Briar Rose [Mass Market Paperback]

Kimberly Cates (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1999

Award-winning storyteller Kimberly Cates spins a glorious tale touched with Irish charm....

Rhiannon Fitzgerald never knew her true heritage -- or if her talent for healing was bequeathed by fairy magic, as her father believed. The gentle lass who roamed the hills of Ireland knew only that she must help creatures in need. But her sweet, sheltered world was about to be shaken by an alarming discovery among the mysterious standing stones above the ruins of Ballyaroon. Lying at her feet was wounded Captain Lionel Redmayne, a steely British officer as feared by his own men as by his enemies. Their worlds could not be more different, but something lured these two solitary hearts to find solace in each other's mysterious ways.

With healing herbs and a soothing touch, Rhiannon set out to save Captain Redmayne. But she knew nothing of the risks ahead. In her care was a man who was harmed by a secret assailant; a man who could overwhelm her very soul with his hungry passions. Yet here, too, was the hero promised to her by destiny, whose love was locked in a past of secrets and pain, and in a heart to which she alone held the key....

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In nineteenth-century Ireland, Rhiannon Fitzgerald has a gift for healing. When she stumbles upon an injured English officer, she unhesitatingly takes him to her Gypsy caravan to heal him. But Captain Lionel Redmayne's wounds are more than skin deep; his very spirit is heavily scarred from a childhood spent under the control of his twisted grandfather. Rhiannon, who has an affinity for almost everyone she meets, falls in love with the wounded captain and vows to teach him how to love. At first Lionel resists--after all, he's never gotten close to anyone before--but finally he lets her into his heart. Then, when Rhiannon meets Lionel's grandfather face to face, she realizes that he is the man responsible for her father's ruin, and that he is now trying to use her as a pawn to trap and destroy Lionel. Cates' writing is luxurious and introspective, the kind of writing that one can curl up with and get lost in. Ann Bouricius

Review

Kristin Hannah author of On Mystic Lake Briar Rose is everything that a romance should be and more. A haunting, beautifully written love story, it will stay with you long after the last page is turned. -- Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671014951
• ISBN-13: 978-0671014957
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #391,594 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Junk Historical Romance., January 19, 2009

By 

Zou Zou (cape cod,ma) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Briar Rose (Mass Market Paperback)

This mawkish, sentimental romance is set in Ireland sometime after the Rebellion of 1798.
The rebellion was a partial result of the repressive policies of the British government. But not to worry, there is no Irish history in this romance. No United Irishmen, no Irish Republicanism and no Defenderism. No, just the simple statement that "hatred of the English had been a chronic fever in Irish blood for six hundred years". The history is so generic, the story could easily be moved to France or North America during their revoltutionary periods.
Back to the romance:
This is the story of dispossessed Irishwoman, Rhiannon Fitzgerald, who saves the life and soul of a wounded English Captain, Lionel Redmayne. She teaches him to love and forgive, I found it to be an incredible, dull lesson.
Rhiannon's mother, according to her deceased father, was a Fairy. Rhiannon has inherited her mother's fairy gifts. The healing ability, the fairy awareness of things seen and unseen, and most importantly, the ability to sense goodness or wickedness in people. Rhiannon senses wonderful spiritual goodness in Lionel Redmayne.
Redmayne is a troubled soldier. The author tells us that he has done terrible deeds. Redmayne believes that he has no soul, no love to give, no hope of redemption. Redmayne feels that Rhiannon is an angel.
There is interminable blathering in this romance concerning Rhiannon's innocence and Redmayne's soiled soul. Pages and pages, on and on, etcetera, etcetera. There is little action, just pages of alternating internal monologues.
**Spoilers**
But at the core of all this blah, blah, blah is the usual plot. The Innocent, too-stupid-to-live virgin heroine wants to heal the tormented noble hero with her unconditional love and a large dose of redeeming sex. She ignores all warnings and places herself in harm's way. The hero must risk his own life to save her from her own ill-considered actions.
Rhiannon believes that Lionel needs to reconcile with his Grandfather, so she accepts the old man's invitation to dine. Mind you, Lionel has shared the trauma of his upbringing with Rhiannon.
The fairy senses must have been having an off day. Grandfather Paxton Redmayne is evil through and through. A thieving murderer who steals from destitute widows. An abusive authoritarian who made Lionel's childhood a total hell.
Now Lionel has to rescue Rhiannon from the clutches of evil, vindictive Paxton Redmayne. This denouement takes about 51 pages in a 371 page novel.
This was a really dull novel with a saintly heroine, little action and a morose sad-sack hero.
Not recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fairy-kissed love story that will knock you out!, March 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Briar Rose (Mass Market Paperback)

Kimberly Cates always writes a magical, heart-rending story and this is no exception. Maybe her best book yet, BRIAR ROSE is the touching tale of a wounded English captain known for his fierceness and an Irish maiden with a healing hand and gentle heart. Caught in a web of danger and secrets, they have no choice but trust each other--and their trust blossoms into a truly memorable love. Kimberly Cates's Ireland is such a delicious place! If ever there was a magical setting in which anything is possible, this is it. And her characters are passionate, full-bodied, full of life and emotion. I adored this book!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, August 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Briar Rose (Mass Market Paperback)

Okay, okay - at first I was going to criticize this book, saying it had none of the magic of Cates' previous book GATHER THE STARS. It seemed long-winded - too much self-talk between actions. But as I got into it, Rhiannon won me over, and later so did Lion. What a gentle, forgiving creature she was! Redmayne has almost too many layers of pain to work through but Rhiannon kept at it. Certain passages brought tears to my eyes - always a sign of a 5 star book. Try it. Cates really is a master of romance.