I am not sure how I finished the book because it was a really silly story. The writing was not so great with repeated usage of the same phrases over and over again. The hero and heroine crying out of nowhere m, abrupt actions of the characters make the book almost funny.

But I read on. It was not a chore to continue like most 2 stars books for me. Conrall and Eve both lied to each other. Their relationship started in a hut where they were isolated for a long time. Cone all decided to marry Eve because of a curse (yeah you heard me right). And he believed that it would lift the curse for his clan, who cares about the woman and her wishes? Let me beget a son by her. He was supposed to be an alpha male I suppose? (Aren't all highlanders supposed to be?) But he wasn't. He was superstitious and kind of weak in mind. I thought wow that's some caveman thinking.

Eve was a weird heroine too. She had a weird character, sometimes strong sometimes quite a ninny. She had her outbursts but she wasn't crazy mad, which saved her in my eyes. But her fears about birthing seemed really childish, the way it was portrayed. Her reactions to certain situations were TSTL. Overall, not a great heroine.

The whole who is the Buchanan child from Minerva thing was not well done. The old clam feud resulted from a forbidden love didn't really work for me. I lost track and interests in whatever the mystery was supposed to be resolved. Somehow Conrall and Eve could be together, that was the end.

Adrian - Heather Grothaus This is the second book in the "The Brotherhood of Fallen Angels". I have not read the first book in the series, so for me it was a stand alone book. Adrian Hailsworth, who has had what I think to be a awful / hard life. So much so, that he has nightmares of his past. Adrian is at the The Brotherhood of Fallen Angels Abbey to heal. While there our heroine, Maisie Lindsay comes there to ask for help with about Wyldonna, her Queen and Maisie home. At first, when Adrian is told the story by the Abby he doesn't believe such a place exist, but when they mention his enemies name that is blackmail the little country he finds that he must go there to see. Adrian thought he had killed him and can't think he is alive. He meets up with Maisie to start their journey to her homeland and starts their story of love and the what they have to overcome

So... I thought I was going to get a dark, brooding hero. Maybe someone a little like this:

 

Instead I got this:

 

 

Expectations -_-

( I couldn't find a gif of Banderas falling of Tornado :/

****Full Review****

 

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Lady Mary has been sheltered in her keep for many years since her parents died. At the age of twenty-six in the year 1180, she is feeling positively ancient. When she starts to have clandestine meetings with a visiting knight, she finds herself falling in love. However, when the marriage talks begin, her priest reveals that her parents betrothed her when she was just a child. Her betrothed is none other than a wanted criminal, fearing others finding this information out and the loss of her intended along with her keep, Mary sets out to find her betrothed and get him to relinquish his claim on her. When Mary meets up with Valentine she finds a dashing, impetuous, and devil-may-care rogue but not a criminal. Valentine wants to give Mary her freedom and release her from his dangerous life but as they travel his road of ruin he just might find himself redeemed in her love.
 
In this first book in the Brotherhood of the Fallen Angels series we are introduced to Valentine, a Spanish noble who finds himself, along with three others, accused of being traitors. His friends are also introduced along with an introduction to how Valentine got wrapped up in the accused treachery. His view of the story is told while some of the story from the other's point of view is held back to be revealed in their stories. The reader is introduced to the villain and the why of the traitor plot but while A and Z are given, a lot of letters have yet to be told. This story thread was murky and interesting with four knights falsely accused but with the villain revealed and the why of it feeling kind of blah, it took away some of the intrigue.
 
The bulk of the story is basically a road romance with Mary and Valentine having somewhat of a buddy comedy. For being extremely sheltered for twenty-six years I didn't consider Mary very shy and found her to be a little bratty; there was some over dramatics. Valentine also seemed a little immature in his recklessness; I think I expected his character to be darker considering the time period and accusations leveled at him. In fact, I expected the whole tone of the story to be darker because of the time period and story plot, it threw me a little how Mary and Valentine's journey was suppose to be more lighthearted through Valentine's antics and theatrics. I saw our couple more as a brother and sister bickering and didn't quite buy into their romance. It was in the last twenty percent that Mary decides she loves Valentine and we get a peek into the bedroom.
 
The cover of this book is what drew me, it looked darkly medieval. However, I didn't find the setting or the character's speech and actions to have a real medieval feel and the story was more about Valentine's silly antics and Mary's reactions to them. At the very end, the villain's actions created a darker tone but after the previous feel of the story, along with the romance, it felt forced and out of place. This is the first book I've read by this author, so perhaps her writing style isn't for me. It's technically written well, just not what I was looking for.

In this first book in the Brotherhood of the Fallen Angels series we are introduced to Valentine, a Spanish noble who finds himself, along with three others, accused of being traitors. His friends are also introduced along with an introduction to how Valentine got wrapped up in the accused treachery.  Valentine also seemed a little immature in his recklessness; I think I expected his character to be darker considering the time period and accusations leveled at him. In fact, I expected the whole tone of the story to be darker because of the time period and story plot, it threw me a little how Mary and Valentine's journey was suppose to be more lighthearted through Valentine's antics and theatrics. The cover of this book is what drew me, it looked darkly medieval. However, I didn't find the setting or the character's speech and actions to have a real medieval feel and the story was more about Valentine's silly antics and Mary's reactions to them. This is the first book I've read by this author, so perhaps her writing style isn't for me. It's technically written well, just not what I was looking for.

Full review to be posted (June 17) closer to publication date.