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Medieval Song #5
Rosehaven
From the #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR.
When heiress Hastings Trent is joined with warrior Severin Langthorne in marriage, she must uncover the mystery surrounding a secluded estate known as Rosehaven.
When heiress Hastings Trent is joined with warrior Severin Langthorne in marriage, she must uncover the mystery surrounding a secluded estate known as Rosehaven.
370 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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1,300 people want to read
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June 12, 2012
This is a historical romance of the bodice ripper variety. It's pretty epically bad.
I'd say something, but my brains leaked out of my ears due to all the "man's body" and the "flaccid man's rod hiding in the thick bush," so I'm probably going to have to wait on anything resembling coherent.
---
All right, so a real review of the book in question, now that it's been a night and the "badness" doesn't stick in my throat. When I checked this book out of the library I expected a historical fiction mystery with a bit of bad porn thrown in. The title, after all, is the name of a house which is held by the heroine's father under probably illicit circumstances and not discovered by the heroine until she's had time to "fall in love with" (i.e., have sex with) her husband.
Hastings' father is dying, and in order to protect his land and titles from mysterious people who are practically waiting outside his front door—er, gates—to pillage his daughter, he marries her off to the friend of a friend. The eager bridegroom's name is Severin. They meet, two hours later they're married, and just as the priest finishes the ceremony her father dies. Severin, being the ultra sensitive man he is, tells Hastings that he will give her a whole night to mourn her father before he comes to her bed.
Hastings doesn't have a particularly great relationship with her father, so this arrangement doesn't seem so bad to her. However, despite his promise, Severin comes to her room and they have sex. It's not enjoyable for her, but he's not a cad because he uses lube. [I wish that you could feel the sarcasm in my tone right now, I really do.] He then kindly gives her a four day reprieve because she's on her period and after one more night of humiliatingly bad and uncomfortable sex (again, he tells her that he's not an asshole because he used lube), Severin leaves. Hastings tells her maids/friends that he's a bad man because he humiliated her and forced himself on her, and they tell her that it's her fault because she should be nicer to him. She saved his life, how dare she, and she wounded his man's pride by nursing him back to health. The b*tch.
When Severin comes back from his trip, after a healthy amount of "well, okay, maybe I'm a dick, but she should STILL bow to me," he finds a changed Hastings waiting for him. She kisses his lips and laughs and generally acts happy, and for some reason this solves all their problems. They spend a healthy amount of the book falling all over each other in inappropriate places. His mother, who is crazy and being cared for by what is basically a castellan (Severin didn't have a castle, just a home, until he married Hastings and inherited her crap), escapes and they go to find her. She's being mistreated by the castellan, which angers Severin and Hastings, and they put her in their bedroom to keep her comfortable. They then have sex with his mother in the room.
Ew ew ew ew ew.
There is, at this "honeymoon phase," a lot of gloating by Severin about how he managed to "break" Hastings. Nevermind the fact that her change in demeanor happened while he was gone. Nevermind the fact that all she really did was indicate an interest in sex with him and he did the changing.
And then they get back to their home and one of Severin's old flames is there, Marjorie, who spends her time being a vicious harpy and trying to get Hastings killed so that she can marry Severin. Hastings gets jealous, because she's now in love with her husband, and he doesn't like her change in attitude so he decides he has to punish her. She says not to beat her because she's pregnant and he says she lies because Marjorie says she started her period. Hastings runs away, because she actually is pregnant and after he's thrown her over a horse and dragged her to a healer, he finally believes her. Still, he feels like he has to punish her—supposedly for defying his absolute authority, but really, it's because she's jealous and he doesn't like it—so he ties her to the dog and forces her to eat dinner there. I don't remember what ultimately happens to expose Marjorie as a giant homewrecker but finally that happens and Severin sends her away. [Oh wait, I remember. Hastings took her husband into the woods for some sexy time.]
90% through the book and they finally head to Rosehaven, Hastings' father's mysterious holding that the ENTIRE NOVEL IS NAMED AFTER. Severin tells Hastings that she should probably expect her father's mistress to be there, but what they find is that Hastings' mother (who was beaten to death before the book started because she committed adultery) was never really beaten to death at all and her father just hid her there and still went to visit every now and then to ease his man's needs or whatever. Marjorie and some other low-level baddie named Richard show up and after Hastings is thrown off a cliff, Severin realizes he loves her and that he can probably deal with her shouting at him when he's an ass if it means she's okay.
I'm just too cynical to enjoy romance novels, and I know this. But damn, it amused me. The title of the freaking book didn't show up until the end! I think what amused me the most was Severin, who was so unbelievably stupid it was unreal. "My seed is inside you, so nine months from now you will have a babe." And then when he finally believes she's pregnant he says "if you're pregnant then why is your belly still flat?" It's like he's a child. For the time period, I suppose I should be a little nicer, but on the other hand… he said he'd sired bastards, so surely he knows that it takes a few minutes?!
And the sex? Don't even get me started on the sex. There was SO MUCH BLOOD the first night. And of course she felt like his "man's rod" was surely, surely too big and when it was over she felt "cleaved in half." Apparently he was SO LARGE that she was physically unable to close her legs for at least half an hour. There was very explicit detail about his pubic hair (and you thought I was kidding about the bush comment). That's all well and good, but WHY do I care about his bush?! I don't. Whether it's there or not honestly makes zero difference to me. Does anyone find all the pube talk outrageously sexy?
This got three stars because if I had a "so bad it's good" shelf, this one would be on it. I actually did want to finish it, if only because I couldn't stop laughing at it.
I'd say something, but my brains leaked out of my ears due to all the "man's body" and the "flaccid man's rod hiding in the thick bush," so I'm probably going to have to wait on anything resembling coherent.
---
All right, so a real review of the book in question, now that it's been a night and the "badness" doesn't stick in my throat. When I checked this book out of the library I expected a historical fiction mystery with a bit of bad porn thrown in. The title, after all, is the name of a house which is held by the heroine's father under probably illicit circumstances and not discovered by the heroine until she's had time to "fall in love with" (i.e., have sex with) her husband.
Hastings' father is dying, and in order to protect his land and titles from mysterious people who are practically waiting outside his front door—er, gates—to pillage his daughter, he marries her off to the friend of a friend. The eager bridegroom's name is Severin. They meet, two hours later they're married, and just as the priest finishes the ceremony her father dies. Severin, being the ultra sensitive man he is, tells Hastings that he will give her a whole night to mourn her father before he comes to her bed.
Hastings doesn't have a particularly great relationship with her father, so this arrangement doesn't seem so bad to her. However, despite his promise, Severin comes to her room and they have sex. It's not enjoyable for her, but he's not a cad because he uses lube. [I wish that you could feel the sarcasm in my tone right now, I really do.] He then kindly gives her a four day reprieve because she's on her period and after one more night of humiliatingly bad and uncomfortable sex (again, he tells her that he's not an asshole because he used lube), Severin leaves. Hastings tells her maids/friends that he's a bad man because he humiliated her and forced himself on her, and they tell her that it's her fault because she should be nicer to him. She saved his life, how dare she, and she wounded his man's pride by nursing him back to health. The b*tch.
When Severin comes back from his trip, after a healthy amount of "well, okay, maybe I'm a dick, but she should STILL bow to me," he finds a changed Hastings waiting for him. She kisses his lips and laughs and generally acts happy, and for some reason this solves all their problems. They spend a healthy amount of the book falling all over each other in inappropriate places. His mother, who is crazy and being cared for by what is basically a castellan (Severin didn't have a castle, just a home, until he married Hastings and inherited her crap), escapes and they go to find her. She's being mistreated by the castellan, which angers Severin and Hastings, and they put her in their bedroom to keep her comfortable. They then have sex with his mother in the room.
