Customer Reviews

At the King's Command (Thorndike Romance)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

At the King's Command is a new edition of an older novel originally titled Circle in the Water. The heroine, Juliana Romanov, is a Russian princess who flees to England with a gypsy friend after the murder of her family. The hero, Stephen de Lacy, is ordered by Henry VIII to marry Juliana after she is caught trying to steal a horse. The marriage is only in name to appease the whim of the King. Both expect that they can get an annulment once the King grows bored with his prank.

This wasn't the strongest love story. In fact it was very hard, at times, to understand what Juliana saw in Stephen. But the story moved at a good (if somewhat predictable) pace, and managed to hold my attention for an afternoon. I was hesitant to read a novel about a princess - as I usually hate that device, but she was not in line to take the throne. It was also a treat to read an historical from Wiggs, who now devotes herself to contemporary romances.

I was so excited to FINALLY see a NEW Susan Wiggs historical romance at the bookstore. She's been writing almost exclusively contemporaries for a long time now.

I picked up the book, turned to the back and started reading. I was incredibly dismayed to find out this is "Circle in the Water" stuffed into new packaging with a new title.

I am all for Ms. Wigg's back catalog being released again, but to rename it is disingenuous to loyal fans. I think if the element of a Russian gypsy wasn't so unusual, I might have very well plunked down my $[...] and come home tonight to a nasty surprise.

The original book, released in the early 90's was good historical fiction. I'm giving this book two stars for the nasty bait and switch. I'm refraining from giving it one star out of my love for Susan Wigg's past historicals.

[...]

Not to totally disagree with Shanfried but this was my first book that I ever read by Susan Wiggs and it was this book that really touched me deeply and made me start buying all of her books left and right. You already know the story line because everyone's done a good job of decribing it in detail.
Some people marry for other things rather then love and later fall in love, but yes you can't tell what Juliana's feelings for Stephen are because she doesn't know it yet herself so how could she even let her feelings be known? I thought that this book was fantanstic because you can see that Stephen and Juliana's love is growing through out the entire book and I think these kind of marriages are always the ones that have something much deeper then love.
So give this book a shot, you might just find that there's more to this book then meets the eye.

I love historical romances (mainly for the historical part) and this one satisfied me greatly. I am a slow reader, but I was half way through it in 3 days. (I don't get a lot of time to read -_- ).
She is NOT one of those authors who spends 3 freakin pages describing a room. " oh the sunlight shone through the window like golden leaves....." WHATEVER!
She gets right to the point, and the story moves fast ( not TOO fast, but at a good pace).
I thoroughly enjoyed it! <3

Entertaining read. This is the second Susan Wiggs book that I've read and have enjoyed both of them. The story itself was interesting and I do love a tortured hero. Like with the Firebrand (the first book of the author that I read), I think the depth of despair and hopelessness that surrounds Stephen can be better understood by a parent. Nevertheless, Wiggs writing can be quite beautiful in describing emotions.

Another great thing about reading Wiggs' books is that the story with its plots carries it through the end of the book. I find that too often with books the real story ends two thirds of the book and the last third is held on by a thin thread. It is vastly more satisfying to be captivated and motivated to finish to fit everything together until the end.

Very good story set back in the 1800's. Will buy from this dealer again - good service. Thank you, Marjre

received the book in a timely fashion and in the condition noted by the seller.