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Tori Phillips

Autor de Three Dog Knight

12 Obras 553 Miembros 5 Reseñas 2 Preferidas

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Series

Obras de Tori Phillips

Three Dog Knight (1998) 79 copias
One Knight in Venice (2001) 72 copias
Midsummer's Knight (1998) 70 copias
Silent Knight (1996) 70 copias
Lady of the Knight (1996) 66 copias
Fool's Paradise (1996) 64 copias
Halloween Knight (2000) 51 copias
The Dark Knight (2002) 42 copias

Etiquetado

Conocimiento común

Otros nombres
Schaller, Mary
Fecha de nacimiento
20th Century
Género
female
Nacionalidad
USA
Lugar de nacimiento
Washington, D.C., USA
Lugares de residencia
Virginia, USA
Ocupaciones
novelist

Miembros

Reseñas

Lady of the Knight is the fourth book in Tori Phillips’s Cavendish Chronicles, although chronologically it falls between Three Dog Knight and Silent Knight. It borrows elements from the classic tale of Pygmalion. The story follows Sir Andrew Ford, a knight who was first seen as Thomas Cavendish’s squire in Three Dog Knight. He’s all grown up now, and by the standards of the day, an “old man” at the age of thirty-eight, and he’s known as something of an expert in fashion and etiquette. Andrew encounters a harlot whose alleged virginity is being auctioned off to the highest bidder. Feeling rather sorry for her and seeing the beauty behind her dirty, bedraggled appearance, when his young proteges bad-mouth her as not being a “lady,” Andrew wagers them that within a fortnight, he can turn her into one and that not even the king will be able to tell the difference. When the young men take him up on his bet, Andrew buys Rosie and then sets about turning her into a proper lady. He gains Rosie’s cooperation by promising to pay her a portion of his winnings. Still, it’s a challenging task, but one that Andrew is completely up for and Rosie proves a quick study. Along the way, they being to fall for one another despite their significant age difference, and things are going well. However, the man Andrew outbid for Rosie is none too happy about not getting to “deflower” her and continues to pursue her, placing her in danger. Then there’s the question of whether Andrew will be able to pull off his farce, because if the king isn’t fooled and doesn’t find the affair amusing, he might have them both thrown in jail or worse.

As I mentioned, Andrew was Thomas’s squire, but has long been a full-fledged knight when this story opens. In fact, he’s beginning to age. The young men in the story and even Andrew himself often quip of him being an “old man.” He’s a widower whose young heiress wife left him a fortune, which has kept him in the finery he enjoys. Many view Andrew as little more than a popinjay who lacks any depth, but in reality, behind the fine clothes and rich appointments of the tent which serves as his temporary home away from home while attending festivities in France, he’s an accomplished knight who even his young proteges can’t best at tournament. When he finds Rosie being auctioned off and decides to buy her for his bet, he could have taken liberties with her, but chose not to. Instead he treats her with kindness, realizing that to gain her cooperation with his little endeavor, he’ll also need her trust. However, he is tempted by the young woman who makes him feel much younger than he is. Together they make a good team, with Andrew gently coaching and Rosie doing her utmost best to learn his lessons. When the evil Sir Gareth comes after her, maligning her honor, Andrew doesn’t hesitate to step up to defend her in the jousting arena. And soon he realizes that he doesn’t want to live without her. I liked Andrew for his chivalry and because he treats Rosie with a measure of respect in spite of her humble upbringing. He also defends her honor, not only when Sir Gareth comes after her, but also to his young compatriots who tend to put her down because of where they found her.

Rosie was left on the church steps as an infant and fostered with a family who only valued her for her hard work. She was recently hoodwinked by a young man who made her think he loved her, but after she slept with him, he tossed her aside without a thought. Her willingly giving up her innocence displeased her foster father, who then sold her to a bawdmaster. Although she’s no longer a virgin, the bawdmaster doesn't know that and is trying to pass her off as one, auctioning off her virginity to the highest bidder. When Andrew casts the winning bid, Rosie is happy that it’s him and not Sir Gareth, a man who’s rumored to be cruel. However, she still doesn’t trust Andrew until he shows her can be trusted. Still, when he reveals his wager and his plan, she thinks he may have taken leave of his senses. But when he generously offers to pay her for her trouble and uses the money as incentive in training her in her duties as a lady, she proves a fast learner. Rosie soon falls in love with Andrew, but given her background, she doesn’t feel worthy of him and can’t help wondering what will become of her when the wager has been completed. Rosie is a sweet, smart girl who didn’t deserve the bad hand that fate has given her. I was glad to see her raised up in station and given a new lease on life through Andrew’s kindness, acceptance, and love, as well as that of Alicia Cavendish. The only thing I might have liked to see is Rosie gaining a little more confidence in herself and not putting herself down so much.

