Highland Wedding

Highland Wedding by Hannah Howell (2007)

Pages: 384

ISBN: 0821780026

Description: Raised among eleven brawny, boisterous brothers, beautiful Islaen MacRoth knew nothing of the tricks a maiden uses to trap a husband. Instead, her desperate father had arranged a match at court - with a man who had sworn never to wed again.

But from the moment Islaen crept into his darkened bedchamber and innocently bared her charms to his hungry gaze, Iain knew he could not deny her promise of passion. She shared his bed - but would she ever be the wife of his heart?

Review: Iain made it clear that he didn't want to wed and had a fear of children as his first wife died in childbirth. However, he was more or less forced into a marriage with Islaen (although there was an instant attraction). As you get farther in the story things get taken a bit far. We are hit over the head with Iain's fear and Islaen's defiance of it. Also, the fact that Iain almost goes to bed with a past flame and then sees her instead of his own wife whom he claims to love while she takes care of the kids. It had its good moments, but overall not one of Howell's better books. You could skip it and not really miss anything.

Score: 3 out of 5

Desire

Desire by Amanda Quick (1993)

Description: Upon her father's death, beautiful, headstrong Lady Clare knew that she must wed, for the protection of the Isle of Desire now fell to her. Yet when her guardian's choice of prospective husband rode through her castle gates, she felt utterly betrayed. All sinewy muscle and savage steel, Sir Gareth of Wyckmere was not the poet she'd requested but a fearsome knight whose only interest was in war.

Legions of robbers had fallen beneath the Hellhound of Wyckmere's sword, and now this bold warrior was certain that he could tame one willful wife. Yet even Gareth could not deter Lady Clare from trying to mold him into her ideal... until their clash of wills ignited a passion that set them both aflame... and a treacherous plot put their love and their lives in deadly peril.

Review: When two people used to commanding others come together, sparks will fly. I really did enjoy this book. It was fun to see the sparks fly between Gareth and Clare. Although, many times the character of Clare was somewhat annoying. As usual, there was much humor and some suspense. All in all, a fun book that you should check out.

Score: 4 out of 5

One Knight Only

One Knight Only by Julia Latham (2007)

Description: Daring and adventurous, Anne Kendall would give anything to join the secret band of warrior knights known as the League of the Blade, and she eagerly agrees to a perilous masqerade. But the Sir Philop Clifford, a reckless, brutally handsome knight, joins their party, birnging back memories of stolen kisses, passionate longings, and one night when she would have done anything to be his.

Anne would prefer to concentrate on the dangerous mission at hand... but the glorious, savage passion that begins to develop between her and this unruly warrior may prove him to be the knight of her dreams... and her fantasies.

Review: I can sum this book up in one word... steamy. Whew. Whenever Anne and Philip are in a room together, the sparks fly. Its obvious to everyone around them that they have something together. They just have to get over their own misgivings and misconceptions. Latham did a good job with the historical aspects of the novel. My only real problem was some of the verbiage used. It seemed out of place. Other than that, it was a fun novel and a great read.

Score: 3.5 out of 5

Mystique

Mystique by Amanda Quick (1995)

Description: In the shadows of the great hall, Lady Alice approached the fearsome warrior who had swept into Lingwood Manor like a storm. Dark and forbidding, with hair as black as midnight and eyes of molten amber, Hugh the Relentless seemed aptly named. Yet to Alice, adept at driving off suitors and handing her insufferable relatives, Sir Hugh was not someone to dread but the answer to her dreams.

She knew he had come for the mysterious green crystal, knew he would be greatly displeased to learn that it was no longer in her possession. Yet Alice as certain that if she approached him logically, Sir Hugh, like any other man, could b coxed into a deal that would benefit them both. Her proposition was a simple one: in return for a dowry large enough to free Alice and her brother from the grasp of their conniving uncle, she would lend her powers of detection to Sir Hugh's knightly skills and together they would recover his treasured stone.

For over a sennight Hugh had searched for the crystal that was the last of the ancient Stones of Scarcliffe - and the vital key to the mastery of his new manor - only to find that it had once more been snatched away... only to find himself challenged by the most unusual female in all of Christendom. Sensible but unrepentant and with a tongue as sharp as a dagger, the flame-haired beauty filled him with fury... and reluctant fascination.

As she boldly met his gaze, it hardly mattered that she longed to spend her days studying natural philosophy, or that she found the though of entering a convent far more alluring that of marriage. Hugh knew he had found the wife who could help him put his manor to rights. So he accepted her terms with one alteration Alice must agree to a temporary betrothal and spend the winter in Hugh's great stone fortress, Scarliffe Keep.

The bargain is struck and the adventure begins for this unlikely pair of practical lady and battle-hardened warlord. Yet even as Hugh searches for a means to bind Alice to his side forever, his lifelong enemy is plotting against them, stirring up a whirlwind of treachery that threatens their fragile alliance.

Review: From the start, sparks fly between Hugh and Alice. They are both too smart for their own good, but will their brains get in between their hearts? Another story that involves family stories and their aftermaths. The mystery surrounding the deaths of Hugh's parents and the green stone is interesting. The characters were really great and I enjoyed following both Hugh and Alice on their road of discovery. This is definitely worth another read.

Score: 4 out of 5

Only For You

Only For You by Hannah Howell (1995)

Description: As wild as the rugged north county where she was raised, Saxan Honey Todd has sworn to avenge the murder of her twin brother. Recklessly, she gallops across the English countryside in pursuit of the man she believes to be his murderer: Botolf, Earl of Regenford.

As hard and unyielding as the armor he wars in battle, Botolf is irresistibly drawn to the impetuous beauty who has come to wage war against him. Saxan stirs his passion to the point of madness... but to love her would be madness indeed.

Now, as a desperate enemy stalks him and the greensward runs with innocent blood, Botolf brings Saxan to his castle... as his bride. But Saxan needs more: to fight by Botolf's side and triumph over the danger that surrounds them - as the beloved mistress of his very heart and soul...

Review: I have mixed feelings about this story. I did enjoy the overall story and the characters, just some things were a bit strange. The way Botolf and Saxon got together seemed forced and almost rushed. It seemed a bit strange to me. I think what was even more bizarre was the youngest sister. Perhaps if she was aged somewhat older I would have believed what her character was to be, but I think Howell went a bit too far with her. Overall, not a bad story, just not one of Howell's best.

Score: 3 out of 5

Conqueror's Kiss

Conqueror's Kiss by Hannah Howell (2006)

Description: Jennet Graeme has witnessed terrible tragedy during the many years of strife between the Scots and the English. As Scottish invaders plunder her convent sanctuary, she defiantly resistes the blond warrior who claims her as his pize. But his brute strength is overpowering and Jennet is forced to rude with him through the lawless lands, tending to the wounded., protected and desired by a man she wants to hate... but cannot...

Sir Hacon Gillard is moved by Jennet's compassion and mercy. As a loyal knight he's pledged fealty to his king's command, even as he loses his heart to this remarkable woman. Merciless in combat... yet there burns within him a spark for something far beyond the heat of battle...

Review: I really enjoyed this novel. The story surrounded a most interesting part of the history of England and Scotland. The characters were developed well and I really cared about them. I could not put it down and had to keep reading until it was done. This book is one of those you will want to read over and over.

Score: 4.5 out of 5

Dracula, Prince of Mancy Faces

Dracula, Prince of Many Faces

Description: (From Amazon) The fictional Dracula of Bram Stoker's novel is better known than the actual Vlad Dracula the Impaler, who ruled as prince of Wallachia for three brief periods in the mid-15th century. This study by two Boston College professors who have written other books about Dracula explores how the legend of the Transylvanian vampire arose. As a ruler, Dracula spread terror far and wide, inflicting appalling tortures on his victims, killing them by impalement, by boiling or skinning them alive. Yet when the time came to defend Europe against Turkish invaders, he led the battle, and the authors view him as "the first modern Renaissance prince of the land." Florescu and McNally offer so much detail about the battles of kings, princes, princelings and claimants to thrones that the book will appeal only to the most ardent Dracula fanatics.

Review: After reading The Historian for my book club, I wanted to get some "real" history on Dracula. I remembered this book from my Borders days and decided to check it out. I'm glad that I did as it turned out to be very interesting. There is a lot of medieval history and a lot of side stories that are intertwined into the story of Dracula. I thought the authors did a good job of showing the real Dracula. I found him to be a very interesting person in history. I really recommend this book to anyone who wants to study the real Dracula.

Score: 4 out of 5