The Gift

The Lions Lady was great. Guardian Angel was good. This was disappointing. A hero who was flat as a pancake, a heroine who was irritating beyond belief and maybe a little simple. Very little plot, situations that could have been humorous were not. Very repetitious. Definitely not a keeper!

I usually don't require that laughter be a part of any romance novel I read...but I was almost embarrassed by the perpetual smile I had on my face while reading this book. It has to be one of the best books I have ever read. Sara, the bumbling, innocent heroine I didn't get at first, but after I realized that her demeanor was all a coping mechanism that she developed while dealing with her horrid family. Well I couldn't help but love her cluelessness. Nathan was a marvelous hero...sigh. You know when an author gets a hero right...there is no explaination needed. I loved this book.

Ok, so this was such a good book. The writing was great! She put in funny little things that they would be thinking and it would crack me up. So the story is about Sara Winchester and Nathan, Marquees of St. James. They were ordered to marry when he was 14 and she was 4 years old....... that's right FOUR! The reason was because the two families had been feuding for years and the king wanted peace and he thought the marriage would facilitate that peace. Sara's family talked bad about Nathan but she thought of him as her knight in shinning armor. Her family were not the nicest people. Nathan just wanted the gift the marriage contract would give them...at first. Most of Julie Garwood's female character are very strong and Sara is strong but she is more of a "lady" than most of the others. I liked that change. Was I a little annoyed with Sara at first, yes, but I imagine a lot of women were like her back in the day. Sara has a strong mind. She is a bit of a dreamer and thinks only of the good in people. Now Nathan is a whole different story. He likes being alone and doesn't want to depend on anyone especially a woman. He is jaded, but kind. He is at times a contradiction to himself. He would say he doesn't care about her feelings but then do things that would spare her delicate feelings. It was very sweet. But he does have a tendency to yell a lot...at her. But believe me it is funny when he does. My favorite line was when someone asked what endearments he calls her by and Sara says, "Damn it Sara." She did this because he never called her by endearments and wanted to upset him. Then he turns around and says "Damn it, Sara!" and then he starts laughing. I could go on and on about this book but I will stop because I do not think I can do it justice. So much happens but I will not ruin it for you. I am going to stop now and just say....this is a very good book and you should think about reading it!

I love Julie Garwood, and this is one of my favorites. Lady Sara Winchester is a different kind of heroine - ditzy, naive and thoroughly optomistic. She was forced to marry Nathan St. James by royal decree when she was a very young child, and has fantasized about him as her prince charming ever since. When Nathan claims his bride years later, she is in for a surprise - he is surly and mistrustful, not to mention a semi-reformed pirate and general social outcast. The story of how these two come together and learn to live with one another is hilarious. And plenty sexy! As usual, Garwood delivers!

I think that some of the people who wrote reviews are whining. Not the heroine of Julie Garwood's book. You have to take into consideration that Sara, the heroine, was probably a good representation of some women at that time. And a large facet of her charm and appeal is the way she grows from timid, and self conscious to mature and self-assured. In this book, the characters have been married since they were 4 and 14. They are from rival families and were ordered to marry to settle a dispute. 14 years later, Nathan comes to get Sara and start their married life. The story that follows amusingly, and touchingly, chronicles Nathan and Sara falling in love on the high seas, and fighting to keep that love on land. I thought The Gift was a great book, certainly one of the best in the series. (Speaking of the series, there are four books, not three. The Lion's Lady is the first. Then Guardian Angel, The Gift, and Castles.) The two main characters are loveable, and have good chemistry, not mention some GREAT and really witty conversations. And of course, the hot love scenes Julie Garwood has created a thoroughly interesting plot and setting, a great cast of minor characters, and a great book! I reccomend it highly, but I also reccomend you read the books in order.

I adore "The Gift". It is so much better than its prequel, "Guardian Angel", and sequel, "Castles". For one, it has a great title that actually corresponds to what is going on in the book. It also has fantastic characters. Sara may not be as strong as Jade but during the time when this book is supposed to take place, early 1800s, women were a lot more sheltered. Sara learns to loosen up and stand up for herself, proving she had strength all along but never knew it until she had to prove it. Meanwhile, her little "accidents" are adorable and hysterical and her plight to convince Nathan that he loves her is touching. Nathan is a perfect romantic hero, gruff on the outside and gentle on the inside. He is too hard-headed and cruel in the beginning but, like Sara, he matures and by the end of the book is more tame. Nathan and Sara are a great match and their sparring is terribly witty. I especially adore the last third of the book, when Sara is convinced that Nathan does not love her and he is determined to prove to her that he does and wants to make the most noble sacrifice. Nothing can be more romantic than the scene at the ball, when Nathan forgets, in his nervousness, that they are already married and almost goes down on his knees to propose to Sara.Although Sara is prone to weeping, this does not make me think of her as weak. She shows her emotions openly and without restraint, and it is only natural that she tears up whenever she is upset. Her soft heart is what makes her so lovable, and tears are a part of the package.Most importantly, I loved "The Gift" more than the other books because the story was very intriguing. In no other book, was the setting and the plot so perfect for furthering the story. This is a wonderful book, a gem to behold.