Customer Reviews

Candle in the Window

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I really enjoyed this Great Book. I think it is one of Ms.Dodd's Greatest works. Lady Saura is a Couragous woman who overcomes the handicap of Blindness and finds a way to help someone else(Sir William of Miraval) do the same. I thought it was touching and funny when William was kissing all the girls in the castle trying to find the one he kissed and fell for in the bath. When William(who's eyesight was lost from injury) regains his sight suddenly, he cries when he realizes Lady Saura his beloved is blind. These Characters have lots of depth. You will laugh and cry , but most important of all this book is a KEEPER!! Worth your Money!!!

I LOVED this book! It was well-researched, well-written, DIFFERENT, and so moving that I actually cried in places. Kudos to Christina Dodd for giving herself a tough assignment (a medieval heroine with a disability) and turning it into a story of romance, passion and tenderness. I have read other books by Ms. Dodd and enjoyed them, but this is BY FAR the best of them all. THANK YOU!

I have read just about all of Dodd's books but this story is wonderful. Lady Saura of Roget is breathtakenly beautiful, wealthy, intelligent, and living a live of servitude to the stepfather who controls her life. All this, and she is blind as well. She has been summoned to the castle of William of Miraval by his father Lord Peter. This magnificent Knight, Lord William, had been struck down in battle and now was blind.

Who better, to lead William back from the depths of his depression than another blind person, one who could teach him how to deal with his affliction. Saura was brought to William thinking that she was an elderly housekeeper for the castle, and the ruse kept up for quite a while as she slowly tore down the walls, William built around himself. Half way into the book, William does regain his sight, then he must do the healing, and the earning of Saura's trust as he becomes enraptured with this beautiful maiden as treachery abounds as a madman seeks to destroy both William and Saura. Exciting, and breath stopping suspense!

As usual for a Dodd historical, the passion and love scenes are hot. The secondary characters are a delight right down to the faithful dog, Bula! Fabulous story - I highly recommend this story to all and definitely a keeper.

I really loved this book. I was disapointed how easy it is to identify the villian because that's usually the best part of her books but overall it was good. The main characters are likeable and the story was heart warming because it delt with overcoming a handicap. Like other reviewers I concur that it's easier to see this is her earlier work but the true Christina Dodd fans see how far she's come in ten years. I have read all but three of her books and I've never been disappointed.

Candle in the Window is a true classic by Christina Dodd. The book is for any fan of Medieval England and a heroine, who even though is blind (and actually from birth and stays that way) is an incredible young lady who finds her self worth and a wonderful love with a knight and lord who matches her in everyway. Saura is the main reason to read this novel. This is such strong heroine who has such a problem as no sight and is able to function above most.
Saura doesn't let her blindness limit her. At times she does seem depressed because she doesn't think she will ever marry or have children. Her stepfather is abusive and hides her away. But then her life has purpose and there is an adventure on the horizon. A lord comes to her to have her help his son William. William was hit on the head in a battle and is now blind. He has given up on life and is practically a shell of his former self. Saura goes to his castle and gives him a reason to live. She wins over his young son and his people, including William himself.
Soon Saura and Williams become lovers, very intense and passionate ones regardless that they can't see each other. But then Williams regains his sight and enemies come out to try to destroy Saura and William's happiness.
Most should enjoy this love story, especially with an exceptional heroine and her hero who wants her love and cherish her for the rest of her days. Saura can be stubborn at times refusing to marry William because she doesn't want to be a burden. Well, William will show Shaura that he means business and that she means more to him then his own life.
There are come comedic exchanges along with suspense and wonderful characters that will stay with you long after you have read this book.

Katiebabs

I was reading some the the reviews & I wasn't sure if the writers of those reviews realized that this is a very early work of Dodd's. Her later books reflect the growth that she's made. This particular book I really loved when it first came out. I lost my copy and was glad to have a chance to reread it. So when reading it keep in mind it was written almost or more than 10 years ago.

The first 'almost'... 1/4 and the last 'almost'... 1/4 of this book I actually thought was OK, but the whole middle of the book was rather lame and I had to skip through most of it... Their public displays of love were all wrong for that time period and any disability back then(the child would not have been kept alive to even make it to Saura's age)
What the hey, it is fiction and I can live with that.

But, William was supposed to be an intelligent and great Warrior, yet he never showed it even once in my opinion and in fact all the Warriors in this book were more like out of a scene from 'The Keystone Cops'.
For example, William would never have ridden off blind with a blind Saura with just the two boys pulling the lead strings of their horses outside the castle into who knew what in those troubled times.
And they made love in the da--dest places instead of getting the h--- out of dangerous situations... first! (William never seemed to have a plan)and neither did any of the other Warriors. More the acts of untrained juveniles than great Warriors. I just couldn't buy any of it.
I liked Bronnie and the name of the book "Candle in the Window' and that's about it. I liked William and Saura but like I said, they just did not ring true and believable for that time period.
But, they did beat the constantly fighting, I love you, I love you not, hero's and heroines of other books I have read. I would still get this one from the library though, that way if you are of the same opinion that I am, you haven't wasted any money or if you have the 5 star opinion of some other reviewers here after reading it, you can still buy it. That way you can't go wrong!(;

I loved this book! Saura was such a strong woman who didn't just sit back due to her blindness. I loved it when she would put him in his place while he was blind,feeling sorry for himself and acting like a spoiled brat. The tenderness he showed her when he recovered her sight was so touching. I just happened to pick up this book at a store one day and now I have read it twice. It is one I will read whenever I want to be uplifted!

I have to give Ms. Dodd a A+ on this one. Not your typical love story. These people had problems and they over came their problems through loving each other. Just because one regained their sight it didn't mean the other person became weak. But they learn to build on each other strengths that's what made this story work. It's good to read a story and know that people have real problems. It just wasn't that old when will they know that they the love each other thing going on. But it's was nice to see two people who know that they want and went after it together. It's also nice to know that it's not all about good-looking, but who you are and what on the inside that counts. Now that for real.

Setting: Medieval England, 1153
Sensuality: 7

I greatly enjoyed Candle in the Window even though I don't normally read medieval historical romances - I'm more into the regency/Victorian setting. I am a great fan of Christina Dodd's novels, however, so I wanted to read this earlier work of hers (1991).

Saura and William were a wonderful pair and I enjoyed the interactions and chemistry between them. Saura was kind, courageous, and capable; her strength was a wonderful thing to see in a heroine and the fact that she is blind adds a nice twist for someone who has read almost every historical romance out there! William was one of those tough warrior heroes, but he was so tender and sensitive with Saura that it made my heart melt. He was quick-witted and loyal and I loved his possessiveness of Saura and jealousy over others admiring her (he doesn't take it out on her or anything like that, so it's actually very sweet).

CRITICISMS:
There are two reasons that I couldn't give it five stars, the first being also one of the main reasons that I don't normally read medieval romances: because when the author is accurate in depicting the times (as they should be) there are a lot of things which bother me: the young age at which women were married, the widespread acceptance of physical punishment, etc. Though William never abuses Saura, he clarifies to her brothers that he doesn't believe in hitting his wife even if she deserves it - sorry, I just don't believe anyone "deserves" being hit. Also, he does slap one of the servant women, Hawisa, at the beginning. Overall, William is NOT one of those heroes that you feel acts more like a villain, so please don't think that; he's very sweet and understanding with Saura. I also didn't like the constant references to "sluts" and some of the characterizations of the serfs and churls. These were all probably accurate for the times, but it is why I normally steer clear of romances from this era.

My second criticism is that Saura's objections to marrying William, her subsequent turnaround, Maude and Lord Peter's plan - it was all very murky and unclear. I didn't fully understand the emotional obstacles to William and Saura's relationship, as it seems like Dodd couldn't make up her own mind throughout the novel about what it was that was stopping them from being completely happy and open with one another. In the end it all resolves itself, of course, but there was just a general murkiness and vacillation on this subject throughout the novel that detracted from the overall quality of the story.

SUMMARY (from the back cover):
"Lady Saura of Roget lives a lonely life of servitude - her fortune controlled by her cruel, unscrupulous stepfather. Yet it is she who has been called upon to brighten the days of Sir William of Miraval, a proud and noble knight who once swore to live or perish by the sword ... until his world was engulfed in agonizing darkness. Summoned to Sir William's castle, the raven-haired innocent is soon overcome by desire and love for the magnificent, golden warrior who has quickly laid siege to her heart. But there is a grave danger awaiting them both just beyond the castle walls ... and a dear and deadly price to be paid for surrendering to a fiery, all-consumed love."

BOTTOM LINE:
I would highly recommend this book - the hero was to die for and it was easy to respect Saura and want her to finally get the happy ending she deserved. It wasn't my favorite Christina Dodd, but definitely worth reading and I am glad I bought it, so that I can reread it in the future.