Customer Reviews

Blood Red Roses

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

 

 

"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.

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!!!

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.

I have read "Winter Serpent", a novel by this author (written under the name of Maggie Davis)and it was excellent. I decided to give this one a try as well, but totally could not get into it. My rating is based on the fact that it was obvious that the book was very well researched and as the other reviewers stated has an authentic feel as to the time, place and actions/reactions of characters. As a romance tough, it did not work for me. The hero in my opinion is not very likable and seemed to have no use of heroine other than the obvious one. No idea why she decides that she suddently loves him (maybe she couldn't think straight because of all the blows to the head he gave her). Also there is a rather disturbing scene when she breastfeeds a puppy in attempt to cure engorged breasts. That was just...eww.

This novel features an unlikable couple. The hero is suspicious that his wife is sleeping with every other man around, yet cannot stop himself from lusting after her. The wife was clealy infatuated with another man throughout the entire novel and yet miraculously claims to be in love with her husband at the end. She does not try to gain her husband's trust and generally does not even like him. It seems that the only reason she stayed is becaus she did not have the option of running away. If this were a historic novel with some element of love in it, it would probably have received a higher rating from me. For a romance novel I suggest you look elsewhere. I'm not convinced that these two even like each other, nevermind love.