The Wife Test

Rating:
Summary: Not her best
Review: Terrific characters, subtle wit and well-researched period authenticity. Those who read and enjoyed The Husband Test will be delighted to once again experience the wily intelligence of the abbess of the Convent of the Brides of Virtue and her charges. When English King Edward holds a French duke for ransom, he contrives to send his daughters as brides to the king in lieu of a ransom - never mind the fact that he has no daughters! He asks the abbess to send four of her charges, which he will adopt as his illegitimate offspring. And so the king sends trusted knight Sir Hugh of Sennet to escort the maidens to England.

Chloe de Guibray was left as an infant on the steps of the convent and has little knowledge of her parentage. Now she has risked everything to travel to England where she believes the answers lie. She's passed herself off as one of the "brides" and winds up as their leader of sorts and a thorn in Sir Hugh's side. She's not afraid to stand up to him even while worrying that he finds her "objectionable". As the days pass, she wistfully contemplates how much she and the grumpy (but handsome) Hugh have in common, but his rigid beliefs preclude friendship of any sort - or anything else for that matter. What a shame . . .

The dutiful, brave, intense and gruff Hugh resents his mission and is rather unpleasant to the ladies in his care. It surely seems to the maidens that the testy Sir Hugh hates women, but that's really not the case. Hugh was raised in a monastery and in typical old church style, was taught that women are responsible for the lust that men feel and thus, should be avoided at all costs if one is not to be corrupted. Well, Hugh's thoughts of Chloe are certainly of a corruptible nature and have him confessing his impure thoughts as soon as they arrive at Windsor (his confession was hysterical in its detail and enumeration!) Still, it was nice to see a man with a strong moral compass (perhaps too strong!) for a change. But will Hugh let his dedication to the church eclipse his growing feelings for Chloe? And, much to Hugh's frustration, the King seems to keep throwing he and Chloe together commanding that they jointly determine which maids will marry which nobles. But is someone trying to keep the marriages from happening - to the point of endangering the "brides"?

On the negative side, I felt the pace was a bit on the slow side and you'll likely find yourself wanting to strangle Hugh - you've never seen a man fight his attraction so hard! A big positive is Chloe. She's a really terrific heroine - smart, open-minded, plucky, kind and patient (Lord is she patient!).

A thoroughly enjoyable and recommend read!

Rating:
Summary: Ms Krahn has done it again!
Review: Terrific characters, subtle wit and well-researched period authenticity. Those who read and enjoyed The Husband Test will be delighted to once again experience the wily intelligence of the abbess of the Convent of the Brides of Virtue and her charges. When English King Edward holds a French duke for ransom, he contrives to send his daughters as brides to the king in lieu of a ransom - never mind the fact that he has no daughters! He asks the abbess to send four of her charges, which he will adopt as his illegitimate offspring. And so the king sends trusted knight Sir Hugh of Sennet to escort the maidens to England.

Chloe de Guibray was left as an infant on the steps of the convent and has little knowledge of her parentage. Now she has risked everything to travel to England where she believes the answers lie. She's passed herself off as one of the "brides" and winds up as their leader of sorts and a thorn in Sir Hugh's side. She's not afraid to stand up to him even while worrying that he finds her "objectionable". As the days pass, she wistfully contemplates how much she and the grumpy (but handsome) Hugh have in common, but his rigid beliefs preclude friendship of any sort - or anything else for that matter. What a shame . . .

The dutiful, brave, intense and gruff Hugh resents his mission and is rather unpleasant to the ladies in his care. It surely seems to the maidens that the testy Sir Hugh hates women, but that's really not the case. Hugh was raised in a monastery and in typical old church style, was taught that women are responsible for the lust that men feel and thus, should be avoided at all costs if one is not to be corrupted. Well, Hugh's thoughts of Chloe are certainly of a corruptible nature and have him confessing his impure thoughts as soon as they arrive at Windsor (his confession was hysterical in its detail and enumeration!) Still, it was nice to see a man with a strong moral compass (perhaps too strong!) for a change. But will Hugh let his dedication to the church eclipse his growing feelings for Chloe? And, much to Hugh's frustration, the King seems to keep throwing he and Chloe together commanding that they jointly determine which maids will marry which nobles. But is someone trying to keep the marriages from happening - to the point of endangering the "brides"?

On the negative side, I felt the pace was a bit on the slow side and you'll likely find yourself wanting to strangle Hugh - you've never seen a man fight his attraction so hard! A big positive is Chloe. She's a really terrific heroine - smart, open-minded, plucky, kind and patient (Lord is she patient!).

A thoroughly enjoyable and recommend read!

Rating:
Summary: :(
Review: The book was a let down compared to the Betina Krahs last book "The Husband test". It was too wordy and too long drawn, the author could have easily reduced the book by 100 pages.

Rating:
Summary: Cute-Fanciful Medieval Read
Review: The Wife Test is a cute story and worth reading if in the mood for whimsical fun!