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King John #4

The Warlord's Bride

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The beauty...and the beast.

Lady Roslynn knows not what to expect of her future husband, the infamous "Bear of Brecon." Offered in marriage to the powerful Welsh lord by the king, Roslynn fears the worst. She has no right to hope for a love match, but in her heart the lady dreams of a home and family of her very own.

One look at Lord Madoc of Llanpowell makes her blood run hot. The rugged warrior proves a passionate lover and attentive husband—but too soon turns cold and aloof. And when secrets from Madoc's past threaten to take him away from his bride, Roslynn knows their future together is at stake. Can she uncover the truth beneath her warlord's armor and lay siege to his heart?

376 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 23, 2008

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About the author

Margaret Moore

233 books175 followers
There is more than one author with this name

Award-winning author Margaret Moore actually began her career at the age of eight, when she and a friend concocted stories featuring a lovely, spirited damsel and a handsome, misunderstood thief nicknamed "The Red Sheik."
Unknowingly pursuing her destiny, Margaret graduated with distinction from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. During that time, she also became a Leading Wren with the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, where she learned to use a variety of weapons and had the weepy experience of being tear-gassed.
In addition to being a wife and mother of two, she's also been an award-winning public speaker, synchronized swimmer, an archer, and studied fencing and ballroom dancing.

Margaret sold her first historical romance and the premiere book of her Warrior series, A WARRIOR'S HEART, to Harlequin Historicals® in 1991. Since that time, she's written over 25 historical romance novels and novellas. She has also written for Avon Books, as well as a young adult historical romance for HarperCollins Childrens Books. She now writes for Harlequin's new single title imprint, HQN.

Her books have been published in France, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Australia, Belgium, Switzerland, Brazil, Korea, Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands, Russia, Poland and India.

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5 stars
54 (19%)
4 stars
111 (39%)
3 stars
83 (29%)
2 stars
24 (8%)
1 star
12 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for SheLove2Read.
3,169 reviews211 followers
March 6, 2009
Set in Wales, the story of Lady Roslynn of England and Lord Maddoc of Wales.
Lady Roslynn is the widow of a man who betrayed Englands king. Allowed to live (apparently her life was also forfeit because of her husbands deeds) she is given to Lord Maddoc of Wales as a bride for his help in chasing down and capturing Lady Roslynn's dead husband. Roslynn does not want a husband nor Maddoc a bride but after some consideration and a spirited discussion they agree to marry.

Roslynn is wary of her new husband, as her first marriage was very abusive - both mentally and physically. But Madoc is understanding and very gentle with Rosslyn, declaring to her "I could forget my own name when I look at you" on their wedding night. Eventually both come to have strong feelings for each other.

There is a side story of strife with Madoc's brother and also harsh resentment from Madoc's friend Ivor that cause problems between the couple but its resolved nicely and not overdone or outlandish and Roslynn only has a momentary TSTL section in the book when they separate due to outside interference.

This was my first book by Margaret Moore but it won't be my last. 5 stars!
Profile Image for Julie (jjmachshev).
1,069 reviews293 followers
February 19, 2009
Margaret Moore is one of my favored Harlequin Historical authors. Her latest is "The Warlord's Bride" and it's a story set in the Middle Ages about a Norman bride and a Welsh lord.

Lady Roslynn's first husband turned out to be an abuser and a traitor. She was lucky she wasn't killed along with him when the king's trap was sprung. But now King John has sent her off to be married yet again and this time to a Welshman known as the Bear of Brecon. How can Roslynn ever trust a man or force herself to submit?

This is a quick Harlequin read, but I was a bit disappointed by the obvious plot and resolution. There weren't the twists that I'm used to from Margaret Moore and thus my rating is a bit lower. It's still a good historical for a cold winter's afternoon, but I expect a bit more than good from this talented author.
Profile Image for Barbara.
3,516 reviews294 followers
November 26, 2009
Lady Roslynn is given in marriage to Lord Madoc of Wales by the King. Her previous husband (a traitor to the Crown) was a brute and sexually assaulted her throughout her marriage so admittedly she is leery of this huge savage she is expected to marry. The courtship is romantic and strife with rural sheep farming problems pushes them together faster than I expected. But Madoc is very compassionate and understanding of her issues since he was locked into a bad marriage too and doesn't want a repeat. He is the perfect gentleman which made for a very romantic novel. Another great Medieval novel by Ms. Moore.
Profile Image for Kimber.
Author 17 books41 followers
January 24, 2009
Another Margaret Moore home run. Bought this yesterday, read, I mean, gobbled it up yesterday. That despite edits, blog posts, banner design and official review books waiting for me. It was that good.

