This is All I Ask (De Piaget #7), by Lynn Kurland (Start Date: March 17, 2014) [Kurland's Two Series Combo: De Piaget & The MacLeods]

[Phoenix (Online Elf), Moderator]

   

This Is All I Ask, by Lynn Kurland

"This is All I Ask" is a sweeeping, emotional novel capturing all the passion and majesty of the medieval period. Set near the Scottish border at a rugged castle on the edge of the sea, this is the story of a courageous lord who lost everything he held dear. Of a strong young woman willing to sacrifice everything for happiness. Two lost souls who find in each other a reason to live again, to laugh again, and to love for the first time...

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This is #7 in the De Piaget series, but the third book we will read, as we are reading these two intertwining series in chronological order.

Please Note: So far, Christopher and Gillian's story, This Is All I Ask, is only available in paper.

There are several different ways to approach these intertwining series (Kurland's Two Series: De Piaget & The MacLeods). We have decided to go by this one, suggested by

The Window Seat: List of Books (Under spoiler to save space.)
(view spoiler)[

Another Chance to Dream {Rhys and Gwen}

If I Had You (This and Another Chance to Dream can be found together in A Time for Love) {Robin and Anne}

This Is All I Ask {Christopher and Gillian}

From This Moment On {Colin and Alienore}

To Kiss in the Shadows (Tapestry Anthology or as an individual ebook) {Jason and Liana}

The More I See You {Richard and Jessica}

Stardust of Yesterday {Kendrick and Genevieve}

A Dance Through Time {Jamie and Elizabeth}

The Very Thought of You {Alex and Margaret}

And the Groom Wore Tulle (a part of the anthology Love Came Just in Time or the anthology Veils of Time) {Ian and Jane}

The Traveler (Found in the anthology A Knight's Vow) {William and Julianna}

Three Wise Ghosts (a part of the anthology Love Came Just in Time or the anthology Christmas Spirits) {Gideon and Megan}

Dreams of Stardust {Jake and Amanda}

My Heart Stood Still {Thomas and Iolanthe}

Much Ado in the Moonlight {Connor and Victoria}

When I Fall in Love {Nicholas and Jennifer}

The Gift of Christmas Past (a part of the anthology Love Came Just in Time or the anthology The Christmas Cat) {Miles and Abigail}

A Garden in the Rain {Patrick and Madelyn}

With Every Breath {Cam and Sunny}

Till There Was You {Zachary and Mary}

One Enchanted Evening {Montgomery and Pippa}

One Magic Moment {John and Tess}

All For You {Stephen and Peaches}

Roses in Moonlight {Derrick & Samantha}

(hide spoiler)]

This series read continues in March. This one is a combination of Medieval Romances and Time Travel. (Some books will not have the Time Travel element.)

Please join us, or just stop in and say, "Hi!" or tell us which cover you prefer. But...

Expect Spoilers!

Participants
Anne
Lauren
~Leslie~
Lisa Kay
Susan
Judy
Nichole

[Phoenix (Online Elf), Moderator]

Reserved.

[~Leslie~]

I'm so excited to read this one again in March. I love Beauty and the Beast stories!

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Which one of these characters are dePiaget's? Maybe I was toofocused on Robin cause I don't recognize the names lol

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Too bad we can't do the Double Decker challenge out of order. This book, and the previous one in the series are II books LOL

[Nichole]

Oh, that would have been good! I better hurry up and read the 10 books I need to get there, LOL.

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Judy wrote: "I think I have about ten more books to go before I get to II too, LOL!


Susan- If I read the family tree at the front of the book correctly, I think Christopher of Blackmour (the hero in this on..."

Thanks!

[~Leslie~]

I can't wait to start this one! I haven't read a book in paper for a long time. How strange it will be!!

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Love paper. I do love my Kindle, and the fact that it controls the physical size of my library... but I still prefer paper.

[Nichole]

I'm with you, Leslie. I hardly ever read paper anymore.

It looks like I'll be running behind with this one again =( We have inventory at work and I'll be working looooong boring days for the first 2 days. I doubt I'll get much reading time at all. Hopefully I can catch up shortly after.

