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Harlequin Historical

REVIEW – Templar Knight, Forbidden Bride by Lynna Banning

by Christina on February 28, 2010

in 2010 Year of the Historical, 3 Stars, Countdown Challenge, Harlequin Historical, Historical Romance, Lynna Banning, Medieval

Templar Knight, Forbidden Bride

Templar Knight, Forbidden Bride

Title: Templar Knight, Forbidden Bride
Author: Lynna Banning
Copyright: 2008 (Harlequin); 271 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-373-29514-2
Series: Harlequin Historical #914
Sensuality: Warm
Genre: Historical Romance — Medieval

The Lady: Leonor de Balenguer y Hassam of Granada. The 27 year-old daughter of the vizier has dreams of becoming a female troubadour, traveling France, singing, and playing her harp. Though well-educated, Leonor knows nothing of the world outside the emir’s court and her father’s house. She has managed to remain unmarried this long because she refuses to marry a man she cannot love.

The Knight: Reynaud. The Templar knight is all too familiar with the realities of the world. A bastard, he was raised by Hassam’s brother in Granada, making him the best candidate to carry a secret message from the Templar Grand Master to the emir’s adviser. Hassam will deliver his message to the emir, if Reynaud promises to escort Leonor to family in Moyanne.

Their history: Leonor hasn’t seen Reynaud in twenty years, since he left to seek his way in the world. She is surprised to see him, having feared that he had died in the Holy Land. Leonor has adored Reynaud since they were children, but the man she sees now is almost a stranger to her: stern and joyless. For his part, Reynaud remembers the clever, impossible girl — but it’s the woman that will haunt him the rest of his life.

Unrequited: Reynaud is a Templar, a warrior monk. He’s made a vow of celibacy. The knighthood is the only thing he knows, and being a bastard means he has nothing to offer Leonor anyway. And if that wasn’t enough, he is still on a dangerous mission for his Grand Master, and he may die. As for Leonor, she is confused at first by his standoffish and stern behavior. She thinks that he does not like her very much, but it doesn’t take long for her to learn the truth of his feelings. Though it breaks her heart, she acknowledges the fact she loves a man who can never return that love.

What I liked about it: I liked that, though Reynaud falls in love at first sight, it takes Leonor a little longer to realize her true feelings. And once they are known, both exercise restraint. Both accept the fact that they can never be together unless Reynaud is willing to break his vows or leave the Order forever. Though Leonor is naive in some ways, she’s not stupid and doesn’t blunder foolishly about. Reynaud does walk away from the Templars only after he is ordered to do something that he cannot do in good conscience — and getting to marry Leonor is just an added bonus. The author has notes, both in the beginning and at the end of the book, about the warrior monks and troubadours that were interesting.

What I didn’t like: Medievals aren’t my preferred era, but nothing stood out as a turn-off.

Recommended to: Fans of medieval romances, looking for a short read.

Started: 27 January 2010
Finished: 24 February 2010
(I was house hunting in February — some days, only could squeeze in half a page.)

Rating:

Enjoyed it!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

{ 2 comments }

REVIEW – An Unladylike Offer

by misscz on February 22, 2009

in 2009 A to Z Challenge, 4 Stars, Christine Merrill, Countdown Challenge, Harlequin Historical, Historical Romance, The Year of Readers 2009, Year of the Category

An Unladylike Offer

An Unladylike Offer

Author: Christine Merrill
Copyright: 2007 (Harlequin); 290 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-373-29462-6
Series: Harlequin Historical # 862 (Regency)
Sensuality: Warm

Who: Esme Canville and St John Radwell
Where & When: England

An Unladylike Offer can be read as a stand-alone, but to get a better understanding of St John’s past, particularly in regards to his brother Marcus, Duke of Haughleigh, I would recommend reading The Inconvenient Duchess first.

After five years of fighting in the wars, St John is back in England. He misses his childhood home and he even misses is brother. Once, when they were children, they had been partners in mischief and ready for adventure, but their parents — in a bitter and loveless marriage — pitted them against each other. He made a vow that, if he survived, he would make peace with Marcus.

