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The Bride Trilogy #0
Uncommon Vows
Lady Meriel de Vere had deceived Adrian, Earl of Shropshire. Standing in the royal forest, her falcon perched on her arm, she boldly claimed to be a Welsh commoner, not a noble Norman. Lord Adrian beheld in wonder her raven-black hair and defiant blue eyes, heard her lies, and felt a dark, primeval passion rob him of all reason.
In one irrevocable move of fate, he ordered this fair beauty locked in his castle’s tower, vowing to entice her into surrendering her kisses with lips as hungry as his own. Never to give in, to die if she must, was Meriel’s vow ... until one rash moment of impetuousness swept them both up in the royal battles of kings ... and into a dangerous intrigue of sweet caresses ... and fiery, all-consuming love.
In one irrevocable move of fate, he ordered this fair beauty locked in his castle’s tower, vowing to entice her into surrendering her kisses with lips as hungry as his own. Never to give in, to die if she must, was Meriel’s vow ... until one rash moment of impetuousness swept them both up in the royal battles of kings ... and into a dangerous intrigue of sweet caresses ... and fiery, all-consuming love.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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1940 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jo Putney
167 books2,262 followersShe writes young adult fiction as M.J. Putney.
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
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March 24, 2021
3.5 stars I know this must be shocking to some but after a long row of batshit crazy books I've indulged myself with as of recently, this one is a pretty normal historical romance novel (well, by my standards, he-he).
"Then for the good of your soul, you had best set me free," she said, her voice light but edged.
His self-mocking humor vanished, leaving his gray eyes utterly serious. "Never."
I don't have the slightest idea how the author pulled off turning this love story, featuring a very dubious start, into something truly beautiful and precious, but somehow she succeeded in making my heart flutter and a goofy smile appear on my face. Good no one was there to witness it:/
"You didn't anger me," he said, a trace of humor in his voice. "Merely breached my good intentions with amazing ease. What we did was not wrong, merely... untimely."
She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "I'll go back to my room so that you may sleep."
"No!" Adrian caught Meriel and pulled her back into bed. Lying on his side, he tucked her back against his front and secured her with an arm around her waist. "We can lie here and contemplate our sins together." She giggled and relaxed, loving his closeness and the feel of his hard body.
This book has one of the cutest, sweetest and... let's just say... peculiar heroines in romancelandia. After our young, powerful and impressive in every regard that counts Earl asks her to marry him, Meriel’s first reaction is to try to slit her throat and then, when it doesn’t work, without a second thought she simply jumps out of a glass window right into the Severn.
I cannot say I understand or approve some of her actions, but her free-spirited nature was admirable. I also appreciated how the author made allusions to the essence of the heroine’s spirit by using Meriel’s personal falcon as a symbol of freedom and independence. I'm such as a sucker for metaphors, metonymy and everything that makes writing poetic.
His gray eyes were as inexorable as cold steel. "I will hold you for as long as necessary to persuade you to stay of your own free will."
Oxymoronic as it may sound, Adrian was doing quite well being both a good Christian and a good knight. That is, of course, until he wasn't. Lol. From the very moment he laid his eyes on the free-spirited falconer with a beautiful name Meriel, who disguised herself as a mere commoner, no amount of praying, breathing exercises and self-control techniques were useful any more.
The unpredictable internal conflict between the good Christian in him and the darker and destructive side of his personality, the legacy of his vicious grandfather, was fascinating to watch.
Initially he drew me in by his strong morals, love of austerity, and the devil, lurking behind the placid façade. And when he finally resurfaced to come out and play …
There’s something about the hero who falls hard for the heroine and his love is not reciprocated that normally makes a story a chef’s kiss for me. Unrequited love always has the potential to turn into an ugly story and nothing excites me more than the opposite of beautiful.
Gotta repeat, probably for the 100th time, that I love manipulative and obsessed anti-heroes and this one ticked all of my boxes, even those I didn’t know that exist.
Adrian initially scares Meriel by threatening to punish her for the supposed “crime” she commited. Not giving her the opportunity to recover from shock, he offends her sensibilities by making her an indecent proposal. Having received a virtual bitch slap in the face, he resorts to holding her as a prisoner in the name of love (of course): not only does he isolate Meriel in a spare bedroom of his castle, but he also ensures, a cunning bitch he is, that the girl has no one to talk to and nothing to do to kill time in the hope that soon enough she will crave his company herself. Just imagine being confined within four walls, with no wi-fi or kindle unlimited... The more I think about her suicide attempts, the more understanding of her situation I'm getting.
The final stage of the plan amounted to luring Meriel in his net by giving her a glimpse of the luxury life she has been so stubbornly refusing to accept.
A good plan but little did he know that such wooing tricks won’t work with our half-Welsh lady who values her freedom more than material goods.
"Is there not more virtue in struggling against evil and overcoming it than in never being tempted to do wrong?"
Surprisingly, the story is one of those that send a very good message: women are beautiful because they are strong, resilient and independent; love can only be given and received freely and willingly.
I would have given this book a higher rating if not for the simplicity of the plot and the lack of romantic development at the end. I do believe that the author could have shown Adrian’s devious side more explicitly because my bloodthirsty self was not satisfied with his single, violent and well described clash with the main nasty pig of the story aka the villain.
Adrian, sweetie, so much wasted potential. *dramatical sigh*
Also… amnesia as a plot device being used twice? Really??? Omg hahaha-
..............................................................................................................................................................................
Yet again I’m reading a book that is set in Medieval England. My previous read dealt with the Norman Conquest and this one focuses on the events that happened a century after, when the country plunged into civil war. Leave it to me to learn the history of England via smut books.🥴
"Then for the good of your soul, you had best set me free," she said, her voice light but edged.
His self-mocking humor vanished, leaving his gray eyes utterly serious. "Never."
I don't have the slightest idea how the author pulled off turning this love story, featuring a very dubious start, into something truly beautiful and precious, but somehow she succeeded in making my heart flutter and a goofy smile appear on my face. Good no one was there to witness it:/
"You didn't anger me," he said, a trace of humor in his voice. "Merely breached my good intentions with amazing ease. What we did was not wrong, merely... untimely."
She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "I'll go back to my room so that you may sleep."
"No!" Adrian caught Meriel and pulled her back into bed. Lying on his side, he tucked her back against his front and secured her with an arm around her waist. "We can lie here and contemplate our sins together." She giggled and relaxed, loving his closeness and the feel of his hard body.
This book has one of the cutest, sweetest and... let's just say... peculiar heroines in romancelandia. After our young, powerful and impressive in every regard that counts Earl asks her to marry him, Meriel’s first reaction is to try to slit her throat and then, when it doesn’t work, without a second thought she simply jumps out of a glass window right into the Severn.
I cannot say I understand or approve some of her actions, but her free-spirited nature was admirable. I also appreciated how the author made allusions to the essence of the heroine’s spirit by using Meriel’s personal falcon as a symbol of freedom and independence. I'm such as a sucker for metaphors, metonymy and everything that makes writing poetic.
His gray eyes were as inexorable as cold steel. "I will hold you for as long as necessary to persuade you to stay of your own free will."
Oxymoronic as it may sound, Adrian was doing quite well being both a good Christian and a good knight. That is, of course, until he wasn't. Lol. From the very moment he laid his eyes on the free-spirited falconer with a beautiful name Meriel, who disguised herself as a mere commoner, no amount of praying, breathing exercises and self-control techniques were useful any more.
The unpredictable internal conflict between the good Christian in him and the darker and destructive side of his personality, the legacy of his vicious grandfather, was fascinating to watch.
Initially he drew me in by his strong morals, love of austerity, and the devil, lurking behind the placid façade. And when he finally resurfaced to come out and play …
There’s something about the hero who falls hard for the heroine and his love is not reciprocated that normally makes a story a chef’s kiss for me. Unrequited love always has the potential to turn into an ugly story and nothing excites me more than the opposite of beautiful.
Gotta repeat, probably for the 100th time, that I love manipulative and obsessed anti-heroes and this one ticked all of my boxes, even those I didn’t know that exist.
Adrian initially scares Meriel by threatening to punish her for the supposed “crime” she commited. Not giving her the opportunity to recover from shock, he offends her sensibilities by making her an indecent proposal. Having received a virtual bitch slap in the face, he resorts to holding her as a prisoner in the name of love (of course): not only does he isolate Meriel in a spare bedroom of his castle, but he also ensures, a cunning bitch he is, that the girl has no one to talk to and nothing to do to kill time in the hope that soon enough she will crave his company herself. Just imagine being confined within four walls, with no wi-fi or kindle unlimited... The more I think about her suicide attempts, the more understanding of her situation I'm getting.
