Customer Reviews

Shadows and Lace

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

When I first began reading historical romance, I noticed that some authors wrote dark and intense stories, while others created a playful and romantic atmosphere. Teresa Medeiros is the only romance writer I have ever seen who can create a tale that is dark and suspensful while still containing adorable characters and humor that really makes you laugh and laugh. I don't know how she does this, but she does!

Another mark of a truly great author is that she creates secondary characters who are even more memorable than the hero and heroine. Blaine, the lightweight, lying knight, would simply be a villain in any other romance, but in this book he is a much more complicated character. You can understand why he resents Gareth and why he lusts after Rowena without just being evil. Even better was Gareth's tomboy sister Marlys. Her signature is attacking her brother in the woods, jumping out from ambush, just like Kato in the PINK PANTHER movies. But in this book the horseplay is the sign of a very deep and complex family relationship. Teresa Medeiros is amazing at creating dark, even cruel characters that you ultimately come to feel great tenderness for. When you read this book you will ache for Marlys and long for her to find her own happy ending.

One thing I think is noticeable about this book is that Rowena, the heroine, is the soft, girly kind of heroine we don't see much anymore. She is the blonde who always gets picked on. Even her name is deliberately taken from the girl in IVANHOE who is sort of weepy and whiny and not in control of the action. Feminists may not like it but Teresa Medeiros does an extraordinary job showing how this kind of woman has her own kind of courage and her own emotional needs. Her weak, manipulative father is handled just right, in a forgiving but perceptive way, so you can see why Rowena might not have much self esteem at first. Yet even so, she is really far more courageous emotionally than the "stronger" characters who bully her. Read this book and you will soon realize that Teresa Medeiros is a major literary artist who happens to write romance.

If you like historical romance with a twist of darkness, this is the book to read. The author brought every one of the significant characters to full bloom. Her characters personalities unraveled more and more as I read on. I felt the joy and disappointment of Rowena, the confusion in Sir Gareth, the weakness of Lindsey, the courage of Little Freddie. I felt each emotion as I read the lines. This book made me miss my stop on the subway while going to work one morning. Now that's a sign of a great book...trust me. Kudos to Theresa Medeiros...keep up the great work.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced and well written. The only problem was that Rowena just let herself be walked upon time and time again. But once I got past that little fact. I enjoyed the story and was a little surprised about who killed the stepmother. Give this one a hard look, it is worth it.

Medeiros is at the top of her line with this book. Rowena and Gareth are written with such feeling and insight along with a story with so many twists and turns that the reader will be in the dark till the very end.
Gareth is such a dark soul but with such underlying feeling for Rowena due to a big secret that explains his tru feelings to Rowena. Some may feel Gareth borders on obsession but everything is explained perfectly. Rowena is unlike any heroine you will ever read in fiction. Her innocence and tender love is practically the opposite of her hero and absolutely vital to the story.
Medeiros has a way with words and is an expert when dealing with the Middle Ages. There are also many secondary charcters that round out the story.
In the beginning the reader maybe turned off by how Gareth steals Rowena due to winning a bet with her father and Gareth wants payment...meaning Rowena for his own means.
There are secrets galore among the passion between Gareth and Rowena. The love scenes sizzle and are moving.
This is truly a classic for this author and a must for any fan of Medeiros or any romance reader.

Katiebabs

I love Teresa Medieros. I have read almost every single one of her books and I have to say that this one could have been better. I felt that the hero did not respect the heroine. He acted like a jerk most of the time and did not deserve her loyalty. I have, however, read this book three times, because it is so very well written. I can just see the castle and hear the wind blowing. I can even forgive her the hero.

I loved this book. Rowena and Gareth were the best couple that I have read about in a long time!! I just wish that the end had explained how long the "many, long months" were that Gareth had been gone and that there was a better explanation as to what he went through while away. I also wish there had been an explanation as to what had happened to Rowena after Gareth left, or Marlys. But, all in all this book was great. The sparks flew any time that Rowena and Gareth were in the same room. Not to mention his sheer strength!! I will probably reread this book over and over again!!!

Since I first picked it up 3 years ago, I've read it FOUR times. I simply couldn't get enough of the dark hero, Gareth and his feisty gambling win, Rowena. His dark past and her hope for the future ensnare the reader into a tangling web of mystery and passion. Medeiros outdid herself on this one. She writes her characters with such vivid imagination and eloquence, you feel as if you're really there - Rowena herself. Don't mistake it. Medeiros is the best writer of romantic fiction of this historical period!

SHADOWS AND LACE is a real charmer, filled with all the humor and delightful plot twists Medeiros fans have come to expect. Rowena teaches the brooding Sir Gareth to love again, winning his heart with her innocence and charm. This book made me laugh and cry and cheer when the characters were rewarded with the happy ending they deserved. Another winner from Medeiros

I was so dissapointed. I have read one or two Teresa Medeiros books before and found them entertaining. This book was so poorly written that there were times I didn't know who was speaking or whose thoughts I was reading. If I was new to reading I may think it was me. I stopped caring about any of them by chapter 4.

I have to admit that I was left totally confused after finishing this book. The premise of the plot was promising, unfortunately the characters were not. Gareth was supposed to be this dark and brooding medieval knight with a tortured background to justify his dark character, unfortunately he came off as simply mean and selfish. The things he did to Rowena in the name of revenge was horrible. Rowena was also a confusing character, one minute she was fiesty, then she turned into whimpering girl consumed with lust after a touch, a kiss, or a look from Gareth. I simply don't get the attraction Rowena felt for Gareth. Worst of all, there's not one word of regret from Gareth's mouth to Rowena for all the humiliation and degradation he did to her. Marlys was creepy. All in all, not her best.