Customer Reviews

Uncommon Vows

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Possibly THE most incredible love story I've ever read. It's about obsession, possession, an all-consuming love, and forgiveness. It was love at first sight. Adrian believed that the Lady Meriel was the only thing that could dispel the darkness in his soul. You watch helplessly, as Adrian struggles unsuccessfully to express his love for Meriel and cry for them as his attempts threaten to smother and destroy the very object of his desire. The emotional turmult that causes Meriel to prefer death over domination leads the guilt-stricken Adrian to finally realize that only in the love that is freely given can they find the freedom to enjoy the incredible love that joins their souls. Well written. It took my breath away! BRAVO!

Like some other reviewers, I am very familiar with MJP's work through her wonderful Regency-period novels, in particular the Fallen Angels series. I was a little reluctant to read Uncommon Vows because, although I have read some books set in the middle ages (Edith Pargeter's compelling novels, for example), it's not my favourite period.

Putney, again, impresses me immensely with the quality of her research. It's impressive enough when a British author's attention to detail and accuracy is good; it's amazing to see an American writer, writing for a mainly US audience, who takes such care with her research. I learned a lot about the Stephen/Matilda period I never knew!

A couple of reviewers comment that Adrian ia harsh and refer to him as a 'psycho'. Clearly they know nothing about the historical period in question, and are judging him by contemporary males. Up until this century, women were only valuable as the property of men. Men could do what they liked with their wives and daughters, and women of the lower classes were fair game. Actually, Meriel was treated amazingly well as a captive, and even though Adrian's behaviour was sometimes harsh, he never - as Meriel herself recognised much later - actually hurt her. His emotions were running riot where she was concerned; he was completely unable to express his feelings or convince her that he loved her; but he never completely lost control.

I found both Adrian's mental torment and Meriel's determination to resist seduction utterly convincing. Both had almost taken religious orders; naturally, their faith played a very strong role in their lives, even more than other people in a world where religion was very important. Adrian's attempts to show Meriel how kind and considerate he could be and how well they got on together were wonderful to read; and his confusion and bitterness each time he discovered that she was only looking for a chance to escape was heart-wrenching.

The lead-up to Meriel's plunge from the window was so well written. My heart ached for both of them, and it almost stopped beating as she grabbed Adrian's dagger, he grabbed it back and she ran for the window. And then, afterwards, as he held her thinking she was dying, I had tears in my eyes.

The amnesia element was completely credible, and - as another reviewer pointed out - Meriel's character was essentially the same. She didn't know anything about Adrian to make her afraid of him, so she allowed herself to recognise what her heart had known all along: she could love him. This is just a simply wonderful book, and I can't think why Putney hasn't written more in this time-period. She does it so well.

Oh, and like another reviewer, I wondered about Richard; I was going to check this site for a sequel, until I noticed the book's publication date. I did suspect that Putney was going to give us a secondary romance, given what Adrian asked Richard to do in the end, together with what we'd been told about the widow he was to help [see - no spoilers!]. And I also wondered about Alan, Meriel's brother, who was portrayed as a likeable man.

Mary Jo Putney, if you ever read these reviews, do think about revisiting Alan and Richard, please!

I am a Mary Jo Putney fan, and am busy collecting all her books set in the Regeny, not to mention her Silk trilogy and Bride series. Generally, I admire her inventive plotting, her very interested (and often tortured) heroes and heroines, not to mention her beautiful style of writing. Unfortunately, I also like some consistency in the way characters think and act - and for medieval romances, I have an especially high standard.

I picked this book mainly because it was a medieval by Mary Jo Putney. Having read two of Jo Beverley's three medievals, I wondered what one of my favorite writers would do with the medieval period. Unfortunately, although the book is well-written and some of its characters are very intriguing, I cannot recommend this as highly as I wanted to, especially to fans of the medieval period in romance and historical fiction.

It is not that the hero is inauthentic. Yes, he is harsh at times, but he is also a lot kinder than the typical noble of his day would have been [compare how Adrian treats Meriel, who claims to be a Welsh commoner caught in the Royal Forest, with the treatment meted out to serf women and slaves by noblemen in Ellis Peters's Cadfael series].

