Rating: 
Summary: Another compelling read from Claudia Dain
Review: Richard and Isabel have known each other since childhood, having been fostered in the same keep. As time went on, Isabel became infatuated and then in love with Richard, and made no attempt to hide this from others. Richard is aware of Isabel's feelings but feels shame and unworthiness for several reasons, not the least of which is that Isabel is betrothed to his brother. Eventually, Richard leaves the keep and Isabel, and enters an abbey to attone for his sins and commit himself to God. Isabel never forgets Richard and when circumstances change and her life is in danger, Isabel flees to the abbey and Richard. After her circumstances become known, Richard is forced by the king to marry her, despite his wish to remain at the abbey. Isabel and Richard travel back to Isabel's home as husband and wife and many conflicts and challenges follow.This is a wonderful book and well worth reading. Watching these characters change and grow as individuals and as a couple is a pleasure to witness. The plot is intense and fast paced and if you like your stories character driven, this will definitely be your cup of tea. The setting is engrossing and I really liked how the religious aspects of medieval life are seamlessly interwoven into the story. Richard's very real crisis of faith is amazing to read and leads to one of the most compelling scenes in any romance I've read in years. Several of the secondary characters are well done and contribute much to the resolution of the story. One secondary character in particular needs his own story told and I can't remember the last time a secondary character held so much interest in my mind. I enjoyed Ms Dain's last book, The Holding, very much and several of those characters make appearances in The Marriage Bed and they're not just throw-aways scenes. They play an integral part in the book and are an added bonus but the book can definitely stand alone. My guess is though, if you read this book you'll want to pick up Ms Dain's backlist ASAP. I can happily recommend this book and it will be on my list of best reads in 2001.
Rating: 
Summary: Medieval soap opera
Review: Set in England 1155. Isabel has been infatuated with Richard ever since she was a child and fostered to the Henley family to become a lady. Richard was also fostered to the Henley's to become a knight. Suddenly one year, Richard leaves the Henley's and goes to an abbey to become a novice monk. Isabel is betrothed to Richard's older brother. However upon the death of Richard's older brother, Isabel finds herself betrothed to her beloved Richard. Reluctantly, Richard leaves the abbey and marries Isabel. He does not want to love her and does not want to fall prey to his sins of lust. Time and again Isabel is hurt but Richard's rejection.
I found this book very slow going indeed. It played out like a medieval soap opera. I would read say a 100 pages and then speed read through the next 100 pages, hoping for story to pick up. It never did. I was very disappointed because I bought this book from reading the other reader comments. It's very rare that I give a book less than 3 stars but this book I found rather tedious. Give it a miss!
Lea Ling Tsang
Rating:
Summary: My New Favorite Author!
Review: She did it again! I'm always happily suprised by Claudia's fresh approach. This is the third novel I've read by her and I have to say she has become my FAVORITE romance author! Once again I was transported to a time, place, and people long ago and far away. Each of her books is so different from her previous works, and yet there are some constants. I have now come to depend on her for the following: The characters are REAL. So is the setting, culture, language- even the secondary characters! I swear, if I could only go back in time, these people would be there! The writing is incredible! Ms Dain has an almost lyrical way with words. She always takes me where I want to go- I laughed, I cried.(come on, don't we all deserve a little escape every once in a while?) But I'm always totally suprised by the journey- right up to the end! The plot and conflict is progressive. It is also seamless- no loose ends, no contrived conflicts that could have been solved with just a short and honest conversation between the main couple. Just as in real life.
Excellent!
Rating:
Summary: Frustrating!!
Review: Thanks to a kiss between them when they were younger, Isabel has always wanted Richard. Unfortunately, Isabel was always expected to marry Richard's older brother, as she is the Lady of Dornei. Richard, in order to escape temptation, and to heed what he hopes is his true calling, becomes a monk. As fate intervenes, Isabel and Richard must marry. Richard will be a reluctant bridegroom and Isabel will suffer from the loss of her dreams. Redemption, in this wonderful novel, will be the coming together of these two beautifully-written characters. This is a book that seems to have it all. It has an unusual and compelling plot, two wonderful leads, interesting secondary characters, some violence, some humor, and warm sensuality. On top of that, it has a seductive quality to it; you want to keep reading it. And, the gentle use of religion works well with the story, and the medieval time period.
Rating:
Summary: Seductive...
Review: Thanks to a kiss between them when they were younger, Isabel has always wanted Richard. Unfortunately, Isabel was always expected to marry Richard's older brother, as she is the Lady of Dornei. Richard, in order to escape temptation, and to heed what he hopes is his true calling, becomes a monk. As fate intervenes, Isabel and Richard must marry. Richard will be a reluctant bridegroom and Isabel will suffer from the loss of her dreams. Redemption, in this wonderful novel, will be the coming together of these two beautifully-written characters. This is a book that seems to have it all. It has an unusual and compelling plot, two wonderful leads, interesting secondary characters, some violence, some humor, and warm sensuality. On top of that, it has a seductive quality to it; you want to keep reading it. And, the gentle use of religion works well with the story, and the medieval time period.
