Where Magic Dwells

by Rexanne Becnel

A THORNY ROSE, SHE BLOOMED WITH PASSION

No man dared touch the proud Wynne ab Gruffydd, Seeress of Radnor, whose heart belonged to the children she raised, five orphans, bastards of war. Awed by her magic, would-be suitors kept their distance. Until the fierce English knight rode into Radnor Forest on a mission to seize one of her children ... even as this knight laid siege to her body with ungodly powers that matched her own ...

... IN HER ENEMY'S ARMS

Dispatched to Wales to reclaim his liege lord's by-blow offspring and to win the long-coveted rewards, Sir Cleve FitzWarin was prepared to face an army --- but not the defiant beauty guarding her children with her magic and her life. This was war. Girded for battle, he vowed to have her, to brand her with kisses, set her aflame, this enchantress who held him in thrall with the sweet magic of her innocent embrace ...

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Medieval, Medieval Romance, Fantasy, Magic

390 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 1994

About the author

Rexanne 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.

Reviews

[KatieV · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those times where I'm really left to question how much of my enjoyment came from the story and how much from the narration. Claire Morgan did an excellent job of narrating and I feel like a 1/2 star (at least) was due to her.

This was kind of fluffy for a medieval. I suppose I've come to expect more grit from that genre, but I did truly enjoy it and I'm not a particular fan of the fluffy.

This took place in Wales and England 1172. It follows up 7 years after Henry II of England's failed invasion of Wales. The repercussions of that time were the only "disturbing and gritty medieval" aspect, but it was the driving force behind the novel.

When the English invaded Wales many Welsh women were raped, the heroine - who was 12 at the time - only escaped because her older sister hid her. Unfortunately the older sister was gang raped and ended up pregnant along with several other local women (and an 11 year old girl). Most of this wasn't detailed (thank God), but the heroine did relate her memories of hearing what was happening to her sister while she was in hiding. The heroine's sister later committed suicide after giving birth to a little girl and left her in the care of the h and her elderly aunt.

The heroine, Wynne, was considered a seer (or a witch by the English). Apparently the Welsh still practiced many of the older pagan traditions of the ancient Britains and - unlike the Norman English - held such women in esteem. This "power" was supposedly passed down through the female line of Wynne's family along with a small manor and lands. I definitely wouldn't call this a PNR. Most of what Wynne did was gather medicinal herbs to create remedies and potions. There was no "magic" to it - although she did put on a show of it, which I think she half believed. Also there were the so-called 'visions' which to me seemed more like strong intuition, but opinions may vary.

Since she and her aunt were esteemed and had a home and lands, a few locals brought her the unwanted by-blows of the English soldiers. Wynne ended up with her own niece plus twin boys, and another little girl and boy. All of them born within months of one another.

As the story begins 19-year-old Wynne is happy and somewhat exasperated in her role as mother to five 6-year-olds.

This is where the hero, Cleve, comes in. He is an English bastard who is trying to win lands of his own by helping his overlord gain custody of his son by his Welsh mistress from the war (he already has 4 daughters, so isn't really interested in another girl). The English lord wants to make his illegitimate son his heir (not sure of the possibility of that during that time).

Cleve's mother was Welsh so he can speak the language and this makes him perfect for the task. If he's successful, he'll be given the lord's youngest daughter in marriage and therefore gain her dower lands.

All Cleve knows going in is the location in Wales and the mistress' English pet name of 'Angel'. After snooping around he realizes that all the English bastards from that area are in Wynne's care.

This is where the battle between Wynne and Cleve begins. I've only read 2 other Becnel novels and while the story was interesting I wasn't too keen on the heroines. They were always fighting the hero just be "feisty" or in ways that weren't very smart. They were definitely the result of a writer trying to make a female character seem strong by stomping her feet and running willy-nilly into danger just to be stubborn. God how I hate that.

Finally I got a Becnel heroine I liked. Wynne actually had very good reason to fight the hero and even though her plots bordered on childish, she still had a cause worth fighting for. She loved those children and she wasn't about to just hand one (or more) over to what she considered an English rapist. I suppose I'm childish too, since I lol'd at the part when she muses how she never ceases to be amused by what certain herbs can do to a person's bowels while she is plotting to give Cleve and his men the runs and therefore terrify them into believing in the power of the mighty Seeress of Radnor.

Obviously there are sparks between the two from the first and Cleve really is a decent guy and MUCH more gentle than I've come to expect from medieval heroes. The children all love him and Wynne is reluctantly drawn to him.

Aside from the fact that he's determined to find his Lord's son, there is also the obstacle of Cleve's desire for land. Wynne doesn't tell Cleve she's an heiress in her own right, because she wants to be wanted for herself. So, Cleve is determined to marry the Lord's daughter and then set Wynne and her children up in England and keep her as his mistress. It seems very skeezy to modern sensibilities, but I think Becnel did a good job of putting it in historical context and even the heroine grudgingly understood Cleve's motives. Marriage was a different ballgame in those days and you have to try and put yourself in that frame of mind. Love in marriage was a happy accident at best for most.

Anyway, I won't spoil anything other than to say this is one of those fluffy romances where EVERYBODY gets a happy ending. And there's a lot of involvement from the children, which may be a turn off for some. I don't usually like the kid heavy romances, but the narrator did a good job of putting voice to the different children and it was hard for me not to like them. They were always arguing with one another and getting into trouble, so they did seem like typical 6-year-olds.

[Paranormal Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment the strange stepped foot into her forest, Wynne knew of his presence and she knew this man, whomever he is, is a cause for great concern. And sure enough, the hansom knight that has disturbed her quiet life has come on the most dangerous mission. It's bad enough this man is English, her enemy, but he's come on behalf of his Lord to find the noble's bastard child. He is positive that one of her 5 children is this missing child. 5 babies she's raised to childhood, all the products of rape on Welsh women by English soldiers. Wynne loves these children as if they are her own because in her mind, she is their mother and now this Sir Cleve means to steal one. She hates him from the jump and makes no attempt to deny it. She ignores the other intense feelings he also manages to raise within her, feelings of desire.

Wynne makes every attempt to be the most unwelcoming and cold-hearted Witch to Cleve and his men, going as far as to 'curse' them and use her knowledge of herbs to make their hands itch. Though she does feel guilt afterwards and always ends up healing them. Still, despite her desperate pleas for help from her friends and family to stop the English from taking her children, she can't hold back the tides. Cleve is a very stubbornly frustrating man who refuses to relent from his mission. He's not just in Wales for his Lord, but himself because if he succeeds he will gain his own land, wealth and bride.

On the travels to England, Wynne and Cleve fall deeply into what everyone else can see to be love but Wynne's struggles with the knowledge that soon he shall steal one of her children, as well as the fact that he is soon to be engaged, stops her from fully succumbing her feelings for him.
I loved this book. It's been a while since a story truly touched me as much as this one did. Wynne was a shrill and stubborn she-beast but I could never fault her for that. Of course, she doesn't trust the hero, his people have caused her nothing but heartache. And her love for the children is all consuming so of course she'll fight to the end of the world to protect them. The novel is mainly focused on her POV, Cleve has a few parts but mostly, his motives and feelings are hidden from the read apart from what he says to Wynne. I laughed, I cried and at the end of the book- I LOVED the last page where the heroine discloses a secret that will make you laugh out loud. What an amazing book.

[Mary23nm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read more than I expected to. Would have given it four stars, but for the hero wanting to keep Wynne with him as his mistress, so he could still marry to get lands and a title. I could overlook the other nit-picky things about the book, but the hero's selfishness/stupidity went on a little too long. 3.5/5 stars

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want a historical romance, with a medieval setting combined with some modern sensibilities? Want a "bickering couple" that actually has strong plot-related reasons as to why they're butting heads, while simultaneously wanting desperately to tear each other's clothes off? Want just an overall steamy, medieval-styled romance, that doesn't hold back on commentary of the more.... morally awful aspects of their lifestyle? Look no further than this book!

Don't let the title deceive you: this is not a fantasy novel, in any sense of the definition. The closest element of actual "magic" are the "visions" that the protagonist, Wynne, experiences from time to time, and is apparently a trait passed down to the women of her family line. But other than that, magic is very much utilized in the old-school definition: medicinal herbs and remedies. Wynne's talent at concocting medicines (and poisons) are a huge reason why she's a well-renowned Seeress in her homeland of Wales, but would be considered a witch in neighboring England. Gotta love cultural differences.

As an American reader, I enjoyed delving into a fictional medieval version of Wales and England, though I imagine that perhaps a proud English-born citizen wouldn't appreciate the constant scathing statements made toward their (medieval) culture. Obviously, this is partially due to the classic use of "unreliable narrator," but one who's background and experience makes her perfectly sympathetic in her hatred toward the English. Which of course, makes it a tad bit awkward when the man who sweeps her off her feet happens to be of the same hated English blood....

[Warning: rape mention]

Wynne is haunted by the brutal memories of a brief war between the two countries, where she got the second-hand horrific experience of rape, when her sister hid her and took her stead when the vicious English soldiers showed up at their manor. Wynne's poor sister was gang-raped, impregnated, and promptly committed suicide after giving birth. There are no actual graphic descriptions of any rape scenes (thank heavens), mainly because Wynne herself wasn't a victim. But Wynne's ears, forever ringing with her sister's screams and sobs, provide perhaps the most devastating details. After the war, and her sister's death (as well as the murder of their parents during said war), 13-year-old Wynne is straddled with her niece, as well as four other orphans, all presumably conceived from rape. Six years later, she is mother to these orphans, when Handsome McHandsome shows up..... and proceeds to turn her world upside down.

This book does a good job maintaining a balance between addressing a truly horrific topic like rape, especially in times of warfare, but not utilizing it merely as a conflict between the love interests. I've read Regency romances that had a love rival attempt to rape the heroine, and that's always made me slightly uncomfortable, if only because it unintentionally dismisses the brutal reality of rape as something to be used as a plot device. But as a background for the plot itself? That's something else entirely. Wynne is passionately outspoken about the double standards toward women in times of war, and even straight up acknowledges that if a woman who was raped and impregnated decides to terminate the pregnancy, either by itself or with her own life, that was completely understandable. (Yeah, yeah, it's an extremely modern idea, but it's refreshing to see in a book written in the 90's, considering our world today!)

While reading this, I started to get increasingly worried by the rather "pushy" nature of the love interest, Cleve, and his determination to find the bastard son of his lord. Wynne, convinced that this English lord was one of the many rapists, refuses over and over again to give up any of her children. Cleve's motivations come from the fact that he himself was a bastard and hated growing up without a father, as well as a "prize" to the lord's youngest daughter and a castle for himself, something a bastard like him normally would never achieve. But it wasn't the "scene goal" between Wynne and Cleve that bothered me: it was the fact that literally EVERYONE ELSE sided with Cleve and painted Wynne as a hysterical young woman who's deluding herself! It only served to make me sympathetic with Wynne all the more, though, and even not care as she recklessly attempts to poison Cleve and his men over and over (not for murder, but to make them sick), as a futile attempt to chase them away.

Despite my issues with the unfortunate, and no doubt unintentional, misogynistic veil over poor Wynne's motivations (yes, Cleve's "seduction" of her counts, even if it was rather steamy...), I appreciated how she never backed down. It wasn't until the lord of the castle proved that he never raped the Welsh woman he fell in love with, that Wynne started to feel calmer about the whole situation. But even so, giving up any of her children, even to an older man who clearly would be doting on his long-lost sons, wasn't an easy feat. The book does a good job dragging out a conflict without making it annoying, because Wynne's motivations are perhaps the most sympathetic and understanding: a young woman who adopted (and essentially, saved the lives of) several orphans, after losing everything.

This is a historical Romance first, and a historical fiction second. I'm no expert on medieval Europe, but I'm fairly certain that even there was one person "ahead of their time" like Wynne, the likelihood of others even sympathizing with her plight is unlikely. I may have criticized the love interest, Cleve, but in all honesty, he was perfectly suitable as one. Some women just really like an Alpha type who gets what he wants and uses all the sexy kisses in the world to do it. And there's nothing wrong with that, in fiction. But I must confess, what ultimately won me over was the ending:

Besides the conflict of "I don't want to give up my babies to an English rapist!", by the time they do make it to England, with her brood of orphans in tow, the conflict shifts to "I want to go home/stay with me." Wynne knows she doesn't belong in England, that she will never truly overcome her disgust for their people, and not to mention, Cleve remains promised to the lord's daughter, so if Wynne stays, she would inevitably become a mistress. And that was too heartbreaking to bear.

In the end, she wins that conflict -- after losing the "won't give up child" one -- and goes home, heartbroken but happy to have slept with him twice and hopefully carry his child with her. And Cleve, on his own accord, thinks over everything, his bastard life, his promise of marriage, and his love for Wynne........ and ultimately, moves to Wales to live with her! That hardly ever happens! I appreciated that very much, from someone who's read/watched too many historical dramas where the woman has to give up everything to be with the man, not the other way around.

Overall, this was a perfectly suitable romance, with classic tropes that somehow felt refreshing here, and a historical backdrop to add to the intensity of the story. Don't expect fantasy nor historical accuracy, and you should at least enjoy a fluffy, love/hate romance between two stubborn individuals who you don't want to slap because you sympathize with their motives and desires.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS WAS ENJOYABLE DESPITE THE USUAL CHARACTER TRAITS THAT BECNEL H AND h'S ALWAYS HAVE. SET IN THE COOL HIGHLANDS, I THINK MY FAVOURITE PARTS AND CHARACTERS FOR THIS ONE WERE THE SIX ORPHANS THAT THE HEROINE TOOK UNDER HER WINGS. HANDS DOWN.

HERO is trying to further pursue his career. As a bastard who wasn't loved, he wants to be prestigious on his own efforts and ensure his children will never suffer his fate. When an opportunity presents itself, find an important noble's Highland bastard and get a castle and a wife hand in hand...Cleve jumps at it. Kill two birds with one stone right? Except when he steps into Radnor...he's taken by the Seeress whom everyone respects and she's also responsible for the six children, whom one is the noble's bastard. While he tries to convince her to part with one of them, as they don't have a clue who it might be, Cleve himself is torn between his emotions and duty. Of course, while he's rational...he's also...I don't know...not very decisive when it comes to love.

HEROINE is brave and strong, she's an appealing character. She's a fighter at heart who takes in six orphans, the results of rape by Englishmen on Highland women and most of them were dead or suffered a tragic life, one of them being her flesh and blood sister. Hatred for the English doesn't even begin to cover her feelings and when one of their dogs was sent to retrieve a bastard, she's furious for his arrogance and high-handed authority. Despite the truth of Cleve's words that one of her orphans can have a better life, I understood what she felt, unable and frustrated to part with the child and reluctant to hand him or her over.

OVERALL this was a pretty warm story based on familial bonds NOT by blood and how adorable the orphans were when all they wanted was a father to love them, since they already have Wynne as their mother. Romance wise, it was a typical BECNEL...and if you are a fan, I doubt you will have issues with this one.

[MerReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our hero is bewitched and our heroine is a real mama bear, fiercly protective of her little ones. They meet in the forest and a love story ensues. I enjoyed the chemistry and heat between them, and a hero that is so in love with our heroine, that he will do anything to win our her heart, is swoonworthy. Sir Cleve is book boyfriend material. Wynne's children were just a joy, and I found myself laugh at their antics and the silly things they say.
This is one of my all time favorite historical romances, and I enjoy reliving Cleve and Wynne's romance. Sigh...

[Sarah Bloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second Rexanne Becnel novel. My favorite is The Maiden Bride, I've reread it several times. Although I did not love this one as much, it was still great. It takes the main characters a minute to admit to themselves their attraction is more than lust. I loved the kids trying to "parent trap" the hero and heroine.

[Diana salazar · Rating 3 out of 5]

No es lo mejor de esta autora

De todo lo que he leído de esta autora, este es el mas regular. Resulta muy predecible el desarrollo y por supuesto el final y no pasa mucho asi que también es algo aburrido

[L. B. · Rating 1 out of 5]

My 3rd book from this author. Very different writing style from the other 2 books I’ve read. I didn’t like the main characters especially the heroine.

[Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleve and Wynne

A pair that sealing with a serious issue. But, they find each other irresistible. A lot of angst but they work through it.

[Neelicc · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok read..The book is dragged and could have been better..

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Wynne is a seeress and guardian to 5 orphaned children in the Radnor Forest in Wales. The young children are results of English soldiers raping Welsh women and leaving them pregnant. Cleve, an English Soldier has come to Radnor Forest to search for one of those children who may be the heir to his kingdom. Wynne will do anything to protect the children as Cleve will do the same for his kingdom.

An okay historical romance that was a bit cliched and lacked the sparks between the hero and heroine.

[Carlie Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were great, and I actually enjoyed reading about the children. However, I did find their lust and how they were always swept away by their hormones a bit annoying/frustrating.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as "The Rose of Blacksword," but very fine.

[Zana Beno · Rating 3 out of 5]

not enough magic

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book my sister left behind for me to read. Never heard of the author before but the storyline was tight and characters fun to spend a few hours with.