Toward that goal, St John is trying to reform his character by avoiding new scandal. The Prince Regent, wishing to reward him for his honorable service, has promised him an earldom — provided he behaves himself while waiting for the current, heir-less, holder of that title to pass on. St John doesn’t know how long the old earl will live, but whatever the length of time, he believes it to be worth it if it secures him an income and help him show Marcus he’s a changed man. If he can approach his brother as a peer — a man with honor and responsibilities, and maybe even a wife — his claims of being reformed will carry more weight. However, his good intentions get derailed when Esme Canville shows up, offering to be his mistress.

Esme’s father — a cruel and abusive man — has arranged a marriage for her to the Earl of Halverston, an older man who will no doubt be as horrible as her father (as far as she can tell from her one brief glimpse of him). She is desperate to avoid the marriage and escape her father. If she is ruined, her father will have no choice but to call off the betrothal. St John tries to talk her out of her plans, but she determined to go through with it — with him or with someone else. Fortunately for them both, she snatches his laudanum-laced brandy from his hand and downs it (knowing full well what the glass contained). She passes out, making it easier for St John to take her to the one person he can rely on to protect Esme from herself and others: Marcus.

Though the duke believes he is up to no good, St John is able to convince the duchess to take Esme under her wing and learn the truth of the situation before sending her back to her father. Miranda does exactly that. She comes up with a barely plausible plan, she admits, that will allow Esme time to find a man she prefers and marry him. Marcus grudgingly allows Miranda to include St John in her plans, neither man realizing that Miranda’s plan involves St. John marrying Esme.

Esme is a heroine in pursuit. Though she goes along with Miranda’s plans by considering the other eligible men introduced to her, Esme’s fallen for St John and nothing he does seems to frighten her off. She knows he’s not the cad he once was because he didn’t take advantage of her when he had the chance. Yet, no matter how much he seems to enjoy her company — or how much it seems as if he wants her — St John refuses to offer for her. It’s maddening, and she’s running out of time.

The situation is no better for St John. He’s taking laudanum to avoid the nightmares of what happened in Portugal. He’s trying to prove to his brother that he’s changed, while following Marcus’s orders to discourage Esme by acting like a rake. Talk about cross-purposes. Marcus isn’t convinced of his sincerity, at first, and is still disappointed in him. St John finds himself falling in love with Esme, but can’t — in good conscience — make an offer for her when he has no means of support. Plus, he hasn’t banished the nightmares of Portugal, which includes another heartbreak.

My favorite aspect of the story was the brothers and St John’s struggles to convince Marcus that he was truly sorry for the past and that he was mending his ways. It really touched me, more so than the romance. Probably because I have two brothers who are close. Of course, they are nothing like Marcus and St John. I loved Marcus for going along with St John’s schemes to rescue Esme from her father — gate crashing the betrothal party, consorting with prostitutes and a thief — without so much as blinking an eye. It shows how far he’s come in trusting St John’s judgment.

As to the romance, I liked that Esme calls St John out for being “oh, no, something bad will happened to you” if he admits that he loves her. Esme tells him his more afraid of getting his heart broken again than her well-being. He really needed to hear that it wasn’t his fault that the women he loved died, and it shows that she knows and understands him more than he realizes. But Esme doesn’t know as much as she thinks, as she learns shortly after. Esme is finally successful in her quest to seduce St John, and comes to realize that she’s been acting selfishly. St John’s sense of honor will require him to marry her, and cost him his hard won efforts to reconcile with Marcus and repair his reputation.

Christine Merrill is currently my favorite Harlequin Historical author. Most of her books were/are published first in the UK before they are published in North America. I’ve decided not to wait for Miss Winthorpe’s Elopement to make it across the pond. A Wicked Liaison — which features a character from An Unladylike Offer — will be published this summer in North America (realized this after I ordered it from the UK — I didn’t look closely enough). Looking forward to them both.