Rating:
Summary: A sexy monk? Definitely!
Review: The Marriage Bed has been in my "to be read" shelf for some time now. I kept avoiding it because I could not find much romance in the book's synopsis. The hero is a monk, living in an abbey, and even when forced into marriage by the king, wants to remain celibate. Okayyyy - that certainly sounded like a boring premise for a romance. But, I went on the favorable recommendations of many reviewers and took a dive. Was I knocked off my feet! It was "full steam ahead" from the first pages and I knew I was reading a great romantic tale. Richard, the hero, was highly appealing despite his morose thoughts. Although we see Richard in the abbey, he never appears monkish. Oh - he wants to be a monk but he struggles daily - possibly even hourly - with lust. He's a very lusty guy, shut away in an abbey, attempting to rid himself of this blight on his soul. And the abbey has done nothing to tame his domineering personality Isabel is the only heir to a large keep, Dornei, and her father has just died. She is betrothed to an heir of another large keep and the marriage has been arranged to align these two strong properties into one. In the opening pages, Isabel is running from Dornei to the abbey for protection. Although she is betrothed, there is more than one man who wants to lay claim to Isabel and her inheritance. The abbey allows Isabel sanctuary and sends for her betrothed only to be notified that he has died. The second son also is dead, leaving the third son as heir and the newly proclaimed future husband to Isabel. That third son is Richard. Isabel is thrilled because she has loved Richard since she was a young girl and never wanted to marry his brother. She has prayed for Richard to be her husband and has only dreamed of such a union. Now it is happening and she cannot hide her immense joy over the union. Richard is a resident of that abbey Isabel flees to for protection. Soon after her arrival, he is notified of the death of his two older brothers and informed that he is to marry Isabel. Richard is furious and refuses to marry her. But the king's wishes for this marriage win out and Richard goes fuming into his own wedding. He believes Isabel is a spoiled young lady who has gotten her way and resents her greatly. He exhibits no feelings towards Isabel and refuses to have anything to do with her. As they ride off towards Dornei, now man and wife, Isabel remains ecstatic with her marriage and Richard only grows angrier over the union. . As soon as Richard and Isabel reach Dornei, he is immediately about the business of being lord. He is very efficient as he attends to his new duties - with the exception of the marriage bed. That is something he just doesn't want to face - yet. The Marriage Bed is quite an unusual romance in several aspects:
- The vast majority of the story occurs over just a few days.
- There is sufficient cause behind Richard's angst to cause his actions seeking absolution. His hidden secret is not the usual unbelievable childhood with a cruel, abusive father or mother.
- Although this story occurs over just a few days, there is a tremendous amount of growth for both the hero and heroine as they deal with the truth and uncover the secrets.
- The heroine wants the marriage bed more than hero but don't let that little fact influence your choice to read this book. This is one very virile hero.
- The sincere concerns about morality play a huge part in the undercurrent of the story.
- The hero and heroine have known each other well since childhood.
- This hero was a very humble man - so much so that it made him a much stronger individual.
- Religion is a significant part of this story. Even the two experienced, strong knights who come to help guard Dornei spend time kneeling in prayer. Religion is given the proper place it truly occupied in this time in history. It is not harsh but seen as a means of desired stamina. This book does not contain the overused plot line of a misunderstanding. The dialogue between the leads is honest although hurtful at times. They don't throw ugly words at one another. The hero may desire celibacy in the beginning but this ends up being quite a sensual book. The sensual rating is 4.25 out of 5.0 (See More About Me for rating guidelines). I loved The Marriage Bed and highly recommend it. It is only my second Dain book and I will now eagerly read more of her backlist.
Rating:
Summary: A sexy monk? Definitely!
Review: The Marriage Bed has been in my "to be read" shelf for some time now. I kept avoiding it because I could not find much romance in the book's synopsis. The hero is a monk, living in an abbey, and even when forced into marriage by the king, wants to remain celibate. Okayyyy - that certainly sounded like a boring premise for a romance. But, I went on the favorable recommendations of many reviewers and took a dive. Was I knocked off my feet! It was "full steam ahead" from the first pages and I knew I was reading a great romantic tale. Richard, the hero, was highly appealing despite his morose thoughts. Although we see Richard in the abbey, he never appears monkish. Oh - he wants to be a monk but he struggles daily - possibly even hourly - with lust. He's a very lusty guy, shut away in an abbey, attempting to rid himself of this blight on his soul. And the abbey has done nothing to tame his domineering personality Isabel is the only heir to a large keep, Dornei, and her father has just died. She is betrothed to an heir of another large keep and the marriage has been arranged to align these two strong properties into one. In the opening pages, Isabel is running from Dornei to the abbey for protection. Although she is betrothed, there is more than one man who wants to lay claim to Isabel and her inheritance. The abbey allows Isabel sanctuary and sends for her betrothed only to be notified that he has died. The second son also is dead, leaving the third son as heir and the newly proclaimed future husband to Isabel. That third son is Richard. Isabel is thrilled because she has loved Richard since she was a young girl and never wanted to marry his brother. She has prayed for Richard to be her husband and has only dreamed of such a union. Now it is happening and she cannot hide her immense joy over the union. Richard is a resident of that abbey Isabel flees to for protection. Soon after her arrival, he is notified of the death of his two older brothers and informed that he is to marry Isabel. Richard is furious and refuses to marry her. But the king's wishes for this marriage win out and Richard goes fuming into his own wedding. He believes Isabel is a spoiled young lady who has gotten her way and resents her greatly. He exhibits no feelings towards Isabel and refuses to have anything to do with her. As they ride off towards Dornei, now man and wife, Isabel remains ecstatic with her marriage and Richard only grows angrier over the union. . As soon as Richard and Isabel reach Dornei, he is immediately about the business of being lord. He is very efficient as he attends to his new duties - with the exception of the marriage bed. That is something he just doesn't want to face - yet. The Marriage Bed is quite an unusual romance in several aspects:
- The vast majority of the story occurs over just a few days.
