What do you think?
Rate this book
The Rose of Blacksword
CAST TOGETHER BY THE FATES ...
With glittering amber eyes and hair of gleaming mahogany, the beguiling, nymphlike Lady Rosalynde of Stanwood could entice a man to deeds of reckless daring. And none was so ruthless, bold, or dangerously seductive as the condemned outlaw known only as Blacksword. In return for safe escort to her ancestral castle, Rosalynde was forced to marry the black-hearted rogue, never dreaming that holy wedlock would fan the flames of unholy desire.
The fate of his noble name rested on his massive shoulders. Savage fires of vengeance seared his soul. Wielder of the coveted Blacksword, Sir Aric of Wycliffe vowed death to the treacherous enemy who sought to destroy him. Until his heart was bested by the enchanting maiden who'd saved him from the hangman's noose. Bound together by ancient custom, the brazen knight demanded no less than his sweet Rose's total surrender. But even as revenge and honor warred within him, he would be undone by the most seductive conqueror of all ... wild, irresistible love.
With glittering amber eyes and hair of gleaming mahogany, the beguiling, nymphlike Lady Rosalynde of Stanwood could entice a man to deeds of reckless daring. And none was so ruthless, bold, or dangerously seductive as the condemned outlaw known only as Blacksword. In return for safe escort to her ancestral castle, Rosalynde was forced to marry the black-hearted rogue, never dreaming that holy wedlock would fan the flames of unholy desire.
The fate of his noble name rested on his massive shoulders. Savage fires of vengeance seared his soul. Wielder of the coveted Blacksword, Sir Aric of Wycliffe vowed death to the treacherous enemy who sought to destroy him. Until his heart was bested by the enchanting maiden who'd saved him from the hangman's noose. Bound together by ancient custom, the brazen knight demanded no less than his sweet Rose's total surrender. But even as revenge and honor warred within him, he would be undone by the most seductive conqueror of all ... wild, irresistible love.
437 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 2, 1992
About the author
Rexanne Becnel
64 books123 followersRexanne Becnel is the author of more than twenty historical romance and contemporary mainstream novels, many of which appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. With the publication of her first novel, My Gallant Enemy, Becnel won the Waldenbooks Award for Best First-Time Romance Author and the Romantic Times Award for Best Medieval Romance by a New Author. While growing up, Becnel lived for a time in Germany and England, where she became fascinated by medieval history. After studying architecture at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, she worked as a building inspector for the Vieux Carré Commission, the agency of the City of New Orleans charged with protecting and preserving the distinct architectural and historic character of the French Quarter. Becnel lives in New Orleans with her husband and two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 19, 2022
3.5 stars
August 9, 2012
I’d like to start off by saying that I love medieval books and liked the plot of this story, it was interesting and fun and I really wanted to see what would happen next.
This is the tale of 19 year old Lady Rosalynde who, along with her 8 year old brother, lives with her Aunt and Uncle. When her brother dies she is determined to be the person who breaks the news to her Father and, with the consent of her Uncle and Aunt, she leaves to travel to her Father’s castle. On the way the camp is attacked and her maid and the soldiers are killed leaving Rosalynde and her page Cleve the only survivors. They manage to escape but Cleve is wounded and it becomes clear to Rosalynde that they need protection.
Enter Blacksword, a mysterious man that Rosalynde saves from hanging by agreeing to be handfasted to him. This decision is made in desperation and in the hope that Blacksword will be so grateful that she saved him from a hideous death that he will agree to protect her and Cleve until they reach her Father’s castle. Blacksword is not quite as he appears and found himself at the point of hanging for a crime he did not commit when Lady Rosalynde made her somewhat impetuous entrance into his life.
Sounds interesting right??? So why the absents of stars???
Simple really: the plot is often pushed to one side so that we can concentrate on something much more important.
What, I hear you say, could possibly be more important than the plot???
Well…the hero’s muscles.
Yes you did read that right, Blacksword is well fit and just to make sure you don’t forget that it is mentioned constantly. He has, from what I can gather, the sort of rock hard and bountiful muscles that would make Hercules weep with envy. Strong, bulging, corded…you name it he’s got it! He also has some awesome angles and planes!
He also never tires, can drag a sixteen year old lad around on his back all day without really noticing it but struggles with such easy tasks as keeping his shirt on. This guy is invincible…so how did he manage to get trussed up like a turkey and handed over to the authorities by the baddies??? I’m not really sure because apart from that one instance he has never failed at anything from what I can tell. Even when bound securely men tremble under his harsh gaze.
Now please don’t get me wrong, I like some eye candy as much as the next girl! But all I heard about were his freaking muscles and it got less impressive every time. Average page:
Rosalynde is mistrustful wishes she could tell Blacksword to hop it, a page about Blacksword's shoulders and how they make Rosie all mushy inside. Other stuff happens, BTW Blacksword also has, like, totally awesome thigh muscles too and they make Rosie feel faint. Blacksword pretends to be mean and scary because it’s safer for Rosalynde and Cleve to be in fear of him, also Blacksword's abs are like a washboard dude and…that’s right…Rosie just wants to melt after seeing them.