Favorite quotes:
“All right. I frighten Lord Canville into giving us his only child, or bludgeon him into cooperation with my title. What are we to do with Esme Canville and her imaginary fever?”
– Marcus, Duke of Haughleigh

“But we do not need your best behavior, St John. We need for you to be a fate worse than death.”
– Miranda lays out her plan

“Finally, the duel I knew must come, that would settle things between us, once and for all. And in the middle of it, you fell asleep. My pride may never recover.”
– Marcus

Started: 7 February 2009
Finished: 9 February 2009

Rating:
TBA

The Inconvenient Duchess

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REVIEW – Innocence Unveiled

by misscz on January 21, 2009

in 2009 A to Z Challenge, 4 Stars, Blythe Gifford, Harlequin Historical, Historical Romance, The Year of Readers 2009, Year of the Category

Update to a YEAR OF THE CATEGORY Challenge – Review link and category.

Innocence Unveiled

Innocence Unveiled

Author: Blythe Gifford
Copyright: 2008 (Harlequin); 276 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-373-29502-2
Series: Harlequin Historical # 902 (Medieval)
Sensuality: Warm

Who: Katrine de Gravere and Renard
Where & When: Flanders,1337

Katrine de Gravere of Ghent is disparate for wool. With her father languishing in a English prison and an embargo on English wool, Katrine has little choice but to listen to the mysterious stranger’s offer if she wants to keep the business running. He’s no doubt a smuggler if he claims he can get good English wool during the embargo, but she doesn’t care, as long as she gets her wool. She is an unmarried woman, alone, allowed to run her father’s business because it was only supposed to be temporary while he was in London. And when her uncle refuses to help her, Katrine puts her trust in a total stranger.

Renard can get his hands on all the English wool Katrine could ever want because he is in the service of the king of England. His true mission is to find out which of the city’s leaders can be persuaded to support Edward’s claim on the French throne, defying their count and the French king. Since English wool is far superior to both French and Flemish, there are many who would rather side with Edward if it would mean continued access to the wool. Renard needs a safe haven in the city while he scopes out the likeliest candidates that also have the loyalty of the workers. Katrine’s all-but-empty shop is the perfect place.

Katrine has other problems besides no wool for her loom. Her uncle, the Baron de Gravere, is loyal to the count of Flanders, and he tries to force Katrine to leave Ghent with him and her aunt. Katrine is able to avoid making the trip and has temporary respite from him. The baron is a vile man who constantly tells Katrine that she is sinful, wanton, and no decent man would want to marry her (Katrine believes him and she is distressed by her growing attraction to Renard). When the baron returns to Ghent, he has Katrine attacked to prove his point that she isn’t safe in the city alone. And when he inadvertently learns that Katrine has been harboring a man — an English one, no less — he tries to bully her into betraying Renard.

For his part, Renard has done his best to avoid temptation. Born an unacknowledged royal bastard, he must rely on the king’s favor for any advancement and he has no desire to subject a child to the same fate. He has nothing — land, title, or riches — to offer to any gentlewoman, so marriage was never an option for him. Since Edward has promised him a bishopric if his campaign is successful, marriage is now entirely out of the question. Being a bishop means he will no longer be subjected to the king’s whims or rely on him for favors, and he will be answerable only to God and the pope. But Renard finds himself attracted to Katrine and it becomes a real test to his resolve to be around her. Katrine teaches him how to weave, and he is surprised by his feeling of accomplishment when he sees his handiwork. It’s tangible evidence of his efforts, something he doesn’t always have serving the king. And for the first time since Edward made the offer, Renard isn’t looking forward to being a bishop.

I really liked this story. It’s set in a time and place I rarely read about. I was really interested in the characters and what became of them. Both Katrine and Renard had to overcome their beliefs about desire. Katrine has always been told it was sinful, and Renard’s belief is shaped by the nature of his birth. It’s Katrine who has an epiphany first and realizes that desiring the man she fell in love with is a natural thing. It takes Renard a little longer to resolve his issues regarding his parentage and allow himself to love Katrine.

Readers more familiar with the history of the time need to be aware that the author took some liberties with history. She points out, in her afterword, what she changed.

