Promise of the Rose

Stephan and Mary are from two very powerful families. When they meet for the "first time" it's lust at first sight with a capital "L". Their love scenes have your palms sweating like you are there! Mary hides her true identity when Stephan captures her. When Stephan finds out who Mary really is... their marry. Although she balks and fights him at every turn she can't deny the expolisve love she has had for him for a very long time. The love story between Stephen and Mary is amazing and combustible! Through betrayal, deceit, lies, adultery and more, they manage to survive it all! This book is a keeper. I have read it numerous times and never become bored.

There is only one thing wrong with this book. Well, maybe two. The first is the hero's name is the exact same as my ex-husband's. The second is that I have had to buy 3 copies of this book because pages fall out in crucial scenes around 350-425 page area. So if you're hard on books, you may consider buying 2. Stephen is absolutely magnificent, BUT, he more than meets his match in Mary. The King of Scotland's favorite, but wayward daughter. She is extremely intellligent, cunning and brave as her soon to be husband. In a time when loss of virtue usually meant a lifetime in a convent, Mary risks everything precious to her to keep Stephen from finding out her true identity after she sneaks off to tryst with her Scots betrothed. Stephen is utterly ruthless, but amazingly seductive. He has exceptional honor and a dark secret he hides from his father Rolfe de Warrene, the hero of the book, The Conqueror. Rolfe's character more than makes it worth it to buy the Conqueror. Rolfe is so sexually magnetic, he passes it on to his three sons. One thing I would truly love to see Ms. Joyce do is a book on Geoffrey, Stephen's brother, who is Rolfe reborn, only better. The side plot with Geoffrey is tantalizing in that you want him not to become a fully ordained priest. At the end of the book, he has taken his vow of chasity required to become the Bishop of Ely, but he suffers greatly because he is every bit as virile as Rolfe, Stephen or brother Brand. But back to Stephen and Mary. Mary does indeed battle with Stephen to the point of both of them losing all care that Stephen believed Mary a spy and demanded her identity or her virtue. I love Mary's intelligence, passion and spirit. As well as her loyalty, which in the end goes to the right person. Stephen's hatred of the King, and wariness of Prince Henry, causes him to doubt everybody and everything. In one case, Mary does betray him, but after that she has to battle to regain his trust, and he doesn't give it lightly. The fact that Mary is finally proven innocent and trustworthy to him, I feel finally softens him to give his complete heart and most precious of gifts. A flawless, thornless, red rose, the symbol of his undying and unyielding love for Mary. There is also a book, The Hellion, I believe Beatrice Small wrote. It picks up with Henry, the brother to the perverted King Rufus the Red. Henry gains the throne he's coveted his entire life, after Rufus's murder while hunting. It too has a wonderfully strong female character, and a rather dull hero, but the book does carry on the line in history with a very powerfully sexual twist toward the end, when the heroine goes off to rescue her husband. Both books are worth buying, but I would start with The Conqueror, Then The Promise of the Rose, then The Hellion if you are a history buff like me.

WHEN MARY, PRINCESS OF SCOTLAND, IS CAPTURED IN HER DISGUISE AS A PEASANT AND DELIVERED INTO THE HANDS OF HER FATHERS WORST ENEMY STEPHEN DE WARENNE, SHE HAS NO IDEA THE TURN HER LIFE WILL TAKE. WHEN HE COMMANDS TO KNOW HER TRUE IDENTITY, AND SHE OPENLY DEFIES HIM AND FORFEITS HER VIRGINITY. LATER STEPHEN IS STUNNED WHEN HE FINDS OUT HER IDENTITY AND KNOWS THIS COULD MEAN WAR SO HE INSISTS ON MARRYING HER. HER FATHER AGREES ONLY SO SHE CAN SPY ON HIS ENEMY AND PLAN DE WARRENE'S DEFEAT. BUT MARY IS FALLING FOR HER HUSBAND AND ENEMY AND REFUSES TO SPY AND BREAK HER VOWS. BUT A SERIES OF ALMOST BETRAYAL'S AND LACK OF COMMUNICATION ALMOST DESTROY THEM BOTH. THIS BOOK IS THE SEQUAL TO "THE CONQUEROR". STEPHEN IS THE FIRST BORN OF ROLF AND CEIDRE. I LOVE BOOKS THAT BRING PAST CHARACTERS BACK. I HAVE READ THIS BOOK SEVERAL TIMES AND LOOK FORWARD TO IT AGAIN!!! A REAL PAGE TURNER!!!

This book was a true page turner I could not put it down. Mary and Stephen have to overcome some true misunderstandings and obstacles. Mary is devoted to her family, especially her father who is Stephen's enemy. Malcom, Mary's father wants his daughter to spy on her husband, that is one of the reasons Malcom agreed to this marriage. Mary is torn between her loyalties but makes the right decision in the end. This was my first book by Brenda, I can't wait to pick up another one especially "The conqueror" which is the story of Stephen's father Rolfe and his mother. I recommend to read these books in order and enjoy them!

This is the first Brenda Joyce book I ever read, I will definitely read more of her books. I stumbled upon it in a used book store and I am so glad I did. I have not even finished it yet and just wanted to let everyone who is a fan of romance know if you get the chance definitely read it.