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Starting this today. Have we met these characters before?

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

I'm starting ch 10 and I'm a bit lost. I remember liking Robin's squire Jason. Wasn't he Jason of Artane, like this one is? Except it's been said this Jason is Robin's son.

Totally confused!

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

My book arrived yesterday; haven't started it, yet.

[ShoSho , Moderator]

I really liked to read this one but it seems it's never been published in ebook or kindle format:(

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Nope.

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

ShoSHo, check your email

[~Leslie~]

I will be starting this one soon. I have it sitting beside my bed ready to go. If feels so cumbersome!

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

It's turning out to be a quick read for me. I'm already on ch 16

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Judy wrote: "I started this one yesterday, I think I'm on Chapter 5.

I'm confused about Jason as well, I thought he was Robin's squire in the last book, but this Jason is apparently Robin's son. A foster so..."

thank goodness it'snot just me!!!

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

I finished this. I liked it more than the previous ones :)

[ShoSho , Moderator]

I got me a copy **Jumps up and down gleefully ** going to start soon!

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Christopher was very swoon worthy after he quit being gruff :)

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Yay, ShoSho! Welcome.

[ShoSho , Moderator]

I posted something but it's not here!

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

GRs acting up again!

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Yes, the beginning is a bit slow. I remember reading this one before and now - on the reread - it is hard to pick back up and get past the first several chapters.

Love Christopher and Gillian, though.

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

General Discussion Questions for This is All I Ask.

1. Did you know what Christopher's affliction was when he was first introduced?

2. As Gillian got more and more confident, do you believe she obtained more outer beauty, too? Afterall, self-confidence mixed with her generosity of spirit is an attractive characteristic.

3. How was the pacing of the romance? Was it too sweet for you? To "G" rated? Or did the emotional love story win you over?

4. Did you enjoy the comic relief provided by Berengaria, Nemian, and Magda?

5. Did you enjoy the appearances of the past characters? Did they fit into the story seamless, or was it a forced appearance just to appease the readers?

6. Some people criticize the scene where Gillian is sick with fever and carrying on a rather lucid conversation. They feel this is too unrealistic. As a nurse who treated many patients with FOUO (Fever of Unknown Origin), believe me... the patients do NOT remember you after the fever is gone. Comments.

7. What about Christopher's previous wife, Lina? What a twit, right?

8. Did you love the ending? The final showdown with Warewick? Did you cry then, or maybe even earlier?

9. Are you looking forward to Colin's story, despite his grumpiness and smell? He sure has a knack with matchmaking. LOL!

10. What did you rate the book? Will you go on with the series?

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

BTW, my BFF bought me a new "Tune-Belt" for my iPod and it comes in so handy. Especially now that the weather is getting warmer and I have a light-weight dress on without any pockets. Very comfortable.

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

@ Judy

#3 – I agree with you. It is so easy to imagine the “fade to black” scenes because the emotion is ramped up so much.

#4 – LMBO!

#5 – I’m not sure about Phillip, either. I’ll have to check into it.

#7 – Good point.

#8 – Yes, that was a teary scene.

#9 – LOL! The cure might be worse than the problem. Do wizard's thumb bones stink?

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Susan's answers to Lisa Kay's questions (and LOL - I've typed that enough that it comes up in my Kindle to automatically insert it)

1. Did you know what Christopher's affliction was when he was first introduced?
no, I didn't know what it was at first. It took me a bit.

2. As Gillian got more and more confident, do you believe she obtained more outer beauty, too? Afterall, self-confidence mixed with her generosity of spirit is an attractive characteristic.
probably. Like Judy said, how you feel comes through

3. How was the pacing of the romance? Was it too sweet for you? To "G" rated? Or did the emotional love story win you over?
I was fine with it being G rated. Sometimes you need a break from the specific. LOL I did like the romance in here. Christopher was my kind of hero.

4. Did you enjoy the comic relief provided by Berengaria, Nemian, and Magda?
eh, it was alright. I could have done without. It was nice to see Berengaria though

5. Did you enjoy the appearances of the past characters? Did they fit into the story seamless, or was it a forced appearance just to appease the readers?
It made since to see Robin, but I've got to be honest and say that the sons scuffling all the time got on my nerves. It did when it was Robin and Nicholas too.

