The Border Hostage [Hardcover]

Virginia Henley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 3, 2001

Heart-stoppingly romantic, powerfully sensual, Virginia Henley's New York Times bestselling novels have captured the hearts of readers and the raves of critics everywhere. In her breathtaking new novel, the award-winning author once again brings us her trademark blend of historical intrigue and sizzling romance.

Here she transports us to medieval England and Scotland -- at a time when bitter border wars raged throughout the land -- to weave an unforgettable tale of a headstrong Englishwoman abducted by a Scotsman seeking passionate revenge....

Raven Carleton is every inch the English lady. But on this glorious morning, as she gallops along the seacoast -- her hair streaming behind her -- Raven is thinking about her freedom, not her imminent betrothal to aristocratic Englishman Christopher Dacre. Suddenly Raven is forced to draw rein when a man appears directly in her path. Silhouetted against the predawn sky, he is magnificent -- a darkly powerful stranger who will alter the course of her life.

Heath Kennedy is a loyal Scot who will defend to the death those he loves. After narrowly escaping his own death at the hands of highborn conspirators, he awakens on the banks of the River Eden ... and sees a creature of infinite loveliness riding toward him. Knowing that this wild English beauty can never be his, Heath devises a plan of revenge against his royal enemies. Raven will be the ultimate bargaining tool -- his exquisite ransom.

Yet from the moment he spirits her to his ancestral castle in Scotland, nothing goes as planned. Heath is irresistibly seduced by his headstrong captive, a woman who knows no fear and who calls him enemy ... even as desire flames between them.

In a land divided, there is nothing more dangerous than falling in love. But Heath Kennedy is a man beguiled. Risking the wrath of two realms, Heath does the unthinkable: He offers Raven her freedom. He asks only one thing in return....

Set against the passion and savagery of a tempestuous age, The Border Hostage captivates us with a truly unforgettable love story. It is yet another dazzling work of romance fiction from the incomparable Virginia Henley.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In The Border Hostage, a titillating combination of historical detail and breathtaking passion, perennial favorite Henley wields her magic yet again, this time setting her tale along the bloody borders of Scotland and England. When high-strung English beauty Raven Carleton runs into Heath Kennedy, the bastard son of a Scottish border lord, trespassing on her family's lands, she's lucky Heath only divests her of her favorite horse and the shirt off her back. But when Raven runs across Heath again while out riding with her betrothed, she doesn't get off so easily. Taken hostage and held for ransom by the rugged Scot, Raven vows to escape as soon as she can. But Raven fails to reckon with her own attraction to the fiendishly handsome Heath. Erotic visions haunt her as Raven attempts to deny her Celtic roots and the images her heritage brings--dreams of passionate embraces shared not with her fiancé, Christopher Dacre, but with the smug Scot Heath whom she cannot abide. Even worse, Heath's knowing grin makes Raven believe he can read her unruly mind. Machinations of the English court and Scottish loyalists threaten not only Heath and Raven's happiness, but their very lives. Those who wait for each new Henley title will not be disappointed. --Alison Trinkle

