Rosehaven

Rating:
Summary: Please notice the year the story takes place ?!
Review: After reading several reviews posted here, I have to ask if the people who "hated" the book, were offended by the story, and in general trashed the author, publisher and anyone else associated with the writing, actually took notice of the date in history when it took place..? I found it a refreshing smash of reality. Brutal in parts, certainly and at times offensive, but very readable. Relationships were of that nature, right or wrong, vastly different from what we would accept nowadays. I suggest if you want a flowery, la-la land romance, pick up a Harlequin and move along. The thing that did annoy me was the name of the book. It really meant nothing.( I have other thoughts on this story however, I wanted to address specifically what I've read about people saying they were offended.) Thankyou.

Rating:
Summary: "By Saint Ethelbert's Elbows..."
Review: ...I loved this book!!! I listened to the unabridged audiobook and was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Unfortunately, a lot of reviewers seem to be incensed over the violence in this book. The reason I wasn't angry was because it's HISTORICAL romance. Furthermore, it's FICTION. If your going to take this book verbatim and/or judge the behavior in 1277 by 2004 standards, you probably shouldn't bother with this book. I suggest you just enjoy the book for what it is...ENTERTAINMENT.

Rating:
Summary: Subtle humor and great love story regardless!
Review: This review is written and ready to go online. As I prepare to enter it, I am amazed at the tremendous criticism of this book I see already posted. It is apparent my views differ greatly from some other reviewers. I tend to read a book within the context the author has created. If I don't like that author's writing style, I don't read their books again. Coulter is a writer that is on the rougher side of romance. Many would tame that by stating that her writing is politically incorrect. However, when I pick up a Coulter book, I know it is probably not going to be warm and fuzzy and it will probably contain an overly aggressive hero. And since I believe overly aggressive heroes are common then and now, I submerge myself into this different type of romance. I am not making a political statement with this review. I really enjoyed this book and am not ashamed to admit it. I liked the hero and the heroine and don't believe this writing or me to be sick. I think it was very entertaining. Now for my review in it's original form:

I have only recently discovered Catherine Coulter. While I know her writing style can cause great controversy, I have found most of the four Coulter books I have read to date to be quite entertaining. I am somewhat bothered by the hero's ruthlessness in some of her books but I am also one that accepts such ruthless behavior as part of the story and can accept a tarnished man as a hero. Rosehaven is my favorite Coulter book to date. It has a delightful underlying subtle humor and both of the lead characters were well written. I especially liked the heroine, Hastings and how easily she spoke her mind without hatefulness. Usually I don't relish the presence of too many secondary characters but they were so interwoven into the overall story and lives of the hero and heroine that I found them quite interesting. Overall, I had a great time reading this book and put it down only with great reluctance. I eagerly watched for the next time I could continue reading it.

Severin is the hero, a medieval knight who has performed well in the Christian Crusades and is recognized as an accomplished, courageous, and talented man. The Earl of Oxborough has chosen Severin to wed his only daughter, Hastings, claim all of the family's vast estates and riches, and continue the family line. When he first appears at Oxborough Castle, he seems an unfeeling, dominating man who definitely believes he is in charge. He does not hide his disdainful attitude towards his bride-to-be. He is wedding her to obtain lands, title, and riches and in turn will provide heirs and excellent management of the estates. At this point, I was not too crazy about Severin. He seemed totally without feelings as was well noted by Hastings as she told Severin that he had the feelings of a toad.

Hastings is a vivacious and fun heroine forced into an unwanted marriage to this most insensitive man. She attempts to talk her dying father out of the forced wedding but he refuses and insists they marry immediately before he dies. And then there is yet another reason for the urgency - the villain is coming to attack the castle and steal Hastings away and thus obtain her family's lands. Through it all, Hastings keeps her chin up and is quite charming.

