A Royal Marriage (Love Inspired Historical) (edition 2012)

Author: Rachelle McCalla
Published by: Love Inspired
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Book Blog For: GMTA
Series #1
Rating: 5

Review:

"Royal Marriage" by Rachelle McCalla..Protecting the Crown Book # 1 setting from Castlehead, Lydia... was a good read with plenty of 'action, drama, romance and spies' that would take you to that 'magical time in history of Kings, Princesses, castles and knights in battles.

How does this story start.....

The novel will definitely draw you into this story of "Princess Gisela would honor the wishes of her father and that was to marry an Illyrian even though her heart tells her something different. On her way to be betrothed and she is injured and near death. If she dies war could break out. They stop in Lydia as King John is known to be a healer. Gisela struggles between the feelings she has towards King John and knowing she is promised to Prince Warrick and that much in the political realm depends upon their union. Illyrian’s had killed King John’s father four years ago and now he must surrender this beautiful princess to those violent men as well. After his wife’s death three years earlier, John had sworn never to love again or chance losing a woman while trying for an heir." Has God sent Gisela into his life to shown him that he can love again? It was a beautiful moment when you could see how King John's heart was so wounded yet he holds to his 'strong faith in God. "Royal Marriage" was a beautiful told story of a 'Christian Historical Romance.' And this is where I will say you must pick up "Royal Marriage" to see how this will all come out. Be ready for a great suspense, fantastic historical and enjoyable read. Would I recommend? Yes! You will definitely be left only wanting the next series...book # 2 Defending the Duchess (Love Inspired Suspense). ( )

4 STARS
Protecting the Crown series

The history part I really did not know much about it at all. I liked the plot. The characters and that it is a clean read.
I take for granted that if you want to read the bible it is easy to do. I have many copies in out house and even on my kindle.
Only the very rich would have a book of scripture like Acts not the whole bible.

Princess Gisela is going to be married as part of a contract to keep the peace and the Christian church together and not split apart. Her ship is attacked and she is wounded. The Captain was killed. The now acting captain had heard of the healer King John and sailed to his island than continue on to her intended.

King John sees that the Princess will die if she does not get a certain herb on her eye before evening. There is no time to ride to where the herb is and bring it back to her. Also the lands were taken away from his kingdom and could cause a war if they are discovered.

King John also realizes that if he does not try and the Princess Gisela who's father is Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne dies will also cause a war maybe on two fronts. So King John takes just the Princess into the danger area and puts the herbs on her eyes. She is burning up and both eyes swollen badly.

They make it safely out but they are seen. Princess Gisela finds out that the King's father death was by her intended groom's family and refuses to carry on the marriage till it is settled. She sends her ship back to her father and lets him know of the deciet that is going on.

King John lost his wife in childbirth and does not intend to remarry. He plans his brother Luke to be his heir. Prince
Luke is watching the border. He wants to advenge his fathers death. He is taken hostage.

Gisela has developed feelings for King John but she knows that she has to continue the marriage her father made for lasting peace.
Gisela owes her life to King John and feels like the coming war is her fault.

There is lots of action,drama,history,romance,spies that make it a fun read. I look forward to reading more from Rachelle McCalla in the future.

I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley.
Published November 27th 2012 by Love Inspired Harlequin 288 pages ISBN:0373829442 ( )

This story takes place at Castlehead, Lydia A.D. 801. Gisela, Daughter of Charlemagne, is en route to her betrothed, Prince Warrick of Illyria, when her ship is attacked by Saracen pirates. She is taken to the kingdom of Lydia, nestled between the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire, where their king, King John, is known as a healer. King John looks at her wound and realizes she won't live throughout the night without an application of hare's tongue, which can only be found on the Illyrian border. King John takes Gisela on horseback to find the herb so he can apply it to the wound above her eye. He realizes how dangerous this is as it could provoke a war with Illyria if he is caught. They do encounter Illyrians on the way back and one of the Illyrians is killed which is sure to provoke vengeance. Gisela goes back to Castlehead to recover from her injuries while King John is trying to figure out how to handle the situation and make sure they are all safe. They end up developing feelings for each other but both have reasons they don't act on those feelings. Gisela is betrothed in a political marriage to an Illyrian prince and King John has vowed not to marry since he lost his wife in child birth three years ago. Things get a little worse when Gisela discovers that King John's sister, Princess Elisabette has been harboring feelings for Prince Warrick, who is Gisela's betrothed.

