Book Review #31 The Running Vixen by Elizabeth Chadwick

The Running Vixen
by Elizabeth Chadwick

Genre: Historical Fiction / Romance
Ages: 16 and up

There were two children who grew up together, a boy and a girl. They loved eachother as brother and sister...or at least she did. Adam came to love her differently, but Heulwen didn't see him that way and married another man at fifteen. Ten years later, her husband is dead and she is soon to be betrothed to a man she likes but does not love. It seems impossible that Adam can change her mind in time, but when he learns that her suitor has a dark secret, it seems like he might have one last chance to win her.
This is not my favorite of Elizabeth Chadwick's novels, there is too much sex and not enough history. The characters are as interesting and likeable as ever, but there story is somewhat painful to read. (Especially a certain scene when a certain fiance comes barging in to discover a certain man and woman with a certain lack of clothing, it was quite messy.) Ms. Chadwick's later novels seem to be an improvement on her earlier ones, the writing doesn't change but the stories improve.

I give it a 6.10 in profanity for two uses of the f-word and several milder swearwords and insult.

There are a couple pretty graphic scenes of sexuality and several that are more vague or fade away as well as references and innuendo, so I rate it a 8.10.

There are several scenes of pretty bloody violence as well as a vague scene of rape, so I rate it a 7.10.

                                                      Lieder Madchen

Book Review #22 The Falcons of Montabard by Elizabeth Chadwick

The Falcons of Montabard
by Elizabeth Chadwick

Genre: Historical Fiction / Romance
Ages: 16 and up
The hero of this story is the son of Simon de Senlis of The Winter Mantle by Elizabeth Chadwick

Sabin FitzSimon is a reckless young man with a dangerous reputation with women. When his shenanigans get him beaten and the woman he was with killed, he is full of guilt. He goes to a tavern to drown his sorrows and a man ends up dead in a tavern brawl. His mother and stepfather decide that this is his last chance and they send him with Edmund Strongfist, an honorable knight, to the Holy Lands. Sabin is warned in no uncertain terms that he is to stay away from Edmund's lovely young daughter, but will he be able to avoid Edmund's dissatisfied new wife as well?
At first I was not at all sure if I liked Sabin's character at all but slowly he gained my sympathy. He slowly grew up and learned restraint and, eventually, had the chance of a true, strong love the likes of which he would never have been able to earn before. The secondary characters were also magnificent.
I loved the setting of this novel. I had never even heard of King Baldwin of Jerusalem before, let alone that he had so many adventures.

There are several uses of insulting terms in this novel, so I give it a 4.10.

There are a few scenes of pretty graphic sexuality, some vaguer scenes and fade-aways, and some rather blunt and sometimes crude references and innuendos for which I rate it a 8.10.

There are several fairly bloody battle scenes as well as a rather brutal beating, so I give it a 6.10.

                                                  Lieder Madchen

A Knight in Shining Armor

Warning! Spoiler Alert!

I have been reading Elizabeth Chadwick's William Marshal books, The Greatest Knight and The Scarlet Lion. The first of these books tell of the true adventures of a young knight in the late 12th century up to his early marriage. The second tells of his married life and further adventures up to his death in the early 13th century. This is just the sort of book I have always enjoyed reading. It is a wonderful time period, full of crusaders, Richard the Lion-Heart, evil Prince John, and, in less-than-accurate versions, Robin Hood and Ivanhoe. I would have enjoyed these well-written and well-researched books anyway, but, due to my mom's geneology hobby, it has an extra dimension.
        I am related to nearly every character in them. William Marshal and his wife Isabelle de Clare are my grandparents. In The Greatest Knight, a Lusignan killed William's uncle. I have Lusignans for grandparents, too. In The Scarlet Lion, the Marshals attended the betrothal of Hugh de Lusignan and Isabella of Angouleme. King John also attended and later stole the bride away for his own. I am descended from them. When John died, Isabella married Hugh de Lusignan, and I am descended from their children as well. I am my own cousin several times over. Also featured in the novels are Longespees, de Warennes, Bigods, as well as many others I am directly related to or descended from. It is ridiculous. Mom says that if we got all of our anscestors on one room, it would be an all-out war. I think she may be on to something.
        Even without all of this added interest, though, The Greatest Knight and The Scarlet Lion are very entertaining reads. There is romance, battles, hair's breadth escapes, captures and ransoms, and the fascinating life of one brave man.

                                                         Lieder Madchen