One of the greatest criticisms of this book is the abusive hero. Yes, he is an aggressive husband who is definitely tarnished in that he forces the marriage bed. He also humiliates Hastings as he disciplines her for her violent behavior. Although I did not like his choice of discipline, I have to admit that Hastings's continual temper tantrums and many attempts to physically hurt Severin were tiring. She would lose all control and I am amazed a medieval hero would tolerate it as well as he did. Overall I found Severin to be quite a pleasant guy. It was very amusing to watch his love for her grow and grow although he didn't realize it was happening. And that is what I liked best about Rosehaven. Through many trials and tribulations, we get to see the love develop between Severin and Hastings little by little throughout the book. It is not a love that comes together suddenly at the end. We are given pages and pages to savor the growth of this relationship and their romance is the primary storyline. We actually get to see them happy together prior to the end of the book. There are quite a few sensual scenes that rate about a 3.75 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). Although these scenes are not explicit, they are definitely sensual. There is a lot of great chemistry between these two.

Overall, I loved this book! I have not been this enthusiastic about a book in some time. My ability to accept some politically incorrect behavior as part of medieval times definitely plays into this high rating. I realize not everyone can accept the hero's negative behavior. But since I have read other Coulter books, I can compare him to a few of her other heroes. Compared to the heroes in The Devil's Embrace or Season of the Sun, this hero is tame. I am looking forward to yet another Coulter adventure. One thing I have discovered about her writing is that her books can vary tremendously.

Rating:
Summary: An OK read, if you have nothing else to do.
Review: I found the book to be just an ok read. Hastings was a likable character, she had me actually laughing at times with her 'act be for you think' rule. Severin was very believable as far as men go, at least for that time period. I found him to be just a bit on the stupid side when it came to his little silver headed goddess that could do no wrong in his eyes. One of my favorite characters in the book was the Healer. but I dont understand why the love potion didn't work or why was it even included in the story just for the subject to be dropped like it was. That was the only confusting part of the book to me.

I am a avid reader of historical fiction and have read at least 2 other of Ms. Coulter's novels. the sad thing is in all three of the books that I have read so far all of the husbands are cheats and don't really fall in love with their wives until the last 50 to 20 pages of the book. Why is this Ms. Coulter?

Rating:
Summary: Please people let's take the time period into account..
Review: I HAVE to say, I disagree with the reviews I am seeing here about this book. I found it engaging and fun to read. I DO agree the title is a bit irrelevant, but the story, on the whole, is well done. I feel those negative comments are written by people who want to take modern characters, actions and attitudes, and put them in a castle and call THAT a historical novel. By the way, the author never proclaims rape as "right", but she does show that the hero in the story would have considered it so, as IN THOSE DAYS she would have been considered property. Catherine Coulter makes her stories as real and believable as she can, so if reality bothers you, don't read this. Otherwise, I think you'll find it a great read!

Rating:
Summary: Disturbing and Frustrating!!!
Review: If only 0 and negative stars were created!!! This is the second book I have read of Catherine Coulter (the first being Impulse), but had it been the first, I wouldn't touch her books with a ten foot pole.

I need to write this review to get on with my life!!! This book should be called "Rapehaven", not Rosehaven. Ohhh, I can't even write down all the thoughts I feel about this book. First of all, Severin is without a doubt the worst leading male I have ever read about. His egotism is astonighing, and his manners are nothing short of atrocious. After practically raping his "wife" on their wedding night, he doesn't stop there. He can be tolerable when she participates in their merging, but if not, he's a raving lunatic. He doesn't let anyone interfere with his "lust", not even his wife, who he has no problem raping to soothe his manhood. To call this romance is sadistic. If he didn't "need" an heir, I would have told him to forget the marriage and go elsewhere to do the only thing he is capable of..

Hastings, on the other hand, could be a tragic character, with the exception that she falls in love with the jerk. If I were her, I wouldn't have threatened him to kill him, I would have done it!!! The fact that her servant tell her she has to change is deplorable. I realize this is supposed to take place when women had no choice and all about anything at all, but still. There's only soo much a reader can take.

Marjorie is another winner, and her and Severin were made for each other. Hastings should have handed her Severin on a silver platter, getting rid of both of them. And I would have beaten up Eloise to a bloody pulp. The fact that Severin utters Marjorie's name when starting to have sex with Hastings just shows what indeed he is thinking with, if you can call it thinking at all. Evolution seriously reversed itself with him.

The ending doesn't even come close to swaying my thoughts about this book. Wow, Severin finally realizes what a jerk he was about Marjorie and falls in love with Hastings. Too little, and much too late.

