Customer Reviews

Lady Danger (Warner Forever)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is exactly the type of story I adore. The woman is not a shrinking violet that screams and waits for a guy to rescue her. She doesn't pine away in a tower, watching the world drift by because she's too feeble to actually take control of her own life. Instead, she picks up her sword, grabs the dagger out of her boot, and takes a stand for what she believes in.

The heroine is Deidre, eldest daughter of a Scottish Lord. She and her two sisters have been managing the castle as their father slips into senility. Along comes Pagan Cameliard who has been given control of the castle and a sister's hand in marriage. The girls don't like this, but Deidre accepts it as her fate. She may have to marry him for political reasons, but she doesn't have to like him - or yield to him in bed.

What follows is the kind of story I love. She's a bit arrogant, having had control for so long, and has trouble realizing Pagan is actually a match for her. He's a bit arrogant too, thinking women are brainless twits. Both of them get a rude awakening that at first bothers them, then intrigues them. She realizes that Pagan is actually an amazingly good fighter and worthy of her respect. He realizes that Deidre does have a sharp mind and a well toned body, and that he is drawn to both. I love the combination of verbal jousting and physical swordplay. It's like watching scenes from Conan or Alias come to life.

I really do enthusiastically give this book five stars, as it is so much in the style that I appreciate, but I will call out a few minor items that nagged at me. Pagan is a man of honor and shows it in several ways - but on the other hand he quickly attempts something DIShonorable that really, really bugged me. It really had an impact on how I felt about his character. Also, it irks me that often in romance stories the guy has slept around with every girl he's met, is comfortable and well skilled in love as being "normal". The woman, on the other hand, is a frigid ice queen that has never even been kissed. It's the whole "new car smell" stereotype that the Victorians concocted and still affects teenagers in modern times! It really concerns me that we perpetuate these ideas that women have to be pure and chaste while guys are only "real guys" if they've slept with anything that moves. Why would sex be natural for a male, but unnatural for a female?

In any case, these are issues I have to face in most romance novels so I was able to get past them here. In general the book was brilliant, was a quick and fun read, and I'd love to see more stories come out in this style.

UPDATE:

Another reviewer suggested The Wolf and the Dove was far better than Lady Danger. WolfDove was written in 1974 so I tried to give it some leeway - but I was *really* upset by much of it. The woman is raped by one guy. Then she is CONTINUALLY raped by a second guy who is the "hero"!! Her solution is to nag this guy literally every day until he marries her. His reward - she now actively participates in sex instead of just laying there!

Her only "drawing feature" for these guys - mentioned repeatedly - is how beautiful she is. Other women are actively scorned for being "not curvy enough" or infertile. I'm not even mentioning the many technical writing issues - just the characters themselves were very upsetting to me as a modern reader. I really hope women don't think that a guy who continually rapes them in any era is someone they should nag into marriage. She should have run. Immediately.

Lady Danger is FAR far better than that book. Deidre stands up for herself, she protects her people, she is intelligent and respected for her skills. Pagan actively refuses to take her unwillingly because, as a knight, he swore an oath! Knights did actually take those oaths seriously most of the time. If one didn't, he wouldn't be the guy I'd want as a hero in a romance novel.

Deidre is exactly what I would want to be in a woman in that time period - and Pagan is exactly the man I would want to stand by my side.

Seems like I've been reading a lot of really poorly written period romances lately while I wait for the next offerings from Mary Balogh, Lisa Kleypas and Stephanie Laurens. I'd about given up trying anyone new after so many disappointments. But after reading the blurb about this book, I couldn't resist and boy, am I glad I didn't. Great original characters, great stories, great writing, great everything! I quickly bought the follow-up book, "Captive Heart" (Colin and Helena's story), and liked it just as well, if not better than Pagan and Deirdre's story. The only downside...having to wait until next spring for the final book in the trilogy, the last sister, Miriel's story.

These sisters are totally unique to so-called romance fiction, at least in my experience (which is fairly considerable), especially Helena. They are warriors all, and as written by the remarkably talented Ms. McKerrigan they are totally believable. God, it's so nice to have truly strong and capable female protagonists for a change. Add to that the fact that the author managed to create men who come to value their ladies strength, bravery and sense of honor as they would any other true warrior, and to my mind you have the perfect love stories. Ms. McKerrigan also manages to write very sensual love scenes without going over the top. They flow so naturally and carry a true visceral punch. She's done absolutely everything right, except making us wait so long for Miriel's story.

I'm not going to go into storylines. Read the books. I promise you will not regret purchasing both "Lady Danger" and "Captive Heart". If I could give them more than 5 stars, I would. And I'm not one to gush over books. Most of those I read (30+ per month) I don't bother to review because I can't find anything nice to say about any of them, especially when others seem to like them so much. I'm from the old school...if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

Thank God Ms. McKerrigan has allowed me to say so many nice things. Happy reading.

I really liked this book! It was well written, and keeps your attention. Once you start reading you cant put it down till you finish.
I highly recommend this book, as well as her other 2 novels in this series!

I was very excited to read this book and to see such good reviews I could not wait. I have to say while I LOVE reading stories about women being capable of handling a sword and taking care of themselves this was just beyond the norm. I felt like I was reading about two men for goodness sake. Diedre was just TO manly for my taste, so much so I've decided to by pass Hellenas book because she was worse. The third sister Meriums book I decided to purchase and hopefully will see just a little more softness to this sister. It's not a bad book but is not one of my favorites. If there had been a little more softness to this character I would have given this a five star.

I first bought captive heart by accident and read the second book first and realized their was a first after 2 days straight of reading the second book I searched all over to find Lady Danger and thankfully Amazon still had it in stock as most book stores are sold out. This book was as wonderful as the captive heart and the stories blend right in and you ready about all the sisters and what they are all going threw at one point in the story. I read this in 24hrs I couldn't put it down I loved it! Deirdre after wrapping herself in a cape to cover her face takes the place at Pagan side and marries him to save her youngest sister from having to be married to what she calls a norman Pagan who has come on the orders of the king to rule over Rivenlock and to be married to one of the kings daughters. When he discovers that its Deirdre that he married in mistake of her sister Mirel he sets out to win her heart and he has to work hard to prove to her that not only is he the man to rule and save Rivenlock but that he will go to no means end to make her love him and win her heart as she steals his and along the way learning that a woman can fight as well as a man with a sword in battle and that her place belongs beside him. You also learn about Helena and her sister Miriel. I have to say I did not think a book could get any better but read this and then read Captive heart!!!!! I enjoyed them both and Captive Heart was even better if you like Helena. I cannot wait to see the 3rd book Knight's Prize and ready about Miriel to see if its just as good as these two books are!

This had such a lack of reality that one could almost name it a fantasy.
The actions of the heroine and her sisters was especially unbelievable as regards either common sense or the period.
Still, it was a rollicking tale and galloped along at an enjoyable pace.
Deidre is the eldest of the three daughters of the lord of Rivenloch. Their father is ageing and no longer fit to hold this important Scottish keep. With this in mind, the King despatches one of his most capable Norman knights, Sir Pagan Cameliard, to take control and also wed one of the daughters.
Needless to say none of the three are pleased. The eldest two have trained in arms for years. Deidre decides to save her youngest sister, Miriel from 'sacrificing' herself to the Norman and succesfully substitutes herself in the marriage ceremony.
A continual head-on battle then rages between Pagan and Deidre for dominance of both each other and Rivenloch.
Deidre was quite unbelievable, she was so pig-headedly determined to have her own way without any regard to the realities. Pagan was far more grounded in the reality of the time and only showed a lack of intelligence by not dropping the nit-witted Deidre over the battlements on her thick skull.
The younger sisters' tales are to follow and they promise to be just as distantly grounded in fantasy.
A bit of semi-medieval fluff.

Deirdre and her sisters, Helena and Miriel, have been informed by King David that one of them must wed the Norman knight Pagan. Not only do they object to being told what to do, but Pagan is a Norman and they are Scottish therefore, he is inferior in their eyes.

Pagan and his friend Colin spy on the three sisters while they bathe and are stunned by their beauty. Deirdre sneaks up on them and challenges the men, intending to teach them a lesson. When Deirdre discovers that the man she is arguing with is Pagan, her deep attraction to him concerns her.

Although Pagan decides to marry the meek and youngest sister Miriel, he dreams of Deirdre. However, Deirdre has no intention of allowing her sister to marry such a dominant and controlling man. She gets Helena drunk and locks Miriel away hoping to keep them disposed so she can sacrifice herself and marry Pagan.

