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pattytru08's review
4.0
Sometimes, you just want to completely lose yourself and not think, not stress; and not care what you’re doing.
This book was a pretty good solution to that.
This book was a pretty good solution to that.
thedeathmaven's review
4.0
Full review: http://lauramorningstar.com/review-the-warriors-bride-prize/
I have to confess that I judged this book before I even read it. I wrongly assumed that as it was a Mills & Boon (known in the US as Harlequin History) romance, that it would be shallow and the Roman element would just be there to give a backdrop and nothing more. I was expecting a book that was very prescriptive and formulaic, as is often the case with books of this style. Finally with the title The Warrior’s Bride Prize I anticipated that this would be a book of little depth and would have insipid characters.
I WAS WRONG!
So very very wrong!
I am ashamed of myself for judging first!
This was shown within the first few pages before the story even began as there was an author’s note explaining some of Jenni’s research process and about the history of the setting.
Her knowledge of this period is woven throughout and it adds a vibrancy to the landscapes and era that is almost tangible.
Both of the lead characters in the story are well developed and you can empathise with both them and their situations.
Livia’s character has known hardship just because of her heritage, and it was interesting to see that race and culture have been causing issues since time began. You would really think that almost 2000 years later we’d have sorted our shit out.
Marcus is seeking to redeem his family’s honour after it was last by his father. Neither of them expect love, nor are they seeking it. Livia is afterall betrothed to another man, but when her intended bridegroom callously gambles her away, it is Marcus who wins her.
It was insightful to see how women were treated like property, as often depictions of prosperous Roman families show women as equal. Although arguably the way that Livia is treated is due to her heritage rather than her gender.
The backdrop to this book helps to set the pace of the narrative. The element of danger caused by the Caledonian rebellion adds and intriguing element of suspense to the romance.
The Warrior’s Prize Bride was my first experience of Jenni’s writing and I look forward to enjoying more from her, and will be adding her previous books to my ever-growing TBR list. Her skill as an author and her fastidious approach to research made this a wonderful read. There was no feeling that this book was written to a formula. The characters were anything but insipid. And I truly deserve a slap on the wrist for being a judgemental bitch…shame on me.
If you are looking for a romance with a heavy dose of action and a sprinkling of suspense then this is a crazy good book. It is a quick and enjoyable read that requires you to engage with the story but doesn’t tax the brain, perfect for tired mums, night shit workers and chronic illness warriors such as me. I found that this book was perfect for dipping in and out of and I still finished within it within a day.
The Warrior’s Bride Prize was a definite reminder to me that one should never judge a book by it’s cover.
I have to confess that I judged this book before I even read it. I wrongly assumed that as it was a Mills & Boon (known in the US as Harlequin History) romance, that it would be shallow and the Roman element would just be there to give a backdrop and nothing more. I was expecting a book that was very prescriptive and formulaic, as is often the case with books of this style. Finally with the title The Warrior’s Bride Prize I anticipated that this would be a book of little depth and would have insipid characters.
I WAS WRONG!
So very very wrong!
I am ashamed of myself for judging first!
This was shown within the first few pages before the story even began as there was an author’s note explaining some of Jenni’s research process and about the history of the setting.
Her knowledge of this period is woven throughout and it adds a vibrancy to the landscapes and era that is almost tangible.
Both of the lead characters in the story are well developed and you can empathise with both them and their situations.
Livia’s character has known hardship just because of her heritage, and it was interesting to see that race and culture have been causing issues since time began. You would really think that almost 2000 years later we’d have sorted our shit out.
Marcus is seeking to redeem his family’s honour after it was last by his father. Neither of them expect love, nor are they seeking it. Livia is afterall betrothed to another man, but when her intended bridegroom callously gambles her away, it is Marcus who wins her.
It was insightful to see how women were treated like property, as often depictions of prosperous Roman families show women as equal. Although arguably the way that Livia is treated is due to her heritage rather than her gender.
The backdrop to this book helps to set the pace of the narrative. The element of danger caused by the Caledonian rebellion adds and intriguing element of suspense to the romance.
The Warrior’s Prize Bride was my first experience of Jenni’s writing and I look forward to enjoying more from her, and will be adding her previous books to my ever-growing TBR list. Her skill as an author and her fastidious approach to research made this a wonderful read. There was no feeling that this book was written to a formula. The characters were anything but insipid. And I truly deserve a slap on the wrist for being a judgemental bitch…shame on me.
If you are looking for a romance with a heavy dose of action and a sprinkling of suspense then this is a crazy good book. It is a quick and enjoyable read that requires you to engage with the story but doesn’t tax the brain, perfect for tired mums, night shit workers and chronic illness warriors such as me. I found that this book was perfect for dipping in and out of and I still finished within it within a day.
