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Deed #1
The Deed
An innocent young beauty finds herself the fulcrum of a struggle for feudal power. Along with her ample dowry, Emma finds herself promised to Amaury de Aneford, a landless knight whose able sword has preserved the King's crown-and whose rugged good looks make her heart skip a beat.
But on the wedding day, as a rival knight gallops toward the bridal chamber, Amaury will find that making love to his naive new bride will take consummate skill. For in the conjugal bed, Emma is astonished to learn there is more to a wedding night than just a sound sleep-and more to true love than she's ever imagined.
But on the wedding day, as a rival knight gallops toward the bridal chamber, Amaury will find that making love to his naive new bride will take consummate skill. For in the conjugal bed, Emma is astonished to learn there is more to a wedding night than just a sound sleep-and more to true love than she's ever imagined.
313 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
250 people are currently reading
2794 people want to read
About the author
Lynsay Sands
126 books12.3k followersLYNSAY SANDS is the nationally bestselling author who is known for her hysterical historicals as well as the popular Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series. With her witty and charming personality, Sands describes books as, “Waking dreams or stories, tales to amuse, entertain and distract us from everyday life.” She’s been writing stories since grade school and considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to make a career out of it. Her hope is that readers can get away from their everyday stress through her stories, and if there are occasional uncontrollable fits of laughter, that’s just a big bonus. Visit her official website at www.lynsaysands.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 380 reviews
September 11, 2020
A very fun love-story that starts with marriage of convenience.!
Emmaline Eberhart marries the Fear-less knight Amaury de Aneford by King Richard`s orders. And a splendid journey starts with the promise of eternal love as their bond grows to come closer together.I adored Emma`s naivety, and when she thought that "sharing the same bed" meant sleeping in the same bed, was just so funny. And Amaury`s shock at that too, haha! I give "The Deed" an extra star for the laugh out loud moments, cuz this writer really knows how to write comedy scenes. But because i am new to her (this is my first book by Sands) i thought her writing style a little bit all over the place. I give her credit for writing sensual scenes, and one more different thing was that despite being born a bastard, Amaury wasn`t the tortured hero i expected. He just wanted to belong somewhere, and finds his true home in his new wife, Emma. He may also be a experienced lover, but even in the marriage life he was a true innocent and always asked his friend Blake for advice. And the things he did to make Emma happy! What a besotted fool he was, which everyone in the castle also knew!
I will try other books by Lynsay Sands, and i am most curious about Blakes story in "The Chase", described as a beautiful angel, i found his character very charming!
Emmaline Eberhart marries the Fear-less knight Amaury de Aneford by King Richard`s orders. And a splendid journey starts with the promise of eternal love as their bond grows to come closer together.I adored Emma`s naivety, and when she thought that "sharing the same bed" meant sleeping in the same bed, was just so funny. And Amaury`s shock at that too, haha! I give "The Deed" an extra star for the laugh out loud moments, cuz this writer really knows how to write comedy scenes. But because i am new to her (this is my first book by Sands) i thought her writing style a little bit all over the place. I give her credit for writing sensual scenes, and one more different thing was that despite being born a bastard, Amaury wasn`t the tortured hero i expected. He just wanted to belong somewhere, and finds his true home in his new wife, Emma. He may also be a experienced lover, but even in the marriage life he was a true innocent and always asked his friend Blake for advice. And the things he did to make Emma happy! What a besotted fool he was, which everyone in the castle also knew!
I will try other books by Lynsay Sands, and i am most curious about Blakes story in "The Chase", described as a beautiful angel, i found his character very charming!
February 19, 2010
This is book 1, with book 2 "The Key" ,and 3 being "The Chase".
This book is great and funny.Lady Emmaline Eberhart petitions the King to get her husband to consummate her marraige, but her husband dies on route to do the deed.The King orders her to remarry Sir Amaury one of his trusted knights. Amaury is a landless knight who bears the taint of his illegitimacy, Amaury knows that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him to be "Lord" of his own manor, something he has dreamt of since he was a child. Amaury thinks Emmalines husband killed himself rather than consummate the marraige so he thinks her ugly and is in no hurry to wed.But if her new husband does not do the "deed" quickly, she loses her home and her land to a cousin of her late husbands.
There is a hilarious scene while the marraige is being consummated and the family is outside the door shouting "if they are finished because the late husbands cousin was coming".Ok The story is a bit silly but, this is a good light funny read ,and I love when couples marry very early on in a book as there is a lot more interaction between them.
With fantastic secondry characters you have to love and the most naive Heroine ever.
This book is great and funny.Lady Emmaline Eberhart petitions the King to get her husband to consummate her marraige, but her husband dies on route to do the deed.The King orders her to remarry Sir Amaury one of his trusted knights. Amaury is a landless knight who bears the taint of his illegitimacy, Amaury knows that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him to be "Lord" of his own manor, something he has dreamt of since he was a child. Amaury thinks Emmalines husband killed himself rather than consummate the marraige so he thinks her ugly and is in no hurry to wed.But if her new husband does not do the "deed" quickly, she loses her home and her land to a cousin of her late husbands.
There is a hilarious scene while the marraige is being consummated and the family is outside the door shouting "if they are finished because the late husbands cousin was coming".Ok The story is a bit silly but, this is a good light funny read ,and I love when couples marry very early on in a book as there is a lot more interaction between them.
With fantastic secondry characters you have to love and the most naive Heroine ever.
April 14, 2021
This book just reminded me of how much I love Lynsay Sands' HR books. Her new releases have been touch-and-go for me nowadays.
But this. The humour. The banter. The wholesome side characters. With a side of assassination attempts. These are what perfect fluffy romcom HR that she always deliver.
There were so many memorable and hilarious moments in this book. The clueless hero who thinks women weren't supposed to enjoy their bedding, struggles to compliment his wife and adores her so much so that he was willing to accommodate her in any way that he can. I can't say no to a man like that.
And also the determined heroine who wants to have children with her husband, placate him without stopping being assertive, protective of him and yet never stopped giving him back as much as she received. I just love her.
All in all, if you're stuck in a dreary day and just want to have fun and hilarious HR, I would definitely recommend this book. ❤️
But this. The humour. The banter. The wholesome side characters. With a side of assassination attempts. These are what perfect fluffy romcom HR that she always deliver.
There were so many memorable and hilarious moments in this book. The clueless hero who thinks women weren't supposed to enjoy their bedding, struggles to compliment his wife and adores her so much so that he was willing to accommodate her in any way that he can. I can't say no to a man like that.
And also the determined heroine who wants to have children with her husband, placate him without stopping being assertive, protective of him and yet never stopped giving him back as much as she received. I just love her.
All in all, if you're stuck in a dreary day and just want to have fun and hilarious HR, I would definitely recommend this book. ❤️
November 2, 2022
⭐💫
1½ star.
A cringy read.
The heroine is too naive/innocent and also very foolish. (Innocence and stupidity are two very different things.)
This was like reading some kind of twisted version of Dumb and Dumber but in a historical romance setting.
There were some funny moments…. But most of the story and also the characters were just too over the top and ridiculous.
And the love and chemistry between the main characters feels rushed and lacking.
January 21, 2021
This book is a firm favourite of mine that I’ve read many times.
It always makes me chuckle and has such a vein of humour and ridiculous about it that gets to me every time.
I love that it doesn’t take itself to seriously and that it’s such an easy enjoyable read.
Genre-wise it’s a historical romance set in 1395 lady Emmalene (Emma) upon being ignored by her husband and wanting a family petitions king Richard to order said husband to perform his duty.
When her husband dies before this task can be completed the king arranges for Lord Amaury De Aneford an unlanded knight to wed Emma and secure her lands.
Amaury is initially reluctant to wed he’s heard the rumours regarding her court visit and is convinced Emma must be a hag so he does drag his feet to the alter.
He’s ecstatic to discover otherwise but his delay causes concern as the marriage needs to be consummated immediately to be valid as there is also another party hell-bent on stopping their union.
So this is such a humorous read with plenty of laugh out loud scenarios.
As characters, Emma and Amaury are a blast and this at times this borders on the ridiculous.
Emma is quite the character she’s is very naive and strong-willed not at all worldly and not afraid to speak her mind.
She really is a breath of fresh air and takes enjoyment in a lot of the simple things.
Her innocence and naivety are the cause of a lot of the hilarious misunderstandings that take place.
By contrast, Amaury is equally obtuse he really has some strange ideas and is basically a duck out of water when it comes to his understanding of the fairer sex.
He has no problems digging a big hole and burying himself with the outlandish statements that seem to come out of his mouth.
Statements that definitely rub Emma up the wrong way.
At heart though Amaury is harmless and a decent man it’s all in good fun and added to the whole vibe.
The style of narration here very much had a farce flavour to it with all its over-exaggerated characterisation
My favourite scene here has got to be the consummation one when everyone is shouting through the bedroom door to hurry them up and accomplish the deed.
This book continues to be a favourite and it is one I regularly reread it always leaves me with a warm glow and I especially love the simplicity and the honesty of the central relationship and the incredible fun humour it imparts.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
March 5, 2020
Lady Emmalene ("Emma") is unhappy, and she wants her king to know it. After all, it is her duty as an Englishwoman to provide heirs to her husband loyal to the king, but it is very difficult to accomplish this when her husband has been away for years. She wants "the deed" done! While it takes little to surprise the king these days, he is a bit stunned that a lady brought this concern to his attention, and he learns through asking a few questions that her husband never actually did "the deed" at all, as the naive Lady Emma believed it was accomplished by "sleeping with her husband" which is what they did on their wedding night, though in his clumsiness, her husband cut his hand the next day, so perhaps that is why he wasn't amorous before he left her alone for the last few years. The king agrees to "order" her husband to return and assume his husbandly duties, but said husband is killed in the journey home, and now Lady Emma is a widow. The possible heir is a troublesome nephew of the former lord whose mother has ambitions for her son that are contrary to the king's rule, so he must act quickly to see Lady Emma wed and the marriage properly consummated before the nephew returns to try to claim Emma AND the lordship. The man he wants to own the land is a newly titled warrior Amaury de Aneford who has served the king well. He rushes Amaury to the holding and him wed Emma at once as Bertrand (the nephew) is said to be hightailing it towards the property and the widow he wishes to claim to improve his position in society.
Amaury de Aneford is the bastard son of a duke whose duchess was unable to provide with heirs, so she had the reminder of her infertility banished at an early age and sent to serve as a squire and later a mercenary to serve the king. Amaury made the best of his situation by becoming the strongest warrior of the lot, and for his outstanding service, the king has bestowed the title of duke upon him. When learning the plan the king has for his bride, Amaury is at first very reluctant as he assumes any lady who has to approach the king to have her husband couple with her must be horribly ugly, but he is pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful woman when he arrives at his new holdings. The wedding takes place immediately, and the two are hustled up to the bedroom to "do the deed" before Bertrand arrives to claim what he believes to be his rightful inheritance. As soon as they enter the room, Amaury realizes how very naive his new wife is and is pretty put out that he has to explain the birds and the bees to such an innocent, but then it gets even worse: Bertrand is spotted rapidly approaching the castle, and Amaury is urged to get it done. Amaury is literally "poking" Emma as the door is flung open by Bertrand himself who demands evidence of the consummation. As Emma had every linen in the keep blackened because of the death of her husband out of her assumed duty, even the sheets are black, but Amaury has the evidence of the deed on his "little sword," so their union is upheld.
Emma had no idea that "the deed" was so painful, and she would really rather not do it again, but she is determined to have children, so she doses her husband's tankard with an herb that is said to enhance a man's potency. Amaury is certain that his wife will not want to repeat the brutal joining that occurred on their wedding night, and he tries to find ways to convince her that it will not be as bad; his friend also suggests he "woo: his wife, something Amaury has had zero experience with (and is amuses as he fumbles to try this strategy). Will the two of them be able to get past their unfortunate beginnings? Can they end the threat against Amaury as his life is repeatedly threatened?
Overall, a good read if you enjoy medieval HRs with some humorous moments, a page-turning plot, and steamy goodness!
Plot --- 4.5/5
Main Characters --- 4.5/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level* --- 3.5/5
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! ; 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
Amaury de Aneford is the bastard son of a duke whose duchess was unable to provide with heirs, so she had the reminder of her infertility banished at an early age and sent to serve as a squire and later a mercenary to serve the king. Amaury made the best of his situation by becoming the strongest warrior of the lot, and for his outstanding service, the king has bestowed the title of duke upon him. When learning the plan the king has for his bride, Amaury is at first very reluctant as he assumes any lady who has to approach the king to have her husband couple with her must be horribly ugly, but he is pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful woman when he arrives at his new holdings. The wedding takes place immediately, and the two are hustled up to the bedroom to "do the deed" before Bertrand arrives to claim what he believes to be his rightful inheritance. As soon as they enter the room, Amaury realizes how very naive his new wife is and is pretty put out that he has to explain the birds and the bees to such an innocent, but then it gets even worse: Bertrand is spotted rapidly approaching the castle, and Amaury is urged to get it done. Amaury is literally "poking" Emma as the door is flung open by Bertrand himself who demands evidence of the consummation. As Emma had every linen in the keep blackened because of the death of her husband out of her assumed duty, even the sheets are black, but Amaury has the evidence of the deed on his "little sword," so their union is upheld.
Emma had no idea that "the deed" was so painful, and she would really rather not do it again, but she is determined to have children, so she doses her husband's tankard with an herb that is said to enhance a man's potency. Amaury is certain that his wife will not want to repeat the brutal joining that occurred on their wedding night, and he tries to find ways to convince her that it will not be as bad; his friend also suggests he "woo: his wife, something Amaury has had zero experience with (and is amuses as he fumbles to try this strategy). Will the two of them be able to get past their unfortunate beginnings? Can they end the threat against Amaury as his life is repeatedly threatened?
Overall, a good read if you enjoy medieval HRs with some humorous moments, a page-turning plot, and steamy goodness!
Plot --- 4.5/5
Main Characters --- 4.5/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level* --- 3.5/5
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! ; 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
April 1, 2023
page 158: "Now she was bucking and sobbing his name like he was God." --LOL
This book was so fun and amusing I wish one of my friends in real life would read it.
Lynsay Sands took the trope (or at least I think it's a trope in historical romance) of the heroine not knowing what sex is and incorporated it to the extreme. Emma, who is twenty-two years old (my age), thought sex was lying in the bed with her husband. Just lying, not doing anything.
Her first husband, for some reason or another, never bedded her, and when he dies, she's ordered to marry our hero, the man who saved King Richard's life from assassins, in order to prevent her dead husband's evil relatives from getting their hands on the castle and estate. The conflict is that the evil relatives don't give up. The conflict almost got tiresome (my dad's influence here: is it realistic that these relatives wouldn't give up to get their hands on an estate???), but I understand the need for there to be conflict when it comes to a romance novel, so...
Though the hero, Amaury, isn't a virgin, he is very clueless when it comes to relationships with women. He has all these notions of the time that women aren't supposed to enjoy sex, that a man doesn't talk to women, that women aren't as intelligent, etc. Even though Amaury kind of acted like a caveman sometimes (see above), that added to the hilarity of the book.
4 stars for the book overall
3.5 stars for the actual romance. (I wanted them to talk more, lol.)
I found this book when browsing through Goodreads's medieval romance section. The show Outlander isn't even medieval, but finishing Season 6 made me want to read a medieval romance.
This book was so fun and amusing I wish one of my friends in real life would read it.
Lynsay Sands took the trope (or at least I think it's a trope in historical romance) of the heroine not knowing what sex is and incorporated it to the extreme. Emma, who is twenty-two years old (my age), thought sex was lying in the bed with her husband. Just lying, not doing anything.
Her first husband, for some reason or another, never bedded her, and when he dies, she's ordered to marry our hero, the man who saved King Richard's life from assassins, in order to prevent her dead husband's evil relatives from getting their hands on the castle and estate. The conflict is that the evil relatives don't give up. The conflict almost got tiresome (my dad's influence here: is it realistic that these relatives wouldn't give up to get their hands on an estate???), but I understand the need for there to be conflict when it comes to a romance novel, so...
Though the hero, Amaury, isn't a virgin, he is very clueless when it comes to relationships with women. He has all these notions of the time that women aren't supposed to enjoy sex, that a man doesn't talk to women, that women aren't as intelligent, etc. Even though Amaury kind of acted like a caveman sometimes (see above), that added to the hilarity of the book.
4 stars for the book overall
3.5 stars for the actual romance. (I wanted them to talk more, lol.)
I found this book when browsing through Goodreads's medieval romance section. The show Outlander isn't even medieval, but finishing Season 6 made me want to read a medieval romance.
April 6, 2017
downgrading my original rating because well I am older and wiser now. this woman is the president of TSTL club. innocence and stupidity are two different things.
why does this book have good reviews? I find the "innocence" of the heroine idiotic. and the feelings between the couple unreal. I had trouble reading past 50%. I am still reading it (albeit at a very slow rate) because I really want to see what the hype is about. so far I do not see how this book could ever be rated with higher than 2 stars.
why does this book have good reviews? I find the "innocence" of the heroine idiotic. and the feelings between the couple unreal. I had trouble reading past 50%. I am still reading it (albeit at a very slow rate) because I really want to see what the hype is about. so far I do not see how this book could ever be rated with higher than 2 stars.
January 23, 2022
This was short and sweet. I really loved the premise. Will it go on my fave HR list? no.
Will I read it a second time? Maybe when my memory gets foggy and I'm drawn to the cover again .
Will I read it a second time? Maybe when my memory gets foggy and I'm drawn to the cover again .
September 28, 2021
A rom-com historical, funny but very ridiculous.
3.5 stars 💫 For the entertainment
3.5 stars 💫 For the entertainment
September 17, 2013
i had been taking a break from romance books cause they can seriously be irritating at times.i was in the mood to start them again,and i pick up this thing.it makes me want to stop reading them again.
ive never seen a book centered around..the deed.i mean,obviously its in romance books,but to name your book after it..
who would ask a king to make their husband consummate the wedding? u'd never go to your king for that. or anyone for that matter. geez! &u'd never talk about consummation in front of people.
im sure these naive characters are meant to be charming,but they come off as ignorant and stupid.
there's quite a few historical innacuricies in here,like "tipsy" or "slept with her"
"at any rate" and "had most likely been the clincher."
there were quite a few places where a sentence needed a comma,and there wasnt one.
emma said she was two and twenty,and almost at the end of her childbearing years, which i took to mean forty yrs old,and yet she acted like a child.and an ignorant one at that.&then amaury said she was young,so im confused about her age.
i understand ppl during that time were naive about marriage but this is ridiculous.&if she was forty, then she should have known a little more about it.
i thought judith mcnaughts character saying "why do we have to share a bed" or "why do we have to be in the same room" was bad,but this character takes the cake.
i thought emma had realized when talking to the king that her 1st marriage was never consummated, but she still thought it had been after,just because they slept in the same bed.
i didnt find it amusing in the least.
amaury-great name btw-not!-said he never bedded virgins,because being an illegitimate child,he didnt wanna bring other illegitmate children into the world,so he only bedded wenches.now correct me if im wrong,but you can still have illegitimate children with wenches.just a lil heads up there. i mean, how did the author not realize that?!
no lady during that time would have been comfortable disrobing and walking around naked in front of a man with no reservations at all.even sum1 as stupid as emma should have known that.
no romance author has ever talked about the mans..manhood..like this author did.shrunken. shriveled. tiny.resembled a girls deformed arm that was missing fingers.
WHY should that ever enter a romance book?
ive read some truly naive characters before,but like i said,this one takes the cake.she thought his..manhood was a third leg.that whole thing brought gross images to my mind and i didnt find any of it even remotely funny.it actually bordered on disgusting.
who wants to be caught in the act by like thirty ppl? i mean seriously! &then amuary is standing naked in front of everyone and no one even seems to care.they act like its completely normal that he should be standing there naked.&then the way they find out that the marriage is consummated is the blood on his..3rd leg.&btw,emma thinks it's a 3rd leg.
none of that was romantic or funny.it was disgusting.&highly unbelievable.
ive never read about women getting drunk with the men and then found in the Great Hall the next morning.in fact,ive never heard of everyone in the castle getting drunk.
amaury coming to the castle and saying everything was his,like his castle,his great hall,was annoying.
after amaury saying is isnt the guy that hurts during..the deed, and the fact that she was the one in pain when they..did the deed,she thinks he's hurt when she sees blood on him and is like he must have hurt himself.idk how this could ever pass for humor or who would think its even remotely funny.
i also found it disgusting that everyone slept with every1 in the great hall.
of course emma the idiot would think that when blake said amuary was a bas**** that he meant it as an insult when he just meant that he was illegitimate.blake is amaury's friend.why would she think he'd call him a bas****?! oh yeah,because emma is a freakin idiot.
i didnt understand the big deal with ppl knowing that emma shot those men with arrows.i understand her 1st husband was horrified 2 learn she used a bow,but who cares if ppl know?
if bandits were known throughout the woods,then why would those two grown men want to kill Rolfe when he was a mere child at the time,just for having seen them in the woods?this isnt modern times when the kid could have reported their description and brought the police to track them down.
the way this book is written is designed to get on a person's nerves.
like he said that his wife was trying to poision him,not seriously at all.he just said it because the stuff tasted bad.&this guy comes out of nowhere and stops her.who would think amaury had been serious?!
some of the speech in here is completely backwards.like "do i say that you are tired, then you are."
emma constantly called him "husband" or "my lord husband" which just grated on my already raw nerves. it was seriously annoying.
romance authors always say the girl is headstrong and strongwilled,but rarely back that statement up. this one isnt strongwilled at all.every time amaury bossed her around,all emma would do was narrow her eyes,and wouldnt even say anything.
some of the things in here were a little modern for that time period,like "building up her self esteem" and "some women like to talk before..the deed."
amaury was always grunting or scowling.he came off as a grouchy, crotchety old man.he wasnt likeable at all.and was actually really annoying.as was emma.
emma's blend of ignorance and knowledge didnt work at all.she was completely and totally ignorant of what went on between a man and woman.and yet told her husband that her woman's time had come and gone so they could..proceed with their marriage duties.how would she know that you couldnt get together when its that of the month when she didnt know anything else concerning marriage?!
of course you expect naive characters in historical romance novels,because that's how women were during that time,but this one is just ridiculous.ive never read about another character this bad and i never want to again.it wasnt that she didnt know anything about marriage,its the fact that she thought she did,and then made up stuff in her head that she thought was logical.like that he had a third leg.wth is all i can say on that one.
emma was also constantly fretting and worrying over her husband.every time he grimaced or look disgruntled,she was all over him asking if he was alright.
her husband and his friend are sitting there talking about her probably having gas.as if that isnt gross.none of the crap in this book should ever be in a book! &why would appearing to be drunk ever make someone think she's got gas?
i just cant believe ive read the things ive read in here.
some of the speech in here is just plain wrong,and i dont think anyone talked like that in any time period.like "we needs must."
&no lady talked about the marriage duties right out like emma did.
&every time someone tried to explain the truth about consummation to the d.a. emma, something would interrupt them.&the naive twit would go on believing these ridiculous things she had dreamed up in her own stupid head. it was seriously ticking me off.&i started to think she'd never fully understand it.
in the beginning of the book it says that amuary was wearing a hose(tights) and that he looked formidable. as if anyone could look formidable with hose on.
emma finally came to the conclusion that all men must have them,so i thought the whole "oddity" and "3rd leg" thing was over,but she called it that again. this book is seriously trying my patience.
i was surprised to read when amaury said women werent supposed to enjoy..it.&that wives werent supposed to enjoy the marriage act.why just wives? i mean,amaury has been with a lot of women, so shouldnt he know better? the d.a.-ness must be rubbing off onto him.
the ignorances just kept coming in the book.&i feared they'd never end.
things are happening towards the beginning of the book that usually happen towards the end in a historical romance book.like when the guy gets possesive or w/e towards the girl.it happened a lil fast in here.
then when emma is responding to amaury's touch,he gets disgruntled-surprise there-and then ends up stopping altogether because "ladies were not supposed to enjoy the bedding." usually in a book, the guy is happy that the girl is responding to him like that.why are the ppl in here so dang stupid?! &who told amaury women arent supposed to enjoy the bedding? 1st its just women,then its wives, and now hes back to saying women arent supposed to enjoy it.so its like if one responds to you, you should stop because that means somethings wrong with her? wth?!
someone who didnt know about the marraige act at all knew that she could mount the guy like a horse.did the author seriously think we would buy this crap?!
let me get this straight.because some fool had told him women werent supposed to enjoy it, and the fool amuary had believed it,he wanted a wife who didnt respond at all,who just layed there, rather than one who responded to his touch? wut kinda sense does that make? you could halfway pull it off if the guy was a virgin too,but apparently he'd been with a lot of women before.so why is he that stupid? you mean to tell us that the wenches didnt respond at all? did this issue apply to the wenches he was with? cause he sed he'd nvr been with a virgin b4.which made me think he didnt because they were inexperienced,and becuz the idiot thought they were the only ones that could get pregnant.so wouldnt he be happy to have a wife who was..responsive?
i seriously want to talk to this author and try to better understand wth she was thinking when she wrote this.
im so sick of trying to put together the many pieces that are wrong with this book.i feel like i could sit here all day and it still wouldnt make sense. which leads me to believe that this author doesnt know wut the heck she's writing about.
i had to stop reading almost 200 pgs in for my sanity.
i skipped to the last chapter and found that they were both still the same way they were at the beginning,the same grumbling,growling, irritated, naive, ignorant fools.despite the fact that characters are supposed to progess in some way during a book.
emma thought sumthin was wrong with her to enjoy her husband's touch and it seemed like amaury hadnt fully realized that it was ok for women to enjoy it.
idk if emma finally figured out the whole marriage thing or the basic concept of the marriage thing or that his manhood wasnt an extra limb and i dont care.
neither one of those characters were likeable.in fact,i didnt particularly care for ne1 in here.
this author needs to figure out what's actually funny and what's annoying. ie,everything in here. i dont care if i ever pick up a book by her again.
&btw,her pic in the back of the book is creepy.
i just wanna put this whole thing behind me and hope to forget about it.but something tells me i wont ever forget this.
..third leg.oddity.shriveled.shrunken.tiny.oh,geez.
ive never seen a book centered around..the deed.i mean,obviously its in romance books,but to name your book after it..
who would ask a king to make their husband consummate the wedding? u'd never go to your king for that. or anyone for that matter. geez! &u'd never talk about consummation in front of people.
im sure these naive characters are meant to be charming,but they come off as ignorant and stupid.
there's quite a few historical innacuricies in here,like "tipsy" or "slept with her"
"at any rate" and "had most likely been the clincher."
there were quite a few places where a sentence needed a comma,and there wasnt one.
emma said she was two and twenty,and almost at the end of her childbearing years, which i took to mean forty yrs old,and yet she acted like a child.and an ignorant one at that.&then amaury said she was young,so im confused about her age.
i understand ppl during that time were naive about marriage but this is ridiculous.&if she was forty, then she should have known a little more about it.
i thought judith mcnaughts character saying "why do we have to share a bed" or "why do we have to be in the same room" was bad,but this character takes the cake.
i thought emma had realized when talking to the king that her 1st marriage was never consummated, but she still thought it had been after,just because they slept in the same bed.
i didnt find it amusing in the least.
amaury-great name btw-not!-said he never bedded virgins,because being an illegitimate child,he didnt wanna bring other illegitmate children into the world,so he only bedded wenches.now correct me if im wrong,but you can still have illegitimate children with wenches.just a lil heads up there. i mean, how did the author not realize that?!
no lady during that time would have been comfortable disrobing and walking around naked in front of a man with no reservations at all.even sum1 as stupid as emma should have known that.
no romance author has ever talked about the mans..manhood..like this author did.shrunken. shriveled. tiny.resembled a girls deformed arm that was missing fingers.
WHY should that ever enter a romance book?
ive read some truly naive characters before,but like i said,this one takes the cake.she thought his..manhood was a third leg.that whole thing brought gross images to my mind and i didnt find any of it even remotely funny.it actually bordered on disgusting.
who wants to be caught in the act by like thirty ppl? i mean seriously! &then amuary is standing naked in front of everyone and no one even seems to care.they act like its completely normal that he should be standing there naked.&then the way they find out that the marriage is consummated is the blood on his..3rd leg.&btw,emma thinks it's a 3rd leg.
none of that was romantic or funny.it was disgusting.&highly unbelievable.
ive never read about women getting drunk with the men and then found in the Great Hall the next morning.in fact,ive never heard of everyone in the castle getting drunk.
amaury coming to the castle and saying everything was his,like his castle,his great hall,was annoying.
after amaury saying is isnt the guy that hurts during..the deed, and the fact that she was the one in pain when they..did the deed,she thinks he's hurt when she sees blood on him and is like he must have hurt himself.idk how this could ever pass for humor or who would think its even remotely funny.
i also found it disgusting that everyone slept with every1 in the great hall.
of course emma the idiot would think that when blake said amuary was a bas**** that he meant it as an insult when he just meant that he was illegitimate.blake is amaury's friend.why would she think he'd call him a bas****?! oh yeah,because emma is a freakin idiot.
i didnt understand the big deal with ppl knowing that emma shot those men with arrows.i understand her 1st husband was horrified 2 learn she used a bow,but who cares if ppl know?
if bandits were known throughout the woods,then why would those two grown men want to kill Rolfe when he was a mere child at the time,just for having seen them in the woods?this isnt modern times when the kid could have reported their description and brought the police to track them down.
the way this book is written is designed to get on a person's nerves.
like he said that his wife was trying to poision him,not seriously at all.he just said it because the stuff tasted bad.&this guy comes out of nowhere and stops her.who would think amaury had been serious?!
some of the speech in here is completely backwards.like "do i say that you are tired, then you are."
emma constantly called him "husband" or "my lord husband" which just grated on my already raw nerves. it was seriously annoying.
romance authors always say the girl is headstrong and strongwilled,but rarely back that statement up. this one isnt strongwilled at all.every time amaury bossed her around,all emma would do was narrow her eyes,and wouldnt even say anything.
some of the things in here were a little modern for that time period,like "building up her self esteem" and "some women like to talk before..the deed."
amaury was always grunting or scowling.he came off as a grouchy, crotchety old man.he wasnt likeable at all.and was actually really annoying.as was emma.
emma's blend of ignorance and knowledge didnt work at all.she was completely and totally ignorant of what went on between a man and woman.and yet told her husband that her woman's time had come and gone so they could..proceed with their marriage duties.how would she know that you couldnt get together when its that of the month when she didnt know anything else concerning marriage?!
of course you expect naive characters in historical romance novels,because that's how women were during that time,but this one is just ridiculous.ive never read about another character this bad and i never want to again.it wasnt that she didnt know anything about marriage,its the fact that she thought she did,and then made up stuff in her head that she thought was logical.like that he had a third leg.wth is all i can say on that one.
emma was also constantly fretting and worrying over her husband.every time he grimaced or look disgruntled,she was all over him asking if he was alright.
her husband and his friend are sitting there talking about her probably having gas.as if that isnt gross.none of the crap in this book should ever be in a book! &why would appearing to be drunk ever make someone think she's got gas?
i just cant believe ive read the things ive read in here.
some of the speech in here is just plain wrong,and i dont think anyone talked like that in any time period.like "we needs must."
&no lady talked about the marriage duties right out like emma did.
&every time someone tried to explain the truth about consummation to the d.a. emma, something would interrupt them.&the naive twit would go on believing these ridiculous things she had dreamed up in her own stupid head. it was seriously ticking me off.&i started to think she'd never fully understand it.
in the beginning of the book it says that amuary was wearing a hose(tights) and that he looked formidable. as if anyone could look formidable with hose on.
emma finally came to the conclusion that all men must have them,so i thought the whole "oddity" and "3rd leg" thing was over,but she called it that again. this book is seriously trying my patience.
i was surprised to read when amaury said women werent supposed to enjoy..it.&that wives werent supposed to enjoy the marriage act.why just wives? i mean,amaury has been with a lot of women, so shouldnt he know better? the d.a.-ness must be rubbing off onto him.
the ignorances just kept coming in the book.&i feared they'd never end.
things are happening towards the beginning of the book that usually happen towards the end in a historical romance book.like when the guy gets possesive or w/e towards the girl.it happened a lil fast in here.
then when emma is responding to amaury's touch,he gets disgruntled-surprise there-and then ends up stopping altogether because "ladies were not supposed to enjoy the bedding." usually in a book, the guy is happy that the girl is responding to him like that.why are the ppl in here so dang stupid?! &who told amaury women arent supposed to enjoy the bedding? 1st its just women,then its wives, and now hes back to saying women arent supposed to enjoy it.so its like if one responds to you, you should stop because that means somethings wrong with her? wth?!
someone who didnt know about the marraige act at all knew that she could mount the guy like a horse.did the author seriously think we would buy this crap?!
let me get this straight.because some fool had told him women werent supposed to enjoy it, and the fool amuary had believed it,he wanted a wife who didnt respond at all,who just layed there, rather than one who responded to his touch? wut kinda sense does that make? you could halfway pull it off if the guy was a virgin too,but apparently he'd been with a lot of women before.so why is he that stupid? you mean to tell us that the wenches didnt respond at all? did this issue apply to the wenches he was with? cause he sed he'd nvr been with a virgin b4.which made me think he didnt because they were inexperienced,and becuz the idiot thought they were the only ones that could get pregnant.so wouldnt he be happy to have a wife who was..responsive?
i seriously want to talk to this author and try to better understand wth she was thinking when she wrote this.
im so sick of trying to put together the many pieces that are wrong with this book.i feel like i could sit here all day and it still wouldnt make sense. which leads me to believe that this author doesnt know wut the heck she's writing about.
i had to stop reading almost 200 pgs in for my sanity.
i skipped to the last chapter and found that they were both still the same way they were at the beginning,the same grumbling,growling, irritated, naive, ignorant fools.despite the fact that characters are supposed to progess in some way during a book.
emma thought sumthin was wrong with her to enjoy her husband's touch and it seemed like amaury hadnt fully realized that it was ok for women to enjoy it.
idk if emma finally figured out the whole marriage thing or the basic concept of the marriage thing or that his manhood wasnt an extra limb and i dont care.
neither one of those characters were likeable.in fact,i didnt particularly care for ne1 in here.
this author needs to figure out what's actually funny and what's annoying. ie,everything in here. i dont care if i ever pick up a book by her again.
&btw,her pic in the back of the book is creepy.
i just wanna put this whole thing behind me and hope to forget about it.but something tells me i wont ever forget this.
..third leg.oddity.shriveled.shrunken.tiny.oh,geez.
February 20, 2025
Лейди Емалин и Емъри
📣🚨🛑РЕВЮ СЪДЪРЖАЩО СПОЙЛЕРИ🛑🚨📣
Честно казано, очаквах да ми хареса повече, но й давам 3 звезди при реални 3,25.
Лейди Емалин, или Ема, както я наричат всички отива при краля с молба да принуди съпруга й да се прибере у дома и да изпълни съпружеските си задължения, тъй като е вече на 22-години и копнее за деца, но откакто е омъжена, мъжа й пътува постоянно оставяйки я да старее в дома им. Кралят е удивен от наивността на Ема, научавайки, че според нея, консумацията на брака значи само да спят в едно легло и осъзнавайки, че брака дори не е консумиран, той изпраща вест към съпруга на Ема да се прибере и да поправи грешката си. По пътят обаче той умира. Сега кралят е изправен пред огромен проблем. Една от най-богатите му наследници е без дете, а за крепостта отдавна копнее братовчед на починалия лорд, за който се носят слухове, че заговорничи срещу краля. По тази причина, краля нарежда на един от най-верните си рицари да замине на мига за дома на Ема и да се венчае за нея.
Емъри е незаконен син на лорд и винаги е копнял да има свой дом, крепост, съпруга и деца. Сега кралят му оказва огромна чест давайки му титла, богато имение и булка. Но Емъри смята, че бъдещата му съпруга трябва да е истинска вещица, че съпруга й да не я докосне по време на годините брак и не бърза да се венчае за нея. Докато не пристига в бъдещият си дом и не открива една прелестна, невинна бъдеща съпруга и не разбира, че го чакат куп неприятности, ако не консумира брака възможно най-бързо, за да може да задържи Ема, зестрата и дома й.
Признавам беше адски забавна честта в която отидоха да консумират брака. Ема мислеше, че само ще лежат, а Емъри нямаше време да й обяснява много защото половината замък бе кацнал пред вратата на спалнята им и крещяха колко близо е братовчеда на починалия й съпруг, и че носи писмо с което, ако брака не е консумирам Ема трябва да се ожени за брачеда. Беше безумно смешно. После мислех, че нещата ще са много по-интересни, но уви не беше така.
Емъри винаги казваше грешните неща, правеше си грешните заключения, това че беше удивен, че жена му иска да говорят, все едно е престъпление, това че според него, тя не е лейди щом изпитва удоволствие в леглото и вярването му, че тя не може и не трябва да има мнение, беше адски дразнещо. Ако си го е помислил 1-2 пъти разбирам, но той през половината от книгата имаше куп нелогични разбирания, които ми късаха нервната система. Факта, че дори не знае как да й направи комплимент, не бе така забавен, като в други книги, защото там поне, щом на героя му липсват нужните думи, той й показваше с дела, а тук, през голяма част от книгата се пренебрегваха. Ема беше що-годе по-свястна героиня, но тя от своя страна, наплашена от начина по който я бе зарязал първият й съпруг беше тотална шаш и паника. Не искаше да направи каквото и да е, стараеше се да не бъде самата себе си, че Емъри да не я отхвърли.
Наистина очаквах много повече от книгата. Не беше лоша, но не оправда представата, която си бях изградила от резюмето, нито ни даде достоен край, за силното начало с което започва книгата.
📣🚨🛑РЕВЮ СЪДЪРЖАЩО СПОЙЛЕРИ🛑🚨📣
Честно казано, очаквах да ми хареса повече, но й давам 3 звезди при реални 3,25.
Лейди Емалин, или Ема, както я наричат всички отива при краля с молба да принуди съпруга й да се прибере у дома и да изпълни съпружеските си задължения, тъй като е вече на 22-години и копнее за деца, но откакто е омъжена, мъжа й пътува постоянно оставяйки я да старее в дома им. Кралят е удивен от наивността на Ема, научавайки, че според нея, консумацията на брака значи само да спят в едно легло и осъзнавайки, че брака дори не е консумиран, той изпраща вест към съпруга на Ема да се прибере и да поправи грешката си. По пътят обаче той умира. Сега кралят е изправен пред огромен проблем. Една от най-богатите му наследници е без дете, а за крепостта отдавна копнее братовчед на починалия лорд, за който се носят слухове, че заговорничи срещу краля. По тази причина, краля нарежда на един от най-верните си рицари да замине на мига за дома на Ема и да се венчае за нея.
Емъри е незаконен син на лорд и винаги е копнял да има свой дом, крепост, съпруга и деца. Сега кралят му оказва огромна чест давайки му титла, богато имение и булка. Но Емъри смята, че бъдещата му съпруга трябва да е истинска вещица, че съпруга й да не я докосне по време на годините брак и не бърза да се венчае за нея. Докато не пристига в бъдещият си дом и не открива една прелестна, невинна бъдеща съпруга и не разбира, че го чакат куп неприятности, ако не консумира брака възможно най-бързо, за да може да задържи Ема, зестрата и дома й.
Признавам беше адски забавна честта в която отидоха да консумират брака. Ема мислеше, че само ще лежат, а Емъри нямаше време да й обяснява много защото половината замък бе кацнал пред вратата на спалнята им и крещяха колко близо е братовчеда на починалия й съпруг, и че носи писмо с което, ако брака не е консумирам Ема трябва да се ожени за брачеда. Беше безумно смешно. После мислех, че нещата ще са много по-интересни, но уви не беше така.
Емъри винаги казваше грешните неща, правеше си грешните заключения, това че беше удивен, че жена му иска да говорят, все едно е престъпление, това че според него, тя не е лейди щом изпитва удоволствие в леглото и вярването му, че тя не може и не трябва да има мнение, беше адски дразнещо. Ако си го е помислил 1-2 пъти разбирам, но той през половината от книгата имаше куп нелогични разбирания, които ми късаха нервната система. Факта, че дори не знае как да й направи комплимент, не бе така забавен, като в други книги, защото там поне, щом на героя му липсват нужните думи, той й показваше с дела, а тук, през голяма част от книгата се пренебрегваха. Ема беше що-годе по-свястна героиня, но тя от своя страна, наплашена от начина по който я бе зарязал първият й съпруг беше тотална шаш и паника. Не искаше да направи каквото и да е, стараеше се да не бъде самата себе си, че Емъри да не я отхвърли.
Наистина очаквах много повече от книгата. Не беше лоша, но не оправда представата, която си бях изградила от резюмето, нито ни даде достоен край, за силното начало с което започва книгата.
August 19, 2019
Oh what fun! I read the whole thing in one go. I laughed so much at so many things but I think the heroine's first impressions of the hero's dick were the thing that had me giggling so much my neighbours will probably complain! I may come back and add the quote for that scene when I've not stayed up till 3:30 AM reading with work in the morning.
Stories like this require complete suspension of disbelief. If you can't suspend disbelief, though, there might be a problem. I'm hardly an expert on medieval lingo, but some of the phrases seemed anachronistic, not least of all the declaration . I hate it when people use that phrase. Uhh, no. One of you is. Unless the other one is pulling a little Arnold Schwarzenegger , he most certainly is NOT. Actually, though, it was a little bit easier to stomach here. It felt like the whole household was invested in the family.
Also, the hero's assertion that he only slept with serving girls and camp followers, not virgins because he didn't want to create any bastards. Umm... what? Those women are just as capable of bearing children. And the heroine's supposedly . Ok, it's not impossible, but I'm a bit doubtful. If you look at the timeline: It's a bit too neat and tidy.
But I can forgive all that, for a kind, but gutsy heroine made with her era's version of sanitary towels... ahh, it's great! It's truly worth suspending your disbelief for The Deed. The author stated in a note that she wrote it to be the funny story that she was struggling to find, and it most certainly is that.
Stories like this require complete suspension of disbelief. If you can't suspend disbelief, though, there might be a problem. I'm hardly an expert on medieval lingo, but some of the phrases seemed anachronistic, not least of all the declaration . I hate it when people use that phrase. Uhh, no. One of you is. Unless the other one is pulling a little Arnold Schwarzenegger , he most certainly is NOT. Actually, though, it was a little bit easier to stomach here. It felt like the whole household was invested in the family.
Also, the hero's assertion that he only slept with serving girls and camp followers, not virgins because he didn't want to create any bastards. Umm... what? Those women are just as capable of bearing children. And the heroine's supposedly . Ok, it's not impossible, but I'm a bit doubtful. If you look at the timeline: It's a bit too neat and tidy.
But I can forgive all that, for a kind, but gutsy heroine made with her era's version of sanitary towels... ahh, it's great! It's truly worth suspending your disbelief for The Deed. The author stated in a note that she wrote it to be the funny story that she was struggling to find, and it most certainly is that.
Read
September 26, 2010Such a hilarious book - I've been howling with laughter since the first few pages! Emma's totally and completely nuts - she sought audience with the king to force her husband to attend to his husbandly duties, which, in her (completely lacking and innocent) knowledge, means sharing the bed - literally. When her second husband Amaury is faced with the challenge of showing her what exactly happens between a husband and a wife on their wedding night, she thinks his extra appendage a deformity, wonders at the lack of toes at the end of it and how it can grow like it does. Such a classic humour. I love it!
April 26, 2024
This is one of the funniest books I have read in a while. I was smiling, giggling and laughing throughout the entire thing. The combination of final boss level virgin Emma and Amaury who grew up without an ounce of affection is just too perfect. These two unsocialised people bound together in a marriage of convenience was one so funny. And the best part was Emma's extreme innocence. She compared Amaury's male bits to a deformed leg, because she had no idea how male genitalia looks like. And she continues to call it "his oddity" and "his deformity" after. I'm still laughing about it writing this review.
The entire wedding night scene is just pure comedy.
Moreover, it doesn't stop there. Amaury is as clueless as Emma. He complains that his wife is enjoying bed sport with him which he was taught is impossible because she is a lady. And when Emma claims she only lays with him for an heir, he is pissed because she doesn't come to his bed because of him. His partner Blake literally has to teach him how to compliment his wife properly, and he still fucks it up most of the time.
I'm telling the combination of these two characters is comedy gold. Their marriage only starts to bloom because everyone around them is helping in some way.
I have to say this, because some people might be put off by Emma's innocence. She is still a cool character. She knows how to use bow and arrow, she knows her herbs and spices, she is really good at managing her former husband's estate. It's just because she was raised very isolated and no one thought it to be important to teach her about relation men and women, she is absolutely clueless how to conduct a marriage. Amaury has to learn all this about her too which creates some of the funniest quarrelling scenes ever written.
Lynsay Sands is slowly turning into one of my comfort authors. Her novels are just so much fun and perfect if you need something on the lighthearted side.
The entire wedding night scene is just pure comedy.
Moreover, it doesn't stop there. Amaury is as clueless as Emma. He complains that his wife is enjoying bed sport with him which he was taught is impossible because she is a lady. And when Emma claims she only lays with him for an heir, he is pissed because she doesn't come to his bed because of him. His partner Blake literally has to teach him how to compliment his wife properly, and he still fucks it up most of the time.
I'm telling the combination of these two characters is comedy gold. Their marriage only starts to bloom because everyone around them is helping in some way.
I have to say this, because some people might be put off by Emma's innocence. She is still a cool character. She knows how to use bow and arrow, she knows her herbs and spices, she is really good at managing her former husband's estate. It's just because she was raised very isolated and no one thought it to be important to teach her about relation men and women, she is absolutely clueless how to conduct a marriage. Amaury has to learn all this about her too which creates some of the funniest quarrelling scenes ever written.
Lynsay Sands is slowly turning into one of my comfort authors. Her novels are just so much fun and perfect if you need something on the lighthearted side.
July 24, 2019
AUDIBLE EDITION OF THE DEED!!
Lady Emmaline/Emma Eberhart has requested an audience with King Richard. She wants him to command her husband of 2 years the Duke of Eberhart to consummate there marriage. On his way to due what the King commands he is killed.
A few days later the King commands Amaury de Aneford to marry the widowed virginal Lady Emmaline/Emma. This begins one of the funniest romance stories I have had the pleasure of reading in a long time.
Emma's in laws are determine that the Dukedom and all its wealth will not be given over to Emma's new husband and the now Newly minted Duke Amaury Aneford of Eberhart. The in laws many plots to murder Amaury all go awry. The villains are know from the beginning of the story.
I think Emmalines lack of knowledge of the marital bed would have been more believable if she were younger maybe 18 instead of 22. Living in the country would have taught her something about sexual joining. I also would have like an epilog . So 4 stars instead of 5
Lady Emmaline/Emma Eberhart has requested an audience with King Richard. She wants him to command her husband of 2 years the Duke of Eberhart to consummate there marriage. On his way to due what the King commands he is killed.
A few days later the King commands Amaury de Aneford to marry the widowed virginal Lady Emmaline/Emma. This begins one of the funniest romance stories I have had the pleasure of reading in a long time.
Emma's in laws are determine that the Dukedom and all its wealth will not be given over to Emma's new husband and the now Newly minted Duke Amaury Aneford of Eberhart. The in laws many plots to murder Amaury all go awry. The villains are know from the beginning of the story.
I think Emmalines lack of knowledge of the marital bed would have been more believable if she were younger maybe 18 instead of 22. Living in the country would have taught her something about sexual joining. I also would have like an epilog . So 4 stars instead of 5
June 3, 2023
Rating: 3.8 / 5
This book is indeed fairly reminiscent of Lynsay Sands's usual writing style that I have been acquainted with; but at the same time, it's easy to tell that it's one of her earlier works.
For one thing, I think the comedy is a bit overdone, especially at the beginning of the story, whereas in her later works, it's much more restrained.
However, that being said, I do love all of its Lynsay Sands-ness, and for her very first published book, it's clear that she's had a style in mind from the get-go. It's an early version of her work that still has some kinks in it to work out, but, once polished, results in a series of great works...before they become somewhat stale towards more of her recent stuff.
Soo...endearing, and definitely leading up to a great and cozy combination that I've grown to love having on my bookshelves. If anyone's looking for an earlier variant of this author's work that's fresh, eager, and endearing, then look no further than The Deed.
This book is indeed fairly reminiscent of Lynsay Sands's usual writing style that I have been acquainted with; but at the same time, it's easy to tell that it's one of her earlier works.
For one thing, I think the comedy is a bit overdone, especially at the beginning of the story, whereas in her later works, it's much more restrained.
However, that being said, I do love all of its Lynsay Sands-ness, and for her very first published book, it's clear that she's had a style in mind from the get-go. It's an early version of her work that still has some kinks in it to work out, but, once polished, results in a series of great works...before they become somewhat stale towards more of her recent stuff.
Soo...endearing, and definitely leading up to a great and cozy combination that I've grown to love having on my bookshelves. If anyone's looking for an earlier variant of this author's work that's fresh, eager, and endearing, then look no further than The Deed.
September 13, 2025
Lady Emma has a problem: her husband hasn't visited the marriage bed since their wedding night and she would like to fulfill her wifely duty by having children, so she petitions the king for assistance. When the king orders her husband to pay her, er, attention, he dies instead, leaving a power void at his estate. To protect his own interests, the king elevates Amaury de Aneford to Duke if he marries Emma...but he'll need to hurry because Emma's late husband's cousin wants the estate, title, and the bride. A very rushed consummation leads to confusion as Emma wonders whether or not The Deed has been completed.
Lynsay Sands's debut is as completely bananas as you could hope. The premise is silly and tongue-in-cheek, poking fun at the innocent and naive heroine trope. Emma is hopelessly naive about the marriage bed and Amaury is hopelessly naive about the nature of women. This leads to really silly miscommunication, and because of the bonkers style it stays amusing rather than grating. Every moment of tension is cut with laugh out loud humor and medieval characters talking incredibly awkwardly about sex. I loved it.
Lynsay Sands's debut is as completely bananas as you could hope. The premise is silly and tongue-in-cheek, poking fun at the innocent and naive heroine trope. Emma is hopelessly naive about the marriage bed and Amaury is hopelessly naive about the nature of women. This leads to really silly miscommunication, and because of the bonkers style it stays amusing rather than grating. Every moment of tension is cut with laugh out loud humor and medieval characters talking incredibly awkwardly about sex. I loved it.
December 4, 2022
I was smiling ear to ear the whole time I was reading this. So much fun.
February 8, 2019
So. A little sad because I think Lindsay Sands is just not my author. This is the 3rd or 4th book I’ve tried by her and I just can’t love her characters.
Not that they are unlikable but I just lack a connection with them. I don’t feel fully vested in them or their feelings. I don’t FEEL their feelings. I don’t feel the tension or the longing or the love.
I know this is some personal issue with me because so many love her books. So please, if you haven’t tried her yet don’t let me discourage you. In fact, I enjoyed this book by far the most of hers I have tried.
I gave three stars. I generally enjoy her writing style and she is a hilarious writer. This book had so many laugh out loud funny parts. I was really into the beginning of the story and thought I was going to love this book.
As the book went on, I felt like the outside plot (a greedy mother and son duo) were just all that was going on. Any time the main characters went near the woods a group of bandits would jump out and maul them sent from the enemy and it got super tiring. The multiple attempts on the hero’s life. It was just so many small crisis that I wasn’t feeling anything for them - no suspense or worry, just here we go again.
I didn’t love the main characters problems of their sex life. The hero’s biggest problem through the middle of the book was that his wife seemed to enjoy “joining”. I never thought I’d read that being a problem 🤣
But anyway I think I’m just looking for something different in a book. One saying they used a lot in this book that made laugh was, “What you do?” When they are confused or incredulous. I think I could totally start saying that to my kids 😄 But if you are looking for something funny, this could totally raise your spirits.
Not that they are unlikable but I just lack a connection with them. I don’t feel fully vested in them or their feelings. I don’t FEEL their feelings. I don’t feel the tension or the longing or the love.
I know this is some personal issue with me because so many love her books. So please, if you haven’t tried her yet don’t let me discourage you. In fact, I enjoyed this book by far the most of hers I have tried.
I gave three stars. I generally enjoy her writing style and she is a hilarious writer. This book had so many laugh out loud funny parts. I was really into the beginning of the story and thought I was going to love this book.
As the book went on, I felt like the outside plot (a greedy mother and son duo) were just all that was going on. Any time the main characters went near the woods a group of bandits would jump out and maul them sent from the enemy and it got super tiring. The multiple attempts on the hero’s life. It was just so many small crisis that I wasn’t feeling anything for them - no suspense or worry, just here we go again.
I didn’t love the main characters problems of their sex life. The hero’s biggest problem through the middle of the book was that his wife seemed to enjoy “joining”. I never thought I’d read that being a problem 🤣
But anyway I think I’m just looking for something different in a book. One saying they used a lot in this book that made laugh was, “What you do?” When they are confused or incredulous. I think I could totally start saying that to my kids 😄 But if you are looking for something funny, this could totally raise your spirits.
March 16, 2022
it’s been a while since i’ve read a medieval historical romance. having brought up by her father, emma doesn’t truly know the real meaning of things. although she’s married, her husband has never bedded her after their wedding night. and when she says “bedded”, she means sleeping on the same bed, not doing the deed. incredibly, she took this to the king and wondered if he could order her husband to “bed” her. but before anything could happen, emma received news that she became a widow. a while later, in a flurry, she was remarried to a landless knight named amaury.
for a modern woman, emma’s naiveness about intercourse was both hilarious and slightly saddening. i thought she would be like that about other things but emma’s actually pretty independent and amazing. since her previous husband was always away, emma took handling all matters of the estate into her hands. she cared for the servants and listened to the villagers’ problems. incredibly well-liked by the people around her, emma thrived without a husband. amaury didn’t know how to handle a woman but he realised that emma needed extra care when it comes to the bed. it was fun to watch him become more aware of emma’s presence around him and how protective he gradually became as well.
overall, it was fun and interesting! medieval historical romances aren't really my type of books but the deed captured my attention.
for a modern woman, emma’s naiveness about intercourse was both hilarious and slightly saddening. i thought she would be like that about other things but emma’s actually pretty independent and amazing. since her previous husband was always away, emma took handling all matters of the estate into her hands. she cared for the servants and listened to the villagers’ problems. incredibly well-liked by the people around her, emma thrived without a husband. amaury didn’t know how to handle a woman but he realised that emma needed extra care when it comes to the bed. it was fun to watch him become more aware of emma’s presence around him and how protective he gradually became as well.
overall, it was fun and interesting! medieval historical romances aren't really my type of books but the deed captured my attention.
June 26, 2021
Ms Sands is one of my favorite authors because her books never fail to make me laugh and this book is no exception! :D I will definitely be starting the next book immediately
Maybe the h was a bit naive but Ms Sands makes it work for the story. While I would like to believe there isn't anyone that naive it is just not so even in the information age we live in today.
Maybe the h was a bit naive but Ms Sands makes it work for the story. While I would like to believe there isn't anyone that naive it is just not so even in the information age we live in today.
February 5, 2017
help i don't know why i do this to myself
October 18, 2020
Tingir um vestido de negro é uma coisa, Mas Tudo!!! 🤭🤣
Isso foi o que mais adorei nesse livro...
MAS📚📚
Conforme fui lendo, fui sentindo falta de algo na story... Continuei... E bom lá estava de novo, o toque de mágica da minha brilhante autora Lynsay Sands...
🥰🥰
Emma é bem, mais muito inocente em minha opinião, o que torna a cousa um pouca chata, mas então ela se mostra um linda guerreira e isso trás uma emoção para story... Amaury é um guerreiro que sofreu, e quando encontra o que procurava, vem os vilões para tomar seu sonho, mas no fim tudo da certo...
#BoaLeitura!🎀 #GoodReading!🎀
Isso foi o que mais adorei nesse livro...
MAS📚📚
Conforme fui lendo, fui sentindo falta de algo na story... Continuei... E bom lá estava de novo, o toque de mágica da minha brilhante autora Lynsay Sands...
🥰🥰
Emma é bem, mais muito inocente em minha opinião, o que torna a cousa um pouca chata, mas então ela se mostra um linda guerreira e isso trás uma emoção para story... Amaury é um guerreiro que sofreu, e quando encontra o que procurava, vem os vilões para tomar seu sonho, mas no fim tudo da certo...
#BoaLeitura!🎀 #GoodReading!🎀
February 24, 2026
very funny concept with her not knowing anything about sex and nobody wanting to have that talk with her. but where did it go from there? once the deed is done there is just not much else to carry the story.
September 3, 2022
Fun and steamy!
September 9, 2024
Increíblemente y contra todo pronóstico ha resultado una historia de lo más divertida y prueba una vez más q cuando se escribe bien, la trama puede ser cliché todo el tiempo, pero sin importar lo más mínimo.
