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Madelon
Love for such a man could lead only to disaster!
Beauty and innocence were rare qualities in a woman in the turbulent times of eleventh-century Spain, but Madelon del Rivas y Montevides possessed both.
Although desired by many men, she had fallen in love with the dashing Valentin Maratin, the man who had saved her from being sold into slavery but who was a mortal enemy of her beloved brother.
Loyalty to her family struggled in her heart with passion, but there was room for only one.
And soon she found herself plunged into a world of lies, intrigue...and murder.
Beauty and innocence were rare qualities in a woman in the turbulent times of eleventh-century Spain, but Madelon del Rivas y Montevides possessed both.
Although desired by many men, she had fallen in love with the dashing Valentin Maratin, the man who had saved her from being sold into slavery but who was a mortal enemy of her beloved brother.
Loyalty to her family struggled in her heart with passion, but there was room for only one.
And soon she found herself plunged into a world of lies, intrigue...and murder.
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
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55 people want to read
About the author
Valentina Luellen
35 books7 followersPseudonym for Judith Hagar. AKA Judith Polley and Helen Kent.
Valentina Luellen is one of the pen names of Judith Hagar. She published 33 historical romances for Mills & Boon, with many of the tiles featured in the Masquerade series.
Valentina Luellen is one of the pen names of Judith Hagar. She published 33 historical romances for Mills & Boon, with many of the tiles featured in the Masquerade series.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 16, 2025
Read: 7/16/25
Setting: 11th Century Spain
Trope: enemies to lovers
Madelon is finally free from the convent she was exiled to and is on her way to court with her brother. They are attacked by Moor raiders but are later bought/rescued by another Spainard. Valenton is her brother's enemy but is honorable enough to help.
These two can't help the unreasonable anger that arouses every time they are together. That changes once they open their eyes to each other. Unfortunately, their families are enemies, and nothing can come of it. Later, at court, Madelon's brother is influenced by their scheming cousin. She will use Madelon for her own desires, including marrying her to a cruel man. How will this couple survive a severed kingdom and the schemers who will keep them apart?
-Exciting? It should have been, but I wasn't invested that much.
Conclusion: This book was okay. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. It was forgettable, which is a shame. I had high hopes with such a. interesting setting.:(
Setting: 11th Century Spain
Trope: enemies to lovers
Madelon is finally free from the convent she was exiled to and is on her way to court with her brother. They are attacked by Moor raiders but are later bought/rescued by another Spainard. Valenton is her brother's enemy but is honorable enough to help.
These two can't help the unreasonable anger that arouses every time they are together. That changes once they open their eyes to each other. Unfortunately, their families are enemies, and nothing can come of it. Later, at court, Madelon's brother is influenced by their scheming cousin. She will use Madelon for her own desires, including marrying her to a cruel man. How will this couple survive a severed kingdom and the schemers who will keep them apart?
-Exciting? It should have been, but I wasn't invested that much.
Conclusion: This book was okay. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. It was forgettable, which is a shame. I had high hopes with such a. interesting setting.:(
October 24, 2025
3.5* 1978 Another well written historical romance set in medieval Spain at the time of the Moors in the 11th century. Originally published 1970. I loved this novel and read it several times over.
January 19, 2009
Brilliant love story rich in historical detail at the time of Spain and El Cid and the warring factions of the monarchy.
December 9, 2025
This is the 8th book I've read by Valentina and although I liked it, it was probably my least favourite of them, I kind of want to give it a 3.5. There was just several things about it I didn't like, the fact that there was tons of Islam in it I did not like, and the book was strangely sympathetic to Islam and moors with their harems....um ok you're not ever going to get me to accept, sympathise or like a man with a harem of wives lol. Despite the fact the book was set in a Christian country during a time of Islam invasion there is Islam sympathies in it and not Christian which is very weird. I was also annoyed when Madelon got her fortune told and it's implied it will come true and it said something like two men will possess her but she'll give her heart to only one......this worried me that she was going to be with another man in the book so it took my enjoyment out of it at that part and since she wasn't with another man, I'm still trying to figure out what that meant. The other thing I disliked, to the very end Madelon choose her brother over Valentin......not exactly the stuff romance is made of, she should be picking him, especially given her brother did not even deserve it for most of the time. If it wasn't for the fact that Valentin's love confession in the hay melted some of my annoyance I might have given it a 3 stars.
It had a lot of the usual stuff that I like in Valentina's books but it also had a few things different that I did not like, I'll leave it at that. It's still worth a read and likeable but not her best.
It had a lot of the usual stuff that I like in Valentina's books but it also had a few things different that I did not like, I'll leave it at that. It's still worth a read and likeable but not her best.
November 23, 2023
this book was alright. there where some parts i liked other parts i found boring. but in the end i did enjoy it. very good set in a time period i have never read before. very intesting
June 13, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book. I love the main characters and how the story developed.
November 16, 2009
passionate romance
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews