What do you think?
Rate this book
The Women of the Woods #1
The Protector
Sir Roland Montgomery binds his life to a young orphan who once saved his life. He vows to protect her as he leads them through a maze of deception.
They call her a witch, so she must hide the best that she is, a healer, or risk burning at the stake. But there are many ways to mend wounds, especially those deeper and more dangerous than of the flesh.
They call her a witch, so she must hide the best that she is, a healer, or risk burning at the stake. But there are many ways to mend wounds, especially those deeper and more dangerous than of the flesh.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2013
22 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Becca St. John
17 books48 followersAn Accidental Writer ~
Writing was a tool, not a toy, until a stay in an ancient (I swear it was haunted) hotel on a frightfully stormy night straight from a clichéd novel full of howling wind and creaking floors. The night drove me to a bookcase full of dog eared romances. Sleepless turned to fascination. Hooked I read old romances, new romances, both sexy and sweet until my own tales begged to be written.
Writing was a tool, not a toy, until a stay in an ancient (I swear it was haunted) hotel on a frightfully stormy night straight from a clichéd novel full of howling wind and creaking floors. The night drove me to a bookcase full of dog eared romances. Sleepless turned to fascination. Hooked I read old romances, new romances, both sexy and sweet until my own tales begged to be written.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 25, 2021
This was a surprisingly good, light read!
It starts out with Roland coming home after ten years in the crusades. He returns home to the child bride he married. Right away, he hears several lies about his wife. The rumors claim she is a witch. It soon becomes clear that both their lives are endangered.
This story was very well written. I liked all the different characters. I also enjoyed the mystery, even if I guessed right away the "whodunit ,".
It starts out with Roland coming home after ten years in the crusades. He returns home to the child bride he married. Right away, he hears several lies about his wife. The rumors claim she is a witch. It soon becomes clear that both their lives are endangered.
This story was very well written. I liked all the different characters. I also enjoyed the mystery, even if I guessed right away the "whodunit ,".
August 15, 2020
Great story...but dropped at the end...
I really enjoyed this story. I would rate it 3 1/2 stars though because for such a great story, several things were lacking...and then the climax finally peaked...and the ending just dropped...no finishing the story. Nothing of what happened to the culprits...no epilogue. I also found that Veri for being such a knowledgeable healer, educated in reading and writing that her “nativity” cane off as being stupid and uneducated. And Roland... he being a crusades veteran and maybe 28 or so, as he was gone 10yrs...he also seemed kind of stupid. I also wondered what the culprit drugged Dory with. And exactly why. And why did Gerda or Gelda have so much sway...was she a real life witch? And what was she to the culprit. I also found it strange that Roland would put Maida, who was so scared of the alleged Witchery by Ceri, why did Roland put her in to be a lady’s maid with Veri? I found that quite strange and Very dangerous act. I also thought in the prequel book (which I enjoyed also) that Roland seemed very immature for the rank of Knight. All of these things made for a great story, but also questions. I also wondered why Roland didn’t realize what was up with the house guard until almost too late. As the head of Oakland, I would think that he would be overseeing his men better and ensuring that they learned from the crusader experienced knights. I also found the whole Billy thing kind of strange along with Veri licking herself in her room. I had the culprit for all the wrong doings pegged from the very beginning but was just wondering the why of it. And when the why of it was revealed, I wondered what took everyone so long to figure it out. And the motivations behind the deaths, while I could see maybe the reasoning...I just wondered why, during the whole 10yrs that Roland was on crusade, how was the culprit able to do uniquely keep their true feelings hidden? 10+yrs and not one person suspected??? I also don’t really get why Derrick was killed. And also, who did the bad guys get that could get the best of not just one experienced knight but 5 if you count Roland... all of this is why I would rate it in reality a 3 1/2 star read despite enjoying the book until it dropped at the end unexpectedly. I did note a few minor editorial errors such as the instead of they...not bad enough to distract from my reading or leave me wondering what the author meant. I also found sister Rose’s anti man agenda quite appalling. True, being married can distract from healing...but shouldn’t it be up to the healer? Not some unwritten antiman rule? Just saying. As for the ending, I find it hard that as Veri grew from a very young child about age 10 at Oakland, to a young woman about 20 or so...that nobody could see the resemblance and wonder who Veri looked like... I also wondered due to the dropping off at the end of the book, if the prophesy given to Veri in the prequel, about Verdi’s man giving her so many children...did it ever come true??? Still I’d recommend this book and feel Ms. St John is a great storyteller and look forward to more of her books. That’s why I rounded my 3 1/2 star rating to a 4 star.
