Lord of Vengeance Kindle Edition

OUTSTANDING. I can't believe it took me THAT long to get to this book! As Historical Romance are not my usual "go to" I delayed it - what a mistake!!! I loved everything about this book, the total feel of this book, the setting - the whole medieval feel, the mean plotting made my stomach burn! The romance between Gunnar and Raina didn't take long from a time perspective and yet I could see how and why both fell for one another even in such an unlikely situation.Lord Gunnar Rutledge is FINALLY ready for his vengeance. He has waited 13 years, ever since he was a young boy, to claim his revenge on his parents murderer - Baron Luther d'Bussy. It would be fitting, killing the Baron on the tournament grounds where he killed his own father. But when he gets there and realizes the Baron is not going to participate he needs another plan. He waited too long to forsake his claim for justice.Raina d'Bussy has lived a comfortable life thus far. The daughter of the Baron who denied her nothing. She enjoys her days riding with very little care in the world. She might miss the mother she barely knew but she loves her father who has always cared for her. The first "twist" to her playful naive life comes when one of her closest friends - Nigel - tried to force his "love" for her only to be rescued by a dark knight. Riding away from the beautiful girl Gunnar rescued, he couldn't have guessed she is the daughter of his sworn enemy.After Gunnar failed attempt at the tournament he ties his best to lure the Baron into a meeting (where he plans to kill him) but no matter what he does the Baron stays in his home even while his villages are plundered and burned. Only option left is to actually COME to him and take him out in his own home. But when he actually gets to his chambers he is surprised to find Raina there. On the spur of the moment he decides to take her with him as a bargaining tool against her father.Gunnar doesn't know what to do with Raina. He won't harm her in any way. He had enough of that with what her father planned to do with his own mother. Yet he still needs to keep her with him and making her see "sense" is quite difficult with her strong spirit. Though she frustrates him, he is still impressed, intrigued, and yeah attracted to her. No matter what she says and does and how infuriating she can be in her disbelieve of her father's doing it's obvious first and foremost she is a kind and caring person. The exact traits Gunnar himself tries to hide from her.. But it doesn't take her long to realize the "Dark Knight" isn't as mean and heartless as he tries to show himself to be. From there little by little yet faster than one would expect (considering the amount of time they spend in close quarters) they fall for one another. Yet Gunnar still doesn't want to take advantage of her so it's up to HER to make the first real move. He might taunt her, but he would never harm her.This resolve is put to the test when the meeting with her father nears and Gunnar needs to make a choice what will he do now when he meets his enemy and the one person left to the woman he loves. Yet what both of them plan or hope will happen isn't in their hands anymore when Nigel puts his own plan into motion. He too has waited for this moment his whole life and nothing and no-one would stand in his way. Well, he shouldn't have underestimated a couple in love...HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!I can't believe THIS is the first book Lara wrote! I've read and loved her Paranormal Romance series "Midnight Breed" and I can't believe how DIFFERENT this one to her more recent books. But nevertheless GREAT as well.First thing I did before writing this review was getting all other Historical Romance novels by Tina (~cough~ Lara) and making SURE they are HIGH on my list. I AM READY FOR MORE!More @ Ultra Meital Reviews.

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the rest of Lara Adrian’s. I am a big fan of her books so saying “not as much as the rest” only brings my enjoyment of this book down to most of the other authors I read. So it’s still a well written book with deep characters and worth reading.

