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The Border Lord's Bride
(The Border Chronicles #2)
by
The Border Chronicles, continues with this tale of a woman rescued, a man enraptured, and a love unanticipated by fate....
Duncan Armstrong, laird of Duffdour, has sworn not to wed unless it is to a lass he truly loves. But when he needs a favor from King James, Duncan never expects what he's forced to pay in return: the taking of a bride neither loves nor desires.
When High ...more
Duncan Armstrong, laird of Duffdour, has sworn not to wed unless it is to a lass he truly loves. But when he needs a favor from King James, Duncan never expects what he's forced to pay in return: the taking of a bride neither loves nor desires.
When High ...more
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Paperback, 416 pages
Published
October 2nd 2007
by NAL
(first published January 1st 2007)
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Showing 1-30
Start your review of The Border Lord's Bride (The Border Chronicles, #2)
3.75 stars!
A Rich Historical Scottish Bodice Ripper
While the book started a bit slow and contains more historical information and food descriptions than some might think necessary (though one meal description had my mouth watering), once I got into this romance, I found it addictive. Her writing style is unique, full of detailed descriptions of events, some repeated in various conversations and a fair amount of "head hopping" (giving many different perspectives and some in only a few lines). But here's the ...more
While the book started a bit slow and contains more historical information and food descriptions than some might think necessary (though one meal description had my mouth watering), once I got into this romance, I found it addictive. Her writing style is unique, full of detailed descriptions of events, some repeated in various conversations and a fair amount of "head hopping" (giving many different perspectives and some in only a few lines). But here's the ...more
I now know why I stopped reading romance novels. The characters repeated themselves so much that I became bored, and skimmed through a lot of this book. If you explained it to your sister in law, you don't have to explain it to your husband, the priest who rescues you, the king, the little girl who lives down the lane, and her mother. sheesh. It felt like the author was just trying to make a bigger book.
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This is really not a romance. This is a book of history, which I enjoyed, but it was extremely repetitive. The "romance" was more like disconnected sex scenes, and I didn't like that. There was a point that I was going to quit reading this book, but I did push on through the end. Spoiler alert: Ellen did not get raped. If someone's review had said she was raped, I would have definitely quit reading it.
Okay, I already said that I enjoyed the history in the book. Sometimes it was awkward, like it ...more
Okay, I already said that I enjoyed the history in the book. Sometimes it was awkward, like it ...more
By and1515
Ellen, was considered to be a bonnie lass and was dearly loved by her grandfather.
She had a good life and was well content with the groom whom her grandfather personally selected for her.
However when distant relations descended on their beloved home with their arrogant options that one of them would make a better match then an outsider.
But her grandfather wouldn't change his mind he thought them bullies and thrash who didn't deserve his treasure and insisted they leave his home.
Ellen k ...more
Ellen, was considered to be a bonnie lass and was dearly loved by her grandfather.
She had a good life and was well content with the groom whom her grandfather personally selected for her.
However when distant relations descended on their beloved home with their arrogant options that one of them would make a better match then an outsider.
But her grandfather wouldn't change his mind he thought them bullies and thrash who didn't deserve his treasure and insisted they leave his home.
Ellen k ...more
I'll preface by saying that I love everything Bertrice Small writes whether contemporary or historical!
In this book, we follow the life of Duncan and Ellen. Duncan took a vow to himself to never marry again after his awful first marriage. However he needs a favor from the King and Ellen, an heiress, has begged the King for help. His proposal to solve both issues: marry the two! Hence begins a story of their life together along with the danger, betrayal and love that they will find.
This is one o ...more
In this book, we follow the life of Duncan and Ellen. Duncan took a vow to himself to never marry again after his awful first marriage. However he needs a favor from the King and Ellen, an heiress, has begged the King for help. His proposal to solve both issues: marry the two! Hence begins a story of their life together along with the danger, betrayal and love that they will find.
This is one o ...more
The Border Lord's Bride
Acting like two cats with sore tails, Scotland and England must battle all along their border. The Border lairds and their families must always answer to their King and fight to keep what little they have. Marriagable women are few and far between, so when your King gives you one of his wards hand in marriage, you take it. Sometimes love comes sometimes it's to a cruel master they go. Luckily Ellen was given to Duncan Armstrong a laird that grew to love her furiously.