Overall, Lady of the Knight was another good installment in this series that I enjoyed. I liked seeing the Cavendish clan who play significant roles in the story. Thomas and Alicia (Three Dog Knight) show their support for Andrew and Rosie. Andrew’s former students, Guy (Silent Knight) and Brandon (Midsummer’s Knight) are present throughout, along with their friend, Jack, and Andrew’s squire, Jeremy. My chief complaint about the story is the disrespect that these young men often show toward Rosie. I realize that they viewed her as little more than a harlot, but a few quips would have gotten the point across. Instead, they do it almost every time they see her until late in the story, which was a little disappointing, especially for Guy and Brandon who had been so chivalrous in their own books that I’d completely fallen for them. Otherwise, I thought it was a fun story that reimagines an old classic. Andrew and Rosie were great together. He treats her kindly and she still finds him handsome and not so old despite their age gap. The author also used the real historical gathering known as the Field of the Cloth of Gold as a backdrop for the story, which was a plus. I enjoyed the festive atmosphere of this event that she brought to life so deftly. Other than my few small critiques, I liked Lady of the Knight and look forward to continuing the series.
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Denunciada
mom2lnb | Aug 7, 2022 |
Three Dog Knight is the third book in Tori Phillips’s Cavendish Chronicles. This one takes us back in time to show the meeting and marriage of Thomas and Alicia Cavendish, the parents of Guy and Brandon, the heroes of the first two books. Thomas and Alicia’s fathers betrothed them when she was only seven and he was fourteen. It was a match intended to keep Alicia, an illegitimate offspring of the Plantagenet line, safe from the new Tudor king. They met once at the betrothal and rather hit it off, but didn’t see each other again until ten years later, when Alicia’s foster parents bring her to Thomas’s doorstep as they’re fleeing the country. Thomas had just unexpectedly become the new Earl of Thornbury and is still adjusting to his new role. He does vaguely recall the betrothal and agrees to honor it in spite of all the changes that have occurred since, but he underestimates his conniving newly widowed sister-in-law, Isabel, who is unwilling to give up her place at Wolf Hall. Between his own shyness and awkwardness and the machinations of outside forces, Thomas has his work cut out for him wooing the beautiful Alicia and convincing her of his love.

Thomas is the youngest of three brothers and the second-youngest Cavendish overall. He lost his mother at a very young age and his father was an exacting man who always thought Thomas was likely mentally challenged because his quietness. It also didn’t help that he was teased and tormented mercilessly by his two older brothers. He never expected to become the master of Wolf Hall, but that’s exactly what happened when his father and brothers all tragically died of gaol fever. Thomas led a rather lonely existence while growing up, with only his dogs as his most faithful companions. Even now the three hounds follow him everywhere and are his closest confidantes, his only true human friend being his squire, Andrew. Thomas is extremely introverted and barely strings two words together unless he’s in high dudgeon over some injustice, and he becomes completely tongue-tied when in the presence of a beautiful woman. When the grown Alicia shows up at his door, he’s completely smitten, but actually flees the room on more than one occasion, unable to verbalize what he truly wants to say to her. While he may be too shy to speak, he’s a poet at heart, penning some beautifully romantic love notes to her, and he also hides a deeply passionate side that he unleashes only for her. He’s also one of those seemingly rare virgin heroes who’s so nervous about bedding Alicia that he drinks himself into a stupor on their wedding night, which I thought was quite funny. In spite of his shyness, though, Thomas is a skilled and honorable knight. He’s a master huntsman, accomplished with the sword, doesn’t hesitate to protect his own, and runs his castle with fairness and efficiency, while also being unerringly kind and compassionate toward others. Thomas is utterly adorkable, and I couldn’t help falling for this sweet knight. As someone who’s deeply introverted myself and who communicates far better in the written word than verbally, I totally related to him.