The final stage of the plan amounted to luring Meriel in his net by giving her a glimpse of the luxury life she has been so stubbornly refusing to accept.
A good plan but little did he know that such wooing tricks won’t work with our half-Welsh lady who values her freedom more than material goods.
"Is there not more virtue in struggling against evil and overcoming it than in never being tempted to do wrong?"
Surprisingly, the story is one of those that send a very good message: women are beautiful because they are strong, resilient and independent; love can only be given and received freely and willingly.
I would have given this book a higher rating if not for the simplicity of the plot and the lack of romantic development at the end. I do believe that the author could have shown Adrian’s devious side more explicitly because my bloodthirsty self was not satisfied with his single, violent and well described clash with the main nasty pig of the story aka the villain.
Adrian, sweetie, so much wasted potential. *dramatical sigh*
Also… amnesia as a plot device being used twice? Really??? Omg hahaha-
..............................................................................................................................................................................
Yet again I’m reading a book that is set in Medieval England. My previous read dealt with the Norman Conquest and this one focuses on the events that happened a century after, when the country plunged into civil war. Leave it to me to learn the history of England via smut books.🥴
August 1, 2021
MINI REVIEW:
I read Uncommon Vows years ago and adored this passionate medieval story about obsessive love. Lord Adrian was set for a life of priesthood when a family death changes his destiny. Lady Meriel seemed fated for a life in a nunnery. But twists and turns made it so neither of these things came to pass. Instead, Adrian becomes the Earl of Shropshire and Meriel renounces her calling to live under the protection of her brother, a knight.
One day Adrian comes upon Meriel in a field and believes her to be a commoner. Adrian becomes so fixated with Meriel’s stunning beauty, he takes her captive. Meriel, who is half-Welsh, deeply values her freedom and cannot understand if Adrian supposedly loves why he keeps her prisoner. She refuses Adrian’s attempts to seduce her so virulently, she throws herself out a stained-glass window, causing her to lose her memory. Without all the baggage hanging on, Adrian is able to woo Muriel into loving him. But will her feelings remain the same when her memory returns?
When writing about the medieval era, many authors avoid religion, treating it as a third rail topic. Here, it’s used in a unique and romantic way as Adrian and Muriel cite phrases from the Song of Solomon to each other during their lovemaking. It works beautifully and poetically to enhance this thrilling love story.
5 stars
PS- I wish Putney had written a sequel about Adrian’s illegitimate brother. Does anyone know if she ever did?
I read Uncommon Vows years ago and adored this passionate medieval story about obsessive love. Lord Adrian was set for a life of priesthood when a family death changes his destiny. Lady Meriel seemed fated for a life in a nunnery. But twists and turns made it so neither of these things came to pass. Instead, Adrian becomes the Earl of Shropshire and Meriel renounces her calling to live under the protection of her brother, a knight.
One day Adrian comes upon Meriel in a field and believes her to be a commoner. Adrian becomes so fixated with Meriel’s stunning beauty, he takes her captive. Meriel, who is half-Welsh, deeply values her freedom and cannot understand if Adrian supposedly loves why he keeps her prisoner. She refuses Adrian’s attempts to seduce her so virulently, she throws herself out a stained-glass window, causing her to lose her memory. Without all the baggage hanging on, Adrian is able to woo Muriel into loving him. But will her feelings remain the same when her memory returns?
When writing about the medieval era, many authors avoid religion, treating it as a third rail topic. Here, it’s used in a unique and romantic way as Adrian and Muriel cite phrases from the Song of Solomon to each other during their lovemaking. It works beautifully and poetically to enhance this thrilling love story.
5 stars
PS- I wish Putney had written a sequel about Adrian’s illegitimate brother. Does anyone know if she ever did?
April 12, 2009
This book may well be my favorite of all of MJP's books for a variety of reasons. First of all, never has her writing been more clear and poetical than in this book. She uses more visual metaphors than usual, especially because of the unique nature of the hero and the simpler time setting (this is MJP's only medieval). I am not a big fan of the medieval period and I know that MJP isn't either but she felt that that the medieval period was the right setting for the tormented hero and the dark love story that she tells here. As always, her choices are unerring. The basic plot is captor/captive. The heroine, Meriel, does not understand how the hero, Adrian, can hold her prisoner in the name of love and it's a painful process as the story unfolds to show a love that is incredibly complex. MJP does add a few twist here and there (amnesia)and there is also a very violent and cinematic fight scene near the end. This book is definitely not for the gentle romance reader.
I first read this book when it came out and have reread it every year. It never fails to bring tears to my eyes. It is an emotional read with beautiful and clear writing on par with some of Laura Kinsale's works like Flowers From The Storm. It'll always have a special place in my heart and I was glad to read that MJP wrote a story involving a decendant of the hero/heroine from this book in a later book, The Wild Child. I guess MJP found this couple as memorable as I do to refer to them after all these years.
I first read this book when it came out and have reread it every year. It never fails to bring tears to my eyes. It is an emotional read with beautiful and clear writing on par with some of Laura Kinsale's works like Flowers From The Storm. It'll always have a special place in my heart and I was glad to read that MJP wrote a story involving a decendant of the hero/heroine from this book in a later book, The Wild Child. I guess MJP found this couple as memorable as I do to refer to them after all these years.
May 29, 2018
5 Estrellitas para ésta preciosa novela que he tardado en leerla mucho más de lo que debería por falta de tiempo, pero que no me ha impedido disfrutar de cada uno de sus capítulos, de sus personajes y de su historia.
Esta es una de las pocas novelas de romance medieval de Mary Jo Putney, de hecho no sé si ha escrito alguna novela medieval más, pero me ha fascinado lo bien ambientada y documentada que está, y que es una delicia para cualquier persona que disfrute de la historia. Para ello tenemos la nota final de la autora. Tal y como viene siendo con ésta escritora, sus libros son buenos, merecen la pena y tienen calidad, y esto es un detalle que a mi parecer se ha descuidado en el panorama editorial de los últimos años. Sí, deberían publicar más novelas como ésta para el público más exigente.
¿Qué ocurre en “Cautivos del Destino”? La historia no deja de ser un cliché. Ambos protagonistas, hijos de familias nobles y enemigas, estaban destinados para la Iglesia, Adrian iba a convertirse en monje, pero el asesinato de toda su familia a manos de su enemigo, Guy de Borgoña, le obligaron a abandonar la vida de contemplación y a asumir su herencia. Por su parte Meriel viene de otra familia noble pero modesta y partidaria del rey Esteban, iba a ingresar en un convento, pero en el último momento se dio cuenta de que ésa no era la vida que quería.
Han pasado los años, y mientras Adrian persigue acabar de una vez con Guy de Borgoña, Meriel ha estado llevando la casa de su hermano menor, Alan. Un día, Meriel sale a cabalgar con su halcón, pero tiene un accidente en el bosque real y Adrian, junto con su hueste de soldados la encuentran. Meriel sabe quién es él, sabe que son enemigos, y no puede si no engañarle sobre quién es ella, para mantener a su hermano a salvo. A pesar de todo, Adrian no la cree y decide llevarla cautiva a su castillo.
Una vez juntos la relación se convierte en un duelo de voluntades, él no descansará hasta tenerla, y ella tampoco lo hará hasta que pueda huir de él. Pero un accidente los obligará a recapacitar y también a cometer ciertos errores, que sin duda los acercarán más todavía. De tal manera que el libro estará lleno de giros, que enganchan al lector capítulo a capítulo.
Me han encantado ambos personajes, Meriel por su valentía y su arrojo, y porque a pesar de los errores que pudo cometer, tenía sus motivos, y lo que más la mueve es la fidelidad. Y Adrian, ése hombre serio, guapo como un ángel pero que contrasta con su actitud asceta, y que ha tenido un detalle sobre su físico que me ha encantado porque no es usual encontrarlo en éste tipo de novelas, la autora lo describe como un hombre bajito o más bien de talla normal, muchos hombres son más altos que él, y algunas mujeres, pero no así la protagonista, que parece ser bastante diminuta. Pues sí, éste detalle me ha gustado mucho. Al igual que no es fácil encontrar protagonistas feos, tampoco lo es encontrarlos bajos, y me ha encantado.
En el fondo es una novela de romance muy usual, como digo un cliché, con unos personajes tormentosos y una historia de amor muy bien sostenida, con un malo malísimo y asqueroso, y en general con una trama muy bien cuidada y una prosa inigualable. Sin duda recomiendo éste libro si te gusta el romance medieval, es más, ahora mismo lo considero como imprescindible dentro del género. Otro maravilloso libro de Mary Jo Putney que es una auténtica joyita.
