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The Survivors #5
The Claiming of the Shrew
What happens when a marriage of convenience isn't so convenient?
Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven has retired from the army and spends most of his days either consulting for the Foreign Office or whiling away the hours at his club with his former comrades-in-arms. He rarely thinks about the fiery Portuguese woman he saved from an abusive marriage by wedding her himself. It was supposed to be a marriage in name only, but even five years later and a world away, he can't seem to forget her.
Catarina Neves never forgot what it felt like to be scared, desperate, and subject to the whims of her cruel father. Thanks to a marriage of convenience and her incredible skill as a lacemaker, she's become an independent and wealthy woman. But when she's once again thrust into a dangerous situation, she finds herself in London and knocking on the door of the husband she hasn't seen since those war-torn years in Portugal. Catarina tells Benedict she wants an annulment, but when he argues against it, can she trust him enough to ask for what she really needs?
Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven has retired from the army and spends most of his days either consulting for the Foreign Office or whiling away the hours at his club with his former comrades-in-arms. He rarely thinks about the fiery Portuguese woman he saved from an abusive marriage by wedding her himself. It was supposed to be a marriage in name only, but even five years later and a world away, he can't seem to forget her.
Catarina Neves never forgot what it felt like to be scared, desperate, and subject to the whims of her cruel father. Thanks to a marriage of convenience and her incredible skill as a lacemaker, she's become an independent and wealthy woman. But when she's once again thrust into a dangerous situation, she finds herself in London and knocking on the door of the husband she hasn't seen since those war-torn years in Portugal. Catarina tells Benedict she wants an annulment, but when he argues against it, can she trust him enough to ask for what she really needs?
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 16, 2019
225 people are currently reading
655 people want to read
About the author
Shana Galen
98 books1,547 followersShana Galen is three-time Rita award nominee and the bestselling author of fast-paced, witty, and adventurous Regency romances. Kirkus says of her books, "The road to happily-ever-after is intense, conflicted, suspenseful and fun," and RT Bookreviews calls her books “lighthearted yet poignant, humorous yet touching." She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston's inner city. Now she writes full time. She's happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making.
Want to know more? Visit Shana's website at http://www.shanagalen.com and sign up to be notified when Shana has a new release http://bit.ly/ShanaGalenNews
Want to know more? Visit Shana's website at http://www.shanagalen.com and sign up to be notified when Shana has a new release http://bit.ly/ShanaGalenNews
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 126 reviews
February 21, 2019
So I officially love this series and hope it keeps going. We meet a few more of the survivors in this book so hopefully they will have their own stories coming. In this book we have Colonel Benedict Draven (40) who at is tasked with creating a squad of men to do impossible missions almost certain to end in their death, and Catarina Neves (20) who is a peasant in a small town in Portugal near the army encampment. The book starts during the war with Napoleon and Catarina is trying to escape her abusive fiancé and tries to force Draven into marrying her. After some back and forth he finally agrees to marry her and has to leave promptly after the wedding. Fast forward five years and Catarina has become a famous lace maker and she and her sister and cat are in London to obtain an annulment because she is being blackmailed into marrying a lace making competitors son. Well Draven is having none of that. With the help of the men from the army he must keep Catarina and her sister safe.
Ms. Galen writes and excellent hero. The kind you want as a book boyfriend. This one was a particular favorite of mine because during the five year separation he was celibate! Both MC’s were faithful even though they had only known each other a few hours when they married and didn’t think they would ever see each other again (there was also a question of if the marriage would legally hold up in England) the stayed true to each other. Non rake, faithful hero’s are my cat nip. So another enjoyable book and I look forward to the next one.
Ms. Galen writes and excellent hero. The kind you want as a book boyfriend. This one was a particular favorite of mine because during the five year separation he was celibate! Both MC’s were faithful even though they had only known each other a few hours when they married and didn’t think they would ever see each other again (there was also a question of if the marriage would legally hold up in England) the stayed true to each other. Non rake, faithful hero’s are my cat nip. So another enjoyable book and I look forward to the next one.
May 30, 2019
I've given this a B- at AAR, so that's 3.5 stars rounded up. (And I forgot to post it when it ran!)
Shana Galen’s series featuring The Survivors , a group of men who survived being part of a specially selected suicide squad during the Napoleonic Wars, continues with The Claiming of the Shrew, which tells the story of the squad’s commander, Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven, and his Portuguese wife, Catarina. I’ve read the first couple of books in the series – although I missed the last two – so I knew who Draven was and was eager to read his story, especially as he’d been present but rather enigmatic in the other novels and was clearly highly respected and well-regarded by his men. Plus, he’s in his mid-forties and I’m always up for a romance featuring a more mature hero.
In her introduction to the novel, Shana Galen explains that it began life on her website/newsletter as a short story showing how Draven met and married Catarina. That is included in The Claiming of the Shrew as a kind of prologue, with the story then continuing five years after the couple parted following their hasty marriage in Portugal.
Amid the battlefields of Portugal in 1814, Benedict Draven has orders to create a company of thirty men who will be used to go on the most dangerous of missions. He knows it’s akin to forming a suicide squad, but orders are orders, and he sets about making a list, putting Major Neil Wraxall ( Earls Not Allowed ) in command. Draven already feels weighed down by guilt at the prospect of sending many of these men to certain death, and a bad day is made worse when a young woman manages to sneak into his tent, points a gun at him and demands that he marry her.
Catarina Neves is desperate to escape marriage to the older, abusive man her father has chosen for her simply because he’s equally desperate to get her off his hands. The father of five daughters, the custom that the younger cannot marry until the elder does infuriates him, because Catarina is so independent and outspoken that no man will have her – making it impossible for his other daughters to marry. Catarina has no wish to hold her sisters back, and having glimpsed Draven out riding with his men, and then watched him for a few days, has decided he is well able to stand up to her father and a far better prospect than the man chosen for her. And in any case, once they are married, they can go their separate ways and need never see each other again.
Of course, Draven refuses Catarina (having guessed the gun isn’t loaded) and sends her on her way, but has reckoned without her tenacity. When he finds her in the camp again, he’s about to turn her away, but when sees the horrible bruises on her arms inflicted by her would-be suitor, a strong protective instinct kicks in and he decides to help her in the only way he can; they’re married later that night and then part ways.
Five years later, Draven (now retired from the army and working for the British government) is surprised – to say the least – when Catarina shows up at his rooms to ask for an annulment. Their marriage is on shaky ground anyway seeing that she’s Catholic and he isn’t, but regardless of that, Draven is suspicious of Catarina’s explanation for her sudden appearance (that she’s fallen in love with and wants to marry someone else), and finds he isn’t prepared to let her go that easily. They may not have seen each other for five years, but he hasn’t forgotten her or the sweetness and heat of the kiss they’d shared after the hasty ceremony – and seeing her again, realising she’s scared and lying to him brings back all the old protectiveness and more. In five years he hasn’t been able to look at another woman – but now she’s back, Catarina is all he can think about. All he has to do now is remind her why she trusted him all those years ago, and hope that she will ask him for the help she so obviously needs.
I liked both central characters a great deal, and the age gap between them – twenty years – didn’t bother me, although Draven refers to it quite a few times. He’s a thoroughly decent man, strong, protective and deeply loyal, he can be stubborn but isn’t afraid to admit when he’s wrong, and his disinclination to waste time playing games or denying his desire for Catarina is very refreshing. Catarina, too, is an attractive protagonist, a determined, spirited woman who works hard to make a good life for herself and becomes a much sought-after maker and designer of lace. I enjoyed Draven’s gentle courtship, and the author writes the attraction between them well, but there’s an element of insta-love in Draven’s sudden realisation that he doesn’t want an annulment that really didn’t work for me in the context of the whole novel. Also, Catarina’s decision that he’s the man she wants to marry is based pretty much on what he looks like on horseback – and from a distance: “she’d seen this officer and known instinctively that she could trust him.” – and I found it too flimsy a reason to buy into.
The plot – Catalina is being blackmailed by a business rival – is nicely handled, and I was relieved when Ms. Galen sidestepped an obvious plot-manœuvre towards the end. Unfortunately, she then proceeds to manufacture a last-minute conflict which happens so quickly that it feels completely fake and there-for-the-sake-of-it, and I found it rather jarring and it pulled my final grade down a bit. All in all though, The Claiming of the Shrew is an easy, undemanding read featuring an intelligent, independent heroine and a loving and devoted hero. Despite its missteps, it makes for an engaging continuation of The Survivors series.
Shana Galen’s series featuring The Survivors , a group of men who survived being part of a specially selected suicide squad during the Napoleonic Wars, continues with The Claiming of the Shrew, which tells the story of the squad’s commander, Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven, and his Portuguese wife, Catarina. I’ve read the first couple of books in the series – although I missed the last two – so I knew who Draven was and was eager to read his story, especially as he’d been present but rather enigmatic in the other novels and was clearly highly respected and well-regarded by his men. Plus, he’s in his mid-forties and I’m always up for a romance featuring a more mature hero.
In her introduction to the novel, Shana Galen explains that it began life on her website/newsletter as a short story showing how Draven met and married Catarina. That is included in The Claiming of the Shrew as a kind of prologue, with the story then continuing five years after the couple parted following their hasty marriage in Portugal.
Amid the battlefields of Portugal in 1814, Benedict Draven has orders to create a company of thirty men who will be used to go on the most dangerous of missions. He knows it’s akin to forming a suicide squad, but orders are orders, and he sets about making a list, putting Major Neil Wraxall ( Earls Not Allowed ) in command. Draven already feels weighed down by guilt at the prospect of sending many of these men to certain death, and a bad day is made worse when a young woman manages to sneak into his tent, points a gun at him and demands that he marry her.
Catarina Neves is desperate to escape marriage to the older, abusive man her father has chosen for her simply because he’s equally desperate to get her off his hands. The father of five daughters, the custom that the younger cannot marry until the elder does infuriates him, because Catarina is so independent and outspoken that no man will have her – making it impossible for his other daughters to marry. Catarina has no wish to hold her sisters back, and having glimpsed Draven out riding with his men, and then watched him for a few days, has decided he is well able to stand up to her father and a far better prospect than the man chosen for her. And in any case, once they are married, they can go their separate ways and need never see each other again.
Of course, Draven refuses Catarina (having guessed the gun isn’t loaded) and sends her on her way, but has reckoned without her tenacity. When he finds her in the camp again, he’s about to turn her away, but when sees the horrible bruises on her arms inflicted by her would-be suitor, a strong protective instinct kicks in and he decides to help her in the only way he can; they’re married later that night and then part ways.
Five years later, Draven (now retired from the army and working for the British government) is surprised – to say the least – when Catarina shows up at his rooms to ask for an annulment. Their marriage is on shaky ground anyway seeing that she’s Catholic and he isn’t, but regardless of that, Draven is suspicious of Catarina’s explanation for her sudden appearance (that she’s fallen in love with and wants to marry someone else), and finds he isn’t prepared to let her go that easily. They may not have seen each other for five years, but he hasn’t forgotten her or the sweetness and heat of the kiss they’d shared after the hasty ceremony – and seeing her again, realising she’s scared and lying to him brings back all the old protectiveness and more. In five years he hasn’t been able to look at another woman – but now she’s back, Catarina is all he can think about. All he has to do now is remind her why she trusted him all those years ago, and hope that she will ask him for the help she so obviously needs.
I liked both central characters a great deal, and the age gap between them – twenty years – didn’t bother me, although Draven refers to it quite a few times. He’s a thoroughly decent man, strong, protective and deeply loyal, he can be stubborn but isn’t afraid to admit when he’s wrong, and his disinclination to waste time playing games or denying his desire for Catarina is very refreshing. Catarina, too, is an attractive protagonist, a determined, spirited woman who works hard to make a good life for herself and becomes a much sought-after maker and designer of lace. I enjoyed Draven’s gentle courtship, and the author writes the attraction between them well, but there’s an element of insta-love in Draven’s sudden realisation that he doesn’t want an annulment that really didn’t work for me in the context of the whole novel. Also, Catarina’s decision that he’s the man she wants to marry is based pretty much on what he looks like on horseback – and from a distance: “she’d seen this officer and known instinctively that she could trust him.” – and I found it too flimsy a reason to buy into.
The plot – Catalina is being blackmailed by a business rival – is nicely handled, and I was relieved when Ms. Galen sidestepped an obvious plot-manœuvre towards the end. Unfortunately, she then proceeds to manufacture a last-minute conflict which happens so quickly that it feels completely fake and there-for-the-sake-of-it, and I found it rather jarring and it pulled my final grade down a bit. All in all though, The Claiming of the Shrew is an easy, undemanding read featuring an intelligent, independent heroine and a loving and devoted hero. Despite its missteps, it makes for an engaging continuation of The Survivors series.
April 3, 2019
Series: The Survivors #5
Publication Date: 4/16/19
Number of Pages: 216
This author never disappoints! I’ve loved The Survivors series from the very first book and I’ve loved every book since then – including this one. Draven has been a continuing character in each of the books and he’s been a bit of an enigma. He is always there, always supportive, but also always somewhat aloof – mostly because he feels so responsible for the survivors of his group of soldiers from the war. So, it was wonderful to meet the woman who could make him do what is the only impulsive thing he’s ever done. They are opposites in so many respects – but alike in so many others – they are the perfect match. She’s wild, impetuous and free and he is staid, stoic and contemplative. I am so happy that I got to learn his background and see his HEA. BTW – the book included an excellent little short story at the beginning of the book. It is the story of how Draven and Catarina meet. Definitely, don’t skip that part.
In the middle of the previous book, Unmask Me If You Can, Ms. Galen dropped a bombshell and I have been anxiously waiting with bated breath for Draven’s book to find out how that came to be! Draven’s wife unexpectedly showed up at his flat. That is Draven the BACHELOR’s wife. Say what! I could hardly wait to begin reading, then I couldn’t put the book down until I read the last word.
Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven was tasked with forming what was basically a suicide squad to defeat Napoleon at any cost. The squad consisted of thirty men – all unmarried and basically expendable. Draven has thought of the eighteen men who didn’t survive each and every day and he feels responsible for the twelve who did survive. He opened The Survivors Club so those survivors would have a place to gather, find solitude – whatever they needed. They are a very tight-knit group, but Draven has never really considered himself a part of the group because he didn’t have to go on those missions – he only had to send them out to die. The survivors don’t feel that way, but somehow, Draven isn’t aware that they feel the way they do.
** From the short story ** While in Portugal, just before he actually formed the suicide squad, Draven found himself in his tent with a young woman pointing a gun at him. She wanted him to marry her! She was looking for a way to escape her abusive father who was trying to marry her off to an even more abusive older man. To say she was desperate would be an understatement. Her plan was to marry Draven and then they’d go their separate ways because the marriage, performed by a Catholic priest, wouldn’t be recognized in England – so basically, Draven would still be a bachelor. Draven, of course, said no and the girl left – only to turn up again trying to marry one of his men. Draven ended up agreeing to marry her – as I said – the only impulsive thing he’d ever done. They married – he kissed her and immediately rode away and he and his soldiers left the next morning.
Five years later, Catarina Ana Marcia Neves Draven is in trouble – again. She’s in London to see Draven to ask him to sign the papers for an annulment. Draven believes there is something more going on – besides, he doesn’t want an annulment, so he declines. She’s persistent – he stands pat – and finally, the full story comes out. He will protect her no matter what – and maybe, just maybe – she’ll decide she wants to stay with him as much as he wants her to.
In the five years they've been apart, Catarina has become a very successful lace maker. She makes a nice living and is making a dent in the lace market - much to the detriment of other lace makers. One of those comes up with a creative and dastardly way to counteract that dent in his business.
It is a wonderful journey to their HEA – long in the making – and I loved every minute of seeing Draven find his HEA. I highly recommend the book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 4/16/19
Number of Pages: 216
This author never disappoints! I’ve loved The Survivors series from the very first book and I’ve loved every book since then – including this one. Draven has been a continuing character in each of the books and he’s been a bit of an enigma. He is always there, always supportive, but also always somewhat aloof – mostly because he feels so responsible for the survivors of his group of soldiers from the war. So, it was wonderful to meet the woman who could make him do what is the only impulsive thing he’s ever done. They are opposites in so many respects – but alike in so many others – they are the perfect match. She’s wild, impetuous and free and he is staid, stoic and contemplative. I am so happy that I got to learn his background and see his HEA. BTW – the book included an excellent little short story at the beginning of the book. It is the story of how Draven and Catarina meet. Definitely, don’t skip that part.
In the middle of the previous book, Unmask Me If You Can, Ms. Galen dropped a bombshell and I have been anxiously waiting with bated breath for Draven’s book to find out how that came to be! Draven’s wife unexpectedly showed up at his flat. That is Draven the BACHELOR’s wife. Say what! I could hardly wait to begin reading, then I couldn’t put the book down until I read the last word.
Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven was tasked with forming what was basically a suicide squad to defeat Napoleon at any cost. The squad consisted of thirty men – all unmarried and basically expendable. Draven has thought of the eighteen men who didn’t survive each and every day and he feels responsible for the twelve who did survive. He opened The Survivors Club so those survivors would have a place to gather, find solitude – whatever they needed. They are a very tight-knit group, but Draven has never really considered himself a part of the group because he didn’t have to go on those missions – he only had to send them out to die. The survivors don’t feel that way, but somehow, Draven isn’t aware that they feel the way they do.
** From the short story ** While in Portugal, just before he actually formed the suicide squad, Draven found himself in his tent with a young woman pointing a gun at him. She wanted him to marry her! She was looking for a way to escape her abusive father who was trying to marry her off to an even more abusive older man. To say she was desperate would be an understatement. Her plan was to marry Draven and then they’d go their separate ways because the marriage, performed by a Catholic priest, wouldn’t be recognized in England – so basically, Draven would still be a bachelor. Draven, of course, said no and the girl left – only to turn up again trying to marry one of his men. Draven ended up agreeing to marry her – as I said – the only impulsive thing he’d ever done. They married – he kissed her and immediately rode away and he and his soldiers left the next morning.
Five years later, Catarina Ana Marcia Neves Draven is in trouble – again. She’s in London to see Draven to ask him to sign the papers for an annulment. Draven believes there is something more going on – besides, he doesn’t want an annulment, so he declines. She’s persistent – he stands pat – and finally, the full story comes out. He will protect her no matter what – and maybe, just maybe – she’ll decide she wants to stay with him as much as he wants her to.
In the five years they've been apart, Catarina has become a very successful lace maker. She makes a nice living and is making a dent in the lace market - much to the detriment of other lace makers. One of those comes up with a creative and dastardly way to counteract that dent in his business.
It is a wonderful journey to their HEA – long in the making – and I loved every minute of seeing Draven find his HEA. I highly recommend the book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 19, 2019
4*
Wonder when we will get the rest of the survivors? Who will be next? Colin or Phin? I have a feeling it will be Phineas since
Wonder when we will get the rest of the survivors? Who will be next? Colin or Phin? I have a feeling it will be Phineas since
February 7, 2021
For those of us who follow this series (as I do), Draven has always been a confirmed bachelor until his long lost wife popped up in a scene in the previous book. Since then I've been dying to know more about the Colonel so I was very much looking forward to this book and thrilled to receive an ARC.
Colonel Benedict Draven has finally retired from the army and now works as a consultant for the Foreign Office and spends his free time at his club with the surviving members of the suicide squad he commanded during the Napoleonic Wars. Even after five years worth of war he still can't rid his mind of the fiery Portuguese woman he married (in name only) to save her from the abusive man her father had promised her to.
Catarina Neves has used her skills at making lace and the independence afforded her by her married status to become a successful businesswoman. But eventually she finds herself in danger again and seeking out Benedict in London. She hasn't seen him since their hasty wedding in war-torn Portugal and he's never sought her out so she is shocked when he refuses to grant her the annulment she asks for. When he tells her that he did in fact try to find her after the war, she begins to wonder if she can truly come to know and trust him, maybe even enough to ask him for the help she really needs.
I've always been so curious about Draven and I thought it was great to have a hero who is much older than the heroine but isn't content to act the part of the doddering old fool. He's still in good shape and he's very easygoing, but also strong, stubborn, and very protective of his own, which includes Cataraina. It was very refreshing. He's not even afraid to admit when he's wrong, a trait that endeared him to me early on. He's always been this stoic character moving in the background and quietly helping the other survivors with their happy endings so it's great to see him getting one himself. I loved that he was brutally honest and not willing to waste time on games or power plays. His blatant honesty was surprising given the mystery that has always surrounded his personal life in the previous books. It was just adorable to see Benedict actively courting Catarina and trying to get to know her.
I loved the little pop-in moments featuring some of my favorite characters from previous books.
We also meet a couple new characters whose stories I'm always salivating for.
