I'd never heard of this author before but the book was recommended by another historical fiction author I really enjoy so I gave it a shot. I'm so glad I did. This is a brilliant medieval love story based off of Hitchcock's Rear Window.
Our hero, Graeham, is sent on a mission by his overlord but is waylaid after being beaten nearly to death by robbers. A good Samaritan, Hugh, comes along and brings him to the heroine's house who happens to be his sister. Joanna's storeroom acts as his sick room while he recovers from a seriously wounded leg. This store room provides him a view of the house across the street that is involved in his original mission. It also gives him a view of Joanna!
One of the best things about this novel is that the hero is not portrayed as some @$$ who can do and say the most awful things, treat the heroine like dirt, and yet the reader is expected to forgive and forget all his flaws because he so tortured by some past tragedy or injustice. Graeham has his issues, has a tragic past, but he is still basically a nice guy and treats Joanna with respect. The angst and suspense comes from both Graham and Joanna fighting the powerful feelings they feel.
As Graeham is laid up, most of the novel occurs outside his sickroom window. The secondary characters in this story are so complex and compelling that you just can't wait for them to wander past Graeham's window again. From Hugh, the prostitute, the leper, to the street urchin (who is not what he seems), they are so brilliantly written that you will fall in love with each one of them.
The build to the romance is slow, smoldering, and sensual. The relationship between the hero and heroine is superbly written. This is one classy story...no bodice ripping here...and it is all the more sexy because of that. I loved this book and highly recommend it to those who like romance, but like it done really well.
**I've read the sequel, The Sun and the Moon, and it's not nearly as good. It focuses on Hugh, the heroine's brother. I loved him in this book and was completely irritated with him in the second!
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