Unbroken Vow by Bree M. Lewandowski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a story of forbidden love and the promises held by vows, Glaive Leal is a Paladin in the Adara Knights in the court of King Ladd of Patriam, he has trained in physical, emotional and spiritual ways and has been forged into a weapon in the shape of a man and he is one of the best within the ranks. This is shown when he is chosen along with his best friend Marcus and six others to guard Queen of Jan-Inham on her state visit the next day, but as they patrol the area as the Queen docks and is met by the King, all hell breaks loose when the expected dissidents attack the convoy and the Paladin’s sweep through the crowds to protect the innocent and take down the guilty who are throwing bombs, using firearms and lastly one detonates a bomb on their person. As the crowd thins and the Paladin’s shake off the effects of the suicide bombing, Glaive sees that Markus is lying bleeding on the floor, when he goes to his side, the true extent of his injuries are apparent and as he lies dying in Glaive’s arms, he confesses to have been married against all the rules and he please with Glaive to see that she comes to no harm when judgement is meted out and to keep her safe from harm, Glaive agrees to this dying wish and goes to seek out this mystery woman.

When he sets off on his leave to go and find her, he is led to the farming area two days drive away from the city and when he finds her household and breaks the news that her husband is dead and that he is there to keep her safe, an argument starts and the realisation dawns in when he tells Ada that he has to change the look of her and Markus’s brands so she can’t be identified by it and while she is unconscious from that experience, he whisks her away to a bathhouse in the city in which he lives until he can take her to the Palace harem and watch over her safety there. Although Ada doesn’t understand why this is happening and the meaning of what it is which her husband had done marrying her, as well as the consequences of it, she quickly learns that Glaive is nothing like his, but she is determined not to let him rule her life, however, it is a lot to take in at once and eventually she settles into her life in the Harem, that is until one of the Duke’s in the land takes a shine to her. When she refuses this Duke’s advances, he arranges for her to be sent overseas with the Queen and serve her, Glaive promises to come and get her, but the hope and faith she has slowly lessens when he doesn’t show up, but when he eventually does, what his plan is for the two of them is not what she expected.

Will Glaive and Ada be able to overcome their differences and survive the trials to come, or will they be caught before they can learn to love each other? Will this forbidden love be destroyed by the rules they are confined to, or will they be able to break free of their hold? This is an engaging story of the battle between passion, duty and honour as two people navigate troubled lands.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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