This was a very highly anticipated book for me and it did not disappoint. Each book is just so unique and each character so well-written. This is definitely one of my favorite series, I can't wait for more, and I'm already dreading its end.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
Colonel Benedict Draven has finally retired from the army and now works as a consultant for the Foreign Office and spends his free time at his club with the surviving members of the suicide squad he commanded during the Napoleonic Wars. Even after five years worth of war he still can't rid his mind of the fiery Portuguese woman he married (in name only) to save her from the abusive man her father had promised her to.
Catarina Neves has used her skills at making lace and the independence afforded her by her married status to become a successful businesswoman. But eventually she finds herself in danger again and seeking out Benedict in London. She hasn't seen him since their hasty wedding in war-torn Portugal and he's never sought her out so she is shocked when he refuses to grant her the annulment she asks for. When he tells her that he did in fact try to find her after the war, she begins to wonder if she can truly come to know and trust him, maybe even enough to ask him for the help she really needs.
I've always been so curious about Draven and I thought it was great to have a hero who is much older than the heroine but isn't content to act the part of the doddering old fool. He's still in good shape and he's very easygoing, but also strong, stubborn, and very protective of his own, which includes Cataraina. It was very refreshing. He's not even afraid to admit when he's wrong, a trait that endeared him to me early on. He's always been this stoic character moving in the background and quietly helping the other survivors with their happy endings so it's great to see him getting one himself. I loved that he was brutally honest and not willing to waste time on games or power plays. His blatant honesty was surprising given the mystery that has always surrounded his personal life in the previous books. It was just adorable to see Benedict actively courting Catarina and trying to get to know her.
I loved the little pop-in moments featuring some of my favorite characters from previous books.
We also meet a couple new characters whose stories I'm always salivating for.
This was a very highly anticipated book for me and it did not disappoint. Each book is just so unique and each character so well-written. This is definitely one of my favorite series, I can't wait for more, and I'm already dreading its end.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
January 17, 2020
It’s been while I turned around Mrs Shana Galen work but too many books to read, each day with its lot of new ones, but this new release and the praises from the early reviewers gave me the right opportunity to discover her talent.
It was an awesome read, the story flows perfectly, the characters have depth and stay true to themselves.
As a new reader in this series, I confirm it can be read as a standalone, never I felt lost, plus the prologue set the plot so impossible to not follow eagerly Benedict and Catarina story.
It is not the usual couple as many years set them apart but from the beginning they are attracted to another.
Usually when there are miscommunication and mistrust I am upset but here, because of each character’s history, I accepted it. Catarina never had any proof she can trust men, except for Benedict’s kindness to marry her when she needed someone to help her stand for herself, she was betrayed, abused and used by all the men she ever met as they always sought something from her, why she always had to rely on her own.
Benedict is older and wiser, facing each new problem his head cold, until Catarina awaken feelings he never felt. He tried at first to give her space to come to him, to see him as a potential mate until she ignites fear in him, fear to not be enough for her but also fear to lose her, to not be able to protect her so he lost his calm, upsetting her.
But despite their own beliefs, they can’t be kept apart, needing the other.
It was a great introduction to the author’s work, I will for sure read more by her.
It was an awesome read, the story flows perfectly, the characters have depth and stay true to themselves.
As a new reader in this series, I confirm it can be read as a standalone, never I felt lost, plus the prologue set the plot so impossible to not follow eagerly Benedict and Catarina story.
It is not the usual couple as many years set them apart but from the beginning they are attracted to another.
Usually when there are miscommunication and mistrust I am upset but here, because of each character’s history, I accepted it. Catarina never had any proof she can trust men, except for Benedict’s kindness to marry her when she needed someone to help her stand for herself, she was betrayed, abused and used by all the men she ever met as they always sought something from her, why she always had to rely on her own.
Benedict is older and wiser, facing each new problem his head cold, until Catarina awaken feelings he never felt. He tried at first to give her space to come to him, to see him as a potential mate until she ignites fear in him, fear to not be enough for her but also fear to lose her, to not be able to protect her so he lost his calm, upsetting her.
But despite their own beliefs, they can’t be kept apart, needing the other.
It was a great introduction to the author’s work, I will for sure read more by her.
April 8, 2021
I CANT BELIEVE I NEVER REVIEWED THIS AMAZING BOOK. Review to come soon I promise!!!
OMG How have ppl already read this book??!! Literally crying cuz I have to wait so long lmao.
HOLY BEAUTIFUL COVERS THAT COVER IS FUCKING GORGEOUSSS!!! I AM LOOVVEEEE
IM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK YALL HAVE NO IDEA, THIS IS WHAT IVE BEEN WAITING FOR. COME TO MAMAAA
OMG How have ppl already read this book??!! Literally crying cuz I have to wait so long lmao.
HOLY BEAUTIFUL COVERS THAT COVER IS FUCKING GORGEOUSSS!!! I AM LOOVVEEEE
IM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK YALL HAVE NO IDEA, THIS IS WHAT IVE BEEN WAITING FOR. COME TO MAMAAA
August 31, 2019
DNF around the 40% mark. Life is short and my reading time even shorter.
April 16, 2019
Draven Has Met His Match!
Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven has watched four of his Survivors find love and happiness, while wondering if he’d ever again see the young woman who stole a piece of him. Catarina has had to be bold to survive and five years after propositioning Draven for a marriage of convenience she needs his help again.
It was so much fun watching the stoic leader of the Survivors fall in love with his wife! A little less suspenseful than the other books of the series, The Claiming of the Shrew still blends excitement, danger, and romance beautifully while also showing Draven’s softer side and introducing new members of the surviving twelve men.
The Claiming of the Shrew can easily be read as a stand-alone or as your introduction to the Survivors if you’ve missed the first four books, though I highly recommend all of them! This marriage of convenience meets second chance romance will have you sighing in satisfaction and gasping in excitement in equal turns.
I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.
Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven has watched four of his Survivors find love and happiness, while wondering if he’d ever again see the young woman who stole a piece of him. Catarina has had to be bold to survive and five years after propositioning Draven for a marriage of convenience she needs his help again.
It was so much fun watching the stoic leader of the Survivors fall in love with his wife! A little less suspenseful than the other books of the series, The Claiming of the Shrew still blends excitement, danger, and romance beautifully while also showing Draven’s softer side and introducing new members of the surviving twelve men.
The Claiming of the Shrew can easily be read as a stand-alone or as your introduction to the Survivors if you’ve missed the first four books, though I highly recommend all of them! This marriage of convenience meets second chance romance will have you sighing in satisfaction and gasping in excitement in equal turns.
I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.
March 26, 2019
After the bombshell that Shana Galen had previously dropped about Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven having a secret wife, I was thrilled to read how it would unfold. While in Portugal during the war, Draven had married Catarina Neves to save her from being wed to a violent man, and almost forgot about it. Almost. Catarina found her place in the world crafting her exquisite lace, but being a successful businesswoman, her life was fraught with peril. Five years later, she travels to London to ask Draven for the annulment he had initially agreed to. That little something that has been in the air in Portugal has not vanished, and Draven is not convinced an annulment is the best solution. Neither is Catarina, but do they have a future together, or is it only that she feels safe with him?
