"Lion's Bride", "After The Night"，"Anyone But You"

[fiefoe]

Iris Johansen

少有的中东圣战背景，对基督的神性可能雌雄同位的异教论比《达芬奇密码》 早了好几年。男主haunted & hunted ex Knight Templar 武道士，女主Thea 是出逃的绣奴，从男二Kandar 离开救她妹妹前让女主照顾男主之后关系解冻，两人合力移植喂蚕的桑树。Thea 全程高能高调，比穿越女还追求自主权，男主却挖空心思关她禁闭以求保护她，为本书矛盾中心。Kandar 是巧舌如簧的relapsed 杀手，和Thea 妹妹互动不错，最后去Old Man of the Mountain 那段很抢戏，但好像续集没那么好看。

• Everyone knew that many knights who had supposedly come on the great Crusades to fight a holy war had stayed to plunder and win vast properties for themselves.
• “But I understand they do grow in this land. I spoke to a trader, and he said they’ve spread from China to here. In Constantinople we have the black mulberry, but here they have white, which is even better.”
• “I only asked him to fetch me some mulberry leaves, and you act as if I’d asked him to conquer a town.” Kadar smiled. “He would have taken an army if you’d asked him to conquer a town. He could not, in honor, take one to conquer a mulberry tree. He says he has no honor, but you can see that is not true.”
• “To my horror I discovered both were right…and wrong about most things. How can you hate when there is no truth that cannot be challenged?” He held out the bird to her.
• “Life is always a battle. You can’t stop it; you can only choose the battleground,” he said.
• “Not miracles. I just do splendid work.” The muscles of his neck were loosening, so she lessened the pressure. “And one should not be modest about one’s work. Someone might believe you less than you are.”
• “It does.” He was silent a moment. “How did your mother work with your hands?” “Like this. Every evening she pulled and stretched and kneaded. We were given a rest from the embroidery loom every four hours, and she made me open and close them over and over.”
• gruffly, “Go with God.” “Of course. God will not have it any other way. He has excellent taste in traveling companions.”
• “You try to be selfish because you’re afraid of letting anyone too near. To guard themselves is the way of people whose instinct is to nurture and protect.”
• “My mother told me of a council once held at Nantes where great nobles and churchmen gathered to decide whether women were human or beasts. I’m convinced the only reason they decided we were human was to avoid being put to death for the crime of bestiality.”
• He had not been bored. It was pain she had seen in his face. What had she said to hurt him? “I didn’t mean—” How could she tell the dratted man she was sorry for a hurt he would not admit existed? She would not waste her time.
• She became conscious of some emotion beneath Ware’s impassiveness. His gaze was narrowed as he watched the soldiers struggle clumsily on the branches. It was as if he were waiting for something. Another soldier crashed to earth. She heard a strangled sound from Ware. A minute later a fourth man sprawled on the ground. “They’re falling like overripe oranges,” Ware gasped.
• vanished. “Why do you always stare at me as if I were some odd breed of camel?” She was immediately on the defensive. “I don’t stare—” She stopped as she abruptly realized that antagonism was what he wanted of her. Why should she give him that satisfaction when she was feeling more mellow than combative? “In truth you do remind me of a camel. It is the eyelashes, I think.” He frowned. “Eyelashes?” “Camels have long eyelashes too.
• “I’ve come to play chess with you,” Thea announced belligerently. Ware frowned. “I don’t wish to play chess.” “Neither do I,” she said crossly. “It seems to me a foolish game with everyone stalking one another. But Kadar said you enjoyed playing, so I must play with you.” “It’s a very intelligent game.”
• “I’ll play chess with you, but I’ll not do these accounts.” He leaned back in his chair. “Perhaps you think they’ll be too hard for you? It’s true, a woman’s mind isn’t meant for—” “I’m not a fool and I won’t be played for one. I won’t do your work.” He sighed. “It was worth a try. Then go away and leave me to them.” She started to turn away and then stopped. How was she to bear him company if she was not with him? “I will look at them,”
• But she was not being fair either. He had saved her and was bringing Selene to her. If he had not bothered to replenish her supply of mulberry leaves, he wouldn’t have to venture now from the castle and seek out this madman who wanted to kill her. He was as much a victim of fate as she.
• She had told Kadar she was selfish, and she should have guarded that selfishness with all her strength. There was no use looking back in regret, she thought wearily. He had managed to creep under her guard, so she must stop fighting and accept it. She must find a place for him.
• “Yes.” He sat down and picked up a piece of meat. He scowled. “And I’m not contrary.”
