Elizabeth Chadwick - A Place Beyond Courage

The early twelfth century is a time for ambitious men to prosper, and royal servant John FitzGilbert Marshal is one of them. Raised high as the kin of the deceased King Henry battle each other for England's throne, John reaps rich rewards but pays a terrible price for the choices he makes - as do his family.
His wife, fragile, naïve Aline is hopelessly unequipped to cope with the demands of a life lived on the edge and, when John is seriously injured in battle, her worst nightmare is realised. Sybilla, bright, forthright sister to the Earl of Salisbury, finds herself used as a bargaining counter when her brother seeks to seal a truce with his troublesome neighbour, John FitzGilbert. And then there is Sybilla's small son, William, seized hostage by the King for John's word of honour. But sometimes keeping your honour means breaking your word...

Comment: I got this book last year, in a second handed bookstore, the day I went to a book fair. I've read some books by the author I really liked and one or two I didn't like as much but I was still eager to read more of her work. Being the first in her William Marshall series, I was glad this one was available. I decided it would be a good first book for April.

This is the story of John Fitzgilbert, William Marshall's father. John is the king's marshal and his job is to make sure everything runs smoothly where the king is and in the places where the king has a rule and so on. John is a practical man  and in the time of royal fights and heirs he must do his duty and keep his family safe, and still be a loyal man. But sometimes his loyalty might cost him other things.

John knows his life isn't simple and he deals with his duty, his need to keep those he defends safe and his own dedication might be a problem, especially after one of his sons is in danger...

As you might have noticed, my little description above isn't polished enough. to be honest I don't know how to talk about this book without wanting to slap John. Yes, he's been dead for centuries and centuries..

Usually I like ms Chadwick's work on real life historical figures and her imagination in mixing real History to her fiction chosen details to create this work of fiction based on historical facts.

However, this is a double issue, because if by one side I do like her fiction parts better, I know it's based on historical facts which isn't something I enjoy much in fiction, much less in romances. And while I like knowing historical facts, I don't like to know things weren't as romantic as sometimes authors paint them in fiction. So, to not annoy myself completely I try not to venture into historical fiction a lot, I prefer romances because they are totally fake and result of imagination.

In this book I couldn't let go of the fact I was reading about people who lived in those times, when rules and society were so different from nowadays. Those things faced with the imagination of the author clashed with the real, settled facts and the whole issue just made the book annoying for me.

To make things clear: I couldn't let go of the fact women were basically brood mares and commodities and a means to a end and that really annoyed me. Somehow I couldn't distance myself from the setting in which the book was based upon.

The thing is, I didn't like John's character at all. Sure he is a byproduct of an era and a place where life was so much different from what we see today and even what we can imagine - tv shows and movies only go so far - that to actually think it most certainly was how society behaved is totally depressing.

John (and everyone at the time obviously) certainly thought he was doing his best but while some people would lead a boring, anonymous life, John had a place and a job to do. I didn't like him and considering the plot revolves around him and what he did and what he had in his power, my time wasn't spend that well.

John has a lot of faults, but he is the key character and he is the stereotype for men at that time and I hate to think how women were mistreated and how they had to deal with such a lack of options and voice. But John here is the one I'm "judging". John married because he thought he had to. He didn't care the woman he was marrying wasn't much into it because it just was how things were done. He marries her, has children with her but there's no love. His wife has a quiet personality, she likes to pray and being out of trouble, out of focus and refers to follow and to let others do the harsh thinking. She may be called a wimp, weak. But she is a person. It irritated me to no end how she was treated and her wished weren't respected. But it just was how things were done.

But did John defend her, treated her well? No, as soon as he could he ditched her and married someone else, someone younger and with a personality that better suited him. Sure, I get the fact things were done like this at the time and that people saw and did things differently. But it annoyed me to read about it all.

In the end, I skipped some pages and I was so annoyed with John, not even the better pages towards the end and the HEA were enough to upgrade this for me.

The writing is good as always, the research is obviously well done and vast, the amount of detail and historical information is up to the standard this author offers her readers. Technically, everything is as it should.

But the story itself and the characters inside didn't win me over and frankly, I don't feel like reading the other books on this series so soon. I guess I might try something else by her instead if possible.

I really didn't like John nor his actions, and not the fact he lived in a time where men were pigs to women and he wasn't special enough to behave differently!

I know, I'm reading this wrong, or with the wrong frame of mind, but that the way it goes, sorry.

Grade: 5/10

Last Two Books of 2014: Anne Gracie / Elizabeth Chadwick

Miss Thalia Robinson, a destitute orphan, was fortunate that she had been allowed to look after her cousin Laetitia's three adorable children. Tallie usually spent her quiet life lost in daydreams, but the arrival of a house party to aid Magnus, Earl of d'Arenville, to find a wife, turned her world upside down.
Magnus's cold facade had been pierced by a delightful small girl, and now he'd decided he wanted children of his own. For that, he needed a wife. But things didn't go according to Laetitia's plan, for he ignored all the debutantes that were presented to him, and, taken with Tallie's loving treatment of the children in her charge, decided that she was the one he would marry... 



Renard, Lord of the Ravenstow estate and Crusader knight returns from Antioch, but he does not

return alone. He brings with him a mistress, Olwen, a beautiful but untrustworthy dancing girl. Renard has returned home because of his father's ill health and imminent death. Also there is tension locally caused by the dispute over the succession to England's throne. He must also think about his arranged marriage to a nearby heiress. Though he is preoccupied with the political battles going on around him, Renard is pleasantly surprised by his new wife and soon becomes disenchanted with Olwen, his mistress. But her scheming poses danger not only to his marriage, but everything he owns. 

Comment: So...life goes on and time doesn't stop....

These were the final stories I've read in 2014. They are both historicals, although different time periods. I've given them both the same grade because neither seemed to be as good as I expected based on the blurb's promise for one and previous experiences with the other.

Tallie's Knight is the story of a man who wants a wife after realizing he is at the perfect time to have children. He is rich and arrogant and asks a cousin to round up a bunch of proper ladies to pick one as his future wife. However, they all bore him and it isn't until his cousin poor relative rescues a child from an undeserved punishment that he manages to find the type of woman best suited to rear his own children. After a very cold proposal, everyone's lives change and with each new chapter, more adventure and lessons start to come forward...

I thought the blurb was quite promising but in reality the characters never engaged my attention to the point I couldn't wait to read more. Actually, I had to push myself to keep reading. The story line isn't new and had all the usual elements to make this a good historical, reticent heroines, arrogant heroes, bad villains, distressed children to be rescued, among several other things, but the way the story was developed didn't win me over either. I think it's a case of interesting possibilities getting lost among so many things, too many details. I think the point was to enrich the story, but to me it felt cluttered and the romance wasn't as amazing as that. All in all, not the best romantic story I've read... This was my first book by the author, so I might try another one in the future.

Grade: 5/10

The Leopard Unleashed is the story of a man who is fighting for his crown in Africa but returns because war is ahead in England and his father is very sick, so there's no time to loose. Despite an arranged marriage on his head as soon as he arrives, he still takes a mistress with him to his home. Things don't go as smoothly as expected, though, and personal issues are the least of his problems...but that doesn't last longer, for everything is connected and only true affections can guide the best intentions of someone in need to make choices. 

I've read the previous two stories in the sort of Wild Hunt trilogy in which this book is part of, and both of them were better than this one. The historical settings, customs and explanations are still as well structured and researched as one should expect from the author, but in this case, the fictional aspects weren't as fascinating or romantic as the other ones. In fact, I didn't like the hero much, nor his behavior towards his wife, his mother and even his mistress. I had some trouble being engrossed in the romance and it was a relief to finally finish. How sad, considering the level of the other stories in the trilogy. Nevertheless, I still believe in the author and will read more by her.

Grade: 5/10

Elizabeth Chadwick - Shadows and Strongholds

England, 1148 -- ten-year-old Brunin FitzWarin is an awkward misfit in his own family. A quiet child, he is tormented by his brothers and loathed by his powerful and autocratic grandmother. In an attempt to encourage Brunin's development, his father sends him to be fostered in the household of Joscelin de Dinan, Lord of Ludlow. Here Brunin will be educated in knightly arts.
Hawise, the youngest daughter of Lord Joscelin, soon forms a strong friendship with Brunin and they grow up together against a tumultuous background. Family loyalties mean that her father, with the young Brunin as his squire, must aid Prince Henry of Anjou in his battle with King Stephen for the English crown. Meanwhile Ludlow itself comes under threat from Joscelin's rival, Gilbert de Lacy. As the war for the crown rages, and de Lacy becomes ever more assertive in his claims for Ludlow, the relationship between Brunin and Hawise is irrevocably changed as their parents arrange a marriage between them.
As the pressure on Ludlow intensifies and a new Welsh threat emerges, Brunin must confront the future head on -- or fail on all counts ...

Comment: This was the third book by the author I've tried. Like always, she writes a great story, st in the medieval times and with a strong components of history and the ways of the time.

This is the story of Brunin, a young boy not very well treated in his house so when his father decides to ask his best friend to train Brunin in the arts of how to be a squire, Brunin goes with them but is fearful that in the new place things will be the same. As time gets by, he realizes it's nothing like his house and soon starts to be more friendly, although never losing his distrust. He meets there Hawise, the younger daughter of Joscelin, his father's best friend. During the time with Hawise's family he will learn all about honor and duty and how to protect the ones who can do it for themselves. At the same time he will get himself in the middle of the Henry's fights as he's the prince they swore allegiance to.
The book starts when Brunin is ten years old and moves forward until he's a grown up and married to Hawise, as a strategic political move made by their parents. Of course during all that time, many things happen both in their personal lives as in the world around them and nothing is as easy or uncomplicated as it looked like when they were children.

