Wrangles over the crown between the house of Lancaster and the house of York had quickly steered things to spiral out of control on the Isle of Jersey. King Edward of York - who had ousted King Henry of Lancaster from the throne - had appointed Lord Warwick as the Lord of the Isle of Jersey. However, the castle of Mont Orgueil is breached and invaded by a French Lord and his garrison. He claims to have been installed as Lord of the Isle of Jersey by King Henry. While the seigneurs of the isle of Jersey had declared their allegiance to King Edward, the French Lord forces them to declare their allegiance to him. The French garrison causes untold suffering as they raise taxes, pilfer the coffers, grab from the peasants, imprison any opposition, and rule unjustly. Sir Philippe de Carteret, the Seigneur of St. Ouen’s Manor, seeks help from King Edward but receives no reply. What fate awaits the people of the Isle of Jersey or the crown of England? Will the seigneurs be able to claim back control of the Isle from the French? Get yourself C .V. Lee’s Token of Betrayal: Roses and Rebels - Book 1 to discover how it all ends.

C. V. Lee’s compelling work is a must-read if you love historical novels laced with an unraveling tale of power, loyalty, love, honor, secrets, deceit, betrayal, agony, and disgrace. Lee narrates an intriguing plot, breathing life into the characters through vivid descriptions. The scenes are tremendously dramatic, capturing the mood and setting of this story. The horses, architecture, dressing, and food reflect the culture of the fifteenth century. The author kept me on edge with adventure, humor, and exciting drama, and I looked forward to Jehan’s scenes. I loved how Lee developed an amazing cast by boldly bringing out their qualities. This, coupled with the profound depth of emotion, made it easy for me to connect and empathize with the characters. This is a magnificent piece of work and an awesome first installment in the series. I am looking forward to the follow-up.

Sir Philippe de Carteret was the most powerful Seigneur of the Isle of Jersey, who had fought many battles during his life. He vowed to keep his son sheltered in a peaceful environment for as long as possible. Life had other plans when their French enemies breached the Mont Orgueil Castle. Someone had betrayed the city. The French invaders forced Philippe de Carteret to swear allegiance, which he did to protect his family. However, his steadfast loyalty remained with England while hoping that King Edward would intervene and defeat the French soldiers. Instead, the new rulers subjected the people of Jersey to hardship, and de Carteret had to make his move. With traps and French spies everywhere, how much would he be willing to risk? Find out in Token of Betrayal: Roses and Rebels - Book 1 by C. V. Lee.

Token of Betrayal by C. V. Lee is a fifteenth-century story of survival, betrayal, deception, compromise, loyalty, patience, sacrifice, and a father’s love. This gripping tale blended fact and fiction and introduced depth to an otherwise forgotten historical event. I loved the suspense and dynamic writing style. The novel was also thought-provoking as I wondered what more would de Carteret sacrifice for his son. He gave up everything, including his chance of blissful matrimony, for the sake of little Phillipe. The act made me detest Penna even more because I couldn’t understand her saintly conduct when she was the opposite. I loved de Carteret, Thomasse, and little Phillipe because they were wise and had big hearts. I couldn’t stand Clement and never encountered a bigger airhead than Catherine. My profound respects go to Magnar, Lydia, and Puddles. We must never forget them. Thank you for a worthwhile read.