Started: 2 January 2009
Finished: 6 January 2009

Rating:

Liked A Lot

Liked A Lot

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The Mistletoe Wager

by misscz on December 28, 2008

in 4 Stars, Christine Merrill, Christmas, Countdown Challenge, Harlequin Historical, Historical Romance

The Mistletoe Wager

The Mistletoe Wager

Author: Christine Merrill
Copyright: 2008 (Harlequin); pgs. 277
Series: Harlequin Historical # 925
Sensuality: Warm

This Christmas romance has two couples, Harry and Elise, the Earl and Countess of Anneslea. Harry and Elise are estranged at the start of the book, but are still very much in love with each other. The other couple is Nicholas Tremaine and Rosalind Morley, two people who haven’t seen each other in years and have every reason to hate each other. Nicholas is Elise’s ex-betrothed and Rosalind is Harry’s half-sister.

The book opens with Harry inviting Nicholas to his Christmas house party. Nicholas is a bit of a humbug about Christmas and initially refuses. Since Harry has an ulterior motive for wanting Tremaine to come, he makes a bet and proceeds to invite all within hearing to his house party. To ensure that Tremaine comes, he sweetens the bet by informing Tremaine that he will divorce Elise, if that’s what she desires.

Harry believes that the reason Elise has been unhappy is due to the fact that she has come to regret breaking her engagement to Tremaine and accepting Harry’s proposal. Harry had hoped that Elise would, over time, come to love him as much as he loves her. He wants her to be happy and if divorcing him will free her to go back to the man she still cares for, then Harry will do it. But not without trying to win her back first by reminding her of all the happy times they had at Christmas. Elise loves the holiday and brought her traditions with her from Germany. Tremaine’s distaste for the trappings of the season are well-known and Harry hopes to use that in his favor.

Once she learns of the bet and promise, Elise talks Tremaine into taking her with him. She’s curious to see who Harry will have standing in as hostess and is afraid that he may have taken a lover. Her argument with Harry revolves around the fact that Harry doesn’t talk to her — really talk to her. He doesn’t confide in her; she doesn’t know his mind. She never knows if he’s angry with her, or upset with the fact that, after five years of marriage, there is still no sign of a child. She even renews her close friendship with Tremaine in the hopes that he would be jealous and tell her that he doesn’t like her giving another man so much of her attention. He just smiles and calmly accepts it. Though Harry’s an affectionate husband — there has never been a lack of interest in their marriage bed — Elise still feels that Harry can’t possibly love her passionately because he didn’t stop her from leaving nor has he demanded that she return to their country home.

For his part, Tremaine doesn’t want to be in the middle of the Anneslea’s marital problems. Though he cares for her, Elise is just his friend, not his lover. Nick knows that the pair really love each other — even if they can’t see it. So, he grits his teeth and willingly plays the would-be-lover, hoping the charade will be short. However, he gets more than he bargains for when they arrive for the party.

Five years ago, Nicholas kissed a young woman he had just met at a Christmas ball. Her strict father demanded that he make an offer for her, but Nicholas was betrothed to Elise and refused. The kiss had been a spur of the moment thing under some mistletoe, as he truthfully told Elise when she learned of it, and he had no intentions of breaking off with her. However, Elise was hurt and angry, so she released him from the engagement. Labeled a rogue for such stupid mistake, Nick has lived his life as one, never settling down. He never knew the name of the young woman, and never saw her again until he arrived at Harry’s house party.

Rosalind has lived unhappily in the country since that incident. She’s turned down suitor after suitor, all who seemed to offer a life no different than the one she lives now. Though she spent only an hour or so in his company, Rosalind had fallen in love with Nicholas and she has never gotten over him. At first, they try to avoid each other, but Rosalind quickly realizes that Nick would make the perfect accomplice in her scheme to get Harry and Elise back together. As much as she loves her brother, and glad for the chance to get away from her father for a spell, Rosalind is not having a happy holiday season. Harry’s haphazard party planning and the servants’ loyalty to Elise have made things difficult for her. If she can successfully reconcile the couple, then hostess duties can be turned over to their rightful owner. Nick will go along with her plans, if it means he can return to London sooner rather than later. But no matter what she does, her efforts end in disaster, no thanks to the couple she is trying to reconcile.

I really enjoyed this book. It was quiet funny at times.  The author balances the story between all four characters. Since in Harry and Elise’s problems lie in their inability to communicate without mistaking intent, it was good to have a second couple to read about because misunderstandings like that can make a book frustrating. Rosalind and Nicholas’ conversations are wittier and I liked couple a lot.