The Warrior’s Bride Prize was a definite reminder to me that one should never judge a book by it’s cover.
smithrachaelynn's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
What I liked:
- The setting, I really love reading about this time period. It’s so refreshing to me to read something different than regency for a break.
- Julia, she was a really cute kid and I absolutely loved her relationship with Marius. I wished we got to see more of her.
- Marius, he was so swoon worthy to me. So honorable, kind, and considerate. I liked his instant attraction to Livia.
What I didn’t like:
- The final push away, I get the general reasoning behind it but I rolled my eyes as I was reading. Really? So annoying. We can’t just communicate like adults.
- Abrupt ending, the final push away thing may not have bothered me quite so much if the ending were paced differently. There’s a time jump right after their argument and then they make up in like 2 mins and the book ends. Really? So frustrating to end that way for a really great book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, Blood, and Sexual content
emmalb1984's review
4.0
Livia Valeria is travelling north to Coria, to be married to Lucius Scaevola, whom she has never met, but is in debt to her half-brother, Tarquinus. She is also harbouring a long held ambition to see Hadrians Wall, or rather the other side of it, as, unbeknown to her intended husband, Livia is actually half-Caledonian.
Admittedly, we don’t really meet Lucius in great detail, but, needless to say, he appears enough to establish that he is not a nice man (apparently, at the age of twenty four, Livia is too old, and, no one thought to tell him that she is also mother to a four year old daughter.) Thankfully, also present is the hero of the story, Marius Varro who feels an instant attraction to Livia (the feeling is mutual; indeed, Livia rather hopes Marius is her intended husband when she first meets him), and, when Scaevola drunkenly stakes Livia as the prize in a game of tabula, Marius finds himself betrothed, and also provides Livia with an escape route from Tarquinus’s plan - not before she gets chance to empty a glass of wine over Scaevola’s head though!
Set in Roman Britain against the backdrop of a threatened Caledonian rebellion, the story gathers pace as Livia gets her much longed for glimpse of the wall, and Marius navigates his change of circumstances as he realises that perhaps the promotion he has always aimed for is not worth as much as making his new wife happy.
Livia and Marius are well created characters who have a believable relationship founded on mutual attraction, but are thrown together in unusual circumstances. Indeed, Jenni Fletcher should be praised for not making this a regular marriage of convenience story where hate turns to love, but rather allowing Livia to escape an unsuitable marriage and seek to find happiness with a more suitable man, and the story is delightful as we follow this journey, all the while wondering when Livia’s secrets will come to the fore.
The action sequences as the threatened rebellion begins are well described, and the reader is transported to the Roman battlefields as Marius fights to protect Roman rule. If you are familiar with Hadrians Wall, the talk of mile castles is quite interesting as you are able to imagine what the wall would have been like at the time. Whilst the author does not claim the rebellion described to be an actual event (there is a detailed historical note at the beginning of the book), the setting has obviously been well researched, and allows for the backdrop of a genuine threat from the Caledonians as the story progresses.
Without spoiling the story, Livia’s dilemma about her background is obviously an important factor in the plot, as is Marius coming to terms with his own history, however, given the two genuinely care about each other, you really do root for a happy ending for them when the truth inevitably emerges.
The supporting characters are also well written and add depth to the story, and you do wonder whether Scaevola and Tarquinus have any redeeming features that would make them more likeable, however, it is Marius and Livia who take you on a memorable journey of choosing what is more important: love or duty as the author leads us towards the end of the book.
Enjoyable with a healthy dose of romance, this books makes for good reading as a piece of historical fiction, and provides a good insight into life in Roman times.
Admittedly, we don’t really meet Lucius in great detail, but, needless to say, he appears enough to establish that he is not a nice man (apparently, at the age of twenty four, Livia is too old, and, no one thought to tell him that she is also mother to a four year old daughter.) Thankfully, also present is the hero of the story, Marius Varro who feels an instant attraction to Livia (the feeling is mutual; indeed, Livia rather hopes Marius is her intended husband when she first meets him), and, when Scaevola drunkenly stakes Livia as the prize in a game of tabula, Marius finds himself betrothed, and also provides Livia with an escape route from Tarquinus’s plan - not before she gets chance to empty a glass of wine over Scaevola’s head though!
Set in Roman Britain against the backdrop of a threatened Caledonian rebellion, the story gathers pace as Livia gets her much longed for glimpse of the wall, and Marius navigates his change of circumstances as he realises that perhaps the promotion he has always aimed for is not worth as much as making his new wife happy.
Livia and Marius are well created characters who have a believable relationship founded on mutual attraction, but are thrown together in unusual circumstances. Indeed, Jenni Fletcher should be praised for not making this a regular marriage of convenience story where hate turns to love, but rather allowing Livia to escape an unsuitable marriage and seek to find happiness with a more suitable man, and the story is delightful as we follow this journey, all the while wondering when Livia’s secrets will come to the fore.
The action sequences as the threatened rebellion begins are well described, and the reader is transported to the Roman battlefields as Marius fights to protect Roman rule. If you are familiar with Hadrians Wall, the talk of mile castles is quite interesting as you are able to imagine what the wall would have been like at the time. Whilst the author does not claim the rebellion described to be an actual event (there is a detailed historical note at the beginning of the book), the setting has obviously been well researched, and allows for the backdrop of a genuine threat from the Caledonians as the story progresses.
Without spoiling the story, Livia’s dilemma about her background is obviously an important factor in the plot, as is Marius coming to terms with his own history, however, given the two genuinely care about each other, you really do root for a happy ending for them when the truth inevitably emerges.
The supporting characters are also well written and add depth to the story, and you do wonder whether Scaevola and Tarquinus have any redeeming features that would make them more likeable, however, it is Marius and Livia who take you on a memorable journey of choosing what is more important: love or duty as the author leads us towards the end of the book.
Enjoyable with a healthy dose of romance, this books makes for good reading as a piece of historical fiction, and provides a good insight into life in Roman times.
beckiebookworm1974's review
4.0
I really did adore "The Warrior's Bride Prize"
It made such a pleasant change to some of the dark fiction I have been reading lately.
Almost taking me back to my roots of many years ago when this type of read was more the norm for me and I devoured historical fiction by the bucket load.
It was the historical genre that really in a way started my love affair with romantic fiction and this really reminded me of why when its done right I love it so much.
So here we have Livia and her daughter: bartered by her brother yet again in marriage and sent to England to marry a Roman she has never met.
He, in turn, (lucky for her and him) loses her to a Centurian warrior in a game of chance
Set at Hadrian’s Wall during a barbarian uprising Livia and her new Centurian husband Marius attempt to forge a new relationship between two virtual strangers.
I loved that this was set at Hadrian's wall and on top of a fantastic read I felt that I also got some fascinating history from this as an added bonus.
This really was an enjoyable experience and I am so glad I gave this a chance: it was simple but incredibly satisfying if that even makes sense.
A sweet feel-good romance that left me with a big smile: that really says it all.
I voluntary reviewed an Arc of The Warrior's Bride Prize.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
jessbookishlife's review against another edition
5.0
This was the first book I have read of Jenni's and I have 2 book at home already that I seriously need to read, because I loved this book. That's it... I LOVED IT!
I have a thing for Historical Romances, and I feel like I need to get more and more. I really am addicted to this genre, especially Harlequin/Mills and Boon Historical. So of course, when I saw this book I knew I had to read it, but it wasn't only because of the genre, the publisher, the author or the gorgeous cover and intriguing title... It was also because of the time period of this book. When I read "Roman centurion" in the blurb I know it would be a Roman era book. And one of my favorite books is "The Last Legion", by Valerio Massimo Manfredi, and it takes scene during the Roman Era. So you may understand my excited to read a historical romance in this time period.
I knew Jenni was amazing just by talking to her, and I knew she would be in my favorite Historical Romance authors. Now that I have read her book I can official say: SHE'S IN! From the brilliant characters, plot and pace, to the amazing descriptions and perfect ending... She capture my attention from page one until the very end, plus she capture my heart with this book. That's why she's now a part of my favorite authors in the genre.
Like I said before, the author created amazing characters. They were so engaging and their interactions felt so real and current, like I was reading a contemporary instead of a historical. I don't mean Jenni Fletcher used modern terms and words in the book, no... She was able to take us into a journey not only plot wise, but I also felt like I was living that moment and that time. The dialogues, the setting and characters descriptions... That's why it felt current, because I was transported to the world she created in a time I never knew instead from books and history classes. And that for me turned the book epic!
Livia and Marius were such fantastically well written characters. They were strong-willed, courageous, resilient, powerful character. I expected that from Marius since he is a Roman Centurion, but I loved that Livia was a strong woman too, because that touched my heart. Plus, she's a mom, so she has to protect her daughter. Despite that power, I could see vulnerability too, from both of them, and that was a nice touch to balance everything else and it gave the characters some extra depth.