Esta es una de las pocas novelas de romance medieval de Mary Jo Putney, de hecho no sé si ha escrito alguna novela medieval más, pero me ha fascinado lo bien ambientada y documentada que está, y que es una delicia para cualquier persona que disfrute de la historia. Para ello tenemos la nota final de la autora. Tal y como viene siendo con ésta escritora, sus libros son buenos, merecen la pena y tienen calidad, y esto es un detalle que a mi parecer se ha descuidado en el panorama editorial de los últimos años. Sí, deberían publicar más novelas como ésta para el público más exigente.
¿Qué ocurre en “Cautivos del Destino”? La historia no deja de ser un cliché. Ambos protagonistas, hijos de familias nobles y enemigas, estaban destinados para la Iglesia, Adrian iba a convertirse en monje, pero el asesinato de toda su familia a manos de su enemigo, Guy de Borgoña, le obligaron a abandonar la vida de contemplación y a asumir su herencia. Por su parte Meriel viene de otra familia noble pero modesta y partidaria del rey Esteban, iba a ingresar en un convento, pero en el último momento se dio cuenta de que ésa no era la vida que quería.
Han pasado los años, y mientras Adrian persigue acabar de una vez con Guy de Borgoña, Meriel ha estado llevando la casa de su hermano menor, Alan. Un día, Meriel sale a cabalgar con su halcón, pero tiene un accidente en el bosque real y Adrian, junto con su hueste de soldados la encuentran. Meriel sabe quién es él, sabe que son enemigos, y no puede si no engañarle sobre quién es ella, para mantener a su hermano a salvo. A pesar de todo, Adrian no la cree y decide llevarla cautiva a su castillo.
Una vez juntos la relación se convierte en un duelo de voluntades, él no descansará hasta tenerla, y ella tampoco lo hará hasta que pueda huir de él. Pero un accidente los obligará a recapacitar y también a cometer ciertos errores, que sin duda los acercarán más todavía. De tal manera que el libro estará lleno de giros, que enganchan al lector capítulo a capítulo.
Me han encantado ambos personajes, Meriel por su valentía y su arrojo, y porque a pesar de los errores que pudo cometer, tenía sus motivos, y lo que más la mueve es la fidelidad. Y Adrian, ése hombre serio, guapo como un ángel pero que contrasta con su actitud asceta, y que ha tenido un detalle sobre su físico que me ha encantado porque no es usual encontrarlo en éste tipo de novelas, la autora lo describe como un hombre bajito o más bien de talla normal, muchos hombres son más altos que él, y algunas mujeres, pero no así la protagonista, que parece ser bastante diminuta. Pues sí, éste detalle me ha gustado mucho. Al igual que no es fácil encontrar protagonistas feos, tampoco lo es encontrarlos bajos, y me ha encantado.
En el fondo es una novela de romance muy usual, como digo un cliché, con unos personajes tormentosos y una historia de amor muy bien sostenida, con un malo malísimo y asqueroso, y en general con una trama muy bien cuidada y una prosa inigualable. Sin duda recomiendo éste libro si te gusta el romance medieval, es más, ahora mismo lo considero como imprescindible dentro del género. Otro maravilloso libro de Mary Jo Putney que es una auténtica joyita.
June 8, 2025
Well, what a story! The book totally sucked me in from the 1st page. Ms. Putney rarely disappoints. I find this to be one of her best works.
The story was extremely well written and historically detailed. I wouldn't know how accurate it is. It was a nice change to read that it was the hero, instead of the heroine who fell in love (and hard!) for the heroine first.
I absolutely adore Adrian. He was a bit of a villain in the beginning as he wanted to force Meriel to become his mistress by imprisoning her (and almost raping her!). However, he just couldn't let her go. He felt that they were fated to be together. Unfortunately, Meriel didn't feel the same way and this is the reason I couldn't give the book a solid 5 star. I have to deduct 0.5 star because I couldn't understand why Meriel kept rejecting Adrian. Adrian was described as being good looking and a just and kind lord. She even hurled herself out of the window when Adrian offered marriage. Of course, this was after he almost raped her, but I still think she went overboard with her reactions. It could be because she was convent bred? It was just so dramatic. After the fall and Meriel suffered from amnesia, her attitude towards Adrian totally changed (360 degrees!). She welcomed his attentions. And after they got married and she regained her memories (and forgotten all about the 2 months that they were married), she refused him again. She kinda gave Adrian a whiplash with her reactions. I totally pity the guy. Adrian just couldn't help himself when it comes to Meriel. He realised that he needed to let her go if he really loved her.
Despite these points, it was a lovely read. It was full of angst and I feel that Adrian was the reason the book was so good. 4.5 stars from me.
The story was extremely well written and historically detailed. I wouldn't know how accurate it is. It was a nice change to read that it was the hero, instead of the heroine who fell in love (and hard!) for the heroine first.
I absolutely adore Adrian. He was a bit of a villain in the beginning as he wanted to force Meriel to become his mistress by imprisoning her (and almost raping her!). However, he just couldn't let her go. He felt that they were fated to be together. Unfortunately, Meriel didn't feel the same way and this is the reason I couldn't give the book a solid 5 star. I have to deduct 0.5 star because I couldn't understand why Meriel kept rejecting Adrian. Adrian was described as being good looking and a just and kind lord. She even hurled herself out of the window when Adrian offered marriage. Of course, this was after he almost raped her, but I still think she went overboard with her reactions. It could be because she was convent bred? It was just so dramatic. After the fall and Meriel suffered from amnesia, her attitude towards Adrian totally changed (360 degrees!). She welcomed his attentions. And after they got married and she regained her memories (and forgotten all about the 2 months that they were married), she refused him again. She kinda gave Adrian a whiplash with her reactions. I totally pity the guy. Adrian just couldn't help himself when it comes to Meriel. He realised that he needed to let her go if he really loved her.
Despite these points, it was a lovely read. It was full of angst and I feel that Adrian was the reason the book was so good. 4.5 stars from me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2020
*** NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS ***
Usually with a Mary Jo Putney novel I can't put it down. It's one of those books that you think you're going to read a few chapters of before bed and then it's morning and it's time to get up and the couple chapters had turned into the whole novel. Unfortunately with this book that was not the case.
If I was religious it probably wouldn't have been that bad for me, but since I'm not it felt like I was kind of reading a warped version of the bible. However her portrayal of the Adrian, the male lead in this novel, proves my persistent opinion that many upstanding members of the church are some of the most hypocritical there are and many devout religious church goers seem to think they can behave however they want and all will be forgiven. While it reinforces my jaded opinion of religion I doubt it will go over well with those who are devoutly religious.
Adrian was one the youngest son of a baron who was taking his vows in the monastery when his family was massacred by a neighboring baron seeking control of the same land. Now the air to the barony he forgoes taking his final vows to take up his father sword and avenge the deaths of his family.
Meriel is the youngest daughter of a poor Norman Baron and is initially living in a convent studying to become a nun, when the day approaches for her to take her vows she realizes she can't do it. She can't lock herself away in the convent for the rest of her life.
The years pass and Adrian becomes one of the most powerful barons in England, fighting for the Empress Matilda in the great civil war, he is granted the Earldom of Shropshire and permission to hunt in the Royal Forest. Meriel is taken in by her youngest brother who is enfeoffed by Lord Theobald, a baron fighting for King Stephen in the great civil war. She is the Mistress of Avonleigh as her brother is an unmarried knight. Still yearning for Freedom she goes alone with her hawk hunting and is befallen by the worst sort of bad luck. First the hawk flies off into the Royal Forrest where she doesn't have permission to hunt. Then she and her horse are attacked by a boar where she is thrown and the horse escaped, then covered in mud she is surrounded by armed men, including the Earl of Shropshire fighting got the opposite side of the war. Worried about endangering her people she lies to the earl about her identity and is taken prisoner when she is thought to be a peasant girl on royal land with a hawk she doesn't that the station to own.
The ultra religious Earl has an obsession with the girl and is unwilling to set her free though her crimes are minor and he can't really prove she did anything wrong. He offers her a position as his mistress and when she refuses he continues to keep her captive. He tries every method possible to win her and then in desperation almost rapes her. His way of trying to make it right is to then propose to her. When he refuses to set her free and her only options seem to be death or rape Meriel attempts suicide by jumping out a window. The Earl desperate to save her jumps in behind her.
Though she shouldn't have lived she does survive, but has amnesia. It is during this time that the Earl convinces her to fall in love with him and marries her. He neglects to tell her what happened before she woke up. During a tempest she's almost struck by lightning and in the fall regains her memory of everything except the months during which she married. When she tries again to escape she is captured by a rival baron, almost raped again and the heroic male lead save her and murders the man who massacred his family.
