Favorite Lines: “His mama should have named him Lucifer.” (52)
Saving Grace by Julie Garwood is another Scottish historical romance that lines my keeper shelf. The story centers around a secret that Lady Johanna is keeping. Lady Johanna didn’t want to marry again having already been married to an abusive man. The king of England has other plans. He wants her removed from his presence for an unknown reason. In rides her adopted brother Nicholas with a plan to spirit Johanna far away from the court.
Nicholas takes Johanna to her lands in Scotland where her deceased husband had allowed a corrupt man to savage the land. Nicholas approaches the Laird, Gabriel, about marrying his sister guaranteeing the land is returned to the clan living there. Gabriel and Johanna begin to learn about each other but the past is not put behind them. Johanna has a secret and many people want it. She also has a past that refuses to remain buried.
Once more I’m raving about Julie Garwood’s work. I appreciate the care she made in creating Johanna. I’ve read too many books that have an abused woman overcoming years of abuse in days. This book doesn’t do that. Johanna makes small steps forward and backwards while healing. She finds courage and strength in herself that others eventually see.
Gabriel is the typical strong Laird of many Scottish historicals. He starts out wanting to posses something and ends up having more than he ever thought possible. The dialogue is typical Garwood, great for the time period. The setting is mainly in Scotland and shows the ravages of war during the 13th century. I give this book 3.5 stars.
I still have that book on my keeper shelf. My daughter recently read it and I watched her expression mirror mine when I used to read it. And reread it. I met Garwood at a writer’s conference–she was a trip. Very much like her heroines.
By: RElliott4 on January 17, 2007
at 10:47 am
RElliott- I’ve been thinking about my girls and reading lately. I wonder if they’ll get into my books the way I used to get into my moms. It also makes me think about separating out erotica and romantica from my other books.
By: scooper on January 17, 2007
at 7:22 pm
First, I love SG. It’s probably my favorite Garwood. I think I like the pacing the best. As you said, she didn’t try to clear up Joanna’s issues in a few days. Very realistic.
Second,
I wonder the same about my daughter. I’ve already put my erotica/romantica up, but there are some books that are considered straight romance I’m thinking of putting away, too…like Karen Marie Moning and some others. The Girl is 10 now, and I could just see her eying my shelves. *shudder*
By: Holly on January 18, 2007
at 1:51 am
I was a bit protective and didn’t let my daughter get to my romance shelves until she was fifteen– no wait, some when she was fourteen. She always goes to my office and then asks if one is okay because I don’t want her reading the erotica yet.
But, I waited on the romances for several reasons with her. Mainly because I was obsessed and read nothing but romances when I was her age. I was hoping she’d read in other genres more while she’s young. I later moved on to a lot of genres, but it doesn’t hurt to help her get a more rounded start.
By: RElliott4 on January 19, 2007
at 12:11 pm
My daughter isn’t at the same reading level I was at her age, so I know *crossing my fingers* that I have several years before she is able to read them. I want her to read more than just romance too.
By: scooper on January 19, 2007
at 12:27 pm