Rating: 
Summary: Well-written characters and a unique perspective
Review: Imagine being wed and bedded by proxy, losing your entire family to the Black Death, and then being granted a run down estate as your widow's portion by a king with a hidden agenda - rebuilding a kingdom devastated by the Plague. Imagine having an epiphany on the battlefield just as you are about to slay a child, abandoning the only career you know, as a warrior, and trying to rebuild your humanity, only to watch your dreams die off - again, in the Plague. Imagine getting a second chance to do it right. If you can imagine all these things, you have the feeling generated by this novel, and you are in for an enjoyable read about a hero and a heroine who are trying, like so many others in the novel, to make their second chances work.I liked this book for its character development. Told alternately from the hero's and the heroine's point of view, it was fun to see the male versus the female perspective on an unexpected situation. The hero's character, strong to begin with, undergoes even more of a transformation. The heroine is written with optimism, strength, intelligence, and integrity -and not one to easily get her feelings hurt like so many other romance heroines. The author gives us a glimpse of day to day medieval life and the devastation wrought by the Plague in 14th century England; my only regret was that there wasn't a little more history woven into the story - the setting was ripe for it. An enjoyable story!
Rating:
Summary: A good read
Review: In 1351 England, Lady Eleanor Bayard learns she is a widow even though she never met her spouse, having married him by proxy. Eleanor thinks her husband died in Calais. Needing a place to live, Eleanor travels to the Faulkhurst Castle, former home of her late spouse. Lord Nicholas Bayard feels guilt over never meeting his wife, let alone sharing a wedding night with her. He believes she died from the plague. He is wandering all over his rundown castle when Eleanor arrives. She thinks he is an unemployed knight and offers the angst-laden Nicholas a job as her steward. He is shocked by her positive, uplifting attitude, but hides his identity from her because he feels he has no time for a wife in his present circumstances. However, as Nicholas and Eleanor fall in love, he wonders what will happen to his heart when she learns of his deception. Medieval romance readers will long relish Linda Needham's touching tale, THE MAIDEN BRIDE. The story line is fast-paced and filled with the nuances of mid fourteenth century English life. The lead couple is a delightful compassionate pair whose droll repartees will give much pleasure to sub-genre fans. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: The Maiden Bride
Review: Linda Needham has once again combined her favorite characters - a woman who collects misfortunates and a man hiding a deep, dark secret - into an irresistable pairing. This book is lighter (and shorter) than her first four, but an inviting, charming story that will keep you turning the pages until the conclusion.
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Summary: Another winner from Linda Needham!
Review: Linda Needham's latest book from Avon, The Maiden Bride, is a wonderful medieval and sure to please all of her fans out there who wait patiently, and not-so-patiently, for each of Linda's newest books. It will also attract more fans over to Linda's camp because of the beautifully crafted prose, the dark and brooding hero and a wonderfully intelligent, independent, and practical heroine - my favorite kind! Lady Eleanor Bayard was married by proxy to William Nicholas Bayard, although she had never met him. When she learns of his death following the great plague, she decides to assert her rightful claim as his widow to Faulkhurst Castle. Granted this property by her craft king, she takes her little ragtag band of misfits across the countryside to the Northwest Coast of England to her deserted, crumbling castle. Eleanor knows the castle is in need of a lot of work and a lot of people to fill it and the surrounding village, so she plants the seeds of gossip along her trek. By leaving hints that the new Lady of Faulkhurst will be tithing to her tenants for five years, instead of the other way around, Eleanor is able to attract more and more misfits to join her. However, the greatest misfit of all is waiting for her deep in the shadows of the castle - "Nicholas," who agrees to be her steward when he can't scare her off, but who is really her tormented husband. Nicholas has pledged himself to complete the rebuilding of the chapel at Faulkhurst before he dons a monks robes and sentences himself to life in a monastery. He is doing a self-imposed penance for the terrible life he led which he believes resulted in the plague that took the life of his young, illegitimate son. He does not want to have anything to do with Eleanor, even more so after he discovers she is his wife, but he cannot leave her to endanger herself or the children and innocents with which she surrounds herself by letting her live in the ramshackle castle. So, he takes on the role of steward and starts to set to rights the very destruction that he himself wrought on the castle and its belongings. Even with such a dark, brooding hero, there is so much humor in the interactions between Eleanor and Nicholas that I found myself laughing out loud. She is a feisty and intelligent woman; Nicholas has had little contact with such females in his life of battle and decadence. He is headstrong and opinionated about the way his castle should be run, but doesn't want to reveal his identity to his wife. She is headstrong herself, but also optimistic and genuinely good-hearted. The various thieves and cutthroats that show up at the doors of the castle, in answer to Eleanor's prayers for tradesmen, make for an entertaining little troupe of secondary characters. The sexual tension in this story is wonderful, especially because the hero and heroine become friends and develop a strong sense of trust and affection before they ever get to a bed. In fact, Eleanor's concern that her unconsummated marriage puts her claim to the castle at risk creates some humorous and tense moments for Nicholas. Those of you who know and love Linda's work will not be disappointed by The Maiden Bride. If you haven't read any of her books, but are a lover of medieval, historical or just general romance, please pick this one up. It's sure to bring a smile to your face, a tear to your eye, and a quick pit-pat to your heart. Great work, Linda! Barb Deane Copyrightc 1999, Barb's All Romance Book Store. All rights reserved
Rating:
Summary: Always a keeper!
