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Maiden
and the
Monster
by
Michelle
M Pillow
SONY |
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Winner
of the
2006 RT
Reviewer's
Choice
Award!
Medieval
Historical
Romance
Vladamir
of
Kessen,
Duke of
Lakeshire
Castle,
is
feared
as a
demon in
the land
of
Wessex.
The
Kings
have
granted
him a
title of
nobility
in
exchange
for his
part as
a
political
prisoner.
Discontent,
he bides
his time
in his
new home
until
war will
once
again
rip
through
the
land.
But
boredom
soon
turns to
devious
pleasure
as the
daughter
of his
most
hated
enemy is
left for
dead at
his
castle
gate.
Now the
monster
bides
his time
plotting
revenge.
Lady
Eden of
Hawks'
Nest
doesn't
know
what to
think of
the man
who
saved
her
life,
but she
can't
wrench
her
thoughts
away.
His
words
are
those of
a
tyrant,
true to
his
vicious
reputation,
but his
touch is
that of
a man,
stirring
passion
and lust
when
there
should
only be
fear. It
would
seem the
infamous
monster
is not
as
monstrous
as he
appears.
Rating:
Contains
graphic
sexual
content,
adult
language,
and
violence.
EXCERPT
Must
be 18
years
and
older to
read. If
not,
please
leave
the
site.
“Nay,
don’t
ask for
your
freedom
again.
It’s a
useless
plea. I
won’t
release
you.” He
watched
her lips
as she
flicked
her
tongue
over the
edge.
The
scent of
lilies
came to
him from
her hair
as she
moved
her head
to the
side. He
wondered
if
Haldana
had
purposefully
used the
scent.
It had
been one
of his
favorites
long
ago. He
breathed
in the
enticing
perfume
of her.
For a
moment,
he was
lost in
her
spell.
“Tomorrow
you’ll
be given
new
quarters.”
“The
tower?
You wish
to put
me in a
real
prison?
Or
mayhap
even the
dungeon?
I have
sworn to
you I
won’t
leave.
At least
give me
a chance
to prove
my honor
afore
you
doubt
it. If I
prove my
honor
false,
then you
shall
imprison
me with
my
blessing,
for I
won’t
deny
that
then
I’ll be
most
deserving
of it.”
“Nay,
m’lady,
not the
tower
and most
definitely
not the
dungeon,”
he
answered
softly,
the
sound a
vast
contrast
to his
usual
hard
tone. He
wanted
to
laugh,
for he
didn’t
have a
tower
save for
the
chamber
she was
already
in.
“Prove
your
honor.”
“Then,
you’re
to make
me
your…?”
Again
she
tried to
pull
from his
arms.
“I’m to
be put
in your
chamber,
m’lord?
With
you?
Won’t
your
duchess
be
upset?”
“There
is no
Duchess
of
Lakeshire.”
Vladamir
couldn’t
draw his
gaze
from her
delightfully
full
lips as
they
quivered
enchantingly
under
his
watchful
eyes. He
thought
of
chaining
her to
his bed,
forcing
her to
be his
bed
slave
until he
took his
fill of
her.
“M’lady’s
prison
shall be
of
gilded
bars.
You’ll
be
afforded
full use
of the
castle.
You’ll
be fed.
The
servants
will
treat
you with
the
respect
due your
station,
unless
you
prove
you
deserve
otherwise.”
“Thank
you.”
“But,”
he
warned,
squeezing
her
shoulders
once
more and
causing
her to
wince.
“You
won’t be
permitted
outside
the
bailey
walls. I
don’t
care if
the
castle
is
burning
to the
ground.
If you
don’t
have my
permission,
you
shall
stay and
burn
with it.
If I
find you
trying
to
leave,
I’ll
lock you
in the
dungeon
for all
your
days and
I’ll
besiege
your
father’s
keep
until
all
those
who live
within
starve.
I’ll
burn his
crops,
slaughter
his
peasants
and his
cattle
and
leave
them to
rot
where
they
fall.
And you,
m’lady,
will
know the
full
meaning
of hell
afore
you
die.”
“I
understand,”
she said
softly.
“I won’t
try to
escape.
My only
wish is
that
you’ll
reconsider
and let
me go.”
“I
won’t do
that,”
he
answered,
his
voice
harsh.
His
chest
heaved
with
rapid
breaths,
but his
growling
tone
turned
soft.
“M’lady
will do
well to
wish for
other
things
for I’ll
never
let you
go.”
“Then
I’ll
stay
here
true to
my word
and I’ll
only
leave
with
your
permission.”
Eden
conceded,
taking a
deep
breath.
“I will
swear it
on mine
own
blood,
but only
if I may
have one
demand.
Methinks
it
fair.”
Anything.
Vladamir
nodded
his head
and then
realized
she
couldn’t
see him
well
enough
through
the
darkness
to make
the
gesture
out.
“What?”
