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A review by llama_lord
Winter's Heat by Denise Domning
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
This is a vintage bodice-ripper romance, with all which that entails. Specific CWs for this book include Spoilermiscarriage, implied sexual assault of a secondary character which happens off-screen, violence and animal death
Set in England in 1194, 21-year-old Rowena of Benfield is abruptly pulled from her cloistered life in a convent when family drama causes her father to disinherit her older sister and name Rowena as his legitimate heir. Her father has arranged for Rowena to marry 36-year-old Lord Rannulf of Graistan. Rannulf reluctantly agrees to the marriage because he is interested in Rowena's huge tracts of land - but he is struck by Rowena's beauty and they share a passionate wedding night. Despite that, the two immediately get off on the wrong foot and Rannulf is glad to be rid of Rowena when he drops her off alone at Graistan while he goes on to fulfill his military service to the king. Rowena finds Graistan to be woefully neglected and haunted by the complicated relationships of Rannulf's family and his conniving sister-in-law, Maeve. Rowena is thrown into the deep end as she must fight establish herself as Lady of Graistan.
...
This was my 2024 "Winter" read. I enjoyed this one! I had no idea how much I love books set in the Middle Ages until I got in to reading historical romance. I could tell that this author went to some efforts to research the medieval period and incorporate historical detail into the characters' day to day lives.
The real stand out in this story is the heroine Rowena. I thought that she was such an interesting character. Rowena is confident, intelligent, and ambitious. She loves her life in the convent because aspires to be an abbess, as she recognizes that being an abbess is one of the few real positions of leadership for women in the Middle Ages. I liked that Rowena was an ambitious women but in a way that still felt believable for her time period. When she becomes the Lady of Graistan through her marriage, she throws herself wholeheartedly into her new position. I really enjoyed reading about Rowena's efforts to whip the keep into shape. This is the second in as many medieval HRs I have read that have featured what can only be described as a "home improvement montage", but honestly I am into it.
The biggest negative in this book for me was that the conflict between Rowena and Rannulf got really old, really fast. Their entire conflict was they simply misunderstood each other and assumed the worst of each other at every opportunity. Considering that this was this author's first book, I'm hopeful that moving forward the books will have better written conflicts.
I was excited when I saw that the rest of the books in the series have Rannulf's brothers as the heroes, because I really enjoyed the two brothers who were featured in this story. I'm looking forward to continuing this series!
Set in England in 1194, 21-year-old Rowena of Benfield is abruptly pulled from her cloistered life in a convent when family drama causes her father to disinherit her older sister and name Rowena as his legitimate heir. Her father has arranged for Rowena to marry 36-year-old Lord Rannulf of Graistan. Rannulf reluctantly agrees to the marriage because he is interested in Rowena's huge tracts of land - but he is struck by Rowena's beauty and they share a passionate wedding night. Despite that, the two immediately get off on the wrong foot and Rannulf is glad to be rid of Rowena when he drops her off alone at Graistan while he goes on to fulfill his military service to the king. Rowena finds Graistan to be woefully neglected and haunted by the complicated relationships of Rannulf's family and his conniving sister-in-law, Maeve. Rowena is thrown into the deep end as she must fight establish herself as Lady of Graistan.
...
This was my 2024 "Winter" read. I enjoyed this one! I had no idea how much I love books set in the Middle Ages until I got in to reading historical romance. I could tell that this author went to some efforts to research the medieval period and incorporate historical detail into the characters' day to day lives.
The real stand out in this story is the heroine Rowena. I thought that she was such an interesting character. Rowena is confident, intelligent, and ambitious. She loves her life in the convent because aspires to be an abbess, as she recognizes that being an abbess is one of the few real positions of leadership for women in the Middle Ages. I liked that Rowena was an ambitious women but in a way that still felt believable for her time period. When she becomes the Lady of Graistan through her marriage, she throws herself wholeheartedly into her new position. I really enjoyed reading about Rowena's efforts to whip the keep into shape. This is the second in as many medieval HRs I have read that have featured what can only be described as a "home improvement montage", but honestly I am into it.
The biggest negative in this book for me was that the conflict between Rowena and Rannulf got really old, really fast. Their entire conflict was they simply misunderstood each other and assumed the worst of each other at every opportunity. Considering that this was this author's first book, I'm hopeful that moving forward the books will have better written conflicts.
I was excited when I saw that the rest of the books in the series have Rannulf's brothers as the heroes, because I really enjoyed the two brothers who were featured in this story. I'm looking forward to continuing this series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Minor: Animal death, Sexual violence