Too much, way too much.
But I wanted to know what happened next so I carried on: after all I still had the plot to look forward to right???
Then the plot began to unravel. Our delightful hero Blacksword, whose character we know nothing about at this point because being totally hot and having huge muscles is apparently more important than having a personality, turns out to be a landless knight and hasn’t got a lot of cash. At first he doesn’t believe that Rosalynde is a lady and is quite willing to leave her high and dry despite the fact that she saved him. Then when he realises that she is who she says she is he grudgingly agrees to get her home spurred on by her promise of a monetary reward. That’s when our charming hero starts to think, after all Rosalynde’s brother (her Father’s only male heir) is dead and as he (Blacksword) is handfasted (married pagan style) to her he actually stands to gain a lot if he can force her to stay married to him. So the graceless git starts to be nice to her, after all now she’s useful to him it’s worth making the effort isn’t it?
All bad enough but then everything fell apart completely.
Rosie, having a shrewd idea why he’s suddenly being so nice to her, hates him even more (with good reason if you ask me!) and she didn’t like him, didn’t trust him and certainly had no thought of staying married to him before he turned into a slimy scumbag. It is at this point Blacksword kisses her.
First of all it felt like a hundred or so pages of story were missing: they didn’t even like each other what the heck are they doing kissing???
Secondarily, I don’t know about anyone else, but if some cad was rotten to me after I’d just saved his life, was mean and grudging about giving me his help and then turned in to some kind of slime machine when he realised that he could get his greedy little hands on my inheritance I would be completely revolted by his kiss, I don’t care how big his muscles are!!!
What I wouldn’t do is go all gaga about how nice his kisses are and how wonderful it feels…blah, blah, blah.
Anyway back to the story: they stop kissing Rosalynde starts to be revolted (finally!!!) and runs off, stopping and finally falling asleep some way into the forest. Blacksword follows her and, being the gentleman he is, wakes her up and starts kissing her again. At which point they fall into each other’s arms and Rosalyn goes from despising Blacksword to vowing to be his wife and sleeping with him. I would like to point out that she doesn’t have any choice about sleeping with him as Blacksword doesn’t understand the word no. Which, as we all know, is incredibly attractive in a man!!!
So this is where I stopped reading.
I’m kind of angry because I wanted to see where this was going, the plot was good and that’s what really gets to me!
But I’m sorry no. Just no.
This is the tale of 19 year old Lady Rosalynde who, along with her 8 year old brother, lives with her Aunt and Uncle. When her brother dies she is determined to be the person who breaks the news to her Father and, with the consent of her Uncle and Aunt, she leaves to travel to her Father’s castle. On the way the camp is attacked and her maid and the soldiers are killed leaving Rosalynde and her page Cleve the only survivors. They manage to escape but Cleve is wounded and it becomes clear to Rosalynde that they need protection.
Enter Blacksword, a mysterious man that Rosalynde saves from hanging by agreeing to be handfasted to him. This decision is made in desperation and in the hope that Blacksword will be so grateful that she saved him from a hideous death that he will agree to protect her and Cleve until they reach her Father’s castle. Blacksword is not quite as he appears and found himself at the point of hanging for a crime he did not commit when Lady Rosalynde made her somewhat impetuous entrance into his life.
Sounds interesting right??? So why the absents of stars???
Simple really: the plot is often pushed to one side so that we can concentrate on something much more important.
What, I hear you say, could possibly be more important than the plot???
Well…the hero’s muscles.
Yes you did read that right, Blacksword is well fit and just to make sure you don’t forget that it is mentioned constantly. He has, from what I can gather, the sort of rock hard and bountiful muscles that would make Hercules weep with envy. Strong, bulging, corded…you name it he’s got it! He also has some awesome angles and planes!
He also never tires, can drag a sixteen year old lad around on his back all day without really noticing it but struggles with such easy tasks as keeping his shirt on. This guy is invincible…so how did he manage to get trussed up like a turkey and handed over to the authorities by the baddies??? I’m not really sure because apart from that one instance he has never failed at anything from what I can tell. Even when bound securely men tremble under his harsh gaze.
Now please don’t get me wrong, I like some eye candy as much as the next girl! But all I heard about were his freaking muscles and it got less impressive every time. Average page:
Rosalynde is mistrustful wishes she could tell Blacksword to hop it, a page about Blacksword's shoulders and how they make Rosie all mushy inside. Other stuff happens, BTW Blacksword also has, like, totally awesome thigh muscles too and they make Rosie feel faint. Blacksword pretends to be mean and scary because it’s safer for Rosalynde and Cleve to be in fear of him, also Blacksword's abs are like a washboard dude and…that’s right…Rosie just wants to melt after seeing them.
Too much, way too much.
But I wanted to know what happened next so I carried on: after all I still had the plot to look forward to right???
