Customer Reviews

Tempted by a Warrior

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

TEMPTED BY A WARRIOR by Amanda Scott is a wonderful exciting Historical Romance set in 1377 Annandale, Scotland. It is the the third in the Dunwythie Trilogy ( Book one Seduced By A Lord, Book two Tamed By A Laird). This Trilogy is about the fourteenth-century Lord Dunwythie of Annandale, Scotland's two daughter's and his niece. The trilogy is based on "facts" from an unpublished sixteenth-century manuscript. These books can be read as a stand alone.It is well written with depth and details. You can't help but love the characters, who are enchanting and strong. This story is about Fiona, who at the age of fifteen elopes with Lord Dunwythie's enemy's son, Will Jardine. Lord Dunwythie has been dead two years when this story begins. Fiona's husband, Will, has disappeared without a trace. He was a horrid husband, cruel and has numerous affairs. His father, Lord Jardine, is dying, who is also just as cruel to the young, Fiona, who is very pregnant. Lord Jardine sends for his nephew, Kirkhill. Who is a knight and baron and is honor bound to be Fiona's guardian and her child's protector. What begins as mistrust, for Fiona has only known cruelty for the past two years, soon turns into something more. They battle humors of Fiona's guilt for the disappearance of her husband, suspicions, and a possible war with the English. This story has everything, it is fast paced and a page turner. It has deception, suspicion, wit, violence, romance, passion, intrigue, strong willed women, warrior men, love and troubling times.Ms. Scott has written a wonderful Medieval Scottish romance that makes Scotland come to life through the characters and pages of her book. I would highly recommend this book. It is a keeper and a must read. This book was received for review and details can be found at My Book Adddiction and More and Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing.

I am probably going to get slammed for this review, or someone will complain and get my review removed (someone who doesn't want to see a negative review). FIRST; let me say I like Amanda Scott's writing. But... all the way through this book, though I thought it would be a good book as I liked the premise, I never really found myself connecting. Unlike many reviewers I have read, I don't need to have something in common with these people to actually enjoy the book. I can take or leave a lot of history and be just as happy either way as long as it's well written. I can read about a character I don't relate to at all, and still enjoy the book and the character as I truly appreciate that it takes all kinds and all kinds have their strengths. I am extremely open minded when it comes to characters and like wimpy or strong or obnoxious as long as it fits (to a point, sooner or later a character has to grow as we all do or it is not a true romance novel). I am a reviewer however who is willing to give 1's and 2's, otherwise we would never know which books that a writer has put out are truly worth purchasing with our hard earned cash, loaning from the library, or not even bother to read as a writer should not earn their buck if they don't put out decent work. If I read a book that is well written but I just don't like the characters or the amount of angst the author felt necessary to put in the book, then I will either not review it at all as it is a personal preference, or I will give it a middle of the road review and explain that the angst just drug on entirely to long (especially when it is one of those 600 page books with at least 100 pages too long of unnecessary angst???). Some people like angst and telling people that was my problem gives them a chance to know they will like it.

To be honest with you, the only part of the book I enjoyed was the first part where the heroine is telling a story to the children and the H/H meet for the first time. Even when she was upset that he called himself the heir I was still enjoying it. I thought for sure I was going to like this story. I liked the previous two books, though neither will stay in my personal library as they were good, but they didn't make my heart swell which is a requirement to stay in my library, I merely enjoyed the books and that is always worth the money.

Back to this book; at the end of this story I felt like not only did I not have any connection to these people, I didn't even know their personalities... I could not even tell you what they looked like as I could only see a vague picture of them in my mind. They felt no more real in my imagination as they actually were in real life. It all felt extremely wooden, as if Amanda didn't really want to write the book, but had an obligation. I could not even tell you what that villain looked like??? Even the scenes that were supposed to be tense and exciting were flat to me. The only thing I could have described for you (looks and personality wise) is his war horse, Cerberus??? To be honest, maybe I was tired of these characters?? But... I don't think that was the case.

I purposely went back and read the first book in this series just to see. Low and behold, I liked the book, the characters and had no sign of wooden cutouts rattling around in my brain and could even feel the excitement in the danger of the firth during rising tide.

I would like to say that this is a problem I have experienced before with authors and their commitments to series of books and so forth. I would prefer only to read a story of a back up character because an author has felt a strong love and affection for them and wishes to explore their personal story line but in a totally unexpected treat to her readers, not a pre-ordained trilogy type offering. But... I have read entirely too many that were obviously committed to on paper but not in the heart or mind of the writer!!!! I hope I am not being unfair as I truly do like Scott's writing, but this book is NOT one I would recommend as it felt to me to have no heart and soul, and life just never took shape.

