Customer Reviews

When Love Awaits

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read "When Love Awaits" in about 3 hours, and loved it. The plot is straightforward: Lord Rolfe decides to marry his reluctant neighbor Leonie to secure peace in his lands and ends up falling in love. Both characters jump of the page as totally real and likable, and the situations they find themselves aren't unrealistic. I especially liked the drama created by Rolfe's ex-mistress Amelia, who is the numero uno "bad guy" in this story. More importantly, the ending is satisfying (everyone gets theirs) and there is one especially delightful scene in which Leonie and Rolfe pit army versus army over ... jealousy. What fun!

This is definitely one of Lindsey's better medieval romances. The only complaint I can make is that the hero's ex-mistress in "So Speaks the Heart," which is an earlier Lindsey medieval romance, is also named Amelia. Are they related?!? Hah.

All in all, I highly recommend this book any day!

When Lady Leonie cursed her new neighbor, Rolfe d' Ambert, her people overheard it, took it by the heart and started mischief towards the new Lord of Kempston to show their loyalty to her... As tempting as it is, Rolfe d' Ambert who is also called the Black Wolf, couldn't just kill all her people to gain peace in his neighboring lands, therefore, without even setting eyes on her, he offered marriage to the saucy Lady Leonie instead. Afterall, He have a mistress to warm his bed anyway. When his offer was rejected, Rolfe seeked the King's help and got what he wanted. Lady Leonie knew what her people did and when she knew of the marriage proposal, she was afraid of the retribution he would give her. But since she had no choice, the marriage concluded. Roalf did get the peace he wanted through his neighboring lands but he found himself enexpectedly at war within his Keep, his wife and her heart.

Perhaps I've read too many historical romances already cuz I find this book somewhat a combination of Elizabeth Lowell's UNTAMED, ENCHANTED and Jude Deveraux's VELVET PROMISE. Of course, there is also a lot in this book that is of it's own originality and identity... but from time to time, I get this Deja Vu feeling... What's so ironic about this though is that I actually loved the combination added to it's originality. The three books is actually one of my favorites. Lady Leonie remined me of Judith in the Velvet Promise while Rolfe reminded me of Dominic in Untamed... Judith is one of my favorite heroine as well, so is Leonie now too... She's independent, intelligent and strong-willed. She is proud yet humble when the need arise. She fights for what she believes in but will also give-in when she sees it needed. She is a LADY through and through...She is also a WIFE, who won't settle for seconds... Call it selfish but she won't share her husband. For her, It's all or nothing! Rolfe d' Ambert is one of a kind. I don't think he is lacking of character. He is a warrior, yes... but he is also a man falling in love with his wife. He wanted her to accept him, to love him and he wasn't ashame of that fact. That made him more of a man in my eyes. He reached out to her but he is also densed about other things. MEN! lol

I would have rated this book a full 5 stars if not for the rushed ending. The book was full of conflicts and misunderstandings which I enjoyed-it's what made the book spicier, more interesting...but i would have love to read more action twist, more acts of solution than just a couple of chapters-page wrapped up in the end. Kindda like, the book simply ended by a brief conclusion of words, summaries... it was just too soon, too fast of an ending to be fulfulling for me. I was also expecting a heartwarming reunion and confessions of feelings between Leoni and her father. I also would have preferred to read Rolfe reaction to her pregnancy. Seems like that too was left out for reader to ponder upon. I guess Leonie still like to hold secrets until later.... Oh well, overall, the book was truly a tender, loving read. I would even put this book under my RE-READ books section for the future.

After her mother dies, Leonie's grief stricken father turns to drink and sends Leonie away from him. She lives in exile,at Pershwick, a keep left to her by her mother. Alain her neighbor and childhood friend has had his property stolen by Rolfe, the black wolf, and must flee. Furious, Leonie curses him. Unbeknownst to her, her people begin to plague Rolfe. In order to maintain peace, Rolfe asks the king's permission to marry Leonie and gets it. Rolfe has no desire for a wife and allows her to stay at Pershwick while he lives with his mistress. But Rolfe keeps thinking of the single night he and his wife spent together and realizes that he wants her in his home. Can Rolfe and Leonie look past his mistress and her family to find happiness together?

This is one of my favorite stories by Lindsey. Leonie is warm and giving, although rather prideful. Rolfe is dark, dangerous, and handsome. Together they sizzle. A delightful love story.

Johanna Lindsey does it again! Since I began to collect and read her books, I have yet to be disappointed in anything she has written. Her books are so different from other authors out there and it is truly refreshing.

The story of Leonie and Rolfe is truly amazing. Although Leonie's stubborness got to me at times... I still admire the strength and determination she showed in her marriage to Rolfe. Rolfe seemed to be the perfect hero. He had the strength and the gentleness that every woman craves. He never gave up on gaining Leonie's love and affection.

The book was full of misunderstandings which of course made it all the more exciting to read. It focuses more on their relationship with a little less action then some of her stories... but that's ok! It was kind of refreshing. Classic Lindsey!!

I've gotta have all her books... and I'll keep collecting 'till I do. Don't miss this one.

What makes Ms. Lindsey's medieval romantic tale so compelling is her character development. Some of her novels have incredible storylines that supersede the characters. In this one, there is less action per se and more about the strong characters themselves, what they feel and why. One also gets a real sense of the time period and the way of life. Leonie's is not the story of a whiny heroine, but rather a woman of substance and intelligence. Ms. Lindsey has a knack for creating awesome heroes, and Rolf is no exception. The only problem is that she is so great at constructing such hunks, it makes reality all the more difficult when the novel ends, and we are forced to realize they are but fiction after all.

When Love Awaits is hard to put down. This is one of Lindsey's earlier works. As so, it's riddled with secrets and misconceptions that I could not wait to see unravelled. The characters are likeable--though Rolfe was particularly dense. I mean, he simply couldn't fathom why Leonie was reluctant to love him despite the fact that he had his former mistress living in their home! It's a good book and worth reading.

The author wanted us to believe that the heroine was a strong character, but didn't back up her opinion with action. Leonie and Rolf spend passionate nights together where they treat each other as equels and Rolf supposedly loves her. Then comes daylight and he's back to treating her like someone of a much lower stature.

Then he continues to keep around his "former" mistress and never tells Leonie why. He continues to act like the rake that he is and she TAKES IT!!

Leonie and Rolfe do get together and it infuriates me to no end!!! Do you see my frustration!!!!

I am reading this for the second time .. This is my all time favorite Lindsey Book. When I was in my teens I read it for the first time now in my early thirties I am doing it again. The Leonie is annoying and Rolfe he is blind... but as an english teacher once stated when it come to these types of things that is what makes up a book..... or there would be no plot to write. I originally gave this 4 stars, (you have to work really hard for 5 stars with me) But as I sat at my desk at work sneaking a paragragh or two I realized I still enjoy this book. I have only read one of her books that I am not that pleased with and that is "Captive Bride" I realized she was just getting started then so I forgive her..........

Johanna Lindsey should have retitled WHEN LOVE AWAITS to MISCONCEPTIONS, MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND CONFUSIONS. Every romance novel plays out some misunderstanding or misconception between its hero and heroine, but this novel takes this plot device to new heights. WHEN LOVE AWAITS comprises of incessant bickering and one misunderstanding after another from page 1 to the very last. Johanna Lindsey is a bit more brutal in terms of violence than I'm used from romance authors, showing the heroine getting beat up by villains and almost raped. But brutal writing can be a good thing when it's fun, or when it's necessary to the overall plot, and/or when there's a suitable payoff towards the end. In this case, it isn't fun nor necessary, and there was no payoff at the end. Interestingly enough, even though we have beatings, mistresses and almost-rapes, the love scenes and passion in WHEN LOVE AWAITS are flat, Lindsey electing to take a lighter direction there. Again, the plot centers around misunderstandings while the prose is pretty bad, and the settings worst. I found the characterizations of both our hero and heroine equally invidious, not a single endearing trait between the two.