The heroine has been married before which usually doesn't appeal to me but come on, it is a Margaret Moore book. She is on autobuy. Although the heroine has been abused, it is treated lightly (or lighter than those angsty romances out there, including my own). It isn't an in depth exploration of abuse and the heroine's quick transformation from scared to eager might irk some purists.

That doesn't mean it won't make you cry. It made me cry.

A wonderful novel.
Profile Image for Yelania Nightwalker.
1,059 reviews188 followers
April 2, 2016
Maravilloso :) Es la primera novela de esta autora que leo y no puedo más que decir que me ha gustado mucho y que espero en lo sucesivo leer otras historias suyas. No suelo leer novelas ambientadas en esta época en particular pero ella me enamoró por completo.
Profile Image for Luvmyfamily.
398 reviews2 followers
June 17, 2014
3.5 because there were a lot of slow moments but the story was a good one
Profile Image for Karine Darnessy.
937 reviews10 followers
March 2, 2024
Une envie de lecture détente et sans prise de tête après mon précédent ouvrage. C'est pour cela que j'ai choisi une valeur sûre, une romance historique d'une autrice que j'aime bien. Cela a fonctionné à merveille. Il n'a pas fait long feu, et même si l'histoire est cousue de fils blancs, car je me suis douté très rapidement de qui était le vilain instigateur des problèmes entre les frères de Llandpowell.
Ici, certes, nous avons un guerrier Gallois tout en muscle et comme d'habitude à tombé par terre, cependant, ce n'est pas le mâle alpha stéréotypé. Madoc est différent et est plus un homme un peu méfiant et qui a besoin de quelqu'un pour lui tenir tête parfois, mais également franc qui ne tourne pas autour du pot comme Roslynn, qui a vécu l'enfer avec son précédent mari et qui compte bien ne pas revivre la même chose.
J'ai apprécié ma lecture grâce au parti-pris de l'autrice de faire de son personnage masculin principal, un homme respectueux des femmes, d'une personne qui va finalement se remettre en cause surtout lorsqu'il se dispute avec Roslynn. Quant à cette dernière, elle a du caractère et elle n'hésite pas lorsqu'elle prend une décision. Gravite autour d'eux l'oncle de Madoc, un joyeux buveur qui croit dur comme fer à ce couple naissant. L'intrigue est claire, il n'y a pas de mystère et le dénouement fait du bien au moral surtout en ce moment.
En conclusion, j'ai passé un agréable moment de lecture. Ce livre a parfaitement rempli son rôle du début à la fin.
https://la-bibliotheque-du-labyrinthe...
Profile Image for bookwyrmemma.
526 reviews31 followers
March 3, 2025
This book is easily my favorite of the entire series. Set in Wales, it follows the emotional and heartfelt journey of Lady Roslynn of England and Lord Madoc of Wales. Given to Madoc as a bride in exchange for his service in capturing Roslynn’s traitorous late husband, neither of them initially desires the marriage. However, through mutual understanding and spirited discussions, they agree to wed.

Roslynn, having endured a brutal and abusive first marriage, is understandably wary of her new husband. Yet, Madoc is patient, compassionate, and deeply respectful of her trauma. His tenderness toward Roslynn is beautifully written, making their slow-building romance incredibly touching. One of the most memorable moments is his heartfelt declaration on their wedding night: "I could forget my own name when I look at you."

The novel also weaves in an engaging subplot of conflict with Madoc’s brother and the simmering resentment from his friend Ivor, adding layers of tension without feeling excessive or forced. The rural Welsh setting, complete with the challenges of sheep farming, further enriches the story, pushing the couple together in unexpected ways.

