Rating: Summary: A huge disappointement Review: Teresa Medeiros used to be a good writer. Shadows and Lace is one of my all-time favorites and although, in my opinion, she has never equaled that book, her subsequent efforts were good enough to remain on my keeper shelf. But lately. . .I don't know what to say. I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but Charming the Prince was awful. And so is this book. A silly plot, contrived partings, heavy-handed attempts at humor, the stereotypical sisters, I could go on and on, but I won't. Suffice it to say, I was terribly disappointed. Ms. Medeiros has shown such talent in the past, I can only hope she will show it again. Until she does, this is the last book of hers I will ever buy.
Rating: Summary: A new Teresa Medeiros classic! Review: Practical, level-headed Gwendolyn Wilder doesn't believe in dragons...but the superstitious highlanders of Ballybliss do...and they will do anything they can to rid themselves of the Dragon's curse ....including getting a fair virgin to satisfy the beast's insatiable appetite. Being the only virgin in town, Gwendolyn finds herself securely bound to a post as a sacrificial lamb waiting to be slaughtered - or - more accurately devoured by this mythical beast. Imagine her surprise when "the dragon" emerges from a stream of silver smoke to take her away... The "dragon" turns out to be devastatingly handsome man (though he hides his face from Gwendolyn) who is much more dangerous than any real dragon could be....and when he decides to make a "pet" of the fair Gwen, the fun begins.... I discovered Teresa Medeiros with the wonderful CHARMING THE PRINCE and have been a fan ever since. Her heroines are usually smart, funny and have a good head on their shoulders....and Gwendolyn Wilder, the heroine of THE BRIDE AND THE BEAST is no exception. The Dragon is charming, virile, dangerous and everything a sexy hero should be. I loved reading this offbeat humorous retelling of Beauty and the Beast and couldn't put it down. If you like a bit of offbeat humor mixed in with your romance, this one is for you. Enjoy.
Rating: Summary: Well worth reading Review: In 1761, in the Scottish Highlands, the Dragon of Weycraig haunts the villagers of Ballybliss. To keep the dragon from destroying them, the locals decide to sacrifice the virgin Gwendolyn Wilder, who expects to be sleeping in her bed that night because she knows mythical beasts do not live. She enters the ruined hall of the former Laird, killed fifteen years ago, only to see first hand the beast. When Gwen reawakens from her faint, she sees a man who apparently is hiding. He is forced to hold her captive because a freed Gwen would wreck his plans of vengeance on the person who, fifteen years ago, treacherously sold out his family for a few "shekels." He has set in motion a plan to destroy the person responsible for the deaths of his loved ones. However, the Beast never expected to fall in love with his prisoner. THE BRIDE AND THE BEAST is a beautiful adult fairy tale that uses humor to ease the growing tension centering on the revenge story line theme. The novel is well written, brimming with excitement, and loaded with romantic tension. Gwen is a fabulous heroine while "he" is everyone's darling, an intrepid individual learning that love is a stronger sustenance than vengeance and hatred. With her magical writing touch, Teresa Medeiros makes historical romances that never quench the readers' thirst for more works by a master spellcaster. Harriet Klausner
Rating: Summary: Confessions of a Hopeless Romantic Review: It's never easy being the only virgin in town! That's what Gwendolyn Wilder discovers when the superstitious Highlanders of Ballybliss decide to sacrifice her to the "Dragon" who has been terrorizing their village. Of course, the ever practical Gwendolyn doesn't believe in dragons so you can imagine her surprise when she ends up as the pampered prisoner of a man who refuses to show her his face. I've always found "Beauty and the Beast" to be one of the most romantic and irresistible fairy tales. Of course, you readers know I have a wicked tendency to tweak those fairy tales just a bit. Just look what I did to poor Cinderella in last year's CHARMING THE PRINCE! I hope you enjoy reading THE BRIDE AND THE BEAST as much as I enjoyed writing it. Gwendolyn and her "Dragon" taught me to believe in something even more magical than a fairy tale--true love! Happy reading, Teresa Medeiros
Rating: Summary: A thoroughly satisfying read............ Review: Medeiros is one of the best authors the romance genre has to offer, and this book is one of her best. I loved the characters and the plot was engrossing and inventive.
Rating: Summary: Wonderful Review: I have only read a few of Teresa Medeiros books, but this one had me rolling. The story line was unique and hilarious. My husband kept giving me strange looks when I would burst out laughing from this story. It was a joy to read and I am headed off to pick up a few more of her books now.
Rating: Summary: Classic Teresa Medeiros Review: Gwendolyn Wilder has always been in love with Bernard Macullough, future laird of the clan Macullough of the Castle Weycraig, Ballybliss, Scotland. As a child she used to spy upon Bernard from the top of a tree. Until one day the village betray the clan to the English and the whole family is slaughtered by the English.
