Tag Archive | Julie Garwood

Top Ten Tuesday (65) Ten Authors I REALLY Want To Meet

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme was created and
hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week there will post a new Top
Ten list that one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will
answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All you have to do is link back to
The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your
name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers
lists! If you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.
Have fun with it! It’s a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers. So
Come and Join in the Fun!! 🙂

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Audio Book Review-Ransom by Julie Garwood

The RansomTitle: Ransom
Author: Julie Garwood
Series: Highland Lairds (2)
Publisher: Pocket Books/Brilliance Audio
Release Date:December 27 2002
Acquired: Self Bought
Format: Audio
Listening Length:16 Hours
Narrator: Susan Duerden
Genre: Historical Romance (Medieval)

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Historical Romance 101: What Makes a Great Heroine and Favorites

Historical Romance 101Welcome to another segment of Historical Romance 101!! Come and join along with myself, Jennifer @ Feminist Fairy Tales, Amanda @ On A Book Bender, and Quinn @ Quinn’s Book Nook. This is a special one, and I find one of my favorite things to talk about…our lovely heroines. Now we all know that it is more difficult to find a winning heroine than a hero. But it is such a special treat to find a heroine you can connect with.  Continue reading

Book Review-The Bride

The Bride
Julia Garwood
Pocket Books
Paperback
358 Pages
Published July 1989
Scottish Highlands Historical
ISBN: 978-0-671-73779-5

Synopsis
1102. By edict of the King, the mighty Scottish laird Alec Kincaid must take an English bride. His choice was Jamie, youngest daughter of Baron Jamison… a feisty, violet-eyed beauty. Alec ached to touch her, to tame her, to possess her… forever. But Jamie vowed never to surrender to this Highland barbarian.

He was everything her heart warned against–an arrogant scoundrel whose rough good looks spoke of savage pleasures. And though Kincaid’s scorching kisses fired her blood, she brazenly resisted him… until one rapturous moment quelled their clash of wills, and something far more dangerous than desire threatened to conquer her senses…

Summary:
Jamie is the youngest of her sisters, but is the one that has always protected them. For her that is normal, however for most families…its not. So when the king orders that one of her sisters marry Alec Kincaid, she is at a loss on how to comfort them..for they will have to marry a scot and a barbarian. However when she meets Alec, he chooses her as his bride. At first Jamie doens’t comprehend why he would want to marry her, but knows that she has no choice, better her sacrifice than any of her sisters. So with both her and her sister Mary married off to his friend, they head out to Scotland, not knowing how her life may change. At first all that exist between Alec and Jamie is confusion, opposite personalities and a powerful desire that fires up the blood. However as things progress between these two, a tender love develops.


The Hero (Alec Kincaid)
Alec Kincaid has been ordered by the Scotland King to marry a daughter of a English Baron, so when he looks upon Jamie, he is enthralled by her beauty, and decided to claim her as his wife. Alec is a powerful warrior and is friends with his Scotland King, however he is now married to one of them most confounding women he has ever come across. Her logic doesn’t make sense to him, however he is falling in love with her, and desires her greatly and will do everything that he can to keep her in his life.


The Heroine 
Jamie, even though she is the youngest of her sisters, she has had the responsibility of the oldest siblings. She has always taken care of and protected her family. Jamie is shocked when Alec picks her to marry him, instead of her other sisters. Jamie is saddened to leave her family, but has a determination to be a good wife and make her place in Scotland, even though she doesn’t know much about the Scots apart from rumors with no truth with it. Alec also introduces her to passion and desire, and a whole new world is opened to her, with exquisite pleasure to be found in her husbands arms…


My Thoughts 
The Bride is one of the historical’s written by Julie Garwood. Its also one of my favorite type of story plots that I enjoy reading. I know I have read this one before now, however I know its been along time since there were moments that I was surprised and part I didn’t remember. So it was good reading this again, and getting to know these characters and what a great story it is. We have a heroine that isn’t appreciated, who was practically treated a a servant, and Alec is very protective of her, and shows her what its like to be appreciated and cherished. Something she has never experienced before until she meets him. Such a truly magical story with love and passion and some mystery aspects to heighten the blood, and one that will delight you!!! I loved it!!!


My Favorite Quote 
“I want you Jamie,” Before Jamie could catch her breath, he cupped the sides of her face and claimed her mouth. Jamie’s last coherent thought was that Alec Kincaid certainly knew how to kiss. 


My Grade On This Book 
4.5 Blossoms

Book Review-Honor’s Splendor

Honor’s Splendour
Julie Garwood
Pocket Books
374 Pages
Published December 1987
Paperback
Medieval Romance
ISBN: 978-0-671-73782-5

Synopsis 

1099. In the feuding English court, gentle Lady madelyn suffered the cruel whims of her ruthless brother, Baron Louddon. Then, in vengeance for a bitter crime, Baron Duncan of Wexton — the Wolf — unleased his warriors against Louddon’s main. Exquisite Madelyne was the prize he captured … but when he gazed upon the proud beauty, he pledged to protect her with his life. In his rough-hewn castle, Cuncan proved true to his honor. But when at last their noble passion conquered them both, she surrendered with all her soul. Now, for love, Madelyn would stand fast … as bravely as her Lord, the powerful Wolf who fought for Honor’s Splendour.