6. Some people criticize the scene where Gillian is sick with fever and carrying on a rather lucid conversation. They feel this is too unrealistic. As a nurse who treated many patients with FOUO (Fever of Unknown Origin), believe me... the patients do NOT remember you after the fever is gone. Comments.
I thought it was funny that she was talking to a blanket :)

7. What about Christopher's previous wife, Lina? What a twit, right?
yep, big twit

8. Did you love the ending? The final showdown with Warewick? Did you cry then, or maybe even earlier?
like Judy, my heart broke when he asked to be cured of his blindness. I also held my breath when he climbed the mountain thing to get her.

9. Are you looking forward to Colin's story, despite his grumpiness and smell? He sure has a knack with matchmaking. LOL!
yes, looking forward to Colin's book. He might need a bath with how often it was said that he smells LOL

10. What did you rate the book? Will you go on with the series I gave it 4 stars. Yes, I'll keep reading

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

@ Susan

#1 – I didn’t know what was up right away the first time I read it.

#3 – LOL! Glad to know you’re not a trollop all the time.

#8 – Yes, sniffled over the mountain climb, too.

[ShoSho , Moderator]

Lisa Kay wrote: "Yes, the beginning is a bit slow. I remember reading this one before and now - on the reread - it is hard to pick back up and get past the first several chapters.

Love Christopher and Gillian, th..."

I'm going to start chapter 26 in a bit ,to me the ending is a bit slow!! I was OK with the beginning but they have been in the marriage bliss for too long with nothing significant happening!

[ShoSho , Moderator]

And I can't believe after so much teasing it all faded to black!!!

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

ShoSho wrote: "And I can't believe after so much teasing it all faded to black!!!"

Kurland isn't usually sexually explicit.

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

I do try to tame my trollop ways ;) roflol

[~Leslie~]

I'm so behind on this!! But I love reading the comments.

[ShoSho , Moderator]

Answers to General Discussion Questions for This is All I Ask.

1. Did you know what Christopher's affliction was when he was first introduced?
well yes , I saw Susan's status on GR "Holy carp, is he blind?" ! That's what got me interested in the book in the first place!

2. As Gillian got more and more confident, do you believe she obtained more outer beauty, too? Afterall, self-confidence mixed with her generosity of spirit is an attractive characteristic.

I think she did , because she was eating and living better and was taken care better!

3. How was the pacing of the romance? Was it too sweet for you? To "G" rated? Or did the emotional love story win you over?
It was good and sweet ,I didn't expect them to get all lovey dovey only half way through the book. Swoony hero alright! I didn't mind the "G" rating ,just that I wasn't expecting it ! There was so much teasing and talking about consummating their marriage ,I was shocked when it faded to black!

4. Did you enjoy the comic relief provided by Berengaria, Nemian, and Magda?
Yes !have you met them before in the previous books?

5. Did you enjoy the appearances of the past characters? Did they fit into the story seamless, or was it a forced appearance just to appease the readers?
I haven't read the other books and I didn't mind them. They seemed liked good secondary characters .

6. Some people criticize the scene where Gillian is sick with fever and carrying on a rather lucid conversation. They feel this is too unrealistic. As a nurse who treated many patients with FOUO (Fever of Unknown Origin), believe me... the patients do NOT remember you after the fever is gone. Comments.

I thought it was a funny scene ,she kept calling him blanket .

7. What about Christopher's previous wife, Lina? What a twit, right?
Yes I wish there a bit more about her demise


8. Did you love the ending? The final showdown with Warewick? Did you cry then, or maybe even earlier?
I liked it but I thought the last 100 pages or so were drawn out a bit !Should I have cried???

9. Are you looking forward to Colin's story, despite his grumpiness and smell? He sure has a knack with matchmaking. LOL!
I'm not sure

10. What did you rate the book? Will you go on with the series?
I gave it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. I don't know yet!

[ShoSho , Moderator]

Lisa Kay wrote: "BTW, my BFF bought me a new "Tune-Belt" for my iPod and it comes in so handy. Especially now that the weather is getting warmer and I have a light-weight dress on without any pockets. Very comfor..."