Then the plot began to unravel. Our delightful hero Blacksword, whose character we know nothing about at this point because being totally hot and having huge muscles is apparently more important than having a personality, turns out to be a landless knight and hasn’t got a lot of cash. At first he doesn’t believe that Rosalynde is a lady and is quite willing to leave her high and dry despite the fact that she saved him. Then when he realises that she is who she says she is he grudgingly agrees to get her home spurred on by her promise of a monetary reward. That’s when our charming hero starts to think, after all Rosalynde’s brother (her Father’s only male heir) is dead and as he (Blacksword) is handfasted (married pagan style) to her he actually stands to gain a lot if he can force her to stay married to him. So the graceless git starts to be nice to her, after all now she’s useful to him it’s worth making the effort isn’t it?
All bad enough but then everything fell apart completely.
Rosie, having a shrewd idea why he’s suddenly being so nice to her, hates him even more (with good reason if you ask me!) and she didn’t like him, didn’t trust him and certainly had no thought of staying married to him before he turned into a slimy scumbag. It is at this point Blacksword kisses her.
First of all it felt like a hundred or so pages of story were missing: they didn’t even like each other what the heck are they doing kissing???
Secondarily, I don’t know about anyone else, but if some cad was rotten to me after I’d just saved his life, was mean and grudging about giving me his help and then turned in to some kind of slime machine when he realised that he could get his greedy little hands on my inheritance I would be completely revolted by his kiss, I don’t care how big his muscles are!!!
What I wouldn’t do is go all gaga about how nice his kisses are and how wonderful it feels…blah, blah, blah.
Anyway back to the story: they stop kissing Rosalynde starts to be revolted (finally!!!) and runs off, stopping and finally falling asleep some way into the forest. Blacksword follows her and, being the gentleman he is, wakes her up and starts kissing her again. At which point they fall into each other’s arms and Rosalyn goes from despising Blacksword to vowing to be his wife and sleeping with him. I would like to point out that she doesn’t have any choice about sleeping with him as Blacksword doesn’t understand the word no. Which, as we all know, is incredibly attractive in a man!!!
So this is where I stopped reading.
I’m kind of angry because I wanted to see where this was going, the plot was good and that’s what really gets to me!
But I’m sorry no. Just no.
Read
September 5, 2021I've enjoyed other books by Becnel and she hasn't written any historicals lately that I know of, so I was happy to start a new-to-me read from her. Sadly, it just didn't work out.
The book starts off strong. We meet Rosalynde just after the death of her beloved younger brother Giles. After his funeral, she is determined to leave her aunt and uncle's home, where she has lived since her mother's death eight years earlier, and go to her father. She wants to be the one to tell him the news of her brother's death. Noble of her, perhaps, but certainly dangerous. After all, Henry II has not been on the throne for very long and the disorder from the war between King Stephen and Matilda has not entirely faded. It's not a safe time for a young woman to be traveling.
Even though Rosalynde's loving aunt and uncle take precautions to protect her, she still encounters bandits on the road. As we read through this encounter and see what happens to her traveling party, I was completely sucked into the story and thought that this book might just turn out to be a good, old-fashioned angstfest.
Then it takes a turn. In search of help, Rosalynde stumbles into a village and it all just goes crazypants from there. It's market day, everyone is drunk and our poor heroine can't find anyone to ask for aid. Apparently, in this particular village, the fair is traditionally the time for handfasting among the village folks but since no couples had come forward, the mayor decided to make it hanging day instead. As one does, I suppose.
The mayor seems exceptionally bummed out that no one wants to handfast, so he offers up the prisoners to the single women in attendance. Crazy, right? And crazier still, Rosalynde decides that handfasting with the outlaw Blacksword just might be the way to get help and safe passage to her father's house. The people in the village, most of whom are plastered by the point, think this is a GREAT idea. Why???!! Well, I can tell you the main reason that's given in the text and that is this - Blacksword is mighty hawt. Oh yes. He has so many muscles that they're practically characters in their own right. Seriously, we hear a lot about the muscles in the portion of the book I read.
So, the rejected murderers, thieves and highwaymen get hanged and then the village celebrates with a post-hanging handfasting. And after that, I was just done, done, done. I can't really comment on the romance here because I quit reading after the mass hanging, and our loving couple had just met. This is just not the book for me.
The book starts off strong. We meet Rosalynde just after the death of her beloved younger brother Giles. After his funeral, she is determined to leave her aunt and uncle's home, where she has lived since her mother's death eight years earlier, and go to her father. She wants to be the one to tell him the news of her brother's death. Noble of her, perhaps, but certainly dangerous. After all, Henry II has not been on the throne for very long and the disorder from the war between King Stephen and Matilda has not entirely faded. It's not a safe time for a young woman to be traveling.
Even though Rosalynde's loving aunt and uncle take precautions to protect her, she still encounters bandits on the road. As we read through this encounter and see what happens to her traveling party, I was completely sucked into the story and thought that this book might just turn out to be a good, old-fashioned angstfest.
Then it takes a turn. In search of help, Rosalynde stumbles into a village and it all just goes crazypants from there. It's market day, everyone is drunk and our poor heroine can't find anyone to ask for aid. Apparently, in this particular village, the fair is traditionally the time for handfasting among the village folks but since no couples had come forward, the mayor decided to make it hanging day instead. As one does, I suppose.