Maybe if it had been the first one I read I might have felt it??? Maybe then I would not have been so critical as I would not have had the other two to compare to??? Just my personal opinion, please don't take offense.

In 1377 Annadale, Scotland, for the past two years, seventeen-year-old Lady Fiona Jardine has been married to abusive Will who thinks nothing of slapping and punching her. Her being pregnant with his child does not prevent Will from hammering her; he even targets her protruding stomach. When he hits her she falls hitting her head on a rock. When she regains consciousness Fiona is her bed and Will has vanished.

Will's nasty dying father Old Jardine demands justice from Kirkhill Laird Sir Richard Seyton, as he insists Fiona killed his son. He names the Laird of Kirkhill guardian of his unborn grandchild with Richard as guardian and trustee for a lad until he turns twenty-five; and to do whatever he wants if another whore like his daughter-in-law is born. Old Jardine insures everyone knows Fiona killed Will and wants her hung preferably before he dies. The odious Old Jardine dies as Fiona gives birth while Richard plans to protect the new mother and her child from those mean-spirited enough to hang a new mom based on an unsubstantiated rumor, but to do so means finding Will.

This is a great medieval romance starring an abuse victim, a kind laird, and a father-in-law who even dying abuses his power to assault the helpless woman about to give birth to his grandchild. Starting with the Scottish version of Rumpelstiltskin and never letting up with a fairy tale feel to this enjoyable historical romance (including the ogre Jardine males), fans will relish the third Dunwythie saga (see Tamed by a Laird and Seduced by a Rogue).

Harriet Klausner

Sir Richard Seyton, Baron Kirkhill known to his friends as Dickon is a confused man. His cantankerous uncle has summoned him to his estate and wants to make him his heir upon his impending death. Dickon is completely baffled since he knows his uncle has a son and rightful heir or thought he did. Apparently the man has gone missing and feared dead leaving his wife and unborn child who need to be cared for. Dickon knows there is not a charitable bone in the old man's body and realizes that this is not to keep his daughter in law safe but unable to inherit. Dickon will accept guardianship for the woman and her child despite having his hands full at his own estate and realizes how much work he has taken on once he meets the stubborn, determined and beautiful Fiona.

Little did Dickon know that the missing heir was less than well like by anyone including his widow Fiona. He verbally and physically abused her and took all of his rage at being such a human failure out on Fiona and this has left her less than receptive to another male and his charming ways. Dickon in particular seems to be irksome to her and they start the bickering and posturing for control of the household the minute that Dickon announces he is in charge. Fiona has handled everything up till now and she certainly can handle them without another alpha male. However, Fiona does admit to some weakness after her beautiful son is born and she has to deal with motherhood and all the challenges that brings but once back on her feet the sparks start to fly both verbally and emotionally as both Dickon and Fiona realize that there is more to their relationship than just seeing who is the strongest to run the estate.

Dickon is used to tempestuous women since he has taken control of his younger sister and thought nothing could test his patience more than Nan but Fiona is proving that she is ready to give him everything she has to keep her son safe. But as the days turn to weeks and the passion between Dickon and Fiona heats up it soon becomes apparent to everyone that there is nothing chaste about their relationship. Even with the threat of war looming with England, servants conspiring against him and gossip raging that Fiona killed her missing husband all Dickon can think about is Fiona and how wonderful she feels in his arms and the sweetness of her kiss.

Dickon has learned to pick his battles carefully and only fight those he can win and to win Fiona's hand Dickon is prepared for a full blown attack regardless of the consequences.

This book has all the wonderful characters that a romance reader craves, fascinating historical details every reader enjoys and some mystery to keep all readers interested. You never know how is up to what until it is revealed in precise detail and that is something Ms. Scott does so well in her books.

Mary Gramlich is The Reading Reviewer located at [...]

Even though the heroine Fiona Jardine has been beaten down by her husband numerous times she didn't let that break her spirit. Fiona married at the age of 15. Her husband Will Jardine became very abusive beating her into submission. She endures two years of this treatment,and at the age of 17 while she is pregnant Will once again severely beats her so bad in fact that she blacked out for a bit. When she wakes up the next morning and Will is missing well you think good riddance hoping Fiona's life might turn around. Well turns out back during this time period women were looked at like property mindless and unable to fend for themselves. So she has to answer to her father-in-law, Old Jardine, who is on his deathbed. He is just as vile as his son and goes so far as to blame Fiona for Will's disappearance even going so far as to say he thought she might have murdered him.
When Old Jardine summons his nephew Kirkhill to his deathbed to try and find out what has happened to Will. He goes on to say that in the event Will isn't found then he wants Kirkhill to become Fiona's guardian upon his death. Well as you can expect that throws Fiona into a tizzy because she assumes that Kirkhill will be just like the other Jardines.
She soon realizes though that Kirkhill is a very fair man and even starts to have feelings for him...
I was sort of surprised at this book. I really expected just another love story but in actuality the author gives us so much more. There is mystery, intrigue, perseverance along with some Scottish History.
I loved the way that the author used Scottish language in this story. In my head I could hear that Scottish brogue. Even though this is the third book in a triology it can easily be a stand alone read, although I enjoyed this book so much I want to pick up the first two.

Even though I was provided a copy of this book to review by Hachette Publishing (Thanks Anna)it in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

Tedious story that ultimately I gave up on. Bad investment. The heroine (use the term extremely loosely) got on my nerves...it's okay even laudable to be strong..but temper it with a little common sense.

She has no real connection with anyone...her mother, her sister etc.

The Hero(?) is not the stuff of which dreams are made.

At 15 years old, Fiona thought she met the man of her dreams - the handsome and charming Will Jardine. She eloped with him and two years into her marriage she realized how truly vicious and abusive he was. During a violent argument one evening, he beats her until she blacks out. When she comes to, she finds herself in bed and her husband missing.

Two weeks later there is still no word of him and the locals are suspecting her of murdering him. During a time when women were entirely dependent on men, her ailing father-in-law sends for his nephew and bequeaths him as her trustee and the guardian of her unborn child.
Having survived a cruel marriage and having a cantankerous old man for a father-in-law, she is non-too-pleased about having a stranger waltz into her home and ordering her and her staff about.

Richard, Laird of Kirkhill, doesn't need the added responsibility, but he's not really left with much of a choice when his uncle names him as head of his household. He's a disciplined man who expects others to be equally disciplined and respectful. He knows he has his hands full with the young and feisty Fiona.

While trying to organize his uncle's household and establish some sort of income for the property, he's also trying to discover what really happened to Will. He begins to hope that Will is dead when he starts developing feelings for Fiona and worse, when learns how cruel his cousin was. Fiona finds herself attracted to Richard and she wants to do well by him, but can she really trust him? She was already fooled by love once.

I really enjoyed getting to know the primary as well as the secondary characters in this novel. It was a bit heart-wrenching reading the scene in which Fiona was so badly beaten, but I admired her spirit and strength. She realized that she made a mistake and had paid dearly for it, but she was determined to rise above it. Richard is exactly what I imagine a proper laird to be like: strong, responsible yet fair and kind-hearted. He was not one to be trifled with, but he also knew that with so many people in his care, he needed to have compassion.

I initially expected this to be just another run of the mill love story, but Scott gives us so much more. This is a tale of intrigue, mystery, determination, love and even a bit of history. This story is set in 14th century Scotland during a time of political upheaval and border conflicts between Scotland and England. While trying to solve the mystery of Will's disappearance and falling in love with Richard and Fiona, we're also learning about what a tumultuous time this was in Scotland's past.

The language was a bit difficult to follow because of the accent and dialect used in that time. However, I think this only enhanced the reading experience by transporting us to a time and place so different from my own. Scott's did an excellent job in her research of middle-ages Scotland.

This is the third and final book in the "Dunwythie Series", but it does very well on its own. I recommend Amanda Scott's novels for those who enjoy complex, yet sweet love stories.

As a regular reader of various historical romances, I understand using the characters voice as they would in that setting and time period. However, the dialogue in this book is so hard to understand that it distracted me from absorbing myself in the characters and plot. I usually finish a book in a couple days, however it took me a week to conquer this ebook. The first half of the book was slow and dull. I will say my interested started to perk up during the second half. This was my first experience with an Amanda Scott book and I will not be reading another.

Tempted by a Warrior
I thought this was a great historical romance. At first I thought I was going to have a problem with it because it starts off with Fiona being beat by her husband but it turned out it was a very good read. I havn't read anything by Amanda Scott before and found that I do like the way she writes. The story came along rather nicely. I do love a good historical romance and I was not disappointed with the way the story is told and I like the detail to the characters and surroundings. I know I will be reading more of Amanda's books.

I eagerly await each of Amanda Scott's books and this did not disappoint. I love the history, fast pace, dialogue, personalties. another great read. thanks!