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Marriage Under Siege
With staunchly opposed political views, the new Lord and Lady Mansell are not seeking love during a time of civil war. But, with riots in the surrounding countryside, Honoria must appear loyal to Francis's Parliamentarian cause - especially when their castle is held under siege by Royalist forces! Yet, amid the cannon-fire and devastation around them, passion is blazing between Honoria and her husband . . .
347 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Anne O'Brien
69 books788 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
My home is in the Welsh Marches, although much of my early life was spent in Yorkshire, most recently in the East Riding.Ann O'Brien The Marches is a remote region of England, surrounded by echoes from the past. Hereford is close with its famous Mappa Mundi and chained library.So is Shrewsbury, and also Ludlow with its splendid castle and its connections with our Plantagenet and Tudor kings. With my husband, I live in an eighteenth century timber framed cottage, which itself must have seen much history over two hundred years.
I have always enjoyed the appeal of History.I taught the subject with enthusiasm but it became my ambition to write historical romances. My first novel, The Runaway Heiress, was published by Mills and Boon in 2004.
This first book was a Regency Romance in the great tradition of Georgette Heyer - who has not admired her skill and delicate touch for the period? I have drawn on my interest in the Stuart century to write about the English Civil War and Restoration England of Charles II. Living in the Marches however I soon discovered the wealth of atmosphere and legend in this isolated part of England from medieval times. It was not long before I was encouraged to create a medieval romance inConquering Knight, Captive Lady.
When not writing, I have a large rambling garden where George and I grow organic vegetables and soft fruit - or perhaps I should admit that he grows them whilst I pick and cook them. We have a wild garden, an orchard, a formal pond and herbaceous flower borders. We share it all with rabbits and pheasants, frogs and goldfinches, hedgehogs and buzzards. It is a beautiful place. When we first settled into our cottage I planted a herb garden on a Tudor pattern with stone pathways and clipped box hedges. From this I developed my interest in herbs and their uses.
Nicholas Culpeper's The Complete Herbal, a fascinating resource to a historical novelist first published in 1649, has become essential bedside reading. As a result the use of herbs in medicine and witchcraft, for both good and ill, has appeared in some of my novels.
For pure relaxation I enjoy yoga as well as singing with a local Choral Society. Watercolour painting allows me to simply sit and appreciate the landscape and the flowers in my garden, when my mind is busy constructing my next plot.
My home is in the Welsh Marches, although much of my early life was spent in Yorkshire, most recently in the East Riding.Ann O'Brien The Marches is a remote region of England, surrounded by echoes from the past. Hereford is close with its famous Mappa Mundi and chained library.So is Shrewsbury, and also Ludlow with its splendid castle and its connections with our Plantagenet and Tudor kings. With my husband, I live in an eighteenth century timber framed cottage, which itself must have seen much history over two hundred years.
I have always enjoyed the appeal of History.I taught the subject with enthusiasm but it became my ambition to write historical romances. My first novel, The Runaway Heiress, was published by Mills and Boon in 2004.
This first book was a Regency Romance in the great tradition of Georgette Heyer - who has not admired her skill and delicate touch for the period? I have drawn on my interest in the Stuart century to write about the English Civil War and Restoration England of Charles II. Living in the Marches however I soon discovered the wealth of atmosphere and legend in this isolated part of England from medieval times. It was not long before I was encouraged to create a medieval romance inConquering Knight, Captive Lady.
When not writing, I have a large rambling garden where George and I grow organic vegetables and soft fruit - or perhaps I should admit that he grows them whilst I pick and cook them. We have a wild garden, an orchard, a formal pond and herbaceous flower borders. We share it all with rabbits and pheasants, frogs and goldfinches, hedgehogs and buzzards. It is a beautiful place. When we first settled into our cottage I planted a herb garden on a Tudor pattern with stone pathways and clipped box hedges. From this I developed my interest in herbs and their uses.
Nicholas Culpeper's The Complete Herbal, a fascinating resource to a historical novelist first published in 1649, has become essential bedside reading. As a result the use of herbs in medicine and witchcraft, for both good and ill, has appeared in some of my novels.
For pure relaxation I enjoy yoga as well as singing with a local Choral Society. Watercolour painting allows me to simply sit and appreciate the landscape and the flowers in my garden, when my mind is busy constructing my next plot.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 7, 2021
In a nutshell, 95% romance*, 5% history. *And by romance I mean tantrums, fawning, stupid arguments, swooning over apparent virility, bad decisions, poor communication, and some very eye roll inducing "love making".
The first bad decision was that of the heroine in agreeing to marry the hero. Let me level with you here - Honoria could either:
1) Leave the home and memories of her revolting dead husband behind to live in a country manor which she adores, also keeping ownership of a London townhouse, and enjoy the freedom of being a young and wealthy widow.
2) Marry some guy she liked the look of a few years ago, because he looks virile, even though - wait for it - she is completely convinced that sex is horrific. Bear in mind that they have only been reacquainted for a few days, are entirely politically opposed and she would be putting herself in significant danger by aligning herself with someone who does not support the king. Also that she believes he could never love her and is just marrying her out of pity (instead of for her money as I suspect).
