Knight Errant (War of the Roses)

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Time Travel Romance
Review: As a time travel novel that is sure to please, this fictional work embraces such a vividly detailed description of medieval life that the reader is transported back in time along with the heroine.

Robyn Stafford, young Hollywood executive, decides to surprise her British boyfriend, Collin, by flying to England to share in his birthday celebration. Imagine her surprise when his wife, Bryn, is also at the celebration. After lodging with Collin's sister, Jo, and her daughter, Joy, Robyn decides to hike near the Welsh border only to meet a fifteenth century knight who is Edward Plantagenet, earl of March. After a brush with Edward's enemies and a few moments of passion, Edward leaves Robyn with his white rose, and she returns to Jo's home to share the tale with her.

With the aid of a witch, Robyn is transported back to 1460 England, where she encounters evildoers and ancestors of Collin, Jo, and Joy. Forced to travail England on foot and horseback before she is reunited with Edward, Robyn is faced with tremendous adventure and not a little danger.

Combining a history lesson of the War of the Roses with this narrative tale, the reader is treated to a realistic view of medieval life, complete with unthinkable sanitary practices and lice-ridden food. As the mysteries of witchcraft are creatively explored, Robyn learns her new craft from medieval friends Jo and Joy. And the notion of a fairy-tale prince is kept alive in Edward, the man of every woman's dreams-sensitive, kind, fair, and handsome. Readers will be reluctant to part with Robyn and Edward and will eagerly anticipate the next two installments in this fantastic epic series.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing Medieval Fodor's Guide of England & France
Review: I absolutely loved the book.I personal lover of romance i got easily swept away in the love of robyn and edward. The author gives such vivid description of all the characters and setting of 15th century england. Robyn Stafford may be a holly wood business women but is willing to follow her heart even if she does have to go to 15th century england to find her soulmate. I also recommend reading to sequal Lady Robyn if you were pleased with Knight Errant. Both books a filled with a love that is beyond contestation of Lady roby stafford and the yound earl edward.

Rating:
Summary: A Long Journey!
Review: KNIGHT ERRANT by R. Garcia y Robertson, Tor Books, 2001, 539 pp.
Robyn Stafford, a Hollywood producer, is in England to surprise her lover Collin for his birthday, but soon finds out he's otherwise spoken for. Hiking alone on the Anglo-Welsh border, she's stunned to see a knight in shining armor appear before her. Believing he's an escapee from a Renaissance fair, they strike up a conversation during which he believes she's a 'lad' from her attire and short hair. So begins her journey through six centuries and her relationship with the knight who turns out to be 17-year-old Edward Plantagenet, Earl of March. Robyn's journey takes her through England and France during the Wars of the Roses, and she encounters her now-ex, Collin, his new wife, and friends from her own time who are different people in the 15th century into which she's been thrust, but whom she recognizes. She also makes the acquaintance of Jacquetta Woodville, who is a witch in both times, referred to as 'Weirdville' --fittingly, to those of us who know Jacque's background. Robyn survives several misadventures, is taken prisoner by Yorkist enemies and thrown in a Tower dungeon, meets feeble King Henry VI, engages in witchcraft rituals, journeys to France and Flanders, and is reunited with Edward several times on this journey, during which she's fallen in love with him. In order to save her imprisoned friends Jo and Joy, whom she'd also known in modern times, she's given a potion which allows her a brief return to the present in order to gain access to the Tower and attempt to free them. Her swift landing on a busy shoulder of the M1, on which she's forced to hitchhike in her medieval garb, is more amusing than her disconcerting 15th century sojourn. The witchery element allows her to understand medieval English and French dialect--a question that always arises in time travel, but is seldom explained, as unbelievable as this would be to a reader. The ending, as in all romances, is a happy one in which she and Edward pledge their everlasting love and begin a life together, remaining in the 15th century, which Robyn seems not to mind, as long as she's with her beloved. While the story is rich with historical details and accurate descriptions of life in the pre-penicillin and personal hygiene days of yore, the pacing is a bit slow at times, and the reader may rush ahead to see what happens next. I personally found her love for Edward to be a bit implausible, as to why a grown woman would be so taken with a 17-year-old. Edward's character, for those of us who know him as the womanizing, partying hedonist that he was, seemed molded to fit the story. Even Richard as hero would have been more believable, as this fictional Edward is just too faithful and Beta male to be true. Also, historical sticklers will lose their suspension of disbelief, knowing that Edward never married any Robyn Stafford, but perhaps suspension will be restored upon reading the sequel, LADY ROBYN. --Diana Rubino
Diana Rubino is the author of 10 historical novels, several of which are set during Ricardian times. Visit WWW.DIANARUBINO.COM.

WWW.DIANARUBINO.COM

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining combination of history, fantasy, & romance
Review: Knight Errant reminded me more of Michael Crichton's Timeline than Diana Gabaldon's Outlander. An entertaining read, but it doesn't have the epic eloquence of Gabaldon or Sara Donati. But the numerous historical details are vastly superior to the average time-travel romance. The heroine's modern viewpoint provides a way to comment of the strange realities of medieval life. (I'm not familiar enough with the War of the Roses to comment on the accuracy, or lack thereof, about the main players.)
As a fantasy, there is the time travel element plus a large dose of witchcraft which includes past/future lives. The romance is a nice touch but secondary to the history. The heroine's friendships are the more interesting relationships.

My suspension of disbelief was tested more by the heroine's everlasting PDA battery than by the time travel or astral projection.

This novel doesn't quite make it to my Keeper shelf, but it was an enjoyable way to pass the weekend & I look forward to reading the 2nd book, Lady Robyn. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad but far from excellent
Review: Robin Stanford is on vacation in England when she is suddenly transported in Middle Ages and runs right into (and falls in love) with Edward Plantagenet. I know, I know-this sounds too stupid and improbable. However, to my surprise, I actually enjoyed most of it. Writer throws in some accurate historical facts to make it interesting, his description of what modern woman would think about Middle Ages, its customs, lack of technology, etc. is good and insightful. However, he runs out of steam towards the end and becomes somewhat boring.

Rating:
Summary: historical yes, fantasy yes, romance NO
Review: The plot fell flat for me. There was no spark or chemistry between Edward or Robyn at all. No build up of their romance or attraction for each other. They just loved each other at first sight? Not believable.

Collin was not likable at all. Jo barely, Joy less so. Deirdre was fun but underdeveloped as a character. The reader never knows whether to like or distrust these characters, it was frustrating. I didn't feel I knew anyone, even Robyn very well. They were all paper cut-outs or comic strip characters

Again, the premise gets 4 stars, but the story itself was weak and the love story even weaker. I didn't sense any of Gabaldon's famous passion between this author's hero & heroine.

Rating:
Summary: Too much fluff
Review: This book had a great idea, that never turned into something wonderful. I think if the author would have left out some of the dukes, earls and other so not important people and let the reader draw on thier own imagination, this book would have been much better. I cuouldn't keep track of who was who and, I really stopped caring. The characters were good, but they left alot lacking. It was something I read and almost had to force myself through it. Alot of the extra fluff should have been concentrated on the main characters. There was no real emotion. I like to expirience a book not just read whats infront of me.