The Legend

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended
Review: Each of the de Marlowe men had a gift which they hid from the rest of the world. Galen's was visions! Lately he had been having dark, disturbing visions and horror filled nightmares. To avoid the notice of each unique gift of his brothers, he left court and secluded himself at Durance Guarde. Galen had been awarded the highest medals of honor from King Edward, but was more humbled by having the privilege of counting Edward as a friend. However, Galen did not even take the time to consult Edward before disappearing. At Durance Guarde, Galen planned to search within himself for the meaning of his recent visions, without endangering anyone he cared for.

Lady Honor Jennings was now a widow. To avoid her greedy In-Laws and a forced new marriage to those who coveted her lands and wealth, Honor planned to become a Vowess. She returned to her father's home. Her father, Sir Walter Stafford, expected her to remarry also. But was in no rush.

The Staffords and the de Marlowes never really decided who rightfully owned Durance Guarde. Honor had hoped to build her own manor there and print books. Finding Galen there led to several clashes of will! The two are thrown together during one of history's darkest hours! Galen and Honor must find out who murdered her husband and stop the royal assassination Galen has visions of.

**** Suzanne Robinson has succeeded in weaving a magical new spell for her readers in this, her latest story! The tale of Honor and Galen grabbed me from the first sentence. I simply HAD to keep reading to see what was going to happen next! Would I recommend it? Oh, YES! ****

Rating:
Summary: Good but not up to her usual standards
Review: In 1476 England, Galen de Marlowe hides in remote Durance Guarde so he can concentrate on the visions of a malevolent being threatening the royal family. He sees a shadow smothering two boys who Galen assumes are the sons of his friend Edward the King.

Honor Stafford heads home after four mostly lonely years of marriage to Aymer Jennings, who recently died in an accident. She decides to temporarily stay at Durance Guarde, an allegedly evil place, to regain her equilibrium and to enjoy her freedom before dealing with family desires to marry her again against her wishes again. The keep lies on disputed land in which de Marlowe and Stafford claims ownership, but neither bother is able to prove it belongs to them.

Honor meets Galen and an attraction springs their between them to both their dismay. He decides she must be married to get her off his case and escorts her to see the King. However, as Galen and Honor fall in love, a dastardly deed begins to take shape to gain control of the English throne.

LEGEND is an amusing medieval romance that is not the typical Suzanne Robinson TREASURE. The story line is entertaining, but the characters, though interesting, act a bit weird and inane, and never captures audience empathy for their plights. Ms. Robinson's fans will be astonished by this change in direction to a fifteenth century romp that seems to satirize the author's more serious historical romances.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Amusing, but with no depth
Review: My overall impression of this book is that it's SHORT. I rather like the characters, but given the setting, there's never any historical depth. Also, the mystery of Honor's husband's murderer is solved rather abruptly. I think it was a cute book, and I'll be surprised if there are no sequels featuring Galen's brothers (I'd most look foward to Fulk), kind of like Jude Deveraux's Velvet books. However, Deveraux's books are stuffed full of historical detail...and so, usually, are Robinson's. I hope if a series is in the works, the books improve over this one.

Rating:
Summary: Not a keeper
Review: Suzanne Robinson has written some good books, but this is not one of them. The major characters lack depth and definition and the plot is predictable. I was disappointed.