Rated: 4.5/5.0—This is a deeply romantic and well-crafted medieval novel. The love story unfolds with sincerity and warmth, making it a compelling read. Another excellent historical romance by Ms. Moore!
Profile Image for Leslivresdaudrey.
113 reviews1 follower
June 19, 2023
✅ Ce que j'ai aimé :​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
- la façon dont est écrit le roman
- les personnages ainsi que leurs caractères, ont s'identifient facilement à eux
- j'adore l’oncle Madoc !
- le fait que ce ne soit pas qu'une histoire d'amour
- l'enquête et le complot déjoué
- que Roslynn ne soit pas nunuche
- la couverture
- les multipoints de vue
​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
❌ Ce que je n'ai pas aimé :​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
- le résumé n'est pas adapté au livre, ce n'est pas Roslynn qui court après Madoc mais plutôt l'inverse.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Profile Image for Angela Harriman.
457 reviews1 follower
April 8, 2022
A well-loved favorite of mine. This is one of those stories I return to re-read often. I love the characters and how there is a mystery behind all the misunderstandings. The story is well written and captivating. Love it.
Profile Image for Lisa.
247 reviews
November 8, 2013
Le premier mot qui me vient en finissant ce livre c’est : mignon.
L’histoire commence par un fait classique dans la romance historique, le mariage « forcé » du héros et de l’héroïne sur ordre du Roi. J’aime ce type d’intrigue, car les époux ne s’étant pas choisis eux-mêmes, cela induit souvent à des relations passionnées et conflictuelles semées d’embuches. Or là, ce n’est pas franchement le cas.
Bien que ce mariage soit imposé, les deux jeunes époux se font bien vite à leur situation et même plus, ils sont heureux tout de suite. Parce qu’il faut quand même dire que la jeune Roslynn est tout à fait ravissante et que Madoc est beau comme un Dieu ! Ouf ! Ils auraient pu tomber sur une mégère et un seigneur répugnant ! L’attirance physique étant immédiate, ils y trouvent finalement leur compte et vont vivre quelques semaines (les 2/3 du livre) dans un bonheur total sans (pratiquement) aucune ombre au tableau. On s’ennuie donc assez rapidement, bien que leur relation douce et tendre nous laisse un semblant d’émotion tout de même, mais tout cela manque cruellement de passion, de querelles avec réconciliation sur l’oreiller et j’en passe.
Et puis, petit revirement de situation, grâce au passé douloureux de l’héroïne. En effet, ayant épousé impétueusement en première noce un homme qui s’est avéré être violent, pervers et traite vis-à-vis du Roi, elle aura beaucoup (c’est un bien grand mot) de mal à faire à nouveau confiance à un homme qui plus est dans l’intimité de la chambre. Cette blessure terrible que Roslynn porte en elle ne va pourtant pas la laisser transie de peur bien longtemps et même révéler un tempérament fougueux et passionné entre les bras de son nouvel époux qui il faut quand même le dire déploie attentions et délicatesse à foison ! Et puis, pour une broutille j’ai envie de dire, les relations entre eux deux vont se détériorer… Je n’ai pas vraiment compris la réaction de l’héroïne à ce moment-là.
A côté de cela, nous avons une intrigue familiale qui n’apporte pas grand-chose à l’histoire si ce n’est de la pimenter un peu avec un semblant (si peu) d’action. Là encore, tout part de broutilles et les réactions des personnages sont complètement disproportionnées par rapport aux faits.
Pour résumer, ce livre se lit très bien, on passe un bon moment si l’on apprécie les histoires d’amour faciles, tendres voire courtoises entre les héros. C’est assez agréable de trouver des héros qui s’aiment et se respectent dès le début parfois, j’en confesse, mais cela ne reste pas le schéma que je préfère dans la romance historique.
Profile Image for Brigitte Alouqua.
2,112 reviews27 followers
September 30, 2019
Durant ma lecture de Sur ordre royal, j’ai souvent eu l’impression que nous étions plus dans une romance que dans une romance historique, que le contexte historique ne servait que de prétextes à certaines situations qu’affrontent nos protagonistes. Bien qu’au final ce soit cohérent dans l’ensemble, je trouve cela dommage de ne pas avoir plus exploité ce côté du récit.