I love that not only did we see some interactions between Livia and Marius that made their relationship grow, we also see Marius relationship with Livia's daughter. And that father-daughter relationship that was forming was so lovely to read about because it melted my heart as much as the lovers romance.
This book had a good flow and pace to it. There was action moments that made the book exciting to read, there was enough historical details that transported me to that time and place, it had descriptions of scenes that were so vivid and thrilling even... And of course it all was well balanced with the romance.
Do I recommend this book? Who do you think I am? Of course I recommend this book. No matter if you have read a historical romance in the Roman Era or not, you need to read this book. So don't wait even one more second and go get it!
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Jenni for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and by being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book.]
I have a thing for Historical Romances, and I feel like I need to get more and more. I really am addicted to this genre, especially Harlequin/Mills and Boon Historical. So of course, when I saw this book I knew I had to read it, but it wasn't only because of the genre, the publisher, the author or the gorgeous cover and intriguing title... It was also because of the time period of this book. When I read "Roman centurion" in the blurb I know it would be a Roman era book. And one of my favorite books is "The Last Legion", by Valerio Massimo Manfredi, and it takes scene during the Roman Era. So you may understand my excited to read a historical romance in this time period.
I knew Jenni was amazing just by talking to her, and I knew she would be in my favorite Historical Romance authors. Now that I have read her book I can official say: SHE'S IN! From the brilliant characters, plot and pace, to the amazing descriptions and perfect ending... She capture my attention from page one until the very end, plus she capture my heart with this book. That's why she's now a part of my favorite authors in the genre.
Like I said before, the author created amazing characters. They were so engaging and their interactions felt so real and current, like I was reading a contemporary instead of a historical. I don't mean Jenni Fletcher used modern terms and words in the book, no... She was able to take us into a journey not only plot wise, but I also felt like I was living that moment and that time. The dialogues, the setting and characters descriptions... That's why it felt current, because I was transported to the world she created in a time I never knew instead from books and history classes. And that for me turned the book epic!
Livia and Marius were such fantastically well written characters. They were strong-willed, courageous, resilient, powerful character. I expected that from Marius since he is a Roman Centurion, but I loved that Livia was a strong woman too, because that touched my heart. Plus, she's a mom, so she has to protect her daughter. Despite that power, I could see vulnerability too, from both of them, and that was a nice touch to balance everything else and it gave the characters some extra depth.
I love that not only did we see some interactions between Livia and Marius that made their relationship grow, we also see Marius relationship with Livia's daughter. And that father-daughter relationship that was forming was so lovely to read about because it melted my heart as much as the lovers romance.
This book had a good flow and pace to it. There was action moments that made the book exciting to read, there was enough historical details that transported me to that time and place, it had descriptions of scenes that were so vivid and thrilling even... And of course it all was well balanced with the romance.
Do I recommend this book? Who do you think I am? Of course I recommend this book. No matter if you have read a historical romance in the Roman Era or not, you need to read this book. So don't wait even one more second and go get it!
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Jenni for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and by being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book.]
katie_83's review against another edition
5.0
The Warrior’s Bride Prize
By Jenni Fletcher
5 stars
Reviewed on behalf of 3 Degrees of Fiction Book Blog
I really enjoyed this story, it’s the first that I have read by this author and I was really taken by her writing style. It grabbed my attention straight away and kept my interest throughout. I loved the author’s descriptive language and it really felt I was there in the story. The setting was perfect and the story was a perfect example of a well written historical romance read.
The characters were perfect! I loved the heroine, Livia; she was everything I love in a main character from this time period. I love them to be sassy with a fierce streak which is exactly what Livia was! Marius was everything I wanted him to be and more, he was strong, and I loved the instant connection that he had with Livia and even thought she was to marry someone else I was secretly hoping for them to be together!
I think this is actually the first book that I have read in this time period which made it even better to read, I really liked it.
A brilliant read and I absolutely recommend it to all lovers of historical romance stories.
By Jenni Fletcher
5 stars
Reviewed on behalf of 3 Degrees of Fiction Book Blog
I really enjoyed this story, it’s the first that I have read by this author and I was really taken by her writing style. It grabbed my attention straight away and kept my interest throughout. I loved the author’s descriptive language and it really felt I was there in the story. The setting was perfect and the story was a perfect example of a well written historical romance read.
The characters were perfect! I loved the heroine, Livia; she was everything I love in a main character from this time period. I love them to be sassy with a fierce streak which is exactly what Livia was! Marius was everything I wanted him to be and more, he was strong, and I loved the instant connection that he had with Livia and even thought she was to marry someone else I was secretly hoping for them to be together!
I think this is actually the first book that I have read in this time period which made it even better to read, I really liked it.
