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With her hand in marriage and the security of her beloved Haverleigh at stake, Lady Gwyneth is desperate. So when she comes upon a young man who might be the solution to her predicament, she does not hesitate to act, though it means entering into a dangerous deceit and inviting a thief into her castle.
The Thief
All Gavin has known is a life of lawless poverty. Left for dead and taken in by a very young, very determined lady, he has little choice but to entertain her request. Posing as a squire, he begins to train the farmers and craftsmen of Haverleigh in the art of combat. In doing so, Gavin begins to know a far different life — and to crave all it has to offer.
As Haverleigh is secured through their labor and collusion, sparks fly between Gwyneth and her thief. In a moment of rash indiscretion, a kiss nearly undoes them both. Love between a lady and a thief is unthinkable...unless the truth can remain hidden.
England, 1202
Lady Gwyneth of Haverleigh, fifteen and weary, breathed deeply as she tilted her head and looked up at the sky. Weak wintry morning sunlight shone through the barren branches of the wood. To her right ran the river, swollen with melting snow. To her left a steep slope rose, shielding her from the north wind. Despite that, she shivered and wrapped her cloak more tightly about her before she sat upon a fallen log.
Her dog trotted up to stand beside her, and she reached out to pat his massive dark brown head.
“We'll go back soon, Rufus,” she promised. “Just a little while longer.”
In truth, she could not and should not linger long here, because she was alone save for her hound, but she needed the peace and quiet, if only for a brief time. It was difficult having everyone in Haverleigh look to her for guidance, as they had since her father had fallen seriously ill. Her mother had died when she was less than two years old, and her elder brother had passed away of a fever five years ago, which meant she was in temporary charge of the estate, although she was only a girl.
Indeed, a year ago, she would not even have been permitted to walk out of her father's castle without an escort. That was when they could still afford to keep a garrison, and before a bad harvest and the cost of equipping her late brother as a knight had depleted their funds. They had used all that remained of their money to pay King John's taxes. When the soldiers of the garrison realized her father could not pay their wages, they had departed.
Her father had never paid much heed to money, as long as Haverleigh provided enough topay the taxes and allow them to live in some ease. Unlike many a noble, including their neighbor, Baron DeVilliers, the earl of Haverleigh had no lofty, grasping ambitions.
Unfortunately, her father had not foreseen how an illness, a bad harvest, and an increase to their taxes might one day put his family, his estate, and their village in jeopardy. Baron DeVilliers, whose personal greed knew no bounds, had seen an opportunity. Shortly after Gwyneth's father had become sick, the baron had arrived at Haverleigh to offer her both his protection and marriage.
She would rather marry the meanest pauper in London than marry Baron DeVilliers. As for his “protection,” he would use that as an excuse to gain control of her family's estate, though her father yet lived.
So now her days were filled with trying to run the estate, and preventing DeVilliers from swooping down like a hawk to snatch it from her.
How she wished her father was better, her brother alive, and her mother, too! Then she would not have this great burden pressing on her day after day, hour after hour. Even now it was tempting to keep on walking through the forest and away from the responsibilities that awaited her back in Haverleigh.
But she could not and would not abandon her father or the people who lived on their estate. She was the earl of Haverleigh's daughter, and she would not shirk her duty. To do otherwise would be dishonorable and disgraceful.
With a low growl, Rufus stiffened and raised his head -- a warning that someone was coming.
Gwyneth jumped to her feet, straining to see through the trees, her ears alert for any unusual noise. The unexpected sound of male voices drifted toward her like spirits on the wind.
Who could it be? This was her father's land, and nobody lived near here.
Maybe it was outlaws or poachers. If they were thieves, her fine cloak would be reason enough to attack her.
Her fear building, she tried to whistle for Rufus, but her throat and lips were dry with dread.
“Rufus, come!” she croaked as she began to clamber up the muddy, slippery slope. She grabbed on to roots and rocks, and paid no heed to the mud clinging to her clothes.
Rufus thought this some kind of game. His tail wagged, his eyes gleamed, and he yipped like a puppy as he gleefully followed her.
