The Warrior's Damsel

Rating:
Summary: Nice setting, weak plot
Review: Even though I'm not a huge fan of romance novels, I try to enjoy the few that I read. Most of them are mediocre, but even a mediocre novel has one or more parts you'll enjoy. Not so with this book, the bad parts way outweigh the good.

This novel has the ability to be a great romance novel. Its well set in the time period it's in, the author has done her homework in that regard. And while the plot of falling for the enemy is cliché, it's always possible to put a spin on it.

I think the plot was the biggest letdown. There's a point in the book where the heroine has a flash of insight, and says to the hero that a marriage between the two families would put an end to the feuding, which is what the hero was planning. At that point they could have devised a plan to run away and end the feuding. Instead, she plays dutiful daughter to a father who can't stand her, and then gets kidnapped twice.

This book really feels like your typical canned romance novel, which is a disappointment. Her heroine has spunk, and the hero has drive, but some of the more interesting minor characters get lost in the shuffle, and are instead replaced with a father that hates his daughter for some unknown reason, and his right hand servant, who harbors lustful thoughts and a bad temper. Even when the father's reason for hating his daughter is explained it still leaves you wondering.

I tried to give this novel a chance, but I really felt it was lacking in the things that would make it a really good novel.

Rating:
Summary: YES, YES, YES!!
Review: I loved this story because I loved the hero. He was tender and intelligent, and yet masculine and protective of the heroine. He was a prince, and despite the heroine fighting him for a time, because she thinks he is only using her, he is still gentle, forgiving, and proves to her how much he actually loves her. I wish I could read more books with this kind of hero.

Rating:
Summary: Not quite good enough
Review: I should probably stop reading romance novels. They usually end up in a letdown of some kind for me. The Warrior's Damsel was no exception. Overall it wasn't bad, but a couple things truly kept me from enjoying it.

The first thing was the plot. It wasn't enough to have the youngest members of two warring families meet and fall for each other. There's a point where Kate and Rafe muse over the idea that a marriage between the two families would stop their warring. They should have packed up and gone and gotten married then. Instead Kate is kidnapped twice and a whole slew of other problems happen. It was like the author figured having them marry and then sort out the problems would be too easy, so she devies a dual kidnap to spice things up.

The unloving father bit was really confusing. We're give no reason why Kate's father seems to hate her for most of the book, and then there's a fleeting moment near the end of the book that sheds some light onto why he hates her. However, it's not really enough, and you're left wondering about a lot of things.

Another thing that bothered me was the tried and true cliché about sex and love. Kate is a widow, so she has consummated her marriage with her first husband. However, it was painful and awful, and she's left assuming all marriage relations are like this. It's up to gallant, knightly Rafe to not only sweep her off her feet and end the feud, but to show her what true love is like. I know that the premise of most period novels is this, but you would think that Kate would figure it out before Rafe showed her; she was around a spunky widow and a happily married couple, and she's not blind.

Overall I wanted to like this, but there was enough to keep me wishing for more.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining
Review: In 1214 England, Sir Rafe Godsol sees widow Katherine de Fraisney at his friend's wedding. Rafe decides that he will marry Katherine even though he learns that she is the daughter of the man who killed his sire. He will also soon find out that Katherine has vowed to never marry again after an unhappy first relationship that has left her wary of males and still an innocent.

Her father decides to find a second spouse for Katherine. However, Rafe begins his own courting and she finds his kisses quite enchanting. When her father and his chosen beau for her learn that a Godsol is sniffing around Katherine, they plot to kill Rafe. Poor Katherine now realizes that Rafe wanted her for her money and not out of love, something that the landless knight now knows is not true, but doesn't know how to prove to her.

Though adhering to the unwritten guidelines of the sub-genre, THE WARRIOR'S DAMSEL is an entertaining medieval romance that sub-genre fans will find enticing. The story line works because the motives of the charcaters ring true and thus lead to relational conflicts, thirteenth century style. Denise Hampton's novel will provide pleasure to readers who enjoy a straightforward historical romance.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: New author makes a splash with this one
Review: The Bagots and the Godsols have been feuding for generations. The time has come for third son Rafe Godsol to take a bride. He sees the woman he wants at a wedding celebration...then finds out that she is the widowed daughter of his greatest enemy! Kate de Fraisney does not know who he is at first because she was fostered away as a child and thus was raised away from the hatred. Once she knows who he is, she fights her attraction to him. Neither one of them truly feels the malice and rage that began the feud. But they are influenced strongly by their kin: Rafe by his older brother, and Kate by her father. Keep an eye out for this author. She has the presence and style of a seasoned author.