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The Ground She Walks Upon
Destined to marry the woman chosen for him by a magical cross, British Lord Trevallyan challenges fate by marrying another, only to have his life torn apart by tragedy, until he meets the beautiful Ravenna
409 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
36 people are currently reading
686 people want to read
About the author
Meagan McKinney
72 books211 followersRuth Leslie Goodman Roberson (1961), well-known as Meagan McKinney gave up a thriving career as a biologist to become a full-time romance writer. She is author of over 20 critically acclaimed novels. Divorced, she lives with her two children in in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 16, 2012
"I'm not here to die for her. I'm here just to die for the ground she walks upon."
Love that line.
Love that line.
August 25, 2013
I liked the book enough to finish it. It definitely had some elements I tend to enjoy in a historical romance novel (obsessed hero, captive heroine, virgin heroine.) My issues with the story had to do with it seeming more silly than angsty. I just couldn't get caught up in the supposed tension/darkness of the story. The H didn't seem dangerous enough, although supposedly that was how we were supposed to see him. Mostly he came off as insecure and pouty, IMHO. The age difference of 20yrs wasn't an issue for me, since he acted like a spoiled child at time. The h, Ravena, was stubbornly childish as well. I could understand/respect her need for freedom, but have some common sense!! Don't just run off half-cocked. It made her seem much younger than the 20 she was supposed to be. So, although I think it had potential to be a favorite of mine, it fell short of my expectations and became more of a pleasant 'I liked it' sort of read instead.
I also felt it was too long and could have been told in far fewer pages. Personally, I skipped all the parts with the excerpts from the fairytale novel the h was writing. That seemed to add to the silliness. And while I understand it was intended as a parallel to the story of the H/h, it seemed superfluous and unnecessary. It's cool she wanted to write and that was important to her, but I didn't feel I had to read her novel to appreciate that.
I also felt it was too long and could have been told in far fewer pages. Personally, I skipped all the parts with the excerpts from the fairytale novel the h was writing. That seemed to add to the silliness. And while I understand it was intended as a parallel to the story of the H/h, it seemed superfluous and unnecessary. It's cool she wanted to write and that was important to her, but I didn't feel I had to read her novel to appreciate that.
March 28, 2018
I always want to like this author, but again and again, I've cut my teeth into dreadful rockbottoms that won't hold when I braced for impact. Too many times this author has given the same formula: How can we yes-no-yes-pointless-duet till word-count is fulfilled? The Highlander knock-off premise just dragged this potential to the ground...and telling-not-doing just wouldn't let the story evolve, so I cannot really recommend this one, unless you're drunk(as I was, when picking it up for a fluffy read). The hero just wouldn't carve himself out to be anything other than a pathetic loser, determined to win the heroine with YES, YOU WILLs till it just became awkwardly uncomfortable for me to take him seriously as a hero, and not a side-cast half-plucked sec-hero that gets killed off because nobody deserves to live with that kinda pity-party pining, where words are used in the neo-BR revolution, like some hapless parent telling a rebellious teen to clean their room.
What's with the emotional piñata? I'm sorry, you cannot be cold/emotionless/infuriated/impassive/arrogant ALL at one time. What the hell, mon. Schizophrenic tendencies for poorly devised characters. Characters who have too many traits cannot be distinguishing or defined. Really wish authors would let words carry weight, and say what cannot be said, or actions construed for meaning. Why is this so difficult? Carefully written pining, like, say - Thomas Eden, cut the pathetic grovel in a good light, but this; this.... it reminded me of this:
Heroes who can be destroyed easily like this(emotionally, his shortcomings a constant word vomit & inner monologue you slosh through), doesn't make for a good character, I think.
Don't get me started on this dingbat heroine, who tried to pull a feminist approach to Women's Studies are HIP AND COOL, BRO; because time and time again the heroine stated, and also used inner monologue to discern that she didn't even think about marriage, yet spoke of it three times to others, AND three or four times to herself. o.O OK, shoor, hope that works out for you. I can claim a lot of inspiring achievements and aspirations, but if I don't put the shit on the table, it's really just a lot of arcs that never get fulfilled.
Updated: Last tick of my nerve; the author forgot to wrap up a plot device that was a major part of the story. It was kinda important shit..... Gonna say right now; I cannot do this author anymore. No thanks.
What's with the emotional piñata? I'm sorry, you cannot be cold/emotionless/infuriated/impassive/arrogant ALL at one time. What the hell, mon. Schizophrenic tendencies for poorly devised characters. Characters who have too many traits cannot be distinguishing or defined. Really wish authors would let words carry weight, and say what cannot be said, or actions construed for meaning. Why is this so difficult? Carefully written pining, like, say - Thomas Eden, cut the pathetic grovel in a good light, but this; this.... it reminded me of this:
Heroes who can be destroyed easily like this(emotionally, his shortcomings a constant word vomit & inner monologue you slosh through), doesn't make for a good character, I think.
Don't get me started on this dingbat heroine, who tried to pull a feminist approach to Women's Studies are HIP AND COOL, BRO; because time and time again the heroine stated, and also used inner monologue to discern that she didn't even think about marriage, yet spoke of it three times to others, AND three or four times to herself. o.O OK, shoor, hope that works out for you. I can claim a lot of inspiring achievements and aspirations, but if I don't put the shit on the table, it's really just a lot of arcs that never get fulfilled.
Updated: Last tick of my nerve; the author forgot to wrap up a plot device that was a major part of the story. It was kinda important shit..... Gonna say right now; I cannot do this author anymore. No thanks.
