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“From the offices of ripmybodice.com…
RipMyBodice wrote this review Sunday, November 8 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
]]] La Lola 29/08/2007 10:18AM ]]]
Hey SSC, I’m taking a wee break from the Alphahood which is Shannon McKenna. (Must be careful not to overdose on testosterone). So I was thinking of going back and reading one of those oldie but goodies. Maybe something from Julie Garwood. What would you recommend?
]]] Sheridan Sakura Carlotta 21/08/2007 10:20AM ]]]
Hey Lola! Geez it’s early. How are you so damn chirpy after last night’s Project Mai Tais at Midnight? Also, one can never overdose on testosterone. My idea of heaven is to sit in a vat of hot men brimming with all sorts of Alpha testosterone. MmMm…hot men.
Ooh Julie Garwood! How about “The Prize?” That’s always good…one of Julie Garwood’s better books I have to say. Fight scenes! Tender romance! Sibling affection! Chess! And then there’s Royce, the biggest teddy bear of all of Julie Garwood’s heroes. You kinda can’t help but want to cuddle up against his manly chest while he lectures you on how “marriage is like a map”…damn Nicholaa. That lucky bitch.
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FOR MORE OF THIS REVIEW, CHECK OUT: http://www.ripmybodice.com/2007/08/30/afternoon-delight/”
“If you need just a sappy romance”
Shawn P wrote this review Monday, August 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“one of my favs!!!!”
Debra V wrote this review Sunday, May 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is my first Julie Garwood novel and how I LOVED it! I found myself laughing from the beginning until the end because Nicholaa and Royce is just so PERFECT for one another! Nicholaa is a strong-willed Saxon who was left to defend their family's castle from the invading Normans. In fact, she has become the stuff of legend and has earned the reputation as the Prize because she had successfully defended her stronghold against three Normans under The Conqueror three times! She is a bewitching beauty who is cunning, exasperating, and illogical (her convulted reasoning is SO funny that you can't help but find it endearing) who has found her match in Royce. Royce is the trusted baron of William the Conqueror and was sent to claim the Prize. He is a seasoned fighter who thinks of himself as a warrior and has accepted his fate as being a repulsive creature because of his scarred face. He thinks that no woman wants want to marry him because of his ugly scar. When Royce was sent to Nicholaa's castle, she knocked him off his feet literally with her slingshot and thus began what look like a game of Survivor because Nicholaa tried so many times to outwit and outplay Royce in everything! As in EVERYTHING! But ofcourse, Royce is always a step ahead of her so he always knows if Nicholaa is doing something.
babaylansamaynila wrote this review Friday, April 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This two is very different from one another and throughout the book, their opposing nature can be felt. Royce likes order, discipline, lecture, and hates surprises. Nicholaa is free-spirited, yields to no one, hates lectures (whenever Royce lectures her, she ends up daydreaming...), a master at chess, and loves surprises. The story is set during the Middle Age so women have really no say in anything but Nicholaa isn't just that. She always has an opinion and she always asserts what's on her mind to her husband. Royce is your typical I'm the man so obey me guy (very Middle Age indeed) so their opinions always clash. Royce likes Nicholaa to obey him all the time that he even wants her to tell him every morning what her plans are! But when Nicholaa started to become the obedient wife he wants, he realized that although she keeps on smiling, the sparkle in her eyes had gone. She will do things his ways, complement him all the time, and stop giving him trouble that Royce began to think that he had lost her. That's when he realized that the things that made him love her are the things he find insufferable and annoying! He even misses their arguments!
Royce is such a patient man. No matter how illogical his wife can get he always end up snatching Nicholaa to his lap so that he could comfort her. He is also very good with children, a manifestation of which is how he takes care of Baby Ulric, Nicholaa's nephew. He's a trainer of men and he helped Nicholaa's younger brother, Justin to become a warrior after he was traumatized. He also got a sweet, romantic nature! He tried to make another black queen (although he wasn't a good craftsman) for Nicholaa when the original was blatantly hauled in the fire by an evil knight that he snapped, tossing the guy into the wall! His effort in making another black queen made Nicholaa realized that this intimidating giant loves her after all!
There were plenty of love scenes and lots and lots of intimacies between the two. Overall, this is probably one of the best romantic novels that I've read. The fact that the Middle Age has been my favorite historical era made Royce and Nicholaa's story priceless and unforgettable!
The scenes that I liked:
* Royce being swept off from his feet by Nicholaa's slingshot
* Nicholaa posing as Sister Danielle
* Royce and Nicholaa's meeting at the convent
* Their trip to London
* When Queen Mathilda accompanied Nicholaa to her bedchamber, and Royce was with them
* When the Queen asked Nicholaa about her opinion of Royce... and she answered that he's handsome (even though he has a big scar on his cheek!)
* When William the Conqueror asked Nicholaa to choose her groom and she chose Royce! Checkmate!
* Nicholaa's attempt to intoxicate Royce but she was the one who got sotted!
* Their first night of passion
* Royce lecturing her and she's thinking about the chores to be done
* A sleeping Royce holding baby Ulric in his chest. aaawww!!!
* Royce throwing Morgan after the knight tossed the black queen into the fire...
* Royce nicking his fingers because he was trying to replace the black queen... ”
“In the year of 1066, England finally falls in the hands of the Normans under the command of William, the duke of Normandy. While many Saxons swear fealty to the new king, there are still those who resist, one of them being Lady Nicholaa, whose courage will become legendary in the king's court when she manages to resist capture by three of William's knights. But finally the king has had enough and sends in his most revered baron.
Michelle wrote this review Saturday, February 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
As soon as Royce secures Nicholaa's holding he immediately goes in search for the lady herself who has now become known as "The Prize". Intent on taking her back to William's court, what Royce never expected is to meet the first woman who will drive him to distraction and eventually capture his heart.
If there is one thing I have come to expect and love from a Julie Garwood novel, it is the quiet humor and likeable hero and heroine. THE PRIZE is certainly no exception. From the first couple of pages, I knew I was in for some entertaining reading, and couldn't wait for the romance between Royce and Nicholaa to blossom. Nicholaa is courageous and clever. I loved how she pretended to be a nun in the hope of escaping capture by the Normans. And reading about the guilt Royce suffered for the strong attraction he felt for the supposed "Sister Danielle" was quite delightful. And oh how Nicholaa managed to fool them all, albeit for a short period only. Sparks fly whenever those two are together. My favorite scene would probably be the part when Nicholaa was ordered by king William to choose any one from his favored barons to take as her husband. Checkmate it certainly was for Royce!
THE PRIZE is an entertaining and lighthearted read. You will enjoy the interaction between Royce and Nicholaa, and will adore him for his kindness and patience, not only with Nicholaa, but with her brothers and his men too. ”
“I loved it, loved it, loved it!
Moon wrote this review Sunday, January 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
In the resplendence of William the Conqueror's London court, the lovely Saxon captive Nicholaa was forced to choose a husband from the assembled Norman nobles. She chose Royce, a baron warrior whose fierce demeanor could not conceal his chivalrous and tender heart. Resourceful, rebellious, and utterly naive, Nicholaa vowed to bend Royce to her will, despite the whirlwind of feelings he aroused in her. Ferocious in battle, seasoned in passion, Royce was surprised by the depth of his emotion whenever he caressed his charming bride.
In a climate of utmost treachery, where Saxons still intrigued against their Norman invaders, Royca and Nicholaa reveled in their precious new love... a fervent bont soon to be disrupted by the call of blood, kin, and country!”
“Witty as Usual
Psboston7 G wrote this review Tuesday, October 21 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
A classic Garwood. Nicholoa is one heroine that you adore from the beginning she is witty, beautiful and loyal. Royce is suitable as her champion. Next to "The Secret" this is one of my favorite "Garwoods" The story line starts off with a surprise and keeps you enthralled from then on. Again, I cannot reiterate enough that it is best to read her books in the order of which they came out so that you can see her growth as a writer. A lot of authors since have tried to duplicate "Garwood's" style but she still is the original.
Think of 2 worthy opponents that are attracted to one another and throw in that one is sneaky and usually trying to get away with something and you have come up with Nicholoa, Royce shows great patience with her all the while. A must read if you want to get the best of Julie Garwood.
Respectfully Reviewed”
“I liked this book. The interaction between the hero and heroine were in turn funny, infuriating and endearing. I love how Royce seemed to be a ruthless warrior but is a gentleman and a fair and tender-hearted man on the inside.”
meg g wrote this review Thursday, October 2 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“My first novel by ms Garwood. from the first chapter I was hooked, in turns laughing and then thrilled. watching the two characters interact amidst their conflicting personalities was so wonderful. the heroine has some adorably peculiar ideas about marriage; whilst our hero, seemingly 'rough around the edges', is a big, romantic softie inside... awww... :-)”
ricca wrote this review Saturday, September 6 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
