Rosehaven

Rating:
Summary: Written in haste, readers repent
Review: Dialogue stilted. Characters barely sketched and too similar to others she's written. Plot convoluted, but not well revealed. Lots of short sentences. Some without verbs. Reads like a rough draft.

Rating:
Summary: Title should have been different.
Review: I must say that though I did enjoy this book, it could have been better . I agree with the others opinions about how Rosehaven was only a blip in the whole context of the story. The villan should have also gotten her due.Not the best but the animals were well written I think that I liked them the best!

Rating:
Summary: This is worse than the books writen in the 70's
Review: I have long been a fan oa Coulter's but not even my fondnes for the auther could overcome my discust for the way the women in this book are treated. The mesage seems to be men are mean but they are also so stupid that if you just make thim happy in bed they will "put up with" your womenish ways. The only desent part about this book is that it finally ends.

Rating:
Summary: Fiesty heroine triumphs in love and lust.
Review: After reading two negative reviews on the book here on the Amazon site I'd thought I'd present the positive side. I've never read a Catherine Coulter book before, and don't typically read "romance novels" so I began without expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. The heroine, Hastings, was able to hold on to her firey personality despite an arranged marriage with a husband who seemed dead set on having an obedient wife. She seemed to listen to the advice of older more experienced women and make the marriage more tolerable, and finally fullfilling, while never crushing her own tenacious spirit. The groom, while slower to learn to appreciate his fiesty wife, did grow to find her nature irresistable. Hasting's herbal remedies added interest to her character as well. The sex scenes surprised me in their vivid descriptions, but I did not find them offensive. While the title of the book is rather misleading since the journey to Rosehaven is merely a small subplot in the book, I found the book entertaining and fun to read. Jody Clin

Rating:
Summary: Sex and violence in 1277 A.D.
Review: I was left curiously flat after reading this romance. The heroine was a fishwife and her husband an unfeeling clod. That would be OK if the author had redeemed the characters by exploring their depths, revealing their joys and sorrows, etc., but that just didn't happen. I still didn't like either of them much at the end of the book. The "Rosehaven" subplot is thrown in almost as an afterthought and adds nothing to the real story. Worst of all, the true villain of the book, not the one the author would have you believe is the bad guy, does not get her richly-deserved comeuppance (I would have loved to see her drink a potion that would turn her glorious head of hair green or something.) Good dialogue, realistic background, and decent sex scenes do make the book worth reading

Rating:
Summary: Not her best romance
Review: While I normally adore the escapism in Catherine Coulter's romances, and I will always buy her books on the strength of her name, this is one I'd actually recommend to avoid unless you are desperate for airplane reading. First, and most offensively, it contains a disturbing number of quasi-rapes (with a "she would have enjoyed it if she only relaxed" attitude that romance novels occasionally have that truly bothers me). This is a surprising change from her novels in the past, especially in the attitude in which it was written. Along a similar vein, it also has as a plot thread a "taming" of the heroine that I found more repressive than cooperative in nature and it isn't redeemed, as most romance plots of this nature are, by the equal "taming" of the hero. Third, and most surprisingly for Ms. Coulter, her plot is not strong enough to make me forget, or at least ignore, these features. It is disjointed, abrupt, unoriginal, and contains numerous "twists" that lead only to boring dead-ends. I kept reading because I thought it was going to get better, and it never did. I couldn't escape a busride with this book, and I certainly don't recommend this one

Rating:
Summary: Great Medival Read!!
Review: Perhaps those that criticize this book do so not understanding the difference between the sexes during the medieval period and later regency times. I am not as fond of earlier period books but Rosehaven is to me an exception. I loved Severin and Hastings and found their romance very intriging and interesting - certainly not in any ways boring. For a couple that was thrown together in an arranged marriage - they both certainly came together in the end in such a loving and compelling manner - for that period of time it was a true love story. Catherine Coulter is one of the few authors that seems to have great loves stories both in modern times and in the past. She wins again for me with Rosehaven!!

Rating:
Summary: 12th Century Romance...
Review: As I've found with reading romance stories designed at the time period of Rosehaven, it must be extremely challenging for a modern day author (a woman at that) to write and readers to fantasize about "romance" during a period when the oppression and atrocities committed against women were at unheard of proportions and their rights equaled that of a cow...

Rarely do I feel as though the lead male (Severin) should be pitied in stories written during this time period; however I'll make an exception for this one. Severin was suddenly thrown into filling the roles of being a husband for Hastings and leader/protector for all of her people, as well as those in his own deteriorating keep. He was the one sought after and requested to take on Hastings' dieing father's wishes. He stepped up to the challenge as best his experiences and knowledge of what was considered a "man" during that time period - barbaric, domineering and insensitive most of the time -- true to character for crusading knights during 1277. As far as I'm concerned, he was consistently disrespected by Hastings - calling him names, insulting him intimately, throwing things at him. She acted so spoiled and haughty. What irked me the most was HER attitude. Especially given her alternative would have been a heartless, desperate, murdering, real "toad" of a knight.

It was obvious he hadn't had much experience with virgins the first night he went into lay with her. He really believed what he was doing would make it less painful for her to endure his initial entry, as well as potential pregnancy (i.e. measuring the span of her hips to carry a child to term). He had already suffered the death of a wife and son during child birth. However, as their flaring tempers were put aside, he thought he was truly blessed with having her as a wife - love kicked in and they shared a wonderful, sensual relationship.

It was good that Hastings had older, experienced women to consult with; even if their answer to everything seemed to be, `a way to a man's heart is not his stomach, but good, constant sex'...what a hoot for women to be thinking like that during that time period.

I really can't say much more about this story than what has already been written and not spoil it for someone. I recommend that when you read it keep it within the social realities of the 12th century. CC did a good job balancing humor, jealousy and mystery.



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.