Rating: 
Summary: It's alright, but...
Review: I really enjoy Julie Garwood's books, but I felt this one drug on near the end. The characters were cute as ever, but the story could have been better. I don't think that a 16 year old can really get on with a 30 something guy besides the fact that it is gross. Nor would a 16 year old have the knowledge that the heroine of this story had. Only after looking at the reviews did I decide to write one to give some other opinion besides a 5 star. If you did enjoy this book, I think you will enjoy her other stories more.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the Best!
Review: Ms. Garwood is one of my all time favorite romance authors. And the story of Joanna and Gabriel would have to be one of my favorites of hers. This is not easy to say, because all of her books are really wonderful. I like Joanna and Gabriel best because I like the way they seem to fit. Joanna has been abused and is going to do everything in her power to see that it never happens to her again. She is a woman who gets things done. She is optimistic and has an open heart. Both characteristics are very important when she finds herself dragged to the highlands (by a loving brother) to marry a Scottish Laird. Gabriel is doing what he can to protect his people, even if it means marrying some English woman. He is strong and of course protective of what belongs to him. I get bored in romance novels where the main characters fight up to the last chapters of the book. These 2 are united in the early part of the novel, and I like to watch their relationship grow and develop as they begin to understand what it means to be married and to trust one another. I first read this novel several years ago, and I pull it out to reread at least once every six months. It never fails to bring a sigh & smile.
Rating: 
Summary: Not her best...
Review: I'm not sure what everyone else is jumping for joy about regarding this book. Yes, the setting is romantic -- it always is. Yes, the dialogue between the two characters can be funny, entertaining, tender and emotive. However, I don't think that either Johanna or Gabriel were well drawn, full characters. Half the time Gabriel's thoughts and speech indicated that he should be smiling or grinning, yet Johanna would turn to look at him and he'd have a "feroucious frown" on his face. Nothing Garwood writes lets us know why these contradictions between his thoughts and demeanor occur. Johanna is even more of a shell. We are never allowed into her head long enough to see if she has a complicated though, and I doubt that she does. Garwood relies compleely on dialogue to move the plot, and it just doesn't. To empathize with these characters, we need to feel like we understand them. Half of what they do is "out of the blue," a bad, bad sign for us dear readers.
Rating:
Summary: Saving Grace
Review: This is my alltime favoriate book by Julie Garwood. Gabriel and Johanna are a very nice couple. The love and respect that he develops for her starts because she so easily excepts his son. She starts to really fall for this loving and gentle man who vows to never let her suffer hurt ever again. I hope Julie Garwood cointinues to write great beeks like this. I own everyone of her novels.
Rating:
Summary: personally have little time for Garwood
Review: This is a typical Garwood book--young, sweet miss gets married to a hulking beast...fall in love, etc. The portrayl of the Scots were so stereotypical from books that I wanted to kill the book (unfortunately it was the library's). I still can't get over the age difference... Still, the depiction of the battered wife was pretty good--which is why i gave a three. Other than that, the characters are pretty unrealistic. a sixteen year old miss going up against two clans? Yeah right!
Rating:
Summary: No one does it better....
Review: This book has love, laughter, action, incredible characters and a story line with a message. Gabriel and Joanna are such great characters that by the end of the book you can feel, see and almost touch them. Garwood has a rare gift for giving us characters that have a past, but haven't decided that they don't have a future. Each story she pens has hope and love as it's central message. This tackles a big subject...spousal abuse(by Joanna's first husband, Raulf)and she makes it into a story about new beginnings. Read this book and it will be on your "KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OR DIE" shelf.
Rating:
Summary: Saving Grace
Review: Who doesn't want to feel accepted in their new home? All Lady Johanna's life, she's been taught that she's worth less than a dog. Gabriel MacBain changes all that. I loved this book. It's a definite page-turner, rich in action, romance, humor and intrigue. The way it's written, it takes the reader into the past to a world long forgotten. The characters come to life as you turn each page. They almost are tangible. The problems they face are realistic and the solutions are amazing. Johanna isn't a one-dimensional character. She's brave, spirited and cautious. Gabriel is gruff, yet caring. The way their personalities clash and meld together is simply beautiful. The supporting characters too are a joy to read. I'd recommend this book to everyone.
Rating:
Summary: simiar to another book by Julie Garwood
Review: I thought the book was very good but it was alot like "The Bride" another book by Julie Garwood. The plots are very similar. If you loved "The Bride" you'll enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Romance Story
Review: I love Julie Garwood stories, because every now and again its nice to read about herioines who are not trying to rule the world. Saving Grace is another one of JG's best. Her heroines are petite, funny, and full of spirit. While the heroes are big,handsome and oh so considerate. If you enjoyed this, you will definetly love Honor's Splendor.
Rating:
Summary: Not Your Typical Garwood, But Fabulous Beyond Words!
Review: When I read my first Garwood, I fell completely in love and flew to my book store to buy every book of hers that was in stock. I got to *Saving Grace* about halfway through my pile, and was rather shocked by the begining. You hear of how preists had instructed their students in the 13th century and are shocked. Being a girl myself, I could see why women would feel awful about themselves. And then you get a veiwpoint swich and we are taken to fourteen year old Johanna who is being told that her husband is dead. Poor dear, she can barely contain her joy as the news is being told to her. You later hear that he was a cruel man who beat Johanna, blamed her for the lack of an heir, and flaunted his mistresses in her face. Then there is the local preist who beats the following facts into Johanna's brain: you are a woman, women are slime, you will never amount to anything, blah, blah, blah. So this poor teen is scared out of her mind, and amazingly happy to be free. Knowing that something bad might happen, she smartly files for a divorce, just in case. Two years later, the king demands that she must marry. Although reveling in her spinsterhood, Johanna has no choice. The trusty brother comes to the rescue and whisks Johanna off to the highlands where she is to marry his friend, Gabriel. Johanna is natuarally terified of marriage given her past experiences and defies her strong new husband. When Gabriel introduces her to real passion, though, she is forced to admit to herself that he is not the monster her first husband was and that she is falling in love with him. And she realizes she may trust him and that he will protect her. The fishyness behind Johanna's first husband's death starts to reveal itself, and the precious new love is put to it's first test. Will Johanna and Gabriel survive? One of the reasons I loved this book was that the characters' actions were clearly described so there was no doubt about what was going to happen. Also, there was definatly a hard coating to Gabriel and I think he is Ms. Garwood's BIGGEST male, but he was also very loving and heartstopping. Johanna was wonderful and truly had Gariel wrapped around her little finger. But their's was a rare love and it made the pages sparkle like gold. The topic of female degregation by the church was obviously well researched by Ms. Garwood and it shows. It is also so well written into the book that I actually screamed at it becuase of the unfairness of the issue. I sincerely hope that Ms. Garwood writes a continuation of this story, and I think it will go over extremely well with her fans.
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