The mayor seems exceptionally bummed out that no one wants to handfast, so he offers up the prisoners to the single women in attendance. Crazy, right? And crazier still, Rosalynde decides that handfasting with the outlaw Blacksword just might be the way to get help and safe passage to her father's house. The people in the village, most of whom are plastered by the point, think this is a GREAT idea. Why???!! Well, I can tell you the main reason that's given in the text and that is this - Blacksword is mighty hawt. Oh yes. He has so many muscles that they're practically characters in their own right. Seriously, we hear a lot about the muscles in the portion of the book I read.
So, the rejected murderers, thieves and highwaymen get hanged and then the village celebrates with a post-hanging handfasting. And after that, I was just done, done, done. I can't really comment on the romance here because I quit reading after the mass hanging, and our loving couple had just met. This is just not the book for me.
October 27, 2015
4 and 1/2 Stars! Captivating Medieval from 12th Century England
Set in 12th century England, this is the story of Lady Rosalynde of Stanwood, a young beauty whose father consigned her and her young brother to live with their aunt and uncle when their mother died years ago. And now Rosalynde must travel home to Stanwood Castle to tell her father her brother has died.
On the way to Stanwood, outlaws set upon Rosalynde and her knights. She and her page escape, but the page is wounded and Rosalynde seeks the only help she can find—that of a condemned criminal—agreeing to handfast with him to save him from the gallows if he will help her get home. The outlaw they call Blacksword is really Sir Aric of Wycliffe, a knight of renown, who is none too happy about being nursemaid to a lady and her wounded page—he seeks only vengeance on those who falsely accused him of crimes. But when he learns that Rosalynde is now her father’s only heir, he decides to seek more than a reward—he wants to make their handfast a real marriage to gain her and her lands.
This is a great story, well told—a page turner. Though there is no real history, there is a genuine historic feel and a real historic setting. Sir Aric is a noble knight but also a wily one, and Rosalynde (“Rose”) is not indifferent to his wooing. But her father sees Aric as a criminal and requires him to work as a servant at Stanwood Castle. Aric stays, rising to become a man at arms constantly reminding Rosalynde that she is his wife.
Lots of action, mystery and adventure with an exciting ending. I recommend it.
Set in 12th century England, this is the story of Lady Rosalynde of Stanwood, a young beauty whose father consigned her and her young brother to live with their aunt and uncle when their mother died years ago. And now Rosalynde must travel home to Stanwood Castle to tell her father her brother has died.
On the way to Stanwood, outlaws set upon Rosalynde and her knights. She and her page escape, but the page is wounded and Rosalynde seeks the only help she can find—that of a condemned criminal—agreeing to handfast with him to save him from the gallows if he will help her get home. The outlaw they call Blacksword is really Sir Aric of Wycliffe, a knight of renown, who is none too happy about being nursemaid to a lady and her wounded page—he seeks only vengeance on those who falsely accused him of crimes. But when he learns that Rosalynde is now her father’s only heir, he decides to seek more than a reward—he wants to make their handfast a real marriage to gain her and her lands.
This is a great story, well told—a page turner. Though there is no real history, there is a genuine historic feel and a real historic setting. Sir Aric is a noble knight but also a wily one, and Rosalynde (“Rose”) is not indifferent to his wooing. But her father sees Aric as a criminal and requires him to work as a servant at Stanwood Castle. Aric stays, rising to become a man at arms constantly reminding Rosalynde that she is his wife.
Lots of action, mystery and adventure with an exciting ending. I recommend it.
July 7, 2023
Why is my review for this gone??? I DNF’d this because it was making me hate reading.
August 18, 2012
Gosh, no! Just no! O.o
This book started sort of good, though a bit boring, but both Rosalynde and Aric/Blacksword annoyed the hell out of me and I just couldn't keep reading it anymore. -.-
First, it is absolutely ridiculous to choose a man that is going to be hanged, to one's husband.
What was Rosalynde thinking? o.O The man definitely looked dangerous and he was being acused of murder and thievery and she suddenly decides to marry him because he may be willing to help her reach her father's house. Does that make sense? o.O None!
He could have been a psycho and she and poor Cleve would be in serious trouble! --'
Then, even though she supposedly hates him, she has sex with him, forgetting everything that she was raised to believe and the repercussions of the act. o.O
I find it hard to believe that a gentle-bred lady would be so willing to ruin her reputation and risk total scandal for a few minutes of pleasure, without any guarantee that she would be left with a decent husband.
And, furthermore, if you hate someone, will you have sex with that person? o.O
I know that one needs not exactly love the other person to be intimate but one won't be intimate with someone one hates because one will have no pleasure with it and the purpose of being intimate is to have pleasure! --'
So, of course this is all ridiculous!
And the day after their sexual intercourse, Rosalynde totally flips out and screams that Aric ruined her and that he won't touch her ever again.
