Princess Gabrielle was glad to be back home after spending the last four years in Paris with her aunt, but not under the current circumstances. Her father had requested her return due to his poor health and she knew that it was his wish to see her married before he died and since the law did not allow women to inherit or rule as would be her right as queen upon the death of her father King Guillemin of Finistere.
As she approaches her father introduces her to the allies he is meeting with. He is being pressured for her to marry Ugolin Cauchon who is a cruel vile man whose father has ties with the pirate Balthazar. If Ugolin became King of Guillemin he would gain control of all the inlets, caves and coves of their kingdom in order to intercept and raid ships. Making him more powerful than even King Philippe of France.
Instead of angering him with an outright refusal which could provoke a pirate attack, it was decided to hold a Yuletide Joust where King Guillemin would grant her hand in marriage to the champion.
Among the men sits Sir Bastien de Landuc, the Master of Horse, who she has loved since childhood. It was he who taught her how to ride and also trained her how to defend herself with both the bow and sword. And with the threat of Ugolin Cauchon her father appoints him as her personal royal guard. She wishes that Bastien could win her hand but being without title disqualified him from participating.
I loved this story! It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable. We first meet Sir Bastien de Landuc in the Wild Rose and the Sea Raven trilogy and although this is a standalone romance I highly recommend Issylte & Tristan's story.
This book is action-packed, full of danger and intrigue and will keep you turning the pages as Bastien protects Gabrielle from the evil Ugolin. This is a multiple-POV story with insights from Gabrielle, Bastien, Sir Lacelot's mother Viviane and Ugolin Cauchon. Highly recommend!
WINTER SOLSTICE IN THE CRYSTAL CASTLE is book two in the CHRISTMAS IN THE CASTLE multi-author series
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