Blood Red Roses [Paperback]

Katherine Deauxville (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1999

Fulk de Jobourgh is a knight of the court of King William, commanded to oversee the lands of a noble who was hanged for treason. He is also instructed to marry the dead traitors rebellious daughter and ensure her loyalty to the king. He brings her to the altar, and to his bed, before galloping off once again to command in the Kings war. Although Alwyn, his unwilling bride, is barely able to remember the face of Fulk, she cannot forget her response to his touch. At every turn, she thwarts his efforts to take control over her fathers estate, and finds herself enslaved by her passion for him. Will she be able to resist the sensual pleasure of his touch in order to save her rightful legacy and family honor?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This solid historical romance transcends its basic formula with a convincing setting integral to the tale and believable characters. A decade after the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror gives his knight Fulk de Jobourg ownership of Castle Morlaix in Wales and orders him to marry its heiress, Lady Alwyn Lesneven. Fulk arrives to find his intended ``trussed like a Martinmas pig''--the only way Fulk's followers can get the refractory young woman to the altar. ``Rotten luck,'' thinks Fulk, who dutifully marries her and then heads off to hunt Welsh rebels. Left to cope with the sickness and famine dogging the region's inhabitants, Alwyn makes her share of mistakes, dispensing justice that is more tender-hearted than shrewd and undercutting Fulk's efforts to evade the Earl of Chester's demands for loyalty (and money). Fulk has his own shortcomings, accusing Alwyn of treachery where--sometimes--there is only innocent error. But gradually, grudgingly, they come to recognize each other's value and forge a union greater than its parts. Under the name Maggie Davis, Deauxville is the author of Satin Doll.

Copyright 1991 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: e-reads.com (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585865230
• ISBN-13: 978-1585865239
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,779,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Medieval Romance, July 25, 2002

By 

Nancy C. Johnson (Sunnyvale, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blood Red Roses (Paperback)

"Blood Red Roses" by Katherine Deauxville is my favorite Medieval Romance.

Before this Elizabeth Lowell and Kathleen E. Woodiwiss wrote my favorites. I read this book when it came out and I've spent years trying to figure out why I love it so much.

To start, the obviously well researched historical detail alone is incredible and makes me feel like I am there. My first reaction to Fulk, the hero, was that he's a big bully. But I began to see him as a very strong, very fair man in a brutal patriarchal society. How can Alwyn, the heroine, not love him. She's physically attracted to him and he's the father of her child and the lord of her castle. It *is* Alwyn's castle and it's inhabited with *her* people and she fights for it, and them, with all her heart. Alwyn and Fulk both fight for what they believe is right. They very often don't agree on what the right thing is. She thinks he doesn't understand and he thinks she's deliberately trying to provoke him. It seems realistic, men and women don't always see things the same way. Fulk seems like a medieval male and Alwyn seems like a medieval female (not some missplaced 20th century woman). I also enjoyed the supporting characters. But all in all it's a love story and the Hero and Heroine are two shining example's of the male and female beasts who must both compromise in order to have love.

I very rarely reread a book but I've read this one 5 times. I didn't even realize it was my favorite for a few years. Not until I finally noticed I never stopped thinking about it and started to reread it. I have since aquired all Maggie Davis' books, AKA Katherine Deauxville, and even though I prefer Historical romances I'll read anything she writes.

A few of my favorite Authors are Judith Merkle Riley, Eva Ibbotson, Carla Kelly, Emma Holly and Connie Willis.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best!! A MUST READ Medieval!!, October 21, 2002

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blood Red Roses (Paperback)

One of the reasons I wished to write historical romances, was because of Maggie Davis aka Katherine Deauxville. I was running a bookstore at the time her historicals came out, and I had a customer that bought everything she wrote under either name, so naturally I had to see what had this customer so loyal. And am I glad I did!!! I fear some people often are not sure how to take Deauxville, because she refuses to conform to pattern writing, and I am sorry for them, because she is a writer with charm, wit, with strong research and able to create characters you will vividly recall years after you put the book down. And her medievals are just that, they endure and its a shame she does not get more attention for them. So if you love medievals that are fresh, not formula, and have missed Crystal Heart, Amethyst Crown, Daggers of Gold, then snap these up and enjoy!!! She is rich in detail of the period and local, and takes the reader on a wonderful journey in the Middle Ages.

In this tale - after the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror gives his knight Fulk de Jobourg ownership of Castle Morlaix in Wales and orders him to marry its heiress, Lady Alwyn Lesneven. Her father was hanged for treason, and Fulk put in control of the lands, so Alwyn, quite naturally, is not pleased to be commanded to marry him. Her villeins fears William's and Falk's wrath, so they truss her up and deliver her to the altar. Fauk is disappointed his bride has to be wed in this manner, but does his duty. Then promptly leaves her to go hunt rebel Welsh. It is a series a hardships, pains and struggles, with Alwyn making all sorts of mistakes, but eventually Falk and Alywn must face their lives together...with her continually thwarting his power and yet, she is unable to fight her growing need for him.

It is a wonderful tale, very non-stereotypical. Deauxville is able to walk the fine line between giving you an independent, headstrong character the women of today can appreciate, yet keeps within the believability of the period.

Way to Go, Maggie!!! PLEASE more historicals!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and Truly Historical, February 26, 2006

By 

Rebecca A. Fransway (Davis, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blood Red Roses (Paperback)

I have not been able to tolerate most medieval romances since Katherine Woodiwiss' WOLF AND THE DOVE, because they are too catered to the strange idea that those who want to read a historical romance don't really want their characters fashioned true to the sociology of life in medieval times. In those days, folks interested in equality, like the master mason in the story, were accused of heresy. For most people, it was a day to day struggle just getting enough to eat. What a refreshing surprise to find Deauxville. Now I want to read all her medievals.