Ew ew ew ew ew.
There is, at this "honeymoon phase," a lot of gloating by Severin about how he managed to "break" Hastings. Nevermind the fact that her change in demeanor happened while he was gone. Nevermind the fact that all she really did was indicate an interest in sex with him and he did the changing.
And then they get back to their home and one of Severin's old flames is there, Marjorie, who spends her time being a vicious harpy and trying to get Hastings killed so that she can marry Severin. Hastings gets jealous, because she's now in love with her husband, and he doesn't like her change in attitude so he decides he has to punish her. She says not to beat her because she's pregnant and he says she lies because Marjorie says she started her period. Hastings runs away, because she actually is pregnant and after he's thrown her over a horse and dragged her to a healer, he finally believes her. Still, he feels like he has to punish her—supposedly for defying his absolute authority, but really, it's because she's jealous and he doesn't like it—so he ties her to the dog and forces her to eat dinner there. I don't remember what ultimately happens to expose Marjorie as a giant homewrecker but finally that happens and Severin sends her away. [Oh wait, I remember. Hastings took her husband into the woods for some sexy time.]
90% through the book and they finally head to Rosehaven, Hastings' father's mysterious holding that the ENTIRE NOVEL IS NAMED AFTER. Severin tells Hastings that she should probably expect her father's mistress to be there, but what they find is that Hastings' mother (who was beaten to death before the book started because she committed adultery) was never really beaten to death at all and her father just hid her there and still went to visit every now and then to ease his man's needs or whatever. Marjorie and some other low-level baddie named Richard show up and after Hastings is thrown off a cliff, Severin realizes he loves her and that he can probably deal with her shouting at him when he's an ass if it means she's okay.
I'm just too cynical to enjoy romance novels, and I know this. But damn, it amused me. The title of the freaking book didn't show up until the end! I think what amused me the most was Severin, who was so unbelievably stupid it was unreal. "My seed is inside you, so nine months from now you will have a babe." And then when he finally believes she's pregnant he says "if you're pregnant then why is your belly still flat?" It's like he's a child. For the time period, I suppose I should be a little nicer, but on the other hand… he said he'd sired bastards, so surely he knows that it takes a few minutes?!
And the sex? Don't even get me started on the sex. There was SO MUCH BLOOD the first night. And of course she felt like his "man's rod" was surely, surely too big and when it was over she felt "cleaved in half." Apparently he was SO LARGE that she was physically unable to close her legs for at least half an hour. There was very explicit detail about his pubic hair (and you thought I was kidding about the bush comment). That's all well and good, but WHY do I care about his bush?! I don't. Whether it's there or not honestly makes zero difference to me. Does anyone find all the pube talk outrageously sexy?
This got three stars because if I had a "so bad it's good" shelf, this one would be on it. I actually did want to finish it, if only because I couldn't stop laughing at it.
January 21, 2023
Reread: 1/21/23
I'm playing a BINGO game for one of my groups. The category is H's with interesting pets, and this book just jumped into my head. The H keeps a white Marten in his tunic. Trist is beyond adorable! He'll come up out of the tunic to raise his paw or make a mewling sounds.
I'm glad I had an excuse to revist a CC classic. It's good to test my Bodice-rippers limits to keep from going too soft. 😉
Reread: 7/8/20
This is my favorite in the series. The H and h started out not being able to stand each other. When the h stops her shrewies' ways and makes an effort, the romance gets good. I enjoyed watching the couple fall in love. When the H's first love comes back into the picture, problems arise. Though, he doesn't cheat, he does pick the OW's side too often.
This can be read as a standalone!
I'm playing a BINGO game for one of my groups. The category is H's with interesting pets, and this book just jumped into my head. The H keeps a white Marten in his tunic. Trist is beyond adorable! He'll come up out of the tunic to raise his paw or make a mewling sounds.
I'm glad I had an excuse to revist a CC classic. It's good to test my Bodice-rippers limits to keep from going too soft. 😉
Reread: 7/8/20
This is my favorite in the series. The H and h started out not being able to stand each other. When the h stops her shrewies' ways and makes an effort, the romance gets good. I enjoyed watching the couple fall in love. When the H's first love comes back into the picture, problems arise. Though, he doesn't cheat, he does pick the OW's side too often.
This can be read as a standalone!
October 25, 2011
The reviewer sat down solemnly contemplating each and every tangent in front of her,wich letter should she start with? It seemed an impossible task far beyond her vast knowledge of words,yet she knew it to be her duty.She tossed back her tousled and luxurious mane of hair in a impatient gesture.
She sat still as the burning day plummeted into the nights shadows...wanting to attend to her writing a rewiew. A review she harbored a great need to write..but a need that scared her. Yet she felt pulled towards it with the fervor of the tantalizing unknown.
Her dislike of the book grew and grew,lightening a fire in her mind to right the unjustice she had suffered in wasting her time on a book so greatly insufficient to her reading.She had not been able to believe her widening clear eyes,like a quiet magical pond,as she followed the words down the page.
... and this is how Rosehaven is written.Overly melodramatic with a too perfect heroine and a too imperfect hero. Maybe it was written in the 1970s-80s (the age of the ripped bodice) I thought. But not it states clearly it was published in 1997 Bodice ripper romances can be fun (in a guilty way) to read..this...was just painful.
She sat still as the burning day plummeted into the nights shadows...wanting to attend to her writing a rewiew. A review she harbored a great need to write..but a need that scared her. Yet she felt pulled towards it with the fervor of the tantalizing unknown.
Her dislike of the book grew and grew,lightening a fire in her mind to right the unjustice she had suffered in wasting her time on a book so greatly insufficient to her reading.She had not been able to believe her widening clear eyes,like a quiet magical pond,as she followed the words down the page.
... and this is how Rosehaven is written.Overly melodramatic with a too perfect heroine and a too imperfect hero. Maybe it was written in the 1970s-80s (the age of the ripped bodice) I thought. But not it states clearly it was published in 1997 Bodice ripper romances can be fun (in a guilty way) to read..this...was just painful.
December 5, 2017
Dear Reader,
Please don't read this book.
I don't usually write reviews but I'm taking the time to write out all the reasons why I hated this book. Hated it. I hated this book so much.
This was the second book I read by the author, the first containing zero rape. No rape at all. It was a bad book, but the heroine wasn't repeatedly raped by the hero. They got along quite well, and had some lively banter. The plot was terrible, but it wasn't the worst book I have ever read by a long shot. I should've read the reviews for this one, but I didn't, and that was my mistake. So here I am telling you, don't make the same mistake I did. Don't read this book. Just don't do it.
I honestly felt like I was being Punk'd reading this book. I'm reading along, already in utter disbelief of the plot. Then I get to it. That part. The guy just tied his wife to the dog and made her eat dinner on the floor while the entire castle watches. TWICE. Where are the cameras? Is Ashton Kutcher going to pop out of my closet?? What is going on here???
And I haven't even started on the raping. Was dubcon a thing yet in 1996? The heroine is raped and abused and humiliated, all in the name of ~~~historical accuracy~~~ but I have a bone to pick with that excuse. Is this a kink that I'm not aware of? Do people like to read about absolutely deplorable ~historical~ characters that are terrible in every way? That wasn't rhetorical, I would like an answer to that one. "You know how women in ye olden tymes were sometimes treated poorly and held as property? Like, ramp that up to eleven." Okay, but women who read these types of novels in the first place are generally learned about the eras, and are looking for creative ways in which to tell stories with a historical backdrop. "Did I fucking stutter? I'm throwing in an extra rape scene, just because you said that."
I hated this book. None of the plot points mattered. Who cared about the mom and sisters or the jealous ""other woman"" or the healer's cat, or any other stupid plot points. Why do all of the characters get happy endings when no one deserved any. What was the point of any of this? Nothing mattered. Characters came and went. Things happened. But I didn't care. I usually can find some solace in bad books, through the characters or writing style. This book held nothing for me. A soulless manuscript, looming deadline, and an upcoming mortgage check all culminated into this monstrosity of a novel.
This book was hot garbage, please don't read it.
Please don't read this book.
I don't usually write reviews but I'm taking the time to write out all the reasons why I hated this book. Hated it. I hated this book so much.
This was the second book I read by the author, the first containing zero rape. No rape at all. It was a bad book, but the heroine wasn't repeatedly raped by the hero. They got along quite well, and had some lively banter. The plot was terrible, but it wasn't the worst book I have ever read by a long shot. I should've read the reviews for this one, but I didn't, and that was my mistake. So here I am telling you, don't make the same mistake I did. Don't read this book. Just don't do it.
I honestly felt like I was being Punk'd reading this book. I'm reading along, already in utter disbelief of the plot. Then I get to it. That part. The guy just tied his wife to the dog and made her eat dinner on the floor while the entire castle watches. TWICE. Where are the cameras? Is Ashton Kutcher going to pop out of my closet?? What is going on here???
And I haven't even started on the raping. Was dubcon a thing yet in 1996? The heroine is raped and abused and humiliated, all in the name of ~~~historical accuracy~~~ but I have a bone to pick with that excuse. Is this a kink that I'm not aware of? Do people like to read about absolutely deplorable ~historical~ characters that are terrible in every way? That wasn't rhetorical, I would like an answer to that one. "You know how women in ye olden tymes were sometimes treated poorly and held as property? Like, ramp that up to eleven." Okay, but women who read these types of novels in the first place are generally learned about the eras, and are looking for creative ways in which to tell stories with a historical backdrop. "Did I fucking stutter? I'm throwing in an extra rape scene, just because you said that."
I hated this book. None of the plot points mattered. Who cared about the mom and sisters or the jealous ""other woman"" or the healer's cat, or any other stupid plot points. Why do all of the characters get happy endings when no one deserved any. What was the point of any of this? Nothing mattered. Characters came and went. Things happened. But I didn't care. I usually can find some solace in bad books, through the characters or writing style. This book held nothing for me. A soulless manuscript, looming deadline, and an upcoming mortgage check all culminated into this monstrosity of a novel.
This book was hot garbage, please don't read it.
July 26, 2012
I have enjoyed some of Coulter's Regency romance, and even some of her medieval romances. This book feels like it fell out of a time machine from the age of rapetastic romance novels. And yet...it was apparently published in the late 1990s.
It starts out with marital rape, and not even the bodice-ripping kind where the heroine gets into it, just cold, degrading, painful marital rape (she does, technically, kind of consent at one point, but given that her consent is in no way free and was irrelevant to her husband, that doesn't mitigate anything in my mind).
So far I'm not seeing any way the male character (I refuse to call him a hero) can redeem himself from that; and given that the heroine's 'uncle figure' himself starts out another book by coldly raping the heroine's friend in front of her, and then in the following book gets to be a 'very bad boy' hero himself, I must conclude that Coulter's 'very bad boy' is my 'abusive rapist,' and bow out.
Coulter's writing is fairly good, and her research is not glaringly awful, although I think many historical novelists tend to vastly oversell the brutality and sexism of the past (not that it was all egalitarian roses, but I think there's still a lot of ramping it up to either give the heroine more to overcome or because inequality is the author's kink). But pretty much the only good part of this book is the unrealistic but adorable marten. However for me, unlike the heroine, the fact that the man has a cute pet doesn't really mitigate his abusive nature.
So, you know, if rapist heroes are your kink, this is a fairly well-written novel! If they're not, I'd recommend giving it a pass.
It starts out with marital rape, and not even the bodice-ripping kind where the heroine gets into it, just cold, degrading, painful marital rape (she does, technically, kind of consent at one point, but given that her consent is in no way free and was irrelevant to her husband, that doesn't mitigate anything in my mind).
So far I'm not seeing any way the male character (I refuse to call him a hero) can redeem himself from that; and given that the heroine's 'uncle figure' himself starts out another book by coldly raping the heroine's friend in front of her, and then in the following book gets to be a 'very bad boy' hero himself, I must conclude that Coulter's 'very bad boy' is my 'abusive rapist,' and bow out.
Coulter's writing is fairly good, and her research is not glaringly awful, although I think many historical novelists tend to vastly oversell the brutality and sexism of the past (not that it was all egalitarian roses, but I think there's still a lot of ramping it up to either give the heroine more to overcome or because inequality is the author's kink). But pretty much the only good part of this book is the unrealistic but adorable marten. However for me, unlike the heroine, the fact that the man has a cute pet doesn't really mitigate his abusive nature.
So, you know, if rapist heroes are your kink, this is a fairly well-written novel! If they're not, I'd recommend giving it a pass.
March 18, 2021
Vanilla91 - per RFS
.
Se si ha voglia di fare un salto nell’Inghilterra del 1277, il romanzo Imparare l’amore, di Catherine Coulter, può essere una piacevole scelta.
I protagonisti sono Hastings e Severin, costretti a sposarsi al loro primo incontro per decisione del padre morente di lei. Riuscire a convivere non è facile, soprattutto se si hanno caratteri tanto diversi. Severin vorrebbe una donna docile e ubbidiente, Hastings, invece, ha un carattere fiero ed è stanca di essere considerata solo per la sua “dote di ereditiera”.
Tra battibecchi e sfuriate, i due impareranno una lezione che va al di là di epoche e ruoli: il compromesso, il rispetto e la scelta di aprirsi l’uno all’altra sono i mattoni più solidi su cui costruire un nuovo rapporto.
Lo stile narrativo dell’autrice è veloce e fluido, non ci sono ripetizioni inutili, e i colpi di scena riescono a mantenere viva l’attenzione e la curiosità del lettore.
Ho trovato un po’ carente, invece, la caratterizzazione dei personaggi. Severin ha un tempo di maturazione eccessivamente lento, spesso le sue scelte fanno storcere il naso, sono forti e quasi brutali (seppur in linea con i tempi in cui il romanzo è ambientato). La protagonista femminile è, in alcuni momenti, contraddittoria negli atteggiamenti: passa dall’essere indomita all’eccessiva sottomissione in punti della storia in cui avrei apprezzato una maggiore fierezza e fermezza.
Tuttavia, la lettura resta piacevole. Il sentimento non manca e si evolve in tempi giusti e non improvvisi. È un romanzo che mi sento di consigliare a chi ama questo genere.
.
Se si ha voglia di fare un salto nell’Inghilterra del 1277, il romanzo Imparare l’amore, di Catherine Coulter, può essere una piacevole scelta.
I protagonisti sono Hastings e Severin, costretti a sposarsi al loro primo incontro per decisione del padre morente di lei. Riuscire a convivere non è facile, soprattutto se si hanno caratteri tanto diversi. Severin vorrebbe una donna docile e ubbidiente, Hastings, invece, ha un carattere fiero ed è stanca di essere considerata solo per la sua “dote di ereditiera”.
Tra battibecchi e sfuriate, i due impareranno una lezione che va al di là di epoche e ruoli: il compromesso, il rispetto e la scelta di aprirsi l’uno all’altra sono i mattoni più solidi su cui costruire un nuovo rapporto.
Lo stile narrativo dell’autrice è veloce e fluido, non ci sono ripetizioni inutili, e i colpi di scena riescono a mantenere viva l’attenzione e la curiosità del lettore.
