The Crusader: A Time-Travel Romance (Crusader series Book 1)

Loved everything about this book...One of the best she has ever written in my opinion

I purchased this as part of a 4 book bundle the author offered called LOVE NEVER DIES - A Time Travel Collection.Such a departure for this amazing author, this being a time travel story. I am not a fan of time travel stories, because I am usually unhappy with the outcome. Because one of them is like a duck out of water being in a different time period. Some of the H's adjustments were funny, but thought he would question more of modern technology.It is a unique time travel story. I've had the next in the series on my Amazon Wish List forever because I knew The Crusader and Kingdom Come were connected but sold separately. It was like Christmas finding the them both in this bundle. Even though I've read the others in this bundle, just having these two was like getting a Christmas gift wrapped in a pretty bow.The Lord's name is used several times and I didn't care for Bud always calling the h honey. For him to call her that over and over didn't ring true and she never corrected him.There is mild lovemaking, outside of marriage, that just felt right - filled with love and passion. Heat level 2.5 out of 5.KLV writes so vividly with her descriptions of the dessert and the dig that I could feel the heat and sweat. This story has it all, with betrayal, romance, twists, suspense, intrigue and as I've said a very unique story line.I felt a connection to the H/h from their first contact. Oh, how my heart ached for Bud too but the epilogue brought a huge smile on my face for our dear Bud. I can't wait to read Kingdom Come and see how history was changed. I will say, the Epilogue is one of the best I've read. If you are reading only The Crusader, you may feel like it ends in a cliffhanger, it really doesn't. It's just such a clever way to end a story.We have no cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA but was a very bumpy road to reach it, romance and a tad of spice. (ljb)

What an astounding and exceptional story from Ms. Kathryn Le Veque! This is my first time travel romance novel and she sure does not disappoint me! I was instantly captivated and pulled in by not only the story but by our hero Kieran. Our hero Sir Kieran Hage is a marvelous knight and man who is just fantastic not only does he deal with modern times so effortlessly but courageously it is so easy to fall under his spell and just love his character! Our heroine Dr. Rory "Libby" Osgrove annoyed me at first. I didn't like how she was leading on her friend and colleague Bud playing with his emotions I know she at times couldn't really help it but she really had the power to stop it. Plus how she treated Kieran at times but eventually as the story progressed I did warm up to her.The story starts off with Kieran who is mortally wounded is about to die in Nahariya Israel 1192. So he goes to a healer/alchemist who agrees to heal him giving him a potion to revive him in order for him to be healed though the alchemist tells him "a kiss given to him by the one who loves him best" in order to awaken Kieran from his slumber. In present day Nahariya Israel Dr. Rory "Libby" Osgrove our heroine is a biblical archeologist on her first official biblical dig. She is with two associates of hers Dr. Bud Dietrich and Dr. David Peck from the University of California San Marcos looking for the elusive Christ crown of thorns. For fourteen days they are unable to find the crown but just as they are going to be pulled off the site and Rory is considered a failure she happens upon a grave our hero Kieran Hage instead. She is instantly enthralled with the handsome knight who is surprisingly intact but also looks as if he is merely sleeping instead of dead. Rory is immediately drawn to him. As she reads more and more of Kieran's journal which is also buried with him she becomes smitten and attached to the knight eventually falling for him. In fact it was hard for me not to fall for Kieran too! The story just pulled me in and was such a page turner it was really hard to put down! There was so much to the story action, adventure, magic in a kiss, an evil villain in either Kieran or Rory's time and a love that surpasses even time itself!I usually don't like cliff hanger endings but I purchased the next book way beforehand so I will know what happens in the end. Even though it took me a long time to like Rory/Libby I could care less because Kieran more than made up for the story. That's why I rated the book 4 stars. I definitely wouldn't mind being pulled back in time just to meet Kieran though. I know kingdom come the next in the series is going to be as exceptional as this novel! This is a definite keeper despite my rating because I know I will read it again. I will happily read another book by Ms. Le Veque well after I finish reading kingdom come of course!

I read this first years ago & have happily read it again. I can't disagree with the less positive reviews BUT it shouldn't deter anyone from reading other books by this author! She writes the most fabulous medieval romances that entirely wrap you in a world so different to ours today.I'm using this book, as I did years ago, as a way of stepping back in time. To once again fall in love with the dynasties she's fitted into our rich history. That this book isn't the most polished is a shame...but please do read her other work before making judgement. The modern world changes so fast so even this is not wholly familiar as the world we live in, without the leaps of faith required for the story to work. A London nurse calling rugby players football players is simply ridiculous...so laugh to yourself & move on! For myself, the next book naturally lead me to the rest of Sir Kieran's family and from there the choices were endless. Every book a new adventure; a new slice of medieval history with all the highs & lies it contains. You are transported, as another reviewer states. It simply doesn't work so well here...get I'm very glad for this story as it prepares you for your journey back in time. As I say, ignore the small issues & don't let them stop you from embracing the world of Kathryn Is Veque!

This was such a good concept and the first chapter was very promising for a story full of mystery, adventure and action. However, it turned out that first chapter was the only really interesting part of the book. After that, the story just droned on and on and on. So full of unnecessary boring detail that I'm half surprised the author didn't include every time the characters went to the bathroom! I found myself skipping through and by the middle I was actually skipping whole chapters. The ending was equally dull and generic, but by that point I really didn't care about any of the self absorbed, emotionally stunted, characters at all. I wish amazon had an option to never show me this author again!

I enjoyed the story for what it is. I prefer the authors more historical battle stories but this was a really good read once I got into it. I'm about read the to sequel Kingdom Come. Which I'm sure I shall enjoy equally. Thank you though for the diversity this book gave from usual novels by this author.

The Crusader is a very clever tale of time travel and unlimited boundaries. In this first book, Part two being Kingdom Come, we meet modern day archaelogist Dr. Rory Osgrove - beautiful, driven, independent and intelligent and the handsome, powerfully built, chivalrous Medieval Knight Sir Kieren Hage. The book tells the tale of love and heartbreak, lost and found, triumph over evil and betrayal and magic through the centuries. Kathryn cleverly sets this adventure on a roller coaster ride from the beginning with twists and turns at every chapter, danger, romance and love. It is filled with humour, but it is also the sub background plot, which is extremely good as well including Dr. Bud Dietrich and Dr. David Peck, Kaleef, Yusef and others. I found the epilogue extremely moving and cannot wait to read the second book when we step back in time.

Despite the horrendous cover, and a few transcription anomalies within the digital copy - I really enjoyed this quest to find the holy relic.The burgeoning attachment between Rory and Sir Kieran is delightfully handled, and as the book is largely set in modern times, it adds a new twist to the conventional time slip novel.There are times when you have to suspend belief - but then isn't that what story telling is all about - a means to take you out of the here and now, and take you to places you have never been before.This is a light and easy romantic adventure, with likeable characters and an interesting plot - it works for me every time.***I have edited this review to congratulate the author on revising her choice of cover for The Crusader. I think the new cover is much more attractive, and is a better representation of the book's content***