"Medieval romance fans will enjoy THE WILLING WIFE"

In 1155 England, King Henry II provides a gift of land accompanied by a wife to Rowland the Dark of Aquitaine though the recipient wants neither an estate nor a spouse. The bride, Nicolaa of Cheneteberie accepts her fate as she has been widowed four times before and realizes that she might as well cooperate because she has no rights or even a nay say to these arranged marriages.

Though he preferred to remain single, Rowland knows no one lives to reject a regal present so he wants to make the marriage work. He goes out of his way to earn Nicolaa's trust. He begins his campaign to gain her love when he first concludes that she sees him as a passing nuisance because he plans to stay by her side if he can overcome the nightmares of his past.

Medieval romance fans will enjoy THE WILLING WIFE due to the interesting lead characters whose basic understanding of survival makes it possible for the reader to absorb quite a sense of the era. The story line engages the audience because of the attitudes of Nicolaa and Rowland, but also on the other hand makes for insignificant disputes between them. With this novel and books like THE MARRIAGE BED, readers will deign this author as one of the sub- genre's aristocracy.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted October 3, 2002

Four previous arranged marriages have taught Nicolaa the necessity of allowing a strange man access to her bed. Now King Henry has arranged a fifth husband for her. Rowland is anxious to get the bedding over and done with, but what he finds in Nicolaa is an experienced lover whose indifference to his romantic legend challenges him to wring a response from her captivating body.

Summary

Husband #5
She was a wife most willing--Four previous arranged marriages had taught Nicolaa the necessity of allowing a strange main access to her bed, her body. Now King Henry had gifted her with yet another new husband. Would he be over eager, undersized or just plain underfoot, as she had found the males before him?

She was a bride most eager -- Anxious even to get the bedding over and done with, Rowland had expected a timid girl in need of gentle wooing. What he found was a experienced lover whose obvious indifference to his romantic legend challenged him to wring a response -- any response -- out of her disturbingly tempting body.

She was a woman most unready -- Nothing had prepared Nicolaa for a mate who actually meant to stay, a companion who really wanted to know her thoughts, a bed partner who shockingly sought to bring her pleasure. Could it be that she had finally found a man capable of love?