Pagan finds his beautiful wife to be very frustrating. She is unlike any woman he has ever known. She fights with him constantly, and yet, his attraction and respect for her grow daily. Deirdre tries to keep Pagan at a distance, but her attempts are in vain because Pagan is proving to be as honorable as he is handsome.

Just as their relationship is becoming amiable, the castle is attacked. With her skill and determination, Pagan finds Deirdre a valuable partner in defending the keep. When his life is in danger, he sees that his wife is made of more than just beauty and brawn. Deirdre is courageous and her will is unstoppable, she is exactly the kind of woman that could win his warrior heart.

Lady Danger is terrific! Deirdre is strong and compassionate, a great heroine to read about. Deirdre and her very handsome and noble husband Pagan make a powerful and passionate team that made it impossible for me to put this book down. The characters of Lady Danger combine to make a very enjoyable story bursting with action and sensuality, add this in with a terrific story line, and I found Lady Danger a keeper that will definitely be re-read. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Helena's story in Captive Heart sounds just as captivating as Lady Danger is.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

This is the best romance novel I have ever read! I stayed up until 4:00am to finnish it.

LADY DANGER by Sarah McKerrigan
April 15, 2006

Amazon rating 3.5/5


"In the summer of 1136, three daughters of the Lord of Rivenloch swim nude in a pond as Sir Pagan Cameliard and Colin Du Lac watch. The men think they are safely hidden from view, but the eldest sister, Deirdre, sneaks up on them from behind while they fixate on the other two. Deirdre proves that she's more than just a refined lady - she and her sister Helena are both skilled fighters, as good as any man. Miriel, the youngest, however takes after their deceased mother, who was frail and lady-like.

What the sisters don't know is that Pagan and Colin are members of a group of Normans who have come to take over their family's castle, a gift to Pagan from King David. One of the sisters will be forced to marry their new lord. When Pagan and Colin find out who the three sisters are, Pagan decides to marry the youngest (and least difficult) Miriel. Deirdre has other ideas. At the wedding, Deirdre (disguised with the help of Miriel's maid Sung Li) takes her sister's place.

Once husband and wife, Pagan and Deirdre argue over everything, including who has the right to rule the castle. Deirdre refuses to give up her authority. Pagan feels that her place is by his side, as a submissive wife. It takes a lot of convincing to change his mind, but in the meantime, Deirdre - frustrated by the chain of events that led to this situation - defies his orders by training every day with the men, practicing with her sword and wearing chain mail. Pagan isn't sure whether he's turned on by her independence, or furious that she dares to defy his every command." - Complete review at BookLoons - M. Lofton

While not the perfect historical romance, I did enjoy LADY DANGER. The characters were fun, but I wanted to see more of some of the minor characters, including their father Lord Rivenloch. Start of a trilogy, will pick up the other two as they are published.

Deirdre is the oldest of three sisters and the most levelheaded. Her home, Rivenloch, has just been handed over to a Pagan, one of King David's most feared knights. Also part of the package is a wife for Pagan, one of the three sisters. To protect her younger sister, whom Pagan chose, Deirdre tricks Pagan into marrying her instead.

Pagan, unbelievably, doesn't seem to care either way whom he marries. He has more important things in mind, such as training his knights to protect the keep, securing his new estate and acclimating himself to his new duties. Deirdre, of course, fights him every step of the way while Pagan patiently seeks to win her loyalty and love. But when their home is suddenly under siege by English raiders, Pagan and Deirdre join forces to face the onslaught.

I just read The Wolf and the Dove, by Kathleen Woodiwiss, a few days ago and the thrill of that book still pulses under my skin, which is why when I read this one, I couldn't help but compare the two. The storylines are similar: A courageous saxon maiden witnesses the takeover of her home by Norman knights, one of whom will become the new lord, and tries to survive it.

Lady Danger falls flat on its face because the storyline is too one-dimensional and the characters are not that spectacular. Also, some of the things in the book are hard to swallow. Pagan's tolerance of Deirdre's numerous rebellious acts, for example, are a bit hard to believe especially since she is part of the conquered. It seemed too far-fetched.

Overall, the book is tolerable but easily forgettable.