Customer Reviews

The Marriage Bed (Avon Romantic Treasure)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

It is a challenge to write a historical romance with a serial adulterer as the hero, but Laura Lee Guhrke *almost* pulls it off. The hero of "The Marriage Bed" is Lord John Hammond, a charming, handsome rakish heartbreaker who has been estranged from his wife, Lady Viola Hammond for eight years at the beginning of the story. Six months after their wedding, romantic young Viola had been stunned to learn that John had been keeping a mistress all during their courtship while simultaneously professing his love for Viola. Sickened by his duplicity and realizing that he had only married her for her money, the headstrong Viola had locked John out of her bedroom and refused to listen to his (actually, rather lame) explanations. Fed up with her behavior and accusations, John left her after a month and over the years has had a string of mistresses. Viola, meanwhile, has devoted herself to charity work since divorce is not an option.

When his cousin's death unexpectedly leaves John without a trustworthy heir to his title and property, he approaches Viola with a demand to again live as husband and wife in order to produce a son and heir. Viola is unenthusiastic about the plan since he broke her heart as a young bride and since then has humiliated her for years with his series of mistresses. John proceeds to try to charm and seduce his way back into a reluctant Viola's life.

John is certainly a charmer, but his careless treatment of the women in his life certainly is a less than heroic quality. More fatally for his character (IMO), he lacks any sense of self-awareness--he does not seem to know what a jerk he is. I tend to like flawed heroes and heroines, and I liked John fairly well although he remained a bit too selfish and immature for most of the book for my taste. Viola is a reasonably good heroine--a proud woman trying desperately not to fall for the same lines and act that she had when she first fell in love with her husband.

I thought that the premise had a lot of potential for exploring issues of betrayal and forgiveness within a marriage, and when the book concentrated on these themes I liked it a great deal. ("Do you love me?" "Of course, I adore you." This exchange from their courtship is burned into Viola's mind as a symbol of John's duplicity.) I liked less the scenes of John trying to seduce and sweet-talk his way back into Viola's life as if the past eight years had not happened. I had a lot of trouble believing that she would fall for the same old routine from him, particularly since she knew that his seduction was motivated by a desire for an heir this time and not by rediscovered love.

The story is engaging with the focus fully on the hero and heroine and their attempts to rebuild their failed marriage. I liked this book and admire the author's willingness to take on a very controversial topic.

Recommended to historical romance readers who enjoy character-driven romance with flawed heroes and heroines (with warnings to those for whom adultery is a major turn-off in a romance novel.)

Well, I knew this would be an emotional tear jerker before I'd even turned the first page. What is it about characters and stories that go so horribly wrong at some point, and you just know you're in for a rocky, emotional read, but you go ahead and punish yourself anyway? Because, for me at least, it is so worth it when the characters reach a beautiful reconciliation. So, yeah, I'm willing to shed a few tears and mope for the hero and heroine, cry, laugh and cheer them on because that sort of reaction is what makes a book worthy in my opinion. When you feel strongly for the characters, you know you've found a winner.

John Hammond knew he'd be inheriting a viscountcy one day, but the yoke of responsibility was never one he worried about. Why worry when he has a relative to rely on for such boring things as an heir? When the unthinkable happens to his beloved relative, John is again faced with the fact that he must have an heir. Thankfully, he already has a wife...now he just has to convince her to let him back in her good graces after almost nine years of being out of them. Lady Viola has gotten on with her life after her husband trounced her heart in a most unforgivable manner. She no longer needs the unscrupulous man, but when John enters her life once more, demanding she do her wifely duty, her carefully constructed world comes crumbling down around her. What is she to do in the face of the one person whom she thought she could trust with her happiness? John is determined to claim his wife again, but the real question is has he learned anything from his past mistakes?

As wretched as I felt for both the hero and heroine, I just could not stop till I had completely finished their tale. John and Viola are the type of historical romance couple readers will either love or hate. Both have been wounded by the other and simply cannot come to terms with their differences and so they trade hurtful barbs and cutting remarks for years. The reason they worked for me, I confess with no small amount of glee, is that John does have a remarkable revelation about his character, his utter disregard for the feelings of the women in his life. He was a lier, he was a cheater and he broke hearts. In a way, this historical is unique because it tells of the awakening of a typical "rogue" and how he comes to realize how his actions have hurt others, especially his estranged wife. I just love it when a character like his gets what's coming to him. In this case he got an in-the-face dousing of pure and simple reality. It just took the love of an exceptional woman like Viola to help him accomplish it. Did he deserve her? No, not really. But did they deserve a chance at happiness? Absolutely, and that is what this book is all about. I just love it too when I find a new author to read and I am planning to backtrack to her previous titles before this one. Many interesting secondary characters - i.e. Viola's brother Anthony and his wife Daphne, their mutual friend Dylan - all have their own stories prior to this one. (See "His Every Kiss" and "Guilty Pleasures") Despite the heartache this one evoked I give it five stars for being an absolute pleasure to read.

