Robert's Lady

Rating:
Summary: Regency fans will love this romance
Review: After residing in a horrid French prison for the last few years of the Napoleonic Wars, English nobleman Lord Robert Manning is finally home. Robert believes that his love for his precious Eleanor kept him alive during his time in the inhuman cell. His parents, sisters, and Eleanor's sibling Katryn are elated over Robert's homecoming. However, a shocked Robert learns that while everyone thought he was dead, Eleanor up and married Lord Whitmund and is now carrying his baby.

Though forlorn, Robert knows Eleanor must stay loyal to her spouse. However he also believes he needs a wife so that the estate is kept out of the hands of his abominable and avaricious cousin. Katryn plans on being that woman because she always loved Robert and prays one day he will love her even half as much as he cherishes her sister.

ROBERT'S LADY is more than a fabulous Regency romance. The exciting story line focuses on changing relationships due to the effect of war and its aftermath. The feelings of prisoners of war and family members seem real and heartwrenching. The exciting plot includes several interesting players struggling with the impact of a beloved person coming back into their lives after they have adjusted to his death. The romance between the lead charcaters adds to the relationship dilemma. Rising star Nicole Byrd shows much talent and scope as she provides readers of historical romance with a homecoming tale that could have occurred in any era beset by war.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Not bad, although derivative and implausible
Review: clearly derived from Heyer's "A Civil Contract", Byrd manages good dramatic tension between her characters despite the fact they are pretty much the stock-in-trade Regency types. However, there is a major hole in this plot -- a charge of treason, if proven, forfeits the traitor's properties and title to the Crown. Therefore, the villain would never have accused his cousin of treason, for he would have had to petition the Crown afterwards for restoration after "accidentally" discovering the exonerating evidence once the hero had been beheaded. That process often took months, even years, and since the villain had beggared himself obtaining the proof of treason, disclosing it publicly made no sense. Ms. Byrd is a better writer than many, but she needs to pay better attention to the historical background.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!!! Details, Details, Details
Review: I couldn't put this one down. It's a great blend of historical romance and romantic suspense, with a neat little twist at the end. Fans of Amanda Quick's books will love it.

Rating:
Summary: A delightful surprise!
Review: I rarely read romance novels--I guess I thought the writing wouldn't be of high quality, the characters would be stereotypes, and the plot would be predictable. Well, you won't catch me making that mistake again, after "Robert's Lady"! The writing was GREAT--fresh and lively, well paced, imaginative. The characters were terrific. It would have been so easy for the author to make Eleanor... shallow and petty, but she's almost as full a character as her sister Katryn (the heroine). And the plot was full of surprises without being one of those "gotcha!" kinds of books where weird things happen so often that you get used to it.

If you already like historical romances, you're in for a treat. If, like me, you THINK you don't, at least give this one a try and you'll probably find yourself looking forward to Ms. Byrd's next book as much as I am!

Rating:
Summary: Weak Characters, Weak Romance
Review: I was really disappointed with this book and had trouble finishing. After I read all of the 5-star reviews I was expecting so much more. The main character, Robert, came off as weak and cowardly whereas his wife was like a doormat for most of the book. It's a shame since the storyline had a lot of promise in the beginning.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad, although derivative and implausible
Review: Katryn married Robert, even when she knew Robert still loved her older sister, Eleanor. (Eleanor is married to this other guy) She thinks that she could win Robert's love and he'll forget about Eleanor when she's with him long enough.

Robert escaped from prison, because he was held captive during this war. He needed an heir, so he marries Katryn but something pops up from his past, which could destroy him and his family. And he journeys to the North, to look for this French lady that could help him.

Katryn joins Robert in his journey. During the journey Robert gets to know his wife better. They have problems and they solve it together and at nights, Robert is really passionate. Katryn even believes he's starting to love her. But is this true when they come face to face with Eleanor and what about Robert's past that could destroy him and his whole family?

I like "Robert's Lady", not because of the ending but more of the how part. Like how they ended up where they were and how everything ended. If Nicole Byrd, didn't have a good plot I think this would be boring because in a way, the ending is really predictable.