Alicia is the illegitimate daughter of King Edward IV and one of the last surviving members of the Plantagenet line. This puts her in danger from King Henry VII, the Tudor usurper who is out to kill anyone who might have a claim to the throne. She was raised by foster parents who betrothed her to Thomas to keep her safe. Because the Cavendish family were loyalists, their castle seemed one of the best places she could hide. Although Thomas doesn’t know the whole story at the time she shows up on his doorstep as a grown woman, he proves to be quite understanding and protective when she finally tells him all, calling her his princess. But before they get to that point or manage to get married, there are many internal conflicts as Thomas’s bashfulness leads Alicia to think that he doesn’t like her much and him not signing his love notes leaves her believing someone else wrote them. However, her doubts don’t stop her from falling for him anyway. She proves to be very accepting of Thomas’s quirks when others aren’t. Even when he messes up, like on their wedding night, she can’t stay mad at him for long. Alicia matches Thomas’s sweetness and kindness, but she also proves to have a backbone, never letting Isabel get the best of her. Even when the other woman is being a total shrew, Alicia manages to be the better person while also standing up for herself and Thomas.

Three Dog Knight has a number of memorable supporting characters. Isabel makes a cunning and manipulative villain who will literally do anything to maintain her place at Wolf Hall, but who gets a satisfying comeuppance by the end. Thomas’s twelve-year-old sister, Mary, is delightfully mischievous and wise beyond her years. His three dogs, Georgie the Mastiff, Vixen the Greyhound, and Taverstock the terrier are extremely well-drawn animal characters, each with their own little personalities that stand out. We get to see the birth of Thomas and Alicia’s oldest son, Brandon, who becomes the hero of Midsummer’s Knight. And last but not least, is Thomas’s squire, Andrew, an honorable and romantic young man who becomes the hero of the next book, Lady of the Knight.

Overall, Three Dog Knight was an absolute pleasure to read. Thomas captured my heart, while Alicia was sweet and relatable. Together, they make a great couple who are very well-matched. The supporting characters keep things lively and interesting. The story is a perfect mixture of drama and comedy. Isabel presents a very real threat to Thomas and Alicia’s relationship and even to Alicia’s life at one point. But at the same time, there is plenty of humor to keep things on the lighter side. Everything came together to make this a delightful book that’s a great addition to the Cavendish Chronicles. I can’t wait to read Andrew’s story, hopefully soon.
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Denunciada
mom2lnb | otra reseña | Dec 5, 2020 |
I read Silent Knight, the first book of the Cavendish Chronicles, about two years ago. I very much enjoyed it, but didn’t get around to picking up the next book until now. I’m so glad I did, because I liked Midsummer’s Knight even slightly better. It’s an utterly charming story that I feel falls under the romantic comedy genre, because the author has taken the concept of midsummer madness and turned it into a delightful farce. Neither the hero nor the heroine are particularly pleased when King Henry VIII declares that they will be married. Of course, they can’t go against their king, but neither do they want to marry someone they don’t even know. So, in order to feel each other out and see just who they’ve been betrothed to, they both put on a charade of pretending to be someone they’re not. At first, there’s underlying concern on both their parts as they begin to fall in love, while thinking they’re actually falling for the wrong person. Much hilarity ensues as each one begins to uncover the other’s deception, but there’s also a healthy dose of sweet romance to warm the heart. Add in the frantic search for a half-mad, jealous nephew who wants his aunt’s castle and land all for himself and is willing to kill to get it, a couple of mischievous children, the king’s retinue playing their own game of dress-up, and a very stinky moat, and you have the makings of a wonderful lighthearted story. Midsummer madness indeed!

Although his father has been pressuring him to settle down and give him an heir, Brandon has been happy playing the rogue until his father takes the issue up with the king. As a trusted knight in King Henry’s court, the king views it as his duty to see Brandon settled with a wife, so he chooses the twice-married Lady Katherine Fitzhugh for him. Brandon has never met Katherine before and knows nothing of her, but he does know her nephew, Fenton, a bounder known for his trouble with creditors. Fenton has his own nefarious reasons for telling Brandon that his aunt is an old crone who’s rumored to be a witch, and although Brandon doesn’t entirely believe him, it does plant a seed of doubt in his mind. Enough so that he persuades his best friend, Jack, to temporarily trade identities with him until he can ascertain what manner of woman to whom he’s betrothed. Once at her holding of Bodiam Castle, Brandon quickly begins to fall for the Lady Katherine’s beautiful, intelligent cousin, while dreading the idea of marrying the lady herself. But he soon learns that the lady he’s falling for is indeed his intended fiancée in disguise. I definitely fell for Brandon. He’s an honorable and chivalrous knight, and while he may not be the silver-tongued devil with a talent for making ladies swoon like his friend Jack, he can certainly say some very sweet things and be seductive. He also has two impish illegitimate children, and I have to give him props for taking his responsibilities to them seriously and being a good father. He’s also a consummate protector to Katherine and the rest of his family when he discovers that Fenton is up to no good.

