A child bride, Sara Winchester had grown into a winsome beauty, joyfully anticipating the day when her husband Nathan, Marquess of St. James, woul...
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Jun 02, 2010
kari
rated it: 
This book is awful. I have read Garwood before and thoroughly enjoyed the tale, but this one has such cardboard characters in search of a plot that I'm surprised I managed to finish plowing through it. Truly terrible and from an author I've enjoyed prior to this.
Sara, the female lead(can't even call this one a heroine) was married at the age of four to the then fourteen year old Nathan in order to settle a centuries old feud between their families. When this story begins it's ten years la More...
Sara, the female lead(can't even call this one a heroine) was married at the age of four to the then fourteen year old Nathan in order to settle a centuries old feud between their families. When this story begins it's ten years la More...
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Feb 03, 2012
Sari
rated it: 
Pada bab-bab awal membaca novel ini, memberikan kesan novel yang lucu, menyenangkan n menggemaskan, khususnya ketika membaca percakapan kedua tokoh utama.
Namuuuuuun..... semakin ketengah bab kok lama2 sang heroine jadi berkesan menyebalkan bukan jadi menggemaskan ketika membaca bab2 awal. Heroine (Sara) sangat jauh berbeda dari heroine2 didua buku sebelumnya dari novel crown's spies ini. Didua buku sebelumnya heroine diceritakan memiliki sifat yang mandiri dan dapat disejajarkan dengan More...
Namuuuuuun..... semakin ketengah bab kok lama2 sang heroine jadi berkesan menyebalkan bukan jadi menggemaskan ketika membaca bab2 awal. Heroine (Sara) sangat jauh berbeda dari heroine2 didua buku sebelumnya dari novel crown's spies ini. Didua buku sebelumnya heroine diceritakan memiliki sifat yang mandiri dan dapat disejajarkan dengan More...
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May 07, 2010
Dina
rated it: 
What can I say about Julie Garwood that I haven't said yet? I just love her writing. I know she's "formulaic" in her characterization of her H/h, but I happen to like her "formula". If it isn't broken, why fix it? :)
The St. Jameses and the Winchesters have been enemies since the middle age, but King George decides to put a stop to their warring by ordering a marriage between Nathan, the young Marquess of St. James, and Sara, the even younger daughter of the Earl o More...
The St. Jameses and the Winchesters have been enemies since the middle age, but King George decides to put a stop to their warring by ordering a marriage between Nathan, the young Marquess of St. James, and Sara, the even younger daughter of the Earl o More...
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Jul 07, 2008
LJ
rated it:
THE GIFT - VG
Garwood, Julie - 2nd in series
A child bride, Sara Winchester had grown into a winsome beauty, joyfully anticipating the day when her husband, Nathan, Marquess of St. James, would return to claim her at last. Charmingly innocent, she dismissed the ancient feud that divided her and Nathan's families...and she was totally unaware of his past exploits as the notorious pirate, Pagan. The man who now stood before her was perplexing, arrogant and powerfully handsome...a w More...
Garwood, Julie - 2nd in series
A child bride, Sara Winchester had grown into a winsome beauty, joyfully anticipating the day when her husband, Nathan, Marquess of St. James, would return to claim her at last. Charmingly innocent, she dismissed the ancient feud that divided her and Nathan's families...and she was totally unaware of his past exploits as the notorious pirate, Pagan. The man who now stood before her was perplexing, arrogant and powerfully handsome...a w More...
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Jan 02, 2012
Maha
rated it:
Now, I know most of you must have liked this Julie Garwood installation, and I could understand the attraction, but if you're going to compare it to her other works, it fails in comparison, and also because of comparision.
Nathan, the hero of the piece, sounds just like every other character in her novels. If I asked you, a Garwood reader, to guess the major elements of his personality, would you not have it down to science? Honestly? He's arrogant, rude, domineering, curt, and stern.
More...
Nathan, the hero of the piece, sounds just like every other character in her novels. If I asked you, a Garwood reader, to guess the major elements of his personality, would you not have it down to science? Honestly? He's arrogant, rude, domineering, curt, and stern.
More...
Feb 19, 2011
Sapphire
rated it:
Winchesters and the St. James have been on the opposite sides for long. Best way to win a battle is to forge a relation between two clans or so was what the King believed.
So Nathan, Marquess of St. James got married to Sara and signed a contract stating that who so ever breaks the contract looses “the gift”- land and treasure (Nathan got the land when he married Sara and will get the Treasure when Sara produces an heir) to the opposite clan.
The catch here is that the bride was More...
So Nathan, Marquess of St. James got married to Sara and signed a contract stating that who so ever breaks the contract looses “the gift”- land and treasure (Nathan got the land when he married Sara and will get the Treasure when Sara produces an heir) to the opposite clan.
The catch here is that the bride was More...
Aug 16, 2008
Jackie
rated it: 
This was a fun, fast read like most of Garwood's earlier novels. The heroine, Sara Winchester was comedic, innocent, and charming. Although I admit her crying and whining was a bit grating after awhile, hence the three stars. Nathan St. James was loveable, handsome, stubborn, and oh-so-yummy. There wasn't a whole of drama, but there were some really funny moments as Sara got use to ship life and Nathan got use to the fact that he can love. Overall, this was a good read.
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Apr 09, 2011
Renee
rated it:
Okay - read these out of order. This FOLLOWS Guardian Angel. (Oops.) But can still follow this story just fine, even though I now know the ending of Guardian Angel. Rats! Sara and Nathan were married as children (she was 4) by a mad king with a naive plan for peace between their two warring families. Sara has spirit, but has no idea of life aboard ship. When Nathan arrives to claim his bride, he "kidnaps" her and takes her aboard his ship. A series of misadventures (okay, a series of d
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Jan 25, 2011
Eva
rated it:
This story employs a lot of humor, making it a good read. Returning to characters introduced in "Guardian Angel", Nathan and Sara spend most of their time trying to work out the kinks in their relationship, learning to compromise to live in harmony. This is an interesting approach because it begins with the premise that the two main characters need to be together instead of that being the end result.
The secondary characters in this book are put to great use in this book, fr More...
The secondary characters in this book are put to great use in this book, fr More...
Feb 21, 2011
Maryann
rated it:
First of all, being innocent and being an idiot are too different things all together. The author kept describing Sara as a shy and gentle and of course "outrageously innocent". She's also supposedly "not vain" but I can't exactly describe her because throughout the novel she was hot one minute, cold the next. Mistaking a whip as a clothes line and the trap door as a hearth isn't "innocence." As I said earlier, it's "idiocy".
She was also constantly c More...
She was also constantly c More...
Dec 13, 2011
Yona
rated it:
I actually didn't expect to like this book.
The beginning was slow but as i continue to read i started to enjoy it.
Sara was a funny personage I usually don't like heroines like her, but i likes her and all the troubles she was making even when she didn't mean to. But she cries a lot and it was a little annoying.
Nathan is just gorgeous but he had learnt not to trust women, that is of course before he meets Sara. It is very difficult for him to admit his feelings and More...
The beginning was slow but as i continue to read i started to enjoy it.
Sara was a funny personage I usually don't like heroines like her, but i likes her and all the troubles she was making even when she didn't mean to. But she cries a lot and it was a little annoying.
Nathan is just gorgeous but he had learnt not to trust women, that is of course before he meets Sara. It is very difficult for him to admit his feelings and More...
Mar 15, 2011
Macleisha
rated it: 
This was my favourite Julie Garwood book. I remember I was working in a secondhand bookstore, (best job of my life!) I was reading this while waiting for customers to cash out, and I was laughing so hard that when a customer actually did come to me, I could not stop, I actually got really scared that I could not. I had to duck behind the counter while trying to stop laughing with my bewildered customer looking for me. I did manage to control myself eventually and I was afraid to continue r
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May 12, 2011
Judith
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I like Julie Garwood, and this is one of my favorites. Lady Sara Winchester is a different kind of heroine - ditsy, naive and thoroughly optimistic. She was forced to marry Nathan St. James by royal decree when she was only four years old, and has fantasized about him as her prince charming ever since. When Nathan claims his bride years later, she is in for a surprise - he is surly and mistrustful, not to mention a semi-reformed pirate and general social outcast. The story of how these two come
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May 14, 2010
Suzanne the Mighty ~Satin Seductress~
rated it:
This book is a typical Julie Garwood novel, and I mean that in a good sense. Although by now I pretty much know the "formula" if you will, I do love it.
The book was very funny, I was laughing like a loon to myself on many occasions and now receive some very puzzled looks from collegues at work. The list of endearments part had me laughing out loud. The love story was also quite adorable and although I didn't like that Sara that much, she could be quite charming and funny. More...
The book was very funny, I was laughing like a loon to myself on many occasions and now receive some very puzzled looks from collegues at work. The list of endearments part had me laughing out loud. The love story was also quite adorable and although I didn't like that Sara that much, she could be quite charming and funny. More...
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Jul 24, 2011
Linda
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This was another winner by Julie Garwood. This is the story of Lady Sara Winchester from the Winchester clan and Nathan, the Marquess of St. James from the St. James clan. Nathan is the brother of Jade who was a character in the previous story. They had married at a very young age fulfilling the wish of their King in hopes of defusing the rivalry between their two clans. As before, readers who have read the previous stories in this series were treated to short snippets of previous characters
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Dec 21, 2010
Katie
rated it:
This novel COMPLETELY pulled me in from the first paragraph. I don't know what it is about it, but it's amazing. From the intro to the ending line it was a gem. This book had me cracking up. I love the strong character of Sarah and the in denial Nathan. Perfectly suited, and perfectly hilarious. Hopefully we see them in future books of hers in the series. I'm looking into it. The supporting characters were just as good. Not too much in depth, but you knew who they were just the same. A very easy
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Nov 26, 2011
Zumbagirl
rated it:
4.5 stars
Another very enjoyable read by Ms. Garwood. I loved The Gift! Even though this is a series, I read this one first, out of order, and was okay with that; I didn't get lost but will definitely read the others soon. Our heroine, Sara, and the hero, Nathan, were married very young but have been separated for over ten years - the families are arch enemies and there's a lot of hatred and lies that threaten the peace for these two. Sara is another beautiful, spunky, adorable Jule Garw More...
Another very enjoyable read by Ms. Garwood. I loved The Gift! Even though this is a series, I read this one first, out of order, and was okay with that; I didn't get lost but will definitely read the others soon. Our heroine, Sara, and the hero, Nathan, were married very young but have been separated for over ten years - the families are arch enemies and there's a lot of hatred and lies that threaten the peace for these two. Sara is another beautiful, spunky, adorable Jule Garw More...
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Nov 06, 2011
Nayyab
rated it:
fabulous read
Julie Garwood’s crown spies never disappoints.. it’s a beautiful story with such charming characters. Nathan known to have been deprived of a single romantic bone is married to a girl who lives in clouds of romance and daydreams .. Their differences makes their relationship utmost magical . TO Most of the lot Sara must seem to be childlike or quite naive yet i feel her character to be very strong, And highly spirited we rarely see anyone who is proud of who they are, she does More...
Julie Garwood’s crown spies never disappoints.. it’s a beautiful story with such charming characters. Nathan known to have been deprived of a single romantic bone is married to a girl who lives in clouds of romance and daydreams .. Their differences makes their relationship utmost magical . TO Most of the lot Sara must seem to be childlike or quite naive yet i feel her character to be very strong, And highly spirited we rarely see anyone who is proud of who they are, she does More...
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Dec 27, 2010
Megan
rated it:
Fantastic book!
I read it the first time when I was 14 or 15 and haven't picked it up in the 10+ years since. I decided to do some massive re-reading as a New Year's resolution and this was first on the list. I'm EXTREMELY happy to say that it held up perfectly for me.
I now realize that many of the things I look for and love in romance were formed by this book. Shipboard romance! A gruff but lovable hero who is completely wrapped up in the heroine even if HE doesn't know it! More...
I read it the first time when I was 14 or 15 and haven't picked it up in the 10+ years since. I decided to do some massive re-reading as a New Year's resolution and this was first on the list. I'm EXTREMELY happy to say that it held up perfectly for me.
I now realize that many of the things I look for and love in romance were formed by this book. Shipboard romance! A gruff but lovable hero who is completely wrapped up in the heroine even if HE doesn't know it! More...
Aug 19, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
The third installment to the Crown Spies series was another great book. It’s the story of Nathan, the brother of the heroine in the 2nd installment of the series, and his bride Sara, who he married at a very young age. It was a marriage that was arranged to end the long feud between both their families.
Nathan is different than the first two heroes. He’s a proud, hard man with a constant scowl on his face and everyone is afraid to cross his path. His past experiences with women has t More...
Nathan is different than the first two heroes. He’s a proud, hard man with a constant scowl on his face and everyone is afraid to cross his path. His past experiences with women has t More...
Jul 11, 2010
Cynthia
rated it:
Sara reaches a level of charming stupidity that can only be matched by a slow puppy. The kind that falls over a lot, barks at its reflection, and runs into glass doors. Adorable, but childish and annoying. She also cries at least once a chapter. Seriously.
Nathan's amusing, pirate-y, commanding, and can't understand love (shocking).
It made for an entertaining, exasperating, and cliched story. If you can handle a truly dumb-as-a-box-of-rocks heroine, enjoy a slightly s More...