I'm all about character growth but I can't get over the fact that I'm somehow supposed to like and feel for a man who tried to rape the girl. Whether he stopped himself eventually or not, he ripped her clothes, and caged her torturing her like an animal and this sis supposed to be the good guy. Add to this the man refuses to allow Jews to settle on his land until after they tried to help his wife. It's like I owe you one so I'll let you stay but if you hadn't done for me I'm not going to let you live here because you don't believe the same thing as me.
What was really creepy to me is that they were quoting bible verses during sex. That just seems somehow wrong. And of course at the end they somehow end up happy and together the captive and the captor who tortured her.
The book has some exciting scenes and a lot of historical information about at time period that isn't often covered well in historical romance, but it's lacking a lot everywhere else.
Usually with a Mary Jo Putney novel I can't put it down. It's one of those books that you think you're going to read a few chapters of before bed and then it's morning and it's time to get up and the couple chapters had turned into the whole novel. Unfortunately with this book that was not the case.
If I was religious it probably wouldn't have been that bad for me, but since I'm not it felt like I was kind of reading a warped version of the bible. However her portrayal of the Adrian, the male lead in this novel, proves my persistent opinion that many upstanding members of the church are some of the most hypocritical there are and many devout religious church goers seem to think they can behave however they want and all will be forgiven. While it reinforces my jaded opinion of religion I doubt it will go over well with those who are devoutly religious.
Adrian was one the youngest son of a baron who was taking his vows in the monastery when his family was massacred by a neighboring baron seeking control of the same land. Now the air to the barony he forgoes taking his final vows to take up his father sword and avenge the deaths of his family.
Meriel is the youngest daughter of a poor Norman Baron and is initially living in a convent studying to become a nun, when the day approaches for her to take her vows she realizes she can't do it. She can't lock herself away in the convent for the rest of her life.
The years pass and Adrian becomes one of the most powerful barons in England, fighting for the Empress Matilda in the great civil war, he is granted the Earldom of Shropshire and permission to hunt in the Royal Forest. Meriel is taken in by her youngest brother who is enfeoffed by Lord Theobald, a baron fighting for King Stephen in the great civil war. She is the Mistress of Avonleigh as her brother is an unmarried knight. Still yearning for Freedom she goes alone with her hawk hunting and is befallen by the worst sort of bad luck. First the hawk flies off into the Royal Forrest where she doesn't have permission to hunt. Then she and her horse are attacked by a boar where she is thrown and the horse escaped, then covered in mud she is surrounded by armed men, including the Earl of Shropshire fighting got the opposite side of the war. Worried about endangering her people she lies to the earl about her identity and is taken prisoner when she is thought to be a peasant girl on royal land with a hawk she doesn't that the station to own.
The ultra religious Earl has an obsession with the girl and is unwilling to set her free though her crimes are minor and he can't really prove she did anything wrong. He offers her a position as his mistress and when she refuses he continues to keep her captive. He tries every method possible to win her and then in desperation almost rapes her. His way of trying to make it right is to then propose to her. When he refuses to set her free and her only options seem to be death or rape Meriel attempts suicide by jumping out a window. The Earl desperate to save her jumps in behind her.
Though she shouldn't have lived she does survive, but has amnesia. It is during this time that the Earl convinces her to fall in love with him and marries her. He neglects to tell her what happened before she woke up. During a tempest she's almost struck by lightning and in the fall regains her memory of everything except the months during which she married. When she tries again to escape she is captured by a rival baron, almost raped again and the heroic male lead save her and murders the man who massacred his family.
I'm all about character growth but I can't get over the fact that I'm somehow supposed to like and feel for a man who tried to rape the girl. Whether he stopped himself eventually or not, he ripped her clothes, and caged her torturing her like an animal and this sis supposed to be the good guy. Add to this the man refuses to allow Jews to settle on his land until after they tried to help his wife. It's like I owe you one so I'll let you stay but if you hadn't done for me I'm not going to let you live here because you don't believe the same thing as me.
What was really creepy to me is that they were quoting bible verses during sex. That just seems somehow wrong. And of course at the end they somehow end up happy and together the captive and the captor who tortured her.
The book has some exciting scenes and a lot of historical information about at time period that isn't often covered well in historical romance, but it's lacking a lot everywhere else.
January 18, 2024
I don’t know whether I’m more elated to have come across a MJP novel that I thoroughly enjoyed, or devastated to find out that this is the only medieval romance she wrote and there are no sequels! I’m truly crushed that I won’t get to read a story focusing on Richard, the hero’s bastard brother, and/or Lady Cecily.
This book was a pleasant surprise as far as its characters and historical setting were concerned.
MJP deserves major praise for making me care about the main leads and developing them as separate characters before they even came together.
Meriel and Adrian’s eventual relationship was all the more interesting because I’d already come to appreciate their respective hero and heroine’s journeys: the romance felt like their natural culmination and their HEA like the most rewarding prize of a long series of hardships.
Like many, I’m also against amnesia as a plot device, but somehow here it bothered me less than expected.
Maybe it’s the lapsed catholic in me speaking, but I also found the religious background to add depth to the main couple, instead of merely serving as backdrop as it’s often the case with HRs set in this historical period. One can immediately tell that the author did a lot of research for this time period, and it adds some much appreciated depth to the story.
There are only two reasons why this book imo doesn’t quite deserve five stars.
First of all, the clunky prose: the writing style was so arid and simple as to clash with the tone of the story and detract from its important themes.
And second but most egregious, the fact that the hero’s former mistress was the one to suggest he should propose marriage to the heroine, instead of trying to make her into his new mistress!!
This might seems like a minor fault to some, but it really bothered me how this had NEVER occurred to Adrian until his former leman (with whom he’s still ‘friendly’ although she’s married and whose baby he offers to be a godfather to -barf-) decided to illuminate him. It would’ve been slightly better had it been literally ANYONE ELSE educating the hero, and I wish he hadn’t been still quite so ‘fond’ of the OW. Thankfully she only appears in that one scene, but it still rankled.
This criticism aside, this is one of the best written medieval romances I’ve come across, and would recommend any lover of this genre to give it a try.
This book was a pleasant surprise as far as its characters and historical setting were concerned.
MJP deserves major praise for making me care about the main leads and developing them as separate characters before they even came together.
Meriel and Adrian’s eventual relationship was all the more interesting because I’d already come to appreciate their respective hero and heroine’s journeys: the romance felt like their natural culmination and their HEA like the most rewarding prize of a long series of hardships.
Like many, I’m also against amnesia as a plot device, but somehow here it bothered me less than expected.
Maybe it’s the lapsed catholic in me speaking, but I also found the religious background to add depth to the main couple, instead of merely serving as backdrop as it’s often the case with HRs set in this historical period. One can immediately tell that the author did a lot of research for this time period, and it adds some much appreciated depth to the story.
There are only two reasons why this book imo doesn’t quite deserve five stars.
First of all, the clunky prose: the writing style was so arid and simple as to clash with the tone of the story and detract from its important themes.
And second but most egregious, the fact that the hero’s former mistress was the one to suggest he should propose marriage to the heroine, instead of trying to make her into his new mistress!!
This might seems like a minor fault to some, but it really bothered me how this had NEVER occurred to Adrian until his former leman (with whom he’s still ‘friendly’ although she’s married and whose baby he offers to be a godfather to -barf-) decided to illuminate him. It would’ve been slightly better had it been literally ANYONE ELSE educating the hero, and I wish he hadn’t been still quite so ‘fond’ of the OW. Thankfully she only appears in that one scene, but it still rankled.
This criticism aside, this is one of the best written medieval romances I’ve come across, and would recommend any lover of this genre to give it a try.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2009
If MJP's capable of this calibre, she should turn out more timeless medievals (my fav setting). I wish she'd write sequels for Alan & Richard someday. UV's catapulted to my Top-5 All-time Fav list. It's v. easy to luv magnetic Adrian & fall for his heartfelt devotion to Meriel. I'm always drawn to amnesia theme & gloomy angsty roller-coaster luv-stories. Despite my initial misgiving that the plot seemed too thin & Meriel's gesture was over-dramatic - in choosing death over being bound to Adrian for life - I was riveted by H/H's evolving tempestuous relationship. Adrian was desperate & helplessly trapped in his obsession & intense attraction to Mariel. He chose the wrong route in earning Meriel's luv & affections, but he didn't show any outright cruelties to Meriel - other than imposing isolation on her - to warrant such drastic measure as Meriel's suicide attempt (risking eternal damnation, per her religion) =^P This book's extremely agonizing (but rewarding) to read. Both H/H went thru' the wringers. Not too shocked by the ending 'cuz I've read more brutal medievals (a la Marsha Canham), the abominable villain deserved his comeuppance. I must've been living under the rock to have missed UV all these years ;^2 The religious thread that ran thoughout the book was quite interesting, 'cuz I've never been a keen reader of the Bible ;o)~ UV was definitely a DIK. Gotta give MJP books a 2nd read after this.
June 9, 2014
I thought this book gave a unique spin to the 'obsessed hero captures heroine' genre.
Hero was a youngest son, destined to be a monk when his family was slaughtered. Now the eldest, he felt obligated to leave the monastery and take up his title/lands and avenge his family. The h was also a younger child and had also considered the religious life before deciding it was not for her. I'm normally not a huge fan of religion in my romance, but I think it was true to the times. The church was very powerful and a huge force in people's lives. Ignoring it is unrealistic. Younger children (particularly sons) of the nobility often had few choices in life aside from religious service.
The H meets the h while riding with his men and is immediately attracted to her. It appears she is a peasant and a poacher, so he uses that as an excuse to take her captive. She's actually neither, but refuses to give her identity because her brother and the H serve rival factions.
In a nutshell, the H is determined to make her his mistress and she is determined to refuse. He tries wooing her, keeping her locked up and bored until she turns to him, and finally decides he'll marry her if that's what it will take. He's not violent toward her, but his actions are wrong. The twist is that he knows it and feels great guilt because of it and does much to atone. This is significant because during this time it was a nobleman's 'right' to do whatever he wanted with a servent girl. Many men would have taken her and raped her without a second thought. She was chattel. However, in the end, he loved her enough to let her choose her own fate.
Hero was a youngest son, destined to be a monk when his family was slaughtered. Now the eldest, he felt obligated to leave the monastery and take up his title/lands and avenge his family. The h was also a younger child and had also considered the religious life before deciding it was not for her. I'm normally not a huge fan of religion in my romance, but I think it was true to the times. The church was very powerful and a huge force in people's lives. Ignoring it is unrealistic. Younger children (particularly sons) of the nobility often had few choices in life aside from religious service.
The H meets the h while riding with his men and is immediately attracted to her. It appears she is a peasant and a poacher, so he uses that as an excuse to take her captive. She's actually neither, but refuses to give her identity because her brother and the H serve rival factions.
In a nutshell, the H is determined to make her his mistress and she is determined to refuse. He tries wooing her, keeping her locked up and bored until she turns to him, and finally decides he'll marry her if that's what it will take. He's not violent toward her, but his actions are wrong. The twist is that he knows it and feels great guilt because of it and does much to atone. This is significant because during this time it was a nobleman's 'right' to do whatever he wanted with a servent girl. Many men would have taken her and raped her without a second thought. She was chattel. However, in the end, he loved her enough to let her choose her own fate.
April 25, 2021
2.5 stars!
This was not the bodice-ripper for me. The h drives me nuts. She is caught in the woods with her falcon and is accused of poaching. So Meriel lies. She claims to be a Welsh commoner with no family. Smart..right?
Adrian falls in love instantly and never wants to let her go. He wants her for his mistress bc a person of lower birth should be happy with that arrangement He locks her up alone for days. She goes crazy one day and jumps out a window. Meriel knocks herself out and when she wakes up she doesnt remember anything.
Eventually the two get married and are HEA for two months. Meriel gets hit on the head again and can't remember their married life.
If your keeping score that is: one stupid, frustrating misunderstanding and twice the same character has amnesia . That's a lot, even for an old HR.
This was not the bodice-ripper for me. The h drives me nuts. She is caught in the woods with her falcon and is accused of poaching. So Meriel lies. She claims to be a Welsh commoner with no family. Smart..right?
Adrian falls in love instantly and never wants to let her go. He wants her for his mistress bc a person of lower birth should be happy with that arrangement He locks her up alone for days. She goes crazy one day and jumps out a window. Meriel knocks herself out and when she wakes up she doesnt remember anything.
Eventually the two get married and are HEA for two months. Meriel gets hit on the head again and can't remember their married life.
If your keeping score that is: one stupid, frustrating misunderstanding and twice the same character has amnesia . That's a lot, even for an old HR.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2008
This book was intense because of Adrian's fixation on Meriel. I found it incredibly well-written but with a strong emotional draw. Probably one of my all-time favorites by Mary Jo Putney.
October 2, 2014
4 and 1/2 Stars! - A Worthy Tale from 12th Century England
Not many readers of historical romance may know that Mary Jo Putney wrote a medieval, but she did, and this is it! Set in 1143, when England was torn apart by the war between King Stephen and Matilda, King Henry I’s only legitimate heir, it tells the story of Lady Meriel de Vere, a high spirited young woman who loves riding fast and training her falcon. Convent raised, she is considering taking the veil until a vision of a mounted knight blocking that path warns her from it.
Adrian de Lancey, Baron Warfield thought to become a priest, but the death of his father and older brothers at the hands of their enemy, Guy of Burgoigne, gave Adrian the title and a reason for vengeance. Adding to that, Matilda names Adrian Earl of Shropshire and King Stephen bestows the same title on Guy.
One day when Meriel is hunting with her falcon, she strays into the royal forest where Adrian and his men find her and accuse her of poaching. Meriel fears to tell him she is a Norman from her brother’s holding, Avonleigh, because they support King Stephen and she knows Adrian supports Matilda, so she lies and tells him she is a Welsh commoner. Adrian takes her back to his castle at Warfield and forcibly holds her prisoner in a small stone chamber, telling her she will remain there until she agrees to become his mistress. Meriel vows never to give in, preferring death to dishonor.
Adrian avoids her knowing of his perfidy by her amnesia…which renders her a docile female, hardly recognizable from the strong-willed beauty she had been. Of course, Adrian takes full advantage.
This one will definitely keep you turning pages. Though it did bother me a bit that Meriel could have been free any time if she but told Adrian who she was. Alas, she does not and remains Adrian’s prisoner. For Meriel, who loved her freedom, it was a horrible fate. Adrian apparently buys her tale that she is common born, though her speech must have been that of a lady. And, though he realizes she is an innocent, he prays for wisdom to seduce her. (The word “cad” came to mind.) I so wanted him to grovel in the end.
The falconry aspects of the story are fascinating and Putney has done her research to present the noble sport well. The historical background is rich and surrounds the romance. I quite liked that. This story has it all: history, a great romance, vengeance, treachery, deceit, amnesia and, at one point, near rape. Oh yes, the ending is an exciting one!
A worthy medieval romance, I recommend it!
Not many readers of historical romance may know that Mary Jo Putney wrote a medieval, but she did, and this is it! Set in 1143, when England was torn apart by the war between King Stephen and Matilda, King Henry I’s only legitimate heir, it tells the story of Lady Meriel de Vere, a high spirited young woman who loves riding fast and training her falcon. Convent raised, she is considering taking the veil until a vision of a mounted knight blocking that path warns her from it.
Adrian de Lancey, Baron Warfield thought to become a priest, but the death of his father and older brothers at the hands of their enemy, Guy of Burgoigne, gave Adrian the title and a reason for vengeance. Adding to that, Matilda names Adrian Earl of Shropshire and King Stephen bestows the same title on Guy.
One day when Meriel is hunting with her falcon, she strays into the royal forest where Adrian and his men find her and accuse her of poaching. Meriel fears to tell him she is a Norman from her brother’s holding, Avonleigh, because they support King Stephen and she knows Adrian supports Matilda, so she lies and tells him she is a Welsh commoner. Adrian takes her back to his castle at Warfield and forcibly holds her prisoner in a small stone chamber, telling her she will remain there until she agrees to become his mistress. Meriel vows never to give in, preferring death to dishonor.
Adrian avoids her knowing of his perfidy by her amnesia…which renders her a docile female, hardly recognizable from the strong-willed beauty she had been. Of course, Adrian takes full advantage.
This one will definitely keep you turning pages. Though it did bother me a bit that Meriel could have been free any time if she but told Adrian who she was. Alas, she does not and remains Adrian’s prisoner. For Meriel, who loved her freedom, it was a horrible fate. Adrian apparently buys her tale that she is common born, though her speech must have been that of a lady. And, though he realizes she is an innocent, he prays for wisdom to seduce her. (The word “cad” came to mind.) I so wanted him to grovel in the end.
The falconry aspects of the story are fascinating and Putney has done her research to present the noble sport well. The historical background is rich and surrounds the romance. I quite liked that. This story has it all: history, a great romance, vengeance, treachery, deceit, amnesia and, at one point, near rape. Oh yes, the ending is an exciting one!