Katherine was first married as a mere teenager to an elderly man who she ended up nursing until he died eighteen months later. Then her second husband was an abusive monster with a weakness for drinking, gambling, and women, so it was a relief to everyone when he finally died. Katherine had hoped to live out the rest of her life in solitude, or at the very least, not marry again unless it was for love. Then the order to marry Brandon Cavendish arrived from the king, dashing all her hopes. She also receives a letter from Fenton describing her betrothed as a gambler and womanizer. Fearing a repeat of her last marriage, Katherine wants to find out what kind of man Brandon really is, so she concocts a plan to switch identities with her beloved cousin, Miranda, in order to find out. Both men who show up at her door are pleasing to the eye, but she seems to be falling for the one she’s not betrothed to, or so it appears until she discovers his true identity. Then she begins to hope again that she might get what she’s looking for after all, until she learns just how badly Brandon’s father wants an heir. She has always wanted children, too, but after two marriages produced none, she fears she may be barren. Katherine is a loving, caring, intelligent woman who always looks out for those for whom she’s responsible. Even though they’re basically sprung on her, she’s very accepting of Brandon’s illegitimate offspring and takes them under her wing as well. She was just an all-around wonderful heroine who was easy to relate to and who I very much liked.

There are a number of prominent supporting characters as well. The real Jack and Miranda are hilarious, because they’re falling for one another every bit as much as the real Brandon and Katherine are, but they’re miserable, thinking that they’ve fallen for someone they can’t have. It’s a great relief to them both when they finally learn the truth. Their pairing offered a second sweet romantic couple that I could root for. Brandon’s brother, Guy, and his lady love, Celeste, (Silent Knight) arrive in time for the wedding along with their growing family, and the noble Guy helps ferret out Fenton. Brandon's parents, Thomas and Alicia visit as well. They become the hero and heroine of the third book of the series, Three Dog Knight, which goes back in time to tell their love story. They still seem to be a loving couple, but I did have to wonder what kind of hero Thomas will be since he nearly wrecked his son’s happiness over the desire for an heir. He wasn’t malicious, though, just single-minded, so hopefully he’ll prove to be as good as both of his sons. Brandon’s children, Francis and Belle, are wonderful. Belle is a mischievous, little imp, while Francis tries to act very grown up. These two become the heroine and hero of book #4, Halloween Knight, and book #5, One Knight in Venice, respectively. Katherine’s nephew, Fenton, is a dastardly villain, while his manservant, Wormsley, is a somewhat pathetic though decent fellow at heart, who doesn’t want to hurt anyone. And of course, there are a plethora of servants, squires, and men-at-arms, along with the king and his courtiers to round things out.

Overall, Midsummer’s Knight was pure, unadulterated fun to read. It’s slightly dramatic in places, while still remaining lighthearted most of the time. I’m not particularly well-versed on Shakespeare, but I have a feeling that the author’s love of the Bard and her experiences with Shakespearean productions definitely played into this story. I’m usually very picky about romantic comedies, but this one really hit the spot. It was humorous while still being genuinely romantic. With two winners in a row, Tori Phillips has certainly won a place on my favorite authors list, and I very much look forward to continuing with the Cavendish Chronicles soon.
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Denunciada
mom2lnb | Jan 12, 2019 |
Until now, I hadn’t read anything by Tori Phillips, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I picked up this book. Also Harlequin category romance have been hit and miss with me in the past. Some are really good, while others miss the mark. I’m very happy to report that Silent Knight ended up being one of the very good ones. It’s a sweet romance about a former knight who is now a novice monk but who hasn’t yet taken his final vows. He’s tasked with leading a French lady, who’s fallen on misfortune, and her bodyguards to the holding of her betrothed in Northern England. All the way there, he feels guilty about having to turn her over to her soon-to-be husband, because his father is liege lord to the betrothed and he knows how unsavory the man is. He also finds himself unexpectedly falling in love with her. But his honor places him in a battle with his own conscience over the right course of action to take when they arrive. The story has a fairy tale feel to it, as well as incorporating old-fashioned chivalric code, both of which I loved. It was also the first romance I’ve read that was set in the Tudor era of the Renaissance, which gave it a slightly different feel. There were still castles, knights and jousting, which could easily be mistaken for an earlier time period, but there are also signs that civilization is progressing beyond the Medieval. So this only increased my enjoyment of the story.

