22 Nights

Years ago, young Bela of of Turis tricked Tearlach Merin into taking her maidenhead. Now Merin is a general, and charged with bringing Bela back to the palace as a potential bride of Emperor Jahn. But when he arrives at the village he is appalled to learn that Bela is already married; to him. When she was younger, Bela wanted to be free of the burden of her maidenhead, so she drugged Merin and performed the Turi ritual that would bind them together. Since she was no longer a maid, she could fight as a warrior, which was what she desired. To get out of the marriage the couple must perform another ritual. They must be bound together with a rope for twenty-two days and nights before the marriage can be dissolved. During that time they search for the origin of "Kitty" the magical sword that Bela carries. Will their marriage end, or will they rediscover a passion that once existed between them? 22 Nights is the second book in the Emperor's Brides series, and although I have not read the first book I enjoyed the second one a great deal. Bela is a headstrong woman who matures during the book and becomes a woman not afraid to love. Watching her and Merin together was entertaining. Merin's reaction to his wedding was also interesting to watch, and his obvious growing love for Bela rang true to me. There is a second story line in this book, of another bride, Lady Leyla Hagan, who has also been summoned as a potential bride, and Savyn, the wheelwright who is part of her escort group. Their storyline is deep, and is spread throughout the book, so much so that I really wanted them to have their own story so we could explore them more. 22 Nights is a fast-paced, entertaining read. I have to admit I was a little disappointed in the ending. It provides the opening for the third book, true, but I felt as if the characters in this one had not done all they could do, and would have like to see Bela and Merin, and Leyla and Savyn meet. It would have provided me with more closure for these characters in my mind. Still, I am looking forward to book 3, and will now go on the search for book 1. Ms. Winstead Jones has penned an interesting tale and I will be watching to see how it plays out. Amelia Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

General Merin, a loyal soldier, is dispatched by his emperor to retrieve a headstrong potential bride for the ruler's appraisal, but it will be the supreme test of his fealty: Belavari Haythorne guilefully seduced the handsome soldier six years before. More complicating than a mere former liaison, however, is new knowledge that Bela also married him. To dissolve the marriage, they must be bound together for three weeks, which may not be the worst of their problems when fearsome, magic-driven enemies appear. Woven into their tale is the related story of Sayvn, a craftsman, and Leyla, the noblewoman he loves - who is another of the emperor's potential brides. No less enjoyable than the main plot, this subplot is simply beautiful. This stunning fantasy romance is absolutely fantastic. I adored the adventures and development of both plotlines, and I wondered how I possibly could have missed reading this wonderful author before. The characters develop very fluidly and realistically, and the internal dialogue is excellent. Linda Winstead Jones is an exceptional storyteller who knows how to construct a delicious worlds to set her stories in, and her characters are genuinely compelling. I intend to find the rest of her novels -- I love this writer! An A-plus rating for this book, not to mention five stars. (Originally written for Bitten by Books)

22 NIGHTS LINDA WINSTEAD JONES Fantasy Romance Berkley Sensation Rating: 5 Enchantments General Tearlach Merin has been ordered by the emperor to retrieve one of the empress candidates, Belavalari Haythorne, from the village of the Turis. This poses a problem for Merin because Bela and he have a history together and the last time he had seen her was right after he had taken her maidenhead. What a reunion this is going to be. Bela Haythorne never could understand why the women around her would want to be tied down to a man. A lot of good they are. What could they offer her except a painful romp on the sack? She would much rather battle than have to bed down with a man. This is why she decided to offer herself to General Merin all those years ago. She needed to get her pesky virginity out of the way. Her innocence would only hold her back. Of course no proper girl would bed a man without wedding him first. Okay maybe he did not know that the drunken dance they shared actually bound them together as husband and wife. But hey it is not like she will ever see him again right? Merin has the privilege of retrieving Bela from the Turis and taking her to Arthes so she may compete in the competition for Empress. This was the plan until he learned that Bela cannot be taken to Arthes until her marriage has been voided. The problem is that she is married to him. According to Turis customs the two must be bound together for 22 nights. If the rope that binds them is cut or severed they must remain married for another 3 years. This sounds like a not so difficult a task, that is if he was bound to anyone other than Bela the most infuriating woman alive. Bela and Merin must work together if they want to dissolve their marriage and figure out the mystery behind Kitty, the magical sword. Mrs. Jones has once again proven herself! 22 NIGHTS has earned its spot on my bookshelf of keepers along with its companion books such as the Sisters of the Sun series, the Children of the Sun series, and Untouchable book one of the Emperors brides' series. 22 NIGHTS is the latest addition to the magical land of Columbyana. I was not sure who book two was going to be about so I was surprise to see that it was General Merin. I belive he was in the last book of the Children of the Sun series. Merin is everything I want in a man, oh why can't he be real? While I did not understand Bela's desire to be so unfeminine I was very happy with the way her character turned out in the end. I am incredibly intrigued by the twist that this story has taken. I want to know all about the Mountain, and the crystals. Finding out a little bit of what Bela and Merins destiny is makes me curious to see if there will be another series after this trilogy is complete. One created, one born and one hatched. Oh my the possibilities. Another great thing that I love about Ms. Jones' writing is her side stories. The story of Leyla and Savyn was just as enjoyable as Merin and Bela. I am dying to know what ha

I really enjoy Linda's novels. I especially like how there are two story lines in each book; one for the two main characters and a separate but somehow tied in story of another couple. I thought this book was fantastic and unique. Bela and Merin definitely do not have a standard romance. She married him without him even knowing it and the story is about his return years later to her lands and the evolution of a real relationship between them. There is also a magical sword named Kitty that Bela has in her care that adds some twists to the novel. The secondary story line of Leyla and Savynn is very emotional and wonderful. All in all I have completely enjoyed the Emperor's Bride's series and can't wait to read the next book!

Six years ago in an act of desperation to keep her freedom Princess Bela Haythorne of Turis drugged General Merin who was leading a local military force; while he was not fully aware of his situation she bedded and wedded him. He left going off to fight for the newly crowned Columbyanan Emperor Jahn moving up the ranks through blood and sweat to the point where he is the next in line as Minister of Defense while she hid in her Turis village in the Eastern Province. Now Emperor Jahn is choosing a bride from candidates being brought from the corners of the empire. Merin volunteers to his superior General Hydd to escort Bela to the court in Arthes as almost anyone else would end up losing their head; he admits he might too. In Turis he is greeted by Bela ready to slice off his head. Her brothers and papa want his head too as they know what he did to her. Bela admits the truth including that they are married; stunning her family and her husband. They agree to divorce, which in Turis custom means bound together for 22 days and nights. Her mother believes they will either kill each other or realize they are in love. The sequel to UNTOUCHABLE is a terrific Emperor's Bride romantic fantasy with a superb premise of having two enemy combatants bound together while fighting enemies who want one or the other dead. Her mystical "talking" sword Kitty adds uniqueness to the caper as the couple follows her sword into the Forbidden Mountain. Subplots involving other key characters enhance the saga as mom is right with her immediate assessment that the General and the barbaric princess will either die or love in a wonderful sword and sorcery romance. Harriet Klausner