La rosa robada

Medieval Lords/Dark Champion #3

by Jo Beverley

Galeran de Heywood regresa a casa después de una larga ausencia combatiendo en Tierra Santa, sólo para encontrar que su castillo ya no le pertenece y que su mujer convive con otro hombre. En la sombría Inglaterra medieval, el pecado de Jehanne clama a un castigo ejemplar, pero Galeran ya ha visto correr bastante sangre. En su corazón se funden la rabia y el amor que aún siente por su mujer, y su mente intenta aclarar qué es lo que realmente sucedió en una tormentosa noche mientras él estaba tierras lejanas. Galeran y Jehanne quieren hacer todo lo posible para recuperar su amor, pero poderosas fuerzas desean aprovechar la situación para alterar el delicado equilibrio de poder en Inglaterra. ELLA COMETIÓ UN PECADO TERRIBLE... Jehanne nunca fue una joven dócil ni una esposa sumisa. Sin embargo, nadie imaginó que la desesperación y la rabia la empujarían  a cometer una locura con terribles consecuencias. Cuando su amado Galeran regresa de entre los muertos, no se rebaja a pedir perdón. Asume sus acciones, pero no puede evitar que la culpa pese sobre ella como una losa, unida a un dolor desgarrador y a un profundo miedo por su futuro y el de su pequeña hija. Teme y desea a la vez el castigo que la Iglesia y los hombres quieren imponerle; teme y ama también a su esposo, pero desea sobre todo evitar que por su culpa se produzca un baño de sangre. ...PERO EL AMOR PESA MÁS QUE LA VENGANZA Galeran sabe que su familia, el obispo, el rey, incluso sus propios siervos, esperan de él que actúe con violencia y justa rabia contra su esposa adúltera. Pero también sabe muy bien cuál es la consecuencia de la brutalidad, no en vano ha visto la sangre derramada en las calles de Jerusalén. Dolido y humillado, se resiste a aceptar que el mundo que dejó a su partida ha desaparecido, y está dispuesto a todo para recuperar a la mujer que ama, pese a la altivez de ella, pese a todas las preguntas sin respuesta. Pero la batalla con su corazón es sólo el principio del inevitable combate al que le retan sus enemigos.  

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Medieval, Historical, Historical Fiction, Medieval Romance, Fiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1996

About the author

Mary Josephine Dunn was born 22 September 1947 in Lancashire, England, UK. At the age of eleven she went to an all-girls boarding school, Layton Hill Convent, Blackpool. At sixteen, she wrote her first romance, with a medieval setting, completed in installments in an exercise book. From 1966 to 1970, she obtained a degree in English history from Keele University in Staffordshire, where she met her future husband, Ken Beverley. After graduation, they married on June 24, 1971. She quickly attained a position as a youth employment officer until 1976, working first in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, and then in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.

In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.

Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.

Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.

Reviews

[boogenhagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read The Shattered Rose three times now and the more I read it the more I have come to believe that what JB doesn't say, only implies through throw away phrases and off chance remarks really shows that there is a whole lot more to this story than a woman driven mad with grief who cheats on her husband and her love struck husband who magnanimously forgives her.

I was a little shocked when I read some of the reviews for this book on the product page and at various websites. They all concluded that Jehanne was either a witch or a slut and pretty much hated her. Everybody adores Galeran and hates Jehanne for betraying him. I don't agree with the idea that Jehanne was a promiscuous, imperious tart and I think her infidelity was based more on a desperate situation than temporary insanity. I think Galeran ultimately realizes this and that more than his undeniable love for her, is why he ultimately forgives Jehanne with so little regret.

I see Galeran as a typical extra son, he never really thought he would be responsible for lands of his own, he figures he will have to learn to fight and then he will second one of his landed male relatives. Initially he doesn't seem that incisive and he seems perfectly willing to let others take the lead in managing his actions. He is intrigued, frightened and attracted to Jehanne but prior to his leaving on Crusade, Galeran is very passive in his actions and diffident about his status. He seems to have no initiative of his own, he isn't concerned about children, he does his duty to Heywood exactly as his father in law prescribes and basically is happy with Jehanne and the well ordered path to his days that Jehanne's father and his father have dictated to him. Galeran is oblivious to the nuances of managing a large group of people that are not family but just as closely bound. When the rumors of Jehanne being cursed because she is barren start, Galeran dismisses them and says "Don't worry my nephews can inherit Heywood". This thinking shows a lack of connection with the continuity of the estate and a failure to really understand what Jehanne needs when she becomes desperate for a child.

Overall though Galeran is a very nice, good man and so when Jehanne seeks out her bargain with God, Galeran agrees to go to war because he loves his wife and truly wants to see her fulfilled. This is actually a good thing for Galeran. It gets him out of his daily rut, forces him to become more aware of others and their motivations and finally forces him to act for himself. In short, going on Crusade forces Galeran to grow up and become a leader in spite of himself.

