Rating: 
Summary: A Terrific Surprise
Review: A friend of mine turned me on to this book. At first I was skeptical because I had not heard of this author. But what a treat! The Truelove Bride was completely engrossing, and I loved every page. It was easy to fall into Ms. Abe's amazing world and believe in chimeras and magic. A touching love story, with a flawed but exciting hero and heroine, which I found refreshing. I am frequently asked why I bother to read "those" romance novels. I am going to suggest to the next person that gives me any flack that they pick up The Truelove Bride and read it. Then they may see for themselves why I love this genre.
Rating: 
Summary: Silly, mediocre romance..
Review: Abe's "Truelove Bride" shows that she is not quite ready for primetime yet. The "warrior maiden" heroine Avalon is overly whiny, and much too stubborn to be likable. She resists the idea of the curse a bit too much, and her desire to join a convent is not belivable for a minute. Marcus is more interesting, but comes across a bit too two-dimensional, as he is the stock "trouble hero/hunk". The villian is also underdeveloped, as we never learn her true motivations as Abe seems too afraid in get into her head.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent romance
Review: After obtaining his reputation fighting in the Crusades, Marcus Kincardine returns to England to head his clan. He quickly realizes that he must wed a warrior maiden who possesses magical powers in order to rid his people of a century-old curse. Lady Avalon d'Farouche fits the image of his people's savior. Marcus plans to marry Avalon in spite of her refusal and the objections of her kin.Avalon's life has been filled with violence and loneliness. After her parents' deaths her uncle raised Avalon to meet the conditions of the warrior maiden. She vows to marry no one as she plans to become a nun. However, to her chagrin and amazement, Avalon finds herself attracted to and eventually falling in love with Marcus. Though he initially saw her as a tool, he too is in love. However, he needs to marry the genuine maiden warrior and not some pale imitation. Is Avalon the manifestation of the legend or is she just an extremely cleverly trained person? She denies possessing any special powers unless love counts as one. THE TRUELOVE BRIDE is an exciting Medieval romance that continues to prove that the promise previously shown by talented Shana Abe has blossomed into a full bouquet of roses. The story line revolves around the relationship between Marcus and Avalon. Their flaws interfere with their actions and their motives slowly change during the course of the tale, making them seem so real. The superstitions add much to the twelfth century landscape that feels so genuine as a backdrop. Though the climax is entertaining but forced, fans of historical romance will receive great pleasure from a wonderful novel. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Simply Magical!
Review: Avalon is one of the most original heroines i've ever read about. I had no troubles believing in her or in this wonderful story. It was like reading a beautiful fairytale. And Marcus was perfect. He's very sexy and kind and tough too.All the characters were really believeable, and I LOVED the legend! Lots of great subtext. I know others have said this, but Shana Abe's writing is so good it's almost like you fall into a spell yourself. If you pay attention to the story and the way she uses words you will be astonished. I have all her books. She's one of my favorites.
Rating: 
Summary: Silly
Review: Avalon's resistance throughout became repetitious, boring, tiresom, and SILLY. Marcus was the only worthwhile element in this story. This was a very adolescent level story.
Rating:
Summary: Oh, You Must Read This One
Review: Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. Uncommonly good. I was up until 3 a.m. reading this story; I could not tear myself away. This is one of the best romances I have read in years. My reader's cap goes off to you, Ms. Abe.
This plot can best be described as a supernatural medieval romance. The legend of this story lends the plot great momentum since it suggests that the hero and heroine are destined to come together. The legend is so pervasive and integral to this story that it is almost a third character. The story is made even better by the presence of a strong-willed and intelligent heroine whose misgivings and self-doubt are the central conflicts of this story. Wonderfully poignant romance. You will love this book.
Other wonderful romances with similar themes are: Green Darkness by Anya Seton and Fallen Angel by Elizabeth Thornton
Rating:
Summary: Oh, You Must Read This One
Review: Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. Uncommonly good. I was up until 3 a.m. reading this story; I could not tear myself away. This is one of the best romances I have read in years. My reader's cap goes off to you, Ms. Abe.
