The Marriage Prize [Mass Market Paperback]

Virginia Henley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 3, 2001

Powerful and brave, he claimed her hand by royal decree.
Beautiful and defiant, she dared him to conquer her heart....

Few writers can match the sheer storytelling mastery of New York Times bestselling author Virginia Henley. Now, in this, the third novel in her Plantagenet trilogy, which began with The Falcon and the Flower and continued in The Dragon and the Jewel, Henley returns to medieval England and brings to life a love story so passionate, it will take your breath away....

Rosamond Marshal was only a child when she was betrothed to legendary warrior knight Rodger de Leyburn. But when Rodger beholds the fair Rosamond, now blossomed into a lovely young woman, he is determined to possess her, to win her love, to make her want him as he wants her.

Orphaned at a young age, Rosamond is the royal ward of Eleanor de Montfort, sister of King Henry III. Beautiful and proud, Rosamond is truly a marriage prize. But she is wary of love, fearful of fulfilling her betrothal to the dark and steely knight, unsettled by his powerful presence...until Sir Rodger takes her into his arms, slowly, gently, arousing passions Rosamond had never known before. And as civil war erupts around them, as Rodger is called to battle, Rosamond must face an impossible choice — between the man who has stormed her reluctant heart, and the family who raised her as their own....

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Setting: England, 1258
Sensuality Rating: 6

Loyalties collide in New York Times bestselling author Virginia Henley's The Marriage Prize. Henley demonstrates her much vaunted command of historical detail in this romantic tale set in the midst of the royal intrigue of King Henry III's court. Henley's reliance on actual characters in large part contributes to the realism and magnetism of the growing relationship between feisty Rosamond Marshall, a royal ward, and Rodger de Leyburn, Prince Edward Plantagenet's powerful steward. The pair was betrothed five years earlier when Rosamond was only twelve, but Rosamond rebels against marrying a man she doesn't know to further others' political agendas.

When Rodger pledges to woo her, Rosamond finds herself indulging in torrid fantasies of the dynamic knight who would be her husband. Caught up in the struggle for the throne between Prince Edward and Rosamond's beloved guardian, the warrior Simon de Montfort, who is leading a revolt among England's barons, Rosamond must come to terms with her feelings for the sensual man who has pledged his life and his loyalty to Prince Edward and his troth to her. Henley fashions a fascinating tale of the kind of love that legends are made of! --Alison Trinkle --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Rosamond Marshal, heiress and the ward of Eleanor de Montfort, sister of King Henry III of England, has felt secure with her adopted family ever since the de Montforts took her in at age 12 and arranged for a good marriage to an English knight so her future would be secure. Five years later, Sir Rodger de Leyburn, steward to Prince Edward, comes for his bride. Rosamond is frightened by the dark and virile knight but eventually agrees to the arranged marriage as a way of paying back her adopted family for all their kindness. Just as she starts to trust her husband, England is torn by a civil war. Rodger supports Prince Edward, while Rosamond's guardians lead the 1259 insurrection. Her loyalty is torn and she must decide whom to trust. This, the third of a Plantagenet trilogy, following The Falcon and the Flower (1989) and The Dragon and the Jewel (1991), is Henley at her best--a lusty medieval tale full of battles and romance sure to please her fans and introduce historical readers to her delightfully bawdy romances. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Island Books (July 3, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440222095
• ISBN-13: 978-0440222095
• Product Dimensions: 4.9 x 1.1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,717 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( H ) > Henley, Virginia

More About the Author

New York Times best-seller Virginia Henley is the author of 26 lush and lusty historical romances and 5 short stories. Her books are published in 16 languages around the world. She is the recipient of a dozen awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times, A Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers, and a Waldenbook Award for top-selling long historical for 1994.

The St. Petersburg Times calls Henley "The Queen of Steamy Romance."

Kathe Robin, RT Book Reviews says: "Henley's gift for bringing remarkable women to life in colorful, turbulent times is what turns her romances into keepers. Henley heats up the pages with her love scenes, and her skill at portraying actual historical personages with humanity while maintaining historical accuracy wins our minds. Henley knows what historical romance is all about and always gives the readers what they want."

Henley says: "My hero is always dark, dominant and dangerous. Then I create a woman who is a match for him...or more than a match!
Men come up to me at conferences and thank me for writing my books. One man said, "I don't read them, but I always know when my wife is reading a Henley!"

My next book The Dark Earl goes on sale September 6 and is the third in the series following The Decadent Duke, and The Irish Duke.

I have just turned two of my backlist books into Kindle ebooks. Wild Hearts and Bold Conquest are historical romances. My novella Hot As Fire, also available on Kindle, is my only contemporary. I have a short story up on Kindle called Letter of Love that is FREE.