THE CLAIMING OF THE SHREW is such a lovely, subtle romance amidst the danger that surrounds Catarina. Draven is quite a bit older than she is, and while those of us who have read the previous instalments knew he wouldn't make a fool of himself - he is much too cool, calm, and collected for that - he showed an irresistibly romantic nature. Catarina displays a fiery Latin temper, but thankfully no undue stubbornness; and she is in a serious pickle! The mood and the atmosphere give this novel that inexplicable little something extra: cold and grey London alternating with the colourful warmth of Barcelona; fear and danger that bring about the kindness of a relative stranger; the fire and ice of the protagonists' natures.
Draven is a superb hero, and I loved that nothing was rushed, and that they valiantly tried to do the right thing, even if it did not always work the way they wanted. The romance remained at the forefront throughout, and the suspense was satisfactorily resolved, although one detail seemed highly unlikely towards the end. It was also a great to have glimpses of some Survivors: Duncan and Phineas, but where had the adorable Survivor Colin FitzRoy been hiding all this time? There is still so much more to look forward to!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
THE CLAIMING OF THE SHREW is such a lovely, subtle romance amidst the danger that surrounds Catarina. Draven is quite a bit older than she is, and while those of us who have read the previous instalments knew he wouldn't make a fool of himself - he is much too cool, calm, and collected for that - he showed an irresistibly romantic nature. Catarina displays a fiery Latin temper, but thankfully no undue stubbornness; and she is in a serious pickle! The mood and the atmosphere give this novel that inexplicable little something extra: cold and grey London alternating with the colourful warmth of Barcelona; fear and danger that bring about the kindness of a relative stranger; the fire and ice of the protagonists' natures.
Draven is a superb hero, and I loved that nothing was rushed, and that they valiantly tried to do the right thing, even if it did not always work the way they wanted. The romance remained at the forefront throughout, and the suspense was satisfactorily resolved, although one detail seemed highly unlikely towards the end. It was also a great to have glimpses of some Survivors: Duncan and Phineas, but where had the adorable Survivor Colin FitzRoy been hiding all this time? There is still so much more to look forward to!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
April 19, 2019
This was a bit of strange read because somehow the plot both managed to be too much and boring at the same time. The multiple threats of rape and violence on the heroine did not sit well with me either. I did like Draven a lot, but the May-December romance between him and Catarina fell flat in the face of the constant drama surrounding them. Tigrino the badass cat and the appearances/introductions *cough*sequel bait*cough* by other Survivors made the book worth reading at least, but only just.
April 25, 2019
Catarina Neves has had trouble with men, first a cruel and domineering father who tried to marry her off to an abusive man, then Benedict Draven, the English officer she found to save her from that marriage during the war and who then abandoned her, and now she’s under the control of another domineering and abusive man who wants to take over her lacemaking business. She’s come to London to seek an annulment from Benedict, who had to leave her in Portugal during the war, but tried to find her after the war was over without success, and he’s not so sure he should grant her request. Benedict discovers the danger Catarina is in and since he can’t seem to forget the kiss they shared on their wedding day, he’s determined to convince her to stay and make their marriage real. Catarina has become an independent business woman, with her sister and several other women working for her. She’s not so sure that Benedict won’t become one more man who wants to take her independence away from her, but she remembers that kiss as well. I loved these two characters and really wanted things to work out for them. Benedict deserved some happiness after all the horrors of war and Catarina certainly could use a good man to share her life with who wouldn’t take advantage of her for their own ends. I loved that Catarina was strong and courageous enough to defend herself when she needed to, but found the right man who would support her in whatever she wanted to do as well.
April 16, 2019
I knew when I read the short story of the marriage of convenience between Catarina Neves and Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven that it wouldn’t be the end of their story. Thank you, Shana Galen, for coming back to revisit them five years later in THE CLAIMING OF THE SHREW. I’m not a huge fan of marriage of convenience stories, but in this case, it led to a delightful, five-star, May-December romance.
The well-written storyline has the perfect balance between romance, action and suspense. The characters, including the villain and many of the support personnel, are complex and expertly crafted. The dialog is believable and often witty. I feel like I write the same things every time I review a Shana Galen novel, but these attributes and consistency are the markings of a great writer.
I can’t wait to write all of the same things for the next Shana Galen novel!
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book and the views expressed are my honest opinions.
The well-written storyline has the perfect balance between romance, action and suspense. The characters, including the villain and many of the support personnel, are complex and expertly crafted. The dialog is believable and often witty. I feel like I write the same things every time I review a Shana Galen novel, but these attributes and consistency are the markings of a great writer.
I can’t wait to write all of the same things for the next Shana Galen novel!
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book and the views expressed are my honest opinions.
June 2, 2020
It might be me but I had the distinct impression it was not edited/proofread as well as the previous books in this series. Nevertheless the story was good fun 😀
April 5, 2019
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Lt. Colonel Benedict Draven has been introduced to readers as the stoic, serious and dedicated to King and Country leader of the "Survivors" - but at the end of the last book, readers got a shock when they learned the seemingly "confirmed bachelor" was married!!
Draven met Catarina Neves five years ago in Portugal, where he was on campaign. She enters his tent and holds him at gun point - demanding a husband. He disarms her, refuses to marry her and sends her on her way. But Cat is desperate to escape an unwanted match and refuses to give up her idea to marry. When days later, Draven catches her trying to lure one of his men out of the camp, he intervenes. He takes her back to his tent to talk and then learns why she needs to marry - in a spur of the moment decision, he agrees to wed her - knowing the marriage won't be considered legal in England. They marry, share a kiss and part - neither truly expecting to see the other again.
Five years later - Cat shocks Draven by showing up unannounced at his home, she completely misinterprets the scene and leaves in a rage - Draven follows her and she agrees to meet with him the next day. She wants an annulment of their marriage so she can remarry. Draven refuses and says they should spend time together before they decide if they should annul.
Cat needs the annulment, not because she truly wishes to remarry, but because she is being blackmailed by Juan Carlos - a rival lace-maker in Barcelona. Cat has come a long way in the last five years, she left home with her younger sister Ines and became a renown lace-maker, leaving Portugal and settling in Spain. Juan Carlos had tried for years to buy her business, but she steadfastly refused, but when he witnesses her saving herself from a rapist, he helps her cover up the incident and then demands that she marry his son and give him control of her business. Cat feels she has no choice, but Draven isn't cooperating and soon learns the truth. He vows to help her and when the threat of Juan Carlos is done, they can decide how to proceed with their "marriage".
Draven is and always has been attracted to Cat, but he is surprisingly insecure regarding his age, he is much older than Cat (almost 20 years) and is sure that she wouldn't want to shackle herself to an old man. But the more time he spends with her, the more he wants and he is not sure he can let her go. For her part, Cat is grateful to Draven and his age doesn't concern her, she is attracted to him and wants him, but she is not willing to forfeit her freedom to be with him - or any man. But the more time she spends with him, she begins to wonder if with Draven she can have it all.
This was a wonderful May-December romance, with lots of cameos from previous (and dare I hope, future) "Survivors", featuring a feisty heroine, a swoon-worthy hero, a really nasty villain, a bit of action, some steamy love scenes, a cat that you will not soon forget and a delightful HEA! The only reason I didn't give the book 5 stars is because I felt that Draven's obsession about his age got to be a bit repetitive, thankfully, he finally gets over it, but not before I got tired of hearing about it. This book is the fifth book in the series, but I believe it can be read as a stand alone title with no problems.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me.*
Lt. Colonel Benedict Draven has been introduced to readers as the stoic, serious and dedicated to King and Country leader of the "Survivors" - but at the end of the last book, readers got a shock when they learned the seemingly "confirmed bachelor" was married!!
Draven met Catarina Neves five years ago in Portugal, where he was on campaign. She enters his tent and holds him at gun point - demanding a husband. He disarms her, refuses to marry her and sends her on her way. But Cat is desperate to escape an unwanted match and refuses to give up her idea to marry. When days later, Draven catches her trying to lure one of his men out of the camp, he intervenes. He takes her back to his tent to talk and then learns why she needs to marry - in a spur of the moment decision, he agrees to wed her - knowing the marriage won't be considered legal in England. They marry, share a kiss and part - neither truly expecting to see the other again.
Five years later - Cat shocks Draven by showing up unannounced at his home, she completely misinterprets the scene and leaves in a rage - Draven follows her and she agrees to meet with him the next day. She wants an annulment of their marriage so she can remarry. Draven refuses and says they should spend time together before they decide if they should annul.
Cat needs the annulment, not because she truly wishes to remarry, but because she is being blackmailed by Juan Carlos - a rival lace-maker in Barcelona. Cat has come a long way in the last five years, she left home with her younger sister Ines and became a renown lace-maker, leaving Portugal and settling in Spain. Juan Carlos had tried for years to buy her business, but she steadfastly refused, but when he witnesses her saving herself from a rapist, he helps her cover up the incident and then demands that she marry his son and give him control of her business. Cat feels she has no choice, but Draven isn't cooperating and soon learns the truth. He vows to help her and when the threat of Juan Carlos is done, they can decide how to proceed with their "marriage".
Draven is and always has been attracted to Cat, but he is surprisingly insecure regarding his age, he is much older than Cat (almost 20 years) and is sure that she wouldn't want to shackle herself to an old man. But the more time he spends with her, the more he wants and he is not sure he can let her go. For her part, Cat is grateful to Draven and his age doesn't concern her, she is attracted to him and wants him, but she is not willing to forfeit her freedom to be with him - or any man. But the more time she spends with him, she begins to wonder if with Draven she can have it all.
This was a wonderful May-December romance, with lots of cameos from previous (and dare I hope, future) "Survivors", featuring a feisty heroine, a swoon-worthy hero, a really nasty villain, a bit of action, some steamy love scenes, a cat that you will not soon forget and a delightful HEA! The only reason I didn't give the book 5 stars is because I felt that Draven's obsession about his age got to be a bit repetitive, thankfully, he finally gets over it, but not before I got tired of hearing about it. This book is the fifth book in the series, but I believe it can be read as a stand alone title with no problems.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me.*
January 24, 2023
I was curious to read this as Draven, the hero, is older than the other characters and I thought I'd be getting an older heroine too... nope. And that's okay. Catarina is pretty cool, even if she's young. Galen writes pretty good characters and witty dialogue. I don't really feel how the characters could love each other having only spent a few days with each other. The plot is interesting (lace making is fascinating!), but the scene stealer is Tigrino the cat. Me amo Tigrino.
Tigrino is what gives this book a full extra star. He saves the heroine and I am in love!
Spoilers:
Points taken off for Catarina having to kill TWO men to defend herself. Poor woman. Why was that a necessary plot point?
Tigrino is what gives this book a full extra star. He saves the heroine and I am in love!
Spoilers:
Points taken off for Catarina having to kill TWO men to defend herself. Poor woman. Why was that a necessary plot point?
April 16, 2019
I have loved Shana Galen's books for years. I hope she never quits writing. This story is about Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven, who has retired from the army and spends most of his time as either consulting for the Foreign Office or spending hours at his club with his former comrades. He does not think about the Portuguese woman he saved from an abusive marriage by wedding her himself. But he can't seem to forget her. Catarina Neves is an incredible skill as a lacemaker, she's become an independent wealthy women. But she goes to London to her husband in name only. So this book had some surprises and I enjoyed them so much and I can't wait for the next book.
December 4, 2024
3,5/5
Lecture plaisante, mais il aurait manqué un petit quelque chose, comme un peu plus de passion ou d'action. L'héroïne passe trop de temps cloîtré, comme elle-même le regrette.
Lecture plaisante, mais il aurait manqué un petit quelque chose, comme un peu plus de passion ou d'action. L'héroïne passe trop de temps cloîtré, comme elle-même le regrette.
April 12, 2019
As with all of Shana Galen’s historical romances, she has again delivered a tale with sparkling dialogue and an adventure-packed plot. I’m so glad I accepted an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, to read and review The Claiming of the Shrew, the third book in her Survivors series. My opinions are my own and are not influence in any way.
The Claiming of the Shrew is another fine example of Shana Galen’s talent as an author. Her characters are vibrant and fully fleshed out. The story flows smoothly, and the plot is unique. The pacing is excellent keeping me engaged from the first page to the last.
Catarina Neves’s character appealed to me from the start. I could feel her desperation as a frightened young girl when she petitions the colonel to save her from the machinations of her father. Then when she returns to him after five years apart, she again needs him even more than she realizes. She‘s become an independent woman through her skills as a lacemaker, and is now, quite wealthy. She thinks she only needs an annulment, but although she fights her feelings for Benedict, she cannot lock them away.
Colonel Benedict Draven is not the typical romantic hero. He’s older than most in historical romance, but nonetheless, he has all the characteristics I most love in a hero. He’s honorable and steadfast with a bit of mystic surrounding him. In the previous books, he’s depicted as a confirmed bachelor, dedicated to his career, but it turns out he has a huge secret. His past comes to lit, when he finds Catarina in his rooms. That she’s his wife, was a complete surprise. I could feel his desire to make Catarina his own immediately, even though, she’s twenty years younger. The pull is fierce, and he tries to dismiss it, since the age difference bothers him greatly.
The romance between Catarina and Benefit simmers beneath the surface. They both fight their burning attraction, but neither can resist the passion that exists in both their hearts. Ms. Galen has a masterful hand at creating sexual tension until it can no longer be contained. When it climaxes, it practically burns up the pages.
If you are a fan of Regency romances with plenty of action and heart-warming characters, then you will love The Claiming of the Shrew as much as I did. I highly recommend this book and this very talented author. Happy reading!
The Claiming of the Shrew is another fine example of Shana Galen’s talent as an author. Her characters are vibrant and fully fleshed out. The story flows smoothly, and the plot is unique. The pacing is excellent keeping me engaged from the first page to the last.