Ho trovato un po’ carente, invece, la caratterizzazione dei personaggi. Severin ha un tempo di maturazione eccessivamente lento, spesso le sue scelte fanno storcere il naso, sono forti e quasi brutali (seppur in linea con i tempi in cui il romanzo è ambientato). La protagonista femminile è, in alcuni momenti, contraddittoria negli atteggiamenti: passa dall’essere indomita all’eccessiva sottomissione in punti della storia in cui avrei apprezzato una maggiore fierezza e fermezza.
Tuttavia, la lettura resta piacevole. Il sentimento non manca e si evolve in tempi giusti e non improvvisi. È un romanzo che mi sento di consigliare a chi ama questo genere.
February 9, 2017
I don't know why this book was given low rates by many readers...
I started reading medieval HR books just a few months back...until now, I've read so many of HR books but this one is still my most favourite book of all. This book earned reread so many times that I spent one whole week just for this one. No other book challenge this one so far.
I am a reader who look for not just good/steamy storyline but also for how the story been told. Severine may looked like he rape Hasting but you can feel and understand why he did that. The author managed to make us feel Severine's emotions over what happened to him, his feelings towards their marriage, his expectations on his bride and to their people. You can also feel Hasting's emotions on his husband and why Hasting insisted on changing her attitude towards Severine to make their marriage really works.
When Marjorie came and threaten to destroy their marriage, you will immediately hate her and you will find why Severine think to bed Marjorie, but in the end he didn't when at the same time he realized and understand his actual feeling to Marjorie and that he actually love his wife and saw Marjorie's bad sides.
You see, this book was written to interact with its readers. All scenes were beautifully told that you blend with the characters and the book. The hero was a young alpha, the heroin was not-overly-beautiful maiden but with good heart, very positive-minded and strong-will. Each scenario were explained very well, the fact that the story started after they got married was what I loved most.
I think this book was carefully written, beautifully with almost no flashback so the storyline was very smooth. It was in three month's period and you will now what happen almost everyday during that period.
Thanks to this author, I have such a wonderful reading journey. :-)
I started reading medieval HR books just a few months back...until now, I've read so many of HR books but this one is still my most favourite book of all. This book earned reread so many times that I spent one whole week just for this one. No other book challenge this one so far.
I am a reader who look for not just good/steamy storyline but also for how the story been told. Severine may looked like he rape Hasting but you can feel and understand why he did that. The author managed to make us feel Severine's emotions over what happened to him, his feelings towards their marriage, his expectations on his bride and to their people. You can also feel Hasting's emotions on his husband and why Hasting insisted on changing her attitude towards Severine to make their marriage really works.
When Marjorie came and threaten to destroy their marriage, you will immediately hate her and you will find why Severine think to bed Marjorie, but in the end he didn't when at the same time he realized and understand his actual feeling to Marjorie and that he actually love his wife and saw Marjorie's bad sides.
You see, this book was written to interact with its readers. All scenes were beautifully told that you blend with the characters and the book. The hero was a young alpha, the heroin was not-overly-beautiful maiden but with good heart, very positive-minded and strong-will. Each scenario were explained very well, the fact that the story started after they got married was what I loved most.
I think this book was carefully written, beautifully with almost no flashback so the storyline was very smooth. It was in three month's period and you will now what happen almost everyday during that period.
Thanks to this author, I have such a wonderful reading journey. :-)
Read
August 28, 2014What. The. Fudge????
'Severin doesn't smile, he looks capable of cruelty, he inspires fear. Then a marten appears over the top of his tunic.
Now, who can be afraid of a man who carries a marten in his tunic?
(What is a marten, you ask? A marten is a sable; a sable is a weasel. What is a weasel, you ask. See marten.)'
This dude carries a weasel in his jacket. no more should be said about this book.
'Severin doesn't smile, he looks capable of cruelty, he inspires fear. Then a marten appears over the top of his tunic.
Now, who can be afraid of a man who carries a marten in his tunic?
(What is a marten, you ask? A marten is a sable; a sable is a weasel. What is a weasel, you ask. See marten.)'
This dude carries a weasel in his jacket. no more should be said about this book.
July 1, 2009
Ugh, that is the last Catherine Coulter book I ever want to read. I don't care for the same "Virgin gets married and has to discover all the ways in which a man-of-the-world knows how to give her pleasure" plot with the "I am a man and can do whatever I want" thrown in there. Bleh.
May 9, 2020
Medieval misogynist piffle. If you like flowery wording; unrealistic headstrong heroines; and knuckle dragging heroes who like taking their wives against their will - you might enjoy this. Audible narration drives it over the top! I think this is my first and last by Catherine Coulter.
Want to read
December 28, 2021I'm floundering here. I don't really understand what this book is about and I've lost interest. I'll come back to it though, just not in the mood to figure it out.
October 2, 2016
http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...
After reading Jill Sorenson’s blog about “Dangerous Fantasies”, I checked my Goodreads list to see if I had read Catherine Coulter’s Rosehaven. I did not have it listed among the books I have read, so I decided to find a copy and see what Ms. Sorenson saw in this book. About thirty pages in, I realized I had already read it. The pet martin struck my memory chord, but also made me realize why I overlooked reading this book. First published in 1996, it reads more like a 1980s romance to me and I do not believe it has stood the test of time.
Hastings Trent is the only child of the Earl of Oxborough who is dying. Oxborough is a very wealthy holding and Hasting’s father wants to see her safely wed before he dies, especially since a despicable neighbor has his eye on both Hastings and Oxborough. His choice for his son-in-law is Severin of Langthorne who must agree to add the Trent name to his title when he marries. Severin’s estate in France has been ravished and he needs the wealth of Oxborough to save his lands and people. He almost balks at changing his name, but decides to go through with the marriage.
Hastings is impetuous and a bit of a brat. She has been allowed to run wild because she reminded her father too much of her mother whose father beat her to death for infidelity. She doesn’t really want to get married, but hey…it is the Middle Ages and she doesn’t have a choice. Severin seems better than the alternative. With the wicked neighbor trying to steal Hastings for himself, Severin knows he has to consummate the married very quickly. What follows is marital rape using lotion to smooth the way. Hastings is not pleased with her lot. The only thing that allows her to hold out hope that her husband is not a brutal man with no feelings is his love for his pet marten/weasel. Any man with a marten for a pet cannot be all bad…right?
Severin knows that a wife should be submissive, sexually accommodating and obedient. That is all he wants and when he discovers that Hastings is none of the above, he gets angry. Majorie, his one true love, was beautiful and had all of the qualities he desired in a wife. When she married an older baron because Severin was merely a second son, he became disillusioned with women. His journey to the Holy Land made him hard. Hastings’ feelings or comfort matter not to him and their marriage begins on a very rocky foundation.
Hastings finally takes the advice of two of her older female servants and tries to bring some harmony to her new marriage. This advice is to sexually manipulate her husband. It works and Hastings and Severin begin to enjoy the physical aspects of their marriage bed. That is until exquisitely beautiful Majorie returns from Severin’s past. Hastings then becomes a jealous shrew and once again the marriage flounders.
Severin has reason to be the hard man Hastings meets and the medieval setting gives authenticity to the unequal relationship between Severin and his wife. But…even though there is a HEA, it is very hard to forgive marital rape no matter what the setting, and there was too little change in Severin’s character for me to believe in his redemption. When a hero has acted despicably toward the heroine, I need serious groveling and character change to believe he is worthy of the title. That did not happen it this book in my opinion. But oddly enough, I still liked Severin better than I did Hastings. She was very juvenile in her behavior and resorted to physical violence against her husband when angered. The change in her behavior was not motivated by a change in character, but by a means to control and manipulate her husband. Given the time setting of this story, that might have been the only method of some women retaining some control in their lives, but I also never really saw Hastings grow as a character either.
Medieval romances remain among my favorite of the historical romance genre, but in the future when I re-read an older medieval romance, I will probably seek out Madeline Hunter or Elizabeth Hoyt for my fix.
After reading Jill Sorenson’s blog about “Dangerous Fantasies”, I checked my Goodreads list to see if I had read Catherine Coulter’s Rosehaven. I did not have it listed among the books I have read, so I decided to find a copy and see what Ms. Sorenson saw in this book. About thirty pages in, I realized I had already read it. The pet martin struck my memory chord, but also made me realize why I overlooked reading this book. First published in 1996, it reads more like a 1980s romance to me and I do not believe it has stood the test of time.
Hastings Trent is the only child of the Earl of Oxborough who is dying. Oxborough is a very wealthy holding and Hasting’s father wants to see her safely wed before he dies, especially since a despicable neighbor has his eye on both Hastings and Oxborough. His choice for his son-in-law is Severin of Langthorne who must agree to add the Trent name to his title when he marries. Severin’s estate in France has been ravished and he needs the wealth of Oxborough to save his lands and people. He almost balks at changing his name, but decides to go through with the marriage.
Hastings is impetuous and a bit of a brat. She has been allowed to run wild because she reminded her father too much of her mother whose father beat her to death for infidelity. She doesn’t really want to get married, but hey…it is the Middle Ages and she doesn’t have a choice. Severin seems better than the alternative. With the wicked neighbor trying to steal Hastings for himself, Severin knows he has to consummate the married very quickly. What follows is marital rape using lotion to smooth the way. Hastings is not pleased with her lot. The only thing that allows her to hold out hope that her husband is not a brutal man with no feelings is his love for his pet marten/weasel. Any man with a marten for a pet cannot be all bad…right?
Severin knows that a wife should be submissive, sexually accommodating and obedient. That is all he wants and when he discovers that Hastings is none of the above, he gets angry. Majorie, his one true love, was beautiful and had all of the qualities he desired in a wife. When she married an older baron because Severin was merely a second son, he became disillusioned with women. His journey to the Holy Land made him hard. Hastings’ feelings or comfort matter not to him and their marriage begins on a very rocky foundation.
Hastings finally takes the advice of two of her older female servants and tries to bring some harmony to her new marriage. This advice is to sexually manipulate her husband. It works and Hastings and Severin begin to enjoy the physical aspects of their marriage bed. That is until exquisitely beautiful Majorie returns from Severin’s past. Hastings then becomes a jealous shrew and once again the marriage flounders.
Severin has reason to be the hard man Hastings meets and the medieval setting gives authenticity to the unequal relationship between Severin and his wife. But…even though there is a HEA, it is very hard to forgive marital rape no matter what the setting, and there was too little change in Severin’s character for me to believe in his redemption. When a hero has acted despicably toward the heroine, I need serious groveling and character change to believe he is worthy of the title. That did not happen it this book in my opinion. But oddly enough, I still liked Severin better than I did Hastings. She was very juvenile in her behavior and resorted to physical violence against her husband when angered. The change in her behavior was not motivated by a change in character, but by a means to control and manipulate her husband. Given the time setting of this story, that might have been the only method of some women retaining some control in their lives, but I also never really saw Hastings grow as a character either.
Medieval romances remain among my favorite of the historical romance genre, but in the future when I re-read an older medieval romance, I will probably seek out Madeline Hunter or Elizabeth Hoyt for my fix.
May 13, 2013
Why was this book called Rosehaven? That is the eternal mystery that shrouds Catherine Coulter's novel and never is quite resolved. Why should the reader care about this elusive Rosehaven when clearly the characters themselves don't care? Do we ever actually travel to Rosehaven? Well, I don't know because I skipped so much of the last 3rd of the book, I couldn't tell you. But I know if Rosehaven appears, it does so for about 2 pages before fading back into the mist like a reformed whore that Coulter writes so often.
Speaking of, this is the third or fourth Coulter book I've read where there is some cartoonishly evil women trying to seduce the hero and/or kill the heroine. Then magically, she has a change of heart, marries the hero's man-at-arms and goes happily on her way.
Main gripe of the book is pretty much the gripe of every Coulter reader. The hero's bipolar behavior toward the heroine. One minute he's gentle, kind, protective...the next he's chaining her to a dog. Yes, that's right. Severin ties Hastings to a dog while they all eat dinner to humiliate her. Why? Reasons are never sufficiently explained. She is disrespectful of her husband. Hey listen I get it. This is medieval times. Wives are property. But if the hero is going to act like a d*ck, please give us a reason.
Hastings. Yet another female who is terrified of sex. Why? Because she's an innocent! She's young! But she doth protest too much. Severin was hot (I think. More on that below). She should have been down on her knees thanking the Sun God or whatever they worshiped that she wasn't forced to sleep with the medieval version of John Wayne Gacy. I mean come on. Enough with the kicking and screaming. Marriages must be consummated.
By the way, what do these characters look like? We get vivid descriptions of Marjorie (villain) and her silvery hair. But what on earth do Severin and Hastings look like? Very vague on the descriptions. The whole point of romance novels is to hear how the characters have "stormy black eyes", "sculpted cheekbones", and "delicate collarbone". WTH Catherine Coulter? These two could have been mannequins in a shop for all the descriptions we get.
Best part of the book? The little mink (marten) named Trist. When he almost died, I was quite upset. That's how much more engaging he was than the hero and heroine.
I think this is the last Coulter I'll be reading for awhile. Devil's Embrace stands alone as just hilariously over-the-top. But these medieval ones tend to get real tedious, real quick.
Speaking of, this is the third or fourth Coulter book I've read where there is some cartoonishly evil women trying to seduce the hero and/or kill the heroine. Then magically, she has a change of heart, marries the hero's man-at-arms and goes happily on her way.
Main gripe of the book is pretty much the gripe of every Coulter reader. The hero's bipolar behavior toward the heroine. One minute he's gentle, kind, protective...the next he's chaining her to a dog. Yes, that's right. Severin ties Hastings to a dog while they all eat dinner to humiliate her. Why? Reasons are never sufficiently explained. She is disrespectful of her husband. Hey listen I get it. This is medieval times. Wives are property. But if the hero is going to act like a d*ck, please give us a reason.
Hastings. Yet another female who is terrified of sex. Why? Because she's an innocent! She's young! But she doth protest too much. Severin was hot (I think. More on that below). She should have been down on her knees thanking the Sun God or whatever they worshiped that she wasn't forced to sleep with the medieval version of John Wayne Gacy. I mean come on. Enough with the kicking and screaming. Marriages must be consummated.
By the way, what do these characters look like? We get vivid descriptions of Marjorie (villain) and her silvery hair. But what on earth do Severin and Hastings look like? Very vague on the descriptions. The whole point of romance novels is to hear how the characters have "stormy black eyes", "sculpted cheekbones", and "delicate collarbone". WTH Catherine Coulter? These two could have been mannequins in a shop for all the descriptions we get.
Best part of the book? The little mink (marten) named Trist. When he almost died, I was quite upset. That's how much more engaging he was than the hero and heroine.
I think this is the last Coulter I'll be reading for awhile. Devil's Embrace stands alone as just hilariously over-the-top. But these medieval ones tend to get real tedious, real quick.
