The Warlord's Bride

by Margaret Moore

Book Overview

Lady Roslynn knows not what to expect of her future husband, the infamous "Bear of Brecon." Offered in marriage to the powerful Welsh lord by the king, Roslynn fears the worst. She has no right to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 037377348X
• ISBN13: 9780373773480
• Release Date: December 2008
• Publisher: Hqn
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

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 for 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 as well, 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. COURTESY OF BOOK ILLUMINAT

Who knew Wales 1205 could be so exciting?

A real page turner, very romantic --Again Margaret Moore leads us into the middle ages and the Welsh World. She makes us root for Lady Roslyn in her desire to find a home of her own and even the love that she dare not expect in marriage. The marriage is arranged as most are. One conflict comes from her wondering if he is a traitor and he about her. He seems kind but is suddenly distant such are the misunderstandings between them. Moore's exceptionally effective description leads us and keeps us turning pages to read of the people and world of the medieval British Isles in the time of King John.

marvelous Margaret Moore medieval

In 1205 King John orders Lady Roslynn and Welsh Lord Madoc of Llanpowell to marry. Because her late spouse was condemned as a traitor, Roslynn expects guilt by association will mean her monarch dumped her on a grisly brute of a husband whose nickname as the "Bear of Brecan" affirms her belief and exiled her to the wilds of Wales as THE WARLORD'S BRIDE. Accepting her doomed fate, when she meets her new spouse, she is pleasantly surprised that he is her age and he shows kindness to her and others. Madoc is pleased with his bride who is pretty but caring. However, soon after they exchange their vows, someone slaughters sheep with many believing the new bride involved. When Roslynn finds out about the feud between her husband and outlawed brother-in-law, she tries to intercede as Madoc assumes his sibling is behind the cruel acts while his wife thinks a clever diabolical unknown adversary is the cause. The above two paragraphs fail to portray what makes a Margaret Moore medieval stand out from much of the rest as on the surface is a typical historical romance. The key is the seemingly effortless interweaving of early thirteenth century Wales as a backdrop so vivid, fans can picture the scenery first hand; yet as stunningly vibrant Wales comes across, the lead couple own the fast-paced story line as they struggle with their relationship at a time someone is using their newness against them. This is a fine King John era romance. Harriet Klausner