Another novel released in the mid-to-late 80s, it must have been fashion to have romance-novel heroes and heroines constantly fight over misunderstandings they refuse to talk about more openly. Ever wanted to scream your lungs out over an overblown misunderstanding that a simple talk could easily clear up? Well imagine screaming your lungs out over and over for 350+ pages because of it.

The idiocy of the hero and the callous, acrimonious nature of the heroine didn't help my enjoyment at all. Two things in this regard.

One, I don't understand how the hero Rolfe could allow his mistress to stay in the same home as the wife he professes to love. It really doesn't matter that the mistress misled Rolfe in believing she's carrying his child, he should have moved the mistress elsewhere. The point is, he's either stupid to believe a word the mistress spews at him and/or cruel to allow her to live in the same home as his beloved wife no matter the child situation.

Two, the heroine Leonie was way too cold throughout. Despite all the times Rolfe asks for her forgiveness and despite all the times he showers her with caring and kindness, she remains pretty stiff with him. The love scenes are equally cold if not moreso. Basically, they bicker and fight over and over and over during the day, go at it at night, and return to their bickering pattern during the day. She mistrusts his fighting ability during a tournament, drugs him so he's forced to avoid the tournament, then runs from his anger only to be captured by thieves and rapists. Towards the end, during a love scene, she thinks she can give everything to this man only to run from him the very next morning again. She believes everything Rolfe's former mistress tells her as well, and allows the mistress to take advantage of every situation. Instead of talking about it more openly with her husband or fighting with the mistress for him, she gives Rolfe a consistent cold shoulder.

The Story.

King Henry II has granted Rolfe d'Ambert the rebellious estates at Kempston, spread out over 6 keeps and various rich lands. Before Rolfe can rule, he must conquer and bring the various keeps to heel. The keep at Crewel falls first and borders Lady Leonie at Pershwick. Leonie's father extricated her from his seat at Montwyn after her mother whom he loved dearly passes away. Although Leonie blames her father for her eviction, it's her stepmother who drugs and keeps her father too comatose to comprehend and rein in his second wife's perfidies.

Although she hasn't met Rolfe, Leonie believes Rolfe a monster, a corrupt mercenary of the King's, while Rolfe believes Leonie behind the sabotages of his estate at Crewel. Rolfe has the King arrange his marriage to Leonie hoping to exact revenge and subdue Leonie into submission. Rolfe's mistress Amelia misleads Rolfe into believing she's carrying his child and Rolfe allows her to stay. Rolfe introduces Amelia as his ward, but Leonie heard the truth from servant gossip yet doesn't openly broach the subject to Rolfe.

Both Rolfe and Leonie harbor ill-begotten misconceptions of each other perpetuated by the books' antagonists that a simple talk could elucidate. This entire fiasco of a book climaxes to a pinnacle of a misunderstanding at the end which is easily dissolved in 1-2 pages.

You get the point.

I can't believe it! I read this book a second time a few days later because it was THAT GOOD!!!

Leonie and Rolfe are neighbours who are not particularly fond of eachother even though they have never formally seen eachother. Leonie's people are causing problems for Rolfe so in the heat of anger he decides to petition the king to marry Leonie so that he can take the land. He starts doubting his action when he was mislead to believe Leonie is ugly. There will be trouble in paradise for the couple with evil stepmother, and evil "mistress".

WHAT IS REFRESHING ABOUT THIS BOOK is finally having a hero who falls in love with the heroine first and the hero trys to get the heroine to fall in love with him. It's so sweet to have the Rolfe head over heels in love with Leonie. And for those of you who don't like rape or adultress, this one if for you.

I love this book. It is a must read.