Gentle Warrior

Ok, so I have been reading books lately that have not really sucked but have not been that good. So I decided to re-read Julie Garwood's historicals. It had been over 2 years since I had read them and OH MY GOODNESS. I had forgotten just how good they were. I mean, I knew that she was the best historical writer ever, in my opinion, but this book was so good. The story starts a few weeks after Elizabeth's family was killed. Elizabeth and her younger brother saw their mother and sisters killed but escaped with the help of a couple servants. Elizabeth knows that her uncle had something to do with it and she will get her revenge, but she did not plan on Geoffrey Berkley, Baron of Montwright, to mess everything up. He hears about the massacre and goes to correct the problem. In the battle Geoffrey is hit on the head and becomes sick. Elizabeth's loyal servant tells her that Geoffrey's men have Thomas and that Geoffrey is sick and that for her to get her brother she must pretend to be a healer and help Geoffrey. So she goes and helps Geoffrey get better but leaves when he is shows signs of getting better. She and her servant planed for him to take Thomas and meet some where before she left. Geoffrey is not happy about that and decides he is going to marry her. They marry and they fight a lot because they are both very strong in their beliefs. Geoffrey did not grow up with his parents, he has no idea what love looks or feels like. Elizabeth grew up in a loving home and saw how love worked and felt. Elizabeth and Geoffrey cracked me up! This story is so sweet. Geoffrey gets so mad at her but then thinks about it and then decides he kinda likes the way she is. Elizabeth would not back down from a fight with him and that would make him angrier but she did not care, she had to teach him a lesson, while he was also thinking the same thing. Elizabeth is a very strong character and I loved that. She was torn between the revenge she seeks for her family and the love that has started to grow for Geoffrey. She had to put her trust in Geoffrey and let him deal with the justice of the person behind the murders. That was hard for her because she is such a strong character. Geoffrey is the right amount of everything. He is strong but has some weaknesses. He tries to come off closed minded but he is not. When he is wrong he may not admit it, but he will make it right. When Geoffrey thinks Elizabeth is in danger he basically loses control and it is funny because he has so many feelings going around and he doesn't know what to do. He is a typical good male for a historical novel. He has his moments when you might want to scream but just remember.........historical. This book is so good!! If you love romance historicals and want a good read I say read this. This book has a lot of romance and it is a very sweet book!

This is the first of Ms. Garwood's Novels that I have read, but I am a new fan and it won't be the last. I was moved by Garwood's ability to show her hero as a strong warrior, but to also paint her Heroine as a warrior as well. Elizabeth is strong willed, and determined. I also found it a blessing that Ms. Garwood lets her characters be truer to life. To see a couple who are willing to fight publically and shout is rare in a novel of this time perior, but I h ave no doubt that it happened, even if rarely.There was a great number of ocassions where teasing and humor is present in the book making this one very enjoyable. The love scenes are tactful, and well written. The reader can tell that there si lvoe and passion there, and that neither character is shy, but the reader won't spend the entire time blushing. This is a wonderful novel that is a sure page turner.

I enjoyed this story between Elizabeth and Geoffrey tremendously. *sigh* it was very romantic. In my opinion, unlike Ms. Garwood's other books (Castles, The Wedding) the book didn't lack at the end of the story. The hero and heroine's love story got better after each turn of the page. Geoffrey, a handsome warrior, is simply adorable with all his little disipline rules that he uses on his knights - and Elizabeth. Elizabeth, who grew up in a very loving family, had her own wild way in life.The two of them first met, when Elizabeth found out that her little brother was saved from a baron named Geoffrey, whom she's never met before. Baron Geoffrey was her deceased father's overlord, and was to take over the task of finding the murderers of her family; due to the fact that Elizabeth's parents and sisters were all attacked and killed in their own home, but Elizabeth was able to escape with her brother. When Elizabeth arrived to the holding of her brother, which also happened to be her home, she mistaken Baron Geoffery for an ordinary injured knight. Expecting a way older man, she was extremely shocked to find out that Baron Geoffrey was indeed very young and handsome. She nurses Geoffrey back to health, but before he awakens, Elizabeth runs off back to her hiding, in fear that her uncle, whom she suspects as the murderer of her family, sees her alive and well. When Geoffrey regains his health, he goes and finds Elizabeth and brings her back with him. Feeling very protective, Geoffrey decides to quickly marry Elizabeth and thus begins the revenge for Elizabeth's family, and a merry chase between the lovers. I got to admit, the dialogue in the story is funny, witty, so romantic that it makes your tummy flutter. You'll be laughing one minute and crying the next. I highly recommend this book.

I am a great fan of Ms. Garwood's books and this book is no exception. I am a little bothered that one of the previous reviewer 'snoopy1025' impacted the rating twice. I believe everyone is entitled to her opinion, however, the review lacked any content to describe why she thought the book was a waste of time and boring.Never mind that... This book again is in the tradition Julie Garwood style with strong, big hero and petite heroine. I enjoyed it every bit as much as Honor's Splendor, The Bride, The Prize, and Ransom. The most interesting thing about this story is that Elizabeth and Geoffrey actually yell opening at each all through out the book. It is refreshing to see a couple who are willing to fight publically and shout if they wanted to. The hero had all these rules since he did not understanding nor experience any loving relationship from his past, while Elizabeth had an untraditional upbring by her parents and specially her grandfather.There were lots of teasing and humor in the book which is another of Ms. Garwood's talent. Of course let's not forget the great love scenes between the two hot-blooded characters. Well, enough said about the story which I think you will all enjoy. I have read almost all of Ms. Garwood's books and the only one so far that I would not highly recommend is 'the Gift' which I wanted to strangle Sarah. Enjoy!

I have read all of Julie Garwood's books. This woman has the capability to take me away! Gentle Warrior definitely falls right into that catergory. It was a one-sitting read. Elizabeth and Geoffrey will captivate you from the first page to the last. The beautiful, courageous, compassionate Elizabeth was forced to endure something that no one should ever have to... and the handsome, arrogant, heart-stopping Geoffrey came to the rescue and avenged the tragedy bestowed upon Elizabeth and her family. An excellent read! You won't be disappointed.I would also like to say that I am very disappointed with the fact that the previous two reviews were actually even considered! Not to mention the fact that those two horrid reviews were posted by the same person! A person is entitled to their opinion, but to be allowed two opinions that will affect the over all "star rating" of the book should not have been permitted. I have to wonder if that person even read the book. A complete injustice to a fabulous Garwood novel.