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Castle #2
Castles in the Air
The same ISBN can be found here with a new cover.
BOUND BY THE KING...
The document, signed and sealed by King Henry himself, commanded Lady Juliana of Lofts to marry Raymond, Count of Avrache.
SHATTERED BY THE PAST...
She refused, though it was treason to defy one's king. What man would have her if he knew her secrets?
ONE KNIGHT WOULD CRUSADE FOR HIS LADY'S HEART...
Yet Raymond would not be denied. And when he came for her, she'd learn that even the strongest will cannot resist the softest touch.
BOUND BY THE KING...
The document, signed and sealed by King Henry himself, commanded Lady Juliana of Lofts to marry Raymond, Count of Avrache.
SHATTERED BY THE PAST...
She refused, though it was treason to defy one's king. What man would have her if he knew her secrets?
ONE KNIGHT WOULD CRUSADE FOR HIS LADY'S HEART...
Yet Raymond would not be denied. And when he came for her, she'd learn that even the strongest will cannot resist the softest touch.
419 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1993
107 people are currently reading
1043 people want to read
About the author
Christina Dodd
103 books5,915 followersUpcoming:
— 6/30/26 TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN: Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #3 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
New and Now!
—MUCH ADO ABOUT MISTLETOE: Daughter of Montague Christmas novella https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— THUS WITH A KISS I DIE Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #2
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA Historical Fiction Trade Paperback Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
— WELCOME TO GOTHIC: A Gothic novella in ebook (at last!) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— WHAT DREAMS MAY COME Daughter of Montague novella 1.5 "I’m the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn’t die in the tomb…" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— GIRL ANONYMOUS “Crackling sexual chemistry and a few love scenes guaranteed to scorch readers’ fingers as they turn the pages." — ⭐️ Booklist
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Readers become writers, and Christina has always been a reader. Ultimately she discovered she liked to read romance best because the relationship between a man and a woman is always humorous. A woman wants world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants a Craftsman router, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will make his bald spot disappear.
When Christina’s first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?
Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before she was published. Now her suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700 lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,” including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge.
Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover) at christinadodd.com. For more information on A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, visit daughterofmontague.com. Her legions of fans know that when they pick up a Christina Dodd book, they'll find the story, "Wildly entertaining, wickedly witty!"
Christina is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.
(Source: http://www.christinadodd.com )
— 6/30/26 TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN: Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #3 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
New and Now!
—MUCH ADO ABOUT MISTLETOE: Daughter of Montague Christmas novella https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— THUS WITH A KISS I DIE Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #2
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA Historical Fiction Trade Paperback Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
— WELCOME TO GOTHIC: A Gothic novella in ebook (at last!) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— WHAT DREAMS MAY COME Daughter of Montague novella 1.5 "I’m the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn’t die in the tomb…" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— GIRL ANONYMOUS “Crackling sexual chemistry and a few love scenes guaranteed to scorch readers’ fingers as they turn the pages." — ⭐️ Booklist
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Readers become writers, and Christina has always been a reader. Ultimately she discovered she liked to read romance best because the relationship between a man and a woman is always humorous. A woman wants world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants a Craftsman router, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will make his bald spot disappear.
When Christina’s first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?
Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before she was published. Now her suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700 lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,” including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge.
Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover) at christinadodd.com. For more information on A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, visit daughterofmontague.com. Her legions of fans know that when they pick up a Christina Dodd book, they'll find the story, "Wildly entertaining, wickedly witty!"
Christina is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.
(Source: http://www.christinadodd.com )
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 24, 2016
Es el segundo libro que leo de esta autora y me vuelve a asombrar el realismo con que describe la crudeza de las condiciones de vida en la época medieval; sobre todo cuando detalla las características de los castillos y cómo se desarrolla el día a día de las personas que viven dentro de estas fortalezas, tanto de criados como señores.
A pesar de que no destaca especialmente dentro de las novelas del género romántico, la historia es encantadora, avanza con mucha fluidez y los personajes son entrañables, en especial la pareja principal. Además, tiene su buena dosis de intriga. Si hay que encontrarle algún pero a este libro, es la traducción -hay algunos párrafos que se sienten pasados por el traductor de Google-, pero afortunadamente no al punto que impida disfrutar la lectura.
Encontré muy bueno el recurso de la autora de establecer como situación constante dentro de la historia la construcción de un muro, que es la que da pie a los acontecimientos, acompaña durante toda la novela, e influye en el feliz desenlace.
A pesar de que no destaca especialmente dentro de las novelas del género romántico, la historia es encantadora, avanza con mucha fluidez y los personajes son entrañables, en especial la pareja principal. Además, tiene su buena dosis de intriga. Si hay que encontrarle algún pero a este libro, es la traducción -hay algunos párrafos que se sienten pasados por el traductor de Google-, pero afortunadamente no al punto que impida disfrutar la lectura.
Encontré muy bueno el recurso de la autora de establecer como situación constante dentro de la historia la construcción de un muro, que es la que da pie a los acontecimientos, acompaña durante toda la novela, e influye en el feliz desenlace.
March 1, 2020
I don't know whether it is sleep deprivation, after-effects of a nightmare or that this book simply was not good, but nope.
The H and h were boring, and too noble, and too...I don't know I as I had to skim. I was looking forward to one of Christina Dodd's more fanciful fictions and instead got a wannabe bodice ripper with betrayal and longing and zzzzz.
I wouldn't have been surprised to have an epilogue where some historian or tourist looks down at the tomb of the now dead lovers and remarks on their long lives or something. It was that kind of fun times.
I probably need to give one of her newer books a try, but I have a hard time switching genres within one author's efforts.
The H and h were boring, and too noble, and too...I don't know I as I had to skim. I was looking forward to one of Christina Dodd's more fanciful fictions and instead got a wannabe bodice ripper with betrayal and longing and zzzzz.
