Rating: 
Summary: Not Worth The Wait
Review: I am usually a big fan of Virginia Henley's work. I'm afraid that this book did not live up to her previous work. The main characters were interesting - but the plot was very thin. I kept waiting for more to happen. Some of the plot lines were just dropped with no explanation. I will admit that I finished the book 3 days after it arrived - but it just didn't match the last two - A Woman of Passion and The Marriage Prize.
Rating: 
Summary: A GREAT Disappointment - Has she lost her touch?
Review: I bought The Border Hostage and The Marriage Prize.In three words, The Border Hostage was - A Great Disappointment. The first page was good, Henley started out with her usual 'purple prose' which hits you between the eyes, it's so wicked. (Remember 'The Pirate & The Pagan?') Then after the first two chapters, it's downhill. It's nice that we got to revisit a couple of characters (Ramsey & Raven) from a previous book (whose name escaped me right now), but this ended up as a catch 22 situation, as I cared more about these secondary characters than the main hero/heroine. Even worst, I ended up disliking a couple of characters who are going to be the main hero/heroine(?) in 'The Marriage Prize', and I haven't read the book as yet! The next book that is out in Nov. 'Ravished', doesn't sound too thrilling either. Is Henley in a downward spiral? I'll hate to think so, as two books back, she was at the top of my list. In fact, I have ALL her books to date, but now maybe I'll pick up a used copy so I won't feel bad if it turns out mediocre. Ms. Henley can do and has done much better than this. Maybe we both need a break. New readers check her backlist, there are some gems there.
Rating: 
Summary: THIS BOOK WILL HOLD YOU HOSTAGE
Review: I do not know what book "St Augustine" read, but it could not have been this one. I thought it was OUTSTANDING - Henley out did herself. Heath was exactly what I want in a leading man! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK WILL HOLD YOU HOSTAGE
Review: I do not know what book "St Augustine" read, but it could not have been this one. I thought it was OUTSTANDING - Henley out did herself. Heath was exactly what I want in a leading man! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK WILL HOLD YOU HOSTAGE
Review: I do not know what book "St Augustine" read, but it could not have been this one. I thought it was OUTSTANDING - Henley out did herself. Heath was exactly what I want in a leading man! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!
Rating: 
Summary: A great disappointment
Review: I have tried to read Ms. Henleys' work before and it isn't my cup of tea, as they say. Border Hostage was the last I will try. I found the sex scenes lewd and too graphic and the characters shallow. As an owner of two mares I particularly didn't like the lead in pages to the story. Perhaps people don't mind reading a detailed account of the mating between a stallion and mare which at first gives you the impression that it is two people and not horses, but I didn't like how it came across. I wouldn't recommend this book and it's the last of Ms. Henleys' I will buy.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Plot!
Review: I love Viginia Henley's books. At first this book was hard to get into. I felt the lead characters were thin. The plot really makes up for what I thought was a problem. With it's fast plot, and the characters from the first book brought back, I found it a fast and enjoyable read. Heath was different from other male characters from Henley's previos books. He was gallant, and unselfish. I was not found of Raven. I'm use to Henley's strong female characters. And Raven was naive. But even that did not dampen the story. V.H. is one of the greatest historical romance writers to me. And I hope she keeps on writing for a long time!
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not her best... 4 1/2 stars!
Review: I think Ms Henley is changing her writing a little, the style is a bit different than before. Even her last one 'The Marriage Prize' was also similar in style. The new ones, ie., this one, is not as exciting or action-packed as her older ones. I enjoyed curling up with her older books with all the action and excitement going on and just the right amount of romance mixed in! I liked the hero in this and I also liked the heroine, they were both very strong characters, typical of a Henley novel. ~Raven Carleton is a very proper English lady and hopes to marry a proper English gentleman, but on a sunny morning, with the birds singing and the wind flying through her black hair as she gallops at breakneck speed along the seacoast, she isn't thinking about her betrothal to an aristicratic Englishman named Christoper Dacre. Suddenly she is forced to pull rein tightly on her precious horse's reins to avoid running down a man standing in the direct path of her horse! A darkly powerful man who will alter her life forever. Heath Kennedy is a diehard and loyal Scot who will defend to the death his homeland and those he loves. After barely escaping his own death at the hands of men hired to do away with him, he wakes up on the banks of River Eden and sees a beautiful ravenhaired woman riding hell-for-leather along the coast. Seeing her, he devises a plan that will teach his enemy a lesson he will soon never forget, a ransom for the wild beauty, a bargaining chip. Heath soon realizes too late that his heart is caught in the middle of this political game and he will do anything to save Raven from being used as the bait. At a time when England is reeling with treason and highborn ladies and gentleman are involved, Heath must convince Raven that he truly cares for her and that she is making a huge mistake by marrying the enemy. Can the two find love and can Raven dismiss the fact that the man she falls in love with is a hated Scot? Not what a hoped for, but it was definately worth the time and money. I thought Ms. Henley couldn't done more with the hostage plot and with the murder plot, but all in all it was a very satisfying read. Tracy Talley~@
Rating:
Summary: The Border Hostage - quite captiviating
Review: Like most of the other reviewers, I too am a big VH fan. I couldn't wait to get hold of this book as Ram and Tina's story is one of my most favourite of her books (Desired is my favourite)and I really loved Heath from this. I found the storyline a little thin as well - would have preferred a bit more depth and I would have liked Heath and Raven's relationship to develop a little slower. But the way VH describes the surrounds and the time period always gets to me - I love it!! This, combined with Ram and Tina's on going story is what made the book even more worthwhile. Overall I would reccommend this book any VH or romance novelist fan!!
Rating:
Summary: Flawed yet enjoyable.
Review: The border lands between England and Scotland are dangerous places for anyone, especially a woman. Raven Carleton is unimpressed with the wild nature of her English home, for it closely mirrors her own temperament. Heath Kennedy thrives in his Scottish home, raising his horses and protecting his clan. In retribution for the theft of his prized herd, Heath takes Raven and her betrothed hostage. He has no intention of returning Raven, for she has captivated him. Raven finds herself unwillingly attracted to the rogue. In their tumultuous surroundings, love is not as easy as declaring feelings and living happily ever after. Virginia Henley has written an enjoyable story despite some flaws. The most glaring transgression is the use of words that were not part of the English language in Medieval England or using words that were in existence but had yet to take on the meaning she conveyed. This caused a "jerking away" from the story. Raven's thought process as she lingered between the English lord and the Scottish man leaned toward confusing at times. For a woman who flaunted convention at every opportunity, she was willing to give up true love to conform to expectations. Regardless of its problems, it still catches the interest and begs to be completely read.
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