Rating: 
Summary: Actually 2 1/2 stars
Review: This novel would have rated better if not for these aspects:
1) The marten thing took up too much time and was unrealistic. I realize that Coulter created a pet for Severin because she wants readers to realize this warrior has a "sensitive" side, but I sincerely doubt that such a man would have a pet that he keeps with him 24/7.2) I've always hated romance novels where an old flame from the hero's past still commands a good deal of his attention. In this novel, the hero still lusts after Marjorie, even though he's already had satisfying sex with the heroine. Yes, I know that this can very well happen in "real life"; but in the fantasy of a romance novel, readers like to know that the hero only has eyes for the heroine. 3) The brutal taking of the heroine by the hero to consummate the marriage. I know that this wasn't uncommon, but my main complaint is that it didn't make any sense. The hero reveals (in his thoughts) that he knows how to make a woman feel good during sex and that he enjoys doing so, but then he ignores all that and just forces himself on his wife? It doesn't compute. It's clear that he's more considerate with strange women he sleeps with (like the one he has sex with during the first month of his marriage) than he is to his wife. 4) The message that men can be "handled" with sex is nauseating.
Rating:
Summary: it's ok
Review: this is an Ok read i liked some of the characters however i thought it had a bad elements like the humiliation aspect that severin loved to infict on hastings, and in the end despite all the things he did to her he never really realised they were bad things and even the apology that he gave for most of the stuff he did was ridiculous i think that this is not a very well written book and i say skip it.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Read
Review: Catherine Coulter is my favorite author. The detail of the characters (as in all of her books) gave me a picture. Severeign was a man of power, a stubborn man, but he admits his guilts and mistakes. He wanted to give more to Hastings, but wanted her to initiate everything. You could not help but fall in love with her character. There are twists and turns, but everything falls into place. It was nice to see Graelam de Moreton in this book. You could learn more about him in the Song Quartet (excellent). Severeign reminded me of him. This was a delight to read.
Rating:
Summary: LIGHTEN UP ON THE PC SENSIBILITIES WILL YA!!
Review: THE STORY TAKES PLACE IN 1277 FOR GOD'S SAKE!! Men were pigs, women were possessions, unwanted sexual advances and physical violence were a daily occurrence! If this sort of thing makes you uncomfortable, read something more sugary and tame. I'd rather have a little bit of reality intrude on the fantasy! I thought this was a cracking good read! I thought that Severin, the male "lead" was hysterical (though the whole dressing in all grey thing I could have done without). He stomps around trying to intimidate and dominate in order to prove he's a man and the master of his newly acquired castle. He screams, he shouts, he throws things, he pouts - he's a big baby who wants his way ALL THE TIME (you know, a man!). I laughed out loud at him! Hastings I'm not sure exactly what I think of her. She handled him the best way she could and ultimate won in the end (as they always do). I thought she was sweet in her naivete but not sickly so. Nor was she a total doormat either. But I must admit that the whole sex-solves-everything solutions the women come up with was a bit nauseating - but hey it's a sex/romance novel - what else should be expected here!? The whole marten thing was kinda iffy - the only time I felt that the thing was useful was when there were kids involved but I usually don't go for the cutesy animal thing. Bottom line I found it to be a fun book if you can handle the darker aspects of the time period and overlook some of the too-cute stuff. I really did laugh a lot reading it (whether this was what the author intended or not) and found it lots of fun!
Rating: 
Summary: Rosehaven
Review: Quite apart from issues about the rape, oral sex, etc., the plot line is a mess: Marjorie's turnabout, Eloise's turnabout, and worst of all, the missing mother and four female sisters at Rosehaven. (Why is the book named 'Rosehaven?') Those of us who read or write medievals understand the problems inherent in representing to the modern reader the mindset of a society so different from our own. Asking medieval heroines to think and act like women in our time is necessary because the reader has to identify with them but inconsistent with what we know of their lives. We really create fantasies of their lives. Where Coulter misses the mark here is using OTHER women to manipulate the heroine into thinking SHE has wrought a transformation in Severin, and behind it all it is HE who held the strings of them all. A terrible mistake when it comes to the resolution of the conflict between hero and heroine. Finally, Severin is one of the most unappealing heroes I've come across in a long time. It was a chore to get through this thing. No fun at all and downright annoying.
