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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
This was my first Kurland novel. Even though it's second in a series, it's fine as a stand alone novel. Elizabeth Smith finds herself transported to a 14th century castle and finds her way into the heart of the Jamie MacLeod, the grumbling laird. It's a sweet love story, that doesn't go into a lot of explicit sexual details.
Personally, I found many faults with this book. It felt outdated, fell heavily into gender roles and stereotypes, and at times was downright problematic.
While I can see why it sparked a series - the time travel was intriguing and her descriptions rang with historical accuracy - for me the romance was not there.
Jamie as a love interest is boarish, misogynistic to the point of abusive, and arrogant, with very few positives to counterbalance his character. Even the way the heroine Elizabeth referred to herself and her body reflected very archaic views on beauty and confidence. There were a few brief moments that truly felt sweet and engaging, but then some other passage would come along and shatter it.
It is one thing to start with a stubborn and unlikeable love interest and have him mature into someone both the heroine and the reader love (still not my favorite trope, but I understand it). It is quite another that even after 300 pages, a marriage, and proclaiming to love this woman, he still lies and betrays her trust.
While I can see why it sparked a series - the time travel was intriguing and her descriptions rang with historical accuracy - for me the romance was not there.
Jamie as a love interest is boarish, misogynistic to the point of abusive, and arrogant, with very few positives to counterbalance his character. Even the way the heroine Elizabeth referred to herself and her body reflected very archaic views on beauty and confidence. There were a few brief moments that truly felt sweet and engaging, but then some other passage would come along and shatter it.
It is one thing to start with a stubborn and unlikeable love interest and have him mature into someone both the heroine and the reader love (still not my favorite trope, but I understand it). It is quite another that even after 300 pages, a marriage, and proclaiming to love this woman, he still lies and betrays her trust.
Borrowed this because it is a time-travel romance.
I don't know if I'll finish it. It's barely chapter two and the Hero has dropped the Heroine in a horrible dungeon intending to burn her as a witch, and changed his mind and fished her out, noting that she now has a broken wrist. That she is going to fall in love with him is rather sickening.
I don't know if I'll finish it. It's barely chapter two and the Hero has dropped the Heroine in a horrible dungeon intending to burn her as a witch, and changed his mind and fished her out, noting that she now has a broken wrist. That she is going to fall in love with him is rather sickening.
wow, this book was terrible.... I have no idea who is rating it so highly but GOOD GOOOOOOD was it awful. I made it about 200 pages in and decided life is too short for a book this bad. I want those 200 pages of my life back.
Ennpyable, although reading itbatraight after the Outlander series made me aware of the differences in sophistication of the writing in the latter.
This was a cute read. This is something that my mom would have okayed me to read when I was a teenager.
2.5 Stars
I liked that the author didn't pull punches about the late medieval period. It was smelly, dirty, and there was rampant misogyny. And, of course, it's the start of the "witch" era. So, naturally, by modern standards the men treat Elizabeth horribly. And, tbh, I didn't understand why she was so quick to forgive some of the stuff that happens to her.
Jaime was an ass... A gruff, grumbly ass. But, I found some of his reactions and interactions with Elizabeth to be totally hilarious. He was the only character that I was invested in. He was also the only character that was dynamic.
I liked that the author didn't pull punches about the late medieval period. It was smelly, dirty, and there was rampant misogyny. And, of course, it's the start of the "witch" era. So, naturally, by modern standards the men treat Elizabeth horribly. And, tbh, I didn't understand why she was so quick to forgive some of the stuff that happens to her.
Jaime was an ass... A gruff, grumbly ass. But, I found some of his reactions and interactions with Elizabeth to be totally hilarious. He was the only character that I was invested in. He was also the only character that was dynamic.
I’d say 2.5 not because this book was the worst nor even because it was “bad” - I mean it wasn’t GREAT but I finished it - but because I love the Nine Kingdoms series and this just felt like a whole different author. The time travel aspect of this story was literally laughable. Like every time it happened because yes it was more than just the once, I started to snort and laugh because it was so contrived and ridiculous. If you’re going to do time travel, please do it RIGHT. “I fell asleep in the Park” I mean come on. How many people fall asleep outside in parks? And in New York where there’s a high population density and lots of homeless people? And you’re telling me that the magic forest only worked for this one woman? And they just go back and forth with no issues, landing in whatever city seems convenient. And then they change history and nothing goes wrong and they fix it anyway. This was alllll messed up. And yet I finished it anyway because it was a hot mess - I knew it was going to get crazy but I wanted to see what happened. And the crazy did not disappoint.