I wouldn't have been surprised to have an epilogue where some historian or tourist looks down at the tomb of the now dead lovers and remarks on their long lives or something. It was that kind of fun times.
I probably need to give one of her newer books a try, but I have a hard time switching genres within one author's efforts.
October 21, 2020
Castles in the Air was a complete cover-buy because of the accidental misprint glory...if you look at the heroine she has 3 arms! 🤣 I was so excited when I found this copy at a teeny used bookstore recently. If you haven’t looked up the backstory on this misprinted cover then you have to visit the author’s website or google “Christina Dodd 3 armed heroine” and read her story on how she found out about the misprint, it’s so much fun! While the covers changed on future printings, people still search for this first edition and I was so excited to find one! So while I always hear/see people talking about the cover, I hadn’t seen many talking about what the actual story was, so I decided to give it a read!
This story takes place in England in 1166 and drops you right into the action with the heroine being thrown over a horse and taken away by the hero. Juliana is an heiress with 2 castles and a lot of land. Land that the King wants so he arranges that one of his knights, Sir Raymond, will marry her. Juliana is a widowed single mother who’s life has been controlled by men in her family. After being captured & enslaved during the Crusades, Raymond returned home feeling like he isn’t think fit to be a knight, let alone marry, own land and be a lord over tenants. After they initially meet, Juliana thinks Raymond is the master castle builder she requested from the King & he decides to go along with it to use the time to find out more about his reluctant bride, her lands, and people. Things naturally get complicated once the actual castle builder shows up and Raymond has some explaining to do. 🤣
This book was published in the early 1990s & has a dated vibe w/ loads of heavy content (kidnapping, being captured/tortured/enslaved, talk of rape/sexual violence, abuse from parents, and lots of other trauma from the hero & heroine’s past). I left wanting more romance between the couple and less from the side characters & plots. Things I liked: all the castle building talk. It was fun to see Juliana’s input on the location of the kitchen & how people thought her ideas too radical. I liked that Raymond wanted Juliana’s children to like him & was bothered that they didn’t at first. It was cute seeing him come up with ways to win them over & seeing him teach her daughters self-defense.
This story takes place in England in 1166 and drops you right into the action with the heroine being thrown over a horse and taken away by the hero. Juliana is an heiress with 2 castles and a lot of land. Land that the King wants so he arranges that one of his knights, Sir Raymond, will marry her. Juliana is a widowed single mother who’s life has been controlled by men in her family. After being captured & enslaved during the Crusades, Raymond returned home feeling like he isn’t think fit to be a knight, let alone marry, own land and be a lord over tenants. After they initially meet, Juliana thinks Raymond is the master castle builder she requested from the King & he decides to go along with it to use the time to find out more about his reluctant bride, her lands, and people. Things naturally get complicated once the actual castle builder shows up and Raymond has some explaining to do. 🤣
This book was published in the early 1990s & has a dated vibe w/ loads of heavy content (kidnapping, being captured/tortured/enslaved, talk of rape/sexual violence, abuse from parents, and lots of other trauma from the hero & heroine’s past). I left wanting more romance between the couple and less from the side characters & plots. Things I liked: all the castle building talk. It was fun to see Juliana’s input on the location of the kitchen & how people thought her ideas too radical. I liked that Raymond wanted Juliana’s children to like him & was bothered that they didn’t at first. It was cute seeing him come up with ways to win them over & seeing him teach her daughters self-defense.
May 21, 2009
This was a good read, not great, but there was nothing really wrong with it either. If you're a fan of Julie Garwood-type medieval-lite I think this would be for you.
December 7, 2011
England - 1166 - Henry and Eleanor, France and England - trying to unite under one king... the failing crusades... knights and knight's codes.
Lady Juliana of Lofts, only heir of her father, a father who loved her, but he was a weak man and easily manipuled by his half bastard brother,Joseph, who functioned as the head man-at-arms... she was wedded to a weakling (gaining another estate for her father) - bore 2 children and he died. Joseph decided she should marry Felix, a weak nobleman, and engineered her kidnapping so as to compromise her and force her to marry Felix... but she fought him, and escaped his keep... but returning home, refusing to marry Felix, Joseph manipulated her father and others to believe she was a whore - cutting off her hair. Father died, and King Henry decrees she is to marry Raymond of Avrache, a favored knight of his. She (also through the manipulation of Joseph) avoids/postpones going to court to marry Raymond, and Raymond is made a fool and the king sends him to her (2 years after his decree) to marry her or else. The king wants Raymond on her lands as they are a barrier against possible invasion.
Raymond comes with his own luggage... his controlling, cold parents remind him of his lofty heritage, but do not give him his inheritance or even an allowance... he adopted the moral code of knighthood taught by his foster knight, and went to fight the Saracens - where he was captured, collared, tortured, and lost... though he did manage to coordinate an escape with 2 older women (circus performers) and other knights, stealing a ship.
When he comes to Lofts, he finds Juliana making her way back to the keep by herself in a snow storm - and he kidnaps her, taking her to an abandoned cabin. She fights him tooth and nail, and earns his respect. He confines her, but cares for her, keeping her warm and fed. IN the morning, with her virtue in tact, she reexamines her impressions of him, and decides he must be the master castle wall builder the king promised to send her, and he steps into the role, thinking that would allow her to come to trust him (yeah, while he's lying to her?)...