A worthy medieval romance, I recommend it!
September 23, 2019
An enjoyable medieval HR for fans of historical research - I learned so much about falconry but I didn't feel as though I did, if that makes sense. Putney shows how falconry is a part of medieval life but also a symbol of Meriel's free spirit and indomitable will. Historical details are never shoehorned in for the sake of it. Adrian’s conflict between acting a good knight and good Christian was wonderfully depicted. The bad blood between Adrian and Guy, the villain of Uncommon Vows, was skillfully woven into the larger political picture, how they were both bestowed the title of Earl of Shropshire, a tactic to inspire the feudal lords to fight in a time of the Civil War in England on the behalf of Empress Matilda, a claimant to the throne and Stephen, the King of England. Matilda was named her father's successor to the throne but this was met with opposition and her cousin, Stephen, took the throne.
Billed as a steamy medieval HR, there was heat but it wasn't too naughty. Sure, Adrian locked Meriel in the spare bedroom and isolated her from other people in order to get her to crack and seek out his company, but I think he could have done more. There was some expectation that he would be a bit wild but this is really only seen in his showdown with Guy and not with Meriel. I'm not necessarily asking for a hero to be brutish and vile but if it is suggested he has the capability to be so, I'd like to see a little more of that. Brenda Joyce's The Conqueror remains the spiciest medieval HR.
There was an afterschool special feel to the plot that I enjoyed for its simplicity, and by that I mean there were a lot of great messages that I feel today would be hotly contested in the political climate we live in. Such themes like anti-semitism is bad, love means letting someone go, and feminism is good. Speaking of, can we all give a woop-woop to Cecily?! Yes mama she took charge of her castle back! I absolutely love Putney's secondary female characters - they have real character arcs that aren't solely based on raising the protagonist up but also achieving their own liberty and dreams. PS Cecily and Richard would be cute together.
The only low point was
Adrian and Meriel aren’t a very funny couple. Meriel is either plotting her escape or they are quoting the Song of Solomon together. So, it was with great pleasure to discover what may be one of my favourite piece of dialogue I’ve ever read in an HR that must be on the same bar as Connie Mason's Tender Fury:
Uncommon Vows is my second Mary Jo Putney read and you know what, I think I like her stuff.
Billed as a steamy medieval HR, there was heat but it wasn't too naughty. Sure, Adrian locked Meriel in the spare bedroom and isolated her from other people in order to get her to crack and seek out his company, but I think he could have done more. There was some expectation that he would be a bit wild but this is really only seen in his showdown with Guy and not with Meriel. I'm not necessarily asking for a hero to be brutish and vile but if it is suggested he has the capability to be so, I'd like to see a little more of that. Brenda Joyce's The Conqueror remains the spiciest medieval HR.
There was an afterschool special feel to the plot that I enjoyed for its simplicity, and by that I mean there were a lot of great messages that I feel today would be hotly contested in the political climate we live in. Such themes like anti-semitism is bad, love means letting someone go, and feminism is good. Speaking of, can we all give a woop-woop to Cecily?! Yes mama she took charge of her castle back! I absolutely love Putney's secondary female characters - they have real character arcs that aren't solely based on raising the protagonist up but also achieving their own liberty and dreams. PS Cecily and Richard would be cute together.
The only low point was
Adrian and Meriel aren’t a very funny couple. Meriel is either plotting her escape or they are quoting the Song of Solomon together. So, it was with great pleasure to discover what may be one of my favourite piece of dialogue I’ve ever read in an HR that must be on the same bar as Connie Mason's Tender Fury:
Uncommon Vows is my second Mary Jo Putney read and you know what, I think I like her stuff.
July 29, 2020
5 stars. I am awed by this story.
It is beautifully written and so extremely moving. I love everything about it, but especially the hero. His internal conflict and actions touched the deepest parts my soul. I felt his passion and his love for the heroine almost constantly. It was too strong at times, causing more harm than good, but his devotion never wavered. Oh my poor heart felt so full. This is my favorite trope, so I’m sure that makes me biased. I can’t remember a better example of a historical romance where the hero relentlessly peruses the heroine. If anyone can recommend something similar, I would love to hear it!
The story of Meriel and Adrian is set among an interesting historical background, with the political landscape greatly impacting their story and lives. I love when a historical romance novel includes real historical events as a basis for the story instead of just vaguely setting a story in the past. In addition, this book contained a lot of religion: bible verses, praying, both MCs are very pious, etc. Religious MCs typically turns me off from a book, but this was an exception. Everything was well thought out and just made so much sense to the story. It wasn’t religious for the purpose of rubbing it in the reader’s face, but rather because it was what the MCs truly believed and how they lived their lives. In other words, this wasn’t the author trying to preach at the reader.
If I’m going to be a little critical, I guess I would have loved to see a nice long epilogue after this story. However, the ending was so beautifully done that I didn’t feel disappointed in the least. Also, I had to suspend my disbelief a few times, but it was so worth it for the enjoyment of this wonderful story.
Safe for most, no significant OM/OW, attempted rape, rape of side character (off page)
It is beautifully written and so extremely moving. I love everything about it, but especially the hero. His internal conflict and actions touched the deepest parts my soul. I felt his passion and his love for the heroine almost constantly. It was too strong at times, causing more harm than good, but his devotion never wavered. Oh my poor heart felt so full. This is my favorite trope, so I’m sure that makes me biased. I can’t remember a better example of a historical romance where the hero relentlessly peruses the heroine. If anyone can recommend something similar, I would love to hear it!
The story of Meriel and Adrian is set among an interesting historical background, with the political landscape greatly impacting their story and lives. I love when a historical romance novel includes real historical events as a basis for the story instead of just vaguely setting a story in the past. In addition, this book contained a lot of religion: bible verses, praying, both MCs are very pious, etc. Religious MCs typically turns me off from a book, but this was an exception. Everything was well thought out and just made so much sense to the story. It wasn’t religious for the purpose of rubbing it in the reader’s face, but rather because it was what the MCs truly believed and how they lived their lives. In other words, this wasn’t the author trying to preach at the reader.
If I’m going to be a little critical, I guess I would have loved to see a nice long epilogue after this story. However, the ending was so beautifully done that I didn’t feel disappointed in the least. Also, I had to suspend my disbelief a few times, but it was so worth it for the enjoyment of this wonderful story.
Safe for most, no significant OM/OW, attempted rape, rape of side character (off page)
February 3, 2021
4 stars
This was one of my favorite books in my twenties and I read it a bunch of times back then. It’s problematic—a captive / captor story. But for what it is, it’s well-executed. A hero with a fascinating dichotomy to his character (he is a warrior yet nearly became a monk), a lovely heroine who values freedom, terrific imagery and symbolism, good handling of a subplot involving Jewish characters, and a well-realized 12th century setting. I still like it now, for how well-executed it is, but I felt somewhat removed from the hero on this reading, probably because of how much times have changed since 1990.
This was one of my favorite books in my twenties and I read it a bunch of times back then. It’s problematic—a captive / captor story. But for what it is, it’s well-executed. A hero with a fascinating dichotomy to his character (he is a warrior yet nearly became a monk), a lovely heroine who values freedom, terrific imagery and symbolism, good handling of a subplot involving Jewish characters, and a well-realized 12th century setting. I still like it now, for how well-executed it is, but I felt somewhat removed from the hero on this reading, probably because of how much times have changed since 1990.
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March 30, 2022
One of my favourite books - can't believe I've never reviewed. RTC
May 8, 2022
No es tan habitual hoy en día ambientar una romántica histórica en la Edad Media. Pero hace treinta años, sí, y les salían historias tan buenas como esta. No pude parar de leer la historia de lady Meriel de Vere y lord Adrian, en campos opuestos de la lucha por el trono entre la emperatriz Matilde y el rey Esteban. Los dos estaban destinados a una vida religiosa, pero las circunstancias familiares les saca del claustro. Adrian se obsesiona por Meriel y se la lleva a su castillo. Pretende hacerla suya, seduciéndola, a lo que ella se resiste con heroísmo. Putney sabe convertir a Adrian en un personaje atractivo, al que no puedes odiar tanto como Meriel lo odia porque eres testigo de su lucha interior. Es el prototípico héroe torturado de tantas novelas románticas. ¡Ah, uno de los dos personajes pasa por un episodio de amnesia! Una novela estupenda, con personajes muy atractivos.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
July 23, 2014
As much as it hurts me to give up on this book, especially after so many good reviews, I just can't force myself to read any further. I made it half way, page 195, but that is all I am willing to be put through.
