The Pretender - Blackguard in Disguise

This author had me hooked from the get-go.  The first book I read was number five in the series:  The Truth- Salvatore's Revenge.  Beginning in the middle of the series, was a little complicated at first, but once I got to know the characters, I could not stop reading.  I was up til midnight several nights, and I am not a night owl!  I got my hands on the first book as quickly as possible and within the past week, I have also finished book one. 

 "My Jean-Marc’s uncle was married to an English woman, and she told us once, a very long time ago, that in this world there are men of two kinds. The one, the knight, is the man possessing only strength and quality of moral character. He will never ask a lady to compromise her honor for less than a vow, and never, ever will he consider another once he has captured her heart. A knight keeps his vow, even when it hurts, and the honor of a knight is a thing a country is built upon. A knight comes along only seldom these days.

Now, a blackguard is a man who can be found quite easily, for it is an easy thing to be a blackguard. He attempts to trick the young ladies into taking him home and caring for him, making them believe their honor can be given away as a mere trifle, offering no vow, and making only human demands. The blackguard is to be avoided at all costs, for to settle for someone like him is to settle for something less than ideal."

In the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, Tillie Caselli promises to marry Noah Hansen. Theirs’ was a love intended to last, and their promises were never to be broken. But when there’s an illusion of unfaithfulness, the result is an error in judgment—an error that changes the course of lives. Is Noah a Knight or a Blackguard? You will just have to read this book to find out!

The author, Ta`Mara, just has a way with a story.  The Casselli's, an Italian family, that migrated to America are the main characters in the book.  They are a Christian family who loves the Lord and highly regard values and morals in their lives. They stand up for truth and right and justice. Yet, they are also human, and they make mistakes, need forgiveness, and at times do not always make the correct choices.

These stories have thrilled me, made me cry, and certainly made me think! Am I raising my daughters to be ladies and my son to be a knight in a world where those things are so undervalued?  I really want my kids to learn respect and honor, and not to expect any less when looking for a future spouse. This series emphasizes the value of purity, modesty, love of God, and seeking God in choosing your life partner. It also encourages forgiveness, grace, mercy, and second chances. Another thing I really love about this author and her series is that the gospel is plainly shared in both books I have read so far. There is so much I could say, but do not want to give away what happens. So I just encourage you to read it!

You can read an excerpt of this book on the authors website HERE.
It is also available for purchase by Reata Publishing HERE. 
This particular book in the series can be purchase on Barnes and Noble NOOKbook for less than $1.00!

What kind of Christian fiction do you enjoy? I found this series very family oriented, but still with a twist of mystery and adventure, along with a combination of great values.

*I am so very thankful to the author for providing these books for my reading pleasure in exchange for my review.*