The Black Thorne's Rose
by Susan King

Rated 3.5
Copyright 1994
Reviewed 8/17/97 by Isolde Wehr

England, Summer of 1207:

Emlyn de Ashbourne is a little girl when she first meets "Black Thorne," a supposed outlaw who is fighting for the good and for the freedom of England. She helps to set him.

Years later, Emlyn has to defend her castle because her parents are dead and her brother is arrested. She meets her secret love again, without knowing.

Emlyn is left to look after her little brothers and sisters. One day a great company of riders come to her castle. King John has decided that Emlyn has to marry the Earl of Whitehawke and her brothers and sisters are to come under the care of Earl of Whitehawke's son, Nicholas, Baron of Hawkwood.

Fortunately she is rescued before she has to marry the old Earl by the mysterious "Green Man." She stays with him in the woods and finds out that he is "Black Thorne." After he was wounded he starts a normal life. But the people in the valley need his help again so he invented the "Green Man".

Emlyn agrees to marry Thorne because a marriage can protect her from the Earl of Whitehawkes anger. She does not know that her mysterious Thorne is in real Nicholas, the Baron. Because Nicholas has to go to London to support the rebellious barons, Emlyn dress up like a nun and go to Hawksmoor (Nicholas's home) to take care of her brothers and sisters. After Nicholas returns, soon both discover the others disguise.

Can Emlyn accept that Nicholas had lied to her and how will Nicholas's father react when he finds out what his son has done, married his bride?

It was a long-winded story but still had many interesting passages in it. I think this book would be interesting for medieval fans but it was not my cup of tea.