Rating: 
Summary: She's back....
Review: I could not put this book down. Beseiged is not like any of her recent books (Bedazzled, Betrayed, Deceived, Darling Jasmine, The Innocent) because the characters are more developed. Small still lacks the strength of her early books (The Kadin, Adora, Skye O'Malley) I cannot repeat this enough.Fortune displays personality traits more reminiscent of Skye. Jasmine acted more like the Jasmine of Wild Jasmine. However, I found the character of James Leslie lacking the depth of the James Leslie in Wild Jasmine. I enjoyed meeting Kieran Devers. In addition, the plot line was not as "cookie-cutter" as her previous recent novels. I was pleased with the refreshing change of pace for Small. I eagerly await Small's next book in the series. I am looking forward to see how Autumn Rose grows up.
Rating: 
Summary: Why do I keep buying her books?
Review: I fell in love with Skye O'Malley and The Kadin, but Bertrice Small's most recent endeavors have failed to thrill me. I found myself reading them only so I could add them to my collection. Her dialogue is stilted and sometimes reads as if she was copying information from the encyclopedia. It's one thing to include that information, but to include it in a monologue in a romance novel makes be think of the reciting character as an arrogant bore. I'm also so tired of Bertrice Small's sermonizing on her religious views. How many times does she have to repeat Queen Elizabeth's phrase, "There's only one God, the rest are merely trifles?" Small's heroines may be considered strong women, but they come across as spoiled, rich brats and her heros are wimps that put up with the divas. I was suprised to find that actually one of her characters were not kidnapped and sent into some kind of harem. That was a welcome change of pace, as was the new setting of the New World, but I would have liked to have read more about their experiences in that New World. It seemed as if Small started off strong, but quickly tied up the story for a deadline. Overall, I was disappointed. I don't think I'll be buying any more of Bertrice Small's books.
Rating:
Summary: Why do I keep buying her books?
Review: I fell in love with Skye O'Malley and The Kadin, but Bertrice Small's most recent endeavors have failed to thrill me. I found myself reading them only so I could add them to my collection. Her dialogue is stilted and sometimes reads as if she was copying information from the encyclopedia. It's one thing to include that information, but to include it in a monologue in a romance novel makes be think of the reciting character as an arrogant bore. I'm also so tired of Bertrice Small's sermonizing on her religious views. How many times does she have to repeat Queen Elizabeth's phrase, "There's only one God, the rest are merely trifles?" Small's heroines may be considered strong women, but they come across as spoiled, rich brats and her heros are wimps that put up with the divas. I was suprised to find that actually one of her characters were not kidnapped and sent into some kind of harem. That was a welcome change of pace, as was the new setting of the New World, but I would have liked to have read more about their experiences in that New World. It seemed as if Small started off strong, but quickly tied up the story for a deadline. Overall, I was disappointed. I don't think I'll be buying any more of Bertrice Small's books.
Rating:
Summary: An Improvement
Review: I have just started reading Bertrice Small recently and started with the Skye O'Malley series. I have enjoyed this family series. I get hooked on all the family and eagerly await each new book to see what this active, adventurous family is doing. There is not a huge amount of references to Skye's many other kids and their activities in this book. But it is still well done. You could very easily pick up this book and read it without having read the rest of this series (however I recommend that you do so.) The history details are always very well done and interesting. Ms. Small has taken her readers to Ireland and the New World this time. The O'Malley clan will soon be worldwide. Fortune is every bit like the free spirited women in her family and wants to find that passionate, true love. Her mother and father have gotten their backbone back in this book. It was refreshing to see Jasmine to take a stand again. The only thing that I did not like was the Kidnapping scene. It seemed incomplete or maybe a last minute thought (not very well developed.) The book could stand alone without that scene. I look forward to seeing a mention of Fortune and more family moving to the New World as the colonies expand.
Rating: 
Summary: No longer Lust's Leading Lady
Review: I look forward to each new Beatrice Small book with extreme anticipation. I have especially enjoyed reading the continuing saga of the O'Malley family. However, since the original character Skye has died, her decendents have become quite boring (as compared to her). They no longer have the adventrues that Skye herself once did. I was especially disappointed that Fortune never did find out that Rory was her real father. That would have been reminisent of the Skye legacy. With each new book, I find myself to be in less of a hurry to buy the book. I do hope that if Beatrice Small does continue with the series Skye's Legacy, she puts a bit more zest into the stories.
