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The Love Knot

by Elizabeth Chadwick (Goodreads Author)

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 556 ratings · 52 reviews

In the summer of 1140, Oliver Pascal returns home from a long pilgrimage to discover England ravaged by civil war and his family lands forfeit to the conflict between Henry I's daughter Mathilda, and her cousin Stephen of Blois, who has seized the crown at her expense. Riding to the Earl of Gloucester's keep at Bristol, Oliver stumbles upon the aftermath of a mercenary att...more

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Published July 1st 1999 by Time Warner (first published December 3rd 1998)

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Books that are too good to be classified as straight romance

36th out of 197 books — 504 voters

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Best Historical Fiction Set in UK and Ireland

94th out of 568 books — 512 voters

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Jul 27, 2010 Terri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, historical-fiction, favorites, britain-fiction

This is the very first Elizabeth Chadwick book I ever read and is my favourite historical fiction book by a female author, to date.. I could not put it down. Something about the way it was written really inspired me.
The only problem I had with it, well, there were two problems actually, one was the depressing and overtly descriptive manner she used over and over and over again to detail childbirth and midwifery in the 12th century. At one stage I thought if I read "and then delivered the after...more

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Aug 20, 2008 Misfit rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, read-and-keep-for-a-reread

Even Chadwick's second best novels are a cut above much of the historical fiction genre.This is one of her earlier books and more of a historical romance than true historical fiction, the main characters being fictional. This is the second time I've read the book, in between I had read SKP's When Christ and His Saints Slept about England's civil war. Having a better understanding of that complicated period made this novel much more enjoyable than the first time.

I don't understand a previous rev...more

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Nov 12, 2011 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, historical

The story takes place during the feud around 1140 between England

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Aug 06, 2012 Nisareen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

In the summer of 1140, Oliver Pascal returns home from a long pilgrimage to discover England ravaged by civil war and his family lands forfeit to the conflict between Henry I's daughter Matilda, and her cousin Stephen of Blois, who has seized the crown at her expense. Riding to the Earl of Gloucester's keep at Bristol, Oliver stumbles upon the aftermath of a mercenary attack on an isolated village. Among the survivors are Richard, an illegitimate royal son and half-brother to the Earl himself, a...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Jacey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction

Another excellent Elizabeth Chadwick historical, though may be not my favourite of hers. When Oliver Pascal returns from a long pilgrimage in 1140 he finds his brother dead and their lands given to a Flemish mercenary. The country's in turmoil with civil war raging between Stephen and Mathilda. Drawn to the site of a raid by the smell of smoke, he finds two survivors, Catrin, a young widow, and her charge Richard, bastard son of the old king. He delivers them safely to Earl Robert, in command of...more

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Sep 17, 2009 Tara Chevrestt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, england

I enjoyed this, tho I found it a bit predictable. It was an entertaining tale involving the war of Stephen and Matilda, midwifery, superstitions, and knights. Oh, and let's not forget romance. The main character is Catrin who has been widowed for three years (or so she thinks) and after being caught in the middle of the Stephen and Matilda war in England, 1140, she barely escapes with her life from an evil band of raping, pillaging merceneries. She meets and falls in love with a knight that is f...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a true love story; not simply a romance. Chadwick managed to flawlessly intertwine 12th century history with a personal story of loss, love and betrayal. Chadwick's colorful and lively cast is lead by Oliver Pascal and Catrin who have both felt loss and betrayal before meeting each other after Catrin's village is burned to the ground by a group of murdering mercenary soldiers. Everyone is dead except Catrin and the son of her companion -- a young boy who is the king's bastard son.

The s...more

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Jul 29, 2012 B. rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was a 2.5. Chadwick's books are all very similar for me, in that they all have a choppy flow. Where as most good books have an organized development, climax and ending, Chadwick's works seem to be disorganized, with choppy development, several climaxes, and abrupt (or even disappointing) endings. Another thing that all of EC's books seem to have in common is annoyingly repetitive language. The Love Knot was no different. If I read "oblivion", or "delivered the afterbirth", one more tim...more

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Mar 14, 2010 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found The Love Knot to be an easy read. It's a historical romance set during the war of succession between Stephen and Matilda. While the romance hews close to historical facts, it treats the conflict itself and politics in broad strokes. It does not approach the level of detail about the conflict that is covered in Sharon Kay Penman's While Christ and His Saint's Slept. I would say that the level of detail was more similar to Pillars of the Earth, but The Love Knot's portrayal of medieval lif...more