Excuse the hell out of me, but she was more than willing to be "ruined" and to jump into his pants, so to speak! o.O
This is just freaking annoying! :S
And then, in the part where I stopped reading this disaster, her father's knights or whatever they were, arrived and as she was freaking out and Aric was holding her, those said knights were going to kick his ass, bluntly speaking, because they thought he was a common crook, seeking to rape her.
And she thought he deserved to get his ass kicked or to be arrested because he had had sex with her. o.O
So, basically, he was going to be unfairly screwed once again and this time because of some pathetic brat was having one hell of a fit and didn't have the guts to tell her father's minions that he did nothing wrong.
Oh God, give me strength!
This book started sort of good, though a bit boring, but both Rosalynde and Aric/Blacksword annoyed the hell out of me and I just couldn't keep reading it anymore. -.-
First, it is absolutely ridiculous to choose a man that is going to be hanged, to one's husband.
What was Rosalynde thinking? o.O The man definitely looked dangerous and he was being acused of murder and thievery and she suddenly decides to marry him because he may be willing to help her reach her father's house. Does that make sense? o.O None!
He could have been a psycho and she and poor Cleve would be in serious trouble! --'
Then, even though she supposedly hates him, she has sex with him, forgetting everything that she was raised to believe and the repercussions of the act. o.O
I find it hard to believe that a gentle-bred lady would be so willing to ruin her reputation and risk total scandal for a few minutes of pleasure, without any guarantee that she would be left with a decent husband.
And, furthermore, if you hate someone, will you have sex with that person? o.O
I know that one needs not exactly love the other person to be intimate but one won't be intimate with someone one hates because one will have no pleasure with it and the purpose of being intimate is to have pleasure! --'
So, of course this is all ridiculous!
And the day after their sexual intercourse, Rosalynde totally flips out and screams that Aric ruined her and that he won't touch her ever again.
Excuse the hell out of me, but she was more than willing to be "ruined" and to jump into his pants, so to speak! o.O
This is just freaking annoying! :S
And then, in the part where I stopped reading this disaster, her father's knights or whatever they were, arrived and as she was freaking out and Aric was holding her, those said knights were going to kick his ass, bluntly speaking, because they thought he was a common crook, seeking to rape her.
And she thought he deserved to get his ass kicked or to be arrested because he had had sex with her. o.O
So, basically, he was going to be unfairly screwed once again and this time because of some pathetic brat was having one hell of a fit and didn't have the guts to tell her father's minions that he did nothing wrong.
Oh God, give me strength!
January 9, 2022
It started out great and I was very excited to have finally found a historical romance and the plot sounded very promising. I mean a bad hot guy sounds good right? But god damn I could not finish this book and I always finish books! At first I liked the heroine because she wasn't afraid to speak her mind but throughout the book she succumbed to her lust again and again even though she hated the guy and his intentions. In the process she lost all her self respect and dignity. I know you can't expect a really strong female characters from books like these but come on! This was so unrealistic for me I couldn't continue and don't get me started on the main male character, he only cared about his own ass and having sex. No development of characters whatsoever! I mean if you read these books only for the hot and heavy moments go for it! But I would recommend spending your time elsewhere.
I'm almost sad because the story could've been so good.
I'm almost sad because the story could've been so good.
September 12, 2012
What I will say is that this is most definitely a romance novel of the early '90s, and it brings me back to my teenage years immediately!
I have to give it to Rexanne; right to the end I did want to know what would happen next, so I give her top marks for that. I think it's the style and language that we've all (most of us?) moved on from now. Where else would you encounter words such as 'slaked' or 'burgeoning' in a love-scene?
There is also the impossible perfection of both leading lady and leading man. I read the description of Blacksword (Aric of Wycliff), and could only shake my head in disbelief. But then again...have you checked out actor Joe Manganiello lately (Alcide from the TV series True Blood)? So they DO exist!
4* out of 5 for suspense/momentum
1* for the purplest prose I've read in the past decade
3* for giving me a reason to Google pics of Joe Manganiello!
I have to give it to Rexanne; right to the end I did want to know what would happen next, so I give her top marks for that. I think it's the style and language that we've all (most of us?) moved on from now. Where else would you encounter words such as 'slaked' or 'burgeoning' in a love-scene?
There is also the impossible perfection of both leading lady and leading man. I read the description of Blacksword (Aric of Wycliff), and could only shake my head in disbelief. But then again...have you checked out actor Joe Manganiello lately (Alcide from the TV series True Blood)? So they DO exist!
4* out of 5 for suspense/momentum
1* for the purplest prose I've read in the past decade
3* for giving me a reason to Google pics of Joe Manganiello!
February 6, 2026
The Rose of Blacksword started out fairly strong for me but fizzled once the H/h got to Stanwood castle. 3/5 stars
May 6, 2024
Meh … kinda all over the place. When these two meet Rosalynde is fearful of him, desperate for help, and saves him from the hangman’s noon for murder. So …. It’s a little weird when she’s all jumpy around him and then the minute he decides to pursue her she melts and can’t help herself. Aric thinks she’s a street urchin when he meets her and wants her gone. But when he finds out she is a rich heiress they can give him a life of ease and land he decides he wants her. Sounds like true love.