Okay, I think I'm done, and do feel a tad better. Maybe I should stick with her books only if she's writing in today's day and age. I don't think I could handle another book by her like this; I'd end up murdering the first man I see!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Another Disappointment
Review: Someone here accused the critics of this book of having "PC sensibilities" in terms of the rape of Hastings by her husband Severin. The fact of the matter is that while such things did indeed occur in the 12th century (and sadly continue into now), the attempt to somehow make such an act erotic stretches the bounds of imagination. There is erotic and then there is sheer cruelty. Rosehaven was sadly the latter.

I disliked Severin. He was the alpha male taken to cartoonish extremes. This could be excused if this were Ms. Coulter's first book, but it isn't. Besides, I've read other historical romances set in this same time period that showed a lot more sensitivity, like 'The Lily and The Leopard' by Susan Wiggs.

I disliked Hastings. She was a doormat incarnate. Enough said.

The marten was a nice touch, and the only saving grace. I would have enjoyed reading about its mating expoloits rather than the dysfunctional relationship between the two humans.

Thankfully, Ms. Coulter redeems herself big time with her wonderfully comic 'Bride Trilogy'.

Rating:
Summary: Rape-fest Romance! So bad it's good!
Review: As to the people trying to excuse this mess with the 'historical accuracy' argument, I think the other reviewers neglected to mention that Sevrin's behavior would be easier to swallow if this had been a story about a woman trapped in a marital nightmare. Asking the audience to believe that Hastings can honestly love Sevrin and vice-versa in all seriousness is just insulting.
This book is awful, but it holds a sick, twisted charm. It's kind of like those home videos where men get hit in the groin by a football; it has tears of laughter running down your cheeks even as you cringe in sympathy. I swear that these characters are the medieval equivalent of guests on the Jerry Springer show. I've read this thing twice, and both times I've had conflicting feelings of disgust and amusement.
It starts out innocently enough. Impoverished, misogynic, yet handsom and manly Lord Sevrin arrives to marry the only child of the dying land-owner and inherit the property. The daughter, Hastings, is a defiant girl with a hot temper. It becomes apparent from the first time Servin opens his mouth that he is a jerk. He also happens to be a close friend of Grealem de Morten, another of Coulter's power-mad rapists. Birds of a feather folks.
The first few rape scenes are brutal, shocking, and disturbing, but after getting past the initial abuse I struck comedy gold!
Watch as characters' personalities change drastically for no apparent reason. Drink some beer every time Servin yells "I will beat you!" Marvel as characters come back from the dead. Everyone is so over-the-top, from the evil ex-lover Marjorie in her quest to lure that abusive lout, Servin, back into her bed to Hastings, the heroine, as the hissing spit-fire to whom abuse, humiliation, and rape are like water off a duck's back.
In every Coulter book, the author always picks some reoccurring theme in which to be cute and funny, but ends up lame and annoying: here it's an obsession with William the Conqueror and Trist, the marten. At least it's not racing kittens.
However, the ending isn't very funny. These are obviously two very dysfunctional people if they earnestly feel love towards each other. Sevrin has am obsessive need to dominate the people around him and he isn't squeamish about being brutal to achieve his ends. Hastings is proud and defiant. Though she does try to go along to get along, she has a limit to how much she can take from him. When this limit is reached she can erupt explosively. Servin probably won't be satisfied until he crushes her spirit completely, which Hastings will fight against. I can really see him killing her one day when she doesn't give into his demands. I really don't think the power of love can change Servin that much. He did revert back to a brutish lout after the part where he and Hastings started to finally get along after all.

Rating:
Summary: Rosehaven
Review: This is the story that made me fall in love with Catherine Coulter books. It kept me captivated from start to finish. I have now read most of her titles, and it all started with this one. Which is why I chose to write a review for it since I noticed it had a lower rating than most of her novels. I wanted to share that this is indead a good read. The charactors are full and human, the men make mistakes your husband could or has made and they frustrate you just as much, you're rooting for Hastings the whole time and willing her not to give in. If you like Catherine Coulter, or even if you have never read her novels and just love a good romance, check it out. There are definately some surprises waiting for you around the castle walls.

Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC BOOK!
Review: I personally thought that this book was great! It had a great plot! The two main characters, Severin and Hastings, had two completely different personalities, but at the end they were able to work everything out! I thought the marten added a great part to Severin's true personality! Althought at times I thought it was a little too much! No matter what, I thought this book was GREAT!