The Sixth Surrender

In the last years of her eventful life, queen-duchess Aliénor of Aquitaine launches a deadly dynastic chess game to safeguard the crowns of Normandy and England for John Plantagenet, her last surviving son. To that end, Aliénor coerces into matrimony two pawns-Juliana de Charnais, a plain and pious novice determined to regain her inheritance, and Guérin de lasalle, a cynical, war-worn mercenary equally resolved to renounce his. The womanizing Lasalle and the proud Juliana are perfectly matched for battle not love-until spies and assassins conspire to reverse their romantic fortunes. Populated by spirited and intelligent women and executed in flawless period detail, The Sixth Surrender is a compelling love story that heralds the arrival of a major new talent in historical fiction.

You can visit her website at www.hanasameknorton.com.

My Review:

I am very much intrigued by this time period! I really enjoyed the historical details and the writer's style! Ms. Norton certainly did her research and it shows! Her passion for this time period and these figures are clearly evident in this book!

I was hooked from the very beginning and I didn't put the book down til I was done. Okay, maybe I put it down to sleep, eat, and shower but you get the idea! The history and romance and *gasp* mystery elements were all very well balanced!

Strong story and strong character development drives this awesome novel! A definite thumbs up!