Rating: 
Summary: three fabulous novellas
Review: "Averil". In Everleigh, Godwine Fitzhugh extracts a deathbed promise from his bastard son Rhys to care for his legitimate heir six year old Mary and to "steal an heiress", suggesting the Pendragon girl. Rhys journeys to Dragon Lair in Welshry and abducts Averil Pendragon to be his wife, but not realizing that she, like him, is illegitimate."Maia". The legitimate heir Maia rejects all her suitors insisting that her beloved, who she has met in her dreams, will come for her soon. Emrys Llyn, the Lord of the Lake, arrives to court Maia. He claims to be a descendent of Lancelot and the Lady of the Lake. He admits he lost two previous wives who suddenly died for no known reason. As Emrys and Maia fall in love, will the jealous Lady of the Lake tragically end their relationship? "Junia". Two years later, Junia misses her married sisters, but meets Simon de Bohun and over time they fall in love. Simon tells his dad that he wants to marry Junia, but his cruel father Hugo will never accept a Pendragon. Over a century ago, a feud between the clans formed leaving no hope for the star-crossed lovers. When Junia and Simon meet to say goodbye, Hugo captures her, making it even more impossible for the lovers. The three novellas are refreshing well-written tales that move forward the Arthurian legend a few centuries though the audience needs to know that Junia is raped. The three sisters, descendents of Arthur, make delightful protagonists that fans of Bertrice Small and the Camelot mythos will value highly and want a sequel starring their brother Brynn. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Where's the beef?
Review: "The Dragon Lord's Daughters" is Bertrice Small's return to the short-stories-within-a-story format she used in "Vixens". Unfortunately, it doesn't work any better here than it did there. "Daughters" tells the stories of the three daughters of King Arthur's descendant Merin Pendragon: Averil, the beautiful and haughty eldest; Maia, the middle and only legitimate daughter; and Junia, the impetuous youngest girl. (April, May, and June; how --- ahem --- clever.) Each girl hopes for a fine and noble husband, but that's not always what they end up with. The problem with this book, as with "Vixens", is that the individual stories are so short that they don't allow for proper character or plot development. To use "Averil" as an example, Averil is "bride-napped" by the illegitimate Rhys FitzHugh on the suggestion of his dying father. In just a few pages the two are married in front of the King of Wales and haughty Averil seems to have resigned herself to her fate. According to the back-cover blurb, Rhys must now win his prickly bride's "love, loyalty, and trust". Of course that's not especially difficult in the Bertrice Small universe --- all it takes is two steamy sex scenes and Averil is madly in love with her husband, not to mention pregnant. (Guys in the real world must be wishing it could be that easy.) The sketchy "obstacle" (the elderly nursemaid Rhawn) is quickly dealt with, the legitimate half-sister dies of a remarkably fast-moving ague, and lo and behold the illegitimate Rhys becomes both master of the estate and a father within a few paragraphs of each other. All this is very quickly and sparsely sketched out by Small; the only things that really get any detail are the frequent sex scenes. I realize that this is Small's specialty, but I still would have liked to see the characters and plots fleshed out more. As it stands, the heroines are cliched ciphers with none of the spirit or fire of, say, Skye O'Malley or Janet Leslie/Cyra ("The Kadin" --- one of my all-time favorites). I hate to say it but Small's work is, like many others before her, becoming formulaic --- I guess when you've done this for so long you hit a rut eventually. If "Skye O'Malley" and "The Kadin" were rich, satisfying meals,"The Dragon Lord's Daughters" is spun sugar; sweet, light, and enjoyable, but it leaves you hungry.
Rating:
Summary: The Dragon Lord's Daughters
Review: Another fabulous read from Beatrice Small. Three daughters, descended from the mystical King Arthur are of a marrigable age. Their father allows them to choose their own husbands (for the most part) for love as well as politcal. The adventures they must go through in order to be married will keep you hooked from daughter to daughter.
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Summary: Three tales sure to win your heart!
Review: Beatrice Small weaves a new tale conjured from the mists of Avalon. We are introduced to the descendants of Pendragon, three daughters from the Camelot line. Averil The Eldest daughter is a great beauty, but bears the shame of being illegitimate. Her great beauty ensures she will make a good marriage and she works hard to make the best match she can. But fate steps in, spinning her life onto a path she did not foresee. Thinking to better his lot in life, a poor bailiff Rhys Fitzhugh, decides to abduct and heiress thinking they will be forced to wed. He kidnaps Averil not realizing she is not the legal heir. Once comes to face the fact he goofed, he must set about to win a very angry Averil's heart. It's great fun and well penned 'taming of the shrew' Camelot style. The second tale concerns Maia - the legitimate heiress. Maia loves Emrys Lynn, the descendent of Lancelot and the Lady of the Lake. There are tales about Emrys' previous wives and their deaths and rumors Emrys is an immortal, but Maia is convinced love will solve all. The last tale about the youngest daughter, Junia. She loves her freedom and roams the countryside. She meets Richard De Bohun, falls in love with him and continues to meet him on the sly, because he is the son of her father's powerful enemy. Little knows Junia, that she is risking her whole family by her secret love. It's a heady mix of myth, sensuality and the love of three very strong women. Dead on target! An excellent addition to Grail fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: This was awful!!!
Review: I had looked forward to something new by Ms. Small, but I didn't like the novella style of the book. There is no time for major character development that I love from her previous works. Also the endings of each story leave much to be desired. The sex scenes are starting to become short and predictable in most cases. I read the book, but came away wanting much more from my favorite author.
Rating:
Summary: disappointed
Review: I had looked forward to something new by Ms. Small, but I didn't like the novella style of the book. There is no time for major character development that I love from her previous works. Also the endings of each story leave much to be desired. The sex scenes are starting to become short and predictable in most cases. I read the book, but came away wanting much more from my favorite author.
Rating:
Summary: Not quite up to par
Review: I have enjoyed many of Ms. Small's book - my favorites Skye O'Malley and A Moment in Time. When Ms. Small splits the books like this one and Vixens, the characters are not as well developed as full novel characters. By the time you are "getting into the heroine" this section is closed and on to the next daughter. I think the chapter on the last daughter too dark and even though we get a happy ending; the story is rushed. As always the descriptions of daily life, homes/palaces, food and dress are wonderful. I always enjoy her books and would recommend reading this book, but I prefer full lenght new characters - to even continuation family series.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Worst
Review: I love all kinds of books, and I have been reading romance novels for about 15 years now, and I can honestly say this was one of the worst I have ever read. The writing is so bad, I had to post something. She actually writes at one point that he looks at her "unquestioningly," and then he asks her a question. What is that? And I found a few mistakes in the book which should have been caught in the editing process. Don't waste your time or your money on this book. There are so many other great romance writers out there!
Rating: 
Summary: Why does she bother?
Review: I loved Bertrice Small's books. And I keep on buying them hoping that she will get back to writing. This book, and others that she has written lately, is more like copy what she has done before, paraphrase, and ship it out. I think many buyers are like me. They want the old Bertrice back and keep on buying her books hoping that this one is it! Unfortunately, this book is boring. I didn't even finish it.
Rating:
Summary: Why does she bother?
Review: I loved Bertrice Small's books. And I keep on buying them hoping that she will get back to writing. This book, and others that she has written lately, is more like copy what she has done before, paraphrase, and ship it out. I think many buyers are like me. They want the old Bertrice back and keep on buying her books hoping that this one is it! Unfortunately, this book is boring. I didn't even finish it.
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