Next month I will be offering a new ebook that is a Southern family saga.
MASTER OF PARADISE tells the story of Nicholas Peacock who is disinherited of his title and wealth in England. He sails to Charleston, South Carolina, and starts a cotton plantation just before the Civil War disrupts everyone's life.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Combining romance and history makes this a fabulous tale, July 12, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Marriage Prize (Hardcover)

In 1253 England, adolescent Rosamond Marshal learns that her older brother died in a jousting accident. Three days later, strongly encouraged by her guardians Simon and Eleanor de Montfort, the shocked twelve-year-old heiress numbly agrees to one day marry Rodger de Leyburn.

Five years later, Rodger arrives to marry his betrothed, but Rosamond prefers another knight. Still, she sees another facet to Rodger that leads her into marrying him. As they begin to fall in love, war explodes between King Henry and Simon. Rodger is loyal to the King's son while Rosamond is devoted to her former guardian, leaving their struggling relationship shaky and a probable victim of the war.

Virginia Henley is renowned for her sensual historical romances that stir the blood of the reader. Her latest tale, THE MARRIAGE PRIZE, is a powerful conclusion to the author's wonderful Plantaganet trilogy (see THE FALCON AND THE FLOWER and THE DRAGON AND THE JEWEL). The story line is fast-paced and filled with action. The historical references show once again Ms. Henley's love of history as the tidbits and real persona enhance the plot with important roles. Though Rosamond seems more like the lead character in The Taming of the Shrew, she and Rodger provide a point and counterpoint reference that mirror the feelings of the divided country that Ms. Henley gracefully explores in this enjoyable medieval romance.

Harriet Klausner

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent conclusion to Plantagenet trilogy..., July 23, 2000

By 

Tracy Talley "Book Addict" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Marriage Prize (Hardcover)

This is the third book to the Plantagenet trilogy that started with THE FALCON AND THE FLOWER-book was centered around King John Plantagenet, the second book is called DRAGON AND THE JEWEL-wich is about King Henry III, King John's son. This book, THE MARRIAGE PRIZE, is about King Edward's rise to power. It is a true "fairy tale" in every sense. Rosamond Marshal is the royal ward of Simon and Eleanor de Montfort,(the main characters from THE DRAGON AND THE JEWEL). She is betrothed to Sir Rodger de Leyburn when she's 12, but when she turns 17 and Sir Rodger comes to collect his bride, she refuses to wed him. Eventually he shows her to love, and he falls madly in love with her. But England is about to erupt in civil war with none other than her protector since she was a child, Simon de Montfort and King Henry III. Sir Rodger is Prince Edward's steward, when war is right on the horizon, Rosamond and Rodger's love is in danger. What side will Rosamond take? Can thier love survive? This is a heartwrenching story of survival and sacrifice. Virginia Henley is true to her history. We get to see two sides of this story from two books. The second of the trilogy, Simon's side and then this, the third, the King's side. She also brings back the character Rikard de Burgh from the 1st book. This is a piece of history not to be missed. Henley is a wonderful and senual storyteller, she brings these people to life. None should miss any of these books. They are all keepers. =)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Virginia Henley Does It Again!, July 24, 2000

By 

"glenswilleywoman" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Marriage Prize (Hardcover)

At the tender age of twelve young Rosamond Marshal is betrothed to Sir Rodger de Leyburn, future royal steward and loyal comrade of the heir to the throne, Prince Edward Plantagenet. Rosamond has been left an orphan by the deaths of her parents, and the subsequent tragic death of her older brother Giles, at a jousting tournament. Alone in the world, Rosamond is taken as a ward under the guardianship of the powerful Warlord, Earl Simon de Montfort and his wife Princess Eleanor, sister to King Henry. The deMontfort's holding, Kenilworth supplies Rosamond with all of the security and comforts befitting a young heiress. Although Rosamond has no desire to wed, she agrees to the marriage in deference to the de Montforts who are trying to create stronger ties with young Prince Edward, in with the hopes that he will be able to influence his father the dissolute King Henry, to call Parliament, and stop favoring foreigners over his English subjects. As the years pass by, Rosamond grows into a stunning beauty with glorious golden hair. One glance at her, and Rodger de Leyburn is instantly attracted not only to Rosamond's beauty, but also her willful spirit. However, England is starting to come apart at the seams as the Barons loyal to Simon de Montfort, and those loyal to the crown prepare to face off in an inevitable civil war. Rosamond is torn between loyalty to her former guardians the de Montforts, and her husband,Rodger de Leyburn who is loyal to Prince Edward. In the ensuing conflict, secrets are revealed and trusts broken, as Rosamond and Rodger face a catastrophe that can either bind their love for eternity, or destroy it forever.

Ms.Henley succesfully weaves a tender and passionate love story into the folds of a bloody civil war. She demonstrates her knowledge of history with great skill, and gives all of her characters both historical and fictional, a distinctive flair and unique presence. Bringing her Plantagenet trilogy to a close, this book certainly sums up the lives of the characters in all three books. In all a wonderful end to a fascinating lesson in medieval history, and the challenges facing women in Plantagenet England.