Customer Reviews

Wonderful

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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?

I am in love with Jill Barnett's books. I think she has the perfect balance between funny and gut-wrenching moments. Other romance writers get the balance right as well, perfect example being Julia Quinn. But Jill Barnett does it to such an extreme, it is unbelievable: when I say funny , I am not saying witty or light , I am talking about laugh-out-loud, almost- fell- off- my -chair funny. And when I say gut-wrenching I mean tears streaming down my face, let-me-hold-you-in-my-arms agony. Everything I could hope for in a romance novel and then some more.

Wonderful tells the tale of Lady Clio of Camrose, a young, spirited woman who since very early in life had these wonderful ideas that invariably got her into trouble. The latest one got her banished from the Queen's court in only two days - after which her father managed to secure her future by getting her a betrothal offer from Merrick de Beaucourt a knight who was then fighting in the Holy Land. After 4 years, Merrick has not yet returned, her father falls sick and dies and she becomes the King's ward. She is then sent to a convent where she waits for another 2 years.

Merrick is a man who has fought alongside the King and is given a title as the Earl of Glamorgan and the opportunity to marry Clio and her lands. He is tired of battles and is prepared to settle down with a quiet wife. Only problem is his new lands are on the border with Wales, a constant threat to the English and his betrothed is the complete opposite of quiet and meek. And she is not happy that she had to wait 6 long years for this man.

They can not marry straight away as he needs to fortify the castle's defences and they take this time to get to know each other as they try to hold their grounds on what they believe to be each other's duties. At first he has little time for her and she believes he only cares about wars. She carries on with her wonderful plans. Like the one to try and create the legendary Heather Ale, a special brew that is said to have strange powers and which recipe has been lost over time. And in her way of doing so, ends up concocting different versions of ale that make people sleep or giggle or recite poetry. She also works out a way of getting back at Merrick for the years he has kept her waiting - every time he asks to see her, she leaves him waiting for two hours and in twenty years their score will be tied!

They go about their ways bickering and fighting but of course, this being a romance novel they find their way into each other's hearts and never a wedding night was so sweet as this one, for this time it was the hero who cried at the sight of the woman he cherished.

There is also a cast of wonderfully drawn secondary characters who add to the story , from Roger FitzAlan, Merrick's best friend and man at arms (the protagonist of the second book in the series) to Thud and Thwack, lady Clio's companions- the explanation for their names is one of the most hilarious scenes in the book.

There are so many other funny little moments in the book but my favourites are how Clio always has new names for Merrick. If he is in one of his moods, he is the Earl of Grumps or the Earl of Grim; when all he can think of is to build the protective walls around the castle , he is the Earl of Warmonger but funniest of them all is when after a particularly hot sexual encounter, she starts to call him Earl of Lips.

But I also mentioned heart-wrenching moments and Jill Barnett do not shy away from them. These two live in dangerous times where the shadow of attacks are only a few kilometres away and natural diseases can bring death ever so swiftly. All ends well, of course, but we do share a tear or two before the Happily Ever After.

review courtesy of thebooksmugglers.blogspot.com

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!

Hmmm... this one just didn't do it for me. I see that it got pretty good reviews here on Amazon, so maybe it's just me. It did have a few humorous scenes & the ending wasn't bad. But - to me the heroine, Clio, was an immature BRAT!! She sulked, she pulled stupid tricks, & did not in any manner act like a woman of the 13th century. Things she did that were supposed to be a result of pride really should have just embarrased her. More than one of her stunts really put her life (& the life of others) in danger; Considering the time period they lived in, it just showed a real lack of intelligence. I guess I just need a more intelligent heroine in my reading... Naive is ok, pulling funny stunts is fun, but showing a complete lack of intelligence just doesn't make me admire them.
The hero, Merrick, was really a hard man at first - not unjust or cruel, just very hard. However, set as it was in the 13th century, with the life he had led, it was justified.... or if not justified, at least more realistic. He came around or grew a lot faster than Clio did.
I suppose I've just gotten use to authors who either write a much more in-depth plot, a more in-depth love story, or at least has a spunky heroine that I can have fun reading about AND have a little respect for...

Lots of sparks in this romantic historical set in 13th century England. There was everything from funny to tender to teary scenes. Great fun characters, particularly the brothers, who made me laugh out loud. Ms. Barnett really showed two strangers falling in love, complete with egos and hurt feelings. Classic historical romance story. Apparently there are two more books. I can't wait to read the hero's friend Roger's story. Highly recommended for anyone who want to laugh and cry and read a great love story.

The heroine of the story is quite different from the others I've read from Barnett (Bewitched, Dreaming, Just a Kiss Away). If I had to wait 6 years for my betrothed to show up, I would be angry too. It was very easy to connect with the heroine. Barnett does a good job adding humor to parts of the book and the reason why I enjoy her books so much.

Reasons for a 4 and not a 5 rating:
--I felt like something fell short in the novel. I think it was the conflict of the story. For a good portion of the novel, you wonder when something unexpected was going to happen and if there was a bad guy. You read a lot about their arguments and disagreements but other than that, there was not much of an outside force that they had to overcome (until the end). For me at least, I didn't understand the reason behind seizing the castle by the Welsh. I guess I wanted more suspense, like having some rivalry or vengeance between characters, but the things that happened were a little predictable.
--The ending came a bit too quickly. I felt that Barnett could have made more effort in building up the end "battle scene"
--I like a bit of jealousy from the hero's part and was hoping he would be jealous of his friend, Rogers, because he was so nice to Clio. I wished Rogers had a bigger role than just being the character with humor.

Overall, I did enjoy the book. I liked the heartache before they actually get together.

First book in the series: "Wonderful", "Wild" and "Wicked".

When Lady Clio of Camrose got betrothed to a legendary English knight she had never met, she believed that love was something magical. But after waiting for her intended in a convent for six long years, without hearing a work from her knight, her feelings weren't the same.

Merrick de Beaucourt was weary of war and was looking forward to a simple life of peace and quiet with a docile wife at his side, but he finds little peace guarding the wild Welsh borders, and even less with his wife whose trust he destroyed.

Merrick and Clio will battle together and discover a rare and wonderful love.

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.

This was my first Jill Barnett book I've read and I loved it! I've read many books but none have ever made laugh out loud until I read this one. I like the fact that Merrick was very tolerate of Chlio and wasn't brutal like some male characters can be. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a fun, and romantic story.

This is a decent enough book - great book to escape into if you're at the beach or on a plane. It keeps your interest but it's shallow - overall I liked it because I like medival books and I really like reading about Scots men. I'd give it 3 stars. And I understand there are one or 2 more books that come after this one, however, I will not be reading them.