“Don’t
harm my
father’s
people.
They
don’t
deserve
your
wrath. I
don’t
know
what
plans
you may
have,
but keep
your
quarrel
with my
father
only. If
it is he
who has
spurred
your
anger,
then he
shall
have to
face
it.” She
pulled
away
from him
and he
let her
go. Her
chin
lifted
proudly
before
him,
even in
her fear
of him.
“If you
don’t
harm
them,
I’ll
stay
here.
But, if
I find
out that
you hurt
them in
any way
that
wasn’t
self-defense,
I’ll
break my
vow and
will do
whatever
is in my
power to
escape
you.
I’ll
spend
the rest
of my
days if
needs be
bringing
you to
justice
and I
won’t
stop
until
‘tis
done. Do
we have
a deal?”
“Yea,
m’lady.”
He
smiled
at her
courage.
It
puzzled
him that
she
showed
no
concern
for her
father’s
safety,
yet
cared so
openly
for the
lives of
peasants.
“I won’t
harm
your
father’s
people.”
“Good.”
She held
out her
hand,
her
fingers
shaking,
but she
didn’t
back
down.
“Hand me
your
dagger,
m’lord,
so that
I may
keep my
word and
pledge
my honor
with my
blood.
Let us
seal the
bargain
so it
shall be
done.”
“I
won’t
demand
your
blood
just
yet,” he
said
softly,
denying
her his
dagger.
Instead,
Vladamir
clasped
her
outstretched
hand and
pulled
it to
his
chest
over the
beating
of his
heart.
Not
stopping
to think
of the
consequences
of his
actions,
he swung
her into
his
arms.
Shifting
her off
balance
so she
fell to
the
side, he
encased
her
within
his
embrace.
She was
so small
and
fragile
to him
as she
trembled
in
surprise.
His body
lurched,
wanting
this. He
bent
down and
pressed
his
mouth
against
her
parted
lips,
unable
to
resist
her
temptation
a moment
more. He
needed
to feel
her
heat,
her soft
lips.
The
duke ran
the
fingers
of his
free
hand
into her
hair and
pressed
her to
him. The
sweet
petals
of her
mouth
parted
as she
sought
her
breath.
She
moaned
lightly.
His
tongue
daringly
traced
the line
of her
lips and
her
slender
body
molded
into his
as if it
had been
carved
for him
to hold.
Vladamir
had been
a long
time
without
the
comforts
of a
woman’s
embrace
and was
a man
long
used to
taking
what he
wanted.
Eden
clutched
his
tunic as
he held
her to
his
chest,
feeling
her
intimate
heat
along
his
thigh,
burning
him. He
pushed
his leg
against
her,
eliciting
a soft
moan.
Innocently,
she
backed
her hips
away
from his
searching.
Unable
to
resist,
he grew
bolder,
forcing
his
thigh
between
hers.
REVIEWS
RT
TOPPICK!
"4 1/2
STARS!
This is
a
perfect
blend of
history,
emotion,
tension,
hot sex
and
fascinating
and
sympathetic
characters,
and the
writing
is
superb.
Pillow
chooses
magical
details
to set
the
scene,
and they
add to
both the
history
and the
emotion."
April
2006
Romantic
Times
Magazine
Issue
"5
Angels!
Maiden
and the
Monster
is one
of the
best
medieval
romances
I have
ever
read."
Fallen
Angels
"I was
so
entranced
by
Maiden
and the
Monster
I
couldn’t
put it
down.
It’s
intense,
and full
of
emotion...
powerful
and
moving,
...Maiden
and the
Monster
is a
keeper!"
Joyfully
Reviewed
"4 1/2
Stars!
Michelle
M.
Pillow
did not
re-write
the
story of
Beauty
and the
Beast.
This is
the
story of
two
people
thrown
together
by
others
for
their
own
purposes.
No one
expected
them to
find
love.
This
story
has
action,
adventure,
and plot
twists
galore.
The sex
scenes
are
artfully
woven
into the
story.
Vladamir
and Eden
overcome
great
odds to
find
true
love.
This
book is
a
classic
love
story.
It is
the kind
of story
a reader
enjoys
getting
lost
in."
eCataRomance
"Maiden
and the
Monster
is one
of the
best
medieval
romances
I have
ever
read. It
really
showcases
the
author’s
talent
for
historicals.
The
background
history
is
deftly
intertwined
with the
love
story.
Add to
that
some
very hot
encounters
between
our
protagonists,
and
you’ve
got a
masterpiece!
There’s
a
perfect
balance
of sex
and
story."
Fallen
Angel
Reviews
Additional
Book
Information
Amazon ASIN:
B0080B5UUG
Electronic
ISBN:9781452447834
PRINT
ISBN-13:
978-1477513538
PRINT
ISBN-10:
1477513531
Release
Date: May
2012
Word Count:
115,000
Heat Rating:
3/5
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following vendors
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