November 26th, 2009 — 5 Stars, Book Review, Children, Cinderella, Great Britain, Historical Romance, M-O, Scarred Hero
Let’s start this blog with my all time favorite romance novel, Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros. The surprising aspect of this story is that I like it despite the myriad of children presented. I am not a fan of them in most cases because I feel they’re not handled properly or serve a purpose to the story. It is not the case in Charming the Prince.
The novel is set in England during King Edward’s reign. They have just forged an alliance with France much to Lord Bannor the Bold’s displeasure. He loves war and fighting and does not know how to handle himself in times of peace. Plus he is terrified of his home life.
How could the Pride of England be terrified of his own castle? Well as I mentioned children before it is no surprise that it is his children that Bannor fears. And he should. He has twelve of the misbegotten creatures. His eldest son Desmond, is the most obnoxious one of all. Or is he? He has a soft side that Willow unlocks after a string of terrible pranks.
So speaking of Lady Willow of Bedlington, she is the Cinderella character to this tale. Her stepmother Lady Blanche treats her like a servant and nursemaid to the parcel of brats that she came into the marriage with and all the additions that came about afterwards. Willow is stigmatized into thinking she is ugly and unattractive because she does not fit into her step-family’s flaxen hair, plump bosom, wide hip beauty. Willow is French like her mother and reflects this in her tall, lithe, slender, dark hair beauty.
Her beauty presents the biggest problem to Lord Bannor, who only desires an ugly wife. He after all does not want to be tempted into love-making and begetting more of the terrifying beasts. All his good intentions however are thrown out the window the first moment he sets eyes on Willow.
Their tale is a humorous one as they both fall into the trap of misunderstandings. The pace and direction of the story changes when Willow declares war on her husband. And a war is just the sort of fire that will ignite all of Bannor’s passions.
Rating: 5 Stars
Happy readings!
Originally posted 2008-11-18 16:08:10. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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February 8th, 2009 — 2 Stars, Book Review, Children, France, Handicap, Highlander, Kidnapping, P-R, Pirate, Pirate, Sailing, Scarred Hero, Seas, Stowaway, Virgin Heroine, Warrior
The Diamond King has got it all: Highlanders, pirates, lost souls, and love.
Alex Leslie used to be a noble in a world that seems to have existed long ago before the war between Scotland and England. Now he is wanted, without honor or hope for a life that had once been held so promisingly before him. Siding with the bonny Prince Charlie cost Alex far more than his pretty face, now scarred, and two strong legs, one now damaged and aching all the time causing him to limp.
Alex has seen horrors of war. The Battle of Culloden turned the tide of war against innocents as the redcoats and turncoats followed mercilessly on the trails of fleeing women, children and wounded – killing and raping indiscriminately. Stripped of his title but not his own sense of moral rightness, Alex came to lead a parcel of helpless Jacobite children out of Scotland to France. There he swore revenge… and two children swore not to be parted from him no matter the cost.
They followed him onto a ship that he was captaining under letters of Marque. Alex was planning to divest the British of their spoils on the sea and he could not do that for fear of the children. All attempts however to divest himself of the brats were pointless. They were far too crafty from their time on the run with him in Scotland to be forced to do anything they didn’t want to do. And truth be told, Alex did not want them to go. He would miss them.
His surrender to their wishes makes it all the harder on him when poor Meg gets wounded in the capture of Charlotte. To make matters worse, there’s a bloody Campbell on board. The Campbell family was the worst of all the turncoats and all the cruel deeds of the war could be laid at their uncaring, guilty feet.
Jeanette Campbell, never knew the horrors of the war. She was safe, sequestered at home where no tales of cruelty could reach her. This does not sway Alex to relent toward her. At least his hate of her is different than the hate she has felt at others hands. Jenna, as she prefers to be called, has been quite unloved by her aristocratic family and society at large. She has been spurned because of a birthmark she cannot help. Born with the Devil’s Mark on one arm from shoulder to wrist, Jenna has known only fear and instant loathing.
Given the choice of being disowned or marrying a man she’s never met, Jenna chooses to find a haven in Barbados. Certain the widow was not told of her birthmark, Jenna is fearful of her future. The thought of mothering his children is the only thing that kept her going. So when the Charlotte is captured, Jenna cannot help feeling helpless and angry that her one chance at happiness has been ripped from her. For what man will take such a bride; even a desperate one?
Rating: 2 Stars
Originally posted 2008-10-10 08:49:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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