Info
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 464
Published: January 1, 1989
Goodreads Rating: 4.20/5
My rating: 5/5
Plot Summary
Dougless Montgomery is abandoned by her boyfriend in an old English church after their romantic holiday took a turn for the worse. As she lays weeping upon an old tombstone, the most extrordinary man appears. He is Nicholas Stafford, Earl of Thornwyck, a sixteenth-century knight.
Dougless is drawn to the handsome Nicholas by a bond so sudden and compelling that it defies all reason.
Yet she could not know how strong were the chains that tied them to the past — or the grand adventure that lay before them…
Character Development
Dougless Montgomery is as unlucky as one can get. Coming from an overachieving family and with several failed relationships on her back, Dougless really struggles with her self-worth. When another romantic disaster happens, she loses her hope and cries on a tombstone that brings Nicholas from the 1560s to 1980s England. Through their shared adventure, Dougless matures as a person and becomes more self-confident, being finally able to set healthy boundaries with her family and those around her
Nicholas Stafford is a 16th century earl who unexpectedly time travels to the present day. Shocked at the vast changes between the England he knows and the one that he is transported to, he takes in every little thing in a curious and sometimes amusing way. Nicholas wants to find who framed him for treason, as he was awaiting his execution prior to appearing to the 20th century. Dougless is his partner in uncovering the truth and while on their journey he learns to be more open-minded and less critical.
Themes
One of the most important themes is the differences between life in the 16th century vs life in the 1980s. Through the interactions of Nicholas with the modern world we get a glimpse on how life was in the Elizabethan era and the changes 20th century brought to day-to-day activities and views on social and political matters.
Love is universal and it transcends time and space, as evidenced by the relationship between Nicholas and Dougless.
Heartbreak is another theme that is touched upon with Dougless being abandoned by her boyfriend ath the start of the novel and mentions of her past romances.
Last but not least, sef-worth is another concept that is reflected through the heroine’s journey from an insecure woman to a confident one that respects herself and is able to set clear boundaries.
My Thoughts
The Knight in Shining Armor is a classic time travel romance with a relatable heroine and a dashing 16th-century earl who makes hearts melt with his good looks and magnetic personality.
