Journal Entry 1 by Sidney1220 from McLean, Virginia USA on Friday, November 14, 2008

Received from bookmooch.
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Product Description
The glorious romance from the acclaimed author of The Bride Finder
"[An] enchanting love story . . . A real treasure."

--Affaire de Coeur

Beloved author Susan Carroll took the romance world by storm with her
captivating novel The Bride Finder, a spellbinding tale of magic, romance,
and legend that earned sensational praise from nationally bestselling
authors, booksellers, and fans everywhere. Now, in the classic love story
Winterbourne, Carroll's exquisite prose and breathless storytelling gift
come to life once more--in an irresistible, utterly gripping epic of
passion and defiance. . . .

In the harsh, turbulent Middle Ages, lovely Lady Melyssan remains as she
always has been--sweet, timid, and content to be alone. But in a desperate
move to resist the advances of the dreaded king, she claims to be married
to his worst enemy, Lord Jaufre de Macy, the legendary Dark Knight.

Seeking temporary shelter in Jaufre's abandoned castle, Winterbourne, she
is unprepared for the fierce, angry warrior who returns to confront her.
He is a man as rough and unforgiving as the Welsh border lands he
rules--and she is as gentle and innocent as a new day. But neither
Jaufre's dark heart nor Melyssan's innocent one can resist the love that is
their destiny--nor protect them from the danger drawing ever closer. . .
. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


 

Journal Entry 2 by Sidney1220 from McLean, Virginia USA on Friday, December 26, 2008

This book started out as a pretty good historical romance but dissolved into ridiculous melodrama. I really enjoyed the first part of the book and the historical context - where the author painted a picture of what it's like for the nobles to live by the whims of a cruel and vindictive monarch and the pope's interdict. Meaty historicals like these don't come a reader's way too often anymore. About halfway through, however, things started to fall apart. Melyssan became a watering pot who spent most of her days either whining or crying, and Jaufre never came alive as anything but an ill-tempered brute who's impatient and not too terribly compassionate of anyone weaker than he is. At the end, I couldn't care less about what happens to these two.

12/30/08 Reserved for romance VBB.