Reviewed by Buffie Johnson
Publisher:  Pocket
Release Date:  May 26, 2009
Rating:  5 Stars

After years of watching her father battle depression over the loss of her mother, who died while giving birth to her, Princess Arian claims she will never love anyone as deeply as her father loved her mother, thus she will not have to suffer the loss and depression her father has for years. Arian is set to marry Jarl Magnus of Norway. While she is anxiously waiting to say her vows, it is revealed that Magnus has sent a proxy groom, his nephew Sir Dag, to the ceremony as Magnus is dealing with political strife in his region.  Arian is adamant to all involved that she will not recite her vows to any other man, only Magnus.  Being a strong, persuasive woman, Arian convinces everyone that she will travel with Sir Dag and a contingency of men to Yorkshire to greet her groom and say her vows to him.   During the journey to Yorkshire, a fall from her horse leaves Arian caked in mud.  She finds a secluded pond to wash the mud from her body. As she is finishing her bath, Sir Dag arrives alone with nothing but lecherous thoughts in his head and his heart. He roughly handles Arian, who can barely keep herself covered with a piece of cloth, and tries to take the one thing she can give to her soon-to-be husband – her virginity.  But Arian is no milksop gal, she fights back with all her might and gains freedom for a few desperate seconds.  As she runs into the surrounding forest, naked as the day her beloved mother brought her into this world, she never expected to run smack into the broad bare chest of a seasoned warrior.

Stefen de Valrey is the bastard son of the Comte d’Evenaux, heir to the de Lyon holdings, right arm of the Duke, and the richest man in the realm.  But Stefen’s family is not with the Comte d’Evenaux, instead his family rests in the brothers of survival – the Blood Sword brothers.  He is a scarred warrior who loves the sensation of battle.  Even so, Stefen is looking forward to day he can breed horses as he believes horses are more loyal to their master than women.  After losing the battle of Hereford, weary and injured Stefen finds himself alone in the forest, while his brothers have been taken hostage.   He awakens to a siren’s laughter and finds himself fascinated by the sight of a beautiful woman bathing in a clear pond.  Stefen’s enjoyment is short-lived when a scoundrel of a man tries to rape the young woman at hand.  The next thing Stefen knows he is holding a naked woman in his arms while a Viking is bent on attack.  Thrust into battle again, Stefen’s warrior mind immediately takes over, protecting the young woman while quickly dispatching the heathen to hell. When Stefen realizes the young woman at hand is Princess Arian, he kidnaps her for his own use – a bartering tool to gain his brothers’ freedom.  Every warrior should know to expect the unexpected, but somehow Stefen forgets this when it comes to a woman who is battling for his heart.

Here is just a glimpse of Stefen’s reaction to Arian.

“Aye, she was a most exotic bird amongst the simple sparrows of England.  As he dampened fresh linens in the bucket of cool water he brought in with him, Stephen could not help a smile.  If she knew how he looked upon her now, those silver eyes of her would turn molten in outrage.  He liked that part of her.  She was no ninny crying at the first sign of danger.  He wagered if properly trained she would be a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.”

And here is one of Arian’s impressions of Stefen.

“She looked up at him, and as physically close as they had been up to this day, she saw him for the first time.  A proud man with nothing but his horse and sword.  If it were not for the ragged scar that was barely healing along his face, he would be most handsome.  His tick blood-bay-colored hair hung just to his shoulders, and the way it softly waved away from his face gave him a predator look.  The shadow of a beard stubbled his jaw line.  His eyes were a brilliant lapis, his nose strong and defined, as were his stubborn chin and cheekbones.  She swallowed hard.  There was nothing soft about this man.

This book is intriguing, enchanting, and utterly enthralling.  I really can’t think of any other superlatives to describe just how much I enjoyed this book.  Karin Tabke does a wonderful job of not only capturing the essence of battle and political strategy in the time of King William, but she masters the slow, intricate building of tension between Arian and Stefen.  As a reader, you actually feel the craving (yes, the book was appropriately named!) of these two individuals wanting to be with one another but because of duty and loyalty they fight to restrain their emotions and desires. This particular scene will show you a tiny glimpse of their yearning.

“You evoke wanton thoughts from the very depths of me, Stefan.  I yearn for something with you I will never have with my husband.  But I will not shame my father, nor myself, nor Magnus.  I cannot give you what we both so desperately want.”

He moved closer, slowly, in long, sure strides.  “I asked you here, in private, to tell you not to show yourself to me again.  Do not come near me, Arian, until it is time to travel to Yorkshire, for I cannot promise you I will not take from you what we both so desperately want you to freely give me.”

Master of Craving is the third installment in the Blood Sword Legacy series.  While it could be read as a stand alone, I would highly recommend reading this series in order.  The back story of the Blood Sword brothers is essential to understanding the workings of the minds of these men.  Once you read the first one, you won’t want to stop.   If you love a story with a strong, strapping man losing himself in the love of a woman, than this one is just for you. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and Karin Tabke has left me craving for more!