Once at the top, she threw herself down in the mud behind a fallen tree. Rufus flopped beside her, his tail still wagging, but at least he was mercifully silent.
Peering through the space between the log and the ground, barely breathing, she watched four rough-looking men approach on the path below her. All wore brown tunics, dark woolen breeches, and thick leather boots. Each carried a sword in a scabbard dangling from a belt at his waist. All but the last had another knife stuck through his belt.
The man in front, who looked to be the leader of the small band, was very tall and lean. A long, thin scar curved from the outer edge of his brow to his chin. The two men behind him were heavier, and she could hardly see their faces for the dirt and their long, straggling dark hair. They both carried large leather pouches.
The fourth man brought up the rear. He was more slender than the others and wore no linen shirt beneath his leather tunic, so his muscular arms were bare despite the winter chill.
These men had to be thieves or poachers and were surely very dangerous.
Wishing she had never left the castle, Gwyneth tried to flatten herself even more against the ground.
“We'll rest here,” the tall man announced in a harsh, stern voice as he came to a halt where she had been moments ago. He sat down on the fallen log and waited until the others had stopped. “'Ere, give us that pack, Drogo,” he said to the biggest of the filthy men. “Time to split the takings.”
An Avon True Romance: Gwyneth and the Thief. Copyright © by Margaret Moore. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.Anonymous
Posted February 19, 2006
Okay, this by far is the BEST Avon True Romance (I'm TRYING to collect them all, but they're getting really hard to find. I waited two whole YEARS for this one). Gwyneth and Gavin's chemistry just jumps off the page. Got to love their quarrels--some of the best parts of the book are their exchanges of dialogue. Love it, love it, LOVE IT!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 4, 2003
I loved this book.I read it in one day it was amazing although I wish the book had kept going.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 13, 2002
I LOVED THIS BOOK AND NEXT TO ANNA AND THE DUKE IT IS MY FAVORITE ONE THAT I HAVE READ SO FAR. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEW AVON TRUE ROMANCES TO COME OUT. I ONLY WISH THAT THIS ONE COULD SOMEHOW HAVE A SEQUEL SO THAT WE NEW WHAT HAPPENED TO GAVIN AND GWYNETH. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK BECAUSE GWYNETH GOES FROM HATING GAVIN TO LOVING HIM PRACTICALLY IN THE SAME DAY. MY FAVORITE PART IS WHEN THEY GO BOAR HUNTING. I LOVED THIS BOOK AND COUDN'T PUT IT DOWN!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 1, 2002
Gwyneth is just fifteen years old, but with her mother and brother dead, and her father ill, the responsibility of running her family's estate, Haverleigh, has fallen to her. Baron DeVilliers, who owns the neighboring estate, has made no secret of his wish to marry Gwyneth so that Haverleigh can be his. Gwyneth would do almost anything to avoid marrying such a despicable man. When she finds an unconscious thief in the woods, she decides that he is the answer to her problems. Gavin is not much older than her, but has lived his whole life in poverty. Gwyneth blackmails him into posing as a squire and training the men of Haverleigh to fight. Gavin reluctantly gives in to her plan. Neither Gwyneth nor Gavin expects the feelings that begin to grow between them, however. I highly recommend this Medieval romance to teenagers, and to anyone who enjoys a sweet love story.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 31, 2011
I loved this book so much I named my son Gavin!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Gwyneth and the Thief has a pretty good storyline and interesting characters. But it seems to be lacking-especially when you compare it to the other books in the Avon True Romance series. <BR/>Gwyneth and Gavin have their attraction bloom overnight, it seems. The historical accuracy may be pretty good but it can be hard to believe that the two main characters actually end up together (as you know they will) when the author really didn't add much to their romance. <BR/>It was an enjoyable read, though. I would suggest this book to teen girls just coming into the romance genre. All in all, this was a good book. It could have been better but it is still a worthy read.