Meriel (h) thought she was ment to become a nun and during her time as a novice she met a man who made her question what she thought she knew all of these years. Once her eyes were open to what she really wants she leaves the Abby to live with her brother. One day while out for the day with her falcon' she runs into the vary same man she met years ago ,only she doesn't recognize him.
Adrian (H) could never get the little nun out of his mind and when be runs into Meriel he doesn't recognize her but he knows he must have her.
Don't get me wrong, this book is very well written ,imo. My problem with it is that there is two of my major deal breakers/ book killers in it and those would be too much religion in this for me ( yes I realize that the H was hoping to be a monk and the h was studying to be a nun but still......way too much for me. The other was the amnesia trope that I can't stand.
Meriel (h) thought she was ment to become a nun and during her time as a novice she met a man who made her question what she thought she knew all of these years. Once her eyes were open to what she really wants she leaves the Abby to live with her brother. One day while out for the day with her falcon' she runs into the vary same man she met years ago ,only she doesn't recognize him.
Adrian (H) could never get the little nun out of his mind and when be runs into Meriel he doesn't recognize her but he knows he must have her.
Don't get me wrong, this book is very well written ,imo. My problem with it is that there is two of my major deal breakers/ book killers in it and those would be too much religion in this for me ( yes I realize that the H was hoping to be a monk and the h was studying to be a nun but still......way too much for me. The other was the amnesia trope that I can't stand.
January 17, 2025
I first read this 10 years ago and I didn’t like it. I picked it up for a reread a few days ago and finished it yesterday. To my suprise I like it this time around. Maybe I was too harsh on Meriel and Adrian. I appreciate them and the story more now.
I’m raising it from a measly 1 star. To 3.5 stars. ☺️
First Review ten years ago:
Oh bummer, I really tried to like this book! But it dragged on and on.The conversations sounded modern and not at all medieval. I couldn't get into Meriel and Adrian! There was something missing!! Plus after a while it began to sound like some religious tome to me. Not that there's anything wrong with religious tomes....but when I'm reading a romance novel I'd rather not feel I'm being preached on. 1 star because the concept was awesome. It was only in the execution that the book failed. :/
I’m raising it from a measly 1 star. To 3.5 stars. ☺️
First Review ten years ago:
Oh bummer, I really tried to like this book! But it dragged on and on.The conversations sounded modern and not at all medieval. I couldn't get into Meriel and Adrian! There was something missing!! Plus after a while it began to sound like some religious tome to me. Not that there's anything wrong with religious tomes....but when I'm reading a romance novel I'd rather not feel I'm being preached on. 1 star because the concept was awesome. It was only in the execution that the book failed. :/
July 13, 2022
2.5 stars 💫
A Sweet normal medieval romance ✔
But I wanted a cold sick devious and manipulative medieval hero 😭🤡
It's not the book, is my sick self.
A Sweet normal medieval romance ✔
But I wanted a cold sick devious and manipulative medieval hero 😭🤡
It's not the book, is my sick self.
November 13, 2018
Sigo sin tener suerte a la hora de escoger lecturas para el #RetoRita2 …
Esta lectura se me ha hecho bastante espesa; el hecho que Muriel estuviera en un convento y Adrian en un monasterio/abadía hace que en más de una ocasión a ambos se les vayan los pensamientos y hagan disertaciones religiosas sobre cualquier cosa...
Además, el hecho que un mismo personaje sufra amnesia dos veces en un mismo libro no lo había leído nunca... y el colmo es que la primera vez lo olvida todo, y la segunda pierde solo una parte y recupera otra... Muy inverosímil...
Lo único bueno de la historia han sido las conversaciones de Meriel y Adrian, tanto antes como después de estar juntos. Han sido dos buenos personajes, que acaban difuminados por la historia y mucho politiqueo que también me ha sobrado.
Esta lectura se me ha hecho bastante espesa; el hecho que Muriel estuviera en un convento y Adrian en un monasterio/abadía hace que en más de una ocasión a ambos se les vayan los pensamientos y hagan disertaciones religiosas sobre cualquier cosa...
Además, el hecho que un mismo personaje sufra amnesia dos veces en un mismo libro no lo había leído nunca... y el colmo es que la primera vez lo olvida todo, y la segunda pierde solo una parte y recupera otra... Muy inverosímil...
Lo único bueno de la historia han sido las conversaciones de Meriel y Adrian, tanto antes como después de estar juntos. Han sido dos buenos personajes, que acaban difuminados por la historia y mucho politiqueo que también me ha sobrado.
July 31, 2015
I have to start by saying that I am not too wild about reading medieval romances. It is hard to convey what people went through in those days and not gloss it over. If it is realistic in nature, women are portrayed as little more than personal property and men come across as brutish and coarse. Putney manages to write her only medieval story with a twist.
It begins with fifteen year old Adrian de Lancey, an aristocrat's son, anticipating his monk’s vows until he learns his family has been slaughtered. Fast-forward six years and Adrian has become a man that few people would reckon with. Both a leader and soldier, honor is important but so is revenge on all those that were involved with his family's deaths. Once a man of God, he now must fight the darkness within himself.
After being ambushed on one such occasion, Adrian and his men fight for their lives. They win the skirmish but need medical help when they come upon an abbess and her 'nunnery'. A young women, Meriel, tells them of what she witnessed. Adrian feels this young lady is someone special but also thinks she is a nun. -But Meriel has not taken her vows yet.- Uneasy with his feelings, he becomes angry and they part.
Several years later Meriel is now a woman and the two meet up again. Unaware of who she really is, he is enamored of Muriel and kidnaps her. He will only let her go if she agrees to stay with him as his mistress. She says no and he imprisons her in a high tower, believing that if she is lonely enough she will finally succumb to his wishes. She doesn't.
What makes this romance so unusual is that Meriel, a deeply religious woman, never gives up. Because of Adrian's religious past, he is torn with what he wants and what he should do in the name of God. And that is to free her. His feelings become an obsession.
Christianity is a part of the storyline but then it would have to be in a Norman or European medieval piece of fiction. Religion was a large part of everyone's life during those times. Adrian's intense love and an almost-tragedy test his faith. All I can say is this a story of redemption and so much more.
It begins with fifteen year old Adrian de Lancey, an aristocrat's son, anticipating his monk’s vows until he learns his family has been slaughtered. Fast-forward six years and Adrian has become a man that few people would reckon with. Both a leader and soldier, honor is important but so is revenge on all those that were involved with his family's deaths. Once a man of God, he now must fight the darkness within himself.
After being ambushed on one such occasion, Adrian and his men fight for their lives. They win the skirmish but need medical help when they come upon an abbess and her 'nunnery'. A young women, Meriel, tells them of what she witnessed. Adrian feels this young lady is someone special but also thinks she is a nun. -But Meriel has not taken her vows yet.- Uneasy with his feelings, he becomes angry and they part.
Several years later Meriel is now a woman and the two meet up again. Unaware of who she really is, he is enamored of Muriel and kidnaps her. He will only let her go if she agrees to stay with him as his mistress. She says no and he imprisons her in a high tower, believing that if she is lonely enough she will finally succumb to his wishes. She doesn't.
What makes this romance so unusual is that Meriel, a deeply religious woman, never gives up. Because of Adrian's religious past, he is torn with what he wants and what he should do in the name of God. And that is to free her. His feelings become an obsession.
Christianity is a part of the storyline but then it would have to be in a Norman or European medieval piece of fiction. Religion was a large part of everyone's life during those times. Adrian's intense love and an almost-tragedy test his faith. All I can say is this a story of redemption and so much more.
September 14, 2014
* Spoilers *
I can't put my finger on it, but there was something off about the writing. Things were too black and white, the writing seemed ill at ease and maladroit, if that makes sense, like it was the author's first attempt at writing a book. With more skilled writing this book might have worked- needed a more subtle way of showing Adrian's conflicting characters of light and darkness. Too much tell and no show and that in an awkward, self-conscious way. Two bouts of amnesia was pretty ridiculous and beyond my ability of suspension of disbelief. I really didn't like the female character. She was feeble minded and possibly even a bit touched in the head. One minute she hates him, next minute she loves him, next minute she hates him again. Feelings don't change so suddenly just because you suffer from amnesia. The story needed more connecting emotional threads for the love, at least on the heroine's part, to be believable. I have read better medievals.
July 19, 2010
One of my favorites by MJP. Lots of angst and desparate love which is my favorite type of romance even if I also enjoy lighter reads. I no longer read many medieval romances because after nearly 20 years of research into the medieval period I get pretty picky about authenticity. This one does a pretty good job at keeping the details correct while also adding in the love story.
July 24, 2024
Too spiritual for me but quite good even if with too much amnesia. Lol
September 29, 2024
The drama was silly. Amnesia twice? Eventually the h recovers but it dragged unnecessarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2010
Enjoyable romance novel, although I was annoyed with the heroine.