Let me preface this by saying: I married young to a man I placed high on a pedestal and he fell flat on his face after one glorious year. I think Laura Lee Guhrke has done an outstanding job of writing the main characters. Remember that when they marry, Violet is all of 16. She doesn't have the maturity to understand men or the physical side of life and her hurt blinds her to everything else. I am shocked at how much readers thought the feelings were so unbelievable. When I read this book, it was like walking into my life (except 200 years ago). I hero worshipped my husband and he failed my expectations miserably. But we worked it out and I love him more now then ever before because I realized that no one is perfect. I don't blame myself and that is not at all what Ms. Guhrke was trying to portray (which another reviewer wrote). She was writing both sides of the story.
Also, clearly some readers do not understand this time period. Men had mistresses. Period. The fact that he had one before and not after his marriage (when they first marry) is a testimate to the fact that he was did feel strongly for Violet and was trying to make their marriage work.
Contrary to other reviews, I think John is absolutely one of the best male historical characters I have ever read. He is so human! I don't want a hero who is the most handsome, sensitive, caring, Perfect man in the world. How boring! How unrealistic! John was a flawed man who has never learned to love and because of this, he lost the adoration of his wife. So many times I read romance novels that describe the male character and I wonder how, if he is so perfect, how can he still be so pure and not swarmed by women (please). This book is about two real flawed characters and their attempt to forgive and start over in order to carry on the family title (make heirs).
Violet was written almost as well as John. She was a stubborn daughter of a Duke who is used to having everything her way. She loved John from nearly the first moment she saw him and is absolutely devestated when he falls from the pedastal she placed him on. Such understanding and insight is given to Violet's character and yet she isn't seen as the perfect wife, either. She has her flaws and her own part in their seperation. Ms. Guhrke is not saying that it is Violet's fault and whoever thinks that is not reading this book thoroughly.

Warning: if you are offended by cheating husbands who try to reform, do not read this book. He has slept with other women and freely admits doing so. I know this can sometimes be offensive to women.
Usually, I am the kind of reader who will stop reading a book if the hero does not give up his mistress after he marries the heroine. I like my rakes reformed :-) but this book is different. This starts 8 years after the marriage has fallen apart and tells the story of how 2 people who made a lot of mistakes try to put it all back together again.
I could re-read the playful bantering as John tries to win back Violet over and over it was so entertaining. For the reviewers who didn't believe he could try to woo her again, what the heck was he supposed to do?! Bringing back the positive memories, the reason they fell in love in the first place is the best thing a man can do. Did you want scenes where he is begging on his knees, crying into her skirt, swearing his undying love forever and ever?! How about a realistic charming man who realizes his mistakes, tries to win back his wife slowly and surely, and makes her happy at the end. I'll take this story anyday over a sweetened love-sick swain professing his un-tested love to some immature young girl. The characters are flawed and I love them the more for it.
Anyone can write a story about perfect characters with a light villian and a happily ever after. It takes talent to make a cheating husband and betrayed wife come together and Laura Lee Guhrke does it beautifully.

This book should have been titled Foolish. Because that is what the herioine is for accepting this degenerate masquarading as a "hero" and that is how I felt after wasting my time with this book. I liked the character of Viola from her appearances in other books by Guhrke. I hoping for something wonderful for her. Instead, the writer chose to attach the herioine to one of the worst male leads(he is no hero)ever. Lies, manipulation,infidelity, disrespect,emotional detachment and, oh yes, a bastard child. Is there no end to the humiliation Viola will endure for the love of John? And what does John bring to the table? He's witty, charming, a great lover(lots of experience) and, only after his biggest transgression has been revealed, his "love". I take that the reader is left to surmise that John's reaction to his daughter is proof that he has grown to value family and no longer looks upon Viola as his brood mare. Condraduatlations, jerk.

John is a man with absolutely no respect for women. He is a character unworthy of a fine heroine like Viola. And this is a book that was unworthy of my time. Unless you are sympathetic to doormats or think neglect and emotional abuse are attractive, steer clear of this one and save yourself the aggravation.

I was skeptical at first when I started reading. The main characters John and Viola are interesting. At first I didn't think I would enjoy the book because John had been having affairs throughout his marriage -- The book starts with them married. But I was patient and kept reading. But the dialogue was so good that I stuck with the book. There is definitely good chemistry with the characters, but what I found fascinating was how the author crafted this story. There is a depth to this book that I hope others will see. You learn that both people in this marriage have made mistakes and when I felt like I would have completely blamed John too if I were in Viola's shoes, I started to see his side of things. Viola kicked him out of her bed about an affair that happened before the marriage. After a month, John went elsewhere therein starts the 9 year separation. This book does a good job of presenting the male's perspective. The characters do a great job venting their frustration to each other in various conversations. What I found profound was the moral of the story: Don't Walk Away. No more running away -- you confront each other and stick with it. Each of the partners have to trust that the other won't walk away. I remember a real life story very similar to this, I was listening to a woman tearfully bemoaning her unhappy marriage. She was a devout Christian and she was tore up because she couldn't get her husband to talk with her, be sensitive and on and on as many women expect men to talk endlessly about their "feelings". Until he could do that, she denied him any physical satisfaction. I felt so sorry for this lady and I couldn't very well explain to her that in many cases, the physical is "how" a man works through his "feelings". Sometimes they can't open up but they can show it by being physical. I always felt it was wrong for a woman to deny herself or her husband that part of their relationship. This book does an excellent job of conveying that idea. I think it should be handed out in marriage counseling sessions. Happy reading!

From others review, I thought the story would be great. Dont mind guy who tried to reform or wooed back his wife. As every human are not perfect.
I somehow felt SICK when Emma Rawlins show up with his infant son. It is not that I mind John decided to raise his bastard son in the house afterwards. But from my understanding that son was more important during that time, why the writer not have just girl from Mistress and boy from the real wife to compensate the reader's feeling?
I could not keep this book (I normally collect all books I like and less like) but this one I donate it to local library the next day after I purchased it (I read through the nite). I will never touch this book ever. I read books for pleasure, not to be left feeling angry for all week!

John was the worst hero ever. He did not care one bit for his wife. And yes he cheated and cheated on her. He also have a baby with one of his mistresses. The mistress was the most sympathetic character.
If you want a good read about a cheating husband please skip this one. You may want to pick up a good Mary Balogh.

I didn't like this book until the end. I thought Viola was annoyingly whiny and that there were too many seduction scenes that totally disregarded the fact that husband and wife had been estranged for so many years. BUT all of a sudden 3/4 of the way through the book things change, John changes, Viola changes, the way the reader thinks about life changes. It was like BAM and all of a sudden you could just understand betrayal, not just John's betrayal of Viola but simply betrayal in itself, and how awful and heart rendering it must be. Even more suprisingly, you almost understand how John does what he does - b/c like most of world and the people around us today, there is just not that consideration for what other people are feeling if you are not feeling it yourself. All in all I agree with the previous reviewers. There is just something about this book that stays with you - so much so in fact that I didn't want to read another novel for a while so that the feeling I had when reading this book, the new thoughts that it awakened, could linger on in my mind.

Normally I hate a cheating hero but I do make exceptions when the author presents the situation in a certain way, and if the hero is contrite enough and promises not to be unfaithful again. Unfortunately, I feel that this book failed in these aspects.

The story starts when the hero and heroine have been estranged for 9 years. Predictably he turns to a string of women to satisfy his manly urges. One, two, thee...counting until 6. He had 6 women while married to the heroine, was completly nonchalant about it and - in fact, the only reason he decided to reunite with the heroine was because his brother died and he was in need of an heir. Very disappointing. Still, I had hope that eventually he would see the error of his ways and try to make it up to her. But no such luck. outright, he told her he was not sure he could be faithful even if she decided to come back to him. Instead of acknowledging the crimes he had against her and the humiliation she had to endure because of him, he acted as if nothing happened and just tried to seduce his way back into her life. Not romantic at all.

I understand that the hero was a rake, but still, I want the heroes in my romance novels to redeem themselves. This is supposed to be a love story, after all.

In the end where everything was supposed to turn out all right the couple were supposed to have their happily ever after, the hero's ex-mistress comes in with their illegitimate son and the hero takes the child in. While the child is not to blame, it was frustrating how the heroine was no even angry about what was happening. The hero met up again with the ex-mistress to tell her that he would raise the baby, and didn't even tell the other woman how much he loved his wife. Supposedly, at least.

All in all, it was very unsatisfying as a romance. I couldn't understand why the heroine didn't give him a harder time as he deserved. If she had run off with another man and embarassed him in front of the ton, I would certainly have applauded her. Very disappointing.

Okay, so this book is about an unfaithful husband and a broken marriage. If either of these topics are off limits to you..pass this book up. If you're like me, the premise was a bit intriguing.

I love books that are about second chances. The idea that no matter how "messed up" a person or a situation is...there can be healing and restoration. This book taps into that premise.

John Hammond and his wife Viola have been estranged for many years. Living separate lives, both have consummed themselves with different things. Viola with friends and community projects...John with wine and women. He has admittedly had several mistresses. After a tragic accident, it becomes necessary for John to reconcile with Viola so that he can ensure an heir. He begins the painful process of courting his angry and bitter wife.

This book is funny, touching, painful, and very sweet. I loved John and Viola's courtship. The scene where they have the question and answer session with "brutal honesty" was so heart wrenching, but necessary for this couple to move forward. The museum, pond, and picnic scenes were all memorable, fun, and believable.

I don't hesitate to recommend this book.