Rating: 
Summary: Cute, charming story -- more than just a Husband Test!
Review: This was the first one of Betina Krahn's books that I have ever read. I thought the premise was interesting enough to warrant trying out a new author, and I'm very glad I did so! On to the basics...The story starts out with Eloise, a novice in a convent. She's a bit of a thorn in the abbess's side, mostly because she is constantly trying to help out, and in the process making a bigger mess of things. Peril (don't let the name put you off) is the Earl of Whitmore, who has come to this particular convent for a novice nun to take as a bride. Just about any bride will do, as long as she's virtuous. See, he needs a virtuous bride to break the curse on his lands. Only in the process, he gets saddled with Eloise instead, who has been bidden to give him a 'Husband Test' to find out if he is worthy. They spark, Eloise starts running his castle (and driving him crazy) and Peril passes the husband test -- and you can guess who becomes his bride! The characters in this book are extremely likeable. While Peril doesn't have the depth to him that some leading men do, he's likeably gruff enough to pass any standards. Eloise shines in this book, as the story is told primarily through her eyes. The tale has enough twists and turns to keep your interest until the very last page, and I found myself disappointed when the story was finished, but only because it was over so fast! This book is definitely staying on my shelf as a 'keeper'.
Rating: 
Summary: Uniquely entertaining!
Review: What a delight! It has all the elements we look for in a romance but so much more.
Most importantly there is humor�delightful humor�sudden surprises that caused me to laugh out loud before I realized it. Not seltzer-in-the-pants humor but the kind that sneaks up on you and takes you unawares�you know�the kind that comes in real life!
And the story line is not one I have read before. It really was different, without being absurd (what a relief! I get so tired of the foolish ones!). While I am not a great student of history, and cannot tell just how authentic much of the background is, it was plausible enough for the average chick.
It didn�t beat a dead horse. By this I mean, there was no torturous dragging out of misunderstandings, no endless agonizing over imagined slights, no feeling that the author was counting words to figure out her royalties (do they still pay by the word? I don�t know, but many books that should end after 20 pages go on for another 200 for some reason other than story development!). There were conflicts, concerns, and attacks of conscience but they all were covered, handled, dealt with and still the story MOVED ON!
There were several �lessons� inserted in a gentle, non-preaching fashion. One never felt �beaten over the head" actually, slightly warmed by them.
Yes, the romance was there. One could feel tingly and tantalized without all the gruesome details (I never like feeling that I have been caught reading porn), the imagination is still the best source of titillation. How cleverly the physical and emotional needs were brought to bear. Even the nuns were decidedly enthusiastic for all aspects of this relationship!
Oh, and it had the good grace not to have a cover featuring the ever present (it seems) sweaty chests (his) and heaving breasts (hers) so popular in the �romance� circles. Those covers drive me crazy-I hate them!
It was really a joy to read and I shall proceed from here to find more books by this author�my complements and my thanks to her.
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