Catarina Neves’s character appealed to me from the start. I could feel her desperation as a frightened young girl when she petitions the colonel to save her from the machinations of her father. Then when she returns to him after five years apart, she again needs him even more than she realizes. She‘s become an independent woman through her skills as a lacemaker, and is now, quite wealthy. She thinks she only needs an annulment, but although she fights her feelings for Benedict, she cannot lock them away.
Colonel Benedict Draven is not the typical romantic hero. He’s older than most in historical romance, but nonetheless, he has all the characteristics I most love in a hero. He’s honorable and steadfast with a bit of mystic surrounding him. In the previous books, he’s depicted as a confirmed bachelor, dedicated to his career, but it turns out he has a huge secret. His past comes to lit, when he finds Catarina in his rooms. That she’s his wife, was a complete surprise. I could feel his desire to make Catarina his own immediately, even though, she’s twenty years younger. The pull is fierce, and he tries to dismiss it, since the age difference bothers him greatly.
The romance between Catarina and Benefit simmers beneath the surface. They both fight their burning attraction, but neither can resist the passion that exists in both their hearts. Ms. Galen has a masterful hand at creating sexual tension until it can no longer be contained. When it climaxes, it practically burns up the pages.
If you are a fan of Regency romances with plenty of action and heart-warming characters, then you will love The Claiming of the Shrew as much as I did. I highly recommend this book and this very talented author. Happy reading!
April 16, 2019
Readers will receive a delightful surprise that Shana Galen has included in this Survivors story. Catarina is the perfect foil to Draven’s character. She is fiery to match Draven’s ginger hair. Her story pushes all of his need to protect and care for the people in his charge. Inés and the cat are great bonus characters. Shana tells a powerful story of survival from the female perspective. Catarina had fought her own war and survived. She finally gets rewarded with a loving and compassionate spouse in the form of Draven. The cover is also absolutely fantastic.
May 18, 2019
No, just no.
Draven deserved so much more than a screaming shrew: the title says it all. Disappointed in the story.
Draven deserved so much more than a screaming shrew: the title says it all. Disappointed in the story.
April 4, 2019
Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven has retired from the army and spends most of his days either consulting for the Foreign Office or whiling away the hours at his club with his former comrades-in-arms a crack suicide troop dubbed The Survivors. He rarely thinks about the fiery Portuguese woman he saved from an abusive marriage by wedding her himself. It was supposed to be a marriage in name only, but even five years later and a world away, he can’t seem to forget her.
Catarina Neves never forgot what it felt like to be scared, desperate, and subject to the whims of her cruel father. Thanks to a marriage of convenience and her incredible skill as a lacemaker, she’s become an independent and wealthy woman. When she’s thrust into a dangerous situation, she finds herself in London and knocking on the door of the husband she hasn’t seen since those war-torn years in Portugal. Catarina tells Benedict she wants an annulment.
Draven has featured in all of the four earlier books in the series & has been an enigmatic character, I'm so glad he's had his story especially as his wife suddenly turned up on his doorstep in the previous book, everyone had thought he was a bachelor. I've loved all of the earlier books & I loved this book too. The author’s books are extremely well written, true to the period & have extremely well portrayed characters. Oh & plus they have a captivating, enthralling story, no way can I begin one of her books on an evening if I want to sleep. This book is another ‘unputdownable’ story that I devoured. Benedict & Catarina were perfect for each other, how they met & their first kiss is a short story at the beginning of the book & isn't to be missed as it gives the background to the rest of the story. Half a decade has passed since they were married, Benedict soon works out that Catarina desiring an annulment isn’t as straight forward as it seems, so he & some of the Survivors begin a mission to protect her & keep her safe. All the time the pair are getting to know each other. I also loved that more members of the Survivors were featured & look forward to their stories
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Catarina Neves never forgot what it felt like to be scared, desperate, and subject to the whims of her cruel father. Thanks to a marriage of convenience and her incredible skill as a lacemaker, she’s become an independent and wealthy woman. When she’s thrust into a dangerous situation, she finds herself in London and knocking on the door of the husband she hasn’t seen since those war-torn years in Portugal. Catarina tells Benedict she wants an annulment.
Draven has featured in all of the four earlier books in the series & has been an enigmatic character, I'm so glad he's had his story especially as his wife suddenly turned up on his doorstep in the previous book, everyone had thought he was a bachelor. I've loved all of the earlier books & I loved this book too. The author’s books are extremely well written, true to the period & have extremely well portrayed characters. Oh & plus they have a captivating, enthralling story, no way can I begin one of her books on an evening if I want to sleep. This book is another ‘unputdownable’ story that I devoured. Benedict & Catarina were perfect for each other, how they met & their first kiss is a short story at the beginning of the book & isn't to be missed as it gives the background to the rest of the story. Half a decade has passed since they were married, Benedict soon works out that Catarina desiring an annulment isn’t as straight forward as it seems, so he & some of the Survivors begin a mission to protect her & keep her safe. All the time the pair are getting to know each other. I also loved that more members of the Survivors were featured & look forward to their stories
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
April 24, 2019
“What I want-no, no-what I need,” she said coolly, is a husband.”
After reading this sentence, I knew I was going to adore Benedict Draven and Caterina Neves story. While serving in the army in Portugal, Draven marries Caterina to save her from an arranged marriage. After the service, they share a passionate kiss and Draven leaves Caterina at her aunt’s home and rejoins his men.
Draven is surprised when Caterina appears in London and requests an annulment. Shana Galen writes strong heroines—and the passionate, talented Caterina is one of her best. In five years, Caterina has become a successful business woman. Caterina lace with its intricate patterns and soft thread is famous throughout Europe. Draven senses that Catarina isn’t telling him why she wants the annulment and he avoids giving her an answer.
I loved how this couple fell in love. The sparks between Draven and Caterina were even stronger now than when they first met. Loved that the author paired an older hero with a younger heroine. Draven referred to himself as older and Caterina countered back each time by telling him he was strong and virile. Pairing the strong willed, independent Caterina with the honorable, calm Lt. Colonel Draven worked. Their journey from friends to lovers was perfectly written and lovely to read.
Enjoyed that several of Draven’s dozen appeared in the novel and loved Ines and Tigrino. There was conflict, a villain and danger—just enough to make the story interesting. Loved that the author focused on the romance in this story. Both Caterina and Draven deserved their HEA-and it was so enjoyable to read their journey.
Kudos to Shana Galen for writing a fabulous story for Draven! The Claiming of the Shrew is the perfect weekend read—once you read the first page you will be captivated by Ms. Galen’s characters and the their story. Am looking forward to the next book in this series!
After reading this sentence, I knew I was going to adore Benedict Draven and Caterina Neves story. While serving in the army in Portugal, Draven marries Caterina to save her from an arranged marriage. After the service, they share a passionate kiss and Draven leaves Caterina at her aunt’s home and rejoins his men.
Draven is surprised when Caterina appears in London and requests an annulment. Shana Galen writes strong heroines—and the passionate, talented Caterina is one of her best. In five years, Caterina has become a successful business woman. Caterina lace with its intricate patterns and soft thread is famous throughout Europe. Draven senses that Catarina isn’t telling him why she wants the annulment and he avoids giving her an answer.