• He glared at her suspiciously. “You’re very cheerful.” “Because I’m glad you’re back. I discovered something while you were gone.” She made a rueful face. “I find I have a liking for you.”
• His tone became fierce. “But I won’t let them take me without exacting my due. A man should leave a mark on the world, and I’ll carve mine deep.” She shivered. “With a sword? That’s not a mark, it’s a scar.
• uncomfortable. I may have to make a place for you in my life, but it will only be on the terms of friendship and respect I choose.” She moved toward the door.
• another glimpse of that younger Ware, and it had disconcerted her. “And evidently condemned myself to death. It’s not a result that would encourage a person to—” His smile had vanished and she felt a sudden sense of loss. She impulsively stepped forward and touched his arm. When he glanced down at her, she repeated his own words. “I jest. Have you no humor?” The smile came again, warm, almost sweet. She felt as triumphant as if she had created a magnificent tapestry in a single sitting.
• “Listen to me. I sound like Kadar. He’s always questioning even when there are no answers.”
• “You stand apart and watch and learn. Poor Selene. I think you have a great hunger for life. Sitting here stitching in this cocoon must drive you mad, so you close everyone out and you think and you watch.” How had he known that? He answered her unspoken question. “At your age I was a watcher too. I still am when the occasion warrants it.”
• She grimaced. “Though I know that you will not believe me. You seem to prefer being tied down by guilt. Well, I’ll not be one of the burdens tethered to you. I’ve no liking for chains of any sort.”
• Ware made a face. “In order to encourage chastity all Knights Templar are required to wear two sets of sheepskin drawers and never take them off.”
• “It’s my fault she’s in danger. She’s my responsibility.” “A responsibility that may cause you to be slaughtered like those poor souls at Jedha. Protecting Kemal’s borders isn’t going to be an easy task.” Kadar again glanced over his shoulder at the gates. “One wonders which one of you is the real prisoner.”
• “And Kemal was most distant also. I felt my glowing presence wasted on the two of you.”
• “That ‘infidel’ treated his captives with utmost honor when he captured Jerusalem four years ago. He could have followed the example of butchery set by the Crusaders during the Second Crusade, but he did not.”
• She moistened her lips. “The banner?” He shook his head. “Richard butchered twenty-seven hundred Muslim captives at Acre.”
• “Did I say anything else? All I’m saying is that the Goddess Asherah was worshipped in Canaan even though it was forbidden. God was known as Yahweh and the goddess Asherah was His wife. They called her the Lion Lady, and she sat on the lion throne and was known as the Goddess of Fertility.” She shook her head. “I will not believe it.” “It happened. The Canaanites would not give up their goddess. Finally, in an attempt to sweep her from the earth, the holy men destroyed every idol and religious relic pertaining to Asherah.”
• They desperately wanted to destroy the throne. But they couldn’t do it.” “Of course they could do it.” “Perhaps they were afraid to. For another reason. There was something in the tablet that confused and terrified them. Something that could have been taken in one of two ways.” “What are you talking about?” she whispered. “There was a phrasing…. There was some doubt that Asherah was a separate goddess.” She looked at him in bewilderment. “What?” “It appeared there was a possibility that Yahweh and Asherah were not man and wife…but one. One god…or goddess.”
• “You keep repeating the mistake of thinking that you’re the one who chooses the risks I take. It’s my right alone.”
• His expression clouded. “I should think. I should not let you—” “Hush.” She followed the command with a quick, hard kiss. “You see? Nothing but disturbance. We deserve this and I’ll not permit you to spoil it.” She pushed him back on the bed and rolled on top of him. “Though after El Sunan you must prove to me that you deserve me.”
• She shivered as she remembered how close that sword had fallen. “Was he really protecting you all these years?” “I think so.” He whispered, his gaze on Vaden, “God, I hope so.” “You risked too much for hope.” He finally turned to face her and smiled. “How can you say that? When it was you who taught me to hope again.”

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Linda Howard

The night in question: Girl's mother was guy's dad's mistress, and they disappeared together one night, leading to her family's eviction and breakup. Faith came back to find out about the past, Gray wouldn't let her because he wanted to protect his fragile mother and sister. But really it's about two strong-willed people who really really really have the hots for each other.

• Monica always seemed so helpless against the forceful personalities of everyone else in the family.
• Just hearing him again made her feel like the child she had been at fourteen, all shivery and agitated at his nearness. And always, always, was that ugly counterweight pulling her in the opposite direction, the stark memory of him saying, You’re trash.
• She had known exactly what she would be facing when she moved back to Prescott, otherwise she wouldn’t have bought the Cleburne place outright. She had taken steps to limit what moves he could make against her.
• True, the Court of Two Sisters was a popular restaurant, but New Orleans
• “I’m going to go,” he said. “All right.” He didn’t move. Then: “I don’t want to.” “Do it anyway.” He chuckled. “You’re a hard woman, Faith Devlin.” “Hardy.”
• Faith had pointed out that if she left, the harassment would stop, they’d never find who did it, and the guilty party would be pleased as punch that his tactics had worked. She wasn’t inclined to give him the satisfaction. Sheriff McFane had allowed that her logic was impeccable, and her bravery was commendable, but her common sense was a mite off. She could get hurt.
• “It’s kept padlocked. Have you added breaking and entering to your repertoire?” “I swam underneath the door and came up in the boat slip.”

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Jennifer Cruisie

女主40离异而且不要小孩，当年是颠覆性的设定啊。住楼下的男主30，ER医生却被全家人鄙视为不务正业，红娘是除了Oreo对什么都无精打采的收养狗Fred，助攻是男主哥哥/酒伴/妇科医生Max 和女主写自己风月回忆录的朋友。女主为自己不再perky的身体自卑，和男主一起看了几个月的老电影还是坐怀不乱，冲突拖得有点长，但最后1/4处终于为了赶跑前夫下了大招，payoff 很精彩。

• Max sipped his beer again. “This is your last day as a twenty-something, kid. How does it feel to be old?”... “My mother,” Alex said to the ceiling. “An hour with my mother.” “You’ve got an hour with my mother, too,” Max said after he’d taken another swig. “She wants to have a drink with you at four. She has surgery at one, so she figures she’ll be free by then.”
• “Could you baby-sit Fred for me while I go out and buy a leash and food? I’d take Fred, but he sticks his head out the car window, and the wind blows up his nose and makes him sneeze, and the dog snot flies back in the car.” Nina looked at Fred with love. “It’s pretty disgusting.”
• he was only ten years younger, which was not as ridiculous although still ridiculous, but now he was also shiftless and evidently not too bright. Turgid as a Russian novelist?
• Nina nodded and thought about strangling him. “And your family wants you to be what? A lawyer?” “God, no.” Alex looked horrified. “That’s my uncle Robert. We do not mention his name.” He grew thoughtful for a moment. “Although we do turn to him in times of malpractice suits.”
• They’re half-sibs. Dad got married three times. We’re all only children. It’s a real bond.”
• “The thing about Nina,” he told Max when he’d come back to earth, “is that when I’m with her, I forget everything but her, so I can’t pretend to be somebody else. The only person I can be with Nina is me.”
• she’d loved like Real Genius and Avanti and American Dreamer.
• “I mean, I’ve never seen one on an actual woman,” he explained. “In the flesh. It’s probably something I should experience. For my professional advancement.” He smiled at her encouragingly, and it took all of Nina’s self-control not to smile back and leap on him. He was a rat. He was waving her bra around in public. He was gorgeous and she wanted him.
• There she was, too close to that chest again, and now that her cheek was pressed against it, she knew it was as warm and solid as it looked. She lost her place in the program for a moment until Alex said pointedly, “Stop crying, honey.” Then she tried a sob, and he held her tighter.
• then to that girl, feeling stupid because all she’d ever seen him as was a good time and a body to fantasize about. She’d been as bad as Tricia. Norma was right; she’d been blind. She might be too old for Alex, but Alex was definitely not too young for her.
• Alex thought about Nina and the way she always looked over his shoulder when they watched movies. Sometimes he’d turn his head and her mouth would be so close, he’d almost go for it
• Nina ran to the door, threw it open and grabbed him before he could say anything else. “Alex! Darling!”
• Alex frowned down at him, his hand still driving Nina into mindlessness. “Think of this as cable TV,” she heard him tell Fred. “Not your mom and dad finally having great sex.”
• Charity finished. “You don’t believe in unconditional love. Neither does Alex. So you both threw away the best thing you ever had because you didn’t believe in each other or yourselves.”
• “Søren Kierkegaard,” Jessica told her. “A Danish philosopher. He said, ‘Life must be understood backward, but it must be lived forward.’”