The Warlord's Bride
by Margaret Moore
Light
medieval romance even in the darker moments with passionate yet gentle
hero
1205,
Wales. Lord Alfred and Lady Rosalyn de Garlebonne arrive at
Llanpowell after crossing territory more savage than her home in
Lincolnshire. At the behest of King John of England, Lady Rosalyn
has been spared the fate of her traitorous husband, but can marriage
to Lord Madoc of Llanpowell, a man known as the "Beast of Brecon",
prove much better than widowhood? Fiery, daring and outgoing, the
warrior proves to be a man of passion at first and yet Rosalyn begins
to see a
gentle side to Madoc. A man of restraint, Madoc has a kindness
towards others, even those who threaten him, a kindness that somehow
belies the
threatening moniker by which he is known. When his love turns
cold, can she rekindle the fire in his heart? Can she uncover the
secrets that torment him and protect him from the dangers that threaten
Llanpowell?
Through the characterization and dialogue of Madoc and Rosalyn,
Margaret Moore's THE WARLORD'S BRIDE
adds humor and drama to the classic medieval romance set-up of a
heroine being sent by the king to be a wife. For every question
or statement from Lady Rosalyn or Lord
Alfred, Madoc has an unexpected reply. Lady Rosalyn herself is no
push-over submitting thoughtlessly to being a pawn despite the
circumstances of her past. As their two personalities collide,
the sparks fly. As they come together in private as well as in
the
daily running of Llanpowell, each discovers the tender, more hidden
inner vulnerability of the other. Passion turns to love as
Rosalyn and Madoc come to know each other more intimately, not just as
husband and wife but as a man and woman who care deeply about each
other.
Margaret Moore's THE WARLORD'S BRIDE
provokes a certain amount of torn feelings in
this medieval enthusiast. The beginning is fantastic --- a true
delight with a hero whose unexpected dialogue and behavior refreshes
with a delightful sense of originality. I thought I would adore
the book for that alone. THE
WARLORD'S BRIDE is a fast paced romance with a light style even
in the darker moments. Unfortunately, the rest of the book does not
match up to the fine beginning. The plot and characterization
became more shallow overall, though moments of excitement and the
culmination of an intriguing subplot liven up the last half of the
book. Medieval details are accurate and woven seamlessly in the story
but the history remains more in the background with little mention
beyond food, the initial behest by the Plantagenet king, and other
small
details. I would recommend Margaret Moore's THE WARLORD'S BRIDE to romance
lovers looking a medieval romance with more romance than history.
The passionate but gentle hero and the unusual initial predicament of
the heroine and later of the hero do intrigue. Medieval
enthusiasts,
or fans of the historical aspects of historical romance, however, are
likely to crave more history and a history more central to the romance
than they will find in this romance.
Publisher: HQN (January 2009)
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Medieval Book Reviews
