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A Sword Upon The Rose (2014)

by Brenda Joyce(Favorite Author)

3.46 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0373778856 (ISBN13: 9780373778850)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Harlequin HQN

series

Scottish Medieval

review 1: Originally reviewed for Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy.One woman who has to make an awful choice, family or love? Not an unusual trope for a romance book but Brenda Joyce tells such an intense tale of a woman torn that you never consider it ordinary.Having been raised in the United States very few wars have actually touched our soil, so when we think if the Civil War (ours of course) one of the hardest concepts (and most tragic) is the brother vs brother concept. Intellectually we understand that they died for their ideals but in our hearts it's a different story. The thing we forget is we aren't the first country to go through this. And our actual war only lasted four years. In Scotland it lasted for generations. Of course politics and loyalty were just as impo... morertant as ideals.What made A Sword Upon the Rose so very interesting is that much of it was written from a Cromyn supporters view point. Most books written during this period are pro Bruce. I had to smile when some of the names of real people came up or real events because I actually knew something about them.. gotta love historical romance.Born a bastard Alana was tossed aside by her powerful Comyn family. Raised on the edges in the home that was her mother's, her mother's property was given to another when she was eight (after all a bastard can't inherit). She became the ward of a man who made it clear that he wanted her, ewwww. A one time meeting with her father gave her hope of a better life but no one wanted her since she was considered a witch. No one wanted her that is until they realized that her visions might come in handy. After being unable to force a favorable vision she was beaten and once again tossed aside. But still she had hope that someday she would be loved.Iain of Isley is a fourth son with a thirst for more. Having risen in the ranks of Robert the Bruce's army he finds himself confused when an innocent lady warns him of danger and takes the time to heal him before continuing her journey. Finding het once again after winning a seige only this time left locked in a turret room while the enemy fled the castle he is sure there is something between them. It would help if he had a clue as to who she actually was.Usually I enjoy Ms. Joyce's work but I found this book a bit off. The general story and the historical references were well done but I didn't enjoy the characters.Iain was, well typical to a man of his time but not a sympathetic character. Alana saves his life, he's suspicious... he finds Alana beaten and locked in a tower, he trusts her. He sleeps with her, it must be love. She asks him to refrain from burning the castle, the town and all the crops, she's chosen the other side. She rides to share info that once again saves him, he loves her. He brings her to his camp and introduces her to the woman who is "taking care of his needs", well she means nothing. He finds out who her father is, she's a spy. It goes on and on. He just wasn't likeable.Alana wasn't much better..She was neglected by her family but believed they truly love her..believe them over the grandmother who loved and raised her. And yet she loved them so much that even when she realized she would never be good enough for Iain, she betrays them for land. Where's the love in that?While Iain's stock kept falling, Godfrey a secondary character became stronger and extremely likeable character. A true friend.If this was just a love story between Iain and Alana, I would find a hard time giving it two stars. But it's not. It's a story about an intriguing country with a rich and vibrant history. It's about the people who survived and the choices they were forced to make. It's about brother vs brother. And most of all it's about love, the love of a country. And that saves this book. Enough to bring it up to three stars and makes it a good solid book.ShauniThis review is based on the ARC of The Sword Upon the Rose, provided by NetGalley and scheduled for release on June 24, 2014
review 2: I received this book as a free goodreads book. It is about a lady name Alana who can see visions, and everyone thinks she is a witch. Her mother passed away when she was born and she is her father's bastard child. So she really has no family except an adopted grandmother. This story takes place during war time in Scotland. So there is a lot of battles taking place. I love this story. How she over comes everything to find out where she belongs in this world. less

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