The horrors of the children dying also make Galeran aware of the fragility of life and teaches him about the blessings of leaving a valued legacy behind when life ends. War and its atrocities teaches him to appreciate the goodness in his life. He has a loving wife, a profitable estate and valued people to help retain the basic daily blessings he has heretorfore taken for granted. It is a greatly changed Galeran who returns from the Holy Land. He has seen the worst in men and can now appreciate the goodness in the people he left behind. He has grown in shrewdness, compassion and empathy and the returning Galeran is finally ready to be a true leader and lord to his people. Unfortunately, he comes home to an awful mess. His father has besieged his home, his loving wife has betrayed him with another man and put him in his place and his son, the whole reason for the campaign to begin with, is dead and may have been murdered by his mother Jehanne.

Galeran initially acts just as you expect him to. There is shock, horror and then incredible anger but even as Galeran feels like his world has ended, his hard won composure from the Crusades steadies him enough to be able to look more carefully at the situation and his deep basic compassion will not let him condemn Jehanne with a fair hearing.


Jehanne on the other hand, has always been a leader. After the deaths of her brothers, when she became her father's only heir she is taught to run Heywood. The running of an estate like Heywood is a lot more than seeing that meals are cooked and rooms are cleaned. As chatelaine of Heywood, Jehanne has to oversee all aspects of daily life for all of it's inhabitants. The growing of food, production of clothing, maintaining repairs and making sure the people of Heywood are healthy, productive and reasonably happy and secure is a huge job. In many ways Jehanne is the CEO of a major corporation. Not only does she have to make sure everyone is doing their part, she has to do her part too in managing them and also keeping Heywood secure in the changing political maneuverings around Heywood.

It is never explicitly stated but Heywood appears to be a very valuable and strategic location in the politics of Northern England. It is Jehanne's duty, ingrained from the cradle, that she is to preserve and and enhance Heywood for her family line and provide a future for the estate by leaving wise and healthy heirs to continue the line when she is gone. This is probably one of the reasons Jehanne's father agreed to have her wed to Galeran. He can be sure he is leaving his legacy in Jehanne's capable management, Galeran's family will help defend the line and he can die knowing his biggest acheivement will last for generations.

Jehanne's desperation when she can't get pregnant is caused by two things. First, there is the duty to her family line - she needs an heir so her father's and her own life's work is not in vain and also the success of any medieval estate is dependent on the willingness and happiness of the people who work it. If the estate workers think that the Lord and Lady are cursed, they tend to think they are cursed as well and cursed workers probably don't lend themselves to profitable estate management. They don't work as hard or as cheerfully and when trouble comes may not defend the land as well as they might.

Jehanne is also angry with Galeran to a certain extent, his casual "My cousin's can inherit" is liked being slapped in the face with a fish in her estimation. Heywood is HER families land, they run it, nurture it and suffer along with the workers. How dare Galeran just dismiss her heritage and her future. Jehanne won't be having any of that, she demands a child from God and she sends Galeran to fulfill the bargain. If God requires a sacrifice, and I do believe it is a sacrifice on her part as well, then off Galeran needs to go. It does seem God approves, since Jehanne does manage to bear an heir.

Then disaster strikes, there is word that Galeran is killed while taking Jerusalem. This is devastating to Jehanne, for she really does love him but she has to balance her love with her responsibility. She has to protect Heywood for her son and hope that Galeran is still alive. The news of Galeran's death leads to Raymond of Lowick trying to take advantage of the situation. Raymond has always fancied Heywood and Jehanne as well. Jehanne was attracted in her youth but for the most part, really wants nothing to do with Raymond.

It was a basic strategy in medieval times to wait until a Lord had left his holding and then move in on the inhabitants. The phrase "possession being nine tenths of the law" was used to facilitate the transfer of ownership of a keep or estate. If the Lord left without an adequate defense for intruders or if the noble family left behind accepted the new Lord's occupation, the original owner may return to no estate and the only way to get it back being open war.

Raymond was being very shrewd when he showed up and started importuning Jehanne, if Galeran is dead and he can convince Jehanne to marry him, he just got his own lands. Even if Galeran really isn't dead, he still has a good case for ownership especially if Jehanne goes through a marriage service. Depending on the political situation of the King and who he can bribe in the church, Raymond could be set for life.

Now Jehanne not only has to deal with Raymond, she also has to worry about what Galeran's family will do. One of Galeran's brothers comments on the news of his death and casually mentions there were big debates about the status of Jehanne and guardianship of the Heywood heir. Her son is just a baby, but if Galeran is dead, then someone is going to have teach him to be a noble. Jehanne, for all her management skills is unable to teach warfare and it is quite possible that she could be replaced as the child's guardian or forced to marry someone not of her choosing by Galeran's father. Her life could become a living hell very easily and then her child dies.