Summary:
 Lady Madelaine through the past years has suffered greatly at the hands of her brother, and has finally planned her escape from him. But on the day that plans on leaving her brother captures Baron Duncan of Wexton. And through a small act of kindness, an act that could have gotten her killed, she rescues him from being frozen to death, and even though Duncan knew his men were scaling the walls, in effort to locate the one woman who has landed right in his lap for the taking as revenge for what her brother did to him. So he takes Madelyne, even though she is more than willing to go along with him, but she plans to run away to find her relative that lives in Scotland. But the more time Madelyne is in her captors hands, the stronger her feelings have become towards him. A man who needs her love and her heart.

The Hero (Duncan of Wexton, Baron)
Duncan is desperate for revenge against Louddon (Madelyne’s brother) for taking his sister and her ended up being beaten and violently raped. His plan is to take from Louddon, his sister just like his sister was taken from him. So what started out as revenge for Duncan, turned to possessiveness to have this woman and keep her. Duncan is very proud and a powerful warrior, and rumored as the “Wolf” and is very protective of his family and those that serve under him. At first he knows Madelyne is different from other women he has met, she is frustrating and he is always having to save her from close calls, and she nearly drives him crazy, but he also realizes how much he loves her.

The Heroine (Lady Madelyne)
Madelyne growing up always tried to be good enough so that her father and then her brother would come to love her, but it never happens. Her brother loved to abuse and frighten her, and turn her into someone that would always obey him. But Madelyne was determined to free Duncan, even though it was a great risk to herself, and that she could be killed because of it. Madelyne is a loving and caring young woman, one who has a strong spirit filled with courage and vitality, only needs someone to bring it out in her, which after she gets captured by Duncan, is exactly what happens. Her true self comes out, someone that won’t let fear run her life anymore. When Madelyn realizes how much she fears Duncan less and less and starts to genuinely care for him, she knows she is falling in love with him, and knows she can be just as strong and determined as he is to keep what is his.

My Thoughts 
Honor’s Splendor is a wonderful book by Julie Garwood. It takes place in 1099 and I just love this time period, such a romantic period in history, and I love Medieval romances, and this one just took my breath away. I think I was charmed after the first chapter, I just loved how Madelyne saves the one man that is determined to take her captive, even though she really doesn’t mind it as long as he takes her away from her brutal brother. We see a story that will make you laugh yet still end up being a tender romance that will leave you aching for more by the last page. I have truly enjoyed reading Julie Garwood’s historicals, and this one I definitely want to end up buying, a well worth it read!!! A Classic romance that will pull at your heartstrings, and make you wonder where your “Wolf” is, I know I do LOL A Fabulous read!!!


My Favorite Quote 
Before she could even think about pulling away, he looped the belt around her wrist and bound her hands together. And then he spoke “I didn’t come for Louddon, Madelyne. I came for you”


My Grade On This Book 
4 Blossoms

Book Review-The Secret

The Secret
Highland’s Laird
Julie Garwood
Pocket, 379 Pages
Published May 1992
Medieval Scottish Highland Romance
ISBN: 978-0-671-74421-2

Synopsis
Judith Hampton was as beautiful as she was proud, as purposeful as she was loyal. The dear Scottish friend of her childhood was about to give birth, and Judith had promised to be at her side. But there was another, private reason for the journey from her bleak English home to the Highlands: to meet the father she had never known, the Laird Maclean…Nothing prepared her for the sight of the Scottish barbarian who was to escort her into his land…Iain Maitland, Laird of his clan, a man more powerfully compelling than any she had ever encountered.


In a clash of spirited wills and customs, Judith reveled in the melting bliss of Iain’s searching kisses, his passionate caresses. Perplexed by her sprightly defiance, bemused by her tender nature, Iain felt his soul growing into the light and warmth of her love. Surely nothing would wrench her from the affection and trust of Iain and his clan…not even the truth about her father, a devastating secret that could shatter the boldest alliance, and the most glorious of loves!

My Review:
The Secret takes us back into time to the Scottish Highlands, medieval time period. Where we have Judith Hampton who is English, but never knew her father, except for his ring, and her mother not caring one whit about her welfare. Having gone from different relatives homes, and now a grown up woman, has studies childbirth for her closest and best friend Frances Catherine, who is married to the brother of Laird Maclean. So when the Iain’s goes to retrieve Judith on behalf of his brother and his wife, he never expected to find her so beautiful. Iain is used to obedience as being the leader of his clan, however Judith clashes her will with his on every occasion they are together, not used to such defiance, Iain is quite intrigued by this English woman, whom he desires for himself, but knows its complicated to do so, especially since his clan despises the English, however Judith is another story althogether, for she is nothing like the weak willed English he has known. Judith only mission was to come to her friend Frances Catherine’s rescue, and help her give birth, but never realizing how much she ached for Iain tender embrace and passionate kissing and knows that she is falling in love with this Scottish Laird, who would surely hate her once he knew who her father truly was, but will he still love her when he finds out the truth? And will there be a happily ever after?

The Secret is another favorite of mine to read from Julie Garwood, I just love her scottish historicals they are my favorite books of her that I love to read from. In The Secret we have Judith who is English and at this time in History the Scots and the English hate each other. So when Iain brings her to his clan, at first Judith is considered a outsider to his clan. However as things progress throughout the story we see that she starts to make her home in the clan and with Iain. Where both Iain and Judith will find a glorious and passionate love in each other that they never expected to find. I found that Julie Garwood, especially in The Secret, brings to life the magic and adventure of this time period in the Highlands. With wonderful characters that will charm and delight you, and a plot that will only entice you into reading more and more of this wonderful author!!

My Grade On This Book
5 Blossoms

Other Books In The Related Series
Ransom