What I wonder is WHY with THIS author the women heroines in EVERY one of her books - once the man touches the heroine all her braincells and common sense flee and she is overtaken in the moment and capitulates. At a time when a woman’s worth is determined by her purity I hardly think she’d let us go so easily. A few hours ago Aric wanted nothing from her and couldn’t get away fast enough thinking she was a street urchin. Now he knows she is titled with a castle and he wants her … and she thinks he is a common outlaw and doesn’t trust him not to kill or abandon her but she is okay with getting it on with him once he touches her?!?!?! WTF
What I wonder is WHY with THIS author the women heroines in EVERY one of her books - once the man touches the heroine all her braincells and common sense flee and she is overtaken in the moment and capitulates. At a time when a woman’s worth is determined by her purity I hardly think she’d let us go so easily. A few hours ago Aric wanted nothing from her and couldn’t get away fast enough thinking she was a street urchin. Now he knows she is titled with a castle and he wants her … and she thinks he is a common outlaw and doesn’t trust him not to kill or abandon her but she is okay with getting it on with him once he touches her?!?!?! WTF
May 4, 2024
So, this book was written in 1992. It's 32 years old, won a bunch of awards, one of her most popular. But it doesn't do well with younger audiences who don't know how to read a book if it doesn't reflect
their
lives, so......lol, sorry, I can't keep a straight face. I wonder how they deal with college history classes? Well written bodice ripper romance, in no way reflective of today's societal mores. It's just pure, fun escapism, well until the GR moral police get ahold of it. I hate fake outrage, it's fiction folks, just fiction.
I have a second hand dead tree copy, probably not worth tracking down unless you like the above escapism bodice ripper romance, remember ~ it's 32 years old.
I read sometime in the 90's.
I have a second hand dead tree copy, probably not worth tracking down unless you like the above escapism bodice ripper romance, remember ~ it's 32 years old.
I read sometime in the 90's.
November 1, 2020
Very good story and characters. Black sword, Sir Aric of Wycliffe, has been framed by Sir Gilbert as the ringleader of a band of outlaws and sentenced to hang in Dunmow. Lady Rosalydn agrees to a hand fast marriage to him to get him to help her to get to her father’s castle. Mistaken for one of the outlaws who had attacked Rosalydn’s party, he is flogged by her father. When a tout meant is held at the castle, Sir Gilbert and Blacksword meet again. Will the lady finally realize her love for Aric? Will Aric win against Sir Gilbert?
February 6, 2025
I liked it but at the same time there were things that were missing. I love enemies to lovers and marriage of convenience. The premise was great. Rosalynde saves Aric and herself by getting held fast to him. My issue with the story was that the majority of the story was Rose and Aric arguing about hiding their connection. And then they love each other. I wished there were sweet words and moments between them to convince me that they actually loved each other. The last 50 pages were good. After the love confession, they were so sweet together.
May 19, 2018
Dnf.. don't get me wrong I'm so totally in love with Medieval stories and hot alpha knights.. I got that with Aric. The problem I had was with Rosalynde.. she was just either too naive, immature or too dumb if you ask me.. she willingly sleeps with Aric then later accuses him of ruining her life?? Lookie here lady - you should have thought of that BEFORE you slept with him and ogling his body... argh! She ruined the story!!!
March 18, 2024
A very sweet story
It was a very good story line with some wonderful characters. I enjoyed the strength of the heroine and the developing relationship with the other characters. I enjoyed the storyline and the and the evolving events. I highly recommend it. One downside was the multiple typos.
It was a very good story line with some wonderful characters. I enjoyed the strength of the heroine and the developing relationship with the other characters. I enjoyed the storyline and the and the evolving events. I highly recommend it. One downside was the multiple typos.
September 1, 2025
First half was a page Turner, but then the suspense just drew out too long.
This is a well written book and worth a read...just drew out the suspense of their relationship being revealed a bit too long for my taste. Also the end was almost too happily ever after, but again, still a really good read overall. I would read more books from this author.
This is a well written book and worth a read...just drew out the suspense of their relationship being revealed a bit too long for my taste. Also the end was almost too happily ever after, but again, still a really good read overall. I would read more books from this author.
March 4, 2026
Roses in bloome!
Wow! You are an interesting mind learned slot from your writing am looking forward to your next! May I ask how many hours did you spend doing research ? Is it always easy to start a story? Have you traveled in the area? Boy am I dumb silly question of a writer. Judi
Wow! You are an interesting mind learned slot from your writing am looking forward to your next! May I ask how many hours did you spend doing research ? Is it always easy to start a story? Have you traveled in the area? Boy am I dumb silly question of a writer. Judi
September 18, 2023
Hard to put down.
Not what I expected, Rose is a pistol, way to stubborn, but makes a good storyline. Read this in one day, hard to put down, like Ariks character, doesn't give up. Good love story.