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Jul 11, 2009 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: medieval-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 22, 2010 Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) by: Jerelyn hodges

Shelves: historical-romance, medieval, skimmed-a-lot, heroine-annoying-and-way-annoying, author-is-not-for-me, 2-stars, overrated

First off, I'm not super-psyched about medieval tales, whether it's HF or romance. Sometimes I'm OK with them. I don't even mind really OTT bodice rippers since I find that stuff interesting in itself. But leisurely pastorals are not my thing, nor in-depth detail about the daily life of the mid-level classes or peasantry. This book has a lady's maid as a protagonist and is heavy on midwifery and pregnancy. Probably not the best book for someone who loathes children. So when I started to read it,...more First off, I'm not super-psyched about medieval tales, whether it's HF or romance. Sometimes I'm OK with them. I don't even mind really OTT bodice rippers since I find that stuff interesting in itself. But leisurely pastorals are not my thing, nor in-depth detail about the daily life of the mid-level classes or peasantry. This book has a lady's maid as a protagonist and is heavy on midwifery and pregnancy. Probably not the best book for someone who loathes children. So when I started to read it, and it became clear what direction it was going in, the going got a lot tougher. But the author comes highly praised by lots of folk, so I figured that I was missing something or that things would get a lot better. Eventually.

This was a bland and predictable romance with a rather cranky heroine who wore on the nerves early on, and her subsequent stupidity did little to alleviate the irritation. The few major plot points were obvious from a long way off. (Randal de Mohun the bad guy? Hullo! Shockers. And might I add, "Duh, Catrin, you stupid bint." She really was TSTL.) I ended up skimming most of it after the first 100 pages failed to ignite interest. Worse yet, like Twilight, I found myself dreading picking it up again after setting it down for an hour or two because the next slog was worse than the last. I was surprised that, even skimming it at a brisk gallop, I knew exactly what was going on to whom. The composition was a bit herky-jerky, with odd little chapter-capping "...and meanwhile, in {someplace}" paragraphs about what was happening with one of the secondary characters in an effort to keep it all neat and tidy before moving on. Too many scenes focused around midwifery and herbal craft - it became dull after awhile as the same information and details were regurgitated with only another new detail added.

Given all the praise surrounding this author, I was honestly expecting something good, even from her secondary tier of works. Chalk Chadwick up alongside Stephen King, Laura Kinsale, and David Gemmell as Hyped-Yet-Disappointing Authors.

Even though Chadwick is considered a HF writer, this one is really just a historical romance with boring, repetitive research.

ETA (4/25/11): I learned today that the author uses the "Akashic Records" aka psychic channeling of a vast intergalactic library of human experience on the atomic level to get details (which are then verified, of course!) for her books. I wasn't impressed with the two books of hers I'd read before on other grounds. This new bit of knowledge pretty much put the nail in the coffin of me ever bothering to pick up another book by this author again. I'm skeptical enough so that I couldn't look at it as the serious HF I'm told it is. If I ever discover that Colleen McCullough consulted a psychic with a special library card and translator goggles in order to make Republican Rome so vivid and her characters so unforgettable, I'll eat my dirty socks and post it on Youtube.

But I appreciate that Chadwick is upfront about her unorthodox (IMO flakey woowoo) research methods. Because some readers like being informed about such things in order to make better decisions about what they choose to spend time/money on. Call me a humorless killjoy, but the stuff that Chadwick uses from her psychic sessions (a scene by the Marshall family hearth at Christmas, for example, or how King John's mistress felt when she kissed him) are the things other writers create from a little thing called IMAGINATION.(less)

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Jul 10, 2009 Karen Field rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although it took me longer than usual to read this book, there’s a good reason for it. The Love Knot by Elizabeth Chadwick is a historical romance and the author has used a style of writing that fits with the era of the story, which is the 12th Century. Because of this, it meant I had to read slower than normal in order to grasp the meaning of the words and take the story in. This sounds like a hindrance, but it wasn’t. Apart from the fact that, like everything, it only took a short time to get...more Although it took me longer than usual to read this book, there’s a good reason for it. The Love Knot by Elizabeth Chadwick is a historical romance and the author has used a style of writing that fits with the era of the story, which is the 12th Century. Because of this, it meant I had to read slower than normal in order to grasp the meaning of the words and take the story in. This sounds like a hindrance, but it wasn’t. Apart from the fact that, like everything, it only took a short time to get used to the writing style, I found that it gave the story more authenticity.

