A Memory of Love [Paperback]

Bertrice Small (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 5, 2000

New York Times bestselling author Bertrice Small writes searing novels as unforgettable as the indomitable heroines who live and love within them. Now comes a tale of stunning passion, reckless danger, and the fiery will of a remarkable woman who can wield a sword as powerfully as any man--and who dares to fight for her most uninhibited desires. . . .

Spirited, fierce-willed Rhonwyn is the bastard child of the Prince of Wales, raised more boy than girl, able to ride and fight with the best. Against her wishes, she is married off to an English lord, Edward de Beaumont, who is stunned to discover his lovely gilt-haired bride is a spitting wildcat with a mind of her own. Slowly, he wins her trust and her heart, and she accompanies him on the Crusades to North Africa. But when Edward falls ill, Rhonwyn boldly leads his troops, only to become the captive of the sensual Emir of Cinnebar, a man who will teach her the ways of erotic love--passions that will be put to the test when she returns to England to battle once more . . . this time for the man who rules her heart.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Small creates cover-to-cover passion, a keen sense of history, and suspense."
--Publishers Weekly

From the Inside Flap

New York Times bestselling author Bertrice Small writes searing novels as unforgettable as the indomitable heroines who live and love within them. Now comes a tale of stunning passion, reckless danger, and the fiery will of a remarkable woman who can wield a sword as powerfully as any man--and who dares to fight for her most uninhibited desires. . . .

Spirited, fierce-willed Rhonwyn is the bastard child of the Prince of Wales, raised more boy than girl, able to ride and fight with the best. Against her wishes, she is married off to an English lord, Edward de Beaumont, who is stunned to discover his lovely gilt-haired bride is a spitting wildcat with a mind of her own. Slowly, he wins her trust and her heart, and she accompanies him on the Crusades to North Africa. But when Edward falls ill, Rhonwyn boldly leads his troops, only to become the captive of the sensual Emir of Cinnebar, a man who will teach her the ways of erotic love--passions that will be put to the test when she returns to England to battle once more . . . this time for the man who rules her heart.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (July 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034543434X
• ISBN-13: 978-0345434340
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,384,056 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bertrice Small is a New York Times bestselling author with more than 34 novels in print. She lives in the oldest English-speaking town in New York state. Her website is bertricesmall.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Story Set in a Little Known Corner of History!, July 12, 2000

By 

Deb Strubhart (Aviston IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Memory of Love (Paperback)

The best thing about this new book by my favorite author is that it's not a sequel! We romance readers seem to be inudated with sequels and trilogies lately. Not that I don't like to revisit my favorite characters and their further adventures; however, sometimes a really good epilogue can answer many questions and give us satisfying closure. In A MEMORY OF LOVE, Ms. Small introduces us to Rhonwyn, the bastard daughter of Llywelyn who is the Prince of Wales. The book starts out in 1257 which is a wild and harsh time for Wales, and England for that matter. She becomes more warrior princess than lady of the manor, and during the whole story line she either revels in her military-like character or struggles to control it in order to appear to be a Christian noble lady. She is a strong and enjoyable heroine, and I wasn't trying to imprint Skye O'Malley's essence on her as I have, to be honest, Jasmine, India, and Fortune. The harem episode may be repetitive, but I found some new and different aspects of it in this book. I do have to say I wish we had been introduced to Rafe sooner in the story, and I also wish his character had been more developed. He seemed likable, but a bit weak next to Rhonwyn. The secondary characters of the abbess and Glynn were very strong and satisfying. I read the book very quickly and I was sorry when it was over. I would have enjoyed more of the story or one of those great epilogues. I would also like to add that I appreciate Ms. Small not going to expensive hard backs for her first editions. I really do like the over sized paper back style; and it's more consumer friendly to a romance-aholic like me. Thanks, Bertrice!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vintage Bertrice Small!!, August 8, 2000

By 

Alyssa - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Memory of Love (Paperback)

After I had read the last few books of Ms. Small, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed, but no more! Her newest book is one of the best that she has written in quite a while. The heroine Rhonwyn is a bit different from the usual females that she writes about, but that makes her all the more intereting. Bertrice Small is known for separating characters and then reuniting them but this time things go terribly wrong! I was actually angry that Rhonwyns husband commited such a despiciable act, but in the end it works wonderfully for the story. Long time readers know that Ms. Small loves placing her females in harems, yet this time the harem part of the story is quite short, and important to the conclusion of the story. I will say that this book is not very sensual, especially if you have read "Hellion" and "The Love Slave" but it is still spicy in some parts.I loved the fact that Wales was the setting for this story, and history comes alive with Ms. Small's skillful writing. This book is a bit reminiscent of "The Spitfire" in that just when you think you know how the story will end you are surprised and shocked at the way the book concludes.A definite must read,and it is wonderful to have Bertrice Small writing the style books that her fans have come to love her for!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong and Sassy Heroine, March 19, 2003

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Memory of Love (Paperback)

Rhonwyn, bastard daughter of the Prince of Wales opens this story as a five year old sheltering and caring for her three-year-old brother. Her mother lay dead from a miscarriage when the children's father shows up and Rhonwyn's indifference to her sire demonstrates her independence and strength of character. Not knowing what else to do with his children and not wanting to be inconvenienced, he brings them to the closet place, a border fortress manned entirely by men and leaves them. Rhonwyn grows up more of a lad than a lassie, the darling of the fort, excelling in swordplay and hunting. By the time her father returns, 10 years later, and politically motivated, he has betrothed his daughter to one of the king's men. To his horror, Rhonwyn is unrecognizable as a lady and he brings her to his sister, the lady abbess, to mold into some semblance of womanhood before bringing her to her new husband.

Rhonwyn's early upbringing without another female to guide her in any womanly pursuits or knowledge of marriage, romance etc. made this quite a different read. Her only guide to behavior was to do her duty with honor and loyalty. It was accompanying her husband on the crusades that she would began to fall in love with him. Then she was captured and thrust into the harem of a caliph who would be her guide in releasing the demons that had, up until then, blocked her passionate nature and she would be schooled in erotic love. Rescued, escaping and finding her way back to Great Britain, she would find that she had been declared dead, replaced by another, and entering a new battle to repair her heart.

I loved this fascinating and compelling story! From the very beginning, this book was very exciting with an interesting story and an absolutely fabulous heroine. The historical details were plentiful, the dialog fresh and sassy, the heroine gorgeous, secondary characters fascinating, and the sensuality sizzling - all in all a most perfect read!