Tapestry [Mass Market Paperback]

Lynn Kurland (Author), Sherrilyn Kenyon (Author), Madeline Hunter (Author), Karen Marie Moning (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 27, 2002

I dare you to read a 'Kurland' story and not enjoy it. (Heartland Critiques)

Welcome to a world of chivalry, danger, legends, and love. These four original novellas bring to life all the romance and adventure of the Middle Ages, with the common thread of a rich medieval tapestry woven through each tale.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The patchwork Tapestry features stories from four mavens of medieval-era romances-Lynn Kurland, Madeline Hunter, Karen Marie Moning and Sherrilyn Kenyon. Moning's hilarious tale ("Into the Dreaming") of a contemporary writer who lands in the 15th century and falls in love with a Scotsman is the highlight of the collection, and Kurland's "To Kiss in the Shadows," a romance between a blemished beauty and a dark arts master, provides plenty of lighthearted fun as well. Kenyon's bizarre offering ("Dragonswan"), however, takes readers on a fanciful journey to a time when sexy superhumans fought against beings possessing animal hearts. Hints of the supernatural are threaded throughout these three entries, which makes "An Interrupted Tapestry," Hunter's conventional romance between a German merchant and an English noblewoman, seem strangely out of place. Still, this enchanting, if mismatched, collection is a fitting introduction to the authors' works.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

I dare you to read a 'Kurland' story and not enjoy it. -- Heartland Critiques

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Jove; First Edition edition (August 27, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515133620
• ISBN-13: 978-0515133622
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #275,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Anthology September 30, 2002

By M. Rondeau VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

TO KISS IN THE SHADOWS - What a great story! Lynn Kurland tells the tale of Lianna of Grasleigh, once beautiful but now her face ravished by the effects of the pox. She was shunned, ridiculed and kept to the shawdows. Jason de Piaget finds her and is attracted by her personality, when he does see her face, he can still see the beauty of the person she is. He was shunned as well - guilt by association because of his connection to the Lord of Blackmour reputed to practice the 'dark arts'. They find a love together that lets them love amongst the treachery and intrigues of court. AN INTERRUPTED TAPESTRY by Madeline Hunter is the story of Andreas von Brennan and lady Giselle. Once close friends but separated for the last 10 years. She comes to him in anger not knowing why he had broken the friendship - he was her last hope to save her brother. The years passed but the attraction is still there. This is another fine entry by a wonderful medieval author. DRAGONSWAN by Sherrilyn Kenyon - This was my introduction to this author. Never considering myself a huge fan of fantasy type stories, I was very pleased with this story. It was written with a huge dose of love and compassion. The dialog was also quite witty and fresh! Super story! INTO THE DREAMING by Karen Marie Moning - Again, another new author for me in this time travel story. Aedan had been tricked by the fairy king in order to save his people, what he thought was imprisonmen for 5 years was actually 5 'fairy' years - (100 human years equals one 'fairy' year) After being frozen in time and for 500 years and given subconscious directions, he had forgotten who he was. Jane had been dreaming of her knight rescuer for years, she knew exactly who he was so when she was sent a tapestry with the face of her knight on it whe was transported back in time. She had one month to make Aedan remember who he was and why they would always be to together!

All in all - these were four SUPER GOOD stories by four extremely talented authors. Excellent offering and a keeper!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Silky smooth in transition with a common thread of love October 3, 2002

By Desmond Chan

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Assemble four of the finest craftswomen of romance writing and the result is an intricate tapestry of boundless love, passion and exhilarating fantasy. The collection of stories in this romantic anthology is sprawling in its imagination, rollicking fun and hopelessly quixotic at times.

Lynn Kurland hailed as one of the best romantic writers today weaves an unconventional tale of pageantry when Lianna of Grasleigh rouses the jealousy of the palace maidens when the chivalrous knight Kendrick of Artane associates with her. The ward of King Henry despite her blemished beauty finds solace with Jason of Artane - Kendrick's brother who is a notorious sorceror of dark arts. He rescues her from a poisoned death schemed by the maidens - and when Lianna uncxpectedly becomes the prize in a contest of valor between Kendrick and his spiteful cousin, the path to love becomes a tad complicated...

Madeline Hunter's tale evokes unexpected shades of honor and passion with a rich Venice merchant Andreas claiming back his lost love Giselle when she tries to sell him her cherished tapestry to rescue her debt-ladened brother. Karen Marie Moning tells a silly but entertaining tale of a romantic novelist who receives a tapestry and is transported to ancient Scotland to resuscitate the man of her destiny from 500 years of solitary confinement.

While the stories mentioned above are equal parts poignant and fantasy, none can match the imaginative Sherrilyn Kenyon in her colourful patchwork of Greek myths like Moirae of the Fates, lycanthrope and exciting time-travel. Historian Channing McRae has no idea that the tapestry she is studying on will bring her to Sebastian, descendent and former sentinel of the Arcadian - a population with human instincts but animal traits. The tapestry made by his demised sister he failed to protect will provide him a chance to rescue his brother and string him to his mate...

Tapestry is silky-smooth in its transition and the quartet of romance mavericks weave a common thread of passion and adventure. Quite possibly the most consistent anthology, this tapestry is of vintage quality and as fine as gossamer threads.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Four Entertaining Romances Revolving around Tapestries April 10, 2005

By Dakota

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Pleasant and entertaining, the romantic anthology TAPESTRY features two outstanding short stories and two that are pretty decent.

"To Kiss in the Shadows" by Lynn Kurland fleshes out an incident mentioned in her full-length novel STARDUST OF YESTERDAY. Set in medieval times, the heroine Lianna is scarred by pox and her hero knight, Jason, is feared as a sorcerer. It's a non-sexual story, but that's not what bugged me. What bothered me were pertinent questions that were not answered, like why was Lianna's family killed and why would no one tell the King that his ward was poisoned? Rating: 3 stars.

"An Interrupted Tapestry" by Madeline Hunter had good passion and a believable background between the main characters. Set in London 200 or 300 years ago, wealthy merchant Andreas is helping Giselle raise money to pay her kidnapped brother's ransom. It's almost painful to watch them deny their feelings for each other. Rating: 5 stars.

"Dragonswan" by Sherrilyn Kenyon was the reason I bought this anthology; it was also a letdown. Don't get me wrong: I love Sebastian, from his frankness to his dark sexuality to his cool facial tattoo. I also loved the fact that he was a dragon who could travel through time. Everything else about the story was blah. Kenyon's Dark-Hunter fans will want to read it though, for its explanation about the were-hunter's "claiming" ritual. Rating: 3 stars.

"Into the Dreaming" by Karen Marie Moning was a delight. I'm not a fan of hers, so I'm still reeling in shock over the fact I liked this story the most. Highlander Aedan has one chance to free himself from eternal servitude to a dark (and deliciously intriguing) faery king, and Jane is sent back in time to help him. The characters are great, the attitude fun. Rating: 5 stars.