Once A Bride

Rating:
Summary: Ok but VERY predictable
Review: Eloise is the last unmarried daughter of a Knight (Sir John) who has gained great wealth doing his duty to his country and King. At the same time John has made an enemy in a local Earl when he won't either 1 - Give a part of Eloise's dowry land to the Earl or 2 - Let one of the Earl's lesser sons marry his daughter. The book begins with Sir John being accused of treason and fleeing the Castle before the Earl comes to arrest him. The King has sent along Roland to keep the castle in order and keep everyone safe until Sir John is brought to justice and the issue is resolved.

Roland happens to be the half brother to Eloise's' former betrothed (who died on the church steps on the way to their wedding) and there is bad blood between Roland and Eloise as she knew he didn't want her to marry his brother.

Sir John ends up turning himself in to another Earl and ends up in the Tower of London. Eloise escapes the castle to go and help her father. Roland chases her to London (they meet up on the way) and he becomes a huge help to Eloise and her brother (who Eloise has summoned to help with the case) who are trying to gain the release of their father and the clearing of his name.

I found the book to be very predictable. There is even a part of the book the deals with a character with a physical defect. And all of it seemed to just be so "goody goody". Not as good as many that I have read.

Rating:
Summary: Ok but VERY predictable
Review: Eloise is the last unmarried daughter of a Knight (Sir John) who has gained great wealth doing his duty to his country and King. At the same time John has made an enemy in a local Earl when he won't either 1 - Give a part of Eloise's dowry land to the Earl or 2 - Let one of the Earl's lesser sons marry his daughter. The book begins with Sir John being accused of treason and fleeing the Castle before the Earl comes to arrest him. The King has sent along Roland to keep the castle in order and keep everyone safe until Sir John is brought to justice and the issue is resolved.

Roland happens to be the half brother to Eloise's' former betrothed (who died on the church steps on the way to their wedding) and there is bad blood between Roland and Eloise as she knew he didn't want her to marry his brother.

Sir John ends up turning himself in to another Earl and ends up in the Tower of London. Eloise escapes the castle to go and help her father. Roland chases her to London (they meet up on the way) and he becomes a huge help to Eloise and her brother (who Eloise has summoned to help with the case) who are trying to gain the release of their father and the clearing of his name.

I found the book to be very predictable. There is even a part of the book the deals with a character with a physical defect. And all of it seemed to just be so "goody goody". Not as good as many that I have read.

Rating:
Summary: Creaky plot
Review: I had to laugh at the review referring to the overuse of 'tis and 'twould, as I began to see them as old friends after a while, they appeared so often. It did not really help set the period, the creation of which was very patchy.
Eloise Hamelin is left in confusion, by the departure of her father Sir John, after his being charged with treason. The Earl of Kenworth soon arrives, along with Sir Roland St. Marten to pursue the matter. Kenworth obviously has a personal axe to grind and knows more about the affair. Roland is sent by King Edward to manage the estate in the interim.
Spice is added to the mix, by the earlier acrimony between Eloise and Roland from the non-marriage of her to his half-brother Hugh. The tale then trots along a bit bumpily to machinations and plots, as Eloise escapes to help her father and Roland pursues.
It's not a bad story, but the predictability overwhelms -especially as regards the spirited Eloise. She has the label 'feisty' written all over her and was the least medieval of ladies and allegedly perfect to all and sundry. Then there was the way the pair finally fell into each other's arms ...
Not unpleasant, but very creaky.

Rating:
Summary: A winner
Review: In 1333 Lelleford Castle, Sir John Hamelin informs his beloved daughter Eloise that he must flee before the Earl of Kenworth arrests him for seditious acts against the king. John denies that he performed any treacherous acts informing his daughter to act normal when his "escort" arrives.

Kenworth arrives with Hugh St. Marten, half-brother to Eloise's deceased fiancé who died on the church steps just prior to their wedding vows. Hugh opposed the marriage. As Kenworth becomes angrier over John's clever escape, Eloise turns to Hugh for protection though she would prefer Satan. As they fall in love, they try to expose a nefarious plot to condemn John and make Eloise daughter to a traitor.

