John's Cluniac monastery in Lewes. Nestled in the baby's clothing is gold and ruby crucifix of tremendous value, which puzzles the prior. The boy is named Nicodemus (Nick), and is raised by highly educated monks. Unlike other monastic orders that believe in hard labor, the Cluniacs employ servants in order to dedicated more time to study. Groomed since boyhood to be a warrior monk, Nick is ready to fight for God in the Second Crusade. The only thing that stands in his way is pretty Gwen, the daughter of a kitchen maid who constantly haunts his thoughts and stirs forbidden desires. Nick and many other crusaders board a ship heading for Dartmouth, but a storm veers it off course and they arrive in Lisbon, instead. There he meets the wealthy and powerful Lord Richard Fitzwilliam of Kent, who eventually hands Nick the key to unlock the secrets of his true identity and allow him to take his rightful place in English society. Now he must choose between God and Gwen. From the feudal nobility of Medieval England to the exciting recapture of Lisbon from the Moors, and the bloody battlefields of the exotic East, Forbidden is a tale of Honor, Desire, Denial, Love, and Destiny, which can sometimes be cruel…

    I still don’t believe in God, and I never take Communion. But I like goingto church. My favourite service ischoral evensong", Follett writes. "Why do I go? The architecture, themusic, the words of the King JamesBible, and the sense of sharing somethingwith my neighbours all work together.What they create, for me, is afeeling of spiritual peace! Going tochurch soothes my soul."

    King Matthias controls Hungary, his family, and the fate of the world’s most notorious political prisoner, Prince Vlad Dracula. Ilona Szilágy, the king’s cousin, is young and ambitious. Dracula is determined to marry into the family. It is love at first sight, but the king has other plans. The Impaler Prince, however, never takes no for an answer. Eager to become his trusted confidant, Ilona enters a treacherous world where revenge, betrayal, ambition, and passion transcend all that is sacred. And love demands the ultimate sacrifice. Woven throughout is a peek into the life and times of one of the world’s most enigmatic and maligned rulers…the man before the legend. “an intimate look into the life of Dracula and the fierce devotion of his soul mate” –reader “A passionate and powerful historical novel with the rich and treacherous 1400’s as the backdrop. The infamous Vlad Dracula comes to life within the pages of this captivating story with alternating viewpoints between him and his wife, Ilona.” – Janice Boyles, author of the award-winning first book of the David saga “beautifully told, beautifully written. A heart-wrenching read that will stay with me.” – Jess, book blogger “The Impaler's Wife is a story that had me captivated from chapter one. The writing is excellent, and I loved the beautifully thought out, beautifully told and beautifully written story. It's a heart wrenching read that will stay with me. I simply can't get their tragic story out of my head. A story full of magic, sacrifices and love.” Konny, Goodreads reviewer “It’s not just about vengeance and a thirst for blood. It looks at relationships and trust and examines the lengths one is willing to go to for the one they love.” - Jess, Gwyneiira’s Book Blog