Gabriel De Vere has every reason to wonder why his one time friend has invited him to take part in a tourny at Tremoral Castle. Gabriel decides to participate.. After all he could use the winner's purse to help restore Mergot Castle, given to him by King Richard. The famous knight isn't prepared for the treachery about to be played on him.

Bernart's wife, Julia, doesn't like Gabriel because of the stories Bernart told her about the Crusades, and what Gabriel did. When Bernhart tells her of his plan, she's furious, but she's forced to go along with it to protect her younger sister. Julia is caught in a bad situation and has no way of getting out. Julia is about to be shown an entirely different point of view to this farce. Will it change her opinion about Gabriel?

Blackheart tells of the betrayal of a young man by the most important woman in his life.. his mother. Being disowned by his father teaches young Gabriel never to trust a woman to be faithful. Neither is there any love lost in the friendship between Gabriel and Bernart, but neither man knows the whole story of what happened that fateful day in Acre. The characters in this story breathe distrust and malice, creating a plot with lots of twists and turns. Misunderstandings and half truths move the story along to its inevitable conclusion.

Follow the goings on in Castle Mergot while Gabriel makes repairs in preparation for a battle he knows will come. How do the servants react to the battle of wits between their new lord and his 'guest'? Will Castle Mergot ever know real peace?

This well written story is entertaining as well as touching. Will Gabriel lose his Blackheart? You'll have to read the story to find out.