Rating: 
Summary: "By Saint Ethelbert's Elbows..."
Review: ...I loved this book!!! I listened to the unabridged audiobook and was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Unfortunately, a lot of reviewers seem to be incensed over the violence in this book. The reason I wasn't angry was because it's HISTORICAL romance. Furthermore, it's FICTION. If your going to take this book verbatim and/or judge the behavior in 1277 by 2004 standards, you probably shouldn't bother with this book. I suggest you just enjoy the book for what it is...ENTERTAINMENT.
Rating:
Summary: "By Saint Ethelbert's Elbows..."
Review: ...I loved this book!!! I listened to the unabridged audiobook and was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Unfortunately, a lot of reviewers seem to be incensed over the violence in this book. The reason I wasn't angry was because it's HISTORICAL romance. Furthermore, it's FICTION. If your going to take this book verbatim and/or judge the behavior in 1277 by 2004 standards, you probably shouldn't bother with this book. I suggest you just enjoy the book for what it is...ENTERTAINMENT.
Rating: 
Summary: Please notice the year the story takes place ?!
Review: After reading several reviews posted here, I have to ask if the people who "hated" the book, were offended by the story, and in general trashed the author, publisher and anyone else associated with the writing, actually took notice of the date in history when it took place..? I found it a refreshing smash of reality. Brutal in parts, certainly and at times offensive, but very readable. Relationships were of that nature, right or wrong, vastly different from what we would accept nowadays. I suggest if you want a flowery, la-la land romance, pick up a Harlequin and move along. The thing that did annoy me was the name of the book. It really meant nothing.( I have other thoughts on this story however, I wanted to address specifically what I've read about people saying they were offended.) Thankyou.
Rating:
Summary: Fiesty heroine triumphs in love and lust.
Review: After reading two negative reviews on the book here on the Amazon site I'd thought I'd present the positive side. I've never read a Catherine Coulter book before, and don't typically read "romance novels" so I began without expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. The heroine, Hastings, was able to hold on to her firey personality despite an arranged marriage with a husband who seemed dead set on having an obedient wife. She seemed to listen to the advice of older more experienced women and make the marriage more tolerable, and finally fullfilling, while never crushing her own tenacious spirit. The groom, while slower to learn to appreciate his fiesty wife, did grow to find her nature irresistable. Hasting's herbal remedies added interest to her character as well. The sex scenes surprised me in their vivid descriptions, but I did not find them offensive. While the title of the book is rather misleading since the journey to Rosehaven is merely a small subplot in the book, I found the book entertaining and fun to read. Jody Clin
Rating:
Summary: 12th Century Romance...
Review: As I've found with reading romance stories designed at the time period of Rosehaven, it must be extremely challenging for a modern day author (a woman at that) to write and readers to fantasize about "romance" during a period when the oppression and atrocities committed against women were at unheard of proportions and their rights equaled that of a cow...
Rarely do I feel as though the lead male (Severin) should be pitied in stories written during this time period; however I'll make an exception for this one. Severin was suddenly thrown into filling the roles of being a husband for Hastings and leader/protector for all of her people, as well as those in his own deteriorating keep. He was the one sought after and requested to take on Hastings' dieing father's wishes. He stepped up to the challenge as best his experiences and knowledge of what was considered a "man" during that time period - barbaric, domineering and insensitive most of the time -- true to character for crusading knights during 1277. As far as I'm concerned, he was consistently disrespected by Hastings - calling him names, insulting him intimately, throwing things at him. She acted so spoiled and haughty. What irked me the most was HER attitude. Especially given her alternative would have been a heartless, desperate, murdering, real "toad" of a knight.
It was obvious he hadn't had much experience with virgins the first night he went into lay with her. He really believed what he was doing would make it less painful for her to endure his initial entry, as well as potential pregnancy (i.e. measuring the span of her hips to carry a child to term). He had already suffered the death of a wife and son during child birth. However, as their flaring tempers were put aside, he thought he was truly blessed with having her as a wife - love kicked in and they shared a wonderful, sensual relationship.
It was good that Hastings had older, experienced women to consult with; even if their answer to everything seemed to be, `a way to a man's heart is not his stomach, but good, constant sex'...what a hoot for women to be thinking like that during that time period.
I really can't say much more about this story than what has already been written and not spoil it for someone. I recommend that when you read it keep it within the social realities of the 12th century. CC did a good job balancing humor, jealousy and mystery.
Rating: 
Summary: Rape-fest Romance! So bad it's good!
Review: As to the people trying to excuse this mess with the 'historical accuracy' argument, I think the other reviewers neglected to mention that Sevrin's behavior would be easier to swallow if this had been a story about a woman trapped in a marital nightmare. Asking the audience to believe that Hastings can honestly love Sevrin and vice-versa in all seriousness is just insulting.
This book is awful, but it holds a sick, twisted charm. It's kind of like those home videos where men get hit in the groin by a football; it has tears of laughter running down your cheeks even as you cringe in sympathy. I swear that these characters are the medieval equivalent of guests on the Jerry Springer show. I've read this thing twice, and both times I've had conflicting feelings of disgust and amusement.