A brilliant read and I absolutely recommend it to all lovers of historical romance stories.
booksuperpower's review against another edition
4.0
The Warrior’s Prize Bride by Jenni Fletcher is a 2018 Mills & Boon publication.
Livia is widowed, with a small child to care for, but does not grieve much over the loss of her cruel husband. But, no sooner is she released from one turbulent marriage, she is gambled away by her half brother into another betrothal. She must travel to Hadrians Wall where she will meet her future husband.
However, as they approach their destination, the man she mistakes for her fiancé, is Marius, a Roman Centurion. The sparks fly between them immediately! But, it looks as though poor Livia’s next marriage will be as unhappy as her first, until Marius saves the day. In a drunken game of Tabula, Olivia is gambled on yet again and this time Marius is the winner.
While Livia dodged a bullet and ended up with a good and honorable man, things become complicated between them right from the start. First of all, Livia must hide her half- Caledonian heritage in the midst of a brewing uprising. Marius must fight in the battle for Roman rule, while also seeking a coveted promotion, a goal he has spent his life working to achieve. However, as secrets and revelations come to light and the circumstances shift, Marius must decide between his lofty goals or a life with Livia.
I knew right from the start I’d enjoy this book. I love this unique time period this novel is set in, which is seldom explored in historical romance novels anymore. Roman romance has endless possibilities, and the history is very deep, and still very mysterious. The author obviously did some grunt work and dug around for accurate historical details, once again scoring points for authenticity. This is important, and I admire someone who is willing to research and create a story that remains faithful to the time and place the novel is set in.
But, of course we don’t read these novels to study history. The romance is what we came here for and the author knocks it out of the park. I loved Marius! He was so heart meltingly romantic, I felt a little lightheaded. Livia’s background amid dangerous circumstances adds some tense moments of suspense into the equation. I thought she was a strong female lead, showing resilience and bravery in uncertain circumstances.
My only wish was that this novel could have had more room to breathe, that it could have been freed from the constraints of limited word counts, because it is obvious the author had to hold back on character development and probably a wealth of intriguing historical elements, because everything had to be crammed into fewer than three hundred pages. I do wish Mills & Boon/ Harlequin had a long format for books such as this one.
Other than that, this story has a bit of everything, including danger, intrigue, a few surprising twists I didn’t see coming, interesting historical details, and a beautiful love story!
4 stars
Livia is widowed, with a small child to care for, but does not grieve much over the loss of her cruel husband. But, no sooner is she released from one turbulent marriage, she is gambled away by her half brother into another betrothal. She must travel to Hadrians Wall where she will meet her future husband.
However, as they approach their destination, the man she mistakes for her fiancé, is Marius, a Roman Centurion. The sparks fly between them immediately! But, it looks as though poor Livia’s next marriage will be as unhappy as her first, until Marius saves the day. In a drunken game of Tabula, Olivia is gambled on yet again and this time Marius is the winner.
While Livia dodged a bullet and ended up with a good and honorable man, things become complicated between them right from the start. First of all, Livia must hide her half- Caledonian heritage in the midst of a brewing uprising. Marius must fight in the battle for Roman rule, while also seeking a coveted promotion, a goal he has spent his life working to achieve. However, as secrets and revelations come to light and the circumstances shift, Marius must decide between his lofty goals or a life with Livia.
I knew right from the start I’d enjoy this book. I love this unique time period this novel is set in, which is seldom explored in historical romance novels anymore. Roman romance has endless possibilities, and the history is very deep, and still very mysterious. The author obviously did some grunt work and dug around for accurate historical details, once again scoring points for authenticity. This is important, and I admire someone who is willing to research and create a story that remains faithful to the time and place the novel is set in.
But, of course we don’t read these novels to study history. The romance is what we came here for and the author knocks it out of the park. I loved Marius! He was so heart meltingly romantic, I felt a little lightheaded. Livia’s background amid dangerous circumstances adds some tense moments of suspense into the equation. I thought she was a strong female lead, showing resilience and bravery in uncertain circumstances.
My only wish was that this novel could have had more room to breathe, that it could have been freed from the constraints of limited word counts, because it is obvious the author had to hold back on character development and probably a wealth of intriguing historical elements, because everything had to be crammed into fewer than three hundred pages. I do wish Mills & Boon/ Harlequin had a long format for books such as this one.
Other than that, this story has a bit of everything, including danger, intrigue, a few surprising twists I didn’t see coming, interesting historical details, and a beautiful love story!
4 stars
stephanie_co's review
4.0
Pretty good, very fast paced and easy read. Not a ton of character development, but overall it was a light fun read!
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