Hero: Baron Geoffrey Berkley

Heroine: Elizabeth Montwright

Setting: 1086, England

Summary

I enjoyed this story between Elizabeth and Geoffrey tremendously. *sigh* it was very romantic. In my opinion, the book didn't lack at the end of the story. The hero and heroine's love story got better after each turn of the page. Geoffrey, a handsome warrior, is simply adorable with all his little disciplinary rules that he uses on his knights - and Elizabeth. Elizabeth, who grew up in a very loving family, had her own wild way in living.

The two of them first met, when Elizabeth found out that her little brother was saved from a baron named Geoffrey, whom she's never met before. Baron Geoffrey was her deceased father's overlord, and was to take over the task of finding the murderers of her family; due to the fact that Elizabeth's parents and sisters were all attacked and killed in their own home, but Elizabeth was able to escape with her brother. When Elizabeth arrived to the holding of her brother, which also happened to be her home, she mistaken Baron Geoffrey for an ordinary injured knight. Expecting a way older man, she was extremely shocked to find out that Baron Geoffrey was indeed very young and handsome. She nurses Geoffrey back to health, but before he awakens, Elizabeth runs off back to her hiding, in fear that her uncle, whom she suspects as the murderer of her family, sees her alive and well. When Geoffrey regains his health, he goes and finds Elizabeth and brings her back with him. Feeling very protective, Geoffrey decides to quickly marry Elizabeth and thus begins the revenge for Elizabeth's family, and a merry chase between the lovers.

I got to admit, the dialogue in the story is funny, witty, so romantic that it makes your tummy flutter. You'll be laughing one minute and crying the next. I highly recommend this book.

Excerpt from Ms. Garwood's Gentle Warrior:

They did not speak again until they were well on their way back to the manor. Elizabeth sat in front of the lord on his powerful charger and could not help but lean against him as they rode through the forest at a neck-breaking pace.

"Do you know what you will do with me? Where you will send me?" Elizabeth asked, thinking that she would like to stay near her brother.

"Aye," Geoffrey replied in a rough voice. He was trying to concentrate on getting them to safety, his sense alert, but Elizabeth's nearness was unsettling. From the moment he had lifted her into his arms, a sense of well-being, of calmness, invaded the warrior. It was as if he could breathe again, and she was the fresh air he needed to survive. He tightened his hold, pleased when she did not protest. The top of her head was nestled just under his chin, and the knight found it a hard task not to rub his cheek against the softness of her golden hair.

Elizabeth waited for what seemed an eternity for Lord Geoffrey to continue, but the lord seemed disinclined.

"My father had signed a marriage contract when I was just a babe," Elizabeth finally said, "but Hugh, the man I was to marry, died two years past. I do not know if another was arranged," she added. Perhaps Geoffrey could tell her, for Thomas would have to gain his permission for any marriage contract to be valid. It was the law.

"There will be no marriage contract," Geoffrey stated with finality.

"I will not be married?" Elizabeth asked with surprise.

"Yes, you shall be married," Geoffrey said. "To me."

        Read GENTLE WARRIOR to find out what happens... (excerpt pg.57-8)

Quotes:

" 'I asked you, where is my place, husband? Where do I stand?' Geoffrey found himself confused by the obvious anger in his wife's voice. She acted much like his stallion when a burr was caught under his saddle. 'Where do you stand?' he repeated, frowning. 'What is your meaning?' 'Aye. Where do I stand?' Elizabeth all but shouted. 'Do I stand beside you or behind you, husband? Answer me that.' 'Why, behind me, of course. It is the way of things.' "

" 'I am not a man, I am your wife.' Elizabeth replied, shrugging his hands off her shoulders."