:D I wish I had a "Tune-Belt" buying BFF!
If I wear something without pockets I put my iPod in my *ehem*(view spoiler)[ bra (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

@ ShoSho

#1 – LOL! Yay for Susan’s status update.

#2 – True. And she was loved. That gives you a nice glow, knowing that you are loved by someone.

#3 – It is like the old-time movies, all innuendo. LOL!

#4 – Yes, Berengaria (the smartest and most gifted of the bunch) is in the first book at about five years of age, I think.

#7 – **snortsnortsnort**

#8 – Not necessarily.

Yes, I have a great BFF. She wanted to do something nice for me because I’ve made her a couple of lunches and am sewing her a new carry-all bag (I’m taking sewing and quilting lessons).

That’s where I usually put my iPod! LMBO!

[ShoSho , Moderator]

Lisa Kay wrote: "That’s where I usually put my iPod! LMBO! "

We have Happy iPods!!!

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

**chuckles**

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Glad you liked this, ShoSho :)

[~Leslie~]

I finally started this one. I feel so left out!!

[Nichole]

I haven't even started it. I might have over done it with challenges, lol. If these were all in audio I could manage better :)

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Nichole wrote: "I haven't even started it. I might have over done it with challenges, lol. If these were all in audio I could manage better :)"

Really!

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

~Leslie~ wrote: "I finally started this one. I feel so left out!!"

I'll talk to you about it, ~Leslie~. ☺

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

I'll chat about it :)

[~Leslie~]

I'm on Chapter 15. Yay!! And thanks, LK and Susan(susayq)!! Y'all are the best!!

1. Did you know what Christopher's affliction was when he was first introduced?
I realized pretty quickly.

2. As Gillian got more and more confident, do you believe she obtained more outer beauty, too? Afterall, self-confidence mixed with her generosity of spirit is an attractive characteristic.
NO, I think she was always pretty. She was probably awkward as a young girl/teenager, which is very common. I remember once seeing a picture of Sophia Loren as a young girl. She definitely had not grown into her bones. And then her father completely undermined her self-esteem. Since I have 3 daughters, this is my constant soap box!

3. How was the pacing of the romance? Was it too sweet for you? To "G" rated? Or did the emotional love story win you over? It started off slowly for me, but then I fell in love with Christopher and it was all good. I am always ok with Kurland being G rated because I know to expect it. And the romance is always so wonderful!

4. Did you enjoy the comic relief provided by Berengaria, Nemian, and Magda? I can take it or leave it.

5. Did you enjoy the appearances of the past characters? Did they fit into the story seamless, or was it a forced appearance just to appease the readers? I am confused about Jason coming to stay with Christopher at age 6. That seems quite young. I thought boys were around 9 when they were sent off. I would've thought Jason's parents would have kept him around a little longer.

6. Some people criticize the scene where Gillian is sick with fever and carrying on a rather lucid conversation. They feel this is too unrealistic. As a nurse who treated many patients with FOUO (Fever of Unknown Origin), believe me... the patients do NOT remember you after the fever is gone. Comments.
I have no problem believing this. I have had some terrible fevers as a child and was quite delusional. And I also have had lucid conversations with my children that I don't remember. So I know it can happen

7. What about Christopher's previous wife, Lina? What a twit, right? She was so mean, I just want to smack her!

8. Did you love the ending? The final showdown with Warewick? Did you cry then, or maybe even earlier?I'll answer this one later

9. Are you looking forward to Colin's story, despite his grumpiness and smell? He sure has a knack with matchmaking. LOL! take a bath!

10. What did you rate the book? Will you go on with the series?Love the series!!

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

@ ~Leslie~

#5 – I have seen various ages, so I’m unsure when is appropriate.

#9 – LOL!

[~Leslie~]

Just finished the part with Robin and his boys. I enjoyed that part and it didn't feel forced to me. I thought it moved the story forward with Christopher and how he feels about himself. His self-esteem is as damaged as Gillian's is. I like what Robin said at the end of the visit - that he hopes they both come to realize their true worth.