Forced to marry Hugh le Despenser, the son and grandson of disgraced traitors, Bess de Montacute, just 13 years old, is appalled at his less-than-desirable past. Meanwhile, Hugh must give up the woman he really loves in order to marry the reluctant Bess. Far apart in age and haunted by the past, can Hugh and Bess somehow make their marriage work?
Just as walls break down and love begins to grow, the merciless plague endangers all whom the couple holds dear, threatening the life and love they have built.
My thoughts:
I read the book about Hugh's dad, and I must say this one was much better. This one I could actually enjoy. Though I do not like that she made it..cute? They liked each other too much. Is that fact or fiction?
Ok, Bess is told she must marry Hugh. She is 13, a widow, he is 30. The age thing did not bother me. Marry them away young before they do something stupid. It was the 14th century after all. They waited until she was mature enough for that other business.
Hugh is the son of a traitor. Bess the daughter of a newly made Earl with the king's ear. It was a political match. In this book they grow to like each other, and I guess that was nice.
Oh that time. I had forgotten that 3 of his sisters (kids!) were forced to become nuns when their father was executed. Women were cattle. Horrible :/
Conclusion:
All in all, I enjoyed this book. It felt very light historical fiction (the previous one was actually too heavy and felt like a textbook). An interesting couple too.
cover
boring
Paperback, 287 pages
Published August 1st 2009 by Sourcebooks Landmark (first published October 29th 2007)
Historical fiction
Own
Nice history behind this one!
ReplyDeleteTotally :)
DeleteLess boring if there was an entire head? ;p
ReplyDeletePerhaps ;=D
Delete13! That sounds terrible. This book sounds very sad, but equally interesting. Great review!
ReplyDeleteHafsah @ IceyBooks
I would not call it sad, it was never sad, it was just life
DeleteGlad you enjoyed, you know I dont do much HF though :)
ReplyDeleteIt's good now and then :D
DeleteI really liked this but I actually liked the book about Hugh's dad more.
ReplyDeleteI did not like that one at all
DeleteInteresting that it still felt light especially when it was a political match and his sisters ended up into a forced nunnery.
ReplyDeleteThey ended up in a nunnery in book 1 ;)
DeleteHorrible
ReplyDeleteSo how did they bridge that age gap? I mean was it awkward in the intimate parts?
ReplyDeleteThey married when she was young yes, but it was stipulated that they had to wait to consummate it. So it never felt weird
DeleteI liked this one.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteI actually like th cover for this book and idea. I like the theme of married couple falling for each other. And I don't mind that she's so young, that were the custom those days, as you say...
ReplyDeleteAnd they had to wait until she was older, mostly to make it safe for babies. And it was not like she was a child, she had been married before, and not consummated it.
DeleteI didn't know about this book or this author, but it sounds like something I could enjoy.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteWhoa! 13?!? Hello insanity! You're right, women were cattle in those days... A lovely review, Linda, in your inimitable style :)
ReplyDeleteAnd as always, thank you
Delete*takes a bow*
I had Higginbotham's first book on my shelf for a long time but never ended up reading it, so then I think I gave it to the used bookstore. I got it at a time when I really enjoyed medieval literature and now, just not so much. I do remember a lot of people saying her books were very heavy, though, so seems like maybe she is moving away from that.
ReplyDeleteSo very heavy, too heavy. I'r rather read a non.fic book then cos it was not good
DeleteHuh seems like she cannot find a balance between heavy and light. lol.
ReplyDeleteGreat review my dear!
Too light or too heavy..yup
DeleteSounds interesting. This author was one of the first I read back when I began book blogging.
ReplyDeleteI heard of her later on and read her later books
DeleteInteresting that it went from too heavy to too light. Perhaps the author was overcompensating? In any case, it sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, that might just be the case
DeleteIt's been years since I read this one, but I do remember enjoying it.
ReplyDelete