This is a disaster of major proportions for Jehanne. She has lost the one surety that held Galeron's dad in check, especially if William decides she did murder the boy and Galeran really is dead. Suddenly she has to deal with the death of a child and possible loss of her freedom or even her life. William could force her into a convent or if there is enough innuendo and rumor she could be forced into a church trial where she has to prove her innocence through torture. If found guilty, she could be burned at the stake.

In her despair and fear, Jehanne makes a tactical decision. She seduces Raymond for one night to keep him pacified until she can chart a course of action and then she finds out she is pregnant. She has the means to abort the child, but she can't do it. Not only is this solace for her grief but the baby is also the continuation of her bloodline. Even if she is condemned and banished or put to death, the baby is considered innocent and Raymond can hold Heywood for the future. Then she takes the maneuvering a step further, she openly proclaims Raymond master of Heywood but makes sure William knows so he will besiege the castle, thus checking Raymond's running amok and Jehanne prays hard for Galeran's return.

Thankfully Galeran is alive and manages to overcome his betrayal. He is personally shattered at Jehanne's actions but eventually comes to understand what exactly she was trying to do. I think Galeran's new appreciation for life combined with his new political maturity allows him to forgive Jehanne her actions far more easily than the old Galeran would have. He expresses his understanding when he is with the King and hoping Raymond just gets sent to the Crusade. He knows Jehanne was using Raymond and although he hates the fact she slept with him, he appreciates the man did love her in his own way and that Jehanne manipulated him to save herself.

Jehanne for her part, finally understands the danger of hubris and also wants to spare Galeran any more anguish. Jehanne has a fine intuition of people management skills. She knows she has to make public reparation. She has to restore Galeran's image with Heywood's people, the rest of the court and with the Church. She knows Galeran can't be seen to be weak in dealing with her, thus the beatings are the perfect solution. As long as she keeps her mouth shut until the knowledge of the beatings can be made public in open court, Galeran comes out looking strong, Jehanne is perceived to have been punished and all is right with the world. Order is restored and restitution and atonement puts the whole incident in perspective for everyone else. To the rest of the world, life can go on as before, the only true casualty may be Jehanne's and Galeran's relationship.

Fortunately both Jehanne and Galeran have grown up. They have been tested and they have learned. Jehanne has learned some humility and to share power and Galeran has learned some perceptiveness and to use power. The couple also has a deep love for each other and the skills and the will to create a lasting legacy for Heywood and it's descendants.

The story of Jehanne and Galeran is subtle, deep and not at all what it appears to be on the surface. Ms. Beverley has written a really thought provoking tale with some great perspectives on what it means to be a strong female leader in a male dominated world and the secondary story of Raoul and Aline was charming and at times a welcome respite from the underlying seriousness of the main story line.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I read where the heroine cheated on the hero. I read this book as a challenge to myself. I don't like adultery as a theme, and the sex of the offender is immaterial. I will occasionally find a romance with this theme that I like regardless, and this is one of them. But it takes a powerful storyline to get past my bias. It wasn't a comfortable book for me to read at all, but I was glad I did tackle this book.

Jehanne really messed up bad. She knew it. And she got caught. She got pregnant. When her husband comes back from the crusades, having been gone long enough that there is no question that the child she had was not his, everyone expects him to take her to task. The thing I thought was great about this book is that Galeran shows her a lot of grace. He does hit her, but he has to because if he didn't do it, the punishment would be a lot worse for his 'wayward wife.' I am no way advocating a man beating his wife. Fortunately he doesn't hurt her at all. The fact that this is necessary is what bothered me. How many times does a man cheat on his wife and not face repercussions, but when a wife does the same thing, the punishment is severe. I do realize that the stakes are higher because of inheritance issues, but that is not an issue since Jehanne has a little girl.

I really liked Galeran. He's a beta hero. Very kind and loving, but possessing an inner strength. The adultery issue was like a piece of sand in my shell, and I spent most of this book wishing that Jehanne hadn't done it. Hadn't succumbed to her loneliness and fear of believing her husband was dead. Not having given in to her need for comfort from the knight who loved/was infatuated with her. But that was not the case. I suppose Ms. Beverley wanted to write a story showing how a marriage can/must overcome this sort of issue. She did a good job with it.

She didn't cop out and have the heroine be raped by the father of the baby. It was consensual. And Jehanne didn't try to lie and say it was rape. She did face the consequences like a grown up, which I respected her for. I liked that Galeran was determined to handle the issue his way, and not according to what outside parties thought of the situation. He loved his wife, had yearned for his family and home for the hard years at war. He wasn't going to throw that away because she had made this mistake. I had to admire him for that. I liked that he accepted and loved Jehanne's daughter, even though some husbands would have forced her to give up the baby and would have resented the 'cuckoo in his nest.' He didn't do that. To him, this was his daughter.

