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The Elusive Bride
To protect her home and people, Cecily Tyrell would marry the devil himself! And if rumor held any truth, she would mayhap do so! A royal command bound her to wed Lord Rowan DeCourtenay, a knight of some renown...but a widower of shadowed repute. Still, he was the warrior she needed but was he the man she wanted?
Headstrong, valiant, and dangerous she was, for Cecily Tyrell alone made Rowan DeCourtenay yearn to dismiss the guard around the citadel of his heart. Though would their love, born in disguise and adventure, survive when all his soul s dark secrets were finally exposed?
297 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 15, 2020
2+
Never drew me in.
I don't mind (I like) a tattered hero with dark parts that need to heal, but the rendering of this one was very disjointed, and it covered the same conflict on a continuing loop for at least a third of the book. I got weary of that. It also made him less sympathetic and her too ebulliently forgiving.
The conflict was mostly his internal struggle to allow that he's worthy of her and a second chance for love. Totally fine, great even, but he resolved to have her and want her and then he'd get mad about something and retreat, and repeated this too many times for it to be credible. By all means repeat an action to show trauma or wrongheaded thinking, but give the poor boy some progress along the way.
The other conflict was external and dynamic but almost too much of it crammed into this short book. The Anarchy is a fraught and interesting time in English (Norman) history but its twists and turns--and twisty politics perhaps better left off page--are a lot to try and contextualize.
Our heroine was fine. I appreciated her quick wits and bravery, and that she balanced optimistic faith with pragmatism, but she was very one note. If the hero had progressed and she had more to do than react to his continually stalling out, maybe that would have helped them both.
I do think they're suited and will live a somewhat fraught life waiting for the arrival of Henry II.
Never drew me in.
I don't mind (I like) a tattered hero with dark parts that need to heal, but the rendering of this one was very disjointed, and it covered the same conflict on a continuing loop for at least a third of the book. I got weary of that. It also made him less sympathetic and her too ebulliently forgiving.
The conflict was mostly his internal struggle to allow that he's worthy of her and a second chance for love. Totally fine, great even, but he resolved to have her and want her and then he'd get mad about something and retreat, and repeated this too many times for it to be credible. By all means repeat an action to show trauma or wrongheaded thinking, but give the poor boy some progress along the way.
The other conflict was external and dynamic but almost too much of it crammed into this short book. The Anarchy is a fraught and interesting time in English (Norman) history but its twists and turns--and twisty politics perhaps better left off page--are a lot to try and contextualize.
Our heroine was fine. I appreciated her quick wits and bravery, and that she balanced optimistic faith with pragmatism, but she was very one note. If the hero had progressed and she had more to do than react to his continually stalling out, maybe that would have helped them both.
I do think they're suited and will live a somewhat fraught life waiting for the arrival of Henry II.
March 14, 2018
Not like her others
I was expecting something that was more like the first books . The setting isn't my interest at all. Will be more careful in deciding on any future books by this author
I was expecting something that was more like the first books . The setting isn't my interest at all. Will be more careful in deciding on any future books by this author
September 7, 2018
Loved this one! For once a heroine that has the good qualities of integrity, forgiveness, empathy, understanding, fairness, honesty, and not holding a grudge!
March 22, 2022
Awesome Read!
Awesome Read! One to cherish and read again and again… especially on raining days or thunderous nights. You won’t be disappointed
Awesome Read! One to cherish and read again and again… especially on raining days or thunderous nights. You won’t be disappointed
November 4, 2022
Still a good read during power outage while a typhoon was raging outside. A good plot for a Romance, not so overly contentious in the dialogue... plausible and relatable scenarios... and way better than some I have encountered out there on the Net.
August 16, 2024
A ideia de um heroi traumatizado que precisa se curar emocionalmente para poder se amar e amar a heroína é muito boa, porém Deborah Hale utilizou-se desse artíficio tantas vezes durante o curso de Senhora do Destino que ficou difícil acreditar que Rowan era algo mais que um manipulador ou alguém com desenvolvimento emocional e intelectual muito abaixo de sua idade e experiência.
Dispensável.
Dispensável.
July 26, 2012
Started to read, only to remember I'd read this one before several years ago.
Loved the book at the time, but I've found that I enjoy Deborah Hale's work, she's a talented author who has the ability to draw the reader in.
Loved the book at the time, but I've found that I enjoy Deborah Hale's work, she's a talented author who has the ability to draw the reader in.
April 3, 2009
Received this in a drawing organized by Nicole. Read it on the plane to Mallorca, fun read about mistaken identity.
January 5, 2010
Great romance! Can you be a damsel in distress and in control of your soundings at the same time?
June 15, 2011
If I had a shelf for lame heroes, this one would occupy a place of honor.
July 4, 2012
Deborah Hale is a good romance writer, but i guess i'm just not into the medieval scene of romances. Sorry Deb! normally i will read all of yours all the way through!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews