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roxnn2000's review against another edition
3.0
Gave this audiobook version 3 stars
I don't know if it was the way that the story was read or if was just the story itself, but there were moments that I felt really bored.
Rosamunde is the the king's bastard daughter, raised in a convent and ready to take the veil and become a nun. That was until her father declared she would marry Aric and she found herself promising to love, honor and obey. Rosamunde's education didn't include what would happen the wedding night, but Aric is all too willing to teach his new bride everything she could ever want to know. Although they were pushed together under incredible circumstances they can't help but fall for the other.
When I read the summary of this story I felt like this would be full of laughs as Rosamunde fights with her husband at every turn and there are a lot of crazy misunderstandings between them, especially with the gaps in her education. At first that was exactly what I got and was pulled in easily as they spend their first night together. However, that lead me into several chapters of slow moving events and boring conversations.
There were moments when the danger the King was worried about would pop up and those were interesting, but only slightly. Within seconds of the first incident happening, I was able to figure out who was trying to hurt the main characters, even with all the red herrings floating about. This pulled me away from the story and I just wanted to get to the end.
While I expected Rosamunde to be strong-willed and defiant against her unwanted husband, I instead got an obedient wife. There were moments when she would show that defiance, but it was few and far-between. I was expecting her to be one way and she ended up another, which pulled me out of the story a bit.
Aric was kind of annoying as well. I can understand being wary of women after his last relationship ended with his girl cheating on him, but he automatically assumes that Rosamunde will be the same and continuously keeps comparing the two of them and punishing Rosamunde for the other woman's mistake. It went on for way too long in my opinion as I figured at some point he would realize that she wasn't the same without basically having to be told that, as he was several times.
Overall, I liked parts of the story, but found that I just didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I was able to figure out what the threat was pretty quickly and felt disconnected the longer the story went on. Don't think that I will listen to this story again, but I might pick it up and give it an actual read to see if maybe it improves the story. It will be a bit though.
I don't know if it was the way that the story was read or if was just the story itself, but there were moments that I felt really bored.
Rosamunde is the the king's bastard daughter, raised in a convent and ready to take the veil and become a nun. That was until her father declared she would marry Aric and she found herself promising to love, honor and obey. Rosamunde's education didn't include what would happen the wedding night, but Aric is all too willing to teach his new bride everything she could ever want to know. Although they were pushed together under incredible circumstances they can't help but fall for the other.
When I read the summary of this story I felt like this would be full of laughs as Rosamunde fights with her husband at every turn and there are a lot of crazy misunderstandings between them, especially with the gaps in her education. At first that was exactly what I got and was pulled in easily as they spend their first night together. However, that lead me into several chapters of slow moving events and boring conversations.
There were moments when the danger the King was worried about would pop up and those were interesting, but only slightly. Within seconds of the first incident happening, I was able to figure out who was trying to hurt the main characters, even with all the red herrings floating about. This pulled me away from the story and I just wanted to get to the end.
While I expected Rosamunde to be strong-willed and defiant against her unwanted husband, I instead got an obedient wife. There were moments when she would show that defiance, but it was few and far-between. I was expecting her to be one way and she ended up another, which pulled me out of the story a bit.
Aric was kind of annoying as well. I can understand being wary of women after his last relationship ended with his girl cheating on him, but he automatically assumes that Rosamunde will be the same and continuously keeps comparing the two of them and punishing Rosamunde for the other woman's mistake. It went on for way too long in my opinion as I figured at some point he would realize that she wasn't the same without basically having to be told that, as he was several times.
Overall, I liked parts of the story, but found that I just didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I was able to figure out what the threat was pretty quickly and felt disconnected the longer the story went on. Don't think that I will listen to this story again, but I might pick it up and give it an actual read to see if maybe it improves the story. It will be a bit though.
excel_spreadsheet_book_nerd's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
balletbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting historical idea, if Henry had just one child who didn't turn on him and she was the one he actually gave a care for....
winterreader40's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
A bride that was supposed to be a nun, a farting horse and a jealous hero.
The night before Rosamunde is to become a nun her father(the king) forces her to marry Aric instead, who just two days before broke his betrothal to his cheating ex.
Awkward is the best way to describe how this book starts, especially when a nun explains to our heroine how sex works, my jaw dropped a few times and the eye rolls where many, and then based on this terrible explanation and her impatience/embarrassment she forces the act and hurts herself. His awkwardness and embarrassment are just as intense, but he is immediately concerned and tries help her avoid hurting herself more.
Watching him be an over protective jerk got old before he started to learn but at least he did learn.
This was entertaining, not sure I'd read it again but it was a good one night/read stand.
A bride that was supposed to be a nun, a farting horse and a jealous hero.
The night before Rosamunde is to become a nun her father(the king) forces her to marry Aric instead, who just two days before broke his betrothal to his cheating ex.
Awkward is the best way to describe how this book starts, especially when a nun explains to our heroine how sex works, my jaw dropped a few times and the eye rolls where many, and then based on this terrible explanation and her impatience/embarrassment she forces the act and hurts herself. His awkwardness and embarrassment are just as intense, but he is immediately concerned and tries help her avoid hurting herself more.
Watching him be an over protective jerk got old before he started to learn but at least he did learn.
This was entertaining, not sure I'd read it again but it was a good one night/read stand.
kristid's review against another edition
2.0
I did the audio in this one which was wonderful. However I wasn’t really a fan of the story or the characters. If I’d had another audio book to listen to while cleaning I would have DNF this one.
michellesaidread's review against another edition
1.0
The hero is an idiot. How could an idiot be so trusted by the king?