We get glimpses into life in a castle keep - the lack of privacy (though he builds them a solar on the floor above for their bedroom) - once she finds out he is her betrothal (when the real wall builder shows up), he shares her bed, though doesn't have sex with her, only touches a bit more each night, bringing her to the brink - and he plans their wedding for christmas day... the kitchen in a keep is generally separate from the hall so as to contain its fires - but she designs a space below the hall for a kitchen... hmmm
and they both struggle with their demons, and with the attraction they feel for one another, and with the respect and love they start to feel for one another... he pieces together the clues of what happened to her, and 'cleanses' her with snow on the wedding night, cleansing her of her shame... he shares a bit of his shame at failing to be the strong knight, but not all... her girls come to love him, and call him papa (his first conversations with them include how brave they are like their mother). They do struggle with trust and responsibility - he is her husband, and she should concede control of her lands to him if she fully trusted him to care and protect them... but for her,they are her lands, and she knows them and what is best for them...
Joseph rears his ugly head again, kidnapping her daughter, using Raymond's squire - killing Raymond's squire... on the mad dash to rescue her daughter, Juliana insists on going, Raymond is hurt by this - and when he hears mercenary knights near, he tricks her into a hut and locks her in, and confronts the knights alone. She escapes, finds the squire, who dies in her arms (and she comforts and counsels him and forgives him)... she finds Raymond, againlocked in a collar and staked with chains around a tree - he is splintered, berserking, struggling in vain - she is not horrified by his loss of power, but wants to calm him to help him... and she does calm him... and Keir (one of the knights who escaped with him, and who follows him) frees him (though with an axe, and there are a few minutes where it is questionable if he will do him bodily harm in the release)... they go to Felix's keep to rescue her daughter, sneak in the way she escaped, and she stabs Joseph, and Raymond finishes him off.
and Raymond, shamed that she saw him broken, makes plans to leave her... but he gets the news his parents are dead, and he has inherited, and then queen Eleanor and entourage come to see what's happening... and she forbids Raymond from leaving.
In the meantime, Raymond is building that wall in spite of the warnings of the king's master wall builder (wrong time of year, not the right materials, digging/mortar issues, etc.). He is avoiding Juliana, though she has made it clear she is not frightened of him after seeing him out of control... and it is time to christen the wall, and the queen et all tromp out through the mud... and he presents her with a stone he had carved for the wall of a bear - his crest... and she confronts him about not leaving... how much she needs him, and confessing some of her fears as to why he is distant (doesn’t need her lands anymore, doesn’t need her)... and he agrees to stay, but still at a distance - and she calls him to task for his pride - that in it all he never gave up his pride enough to forgive himself for being human; that though she trusts him with their safety and his courage, he does not trust himself - and it convicts him... then the master builder comes with dire warnings that the wall will fall... and sure enough, it starts to crumble - and Raymond pushes Juliana to safety, and from the ground she begins to laugh - making fun of him being a master wall builder - and after a moment he joins in, and hugs her, and kisses her... and all will be right.
Lady Juliana of Lofts, only heir of her father, a father who loved her, but he was a weak man and easily manipuled by his half bastard brother,Joseph, who functioned as the head man-at-arms... she was wedded to a weakling (gaining another estate for her father) - bore 2 children and he died. Joseph decided she should marry Felix, a weak nobleman, and engineered her kidnapping so as to compromise her and force her to marry Felix... but she fought him, and escaped his keep... but returning home, refusing to marry Felix, Joseph manipulated her father and others to believe she was a whore - cutting off her hair. Father died, and King Henry decrees she is to marry Raymond of Avrache, a favored knight of his. She (also through the manipulation of Joseph) avoids/postpones going to court to marry Raymond, and Raymond is made a fool and the king sends him to her (2 years after his decree) to marry her or else. The king wants Raymond on her lands as they are a barrier against possible invasion.
Raymond comes with his own luggage... his controlling, cold parents remind him of his lofty heritage, but do not give him his inheritance or even an allowance... he adopted the moral code of knighthood taught by his foster knight, and went to fight the Saracens - where he was captured, collared, tortured, and lost... though he did manage to coordinate an escape with 2 older women (circus performers) and other knights, stealing a ship.
When he comes to Lofts, he finds Juliana making her way back to the keep by herself in a snow storm - and he kidnaps her, taking her to an abandoned cabin. She fights him tooth and nail, and earns his respect. He confines her, but cares for her, keeping her warm and fed. IN the morning, with her virtue in tact, she reexamines her impressions of him, and decides he must be the master castle wall builder the king promised to send her, and he steps into the role, thinking that would allow her to come to trust him (yeah, while he's lying to her?)...
We get glimpses into life in a castle keep - the lack of privacy (though he builds them a solar on the floor above for their bedroom) - once she finds out he is her betrothal (when the real wall builder shows up), he shares her bed, though doesn't have sex with her, only touches a bit more each night, bringing her to the brink - and he plans their wedding for christmas day... the kitchen in a keep is generally separate from the hall so as to contain its fires - but she designs a space below the hall for a kitchen... hmmm
and they both struggle with their demons, and with the attraction they feel for one another, and with the respect and love they start to feel for one another... he pieces together the clues of what happened to her, and 'cleanses' her with snow on the wedding night, cleansing her of her shame... he shares a bit of his shame at failing to be the strong knight, but not all... her girls come to love him, and call him papa (his first conversations with them include how brave they are like their mother). They do struggle with trust and responsibility - he is her husband, and she should concede control of her lands to him if she fully trusted him to care and protect them... but for her,they are her lands, and she knows them and what is best for them...
Joseph rears his ugly head again, kidnapping her daughter, using Raymond's squire - killing Raymond's squire... on the mad dash to rescue her daughter, Juliana insists on going, Raymond is hurt by this - and when he hears mercenary knights near, he tricks her into a hut and locks her in, and confronts the knights alone. She escapes, finds the squire, who dies in her arms (and she comforts and counsels him and forgives him)... she finds Raymond, againlocked in a collar and staked with chains around a tree - he is splintered, berserking, struggling in vain - she is not horrified by his loss of power, but wants to calm him to help him... and she does calm him... and Keir (one of the knights who escaped with him, and who follows him) frees him (though with an axe, and there are a few minutes where it is questionable if he will do him bodily harm in the release)... they go to Felix's keep to rescue her daughter, sneak in the way she escaped, and she stabs Joseph, and Raymond finishes him off.
and Raymond, shamed that she saw him broken, makes plans to leave her... but he gets the news his parents are dead, and he has inherited, and then queen Eleanor and entourage come to see what's happening... and she forbids Raymond from leaving.
