| Title | : | The Blacksmiths Wife (The Danby Brothers, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 037329882X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780373298822 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 288 |
| Publication | : | First published April 19, 2016 |
Rejected by her favored knight, Joanna Sollers knows she will never love again. Especially when the man she's now forced to marry is none other than her beloved's half brother!
For blacksmith Hal Danby, marrying Joanna makes his lifelong dream of entering the Smiths' Guild possible, even if the secrets in his past mean he'll forever keep his distance. But everything changes with one stolen night, and in the arms of his new bride, Hal wonders if this loveless arrangement could transform into something real…
The Blacksmiths Wife (The Danby Brothers, #1) Reviews
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The Blacksmith's Wife is my first experience with Elisabeth Hobbes' work, but it definitely won't be my last. I must say I have been really impressed with the Harlequin Historicals I've encountered lately. The research is good, the writing is clean, and the story is entertaining. This novel is no exception.
At its core, The Blacksmith's Wife is a marriage of convenience story. However, it has the refreshing difference of being between a couple not of the nobility. In fact, as the title implies, the hero in this tale is a blacksmith. A dark-haired, muscular, gruff blacksmith :) Anyway, the heroine is a merchant's daughter who is in love with a knight, a knight whom any reader can tell has no interest in her. There are a whole lot of plot threads that eventually lead to the heroine marrying the blacksmith instead of the knight which I won't go into here.
Most of this story takes place in a small village on the moors as Hal and Joanna learn to build a marriage together. Things are definitely rocky as Hal is paranoid that Joanna is still in love with the knight, while Joanna fears that Hal only married her to improve his status. These insecurities often prevent them from having an honest conversation, which typically drives me bonkers, but for some reason, I just kept reading. This books is difficult for me to rate, but I think I'm ultimately deciding on a 3.5 star rating that I'm rounding up. While the book had some childish misunderstandings that persisted through the book, ultimately I could not put it down and I kept reading. I enjoyed how the awkwardness steadily melted away as the two settled into life together and began to identify common interests. It was also refreshing that sex wasn't the magical fix for everything. They had to learn each other and the heat between them didn't flare up until their emotional connection developed.
If you think you can withstand some silly misunderstandings, everything else about this book is lovely. The characters showed growth, the marriage of convenience felt authentic, and the writing was breezy and fun to read. A little something different to cleanse the palate after all those dukes and lairds :) -
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
The Blacksmith's Wife is a four to five-star book. So why only three and a half stars? Well, I dislike the plot device of "Smaller Misunderstandings that lead to The Big Misunderstanding". This is a lame device because once the H/h get to know one another better they should be able to discuss things like adults and not keep secrets as if they were sullen teenagers. Or they should be able to reason things out or directly ask questions! So the "Big Secrets" nonsense is just utter nonsense and unnecessary. It's a vapid ploy to create angst, it's overcooked and boiled. No flavor.
Also, I don't like deeply insecure characters. And yes, everyone carries around emotional baggage but it can come off as crippling if when authors depend upon it for development. It doesn't make the H/h likable or empathetic, just pathetic. Hal and Joanna were people who suffered from self-esteem issues brought on by things out of their control. Hal's was due to his birth and the very strict caste system of medieval England. Joanna's came from her losses and status as a charity case in her uncle's house. The OM is Hal's brother, Roger, who is an irresponsible rake and jerk. Yet, Joanna is determined to be true to her feelings for him despite all the facts showing that he is not a good man. It made me irritated that she preferred bad-boy Roger the Knight, over hard-working and respectable Hal. Hey, I cut her some slack. Back then, a knight was the equivalent of a rock-star and more glamorous, not to mention higher up on the caste food-chain.
What made this novel shine for me was the historical research and the setting. The author did her homework, and I felt as if I was there witnessing the tournaments, strolling about the township of York, or riding along the English countryside. Even the details of Hal working in his forge was authentic. Other factors were the housing, attire, food, celebrations, village life, politics of small town ventures vs. big city prejudice, along with daily manners and mores. These things made me feel good reading this novel. The H/h irritated the heck out of me as I wondered if this pair of dunderheads would ever open their eyes and see the truth in front of them.
Warnings: No cheating. OM, OW, mild violence, attempted rape, mild abuse -
If you are a fan of romance then I will start with a warning that once you pick this book up, you better have nothing else to do for the rest of your day because you will want to devour it in one passionate sitting! Although I was a Mills and Boon fan throughout my misspent teenage years, I hadn't read one for quite some time. So imagine my surprise and utter delight to discover that historical romance has moved on a bit since those days!
This is a medieval romance that is full of rich and authentic descriptions of the characters we meet and the setting of York and the North Yorkshire moors is brought to life so vibrantly that you feel like you are almost there with Joanna as she battles against misunderstandings on her path to true love. This is no soppy tale with an insipid heroine, Joanna is a strong minded and talented woman who has met her match in the ambitious but kind hearted blacksmith. I just loved her! And Hal too, whom I imagined in my head to look just like the gorgeous cover picture (and it may have helped that he bore an uncanny likeness to a certain actor who have been bearing his chest aplenty in recent BBC dramas!!!) and who would have had me swooning in his arms if I had been around in those days! And I have to mention Sir Roger as we all love a bit of a scoundrel don't we?!
Elisabeth has really found a fabulous niche for her writing here. She has obviously done a huge amount of in-depth historical research and this shows in the way her writing just flows off the page. Her characters are instantly engaging and the interactions between them are realistic and believable. And being an old romantic at heart, I just loved them all, especially Hal and Joanna, and was egging them on to achieve their "happy ever after".
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future books by Elisabeth and due to those gorgeous covers I think paperbacks are the way forward for me from now on! Many thanks to Elisabeth for providing me with a review copy of The Blacksmith's Wife and this is my unbiased review based on that book. -
Hero is sullen, passive, & avoidant.
Heroine is whiny, naive, & clueless.
And when they get together, sparks fly!
…Oh, wait. They don’t, because this was incredibly dull with two annoying MCs. Even the OM Roger—an obnoxious dick who gets his own book later—was dull as dishwater. Zzzzz.
1.5 stars, rounded up because 1) Simon the dog was cute, & 2) the wall-sex scene in the forge was decent. That showed what might have been had the remainder not been so aggressively blah…but sadly, it was a snooze. (Also, it was a turnoff that the hero was a meh blacksmith who couldn’t design his own swords. I’m all for working-class heroes, but competence is sexy. Mediocrity is not.) -
Blacksmiths are generally among my favorite heroes. They’re so earthy and strong, usually men of few words whose charms take time to make themselves known. If there is a blacksmith in the story, I’m likely unable to turn it down. Hal, the blacksmith in this story hits all the points –plus he’s a bastard. And while I liked the book for those reasons, there were others which made it a mixed bag.
Our heroine, Joanna, thought she was going marry Hal’s brother, Sir Roger. He is a knight… beautiful, charming, and exciting. He’s been showing her attention for the past three years whenever he comes to town, but now he is finally making it clear that they have no future. As a ward of her uncle, Joanna is reaching the end of his charity. He is ready for her to take a husband –any husband– and when Hal shows up looking to join the guild he helps run, Joanna’s uncle sees an opportunity to trade his niece for his favor helping Hal in his profession. Joanna has little choice but to accept.
Hal’s not a bad guy. He doesn’t want to use Joanna. And he’s horrified by the way his brother led her on. But he figures he can save her from any worse options while attending to his own future. Plus he likes her well enough. The thing is, Joanna is in love with his brother. Granted, as readers, we can see how shallow and childish that love is. But it is there all the same –and Hal is upset by it as he begins his marriage with his new wife.
It’s this dynamic that is the worst part of the book. It reflects poorly on both characters. Joanna, because it shows how naive and silly she is, mooning over a man she barely knows and clearly never cared for her. Hal, because he knew her feelings going into their marriage. Foolish as she is, Joanna was never anything but honest about her broken heart. Basically, she acts like a child, and he acts like a sulking bear with a thorn in his paw.
There are good moments too, mostly in those times in which the characters can see past their own issues to appreciate one another. I liked that once Joanna really started to fall for Hal, she was able to put her childhood fantasies aside. But these two could have been happier much sooner with just a little well placed communication. Pride, secrets, and mistrust led to unnecessary drama for two people who I could see belonged together, way before they did.
Overall, it was an ok story. The blacksmith part helped, but it rarely ventured beyond the superficial on the emotional side. I didn’t feel deeply for the romance, but it was a quick read and it gave me the happy ending I was looking for.
Rating: B- -
Le résumé me plaisait car plutôt original avec un héros forgeron et une héroïne elle-même nièce d'un forgeron.
Au final, j'en suis ressortie mitigée car, si cette romance avait un réel potentiel, le manque de communication entre les héros est vraiment quelque chose que j'ai du mal à supporter (surtout que ces problèmes de communication aurait pu aisément être résolu). Du plus, si le fait que l'héroïne soit passionnément amoureuse du frère du héros était d'abord intéressant, cela n'a pas été bien exploité par l'auteure et c'est, à force, devenu lassant.
Bref, du potentiel, mais l'auteure a pris des directions qui ne l'ont pas du tout exploité. -
I'm not quite sure exactly when this book is set. Obviously in a time of knights and tournaments, but there are few clear pointers about an exact date so I'm guessing 13th-14th Century.
Joanna Sollers is the niece of one of the leading members of the Blacksmith Guild in York. For the last three years she has been fangirling over one Sir Roger Danby of the Yorkshire Moor Danby's at the regular jousting events in the city. Roger is handsome and a charmer but not a noticeably considerate lover despite hinting at marriage as he lures Joanna further into intimacy. Joanna's uncle is growing tired of waiting for her to marry and be off his hands, so it is vital she bring Roger to the point before he leaves.
This year, Roger is accompanied by his illegitimate half-brother, Hal, who despite being trained as Roger's squire (a usual career for a base-born child acknowledged by his father) has chosen to become a blacksmith like his lowborn maternal grandfather. His greatest ambition is to become a member of the Guild.
These two go head to head at their first meeting and when they are both disappointed in their ambitions the connection is strengthened. When Joanna's uncle recognises the disappointed blacksmith, he is quick to point out the possibilities of a permanent relationship.
This is not really a marriage of convenience in the modern sense. There is no suggestion of them marking time as it is to be a regular marriage and while Joanna is dreaming of romance with Sir Roger, the reality of the time, demonstrated by those married couples around them, is that marriage is more about business and duty.
Joanna determines to be a dutiful wife, but is still blinded by the glamour of the tournament and a little fearful of the marriage bed because her limited experience so far suggests it will not be pleasurable.
With all this behind them, it isn't surprising the marriage has a rocky start. I really enjoyed them getting to know each other despite it being two steps forward, one step back as the secrets they kept and the pride they clung to kept them from communicating.
Joanna is immature in relationships despite being twenty, an age the majority girls of that era would have been settled, and this shows itself in many of her reactions. It was nice to see her mature over the course of the book which takes place over time, rather than the forced pace often seen in contemporary romance.
I really liked Hal, who has the expected issues of a brother born on the wrong side of the blanket with an irresponsible brother. I enjoyed being inside his head and seeing how he saw Joanna.
The ending was sweet but rather abrupt. I turned the page expecting more and was a little disappointed. Perhaps we shall find out how they went if Roger gets a story. Though it would take an awful lot of suffering to redeem him. -
The Blacksmith’s Wife by Elisabeth Hobbes will hook you from page one. Ms. Hobbes writes with such depth that as a reader you are swept away on a tide of historical drama, deceit, ruthlessness but most of all romance. The relationship shared between Hal Danby and Joanna Sollers is tense at first but as they get to know each other they could never deny the cackling awareness between them. Full out engrossing, this book would be a treat for fans of historical romances!
Highly Recommended
5 Stars -
The Blacksmith's Wife is the first book in The Danby Brothers series by author Elisabeth Hobbes.
Our hero Hal Danby is a blacksmith and the half brother of Sir Roger the Knight. Our heroine Joanna Sollers thinks she is in love with Sir Roger. When things don't work out for Joanna with Roger she unexpectedly finds herself married to Hal.
I have to admit I immediately liked Hal. He was a wonderful hero and a much better man than Sir Roger was in this story. Joanna took some time to like; she seemed a little immature in the beginning. But after her marriage to Hal and as these two try to find a way to make their marriage work, I couldn't help but like her.
This was a wonderful story of a couple who start out their marriage with a lot of misunderstandings and a lack of communication, but in realizing the truth and trusting in each other they end up with a very satisfying HEA! What a great story that kept me up late reading one more chapter...
I highly recommend this story and can't wait to see how Elisabeth Hobbes redeems Sir Roger in the next story.... -
"Sepameistri naine" on vägagi tüüpiline armastusromaan. See on nii raamatu nõrkuseks kui tugevuseks - nauditav, aga klišeedest kubisev.
Joanna abiellub olude sunnil sepameistri Haliga, kelle kõrgest soost poolvenda ta tegelikult armunud on. Hali ja Joanna abielu on täis möödarääkimisi, varjamisi ning kõige ebasobivamal ajal ning moel paljastuvaid saladusi. Ometi arenevad nende vahel kiiresti kuumad tunded, mis varjutavad kõik eelnenu.
Kõik need varjamised ja poolvaled on ilmselge autoripoolne viis pinget üleval hoida. Sellised trikid on aga juba kaugele näha ning iga kord, kui Sul lugedes tekib tunne, et sellest infokillu varjamisest tuleb hiljem suurem pahandus, siis oled Sa õigesti aimanud!
Ometi võis lugu täiesti nautida. Tegelased olid sümpaatsed, kuigi oma vigadega, ning loos oli piisavalt romantikat ning draamat, et mulle mõõdukat lugemisnaudingut pakkuda.
Ehk siis...
Tüüpiline ajalooline armastusromaan - nii heas kui halvas mõttes. -
"Poco prima, mentre danzavano e Hal la teneva stretta tra le braccia, si era sentita trasportata da un turbine di emozioni che avrebbe voluto non avesse mai fine. Qualcosa era nato tra di loro nel corso delle ultime settimane e lei non intendeva rinunciare a vederlo crescere: sarebbe stato come augurarsi che il suo cuore cessasse di battere"
C'era una volta una ragazza orfana e sfortunata, una cenerentola dal gran talento, che conobbe due fratelli: un aitante cavaliere dalla lucente armatura e il suo fratellastro artigiano che di nobile aveva solo il proprio cuore. Sebbene accecata inizialmente dallo splendore dell'armatura lucente, ben presto si accorse che il vero tesoro è la nobiltà che risiede nel cuore. Così il fratello artigiano e la dolce lady vissero insieme felici e contenti. Fine.
Questa a grandi linea era la storia che mi aspettavo e che desideravo...inutile dire che la lettura si è rivelata ben diversa: da una parte la nostra cenerentola non è poi così sfortunata ne così dolce (anzi l'ho trovata abbastanza svenevole, fastidiosa e immatura) e sbava per il bel cavaliere (che ovviamente in realtà ha una personalità a dir poco orrida) per buona parte del libro (sigh); dall'altra il nostro artigiano è una specie di martire che non si sa perché si ritrova fregato due volte: come se non bastasse l'essere illegittimo, il non riuscire a coronare il suo sogno e l'avere un fratellastro che neanche si degna di considerarti un essere umano, gli tocca pure una moglie imposta che di amabile ha poco e nulla...che dire....poveraccio XD Punto a favore del libro è la sua estrema scorrevolezza (pure troppo nel finale, che sembra troncato malamente) e qualche personaggio simpatico che risolleva la cappa di bugie, malintesi e amori non corrisposti che aleggia su tutto e tutti XD -
2.75 actually.
That was...painful.
Lessee...h, orphaned niece of blacksmith, catches attention of knight. Has delusions that knight - legitimate son of baron - would offer for her. Does downright embarrassing (to reader) things to catch his attention.
H - illegitimate half brother of said knight - attempts to discourage her and, seeing that brother is toying with her and getting her hopes up, suggests he end it with her.
Uncle wants old maid niece out from under his roof, offers her to H, who wants to be member of smithing guild. H takes him up on it.
Then the next...200 pages...more or less are filled with H looking at her much as she looked at his brother I think - when she's not looking - and keeping her at arms' length. She, OTOH, gets over (sort of) her longing for his brother and just goes through the motions. Neither talks to the other - at least, not until he discovers she's good at designing (and even then, she found out by accident that he had one of her sketches and was using it to make a sword).
They have a big blow up because brother shows up and tries to press his suit (for her to be his mistress), she finds out his secret, more angst, she gets hurt, then sick, he does a bit of soul-searching while she's ailing, makes declarations, and the book ends with her just recovered from the Fever of Forgiveness or whatever authors call that ailment that brings couples of convenience together for a HEA and about to make out (having not eaten or bathed or...anything really beyond a delayed conversation). -
‘A Passion forged with fire’
Oh, yes!!
For some reason, I have been looking high and low for a blacksmith, and here he is!!
Oh, Hal, my, oh my!!
I have always preferred an everyday, rough around the edges hero over a titled brat in a cravat. I have nothing against cravat-wearing men, I just prefer my heroes to be a little less stuffy and Hal is exactly what I have been looking for.
Here is a man you can well and truly swoon over, those bulging biceps from all that hammering of steel *shivers* then be picked up and thrown over a well-muscled steely shoulder to be ravished somewhere inappropriate.
I have very inapproiate Blacksmith dreams 😉
*Coughs * and blushes!🤭
Well, shall I actually talk about the book instead of fixating on hot metal and the man who wields it?
Right, focus!!
The Blacksmith Hal appreciation book – or its proper title; The Blacksmith’s Wife is glorious, fiery hot, thrilling, sexy, seductive, atmospheric, dramatic, emotional, tantalising – glorious in every way imaginable.
Hmmm, I think I just described Hal, once again – honestly, I have become obsessed!
This is the first book in the Danby Brothers mini-series, I did read them out of order, but hey that’s just me isn’t it?! I absolutely loved the second book; Redeeming the Rogue Knight which follows Hal’s half-brother Roger, now it’s no secret of how much I fell head over heels for that Rogue Knight (even now I am removing the hot poker scenes) but Hal has just shoved his arrogant brother out of the way to claim my affection.
I definitely see Roger in a different light after reading this book, this Roger didn’t quite fit in with the seductive rough and ready Knight I had initially thought him to be, here we have a spoilt and arrogant man-child and yet he’s whole personality changes and matures in the second book and now I fully understand Roger had to suffer as he did in that story.
Hal is a proud man, he knows that being born on the wrong side of the bed (or even out of the wrong bed completely) his prospects in life were limited to what he could achieve himself, there was no leg up and being Knighted for Hal, unlike his brother. Everything Hal has in life comes from sheer determination and bull-headedness, he is a gifted Blacksmith but he wants more.
He has large aspirations our Hal and they don’t involve spending his life making horseshoes or farming ploughs, he dreams of taking his skills further to be actually recognised for his ability and being accepted into the Smith’s Guild. He sees his chance when he meets Joanna, who is the niece of Blacksmith with connections to the Guild.
It’s here where I do think that he shares his brother’s ruthlessness, they are both determined to be the best and will walk over anyone who gets in their way to get what they want.
I have always been taken with men who have actually worked hard to be where they are, Hal may have been recognised by his father as his son but that means nothing. He is and will always be seen as illegitimate meaning he must work harder for anything, unlike Roger, Hal will never hand a silver platter with a Knighthood on it. There is no love lost between the brother, the tension between them is constantly there crackling in the background.
Hal is a loyal and passionate man, but it’s his dogged determination, work ethos and sheer stubbornness to get what he wants that appeals to me – plus, a mighty fine set of arms!!
After being orphaned years earlier, Joanna is taken in (rather reluctantly I have to say) by her uncle, a man who sees her as nothing more than a means to high society and wealth.
Joanna I felt is trying to find her place in the world, she lacks confidence and seeing she gets very little attention or shown proper affection by her family, her head is very easily turned by a charming, handsome Knight a man of steel and prowess, a man who knows exactly what he is doing and is just playing the game until,l he gets what he wants.
Obviously, she is far too naive to realise this yet, all that circulates her mind is that this stud is paying her attention and may (not) marry her and release her from her uncle’s care.
Oh, Joanna!!
Joanna is a very sweet young woman, a little out of her depth I’d say. She is far too naive for her own good and the way she pins all of her hopes and affection on Roger is borderline nauseating. Especially when you have the charismatic, twinkly-eyed Hal right there in front of her. Can’t she see Roger is just using her and wanting nothing more than a bed warmer?!
It’s by chance that she meets the roguish Roger’s brother; Blacksmith Hal. There is an instant attraction between the two, she is obviously taken in by him as he strongly resembles her beloved Roger, but where he is all about ripping off her clothes and having his wicked way. Hal is different, he teases and banters with her, and he smoulders without even trying.
I’m telling you if this guy put actual effort into seducing then no woman with a pulse would be safe!
One thing leads to another and before anyone knows it these two have been forced together by holy matrimony. The road to happily ever after doesn’t come smoothly between them, they have a mountain to claim before that. They both are flawed, but it’s Hal more than Joanna who has a trust issue, he needs to work through a lot of personal drama before he can allow her close enough.
I loved watching their relationship develop though, it’s hard at times because blocks are standing in their way. But when they do lower their defences, the air crackles with lust and passion.
As ever with Elisabeth Hobbes this is a masterclass of how a Medieval Romance is supposed to be, her evocative and captivating writing lures you into the story, you are breathing in the very soul of the period and it’s addictive and compelling and oh-so-satisfying!
I think you probably know what I thought of this book by now, and how much ai thought enjoyed the journey and loved the tantalising romance. But, in case you missed it within my waffles, let me tell you now this book is superb, I can’t recommend it enough!! -
I really liked this one. A nice feel for the time period, and I loved that the hero was a blacksmith (instead of the ubiquitous knight and/or warrior so often found in medievals). I also thought the author did a good job with writing the heroine as vulnerable without turning the story into some horrid Rescue Fantasy where the hero swoops in and makes it all better.
However the conflict did begin to wear on me during the final third of the book - mostly because it centers around Big Misunderstandings and the couple not communicating with each other. After a while I found it exhausting and wanted to scream, "Oh just TALK TO HIM/HER ALREADY!!!!" Still, it was an enjoyable story and a B- on my personal grading scale. -
I liked the historical period, the setup and the writing. Great beginning with nice chemistry between the hero/heroine. Lots of sexual tension but little or no sex scenes. At one point I didn't know if the husband and wife were sleeping together or not, because the "good parts" weren't included! The biggest issue for me was the lack of communication, not the lack of sex. The heroine was in love with the hero's brother (a wastrel of a knight) for too long, when her hot blacksmith husband was clearly the better choice. The blacksmith couldn't design a decent weapon. They were both kinda dumb, kept secrets from each other and stayed on an angst cycle all the way to the end. Good if you like emotional turmoil. I wanted more forging and hammering and hot stuff. 3.5
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I received an advance copy for review and devoured it in one sitting. I've enjoyed the author's previous books and absolutely loved this one. The attention to setting and period details mean that you quickly become immersed in the tale - and this tale has everything you need: tensions and misunderstandings, a growing passion between two very engaging protagonists, and a dog called Simon. It's brilliant.
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"Hobbes’ Medieval world sparkles with detail and the premise of a rejected maiden being forced to wed her true desire’s brother..." (RT Book Reviews).
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So first of all I have to admit that this is my first medieval romance and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I love historical romance though so I couldn't wait to start. What did I think...
It's safe to say that I completely enjoyed it right from the characters through to the story. I actually read it in almost one go and I only stopped because it was heading close to midnight and I had work the next day!
Joanna is definitely a determined character especially in her decision to marry Roger but after that plan goes wrong she ends up in another situation entirely. Hal is a character that I just took to straight away he is kind but brooding too which I love. Joanna has a strong attitude that is so fun to see when she meets Hal. They just spark off each other brilliantly and Elisabeth Hobbes created the perfect amount of tension between them.
With misunderstandings galore this pair definitely had a rocky road ahead. I think one of the things that I enjoyed the most was that the story wasn't rushed now that doesn't mean that it was slow paced. I actually found the pacing pretty good I think that it just gave me chance to get to know the characters better. Which was great and made me really want to root for that perfect happy ending.
What can I say about Roger well he is definitely an interesting character and I really can't wait to read his story and see if his character changes.
The Blacksmith's Wife has complicated families, mistrust, secrets and romance so it makes for an entertaining read. Making it perfect to sit down with and become completely engrossed in this romantic tale.
With thanks to Elisabeth Hobbes for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion. -
Enjoyable historical romance with a really likeable heroine. Although I'm not a massive fan of miscommunication plot devices I like how the couple learnt how to overcome that hurdle. I also loved how the hero fully supported the heroine's work and talent, ahead of his time. Im intrigued to learn that there is a follow up about the hero's brother, who was a complete rogue.
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I love the storyline! It's unique, not over done, and remarkably written. Elizabeth Hobbes is a new author to me and I enjoy her writing style and it drew me in. The hero/heroine drove me a little nuts at times but I was still unable to put the book down.
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I didn't like it. I only got to 32%, but it felt like 70%.
Dealing with insecure MCs are just not my thing. The heroine, I'm sure, came around in the end, but for the first 30% she was incredibly annoying and bratty.
The hero was boring and a beta...the kind of beta I don't like. -
Great tale! Joanna and Hal are perfect for each other, and share a beautiful story of a love discovered together.
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Someone shoot both the main characters, please. D:
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Wow, what a beautiful, believable story! I have read Elisabeth's other books and I have to say that her writing style draws the reader into a magical romance where you want to stay indefinitely. Her descriptions of people and places are so realistic that I could visualize the characters, see where they live, feel their joy and sadness.
I read at night, right before going to bed, and while reading I found myself saying, "I'll read just one more chapter, just a few more pages." I couldn't put down Hal and Joanna's story. They were very real people to me.
Hal is a gorgeous man, and not just because I could picture him as Aidan Turner (yum)! He is handsome, patient, smart, and caring, all traits a romantic hero should have. He also has faults, which I really like heroes to have in books. I don't like Prince Charming heroes and Barbie heroines. I like characters I can relate to no matter what time period, and Elisabeth executed these two people perfectly.
Joanna is a confused young woman who learns what real love is over time, and I really liked that about her. She dealt with issues the way a real person would, and I enjoyed taking that journey of self-discovery with her.
The Blacksmith's Wife is a beautiful love story that transports the reader into another time, where men were strong and women had to be even stronger. Like a painter, Elisabeth adds layers to her setting and characters until the reader can't help but be carried along with the storyline, and root for that happily ever after.
I highly recommend this book to discerning romance readers. You will fall in love with Hal and Joanna, as well as with Elisabeth Hobbes' writing!
I received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. -
I was given a copy of the book ahead of publication in return for an honest review - and I am so very glad I was. What a story! From the first sentence I was completely drawn into the vividly-imagined world that Elisabeth has created.
Joanna is living with her uncle and his family and pining for a knight who will never be hers. Hal is the knight's half-brother who has his sights set on one day being good enough for the Smiths' Guild. When the Joanna and Hal are forced to marry, the future looks grim for the two strangers. Will they ever learn to live with each other? And can there ever be love between them? Secrets are uncovered and passions ignited in this deliciously decadent novel.
The tale of a marriage of convenience for our two protagonists is an interesting premise that keeps the reader guessing from beginning to end. At every turn another obstacle comes between them and I especially enjoyed Elisabeth's clever way of switching between Joanna and Hal's perspectives. Seeing how each conversation, how every gesture is interpreted, allows the reader to step into their world. We can feel their trepidation and gain access to their insecurities in a way that gives us the opportunity to empathise with them and the actions they take.
Hal is a hunky, dashing hero, but he is drawn in a way that shows he is a complex man with burning desires. I especially like how Elisabeth has created another feisty female in Joanna, who can be headstrong and knows her own mind.
With some steamy scenes and a blossoming romance all within a stunning historical setting, this book has everything needed to create a sensual romantic read.