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Posted May 31, 2007
This is really a wonderful book with plenty of plot and rich characters. Lady Gwyneth of Haverleigh is in quite the predicatment--with her father sick and her older brother dead, she is the one in charge of her father's manor. But she doesn't know quite what to do, with a shortage of money and food. She either has to find a way to train her peasants so that they can defend themselves, or marry a rather 'shady' Baron in ownership of the neighboring manor. Enter a Thief with skills in weaponry, and you get a really interesting situation. Gwyneth can't deny her uprising feeligns for Gaven, and Gaven can't deny that Gwyneth shows him so much more than he has never known, but in thier world, a Lady and Thief just cannot be. This is really a very good book and I reccomend it to anyone who likes historic romance novels.
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Posted January 13, 2007
If you have a young teenage girl who you'd like to introduce to Romance novels but nothing suggestive then this is a great series. I first read these when I was 15 and I've hoped that they'd continue to write them. This is a great group of skillful writers writing a young teen romance novel without the 'popularity' contests in most contemp. teen novels today.
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Posted April 20, 2005
I absolutely LOVED this book!!! I own and have read all the Avon True Romance Series and I would definetly have to say that this was the best one. I definetly recommend this book to anybody who is a sucker for reluctant romance.
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Posted December 20, 2004
This was the only of the Avon True Romances I read, but it must be the best!! I re-read it 5 times. Excellent book, a must read :)I love how they are both denying their love for each other, but in the end, they cannot help but show it and... well i'll just let u read it :)
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Posted August 31, 2004
I love this book. I recomend it to many people of all ages. I am so glad to find a book that it a good love story but clean cut. I am a fan of love stories and this is one of the books on the top of my list. You start the book and you can not put it down. You will want to read it over and over. This is not a book you borrow from the library this is a book you buy. I would love to read more of the authors books. I just hope they are as good as this one.
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Posted July 2, 2004
This book was great! I never liked romances before, but this one and all the rest of the Avon True Romance books I like! It's great!
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Posted April 26, 2004
I'm a huge fan of teen romance books. So when I looked online for more Avon True Romance books, when I saw this book I quickly got it. I loved it. I reread it twice and I still love it. The writer of this book has done so well with this book. The history, the chemisty, the hatred seems so real. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
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Posted April 30, 2003
I love this book! its an absolute must read! ITs totally my favorite!
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Posted March 22, 2003
This book was great. I just wanna ask everybody if they think my 9 year old sis can read it, she's seen lots of the mushy stuff on tv so she wouldn't be disgusted or anything. Or is it really just for 12 and up?
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Posted January 12, 2003
Gwyneth is a head-strong girl who is willing to do anything to save Haverleigh, so when a young theif comes along who could play the part of a squire Gwybeth jumps at the chance. Gavin, the theif doesn't think this plan will work until Gwybeth does some convincing so the scheme starts. But then sparks fly between Gavin and Gwyneth. A kiss happens that brings them closer than before but will they be able to stay together...? You will have to read this book to find out.
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Posted December 26, 2002
What a story. The stories that have to do with forbiddin love are my favorite and this was definitley one; because Gwyneth was at the acme of her land and Gavin was a theif, the lowest of the low, how they got together I won't give away because I think that is half the fun of reading the book. But just trust me if you want to read a good story read this one, it was great.
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Posted January 21, 2003
Ahh! This book is incredible! My first Avon romance but certainly not my last! You know that odd, squirmy feeling in a tense moment of a book?? I experienced that over and over. You will love it. NO doubt.
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Posted December 7, 2002
This book was too good for words. I loved everything about it.
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Posted August 15, 2002
When I picked up this book I thought it was just another romance novel for adults until I read the backing. When I read it, I just couldn't put it down! Margeret Moore is very skilled in her writing of this book. I loved the constant arguing between Gywneth and Gavin especially when they had a romantic twist.
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Overview
With her hand in marriage and the security of her beloved Haverleigh at stake, Lady Gwyneth is desperate. So when she comes upon a young man who might be the solution to her predicament, she does not hesitate to act, though it means entering into a dangerous deceit and inviting a thief into her castle.
The Thief
All Gavin has known is a life of lawless poverty. Left for dead and taken in by a very ...