In the meantime, Raymond is building that wall in spite of the warnings of the king's master wall builder (wrong time of year, not the right materials, digging/mortar issues, etc.). He is avoiding Juliana, though she has made it clear she is not frightened of him after seeing him out of control... and it is time to christen the wall, and the queen et all tromp out through the mud... and he presents her with a stone he had carved for the wall of a bear - his crest... and she confronts him about not leaving... how much she needs him, and confessing some of her fears as to why he is distant (doesn’t need her lands anymore, doesn’t need her)... and he agrees to stay, but still at a distance - and she calls him to task for his pride - that in it all he never gave up his pride enough to forgive himself for being human; that though she trusts him with their safety and his courage, he does not trust himself - and it convicts him... then the master builder comes with dire warnings that the wall will fall... and sure enough, it starts to crumble - and Raymond pushes Juliana to safety, and from the ground she begins to laugh - making fun of him being a master wall builder - and after a moment he joins in, and hugs her, and kisses her... and all will be right.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2010
I could not finish this book. And it started so great! After the first 50 pages or so things began to go wrong. The heroine is so annoying and selfish and I just couldn't find some aspects of her character believable, especially since she suffered a trauma. And some of the scenes seemed a little weird to me. The characters didn't react naturally and the dialogs weren't always that great. The hero is ok.
Maybe I should have finished it. Maybe it has a nice ending. But after forcing myself to read more than two thirds of the book I couldn't take it anymore.
And I really like Christina Dodd's regency books. I'm truly sorry I couldn't like this one. Well, maybe it's because when she wrote this she was a beginner.
Maybe I should have finished it. Maybe it has a nice ending. But after forcing myself to read more than two thirds of the book I couldn't take it anymore.
And I really like Christina Dodd's regency books. I'm truly sorry I couldn't like this one. Well, maybe it's because when she wrote this she was a beginner.
February 5, 2016
Unexpectedly satisfying! I was interested in reading it based on the blurb and the more I read it, the more I was caught up in the lives of Lady Juliana and Raymond.
The romance is well-paced and realistic. It starts of one way and you think you know how it will go but the plot thickens and you end up caring about them and their relationship (how important it is to the both of these characters; the development of their relationship is my favorite part - it brings to mind the idiom: "slowly but surely").
The characters are flawed and unabashedly human. Lady Juliana and Raymond both have their strengths and weaknesses and how this plays out in the story is a delight to read.
I plan to re-read this after I finish my 2016 challenge.
The romance is well-paced and realistic. It starts of one way and you think you know how it will go but the plot thickens and you end up caring about them and their relationship (how important it is to the both of these characters; the development of their relationship is my favorite part - it brings to mind the idiom: "slowly but surely").
The characters are flawed and unabashedly human. Lady Juliana and Raymond both have their strengths and weaknesses and how this plays out in the story is a delight to read.
I plan to re-read this after I finish my 2016 challenge.
February 9, 2019
La historia que nos plantea la escritora me gustó, la lectura es amena.
Aunque he de decir que a mi gusto, hay algunos momentos de la historia que están demás o sentí que no aportaban nada a la historia. Con todo y eso, me gustó mucho las descripciones de los lugares y momentos; porque te hacen meterte mas en la historia.
Aunque he de decir que a mi gusto, hay algunos momentos de la historia que están demás o sentí que no aportaban nada a la historia. Con todo y eso, me gustó mucho las descripciones de los lugares y momentos; porque te hacen meterte mas en la historia.
December 7, 2015
I love this Medieval Romance feturing an arranged marriage. The historical details of castle buidling are wonderful. I think the reason this is a 5 star comfort read of me is the immersion in the word.
So very good!
So very good!
October 17, 2016
I'm pulling the plug on this one because I just got a whole bag of free books at the NJ RWA chapter conference. It's a good medieval, as far as I can see.
March 30, 2019
I don't know why I keep trying to read romance. Not the worst I've ever read, but not really worth finishing either.
May 8, 2013
Y'know... sometimes, you just like an author. I think I just like Christina Dodd. I recognized the name, picked up the book, and... it was a pleasant few hours of reading, after that.
Lady Juliana has an issue: Namely Sir Joseph, a bastard cousin who manipulates everyone and everything in order to get hold of lands that don't belong to him. He's been the bane of her life for as long as she can remember.
Sir Raymond has an issue: He was 'broken' as a slave by the Seracens during the Crusades, and believes he is no longer fit to be a knight, let alone own lands and Lord over villages.
Yet King Henry demands Raymond and Juliana wed. Juliana ignores the command. Raymond, not liking his lot, but determined to do right by his king with what's left of his honor, goes off to meet the lady.
The beginning sucked. I *HATE* it when a book starts in the middle of an action scene. I don't know who they are, what's going on, or even the conditions around them - just this woman thrown over a horse, and it rankles me. But I gritted thru it, and it was worth it. Raymond found Juliana, and when she believes he's the master castle builder she requested the king send her, he goes along with the ruse, in order to get a feel for his bride-to-be and what's going on with her lands, her people, and her family.
From there, he and his ex-captive Crusade companions (including two witches and a man he counted as best friend) build a wall... which is quite something - sending the REAL master castle builder into heart palpitations. There are demonic parents, brainless neighbors, evil relatives, a lovesick boy, and a lot of fun laughs, high adventures, and... and... it was good.
I couldn't give it five stars, because Juliana was nothing special (and even kind of annoying).
Lady Juliana has an issue: Namely Sir Joseph, a bastard cousin who manipulates everyone and everything in order to get hold of lands that don't belong to him. He's been the bane of her life for as long as she can remember.
Sir Raymond has an issue: He was 'broken' as a slave by the Seracens during the Crusades, and believes he is no longer fit to be a knight, let alone own lands and Lord over villages.
Yet King Henry demands Raymond and Juliana wed. Juliana ignores the command. Raymond, not liking his lot, but determined to do right by his king with what's left of his honor, goes off to meet the lady.
The beginning sucked. I *HATE* it when a book starts in the middle of an action scene. I don't know who they are, what's going on, or even the conditions around them - just this woman thrown over a horse, and it rankles me. But I gritted thru it, and it was worth it. Raymond found Juliana, and when she believes he's the master castle builder she requested the king send her, he goes along with the ruse, in order to get a feel for his bride-to-be and what's going on with her lands, her people, and her family.
From there, he and his ex-captive Crusade companions (including two witches and a man he counted as best friend) build a wall... which is quite something - sending the REAL master castle builder into heart palpitations. There are demonic parents, brainless neighbors, evil relatives, a lovesick boy, and a lot of fun laughs, high adventures, and... and... it was good.
I couldn't give it five stars, because Juliana was nothing special (and even kind of annoying).
November 10, 2009
I bought this book at the store for the single reason that the first line says, "She had all her teeth."
I thought for sure I would like this book and hoped to love it. First of all it takes place in England in the 1100's. Some of my favorite books that I've read take place during that time, but by a different author. Also, I loved the first sentence of the book (see above). A book starting out that way has to be great, right? Wrong!!
I found this book to be too wordy and there was too much going on in the story and too many references to "secrets" and things the reader had no clue on. It was not easy to follow and the physical tension between the h/h was no good at all. The love scenes were summed up and it just was not rewarding at all.
I suppose I should give this author another shot, but not any time soon. I need a book that has wording that makes sense and a storyline that I can follow. Oh well, can't love them all. :(
I thought for sure I would like this book and hoped to love it. First of all it takes place in England in the 1100's. Some of my favorite books that I've read take place during that time, but by a different author. Also, I loved the first sentence of the book (see above). A book starting out that way has to be great, right? Wrong!!
I found this book to be too wordy and there was too much going on in the story and too many references to "secrets" and things the reader had no clue on. It was not easy to follow and the physical tension between the h/h was no good at all. The love scenes were summed up and it just was not rewarding at all.
I suppose I should give this author another shot, but not any time soon. I need a book that has wording that makes sense and a storyline that I can follow. Oh well, can't love them all. :(
October 17, 2012
I liked this book more than I expected. Some reviewers were disappointed in Juliana and thought Raymond too soft. I had a different picture of Raymond from Candle in the Window but I was not disappointed with him. He was a treasure from beginning to end although I did not understand his self-loathing near the end. I guess it's because I'm not male and not a knight. Juliana was not a typical heroine. Yes, she was stubborn and courageous and all that, but she also had a sense of honor that is not generally written into a female role. She vacillated quite a bit between confidence and impotence which is characteristic of a strong personality that has been damaged by abuse. And she has been abused, no doubt about that.
There are some great supporting characters in the story with a cameo by Queen Eleanor. Juliana has two daughters who add to the story along with a young squire whose story is heart wrenching.
There are some great supporting characters in the story with a cameo by Queen Eleanor. Juliana has two daughters who add to the story along with a young squire whose story is heart wrenching.
October 25, 2015
I read this awhile ago but I never rated it on here.
April 23, 2020
I enjoyed reading.
December 22, 2019
I actually stopped reading at 262.... If it wasn't for the beautiful cover of the book I wouldn't even go this far... I wanted to go on but it really bores me a lot. T.T I hate to say it because Christina Dood is really a good author of HR and I love many of her works but this one isn't one of those books. T T
March 28, 2025
3 stars don’t know why but this did not give me warm fuzzies, could not connect with H/h. Dark secrets, kidnappings, villains, all kinds of adventure but it did not work for me.
February 10, 2017
Al igual que su antecesor, "Una luz en la ventana" es un libro fácil de leer y con una trama bastante lineal y nada complicada.
Raymond, al que ya conocimos en el primer libro, es un personaje que ha pasado por muchas cosas desagradables, Fue a luchar las Cruzadas y volvió lleno de cicatrices, no solo físicas, sino también psicológicas debido al cautiverio que sufrió durante un tiempo. Juliana, por otro lado, se quedó viuda a la edad de 18 años, y lleva 10 años cuidando de sus tierras y de sus hijas con gran devoción, pero guardando un terrible secreto que hizo que le tuviera un miedo atroz a los hombre y por ello no confíe en ninguno para volver a casarse y dejar su cuerpo y su vida a su merced. Pero todo esto cambia cuando conoce a Raymond. En él si es capaz de "confiar" hasta un punto amigable y con el paso del tiempo llega a convencerse de que es de fiar, pero debido a su miedo y a que varias personas que quieren apoderarse de sus tierras y por lo tanto, no quieren que el matrimonio se lleve a cabo, Juliana empieza una lucha entre su mente y su corazón que Raymond tendrá que ganar para poder conseguir a la mujer a la que ama.
Es un libro que me ha gustado bastante, aunque no a la altura del primero. Raymond es un personaje bien construido, pero tiene algunas incoherencias en su carácter, al igual que Juliana, que parece que se enamora de él más por el modo en que es en la cama que fuera de ella. Por lo que la historia romántica chirría en algunos puntos para mi gusto. Sobre todo más adelante del libro, cuando ambos conocen los secretos de cada uno y aún así hay diálogos o comportamientos en los que te preguntas si esa relación podría durar si no fuera lo que es, una novela romántica con final feliz. Aún a pesar de esos "momentos chirriantes", recomiendo su lectura, ya que la ambientación está muy bien echa (hay algunos elementos un poco fantasiosos), los personajes secundarios son están bastante bien construidos y el final es de los más bonitos que he leído de esta autora.
Raymond, al que ya conocimos en el primer libro, es un personaje que ha pasado por muchas cosas desagradables, Fue a luchar las Cruzadas y volvió lleno de cicatrices, no solo físicas, sino también psicológicas debido al cautiverio que sufrió durante un tiempo. Juliana, por otro lado, se quedó viuda a la edad de 18 años, y lleva 10 años cuidando de sus tierras y de sus hijas con gran devoción, pero guardando un terrible secreto que hizo que le tuviera un miedo atroz a los hombre y por ello no confíe en ninguno para volver a casarse y dejar su cuerpo y su vida a su merced. Pero todo esto cambia cuando conoce a Raymond. En él si es capaz de "confiar" hasta un punto amigable y con el paso del tiempo llega a convencerse de que es de fiar, pero debido a su miedo y a que varias personas que quieren apoderarse de sus tierras y por lo tanto, no quieren que el matrimonio se lleve a cabo, Juliana empieza una lucha entre su mente y su corazón que Raymond tendrá que ganar para poder conseguir a la mujer a la que ama.
Es un libro que me ha gustado bastante, aunque no a la altura del primero. Raymond es un personaje bien construido, pero tiene algunas incoherencias en su carácter, al igual que Juliana, que parece que se enamora de él más por el modo en que es en la cama que fuera de ella. Por lo que la historia romántica chirría en algunos puntos para mi gusto. Sobre todo más adelante del libro, cuando ambos conocen los secretos de cada uno y aún así hay diálogos o comportamientos en los que te preguntas si esa relación podría durar si no fuera lo que es, una novela romántica con final feliz. Aún a pesar de esos "momentos chirriantes", recomiendo su lectura, ya que la ambientación está muy bien echa (hay algunos elementos un poco fantasiosos), los personajes secundarios son están bastante bien construidos y el final es de los más bonitos que he leído de esta autora.
November 14, 2016
I finished Castles in the Air last night but I find it hard to review it, because I just don’t get the book. I can’t even work out if (parts of) the book are supposed to be funny and just don’t connect to my sense of humour, or if some of the characters are completely over the top for no particular reason. I don’t get Juliana; she seems to be all over the place. I don’t get Raymond who doesn’t seem very consistent either. I don’t get the romance, not that there’s much of it anyway. I don’t get the wedding in the middle of the book (always problematic). I don’t get the sort of kidnap at the beginning. I don’t get the continuous threat of sexual violence. I don’t get why Raymond is supposed to be a good guy just because he doesn’t force himself on Juliana. I don’t get why there’s this big intrigue/suspense plot line. I don’t get why the awful people don’t just get kicked out of the castle.
Not my book.
Both the story and the writing are clearly old-school, and I was actually surprised the book is from 1993 because it felt older to me. Once again I’m so glad that the romance genre has evolved and that there’s an alternative to books like this.
Not my book.
Both the story and the writing are clearly old-school, and I was actually surprised the book is from 1993 because it felt older to me. Once again I’m so glad that the romance genre has evolved and that there’s an alternative to books like this.
May 29, 2025
This is a sequel to Candle in the Window, but it can be read as a standalone, as it is set years after book one. Raymond has been through a lot since Henry was crowned King and this affects his initial interactions with Juliana. Juliana’s background also affects their first meeting. How Raymond manages to soothe and tame Juliana, makes for a wonderful story. I loved the result of the celebration at the new Castle Wall. Don’t miss this one.
February 4, 2010
This historical fiction was set farther back than my normal reads which I enjoyed. It takes place in the 1100s right after the crusades. I enjoyed all the characters and their interaction with eachother. Dodd always writes both romantically and humorously so I enjoy her style. It was nice to have a great light read.
Read
August 29, 2022Two very damaged souls find each other in 12th century England and have to overcome their damage and mistrust to make a marriage work. In typical Christina Dodd fashion, it is all done with humor and grace. I loved it.
November 19, 2019
I wanted to love it, but alas, it was a DNF for me.
June 3, 2021
A nice change, a man who is gentle.
January 7, 2022
I enjoyed the romance and the passion. The book is well worth reading.
May 13, 2017
Esperaba un poquito más de este libro, yo diría que la puntuación son 2.5 estrellas.
No es porque sea malo, sigue en la línea de la autora, pero puede ser que no lo leyese en el momento idóneo.
El comienzo del libro me descolocó un poco porque no se correspondía con la sinopsis, los protagonistas son fáciles de ubicar, pero el resto de personajes... son muchos, no entiendo las funciones que tienen, por qué pueden pegarle e insultar a su señora, el miedo de Juliana al exterior, etc
La ambientación es buena, no sé si era exactamente así la vida en la época, pero esta autora siempre trata de mostrarnos esa vida medieval, así como el trato con sus personajes. Debido a esto, hay comentarios del tipo "estamos casados y eres mía, este castillo es mío, tus hijas son mías, tus tierras ahora son mías..." Este tipo de cosas que supongo que vienen dadas por ese momento histórico.
Me gusta cómo se describe ese castillo, los quehaceres diarios y demás.