It starts out innocently enough. Impoverished, misogynic, yet handsom and manly Lord Sevrin arrives to marry the only child of the dying land-owner and inherit the property. The daughter, Hastings, is a defiant girl with a hot temper. It becomes apparent from the first time Servin opens his mouth that he is a jerk. He also happens to be a close friend of Grealem de Morten, another of Coulter's power-mad rapists. Birds of a feather folks.
The first few rape scenes are brutal, shocking, and disturbing, but after getting past the initial abuse I struck comedy gold!
Watch as characters' personalities change drastically for no apparent reason. Drink some beer every time Servin yells "I will beat you!" Marvel as characters come back from the dead. Everyone is so over-the-top, from the evil ex-lover Marjorie in her quest to lure that abusive lout, Servin, back into her bed to Hastings, the heroine, as the hissing spit-fire to whom abuse, humiliation, and rape are like water off a duck's back.
In every Coulter book, the author always picks some reoccurring theme in which to be cute and funny, but ends up lame and annoying: here it's an obsession with William the Conqueror and Trist, the marten. At least it's not racing kittens.
However, the ending isn't very funny. These are obviously two very dysfunctional people if they earnestly feel love towards each other. Sevrin has am obsessive need to dominate the people around him and he isn't squeamish about being brutal to achieve his ends. Hastings is proud and defiant. Though she does try to go along to get along, she has a limit to how much she can take from him. When this limit is reached she can erupt explosively. Servin probably won't be satisfied until he crushes her spirit completely, which Hastings will fight against. I can really see him killing her one day when she doesn't give into his demands. I really don't think the power of love can change Servin that much. He did revert back to a brutish lout after the part where he and Hastings started to finally get along after all.
Rating: 
Summary: An OK read, if you have nothing else to do.
Review: I found the book to be just an ok read. Hastings was a likable character, she had me actually laughing at times with her 'act be for you think' rule. Severin was very believable as far as men go, at least for that time period. I found him to be just a bit on the stupid side when it came to his little silver headed goddess that could do no wrong in his eyes. One of my favorite characters in the book was the Healer. but I dont understand why the love potion didn't work or why was it even included in the story just for the subject to be dropped like it was. That was the only confusting part of the book to me. I am a avid reader of historical fiction and have read at least 2 other of Ms. Coulter's novels. the sad thing is in all three of the books that I have read so far all of the husbands are cheats and don't really fall in love with their wives until the last 50 to 20 pages of the book. Why is this Ms. Coulter?
Rating:
Summary: Rosehaven
Review: I personally thought that this book was great! It had a great plot! The two main characters, Severin and Hastings, had two completely different personalities, but at the end they were able to work everything out! I thought the marten added a great part to Severin's true personality! Althought at times I thought it was a little too much! No matter what, I thought this book was GREAT!
Rating:
Summary: Disturbing and Frustrating!!!
Review: If only 0 and negative stars were created!!! This is the second book I have read of Catherine Coulter (the first being Impulse), but had it been the first, I wouldn't touch her books with a ten foot pole. I need to write this review to get on with my life!!! This book should be called "Rapehaven", not Rosehaven. Ohhh, I can't even write down all the thoughts I feel about this book. First of all, Severin is without a doubt the worst leading male I have ever read about. His egotism is astonighing, and his manners are nothing short of atrocious. After practically raping his "wife" on their wedding night, he doesn't stop there. He can be tolerable when she participates in their merging, but if not, he's a raving lunatic. He doesn't let anyone interfere with his "lust", not even his wife, who he has no problem raping to soothe his manhood. To call this romance is sadistic. If he didn't "need" an heir, I would have told him to forget the marriage and go elsewhere to do the only thing he is capable of.. Hastings, on the other hand, could be a tragic character, with the exception that she falls in love with the jerk. If I were her, I wouldn't have threatened him to kill him, I would have done it!!! The fact that her servant tell her she has to change is deplorable. I realize this is supposed to take place when women had no choice and all about anything at all, but still. There's only soo much a reader can take. Marjorie is another winner, and her and Severin were made for each other. Hastings should have handed her Severin on a silver platter, getting rid of both of them. And I would have beaten up Eloise to a bloody pulp. The fact that Severin utters Marjorie's name when starting to have sex with Hastings just shows what indeed he is thinking with, if you can call it thinking at all. Evolution seriously reversed itself with him. The ending doesn't even come close to swaying my thoughts about this book. Wow, Severin finally realizes what a jerk he was about Marjorie and falls in love with Hastings. Too little, and much too late. Okay, I think I'm done, and do feel a tad better. Maybe I should stick with her books only if she's writing in today's day and age. I don't think I could handle another book by her like this; I'd end up murdering the first man I see!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Great Medival Read!!
Review: Perhaps those that criticize this book do so not understanding the difference between the sexes during the medieval period and later regency times. I am not as fond of earlier period books but Rosehaven is to me an exception. I loved Severin and Hastings and found their romance very intriging and interesting - certainly not in any ways boring. For a couple that was thrown together in an arranged marriage - they both certainly came together in the end in such a loving and compelling manner - for that period of time it was a true love story. Catherine Coulter is one of the few authors that seems to have great loves stories both in modern times and in the past. She wins again for me with Rosehaven!!
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