The first part of the book was the best. I was eager to keep reading to see what would happen. There were also a few humorous lines. But later in the book, I wasn't as drawn in. I was annoyed with the heroine for traveling alone in the forest. She was told and knew that it was dangerous for a woman to travel alone. Both times she did this she ended up being kidnapped. She was offered an escort the first time, but refused it. The second time, she was emotionally overreacting with amnesia issues. I also did not like that she left Adrian at the end, apparently due to confused emotions. Both times she left Adrian, it was for emotional reasons and she allowed no communication with him, which bothered me. I also questioned a couple of her other decisions/actions.
I was sad that Adrian suffered so much. I loved Cecily's actions at the end. She was a battered and bruised woman who found strength and did some good things.
STORY BRIEF:
Meriel's brother sends her to a convent to become a nun because he doesn't have enough money to provide a dowry for her to marry. She leaves the convent shortly before taking her vows to live with her second brother Alan. Adrian is the youngest son of Hugh. Adrian lives in a monastery, planning to become a monk. Guy kills Adrian's entire family and burns the home. Adrian leaves the monastery and rebuilds the castle. Meriel is hunting in the forest with her hawk, alone. She sprains her ankle when a wild boar causes her horse to run off. Adrian sees her and is immediately in love with her. He wants her to be his mistress. She says no, so he locks her in his guest bedroom for a few weeks. She is so angry, she attempts suicide and ends up with amnesia. Then she falls in love with Adrian and marries him. After the marriage, she gets injured in a storm and regains her first memories but has amnesia concerning the time of her falling in love and marrying Adrian. She then runs away from Adrian.
In the Foreward and the Historical Note at the end of the book, the author does a nice job of describing the anarchy over who would rule England at that time. The western earls supported Matilda, while the eastern earls supported Stephen. I also enjoyed learning how people hunted with falcons, hawks, etc. This was described well within the story.
DATA:
Sexual language; mild. Number of sex scenes: five. Setting: 1137 and 1143 England. Copyright: 1991. Genre: historical romance.
The first part of the book was the best. I was eager to keep reading to see what would happen. There were also a few humorous lines. But later in the book, I wasn't as drawn in. I was annoyed with the heroine for traveling alone in the forest. She was told and knew that it was dangerous for a woman to travel alone. Both times she did this she ended up being kidnapped. She was offered an escort the first time, but refused it. The second time, she was emotionally overreacting with amnesia issues. I also did not like that she left Adrian at the end, apparently due to confused emotions. Both times she left Adrian, it was for emotional reasons and she allowed no communication with him, which bothered me. I also questioned a couple of her other decisions/actions.
I was sad that Adrian suffered so much. I loved Cecily's actions at the end. She was a battered and bruised woman who found strength and did some good things.
STORY BRIEF:
Meriel's brother sends her to a convent to become a nun because he doesn't have enough money to provide a dowry for her to marry. She leaves the convent shortly before taking her vows to live with her second brother Alan. Adrian is the youngest son of Hugh. Adrian lives in a monastery, planning to become a monk. Guy kills Adrian's entire family and burns the home. Adrian leaves the monastery and rebuilds the castle. Meriel is hunting in the forest with her hawk, alone. She sprains her ankle when a wild boar causes her horse to run off. Adrian sees her and is immediately in love with her. He wants her to be his mistress. She says no, so he locks her in his guest bedroom for a few weeks. She is so angry, she attempts suicide and ends up with amnesia. Then she falls in love with Adrian and marries him. After the marriage, she gets injured in a storm and regains her first memories but has amnesia concerning the time of her falling in love and marrying Adrian. She then runs away from Adrian.
In the Foreward and the Historical Note at the end of the book, the author does a nice job of describing the anarchy over who would rule England at that time. The western earls supported Matilda, while the eastern earls supported Stephen. I also enjoyed learning how people hunted with falcons, hawks, etc. This was described well within the story.
DATA:
Sexual language; mild. Number of sex scenes: five. Setting: 1137 and 1143 England. Copyright: 1991. Genre: historical romance.
September 30, 2017
Wow, Mary Jo what mind-altering substance were you on when you dreamed up this nightmare of a plot -- and how on earth did you decide, "You know what? This would make a GREAT romance novel."
...
%#*!
$@¿&>, Mary Jo!
This is like horror movie level **** right here!
Meet Lord Adrian:
HiiiiIIIiii! My name is Adrian! I almost became a monk! You smell nice. I think I shall keep you...
So...let me preface that there is nothing that I enjoy more in romance novels than a fat slice of near death angst.
This book ruins this trope like a fat kid stretching out your hammock by ...so no matter how much angst the hero feels about the heroine's injuries... Adrian is still the ultimate, irredeemable creeper.
The book reads like a love letter to the ways of a sociopath (offered below for you in shorthand:)
H: I locked you away-but it's okay BECAUSE I WANT TO BONE YOU.
h: We ...seriously just met. Can you please let me--
H: I SAID I WANT TO BONE YOU.
h: I gathered that but you've been freaking me out for days on end and keep violating my physical boun--
H: LET US BONE.
h: I'm kind of a free spirit and I'm borderline hysterical from the way you keep--
H: MARRY ME THO SO WE MIGHT BONE.
h: ::mutters:: You're never going to stop are you?
Anyway - thanks for making my favorite trope nauseating AF, Mary Jo! 🤢 Imma just leave this right here to warn others...
...
%#*!
$@¿&>, Mary Jo!
This is like horror movie level **** right here!
Meet Lord Adrian:
HiiiiIIIiii! My name is Adrian! I almost became a monk! You smell nice. I think I shall keep you...
So...let me preface that there is nothing that I enjoy more in romance novels than a fat slice of near death angst.
This book ruins this trope like a fat kid stretching out your hammock by ...so no matter how much angst the hero feels about the heroine's injuries... Adrian is still the ultimate, irredeemable creeper.
The book reads like a love letter to the ways of a sociopath (offered below for you in shorthand:)
H: I locked you away-but it's okay BECAUSE I WANT TO BONE YOU.
h: We ...seriously just met. Can you please let me--
H: I SAID I WANT TO BONE YOU.
h: I gathered that but you've been freaking me out for days on end and keep violating my physical boun--
H: LET US BONE.
h: I'm kind of a free spirit and I'm borderline hysterical from the way you keep--
H: MARRY ME THO SO WE MIGHT BONE.
h: ::mutters:: You're never going to stop are you?
Anyway - thanks for making my favorite trope nauseating AF, Mary Jo! 🤢 Imma just leave this right here to warn others...
November 4, 2016
This is one of those books that I honestly do not know how to rated it. I was between 2 and 3 stars in the end I settled to give it 2.5 stars.
Warning it will contain a few spoilers!
The story is about a noble woman named Meriel who finds herself imprisoned by Earl Adrian Lancy because he falls in love with her at first sight.
Yeah I know totally corny but bear with me
So after wanting to throw the book away I keep reading and the obsessions of Adrian to subdue her are so intense that make Meriel to snap and throw herself of the window , after Adrian jumps after her and saves her, Meriel looses her memory.
Then he marries her ,well he dose not wanted at first half the blame is on Meriel because she falls in love and begs/assure him that she loves him and always will...
Then BOOM she remembers and she hates him again !
I am not spoiling it further, the conclusion is that I hated the romance but I am sure you wonder why I still gave more then one star.
Well I liked the fact that Adrian was portrayed as a human being, I mean he had good and bad characteristics , he was not the prince in white. Another thing that I loved about this book was the fact that the protagonists were believers in God and had a strong faith.
I did not love it but did not also hated it.
Warning it will contain a few spoilers!
The story is about a noble woman named Meriel who finds herself imprisoned by Earl Adrian Lancy because he falls in love with her at first sight.
Yeah I know totally corny but bear with me
So after wanting to throw the book away I keep reading and the obsessions of Adrian to subdue her are so intense that make Meriel to snap and throw herself of the window , after Adrian jumps after her and saves her, Meriel looses her memory.
Then he marries her ,well he dose not wanted at first half the blame is on Meriel because she falls in love and begs/assure him that she loves him and always will...
Then BOOM she remembers and she hates him again !
I am not spoiling it further, the conclusion is that I hated the romance but I am sure you wonder why I still gave more then one star.
Well I liked the fact that Adrian was portrayed as a human being, I mean he had good and bad characteristics , he was not the prince in white. Another thing that I loved about this book was the fact that the protagonists were believers in God and had a strong faith.
I did not love it but did not also hated it.
July 31, 2023
I’d have rated this book 5 stars if not for the last third.
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