Does she run away screaming? Kick him to the curb? Politely say "thanks but no thanks"? Of course not. Because this is, first and foremost, a romance novel. When I've read O'Brien before, I've had plenty of history with enough romance to entertain; engaging and easy-to-read HF. The history centred the story and that doesn't happen here. I wanted to look at why one protagonist might favour parliament or the king. The politics. I wanted Honoria to debate whether loyalty to king or husband was more important. I enjoyed some of her tactics but I was disappointed by her blind loyalty to her distrusting husband.
I also disliked the omniscient narration. We don't need the inner thoughts of secondary characters spoon fed to us. It's quite enough hearing the protagonists' thoughts, limited as they are to misery and fawning. The only real shining lights were the dogs (awwwww) and the connections to some of the minor characters which were fascinating.
I'm sad that O'Brien focused so heavily on romance here. I've enjoyed her other books but I can't, in truth, say I enjoyed this one.
The first bad decision was that of the heroine in agreeing to marry the hero. Let me level with you here - Honoria could either:
1) Leave the home and memories of her revolting dead husband behind to live in a country manor which she adores, also keeping ownership of a London townhouse, and enjoy the freedom of being a young and wealthy widow.
2) Marry some guy she liked the look of a few years ago, because he looks virile, even though - wait for it - she is completely convinced that sex is horrific. Bear in mind that they have only been reacquainted for a few days, are entirely politically opposed and she would be putting herself in significant danger by aligning herself with someone who does not support the king. Also that she believes he could never love her and is just marrying her out of pity (instead of for her money as I suspect).
Does she run away screaming? Kick him to the curb? Politely say "thanks but no thanks"? Of course not. Because this is, first and foremost, a romance novel. When I've read O'Brien before, I've had plenty of history with enough romance to entertain; engaging and easy-to-read HF. The history centred the story and that doesn't happen here. I wanted to look at why one protagonist might favour parliament or the king. The politics. I wanted Honoria to debate whether loyalty to king or husband was more important. I enjoyed some of her tactics but I was disappointed by her blind loyalty to her distrusting husband.
I also disliked the omniscient narration. We don't need the inner thoughts of secondary characters spoon fed to us. It's quite enough hearing the protagonists' thoughts, limited as they are to misery and fawning. The only real shining lights were the dogs (awwwww) and the connections to some of the minor characters which were fascinating.
I'm sad that O'Brien focused so heavily on romance here. I've enjoyed her other books but I can't, in truth, say I enjoyed this one.
May 15, 2023
Malefica81 - per RFS
.
Bentornate Fenici!
Questo libro ci porta nell’Inghilterra di metà seicento, precisamente nel Galles, durante la guerra tra Parlamentaristi e Realisti. Sir Francis Brampton, ora Lord Mansell, ritorna alla dimora di un suo lontano cugino, venuto a mancare, per prenderne possesso e scopre che questi aveva una moglie, ora vedova, Lady Honoria. La donna vorrebbe tornare a vivere una vita tranquilla ma sia lei che Francis scoprono cosa ha combinato il morto nel testamento. I due dovranno vivere insieme e sposarsi affinché le proprietà non vengano smembrate. Così inizia la convivenza forzata che porterà lentamente all’amore, da parte di Honoria verso l’uomo che credeva amasse ancora la moglie defunta e da parte di Francis che scoprirà quanto sia forte e determinata la donna che è al suo fianco.
È un periodo storico dove i complotti e i tradimenti sono all’ordine del giorno, dove si veniva giustiziati per facezie e facilmente si confiscavano terre e radevano al suolo castelli di proprietà di altri.
Lo stile dell’autrice è prolisso, ricco di dettagli che alle volte diventano anche troppi. Preferisco uno stile asciutto, diretto, senza troppi giri di parole, ma il libro nel complesso si fa leggere e non annoia.
Mal approva.
Alla prossima
Un saluto dalla vostra Mal
.
Bentornate Fenici!
Questo libro ci porta nell’Inghilterra di metà seicento, precisamente nel Galles, durante la guerra tra Parlamentaristi e Realisti. Sir Francis Brampton, ora Lord Mansell, ritorna alla dimora di un suo lontano cugino, venuto a mancare, per prenderne possesso e scopre che questi aveva una moglie, ora vedova, Lady Honoria. La donna vorrebbe tornare a vivere una vita tranquilla ma sia lei che Francis scoprono cosa ha combinato il morto nel testamento. I due dovranno vivere insieme e sposarsi affinché le proprietà non vengano smembrate. Così inizia la convivenza forzata che porterà lentamente all’amore, da parte di Honoria verso l’uomo che credeva amasse ancora la moglie defunta e da parte di Francis che scoprirà quanto sia forte e determinata la donna che è al suo fianco.
È un periodo storico dove i complotti e i tradimenti sono all’ordine del giorno, dove si veniva giustiziati per facezie e facilmente si confiscavano terre e radevano al suolo castelli di proprietà di altri.
Lo stile dell’autrice è prolisso, ricco di dettagli che alle volte diventano anche troppi. Preferisco uno stile asciutto, diretto, senza troppi giri di parole, ma il libro nel complesso si fa leggere e non annoia.
