Customer Reviews

Always Mine (Zebra Historical Romance)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Our story begins on the present day. Lydia Hunter is a divorced young lady. Since the age of five, she has been enthralled with a portrait of Lord Damron of Blackthorn who lived in the eleventh century. Lydia did research on the Blackthorn history and knows about Lord Blackthorn's wife, Brianna Sinclair, and the two sons they sired. But no matter how much Lydia knew that Lord Blackthorn died centuries ago, she could never stop herself from feeling as though he belonged to her. Then came the day Lydia purchased a silver brooch. As she pinned it on her sweater in front of Damron's portrait, she could have sworn Damron reached out from the painting to assist her. Lydia Hunter fell into a coma.

Lydia awakens to find herself in Northumbria, England, in the year 1072. She still has her memories of her future life, but she also has the memories of Brianna Sinclair. In fact, Lydia is now in Brianna's body. Though Lydia had not been Brianna at the time, she easily recalls falling from her horse and hitting her head on a rock. Lydia is just not in Brianna's body...she actually IS Brianna. Lord Damron Blackthorn is with her. Problem is that Brianna's first impression of Damron is as a "medieval chauvinist pig". Though Brianna is in love with Sir Galan of Ridley, she has no choice but to wed as King William demands since she is his ward. As Brianna travels with Damron to her new home, Blackthorn Castle, she is not alone. With her is Lord "Nathaniel" Bleddyn. Nathaniel is descended from the ancient Druids of Cymru and of Cadwallon, King of Gwynedd. As such, he has inherited the line's mystic powers. Nathaniel knows that Brianna is from the future and that her soul has been sucked back to her former life. He can even speak to Brianna, and Damron, telepathically. He may be the only thing that keeps Brianna sane.

As for Damron, he is not happy with his new wife. She curses too much, rebels, and seems to think that she is his equal. But as time passes, Damron's attitude changes toward his feisty bride. If the future succeeds in pulling Brianna back to her future life as Lydia...

***** The author does not tell much about what is happening to Lydia's body (in the future) until far into the story. But that was only two or three pages and did not enlighten me as much as I wanted. I felt as though the pages were added in as an after thought. However, by the end of the novel I understood why the author wrote the scene the way she did and I totally approve. No sappy, wimpy, fainting little miss in this tale! Brianna may be a lady of history, but she has the mind of a modern day lady and knows how to use it. An outstanding tale that will tug on your heart strings! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Having read Sophia Johnson's first book "Risk Everything" I was prepared for another excellent story and I wasn't disappointed. She shows a modern woman who goes back in time and is astonished to actually find the man in the flesh that she's loved all her life, Lord Damron of Blackthorn Castle. I liked the fact that Brianna was a strong woman because, after all, she'd been thrown back into a time where most modern women would have been simpering idiots from shock. She not only survives but thrives in that time and comes to want to stay in that time with her love. Damron and Brianna go through lots of trials, have tons of misunderstandings but through them all come to the end with a love that even time can't stop. This is definitely a book I'd recommend.

This story just didn't gel for me. I mean Lydia finally gets the chance to meet the man she had been longing for her entire life and spends most of the book fighting and acting like a spoiled brat instead of a modern woman. She just didn't seem like the same level-headed person who was presented in the beginning of the book. I just felt that a person with her experience from being married, divorced and having a very impressive resume to boot would have used her brains more than her preferred method of cursing and name calling to deal with her problems. The only things left out of her repertoire was stamping her feet and sticking out her tongue. At least Damron had an excuse for his behavior actually being from that time while Lydia dealt with her problems like someone without a brain. Another aspect of Lydia's character that didn't gel for me was that she came across as a virginal school girl when dealing with the sexual aspects of the book instead of a grown woman with some experience.

As a young child Lydia Hunter was drawn to the portrait of an eleventh century laird, Damron of Blackthorn Castle. Claiming Lord Damron as her own, Lydia is compelled to visit the Highlands every year. This year's visit proves to be like none before. This trip to Blackthorn castle sends Lydia Hunter back in time to the eleventh century where everyone calls her Brianna and she comes face to face with `her' Lord Damron.

Known as a fierce warrior, Lord Damron is loyal to his king. When he is ordered to marry the purportedly meek Saxon, Brianna, he is less than thrilled. However, the Brianna he meets is anything but mild. Lord Damron's bride is spirited and bold. Claiming Brianna using his might will not work for Lord Damron. Brianna's heart cannot be claimed; it can only be given.

I absolutely adored Sophia Johnson's Always Mine! The concept of two souls being joined across time is so very romantic. While Damron is fierce and so totally Alpha, he doesn't cross the line and become a brute. Damron is totally tingle worthy! Brianna's strength of heart makes her a perfect complement to Damron, and the pair is a very charismatic couple. Always Mine is powerfully passionate and a treat for the heart.

Annmarie
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

As a child living in New York, Lydia Hunter would spend her summers in Scotland where she would visit the ruins of Blackthorn Castle. She particularly found the portrait of eleventh century Lord Damron whom she dubbed "Lord Demon" quite alluring. Now as an adult following a divorce, Lydia needs a sense of belonging and simple solace. She thinks back to her happiest moments in her life gazing at the portrait and decides to visit for the first time in years hoping to recapture some of her youthful magic.

At Blackthorn Castle, during a storm Lydia slips and falls unconscious. When she awakens she finds herself inside the body of Lady Brianna, spouse of Lord Demon circa 1072. The king ordered Damron Alasdair to marry Brianna, which he did by proxy without his bride's attendance or knowledge. Now he goes to collect his pampered spoiled wife, but finds instead an argumentative feisty female cursing him while challenging his rule over her. Unable to reconcile the spirited independent female with the image of what he was told, Damron learns from a Druid that his wife is not Brianna, but instead the soul of Lydia from the future. In love with her, he will do what it takes to keep his Lydia at his side.

The enchantment in Sophia Johnson's delightful time travel romance resides in the shocked reactions by the medieval residents of Blackthorn castle to Lydia's use of profanity and her overall kick butt fighting spirit. She makes the tale fun to read though her adaptation to the eleventh century occurs too easily. Sub-genre fans will want to read this fine tale of an independent twenty-first century Yankee capturing a medieval Scottish warrior's heart.

Harriet Klausner

Lydia Hunter has always be obsessed with the portrait of Lord Damron in Blackthorn's Museum, but it is a surprise when she is suddenly transported back in time, only to come face to face with the man who haunts her. But Lydia is now in the body of Brianna Sinclair, and as much as she has always thought of this man, the real Lord Damron is not like she thought at all.

Lord Damron is ordered by the king to marry Brianna Sinclair and take over Blackthorn Castle. Damron had no wish to marry and would get out of it if he could. He heard the Lady Brianna was meek and mild, but the woman he meets is not mild, and definitely not meek. That only intrigues him more, but Lord Damron would never let another woman near his heart again.

After Damron and Lydia are married, Damron keeps his suspicions and watches every move Lydia makes. Lydia does not want to get close to Damron, with the fear of being taken back to her time. Damron waits for betrayal, and betrayal and treachery are not far behind. Could Damron and Lydia get past these obstacles to have a future?

SUPERB! Ms. Johnson has penned another wonderful historical, and this time added the twist of time travel. This story is truly amazing as Ms. Johnson shows her creativity by making the time travel believable, and the use of dated dialect. Very strong characters are the center of attention in this lovely tale, but there are also some very important second characters. Breathtakingly sensual, you will love the relationship between Lydia and Damron. Ms. Johnson has become a favorite author of this reader, and after you read Always Mine, I think you will be hooked too.

Wateena

I know I'm going against all reviews here but I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I've read other Sophia Johnson books and they were great but Always Mine was lacking spark and energy. It was just plain and boring. (Maybe it's because I prefer Regency romance.) I found the whole time traveling/reincarnation theme to be alittle cheesy. Also, the dialogue can get confusing at times since the story does take place during the 11th century in Scotland. Now don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful love story between Damron & Brianna/Lydia that ends with a satisfying conclusion but there are parts and other things about the story that is just mediocre. Not the best book by Sophia Johnson but worth a solid 3 stars.

Lydia Hunter has no idea why the ruins at Blackthorn castle call to her, even though the castle has been nothing but a pile of stones for hundreds of years and it's laird dead for centuries. All she knows is that she is inexplicably drawn to this place and this man as if she has known him all of her life. She feels as though she has loved him for as long as she can remember, even though she knows logically that is not possible. Once, as a child she remembers screaming out that Lord Damron was "her" lord and trying to climb into his suit of armor in search of him. Upon her recent visit to the castle, the gift shop's owner has unearthed a brooch that is so old the words are worn off of it and yet Lydia knows what those words are without even trying to read the engraving. As she stands there in that gift shop, she has an actual thought, almost a memory of Lord Damron placing the brooch upon her person. She follows her heart upstairs to the lord's chamber where she has always felt her most content as if her heart is familiar with the room. Once there she finds herself thrown back in time to the place where her soul wants to be- and that is at Lord Damron's side as his Lady Brianna.

Lord Damron cannot believe his bad luck. Kings William and Malcolm have ordered him to marry a biddable, quiet little mouse of a wife to keep some semblance of order on the borders, to unite clans. By nature a grouchy and cynical sort of man, he is completely unhappy with the arrangement. When he arrives at Saint Anne's Abbey to pick up his quiet and biddable wife, he finds a hellion in a skirt riding willy-nilly over the countryside and spouting the most ridiculous, disrespectful drivel he has ever heard! Determined to put Lady Brianna in her place regardless of how bad she tries his patience or how hard-headed she appears to be, he doesn't even notice as a beautiful, passionate love begins to work it's magic over him, until he can think of nothing in this world that would make him happy except his Lady Brianna.

I have probably read hundreds of books in my life- many of them written by authors of great prestige and who have won award after award. I can honestly say that Always Mine touched me in a way that no other book ever has. It is a heart stopping and surreal story that had my imagination taking flight. The entire premise of Always Mine is a beautiful one in and of itself. The thought that our souls could be searching through centuries for our one and true destiny is compelling and awe inspiring and had me reading Brianna and Damron's story through tear filled eyes. This is truly a book that will be among my favorites for years to come. Always Mine was written by a woman who obviously knows her romance and has exactly what it takes to melt her reader's hearts and remind them what true love is all about.

I was really disappointed with this book. It would have been a great romance if the reincarnation body soul was left out. I thought I was reading a reincarnation Creed at the end of the story. The plot and threme of modern day Lydia in love with hot looking Scotish laird Damron and travel back to 1072,was good, but I didn't like her coming into the body of Brianna instead of her own body. What I couldn't understand is when Lydia/Brianna finally realize she was at last with the man she was in love with since childhood. Why did she keep herself distance. The conflict between the two was good. However they didn't grow together at the end. I didn't like the still born birth of their infant daughter. I don't know why the author put that in? This was the first Sophia Johnson book I'd read And I wasn't impress.

one of the reason to read a romance book is to have a smile on your face at the end. there was no smile after reading this book, i wanted to burn it!!! the ending left you feeling very disappointed. it seems the heroine has gone through a struggle and still ended up the loser. not my kind of book/story and hate the fact that i wasted money and time on this book. never again for this author.