Review: Linda's books are always keepers for me! She writes with such feeling that your heart can't help but become involved with her characters! From the first of Maiden Bride, I was in love with Eleanor & Nicholas! The children in the book are charming & I DON'T even like kids! *G* When Linda describes the inter thoughts of her characters you feel exactly what they are feeling & even though her love scene's are late in a book you don't mind cause you have been there on every page of the book.. Thank you Linda for giving us two more wonderful characters to add to our favorites!
Rating:
Summary: Delightful!
Review: THE MAIDEN BRIDE was voted one of the Romance Writers of America's Top Ten Favorite Books for 2000. It definitely belongs on that list! Linda Needham is an ace at creating wounded heroes we all can love. Nicholas Bayard has lost his son to the Black Death, and feels it's God's punishment for his own violent acts as a soldier. He's astounded when the gentle, ever-optimistic Lady Eleanor--to whom he was married by proxy--shows up at his castle. He had believed her dead, and had pledged to enter a monastery to make up for his sins. Torn between his promise to God and his promise to a woman he's never met, Nicholas is a true romantic hero. You'll be rooting for Lady Eleanor to save him from himself from page one! Brava to Linda Needham--I can't wait to pick up her next book!
Rating:
Summary: An RWA Top Ten Book of 2000 for good reason!
Review: THE MAIDEN BRIDE was voted one of the Romance Writers of America's Top Ten Favorite Books for 2000. It definitely belongs on that list! Linda Needham is an ace at creating wounded heroes we all can love. Nicholas Bayard has lost his son to the Black Death, and feels it's God's punishment for his own violent acts as a soldier. He's astounded when the gentle, ever-optimistic Lady Eleanor--to whom he was married by proxy--shows up at his castle. He had believed her dead, and had pledged to enter a monastery to make up for his sins. Torn between his promise to God and his promise to a woman he's never met, Nicholas is a true romantic hero. You'll be rooting for Lady Eleanor to save him from himself from page one! Brava to Linda Needham--I can't wait to pick up her next book!
Rating:
Summary: Slow start, but worth the read!
Review: This is the first book that I have read by Linda Needham. It starts out a little slow but it was definitely worth finishing! It is a very positive thinking leading lady and a negative thinking leading man who wind up together in the same castle. The main characters, along with the various supporting characters are nicely developed. If you like sweet stories, with some emotional angst and children mixed in - this is for you!
Rating:
Summary: Delightful!
Review: This was a fun story with entertaining characters. lots of smiles, and laughs, plus, great passion. don't miss out on reading this one.
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Summary: Heart warming love story with some very funny moments!
Review: This was my first Needham book and I don't believe it will be my last. The take-charage attitude of the heroine is so refreshing in a romance novel that I enjoyed every moment of the book. Her determination to restore and build the castle added many fun moments to the book including the gang of people she collected. The hero's secret and determination to help her is really heart warming. It is funny to read sections of the book when she is actually bad-mouthing him in front of him... Her ability to forgive people is really quite heart warming in comparison to his inability to forgive himeself. I really enjoyed the book and hope to read another by Needham.
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