S ...more
Acting like two cats with sore tails, Scotland and England must battle all along their border. The Border lairds and their families must always answer to their King and fight to keep what little they have. Marriagable women are few and far between, so when your King gives you one of his wards hand in marriage, you take it. Sometimes love comes sometimes it's to a cruel master they go. Luckily Ellen was given to Duncan Armstrong a laird that grew to love her furiously.
S ...more
Long read
I got to a certain point when the main two characters Ellen and Duncan get married, and felt like it was close to being over, but in fact I was barely through half of the book. Almost all the conflict happened after the couple was wed which is pretty much the opposite of the rest of the books I read. Because of this, the story just seemed liked it would never end. And when it did end, it wasn’t an entirely satisfying ending, which is due in part to the style of writing.
I got to a certain point when the main two characters Ellen and Duncan get married, and felt like it was close to being over, but in fact I was barely through half of the book. Almost all the conflict happened after the couple was wed which is pretty much the opposite of the rest of the books I read. Because of this, the story just seemed liked it would never end. And when it did end, it wasn’t an entirely satisfying ending, which is due in part to the style of writing.
The book was very redundant. We get it, your the unimportant wife of an unimportant border laird. I also felt as if there was TOO MUCH in the way of history. It felt as it the author was trying to convey to her readers just how much she knew about Scotland and England's history and it seemed as if she droned on about it to fill pages. It didn't feel like a romance novel, it felt like a history lesson. All the history, I feel, took away from the story.
...more
An old-fashioned bodice ripper. The heroine is sexually assaulted in the first 10% of the book - which can’t be a spoiler. It’s simply not to my taste.
To be fair, the author knows her history and the details of life at the time (enough to impress an amateur historian). I almost kept reading for that.
To be fair, the author knows her history and the details of life at the time (enough to impress an amateur historian). I almost kept reading for that.
Enjoyable!
Not one
to disappoint, Beatrice Small has produced yet another page turner. I love reading her romance stories and escaping the daily worries for just a little while. I am a sucker and not afraid to admit it.
Not one
to disappoint, Beatrice Small has produced yet another page turner. I love reading her romance stories and escaping the daily worries for just a little while. I am a sucker and not afraid to admit it.
I'm liking this series about medieval life in Scotland. Though, at times the prose is a bit overdone, overall the books are enjoyable.
...more
Another great book.
I enjoy BertriceSmall's books - some more than others. This series is one that I have really enjoyed. In my opinion it is better than some of her others. ...more
I enjoy BertriceSmall's books - some more than others. This series is one that I have really enjoyed. In my opinion it is better than some of her others. ...more
Another great book
Best historical fiction . Another great read by Beatrice Small, she weaves a great tale between truth and fiction, end
Best historical fiction . Another great read by Beatrice Small, she weaves a great tale between truth and fiction, end
Good, but lengthy and too heavily focused on the small details that frustratingly kept adding to the plot.
I'll preface by saying that I love everything Bertrice Small writes whether contemporary or historical!
In this book, we follow the life of Duncan and Ellen. Duncan took a vow to himself to never marry again after his awful first marriage. However he needs a favor from the King and Ellen, an heiress, has begged the King for help. His proposal to solve both issues: marry the two! Hence begins a story of their life together along with the danger, betrayal and love that they will find.
This is one o ...more
In this book, we follow the life of Duncan and Ellen. Duncan took a vow to himself to never marry again after his awful first marriage. However he needs a favor from the King and Ellen, an heiress, has begged the King for help. His proposal to solve both issues: marry the two! Hence begins a story of their life together along with the danger, betrayal and love that they will find.
