This is an Official Review by an Eye On Romance Official Reviewer
Review
for Legacy, The Author:
TJ Bennett
Date of Review: 07/08/08 Reviewed by:
Leah
Reviewer Comments: Baronesse Sabina von Ziegler has had a difficult life. She was falsely married and then discarded at the age of sixteen. Her stepfather hates her with a passion and sent her to a convent where she lived in fear. She escaped from the convent to return home and demand her inheritance when her stepfather locked her in the basement, beat and starved her until she agreed to his choice of husband. Now Sabina is married to a commoner, a man who runs a printing industry and one she cannot wait to leave.
Master Wolfgang Behaim has his own reasons for marrying Sabina. Her stepfather has a hold over him and is threatening to not only reveal the secret he wants to keep hidden, but also to foreclose on the family’s home and his late father’s printing shop. Wolf does what he feels he must in order to insure the safety and continued prosperity of his family. Despite not knowing Sabina, Wolf feels inexplicably drawn to her. His sense of protectiveness only increases when he realizes how miserably she has been treated by her stepfather. He wants to care for her, but the memory of the love he felt for his former wife stands in his way.
All of their drama and turmoil is set against the historical events of the Early Reformation when Dr. Martin Luther was making his feelings and thoughts about the Catholic Church known. This was a dangerous time for the people in Germany and many revolts by the peasants against the noblemen occurred. Sabina and Wolf must cope with the larger political issues at stake and their own beliefs.
Ms. Bennett has obviously researched her topic and makes the difficulties of the people in this era felt. She handles not only the troubles with in the church, but also the disgruntlement of the peasants well. They add a necessary historical context to the story. We realize that Sabina has no choice in her life and control of everything is held by the men in her life. Despite her societal limitations, Sabina has the strength to fight for things that she wants and needs. Ms. Bennett allows us a glimpse into the difficulties that women had during this time period.
Against this backdrop of political and religious upheaval, Ms. Bennett also weaves the touching story of two people thrown together by events beyond their control. Sabina and Wolf need to learn how to interact with each other, which secrets to share and which to keep and how to make a life together. It is not easy for either one of them. Sabina has never felt love and Wolf is afraid he will betray his first wife if he loves another. They must come to some type of compromise and the journey they take to get there is something.
I enjoyed this story. It moved quickly and the story flowed along nicely. Things were explained and Ms. Bennett even left some openings for further stories especially about Wolf’s brothers. Definitely worth a read.
