Winterbourne

Rating:
Summary: The Best Carroll Romance Ever!
Review: All right, 4 1/2 stars maybe. Yeah, that's the sound of me caving under all the good memories of the story. But there are bad ones as well, I have to admit. Ms. Carroll somewhat sunk in the ending but then it's very hard to maintain a relationship between your two main characters when they are . . . umm, I suppose that would be revealing too much. The idea is that I'm making allowances for how badly the ending was cut short (or torn short). It sort of felt like she (Ms. Carroll) just got tired of the entire thing and said to hell with it, they might as well finally overcome all their unresolved insecurities and swore that they would never, ever, on her mother's grave, ever have any communication problems ever again. Ever. This of course was at odds with my practical nature. If an author is taking her plot seriously and Ms. Carroll was, then you have to go in depth about how the characters suddenly achieve their happy ever after. Because just saying that you're the author and you say it's so doesn't convince me. That sounds funny, I know, but really good characters (and these characters were GOOD) extend past the author.

The basics are that it's a medieval romance that in my opinion is great. The characters are well defined and in a lot of respects, deeply scarred which causes the plot to become more interesting. Somehow, the plot goes for years and is deeply involved in the political situation before and during the signing of the Magna Carter, not deeply enough to be boring though, in my opinion. What's really good in this though, is how convincingly emotional it is. The heroine pretty much risks everything to love the hero and I mean everything. Things she has to go through with him is "Damn" by modern day standards but "Wow" by medieval. I was impressed with how effective Ms. Carroll was in conveying the feeling of her characters. Although, yes, she even ebbed in that area by the ending as well.

Despite, to me, it'll always be a keeper. Maybe because this is the first book I'd read by her, and thus remained untarnished by the excellence of the St. Leger series, which I can't stop saying how much I love and am praying she will continue.

Okay. I can breathe now.

Rating:
Summary: AN EXCELLENT READ
Review: I just finished this book. I couldn't put it down. It's been a long time since I've read a book that brings the history of an era so much alive as Susan Carrol did in this one. I would love to read a sequel to this book. Jenny's character was so well established in this story, that you can't help but wonder what kind of woman she would grow up to be. She was already so much like her father. A story about a woman with the same strength, convictions, and disposition that Jaufre had would make for a very exciting story.

Rating:
Summary: A must read!
Review: I love to read a really good book with a lot of adventure and this had it. The characters were great. Melyssan, the heroine, was a little teary eyed but that is how I would have felt if haveing to face a lot of what she had to go through. Jaufre, the hero, made me feel as if I knew him personally with all the depth on his feelings towards a lot of situations on his beliefs. He was a little crude but when in depth on how he really felt it was understandable. Genevieve, the daughter, was the best character of all. I rarely find a book that shows that much attention towards the daughter of the hero and heroine and Susan Carroll had me thinking and relateing to my daughter as well a lot as if it was my own child. After reading "The Bride Finder" I wasn't so sure if any of her other books would be as execellent but this was definitely a book I would read again.

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointed
Review: Susan bought the middle ages to life with this story. Melyssan and Jaufre were wonderful. A story about Jenny when she grows up would be wonderful. She is so like her father.

It is so diferent from THE BRIDE FINDER and THE NIGHT DRIFTER, but this does not detract from the story. It is so like King Arthur and Camelot, a magical time.

Well done Susan on another great read. I do hope there will be a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!! A must re-read at least a dozen times
Review: This book has a place on honor on my bookshelf. I have read it so many times. The story is political, but brings to life England under King John's rule. An absolute must have for romance readers.

I stumbled upon this book at a second hand store and fell in love. Lord Jaufre de Macy is embittered and ruthless, until love heals his pain. Lady Melyssan is beautiful and romantic, so much so that King John wants her in his bed. Only the healing power of unconditional love can cleanse the Dark Knight without Mercy, and Lady Melyssan is up to the challenge.



Rating:
Summary: More about politics than romance
Review: This novel started out on a high note, but I quickly lost interest. It had an unusual plot and well developed principal characters, but I found it concentrated too much on the political problems of the era and not enough on the romance between the two principal characters. The story is set in the Middle Ages during the reign of King John of England. A lot of time and effort is spent describing the social unrest in Wales, the political battles between the King and his Barons, the struggles between England and France, and the cruel and vicious actions of King John. In contrast, very little time is spent on the interactions between the main characters (they spend most of the novel apart doing their own things), and there is a very obvious lack of humor in the book (I think I cracked a smile once).

As a history refresher the book has some merit, but if you want to read a good romance novel, I would suggest skipping this one and picking up Ms Carroll's other novel "The Bride Finder". That one is a real gem.

Rating:
Summary: More about politics than romance
Review: This novel started out on a high note, but I quickly lost interest. It had an unusual plot and well developed principal characters, but I found it concentrated too much on the political problems of the era and not enough on the romance between the two principal characters. The story is set in the Middle Ages during the reign of King John of England. A lot of time and effort is spent describing the social unrest in Wales, the political battles between the King and his Barons, the struggles between England and France, and the cruel and vicious actions of King John. In contrast, very little time is spent on the interactions between the main characters (they spend most of the novel apart doing their own things), and there is a very obvious lack of humor in the book (I think I cracked a smile once).

As a history refresher the book has some merit, but if you want to read a good romance novel, I would suggest skipping this one and picking up Ms Carroll's other novel "The Bride Finder". That one is a real gem.

Rating:
Summary: History, adventure, passion, romance-what more do we need?
Review: This was an amazing novel. I love the whole oil and water thing between Melyssan and Jaufre, and he softens as she rubs up against him. He finally realizes he loves her, and their reunion is a glorious one. This is one of Ms. Carroll's best. A sequel to this one, hopefully about Jenny's life, would be a real treat.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Carroll Romance Ever!
Review: To date I've read all her latest books. This book, however, written several years ago, is without question, my favorite. I rarely reread books, but this and some of Judith McNaught's books are worth a second read. In fact, I've ordered the out of print sequel to Winterbourne, Shades of Winter, at an outrageous price. I sure hope it stands up to this one.

Rating:
Summary: Well written book and an enjoyable read!!
Review: Very rarely do I find a book portraying this time period, yet alone doing a good job with it. Most writers concentrate on The Norman invasion and some "pet" of William the Conquerer. Ms. Carroll's book, Winterbourne, deals with a later period, that of King John and the Magna Carter. Such an important part of Western history and politic thought. Seeing our hero struggle with the dilemma of following one's pledge or one's sense of "justice" is interesting. I felt that the story was a bit harsh, but then, so was the time period which this was written about...it gave the plot a sense of realism.

I have but 2 criticisms. First, the time jumped so quickly I didn't get the correct feeling of elapsed time. Jaufry was gone for such long perids of time (which warriors of that time period would have been required to do)yet becuase months passed from the end of one chapter to the beginning of another, I didn't get the feeling of separation. Another example is when our hero saves or heroine, we know they are going to get married, but the next chapter begins with the birth of their first child. No passage of time, no stories of dealings of them spending time together trying to build a life. Second, I didn't like the way in which Ronald's story (Jaufry's bastard son) ended (or didn't end). It seemed lame, and I kept wishing to see him "pop up" again.

Thus saying, all in all I felt this was a wonderful story and would reccommend it to anyone.