Una esposa virgen reclama al rey de Inglaterra q ordene a su esposo cumpla con sus deberes conyugales. Y va el rey y hace exactamente eso, solo q el novio muere en el camino y hay q casar a la viuda lo antes posible, al gusto del monarca, no sea q a la pobre la casen a disgusto de todo el mundo. Esa es básicamente la trama q empieza ya con varias escenas y dialogos muy graciosos con el nuevo novio retrasando lo más posible la llegada a su boda y la novia q enterándose q se va casar de nuevo, dos días después de enterrar al primer marido y en pleno proceso de teñir todo de negro debido al luto reciente.
Desde ahí no paran las risas con la q será posiblemente una noche de bodas memorable, intentos de asesinato cada cuatro páginas y por supuesto la suficiente dosis de escenas de cama - aunq también hay otros escenarios más bucólicos.
La trama se centra en Amaury&Emmaline y ambos como personajes centrales me han gustado muchísimo. Ella es una joven sumamente inocente, pero muy inteligente; y él es un fiero guerrero curtido en mil y una batallas pero lo suficientemente sensible como para q le importe su nueva esposa, una vez q la conoce.
Hay interesantes secundarios, pero ninguno roba escena, lo cual no esta mal, aunq a mi nunca me han molestado las historias paralelas; y los antagónicos aparecen lo justo y necesario, aunq se sabe de ellos durante prácticamente todo el libro. Precisamente este es un punto criticable porq aunq muy malos, malísimos, hay algo q no se definir, q no termina de convencer; especialmente con la tercera q sobrevive lo justo para morir al final; lo cual queda como colgado, sin mucho sentido. Lean el libro, no se van a arrepentir y van a saber de que va mi último comentario.
Una esposa virgen reclama al rey de Inglaterra q ordene a su esposo cumpla con sus deberes conyugales. Y va el rey y hace exactamente eso, solo q el novio muere en el camino y hay q casar a la viuda lo antes posible, al gusto del monarca, no sea q a la pobre la casen a disgusto de todo el mundo. Esa es básicamente la trama q empieza ya con varias escenas y dialogos muy graciosos con el nuevo novio retrasando lo más posible la llegada a su boda y la novia q enterándose q se va casar de nuevo, dos días después de enterrar al primer marido y en pleno proceso de teñir todo de negro debido al luto reciente.
Desde ahí no paran las risas con la q será posiblemente una noche de bodas memorable, intentos de asesinato cada cuatro páginas y por supuesto la suficiente dosis de escenas de cama - aunq también hay otros escenarios más bucólicos.
La trama se centra en Amaury&Emmaline y ambos como personajes centrales me han gustado muchísimo. Ella es una joven sumamente inocente, pero muy inteligente; y él es un fiero guerrero curtido en mil y una batallas pero lo suficientemente sensible como para q le importe su nueva esposa, una vez q la conoce.
Hay interesantes secundarios, pero ninguno roba escena, lo cual no esta mal, aunq a mi nunca me han molestado las historias paralelas; y los antagónicos aparecen lo justo y necesario, aunq se sabe de ellos durante prácticamente todo el libro. Precisamente este es un punto criticable porq aunq muy malos, malísimos, hay algo q no se definir, q no termina de convencer; especialmente con la tercera q sobrevive lo justo para morir al final; lo cual queda como colgado, sin mucho sentido. Lean el libro, no se van a arrepentir y van a saber de que va mi último comentario.
October 8, 2011
Delightfully lovely...review here at http://anotherlookbookreviews.blogspo...
What a witty and fun read The Deed was. Poor Emma was so naive that she didn't understand what consummating the marriage meant exactly. Sure her husband slept with her one night but the only noise coming from the bed chamber was his snores.
Emma's misunderstandings about many different things made me chuckle quite a few times. After two years of marriage and with only one night of sleeping together Emma is desperate to have a child. She takes her plight to the king to see if he could order her husband to bed her. That time in court explaining her dilemma to the king was probably the most humourous part of the book. Here is a sample from last Tuesday's Teaser where I shared a few lines.
Although the king does side with Emma, by the time the deed was to be completed, her husband passes away. The king then orders a knight, Amaury de Aneford to marry her. Of course Amaury hears about Emma's visit to see the king and immediately thinks that Emma must be an old hag.
The bumbling antics these two encounter with their super quick wedding and then their growing love for each each made for a delightfully lovely read. I enjoyed from page one right until the end.
You'll enjoy reading all about their growing care and love for each other and you can't help but have Emma win your heart over. The only thing I wish I could understand more clearly is why her first husband decided not to bed her. It seemed to be left in the air a bit and perhaps left to the reader to determine that answer.
I am happy to have purchased this book during a time where proceeds are donated to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. Avon sponsored the Kiss and Teal campaign.
Teasers - black clothes, head injury, damiana concoction, moat swimming
What a witty and fun read The Deed was. Poor Emma was so naive that she didn't understand what consummating the marriage meant exactly. Sure her husband slept with her one night but the only noise coming from the bed chamber was his snores.
Emma's misunderstandings about many different things made me chuckle quite a few times. After two years of marriage and with only one night of sleeping together Emma is desperate to have a child. She takes her plight to the king to see if he could order her husband to bed her. That time in court explaining her dilemma to the king was probably the most humourous part of the book. Here is a sample from last Tuesday's Teaser where I shared a few lines.
Although the king does side with Emma, by the time the deed was to be completed, her husband passes away. The king then orders a knight, Amaury de Aneford to marry her. Of course Amaury hears about Emma's visit to see the king and immediately thinks that Emma must be an old hag.
The bumbling antics these two encounter with their super quick wedding and then their growing love for each each made for a delightfully lovely read. I enjoyed from page one right until the end.
You'll enjoy reading all about their growing care and love for each other and you can't help but have Emma win your heart over. The only thing I wish I could understand more clearly is why her first husband decided not to bed her. It seemed to be left in the air a bit and perhaps left to the reader to determine that answer.
I am happy to have purchased this book during a time where proceeds are donated to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. Avon sponsored the Kiss and Teal campaign.
Teasers - black clothes, head injury, damiana concoction, moat swimming
dnf
September 26, 2017Emma the clueless and Amaury her new hubby.
Well.... DNF about 60% cause I just couldn't bring myself to pick it up again. I did skip to the end though.
The *Deed* is procreating, and the *schtick* is that Emma is ignorant beyond belief. It was cute at first, even though she comes across as more of a moron than a naive virgin.
But then the author chooses to hit Amaury with the 'idiot' stick too.
Now it's a full blown comedy of errors...
Emma has been married for a couple years but is still a virgin. Now a widow. The king appoints a new husband (Amaury) who has made assumptions before even meeting her. He's not a bad bloke though. But he has to marry and bed her before her evil cousin shows up to contest the marriage.
There's evil relatives and a traitor. There's a host of lesser characters who all seem smarter than the MCs.
On the bright side; the heroine is NOT a doormat and can kick ass.
It was all pretty cute and funny until the joke wore thin and my mind started to wander.
Well.... DNF about 60% cause I just couldn't bring myself to pick it up again. I did skip to the end though.
The *Deed* is procreating, and the *schtick* is that Emma is ignorant beyond belief. It was cute at first, even though she comes across as more of a moron than a naive virgin.
But then the author chooses to hit Amaury with the 'idiot' stick too.
Now it's a full blown comedy of errors...
Emma has been married for a couple years but is still a virgin. Now a widow. The king appoints a new husband (Amaury) who has made assumptions before even meeting her. He's not a bad bloke though. But he has to marry and bed her before her evil cousin shows up to contest the marriage.
There's evil relatives and a traitor. There's a host of lesser characters who all seem smarter than the MCs.
On the bright side; the heroine is NOT a doormat and can kick ass.
It was all pretty cute and funny until the joke wore thin and my mind started to wander.
April 29, 2012
This was a decent read, although I didn't like it as much as Love is Blind. I am not particularly fond of this time period...medieval? The premise of the book wasn't as interesting as Love it Blind either, and it was a little silly, but I do like the way Lynsay Sands writes and I really love her heroines. They are strong and feisty, but not irritatingly so, just in a real way. I just didn't feel the love connection between these two characters though. I think some of that had to do with the time period it was set and the way husbands and wives treated each other, but it just didn't have the magic that Love is Blind had for me.
All in all, it was a fun and light read.
All in all, it was a fun and light read.
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