The Husband Test

Setting - Medieval England -- From the very first paragraph of this novel when the abbess of the Brides of Virtue convent uttered these prophetic words "Heaven help me from that wretched girl!" I just knew that this was going to be a delightful tale. The `wretched girl' turned out to be Eloise the novitiate whose greatest ambition was to become a nun and `abbess'. Eloise, whose ambitious attempts at finding a better way for tried and true methods have most often ended up into disasters that have tried the patience of the long suffering abbess.When Peril, Lord of Whitmore shows up at the gate of the convent in search of a `virtuous bride' who could rid his home and lands of a curse, the abbess created a new position, that of `husband judge' and sends Eloise, the `thorn in her side', the ambitious little novitiate, to assess whether this frustratingly haughty Lord is worthy of one of the highly desirable virtuous young ladies coveted as brides and trained at the convent. Peril, was a warrior and he really didn't want a bride but would do anything to try to save his village and lands from the disasters and curses that continued to rain down on his domain.Right from the start `Sister' Eloise and Peril seemed to bring out the worst in each other as the entertaining filled beginning turned into an action adventure once they started for his home. Once there, Eloise was given her greatest test, that of separating her growing `non-nun like' feelings for the man she was to judge worthy for a bride. For Peril, his greatest test was to dismiss the `carnal' thoughts he was having for the `nun' that was to judge his suitability for a virtuous bride. Not only would the sexual attractions between the two protagonists cause problems but more importantly they would have to band together to discover what treachery there was behind the `curse' at Whitmore.From the totally entertaining beginning the reader will open their hearts to this thoroughly likeable and darling heroine and the very tender love story that brings a tear to your eye as Peril comes to realize, almost too late that the small `stirring' in his heart is really love and not `pain'.. The author knows how to keep the reader interested and certainly caught my attention as from the very first page of this book I found it VERY difficult to put down. For pure joy and entertainment, you can't miss with this one! --- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---

This was the first one of Betina Krahn's books that I have ever read. I thought the premise was interesting enough to warrant trying out a new author, and I'm very glad I did so! On to the basics...The story starts out with Eloise, a novice in a convent. She's a bit of a thorn in the abbess's side, mostly because she is constantly trying to help out, and in the process making a bigger mess of things. Peril (don't let the name put you off) is the Earl of Whitmore, who has come to this particular convent for a novice nun to take as a bride. Just about any bride will do, as long as she's virtuous. See, he needs a virtuous bride to break the curse on his lands. Only in the process, he gets saddled with Eloise instead, who has been bidden to give him a 'Husband Test' to find out if he is worthy. They spark, Eloise starts running his castle (and driving him crazy) and Peril passes the husband test -- and you can guess who becomes his bride! The characters in this book are extremely likeable. While Peril doesn't have the depth to him that some leading men do, he's likeably gruff enough to pass any standards. Eloise shines in this book, as the story is told primarily through her eyes. The tale has enough twists and turns to keep your interest until the very last page, and I found myself disappointed when the story was finished, but only because it was over so fast! This book is definitely staying on my shelf as a 'keeper'.

What a delight! It has all the elements we look for in a romance but so much more.Most importantly there is humor?delightful humor?sudden surprises that caused me to laugh out loud before I realized it. Not seltzer-in-the-pants humor but the kind that sneaks up on you and takes you unawares?you know?the kind that comes in real life! And the story line is not one I have read before. It really was different, without being absurd (what a relief! I get so tired of the foolish ones!). While I am not a great student of history, and cannot tell just how authentic much of the background is, it was plausible enough for the average chick. It didn?t beat a dead horse. By this I mean, there was no torturous dragging out of misunderstandings, no endless agonizing over imagined slights, no feeling that the author was counting words to figure out her royalties (do they still pay by the word? I don?t know, but many books that should end after 20 pages go on for another 200 for some reason other than story development!). There were conflicts, concerns, and attacks of conscience but they all were covered, handled, dealt with and still the story MOVED ON! There were several ?lessons? inserted in a gentle, non-preaching fashion. One never felt ?beaten over the head" actually, slightly warmed by them. Yes, the romance was there. One could feel tingly and tantalized without all the gruesome details (I never like feeling that I have been caught reading porn), the imagination is still the best source of titillation. How cleverly the physical and emotional needs were brought to bear. Even the nuns were decidedly enthusiastic for all aspects of this relationship! Oh, and it had the good grace not to have a cover featuring the ever present (it seems) sweaty chests (his) and heaving breasts (hers) so popular in the ?romance? circles. Those covers drive me crazy-I hate them! It was really a joy to read and I shall proceed from here to find more books by this author?my complements and my thanks to her.

Peril, Lord of Whitmore, is desperate for a virtuous bride in order to remove a curse from his newly inherited estate. Where better to find one, he thinks, than at the Brides of Virtue convent? Unfortunately, the abbess won't promise him a wife, rather, she sends along with him an ambitious but bungling novitiate, Eloise of Argent, to test the young earl and decide whether Peril is worthy to be a husband of one of her maidens. From this initial fun premise, the book spins into constant adventure. The path to true love between these two very sympathetic protagonists is anything but smooth as, together, they battle treachery from all sides. Peril must work through his deep guilt at desiring a "nun," and Eloise must grow to care for Peril enough to consider abandoning her previous plans to become an abbess.In spite of the often slapstick humor of Eloise's many well-intentioned plans-gone-awry, she is a strong, direct, intelligent heroine. For fans of tortured heroes, Peril will amply fill the bill. A powerful warrior forged in the fire of harsh experience, he discovers with Eloise a wealth of tenderness inside him he never knew he had. The emotional intensity and the sexual sparks between these two are incendiary. And as always, Ms. Krahn, a master at portrayal of the medieval era, makes it come so alive on the page, you will feel you are actually there.

Eloise of Argent, novice and aspiring abbess at the Convent of the Brides of Virtue, is well intentioned and a little too eager to please which causes all kinds of trouble. The abbess is at the end of her tether when Eloise nearly burns down the kitchen. Salvation comes in the form of Peril, Earl of Whitmore, who is looking for a woman, er...a bride, someone of great virtue who can break the "curse" on his land -- of course, there is never any mention of the curse to the abbess. Eloise is shocked, dismayed, then pleased when the Reverend Mother chooses her to judge Peril's fitness to marry. This will be the chance she needs to prove herself worthy of her vocation.Peril is far from happy to hear that he won't be walking away from the convent with his bride, but must first prove himself as reliable husband material. Fostered at the age of three, Peril earned his spurs at an early age and is a warrior, not a landowner. Since inheriting his late father's lands two years ago, he almost believes the villagers' fears that the curse placed upon the estate by the late Whitmore's mistress must be real. How can he hope to live up to "Sister" Eloise and the abbess's standards when he's unable to control his own estate?Betina Krahn creates endearing and strong characters in this tender, yet dramatic tale of past love gone wrong and the people who try to make amends in the future. Filled with self-loathing at his overwhelming attraction to the novice, Peril is confused and tormented. When Eloise sees the softer side of Peril, she is determined to make him succeed in bringing himself, his lands and people up to par in order to fulfill his bride quest. Here are two very lost people, uncertain of their true lots in life, who eventually find solace in one another, but with the knowledge that it will never, can never, culminate in a love match. Fast paced and rich in historical detail, THE HUSBAND TEST is a delightful, conflict-filled read with many twists, turns, and surprises. Ms. Krahn paints vivid word pictures of medieval times, peoples' superstitions and the power of love to conquer evil and betrayal.I highly recommend THE HUSBAND TEST as classic writing from Ms. Krahn -- an historical romance not to be missed.