Rating: 
Summary: Very nice introduction to Ms. Canham
Review: Pride of Lions and this, it's continuance, were the first I read by MC and I will definitely look into more of her work. The heroine is quite annoying in Pride of Lions, almost to the end, but the story was still good and it just gets even better with Blood Of Roses as you realize how Catherine's character has evolved and matured. Any story relating to the massacre at Culloden really tears at my heart and Canham really holds nothing back in realistic detail. A tough read in places but a wonderful book for those who like to be wholly emotionally involved with a story.This is a very well written, dramatic love story and she developed the secondary characters so well that you won't mind the few times she diverges to their stories. Just makes the entire story more real. But doggone it, Marsha, I could shoot you for that one scene, which I won't ruin for others by divulging. Played me like a fiddle you did. I was so sick & disgusted I actually had to set the book down for an hour. Shame on you. What a talented writer! :-)
Rating:
Summary: Favorite Book
Review: The "Pride of Lion's" and the "Blood of Rose's" are my favorite books to date.Very moving and touching stories. I was so moved by both that I want to write to the author and let her know this personally.
Rating: 
Summary: Loved the book but...
Review: The book was wonderful, I loved the storytelling. It was vivid and heart-renching. The only problem is... has anyone read Rebellion by Nora Roberts? She wrote it in the early 80's and rereleased it recently. If you haven't-read it, and then reread Canham's series- does it sound familiar? Roberts essentially wrote the same book years earlier, it seems that Canham just changed the female and male character's origins. I was so disappointed! It turns out that Pale Moon Rider resembles the poem The Highwayman from Alfred Noyes. Also, the Black Wolf de Amboise series (Last Arrow...etc) is a unique way of telling the Robin Hood Story, but even that isn't an original plot line. Anyone else notice this?
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT... IF YOU LIKE SCOTTISH HISTORY, READ THIS BOOK!
Review: The entire story (The Pride of Lions and The Blood of Roses) was amazing! Alexander and Catherine had one of the most beautiful and tortured love stories I have ever had the pleasure to read. I will admit however, that the scene of Deirdre O'Shay and Aluinn MacKail on the battlefield made me cry more than I have ever cried over a book in my life! I have never been so touched by secondary characters in all my years of reading. I cried so much I had to stop reading until I could calm down. Even years later, all I have to do is think about that scene and I get choked up all over again! Loved it, truly!
Rating:
Summary: Like watching a motion picture adventure/lovestory POWERFUL!
Review: This book was almost like being there. Marsha has the ability to tell a story like few others can. This book took you to the battle fields in vivid color and description. The emotion of the characters and their love and devotion are powerful. The intense emotion of the battle of Culloden is so amazingly real that you almost feel you are right there. You can picture the mists of Scotland, feel the sting of winter, and know the pain and grief of loss in battle. And the little surprise at the end of the story will catch you off guard. Very highly recommended. This is a real story.
Rating:
Summary: What a historical romance! First grade!
Review: This is the first time I read Marsha Canham's book. It's simply mind-blowing! I wish I read The Pride of Lions before I picked this up from the library for a more complete experience but nevertheless, I enjoyed the book thoroughly; the story and characters will linger in my head for many days to come. This is a very well-written historical romance. Technically, her description is vivid; so many ways to describe the changing colours of the sky, landscape and weather. Historically, this book is rich in history; its accuracy amplifies the tragedy and emotional roller-coaster ride of the characters. Romantically, the love between Catherine and Alex, Deidre and Aluinn, are heart-wrenching. It contains separation, reunion, steamy love-making and courageous determination. Creatively, the plot twists are spellbinding and masterful; giving some examples would spoil the fun. Words are not enough to praise this book. I was simply transferred into another world. This is a long story, not easy to read in some parts but at the end of it I feel thankful for the experience and sorry that it has ended. That's what a good book is about.
Rating:
Summary: What a historical romance! First grade!
Review: This is the first time I read Marsha Canham's book. It's simply mind-blowing! I wish I read The Pride of Lions before I picked this up from the library for a more complete experience but nevertheless, I enjoyed the book thoroughly; the story and characters will linger in my head for many days to come. This is a very well-written historical romance. Technically, her description is vivid; so many ways to describe the changing colours of the sky, landscape and weather. Historically, this book is rich in history; its accuracy amplifies the tragedy and emotional roller-coaster ride of the characters. Romantically, the love between Catherine and Alex, Deidre and Aluinn, are heart-wrenching. It contains separation, reunion, steamy love-making and courageous determination. Creatively, the plot twists are spellbinding and masterful; giving some examples would spoil the fun. Words are not enough to praise this book. I was simply transferred into another world. This is a long story, not easy to read in some parts but at the end of it I feel thankful for the experience and sorry that it has ended. That's what a good book is about.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, WONDERFUL book!
Review: This is the kind of book that I was sorry to see end, even after over 550 pages! "The Blood of Roses" is the sequel to Marsha Canham's excellent "The Pride of Lions" and is every bit as good as the first book. Set during the 1745 Jacobite uprising, it continues the story of the valiant Scottish warrior, Alexander Cameron, and his passionate English bride, Catherine Ashbrooke Cameron. I would strongly recommend reading "The Pride of Lions" first, and having "The Blood of Roses" on hand to begin *immediately* after the first book is finished in order to avoid groans and gnashing of one's teeth at the "end" of "The Pride of Lions".
Fans of the "Outlander" series of books should lap these stories up since the books are similar in setting, deft characterization, thrilling, nonstop action and careful attention to historical detail. It should be noted that these books were actually written *before* "Outlander", so they are in no way derivative.
I loved the character of Catherine even in "The Pride of Lions" when she was a spoiled, selfish, pampered little princess. So many heroines are given this same initial "Scarlett O'Hara" personality, but fail to engage me because that is *all* that there is to them. Catherine (like Scarlett herself) has a core of pure steel beneath her ribbons and paniers. She is every bit as tough as Alexander and is worthy of his love. In "The Blood of Roses", she has matured into a wonderful heroine--passionate, loyal, and madly in love with Alexander.
Alexander is a *great* hero--a soldier of fortune and Jacobite spy who had sworn never to remarry after the murder of his teenage bride, he returns to England after fifteen years of exile on the Continent at the beginning of "The Pride of Lions", still a wanted man accused of murdering the men who were responsible for his first wife's death. He and Catherine are forced to marry following a scandalous duel, and initially they both seek to escape the union and to annul it. But that story is told in "The Pride of Lions"...
"The Blood of Roses" picks up where the first story ended--Alexander and Catherine are well and truly married and in love (but separated--how frustrating!) The Jacobite army is on the march with the Camerons leading the charges and an angry and mutinous Catherine has been sent home to Derby for her protection to wait out the war (HA! As if *that* will happen!) The beginning of the book moved a bit slowly for my taste. There is alot of exposition to rehash the events of "The Pride of Lions", much commenting on how much Catherine is missing Alexander and a long description of the battle of Prestonpans (an excellent description of a thrilling battle--but a very *familiar* battle, the details of which are well known to anyone who has read the "Outlander" series and/or any other books about the Jacobite rebellion of 1745.) Don't get me wrong, I really liked all the historical detail and descriptions of real historical figures included in this book--it adds immeasurably to the richness of the tale, but our hero and heroine were separated for too darn long at the beginning of the story. Once they are reunited, the nonstop action (swordfights! battles! assaults! betrayals! black-hearted villains!) and steamy love scenes sweep the reader along to the bittersweet conclusion.
This is historical romance as I love it best--a well-plotted, exciting tale of passion and adventure with memorable characters and a healthy dose of historical detail. A five star read!
Highly, highly recommended!
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