My thoughts on The Du Lac Princess: (Book 3 of The Du Lac Chronicles) by Mary Anne Yarde

 The Du Lac Princess: (Book 3 of The Du Lac Chronicles)

By Mary Anne Yarde

War is coming…

The ink has dried on Amandine’s death warrant. Her crime? She is a du Lac.

All that stands in the way of a grisly death on a pyre is the King of Brittany. However, King Philippe is a fickle friend, and if her death is profitable to him, then she has no doubt that he would light the pyre himself.

Alan, the only man Amandine trusts, has a secret and must make an impossible choice, which could have far-reaching consequences — not only for Amandine, but for the whole of Briton.

Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In The Du Lac Princess, Mary Anne Yarde takes the story in a bolder, more dangerous direction. The focus shifts to Amandine du Lac, whose very identity has condemned her — she faces a death warrant simply for being part of the du Lac family. 

 Her situation is precarious: only the King of Brittany stands between her and a public execution on a pyre. 

Amandine is a strong, resilient heroine, and her struggle feels deeply personal. 

 Meanwhile, Alan, the man she trusts most, carries a secret that could upend not just their relationship, but the fragile balance of power across Britain. 

 The political intrigue is thick: Yarde weaves church politics, royal ambition, and family loyalty into a dangerous tapestry, making the stakes both intimate and epic. 

There’s also a powerful undercurrent of faith and morality: the book explores the dual nature of the Church in this post-Arthur Britain, adding real depth to the historical fantasy.

The Du Lac Princess is a compelling continuation of Yarde’s saga — it’s perfect for fans of Arthurian-inspired historical fantasy, especially those who love court intrigue, personal sacrifice, and courageous heroines.

The Du Lac Devil: Book 2 of The Du Lac Chronicles by Mary Anne Yarde

 The Du Lac Devil: Book 2 of The Du Lac Chronicles

By Mary Anne Yarde

War is coming...

As one kingdom after another falls to the savage might of the High King, Cerdic of Wessex, only one family dares to stand up to him — The Du Lacs.

Budic and Alden Du Lac are barely speaking to each other, and Merton is a mercenary, fighting for the highest bidder. If Wessex hears of the brothers’ discord, then all is lost.

Fate brings Merton du Lac back to the ancestral lands of his forefathers, and he finds his country on the brink of civil war. But there is worse to come, for his father’s old enemy has infiltrated the court of Benwick. Now, more than ever, the Du Lac must come together to save the kingdom and themselves.

Can old rivalries and resentments be overcome in time to stop a war?

Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

In The Du Lac Devil, Mary Anne Yarde raises the stakes significantly: war is brewing across Saxon Britain as the ruthless High King, Cerdic of Wessex, presses his advantage, and the du Lac family finds itself under serious threat. 

 The political tension crackles throughout, and you can really feel how fragile unity is — especially when internal family divisions threaten to tear them apart. 

One of the most compelling storylines is that of Merton du Lac, a mercenary torn between his roots and his desires. 

 Yarde skillfully develops his character, giving him a believable arc of returning to his ancestral home only to discover that it's not just his homeland that's in danger — but also the legacy of his family. 

 The emotional core of the novel is strengthened by the du Lac family’s internal conflict: estranged brothers, old rivalries, and unspoken resentments make for a rich tapestry of personal drama.

The Du Lac Devil is a powerful continuation of the Du Lac saga — ideal for fans of Arthurian-inspired historical fantasy. If you enjoy stories of war, loyalty, and family legacy (especially set in a gritty, mythic Dark Age Britain), this is a very satisfying second book. 

My thoughs on The Du Lac Chronicles by Mary Anne Yarde

 The Du Lac Chronicles

By Mary Anne Yarde

 A generation after Arthur Pendragon ruled, Briton lies fragmented into warring kingdoms and principalities.

Eighteen-year-old Alden du Lac ruled the tiny kingdom of Cerniw. Now he half-hangs from a wooden pole, his back lashed into a mass of bloody welts exposed to the cold of a cruel winter night. He’s to be executed come daybreak—should he survive that long.

When Alden notices the shadowy figure approaching, he assumes death has come to end his pain. Instead, the daughter of his enemy, Cerdic of Wessex, frees and hides him, her motives unclear.

Annis has loved Alden since his ill-fated marriage to her Saxon cousin—a marriage that ended in blood and guilt—and she would give anything to protect him. Annis’s rescue of Alden traps them between a brutal Saxon king and Alden’s remaining allies. Meanwhile, unknown forces are carefully manipulating the ruins of Arthur’s legacy.

Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mary Anne Yarde’s The Du Lac Chronicles is a rich, sweeping saga set in post-Arthurian Britain — a generation after King Arthur’s reign has ended and the land is fractured into warring Saxon kingdoms. 

 The protagonist, Alden du Lac, is Lancelot’s son: once the king of Cerniw, he’s now broken and betrayed, his back literally bloodied and chained, awaiting execution. 

 His salvation comes from Annis, the daughter of his sworn enemy, King Cerdic of Wessex — a brave, complicated woman who defies her father to rescue him. 

What makes the book compelling is how Yarde balances political intrigue, romance, and myth. The world she builds feels grounded (drawing on historical fact) yet lyrical, with tensions of war, loyalty, and legacy blending beautifully with Arthurian legend. 

 Alden and Annis’s relationship is emotionally charged — they’re on opposite sides of a brutal conflict, and their bond forces them to reckon with betrayal, identity, and what it means to rule. 

However, it’s not all smooth sailing: some readers feel the language can be too modern for the 5th-century setting, which occasionally breaks the immersion. 

 And while the romance and adventure are strong, there are moments when pacing slows or character motivations feel repetitive. 

 But these are relatively minor issues compared to the epic scope and emotional weight of the story.

My thoughts on Her Surrender (Fire and Ice Book 1) by Tara Conrad

 Her Surrender (Fire and Ice Book 1) 

By Tara Conrad

Natalie

I’m shattered.

Lies and betrayal my only company.

Until an invitation to an underground club.

Until I meet him.

Until I’m drowning in the sea of emotion he unleashes.

Until he crosses a line that shreds me to pieces.

Alex

I’m obsessed.

Her innocence.

Her bewitching beauty.

Her trust.

Her surrender sparks an inferno of desire that leads me straight to the gates of hell.

All lost the moment I listen to my head, instead of my heart.

Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In Her Surrender, Tara Conrad spins a raw and emotionally rich romance centered on Natalie, a woman reeling from betrayal after walking into a shocking scene with her ex, and Alex, a seasoned Dom who’s set boundaries around attachment. Their worlds collide at Fire and Ice, a BDSM club, and what begins as a cautious agreement — a relationship with an “expiration date” — quickly becomes far more complicated as they both grapple with past traumas and trust issues. 

Conrad’s strength lies in how she balances the sensual with the emotional. Natalie’s journey of self-discovery is handled with sensitivity — she’s not just exploring the lifestyle, but also finding her voice after loss. 

 Alex, meanwhile, is more than a dominant figure: his patience, protectiveness, and capacity for vulnerability make him feel real, not a stereotype. The book’s pacing combines intimate, tender moments with bigger life challenges — and when tragedy hits Natalie's family, it tests the foundation of their relationship in powerful ways. 

Some readers do note that the story can feel emotionally heavy and the themes of loss, family, and power dynamics throughout aren’t always 

 That said, for anyone drawn to contemporary romance with deep emotional stakes, BDSM elements, and a journey of healing, Her Surrender is a very satisfying and immersive read.