Celeste is the youngest of five daughters and the least valued by her father. She was predicted by a soothsayer to be a boy while still in the womb, so when a girl was born, her father was extremely disappointed. Then several years later, he finally got his coveted son, which only pushed Celeste further into the background. Her sisters all married well to Frenchmen, but her father betrothed her to the son of an English lord when she was only ten. Now eighteen, she’s been sent to fulfill the marriage contract, but she’s had nothing but misfortune on her journey so far. When her wagon breaks down and the aunt who is acting as her chaperon is injured near a monastery, the monks come to her aid. With her aunt unable to travel for several weeks, a kind monk is assigned the task of guiding her party north to her destination. Celeste is a bit of dreamer who loves the tales of knights and fair maidens that she reads in her beloved books. She tries to imagine her betrothed as just such a chivalrous knight, but nothing could be further from the truth. However, Brother Guy is such a man and she soon finds herself falling for him, even though she knows he belongs to God. At first Brother Guy seems grumpy and taciturn, and Celeste revels in teasing him, trying to get him to smile. In spite of her circumstances, she’s a joyful, free-spirited young lady, who her guards love and soon, so does Guy.

Guy left the life of a knight and the sumptuousness of court life to enter a monastery. The only thing I thought that the author could have explained a little better was his reasons for doing this. Once or twice, she mentions him becoming disillusioned with the excesses he found at court and him becoming bored with the ease with which he could bed his females conquests. But I didn’t feel like she brought out his backstory in stark enough relief for me to fully understand him making such a drastic life change as dedicating his life to the church. Otherwise, Guy is a wonderful hero. The main reason he’s initially so grouchy is that Celeste tempts him beyond reason from the first time he lays eyes on her. He spends much of the trip trying to keep his lustful thoughts in check and then punishing himself with harsh penance every night. He soon recognizes that he’s falling for the delightful lady, but he is a man of honor, who doesn’t take vows lightly. Although he hasn’t taken final vows to be a permanent part of the monk’s order, he has taken vows that he knows he cannot break, which gives him a major crisis of conscience over whether he can in some way help Celeste get out of her betrothal and if so how? One of the vows Guy staunchly holds throughout the journey is a vow of silence to which he was sworn right before leaving the monastery. Not having the hero be able to speak for the majority of the book brought a whole new dimension to the story, and when he’s finally able to talk, he used it to the very best effect. I love how he fulfills Celeste’s ultimate romantic fantasy. When I realized what he was going to do for her, it made me all gooey inside.:-)

There are several memorable secondary characters in the story. Gaston, the head of Celeste’s guards, is a brash, seasoned warrior, who seems to enjoy insulting his men, but he holds a special place in his heart for Celeste. He believes her father has treated her poorly and doesn’t hesitate to make his opinion known. He also ends up being instrumental in helping Guy solve his dilemma. Once they reach Snape Castle, they are close enough to the Cavendish family seat that we get to meet his older brother, Brandon, who becomes the hero of Midsummer’s Knight, the next book in the Cavendish Chronicles. We’re also introduced to their parents, Thomas and Alicia, who seem to be a well-matched couple. Book #3, Three Dog Knight, goes back in time to tell their story. The villains of the story, Roger and Walter Ormond, are a father and son at odds with one another. The son, Walter, is Celeste's betrothed, and he’s more than dastardly. He’s downright disgusting. The father is less so, but he still has plenty of faults and is a blustery, not-very-nice person.

Overall, Silent Knight was a very enjoyable read. Other than wanting to know a little more about Guy’s background, the only thing that made me drop off the half-star is that the road trip portion of the story was a little slow at times. It’s sometimes a bit narrative heavy too, but I suppose that understandable, considering that Guy can’t talk. There wouldn’t be any other way to understand his thoughts otherwise. I also would have liked if there was a love scene at the end. It didn’t have to be anything particularly descriptive, but after such a romantic story, a little something would have been nice. Not to mention, a fair bit was made of Celeste’s aunt misinforming her about the wedding night, which made her a little fearful of it, so again, showing that she found pleasure in that would have been a plus. However, it wasn’t necessarily a deal-breaker for me either, because I know from Guy’s history with the ladies and his romanticism that he would be a tender and skillful lover. Other than these few minor things, Silent Knight was a lovely story that makes me eager to continue on with the series.
… (más)
½
 
Denunciada
mom2lnb | Oct 27, 2016 |

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Obras
12
Miembros
553
Popularidad
#45,138
Valoración
½ 3.6
Reseñas
5
ISBNs
32
Idiomas
3
Favorito
2

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