Customer Reviews

Lord of Falcon Ridge

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

 

 

If you're reading romance novels, one has to adknowledge you're not reading epic literature.

I loved the whole Viking trilogy.
Catherine Coulter writes engaging characters with fleshed out supporting cast, and I always feel like they're a step above the rest.

The romance between Cleve and Chessa is sweet, and it feels like it develops genuinely. It's not the throwing chairs at each other they cant stand each other, and somehow they end up in bed together and married sort of romance. Cleve struggles with his betrayal by Sarla and with his duty of transporting Chessa to her betrothed. His inner struggle feels genuine, because it's not overdone. He doesnt accuse Chessa of being a liar because she is a woman, he just holds himself adistance, struggling to seperate what he sees from what he wants to turn it into. Chessa only sees him as the honest, upright sort, and most importantly, beautiful. She's intelligent and the most important part of understanding Cleve and Chessa's romance is delving into everything that isnt said. The characters from the previous two viking novels are still fleshed out and Laren still tells her stories.

This is my favorite of the Viking trilogy. Catherine Coulter shouldnt be the first author that you turn to if you're just looking for bawdry sex scenes or romance that borders on escapism. Her characters have depth and substance, and there's always a bit of a mystery to keep you guessing.

Next to The Nightingale Legacy, this is up there on my list of favorites.

I like it. (Actually I like almost all of Ms.Coulter's historical romances). I don't know why others don't. It's a good viking romance though not Ms.Coulter's best. This book is not as bad as others may think.

When I read romances, I read them for the adventure and action. I also like the way most romance novel women are stubborn and fiery etc etc. It amuses me. However, each time I finish a romance novel I am disgusted with the ending. I cannot believe that any woman would fall in love with a man that had raped her or what not. I cannot and do not like the concept that the man must "tame" the heroine by the end. They can be amusing to read, but always disappoint.

The Lord of Falcon Ridge is the very first romance novel I have read in which I could swallow the ending (yay! it wasn't ruined!) I liked the way Cleve (Viking lord) wasn't out to dominate Chessa (Irish princess). I mean, they had their struggles, but Chessa was never treated badly by Cleve. This is what I like- Chessa is not seduced by him despite her resolution to hate the guy, she choses him and that's that.

The Viking setting is cool with adequate amounts of scheming and fighting, but for those of you who read romances for the sex, stick with Elizabeth Lowell (yuck)! For those of you who read romances for the action, I would reccommend this book. Thanks!

I have read several Catherine Coulter books and I am afraid to say they keep getting worse ! I really enjoyed her writing at first; kept looking for all of her stories. But after reading so many, I find the major difference between each of her characters, especially the men, is their names. There are a few unique traits perhaps with each of them, however, they are so closely related they have become easily predictable. Most of the men have been in the same situation, say the exact same things, treat the women identically in every story, to which the women respond identically in each...etc. This one in particular was the very worst, at some points, I actually laughed at the silliness of the characters. I really couldn't believe how ridiculous some of the dialogue was.I thought I would finish the novel despite my disappointment but I just can't. I could go on but there's really no point. Ms. Coulter is a fine writer, I just wish she would write a different story...maybe put some real effort into it.

I enjoyed having all the characters from the first two books included in this one, however, there seemed to be three separate stories with many slow areas. Typos were numerous as well as contradictions, such as; pg. 153 "It was so unexpected, the concubine screamed" - pg. 162 "Weren't the two young girls last night quite lovely? They're mute, born that way . . ." Lastly, this novel was very believable until Lord Varrick with his magic stick entered. At that point it was as if Ms. Coulter ran out of things to write about and didn't know how to get out of the story. I have read and enjoyed many Catherine Coulter novels prior to this and will continue to do so.

I am still trying to figure out this book. I actually wondered if the writer was a bit senile. Chessa, the heroine, reacts oddly to many situations, more like a confused child. The overall book gave me a confused, eerie feeling, and the plot could barely hold water. I can't compare this to her other books, since this one put me off the author permanently, but this book was so terrible I had to review it and find out if anyone else was thinking, "What?"

I finished the tri even though the 1st book was terrible and the 2nd was very good and now the third seemed to be thrown in to complete the set. It was an ok read, but I came away not really caring about how it ended. The characters and the setting never really worked well together and the the back and forth story between certain characters became a bore. Glad I am done with the set. I do not think Ms. Coulters books are ones that I will go in search for in the future.

There are 4 books to the viking series. And I purposely saved this to read last because I thought I would like this one the LEAST. Was I ever wrong!!! It turns out to be the second best right behind Season of the Sun.

I laugh like crazy during the parts when Chessa wanted Cleve to look good in front of the guys so she made up that Cleve made love to her 5 times during the night and that his size was beyond anything she's seen. This become the envy of the boys because they didn't think it was possible.

I thought this story was cute. The heroine really liked Cleve and admired his ability and wanted him regardless of what other said. There were no abuse here between the herione and hero which is refreshing.

The one thing I didn't like about the story is that they never explained how Chessa had certain power and ability and were able to see things that Cleve's father were able to see.

This is definitely the worst of the Viking Trilogy! Coulter is one of the more prolific writers and also one of the most inconsistent. The best of the series was the first (Hawkfell), followed by the second (Raven's Peak). Ms Coulter should have stopped there.

While Chessa was a spunky, likeable heroine, I have no clue what made her so mad so quickly about Cleve. I found him dull, dull, dull! His daughter was quite cute, but for the life of me, I couldn't see what Chessa saw in him.

And the whole Loch Ness monster thing and the magic stick Cleve's father had - well it was just plain silly.

I'm the sort who will read and re-read over and over books that I like. This will not be one of them.

Bravo Ms.Coulter. I must admit that at first I didn't want to read this book because of low ratings other readers had given and besides low ratings-----I didn't seem to accept a scarred hero) I gave it a try though and I found that I was a fool to dislike disfigured heros) This book is much better than I thought. The hero is Cleve of Malverne from 'Lord of Raven Peak' (2nd book in trilogy) he is now friend of Lord Merrik and a Viking warrior. The heroine is Princess Chessa (she is Eze, daughter of the wizard Hormuze from 'Lord of Hawkfell Island') Cleve has a scar on a side of his face but it does not reduce the beauty of his face in Chessa's eyes. Their adventure is exciting. The secondary characters do their job well. I highly recommend all the books in Viking Trilogy. They are all entertaining read.