Started: 30 November 2008
Finished: 7 December 2008

Rating:

Liked A Lot

Liked A Lot

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Hallowe'en Husbands

by misscz on November 23, 2008

in 3 Stars, Anthology, Christine Merrill, Countdown Challenge, Denise Lynn, Halloween, Harlequin Historical, Historical Romance, Lisa Plumley

Hallowe'en Husbands

Hallowe'en Husbands

Author(s): Lisa Plumley, Denise Lynn, Christine Merrill
Copyright: 2008 (Harlequin); pgs. 281
Series: Harlequin Historical #917 – Halloween Anthology
Sensuality: Varies

I picked up this book primarily for the Christine Merrill short story.  I read The Inconvenient Duchess and liked it. I had not read anything by the other two contributors, so this was an opportunity to discover new authors.

“Marriage at Morrow Creek” by Lisa Plumley (Western)
From the Back:  The only thing Rose Tillson ever wanted was a life of travel beneath the Western stars — and to marry secret sweetheart Will Gavigan!  All Rose needs is a small dose of Hallow’en magic to make Will realize she’s the girl of his dreams.

I did not finish this story.  Western-set historicals are not something I usually read, but I figured a short story would be something I could handle.  I couldn’t get into the story.  If the author writes contemporaries or set in other historical subgenres (Regency, Medieval, etc.), I would be interested in trying something else from her.

“Wedding at Warehaven” by Denise Lynn (Medieval)
From the Back:  When Brigit of Warehaven casts a simple spell to reveal her true love’s identity, she never expects to wed him that same night!  But until the mischievous trickeries of All Hallow’s Eve are over, Randall FitzHenry cannot truly claim his bride’s heart.

I liked this story very much.  The ways of society in those days — when a king could order two strangers to wed regardless of their personal preferences — worked well in a short story and made the relationship believable.  Brigit and Randall are likable characters.  Brigit is very mature and tries to do right by her people in her father’s absence, and Randall respects that.  Because of the loyalty between her and her people, Randall treads carefully in his dealings with both. Randall is a decent guy.  He came to Warehaven, on the king’s orders, to seize control of the keep and get to the bottom of the rumors that certain pagan practices have been reinstated.  He’s also a fair man.  When Brigit’s brothers-in-law refuse to tell him where the lord disappeared to, Randall locks them up in their chambers — with their wives — instead of tossing them in a cell.  He’s not interested in using violence, unless it becomes absolutely necessary, to get the answers he seeks.  As he tells Brigit later, “I do not kill for the sake of killing.  I do not murder innocent men.”

“Master of Penlowen” by Christine Merrill (Regency)
From the Back:  Arabella Scott cannot decide whether she’s been saved or abducted when she is rescued from highwaymen by a darkly brooding stranger.  In his eerily cold, dilapidated home, she has no choice but to trust her cavalry officer rescuer.

I really enjoyed this story.  It was darker and creepier than the others.  Lieutenant Richard Acherton, Arabella’s rescuer, is obsessed with solving the mystery — and finding the hidden treasure — of Penlowen, his ancestral home.  The quest has driven the Achertons to insanity and suicide, and Richard is determined that the curse ends with him — he either solves it or dies trying, leaving no heir.  He wants a home and a family, but without the treasure, he can’t afford to support a wife and children. Even driven as he is, Richard hasn’t failed to notice Arabella.  He finds her to be quiet lovely and is impressed with the fact that she didn’t swoon or go into hysterics when confronted by highwaymen.  For her part, Arabella is a little afraid of Richard — thinks he’s mad as a hatter, except she can’t deny what she experienced first-hand.  Both of them are alone in the world, with little to look forward to — Richard, genteel poverty; Arabella, a paid companion with no life of her own.  Success will mean they can have a life of their own choosing — Richard promises Arabella half of the treasure, if she will help him.  And since this is a romance, you know they’re going to end up together anyway.

Started: 22 October  2008
Finished: 1 November 2008

Rating:

Enjoyed it!

Enjoyed it!

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