I get that these stories are meant to be escapist, but please, an idiot hero is rediculous, even for this genre
I get that these stories are meant to be escapist, but please, an idiot hero is rediculous, even for this genre
scoutmomskf's review against another edition
5.0
Fun book, with the author's trademark humor and bit of intrigue to spice up the romance. Rosamunde has been raised at the convent and is just hours away from taking her vows when her father shows up. He is determined to marry her off and has brought the groom with him.
Aric had just ended his betrothal to a woman who was unfaithful. He's seriously considering remaining unmarried when the king arrives. The king won't take no for an answer and Aric soon finds himself married to the beautiful but innocent Rosamunde.
The first part of the book deals with the beginning of their marriage. Rosamunde is incredibly naive and the marriage instructions she received from the nuns were heavy on the anything to do with the marriage bed is sinful. The consummation scene, where they are rushed through it by her father, was awkward for both of them and set them up for more difficulties to come. The journey to their new home is an exercise in frustration for both of them. Aric feels badly about what he did and isn't sure how to fix it, plus doing it on the journey is just too awkward. He's attracted to her, and increasingly frustrated by his inability to do anything about it. Rosamunde has gone from a life of purpose, working with the convent's animals and other participation in convent life, to being allowed to do nothing. She's bored and frustrated and wondering just how miserable her future is going to be.
Once they reach their new home, Rosamunde's frustration continues to grow. Aric is busy learning the land and people, and is gone all day. Rosamunde was never taught about housekeeping matters and feels totally useless, especially since Aric won't even let her go to the stables to help with the animals. The arrival of his father and his friend Robert, along with Bishop Shrewsbury, brings some changes. The king has died and there is the possibility that Rosamunde is in danger. She has also reached the end of her patience and is determined to return to her work in the stables. There is a hysterical scene dealing with Aric's reaction to finding her there, and the compromise his father helps him find. This doesn't work out quite the way he intended and between the horse in the hall and her veterinary practice Aric is ready to blow. It takes his father, Robert and the bishop to calm him down in a scene that had me laughing out loud.
All of this does start to open Aric's eyes to the differences between Rosamunde and his former fiancee. He has been taking out his loss of trust in women on Rosamunde, who does not deserve it. I really enjoyed seeing him try to repair their relationship. This brings them back together physically, and Aric finally gets a chance for a re-do of the consummation, only to run into the roadblocks laid by the nuns and bishop. The chemistry between them is hot, and once Rosamunde gets a taste of passion she's all in. It was pretty sweet to see the two of them begin to actually get to know each other and the feelings between them grow.
But things are about to get really complicated. There have been several attacks on Rosamunde and Aric is determined to keep her safe and discover who is behind them. Unfortunately for him, she doesn't believe that she is in danger and resists all of Aric's attempts to protect her, setting up some very frustrating times for him. Called to London for Richard's coronation, there is yet another attack, this time on Aric. When they finally reach court, Aric believes he will finally be able to get at the truth. It's really interesting that it's through an unexpected encounter that Rosamunde discovers the truth. The final confrontation is intense and nervewracking as Aric and Rosamunde have to work together to end the threat. I loved seeing them finally come together with all their issues finally overcome.
Aric had just ended his betrothal to a woman who was unfaithful. He's seriously considering remaining unmarried when the king arrives. The king won't take no for an answer and Aric soon finds himself married to the beautiful but innocent Rosamunde.
The first part of the book deals with the beginning of their marriage. Rosamunde is incredibly naive and the marriage instructions she received from the nuns were heavy on the anything to do with the marriage bed is sinful. The consummation scene, where they are rushed through it by her father, was awkward for both of them and set them up for more difficulties to come. The journey to their new home is an exercise in frustration for both of them. Aric feels badly about what he did and isn't sure how to fix it, plus doing it on the journey is just too awkward. He's attracted to her, and increasingly frustrated by his inability to do anything about it. Rosamunde has gone from a life of purpose, working with the convent's animals and other participation in convent life, to being allowed to do nothing. She's bored and frustrated and wondering just how miserable her future is going to be.
Once they reach their new home, Rosamunde's frustration continues to grow. Aric is busy learning the land and people, and is gone all day. Rosamunde was never taught about housekeeping matters and feels totally useless, especially since Aric won't even let her go to the stables to help with the animals. The arrival of his father and his friend Robert, along with Bishop Shrewsbury, brings some changes. The king has died and there is the possibility that Rosamunde is in danger. She has also reached the end of her patience and is determined to return to her work in the stables. There is a hysterical scene dealing with Aric's reaction to finding her there, and the compromise his father helps him find. This doesn't work out quite the way he intended and between the horse in the hall and her veterinary practice Aric is ready to blow. It takes his father, Robert and the bishop to calm him down in a scene that had me laughing out loud.
All of this does start to open Aric's eyes to the differences between Rosamunde and his former fiancee. He has been taking out his loss of trust in women on Rosamunde, who does not deserve it. I really enjoyed seeing him try to repair their relationship. This brings them back together physically, and Aric finally gets a chance for a re-do of the consummation, only to run into the roadblocks laid by the nuns and bishop. The chemistry between them is hot, and once Rosamunde gets a taste of passion she's all in. It was pretty sweet to see the two of them begin to actually get to know each other and the feelings between them grow.
But things are about to get really complicated. There have been several attacks on Rosamunde and Aric is determined to keep her safe and discover who is behind them. Unfortunately for him, she doesn't believe that she is in danger and resists all of Aric's attempts to protect her, setting up some very frustrating times for him. Called to London for Richard's coronation, there is yet another attack, this time on Aric. When they finally reach court, Aric believes he will finally be able to get at the truth. It's really interesting that it's through an unexpected encounter that Rosamunde discovers the truth. The final confrontation is intense and nervewracking as Aric and Rosamunde have to work together to end the threat. I loved seeing them finally come together with all their issues finally overcome.