Mal approva.
Alla prossima
Un saluto dalla vostra Mal
November 22, 2018
I absolutely enjoyed this book - ok so it wasn't anything other than your stereotypical historical romance but I think that is the reason I enjoyed it so much (and because I've not read this style of book in years) The English Civil War is also a period of time that I am interested in.
March 31, 2026
Not my usual read but all in all a good adventure in an historic setting. The tension between the two main characters held interest but the war was what kept me wanting to know how it would end. A mixed ending after all the to-ing and fro-ing of their relationship and the war effort.
April 8, 2013
I really loved the setting and over-arching plot of this novel, a couple caught up in the Civil War, their loyalites against each other and yet drawn to each other. It isn't hard to imagine that many families probably faced division at the time. I thought that 'Marriage Under Siege' captured the tension and the drama that a novel needs without over-dramatising the Civil War and making a mockery out of the history behind it.
It helped that I really liked both of the leading characters. Francis was every bit the dominating male who was stubborn and opinionated but gentle when needed. While Honoria gradually became a strong female lead with a steel backbone who actually gave Francis a bit of a run for his money without being annoyingly bolshy. Though I felt that their reason for marrying was really rushed and undeveloped, I thought that actually the developing romance was very well entwined with the events of the War and realistic too.
There were however a couple of negative points. I felt that the length was a hinderance, some of the descriptive passages dissipated the tension of the Civil War and I felt that with a shorter novel would have been much more to the point and tense.
Secondly - while this isn't a massive thing - I found myself getting really annoyed with the amount of exclamation marks in the novel, as though everyone was always shouting or making points... Once I'd noticed it I couldn't ignore it again.
It helped that I really liked both of the leading characters. Francis was every bit the dominating male who was stubborn and opinionated but gentle when needed. While Honoria gradually became a strong female lead with a steel backbone who actually gave Francis a bit of a run for his money without being annoyingly bolshy. Though I felt that their reason for marrying was really rushed and undeveloped, I thought that actually the developing romance was very well entwined with the events of the War and realistic too.
There were however a couple of negative points. I felt that the length was a hinderance, some of the descriptive passages dissipated the tension of the Civil War and I felt that with a shorter novel would have been much more to the point and tense.
Secondly - while this isn't a massive thing - I found myself getting really annoyed with the amount of exclamation marks in the novel, as though everyone was always shouting or making points... Once I'd noticed it I couldn't ignore it again.
October 20, 2013
When I first started reading this I wasn't sure that I was going to like it! However this book has crept under my skin and in the end I've enjoyed reading it!
The language is very stilted , which has been a downside to reading this book , but the characters have been a joy to get to know!
Honoria appears to be so straight laced that you hardly expect emotion from her as she is foisted into marriage with Lord Francis Marshall after the reading of her husband will! A startled young woman from Royalist background , now has a husband who is for the parliamentarian cause! Along the way during battle for property and power of the royalist versus parliament war there is a mistrust between husband and wife which is such an essential part of the plot. This however makes you want to bang Honoria and Francis's heads together repeatedly !
Just as you think they are sorted, a problem comes between them of her husband being arrested as a traitor to the crown and his misguided belief that his wife is involved.
Thankfully with compromise and some strong words from two friends it all becomes sorted and love is given freely as they become true husband and wife!
I loved the characters, especially Marie who interfered beautifully in making both parties see sense!
A good historical read by Anne O'Brien !
The language is very stilted , which has been a downside to reading this book , but the characters have been a joy to get to know!
Honoria appears to be so straight laced that you hardly expect emotion from her as she is foisted into marriage with Lord Francis Marshall after the reading of her husband will! A startled young woman from Royalist background , now has a husband who is for the parliamentarian cause! Along the way during battle for property and power of the royalist versus parliament war there is a mistrust between husband and wife which is such an essential part of the plot. This however makes you want to bang Honoria and Francis's heads together repeatedly !
Just as you think they are sorted, a problem comes between them of her husband being arrested as a traitor to the crown and his misguided belief that his wife is involved.
Thankfully with compromise and some strong words from two friends it all becomes sorted and love is given freely as they become true husband and wife!
I loved the characters, especially Marie who interfered beautifully in making both parties see sense!
A good historical read by Anne O'Brien !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2012
This is the first book I had read by this author and I expected quite a lot from this book but was disappointed at times and I would really like to give it 2.5 stars more than the 3. I can normally read a book in 2-3 days, I started this one on 9th November and didn't finish it until 28th November which is very unusual for me. The story had some lovely descriptive passages but I found the story line lacking in places and although I persisted with it, sadly at times I did consider shelving it and starting something new. I have two other books by the same author to read and I am hopeful that I will enjoy these more, bit disappointed.
December 11, 2012
This book was good, easy-to-read fluff - exactly what I wanted for vacation. Something that didn't require absolute concentration to understand. I enjoyed it.
November 9, 2016
Good writing, likeable characters... weak plot.
Read
March 4, 2018frustrated at time by the way they were with each other. but other than that it was enjoyable
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews