeat and victory. From the hills of Yorkshire to the halls of London, share their story of a lifetime where dreams become reality and true love really does conquer all. less

The blood lines of seven great houses come together in the greatest knight of them all. Prepare yourself for the BEAST. Editorial reviews: "This is truly vintage Le Veque. This is the type of book that put her in the forefront of Medieval Romance writers. There is love, romance, political intrigue, knights fighting, knights drinking and laughing, a king that will grow up right in front of you. There is drama, suspense, silliness, honor, chivalry, love and legend... moreThe blood lines of seven great houses come together in the greatest knight of them all. Prepare yourself for the BEAST. Editorial reviews: "This is truly vintage Le Veque. This is the type of book that put her in the forefront of Medieval Romance writers. There is love, romance, political intrigue, knights fighting, knights drinking and laughing, a king that will grow up right in front of you. There is drama, suspense, silliness, honor, chivalry, love and legend." He bears the name of de Russe, but the bloodlines of seven great houses converge in the greatest knight England has yet seen. As the uncle of Gaston de Russe, the Dark One, Sir Bastien de Russe beholds a great and terrible legacy, one that makes him both the target and the leader, the hunter and the hunted. His story is the most powerful of all. 1431 A.D. - As the premier knight for the Duke of Bedford, Bastian has been assigned a great and terrible task - he becomes the jailer for the Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc. At first her enemy, he comes to know the woman who has fought so hard to free France from English rule, and an odd but symbiotic friendship grows. On the day Joan is taken to meet her death at the stake, Bastian is both her escort and her comfort. But before the flames are lit, Joan begs Bastian for one last favor. Reluctantly, he complies, but the rumors are already flying fast and furious about the English knight and the Maid. Some say he loves her; some say she has bewitched him. Hoping to remove Bastian from France and from whatever spell the Maid may have cast upon him,the Duke of Bedford makes arrangements to return him to England and to a new assignment - as the protector of young King Henry VI. Additionally, Bastian is awarded a bride for his services in France, but it an award he doesn't want. His bride, Lady Gisella le Bec, daughter of the great Richmond le Bec (from the novel GREAT PROTECTOR), has no desire to marry a man who was rumored bewitched by the Maid of Orleans. With neither Bastian or Gisella having any choice in the matter, a hasty marriage is made. Thus begins their saga. Through triumph, intrigue, battles, and grief, Bastian and Gisella come to know one another and in spite of everything, a powerful love begins to bloom. But Bastian still has a promise to fulfill, a promise he made to the Maid just before she died, and it is this promise that drives him to risk both his life and Gisella's. From the dungeons of Rouen to the royal halls of London, don't miss this deeply romantic and exciting adventure. Great passion and great benevolence abide in the man known as the BEAST. less

1410 A.D. – Battle-hardened warrior and favored of the king, Sir Lucien de Russe is called the Iron Knight because of his indestructibility in battle. An older knight, Lucien is entering his fortieth year and has seen a good deal in his lifetime. But having sustained fairly serious wounds in the most recent rebellions against Henry IV, Lucien retires his sword and spurs, choosing to live out the rest of his life in peace. Physically, he is damaged goods and must heal... more1410 A.D. – Battle-hardened warrior and favored of the king, Sir Lucien de Russe is called the Iron Knight because of his indestructibility in battle. An older knight, Lucien is entering his fortieth year and has seen a good deal in his lifetime. But having sustained fairly serious wounds in the most recent rebellions against Henry IV, Lucien retires his sword and spurs, choosing to live out the rest of his life in peace. Physically, he is damaged goods and must heal. Mentally, however, he is already dead. Having lost his wife many years ago, Lucien has two children – a son who barely acknowledges him and a daughter who is a terror. Lucien finds no joy in life any longer, looking back upon an illustrious career, admired and loved by the fighting men of England, yet inside, he is hollow. It is this existence he has resigned himself to when the king, believing he is doing Lucien a great favor, pledges him to a very young heiress. When the girl and her father show up at Lucien’s home, he makes an escape. Riding to clear his head, Lucien runs right into a robbery in progress. A fine carriage has been set upon by bandits and Lucien knows he cannot turn away. Begrudgingly, the Iron Knight goes into action once more and saves the occupants of the carriage, a mother and her young daughter. Lady Sophina de Gournay is a widow, traveling to meet her intended. When the big, handsome knight with the long, dark hair saves her from the outlaws, a simple moment of gratitude turns into something that binds her to Lucien far more than either of them realize. It’s that wonderful chance meeting, a chain of events is started that could destroy them both. Join Lucien and Sophina in a romance of a lifetime, where second chances at love are something worth fighting for. less

It’s the Dark Knight’s wild son, Cortland “Cort” de Russe in an adventure that could see him executed for treason. March Medieval Madness has arrived! 1518 A.D. – As a decorated knight for Henry VIII, Cort is sent to Ireland to assist the Earls of Kildare in ruling The Pale, the only strip of Ireland that the English ruled uncontested in the whole country... moreIt’s the Dark Knight’s wild son, Cortland “Cort” de Russe in an adventure that could see him executed for treason. March Medieval Madness has arrived! 1518 A.D. – As a decorated knight for Henry VIII, Cort is sent to Ireland to assist the Earls of Kildare in ruling The Pale, the only strip of Ireland that the English ruled uncontested in the whole country. Cort is charged with regaining a castle lost to the Irish, but in a nasty battle, Cort is faced with a cunning warrior whom he discovers to be a lady. She tries to kill him and he throws her in the vault. Dera MacRohan is no ordinary Irish warrior lass. Born from the ancient MacRohan warrior bloodlines, Dera is from a long line of warrior women. She deeply resents the English and their conquest, but she also understands the subtleties of tactics and strategy. Sometimes it is easier to catch flies with honey. Or kill an Englishman with kindness. But Cort isn’t stupid. When the lass’ guard comes down, he suspects there’s more to it. But two can play at that game; he reckons that if he is nice to her, she will tell him what he needs to know about the Irish rebellion she is part of. He plans to put that de Russe charm to good use. But in their bid to out-charm each other, genuine feelings develop. Cort begins to understand the Irish point of view in the rebellion against the English. By the time his father’s reinforcements show up to bolster the English line, Cort is all but siding with the enemy. When word reaches Gaston de Russe about Cort’s fondness for a certain Irish lass, Gaston must make a decision – since it’s forbidden for the English to marry or consort with the Irish, Gaston can either turn his son in as a traitor or pull the man from Ireland completely and send him off to hide until the storm blows over. But Cort won’t leave Dera, and a de Russe traitor is born. Live and love with Cort and Dera as they navigate the treachery of English and Irish politics, of an angry king, and of a son’s devotion to his father and family. Will Cort betray the de Russe name worse than his father ever did? Or will he forget about the Irish woman who has become his all for living in the name of family honor? (note: This novel will be in excess of 350 pages) The de Russe Legacy Series: Lord of War: Black Angel The Iron Knight Beast The White Lord of Wellesbourne The Dark One: Dark Knight Dark Moon Dark Steel A de Russe Christmas Miracle Dark Warrior less