I picked up this book the night before a last-minute, overnight International business trip so I would have something to read on the long flights. It was a good choice. I was thoroughly entertained by Eloise who has talents that were not particularly appreciated in her initial convent setting. They were much better applied during "The Husband Test" she was ordered to administer for most of the novel. Getting her out of the convent gave her room to grow rapidly as she followed a new path.

Peril, the target of the husband test, played well against Eloise's determined nature. The supporting characters added depth and interest to the story, as well. Krahn's writing style flowed well for my tastes and I appreciated the entertainment this novel offered.

Eloise of Argent is a novice nun who seems to cause continuous havoc in the convent where she has lived since the age of 12. Her inquisitive nature and desire to help aren't always appropriate for the convent and she gets in to trouble on a regular basis. Then one day a knight and his retinue ride in to the convent to request a bride of great virtue (the convent teaches young women with no dowries to be good wives). The Abbess decides to send him back to his lands with Eloise so that she can judge whether he will be a suitable husband for one of the young ladies.

Their journey doesn't start in an auspicious manner and she finds Peril of Whitmore an unfriendly man. When they arrive at his manor she discovers it's run down with the land producing poor goods and the buildings dirty and ill-kept. However Eloise is one for meddling and soon starts to set things up on a better footing. However the estate is operating under a curse and the villagers see evidence of this curse all the time. Can Eloise and Peril get to the bottom of the problems on his land. And can Eloise make a good judgement of Peril as a potential husband for a young lady when she finds herself drawn to him?

This story is gently written with some good characters (although not too much depth to the characters) and all the loose ends are nicely tied up at the end. It's lightweight and easy reading, set in an interesting time in English history. There's a rather simplistic view of landowning (it seems the problems of twenty years of neglect at Whitmore are almost solved after three months of Eloise's ministrations) and some very useful plot devices which are a bit unlikely (lots of marvellous furniture stored in the cellars that's suddenly discovered just at the right moment) but if you ignore that and just go along with the ride it's a pleasant read.

There's little doubt in this story who is the 'baddie' - in a rather simplistic manner the baddie is someone who doesn't do his work very well and who isn't liked by the people on the manor. It's never adequately explained why Peril raises Hadric to the position of Steward when he's obviously not good at his job and not trusted - apart from the fact that it's helpful to the plot.

I couldn't quite understand why all her meddling which caused no end of disasters in the convent (such as burning food in the kitchens etc) suddenly all came right at Whitmore so that the place was cleaned up very quickly. Perhaps it was because she found her place but more probably it was because it worked better for the plot. There weren't any surprises in reading this story, it's a love story like many others - overbearing man tamed by the love of a good woman.

The character development is wonderful...great story with endearing characters and laugh out loud moments.

This has got to be one of the WORST romances I've ever tried to read. I didn't feel anything for the heroine and there is no romance between the two.

Eloise is trying to prove she has what it takes to become a nun, but when she finds out she is supposed to merry Peril, she STILL acts like a nun!! The praying, and then pretending she can still be a nun after getting married just didn't do it for me. I found her snivling and very weak of character. Even the passages that I think were supposed to be funny I found myself saying "How can you be so stupid?"!!

I really feel that as a wife, she had more ability to help people than as a nun, and yet she didn't becuase she was so wrapped up in herself and loosing her goal of being a nun.

Ironically, Peril didn't bother me as much. As far as wanting your character to learn and grow, he only could become a better person. He was the worst...a vile disgusting man that totally became worthy of having a wife. However, I don't think he deserved Eloise. I actually thought the head nun played a horrible joke on him by sticking him with her...but then again, maybe they deserve each other.

Betina Krahn writes well, however I found the story sadly just horrid. I thought this would be a fun book, but Eloise really needed some sense knocked into her! I honestly can't believe I finished this book but I think I was really hoping the story would start to develop rather than being the redundant mess it was.

I don't think I'll ever try reading anything by Ms Krahn again.

The Reverend Mother is a sly fox, and she sets up both Peril and Sister Eloise to perfection. Sister Eloise is a delight: bossy, always in trouble, but she means well. It takes her some time to realize that she's really not cut out to be a nun. Peril is a man with too much weight on his shoulders, and he needs someone just like Eloise. And in the process of these two discovering love in the midst of a marriage neither one expected, Peril's (and his village's) past is laid to rest and Eloise's future shines brightly.

Much of the humor comes from Eloise's misadventures and mistakes and from Peril's misfortunes, as well as the way they seem to bring out the worst in each other initially and until they recognize their feelings for love and let go of their fears. Nice secondary characters.

Charming, witty, original. Occasional instances of anachronisms and very minor plot snags, but all in a all a very enjoyable read.