Rating:
Summary: No longer Lust's Leading Lady
Review: I look forward to each new Bertrice Small book with extreme anticipation. I have especially enjoyed reading the continuing saga of the O'Malley family. However, since the original character Skye has died, her decendents have become quite boring (as compared to her). They no longer have the adventrues that Skye herself once did. I was especially disappointed that Fortune never did find out that Rory was her real father. That would have been reminisent of the Skye legacy. With each new book, I find myself to be in less of a hurry to buy the book. I do hope that if Bertrice Small does continue with the series Skye's Legacy, she puts a bit more zest into the stories.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the last one
Review: I truly enjoyed Fortune's story and hope that it doesn't end there. I think we just heard the beginning of Fortune's tale. I am hoping that Bertrice Small writes of her adventures in the New World and shows us that of all the great-grandchildren, this one will be worthy of Skye O'Malley. I see alot of potential for this character. I, too, hoped that somehow she would find out the truth about Rory. Perhaps, if Bertrice Small continues Fortune's tale, the opportunity might come up. I truly enjoyed this book better than Bedazzled and look forward to more from Ms. Small.
Rating:
Summary: Small sizzles
Review: In 1630, after twenty years away, Jasmine Mary Lindley returns to Ulster accompanied by her third husband Lord James Leslie and her youngest daughter Lady Fortune. Jasmine hopes Fortune finds a husband in the land where the child was born just after her second husband, Fortune's father, was murdered. Regardless of whether Fortune finds a mate or not, the lass will gain control of Maguire's Ford, an estate where Catholics and Protestants harmoniously live and work together. The prime choice is William Devers. However, Jasmine has problems with William's biased mother, who plans to toss the Catholics from Maguire's Ford once Fortune marries her son. William immediately wants the independent and feisty Fortune. In turn, she realizes he is the perfect mate for someone as pragmatic as she is. However, her heart stirs only when she meets William's disinherited older brother Kiernan, a devout Catholic who has given up everything to be able to practice his religion. While Fortune and Kiernan fall in love, an obsessed William will do whatever it takes to make Fortune his wife. BESIEGED is the best historical romance that Bertrice Small has written in several years. The story line centers on the historical basis of the Irish Protestant-Catholic issue in a reasonable and honest way that provides insight to the audience. The lead couple is a majestic duo and the support cast augments the plot through their prejudices or tolerances. Jasmine embraces diversity as the ultimate win-win situation to the point that Dr. Covey could use her as a role model. Though a sidebar starring William slows down the novel, Ms. Small shows why she is a sub-genre superstar. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Besieged
Review: Ms Small is back on track with this tale of Skye O'Malley'sgreat-granddaughter Fortune Lindley. Fortune is a passionate,headstrong woman who stands up for her convictions. Jasmine her mother seems to have regained her backbone in this book. The hero Keiran is not quite as exciting as I had hoped for but at least his character didn't put me to sleep. This effort was better than the previous story, Bedazzled, about Fortune's older sister India. Ms. Small you have almost got that fire back into your stories maybe a revisit to your earlier heroines might spark the flame again.
Rating:
Summary: Bertrice Small is back in form
Review: My dismay after reading Bedazzled has turned into delight after reading Besieged. Fortune Leslie is the center of attraction as a bright, passionate and vibrant heroine. Keirnan might lack some of the rougish panache of past heroes, but he is charming and forceful. Jasmine and James Leslie are back to themselves. The novel starts out with a voyage to Ireland and continues excitingly until Keirnan leaves for Baltimore. The story falters a bit here, it would have been more exciting to have Fortune go with Keirnan and avoid the silly kidnapping of Aine plot as well as the insane indentured servant plot. These took the story nowhere. Hearing how Fortune and Keirnan set up their own residence and made a new life for themselves would have been more interesting in my opinion. Personally, I was a bit dissapointed by the fact that Fortune will never know Rory Maquire is her father. I feel it was handled well despite this and was a very moving story line. Thanks Ms. Small for a great read.
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