One of the problems I have with this book is the high rank given to the hero - as Earl of Shropshire. Yes, there was no earl in Shropshire, given that a great earl (the founder of Shrewsbury Abbey) had died and his descendants had committed treason. But the earls would have been styled "of Shrewsbury" not "of Shropshire" if an earl had been created from a different family. Earldoms were not usually granted under the conditions described in the book as well - even allowing for the creation for rival earls. This for me was one of the first historically inauthentic notes. I would have preferred to have seen Adrian remain a baron; it would not have lessened the force of the story, and the distance between him (a great baron) and the daughter of a minor knight would still have been considerable.

The family name of the heroine is also slightly problematic for me, but this and the title issue are minor problems compared to the way Meriel behaves.

I loved the beginning of the story, and the decision to have both the hero and heroine come from strongly religious backgrounds. The evolution of Meriel from a novice to the sister of a minor knight with his own small manor was indeed interesting. Right upto the point where Meriel was captured in the Royal Forest, I was with her and the hero. This is the point where things started to fall apart.

I simply could not believe that Meriel would choose to claim herself as a Welsh commoner, rather than a noble lady of Norman birth. Even in this time (a period of unusual strife), noblewomen who fell into the hands of the opposing side were treated much better than were peasants. It would have been excusable for Meriel to make the mistake she did (in concealing her identity) if she had just come out of the convent. But she had been out of the convent for several years. Not only did her decision make no sense, it actually put her in greater danger. Even a wicked and brutal baron such as the villain would prefer a good ransom for a young noblewoman to the temporary pleasures of ravishing her. [Knights and squires were usually held for ransom, and not killed]. Furthermore, Meriel had plenty of time to find out whether the Earl was indeed a wicked man or not, and his actions did not seem to point to him as a wicked man, in the context of *his* times. Again, if she had been a novice just released from her vows, her inability to judge men would have made sense.

The worst part was when she chose to throw herself into the river, rather than accept an honorable offer of marriage. Yes, she had been overwrought considering the fate of virgin martyrs, but the Earl was not a pagan, not of an unknown race or family. Her actions struck me as silly and self-serving, as much as her refusal to acknowledge her real identity was not only silly, but cruel to those who thought her dead. At this point, I completely lost sympathy for the heroine.

The rest of the story was thus an anti-climax. It is one thing reading a story about a fairly self-centered heroine. It is quite another thing reading about a heroine who reveals herself to be anything but sensible and thoughtful of others. Frankly, I did not feel that Meriel deserved Adrian, even though I could not applaud his actions. Yes, he did not behave well, but he behaved quite well by the light of his times. And Meriel? She was simply too stupid to live.

UNCOMMON VOWS is Mary Jo Putney's best novel by a mile. I've read all her books and enjoyed many of them, but none of her others has ever matched the intense emotions in this one. I wish Putney would write more romances set in the medieval era since this, her only medieval, is the also the best medieval I have ever read. It is a story of dark obsessive love, heartrending loss and finally redemption.

I would just like to add that the reviewer from Indianapolis who complained about the improbable amnesia plot twist missed the boat completely. I found the heroine's behavior in character, considering what she had been through. The hero made a prayer pleading for a miracle and made a vow to God of what he would sacrifice if his prayer was granted. The miracle was accompanied by the heroine's memory loss (her first vision was of angels). This memory loss, and the later restoration of her memory, by lighting bolt in a place of spiritual power and magic, showed that the higher force that granted the miracle was now requiring the hero to fullfill his vow. That's why the book is called UNCOMMON VOWS. Duh. And since both times the amnesia was caused by a supernatural event, I felt no improbability, only a sense of destiny.

This is Putney's best book. For people who loved this book I also recommend Putney's SHATTERED RAINBOWS and DEARLY BELOVED, Laura Kinsale's FOR MY LADY'S HEART and Patricia Gaffney's TO HAVE & TO HOLD.

My poor words can never do justice to this emotional book but I was appalled that some reviewers didn't understand Uncommon Vows so I just had to put in my two cents.

This book may well be my favorite of all of MJP's books for a variety of reasons. First of all, never has her writing been more clear and poetical than in this book. She uses more visual metaphors than usual, especially because of the unique nature of the hero and the simpler time setting (this is MJP's only medieval). I am not a big fan of the medieval period and I know that MJP isn't either but she felt that that the medieval period was the right setting for the tormented hero and the dark love story that she tells here. As always, her choices are unerring. The basic plot is captor/captive; not my favorite which is why I am not a fan of Joanna Lindsey but MJP does handle it more realistically and intelligently than JL. The heroine, Meriel, does not understand how the hero, Adrian, can hold her prisoner in the name of love and it's a painful process as the story unfolds to show a love that is incredibly complex. MJP does add a few twist here and there and there is also a very violent and cinematic fight scene near the end. This book is definitely not for the gentle romance reader.

I first read this book when it came out and have reread it every year. It never fails to bring tears to my eyes. It is an emotional read with beautiful and clear writing on par with some of Laura Kinsale's works like Flowers From The Storm. It'll always have a special place in my heart and I was glad to read that MJP wrote a story involving a decendant of the hero/heroine from this book in her latest book, The Wild Child. I guess MJP found this couple as memorable as I do to refer to them after all these years. Bravo, Ms. Putney!

My favorite book by MJP--easily on my top-ten list. I'll have to buy another one soon to replace my worn, dog-eared copy. Any complaints about this book are probably made by readers who like a generic hero and heroine.

This book sure didn't follow any "politically correct" stereotypes of what the hero should be and that is what made this book so inventive. I liked the fact that Mary Jo wasn't afraid to write about such a complex character. It wraps up in a nice manner and reads like a fairy tale the whole way through. It was also compelling how he was described as outwardly looking like an angel, but having something dark inside. Just a totally good book, read it soon!

The tremendous pull of a man's struggle to win the woman he fell in love with at first sight causes him to try to force her to his will by imprisoning her, which has the opposite effect of making her hate him. There seems to be no way for him to win her. . . until a life-threatening fall takes away her memory. Without knowledge of previous events, she falls in love with him and they begin a rapturous marriage. . . until her memory returns.

This story had me constantly in tears. The depth of the hero's love and the tragic events that follow his misguided attempts to win the heroine are so moving that I know I will read and reread this book in the months and years to come.

*** NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS ***
Usually with a Mary Jo Putney novel I can't put it down. It's one of those books that you think you're going to read a few chapters of before bed and then it's morning and it's time to get up and the couple chapters had turned into the whole novel. Unfortunately with this book that was not the case.

If I was religious it probably wouldn't have been that bad for me, but since I'm not it felt like I was kind of reading a warped version of the bible. However her portrayal of the Adrian, the male lead in this novel, proves my persistent opinion that many upstanding members of the church are some of the most hypocritical there are and many devout religious church goers seem to think they can behave however they want and all will be forgiven. While it reinforces my jaded opinion of religion I doubt it will go over well with those who are devoutly religious.

Adrian was one the youngest son of a baron who was taking his vows in the monastery when his family was massacred by a neighboring baron seeking control of the same land. Now the air to the barony he forgoes taking his final vows to take up his father sword and avenge the deaths of his family.

Meriel is the youngest daughter of a poor Norman Baron and is initially living in a convent studying to become a nun, when the day approaches for her to take her vows she realizes she can't do it. She can't lock herself away in the convent for the rest of her life.

The years pass and Adrian becomes one of the most powerful barons in England, fighting for the Empress Matilda in the great civil war, he is granted the Earldom of Shropshire and permission to hunt in the Royal Forest. Meriel is taken in by her youngest brother who is enfeoffed by Lord Theobald, a baron fighting for King Stephen in the great civil war. She is the Mistress of Avonleigh as her brother is an unmarried knight. Still yearning for Freedom she goes alone with her hawk hunting and is befallen by the worst sort of bad luck. First the hawk flies off into the Royal Forrest where she doesn't have permission to hunt. Then she and her horse are attacked by a boar where she is thrown and the horse escaped, then covered in mud she is surrounded by armed men, including the Earl of Shropshire fighting got the opposite side of the war. Worried about endangering her people she lies to the earl about her identity and is taken prisoner when she is thought to be a peasant girl on royal land with a hawk she doesn't that the station to own.

The ultra religious Earl has an obsession with the girl and is unwilling to set her free though her crimes are minor and he can't really prove she did anything wrong. He offers her a position as his mistress and when she refuses he continues to keep her captive. He tries every method possible to win her and then in desperation almost rapes her. His way of trying to make it right is to then propose to her. When he refuses to set her free and her only options seem to be death or rape Meriel attempts suicide by jumping out a window. The Earl desperate to save her jumps in behind her.

Though she shouldn't have lived she does survive, but has amnesia. It is during this time that the Earl convinces her to fall in love with him and marries her. He neglects to tell her what happened before she woke up. During a tempest she's almost struck by lightning and in the fall regains her memory of everything except the months during which she married. When she tries again to escape she is captured by a rival baron, almost raped again and the heroic male lead save her and murders the man who massacred his family.

I'm all about character growth but I can't get over the fact that I'm somehow supposed to like and feel for a man who tried to rape the girl. Whether he stopped himself eventually or not, he ripped her clothes, and caged her torturing her like an animal and this sis supposed to be the good guy. Add to this the man refuses to allow Jews to settle on his land until after they tried to help his wife. It's like I owe you one so I'll let you stay but if you hadn't done for me I'm not going to let you live here because you don't believe the same thing as me.

What was really creepy to me is that they were quoting bible verses during sex. That just seems somehow wrong. And of course at the end they somehow end up happy and together the captive and the captor who tortured her.

The book has some exciting scenes and a lot of historical information about at time period that isn't often covered well in historical romance, but it's lacking a lot everywhere else.

The set up of this book was great, but the details and execution, particularly in regard to the hero and heroine, did not work for me.

I loved the early part of the book and the fact that hero and heroine both had religious training and seemed destined to be together, as foreshadowed by their initial encounter.

Unfortuantely, the book did not deliver on the promise, hampered as it was by unrealistic characters and situations-the most glaring of which was that hero and heroine did not recognize each other when they met again. This made no sense to me. The encounters were five years apart. Heroine was 15 years-16 years old at the initial meeting and 20-21 years old at the second meeting. People don't change that much in five years' time. And yet the hero, who had exchanged words with the heroine Meriel at the initial meeting and held the meeting alive in his memory and close to his heart, did not connect the fact and voice that had haunted his life when he met her again. Highly unlikely.

Mereil, for her part, claimed she didn't remember the hero because their initial contact was insignificant. Really? I guess it was everyday that a novice nun witnessed an ambush of a young silver haired baron, tended him, spoke with him and, oh yes, had visions of him that were instrumental in her decision not to take her vows-the most important decision of her life.

Muriel and the hero Adrian acted inconsistenly and foolishly.

So Muriel claims to be a Welsh commoner. And they all believe this story and treat her accordingly. I have to believe that even then people had regional and class accents. Despite visits to her mother's people, there is no way that a convent raised noblewoman would sound anything like a commoner. Adrian would have been able to identify her as a nobelwoman(and likely recognized her voice from their first encounter) the moment she opened her mouth to speak, no matter what language she used.

A great deal of the book was taken up by Muriel's captivity. The writer tries to tell the reader that Adrian did not rape Meriel because it went against his religious principles, YET, he had no problem with psychological torture(solitary confinement) as a means to break her moral spirit. Those two depictions are completely and utterly contradictory.

Further, Adrian, who was so against rape, had very few qualms about having relations with Meriel when he knew she was not in her right mind. Since Adrian was so unusally progressive, I am surprised that it did not occur to him that having sex with someone after they've had a head injury that alters their personality(especially when you know the woman hated you when she was well) is a form of rape.

There were so many things I did not like about this book that I could write a book about it. Summary: I didn't like it, primarily because the hero and heroine. I gave it three stars because the writer made an effort to put some history in a historical romance- which is sadly lacking in most historical romances these days.