Not what I expected, Rose is a pistol, way to stubborn, but makes a good storyline. Read this in one day, hard to put down, like Ariks character, doesn't give up. Good love story.
November 14, 2025
I haven’t felt this level of stress and suspense from a book in ages. At times it was maddening, at others completely absorbing, but every second kept me hooked. I tore through the pages because I had to know what happened. Excellent read.
November 12, 2018
The Rose of Blacksword.
First time reading this author's books. I loved it. Very romantic, but a lot of trials to get to the hea. If you enjoy medieval romance give this one a try.
First time reading this author's books. I loved it. Very romantic, but a lot of trials to get to the hea. If you enjoy medieval romance give this one a try.
February 2, 2023
I thought it was great and could not put it down.
February 2, 2025
3 stars if you can get pass Rose and her lack of honor, an entertaining story. Well balanced, storytelling of romance and adventure.
February 25, 2026
Good plot I was unable to stop
Read this book so fast I was kept on my toes the whole time and it made me gasp and cry and laugh. Good read
Read this book so fast I was kept on my toes the whole time and it made me gasp and cry and laugh. Good read
April 14, 2026
Started off strong, but the narrative seemed to grind to a halt once they got to the castle. I realize this book is from the early 90s and this style was more the fashion, but like 200 pages in the middle with barely any interaction between the MCs and pages of detail about the castle and how to clean a medieval kitchen made me wish things would move along already.
Rose and Aric were pretty standard characters - he the uber stoic giant warrior and she the innocent sweet thing with a gift healing. Of course the book could have been 200 pages shorter if they had a couple of honest conversations. The part where she saves him from the gallows with the handfast offer was the most interesting part of the book. I wish they had spent more time on the journey.
Rose and Aric were pretty standard characters - he the uber stoic giant warrior and she the innocent sweet thing with a gift healing. Of course the book could have been 200 pages shorter if they had a couple of honest conversations. The part where she saves him from the gallows with the handfast offer was the most interesting part of the book. I wish they had spent more time on the journey.
January 29, 2012
Way too long and she is horrible and I can't stand her, while he is controversial about his own thinking, so I probably was not in the mood for appreciate two schizophenic characters.
Lady Rosalynde di Stanwood ha il potere di stregare gli uomini, ma non ne è consapevole prima di utilizzarlo per costringere Blacksword, assassino e ladro condannato alla forca, a riaccompagnare lei e il suo paggio alla dimora paterna.
Sir Aric di Wycliff vive solo per un caso e dedica la rinnovata esistenza alla vendetta nei confronti di coloro che lo hanno incastrato portandolo sul patibolo, fino a quando attraverso l'Handfasting, il suo destino viene irrimediabilmente legato a quello di Lady Rose, dalla quale pretenderà una resa totale.
La trama non era male, Rose viene attaccata e la sua scorta decimata mentre torna dal padre per informarlo della morte del suo unico figlio ed erede; quando risce a mettersi in salvo si reca nel paese vicino per cercare di avvertire lo sceriffo del villaggio e cercare una nuova scorta, ma dopo una serie di misunderstanding si trova a dover scegliere tra tre condannati a morte una papabile guardia del corpo.
Ai tempi se una donna del villaggio voleva salvare la vita ad un condannato bastava che lo legasse a sè attraverso la cerimonia pagana dell'Handfasting, matrimonio che durava un anno e un giorno se nel frattempo la coppia non si era recata in chiesa per ratificare il patto avanti a Dio.
A questo punto inizia il lento declino del libro: Rose è una di quelle verginelle che prima cede e poi si dispera, mi dispiace metterla così, ma una persona che cambia idea ogni 30 secondi e poi si fa comunque guidare nelle scelte dalle sue ovaie non merita il mio rispetto per quanto resti sempre un personaggio di fantasia. Dal canto suo Blacksword sembra uno che non abbia chiaro nemmeno cosa voglia per colazione, figurarsi dalla vita. Passano 300 pagine a rinfacciarsi l'Handfasting ed a ricattarsi e sinceramente sono veramente noiosi.
Quando poi finalmente i nodi arrivano al pettine e Aric si rivela quale cavaliere sconfiggendo il marrano che l'aveva derubato della sua spada e della sua vita tutti vivono felici e contenti, ma avrebbero potuto farlo 200 pagine prima senza tirarla troppo per le lunghe.
Nel mio giudizio sarò anche acida ma leggere questo libro è stato abbastanza NOIOSO, probabilmente il prossimo libro della Becnel non finirà nella mia libreria e nemmeno quelli prima, peccato perchè il medioeval romance di solito mi piace, ma in questo sembrava che l'autrice avesse fatto scrivere i dialoghi ai bambini dell'asilo.
Lady Rosalynde di Stanwood ha il potere di stregare gli uomini, ma non ne è consapevole prima di utilizzarlo per costringere Blacksword, assassino e ladro condannato alla forca, a riaccompagnare lei e il suo paggio alla dimora paterna.