I don't know that I want to read too many more stories with this kind of plot, but this was a good story and it was handled well. I have come to notice that Ms. Beverley doesn't shy away from having difficult situations and characters in her books. I always know when I am reading her writing because of the depth of the story and the humanity of her characters.

This is a challenging romance to read. If you decide to read it, be prepared to deal with a difficult situation that might cause some angst, especialy if this is out of your comfort zone.

[Joan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disgusting "heroine" who cheats on her husband, an honorable and decent man, while he away fighting in the Crusade. Upon his return home from the war, Galeran finds his own baby son has died, his "beloved" wife awaiting him holding her lover's child in her arms, and said lover still in residence. Why do good men like Galeran end up with weak, self-centered harlots like Jehanne? I was so hoping Galeran would have been man enough to kick the cheating harlot and her issue to the curb but he was too much of a beta and just swallowed being made a cuckold in front of family, church, and village. Jo Beverley churns out some nauseating and twisted plots, this is my first and last JB book.

[Bronwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite historical romances ever for its originality, the authentic historical characterisations, and the depth of the emotional tension between the hero and heroine. It's a challenging read, in some ways, because the characters face some very complex and intense situations, and Jo Beverley gives them points of view totally appropriate for medieval people, without stinting on the emotion. While there is a lighter romantic sub-plot involving secondary characters, the main plot is intense, and if you're looking for a light easy read, this probably isn't it. But if you love historical romances with depth (Eg Laura Kinsale's Flowers from the Storm, or Meredith Duran's The Duke of Shadows), then add The Shattered Rose to your reading list.

[Lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

the only thing i liked beside the hero was the secondary characters of Aline and Raoul. The heroine was not a heroine. I did not take issue with her action that caused the turmoil when her husband came back, it was her behavior afterwards....her willingness to surrender a child, her behavior toward the other man....nope i hated it... finished it only because I had hopes of the hero tossing her out... spoiler...........................HE DID NOT...lol

[Cassia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read as a homage to a wonderful author that will be sorely missed.
A faultless medieval masterpiece for plot, setting and psychology. Recommended.

[Giulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to read The Shattered Rose because I love medieval romances. It sounded like a story of loss and betrayal, but promised romance and redemption too, so after a rather dry reading spell, I thought this would be just the pick me up I needed.

And just look at that cover. Who could resist it? Definitely not me. But, I digress. Cover love aside, I thought this was a really good read. The plot goes much deeper than a couple being reunited and learning to forgive and move forward with their lives. Jehanne is a woman who has sinned, not only in the eyes of the Church and society at that time, but in her own heart, and not only because she betrayed her husband, but also because she doubted God, and let herself down. In the progress, she has hurt others and that weighs heavily on her.

Her husband was harder for me to understand. He's furious at Jehanne but at the same time, loves her far too much to be angry for long or to punish her. At first, it confused me as he didn't seem like the typical medieval husband, and I wasn't sure what to expect from him. But, after some contemplation I came to realize that Galeran is a good man, and that the Crusade he'd been on, and what he had seen there had made him a stronger man. That new strength with his already innate goodness and sense of right and wrong allowed him to really see what had happened and why, and to forgive and forget.

The one thing that I didn't really enjoy about this novel was the subplot of Raoul and Aline. Their romance was a bit more sizzling, more fraught with the emotions of first love and while I liked that, I did feel it took over the story a little bit. I think that this couple got more than enough romantic page time and wish that Jehanne and Geleran's romance had one or two more scenes of the kind of emotion we got for Aline and Raoul. They kinda stole the romance-light from the main couple I thought.

A well written, novel with a meaty plot and characters that are very well portrayed. I found this book hard to put down, and I'll be reading Jo Beverley again.

Read this and other reviews at My Devastating Reads.

[Leona · Rating 1 out of 5]

I categorize this under romance with great hesitation. I didn't find anything romantic about it.

I disliked the heroine immensely when she not only cheats on her husband, but puts her infant son in jeopardy when she allows a monster within ten feet of him. The monster is the man she is sleeping with.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkably well-done treatment of marriage, adultery, and illegitimate children in the Middle Ages, as well as a compelling "reunion" romance.

[Shannon Burke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried reading this a year ago and really had a hard time getting through the book. I think it was the idea of heroine not being faithful to her husband that really bothered me. So I will try reading this again later.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wild that this was so boring. Why did it feel like I spent more time with a secondary couple than with the actual leads? The main couple barely discussed anything! Galeran stuffed all his feelings down and basically never addressed any of them! I am sorely disappointed because this had so much promise to be a deliciously angsty romp.

[Elizajane40 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving this book 5 stars for the first third. It starts to drag a bit after that, because the primary couple is for all intents and purposes reunited, and the dramatic tension moves to external factors and a secondary couple that bored me. However, I've never read anything quite like the beginning third, so it gets a 5.

[Anna Bowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book makes me miss Jo Beverley all the more, and wish that she could have given us more medieval romance novels, because The Shattered Rose is one of the shining stars. For those of us who want to sink our teeth into a meaty historical that truly captures the spirit of the time, this is a feast. Sweet and gentle, this book is not. We have a hero, returned from Crusade, eager to be reunited with his beloved wife, and the child conceived on the last night before he left, and a heroine who greets him with a newborn. Yeah. It's that kind of book. For some, this is a deal breaker, but for those who want a deeply emotional story of two imperfect people who find their way back to each other after life kicks them both in the tender parts, it doesn't get much better.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 45% - I just couldn’t get over the cheating, how unrepentant Jehanne was, on the NIGHT her son died she was MAD at God so her grief “caused” her to SEDUCE a man she lusted after in her youth while her husband is away fighting in the Crusades FOR HER and has taken a vow of chastity FOR HER and keeps it for three years. Then on his eager trip home he finds her with a bastard’s child, his child dead, and another man in her bed. All the while Jehanne doesn’t explain, repent, or act ashamed of her adultery or the loss of her son with Galeran…. And Galeran is extremely calm, sweet, and understanding of his wife’s inability to show any emotion and just wants to love and nurture her and move on - yeah no.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable in many areas. Never felt drawn into story. Liked secondary characters better than primary.

[Susan (the other Susan) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Big Misunderstanding, stubbornly perpetuated by the heroine, made this an uncomfortable read for me.

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uscito anni fa, è riproposto ora nella collana Oro. Questo è sicuramente lo storico più originale del mese. Non assistiamo infatti alla nascita di una storia d’amore, ma alla difficile riconciliazione di due persone che si sono molto amate e poi perdute. Galeran è figlio di un potente conte, ma terzogenito,e non avrebbe avuto un suo castello se il fratello maggiore non avesse deciso di diventare un frate guerriero durante le crociate, lasciando la fidanzata Jehanne unica erede di grandi possedimenti. Per non perdere una forte alleanza, il padre ha semplicemente scambiato un figlio per l’altro, e da quel momento Galeran ha finito il suo addestramento di cavaliere nella casa del futuro suocero. Jehanne non è stata particolarmente felice del cambiamento: il fratello di Galeran infatti era un guerriero possente ed esperto, mentre il giovane è molto più esile di tutti i suoi fratelli. Negli anni è riuscito con grande allenamento, a diventare un abile guerriero, e la sua corporatura minuta, rinforzandosi, lo ha reso estremamente agile. Assistiamo dopo qualche tempo al loro matrimonio che, pur tra liti e differenze di carattere, si rivela estremamente felice. Ma mese dopo mese per Jehanne, il desiderio di un figlio diventa così ossessivo da amareggiare la loro vita; tutto è stato provato, ma niente sembra funzionare. Jehanne è sempre più infelice e Galeren decide di fare un patto con Dio; lui si recherà alle crociate e in cambio avrà un figlio. Ora, di ritorno da anni di dure lotte, e dopo aver assistito ad azioni che gli hanno fatto rimpiangere la decisione presa, Galeran sta tornando a casa, ma ciò che lo aspetta è ancora più doloroso di tutte le traversie passate.

È una storia insolita quella che ci propone Jo Beverley, con un eroina che appare di un’antipatia unica: prima così contraria ad accettare un fidanzato che non le piace, sempre pronta a litigare, poi disposta a mandarlo alle crociate nel tentativo di avere ciò che brama di più (un figlio), nonostante il fatto che, unico fra gli uomini del suo tempo, Galeran le continui a dire che lui la ama lo stesso, non importa se sterile. Ma più di tutto, per il lettore è incomprensibile come possa aver dato un figlio ad un altro uomo, subito dopo la morte di quel bambino che tanto ha agognato. Eppure pagina dopo pagina, con una grande introspezione nell’anima dei suoi personaggi, l’autrice riesce a rendere vera una donna fortissima, che ha sbagliato, che cerca ora un’espiazione accettando anche di essere frustata. Una donna che viene considerata una strega perché non piange e non manifesta il suo dolore, dandoci nel contempo scorci dell’anima di un uomo, che nonostante tutto ama ancora sua moglie e vuole solo capire come tutto questo possa essere successo. Galeran appare di un’umanità sconcertante: per le leggi del suo tempo, lui è tenuto a punire questa donna che gli ha fatto un grande torto, eppure, nonostante tutto, cercherà sempre il modo di proteggerla, malgrado Jehanne non faccia niente per aiutarlo e non gli dia nemmeno una spiegazione, chiusa in un ostinato silenzio.

Non è la solita storia d’amore che siamo abituate a leggere in uno storico, eppure ne ho apprezzato l’unicità, e la bellissima caratterizzazione dei personaggi che risultano vividi e credibili, ma non è sicuramente uno di quei romanzi che possono piacere a tutti.

[Neena Thakur · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book.
This enchanting,and fascinating story of Northern England, written skillfully by Author Jo Beverly, is full of everything a good book needs.
Full of intrigues, Passion, betrayed,Love and heartbeark and deep and painful grief,and irrevocable loss.
It takes the reader on a riveting journey,of the strong and Steadfast love of the Hero Galeran ,a Crusader who fought in the holy lands, and the love of his life,Jehanne , his wife',a delicate and fragile English Beauty ,with fair silken hair and luminous skin.

Their love defies ,death , betrayal and evil intrigues ,by influencial men in high places and power.
How an act of madness,made at the time of a mind numbing loss ,could change their lives forever.

Despite all odds ,and with the love and unstinting support and help from their closest and dearest friends,Raoul and Aline.
They manage to surmount all odds, even death.
As the Powerful Church ,has the power to rip their lives apart.

Both Galeran and Jehanne love each other devotedly.
Both want to protect each other, even risking their lives.

But God and Providence along with friends and family, stand by then, through all odds , defying Church and crown.

Leading the Hero and Heroine to rescue each other.
This beautiful tale ,of betrayal, takes the reader on an unforgettable journey,of love and forgiveness, despite doubt and accusations.
That True Love truimphs above all.
And in light of such sacrificing lovers,even the winds of fate bow down to them.
Love conquers all.
And the wonderful , stories interspersed with the blossoming,and burning romance of Raoul the Handsome warrior,who is a hardened Casanova, with Aline the Pure , assumed to become the Bride of Christ,a nun.
Is so enjoyable,as how the complete opposites, attract like to iron magnets , was a true joy to read.
I throughrouly enjoyed this book.
Its not your usual romance.
But its tumultuous journey will leave you believing,that sometimes Fairy tales do come true.

I have received this Free book from Ediscovery.
I have written this review voluntarily.
This is my honest review.

[Judy Hankom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is set in Northern England in the year of 1100. It was enlightening to learn more about how life could have been in that time. Part of the story is hard to take; loss and betrayal are a big part. I don't like adultery in any form so I had some misgivings about reading the book.

Galeran of Heywood is coming home from the Crusades; he has been gone for three years. He is so looking forward to a reunion with his wife, Jehanne, and Gallot, his son that he has never seen. The main reason he left to serve the Crusades was to break the curse of their childlessness. Both have desperately wanted children.

However, it is not to be a joyous reunion. It has been reported that Galeran was killed in Jerusalem. Jehanne is griefstricken. Their son, Gallot, unexpectedly died in Galeran's absence. The manager of the Heywood died and Jehanne appoints Raymond of Lowick in his place. Raymond has always loved Jehanne but even more he covets Heywood.

Galeran comes over the hill to discover his castle is under siege by his family (protecting his rights). He is informed that Jehanne has a month old child that very obviously cannot be his blood child.

Galeran is very angry with Jehanne and hits her. This is to protect her from further punishment. Not only does his family get involved but the church does, as well as the new King. What will happen to Jehanne? Will she end up hanging, put in an abbey or what?

It was interesting that the church took such an interest. And of course, Henry the new King wants to ensure that the outcome supports his interests. He needs support and goes to extremes to make sure he gets the allegiance he needs. The twists and turns are very interesting.

All this is going on and Galeran and Jehanne are trying to come to terms with each other.She betrayed him. Can he trust her? And what of the girl child she bore? The side romance of Aline and Raoul was a good distraction.

I liked it in spite of the difficult subject.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I didn't hate it and that's a plus these days. I have been in some strange reader funk where it has become increasingly rare for me to LOVE a book. Any book. I didn't love this one, but I didn't DNF it - so, yay me!

It started off so promising. I was in the mood for some angst and turmoil and The Shattered Rose delivers just that in the first several chapters.

Hero goes off to Jerusalem for the Crusade (there is more reason for him leaving than just his belief in the fight - reasons you learn fairly quickly and actually made me love the hero quite quickly), upon returning home, years later, he finds another man at his wife's side while she holds a their newborn baby. <---That is like the golden ticket for marital turmoil, yeah? It was giving me all the good volatile vibes!

Until it didn't.

My problems were these:

- The hero I loved, while I understood his reasoning, forgave all too quickly for my liking. It drained all that chaotic goodness I was craving right out of the story.

- This is actually not just a love story of Galeron and Jehanne. There is another love story that coincides. I enjoyed that storyline and those characters so much so that it made Jehanne dull in comparison. I found I really wasn't rooting for her at all. I was for Galeron but not as much as I should have been because, he too, could not shine as bright as the hero in the subplot.

- I'm not a religious person and this story is VERY heavy on 'God's will'. I get it, I do, religion is a HUGE character in this tale. It just became too much for me at times.

I did really enjoy Beverly's way of weaving the story though, there are a lot of players and a lot of parts and I never felt like things were falling through cracks or becoming too convoluted.

[Martina Nix Govoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questo è stato lo strano caso del libro che non mi convinceva, ma mi ha preso tantissimo durante la lettura ed alla fine il mio giudizio è proprio che non mi ha convinto, ma comunque mi ha preso tantissimo.
Non capisco come ma la Beverley si è impegnata tanto per creare due protagonisti così fuori dagli schemi come Galeran e Jehanne, soprattutto Jehanne, per poi relegarli in secondo piano rispetto alla seppur carinissima, ma più tranquilla, storia secondaria di Aline e Raoul. E' come se avesse perso di coraggio subito dopo l'inizio, come se avesse paura che Jehanne le scoppiasse fra le mani, così fiera e sicura, una donna forte in tutti i sensi, da rischiare di non essere apprezzata dal lettore. Tanto che la stessa autrice se ne tiene a distanza, perché quasi mai vediamo le cose dal suo punto di vista, ma solo da quello di Galeran, figura profonda e più empatica. Ma non si può gestire uno senza l'altra e così, con Jehanne in secondo piano e d'un tratto privata dei suoi tratti spigolosi, per poter appagare il lato romantico ha dovuto ripiegare sulla storia più tradizionale di Aline e Raoul, che con tutti i canoni classici dello scontro divertente, è un porto più sicuro anche per il lettore.
Peccato, perché così ci troviamo davanti ad una scommessa vinta a metà, soprattutto perché la Beverley era riuscita a gestire una storia che presupponeva una "traggggedia" con 4 g volute senza melodramma.
Insomma, bello ma avrei voluto osasse di più.

[LadyAileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Questo romanzo fa parte di una saga chiamata Dark Champion composta fino ad oggi da 4 libri. Effettivamente ho letto altri romanzi di questa autrice e devo dire che ne ero rimasta soddisfatta ma dopo questo per un attimo ho pensato che non fosse più la stessa.
La trama è sicuramente inusuale e la tematica non è da meno infatti tutta la vicenda ruota attorno alla capacità di perdonare il proprio compagno/a quando questi ci tradisce. L'autrice è stata molto brava nel descrivere i sentimenti e i comportamenti dei protagonisti. Un romanzo drammatico ed intenso ma c'è una nota stonata: l'utilizzo di un linguaggio rude e scurrile in certe situazioni che secondo il mio parere toglie quella vena romantica che dovrebbe caratterizzare un romanzo simile.
Per quanto riguarda l'ambientazione storica, in questo caso il Medioevo, l'autrice è stata molto accurata nelle sue ricerche e quello che era frutto della sua fantasia è stato menzionato dalla stessa in una nota finale.
Alla storia dei due protagonisti s'intreccia la storia d'amore della cugina di lei e l'amico di battaglie di lui che rendono il romanzo meno triste. Inoltre non manca l'elemento d'avventura e di mistero che però diventa visibile solo nelle ultime pagine. Altra stranezza è questo mistero della morte del bambino di Galeran che continua ad essere menzionato ma che alla fine si rivela solo una fatalità senza però un'effettiva spiegazione.

[Kim! · Rating 4 out of 5]

TWs: infertility, infidelity, period-typical misogyny, abuse between MCs, child death
Ages: MMC is 25, FMC is 2 months older; side couple MMC is 28, FMC is 18

The main relationship in this book is both unique and interesting. MMC is a crusader who has been gone for ~2 years. He returns to find the child he never met deceased & his wife having recently bourne another man's child. MMC struggles with the betrayal, FMC struggles with the guilt. All the characters are religious and it informs a lot of their thinking. There is some emotionally heavy material regarding infertility and child death - painful, but very engaging. Their story is written as two people who already love each other trying to rebuild trust. I loved the MMC's devotion, although he does occasionally veer into, "well, I really should beat my wife and/or take her baby away, I just don't want to." There is very little POV from the FMC, but I loved the way she was written, and it was clear to me that she was devoted to MMC as well.

There is another couple with almost equal page time. Their relationship is very generic - it's your average historical age gap with a virginal/proper FMC who resists the advances of the handsome older man who sleeps around. They are interesting at times but mainly boring imo, especially at the end.

[CP · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one surprised me- the story showed the complexity of a marriage in the aftermath of adultery and a long absence. It had a hero you could feel empathy for as he grappled with conflicting emotions towards his wife and also his desire to do the right thing. Not a perfect cardboard character and I appreciate that the author created a hero that wasn't anything like the overbearing and brutal (often violent or even sadistic) men you find in so many romance novels (especially in the medieval romances). He had his faults yet strived to be a better person and truly forgive a great betrayal. It was more difficult to relate to the heroine but at the same time this reflects the mystery of human character. The different challenges faced by the couple spanned both internal and external conflicts and a lot of care was put into the historical details and creating love scenes that weren't crude or filled with purple prose. The romance between the secondary characters Aline and Raoul was also charming and sweet. The relationships here didn't seem ridiculous or utterly toxic and it was refreshing. It was an enjoyable read that pushed beyond the usual fantasy escape and cliches that you often expect.

[Holly Lenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t help but think of the Odyssey when reading the Shattered Rose. When Odysseus came home, he found his wife surrounded with suitors, he had to fight his way through them. But Penelope was true, while the same cannot be said of the heroine in this story. Another story that the book brought to mind was that of Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot. In fact, there is a man much like Lancelot in this story.

This is an unusual period romance with adultery in the center of things. The period is medieval and many of the traditions seem odd. I was not able to find references to some of them online, so I am curious as to their accuracy. The history however, while mostly previously unknown to me, seems to be accurate.

I enjoyed the story, but more In the main characters, I particularly liked the secondary love story that was included in the book.

Contains graphic sex scenes. Recommended for mature readers only.

"I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review."

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Returning from the Crusades, instead of the reunion he expected with his beautiful wife, he discovers her holding another man's child and his keep under siege. Galeran is an honorable man with a deep-seated sense of justice, but he nevertheless finds it difficult to mete out the punishment his wife deserves. My heart ached for Galeran and I felt his pain. Jehanne was harder to like. In the opening chapters, she is described as an entitled, selfish young lady. Her actions in her husband's absence are understandable but no less selfish. In this regard, I had many questions, and they were not answered. Ultimately, although this book does come to a successful conclusion, one realizes that there was more at play than Jehanne's adulterous affair, as the power struggle between the Crown and the Church comes under the spotlight. I found parts of this novel difficult to read and was appalled, but glad that Galeran at least, eventually found peace. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.

[Joycee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading in fits and starts made the story plod, in my opinion. Now that I’m traveling, I was able to finish the last 40% or so in more of a stretch.

The relatively uninterrupted reading helped me enjoy the tale more, I think. Or maybe it was more that the twists and revelations seemed reasonable & added excitement & unpredictability - I.e., they didn’t seem ridiculous to detract from the story.

I appreciated the author’s notes at the end - although these times are by no means perfect, they seem better than those in which the story took place - or maybe I just naively ignore or am ignorant of places nowadays where a dictator can, seemingly on a whim, send an adulterous woman to a convent for punishment (and a church official can demand corporal punishment for the same infraction).

On to the rest of the series, even if out of order.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book very much. Who wouldn’t like Galeran of Haywood, he was a brave and caring man. It seemed as though his experiences in the Holy Land affected his attitude. I did find the reasons for Jehanne’s behaviour a bit confusing but it seemed to be part of her character. She didn’t act in the normal way expected of women, at this time. There is a second romance in the story and this had plenty of amusing banter. The religious beliefs were explained, as well as the political situation and the story gave the reader a feeling of what it was like to live in this era. I found the author’s notes at the back to be interesting. I received a copy via eBooks Discovery and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Book · Rating 1 out of 5]

0/5 stars. Jehanne was smug, unrepentent and annoying. I don't think she ever loved Galeran (she was more concerned for Raymond). Galeran is a pushover, he forgives Jehanne for everything (and is NEVER mad). He has no backbone. The author means to write this off as some kind of powerful love but it's really gross how adultery is glorified. I get it's the Medieval Ages but jfc clearly modern elements are used in the writing thus I can critique it with a modern lens. Also, the Gallot's death is really fishy, Jehanne is a stone cold bitch. The entire novel left a sour taste. What a waste of time.

[Noel Church · Rating 1 out of 5]

Confusing and questionable

This book seems like a naughty Catholic romance book. Which makes the intended audience confusing. Additionally, the time period and the word choice in this book seem suspiciously modern making it hard to stay in the setting.

Perhaps if this book was set in a different time it could work. Perhaps if it decided to have either fade to gray intimacy scenes with the Catholic elements or remove the religious context have the more steamy love scenes, this book would make sense.

In short, this book isn't as good as some of the other books by this author so pass on it. ,