April 24, 2016
I'm all for delayed gratification, but when you're on page 380 of a 410 page book and the heroine is still saying things like "I loathe you," to the hero without a trace of irony, we've got a problem.
This love-but-mostly-hate relationship seems to be McKinney's default setting. I made the mistake of ordering this book before I'd gotten very far in Till Dawn Tames the Night, and now I'm swimming in a small sea of financial regret. While the setting is vastly different, I felt the same frustration with the characters and plot. Any professed love seemed forced; it's like McKinney just didn't know what to do with her characters unless they were at each other's throats.
Anywhats, I liked the idea of the plot hinging on a curse. I was all about the rational versus mystical internal conflict, but in the end there was just too much conflict. My god. The pattern was exhaustingly predictable:
1. Hero rails against the idea that he's fated to love heroine.
2. Hero acts like an asshole due to his Inner Pain and Turmoil.
3. Heroine is the recipient of his asshole nature while looking very saucy.
4. The hate builds.
5. Heroine is loyal to an old friend who's after her ladybits even though she doesn't even like him like that, okay? Gosh. Oh lawd, she wishes she loved him but she doesn't.
6. The hate builds.
7. Hero feels bitter and jealous. Continues to act like an asshole.
8. Heroine resents Hero's controlling behavior, but cannot help dem lustful urges.
9. A moment of passion is swiftly followed by buckets of hate. Hate buckets.
10. Heroine just wants to be independent, yo. Hero struggles to relinquish control.
11. Pain! Heartache! Betrayal! Oceans of hate and loathing!
12. Two pages of happiness.
So tedious. I adore old historical romances and I especially adore long ones, but this was completely unsatisfying in nearly every way. The only reason it earned two stars is because the writing isn't bad.
This love-but-mostly-hate relationship seems to be McKinney's default setting. I made the mistake of ordering this book before I'd gotten very far in Till Dawn Tames the Night, and now I'm swimming in a small sea of financial regret. While the setting is vastly different, I felt the same frustration with the characters and plot. Any professed love seemed forced; it's like McKinney just didn't know what to do with her characters unless they were at each other's throats.
Anywhats, I liked the idea of the plot hinging on a curse. I was all about the rational versus mystical internal conflict, but in the end there was just too much conflict. My god. The pattern was exhaustingly predictable:
1. Hero rails against the idea that he's fated to love heroine.
2. Hero acts like an asshole due to his Inner Pain and Turmoil.
3. Heroine is the recipient of his asshole nature while looking very saucy.
4. The hate builds.
5. Heroine is loyal to an old friend who's after her ladybits even though she doesn't even like him like that, okay? Gosh. Oh lawd, she wishes she loved him but she doesn't.
6. The hate builds.
7. Hero feels bitter and jealous. Continues to act like an asshole.
8. Heroine resents Hero's controlling behavior, but cannot help dem lustful urges.
9. A moment of passion is swiftly followed by buckets of hate. Hate buckets.
10. Heroine just wants to be independent, yo. Hero struggles to relinquish control.
11. Pain! Heartache! Betrayal! Oceans of hate and loathing!
12. Two pages of happiness.
So tedious. I adore old historical romances and I especially adore long ones, but this was completely unsatisfying in nearly every way. The only reason it earned two stars is because the writing isn't bad.
August 29, 2022
I enjoyed this angsty book, though not quite as much as I loved Lions and Lace. Ravenna got on my nerves a bit with her emotional immaturity and impulsiveness. Niall was stubborn to a fault, but I enjoyed him. This is a slow-burn 20 year age-gap novel that involves a curse and class disparity.
I enjoyed the setting and the backstory of the characters. I enjoyed Niall’s manipulations and the distance he went to maneuver Ravenna. I was entertained and I always enjoy McKinney’s writing style.
I enjoyed the setting and the backstory of the characters. I enjoyed Niall’s manipulations and the distance he went to maneuver Ravenna. I was entertained and I always enjoy McKinney’s writing style.
March 7, 2017
McKinney can certainly write well. And with this Irish historical romance, she serves up a very clever tale set against the background of the Irish potato famine and the lingering hostilities between the Irish and the English in Ireland. As with many Irish romances, there’s a bit of magic and mysticism involved. While there is no doubt McKinney can tell a good story, at times the heroine acted the wet noodle. Still, it held my interest and I can recommend it.
The story begins in 1828, as Lord Niall Trevallyan, a member of the Anglo-Irish Ascendancy, is about to turn 20, and four elders tell him about the geis, the price the Trevallyans paid for the land they took from the Irish hundreds of years ago. Each male Trevallyan, if not wed by his 20th birthday, must wed a commoner from County Lir, chosen by an ancient Celtic cross (acting like a compass). Importantly, the Trevallyan male must win the woman’s love.
Niall doesn’t believe the mythology, or that a curse will result if he doesn’t follow the instructions, but all the same, he follows the four men to a cottage the cross has led them to, where they find a baby girl named Ravenna. Niall refuses to accept the babe could be his future bride, and he vows to wed the first girl he falls in love with. He does and it ends in disaster.
When Ravenna is 13, she and Niall have an encounter that leaves her hating him. It is much the same for her when they meet again when he is 40 and she is 19. He thinks her beneath him and she wants love and respect, two things he will never give her. Each spurns the geis and then disaster begins to fall upon County Lir.