- There is sufficient cause behind Richard's angst to cause his actions seeking absolution. His hidden secret is not the usual unbelievable childhood with a cruel, abusive father or mother.
- Although this story occurs over just a few days, there is a tremendous amount of growth for both the hero and heroine as they deal with the truth and uncover the secrets.
- The heroine wants the marriage bed more than hero but don't let that little fact influence your choice to read this book. This is one very virile hero.
- The sincere concerns about morality play a huge part in the undercurrent of the story.
- The hero and heroine have known each other well since childhood.
- This hero was a very humble man - so much so that it made him a much stronger individual.
- Religion is a significant part of this story. Even the two experienced, strong knights who come to help guard Dornei spend time kneeling in prayer. Religion is given the proper place it truly occupied in this time in history. It is not harsh but seen as a means of desired stamina. This book does not contain the overused plot line of a misunderstanding. The dialogue between the leads is honest although hurtful at times. They don't throw ugly words at one another. The hero may desire celibacy in the beginning but this ends up being quite a sensual book. The sensual rating is 4.25 out of 5.0 (See More About Me for rating guidelines). I loved The Marriage Bed and highly recommend it. It is only my second Dain book and I will now eagerly read more of her backlist.
Rating: 
Summary: Excrucitatingly bad taste, not the least bit romantic
Review: This book is the height of bad taste on a number of levels. The heroine is totally uninteresting, and the hero is a humorless prig of the first order. He sits around worrying about his lust all the time and fails to care about any other person but himself. When he finally decides he is going to consummate his marriage, with all of the enthusiasm of a man about to be executed, he really picks his moment. And has sex with her after she has just been nearly raped in a stinking dungeon and has just seen her assailant's head hacked off and rolling into the distance. That is truly just gross
Later, her stripping naked for bandages for one injured man is just silly-most normal women would just lift their skirts and cut off several yards of fabric, not strip naked in front of total strangers in the wilderness and then not even bother to put their dress back on
The story is way too short and 'one note'-his guilt over his supposed lust, and her love and then her anger
There is no real convincing falling in love with the story because she is already in love with him, has been since her childhood, and he is in lust with her.
Never once anywhere in the book do they say they love each other. Or even have a relatively normal conversation.
The sexual aspect of this novel is far too violent and her repetitiveness in the saying she will have to tolerate him for three years until she gets pregnant is just too silly for words. Her 'she loves him, she loves him not' attitude gets wearing after the first 50 pages.
The author also needs to be cured of her semi-colonitis. They are put all over the place and rarely used correctly and it only serves to distract from an already hard to follow and rather dull narrative.
Rating:
Summary: THE MARRIAGE BED ¿ An intensely moving story!
Review: This story is set in medieval times with the hero and heroine having a past relationship in their youth. Circumstances separated them over a year ago, and with the death of the heroine's father, they meet again. In this tale, the heroine has long been in pursuit of the apparently reluctant hero, so all would seem to be well for her when she is again able to see her love, but is it??... Claudia Dain has a talent for fully developing her characters and revealing compelling reasons for their inner struggles. Yet Ms. Dain keeps her reader engrossed by not telling all until the very end! This author writes for a reader who wants a truly believable story beneath the sexual tensions and between the sexual liaisons. Ms. Dain writes a "new" type of romance - be prepared to cry, to wince, and to rejoice! This journey is not always pretty, not always comfortable, but it is ALWAYS gripping and, ultimately, supremely satisfying!
Rating:
Summary: Boring.
Review: Well I have found with Claudia Dain's book I either love them or hate them. I thought this book might be one I loved but I found it boring. It took me days to read it and I had to force myelf to get through it. The characters didn't really have much interest in each other. The hero didn't seem like there was much passion in him at all. The passion that supposedly drove them apart in the first place seemed like it never exsisted. I found the characters boring and without much depth. I'm sorry but I just didn't like this book at all.
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