Usually you won't see reviews up this early at Roundtable, but Blythe Gifford and I are so excited to share the news about her upcoming release, that we asked if the rules can be bent a little.  So be sure to check your store shelves in about two weeks!

Mercenary knight Sir Garren watches his friend, William, Earl of Readington, dying and agrees to deliver a secret message to the monk at the shrine of the Blessed Larina.  Instead of making the trip alone, Garren finds himself leading a group of people on the pilgrimage.  However, before he leaves he is asked to take a young woman’s virginity for a reasonable sum.

The seventeen-year-old orphan, Dominica, happens to be that young woman.  She is heading to the shrine to seek a message from God about becoming a nun.  She is unaware that others, particularly the head nun/prioress, are against her dreams.

As Garren and Dominica spend time together, they find themselves falling in love.  Meanwhile, neither is aware of the danger that is hot on their heels.  Will they find out the truth before it is too late?

Blythe Gifford enters the romance scene with a fast-paced, scintillating historical romance.  Set in 1357 Britain, Blythe captures the history without bogging the reader down in trivial details.  Her setting is fresh and the action keeps you on your toes.

While Dominica is a bit naïve, it makes her growth throughout the book seem impressive and genuine.  I had more problems with Garren, who seemed blind to William’s illness.  I knew exactly what was going on from the time the key characters were introduced and figured that with Garren’s sharp eye, he should have keyed in on certain aspects as well.  However, like a true hero, he does save the day in a superbly written, heroic scene!

Despite that one very minor issue, THE KNAVE AND THE MAIDEN launches Blythe Gifford’s writing career in an impressive manner.  I look forward to watching her growth in her upcoming books.