The Love Knot

http://shelfandstuff.blogspot.com/2012/04/love-knot-by-elizabeth-chadwick.html ( )

The Love Knot is the story of two young lovers, set during the civil war between Stephen and Matilda. Oliver de Pascal is knight just returned from pilgrimage, who rescues the widow Catrin from a village destroyed by raiders. A romance develops between them, but “forces beyond their control” cleave them apart, helped in part by a difficult decision that Catrin must make. Years later, after war has devastated England, they are drawn back together. The ending is a bit predictable, but it’s the getting there that’s the fun part.

Elizabeth Chadwick’s novels, at least her earlier ones, are a little formulaic. Of course there’s the romance aspect, and there’s a bad guy who’s usually a mercenary soldier. Throw in lots of historical detail and famous persons from the period, and that’s usually what you’ll get. But despite the predictability of Chadwick’s plots, her novels are always detailed in terms of history—be prepared to learn a lot about the 12th century. I do love medieval history, and it’s novels like The Love Knot that enhance my interest in that fascinating time period. It’s a very real novel that explores both the good and bad bits of medieval life.

Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the characters—they’re very three-dimensional, coming as they do with lots of emotional stuff that they must work out in order for the story to come to its resolution. Don’t be put off by the fact that Catrin is a midwife and healer—as written by a less skillful author, this could have become a cliché, but Chadwick manages to make Catrin and her healing knowledge believable. This novel is largely about choices, and how the choices one makes can significantly alter one’s life—as Catrin’s choice does to her and Oliver. The Love Knot isn’t my favorite Elizabeth Chadwick book (I thought the way that Catrin and Oliver came back together was a bit too sudden), but I did enjoy this book nonetheless (incidentally, Elizabeth Cahdwick’s books are also good comfort reads—The Love Knot was the perfect book for me to read while I had a cold). ( )

The story takes place during the feud around 1140 between England’s King Stephen and his cousin Empress Mathilda. The story begins when Oliver Pascal smells something burning and decides to investigate. When he arrives what he finds is a horrible scene and his friend who has been raped by lawless mercenaries, she soon miscarries and dies. The only survivors are her 10 year-old son and Catrin her widowed maid. Oliver escorts them to Bristol Castle, home of Earl Robert of Gloucester, who Oliver hopes will help him reclaim his family lands.

Catrin becomes bored and finds a friend in Ethelreda who helped raise Oliver. Ethelreda introduces and teaches her the ways of a midwife. Catrin is a quick study and is soon at Ethelreda’s side helping the local women with their births. Oliver and Catrin are attracted to each other, but are afraid. Oliver’s wife died in childbirth and does not want to be close to anyone, and Catrin loathes the thought of reliance upon and tries to ignore her feelings. They cannot run from their feelings and fall in love.

Ethelreda sees something bad in Catrin’s future, and warns’ her to watch out for this unknown man on a horse. Oliver is soon called into battle where he is captured. Catrin decides to go and ransom him, when she arrives she discovers her husband who was supposed to be dead. Catrin’s old feelings for him quickly returns and she chooses her husband over Oliver.

Soon Catrin realizes she made the wrong choice by going with her husband. Catrin is with child and soon gives birth. Their home becomes under attack, her husband leaves for reinforcements, but never returns.Catrin makes a decision about her and her child’s future, she must return to Oliver.

Catrin arrives she find Oliver badly injured during a fight when he visited his homeland, and she begins to nurse him back to health. Soon they begin to live their life together until Catrin's husband makes his final demand on her loyalty ...

Wow an amazing story there is so depth to this book and the characters. Every time I read an Elizabeth Chadwick book I am drawn back into time. ( )

Wow, what a good romance! Main characters (Oliver and Catrin) are totally fictional, set into the mid-12th century during the civil strife between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda. Oliver is a disinherited knight serving Robert of Gloucester and later serves Prince Henry FitzEmpress. Catrin is a midwife and herb woman. Beautiful love story. ( )