Heart of a Hunter

Rating:
Summary: A well written tale of one of England's most turbulent times
Review: Courtesy of The Best Reviews

Lynette D'Aubere's family was in dire straits. Her father had been declared a traitor many years ago, forfeiting his wealth to the Crown, and causing Lynette to be disinherited. Riley, her mother, would do anything to ensure a secure marriage for her, dowry or not. Now Richard, guardian to the young King Edward, wants Lynette brought to court. In an act of sheer desperation, Riley goes to an old friend on his deathbed, begging him to sign a marriage contract, binding his son, Devon Seward, to Lynette. Under questionable behavior, Riley gets the contract signed, securing Lynette's future.

Lynette has plans of her own though. She loves Malcolm, one her family's servants, and they desire to be wed. Her plans are halted upon her betrothal to Devon, but she vows she will marry no one if she cannot have the man she loves. So she runs off, hiding out in the woods until she can find her way to a convent. Lynette revels in her freedom, short-lived though it may be.

Devon is shocked and angered to hear of his father's final act, having no desire to marry right now, especially the daughter of the infamous traitor. He knows she is his responsibility though, at least until he can find her another husband. He goes to the woods in search of her, and is fascinated with the beautiful wood sprite that is Lynette. She mistakes him for a common hunter, enlisting his help in her bid for freedom. Lynette is surprised to find herself falling for this mysterious hunter. When she finds out he is her intended, she is furious with him for tricking her.

Lynette and Devon are soon married and she discovers it is not so awful after all. She falls in love with her husband, and he loves her, though he doubts her integrity.

The times keep them apart however, as this is a very turbulent time for England. Richard has imprisoned Prince Edward, heir to the throne, and is making plans to steal it away from Edward. He is not the only one vying for the coveted crown; Henry Tudor is in love with Princess Elizabeth and vows to marry her. England is in an uproar, as is Devon's household, with factions supporting Henry, and others for Richard, who is killing any and all suspected of treason. Devon is opposed to Richard's plans, fighting them in secret, until a traitor in his household exposes Devon, putting his and Lynette's marriage, and Devon's life, at serious risk of death.

Ms. Davidson has written a fascinating story, capturing the essence of the times. Here is a tale full of intriguing plot developments and lots of drama. The focus of this book is more on the happenings, and how Devon and Lynette react and cope with them, adding depth and growth to their relationship.

This book is not a light read, requiring good amounts of concentration, to follow the story line fully, but it is well worth the extra time taken to read it. The characters are passionate and full of life, and the descriptions of life in England are vividly drawn, making one feel as though present for it all. Take the time to sit down and read this book, it won't be regretted.

Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE WORST I HAVE EVER READ
Review: I think there is some room for revising history in the name of art, but this book takes the most appalling liberties with the truth that I have ever seen. I have read several novels of the period that try to make Henry Tudor more palatable than he was in fact, but no one, not even the most ardent Tudor apologists have EVER handed him a sword at Bosworth Field, much less had him use it to slay his rival. No, even Richard III's most rabid detractors agree that the Tudor aspirant to the throne hung back fearfully, shielded from the onslaught of the brave king who "died, fighting manfully" while he, himself, cowered behind the front lines. I have to confess that it kind of sickens me to see him made into an object of ardent desire, when contemporaries describe him at this time as thin, sallow, and beady-eyed, with thin hair and rotten teeth.

That, of course, was the culmination of a long line of absurdities, beginning with a half-witted heroine named Lynette, who wanders about a wood on the outskirts of London for two days with the not particularly appealing hero without once questioning why it is taking them such an incredible amount of time to get back to town.

I suppose this foolish girl is supposed to be independent and spirited, but she comes off as capricious and willful and not very bright. And as for the hero, Devon, I wouldn't have him in a pinch.

I suppose they deserve one another, but the reader gets short-changed. The dialog is trite and awkward, the plot thin and contrived, and the historical research extremely limited. So for readers of historicals who expect a high level of integrity to the known facts, this is definately not the book for you! For others, who simply enjoy a good story, it's still the work on an amateur.

Rating:
Summary: vivid fifteenth century romance
Review: In 1483, the Earl of Bellville lies dying when Lady Riley D'Aubere visits him to collect the debt he owes her. Twenty years earlier, she freed the earl from incarceration. Since Riley's husband was branded a traitor, the family estate reverts to the crown once she dies leaving her daughter nothing. Riley obtains the Earl's signature on a contract that marries Lynette to the dying man's son.

When Devon Seward learns about his deceased father's final act, he becomes irate for he does not want to be married to anyone. Instead he believes the contract is non-binding and plans to find a spouse for Lynette even if he has to pay the dowry price. Lynette does not want to be wed either so she runs away, but he follows. When they meet she thinks he is a hunter. As they fall in love and the truth of his identity surfaces, both struggle to survive as two rival factions use them as pawns in an attempt to gain the throne.

The sense that the reader is in the late fifteenth century flows throughout the wonderful historical romance turning HEART OF A HUNTER into a superior tale than usual. The story line is fast-paced as the lead characters struggle with what their parents have wrought as well as the outside terror. Though Devon's duplicity seems out of character, he is a heroic individual while his intended is an intrepid person. The sequel to the powerful HEART OF A WARRIOR (Riley's story) proves how good Betty Davidson is with her vivid fifteenth century romances.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: vivid fifteenth century romance
Review: In 1483, the Earl of Bellville lies dying when Lady Riley D'Aubere visits him to collect the debt he owes her. Twenty years earlier, she freed the earl from incarceration. Since Riley's husband was branded a traitor, the family estate reverts to the crown once she dies leaving her daughter nothing. Riley obtains the Earl's signature on a contract that marries Lynette to the dying man's son.

When Devon Seward learns about his deceased father's final act, he becomes irate for he does not want to be married to anyone. Instead he believes the contract is non-binding and plans to find a spouse for Lynette even if he has to pay the dowry price. Lynette does not want to be wed either so she runs away, but he follows. When they meet she thinks he is a hunter. As they fall in love and the truth of his identity surfaces, both struggle to survive as two rival factions use them as pawns in an attempt to gain the throne.

The sense that the reader is in the late fifteenth century flows throughout the wonderful historical romance turning HEART OF A HUNTER into a superior tale than usual. The story line is fast-paced as the lead characters struggle with what their parents have wrought as well as the outside terror. Though Devon's duplicity seems out of character, he is a heroic individual while his intended is an intrepid person. The sequel to the powerful HEART OF A WARRIOR (Riley's story) proves how good Betty Davidson is with her vivid fifteenth century romances.

Harriet Klausner