The Earl and the Lily (Fogotten Flowers of Flanders, Book3)

Lady Lijsbet Lambert accepts the position of manuscript illuminator in Duke Phillip of Burgundy's court, her natural father. After years as the mistress to a famous painter, Lady Lijsbet is determined to forge a new path. She is unsettled when a new overseer arrives. Davion Price, Earl of Pembroke, intends to supervise the restoration and cataloging of the Duke's precious manuscripts and artworks. He's surprised to find a female illuminator at work. Mostly, he's disturbed by his attraction to her for he is much too delicate to consider a relationship. A trip to Antwerp offers him the chance to resolve his ailment and to deepen his relationship with "Lily". Can these two souls damaged by their past find a way to build a future?

Steeped in history and rich with detail, "The Earl and the Lily" is a canvas layered with emotional depth and the power of love! Lady Lijsbet is an unusual medieval protagonist. She's older at twenty-eight and has a "sinful" past. Only Lijsbet places importance on her past and illegitimacy as even the duchess fully supports her, which given the era needed more explanation. The court seemed remarkably free from the political tension one would expect. Davion is young, not even twenty-one. The imbalance in age and sexual experience, combined with his phobia, make it difficult to view him as hero material for most of the story. His flaws, though, make him more compelling. The historical detail fascinates throughout from "beguines" to "glass delusions." Like the master artisans in "The Earl and the Lily," Everley Gregg wields her writer's brush to paint a tale that captivates with every skillful stroke!

Tricia Hill