Rating:
Summary: Utter Trash
Review: This is easily the worst work of fiction I've ever struggled through (you may wonder why I bothered- it was the only book I had on an 18-hour flight). The arrogance of the men and the arrangement of marriages (and the rape) may be 100% consistent with the time period, but getting a man and wife to suddenly love each other through the "magic" of oral sex is the most idiotic idea ever put to paper. The back of the book raves about "richly-drawn characters such as Gilbert the Goat". Gilbert is a goat. She gives milk. That's all. What kind of a twit considers this to be a character at all? It's not a Disneyesque talking goat, or even a pet with a personality. All it does is give milk and eat a gauntlet. The title has almost nothing to do with the story- as one other reviewer said, it's just tacked on to the end of the book. The "mysterious place called Rosehaven" is discussed a few chapters in, and then ignored until the last chapter, when people say, "Oh wait- we were going to check out Rosehaven, weren't we?" I see that it's available used for 1 cent. Don't waste your money.
Rating:
Summary: NOT FOR LOVERS OF HISTORICAL FICTION...
Review: This book is not a particularly well written or interesting book. The characters tend to be two dimensional and cartoonish, and the dialogue is often laughable, so contrived is it. While the setting is the thirteenth century, it is not really a historical fiction, but rather, a bawdy romp in the thirteenth century, written more in the style of a romance novel. It is, however, somewhat low in the romance department, unless marital rape qualifies as romance. Though offensive, one should keep in mind that the setting is, after all, the thirteenth century when women were mere chattel and often treated as such. The plot is basic romance fare. Poor Lord marries fair, rich, young woman, whom he had never before met, at the express wish of her dying, wicked father. Married, the now rich Lord attempts to consummate the marriage, so as to solidify his position, much to his new wife's dismay, who will have none of it. He forces himself upon her and treats her in a degrading fashion. He continues to do this. She continues to find ways of thwarting him and asserting herself. Both parties, being strong willed, come to an impasse. They each go on to have adventures that will ultimately prove that each truly loves the other, and that what was initially forced upon them by circumstances is now their heart's desire. Lovers of true historical fiction will be disappointed, while romance readers are the more likely audience for this book. If you are a lover of romance novels, add one star to my rating.
Rating: 
Summary: ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!
Review: I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK. Keep in mind the time period. Women were considered property. This book has a wonderful array of characters. Hastings is a headstrong woman who actually does not change all that much through the book. I have passed this book on to two of my co-workers who loves this hillarious romantic book. Read the entire book and find out what happens. I guarantee you'll love it as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: I HATED this book!!!
Review: I hated this book the first time I read it. Then I read it again and I just hated the carachters. I noticed how rich the plots and how well Coulter stirred my emotions. I hated Marjorie, I wanted to kick Sevreign, I wanted to commiserate with Hastings, and I wanted to love and laugh with the healer. Then I read the book again. It stirred my emotions again like never before. I actuall went outside to read it this time so I could yell at the characters and scream out my outrage at Marjories scheming without disturbing anyone else in the household. Then I read it again and I loved it. I cried and I laughed and I screamed while I read it this time. It is an amazing emotional book. Never a dull moment. And I absolutely loved how everything is worked out in the end. I am always one for happy endings.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This is my favorite romance novel. I read it many years ago and have read it over and over again. The animals in this novel are so cute as they bring the couple together. This is a story about the couple coming to a common ground of understand. I feel both main characters were very strong and did not want to stand down and therefore the conflict of making compromise. Above all else the couple survived their obsticles to find the romance and love.
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