February 28, 2008
Come back to England in the year 1277 and meet Hastings of Trent and Severin of Langthorne, two strangers joined in marriage. Hastings is an heiress and Severin is the warrior whom the dying Earl of Oxborough has selected to assume his title, properties, possessions, and his daughter. It is Severin's duty to sire children, to bring strong new blood to the line, and keep Oxborough powerful.
Hastings thinks he's cold-blooded, severe, merciless. Severin doesn't smile, he looks capable of cruelty, he inspires fear. Then a marten appears over the top of his tunic.
Now, who can be afraid of a man who carries a marten in his tunic?
(What is a marten, you ask? A marten is a sable; a sable is a weasel. What is a weasel, you ask. See marten.)
As for Hastings, Severin believes she should be obedient, submissive, malleable. She should speak softly and do whatever he wants, immediately.
Both are in for a surprise.
Sweeping you through this medieval adventure are the and other richly drawn characters, among them Gilbert the goat and Alfred the Healer's cat. And of course, there is Trist, the marten, perhaps the most richly drawn of all. And what, you will ask, is this mysterious place called Rosehaven?
Catherine Coulter is an author I loved back in the 80s but has not stood the test of time for me. Most of her characters are despicable and the women doormats and whiney. Nonetheless I acknowedge that she is a fine writer but just not my taste anymore.
Hastings thinks he's cold-blooded, severe, merciless. Severin doesn't smile, he looks capable of cruelty, he inspires fear. Then a marten appears over the top of his tunic.
Now, who can be afraid of a man who carries a marten in his tunic?
(What is a marten, you ask? A marten is a sable; a sable is a weasel. What is a weasel, you ask. See marten.)
As for Hastings, Severin believes she should be obedient, submissive, malleable. She should speak softly and do whatever he wants, immediately.
Both are in for a surprise.
Sweeping you through this medieval adventure are the and other richly drawn characters, among them Gilbert the goat and Alfred the Healer's cat. And of course, there is Trist, the marten, perhaps the most richly drawn of all. And what, you will ask, is this mysterious place called Rosehaven?
Catherine Coulter is an author I loved back in the 80s but has not stood the test of time for me. Most of her characters are despicable and the women doormats and whiney. Nonetheless I acknowedge that she is a fine writer but just not my taste anymore.
May 25, 2016
I must have read 2-3 book before finishing this. I finished it because it goes against me to leave a book unfinished if I can help it.
Severin is a bully. And for lack of better word, a rapist. I get that it is sort of how people acted in those times but I expected him to have some measure of control and honour.
Hastings was good enough but she didn't stay true to herself. I liked her better when she had spunk but she was ready to be a wallflower just to make Severin happy.
The story in itself was too linear. The only intrigue was the bad guy "De Luci" not dying when we thought he did. And it was made worse with no explanation about how he survived.
And Rosehaven, the title of the novel had no impact on the story. Anything about it was done and dusted in 1-2 chapters.
Nope, I didn't enjoy this book.
Severin is a bully. And for lack of better word, a rapist. I get that it is sort of how people acted in those times but I expected him to have some measure of control and honour.
Hastings was good enough but she didn't stay true to herself. I liked her better when she had spunk but she was ready to be a wallflower just to make Severin happy.
The story in itself was too linear. The only intrigue was the bad guy "De Luci" not dying when we thought he did. And it was made worse with no explanation about how he survived.
And Rosehaven, the title of the novel had no impact on the story. Anything about it was done and dusted in 1-2 chapters.
Nope, I didn't enjoy this book.
June 16, 2020
I enjoyed the book and liked the characters but I found it more of a 'cute' read than a real medieval story. The animals made it more like a fantasy - Gilbert the goat (who gave milk - maybe it was a she with a male name?) Trist who acted almost human and if I read the word 'mewled' one more time I thought I would drop the book - I think it was on every second page. And the healer's big cat - again, almost human. I'm an animal lover and I know animals have a way of getting what they want from us, but this was extreme.
Rosehaven, when they got there, seemed to be somewhat irrelevant to the whole story.
Anyway, I did enjoy the book and it was a fun read.
Rosehaven, when they got there, seemed to be somewhat irrelevant to the whole story.
Anyway, I did enjoy the book and it was a fun read.
February 20, 2021
Per fortuna mi sono accinta alla lettura di questo romanzo vecchiotto senza dare neppure un'occhiata ad altre recensioni, e così sono riuscita ad arrivare (facilmente, peraltro) in fondo senza alcun pregiudizio.
Allora, prima di tutto un applauso all'autrice per come ha sviluppato l'ambientazione: il romanzo si colloca nell'Inghilterra del 1277 (appena duecento anni dopo l'arrivo di Guglielmo I in terra d'Albione e mentre gli stati europei sono ancora coinvolti nella nona Crociata, quella, per intenderci che si concluse con la perdita di S. Giovanni d'Acri e la fine delle lotte in Terrasanta); ci viene offerto pertanto un medioevo spesso brutto, spesso sporco, quasi sempre ignorante e pure malevolo, dove terre e vassalli vengono distribuiti a seconda del favore del sovrano e possono essere già perduti con la generazione successiva, se non ci sono eredi e abbastanza truppe per difendere i castelli dai baroni confinanti.
Dunque, quello che viene prospettato all'inizio è un quadro non roseo, certo, ma pur sempre realistico.
Inutile dire che non ci si può lamentare se i rapporti personali sono improntati (come invece avveniva) all'insegna di una comune violenza o se il protagonista appare politicamente scorretto: stiamo parlando di un romanzo di genere romantico, vero, ma pur sempre storico. Non ci possiamo aspettare una sorta di storico fantasy, dove tutto si risolve sempre a colpi di sorriso (o, peggio, di istant-love).
Il padre di Hastings muore senza eredi: era normale che lei venisse data come "merce di scambio" a un altro nobile per unire i due feudi, ed era più che normale che Severin si aspettasse una moglie sconosciuta, ma docile e obbediente, con il compito precipuo di generare un figlio.
Sì, i due non si innamorano al primo sguardo; sì, passano metà libro ad azzuffarsi; sì, forse c'è poco romanticismo e le donne non se la passano bene. Ma l'epoca è quella, punto; altri periodi si prestano forse di più a trame con balli, picnic e corse in carrozza.
Al contrario, qui forse Hastings è addirittura troppo moderna nell'essere così istruita, nel pretendere rispetto e nel saper usare segreti di erboristeria per medicamenti e intrugli vari.
Nel complesso, il libro mi è piaciuto (molto) sino a tre quarti: personaggi interessanti, vicenda ricca e piena di inghippi.
Personalmente avrei terminato con la scoperta di Rosehaven (e non è uno spoiler, ma il titolo originale!): gli ultimi capitoli sono più frettolosi e pasticciati, dunque meno incisivi.
PS. Severin il serioso ha la pazienza di un santo; tutta la mia forte simpatia per lui, anche solo per le scenette con Trist.
Allora, prima di tutto un applauso all'autrice per come ha sviluppato l'ambientazione: il romanzo si colloca nell'Inghilterra del 1277 (appena duecento anni dopo l'arrivo di Guglielmo I in terra d'Albione e mentre gli stati europei sono ancora coinvolti nella nona Crociata, quella, per intenderci che si concluse con la perdita di S. Giovanni d'Acri e la fine delle lotte in Terrasanta); ci viene offerto pertanto un medioevo spesso brutto, spesso sporco, quasi sempre ignorante e pure malevolo, dove terre e vassalli vengono distribuiti a seconda del favore del sovrano e possono essere già perduti con la generazione successiva, se non ci sono eredi e abbastanza truppe per difendere i castelli dai baroni confinanti.
Dunque, quello che viene prospettato all'inizio è un quadro non roseo, certo, ma pur sempre realistico.
Inutile dire che non ci si può lamentare se i rapporti personali sono improntati (come invece avveniva) all'insegna di una comune violenza o se il protagonista appare politicamente scorretto: stiamo parlando di un romanzo di genere romantico, vero, ma pur sempre storico. Non ci possiamo aspettare una sorta di storico fantasy, dove tutto si risolve sempre a colpi di sorriso (o, peggio, di istant-love).
Il padre di Hastings muore senza eredi: era normale che lei venisse data come "merce di scambio" a un altro nobile per unire i due feudi, ed era più che normale che Severin si aspettasse una moglie sconosciuta, ma docile e obbediente, con il compito precipuo di generare un figlio.
Sì, i due non si innamorano al primo sguardo; sì, passano metà libro ad azzuffarsi; sì, forse c'è poco romanticismo e le donne non se la passano bene. Ma l'epoca è quella, punto; altri periodi si prestano forse di più a trame con balli, picnic e corse in carrozza.
Al contrario, qui forse Hastings è addirittura troppo moderna nell'essere così istruita, nel pretendere rispetto e nel saper usare segreti di erboristeria per medicamenti e intrugli vari.
Nel complesso, il libro mi è piaciuto (molto) sino a tre quarti: personaggi interessanti, vicenda ricca e piena di inghippi.
Personalmente avrei terminato con la scoperta di Rosehaven (e non è uno spoiler, ma il titolo originale!): gli ultimi capitoli sono più frettolosi e pasticciati, dunque meno incisivi.
PS. Severin il serioso ha la pazienza di un santo; tutta la mia forte simpatia per lui, anche solo per le scenette con Trist.
November 5, 2015
This is by far the worst Catherine Coulter book I've ever read. I believe the author would do well to vet her ghostwriters before allowing such an atrocious work of fiction to be published under her brand name. I really do not believe Catherine Coulter actually wrote this book because the sentences contain phrasings that sound completely odd and different from the first 4 "Song" books. It's as if Rosehaven was written by someone else.
Seeing that I've already read Warrior's Song twice, Fire Song three times, Earth Song three times, and Secret Song twice, I obviously know what to expect from a Catherine Coulter book -- strong spirited heroines, abusive males, the expectation that women are treated as nothing more than possessions and are to obey males at all times, etc. So, I wasn't too perturbed with rape scenes or abusive behaviors in the book.
What I take issue with is the nearly non-existent plot. Basically, it's just page after page of the characters doing nothing. And suddenly, at the end of the book, the hero and heroine are already in love. It's unbelievable. Unlike Fire Song, Warrior Song, Earth Song or Secret Song, Rosehaven has absolutely no plot and nothing going for it to make it even believable that the characters do eventually find love against all odds.
Furthermore, I'm appalled that the "Rosehaven" estate was just thrown in like an afterthought. It adds no value to anything. So, did Hastings's father feel guilty? Actually loved his wife and daughter? He was abusive to Hastings but had a 180-degree change of behavior at Rosehaven? He was abusive to Hastings and yet treated the "Rosehaven" residents so tenderly? What the heck is going on?!? What is the author even trying to drive at? What is the point of "Rosehaven" estate?
Additionally, when Severin's men at arms were poisoned and fell unconscious, and Severin and Hastings were captured as a result, the author tells us that Severin's men at arms would immediately know where to head to to look for their Lord and Lady when they awoke. No explanations there. Just that the men would immediately know where to go when they awoke.
Uhm, how?
How would these men know who was responsible for the poisoning? How would these men know where Severin and Hastings were taken to in the first place? This scene right there should go into the book of records of what "telling" instead of "showing" looks like. Throughout the entire book, we're constantly told of what's going to happen... nothing is "shown" nor do we have enough clues to draw our own conclusion about situations and people's characters.
There's no explanation too about why, at the end of the book, someone who's been trying to kill Hastings all the while has had a change of heart suddenly. This murderous person, after spending half the book trying to get rid of Hastings, suddenly saves Hastings's life at the end of the book for absolutely no reason. No explanations at all. Just a total change of heart and everyone lives happily ever after.
Like I said, this is the worst Catherine Coulter book I've ever read and if this had been the first book I picked up from the author, I would have sworn off her books forever.
Seeing that I've already read Warrior's Song twice, Fire Song three times, Earth Song three times, and Secret Song twice, I obviously know what to expect from a Catherine Coulter book -- strong spirited heroines, abusive males, the expectation that women are treated as nothing more than possessions and are to obey males at all times, etc. So, I wasn't too perturbed with rape scenes or abusive behaviors in the book.
What I take issue with is the nearly non-existent plot. Basically, it's just page after page of the characters doing nothing. And suddenly, at the end of the book, the hero and heroine are already in love. It's unbelievable. Unlike Fire Song, Warrior Song, Earth Song or Secret Song, Rosehaven has absolutely no plot and nothing going for it to make it even believable that the characters do eventually find love against all odds.
Furthermore, I'm appalled that the "Rosehaven" estate was just thrown in like an afterthought. It adds no value to anything. So, did Hastings's father feel guilty? Actually loved his wife and daughter? He was abusive to Hastings but had a 180-degree change of behavior at Rosehaven? He was abusive to Hastings and yet treated the "Rosehaven" residents so tenderly? What the heck is going on?!? What is the author even trying to drive at? What is the point of "Rosehaven" estate?
Additionally, when Severin's men at arms were poisoned and fell unconscious, and Severin and Hastings were captured as a result, the author tells us that Severin's men at arms would immediately know where to head to to look for their Lord and Lady when they awoke. No explanations there. Just that the men would immediately know where to go when they awoke.
Uhm, how?
How would these men know who was responsible for the poisoning? How would these men know where Severin and Hastings were taken to in the first place? This scene right there should go into the book of records of what "telling" instead of "showing" looks like. Throughout the entire book, we're constantly told of what's going to happen... nothing is "shown" nor do we have enough clues to draw our own conclusion about situations and people's characters.
There's no explanation too about why, at the end of the book, someone who's been trying to kill Hastings all the while has had a change of heart suddenly. This murderous person, after spending half the book trying to get rid of Hastings, suddenly saves Hastings's life at the end of the book for absolutely no reason. No explanations at all. Just a total change of heart and everyone lives happily ever after.
Like I said, this is the worst Catherine Coulter book I've ever read and if this had been the first book I picked up from the author, I would have sworn off her books forever.
May 21, 2021
A reread almost 25 years after I first read this book and gave it five stars really shows a huge change in my maturity level. :) I thought it was great back then, obviously, not so much now. It was an okay story, nothing different than most formula sexy historical romances. This one was very thin on the history, mostly centered on the two protagonists fighting and having sex with a little mystery thrown in. Pretty predictable what the "mystery" was and who lived at Rosehaven. The two main characters, Severin and Hastings weren't really likable characters, but par for the course in this genre. My main problems were small, one that "Gilbert the goat" was mentioned WAY too many times, and he seemed to be the main source of milk in the castle. A male goat, who gave lots of milk. Male goats DO NOT give milk. He was talked about a LOT, and always referred to as he/him. That is just stupid, bad writing. Also Severin's little marten, Trist, did much too much "mewling." I believe the word, mewl in some form was used on every single page of this book. It got old and distracting very quickly. Glad I reread this one, so now I can give my hardcover of it away!
July 13, 2010
Newly arrived yesterday from fellow BookMoocher. Cover is the blue one though.
This is a little bit better than "The Offer" by the same author I read just before this one.
Again, Ms. Coulter's ending looks like as if she was rushing things, as if there are more than 1 person writing the story. Many sentences simply don't make sense like they were simply thrown together. One must re-read some sentences to get a clearer idea who is speaking.
I know that back in medieval times, men and women have their own role when interacting with each other. But a lady of the manor being tied to a dog to teach her humility by her own husband in front of their people really left me fuming. Perhaps the author meant it to be a funny scene? I simply don't get it.
Well, at least this time the characters are better developed.
As for its title "Rosehaven", I don't think it was represented well in the story. Again, for me it seems like it's just thrown there to make up for the page number requirements.
This is a little bit better than "The Offer" by the same author I read just before this one.
Again, Ms. Coulter's ending looks like as if she was rushing things, as if there are more than 1 person writing the story. Many sentences simply don't make sense like they were simply thrown together. One must re-read some sentences to get a clearer idea who is speaking.
I know that back in medieval times, men and women have their own role when interacting with each other. But a lady of the manor being tied to a dog to teach her humility by her own husband in front of their people really left me fuming. Perhaps the author meant it to be a funny scene? I simply don't get it.
Well, at least this time the characters are better developed.
As for its title "Rosehaven", I don't think it was represented well in the story. Again, for me it seems like it's just thrown there to make up for the page number requirements.
February 25, 2018
This book was a favorite when I was younger, one of the first historical romance books I ever read. Rereading it for Valentines Day, I was hoping to still feel that magic, but having grown up, I can see the problematic parts. I must have been enamored with Trist and Alfred the first time.
Also not sure why this was called Rosehaven since that place doesn't even show up until the end.
Also not sure why this was called Rosehaven since that place doesn't even show up until the end.
June 28, 2012
I have read this book several times and it is great every time.
October 13, 2015
story was good BUT I was very disturbed by the rape scenes of the heroine by the supposed hero. I wanted him to die for quite a long time while reading the book.
November 24, 2018
Aucun interet. Les plus épouvantable des coulter avec des personnages pas crédibles, détestables, creux, idiots sur les bords, etc.
Read
October 4, 2014Awful! I am disgusted, I can't believe this was published. Do people actually enjoy reading about rape and how men are superior to women. No stars. (I only read a few chapters in. )
April 14, 2020
For the second time in my life, I picked up a book by an author I had heard great things about only to be severely disappointed!
First of all the author has not researched how women were treated in the medieval ages. They were NOT treated as chattel nor were they only for breeding. Many of them could read and write and keep the account books, especially those of the nobility. NOT in this book. In this book, the main character tries to be spirited and independent but each time she does the man who married her for her estates puts her down and PUNISHES her. No, he doesn't hit her, but I found tying her to the wolfhound and making her eat her meals on the floor while tied to the dog for two days to be a bit much. And that wasn't the only humiliation this "hero" heaps on his wife.
However, about half-way through after some cockamamie bullcrap from her nurse and maid, she suddenly decides to change her independent ways and become a sex machine for his pleasure. Which makes her become valuable in his eyes. Unfortunately, the rest of the book is pretty much non-stop sex with very little plot.
As for the name of the book, Rosehaven, is finally mentioned in the last few chapters and then everything is all neatly wrapped up with a living mother (our main character had lived her whole life believing her father had beat her mother to death) and four sisters.
I found this book to be insulting to the time it was written for and I would have found it to be insulting (though I might have understood why) if it was written by a "newbie" author. But the fact that it was written by a well-established author was, in my opinion, unbelievable and very disappointing!
For those who like books with very little plot, men who abuse and humiliate women, and non-stop sex scenes then you will like this book. For those of us who prefer a more historical viewpoint of the medieval period, a good plot, and tastefully written love scenes...STAY AWAY FROM THIS BOOK!
First of all the author has not researched how women were treated in the medieval ages. They were NOT treated as chattel nor were they only for breeding. Many of them could read and write and keep the account books, especially those of the nobility. NOT in this book. In this book, the main character tries to be spirited and independent but each time she does the man who married her for her estates puts her down and PUNISHES her. No, he doesn't hit her, but I found tying her to the wolfhound and making her eat her meals on the floor while tied to the dog for two days to be a bit much. And that wasn't the only humiliation this "hero" heaps on his wife.
However, about half-way through after some cockamamie bullcrap from her nurse and maid, she suddenly decides to change her independent ways and become a sex machine for his pleasure. Which makes her become valuable in his eyes. Unfortunately, the rest of the book is pretty much non-stop sex with very little plot.
As for the name of the book, Rosehaven, is finally mentioned in the last few chapters and then everything is all neatly wrapped up with a living mother (our main character had lived her whole life believing her father had beat her mother to death) and four sisters.
I found this book to be insulting to the time it was written for and I would have found it to be insulting (though I might have understood why) if it was written by a "newbie" author. But the fact that it was written by a well-established author was, in my opinion, unbelievable and very disappointing!
For those who like books with very little plot, men who abuse and humiliate women, and non-stop sex scenes then you will like this book. For those of us who prefer a more historical viewpoint of the medieval period, a good plot, and tastefully written love scenes...STAY AWAY FROM THIS BOOK!
September 9, 2019
Loved the story, almost hated or rather disliked the heroine Hastings but she grew on me. The hero Severin started out on a bad foot with me but eventually redeemed himself. The story is set in the 13th century in East Anglia, England. A knight returning from the Holy Land finds all of his family except his mother dead, the lands in ruin and disrepair , his people starving. He needs to marry an heiress to repair his family's holdings. The Earl of Oxborough is dying and he has no male heir to carry on his family name. Both men in need, agree to Severin of Langthorne, Baron Louges marrying the Earl's daughter Hastings adding on the Earl's family name to his own. What follows the wedding is hate, dislike, jealousy, deceit, hidden family secrets, kidnapping and greed among other things.
June 19, 2021
So I made the post just to rant.
Have you ever got so frustrated with the book you are reading, that you just want to put a call to the writer and knock their heads.
That's me currently, the book im on is so morbidly fascinating with the concept of marital r*pe avoidable arguments and just toxicity.
Then the protagonist goes to say she's in love, babe you in bondange that's not love.
And the amount of things the other characters just allowed.
I'm not saying I'm not here for a bit of rough handling here and there (it my imagination after all) but everything in the book just screams misogyny and a sprinkle or arrant pride and unfaithfulness.
Yes this is one romance trope I hate, once married, stop CHEATING.
Have you ever got so frustrated with the book you are reading, that you just want to put a call to the writer and knock their heads.
That's me currently, the book im on is so morbidly fascinating with the concept of marital r*pe avoidable arguments and just toxicity.
Then the protagonist goes to say she's in love, babe you in bondange that's not love.
And the amount of things the other characters just allowed.
I'm not saying I'm not here for a bit of rough handling here and there (it my imagination after all) but everything in the book just screams misogyny and a sprinkle or arrant pride and unfaithfulness.
Yes this is one romance trope I hate, once married, stop CHEATING.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2018
Let me sum this up with one scene.... The hero takes the heroine from behind... while his mother is sleeping in the same room a few feet away. Not only that, dear mother wakes up to his yells of ecstasy and starts talking while he’s “spilling himself”... oh and don’t worry, H never forced the h cause he “used the cream!” Which we keep hearing about just in case we ever forget! It’s not rape if there’s cream Involved! That’s the kind of book this is. Awful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2018
My Favorite Book
Rosehaven is the first Catherine Coulter book I read and it is my favorite. I first read it many years ago so this was the second time I've read it. It is a good story and the characters are wonderfully written. I will save it and read it again. I hope you'll read it and love it too. Happy Reading.
Rosehaven is the first Catherine Coulter book I read and it is my favorite. I first read it many years ago so this was the second time I've read it. It is a good story and the characters are wonderfully written. I will save it and read it again. I hope you'll read it and love it too. Happy Reading.
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