The Sun and the Moon
The Sun and the Moon book cover

The Sun and the Moon

Paperback – June 1, 2000

by
Price
$7.70
Format
Paperback
Pages
352
Publisher
Signet
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0451200327
Dimensions
4.25 x 1 x 9.75 inches
Weight
7.2 ounces

Description

"Patricia Ryan holds readers in her grasp with mystery and suspense worthy of a Hitchcock film. Once you start this nonstop read you won't go to bed until you've turned the last page. Kudos to Ms. Ryan for bringing such a satisfying tale to life and pushing the boundaries of the genre once more." RT BookReviews "Never one to disappoint, Ms. Ryan has once again delivered her readers a novel that packs a punch. Just as we think we have the ending all figured out, she hits us with an incredible twist." The Literary Times "Filled with mystery, suspense, intrigue and very passionate romance, this is an excellent example of Ryan's superb writing skills...I absolutely loved this story!" Tanzey Cutter, The Old Book Barn Gazette "The Sun and the Moon is a real page turner. I really wish I hadn't started it so late at night. It kept me up way past my bedtime and there is no stronger recommendation than that." Jean Mason, The Romance Reader "A heroine like Phillipa is a rare gem, indeed, and is such a delight to read and get to know...Watching these two accept their love is a treat. The medieval setting and the court intrigues are neither 'wallpaper' nor overwhelming, and although this book is a sequel, it stands very well on its own. I highly recommend The Sun and the Moon and hope you enjoy it as much as I did." Claudia S. Terrones, All About Romance Please note that there are two other Patricia Ryans who've published romantic suspense novels recently, which has caused confusion among readers, critics, and others. If you want to be sure a particular romance or romantic suspense was written by this author, just click "Patricia Ryan" under the title at the top of this page. Any book that does not appear on Amazon's Patricia Ryan author page was written by someone else. Patricia Ryan is the USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen romances and mysteries, including the #1 national bestseller Still Life with Murder . Her novels have garnered rave reviews and been published in over 20 countries. A RITA® winner (for Silken Threads, the prequel to The Sun and the Moon ) and four-time nominee, she is also the recipient of three Romantic Times Awards and a Mary Higgins Clark Award nomination for Murder in a Mill Town, book 2 of her popular mystery series featuring Boston governess Nell Sweeney, which she wrote as P.B. Ryan. xa0 Pat is currently writing book 1 of a spin-off of the Nell Sweeney series, in which Nell and Will are prominent characters. For a heads-up when Murder in the Back Bay goes on sale, just go to amazon.com/author/pbryan, then click the big yellow "Favorite" button. And for more updates about new releases, freebies, discounts, giveaways and other news, be sure to subscribe to Pat's newsletter at either patricia-ryan.com or pb-ryan.com. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • Hugh has never had any trouble avoiding ties of the heart--until he recruits a beautiful young Oxford scholar to pose as his wife for an espionage mission.
  • The Sun:
  • Hugh of Wexford, King Henry's most trusted spy, enjoys his wine, his women, and most of all, his freedom. Scarred by a brutal upbringing, Hugh makes his own way in the world, unhindered by ties of any kind--including those of love.
  • The Moon:
  • Oxford scholar Phillipa de Paris is learned and enlightened, but utterly unschooled in the ways of the world--especially the lascivious intrigue she encounters when Hugh recruits her to help ensnare an enemy of the crown.
  • The Mission:
  • To expose the schemes of dissolute cleric Aldous Ewing, who has long carried a torch for Phillipa, the rough-and-tumble warrior and the innocent intellectual pose as jaded husband and wife. Can Phillipa finesse Ewing into sharing his secrets without sharing his bed, as the mission calls for? Or will Hugh and Phillipa's deceit be revealed and their lives endangered by the irresistible passion flaring between them?   Inspired by Hitchcock's
  • Notorious,
  • The Sun and the Moon
  • was awarded the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice award for Best Historical Romantic Mystery/Suspense and was nominated for RWA's RITA Award for Best Long Historical Romance. Featured in Doubleday Book Club and Rhapsody Book Club. Originally published by NAL. Book 2 of Ryan's Lords of Conquest medieval romances, which can be enjoyed in any order. 104K words.
  • "The Sun and the Moon
  • is an enjoyable medieval romance starring two enchanting characters. Phillipa and the mentally and physically scarred Hugh make a wonderful couple. The story line is fun especially when Hugh turns jealous as Phillipa flirts with the odious Aldous to get him to reveal his plot. Sub-genre fans know Patricia Ryan as a household name and her newest tale will elate her large horde of readers." Harriet Klausner   "Now, this is a great medieval romance. It has a great mystery that, for once, doesn't overshadow the romance. And I do love both hero and heroine. Keeper? Yes!"
  • Everything Romantic

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(138)
★★★★
25%
(115)
★★★
15%
(69)
★★
7%
(32)
★
23%
(107)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

Intriguing, Delightful, Suspense and Finally Love

Hugh the Warrior/Cynic and Phillipa, the academic,are worlds apart in their thinking and philosphies, but are thrown together in an effort to thwart the plans of a devious cleric and even more devious queen, Eleanor of Aquitane, to overthrow King Henry.
Hugh and Phillipa join forces to discover the plot against the king and attempt to abort it. Believing that Phillipa has freely given her favors to other men, the plan is for Phillipa to seduce the cleric to obtain the required information; however, Hugh soon discovers that Phillipa is a virgin and thus the intrigue begins. Meanwhile, being thrown together has brought out feelings in the couple that they did not know existed so this is another problem with which they have to deal.
The story held my interest where I reached the point I could not put the book down. I highly recommend this book. Patricia Ryan has done it again.
32 people found this helpful
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Not as good as Silken Threads

I read 'The Sun and the Moon' immediately after finishing it's prequel, 'Silken Threads', and --although it was not a bad read-- I didn't like it as well. While I did identify somewhat with the heroine, a book-smart-but-sheltered and not as socially intelligent young woman, and found the ending touching and sweet, I didn't like the characters in this one as much as other books I've read. There was also a little too much deviant sexual behavior for my taste, even though it occurred between supporting characters. Over all, the plot is not bad, and it's hard to pick out anything major I disliked, it just wasn't for me.

If this is the first book you've read by this author, don't give up yet. Try 'Heaven's Fire' (my fav. so far) or 'Silken Threads'.
10 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

So so sequel!

The Sun and The Moon is the sequel to Silken Threads. Unfortunately though, it's not near as good. It features Hugh, the brother of ST heroine, and Phillipa, the former fiance of ST hero. They embark on an espionage mission to try to uncover possible treachery by Eleanor of Aquitaine against King Henry. Of course, they fall in love during the mission. By the end of the novel while Phillipa is whispering sweet nothings into Hugh's ear, all I could think about is how if it were me, I'd be smacking him upside his head instead!

It's got some interesting tidbits about medieval alchemy, some intrigue, and references to Eleanor's...umm...rather "liberal" romantic court. All in all it wasn't too bad but it wasn't too good either. Doesn't even come close to the brilliance of Silken Threads!
6 people found this helpful
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A worthy sequel to 'Silken Threads'

While a little slow to begin, this book soon becomes a very enticing, absorbing read which by halfway through is very hard to put down. The characters are intelligent and well-rounded, the storyline is full of clever, unpredictable twists and turns, and there are some truly raunchy and inventive moments indeed, some of the best of them not even involving the main two characters.

The author of this book is a seriously good writer, and her books are almost too good to be in the romance genre.

By the way, I read some parts of this book out to my boyfriend (I think you can guess which parts) and he enjoyed it VERY much indeed, which just goes to show that even those who usually find romance books not to their taste can get enjoyment out of this book.

My only qualm with the storyline was that I kept wondering why, in one scene, when the fuses of the bombs were burning down, someone didn't just throw a bucket of water from the nearby well over them and douse them, instead of taking the action they did. But I guess that wouldn't have made for even nearly as dramatic a plot twist as the one which eventuated.

Overall, this was a very strong effort. Bravo, Ms Ryan, you've written yet another winner!
2 people found this helpful

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