This plot can best be described as a supernatural medieval romance. The legend of this story lends the plot great momentum since it suggests that the hero and heroine are destined to come together. The legend is so pervasive and integral to this story that it is almost a third character. The story is made even better by the presence of a strong-willed and intelligent heroine whose misgivings and self-doubt are the central conflicts of this story. Wonderfully poignant romance. You will love this book.
Other wonderful romances with similar themes are: Green Darkness by Anya Seton and Fallen Angel by Elizabeth Thornton
Rating: 
Summary: 3 1/2 stars
Review: first i think it needs to be said that i am a die hard romance reader, much to my friends' enternal shame but i digress. i love the superstars of this genre such as julie garwood, owning a good portion of her books, and thought mrs. abe sounded interesting when i read an excerpt from her website of this book but when i finally bought the book i was more dissappointed than pleasantly surprised. before i'm ruthlessly attacked by all those hardcore abe fans and diehard fans of this particular book let me state why this book fell flat for me. The story had so much potential that it drove me nearly crazy when things followed a boring, usually pretty predictable path. A curse is placed on a highland clan when a lady from their clan is attacked by a rouge fey or demon depending on your point of view and she dies. Her husband makes a deal with the devil for revenge but in payment the devil places a curse upon his clan that cannot be broken until their laird some day marries a specific woman who will replace their clan to prosperity. and so goes the story with our lovely heroine taken by our hero and hating all along the way. Most of the book fell far short of the standards that i hold for published books, with errors in grammar and the occasional spelling error that is fine for some internet publishing but when a book is put in print by a major publisher an editor isn't to much to ask for. some scenes i will admit had me enthralled but sadly this was the exception more than the rule. The two led characters had little chemistry which is troublesome since they are fictional but i honestly didn't care if they ended up together and the hero's seduction of his "lady love" was anything but love inspired. Some mysticism is present in this book which threw me for a loop since this book never laid any claims to be a fantasy/ romance. I could never decide if this was suppose to be some magic infused romance or a fantasy or some highland fey workings. Scenes like the two led characters in the field where the lady of their clan was so long ago taken by a rouge fey is strange with both characters remakring on smelling brimestone, supposedly from that fateful lady's husband beseeching the devil for revenge. Karate is thrown in, through never actually called that, for good measure and i was just gritting my teeth against the ton of improbablities which wouldn't have bothered me so much if mrs. abe hadn't dragged in the politics of the day by talking of popes and kings and such, setting the stage for the that point in time in this reality. all in all i would say this book is ok for an afternoon read but it doesn't rate high on my favorites list.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Terrific
Review: I am fast becoming a true Shana Abe fan! This book was terrific, showing us a bit of everything one comes to expect in a historical romance and then some! By the reviews, you have this awesomely beautiful Lady Avalon d'Farouce. As a child she was stolen away, for her protection, on the night that fierce Picts came down from the hills to slaughter her family. She was kept hidden away by the mad father of her betrothed. She had a terrible childhood, being groomed to become the warrior bride that would break a 100 year old curse on the clan Kincardine. But it was this grooming that made her vow never to become that bride! Now, the notoriously fierce soldier, Marcus Kincardine, comes and in spite of her resolve not to marry she cannot ignore the attraction that is between them. He is so unlike his father, her tormentor, and she does not believe she is the legendary bride of the fable - she can't and won't believe it. This story has wonderful magical elements to it, mysteries and latent sensuality. It all comes together beautifully - an absolutely divine read!
Rating:
Summary: A Keeper!
Review: I don't usaully like books with mystical undertones. I don't usually like books about Scotland--there are so many. In spite of this being a somewhat mystical book, taking place in Scotland, I loved it! Beautiful writing combined with a wonderful hero,heroine, and I've found a surprise Keeper!
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