Set during the Tudor era, Bertrice Small introduces her readers to Rosamund Bolton, an orphaned heiress to the manor of Friarsgate, located along the Cumbrian border between England and Scotland. Married and widowed twice by the age of thirteen, the young heiress is constantly contending with her uncle and guardian, Henry Bolton, who is possessed by immense greed and an incessant need to acquire all that is not his, namely Friarsgate Manor. Eventually he is outwitted by Rosamund's second husband Sir Hugh Cabot who, upon his deathbed, put his young wife's destiny into the hands of King Henry VII.What follows is a mixture of intense passion, sexual exploits, betrayal and deceit. Readers watch Rosamund transform from a tender yet inquisitive girl of six into a bold and courageous woman of twenty-two. Have a knowledge of the world and those around her that surpasses that bondage's of women born during her time, Rosamund is forced to test fate and her ability to chooser her own path.**** Bertrice Small did an exemplary job of keeping within the timeline of the era in which her novel is set. Rosamund is a gusty, fierce and passionate young woman who, after having been widowed twice and then sent off to the courts of England, is endeavoring to take the reins of her life back and choose her own future.This novel is very sexually explicit. Small did a terrific job of blending her sex scenes into the story line however I was a little put off by the age in which her main character lost her virginity (and by the age of the man who took it!). I do realize that this is a historical fiction novel and girls in the 14-1500s were married young, most often to men twice their age In growing up in present day America I tend to look at sexually active fourteen year old girls as jail-bait and I had a hard time looking past the main character's younger self. I tended to skip over some of the seedier scenes and I felt that her age detracted me from truly enjoying the entire story. I believe that because of this feeling of unease I am unable to rate this book higher than 4 stars, and would actually feel more comfortable rating it at 3.5.Regardless of my personal misgivings (and that is all they are), I fully intend to continue reading the Friarsgate Inheritance series and am looking forward to picking up Until You.http://historicallyyoursbookreviews.b...
I hesitate to call this historical fiction, because the setting was so darned generic. It was simply pre-industrial, pre-civil liberties country living that could have taken place any when between roughly the 10th and 19th centuries.When we get to the actually historical period – the reign of Henry VII, “facts” (some more accurate than others) are dropped in with the subtly of anvils, suggesting the main character has been living in some sort of Brigadoon-like bubble.There’s some melodrama worthy of a silent movie that’s all easily resolved very quickly because the antagonists are mustache twirling villains who are easily thwarted by the clever protagonists who might as well wear shiny white hats to show off their Goodness and Virtue.Nothing feels real here – the setting and the characters feel like painted cardboard in a middle school theater production of Ye Olden Dayes.The story goes completely off the rails into First Time Fantasy Land wherein the blushing virginal bride is shown all the pleasures of Making Love by her adoring and experienced husband and she quickly goes from not knowing what a penis looks like to Sex Goddess on the turn of a dime.And then it gets really weird.
What do You think about Rosamund (2003)?
OK, I really like historical fiction and love old European royalty stories. In fact I've read several. This one maybe had less history than some others I've read describing the same era. But the story was the kind that you get caught up in and easy to read and frivolous to help a person forget about real life for awhile. But a few parts were too steamy so this one is for married ladies only and even then you may find yourself skipping over a few paragraphs as I did. so even though I really liked the book, I probably won't read more of this author's books due to her not leaving enough to the imagination for me!
—Kimberlee
I know it's odd that I gave this first book a 5 star and the rest a 3. It's been awhile since I've read this series...but I know that once I read Rosamund that I had to read the rest. I not only had to read them, I had to own them...I can't afford new...that's why second hand book stores are the best. I use to love yard sale, ten and fifty cent finds, but I never get the time anymore to get out to yard sales. The books are still the same read, new or not and I'd never find the whole set in the book stores now anyways, so the second hand book stores are the way to go.I know I liked Rosamund the best..but I loved all the females in this story and their lives.(Now if I could find this type of story, add some magic, maybe time travel, dragon...fantasy-romance)
—Annette
NOT a book for young people. Explicit sexual situations as Rosamund is introduced and the first few decades of her life are explained. Story is placed in Tudor England in late 1400's-early 1500's. Details the control over women by their male relatives in such things as ownership of land, marriage decisions, style of dress, etc. Rosamund is a fiery, headstrong young woman who was married and widowed twice before the age of 13 and yet still a virgin! A good historical romance with enough "reality" to pull you into the story and keep you reading to the last page!
—Denise