Mais au-delà du contexte, il y a forcément la romance. Là, j’avoue que je l’ai parfois trouvée assez plate, sans re réels rebondissements, mais là c’est une question de goûts. Nos héros n’ont pas débuté cette romance sous les meilleurs auspices, et quelques bonnes engueulades parsèment leur idylle. Pas mal de non-dits font que nosu gardons malgré tout un certain intérêt pour leur histoire, je me suis souvent demandé quand tel ou tel événements allait être dévoilé, et ainsi que cela donne une dose de piquant.

L’auteure nous donne ici une héroïne aux réactions parfois étranges, que je n’ai aps tout le temps comprises d’ailleurs, je ne les trouvais pas logique, et ce, même avec ce que l’on apprend au fil des pages. Roselynn est souvent à contre-courant avec ce que l’on attend d’elle, et franchement par moment j’ai eu envie de la secouer un peu pour lui mettre du plomb dans la cervelle. Mais là encore, c’est une question de goûts, les miens ne sont pas les vôtres.

Si je donne une note de quatre étoiles sur cinq, c’est bien que j’ai malgré tout passé un bon moment, même si j’ai plusieurs points négatifs. Je suis d’ailleurs certaine que la plume entraînante de l’auteure y est pour beaucoup, j’ai aimé sa manière d’écrire, de m’entraîner dans son monde. Au Diable les points négatifs, ne gardons que le positif qui est que j’ai aimé le décor et la plume de Margaret Moore.
Profile Image for Romina.
229 reviews8 followers
January 5, 2013
Predictable and corny (even for a romance novel), combined with one of the most annoying heroines in romance literature, makes for a very 'badread indeed!'

Rosslyn had an abusive first marriage so she was naturally afraid of her new husband and the possible violence he could use against her, but how many times is the guy supposed to prove that HE'S NOT HER EX HUSBAND? The hero was constantly asking for the heroine's "forgiveness" for scaring her, even though his only transgression was to get angry over some very good reasons, and not actually with Rosslyn herself. The only reason I finished reading it (ok, skimmed through the last 50 pages) was just to confirm my suspicions of the predictability of the story.

This is the first Margaret Moore that I've read, and to be honest, I'm not looking forward to any others because since series (of all authors) tend to be formulaic, I refuse to drudge through more mediocre stories like this one. NOT recommended!
Profile Image for Sylvain.
484 reviews5 followers
August 27, 2018

Lady Roslynn knows not what to expect of her future husband, the infamous "Bear of Brecon." Offered in marriage to the powerful Welsh lord by the king, Roslynn fears the worst. She has no right to hope for a love match, but in her heart the lady dreams of a home and family of her very own.…One look at Lord Madoc of Llanpowell makes her blood run hot. The rugged warrior proves a passionate lover and attentive husband—but too soon turns cold and aloof. And when secrets from Madoc's past threaten to take him away from his bride, Roslynn knows their future together is at stake. Can she uncover the truth beneath her warlord's armor and lay siege to his heart?

Profile Image for Gwen.
494 reviews7 followers
March 15, 2015
J’ai beaucoup aimé ce roman.
Bien que l’originalité ne soit pas au rendez-vous le rythme et l’intrigue sont là. Ils permettent à l’auteur de nous donner envie de tourner les pages pour connaître la suite.
J’ai trouvé les personnages principaux et secondaires plutôt plausibles et réalistes pour l’époque. Ils sont bien campés et ont ressent essaiment leur caractère, leur esprit, façon de penser.
Ce livre montre très bien qu’on ne peut pas toujours faire confiance aux gens et que certains sans qu’on le sache sont malveillant.
Profile Image for Mariah.
1,627 reviews50 followers
July 3, 2013
A wedding is planned within days of meeting between a Norman bride and a Welsh lord. The bride had been married previously to an abuser and traitor to the crown. The groom as well, had been married before as well, his wife having died in childbirth. These two are spirited and passionate people and when they meet sparks fly, and although her fear of anger and abuse abounds she still finds it in her heart to crave and love a passionate warrior.
Profile Image for Danny Vilchis.
43 reviews1 follower
July 17, 2013
I had not read Margaret Moore's work before, and I came upon this by my grandmother's recommendation. It was a very fast and pleasurable read, not the typical tedious historycal novel I'm used to at all. If it was somewhat predictable, the prose made it easy going and enjoyable. After 'The Warlord's Bride' I might be reading something else of her's.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews