Product Description: They were torn between pride and passion. . .
It was a boastful wager, a bold flirtation meant to win a proposal from the most eligible officer in His Majesty's Royal Dragoons. How was the spoiled and pampered Catherine Augustine Ashbrooke to know the handsome stranger with the brooding midnight eyes would see through her plot and make her the pawn in a dangerous game of his own?
United by a reckless game of chance. . .
Alexander Cameron may have won the highborn English beauty in a duel, but not even the lure of long-forgotten desires could keep him from his meeting with destiny. He had no choice but to carry his reluctant bride off to the Highlands, to a world of ancient blood feuds and a brewing rebellion--a world where fiery passion and breathtaking courage would prove that even legendary warriors could lose their hearts.
Bestselling, award-winning author Marsha Canham sweeps us into the turbulence and romance of Scotland's quest for freedom in a saga of two born enemies whose lives and destinies are irrevocably bound to the fate of an empire.
So so... ^ This book did have a somewhat unique plot as far as romance novels go but I did find myself skipping a bit -- too much government coverage. I also had to skip about the last 50 pages (too much war stuff here). I did like the hero Alex but the heroine was just kind of like a dumb, troublesome 18 year old with a body he could not resist.
GREAT READ ^ I REALLY LIKED THE LOVE STORY IN THIS BOOK. BOTH LOVE STORIES. ALTHOUGH ALEXANDER AND CATHERINE ARE THE MAIN CHARACTERS ACCORDING TO THE WRITER I CAN TELL YOU THERE WERE TWO STORIES. THE OTHER LOVE STORY IS THAT OF ALEXANDERS BEST FRIEND AND CATHERINES PERSONAL MAID. I LOVED BOTH COUPLES. THIS BOOK HAD EVERYTHING IT NEEDS TO BE A GREAT READ. I KNOW I'LL HAVE IT ON MY KEEPER SHELF. HOWEVER,THERE IS ONE ASPECT OF THE BOOK THAT I FOUND MYSELF SKIMMING OVER AND THAT IS ALL THE POLITICAL HAPPENINGS AND CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE HAPPENING DURING THIS TIME PERIOD IN THE BOOK. I LIKE HISTORY AND SHE DID HAVE ALOT OF ACTUAL FACTS BUT I'M NOT SO MUCH INTO THAT IN ROMANCE BOOKS. BUT THATS JUST ME. OTHERWISE THIS WAS A GREAT BOOK. THERE IS ANOTHER BOOK THAT CONTINUES THE STORY ABOUT BOTH ROMANCES. NOT MANY AUTHORS DO THIS BUT ITS NICE WHEN THEY DO. THE NEXT BOOK IS "BLOOD OF ROSES".
Now this is a HISTORICAL romance novel! ^ Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series made a big impression on me. I especially loved the Jacobite history, and was so voracious for a historical novel set during that same conflicting period between England and Scotland that I bought Marsha Canham's The Pride of Lions. That was two years ago. The Canham novel sank somewhere in the heap of my TBR pile, never to be opened... until now. The moment I extracted the book, dusted it off (shamefully admitting that my TBR pile is not only huge, but some of the books have gathered dust as well) and began to read, I knew I had a special book in my hands. Full of history, adventure and sensual romance, The Pride of Lions is indeed a treasure.
The year is 1745. Catherine Augustine Ashbrooke, a young English debutante, has one thing in her mind: to marry Hamilton Garner, a lieutenant for the dragoons. When she meets a tall, dark and handsome stranger with gorgeous dark eyes and a mysterious countenance, she decides to make her suitor jealous by flirting with the strange man, a successful merchant by the name of Mr. Raefer Montgomery. She succeeds with her scheme -- so much so that Hamilton challenges Raefer to a duel. Montgomery wins the duel... and a marriage to Miss Catherine. This doesn't sit well with either party, but they have no choice but to oblige. It is only through their journey to their "marital home" that Catherine discovers that Raefer Montgomery is actually Alexander Cameron, a Scottish Jacobite who has assumed the identity of a merchant to spy on the English. Aghast, she makes every possible attempt to escape, but Alex is always one step ahead of her. But during the journey she discovers that the English aren't Cameron's only enemy. The Campbells have been a thorn in Alex's life for many years, and they are determined to make his life miserable and get even for past misdeeds at all cost. Amid all of the drama, something happens to Catherine. She falls in love with Alexander. Now how did that happen? And will she be able to embrace the Scottish lifestyle as her own?
Now THIS is a historical romance novel! You literary get a history lesson as the sexual tension between the protagonists grows with each passing chapter. You get action, adventure, intrigue, villains and romance throughout the book. You will not be bored! The early Georgian era has always been a bit iffy for me. Bewigged and corseted men have always put me off, but I somehow managed to enjoy picturing this time period as I read the book. Also, it helped that most of the novel takes place in Scotland. Men in kilts and tartans sound far more delicious, and Canham describes their traditional dress beautifully. The Jacobite history comes to life in this novel, and I see from the preview of Blood of Roses that the next installment will take place during the battle of Culloden. The scenes that center on political talk are very insightful. It first happens in England, then in Scotland, and it's nice to "hear" both sides of the argument. The one bad factor -- if you can call it "bad" -- is that Catherine is extremely annoying during the first half of the novel. Then again, it is realistic that an Englishwoman would be upset about being taken to enemy territory. All in all, The Pride of Lions is BRI-LLI-ANT! One of the best historical romances I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Marsha Canham deserved the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award. I have ordered Blood of Roses and Midnight Honor and I look forward to reading them. Spring is here, which means I'll be reading more romances and lighter reads during the warm season. I hope to be wise and pick authors whose historical romances are in fact historical and not glaringly anachronistic trash.
Way more than a romance novel! ^ My husband bought this book for me because I have a great fascination with historical fiction, and with Scottish history. I do not typically read "romance" novels, but this is so much more. Actual historical details are expertly woven into the story; the main female character has several "flaws" that make her at once annoying and endearing; and finally, there are a few very nice surprises in the plot--I hate predictable stories! If you enjoy this, check out the sequel: Blood of Roses.
I need to get my hands on "The Blood of Roses" ^ I don't even know where to begin this book was so amazing. I could not put it down, I started reading it Saturday night and finished it Sunday night, barely able to tear myself away to eat during the day.
Marsha Canham has done a brilliant job of combining a great story with history and painting beautiful pictures within her pages. You can't help but love the characters in this story, even though Catherine in her spoiled ways takes some warming up too. Alexander Cameron Is a highlander who wins Catherine in a duel, and is forced to marry her. He uses Catherine to sneak past the English Dragoons, and back into Scotland. Once there the adventure really begins. Even the secondary characters are charming. I'm hopping there will be a bit of a love story between Aluinn and Deirdre, and I want to know what happens to Lauren Cameron, will she be found out? I was so disappointed that I was left hanging at the end to find there is a sequel to conclude this story, but I got over this very quickly when I realized there is a whole other novel waiting out there for me to read... I can't wait.
Once I am done reading the next book "The Blood of Roses" I will be sure to see what else Marsha Canham has written.
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