Rating: 
Summary: Truly Original Historical
Review: Genevieve MacPhail, spinster daughter of an aristocrat, has opened her home to orphaned and imprisoned children in this novel set in 1861 Scotland. In the process of rescuing fifteen-year-old Jack from his prison cell, she meets his cellmate, Haydon Kent, Marquess of Redmond. Though injured, Haydon defends Jack against a brutal beating by a prison guard. Genevieve is amazed that Haydon would put himself in harm's way for Jack, given that Haydon is on the verge of being hanged for murder. Upon his release, Jack manages to take the guard's keys and unlock Haydon from his cell. Beaten and feverish, Haydon turns up at Genevieve's home, and her six children beg her to save him. Though she know that she could be implicated if he is found in her home, she nurses him back to health. Haydon knows that he must leave eventually to clear his name, but he wishes to wait until he can help Genevieve rectify some difficult financial problems. Things go a little awry when he is forced to explain his presence to Genevieve's former fiancee, and he introduces himself as Genevieve's husband, Mr. Blake. Will Haydon be able to clear his name without abandoning the children he has come to care for, and will Genevieve still see him as her knight in shining armour when he discovers the life he previously led? Karyn Monk has written a wonderfully crafted tale, complete with a truly selfless heroine and hero healed by the power of love. How refreshing to read of a noblewoman who has forsaken her wealth and social status to see to the needs to destitute children. And how eartwarming to find a hero, though scarred, who is capable of recognizing that the depth of the heroine's love for him can heal his wounds. The depth of the characters is more than skin-deep. Monk alludes to the difficulties faced by Genevieve as evidenced in her paintings. As secondary characters, the children and household staff are an exemplary creation of supporting players. The special bond between crippled Charlotte and Jack becomes apparent as this novel nears to a close. This book is a definite keeper, and one can hardly wait for Jack's story to follow.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I have read all of Karyn Monk's books and have loved them, especially her earlier ones. This one, however, I could not get into and what little I did read I didn't like. This one I would recommend you pass on buying and get it from a book exchange in stead. Save your money for some of the better books that are out there.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I only take the time to write reviews on books that are very, very good or extremely bad. This book is very, very good. The book was hard to put down. It is very well written (excellent descriptions of the place and time the story takes place)and the characters, especially the heroine, are wonderful. Great book!
Rating: 
Summary: I can't wait until the next one!
Review: I really liked this book! I have recommended it to several people. You really can't help but like these characters. Genevieve is one of the few female characters I really can say I like. She was strong, loving, and put other people's needs in front of her own. Haydon is also very likeable. Noble and clever I thought he was truly a good man. The love they have between themselves and the children they care for really touched me. The reason I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 stars is because I became more interested in the secondary characters moreso than Genevieve and Haydon. Although the secondary characters are children, they really cared for one another in spite of themselves. I can't wait to read about them next! Really I rate the book a 4 1/2 stars because it is well worth the time and money to read it.
Rating:
Summary: I can't wait until the next one!
Review: I really liked this book! I have recommended it to several people. You really can't help but like these characters. Genevieve is one of the few female characters I really can say I like. She was strong, loving, and put other people's needs in front of her own. Haydon is also very likeable. Noble and clever I thought he was truly a good man. The love they have between themselves and the children they care for really touched me. The reason I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 stars is because I became more interested in the secondary characters moreso than Genevieve and Haydon. Although the secondary characters are children, they really cared for one another in spite of themselves. I can't wait to read about them next! Really I rate the book a 4 1/2 stars because it is well worth the time and money to read it.
Rating:
Summary: An exciting and exhilarating romance
Review: In 1861 Scotland, Marquess Haydon Kent resides in prison waiting to hang for a murder he swears he did not commit. However, though weary, he refuses to allow a guard to abuse a child. He intercedes and takes a beating for his actions. Genevieve MacPhail hates seeing children thrown into prison. She bribes the prison governor to release the children to her. Though she wants to help the bruised Haydon, she knows she cannot. Instead she leaves with her latest charge unaware that Haydon has followed them to her home. Unable to refuse to help a person in need, Genevieve brings him into her home not realizing that she and Haydon will fall in love, even as they try to prove his innocence. First of all this novel does not star Patrick McGoohan. Instead, the tale is an exciting nineteenth century romance starring two strong protagonists and several children and ex-cons, wards of the heroine. The hero is flawed, blaming himself for the death of his child that he knows will haunt him to the grave. The heroine is too perfect but readers will forgive Kathryn Monk because they too will fall for the charm of the abused children. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: A Triumph of Human Spirit
Review: In her latest book The Prisoner, Karyn Monk once more gifts readers with a glorious novel that lifts the spirit and touches the heart. Ms Monk is a storyteller non pareil who creates a cast of characters so real and vivid you could almost expect them to jump off the pages and settle in for tea in your living room. As she has in previous works, the author places her characters in jeopardy, often with incredibly dark moments, but with her deft hand at humor the stories never drag or depress. In fact, the dark challenges and conflicts -- both external and emotional -- only make the resolutions and triumphs more rewarding. In particular with The Prisoner, I enjoy how Ms. Monk sets her hero, heroine and surrounding family of characters on the personal path to find their own sense of honor and nobility. It's a difficult journey, particularly for the hero who must overcome a desolute, wasted and dishonorable past to truly become heroic and believe himself worthy in the eyes and heart of the heroine. The Prisoner offers irrefutable proof that nobility has nothing to do with lofty titles and wealthy estates but instead is found in the boldest, most loving of human spirits. Well done, Ms. Monk.
Rating:
Summary: This Author Never Disappoints
Review: The Prisoner is another wonderful story mixing humor with some very emotional moments. The heroine, Genevive, is a very likeable character. She sticks to her principles and always stays true to herself despite the hard time polite society gives her. Not only that but she is just a nice person who will help anyone in trouble. The hero learns a great deal from the heroine and changes from the arrogant aristocrat to a loving husband who falls equally in love with the heroine's band of orphans. I just loved this story because the hero and heroine have had such a hard time, you want to see them together. The romance is gradual and not based solely on physical appearance or physical attraction. Karyn Monk fans will not be disappointed with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Definitely not her best book, but an ok one time read.
Review: There are so many very complete story reviews that I will only speak to overall status. Monk usually does a wonderful job but for some reason this was lacking. The storyline itself had great potential but it swerved hither and yon. At one point she called the bad guy (vincent) Victor. That type of error really annoys me. The heartwarming part of the story was the children and Haydon and Genevieves devotion to their welfare. That's very unique in a plot. The book is unclear on the origins of most of the characters. Monk shows incredible sensitivity in her description of Genevieve's paintings and the meaning of those renderings. Truly insightful. The book spends most of 340 pages attending to the trouble hayden is in but in the end resolves everything in about 20 pages . Just a tad like it may have been book deadline time. And thought the ending is cutesey it really IS cute! Who reads historical romance for hard realism anyway.
Woud I go out and buy it, probably not but I'd ck it out of a library for a quick read just for the "kids" dialogue....
p.s. there is supposed to be a "jack" sequel.......
Rating:
Summary: Definitely not her best book, but an ok one time read.
Review: This book was not about Genevieve and Haydon, it was about the children. Karyn Monk has such potential but I don't think she knows what type of book she wants to write. Her writing is far more intelligent than some other writers, but she needs to entwine that intelligence with a romantic plot. She strays from what the romance reader wants to read. I wouldn't recommend this one for fans of the romance genre.
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