Peter and Liora are so sweet together!

This is the kind of story I read historicals for. Such exquisite attention to detail, such amazing heart-filled emotional writing, every bit of it was enthralling and insightful.

Peter is not just a typical Christian of the time; as an Executioner Knight his allegiance to the Church is as ingrained in him as his allegiance to his family. LIora is a Jewess, a woman whose life and family is so wrapped up in her religious traditions that it's the foundation of her ethnic identity. But the heart wants what the heart wants, despite how treacherous the path to their HEA is.

The outside forces working against them range from the truly villainous to the merely power-grabbing, but through it all Peter walks a fine diplomatic line between keeping his word and keeping his life. I really appreciated the attention to detail shown by the author, making this a solid history lesson as well as a thrilling romance.

As someone with more than a passing familiarity with both Jewish and Christian beliefs and traditions, I commend the author for her accuracy and fairness in presenting the common ground where most people only see conflict. The religious aspects are true to their historical setting, especially as they differ from their contemporary counterparts. The solution they found was respectful, realistic, and stayed true to what both Peter and Liora needed in order to find happiness and peace in their growing family.

Read it for the history, read it for the romance, read it for the religious conflict - regardless of which part pulls you in, you won't be disappointed. It's a fantastic story, and exactly what I've come to expect from this author. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

How I love losing myself into the world of the Executioner Knights, the names alone make my heart beat that much faster! I know they are all from Kathryn Le Veque's imagination but one can't help but wonder what IF there had been such knights!!! I thoroughly enjoyed Peter and Liora's story, so much heart and honour in it.

Religion plays a large part in their story and I thought the author handled it really well. Back in the medieval era, Christians and Jews were not allowed to marry each other unless one or the other converted and even then, their problems were not over. Peter and Liora have a lot of decisions and sacrifices ​to make but their love for each other is so intense, you can't help but cheer them on. Amidst all of this, the battle continues with King John, who I think was the most hated king in history.

One of my favourite lines in the book...."We cannot control what the heart demands"!!

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Oh my goodness, Kathryn Le Veque just keeps getting better and better and better. The Splendid Hour is amazing.

Peter is the perfect hero. He is intelligent, giving, loving, generous, a wonderful son/brother, and a man who is willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING (including his life, livelihood, and honor if needed) for the woman he loves.

Liora is a truly beautiful woman; her soul, her faith, her live of family, and her willingness to sacrifice EVERYTHING (including her life and families honor) all for the man she loves.

These two people are two of the best characters ever placed in print. Their love is the type of love that gives the reader hope because it transcends all else, it is full of life and desire and faith and generosity and lust and passion and a love so strong that nothing can stop it. After reading this book I felt elation and an ultimate sense of peace and calm. I cried, I cheered, I felt anger, and I felt every emotion Kathryn could wrench from a person and I can't thank her enough.

There are not enough stars in the sky to rate this book, it was perfection!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and am volunteering an honest review.

What do you get when you mix Politics + Religion + Love ? A Out of this World book by Kathryn Le Veque! She has written another sumptuous Executioner Knights book that has some of the old Executioners making appearances that will excite you as usual! However, this book has focused on the newbie Peter de Lohr, the illegitimate son of Christopher de Lohr who we all know is the Knight that King John is most leery about. Peter is a compassionate has remarkable qualities for his position as a Knight . The tolerance he shows for others is commendable, but he goes one step further by aiding those below his status without thinking of wanting others to acknowledge his deeds. He is a force on the battlefield and fights to win!
Liora is a Jewish girl and daughter of a goldsmith to the King. She inadvertently comes to Peters aid and the two are instantly attracted. However, in this particular age Catholics and Jewish never crossed lines.
The time time period was fraught with battles with King John and now Peter saw this as another battle.

The characters are so penetrating that you can’t help, but become engrossed in their daily lives. I truly became embroiled in the storyline that when my husband asked me questions he had to either holler at me or the one time he got up and stood in front of me and said, “ I am going to bed!” I was like well okay, go lol. I didn’t want this book to end. I wanted to read more and more. I won’t say anything else because I am not a “Spoiler”!

I loved this book and would definitely recommend!

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.