McKinney tells a good tale, but takes a risk when she makes the heroine weak and vulnerable in the face of the hero’s dishonorable schemes. Niall certainly appeared the cad. He looked down upon her bastardy and her common birth and only considered her when the geis began to take a toll. In the end, he comes to love her but it took quite a lot before I could believe it.
The story begins in 1828, as Lord Niall Trevallyan, a member of the Anglo-Irish Ascendancy, is about to turn 20, and four elders tell him about the geis, the price the Trevallyans paid for the land they took from the Irish hundreds of years ago. Each male Trevallyan, if not wed by his 20th birthday, must wed a commoner from County Lir, chosen by an ancient Celtic cross (acting like a compass). Importantly, the Trevallyan male must win the woman’s love.
Niall doesn’t believe the mythology, or that a curse will result if he doesn’t follow the instructions, but all the same, he follows the four men to a cottage the cross has led them to, where they find a baby girl named Ravenna. Niall refuses to accept the babe could be his future bride, and he vows to wed the first girl he falls in love with. He does and it ends in disaster.
When Ravenna is 13, she and Niall have an encounter that leaves her hating him. It is much the same for her when they meet again when he is 40 and she is 19. He thinks her beneath him and she wants love and respect, two things he will never give her. Each spurns the geis and then disaster begins to fall upon County Lir.
McKinney tells a good tale, but takes a risk when she makes the heroine weak and vulnerable in the face of the hero’s dishonorable schemes. Niall certainly appeared the cad. He looked down upon her bastardy and her common birth and only considered her when the geis began to take a toll. In the end, he comes to love her but it took quite a lot before I could believe it.
June 12, 2009
One of the few romances I've read that left me feeling like I had just read a reallove story.
December 18, 2012
This book was very silly. The hero was an idiot, the heroine was a nitwit and the plot was stupid. All I wanted was a good historical romance. This book is definitely not that.
The heroine behaves very foolishly, wandering about in her thin white shift, getting insulted by the hero but still warbling about how there was something about him.
The hero was pretty much the same, going on and on about how he should not love her but how she had a certain something which attracted him.
So yes, DID NOT LIKE!
The heroine behaves very foolishly, wandering about in her thin white shift, getting insulted by the hero but still warbling about how there was something about him.
The hero was pretty much the same, going on and on about how he should not love her but how she had a certain something which attracted him.
So yes, DID NOT LIKE!
November 19, 2009
I love this book, I read it a couple of years ago and still remember the line "Because I'm not here to die for her. I'm here just to die for the ground she walks upon." The age difference would usually bother me, 20 years, but the story couldn't be what it is without the age difference. Yeah, maybe 16 or 17 years, but whats another 3 or 4 if they are meant to be together.
I felt I could see exactly what the author was describing in each scene. Seemed kind of gothic to me with the castle never having much light, except for the bedchmber.
I felt I could see exactly what the author was describing in each scene. Seemed kind of gothic to me with the castle never having much light, except for the bedchmber.
July 21, 2015
First thing first' it's either you hate it or love ti and I LOooVE IT!, and i am not even done reading yet! at 69%.
One thing about me is that i read all the reviews on books iam interested in but i rarely write any myself. Too lazy, or better yet i'd rather read. But i think i am gonna start now
Anyways this is the kind of stories i live for.
It's not only about the plot it's an emotional rollercoaster. Meagan M knows how to write a story,really made me beleive in this love storry.
It' s hard to discribe the feeling you get when you've found a the kind of book you like to read. It's like finding your soulmate i guess. All i can say is that if felt the same way that i felt when i read witney my love, Paradise, knight in shining Armor, Perfect, eyes of silver eyes of Gold, beautiful bad man, Rememberance, lord of scoundrels, to have and to hold, and i am greatful to these authors.
One thing about me is that i read all the reviews on books iam interested in but i rarely write any myself. Too lazy, or better yet i'd rather read. But i think i am gonna start now
Anyways this is the kind of stories i live for.
It's not only about the plot it's an emotional rollercoaster. Meagan M knows how to write a story,really made me beleive in this love storry.
It' s hard to discribe the feeling you get when you've found a the kind of book you like to read. It's like finding your soulmate i guess. All i can say is that if felt the same way that i felt when i read witney my love, Paradise, knight in shining Armor, Perfect, eyes of silver eyes of Gold, beautiful bad man, Rememberance, lord of scoundrels, to have and to hold, and i am greatful to these authors.
February 21, 2017
5 Stars. Even added it to my favorites shelf. I don't know why, but I love McKinney. You will either love this book or hate it. There are so many things about it that I dislike ha, but some of my favorite books aren't perfect. God, there were parts I hated in Whitney, My Love, but it's one of my favorites of all time. For me, it's all about how the author makes me FEEL. MM took me on such a roller coaster ride of emotion with this one.
First, I'll start with what I disliked:
1. The beginning is so slow and kind of unnecessary. Well, it's overly detailed. I needed to know about the geis, but not in so many pages. If you like this author, get through it because it takes off and I couldn't put it down.
2. The age difference. It didn't bother me enough to ruin the book, but I wasn't super happy about it. Mostly because MM kept talking about it. I mean, it was necessary to the story to have a big age gap, but 20 years, really? Although, I guess, what's a few years? Still 20 and 36 sounds a lot better to me than 20 and 40 haha.
3. The ending. In typical MM fashion, it wraps up in like one page. However, the epilogue makes up for it in this book.
4. Ravenna's book that she wrote. C'mon. That would've never been published, even if a man wrote it. I actually ended up liking the story! It was just annoying at first and it's pretty silly.
5. I like MM's writing, but at times I felt it was a little repetitive. You'll see what I mean when you read it.
Ok, now for what I love about this book. The H/h will never go down as my favorite leads. They are flawed, like most of MM's leads that I've read. But they are very human and well developed. I adored Ravenna moreso in the first half of the book. I always relate to an outsider. She definitely acted like a 20 yr old at times, but she was 20. The second half of the book she was frustrating and quite frankly, a pain in the ass. I felt the same way about Niall. It was so tough to see him hit rock bottom, but I feel like we've all been there, or will be there at some point in our lives.
Some people won't love the magical aspect of this book, but I loved what it added to the story. To see two people thrown together because of a superstition. I think a lot of people struggle with the idea of fate. Are our lives pre-planned? Do we have a destiny? Or is life something you just make up as you go? I like to believe I was meant to be with my husband, that there is no one else out there that I'm meant to be with. However, what if I always knew I would end up with my husband? Would I try to fight it or give in? Niall knew about the geis and knew it was all superstition, but it ended up driving him mad and making it all real. Kind of a mind f*ck.
My thoughts right now all over the place. This book is very dark. I was getting to the end and, even though you know in these books they will end up together, I was actually worried they wouldn't get their HEA. Who doesn't love reading about two lonely people finding each other? It was just a long road to get there. Ravenna and Niall somehow had amazing chemistry, I loved the way they interacted and they had some pretty great scenes together. I do think MM took things a little too far. Niall became a little too mad and Ravenna was a little too crazy with her feelings. One second she loved him and then she hated him and then she loved him again. And her lightbulb moment wasn't good enough for me. I wasn't quite ready for them to be together and then bam, in one page they were. Ugh, I just wish I could tweak then ending. Thank god for the epilogue though.
First, I'll start with what I disliked:
1. The beginning is so slow and kind of unnecessary. Well, it's overly detailed. I needed to know about the geis, but not in so many pages. If you like this author, get through it because it takes off and I couldn't put it down.
2. The age difference. It didn't bother me enough to ruin the book, but I wasn't super happy about it. Mostly because MM kept talking about it. I mean, it was necessary to the story to have a big age gap, but 20 years, really? Although, I guess, what's a few years? Still 20 and 36 sounds a lot better to me than 20 and 40 haha.
3. The ending. In typical MM fashion, it wraps up in like one page. However, the epilogue makes up for it in this book.
4. Ravenna's book that she wrote. C'mon. That would've never been published, even if a man wrote it. I actually ended up liking the story! It was just annoying at first and it's pretty silly.
5. I like MM's writing, but at times I felt it was a little repetitive. You'll see what I mean when you read it.
Ok, now for what I love about this book. The H/h will never go down as my favorite leads. They are flawed, like most of MM's leads that I've read. But they are very human and well developed. I adored Ravenna moreso in the first half of the book. I always relate to an outsider. She definitely acted like a 20 yr old at times, but she was 20. The second half of the book she was frustrating and quite frankly, a pain in the ass. I felt the same way about Niall. It was so tough to see him hit rock bottom, but I feel like we've all been there, or will be there at some point in our lives.
Some people won't love the magical aspect of this book, but I loved what it added to the story. To see two people thrown together because of a superstition. I think a lot of people struggle with the idea of fate. Are our lives pre-planned? Do we have a destiny? Or is life something you just make up as you go? I like to believe I was meant to be with my husband, that there is no one else out there that I'm meant to be with. However, what if I always knew I would end up with my husband? Would I try to fight it or give in? Niall knew about the geis and knew it was all superstition, but it ended up driving him mad and making it all real. Kind of a mind f*ck.
My thoughts right now all over the place. This book is very dark. I was getting to the end and, even though you know in these books they will end up together, I was actually worried they wouldn't get their HEA. Who doesn't love reading about two lonely people finding each other? It was just a long road to get there. Ravenna and Niall somehow had amazing chemistry, I loved the way they interacted and they had some pretty great scenes together. I do think MM took things a little too far. Niall became a little too mad and Ravenna was a little too crazy with her feelings. One second she loved him and then she hated him and then she loved him again. And her lightbulb moment wasn't good enough for me. I wasn't quite ready for them to be together and then bam, in one page they were. Ugh, I just wish I could tweak then ending. Thank god for the epilogue though.
July 15, 2015
This is one of my Meagan McKinney reads in my youth. I must have read this after I read Lions and Lace. I have not decided whether I want to re-read it. I remember the story and my feelings toward it well enough.
I always believe, if an author can impress upon his/her readers that they recall a book, he/she has had some kind of a success. Meagan McKinney is such an author for me. It does not matter whether I love the story, I remember her stories with shocking details.
The Ground She Walks Upon is kind of an odd book. It has paranormal elements because the hero must marry someone fate chooses for him or misfortune would befall him (and the woman he married). In a rebellious act, he married someone who he knew was not "the chosen one". The unfortunate wife died. Hero was really pissed off and continued to harbor strong negative feelings toward the "curse".
"The chosen one" is a girl who was A LOT younger. I think he was in his 20s when she was born. The age difference does not bother me though. What bothers me is that she "acted" like a child. I can see why pepole have problems with the age difference but really I thought the problem was so much more about her childish behaviors. She wanted to be a "writer" so we readers had to suffer through her writing, which parelleled the book itself. It went on page after page and I was very annoyed with the girlish indignance and fantasies.
I did not mind the hero so much. Yeah he was not exactly awesome but in comparison to the girl he was a brooding, melancholic delight. The story centers on how they overcame their resistance to their "fate". Another very angsty story from Meagan McKinney, of which I think she does a fantastic job. I wish the heroine was not such a child. I know she was young but as I always say, if I wanted female hysteria, I wouldn't need to find it in a book.
The reason why I am not in such a hurry to re-read the book is that I did not feel they really wanted to be together. They both resented the "curse" and did everything they could to lash out at each other, to prove that they did not care about each other. I do not see why they would end up together other than some devine intervention. In the end the hero was literally brought down on his knees, begging for a chance.But why? I had to ask. What is so good about a brat whose writing was amateurish at best and acted like a hungry baby who did not get fed regularly?
I always believe, if an author can impress upon his/her readers that they recall a book, he/she has had some kind of a success. Meagan McKinney is such an author for me. It does not matter whether I love the story, I remember her stories with shocking details.
The Ground She Walks Upon is kind of an odd book. It has paranormal elements because the hero must marry someone fate chooses for him or misfortune would befall him (and the woman he married). In a rebellious act, he married someone who he knew was not "the chosen one". The unfortunate wife died. Hero was really pissed off and continued to harbor strong negative feelings toward the "curse".
"The chosen one" is a girl who was A LOT younger. I think he was in his 20s when she was born. The age difference does not bother me though. What bothers me is that she "acted" like a child. I can see why pepole have problems with the age difference but really I thought the problem was so much more about her childish behaviors. She wanted to be a "writer" so we readers had to suffer through her writing, which parelleled the book itself. It went on page after page and I was very annoyed with the girlish indignance and fantasies.
I did not mind the hero so much. Yeah he was not exactly awesome but in comparison to the girl he was a brooding, melancholic delight. The story centers on how they overcame their resistance to their "fate". Another very angsty story from Meagan McKinney, of which I think she does a fantastic job. I wish the heroine was not such a child. I know she was young but as I always say, if I wanted female hysteria, I wouldn't need to find it in a book.
The reason why I am not in such a hurry to re-read the book is that I did not feel they really wanted to be together. They both resented the "curse" and did everything they could to lash out at each other, to prove that they did not care about each other. I do not see why they would end up together other than some devine intervention. In the end the hero was literally brought down on his knees, begging for a chance.But why? I had to ask. What is so good about a brat whose writing was amateurish at best and acted like a hungry baby who did not get fed regularly?
January 7, 2015
I had enough. I give up, at roughly 70%.
I can't, I CAN'T. The mere sight of this book gives me the creeps. With all due respect to the author, this story is silly and stupid. The characters are inconsistent, changing their mood, characteristics and just generally everything at the frequency of an English weather.
The author had so many promising things to write about - more about history of the country at that time, about the struggle of a threatening famine, flashbacks to the families, gothic environment, an ancient curse other than "if you two don't marry bad things will happen". The story repeats itself in the same circles again and again and has the same pattern of "he looked at me angry and I was angry too, then he said something offensive and I took it personally but oh he is so pretty and I have a thing for him soI'm gonna give in but then he says something possessive and I don't want him anymore". I've grown pretty tired of this game.
Ravenna: stupid and naive and childish with a possible Stockholm syndrome, because who the hell gets locked up and abused and tormented and is still "oh, but something is so compelling about him" ????? The repeating phrase: "I don't know." SHE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING. That's her general answer to pretty much anything.
Niall: abusing, doesn't understand consent if it hit him in the face, passive-aggressive (more on the aggressive side) control freak idiot. The repeating phrase: "There was anger in his eyes." This one is always angry - God have mercy on his poor heart and blood pressure.
This is the story about two utterly dimwitted people who absolutely deserve each other. A toxic relationship that would probably end with a restraining order in real life, plus I hate any kind of violence in a relationship, or a budding one. I didn't care about the story, I didn't care about the characters and I don't care how it ends. Just bleh.
January 3, 2015
Dude. Get over yourself. Edited to add: Meagan McKinney is a talented writer. But when she does a Tortured Hero, stand back, because he's going to inflict payback-torture on some unfortunate female. If that's your cup of mead, hey, go for it. Too abusive for me.
September 26, 2021
So the hero kidnaps and imprisons the women he professes to love??? Really??? I can not take weak women in books from any era. She was cruel and she was stupid. What can I say??? Do not waste your time.
"I'm not here to die for her. I'm here just to die for the ground she walks upon." Wouldn't that just make your heart go pitter patter for this guy???? Not!!!
"I'm not here to die for her. I'm here just to die for the ground she walks upon." Wouldn't that just make your heart go pitter patter for this guy???? Not!!!
May 13, 2020
"I'm not here to die for her. I'm here just to die for the ground she walks upon."
Eu amei esse romance vintage -The Ground She Walks Upon-, a começar pelo título, o que vai ser esclarecido ao longo da leitura. Meagan Mackinney construiu uma história de amor bastante complexa, com protagonistas igualmente enigmáticos, com um toque mitológico, ambientado na Irlanda. Os destinos de Lorde Niall Trevallyn, senhor de Lir, e Ravenna (nomes espetaculares) se entrelaçam de modo sugestivo por uma maldição celta milenar (geis), uma espécie de vínculo antigo, ou código de honra, ou ritual que deve ser realizado. Nesse passo, todos os homens de Trevallyn têm um “geis”, o preço pago pelos antepassados pela posse da terra feudal. Cabe a Trevallyn conquistar o amor da mulher revelada, unir as três partes do anel de gimmel, sob pena de perecer, assim como Lir. Aos 19 anos ele não acredita em tais circunstâncias e nega qualquer vínculo com Ravenna, recém-nascida na ocasião (os anciãos e integrantes de um Conselho antigo revelam que Ravenna é a mulher do destino de Niall, por indicação da cruz de prata, um artefato antigo). Vinte anos se passam, Ravenna e Trevallyn voltam a se encontrar, dessa vez ela é uma mulher formada e linda, ao mesmo tempo em que ignora a proteção e intervenção do senhor de Lir durante toda a sua vida. A relação entre Ravenna e Niell é construída aos poucos – slow burn -, porém bastante tempestuosa e cheia de paixão, um misto de amor e ódio, intriga, e muitos mal-entendidos. Ravenna tem um espírito forte, orgulhoso, sonha em ser escritora e conhecer as suas origens paternas, porém é bastante teimosa, temperamental, e em alguns momentos ingênua e irritante – sim, ela me aborreceu em vários momentos. Niell é dominante, um homem maduro (com o dobro da idade da heroína), igualmente orgulhoso, e está determinado a subjugar o espírito livre de Ravenna. Esse blonde guy é espetacular, mas também comete erros absurdos ao submeter a heroína a um sofrimento desnecessário por ciúmes e possessividade. De qualquer forma, acompanhar esse homem poderoso literalmente de joelhos ante os seus sentimentos por Ravenna foi para mim uma experiência agridoce, para dizer o mínimo. Enfim, um romance mais sensual do que romântico, mas agressivo do que sensível, cujos envolvidos sofrem em demasia porque não querem aceitar seus sentimentos, todavia é mágico e original , e me cativou do início ao fim. Mais um para a lista de livros queridos de sempre.
Eu amei esse romance vintage -The Ground She Walks Upon-, a começar pelo título, o que vai ser esclarecido ao longo da leitura. Meagan Mackinney construiu uma história de amor bastante complexa, com protagonistas igualmente enigmáticos, com um toque mitológico, ambientado na Irlanda. Os destinos de Lorde Niall Trevallyn, senhor de Lir, e Ravenna (nomes espetaculares) se entrelaçam de modo sugestivo por uma maldição celta milenar (geis), uma espécie de vínculo antigo, ou código de honra, ou ritual que deve ser realizado. Nesse passo, todos os homens de Trevallyn têm um “geis”, o preço pago pelos antepassados pela posse da terra feudal. Cabe a Trevallyn conquistar o amor da mulher revelada, unir as três partes do anel de gimmel, sob pena de perecer, assim como Lir. Aos 19 anos ele não acredita em tais circunstâncias e nega qualquer vínculo com Ravenna, recém-nascida na ocasião (os anciãos e integrantes de um Conselho antigo revelam que Ravenna é a mulher do destino de Niall, por indicação da cruz de prata, um artefato antigo). Vinte anos se passam, Ravenna e Trevallyn voltam a se encontrar, dessa vez ela é uma mulher formada e linda, ao mesmo tempo em que ignora a proteção e intervenção do senhor de Lir durante toda a sua vida. A relação entre Ravenna e Niell é construída aos poucos – slow burn -, porém bastante tempestuosa e cheia de paixão, um misto de amor e ódio, intriga, e muitos mal-entendidos. Ravenna tem um espírito forte, orgulhoso, sonha em ser escritora e conhecer as suas origens paternas, porém é bastante teimosa, temperamental, e em alguns momentos ingênua e irritante – sim, ela me aborreceu em vários momentos. Niell é dominante, um homem maduro (com o dobro da idade da heroína), igualmente orgulhoso, e está determinado a subjugar o espírito livre de Ravenna. Esse blonde guy é espetacular, mas também comete erros absurdos ao submeter a heroína a um sofrimento desnecessário por ciúmes e possessividade. De qualquer forma, acompanhar esse homem poderoso literalmente de joelhos ante os seus sentimentos por Ravenna foi para mim uma experiência agridoce, para dizer o mínimo. Enfim, um romance mais sensual do que romântico, mas agressivo do que sensível, cujos envolvidos sofrem em demasia porque não querem aceitar seus sentimentos, todavia é mágico e original , e me cativou do início ao fim. Mais um para a lista de livros queridos de sempre.
December 1, 2016
Bit of an odd book. I'd probably give it 2.5 stars if I could. I got it on an ebook sale and decided a historical romance seemed fun. It started off very slow - lots of building up the past which was slightly unnecessary to me. I guess it was supposed to add tension but I didn't feel it.
I alternated between hating the characters and tolerating them. They do a lot of stupid ridiculous things beyond even most historical romances. =) There are definitely some questionable moments where I couldn't believe they were actually doing what they were doing. No one can be that stupid right? Wrong. =) The hero is mad a lot and a huge asshole. The heroine is childish and ridiculous. Yet there's something that makes them love each other... But all in all, once I got into the story, it was well-paced and kept me mostly entertained.
It's a historical romance so the plot is what it is. I did think the premise of the story was intriguing and a lot more could have been done with it if they weren't so busy being mad and ridiculous and locking people away. There's a curse on the Trevallyan bloodline, and because they're English usurpers in Ireland, they are destined to marry low-born Irish women. There's a ring that's supposed to bring them together but the curse is only lifted (until the next Trevallyan comes along) if the woman falls in love with the man. It really ends up having a lot less to do with the story than I could have hoped for and I probably picked this book up since I was just in Ireland this summer so the setting/history aspect appealed to me. Too bad it wasn't used more.
Overall, it's not a bad book just a bit of an eyeroller. There are some good romance moments but I was just never that enthused about the chemistry between the two.
I alternated between hating the characters and tolerating them. They do a lot of stupid ridiculous things beyond even most historical romances. =) There are definitely some questionable moments where I couldn't believe they were actually doing what they were doing. No one can be that stupid right? Wrong. =) The hero is mad a lot and a huge asshole. The heroine is childish and ridiculous. Yet there's something that makes them love each other... But all in all, once I got into the story, it was well-paced and kept me mostly entertained.
It's a historical romance so the plot is what it is. I did think the premise of the story was intriguing and a lot more could have been done with it if they weren't so busy being mad and ridiculous and locking people away. There's a curse on the Trevallyan bloodline, and because they're English usurpers in Ireland, they are destined to marry low-born Irish women. There's a ring that's supposed to bring them together but the curse is only lifted (until the next Trevallyan comes along) if the woman falls in love with the man. It really ends up having a lot less to do with the story than I could have hoped for and I probably picked this book up since I was just in Ireland this summer so the setting/history aspect appealed to me. Too bad it wasn't used more.
Overall, it's not a bad book just a bit of an eyeroller. There are some good romance moments but I was just never that enthused about the chemistry between the two.
November 30, 2011
409 pages. The story could be told in a lot less.
I thought it was an interesting concept. There is a curse on the Trevallyan family, and the males must marry the right woman or their lands and people will suffer, as well as the Trevallyan family themselves.
Niall Trevallyan has the curse (which is called a geis in the Gaelic) explained to him on his twentieth birthday. As it turns out, his chosen or meant-to-be-bride has just been born a few days before. Not wanting to wait until nearly 40 to have a wife and family, he ignores the warnings and marries. His wife dies, along with her unborn child.
Most of the action takes place when the infant girl Ravenna reaches adulthood.
I wasn't sold on their love for each other; they took turns wounding each other too much; the paranormal/witchcraft/magic aspect I was hoping for didn't develop.
Can't really recommend it to others. A series I could recommend with a similar concept is Susan Carroll's Bride Finder books. Those were great.
I thought it was an interesting concept. There is a curse on the Trevallyan family, and the males must marry the right woman or their lands and people will suffer, as well as the Trevallyan family themselves.
Niall Trevallyan has the curse (which is called a geis in the Gaelic) explained to him on his twentieth birthday. As it turns out, his chosen or meant-to-be-bride has just been born a few days before. Not wanting to wait until nearly 40 to have a wife and family, he ignores the warnings and marries. His wife dies, along with her unborn child.
Most of the action takes place when the infant girl Ravenna reaches adulthood.
I wasn't sold on their love for each other; they took turns wounding each other too much; the paranormal/witchcraft/magic aspect I was hoping for didn't develop.
Can't really recommend it to others. A series I could recommend with a similar concept is Susan Carroll's Bride Finder books. Those were great.
December 30, 2014
I read the Ground She Walks Upon when I was in the height of my “Irish fascination” phase and it made me pine for months. I found the story to be beautifully done, and I am surprised at some of the negative reviews here, guess this one just effects me differently. Anyway, this is one of Meagan McKinney’s best and shows how original, moving and intelligent her style of writing can be. This is not your typical bodice ripper - the road to romance for her main characters is long and winding and filled with many bittersweet moments (like in some of her other books). The juicy bits only come after many dues have been paid, and by the end, you feel as if you have been through the ringer with Ravenna and Niall. While the heroine and hero are tortured (and in some ways end up torturing each other), it’s still believable that they would not just fall in love but form an almost ethereal bond.
May 20, 2019
Mnohých prekvapí, že i ja občas sadnem k tomuto druhu literatúry.
V podstate mám asi 5 kníh tohto typu, ktoré čítam stále dookola - sú
dobre napísané a majú prežiteľný dej.
Keď už si vyberám knihu tohto typu, tak väšinou si vyberám nejakú s historickým kontextom.
Takže tak - pár slov na úvod a teraz ku knihe samotnej.
Na knihe je zaujímavé to, že okrem hlavného deja v nej prebieha aj iný dej a to konkrétne dej knihy, ktorú píše jedna z hlavných postáv.
Čo sa týka deja, tak klasika - dvaja milenci, budú/nebudú spolu, milión prekážok a intríg, ale na konci sa všetko k dobrému obráti. Do toho trošku keltskej mystiky, írov vs. angličanov a je z toho počteníčko na oddych. ;)
Zhodnodila by som túto knihu ako solídnu historickú romacu. (I keď je pravda, že nie je jedna z najlepších, ktoré pani autorka napísala.)
V podstate mám asi 5 kníh tohto typu, ktoré čítam stále dookola - sú
dobre napísané a majú prežiteľný dej.
Keď už si vyberám knihu tohto typu, tak väšinou si vyberám nejakú s historickým kontextom.
Takže tak - pár slov na úvod a teraz ku knihe samotnej.
Na knihe je zaujímavé to, že okrem hlavného deja v nej prebieha aj iný dej a to konkrétne dej knihy, ktorú píše jedna z hlavných postáv.
Čo sa týka deja, tak klasika - dvaja milenci, budú/nebudú spolu, milión prekážok a intríg, ale na konci sa všetko k dobrému obráti. Do toho trošku keltskej mystiky, írov vs. angličanov a je z toho počteníčko na oddych. ;)
Zhodnodila by som túto knihu ako solídnu historickú romacu. (I keď je pravda, že nie je jedna z najlepších, ktoré pani autorka napísala.)
September 21, 2011
This was a 5 star book when I read it for the first time 10 plus years ago, but I couldn't even finish it when I attempted to reread it recently.
The book drags on endlessly. The hero and the heroine don't really interact until 100+ pages into the story, and even then nothing really happens...
Heroine is hauntingly beautiful and the hero is 20 years older than her. The usual un-PC bodice ripper with a forced seduction scenes and all...
The book drags on endlessly. The hero and the heroine don't really interact until 100+ pages into the story, and even then nothing really happens...
Heroine is hauntingly beautiful and the hero is 20 years older than her. The usual un-PC bodice ripper with a forced seduction scenes and all...
November 13, 2012
Disappointing read. I loved the start of the book with the irish folkfore and possibilities of magic and prophecies. Sadly, the book went down hill quickly, with a forced romance that I didn't care about.
March 19, 2009
This was a Re-Read for me, I think I had read it once in 2005?? Anyway, it is an odd story line that always left me in a good place, and somewhat intrigued. Still does.
July 7, 2011
Meagan McKinney has clearly outdone herself with this book. An incredibly well written and original!!
Read
May 31, 2016I'm going to put this away for now. It's starting slow...oh so slow...
August 2, 2017
A lot of femenist stupidity, combined with utter ignorance of the Irish as a race and their history. Yuck. Shudder. Oh, on top of that, lots of immorality.
April 28, 2019
This is a unique tale of an Irish curse put upon the family of Trevallyn. As Englishmen, they took over Irish lands and a curse was placed on the males of the family who did not marry before the age of 20. Lord Trevallyn was destined to marry the woman chosen by a Druid cross. When the cross chose a newborn child to marry the 20-year-old Trevallyn, he refused to believe such a horrible choice. Instead, he defied the curse and married a woman he did not love.
Tragedy ensued; the woman (who was bearing another man's child) and the baby died in childbirth. Trevallyn became engaged to three other women but the padre would not let Trevallyn marry them because he did not love him. Trevallyn continued to doubt the curse but he was told that the trouble would come when Raveena became a woman. This is a very involved tale that is hard to synthesize into a few paragraphs. Trust me, when the reader becomes engaged in the book, it is hard to set aside.
One thing I really did not like about the book was the tale that Raveena was writing throughout the story. It broke up the symmetry and flow of the story. I found that it did not increase my enjoyment of the story, in fact, I found it irritating.
Tragedy ensued; the woman (who was bearing another man's child) and the baby died in childbirth. Trevallyn became engaged to three other women but the padre would not let Trevallyn marry them because he did not love him. Trevallyn continued to doubt the curse but he was told that the trouble would come when Raveena became a woman. This is a very involved tale that is hard to synthesize into a few paragraphs. Trust me, when the reader becomes engaged in the book, it is hard to set aside.
One thing I really did not like about the book was the tale that Raveena was writing throughout the story. It broke up the symmetry and flow of the story. I found that it did not increase my enjoyment of the story, in fact, I found it irritating.
May 1, 2021
Did not go into this book with high expectations. It was another left by my friend and house mate. Her tastes are different to mine.
As I read more of this though, the more I got sucked in. This is the first time, in a long time, I have stayed up into the early hours of the morning, desperate to finish a book so I don't have to hold off the anticipation in an attempt to sleep.
I enjoyed it a lot, and just took it for what is is. And enjoyed every minute of the reading experience.
Don't read too deep, just read this for the emotional rollercoaster.
As I read more of this though, the more I got sucked in. This is the first time, in a long time, I have stayed up into the early hours of the morning, desperate to finish a book so I don't have to hold off the anticipation in an attempt to sleep.
I enjoyed it a lot, and just took it for what is is. And enjoyed every minute of the reading experience.
Don't read too deep, just read this for the emotional rollercoaster.
October 9, 2023
4 stars
McKinney certainly knows how to tell a story. This is my second and I see similarities between the two. The first I gave five stars but this book was not as compelling, hence four stars. She pulls you in and you feel all the highs and lows of the characters as if you were one of them. The MCs were in conflict for 95% of the book and she could have cut out about 20% without taking anything away.
Be warned, the ending is extremely abrupt and no epilogue.
Does she always end her books so abruptly?
McKinney certainly knows how to tell a story. This is my second and I see similarities between the two. The first I gave five stars but this book was not as compelling, hence four stars. She pulls you in and you feel all the highs and lows of the characters as if you were one of them. The MCs were in conflict for 95% of the book and she could have cut out about 20% without taking anything away.
Be warned, the ending is extremely abrupt and no epilogue.
Does she always end her books so abruptly?
December 26, 2017
The book had potential but fell flat due to the unnecessary details, the waffling of the heroine, and the constant melodramatic, angst with no real reason. The hero is all “I love you and must keep you locked up”, and the heroine is like “oh but I won’t know if I love you as long as I’m locked up”. 😒
Anyway, I really enjoyed the heroine’s story, as in the one that she wrote about Skyla and Prince Aidan.
A story within a story, isn’t that something to look forward to?
Anyway, I really enjoyed the heroine’s story, as in the one that she wrote about Skyla and Prince Aidan.
A story within a story, isn’t that something to look forward to?
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