Wonderful (Mass Market Paperback)

by Jill Barnett (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Jill Barnett claims she got the idea for her 13th-century romance, Wonderful, from a beer commercial, from which she learned that ale-making was one of the few occupations open to medieval women. Lady Clio is a headstrong, independent-minded young woman who would like nothing more than to rediscover the long-lost recipe for "heather ale," which was created by the Picts. Although lovely, Clio has long given up on marriage because her betrothed abandoned her to a convent six years before. When Merrick de Beaucort suddenly arrives to claim his bride, he finds that wooing the beautiful Lady Clio is as difficult and arduous as any battle he has faced. Beneath Clio's placid countenance and seemingly docile demeanor lies a lively and adventurous woman with a lot of ideas that Merrick must accept if he is ever to win her love.

Review
Lady Clio has been in a convent for six years waiting for her betrothed to return from the Holy Lands, two years longer than originally planned. Bored beyond belief, she manages to get into one scrape or another, all with the best of intentions. Her focus, while waiting for Merrick to claim her as his bride, is to find the ultimate recipe for heather ale. Upon learning that he has finally returned, Lady Clio leaves the convent and heads to Camrose, her family home, to wait for her errant (and yet unseen) husband-to-be. Meanwhile, Merrick, who is tired from his journeys and ready for a quiet, biddable wife, has no idea that while Lady Clio may look angelic, she is actually full of mischief! And she is determined that he will make up every minute of the two years that he made her wait. As Merrick struggles to make Camrose a veritable fortress that would withstand invasion, Clio struggles with learning how to handle a man who lives his life based on success in battle. Her solution? Fits of defiance that not only frustrate Merrick, but make each confrontation sizzle with anticipation! An automatic attraction between Clio and Merrick causes sparks to fly off the pages, especially as they get to know each other. Add some delightfully humorous characters -- Thud, Thwack, Old Gladdys, Sir Roger and Brother Dismas -- and this is one tale that leaves the reader chuckling.Energetic and full of life, Jill Barnett has created characters that are absolutely Wonderful! I laughed throughout the book at the schemes that Lady Clio devised. Ms. Barnett has done a terrific job blending humor into the storyline. This is definitely a keeper!Amy Wilson -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671004123
• ISBN-13: 978-0671004125
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #206,974 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming & Poignant Medieval Romance, October 14, 1997

By	DogsDeserveCompassion (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I enjoyed this book so much! WONDERFUL is enchanting, uplifting and has enough history to place you in the world she's created but not enough to feel like a boring history lesson. The details of ale making were fascinating. Her characters are lovable, and the secondary characters are well drawn and add to the fun (I can't wait for Roger's story!). Clio teaches Merrick how to laugh and love and their relationship develops slowly from one of irritation, to friendship, to desire and love. It's all done with such a tender hand that I couldn't stop the tears when I got to towards the end. Speaking of which, it takes an abrupt serious turn which may upset some looking for a pure love and laughter read. For me, this part made the love story all the more poignant. Like all the Barnett books I've read I laughed and cried and completely enjoyed myself. *Sigh* Do I really have to wait 6 months or so for the next one?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful IS WONDERFUL!, May 18, 2002

By	M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Another great story from the pen of Jill Barnett. To set the stage - The heroine, Lady Clio has been in a convent two years longer than she was originally led to believe. Having never met her betrothed, she had a young girls dreams of romance, of a hero Knight that would come to woe her, etc. etc. Unfortunately, she has lost that feeling of being wooed and hears that her betrothed is on his way to claim his bride. Insulted and her pride damaged by the embarrassment that it has taken him so long to claim her she decides that she shall teach him a lesson.
Lord Merrick, after fighting for so long in the Crusades, is just so happy to finally be coming home to claim his 'calm and peaceful' life along with a biddable betrothed bride, or so he thinks. Well, that isn't about to happen, because Lady Clio is nothing like what he expected and she has a bone to pick with him for being 2 years late.
This story is so rich in humor and secondary characters, including brothers Thud and Thwack, a one eyed cat called Cyclops, and a bird that can't fly and hangs and swings along on her long braid. Of course,there are also Lady Clio's attempts to make the legendary `heather ale' - ales that do not come out quite right and do strange things to people. Parts of this book have such outrageous dialog and funny scenes that it had me laughing so hard the tears in my eyes wouldn't let me continue reading. This book was simply WONDERFUL. It deserves the HIGHEST of a 5 Star rating. Definitely a keeper!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful medeival, January 23, 2000

By	Bonnie Gilbert (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

Ever read one of those books that have you giggling out loud throughout the entire book? This is one of those books. Lady Clio is so funny that I had to laugh at everything she did.

After six years in a convent waiting for her bethrothed to return to wed her, Lord Merrick has finally arrived to retreive Lady Clio. The problem is, Lady Clio has already left for her home. When Lord Merrick finally catches up with Lady Clio, he walks in on her as she's talking to herself, about the fine earl himself. The two clash at first sight. Lord Merrick is expeting a meek woman who will be quiet and have children. Lady Clio has no intension of doing so. She is a mischief maker and enjoys to make Lord Merrick's life miserable.

Lady Clio's claim to fame is making ale for the castle. She makes such a fine ale that the entire castle is either giggling or falling asleep. Merrick and Clio clash several times before they finally marry, and each time is guaranteed a laugh. My favorite scene is when Lady Clio decides to sing for castle. What a voice she has!

After reading Wicked, another great book in this wonderful series, I had to go back and read the book that started it all. Next I plan to read the second in the series, Wild. I highly recommend this series. Jill Barnett has definetly found a fan in me.