……A Must Read……This is one of my favorite books. I’ve returned to it again and again. Nothing compares. Its so well written and structured. And the characters are well defined. Who wouldn’t fall in love with Gunnar. He's lived a hard knocks life, robbed of his heritage as a young lad and just trying to survive. He’s marvelous. Such a devilish man, always surprising and playful. And Raina, the daughter of his enemy, has lived a life so pampered and proper. One that he should have lived. But no one can know what really goes on behind closed door of any household, least you live there. Secrets.A life stolen from Gunnar with the murder of his parents, and he’s looking for revenge. He planned and prepared for this all his life. It’s the only way to put things right in his mind. So Gunnar kidnaps Raina, he's so full of venom, and will use her as the bait to get to the father, his true enemy. Raina is not only beautiful, but genuinely kind, and Gunnar fights his emotions as he falls for her. She feels the same. She knows his plan to kill her father, but can’t stop the intense feelings she soon develops for him. They are both so vulnerable. Gunnar teaches her to enjoy a simple life rich in love and fulfillment. This is a story of revenge, betrayal, and forgiveness so sweet, it makes your gut ache to read it. And the love scenes are so tender. To die for. It’s a beautiful love story. It’s just so well written, so believable. I find new things tht I’ve missed when reading it again. It leaves me with tht warm feeling and gives you a sense of hope. I personally think it would make a great movie.Anyway this one is tops.

Edit: Please be aware that this isn't a new story from the popular Ms Adrian. This story was first published back in 1995! So keep that in mind before comparing the writing to that of the Midnight Breed series which is more recent.4.5 starsFirst of all the new cover is HOT! This was a wonderful historical romance and first novel by Lara Adrian (author of the immensely popular Midnight Breed series). I know her only through that modern paranormal series, so I wasn't sure what to expect of this historical piece. I wasn't disappointed.As a young boy, Gunnar Rutledge has never forgotten his father's murder, nor the slaying of his mother at the hands of Baron d'Bussy. Now fully grown and a ruthless warrior, he vows to seek vengeance on his enemy. When he meets the lovely Raina, he's shocked to learn that she is his enemy's daughter. When none of his taunts work to lure the Baron into a confrontation, he kidnaps Raina to use her as bait. During her ten day captivity, Raina never imagined she'd learn the truth about her family and come to love the brutish warrior, who not only captured her, but her heart as well. But how can she love Gunnar when he seeks to kill her only family? Is he willing to sacrifice his quest for retribution in favor of gaining so much more?You can't help but love Gunnar, despite his stubbornness to stay the course he has set for himself. The tough exterior he presented hid the man he truly was at his core. His endless needling of Raina brought out his cheeky side and she showed him how feisty she could really be. The build up to their HEA was nicely paced and the true story between their two families unfolded in a steady flow. The only thing I had an issue with was the Baron's confession at the end. He was definitely certifiable, and I thought Raina let him off the hook too easily in the face of all her father had done. And don't even get me started on Nigel (that was a surprise).All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed their story, and for $0.99 this book is a steal!

Were it not for the overly complex language and wording, I would give it all the stars possible...the over-use of arcane words made the read, and, hence, of the story flow less freely.

This, along with the Warrior trilogy have been a joy to read. Here we have Gunnar, a complex young man who for thirteen years has been living full of hatred for the man who killed his parents and almost killed him. His sole purpose in life is revenge. Knighted in battle and therefore not required to swear the knights code of honour, Gunnar believes he has no redeeming qualities, no honour and nothing to give. From the very start, however it is clear that he is caring and gentle, has honour and generosity. He kidnaps Raina, his enemy’s daughter and slowly realises there is more to life than vengeance and hatred.This was a book that swept me along, kept me reading and drew me in to the story. I loved it.

An enjoyable read. It pulled you in, you could feel want was happening to the (people) The love, hate. Also I was left with a few tears.

Every so often I like to read a medieval love story. There's something about this particularly time in our history that I find magical.My favourite author in this genre is Lynsay Sands. But I thought I'd try a writer unknown to me this time and wasn't disappointed.The story centres on a knight, Gunnar Rutledge and the Lady Raina, who he rescues from another man's unwanted attentions, not knowing at the time that she is the daughter of the man responsible for his parents' deaths.When he does find out who she really is, he kidnaps her in an effort to get her father to meet with him so he can finally have his revenge on the man. But as he spends time with his enemy's daughter, his heart begins to melt and some of the bitterness and resentment he felt leaves him.A nice little story with a satisfying ending.

The first time I read a story by author Lara Adrian - she didn’t disappoint. Really enjoyed this story. Well done Lara, I will be looking out for your books :)