Las historias de esta escritora siempre tienen un final con algo de acción y este no iba a ser menos, pero sobre todo se centra en la relación de los personajes. Esta relación, así como otras que he leído de Dodd, a mí no me parece que juegue mucho con la tensión. Ella se siente atraída por él y él la respeta y la quiere casi desde el comienzo, no son historias de amor que lleguen a emocionar. Es como si en la época siempre fueran pragmáticos y acepten matrimonios concertados así por así, se amoldan muy rápido a eso y es como que se resisten a quererse. No sé si me explico, pero no hay mucha emoción en esa relación, no hay una gran tensión entre ellos...Es una parte más de la novela.
En cuanto a los personajes, tengo que decir que Raymond tiene más personalidad que el protagonista de la entrega anterior, se diferencia más porque es sensato y tiene sentido el humor, hace el payaso en ocasiones y eso lo hace destacar. Juliana, por el contrario, es mucho más plana, no me ha despertado interés, cumple su función.
En general, esta novela me hace sentir cómo otras historias de la autora, que están bien, que tienen una ambientación interesante y aunque el romance es correcto, no tiene tensión, intensidad, emoción. Y este libro en particular me confundió y poco al comienzo.
Tiene sus más y sus menos, técnicamente está bien pero echo en falta esa emoción que tienen algunos libros de romántica, tanto por los momentos de acción como por la relación romántica.
No es porque sea malo, sigue en la línea de la autora, pero puede ser que no lo leyese en el momento idóneo.
El comienzo del libro me descolocó un poco porque no se correspondía con la sinopsis, los protagonistas son fáciles de ubicar, pero el resto de personajes... son muchos, no entiendo las funciones que tienen, por qué pueden pegarle e insultar a su señora, el miedo de Juliana al exterior, etc
La ambientación es buena, no sé si era exactamente así la vida en la época, pero esta autora siempre trata de mostrarnos esa vida medieval, así como el trato con sus personajes. Debido a esto, hay comentarios del tipo "estamos casados y eres mía, este castillo es mío, tus hijas son mías, tus tierras ahora son mías..." Este tipo de cosas que supongo que vienen dadas por ese momento histórico.
Me gusta cómo se describe ese castillo, los quehaceres diarios y demás.
Las historias de esta escritora siempre tienen un final con algo de acción y este no iba a ser menos, pero sobre todo se centra en la relación de los personajes. Esta relación, así como otras que he leído de Dodd, a mí no me parece que juegue mucho con la tensión. Ella se siente atraída por él y él la respeta y la quiere casi desde el comienzo, no son historias de amor que lleguen a emocionar. Es como si en la época siempre fueran pragmáticos y acepten matrimonios concertados así por así, se amoldan muy rápido a eso y es como que se resisten a quererse. No sé si me explico, pero no hay mucha emoción en esa relación, no hay una gran tensión entre ellos...Es una parte más de la novela.
En cuanto a los personajes, tengo que decir que Raymond tiene más personalidad que el protagonista de la entrega anterior, se diferencia más porque es sensato y tiene sentido el humor, hace el payaso en ocasiones y eso lo hace destacar. Juliana, por el contrario, es mucho más plana, no me ha despertado interés, cumple su función.
En general, esta novela me hace sentir cómo otras historias de la autora, que están bien, que tienen una ambientación interesante y aunque el romance es correcto, no tiene tensión, intensidad, emoción. Y este libro en particular me confundió y poco al comienzo.
Tiene sus más y sus menos, técnicamente está bien pero echo en falta esa emoción que tienen algunos libros de romántica, tanto por los momentos de acción como por la relación romántica.
March 27, 2018
Juliana sbg pemilik kastil Lofts, enggan menerima perjodohan dr Raja Henry. Dgn taktik mengulur-ulur waktu, Juliana tidak menyadari bhw Raymond (pria yg dijodohkan tsb) sdh di depan hidungnya.
Raymond sengaja menyamar dan membiarkan Juliana salah tafsir mengenai dirinya yg dianggap Juliana sbg arsitek pembuat kastil. Dan betapa murkanya Juliana ketika mengetahui dibohongi Raymond. Di dlm kastil Juliana sendiri banyak pihak yg menentang pernikahan mereka, ditambah lagi dgn kedatangan orangtua Raymond yg gigih utk membatalkan pernikahan yg tidak seimbang ini di mata mereka. Untunglah Raymond sudah kepincut pd Juliana dan bukan tipe mata keranjang. Loyalitas Raymond luar biasa pd saat klimaks cerita, dgn mati²an menyelamatkan istri dan anak tirinya.
Sayangnya entah kenapa novel yg ini terkesan bertele-tele dibandingkan novel sebelumnya. Mungkin krn sifat Juliana yg peragu, gak tega dan kekurangan kepercayaan pd Raymond sedemikian besar mengakibatkan mereka jatuh pd kesalahpahaman berulangkali hingga nyaris akhir cerita. Inti cerita sebenarnya cuma satu, suami dan istri harus saling percaya sehingga kompak dan menyulitkan pihak luar utk intervensi ataupun mengadu domba satu sama lainnya. Untungnya author menjelaskan asal mula trauma yg menyebabkan Juliana jadi gampang paranoid dgn orang asing. Orangtua yg tidak mendukung ataupun tidak percaya pd anak mereka akan menumbuhkan sifat spt Juliana hingga bimbang dan selalu dilematis dlm mengambil keputusan penting, dan terkadang jg jd keras kepala yg bikin kesal pasangannya krn kekukuhannya utk memberontak/menyelesaikan masalah dgn caranya sendiri.
Novel ini masih memikat saya terutama cameo nya kali ini Ratu Eleanor (si cameo di buku sebelumnya adalah Raja Henry) yg sudah di ambang amarah terhadap suaminya yg tidak setia. Sayang seri ini telah selesai cukup 2 novel ini. Mungkin kalau ada lanjutannya, kita bisa menikmati anak² Henry melawan ayah mereka.
