Leap Into The Knight Book Review

Title:  Leap Into The Knight
Series:  Romantic Knights Trilogy #1
Author:  M.J. Schiller
Genre:  Sci-Fi Romance
Release Date:  Nov. 1, 2014
Publisher:  Kissmet Publishing
My Rating:  3.5 Heroic ♥'s

My First Thoughts:  Sometimes the greatest battles ever fought are those brewing within one's self.

*Available at Amazon & other retailers

*Many thanks to the author for this review request.

Synopsis:

Sir Darius Lee is a Knight of the High Order.

But when Darius discovers a stranger in his room in the middle of the night, and the intruder turns out to be a beautiful woman, he begins to question how he is meant to live his life.

Princess Megan of Bethyea is being held captive.

But when two knights help her to escape and bring her back to her home planet, she finds the home she knew no longer exists.

When The Council of Twelve questions Darius about his relationship with Maggie, she tries to flee from The Academy of the High Order to prevent him from losing his knighthood.

Will Darius and Orion find Maggie before she leaves Albion? And if they do, how can they face the decision of The Council? And what about the feelings Orion has developed for the princess?

My Review:

Heroic knights yielding swords, a beautiful damsel/princess in distress over a forced marriage, two friends infatuated by the same woman . . . sounds like a historic fairy tale, right?  Wrong.  Instead of charging in on a big white horse, this magnificent knight wields a laser sword and swoops in for the rescue in his spaceship!   Sir Darius Lee, a knight with The Academy of The High Order, and his novice Orion Quinn are on a mission to investigate the abduction of Princess Megan "Maggie" of Bethyea.  A chance meeting in the middle of the night leads to a chase and a capture that sets the stage for a rocky road and relationship between Darius and Maggie. 

Sir Darius is a heroic knight - brave, protective, gorgeous, and unavailable -  having pledged his allegiance to the High Order, he is fully committed to their rules and regulations.  Darius is sworn to a single loyalty, The High Order, and as such may have no personal relationships as they make a knight vulnerable to his enemies.  But his attraction with the princess is immediate, intense, and undeniable.  Thus, even as Darius battles for their freedom and lives, he also fights his desire to claim Maggie as his own.  There are severe consequences for breaking the rules of The Order.  Darius must decide if Maggie is worth giving up everything.

Princess Megan was taken from her home planet when her parents and siblings were killed in a takeover.  The evil Justin Filithy is determined to make her his bride.  While Maggie may play the part of a damsel in distress, you won't find this girl swooning and fainting at the first sign of trouble.  She is a spunky, gritty woman with some serious moves of her own.  When she joins forces with Darius and Orion, they become a force to be reckoned with.

The novice Orion is the wild card in this game.  He is completely dedicated to Sir Darius and battles willingly by his side.  However, Orion is entranced by Princess Megan and battles a dose of the green-eyed monster while witnessing the personal relationship growing between Darius & Maggie.  Orion is suddenly faced with divided loyalties and a big decision about what's the right or wrong thing to do.  Does he uphold the rules of The Order by reporting what he knows or turn his head the other way honoring the loyalty of friendship?  Will a woman be the weapon that finally breaks a friendship that has withstood the test of time?

Leap Into The Knight is an action packed story that delves into affairs of the heart, steps into a political arena, and manipulates the age old battle of right vs. wrong.  While I enjoyed the fast pace of the story, I felt like the characters needed a little more depth, a little more developing to reach their full potential and fully earn my empathy.  I found myself standing outside looking in rather than fully immersed in their adventure.  Having said that, I was intrigued by the plot line and applaud the author's skill in developing it as well as creating this unique world.  While this book doesn't end on a cliffhanger, the stage is certainly set for the next book.  I look forward to more from this talented author. One more note - I LOVE the cover!  Mysterious, intriguing, beautiful!  Love it! 

My Rating:  3.5 Heroic ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . .xxx
Sandra