I have always enjoyed a good romance story and this was one of them. A true romance, in my opinion, has a real story behind it. Something that is interesting with characters that you would want to befriend in real life. I tend not to read the sloppy romance that has no substance to it and is filling with cardboard cutouts that are meant to be characters because those types of books are simply not interesting enough to keep my attention. The Love Knot was far from being sloppy and the romance thread was only a small part of the story as a whole. I really enjoyed it.

The thing I especially liked about this book was the history. I’ve always had an interest for castles and knights and everything that goes with it, so I didn’t start reading this book with no knowledge of the period. However, as the story progressed I found that I was not only interested in the romance blossoming between Oliver and Caitlin, I was interested to learn more about life in the 12th Century. It was clear that the details had been thoroughly researched by the author and that goes a long way with me. It helped me settle into the story and “see” the surroundings through eyes that have not been tinted with a rose colour, which so many medieval type stories are these days. The author showed the dirt, the hardship, the death, the pain, but she also showed how the people of those days were able to find contentment with what little they had. I appreciated that.

The Love Knot is a story worth reading. I recommend it and I’ll be keeping an eye open for more books by this author.
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Jan 08, 2009 Sheree rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Lovers of Historical Fiction and Romance

Shelves: own, historical-fiction, reviews, read-in-2008

One of my favourite reads of 2008
The Love Knot is set during the turmoil of civil war between King Stephen & Empress Matilda in 12th century England.
Oliver Pascal returns home from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land after losing his wife in childbirth. After losing his lands to King Stephen, Oliver becomes a hearth Knight to Robert of Gloucester, illegitimate brother to Empress Matilda.
Oliver rescues the only survivors of a village raided by mercenaries, Richard an orphaned boy is the illegitima...more

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Jan 31, 2009 Alaine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Alaine by: Sheree

Shelves: all-time-favourites, historical-fiction

What a fantastic book! I loved this book so much that I can see myself reading it again. It is one of the most beautiful love stories I've ever read set in an amazing time in history. The way in which Chadwick brings this period in history to life is remarkable. I especially loved that the heroin was a midwife and healer.
Summer in the year 1140, Oliver and Catrin are drawn together through the horrors of civil war; their love grows but is threatened. Oliver is taken prisoner and Catrin returns...more

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Oct 22, 2009 Beadyjan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

Completely believeable and enjoyable medieval romance with great characters and enough historic detail to lift it way above the usual romantic fiction genre - sheer pleasure reading the story of Catrin after being rescued from the pillaged castle where she has lived since losing her husband.

Although her rescuer, the gorgeous Oliver is quite literally a knight who gallops in on his horse to become her saviour this is never twee or trite and the story has enough twists and turns to keep you enter...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Darien rated it 3 of 5 stars

Excellent historical fiction set during the conflict between Mathilda and Stephen for the crown of England. As always, the author give you a wonderful feel for the period. In this story the protagonists are not of the high nobility, and their lives occur around the recorded historical events. This story of Caitlin and Oliver gives the reader a feel for the gritty reality of the lives of regular folks in this medieval time, and how precarious their lives sometimes were.

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Nov 06, 2011 Gaile rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 12th-century, historical-romance, emery-s-2011-challenge

Taking place against the background of the civil war between Stephen of Bloise and Matilda, daughter of Henry I, the love affair of Oliver Pascal and midwife, Catrin takes many twists and turns keeping the reader turning pages. This is a long book but the author keeps our interest because when all seems lost, human courage and resolution rises to the fore. In this book, we meet the young Prince Henry, who is to grow up to be Henry II and marry Eleanor Of Aquitaine. It ends HEA tied up in a beaut...more

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May 08, 2011 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: about-uk, historical-fiction

I love Chadwick's approach to historical fiction - she mentions great personalities and events in passing, but recounts their effects from the point-of-view of everyday characters. In this case, the protagonists are a dispossessed man-at-arms and a widow who is also the guardian to a bastard-son of King Henry I. Their story had enough suspense to keep in interesting, but i thought it became a bit rushed at the end. I would have enjoyed a bit more follow-up.

