Lord of the Keep
by
USA Today Best Selling Author
Ann Lawrence
Reading Guide

Ann Lawrence “...captures the reader on the first page.” --RT Book Reviews

Hero: Gilles - a medieval warlord/baron
Heroine: Emma - a weaver
Setting: England, 1190
Theme of the novel: Forgiveness

Summary and Background Information:
	Gilles d'Argent finds himself at a crossroads.  He has served King Henry II for many years.  Now, Henry is dead and his son, King Richard the Lion-heart, is in charge.  Richard and his father never got along, especially at the end of Henry's life, so Gilles no longer has a place at court.  He has returned to his family's castle, a strategic stronghold on the coast of England, but he’s bored with the day-to-day management of the manor . . . or he is until he judges a young woman in his manor court.
	Emma is a weaver who is dragged to the manor court by her uncle and pressured to name her lover.  When Gilles treats her with kindness and agrees to allow her to keep her silence, she cannot forget him.
	Emma meets Gilles again when he saves her life and that of her daughter, Angelique.  In return for his kindness, she weaves him a beautiful belt, never dreaming she was taking a step that would lead to both passion and pain.
	Gilles, in turn, has not forgotten this young woman who so valiantly stood up to her uncle in the manor court.  Gilles is humbled by Emma’s gift and knows he wants her to weave exclusively for him.  What he will not admit to himself is that he also wants her in his bed. 
	Emma is torn by Gilles's offer.  Her weaving barely keeps Angelique alive.  Living at the castle will mean food aplenty and warmth, but it will also put her within reach of the man she most fears.  And will Gilles still want her when he discovers who fathered her child?
	It's not long before Emma has woven herself into the fabric of Gilles's life and becomes as important to him as the air he breathes...

~ ~ ~
	I got the idea to use a weaver as the heroine of my story while visiting York, England.  I attended a living history exhibition and spoke to the spinners and weavers.  I was fascinated by their skills and the beauty of their craft.  I left York knowing my heroine had to be a weaver.  In addition, I loved the idea of the metaphors and similes I could use while writing emotional and sensual scenes.
	Check out my other heroines in LORD OF THE MIST and LORD OF THE HUNT.  In LORD OF THE MIST, Cristina fashions soap, potpourri, and love potions for the ladies of the hero's castle.  My daughter and I had tons of fun with my research on this one!
	In LORD OF THE HUNT, Joan commands the hunting hounds, and very quickly, the hero's heart.  There are excerpts of both stories as well as LORD OF THE KEEP on my website: http://www.annlawrenceauthor.com.

~ ~ ~
Here are some QUESTIONS to think about while you read LORD OF THE KEEP

1.   This book has a theme of forgiveness.  In what ways must the hero (Gilles) forgive himself?  Who else needs to forgive someone in the story?
2.   This book is also filled with secrets.  Do you think Gilles and Emma were right to keep their secrets?  Why or why not?
3.   This book is a murder mystery as well as a romance.  Did the victim deserve his or her fate?  Why or why not?
4.   When Gilles discovers who fathered Emma's child, his reaction is swift and strong.  Was he justified?  How else could he have reacted?
5.   Emma's daughter provides the motivation for almost everything Emma does.  How would Emma’s life have changed if her child had not lived?
6.   How might this story have been different if Emma had named her lover when first called before the manor court?
7.   Every romance has a hero.  How did Gilles demonstrate his heroism?  What did Emma do that was heroic?
8.  The hero and heroine of LORD OF THE KEEP have an uncanny connection to each other.  Do you believe people have this kind of connection in real life?

I would love to hear your responses to these questions.  Please email me with your thoughts.  I answer every email I receive!

Visit me at http://www.annlawrenceauthor.com to read excerpts and to join my mailing list.
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Historical Novels:

LORD OF THE KEEP
Ellora’s Cave ~ Amazon ~ B&N
LORD OF THE MIST
Ellora’s Cave ~ Amazon ~ B&N
LORD OF THE HUNT - Ellora’s Cave
Amazon ~ B&N

Paranormal Novels: 
Coming soon in ebook rerelease:
VIRTUAL HEAVEN
VIRTUAL DESIRE
VIRTUAL WARRIOR

Also available:
DO YOU BELIEVE? 
a contemporary shape-shifter

And “Heaven-Sent” in the anthology - PARADISE
(with Madeline Baker, Kathleen Nance, and Nina Bangs)
What do Elvis, bowling, baseball, and the Amish have in common...read “Heaven-Sent” to find out!

Copyright 2013 - Ann Lawrence