I found the writing and the plot very enjoyable. It was very interesting to see the main characters bridging the divide across culture and religion, to be with each other!

I first discovered Ms. Hegger with her book Conquering William.  The story and her writing restored some of my flagging interest in historical romance as I stayed true to the series.  Releasing Henry came as a surprise because,  I, like the rest of Sir Arthur's family had given up Henry for dead.   I felt the same sense of excitement as the family when news came of Henry's possible survival and rejoiced when he sails back into the family harbor laden with treasure and a Muslim wife.  How will Sir Arthur's enlightened family welcome a foreigner into their ranks?
The author's skillful writing brings alive the treachery of men who lust for wealth as well the as the fate of any noble prisoners captured by the Saracens.  Henry's release from captivity, his acquisition of a wealthy wife, and his arrival home into the midst of his family laden with treasure are a compelling tale in it self but the author does a masterful job of bringing alive the suspicions of the English yeoman who serve the noble family.
Alya has gone from the pampered daughter of a wealthy merchant to the bride of an English nobleman. However she's not used to being refused service or looked upon with suspicion by the people in her new home even as her new husband's siblings welcome her into their midst. Her husband who had once lusted after her and taken delight in secretly looking at her uncovered face now seems to crave a distance from her as he battles his own test of faith. Will Alya be able to find peace and welcome or will she decide to journey back to the country of her birth and upbringing leaving behind Henry and his delightful family?  Will Henry and Alya be able to find a measure of peace and happiness amongst all those who want to do her harm simply for the color of her skin and her faith.  A familiar topic dealt really well by the author.
It's good to catch up with Henry's family as they each in their own way support and welcome Alya into their midst.  It's sad to wish this family goodbye and let them fade into the annals of time.

Henry finds a new purpose and love after being sold into captivity to a merchant. Alya and Henry must overcome multiple obstacles to find their future. This author transports the reader to another time with sights and settings for a good read.
Ebook from netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.

The youngest son of Anglesea, Henry has survived the Holy Pilgrimage and has been a slave in the home of Alif Al-Rasheed, a wealthy Genovese merchant and his daughter Alya. Alya has been a beacon of beauty and light he cannot ignore. Henry watches her from afar this proud daughter of Cairo. A friend has been sent to find Henry and bring him back home to England so when her father fears for her life he asks Henry to take her away and so the journey begins back home to Anglesea for Henry. Between Alya and Henry there is division by religion, language, and culture and Henry vows to teach Alys everything she will need to know to survive in her father’s world with the uncle in Genoa. Trouble arrives at their door step and Henry suggests she flee to England as his bride. They embark on a perilous journey to safety to only be by Henry’s loving family, but the servants and villagers are a greater challenge for them to accept a foreigner. Can Henry and Alya find common ground in which to build a future and a life for themselves? There are many challenges for these two overcome before they can find their HEA!!! A great story of two entirely different cultures trying to find their way and common ground on which to build their future.
I voluntarily read an ARC copy from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Releasing Henry Sir Arthur Legacy #5
by Sarah Hegger

Henry is the youngest son of Sir Arthur of Anglesea, captured in battle while fighting in the Holly Pilgrimage. Sold as a slave he questions his beliefs and honour, his self worth and soul is shattered leaving him a shell of a man. Sold into servitude he's tasked with protecting his masters daughter in return for his freedom. Returning to England is paramount even though he now has the very beautiful Alya to protect.
Alya is a wealthy merchants daughter forced to flee her home country she's to travel with the handsome English slave to her uncle. Travel is not without risks, arriving at her uncle she's harshly turned away! When Henry offers a solution in a marriage of convenience she has no choice but to accept. What will her marriage survive the barriers of religion and language after all she's wildly attracted to Henry.

This was a sensational five star read Sarah Hegger has brought this series to wonderful ending with Henry 's and Alta's romance. The story was exceptional I fell in love with the characters and shared in their emotional journey to a
love that doesn't discriminate between race, religion or colour.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher through NetGalley for my honest unbiased opinion.

Historical romance is one of my favorite sub-genres, and it's hard to come up with something truly new, but Sarah Hegger has done it. I've never read a historical of this time period where a knight is taken as a slave, kept captive for years, and then released with his hated eunuch keeper along with someone he later marries. If nothing else, major points for the originality. That said, this is a bit of a tough read. Henry doesn't treat Alya very well through most of the book. Also, he's so focused on his own self-loathing all. The. Time that it gets tiresome. I found myself thinking 'enough of the whining already, you're a damned knight!'

