 Baron
Romano DiSanto returns home after his sire's death to
straighten affairs. He never intends to stay...until a woman
wheedles her way into his castle, pretending to be his
maidservant. Soon he is torn between returning to his life
as a warrior or giving in to an emotion he has never before
experienced.
After her father's death, Mariella Rizzoli is alone and
desperate to ensure the family keep remains hers. Past
marriageable age, she intends to live out her life in
seclusion in the only home she's ever known. But the DiSanto
family claims the keep, and the mystery surrounding it
drives Mariella to seek employment with the new baron
knight, hoping he will sign it over for eternity. Her plan
goes awry when Romano discovers her reason for being in his
castle. When he bids her to seduce him for the keep, she
will do whatever it takes to retain her home. But can she
seduce the handsome knight without losing her heart to him?
Reviews:
I've just finished reading Knight's Desire by
Jannine Corti Petska.. It's a wonderful historical romance book with
extra details on Renaissance Italy. I love the way Jannine plays
with the power of seduction and all the wicked teasing between the
characters.. It blew my mind away & I just had to keep reading till I
finished it.. By the way, I've read it twice!!
Amy Love, Malaysia
Mariella
Rizzoli, though beautiful, is past her prime. In 1336 Italy,
she’s an unmarried virgin with few prospects. Her father’s
dead and she is without protection and home unless she
convinces the cavaliere, Romano DiSanto, son of Baron
Alberto DiSanto, to allow her to retain her father’s keep.
Mariella and Romano are appealingly-drawn in this
old-fashioned romance novel with all the right elements:
meeting, build-up, sexual tension, tease – that
oh-so-important tease . . . and the final result. The
tale includes the expected side characters: trusty
servants for both and an evil woman of questionable
nature, all living in authentic Italian surroundings of
long ago.
If you’re looking for a lively story with good characterizations and
realistic settings, you’ll enjoy Knight’s Desire.
This book is exactly what traditional historical
romance readers want and expect. I had but two
slight disappointments. I felt the absence of a
back-story because there were so many side details
mentioned and alluded to, and had these elements
been allowed to evolve, Knight’s Desire would’ve
been a full-blown extravaganza. My other concern was
the end. The fact that this book was so
traditionally-written begged that it follow a
certain typecast. The virgin. The virile hero. The
tease. The struggle . . . . I won’t give it away,
and at this point it was just a minor detail,
nothing to stop any reader from enjoying a well-done
book!
Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual
Linda Alexander
www.theromancestudio.com
Mariella Rizzoli needs to get the
new baron to sign over the keep her family has been living
in. She will do whatever it takes.
Baron Romano DiSanto has
arrived back home at his family’s castle upon hearing of the passing of
his father.
Mariella needs a plan, and she
needs one quick. She just hopes the new baron isn’t as mean
and untrustworthy as his father. She finds herself in a
dilemma when she runs under the closing castle gate and
falls into the new baron’s horse. Startled by the woman
tumbling under the gate, Romano picks her up to make sure
she is all right. He is caught up in her beauty and finds
himself aching for her. Mariella thinks quickly and tells
the new baron she is newly hired as his maid. All she wants
is for him to let her keep on living in the keep where she
has lived all her life. Or does she want more?
I found Knight’s Desire
surprisingly quite good even though there isn’t any physical
sex between the characters. I kept waiting for Mariella and
Romano to get together and before I knew it, I was finished
with the book. Jannine Corti Petska creates
great characters that are easily liked and suited well to
each other. I also enjoyed the secrets and the villain. If
you are looking for a great romantic story about two people
who fall in love, but don’t like the explicit scenes, then
Knight’s Desire will put a smile on
your face.
Heat
Level: Mainstream
Rating:
Reviewer: Julianne
Mariella Rizzoli's father dies, leaving the
twenty-two year old spinster without ownership of the only home she has
ever known. The keep has fallen into the hands of the recently returned
from war Baron Romano DiSanto. Mariella hopes to convince Romano to sign
over the rights to her. Knowing nothing of the man, she infiltrates
Romano's keep to get close to him. She sneaks onto the grounds, posing
as a servant.
Romano knows something isn't quite right about his new servant. Mariella
speaks and dresses well above her class. She also dodges his questions
about her past. He decides to keep the attractive young woman close,
appointing her to his chambers. When he uncovers her plot, Romano
presents Mariella with an offer. If she seduces him, he'll let the
innocent beauty have the keep.
Although taking a few pages to get used to, the old time sentence
structure and quaint language adds to the charm of Knight's Desire.
Mariella is as plucky as heroines come, taking all the punishment and
grueling chores Romano dishes out. She is determined to get her keep
back. Romano's treatment of the villainess is jarring to modern
sensibilities but likely in tune with how a medieval Baron would treat a
woman he despises. Knight's Desire will not disappoint medieval romance
lovers.
Reviewed by: Kimber
www.fallenangelreviews.com
"An Old Fashion
Romance"
Mariella
Rizzoli must have the new baron sign over the keep or be
left without a home. She just hopes the new boron isn't as
heartless as his father had been. She doesn't go to see him
with much of a plan, but when she is almost run down and
saved by the baron himself, she blurts out that she's his
maid.
Baron
Romano DiSanto finds Mariella breathtaking. He's a little
curious how this innocent became his personal maid.
Something doesn't seem right, but he's determined to find
out what it is. As Mariella begins to know the baron, she
finds herself falling in love with him, but when he finds
out the truth behind her being there, will he be able to
forgive her?
There is
also a threat that hovers in the shadows, waiting to strike
and destroy Romano and Mariella's happiness.
The story
drew me in from the start. Jannine Corti Petska created a
wonderful tale of dark secrets, a villain and an old fashion
romance. Well done!
Reviewed by
Karen Michelle Nutt
www.paranormalromance.org
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