The Deed

Lady Emmalene ("Emma") is unhappy, and she wants her king to know it. After all, it is her duty as an Englishwoman to provide heirs to her husband loyal to the king, but it is very difficult to accomplish this when her husband has been away for years. She wants "the deed" done! While it takes little to surprise the king these days, he is a bit stunned that a lady brought this concern to his attention, and he learns through asking a few questions that her husband never actually did "the deed" at all, as the naive Lady Emma believed it was accomplished by "sleeping with her husband" which is what they did on their wedding night, though in his clumsiness, her husband cut his hand the next day, so perhaps that is why he wasn't amorous before he left her alone for the last few years. The king agrees to "order" her husband to return and assume his husbandly duties, but said husband is killed in the journey home, and now Lady Emma is a widow. The possible heir is a troublesome nephew of the former lord whose mother has ambitions for her son that are contrary to the king's rule, so he must act quickly to see Lady Emma wed and the marriage properly consummated before the nephew returns to try to claim Emma AND the lordship. The man he wants to own the land is a newly titled warrior Amaury de Aneford who has served the king well. He rushes Amaury to the holding and him wed Emma at once as Bertrand (the nephew) is said to be hightailing it towards the property and the widow he wishes to claim to improve his position in society.

Amaury de Aneford is the bastard son of a duke whose duchess was unable to provide with heirs, so she had the reminder of her infertility banished at an early age and sent to serve as squires and later a mercenary to serve the king. Amaury made the best of his situation by becoming the strongest warrior of the lot, and for his outstanding service, the king has bestowed the title of duke upon him. When learning the plan the king has for his bride, Amaury is at first very reluctant as he assumes any lady who has to approach the king to have her husband couple with her must be horribly ugly, but he is pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful woman when he arrives at his new holdings. The wedding takes place immediately, and the two are hustled up to the bedroom to "do the deed" before Bertrand arrives to claim what he believes to be his rightful inheritance. As soon as they enter the room, Amaury realizes how very naive his new wife is and is pretty put out that he has to explain the birds and the bees to such an innocent, but then it gets even worse: Bertrand is spotted rapidly approaching the castle, and Amaury is urged to get it done. Amaury is literally "poking" Emma as the door is flung open by Bertrand himself who demands evidence of the consummation. As Emma had every linen in the keep blackened because of the death of her husband out of her assumed duty, even the sheets are black, but Amaury has the evidence of the deed on his "little sword," so the wedding is upheld.

Emma had no idea that "the deed" was so painful, and she would really rather not do it again, but she is determined to have children, so she doses her husband's tankard with an herb that is said to enhance a man's potency. Amaury is certain that his wife will not want to repeat the brutal joining that occurred on their wedding night, and he tries to find ways to convince her that it will not be as bad; his friend also suggests he "woo: his wife, something Amaury has had zero experience with (and is amuses as he fumbles to try this strategy). Will the two of them be able to get past their unfortunate beginnings? Can they end the threat against Amaury as his life is repeatedly threatened?

Overall, a good read if you enjoy medieval HRs with some humorous moments, a page-turning plot, and steamy goodness!

Plot --- 4/5
Main Characters --- 4/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level* --- 3.5/5
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd

*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! ; 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all

I thought his was cute read. The overall tone of the story this humorous. I'm not sure how much humor existed during these times but I sure appreciate someone else who believes somewhere someone had some. In fact I believe to truly get through some of the hardest times in our life we NEED humor. Lynsay Sands is one of the best at using humor, whether in historicals or sci-fi/vampire novels. I think the premise of the "deed" not getting done & causing her to seek the audience with the king is hilarious. Highly improbable does not make the story bad. I like to read for pleasure not for reality. Somethings are important to get right like the actual dress code, morals, rulers, etc. But the premise can be a bit out there because this is not a biography. & this is a keeper. Ms Sands is thoroughly funny & I return to her novels, no matter the genre, because of this. You will find yourself out-n-out busting your gut laughing & still chuckle when you scan through the titles & see the cover. Go ahead, read this one. You will see for yourself.

I am a Linsay Sands historical romance fan and I understand this is her first historical novel. I read it knowing that and must admit to being very impressed. It is not my favorite and she has definitely improved as an author. But, for a first attempt? An enjoyable read and very impressive! She sets a high bar for all first-time novelists.

Easy to follow the plot... there is nothing like 2people that find each other and the intimacy of discovering what the other is all about ... mistakes made by "thinking you know what is right" and then finding out what is actually right

Lady Emmaline/Emma Eberhart has requested an audience with King Richard. She wants him to command her husband of 2 years the Duke of Eberhart to consummate there marriage. On his way to due what the King commands he is killed.

A few days later the King commands Amaury de Aneford to marry the widowed virginal Lady Emmaline/Emma. This begins one of the funniest romance stories I have had the pleasure of reading in a long time.

Emma's in laws are determine that the Dukedom and all its wealth will not be given over to Emma's new husband and the now Newly minted Duke Amaury Aneford of Eberhart. The in laws many plots to murder Amaury all go awry. The villains are know from the beginning of the story.

I think Emmalines lack of knowledge of the marital bed would have been more believable if she were younger maybe 18 instead of 22. Living in the country would have taught her something about sexual joining. I also would have like an epilog . So 4 stars instead of 5

I remember loving it and laughing until my sides ached. Here I sit, with tears of mirth rolling down cheeks. I don't think I regret a moment of the time to re-read The Dead. I have been a Lynsay Sands follower since the first read.

The beginning of the book was a little slow but entertaining enough and funny enough for me to continue to read the book. In the middle of the book, I became bored on a couple of occasions and actually put the book down. Although it was difficult to pick it back up, I did, and the end of the book was just chaos.

Here are my problems with the book:

1. The humor at the beginning of the book did not last throughout. I really like a little silliness to break up the seriousness.

2. The hero was mean, constantly. Without his internal thoughts, he is just a yelling bear. He is also supposed to be the best warrior in the kingdom, and yet is continually taken by surprise and attacked.

3. The heroine was the best part of the book, strong and independent. But her naivety was absurd to the point that I was actually rolling my eyes at the book.

4. The craziness that insues for the last 1/3 of the book is over the top. Six attacks, one kidnapping, 2 traitors. It was hard to keep up and at one point I thought, "Can these people not be left alone for 5 minutes."

5. I can usually gloss over any discrepencies in period talk and actions, but there were some glaring issues with staying time period appropriate in this story.

This book wasn't horrible but it wasn't great either. As long as you know what you are getting, you won't be too disappointed.

Surely there has never been a more naive heroine written. I love that she dyed ALL the clothes, bed sheets, towels, EVERYTHING black for mourning. Hilarious! But her naivety was WAY, WAY too much for me to believe. I still liked the conflict and the plot, but part of a fictional novel is believing that it could really happen, and I just couldn't believe it.

A wonderful re-read. I haven’t read this one in awhile. I thoroughly enjoyed the revisit of the characters in this book/series. I can’t wait to read the rest. Wonderful author. I highly recommend.

Fun and quick read. It's perfect for a quick romp. The characters are likable and relatable. The villains could have been a little better laid ouy, is my only complaint.