Sir Marmaduke Strongbow was one of my favorite characters in Devil in a Kilt. I was delighted when I saw that he also had his own story.Lady Caterine Keith was in need of a man, no a champion. She needs protection from Sir Hugh who was not content with only taking her livestock but also wanted the castle and to marry her. Twice widowed and her innocence taken early in life she has no need for a man. Too stubborn for her own good, her dear friend Rhonda took it upon herself to send word to Linnet asking for help. Her sister Linnet already had a champion in mind, one of the greatest warriors none other than Sir Marmaduke Strongbow.Sir Marmaduke Strongbow has much to look forward to. Though there was not a lady in his life, he would soon move into and guard the new castle that he and Duncan MacKenzie has designed. The only thing missing was a lady. Linnet seeks out Marmaduke to ask a favor in the middle of the night while heavy with child. Of course, Duncan is aware that she has slipped out of the bed and he soon finds them in the chapel. Linnet lost her courage and Duncan gladly requested the favor, be a champion to Caterine. He mulls over the request, bad timing considering his new castle will be complete soon. Honor, however will not let him ignore a lady in need.I found myself a little agitated with Caterine. She was a bit cold. I could understand being apprehensive considering her previous problems but she was icy. One thing I found to like about her was his scars had nothing to do with the constant rejection. I loved his character except I thought that perhaps he was too forthcoming with his feelings. I wanted him to be more firm considering the lady he was dealing with.Some reviewers hit the nail on the head, there was a very strong sexual attraction there but that wasn't all. He actually wanted to love her, to marry her and make her his wife in every way. He admired her strength and beauty. She on the other hand wanted a marriage of convenience. Slowly she starts to open up her heart. She admired him as a man, a very noble man who was slowly slaying her internal dragons.The four highlanders he takes along, James (her late husbands self-pitying son) and her best friend Rhonda all make excellent secondary characters. We also visit Duncan and Linnet several times. Duncan, true to form lets off a string of oaths within the first sentence of his appearing in the book (this was one of the funniest things in the previous book IMO). Linnet appears to use her gift of sight much more in this novel. The mystery behind the traitor adds a nice touch along with the beautiful Scottish setting that Mrs. Welfonder describes perfectly.A solid read, 4.0 rating. Historical romance readers will enjoy this book.
Lady Caterine Keith has already been widowed twice and isn't eager or willing to go for a third time. Thre is a unwanted suitor who only desires to get a hold of her Scottish stronghold. One whom repels her so and se is stunned when a battle scarred Knight come sto her as a protector. Sir Marmaduke Strongbow is determined to show Caterine the path of her passion....and a everlasting love, where he goes about to claim hold of her heart and her love. Bride of the beast is the second book in the Mackenzie series written by Sue Ellen Welfonder. I have recently discovered this author, and have just loved what she has written so far, which includes Bride of the Beast. Since I love the first one so much I thought I would try and see how I would like this one, and I just fell in love with it. I truly enjoyed reading Marmaduke's story...it was enchanting. I found the interaction between the characters engaging and filled with a emotional intensity that will take your breath away. A most entertaing read!!!
What do You think about Bride Of The Beast (2003)?
Good but not great.I loved the character and the romance of the male lead - Marmaduke - even if he had a terrible name. He's a man with ambition but also with a heart and a soul, and he wants to be loved. He had that love once with another woman and it was lost in a tragedy. I liked that she didn't betray him but was killed. Too many times the hero in a story is suffering from bitterness and uncertainty from betrayal. Marmaduke only suffers from a broken heart. When he finally meets Caterine he says to her "I would slay your dragons, if you let me." That's probably one of the most gut wrenchingly romantic things I've read in years.Caterine is what makes this book only "good" and not great. She is a widow twice over and has suffered greatly at the hands of an Englishman in her past. However, even though Marmaduke foreswore his English side decades ago and is fully Scottish in every way, she REFUSES to look past his heritage to see the man inside. What could have been, in my opinion, a fantastic "desert island keeper" instead became just another historical romance.
—SheLove2Read
seguimos con la historia de los Mackenzie esta vez nos toca sobre el gran amigo Marmaduke ha pesar de tener una cicatriz en su cara es un hombre lleno de sentimientos y dispuesto a hacer lo que sea por encontrar un nuevo amor pero sobre todo para borrar todos esos demonios que lleva con el.Catherine tambien ha sufrido mucho y ha decidido no entregar a nadie su corazon y menos a un ingles pero al llegar Marmaduke todo cambia aunque a ella le costo mas abrir su corazon y a veces me daban unas ganas de golpearla o que Marmaduke la dejara para que se diera cuenta de la verdad pero hay que "entenderla" por todo lo que ella paso y bueno es un poco dificil pasar por ello y seguir como si nada como siempre algo muy pero muy malo tenia que pasar para que ella pudiera ver la luz, jajaja...me encanto lo caballeroso que era él, sus palabras y acciones podian hacer derretir a cualquiera
—Ivonne
3.9 Stars!!!!Original read October 23, 2011 & Re-read March 8, 2013Scared, one-eyed, battle-scarred Sir Marmaduke Strongbow travels to the keep of the twice widowed Lady Caterine Keith to be her champion and protect the strong hold. She only wants to pretend to be married to fend off her English neighbor to the south, Sir Hugh, who is pushing her to marry him. But Sir Maraduke says he will only marry in truth. It is the typical Beauty and the Beast, Girl denies wanting man, man wants girl, t
—Katya