I liked the story a lot. Of course, many bad things happen, namely people we cared about dying, but in those times that happened often, because that's just how things were. I regretted seeing some of them dying because although it didn't change any plot moves, it made the main characters react and to grow up some more...but it was still sad to watch.
The political and historical things were easy enough to understand even for those who don't have a deep knowledge of that period's time of English History, but the fact it's inserted in a romance, where it isn't the main focus, helps the reader because it doesn't get too boring.
The romance was sweet, not romantic per se, but with romantic notions and hopes. What I mean is, I don't think there was that much romance to find, but they fell in love and as long as their relationship changed, so did their way of seeing things. In the end, I think it's safe to say there's a good balance among all the little parts that make this, book, the political, the romance, the fiction, the ways...
One thing bothered me, and it's not a characteristic of this book alone, much less the genre. It's really a personal pet peeve...why must the villains have so much air time, why? It really annoys me when I read a certain scene and after that there's a chapter, or a part of a chapter where we have to watch the bad guys talking or doing their nasty business? To me, it throws me of the book by making me want to avoid it or just get by it without paying much attention( my usual tactic). I know eventually the bad guys will do something, do I have to watch it? Why won't I just know about it later or why doesn't the author write a small paragraph in the end of a chapter or something saying what they're planning without giving them a voice? I know, wishful thinking but it works because I've seen it in some novels and although it might not suit the author's work or plans or whatever, to me it's dispensable.
However, the book had several emotional moments and scenes and they are worth all the parts one might dislike in there.

I liked most characters and enjoyed reading the book, although there were too many sad parts. It's the only thing, generally speaking, that puts me off more historical books set in medieval times, it's too easy to make them focus on the worse parts of those times (all the fighting, the deaths, the misery). This author actually does a great job because she doesn't delve too much on those things but they do happen and this is why I don't read the genre more often. Still, this was a great book, perfect to keep you company for as long as it takes you to read it.

Elizabeth Chadwick - The Running Vixen

In 1126, the Welsh Marches are a land darkened by strife, where nothing is safe; not even a young woman's heart ....
Adam de Lacey has returned home to Ravenstow after a royal mission, and the newly widowed Heulwen finds that her passion still burns for the king's warrior. But, betrayed by her first husband, Heulwen now plans a marriage ofexpedience to Warrin de Mortimer, Adam's lifelong foe and rival. Adam conquers Heulwen's senses in a single blazing night, and the flame-haired beauty's fate is sealed. But a treacherous conspiracy and the Welsh border wars plunge them headlong into a fight that will determine the future of their passion.

Comment: This is the sequel to the previous book I've read by the author, The Wild Hunt.

In this story we see Adam and Heulwen already adults and with lives of their own. Adam is a recognized fighter ad messenger and he saw the love of his life marrying someone else. But now she's a widow and he starts to think he should not let her get away again.

Heulwen married because she thought it would be forever but her husband wasn't the most faithful of men and she didn't mourn his death as much as one might think. Now she set her eyes on someone else, only because her father is still an important men and marriage to her would be key to secure a connection to the king. But she never stopped thinking about Adam and only thoughts of growing up with him stop her to make a move.

However, something puts them together and when they finally take the step to be intimate, they're caught and it changes things.

I think the biggest strength of this author's writing is the obvious deep research she's done to make her books as realistic as possible. Although the story itself is fiction, she surrounded it with real historical figures, places and costumes. I have to confess I don't usually like these kind of books, I prefer my fiction completely fictional, instead of based on real facts. But the author does such a great work it's impossible not to enjoy the developing of the story even when the story isn't our favorite. 

Comparing this one to the one I've read before, I preferred th other one because of the type of plot. In there the romance was more fun to watch and this one was more predictable. I understand why and it's realistic enough to respect the costumes, but it wasn't as vivid as the other one.

The book ended up well, although a certain plot twist was a bit too much, or should I say, it wasn't done in a way I expected to it didn't suit the feel of the story...even though it ended up alright.

This is an author I'll keep reading, the political intrigues don't usually fascinate me but by this author I can't help but be curious and for this fact alone the author convinced me.

The Wild Hunt - Elizabeth Chadwick

In the wild, windswept Welsh marches a noble young lord rides homewards, embittered, angry and in danger. He is Guyon, lord of Ledworth, heir to threatened lands, husband-to-be of Judith of Ravenstow. Their union will save his lands - but they have yet to meet...For this is Wales at the turn of the twelfth century. Dynasties forge and fight, and behind the precarious throne of William Rufus political intrigue is raging. Caught amidst the violence are Judith and Guyon, bound together yet poles apart. But when a dark secret from the past is revealed and the full horror of war crashes over Guyon and Judith, they are forced to face insurmountable odds. Together...

Comment: This is the first book I've read by this author. And I must say it won't be the last!I liked everything, from the characters to the writing. It's quite amazing, I'm still grining when thinking about the book.

Guyon is given Judith's hand in marriage because it's convenient to the king and at first she's too young and afraid to make the marriage work properly, although she has a mind and skills too high for her 16 years. However, after 2 years things change between them, they learn to cope with their live together amongst political and personal issues around them.

The author convinced with her writing, with her steady hand in details and in making sure the story doesn't loose its appeal.

I'm quite happy to have read this book, I have another one in my TBR list by her, but I'll surely investigate and buy more in the future. Oh and it seems this is the 1st in a trilogy, being the following ones The Running Vixen and The Leopard Unleashed. Can't wait!