Raymond sengaja menyamar dan membiarkan Juliana salah tafsir mengenai dirinya yg dianggap Juliana sbg arsitek pembuat kastil. Dan betapa murkanya Juliana ketika mengetahui dibohongi Raymond. Di dlm kastil Juliana sendiri banyak pihak yg menentang pernikahan mereka, ditambah lagi dgn kedatangan orangtua Raymond yg gigih utk membatalkan pernikahan yg tidak seimbang ini di mata mereka. Untunglah Raymond sudah kepincut pd Juliana dan bukan tipe mata keranjang. Loyalitas Raymond luar biasa pd saat klimaks cerita, dgn mati²an menyelamatkan istri dan anak tirinya.
Sayangnya entah kenapa novel yg ini terkesan bertele-tele dibandingkan novel sebelumnya. Mungkin krn sifat Juliana yg peragu, gak tega dan kekurangan kepercayaan pd Raymond sedemikian besar mengakibatkan mereka jatuh pd kesalahpahaman berulangkali hingga nyaris akhir cerita. Inti cerita sebenarnya cuma satu, suami dan istri harus saling percaya sehingga kompak dan menyulitkan pihak luar utk intervensi ataupun mengadu domba satu sama lainnya. Untungnya author menjelaskan asal mula trauma yg menyebabkan Juliana jadi gampang paranoid dgn orang asing. Orangtua yg tidak mendukung ataupun tidak percaya pd anak mereka akan menumbuhkan sifat spt Juliana hingga bimbang dan selalu dilematis dlm mengambil keputusan penting, dan terkadang jg jd keras kepala yg bikin kesal pasangannya krn kekukuhannya utk memberontak/menyelesaikan masalah dgn caranya sendiri.
Novel ini masih memikat saya terutama cameo nya kali ini Ratu Eleanor (si cameo di buku sebelumnya adalah Raja Henry) yg sudah di ambang amarah terhadap suaminya yg tidak setia. Sayang seri ini telah selesai cukup 2 novel ini. Mungkin kalau ada lanjutannya, kita bisa menikmati anak² Henry melawan ayah mereka.
May 5, 2020
En un principio me gustó la historia porque Raymond vió más allá del físico de Juliana, pero luego comenzó a protegerla de todo "porque es mi trabajo, ya que soy el hombre del castillo", y solamente llegué a soportar esta situación porque muy probablemente este era un pensamiento común en la Inglaterra de 1166.
Y comprendo que a Juliana toda su vida prácticamente le dijeron que no era nada sin un hombre y que la valentía era un atributo masculino, pero hubo ocasiones en las que me entraron unas tremendas ganas de zaranderala y gritarle "¡Espabila mujer! ¡Que no eres una inútil!".
Quizá mi mayor problema fue que la relación entre Raymond y Juliana no era una constante, pues se peleaban por malantendidos todo el tiempo y Raymond nunca encontró una manera fija de tratar a Juliana. Ella desde un principio se comportó como la señora del castillo que era, conciente de que era responsable del manejo de sus tierras y de quienes vivieran en ellas.
Pero Raymond, ¡hay Raymond! en un parrafo admiraba profundamente la manera de proceder de Juliana y para el otro estaba contradiciendo sus ordenes, imponiendose como el dueño y señor de todo.
En resumen, no soporté que la excusa de Juliana para casi todo fuera "Tengo miedo" y en si la novela no me pareció memorable, pero me ha servido para conocer sobre las arquitectura de los castillos normandos.
Y comprendo que a Juliana toda su vida prácticamente le dijeron que no era nada sin un hombre y que la valentía era un atributo masculino, pero hubo ocasiones en las que me entraron unas tremendas ganas de zaranderala y gritarle "¡Espabila mujer! ¡Que no eres una inútil!".
Quizá mi mayor problema fue que la relación entre Raymond y Juliana no era una constante, pues se peleaban por malantendidos todo el tiempo y Raymond nunca encontró una manera fija de tratar a Juliana. Ella desde un principio se comportó como la señora del castillo que era, conciente de que era responsable del manejo de sus tierras y de quienes vivieran en ellas.
Pero Raymond, ¡hay Raymond! en un parrafo admiraba profundamente la manera de proceder de Juliana y para el otro estaba contradiciendo sus ordenes, imponiendose como el dueño y señor de todo.
En resumen, no soporté que la excusa de Juliana para casi todo fuera "Tengo miedo" y en si la novela no me pareció memorable, pero me ha servido para conocer sobre las arquitectura de los castillos normandos.
June 11, 2025
The King commanded the marriage of Lady Juliana and Lord Raymond. She tried to avoid the command, but Lord Raymond came for her. He was worried they would not be a good match for each other, so he pretended to be the castle builder she had requested to build extra fortification for her castle.
Lord Raymond had a huge set of problems. First of all, he didn't know the first thing about building a wall. He was a warrior, not a Mason. Secondly, he fell in love with her almost immediately. She was independent, beautiful, stubborn, and she stole his heart. Finally, how was he going to win her heart when she finds out he lied? He fears she will not want him if she knows all his lies and secrets.
Their are plenty of obstacles and twists you won't see coming. Christina Dodd is your answer to finding stories that you enjoy from page one to the last page. Just the right amount of depth for readers to be thoroughly entertained.
Lord Raymond had a huge set of problems. First of all, he didn't know the first thing about building a wall. He was a warrior, not a Mason. Secondly, he fell in love with her almost immediately. She was independent, beautiful, stubborn, and she stole his heart. Finally, how was he going to win her heart when she finds out he lied? He fears she will not want him if she knows all his lies and secrets.
Their are plenty of obstacles and twists you won't see coming. Christina Dodd is your answer to finding stories that you enjoy from page one to the last page. Just the right amount of depth for readers to be thoroughly entertained.
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