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This is All I Ask
by
Lynn Kurland
historical fiction, paranormal romance in a Kindle edition that was published by Berkley on October 1, 2000 and has 438 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Love Came Just in Time, Tapestry, Stardust of Yesterday, One Enchanted Evening, One Magic Moment, From This Moment On, Spellweaver, Gift of Magic, All For You, Roses in Moonlight, Dreams of Lilacs, Ever My Love, A Tapestry of Spells, Star of the Morning, The Mage’s Daughter, Princess of the Sword, Dreamspinner, River of Dreams, Dreamer's Daughter, A Dance Through Time, The Very Thought of You, Another Chance to Dream, My Heart Stood Still, If I Had You
Seventh in the De Piaget-only historical paranormal romance series (fourth in the combined De Piaget/MacLeod universe) and revolving around Gillian of Warewick and Christopher of Blackmour.
My Take
Oddly enough, there is no time travel in this one. There is some peripheral action with Artane though.
It’s been three years since the attack when Christopher lost all that had meaning, and Kurland is quite the tease, telling us of Christopher’s private hell, only telling us of his pain; the lessons he took from his first fateful marriage; that vow given without thought; his painful childhood; the disastrous inheriting of Blackmour by his father, a second son; and, his parents’ disastrous example of marriage.
Don’t judge a book by its cover, for who knows what hides beneath the beauty.
Gillian can’t imagine life being any worse married to Christopher, not when she has her father as an example.
It’s preconceived notions that create the conflict within This is All I Ask. Christopher thinks all women are like his first wife and that his ills make him unfit, while Gillian is terrified of Christopher’s reputation and believes all men beat women.
Kurland uses third person dual protagonist point-of-view from Gillian’s and Christopher’s perspectives, so we see, hear, and experience events they live through. Ya gotta feel for Christopher and all the betrayals he’s experienced, although it’s well balanced by the good he’s experienced with friends and having been Lord Robin’s squire. As for Gillian, I do feel for her life experiences, but she’s such a wet blanket. Always taking the most negative possible angle on events.
It’s mostly a lot of whining with some good bits.
The Story
Past the usual age for marriage, Gillian of Warewick hasn’t much choice when the Dragon of Blackmour has the wedding banns posted. All Gillian can hope is that he doesn’t beat her as often as her father does.
The Characters
Warewick Keep, England, 1249
Gillian of Warewick is Bernard’s unwanted daughter; Braedhalle is her barren dower estate. The abusive, arrogant Bernard of Warewick is a fearful man whose tenants cower from him — and Gillian’s father. William, had been Gillian’s helpful brother, teaching her swordplay when he was home. Edward had been one of William’s guardsmen. Alice is a midwife but earns most of her keep from whoring.
Blackmour is . . .
. . . a forbidding fortress atop a cliff where lives Christopher, the Lord of Blackmour, a.k.a. the Dragon of Blackmour, who has a reputation for the black arts. Jason of Artane is Christopher’s squire. Sir Colin of Berkhamshire, Christopher’s brother-in-law, has a reputation for violence and cruelty. Ranulf is Christopher’s captain. Sir Robert is another of Christopher’s men. Peter is a stableboy. Janet is a maid. Wolf is one of Christopher’s favorite hounds. Gervase had been Christopher’s uncle, the eldest son who died. The cold-hearted Magdalina “Lina” of Berkhamshire is/was Colin’s beauteous sister and Christopher’s first wife.
Lord Robin of Artane and the Lady Anne, his wife, are Jason’s parents. Phillip, who is betrothed to Lady Heather, is their oldest son and the heir. I think Kendrick, Royce, and Mary are more of their children. Miles is Robin’s brother.
Berengaria is a witch and a healer who seems timeless and omniscient. Magda and Nemain are two witchly characters who aren’t very competent.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a murky grayish pink background with the author’s name and title left-aligned in a script font in teal shadowed in turquoise. Under the author’s name is an info blurb in black with a testimonial in black at the very bottom. To the right of the title (and below the author’s name) is a black dragon standing upright against a cloudy blue drape with peach flowers and a swag of yellow flowers trailing across his front.
The title doesn’t ask for much, for This is All I Ask by either protagonist.
