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Summary: What's the confusion?
Review: I have read all of Ms. MacGregor's books and just finished A Dark Champion. I was unsure as I really didn't like Stryder all that much when he was introduced in Simon's story but I had faith that she would make me love him as she has all the others. I wasn't disappointed. What I don't understand is why some are confused about the story, especially the idea that weighty issues can't be discussed in the context of a romance novel. Why not? Life is not simple, is it? Stryder and Rowena were as engaging to me as all of Ms. MacGregor's other characters. Stryder is so engaging precisely because of all he has been through. Without knowing what he suffered, the confusion would lie in why he hates the idea of love so much, don't you think? What I love about all of Ms. MacGregor's books, and what so many authors seem to forget, is that two people can be respectful of each other, all men don't have to be jerks and all women don't have to be simpering, babbling fools. I recommend this and all books written by this author -- and I've read them all, so I know -- if you want wonderful stories, rich characters and romance based on respect and love rather than mistrust and treachery.
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Summary: Another great book by Kinley!!
Review: I have really come to love the Kinley MacGregor books and this one is no exception. Stryder was a strong noble knight that really just swept Rowena away - which is so totally unlikely since she has always claimed she had no use for the dark deadly knights!! They both were so strong in their belief in never falling in love he becuz his father loved his mother too much that he died becuz of it and his mother apparently never loved his father. For Rowena she wanted a deep love and she thought a gentle jester type man was right for her, until she meets the complete opposite in Stryder. Then she finds slowly but surely all the gentle soulful qualities she always had been looking for in this wonderful man. It is truly a beautiful love story and a hard to put down book. Cannot believe I have a year to wait for Christian's story!!
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Summary: Ok; Good at times; too much information
Review: I loved Draven in Master of Desire and Simon in the anthology Where's My Hero and expected great things of Stryder's story. Although this is considered the 1st book of the Brotherhood of the Sword series, the other two are related since characters from this book appear in the others I mentioned. There is much to like about this book. The entire story takes place over one month in one place. I like that Kinley concentrates on her characters and conversations rather than locale. I liked Stryder and Rowena for their honorable intentions and compassion for others. One of the best scenes was when Rowena visits Stryder in the dungeon and comforts him. I also loved when they "wrote" on each other - a sensual scene about ¾ of the way through the book. The people were incredible, but I found the storyline a little bit lacking. There was so much background to convey about the Brotherhood of the Sword and what their ongoing purpose was, the storyline suffered. I don't know if it could have been woven into the storyline better and I hope the rest of the series doesn't present all these facts over and over. The main characters seem to fall for each other so quickly even as they constantly pronounce they will never fall in love or marry. That became tedious. The whole troubadour, music, song contest just didn't pan out right (for me) even though the contest is a major event at the end of the story. The intrigue was ok, but since I read for the romance, I wasn't all that interested in those parts. Overall, I was not as impressed as I was with earlier books but on the other hand - I can tell this is a series that I will be reading to the bitter end. The Brotherhood characters with their rather jaded look at life after imprisonment will be worth reading about.
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Summary: Nice read, but still confusing
Review: I practically flew through this book, so I don't consider it to be bad (bad books always take me forever to finish), but this book has some of the same confusion issues that I have noticed in some of the author's other "first book of a series" books. There were a ton of characters, as though the author were trying to make sure that she introduced just about every character she might use later in the series. I noticed this early in her Dark Hunters series (writing as Sherrilyn Kenyon), and I was relieved when, later in the series, she stopped introducing about a dozen or so new characters that will obviously one day get their own books. I've gotten the feeling that she likes to do that so that she can get introductions out of the way, so that she can later concentrate on the stories, but it can be very confusing. Unfortunately, the many secondary characters in A Dark Champion tend to take away from the main characters, Rowena and Stryder, making them and any changes that happen to them seem pretty simplistic. However, Kinley MacGregor does have a knack for writing strong men made sweet by their vulnerabilities (Stryder doesn't think Rowena could ever love him - he's a warrior, not a poet or a musician, and he can't read or write). You may, like me, get a bit confused while reading this book, wondering exactly how many assissins are involved and whether Stryder is capable of meeting someone who doesn't have some sort of connection to the horrible things that happened to him in his past, but there are parts of this book that are very sweet. I'm not sure if I would recommend this for a first-time Kinley MacGregor reader, however, since she throws around a lot of names that were mentioned in previous books - this book is the first Brotherhood of the Sword book, but it has a lot of connections with the MacAllisters books - and those names may further contribute to any confusion this book causes. _Born in Sin_ and _Taming the Scotsman_ are two books that she lists as being both part of the Brotherhood series and the MacAllisters series, so it might be a good idea to read those.
