Customer Reviews

Betrothed

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Guy Montague is a powerful baron who prefers to expand his estates and coffers through business and trade rather than warring. He has just come to a tentative agreement with Baron Lonsdale to purchase Lonsdale castle. Hidden within Lonsdale castle is Claudia Chiavari, the Baron's niece. She has been much maligned and abused by her uncle and his people that Claudia pretty much keeps to herself. What Guy doesn't know is that Baron Lonsdale has a malicious plot in the works to get more gold out of him and also to keep his hold on Lonsdale castle. Guy escapes with his life, with Claudia in tow. He believes that Claudia was part of the conspiracy and plans to hold her prisoner until he can decide what to do with her.

Betrothed is not exactly my favorite among the three books written by Elizabeth Elliott (Warlord, Scoundrel and Betrothed). In my opinion, it is the weakest of the three, but still, Elizabeth Elliott's gift of words is such that she succeeds in weaving another fascinating story about the Montagues.

I found this book in the clearance bin at my used book store for the outrageous price of $0.20!...what a pleasant surprise! I had never heard of Ms. Elliott but after reading Betrothed I couldn't wait to read Warlord which I also enjoyed...though not as much as Betrothed. I liked Claudia, what a relief to find a heroine with intelligence...I laughed out loud over the rat in the bedchamber scene...I haven't yet gotten around to Scoundrel since I like historical romances...I hope Ms. Elliott picks up the pen once again!

I had to laugh when I read the other reviews...now I'm not certain if I liked this book less than Elliott's others because the storyline was weaker or because the hero on the cover looks like he's about fifteen years old. Publishing companies need to be careful when they use cover art because once you see what the hero allegedly looks like, it's hard to imagine him as anyone else. In this case, that is not a good thing. He looks too much like my little brother to be taken seriously as a medieval warlord.

I found myself far more interested in the secondary character of Dante than I did of the hero and heroine. Luckily Dante's book (The Assasin) is SUPPOSED to be out soon. I use the word "supposed" loosely since Elliott keeps pushing back the release date. I can only pray that the publishers don't put a fifteen year old on The Assasin's cover...

Baron Guy of Montague came to Lonsdale with the intention of regaining Halford Hall -- prepared to buy or lay siege in order to get what was really his by right. On the way into the keep he noticed a maid standing in the doorway of the chapel and he was bewitched. Finding her later in the chapel garden, he knew he had to have her at all costs but events would unfold that put both their lives in danger before he could set in motion his plans to ask for her hand in marriage.

Lady Claudia Chiavari, half Italian, half English, was the despised niece of Baron Lonsdale and for the last five years her life had been treated little better than the lowliest servant. With Baron Lonsdale thinking that Guy Montague was going to back out of the deal, he concocted an elaborate scheme in which he drugged Guy and his niece; transported Guy into his nieces bedchamber stripping both of them naked so that he could then force Guy into a betrothal and marriage to his niece thereby gaining more money in the dower price. Both were locked up. Claudia, overhearing the rest of her uncle's plan, found out that he also planned murder. Claudia would then risk her life to rescue Guy and escape. Guy, thinking that the Claudia was part of the elaborate scheme, would take Claudia with him, but as his prisoner.

Being Italian and not always being understood had made her life quite solitary. She had no friends and was looked down upon as a foreigner. Her distrust of the English made it difficult to understand what Guy wanted from her. She found him intoxicating, but having lost everyone she ever loved, she would not take the chance of being his mistress and then being tossed aside when he tired of her. Guy, on the other hand, could not consider marriage now, after being tricked by her uncle no matter how much he burned for her. Treachery abounds with more threats from relatives, murder attempts and betrayals before either could trust one another to admit what was in their hearts.

This was an amazingly intense historical romance that absolutely sizzles with sensuality. The characters are totally believable and so very much in love that you really have to root for them. The prequel The Warlord was outstanding, although more humorous, by this relatively new author and I certainly hope she can continue with more sequels to this series as I could certainly envision entirely new stories with the outstanding secondary characters that she brought to life in this book, such as Claudia's brother Dante. This is an outstanding read and certainly stands alone but you will find it all that more enjoyable if you read The Warlord first.

Oh, How I love Claudia! She's smart and courageous. She's able to twist your words around with her logic. It's hard to understand her when she speaks English, being Italian herself. They say she talks to fast. She's living in exile with an uncle who hates her. He plans to marry her off to Guy of Montague. These plans also include blaming her for Guy's death. Her scheming uncle is very greedy.

Guy finds Claudia on the chapel steps at Lonsdale Castle. Guy can't understand why everyone isn't gawking at Claudia's beauty. Claudia herself is wondering what Guy is looking at so intently behind her. Guy has come to purchase Halford Hall at an outrageous price from Claudia's uncle, Baron Lonsdale. Guy's decided Claudia should also be included in the purchase. When Guy tries to set up a meeting with Baron Lonsdale to discuss this, the baron thinks Guy's discovered that Halford Hall isn't his to sell. The baron sets a trap to find Claudia and Guy in a compromising position, puts Guy in the dungeon and starts making wedding plans for the two. Claudia overhears her uncles plans of murdered and decides she must help Guy escape.

Elizabeth Elliott opened my eyes to what a horrible life it was for a woman alone in centuries past. This is the first novel I read by her. I'm looking forward to all the rest. I see by all the reviews may people weren't thrilled with this one. I thought it was fabulous and can't wait to read The Warlord. By all the accolades here I'm expecting my breath to be taken away.

This was my first novel by the author. It took me a little while to get into the story. The relationship between Claudia and Guy took a little getting used to... I couldn't quite believe the way Guy just immediately fell in love with the vision of Claudia and wanted to marry her. I enjoyed the author's writing, but felt that the story had potential to be more exciting... Based on others review, I am going to read the other two books by her.

The cover art on this book is just awful. Guy looks like a fop (polite wording), and he is nothing like that. This is an enjoyable tale with great characters. Read the Warlord as well, preferably first.

In a follow up to THE WARLORD, Elizabeth Elliott has returned to medieval times, this time with the story of Miles, the half brother of Kendrick. Miles wants the home he was born in and travels to negotiate the purchase, but through false accusations, ends up engaged to Claudia, the sister to Robert, the man who tried to assassinate Kendrick in the first of the series. What a beginning and it's non-stop action and heartache for both Claudia, who's been betrayed by her uncle, and Miles, who wants to love her but doesn't know if he can trust her. A book to make you laugh and cry, sympathize with their plight and reaffirm your faith in "love conquers all". A must read and a definite keeper

I really thought I would enjoy Betrothed. It had what I like in a historical romance, a gallant hero, harrowing escapes and a soul thirsty for vengeance but somehow it just never came together. Perhaps some of the fault lies with the heroine who at times is supremely naïve.

Lady Claudia Chiavari lives with her uncle who never has her best interests at heart. He betroths her to Baron Guy Montague, a man she likes immediately and who admires her right back. Claudia's uncle drugged both Guy and Claudia and stuck them into bed together, hoping this embarrassing turn of events will force Guy to pay a larger brideprice. Later Claudia overhears that her uncle plans to murder Guy. She helps him escape even though Guy thinks she is part of her uncle's underhanded scheme.

The two head back to Guy's castle and Guy realizes that Claudia was innocent of her uncle's misdeeds but it does not change the fact that they are still betrothed. Guy does not want to marry Claudia because her family is very violent, one of Claudia's brothers actually tried to murder Guy's sibling and her other brother is an assassin for the King.

Claudia is at first likeable, she is brave but when she arrives at Guy's keep her confidence wanes and she misreads Guy's intentions many times. When she is honest about her feelings she is sweet and very kind but she almost has an irrational notion that Guy should be able to read her mind. She can become snippy and demanding, this is not often but it was quite a character shift.

When Guy decides he would like to marry her, again Claudia questions his motives, wondering if he wants her for her landed dowry only but Guy's assurances that he truly wants her matter little. When her brother Dante comes on the scene, Claudia becomes biddable for her violent, angry, self involved brother, a man who has abandoned her for years, yet she puts more faith in him than she does Guy, the man who has shown her compassion and is willing to marry her against his own family's wishes. By the end of the novel I had lost my faith in Claudia's reasoning skills. Still there are some parts of this novel which really shine, especially the honest emotions she shares with the hero making this novel both likable and frustrating.

I really enjoyed this book and its predecessor (Warlord). It was funny, romantic, enthralling and hugely embarrassing to read in public (I have to agree with the previous reviewer). This style of cover is usually associated with a bodice ripper/potboiler of a book, but this was a very good read, and worthy of something better. Publisher please note: sometimes this type of cover can really put a person off buying in front of witnesses.

Altogether, well worth the money and I am now eagerly awaiting the third one (Scoundrel) - with yet another naff cover.