I really enjoyed this story. I would rate it 3 1/2 stars though because for such a great story, several things were lacking...and then the climax finally peaked...and the ending just dropped...no finishing the story. Nothing of what happened to the culprits...no epilogue. I also found that Veri for being such a knowledgeable healer, educated in reading and writing that her “nativity” cane off as being stupid and uneducated. And Roland... he being a crusades veteran and maybe 28 or so, as he was gone 10yrs...he also seemed kind of stupid. I also wondered what the culprit drugged Dory with. And exactly why. And why did Gerda or Gelda have so much sway...was she a real life witch? And what was she to the culprit. I also found it strange that Roland would put Maida, who was so scared of the alleged Witchery by Ceri, why did Roland put her in to be a lady’s maid with Veri? I found that quite strange and Very dangerous act. I also thought in the prequel book (which I enjoyed also) that Roland seemed very immature for the rank of Knight. All of these things made for a great story, but also questions. I also wondered why Roland didn’t realize what was up with the house guard until almost too late. As the head of Oakland, I would think that he would be overseeing his men better and ensuring that they learned from the crusader experienced knights. I also found the whole Billy thing kind of strange along with Veri licking herself in her room. I had the culprit for all the wrong doings pegged from the very beginning but was just wondering the why of it. And when the why of it was revealed, I wondered what took everyone so long to figure it out. And the motivations behind the deaths, while I could see maybe the reasoning...I just wondered why, during the whole 10yrs that Roland was on crusade, how was the culprit able to do uniquely keep their true feelings hidden? 10+yrs and not one person suspected??? I also don’t really get why Derrick was killed. And also, who did the bad guys get that could get the best of not just one experienced knight but 5 if you count Roland... all of this is why I would rate it in reality a 3 1/2 star read despite enjoying the book until it dropped at the end unexpectedly. I did note a few minor editorial errors such as the instead of they...not bad enough to distract from my reading or leave me wondering what the author meant. I also found sister Rose’s anti man agenda quite appalling. True, being married can distract from healing...but shouldn’t it be up to the healer? Not some unwritten antiman rule? Just saying. As for the ending, I find it hard that as Veri grew from a very young child about age 10 at Oakland, to a young woman about 20 or so...that nobody could see the resemblance and wonder who Veri looked like... I also wondered due to the dropping off at the end of the book, if the prophesy given to Veri in the prequel, about Verdi’s man giving her so many children...did it ever come true??? Still I’d recommend this book and feel Ms. St John is a great storyteller and look forward to more of her books. That’s why I rounded my 3 1/2 star rating to a 4 star.
July 16, 2014
This is an unusual medieval romance, it centers around the women of the houshold rather than the Lord.
Roland Montgomery has returned home after 10 years on the crusades. The child bride he married in name only before he left, has feld his home accused of being a witch and a whore. Once he gets her back under his control he must find the truth.
Veri has been raised by the wise women in the Woods who support themselves by being healers and midwives. They are often accused of witchery. Roland has many more problems than he knows because someone is trying to destroy his family ,maybe from within.
This book show us how without anyone to control the household, superstition can run riot and people are put in danger.
Roland Montgomery has returned home after 10 years on the crusades. The child bride he married in name only before he left, has feld his home accused of being a witch and a whore. Once he gets her back under his control he must find the truth.
Veri has been raised by the wise women in the Woods who support themselves by being healers and midwives. They are often accused of witchery. Roland has many more problems than he knows because someone is trying to destroy his family ,maybe from within.
This book show us how without anyone to control the household, superstition can run riot and people are put in danger.
May 24, 2015
Sweet story
I enjoyed this historical set in the time of witches and castles. Veri was sweet and kind but completely misunderstood and mistreated, even by the one who should have been her champion, her husband. Roland believed the lies until he realized he had greatly wronged his wife. He then set out to protect her, even from himself. It was a twisted convoluted tale with plenty of suspense and a bit of action. My one complaint would be that the ending seemed very abrupt. It definitely needed an epilogue or something.
I enjoyed this historical set in the time of witches and castles. Veri was sweet and kind but completely misunderstood and mistreated, even by the one who should have been her champion, her husband. Roland believed the lies until he realized he had greatly wronged his wife. He then set out to protect her, even from himself. It was a twisted convoluted tale with plenty of suspense and a bit of action. My one complaint would be that the ending seemed very abrupt. It definitely needed an epilogue or something.
January 21, 2016
Didn't even finish it
When the author starts out with Veri being accused once again wrongfully you think no way is this guy going to trust these people and hurt her. Then in the second chapter bam he pretty much rapes her in front of everyone at his castle thinking she's not a virgin and gets all apologetic when he has proof she is. Sorry there is no justifiable love story after that. Not interested in whatever twisted relationship your aiming for. A big boo on this one.
When the author starts out with Veri being accused once again wrongfully you think no way is this guy going to trust these people and hurt her. Then in the second chapter bam he pretty much rapes her in front of everyone at his castle thinking she's not a virgin and gets all apologetic when he has proof she is. Sorry there is no justifiable love story after that. Not interested in whatever twisted relationship your aiming for. A big boo on this one.
January 25, 2016
Very Short Ending
I was disappointed in the novella which started this series and again I find myself disappointed again. This book had a lot more substance but the ending is so short on details. Won't be reading more of the series. I have read other books by this author and loved them. This series just isn't my cup of tea.
I was disappointed in the novella which started this series and again I find myself disappointed again. This book had a lot more substance but the ending is so short on details. Won't be reading more of the series. I have read other books by this author and loved them. This series just isn't my cup of tea.
May 5, 2015
Women of the Woods are with us still
My favorite period of English history is this book. I really enjoy a well written historical romance that brings to life the characters as well rounded people.
My favorite period of English history is this book. I really enjoy a well written historical romance that brings to life the characters as well rounded people.
March 11, 2016
Enjoyed the book until the end....left me with so many unanswered questions and wanting more! Have enjoyed all of her books and hope that I find some answers in the next one to satisfy me with the ending of this one.
July 5, 2014
Is a great book to read
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews