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Summary: Bride Of The Beast is a Beauty!!!
Review: I believe Sue-Ellen Welfonder is THEE best historical writer of Scottish romance I've ever read. This author goes to great lengths to research her era, and travel to the places she writes about; incorporating accurate historical surroundings, traditions, beliefs, and folklore, to place her incredible characters in.
I was completely taken by the heartwarming emotions of Sir Marmaduke Strongbow, a battle torn knight scarred and maimed, living life with a face too frightening to behold; and the headstrong woman he was sent to save, Lady Caterine Keith.
With each turn of the page I escaped into the heart of this story, its emotional intensity actually making me believe I was there......and I definitely didn't want to leave. When I read the last page I was disappointed....not in the book...but that I was finished, and I'd have to say goodbye to characters I had grown to love.
I wait with anticipation to read the next, and the next, and the next Sue-Ellen Welfonder novel. This author is a champion in what she does. A better read cannot be found.
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Summary: Another Good Story by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Review: I loved this book....Sir Marmaduke Strongbow deserved to be loved ...even though it took awhile before Lady Catherine discovered that he was the soul mate for her. I like books that make me cry and make me smile...this book does it. Oh and I loved the sensual parts too. The only complaint I have is these books cannot be written fast enough for me....so I wait impatiently for the next book by Sue-Ellen Welfonder.
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Summary: delightful fourteenth century Scottish romance
Review: In 1330 Scotland, widow Lady Caterine Keith struggles to keep her strategically located Dunlaidir Castle safe from the odious Sassunach like malevolent Sir Hugh de la Hogue who insists she marry him. Her best friend Lady Rhona sends a message to Caterine's sister Linnet, married to Duneen Mackenzie, for help. Linnet obtains a pledge from loyal knight and friend Sir Marmaduke Strongbow to keep her sibling safe.Marmaduke arrives at the castle, but is rejected by Caterine not because of his scarred visage, but because he is English. In spite of his tainted blood, Caterine believes her sibling would only send someone she trusts. Caterine offers a pretend marriage, but the honorable Marmaduke insists on a real wedding. She agrees, not understanding that Marmaduke wants her not the estate. A sequel, BRIDE OF THE BEAST, is a delightful fourteenth century Scottish romance that brings back characters from DEVIL IN A KILT to include Marmaduke. The story line is typical of the sub-genre, but what makes it stand out is the lead couple especially the male protagonist. His honor, loyalty, and compassion make him a hero for any age while Caterine is an intrepid lady who is the perfect complement to the male champion. Historical readers will enjoy Sue-Ellen Welfonder's wonderful writing that shows she is one of the top knights of the era. Harriet Klausner
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Summary: Medieval romance at its best!
Review: Lady Caterine Keith is sick and tired of husbands who die on her. She vows to never wed again--tis too hard on her heart. She just wants to be left alone but her wishes are for naught when Sir Hugh de la Hogue courts her. His threats to go to the king if she refuses his suit are of no consequence to her. She will not share her bed with him or anyone else. The suggestion that she ask her sister for a champion reaches her ears; but she will not yield to the pleas to take a third husband even in name only. Lord Marmaduke Strongbow has spent most of his warrior life fighting battles for Scotland and fighting off women. He has loved and lost but is not willing to give up on his dream of lasting love until an accident mars his face. He is disfigured but the mutilation of his flesh takes second place to the scarring of his soul. How can he ask a woman to become his wife when he has nothing to offer her? His future is a bleak hole of uncertainty until the wife of his best friend requests a favor of him to become her sister's champion. Ms. Welfonder excels in her third medieval romance. The battle lines are set and then crossed as both Caterine and Sir Marmaduke fight enemies as well as their hearts. The addition of previous characters from Devil In A Kilt, a wee dog with a heart of a lion and secondary characters that have a story of their own, kept me entertained. As a book reviewer for two romance magazines, I am anxiously awaiting Sue-Ellen's fourth book. With three compelling reads, including Knight In My Bed, under her belt, I am holding my breath to see how she mesmerizes her readers next.
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Summary: Bride of the Beast
Review: Lady Caterine Keith of Dunlaidir is in need of a champion to defend her strategically located castle. She's been widowed twice and doesn't want another husband. Well, maybe a pretend one would do. Her matchmaking sister, Linnet, the bride of Duncan MacKenzie, sends Sir Marmaduke Strongbow to her aid. He is a battle-scarred warrior who is valiant and true, but will only accept her offer if she will marry him and be a true wife to him. In addition, Marmaduke has to fight off some viscous suitors and help a young laird find his rightful place in Dunlaidir. He has his work cut out for him. You will love his techniques in love and battle. <Grin> Oh, what a knight! BRIDE OF THE BEAST is a thrilling story that delves into the deep emotions of Caterine and Marmaduke as they struggle to overcome their past and find a love not only to chase the shadows away, but also to last forever. It is so sensual at times it gives you goose bumps. The power and magnificence of Marmaduke will leave you breathless. Ms. Welfonder spins pure magic with her vibrant characters she brings to life in Scotland in 1330. It makes you wish you were living then and sharing the love and the danger. No wonder Ms. Welfonder won the award for Best First Historical Romance with DEVIL IN A KILT recently. With writing like this, Ms. Welfonder is headed for super stardom! Suzanne Coleburn, Winner of the Melinda Helfer Fairy Godmother Award 2002/Reader to Reader Reviews
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Summary: Bride of the Beast
Review: Lady Caterine Keith of Dunlaidir is in need of a champion to defend her strategically located castle. She's been widowed twice and doesn't want another husband. Well, maybe a pretend one would do. Her matchmaking sister, Linnet, the bride of Duncan MacKenzie, sends Sir Marmaduke Strongbow to her aid. He is a battle-scarred warrior who is valiant and true, but will only accept her offer if she will marry him and be a true wife to him. In addition, Marmaduke has to fight off some viscous suitors and help a young laird find his rightful place in Dunlaidir. He has his work cut out for him. You will love his techniques in love and battle. Oh, what a knight!BRIDE OF THE BEAST is a thrilling story that delves into the deep emotions of Caterine and Marmaduke as they struggle to overcome their past and find a love not only to chase the shadows away, but also to last forever. It is so sensual at times it gives you goose bumps. The power and magnificence of Marmaduke will leave you breathless. Ms. Welfonder spins pure magic with her vibrant characters she brings to life in Scotland in 1330. It makes you wish you were living then and sharing the love and the danger. No wonder Ms. Welfonder won the award for Best First Historical Romance with DEVIL IN A KILT recently. With writing like this, Ms. Welfonder is headed for super stardom! Suzanne Coleburn, Winner of the Melinda Helfer Fairy Godmother Award 2002/Reader to Reader Reviews
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Summary: I enjoyed this book very much!
Review: Once I started it I couldn't put it down until I was done. I enjoyed this book very much! It is very accurate historically and has a wonderfully storyline. The characters are very believable. Another great story by a very talented writer!
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Summary: Difficult
Review: Reading is a joy. However . . . The major drawback is the author's written language. This reader found the vocabulary very difficult to maneuver through. Ms. Welfonder desperately wanted to take the reader into the medieval era, a good idea, but I couldn't keep up. A shame, for I first cheered Sir Marmaduke Strongbow, in Welfonder's "Devil in a Kilt". I wanted to follow this scarred warrior on his personal romance, but sadly, his courtship got caught in the confusing jargon. Lady Caterine Keith is a beautiful, lonely widow. Lonely, I suspect because she feels sorry for herself. Although, our physically damaged defender fascinates Caterine, the author will not allow our lady, nor her readers, to get beyond the fact - the man is English. Caterine despises all reminders of the sinister moment when plundering Englishmen brutally forced her. Nevertheless, enough is enough, Ms. Welfonder let the woman, and your readers, reach friendship and love with her charming champion - romance is the joy. This is the sequel to Sue-Ellen Welfonder's first book "Devil in a Kilt", which I recall was a decent introductory novel. But this . . . please, tone down the bewildering language from the Middle Ages, just write the book. Grace Atkinson.
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Summary: Bride of the Beast
Review: Sue-Ellen's books keep getting better and better. I love her characters. They are real people full of love, fears, and doubts. Like most of us they are seeking answers and even though it gets tough they solve them happily. Her use of language between all characters is so natural that I really get involved in the plot. I love the way she weaves in the rugged terrain and other scenery. I can feel the wind, the rocks, the winding foot paths, that all her past heros and now Marmaduke have experienced, plus the icy waters that Marmaduke and James plunged into. I also love the way she slips in the ghostly visitations of Arabella to Caterine and Marmaduke. And most of all she brings us books that tie families together in a way that we might enjoy their proud scottish heritage, hopefully year after year after year. I look forward to reading/hearing what happens to her/our heros and their descendants and friends. It means I don't have to say "Good Bye" to them when the book is finished.
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Summary: Some problems
Review: The basic writing style of this book shows a real talent for words and imagery, but unfortunately the author uses partial sentences -- which are fine for emphasis, provided they are used extremely sparingly -- to grand excess, slowing down the pace and bringing the reader out of the story in frustration. In addition, the book has minimal conflict, something that should be a basis for the overall plot, if not every scene. Our hero is perfect and can do anything, even blacksmith a large grate to snugly fit an opening he has never seen. His "beast" aspect doesn't bother anyone for more than a paragraph. It seems to be something brought up only to put an intriguing title on the book. The hero's being English doesn't upset the heroine more than a chapter, though she keeps forgetting that she's over that later in the book and has to re-forgive him for being English a few times as if the author had forgotten that she'd done that already. I had big problems with the heroine. When I read a book where the hero is ONLY interested in the heroine's you-know-whats, I find it demeaning. In this book, it's the heroine who's ONLY interested in the hero's you-know-what (which of course is the world's biggest, because only huge ones are Worthy), and it's just as inappropriate. Other than wanting to utilize that YKW, the heroine has no motivation, no other life. Any time she comes in contact with the hero, she is rendered speechless and mindless, except for her fascination with YKW. I agree with the other reviewer who said that the paranormal aspects fuzzed up things. If you're going to write a paranormal, do it. If you're writing a straight historical, leave the paranormal elements to absolute minimum, if not zero. If the author could get an editor who would emphasize the importance of conflict, character motivation, and imperfect h/h, and ensure that her sentences flow in an easy manner, then I'm sure that her demonstrated ease with the setting and use of language will be able to shine through to create a strong novel. Let's sit back and see how she handles her next book.
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