From Publishers Weekly

The territory fought over for centuries by English nobles and Scottish clansmen provides the setting for New York Times bestselling author Henley's 17th historical romance (after The Marriage Prize, etc.). She establishes the tone right away with a graphic and portentous mating scene between a mare and a stallion. Rugged, handsome Heath Kennedy, bastard son of the wealthy Lord of Galloway, is abducted by a renegade band of border prowlers who mistake him for his brother-in-law, Lord Ram Douglas. Though they try to drown him, he survives and encounters beauteous free spirit Raven Carleton downstream on her father's estate; despite her upbringing as a proper English lady, she's riding her horse bareback, alone, at dawn. Heath must find Ram and warn him of danger, so he "borrows" Raven's shirt and mount she's mortified, he's smitten. Thus starts a multifaceted plot involving Raven's betrothal to the shady Christopher Dacre, an English aristocrat favored by her parents, and her troublesome attraction to the intrepid Scottish thief who has an affinity for horses that matches her own gift for falconry. It turns out Dacre was behind Heath's kidnapping, and Heath soon returns the favor by abducting him and Raven, too. Raids, arson and a scheme to kidnap Scotland's infant monarch provide action and intrigue as Heath and Raven, who are of course destined for each other, fall into a love/hate relationship that includes perilous escapes and lubricious love scenes. Heath's reliance on the earth to renew strength as well as the supernatural gift of "the sight" Raven has inherited from her grandmother are only a few of many unusual details that enhance this 16th-century saga of political intrigue and tempestuous romance. (July)Forecast: This is more of the satisfying same for Henley's fans, as they will gather from a preview in the paperback edition of The Marriage Prize and from the predictable cover art, featuring a gloomy castle at dusk.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Press; 1ST edition (July 3, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038531826X
• ISBN-13: 978-0385318266
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,664,494 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times best-seller Virginia Henley is the author of 26 lush and lusty historical romances and 5 short stories. Her books are published in 16 languages around the world. She is the recipient of a dozen awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times, A Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers, and a Waldenbook Award for top-selling long historical for 1994.

The St. Petersburg Times calls Henley "The Queen of Steamy Romance."

Kathe Robin, RT Book Reviews says: "Henley's gift for bringing remarkable women to life in colorful, turbulent times is what turns her romances into keepers. Henley heats up the pages with her love scenes, and her skill at portraying actual historical personages with humanity while maintaining historical accuracy wins our minds. Henley knows what historical romance is all about and always gives the readers what they want."

Henley says: "My hero is always dark, dominant and dangerous. Then I create a woman who is a match for him...or more than a match!
Men come up to me at conferences and thank me for writing my books. One man said, "I don't read them, but I always know when my wife is reading a Henley!"

My next book The Dark Earl goes on sale September 6 and is the third in the series following The Decadent Duke, and The Irish Duke.

I have just turned two of my backlist books into Kindle ebooks. Wild Hearts and Bold Conquest are historical romances. My novella Hot As Fire, also available on Kindle, is my only contemporary. I have a short story up on Kindle called Letter of Love that is FREE.

Next month I will be offering a new ebook that is a Southern family saga.
MASTER OF PARADISE tells the story of Nicholas Peacock who is disinherited of his title and wealth in England. He sails to Charleston, South Carolina, and starts a cotton plantation just before the Civil War disrupts everyone's life.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful Sequel to TEMPTED, July 9, 2001

By 

Jody Allen (US) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Border Hostage (Hardcover)

We first met the Kennedy's in TEMPTED when Flaming Tina Kennedy stole the heart of Ramsey "Black" Douglas set to the brackdrop of the Border turmoils of 17th century Scotland before the Battle of Flodden. Tina's half gypsy brother Heath plays an important role in helping his sister find her heart desire and was deserving of his own story.Well... in THE BORDER HOSTAGE, Ms Henley doesn't disappoint.

Heath is living with his sister and her husband some months after the horrendous battle at Flodden which about distroyed all of the "Flowers of Scotland". Heath ignored by the rest of Kennedy Clan as their father's by blow, has found his place with the Douglas clan as a horse trainer. Thru his Celtic gift of magic he senses his sister, who is swollen with child, is in dangers and he rushes to her tower room. Here he is captured by border reivers who mistake him for his brother in law Ramsey" Black Ram" Douglas,and in true hero fashion he willing is captured to keep both Tina and Ram safe.

Across the border in England, Raven Carleton has found her own unigue niche, she trains raptors, much to her mother's dismay. Seems mother sees titles/money/status in her daughter's future and will do everything to rise above her own meeker border beginnings. Including linking with a border family's who job is to secure peace on the Enlglish side of the Borders. But Raven wants to be left alone to make her own choices both in how she will act and who she will choose for a husband, despite her interest in local "catch" Chris Dacre. Yet, she has a magical link to her Celtic heritage when she is inducted into the CRAFT by her grandmother. When the couple first meet, it seems in a case of mistaken identity again as Heath has been taken across the border and left for dead. Yet, he survives and finds himself at the mercy of Raven who calls him a filthy Scots bastard. Yet in true Scots Revier fashion he gets her out her clothes only to take her shirt(one of her brothers she wasn't supposed to have on) and wears it to escape. leaving her virtue intact and her being in outrage. Thru this first encounter they share an inkling of a shared magical link, but both are too concerned with their own problems to delve into what the magic might hold for them.

In Heath's determination to find out who wants Black Douglas dead, he meets with Raven head on as they clash over border disputes. Yet, thru this Celtic magical bond our couple to begin a journey of love and self discovery: a highly charged senual link as only Ms Henley can provide.

What makes this such a fun read is the hero is a man of courage, honor and pride. To compliment him Ms Henley has given him a heroine who like the hero is searching for self and when she must, she listens to her heart despite what others expect of her: another Flaming Tina who can't obey when her man is in touble.

Readers who have read TEMPTED will enjoy meeting up with the Kennedy Clan, as they too must share a journey of discovery, forgiveness and acceptance, but this clearly Heath Kennedy's story. Although each book stands alone, if the reader hasn't read TEMPTED, buy it now along with THE BORDER HOSTAGE, you won't be disappointed. It was a delight for this reader to see Ms Henley return to her classic historical romances. The pace is measured and the story is exceptional with loves discovery at the forefront and history in the background giving it depth, until the final page,

Here is hoping we readers get Duncan's story in the near future. THE BORDER HOSTAGE is worth the hardcover price and is classic historical romance.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just bearable, November 3, 2004

By 

Helina Y. - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Border Hostage (Mass Market Paperback)

This was the first Virginia Henley book I tried reading. I was drawn by the summary at the back of the book, it sounded intriguing and sexy. But after reading the first few pages of this book, I could guess what kind of a story it would be like and how the author was likely to write it out. How can you begin a romance by description of two horses mating? Ms. Henley's choice of words also leaves a lot to be desired. Does everything have to be sexual?

No romantic depth here. And I don't get the ravishing each other in their dreams thing either. There's a lot of sexual teasing in this book, which made it seem more lustful than romantic. I didn't exactly feel like the stones they carried around (phallic for Heath and hag for Raven) brought much weight to the story, it just made it seem strange, not adding a thing to the magical or destined feel.

However, I must say that the storyline and plot are not that bad though. And Heath's character was a definate plus to it since I always enjoy it when the hero falls for the heroine first; I cannot say the same for Raven. She seemed too impulsive and silly most of the time, not a likable heroine. The dialogue between characters is not too well written, it doesn't flow naturally and is not a joy to read their bantering since it is predictable and without humour.

If you don't mind a nit-wit heroine, a hot hero and a so-so storyline then get this book. Otherwise, you won't be missing out on much at all.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Flawed yet enjoyable., July 22, 2001

By 

Affaire de Coeur - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Border Hostage (Hardcover)

The border lands between England and Scotland are dangerous places for anyone, especially a woman. Raven Carleton is unimpressed with the wild nature of her English home, for it closely mirrors her own temperament. Heath Kennedy thrives in his Scottish home, raising his horses and protecting his clan. In retribution for the theft of his prized herd, Heath takes Raven and her betrothed hostage. He has no intention of returning Raven, for she has captivated him. Raven finds herself unwillingly attracted to the rogue. In their tumultuous surroundings, love is not as easy as declaring feelings and living happily ever after. Virginia Henley has written an enjoyable story despite some flaws. The most glaring transgression is the use of words that were not part of the English language in Medieval England or using words that were in existence but had yet to take on the meaning she conveyed. This caused a "jerking away" from the story. Raven's thought process as she lingered between the English lord and the Scottish man leaned toward confusing at times. For a woman who flaunted convention at every opportunity, she was willing to give up true love to conform to expectations. Regardless of its problems, it still catches the interest and begs to be completely read.