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Oct 08, 2012 Rusty rated it 3 of 5 stars

While romances are not my reads of choice this one is interesting because it's written in medieval times. I did like it. The story is about Catrin who is deserted by her handsome charming husband. He supposedly drowned and she is taken as a companion to a lady whose home is later raided by mercenaries. Everyone is killed but Catrin and her lady's young son, Richard. The two travel to a kinsman of the boy and Catrin studies to become a wisewomman/healer. She falls in love with Oliver, a man who h...more

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May 18, 2013 Neide Parafitas rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, leituras-2013

Após uma longa peregrinação, Oliver Pascal regressa no verão de 1140 à sua Inglaterra, mas depara-se com um cenário de devastação, criado pela guerra civil. Entre os sobreviventes encontra um bastardo do rei - Richard - que é também filho de uma grande amiga sua, e a viúva Caitrin, a jovem aia do rapaz.

Decidido a protegê-los, Oliver leva-os ao Conde Robert, irmão do rei. A viagem até lá aproxima Caitrin e Oliver mais do que qualquer um deles poderia esperar. Sendo ambos viúvos, os dois descobrem...more

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Nov 05, 2011 Michele bookloverforever rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

set in medieval england during the reign of stephen of blois and his fight with mathilda, daughter of Henry II and the rightful heir to the throne, her sex not withstanding. a dispossessed knight fights for the duke of gloucester and comes to the attention of the future Henry II...falls in love with a midwife. Interesting characters and interesting times.

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Sep 28, 2010 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I read somewhere that Elizabeth Chadwick was a really good historical fiction writer. This book was so-so for me though. It was very long and the romance seemed to dominate more than the history...which is fine for me, but Catrin made some stupid choices that annoyed me. I did want to see how it ended so I did finally finish it. Don't know that I'll read another by the same author though.

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Oct 05, 2011 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: medieval-fiction

So far of all the Elizabeth Chadwick novels I have read, this is the one I have liked the least but I still liked it. I could put it down a little more easily then her other books. It was more because because the jaded 21st century me just could not believe it.

The characters were likable, especially Oliver. The story was a typical romance with history thrown in.

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Mar 10, 2011 Loraine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance

I found this story interesting, particularly the midwifery aspect because I have recently become a Mum for the first time and could relate to the emotions of the female characters. Once again history has been brought alive and made colourful with strong characters and a good story. I will definitely read another Elizabeth Chadwick novel.

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May 03, 2009 Catherine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, historical-romance, medieval-romance

It took me a while to get through this book. I got stuck about half way and wasn't really motivated to pick it up for a couple of weeks. Once I did though, there was another twist to the story and I finished the second half of th book in a couple of days.

I liked the real life portrayal of people living in the period. I enjoyed Oliver's story as a soldier and Catrin's as a midwife. I thought the female character made some silly choices , but otherwise enjoyed the story

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Jan 25, 2011 Alyce rated it 5 of 5 stars

I adore Elizabeth Chadwick, she is right behind Sharon Kay Penman on my list of favorite historic novelists. I thought the plot in this one was pretty compelling.

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Feb 18, 2010 Erin rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'm really glad I got this one from the library, that way I didn't feel too badly when I gave up reading it only half way through. It was okay, but fit into my "boring & typical" romance criteria. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about a good romance every now and then, but this was not it...

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Apr 05, 2013 Sharon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11810693

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Dec 15, 2012 Macaron rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: medieval

fascinating and poignant. But I wish the blurb hadn't said so much about the plot. The end of the blurb is the end of the story. So my advice would be to read only the very first line of it.

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Apr 25, 2013 Allison G rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the third book I've read by Elizabeth Chadwick. Each book is set in a different time period, but the history is well-researched and quite fascinating in each. The "feel" of each is very similar, but I attribute that to the author's personal writing style. At times though, even the characters feel a bit too similar. By the third novel, I felt like I was having a bit of deja vu. I think that means it's time to take a break from Chadwick and move on to something else. However, her stories a...more

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About Elizabeth Chadwick

Best selling historical novelist Elizabeth Chadwick won a Betty Trask Award for her first novel The Wild Hunt. She has been shortlisted for the UK's mainstream Best Romantic Novel of the Year Award 4 times and longlisted twice. Her novel The Scarlet Lion about the great William Marshal and his wife Isabelle de Clare, has been selected by Richard Lee, founder of the Historical Novel Society as one...more

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