Many years later, the Castle Weycraig is inhabited by a most fierce dragon who demands that the village send him food and other items. One such demand included that the village send to the dragon one thousand pounds. Unable to come up with the money, the village decide to send to him a virgin. The only maiden left in the village is Gwendolyn. So the village dress up Gwendolyn and take her up to the castle where they tie her to the stake, for her to await the mysterious dragon.
Gwendolyn faints and awakes to find herself in a bedchamber in the daunting castle Weycraig. Her captor is no fierce dragon but a disarmingly handsome man who will not reveal his face to her. The "dragon" decides to keep Gwendolyn as a captive in his castle because he does not wish for her to reveal his secret. He visits her in the night to watch her sleep and finds her exquisitely beautiful and would like nothing more than to take her in his arms but he stops himself. He lavishes her with ornate presents each day and Gwedolyn finds herself falling in love with her mysterious captor. As the identity if the "dragon" is revealed to the villagers, Gwendolyn does her best to protect her "dragon".
This was a beautifully written story. A twist on the Beauty and the Beast theme. It was nice to read that Gwendolyn was no waif but a real curvy woman that the "dragon" found beautiful. The love story between the two protagonists was a joy to read. A slow build up to a beautiful love story. Teresa Medeiros has a wonderful way of weaving a yarn and I have yet to be disappointed by one of her books yet. A most marvellous author.
Lea Ling Tsang
Rating: Summary: Not bad, but... Review: I must admit, I liked this book better than the only other one of Teresa Medeiros' titles that I've read, which was 'Fairest Of Them All'. I might even have given this one three and a half stars if I could have. For all that it's not exactly a master work of modern literature, it's still not a bad example of the 'romance' genre, and features some rather good writing in places, along with a few very interesting supporting characters (I did like the slutty sisters!) But I was annoyed that the author suspended logic a bit too often.
For instance, could a not-particularly strong man really carry a bathtub full of water up the steep, crumbling steps of a tower? (That would weigh a ton!) And how is it that the hero always seems to see exactly what the heroine looks like in the dark, right down to the shape of her breasts, while she can't see him at all? (Is it that only the hero has been eating his carrots?) And why is it that the heroine feels unattractive for being a bit plump when the year is 1761? Sure, small waists were in vogue back then, but plumpness was still considered an attractive attribute, especially since it was a sign of affluence. The author has definitely put some modern day values into her heroine's initial dissatisfaction with her body image, and used them to try and make us feel empathy for her--after all, many of her readers will undoubtedly feel the same pressure to conform, and be thin. But those are today's society's values, not necessarily those of rural Scotland in the 1700s.
That said, when you set the novel's many incongruous flaws aside, this is still a sweet, mostly light-hearted story which the majority of undemanding romance readers will thoroughly enjoy. If you're looking for a quick, easy, formulaic read starring a heroine who's easy to relate to then this is probably a more-than suitable book for you.
However, I would like to finish this review by making a point. Teresa Medeiros' books--and in fact many of those written by other romance writers--seem to use a lot of plotlines that involve women being imprisoned (like this one did), held against their will, mentally tortured, humiliated, sexually harrassed and pawed over unremittingly. If this was the plot of a movie, especially a pornographic one, there would be a huge outcry from women's and family-oriented lobby groups, and it would probably be banned (or at least, it would be in my country, where only non-violent erotica is allowed in films, and sexual harrssment is against the law.) But somehow, romance books are allowed to include these at times disturbing elements, often with the enthusiastic encouragement of us women, who buy them by the millions and clamour for more. Moreover, these books are not rated 'adults only', and can even be sold to kids! Please understand me, I'm not trying to make a protest here--I'm just saying, it does seem a rather odd double standard. We deride men for their love of porn, and pass laws about it, but look what we ourselves read! Personally, I don't consider imprisonment and humiliation 'romantic', and I think romance writers would do better if they backed away from these troubling themes (even in historical romances, which are obviously set in what were harsher times for women) and focused more on humourous, intelligent, well thought out storylines instead. Characters can still have compelling confrontations and disagreements without resorting to violent, barbaric means. But then what do I know, eh? I haven't sold millions of romance books. I've just read a few of 'em...
Rating: Summary: It was okay. Review: I would not read this book more than once. I cannot compare thisbook to the other three books I've read by her(Charming the Prince, Whisper of Roses, One Night of Scandle.).
I must say, the only reason I bought this book because I liked its' prologue. The rest of the story seemed silly to me.
Rating: Summary: LOVED IT Review: I am a fairly new reader to Teresa Medeiros, but i LOVE this book! It was fun and spunky. there were somethings that were a tad annoying and such, but it was a lot of fun to read.
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