To The Castle [Mass Market Paperback]

Joan Wolf (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2005

Twelfth-century Normandy -- as a fierce battle for the crown erupts, a powerful knight and his innocent bride will discover their destinies are passionately entwined . . .

Just weeks away from taking her holy vows, Nell de Bonvile learns of her elder sister's tragic death. Swept from the convent, she is ordered to take Sybilla's place as bride to Roger de Roche, heir to Britain's most powerful earldom. Lovely, naïve and totally unprepared for life outside the convent or the ways of men, Nell bravely faces her uncertain future.

Indifferent to marriage for anything other than political gain, Roger is prepared to wait until his innocent bride comes to him willingly. Yet as he watches Nell blossom from timid girl to courageous mistress of his keep, his desire for her grows all-consuming. But war gives no quarter to newfound passion, plunging them both into a battle that will pit father against son, invaders against loyalists, testing every whispered word, and each unspoken promise . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Nell de Bonvile has unexpectedly been summoned from the convent where she was raised to take her now-deceased older sister's place in a marriage destined to unite the holdings of two of England's most powerful lords under one man pledged to support King Stephen in the coming civil war. Nell's intended is equally loath, but matters progress swiftly, and the two soon find themselves married. A considerate man, Roger is willing to give his bride time before consummating the marriage, but domestic upheavals caused by a jealous lady-in-waiting as well as the natural impatience of a young man who desires his wife cause unforeseen troubles at a time when Roger must devote all his training and experience to the service of his king. Wolf's intricately plotted and vividly detailed historical romance introduces the reader to a time and a conflict unfamiliar to many and offers intriguing glimpses of the main players and the great stakes involved. Lynne Welch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Humor and romance, plus . . . adventure, make this a story sure to be enjoyed." -- Romance Reviews Today on White Horses

"The always-awesome Joan Wolf proves she is a master in any format or genre." -- Romantic Times

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778322033
• ISBN-13: 978-0778322030
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,790,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joan Wolf is a USA TODAY bestselling American writer, whose acclaimed Regency romances have earned her national recognition as a master of the genre. Her many historical and contemporary romances, some of which have been chosen as Literary Guild selections, have been highly praised by reviewers and authors alike.

Joan was born in 1951 and she grew up in the Bronx, New York. A former English teacher, she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Mercy College and Master in English and Comparative Literature at Hunter College. An avid rider and horse owner, Joan lives in Connecticut with her husband Joe and two grown children, Jay and Pam.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars My First Joan Wolf Disaster, July 9, 2006

By 

Laurel Tyndall "Nevelyna" (Lawrenceville, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To The Castle (Mass Market Paperback)

I must admit, first of all, that I did not finish this book. I also must admit that it has, so far, been the only romance that I have ever read that made me throw the book across the room in frustration. Not only once, but TWICE. I stopped reading it the first time after the heroine simply snuggled up to the man after he just took what he wanted when I, personally, deemed that she still wasn't ready for it and felt that the consummation of the marriage should have been withheld until she was more comfortable with herself. And that it happened that very same evening that he had committed adultery was just another added sucker punch to my stomache.

I picked it up again the next day because I was curios of the heroine's reaction to finding out that the affair had happened and I will say that I was impressed with it, but not with how long it held. When she forgave him after what I, again personally, felt was by FAR too short a period I threw it across the room again and only picked it up to close it and put it back on my bookshelf, never to be picked up again unless I am truly desperate for something new to read and do not have time to go by the bookstore.

For those of you who love strong heroines who don't just give in because the man they love gives them a deep and passionate kiss, I don't believe, from as much as I read, that you would like this book anymore than I did and might just find yourselves as equally frustrated. If you do, go ahead and give it a try. It was pretty well written if rushed and infuriating.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What happened?, August 25, 2005

By 

Mkath - See all my reviews

This review is from: To The Castle (Mass Market Paperback)

Wolf, used to be one of the best regency writers around. She's changed - suddenly her heros are beta males with no attractive qualities. Her heroines are wishy washy whiny babies. Her stories are watered down. Skip this one.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars At least better than her recent few, August 22, 2005

By 

Sarah Bik "gypsy reader" (Kansas City, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To The Castle (Mass Market Paperback)

I have to agree with previous reviews. This storyline was mediocre, somewhat boring, and one dimensional. Nell especially bored me. There were no undercurrents or tension or anything very complex like the emotions we experienced in Golden Girl or Guardian. I forced myself to finish this book, believing that it would improve. It didn't. And what happened to all the subtle humor JW used to sprinkle in her novels? At least this one was better than the disastrous last few contemporary novels JW wrote, as well as the historical White Horses which I thought was one of her worst romance novels yet.