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Summary: Another great book.
Review: I read few historical romances, but because I love the author's books under her other name Sherrilyn Kenyon, I gave this book a try. And I really enjoyed it. First off, the heroine and hero were written well. Even though we as readers know the book only takes place in the space of a month, I felt that Rowena and Stryder knew each other for longer- they complimented each other so well. You can see the changes and growth in the characters, and though they refuse to be attracted to each other, at the end of the book they accept the love growing between them and work together. A refreshing change. The secondary characters in the book were also very interesting and although at times there was alot of the book devoted to them, I don't feel it distracted at all from the book. The mystery was well done and my only quibble with the book is that at the end you dont really find out what happens to the villains. But since this is the first book in a series I guess we will find out later. I also had no problems with believing it was set in Medieval England. The historical figures, background and speech were pretty on the mark to me. All in all, a great book by McKinley. I look forward to the next one about Christian the Abbot.
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Summary: My first Kinley MacGregor book...
Review: I thought this book was fabulous. As far as the child abuse that was mentioned by a previous reviewer...the talk of it in the book was necessary to bring forward the character of the men in the story.
I have read Sherrilyn Kenyon's dark hunter books and was curious to see if her writing as Kinley MacGregor was as intense and I wasn't disappointed. I will be looking for more of KM's books.
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Summary: My favorite Kinley yet
Review: I wish I could give this book 20 stars. I've read and loved all of Kinley's books and this one was no exception. Stryder is dark and tortured and yet he still has a heart. Rowena is smart and strong, not the too stupid to live heroine who makes me crazy. There were so many tender moments in this book that I'm not quite sure exactly when I fell in love with him. But like Rowena, I did. I'm also fascinated by so many of the other characters. Damien was sinfully devious and complex. I'm still not sure how I feel about him. The ending with Christian was very well done. I'm now counting down days to the next release. Kudos to Kinley for another keeper.
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Summary: I love Stryder.....................
Review: I've been waiting for Stryder's story forever and Kinley did not let me down. Stryder, Knight,and hero loved by all or is he? He will not love any woman that is until Rowena falls into him. She is a Bard who sing for love, that is until Stryder declares that he will not love. Sparks fly between them. However murders are be commited on his own knights and he himself is accused. I will not go into this story anymore. I recommend that you read this next book in the Knighthood series and enjoy it. I can't wait for Christian's story. Kinley keep writing these books they're great.
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Summary: Fabulous
Review: Kinley MacGregor rocks and this book is no exception. I've been waiting a long time for the new series to begin so the minute I saw it in the store, I grabbed it, then made the mistake of starting it the minute I got home. I was up all night and have no regrets I'm half dead at work today. Stryder is a dashing hero worthy of the title and Rowena was a wonderful heroine with a good head on her shoulders. I loved them together. Now bring on Christian.
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Summary: Stryder's story is heartwarming!!!
Review: Let me just begin by saying that I cannot believe the negative feedback that this book is getting!!! This story is wonderful and heartwarming and, if anything, all the secondary characters add so much to the story, bring the storyline to life, and make Stryder's childhood that much more real to the reader! I loved how Rowena kind of fell in with them and became one of them!! This is an extraordinary group of men. The Brotherhood is going to be a new keeper series for me, I can just feel it!!! I am currently awaiting Lochlan's story in the Macallister series very patiently! But, getting back to A Dark Champion! If you love an Alpha male than you are going to LOVE Stryder, I know I did! And the way he loves Rowena is just heartwarming, considering all that he has gone through. His relationship with the Brotherhood is very touching, to the point that I wanted to cry for Stryder and the rest of his men. His men do bring humor to these books. Val and Swan were particularly funny and had me laughing out loud! Rowena and the goose feathers was just hilarious! I am a fan of all of Mrs. Macgregor's work and will continue to grab her books as soon as they hit the shelves.
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