Still, this is Hegger, so it's polished (i.e., better written than most of what's out there), and the characters are very well developed. Extra points for the spectacular scene at the end between Henry's family and the bigoted villagers.

*ARC via netgalley*

Releasing Henry by Sarah Hegger
Sir Arthur Legacy #5

Have you ever read a book and found yourself immersed in and almost part of the story? That is what happened to me while reading the story of Alya and Henry. Why? Well, there was much that correlated with and paralleled my own story. In what ways you ask? Well…I married and moved to a foreign country, a country where the native tongue was not my own, where food was different, where culture was very different and where I was and will always be considered “ajnabeeyee” - or – foreign. Miscommunication can happen easily and in a marriage of two dissimilar cultures both husband and wife must want the marriage to work and then make sure that there is open honest communication and trust and commitment. As Alya and Henry found out…it is not always easy and pain can and will occur if for any reason one or more of these needed aspects of marriage are missing.

This is a story of a man who has suffered much and in so doing has changed in many ways but who has also managed to retain his honor. It is a story of a woman raised in Cairo who leaves but is unsure of what her future holds in store for her. It is a story of love that grows and a relationship that needs to be nurtured. It is also a story of pain of some sort for just about everyone in the story. And, it is a story of family – a strong family that starred in the previous four books and emerged again in the finale of the series strong and loving and all that family should be.

I loved this book for many reasons. I moved from California to the Middle East when I married and so understand Alya perhaps better than some might who read this book. It hits home in so many ways…both my home of birth and the one I moved to and now live in (Lebanon). And, the truths in this story are many if the reader is willing to see them and one of the most compelling is that no matter what their ethnicity or religious beliefs people are much the same and both good or bad and ugly spirited are found in throughout history and all cultures.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books-Lyrical Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

A moving story that touches on prejudices and obstacles in the Arthurian Legacy Series.

Loved it

I received an ARC and I voluntarily leave my own opinion

Publisher's Description:

A light in the darkness . . .
The youngest son of Anglesea, the once idealistic Henry has survived the Holy Pilgrimage, but lost all his deeply held beliefs in honor and nobility. Captured in battle, he is sold as a slave into the home of Alif Al-Rasheed, a wealthy Genovese merchant who has converted to Islam. Bereft of faith, imprisoned in a foreign land, Henry has lost hope in his ability to love again—until he lays eyes on his captor’s beguiling daughter.

A marriage of opposites . . .
To Henry, Alya is a beacon of beauty he cannot ignore. But the heart of this proud daughter of Cairo will not be won so easily. Divided by religion, language, and culture, Ayla has little in common with the disillusioned Englishman—and yet he has vowed to protect her life in exchange for his freedom. As they embark on a perilous journey to safety, their bond will grow—and be tested—in ways neither can anticipate. For their greatest challenges will arise where Henry least expects. With threats conspiring to divide them, will he find the strength to stand by Ayla—and together will they find a common ground on which to build a future?

My Thoughts:

I had previously read and reviewed at least one book in this series by Sarah Hegger. I was anxious to see how this engrossing saga like tale would end so when offered the chance to read and review this last book in the series I couldn't resist.
Once again this author did not disappoint. The characters in this book are well developed and the storyline is both intriguing and irresistible. If you like romantic tales of a medieval nature you will love this one and all of the others in this series.
Be certain to read them in order if you can because they are better that way but they can each be read as a standalone title so don't shy away if you have missed out on the previous installments.

Ayla and Henry's story is a marriage of convenience tale of sorts in that her uncle refuses to let her stay in his home after her father sent her to him. Henry who has admired her from afar while serving as a slave in her father's household marries the exotic beauty who has no where to turn.
Will this strangely inauspicious beginning lead to an everlasting love?
I gave this book 4.5 of 5.0 stars for characterization and storyline and a sensual rating of 4 of 5 flames. This story is not without it's intimate scenes and moments but they are not so graphic as to turn off the reader.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I have read and reviewed voluntarily.

Releasing Henry by Sarah Hegger is a fabulous historical romance. I'm giving this book five stars, only because I can't give it six. Ms Hegger has penned a stunning story and stuffed it full of phenomenal characters. I can't say enough good things about the characters in this book, they're that amazing. Henry and Alya's story has drama, action, sizzle and suspense and kept this reader glued to her kindle. I love, love, love this book, even though I may have needed a tissue once or twice. It was a pleasure to read Releasing Henry and I can't wait to read more from Sarah Hegger in the future. Releasing Henry is part of the Sir Arthur's Legacy Series, but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book that I received from NetGalley.