I really enjoyed this historical romance. I am usually not a great fan of romance but I have to say the Love Inspired novels have become some of my favorites. I really like the clean romance stories with a Christian background. I found myself really rooting for King John and Princess Gisela. Their romance story was very sweet and I loved how strong Gisela was even though injured. Both of these characters tried to do the right things even when their hearts directed them otherwise. I also liked the little side romances in this novel, especially Fledge and her new mate. I will definitely look for more from this author in the future.

I received this ebook free from the publisher, Harlequin/Harlequin Love Inspired Historical, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

A Royal Marriage by Rachelle McCalla
4/5 stars
Source: Netgalley

There is just nothing like a novel that opens with drama and doesn’t stop until the very last word. A Royal Marriage opens with King John of Lydia warily watching as a ship, flying the royal flags of the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, approaches his coast. Neither King John nor his advisors can think of a reason why the emperor or one of his envoys would be making an unplanned and unannounced stop in Lydia. What comes off the ship is surprise to all and sets in motion a series of events with the potential to cause two great nations, the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire to wage vicious war against one another.

What comes off the ship is the lovey yet badly injured and on the verge of death, Princess Gisela who was, before her ship was attacked by Saracen pirates, on her way to meet her betrothed, an Illyrian prince. For King John this information is troubling on several levels: 1) his reputation for healing is well-known but Gisela’s injury is quite severe; 2) the herb needed to help Gisela is across the border and into enemy Illyrian territory and; 3) if Gisela dies both the Illyrians and Charlemagne are going to be very cranky. For King John, the peace his father’s life bought for Lydia and the protection of his citizens is paramount and the only possible way he can ensure the two is to save Gisela’s life. What John doesn’t count on is the strength and determination of Princess Gisela.

Gisela may be a princess from one of Europe’s most powerful courts but she is no shrinking violet. Despite her injury, Gisela is determined to minimize the risk to King John and his people. To this end, she rides with John to find the herb needed to heal her and discovers along the journey just how honorable and good the young king is. All seems to be going according to plan until John and Gisela inadvertently alert the Illyrians to their presence; from this point forward it is a race to avert war! During the flight back to the safety of Lydia’s castle, Gisela decides her place is by John’s side as he fights for the safety of his kingdom. Her ulterior motive? Gisela really, really has no interest in marrying an Illyrian prince especially as she begins to learn more about King John. As the plot unfolds many secrets and truths are revealed including why King John has refused to re-marry, how and why the Illyrians attacked and killed John’s father, who John’s head-strong younger sister is in love with, and how John and Gisela will navigate some incredibly tricky political waters in order to be together.

The bottom line: this loosely based on history novel is a fairly fast-paced read with a healthy dose of intrigue, romance, battle, and resolution. Gisela and John are both fine characters the reader can easily get behind and root for as Gisela is quick-thinking, capable, and determined and John is kind, intelligent, and compassionate. Gisela fits easily and comfortably into John’s world which allows her relationship with him to progress in a quick though believable way.
Throughout, John and Gisela are supported by a decent cast of minor characters who are sure to play a much larger role in future installments of this series. A Royal Marriage is a read which is quite easy to fall into and carries the reader smoothly through from beginning to end. There is plenty of action and intrigue mixed with romance which will keep lovers of all of the above interested , entertained, and turning pages quickly. ( )

A Royal Marriage
By Rachelle McCalla

On her way to her wedding Princess Gisela’s ship is attacked by pirates and she is gravely injured helping her men defend the ship. Her men rush her to King John of Lydia who is a renowned healer in the hopes that he will be able to save her, but when they finally arrive the princess’s injury has become life threatening. Through determination and prayer King John is able to use the knowledge he has of herbs to save her life, but when Princess Gisela was brought to his castle it may be the catalyst to a war.

I started reading the love inspired novels when I was twelve, as I had become a romance fan and my mother didn’t want me reading something inappropriate. I fell in love with the Christian romance books fifteen years ago yet this is my first time reading one of the Historical versions. Rachelle McCalla has done a wonderful job in bringing to life 800 A.D. with action and romance what could go wrong? At times though Gisela is not what I would expect from a woman in this time period, she is highly knowledgeable in fighting, strategic maneuvers, and building. Though this does make the character truly interesting I am not quite sure it fits the time period, but then again I wasn’t there so how would I know? I did have a lot of fun reading this book, you can’t help but become wrapped up into the story.

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