Nathan's amusing, pirate-y, commanding, and can't understand love (shocking).
It made for an entertaining, exasperating, and cliched story. If you can handle a truly dumb-as-a-box-of-rocks heroine, enjoy a slightly s More...
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Oct 13, 2008
realityshowgirl
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The Gift
Julie Garwood
Historical Romance
373 pages
copyright: 1991
isbn: 0-671-70250-5
A child bride, Sara Winchester had grown into a winsome beauty, joyfully anticipating the day when her husband Nathan, Marquess of St. James, would return to claim her heart at last. Charmingly innocent, she dismissed the ancient feud that divided Nathan's family from her own...and she was totally unaware of his past exploits as the notorious pirate, Pagan. The man who now More...
Julie Garwood
Historical Romance
373 pages
copyright: 1991
isbn: 0-671-70250-5
A child bride, Sara Winchester had grown into a winsome beauty, joyfully anticipating the day when her husband Nathan, Marquess of St. James, would return to claim her heart at last. Charmingly innocent, she dismissed the ancient feud that divided Nathan's family from her own...and she was totally unaware of his past exploits as the notorious pirate, Pagan. The man who now More...
Jun 08, 2011
Kate
rated it:
The prologue of this book was really intriguing, but for me it all went downhill from there. I think every single line of dialogue in this book was either shouted or bellowed or roared. Nathan was a controlling asshole and Sara spent half her time simpering. Her innocence was grating rather than endearing. And I don't know. Nothing about this book felt particularly romantic, mostly because Nathan was horrible to Sara so much and she was understandably shrewish in response. I guess it was just wa
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May 26, 2009
Alaine
rated it:
Julie Garwood has created an interesting plot and setting, a great cast of major and minor characters, and a fun romantic story! The Gift is filled with delightfully humourous moments. I especially loved the scenes aboard ship as Sarah tried cooking for the men. Nathan is a gorgeous Pirate, although this is not known by his bride.
The reason I gave this book a 3 is that whilst I enjoyed it I prefer Julie Garwood's medievil rather than regency novels. I'm not a big regency fan although More...
The reason I gave this book a 3 is that whilst I enjoyed it I prefer Julie Garwood's medievil rather than regency novels. I'm not a big regency fan although More...
Oct 01, 2010
Jacqueline
rated it:
I picked this up to reread and couldn't make it all the way through. After about 2/3rds I gave up. I did read all the way through when it was first published. I always considered JG's books light and fairly amusing but I've also always felt that she just tries too hard. In this one the plot petered out and this time I couldn't get over the no one could be that dumbness of the heroine.
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Jul 09, 2011
MaryLu
rated it:
I really enjoyed this high seas romance! The heroine is a bit ditzy and sometimes too stupid to be alive.. but I liked her. The romance is very sensual and exciting. The hero, the perfect alpha male. Warning to those who are offended by sexual content.. this has plenty! I'm not a fan of reading sex scenes because personally, even though the hero and heroine were married, I believe that should be a private thing between husband and wife. So, I just skimmed over them. But the rest of the story is
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Jul 10, 2011
Niki
rated it:
i had wanted to read a pirate-type romance and this one was well-reviewed. i don't like pirate romance, or boat romance. i had such a hard time getting through this book. normally i can't put them down. the heroine was SO naive, her chatter irritated me and was not endearing. the hero just grunted, so also not endearing. this was not my type of set up.
Jul 22, 2011
Alma
rated it:
I loved this book very much!!! After I started reading this book, I couldnt put down. That's all I thought about was getting home to read it. Or not wanting to sleep at night but just finish, as I am with any Julie Garwood book ;) So i was finished with this book in no time! Could read it again and not mind one bit =D
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Feb 08, 2010
Karen
rated it:
Another enjoyable Julie Garwood read....the last one I had in my bookshelf so I promptly ordered 4 more today. I have thoroughly enjoyed the novels I have read so far.
I really enjoyed Nathan and Sara's characters, and found myself laughing out loud which to me is always a good quality in a book.
I really enjoyed Nathan and Sara's characters, and found myself laughing out loud which to me is always a good quality in a book.
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Nov 15, 2009
Mary
rated it:
I really liked Sara and Nathans relationship in this book. I liked how Sara was always telling Nathan that she loved him and he just grunted back to her. I loved it when Sara was at Noras house and to get back at Nathan for using blasphemies she used them herself. But didn't know that the man she was using them in front of was the pastor of the only church in the village!
