Rosamund

Rating:
Summary: The Ms. Small I know from her earlier works
Review: "Rosamund" is the first book by Bertice Small that I thoroughly enjoyed since her famed O'Malley series. Of course, Rosamund is no Skye (can't help making the comparison), but her story is strong and intriguing enough to warrant a sequel.

What I enjoy most about Bertrice's novels is her ability to paint history in a fun, three-dimensional way - the strong point of "Rosamund". Rosamund meets a young Henry VIII, befriends Katherine of Aragon and the future Queen of Scots, all in a believable series of events. Each of these characters also has endearing qualities, and I saw them more as actual people than as merely plot devices.

Rosamund herself is a likeable heroine, though she seems a bit bland at times. I was hoping for a bit more fire and spunk, but instead, she came across as cold sometimes. I really liked Owein Meredith - caring, strong, and loyal.

Of course, Bertrice's sex scenes are steamy. But if you're familiar with her previous works, these would seem recycled.

Overall, an enjoyable read. I plan to complete the Friarsgate Inheritance trilogy.

Rating:
Summary: The Ms. Small I know from her earlier works
Review: "Rosamund" is the first book by Bertice Small that I thoroughly enjoyed since her famed O'Malley series. Of course, Rosamund is no Skye (can't help making the comparison), but her story is strong and intriguing enough to warrant a sequel.

What I enjoy most about Bertrice's novels is her ability to paint history in a fun, three-dimensional way - the strong point of "Rosamund". Rosamund meets a young Henry VIII, befriends Katherine of Aragon and the future Queen of Scots, all in a believable series of events. Each of these characters also has endearing qualities, and I saw them more as actual people than as merely plot devices.

Rosamund herself is a likeable heroine, though she seems a bit bland at times. I was hoping for a bit more fire and spunk, but instead, she came across as cold sometimes. I really liked Owein Meredith - caring, strong, and loyal.

Of course, Bertrice's sex scenes are steamy. But if you're familiar with her previous works, these would seem recycled.

Overall, an enjoyable read. I plan to complete the Friarsgate Inheritance trilogy.

Rating:
Summary: The first of a wonderful new series from Bertrice Small
Review: "Rosamund" would be a wonderful introduction for readers who are unfamilar with the works of Ms Small, and a welcome addition to the library of those who believe the classic Skye O'Malley series to be among the best romance fiction produced in the last 25 years. We meet the very young heiress Rosamund at age 6 as she about to marry her second husband, chosen for her by her evil uncle, who is determined to rob her of her inheritance. From the beginning, the reader is engaged by the lively and intelligent Rosamund, her retinue of loyal relatives and servants, and the men who will play prominent roles in her early life. As usual, Ms Small displays a scholarly interest in the clothing, food, manners, economics, and morals of the time period in which the story is set -- this time Tudor England. Rosamund's experiences at the court of Henry VII, where she becomes a friend to the widowed Catherine of Aragon (and meets the future Henry VIII), and is in turn befriended by Henry's daughter Margaret, is a fascinating look at 16th century England. This book will not disappoint! The second book in the series, "Until You," has just been released (October 2003). I rated it a 3 but it is still a fitting companion to the wonderful "Rosamund."

Rating:
Summary: Another great romance
Review: A very interesting read from my absolute favorite author of historical Romance. Although the setting and plot are similar to many of her previous novels, I still enjoyed watching the drama unfold.
This book is the first in a new series, and the cliffhanger ending was disappointing; I'd rather had a longer, more complete novel than "stay tuned for the next episode!" Regardless, I'll definitely buy the sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Bertrice small does it again
Review: As an avid follower of books by this author, I had been disappointed of late. This book had renewed my faith in her. I can't wait for the next novel, it promises to even better than this one. My five stars are for the new saga about to begin,of which this book is just a sampling.

Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER AWESOME NOVEL !!
Review: As an old and devoted fan of Ms Small, I am extemely pleased with this new novel which introduces us to the Friarsgate folks. Of course this novel reminds us of the O'Malley's--it's in the same general location & timeframe in history. I am hoping that, in later Friarsgate stories, old friends from Bertrice's other novels will make an appearance. Maybe that's not interesting to other readers, but it would be to me. I just wish we didn't have to wait a year to find out what happens to Rosamund and I can't wait to read the final O'Malley novel, Vixens.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully done!
Review: By the time she is thirteen, Rosamund has already been orphaned and widowed. She first wed a child as a baby of three, but the boy died shortly thereafter. When she wed again to a good, kind man, the two plotted together to make sure she was educated and strong enough to stand up to her wicked uncle when her elderly husband passed away. Not only that, but the kindly man called in a favor so that Henry Tudor VII would become Rosamund's protector upon his death, thus foiling her uncle's scheme to marry her off to his odious son and steal her inheritance.

The king's man, Owein comes to take her to court, where she finds life very different and catches the already wandering eye of Prince Henry who will grow up to be Henry VIII. To prevent his despoiling of her, she is given to Owein, whom Rosamund believes she could easily love.

Their years together are happy, until tragedy strikes, leaving Rosamund's fate again once in the air. Fortunately, she had made a friend of the young queen, Katherine of Aragon, and is now able to benefit from being owed a royal favor. Not only that, but Henry VIII is now king, and has not forgotten her.

***** Richly detailed and sensual as all of Ms. Small's book tend to be, this captivating portrait of a woman ahead of her time will be a treat for her loyal fans. Almost crossing the line to become historical fiction, it paints a portrait of the Tudor era and life at court that the history books fail to cover. Rosamund is a heroine to take her place among the classic ladies of fiction, dominating every page of the novel and proving her strength time and again. *****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

Rating:
Summary: wonderful historical
Review: During the last decade of the fifteenth century, she was an orphan as a young child and a widow twice before she turned thirteen including her first marriage to her five-year-old first cousin. Her Uncle Henry Bolton knows that his niece Rosamund is a prize he manipulates because though she owns Friarsgate, he controls the estate.

To avoid further machinations, Rosamund marries a much older, but kind Hugh Cabot. He surprisingly treats her like a favorite daughter rather than a possession to be displayed and used. Hugh even teaches her how to manage her vast holdings. Finally, he also arranges for King Henry II to be her guardian upon his death. Now a lovely fixture at court, Rosamund becomes a lover to Prince Hal, but eventually meets Logan Hepburn who she begins to fall in love with though she has doubts about anyone becoming her latest spouse as she has developed a taste for the regal courts.

ROSAMUND, the first novel in Bertrice Small's Friarsgate's Inheritance series is a wonderful tale that brings to life the final years of the fifteenth century and the first decade of the sixteenth century. The story line will delight Ms. Small's fans because the heroine shares the same traits found in the O'Malley women (DNA testing anyone?) and could easily exchange places. Still readers will enjoy the feel of life in a bygone era mostly through the eyes of an intrepid woman.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Whose Queen Is She?
Review: I am so tired of reading that Bertrice Small is the "Queen of Romance" that I could puke. Hasn't her fan base died out yet? Her charecters are boring and her plots uninspiring.

Rating:
Summary: boring
Review: I hate to say it, but this book was a huge disappointment to me. I always look forward to anything new from Ms. Small and I was excited to start reading this one. A few pages into it and I could tell that this was going to be a big yawn. I find myself actually skipping pages of the book just to reach the end. I hope that her next book can recapture some of the magic that was in her previous books.