The story line focuses on how easily a loyal lord can be named traitor in medieval society and how difficult it is to prove your innocence even if you have royal connections. With that as a backdrop fans receive a delightful medieval romantic suspense starring two individuals besieged by love, guilt over of a recently deceased loved one, and the fears for the safety of the heroine's father. While the lead couple is undergoing a stressful relationship, sub-genre readers will appreciate this wonderful tale of court intrigue.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A winner
Review: In 1333 Lelleford Castle, Sir John Hamelin informs his beloved daughter Eloise that he must flee before the Earl of Kenworth arrests him for seditious acts against the king. John denies that he performed any treacherous acts informing his daughter to act normal when his "escort" arrives.

Kenworth arrives with Hugh St. Marten, half-brother to Eloise's deceased fiancé who died on the church steps just prior to their wedding vows. Hugh opposed the marriage. As Kenworth becomes angrier over John's clever escape, Eloise turns to Hugh for protection though she would prefer Satan. As they fall in love, they try to expose a nefarious plot to condemn John and make Eloise daughter to a traitor.

The story line focuses on how easily a loyal lord can be named traitor in medieval society and how difficult it is to prove your innocence even if you have royal connections. With that as a backdrop fans receive a delightful medieval romantic suspense starring two individuals besieged by love, guilt over of a recently deceased loved one, and the fears for the safety of the heroine's father. While the lead couple is undergoing a stressful relationship, sub-genre readers will appreciate this wonderful tale of court intrigue.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Humdrum. 2.5 Stars.
Review: In Shari Anton's "Once a Bride", the author holds the weary reader in labored suspense. Although it is a tale of romance, medieval court tactics rule most of the pages. The sovereignty charges Eloise Hamelin's father with treason and then holds him a prisoner. He waits in the Tower of London for the King's judgment. The King places Eloise's properties in the hands of his noble knight - Roland St. Marten. The history between Eloise and St. Marten is familiar but awkward. Once upon a time, Eloise was to wed St. Marten's brother. A brother he dearly loved.

Nevertheless, this is a romance. Before long, desire attracts our adversaries to one other, but just how far should their relationship go? The author quickly reduces the reader's anxiety by allowing Eloise's fourteen-year-old maid and St. Marten's sixteen-year-old squire to give the worrywarts counsel -- yup, two young'uns who certainly know the score.

In this medieval tale, Anton tries to show society's ease in condemning a loyal noble subject. Furthermore, the author aims for romantic suspense by exposing our couple to conspiracy and treason. Yet in the end, Anton's tale has a flimsy plot and a diluted location. A tale relating to the middle ages? Sorry the occasional usage of 'Twould and 'Tis just didn't convince me.

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

Rating:
Summary: Humdrum. 2.5 Stars.
Review: In Shari Anton's "Once a Bride", the author holds the weary reader in labored suspense. Although it is a tale of romance, medieval court tactics rule most of the pages. The sovereignty charges Eloise Hamelin's father with treason and then holds him a prisoner. He waits in the Tower of London for the King's judgment. The King places Eloise's properties in the hands of his noble knight - Roland St. Marten. The history between Eloise and St. Marten is familiar but awkward. Once upon a time, Eloise was to wed St. Marten's brother. A brother he dearly loved.

Nevertheless, this is a romance. Before long, desire attracts our adversaries to one other, but just how far should their relationship go? The author quickly reduces the reader's anxiety by allowing Eloise's fourteen-year-old maid and St. Marten's sixteen-year-old squire to give the worrywarts counsel -- yup, two young'uns who certainly know the score.

In this medieval tale, Anton tries to show society's ease in condemning a loyal noble subject. Furthermore, the author aims for romantic suspense by exposing our couple to conspiracy and treason. Yet in the end, Anton's tale has a flimsy plot and a diluted location. A tale relating to the middle ages? Sorry the occasional usage of 'Twould and 'Tis just didn't convince me.

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.