A delightful end to the series
5 stars

This is the third and final book in the Protectors of the Crown series. Each follows one of a trio of Knights Fortitude - highly skilled and trained soldiers that work, mostly undercover, to protect the English crown - as they find and fall in love. This last story focuses on Savaric Fitz Leonard and Marguerite Studal - characters we’ve met in the previous books. But I don’t think you have to have read either earlier book to understand and enjoy Savaric and Marguerite’s tale.

Savaric and his fellow Knights are really close to bringing down the Duo Dracone - a sinister organisation determined to bring down the Crown. (This part of the plot has been running through all three books but seriously, you’ll be fine if you’re new to the series or Melissa Oliver!) I do enjoy a mystery to be solved and a little bit of skullduggery, so this added element to the book was both intriguing and fun. It also helped to throw our couple together which was a nice added bonus.

Savaric seemed to me to be both a flamboyant character as well as someone who had a mystery about him. Being of mixed heritage, he’s treated differently - and indifferently - so he understandably feels set apart from others. Yet he’s also very dedicated to his cause and is quick on his feet. His past interactions with Marguerite - told to us by both characters throughout the story - left him feeling out of sorts which led to him hurting her for what he thinks is her own good. It sounded like a stupid male move - but as the book continues, we get to see why he feels this way and I could see his reasoning. But I do so like to see men like this fall and fall hard.

It’s always nice to see feisty, heroic heroines, especially in times when they would more likely have been overlooked or dismissed. Marguerite, when she first met Savaric, was a shy and quiet girl. But since his departure, she turned into a deadly, independent and fierce woman who is hell-bent on getting what she wants. She just has to convince Savaric that they want the same thing. And I was 100% convinced she would get her man.

I always love a second-chance romance - even if, as in this case, nothing really happened between our pair previously. But there’s still hurt, especially on Marguerite’s side, which means anger and dislike. Anger and dislike that gives sparks between our couple and delicious feelings in me. Marguerite and Savaric definitely have chemistry - whether fighting each other, fighting their feelings or getting down to the loving - and I was here for it. While there are sexual situations (and good ones), our couple never actually go all the way. But it felt right for the story and the emotions and chemistry were still there throughout.

I’ve really enjoyed my time with the Knights Fortitude and the Protectors of the Crown series. Melissa Oliver always writes in a way that I can feel myself in the medieval world that she builds for her characters - the good and the bad of it! This was definitely my favourite of the three books and not just because there was a lovely, happy endings for all type epilogue that perfectly concluded what has been a fun and immersive set of stories. I’m looking forward to the next adventures that Ms Oliver will take us on. 5 stars for this story and very much recommended. ( )