I loved how this couple fell in love. The sparks between Draven and Caterina were even stronger now than when they first met. Loved that the author paired an older hero with a younger heroine. Draven referred to himself as older and Caterina countered back each time by telling him he was strong and virile. Pairing the strong willed, independent Caterina with the honorable, calm Lt. Colonel Draven worked. Their journey from friends to lovers was perfectly written and lovely to read.
Enjoyed that several of Draven’s dozen appeared in the novel and loved Ines and Tigrino. There was conflict, a villain and danger—just enough to make the story interesting. Loved that the author focused on the romance in this story. Both Caterina and Draven deserved their HEA-and it was so enjoyable to read their journey.
Kudos to Shana Galen for writing a fabulous story for Draven! The Claiming of the Shrew is the perfect weekend read—once you read the first page you will be captivated by Ms. Galen’s characters and the their story. Am looking forward to the next book in this series!
April 21, 2019
Catarina Ana Marcia Neves is the eldest of seven sisters. She wants a husband, but not the man her father chose. Lt. Colonel Benedict Draven is the leader of a group of soldiers who we would call special ops. Catarina thinks Draven will be a good choice to marry as he’ll go back to England and she’ll have her independence. He marries her and leaves her with an aunt as he has an army at war to worry about.
Some years later Catarina goes to London and finds him with a woman. She gets mad and returns to her hotel and her younger sister. The next day Benedict goes to see her and meets a man, Juan Carlos, who says he is her business partner and he wants his son Miguel to marry her. Juan Carlos is after her business as she is well known in Portugal for her beautiful lace.
Catarina and her sister move to Benedict’s home as it should be safer than the hotel. She goes out with him and acquires several orders for her beautiful lace. Juan Carlos is still lurking and that means trouble, but the Survivors will help their leader. I won’t spoil the rest, but it is a wonderful book.
Thank you, Shana Galen, for an older hero. Romance can happen at any age. I highly recommend this book.
Some years later Catarina goes to London and finds him with a woman. She gets mad and returns to her hotel and her younger sister. The next day Benedict goes to see her and meets a man, Juan Carlos, who says he is her business partner and he wants his son Miguel to marry her. Juan Carlos is after her business as she is well known in Portugal for her beautiful lace.
Catarina and her sister move to Benedict’s home as it should be safer than the hotel. She goes out with him and acquires several orders for her beautiful lace. Juan Carlos is still lurking and that means trouble, but the Survivors will help their leader. I won’t spoil the rest, but it is a wonderful book.
Thank you, Shana Galen, for an older hero. Romance can happen at any age. I highly recommend this book.
January 2, 2020
I have read the other Survivors books, and this time it is about their Colonel, he was the one sending them to their death, while he had to stay behind.
But this is the book about how he met his wife. She needed a husband and picked him. Later she says that she waited for him to come back, though why? This was for show only, and their marriage was not even valid in Britain.
So Catarina comes back and wants an annulment. Trouble is on her heels as she now is a famous lacemaker and someone wants those skills.
Benedict is calm and omg woman trust him! He obviously wants the best for you! Sure, those things he said right there might not have been right, but omg woman someone is after you! He wants to keep you safe. Benedict, you are a hero, Catarina, you need to listen to him and trust him!
Yes there is these two falling slowly in love, and that trouble that she brings.
We also see two side characters that are in the coming books. And some old favorites too.
I enjoyed it
But this is the book about how he met his wife. She needed a husband and picked him. Later she says that she waited for him to come back, though why? This was for show only, and their marriage was not even valid in Britain.
So Catarina comes back and wants an annulment. Trouble is on her heels as she now is a famous lacemaker and someone wants those skills.
Benedict is calm and omg woman trust him! He obviously wants the best for you! Sure, those things he said right there might not have been right, but omg woman someone is after you! He wants to keep you safe. Benedict, you are a hero, Catarina, you need to listen to him and trust him!
Yes there is these two falling slowly in love, and that trouble that she brings.
We also see two side characters that are in the coming books. And some old favorites too.
I enjoyed it
December 21, 2020
I actually didn't expect to enjoy this as much as the others in the series. In their prequel novella they meet when she holds him at gunpoint with a sort of hairbrained scheme in mind, and at the end of the last book (which this one immediately follows) she had a big reaction based on a quick assumption, (which honestly, even if it had been accurate would still have been unfair), and she stormed out. That's a little excessively emotional for my taste, and seemed like some cliche about fiesty Southern foreigners or something as well (she's Portuguese). Their actual story ended up having more nuance to it, and their relationship grew on me. She still isn't my favorite, but it was well written and I liked the hero. They have a significant age gap, I know some seek those out and some avoid them, he's 45 I believe and she's 25. I thought it was handled well here though.
December 10, 2021
Audiobook
Catarina and Colonial Benedict Draven
I hate the title of this book.
Catarina is not a shrew. She is a strong, independent, intelligent, accomplished woman worth respect.
Benedict totally screwed up ordering her confined to his house. Why not title the book Rules of a Dick-tator? This book title is offensive.
However the story is a good one, and the heroine is well written compared to some of Shana Galen's child like dependent ditzy heroines. I really liked Catarina and her sister Inez. The try to run their business like a business, not a hobby as Benedict tries to have them run it. He really made me mad at the end. I wouldn't enter a marriage with him without a written business contract of behavior obligations. He acted like a controlling ass at the end. In fact, he didn't do much to protect her. He just had his soldiers do all the work. He basically delegated her safety like the privileged man he was.
Catarina and Colonial Benedict Draven
I hate the title of this book.
Catarina is not a shrew. She is a strong, independent, intelligent, accomplished woman worth respect.
Benedict totally screwed up ordering her confined to his house. Why not title the book Rules of a Dick-tator? This book title is offensive.
However the story is a good one, and the heroine is well written compared to some of Shana Galen's child like dependent ditzy heroines. I really liked Catarina and her sister Inez. The try to run their business like a business, not a hobby as Benedict tries to have them run it. He really made me mad at the end. I wouldn't enter a marriage with him without a written business contract of behavior obligations. He acted like a controlling ass at the end. In fact, he didn't do much to protect her. He just had his soldiers do all the work. He basically delegated her safety like the privileged man he was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2019
This is the fifth story in The Survivors series and I really looked forward to finding out Draven and Catarina’s story.
This story had so much going for it and I enjoyed the romance and the pace of the story.
If you’ve ever wondered how lace was made back then, you’ll be fascinated to learn this art that our heroine was proficient at.
If you’re looking to read a romance with a strong, able and fun heroine, this is it. And as for the hero, it took me a bit to warm up to him, but once I did, I liked him a lot.
Melanie for b2b
Gift ARC provided by the publisher
This story had so much going for it and I enjoyed the romance and the pace of the story.
If you’ve ever wondered how lace was made back then, you’ll be fascinated to learn this art that our heroine was proficient at.
If you’re looking to read a romance with a strong, able and fun heroine, this is it. And as for the hero, it took me a bit to warm up to him, but once I did, I liked him a lot.
Melanie for b2b
Gift ARC provided by the publisher
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