This is one o ...more
I liked the first book a little better than the second in this series. I found the heroine to be very likable, and I actually liked her husband a bit better than the hero of the first book. The question that kept going through my mind throughout the book was, "Were men SUCH slimy pigs back then?" Men these days seem sort of tame compared the men in the book. They are like animals, and view women as wenches or whores. It was rather shocking. The bedroom scenes just got ridiculous; there were so m
...more
I just finished this book and I am writing with mixed emotions. For some reason I thoroughly enjoy reading about the Highlands. This was a new author for me so I was cautious but I enjoyed the plot pretty quickly. Yet, I got to the point where I was kind of surprised the book was still going. I really like a good love story with strong characters who face difficulties together before and during marriage, but I felt that what I enjoyed was skimmed over and the author spent more time on things suc
...more
This novel is set during the time of King James IV of Scotland and his infamous war with King Henry over the "Pretender" Richard, Duke of York. The story is actually told from the point of view of the border lord Duncan and his fiery Highland wife Ellen who endure the horrors of living on the England/Scotland border. Although I enjoyed learning about the history, parts of the story were repeated (when Ellen retells her story of killing Balgair to every person in the king's castle, the story is a
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ok, This is another book with a great story line, witty charaters and a bit of daring. The characters in this book have an instsant attraction and their love was put to the test. As we know with all stories that have a decleration of love in the beginning they will be seperated and their love put through the test. I've read all kinds of stories and beatrice small went for the original story base.
I like this book but it is not an all time favorite. ...more
I like this book but it is not an all time favorite. ...more
This one fell flat for me and I didn't find it nearly as interesting or entertaining as other Bertrice Small novels, or even the first in this series (A Dangerous Love). Ellen is a thoroughly unremarkable heroine and was even annoying at times with her bland, ever-practical nature. Ho-hum. The 'hero', Duncan, was as cardboard as Ellen... and hardly heroic. Small usually writes dynamic characters but these had no spark. I hope the third in the series has more life than this one.
...more
I loved the romance aspect of this story but the end gets bogged down in historical politics and the romance gets lost. Sometimes it seems the heroine over shadows her husband and it would have been nice if they were equal in presentation. Just my humble opinion. Bertrice Small is still one of my favorite authors!
This was my first Beatrice Small book that I picked up at the library on a whim. It was good, but not great. After looking up a few other reviews I feel like I am not the only one who felt this way. Ellen was good character but a bit on the boring side. I thought the same of Duncan, sorry to say I felt like I would have rather read a book about King James then these two.
Love the story. Love the series.
Found this book at a used book store and hadn't realized I also bought the first one in the series until I was finished.
I really enjoyed it and it made sense without having to the first book in the series (which was nice).
Made me look for the other books in the series. ...more
Found this book at a used book store and hadn't realized I also bought the first one in the series until I was finished.
I really enjoyed it and it made sense without having to the first book in the series (which was nice).
Made me look for the other books in the series. ...more
I used to love Bertrice Smalls' books. Were the early ones as bad as this one? I'm going to have to find one and re-read it, I guess. This one was a lot like reading a comic book...the characters were so one dimensional and shallow. I was disappointed.
...more
I really liked this book. Good honest characters with depth. Some of the same folks from the first book and new ones too. Good story if you like love stories and some historical fiction thrown in (of course that means, battles, murder, kidnapping, etc).
While I find I love Ms. Small's ability to weave history into a riveting story, I just can't get past the excessive use of vulgar terms and sex. She doesn't need it and it takes away from both the story and her talent. Without it her "Border" books would be 4 to 5 star.
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The story itself was a bit lengthy with all the "stories" being repeated through out the book and it fell flat for me. Ellen is quite unremarkable and even annoyingly bland. And then Duncan, the "hero", was really not an interesting character... Hope the third one is better...
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Ah!! I'm so happy I read about this book. I'll be honest" since my favorite character is Adair I spent most of the time eagerly waiting for Adair to come up. It's nice to read about Duncan finding his true love since his younger half-brother already has.
...more
A tad long and some of the conflict seemed forced. The heroine was okay not the best female leads that I've read but definitely not the worst.
The hero wasn't the best but was a good male lead. Strong beginning, okay middle, and alright ending.
All in all this book was an okay read. ...more
The hero wasn't the best but was a good male lead. Strong beginning, okay middle, and alright ending.
All in all this book was an okay read. ...more
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Bertrice Williams was born on December 9, 1937 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, the daughter of Doris S. and David R. Williams, both broadcasters. She studied at Attended Western College for Women and Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School. On October 5, 1963, she married George Sumner Small, a photographer and designer with a History Major at Princeton. They had a son Thomas David. She liv
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The Border Chronicles
(6 books)
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