Sir Aric di Wycliff vive solo per un caso e dedica la rinnovata esistenza alla vendetta nei confronti di coloro che lo hanno incastrato portandolo sul patibolo, fino a quando attraverso l'Handfasting, il suo destino viene irrimediabilmente legato a quello di Lady Rose, dalla quale pretenderà una resa totale.
La trama non era male, Rose viene attaccata e la sua scorta decimata mentre torna dal padre per informarlo della morte del suo unico figlio ed erede; quando risce a mettersi in salvo si reca nel paese vicino per cercare di avvertire lo sceriffo del villaggio e cercare una nuova scorta, ma dopo una serie di misunderstanding si trova a dover scegliere tra tre condannati a morte una papabile guardia del corpo.
Ai tempi se una donna del villaggio voleva salvare la vita ad un condannato bastava che lo legasse a sè attraverso la cerimonia pagana dell'Handfasting, matrimonio che durava un anno e un giorno se nel frattempo la coppia non si era recata in chiesa per ratificare il patto avanti a Dio.
A questo punto inizia il lento declino del libro: Rose è una di quelle verginelle che prima cede e poi si dispera, mi dispiace metterla così, ma una persona che cambia idea ogni 30 secondi e poi si fa comunque guidare nelle scelte dalle sue ovaie non merita il mio rispetto per quanto resti sempre un personaggio di fantasia. Dal canto suo Blacksword sembra uno che non abbia chiaro nemmeno cosa voglia per colazione, figurarsi dalla vita. Passano 300 pagine a rinfacciarsi l'Handfasting ed a ricattarsi e sinceramente sono veramente noiosi.
Quando poi finalmente i nodi arrivano al pettine e Aric si rivela quale cavaliere sconfiggendo il marrano che l'aveva derubato della sua spada e della sua vita tutti vivono felici e contenti, ma avrebbero potuto farlo 200 pagine prima senza tirarla troppo per le lunghe.
Nel mio giudizio sarò anche acida ma leggere questo libro è stato abbastanza NOIOSO, probabilmente il prossimo libro della Becnel non finirà nella mia libreria e nemmeno quelli prima, peccato perchè il medioeval romance di solito mi piace, ma in questo sembrava che l'autrice avesse fatto scrivere i dialoghi ai bambini dell'asilo.
Read
July 13, 2016DNF
Before I began this book, I scoffed at those who gave this story a 1 star. Now I understand why. I enjoyed some of Becnel's books however this one was terrible. It wasn't so much the plot but more the heroine is such a SHREWD AND A TOTAL SELFISH BITCH.
UNGRATEFUL is more like it. After saving Aric from the gallows, she demands he escort her and Cleve back to her home and he reluctantly agrees. Along the way, Rose was compromised BUT SHE WAS A WILLING PARTICIPANT. Guess what, when they get back, Aric was flogged and became a house slave. He is adamant to have her as his wife as they are technically married by HAND FAST a pagan marriage ritual at the hanging site.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY ARIC pursues her when she keeps denying their relationship and he suffers often because of her. Well I gave up reading when it was just too painful to see them.
Before I began this book, I scoffed at those who gave this story a 1 star. Now I understand why. I enjoyed some of Becnel's books however this one was terrible. It wasn't so much the plot but more the heroine is such a SHREWD AND A TOTAL SELFISH BITCH.
UNGRATEFUL is more like it. After saving Aric from the gallows, she demands he escort her and Cleve back to her home and he reluctantly agrees. Along the way, Rose was compromised BUT SHE WAS A WILLING PARTICIPANT. Guess what, when they get back, Aric was flogged and became a house slave. He is adamant to have her as his wife as they are technically married by HAND FAST a pagan marriage ritual at the hanging site.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY ARIC pursues her when she keeps denying their relationship and he suffers often because of her. Well I gave up reading when it was just too painful to see them.
July 22, 2016
I used to love Rexanne Becnel but I haven't read her in years. I really liked the premise of this story: lady saves condemned murderer by marrying him because she is in a bind and needs his help. He inturn wants her to love him for the degenerate common man down on his luck not the knight he really is. Good story but the author drags it out to long (437 pages) when it could have been condensed some and made for a tighter story.
July 9, 2012
Medieval historicals are out of fashion right now, but thanks to a loan from a friend, I got to go back 20 years and read this one. It was fun to read something different than today's most popular tropes, regency drawing room and swashbuckler. Predictable situations, but likable characters. Pacing could have been more even and tighter. Some typos, especially in the early chapters. Also, you can play the Lisa Kleypas drinking game with this book, so there is that. -cg
August 4, 2010
What I learned from this book:
So European tradition used to be acquainted with contract marriage, too! They called this ancient (and perhaps pagan?) tradition handfast, and in this book, it lasted for 1 year of marriage legally recognized by people. Should the couple decide to let it go after the duration, it's ok for them to separate in good terms.
So European tradition used to be acquainted with contract marriage, too! They called this ancient (and perhaps pagan?) tradition handfast, and in this book, it lasted for 1 year of marriage legally recognized by people. Should the couple decide to let it go after the duration, it's ok for them to separate in good terms.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews