Lynn Kurland
Author of Tapestry [Anthology]
About the Author
Lynn Kurland is a best-selling American writer of historical or time travel romance novels. She is an only child. Her first attempts at writing came she was five years old and living in Hawaii. Stardust of Yesterday was published in 1996, winning two RITA awards. To date, she has published show more seventeen full-length novels, with her 17th and 18th due out in January and April 2010, respectively. Kurland's novels have appeared on the The New York Times Bestseller List, USAToday Bestseller List, The New York Times Extended Bestseller List, the Amazon Top 100, and the Barnes and Noble, Waldenbooks, and B. Dalton Bestsellers lists. She has won three RITA awards and was a finalist for a fourth Kurland is trained as a classical musician. She plays the cello and the piano. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10359.Lynn_Kurland
Series
Works by Lynn Kurland
The Queen in Winter (The Kiss of the Snow Queen / A Whisper of Spring / A Gift of Wings / When Winter Comes) (2006) — Contributor — 274 copies, 18 reviews
The Tale of the Two Swords 3 copies
As Time Goes By 3 copies
The Icing on the Cake 1 copy
The Gift of Christmas Past 1 copy
Przeklęci 1 copy
Associated Works
The Christmas Cat (My True Love Gave to Me/ A Gift of Light/ Home for the Holidays/ The Gift of Christmas Past) (1996) — Contributor — 158 copies, 1 review
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Curland, Lynn
- Gender
- female
- Organizations
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Awards and honors
- Romantic Times Career Achievement Award
- Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Pacific Northwest, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Pacific Northwest, USA
Members
Discussions
Found: Fiction ghost romance in castle in Name that Book (January 2023)
Ghost and Time Travel Romance Novel in Name that Book (February 2013)
Reviews
Another Chance to Dream kicked off my 2017 reading with a bang. I’d never read anything by Lynn Kurland before, but I’d heard good things about her. Still, recommendations aren’t always a sure-fire indicator that I’ll like the author’s work, but in this case, everything I’d heard was definitely true. Without a doubt, this author knows how to write a truly romantic story that made my heart do flip-flops. Even though she keeps her narrative pretty PG-rated and I typically prefer my show more romances steamy, it wasn’t a detractor for me. Ms. Kurland is now one of only a handful of authors who write in this less-explicit style that I can genuinely say I thoroughly enjoy. I also haven’t been reading many medieval romances lately, so this was a very welcome reintroduction to the time period. I’m very excited to have found a new-to-me author who’s a skillful enough writer to keep me on the edge of my seat with some action and adventure, while also keeping me guessing as to how the hero and heroine will overcome the obstacles in their path to finally get together, and at the same time, gives me the strong emotional connection that I crave in romance.
Rhys is a prince among men, exactly the kind of hero who can make me swoon. He’s definitely more a beta where his lady and her children are concerned – sweet, gentle, kind, and basically wears his heart on his sleeve. But he’s no pushover. He’s a skillful swordsman, who won his knighthood at the tender age of fourteen and is known far and wide for his victories in battles and tournaments. He’s also earned the respect of the men under his command with his fierceness and fairness. Rhys takes his duty as a knight very seriously, deeply prizing the knightly virtues of honesty, gallantry, and most of all chivalry. Even though societal norms won’t allow a mere knight with no land or title to wed a titled lady, he’s determined to have Gwen no matter what he has to do or how long it takes. It was so sweet that he even saved himself for her, not wanting any other woman in his bed. Despite years apart and her forced marriage to another man, Rhys never stops loving her and won’t stop trying everything he can to win her hand for himself. Beyond loving Gwen, he also loves and accepts her children as his own, treating them the way a father should. How could a romance reader not fall in love with a hero like that?
Gwennelyn was a headstrong lass from a very young age. When she meets Rhys at the mere age of nine, she demands that the vaunted knight champion her against her enemy, another young man who locked her in the pigsty. When he did as she asked, she fell in love with him on the spot, giving him her favor like any good lady would. When she finally met up with him again five years later, she pursued him all over her father’s keep, trying to get him alone so she could declare her love, while he, of course, was trying to avoid her because he knew he couldn’t have her. But Gwen giving voice to her tender regard for him is what set Rhys on his determined path to earn enough gold to bribe the right people into giving him land and perhaps a title so he could marry her like they both wanted. Gwen’s courage never faltered through all the things she had to deal with during the years they were apart, nor did her love for Rhys either. She was a fierce protector of her children as well. Gwen was more than a worthy match for Rhys, strong without being annoying and loving and kind without being overly sentimental.
There are a number of strong and beautifully drawn secondary characters as well. Montgomery and the Viking twins, Connor and Jared, were instrumental in Rhys training as a young knight. They’re loyal to a fault and look out for Gwen while Rhys is away. They’re also good for some laughs. Gwen’s children, Robin and Amanda, as well as Nicholas, another little boy the same age as Robin, whom Gwen insists they take in, are cute as buttons. Their speech is perhaps a bit advanced for their ages, but undeniably adorable. The little boys are well on their way to becoming gallant knights themselves, while Amanda is a charmer who has no trouble wrapping Rhys around her little finger. The next three books in the De Piaget series are about these three all grown up. Rhys’s family, his grandfather and his mother, an Englishwoman who ended up in a convent in France, are full of surprises. Gwen’s mother is always the calm voice of reason. Geoffrey, Gwen’s childhood tormentor who’s now sweet on her, is also good for some laughs. Gwen’s brother-in-law, John, pledges his loyalty to her and Rhys, becoming Rhys’s squire. Last but certainly not least are the dastardly villains, Gwen’s husband, Alain, and his brother, Rollan. Alain can be deliberately cruel but isn’t very smart, relying on Rollan to be the brains for both of them in their sordid schemes, which thankfully don’t entirely succeed.
Another Chance to Dream is a skillfully written story that never lets up on the conflict, keeping the reader wondering how an HEA will ever be possible. There’s the long-standing question of how the gallant knight will win the hand of his lady fair without land or title, but all throughout there are smaller conflicts that arise as well. Unlike a similar story I read recently, which also had a lot of conflict, this one was done better IMHO, because the conflicts are not of the hero’s and heroine’s own making (eg. stubborn misunderstandings). It always comes from an outside source, with each one being resolved within a reasonable time frame before the next one arises. Rhys and Gwen also never stop having faith in one another and their love endures despite the odds. Theirs is an epic love story that begins with them as children and finally culminates with their HEA some sixteen years later and what an HEA it is. In the end, Rhys’s determination pays off in ways he never could have imagined, giving him everything he’s always dreamed of and more. And that’s how I felt as a reader too. Another Chance to Dream was everything I could have wished for in a romance, and then some, and I can’t wait to continue with the De Piaget series to see what’s in store for Rhys and Gwen’s children. show less
Rhys is a prince among men, exactly the kind of hero who can make me swoon. He’s definitely more a beta where his lady and her children are concerned – sweet, gentle, kind, and basically wears his heart on his sleeve. But he’s no pushover. He’s a skillful swordsman, who won his knighthood at the tender age of fourteen and is known far and wide for his victories in battles and tournaments. He’s also earned the respect of the men under his command with his fierceness and fairness. Rhys takes his duty as a knight very seriously, deeply prizing the knightly virtues of honesty, gallantry, and most of all chivalry. Even though societal norms won’t allow a mere knight with no land or title to wed a titled lady, he’s determined to have Gwen no matter what he has to do or how long it takes. It was so sweet that he even saved himself for her, not wanting any other woman in his bed. Despite years apart and her forced marriage to another man, Rhys never stops loving her and won’t stop trying everything he can to win her hand for himself. Beyond loving Gwen, he also loves and accepts her children as his own, treating them the way a father should. How could a romance reader not fall in love with a hero like that?
Gwennelyn was a headstrong lass from a very young age. When she meets Rhys at the mere age of nine, she demands that the vaunted knight champion her against her enemy, another young man who locked her in the pigsty. When he did as she asked, she fell in love with him on the spot, giving him her favor like any good lady would. When she finally met up with him again five years later, she pursued him all over her father’s keep, trying to get him alone so she could declare her love, while he, of course, was trying to avoid her because he knew he couldn’t have her. But Gwen giving voice to her tender regard for him is what set Rhys on his determined path to earn enough gold to bribe the right people into giving him land and perhaps a title so he could marry her like they both wanted. Gwen’s courage never faltered through all the things she had to deal with during the years they were apart, nor did her love for Rhys either. She was a fierce protector of her children as well. Gwen was more than a worthy match for Rhys, strong without being annoying and loving and kind without being overly sentimental.
There are a number of strong and beautifully drawn secondary characters as well. Montgomery and the Viking twins, Connor and Jared, were instrumental in Rhys training as a young knight. They’re loyal to a fault and look out for Gwen while Rhys is away. They’re also good for some laughs. Gwen’s children, Robin and Amanda, as well as Nicholas, another little boy the same age as Robin, whom Gwen insists they take in, are cute as buttons. Their speech is perhaps a bit advanced for their ages, but undeniably adorable. The little boys are well on their way to becoming gallant knights themselves, while Amanda is a charmer who has no trouble wrapping Rhys around her little finger. The next three books in the De Piaget series are about these three all grown up. Rhys’s family, his grandfather and his mother, an Englishwoman who ended up in a convent in France, are full of surprises. Gwen’s mother is always the calm voice of reason. Geoffrey, Gwen’s childhood tormentor who’s now sweet on her, is also good for some laughs. Gwen’s brother-in-law, John, pledges his loyalty to her and Rhys, becoming Rhys’s squire. Last but certainly not least are the dastardly villains, Gwen’s husband, Alain, and his brother, Rollan. Alain can be deliberately cruel but isn’t very smart, relying on Rollan to be the brains for both of them in their sordid schemes, which thankfully don’t entirely succeed.
Another Chance to Dream is a skillfully written story that never lets up on the conflict, keeping the reader wondering how an HEA will ever be possible. There’s the long-standing question of how the gallant knight will win the hand of his lady fair without land or title, but all throughout there are smaller conflicts that arise as well. Unlike a similar story I read recently, which also had a lot of conflict, this one was done better IMHO, because the conflicts are not of the hero’s and heroine’s own making (eg. stubborn misunderstandings). It always comes from an outside source, with each one being resolved within a reasonable time frame before the next one arises. Rhys and Gwen also never stop having faith in one another and their love endures despite the odds. Theirs is an epic love story that begins with them as children and finally culminates with their HEA some sixteen years later and what an HEA it is. In the end, Rhys’s determination pays off in ways he never could have imagined, giving him everything he’s always dreamed of and more. And that’s how I felt as a reader too. Another Chance to Dream was everything I could have wished for in a romance, and then some, and I can’t wait to continue with the De Piaget series to see what’s in store for Rhys and Gwen’s children. show less
Don't be fooled by the description. This book is actually a romance hidden under a flimsy fantasy-book disguise. I was lured in by the promise of adventure and a fantasy plot, but instead I just got endless pages of slow-building romance. Which is not a bad thing, but definitely not what I expected.
I can't say that I like this book though. It hits a lot of the usual notes for a female-lead fantasy book, but it missed the mark for me, overall. I had problems with main characters, the side show more characters, the romance, the plot... I guess I had a lot of problems with this book.
To start off, Morgan is supposed to absolutely kick-ass what with her amazing sword skills and no-nonsense personality. She takes it like a man and can throw down harder than one in a swordfight. But even though she is supposed to be the strong female character (and I love those in my books!), I don't like her. I think the reason is because I haven't seen her "earn" her strength. She just comes into the book already the strongest shieldmaiden that can take down any man and a pretty little backstory of being trained by one of the greatest fighters. But I don't care about that. I haven't seen her sweat tears and blood for that strength so it bores me. It's like a cheap way of making her a strong character. She's a "strong female character" because she's physically strong. That's not strength to me.
Morgan also really annoyed me whenever she spoke. She complains about Adhemar bragging about himself, but her words are so freaking arrogant and casually dismissive. And then she would pry for Miach's secrets with the parting words that she'll figure him out, and then be obstinately closed-mouth about herself, her goals, and her past. Until, of course, y'know, they start falling in love. Then they're open books. Blahh..
Other major problem I have: freaking perfect main characters. Not only are Morgan and Miach powerful and magical and the strongest of all, they are also beautiful. Insta-fall-in-love beautiful. I don't do perfect characters and I don't do beauty without a major flaw. I think having characters moon over someone's beauty cheapens any romance that develops.
Riddle me this: what character flaw do they have?
... right. Thought so. And that makes them boring.
The side characters were useless. Why were they even there?
I am just annoyed because this entire book was a romance. The plot is a flimsy reason for these characters to meet. Honestly, in the whole book nothing happened but the romance. In the long journey, only a romance was achieved. At the end of the book, we find out that Morgan is indeed the swordbearer. Which we knew from the beginning since they introduced her!! So what excitement is there for the reader? Uhhhhh no plot (since the big plot purpose was figured out from meeting Morgan), not world building (we just see trees and horses). What's left? Oh right. Romance. Whoop-de-doo.
If you think about it, Adhemar and Miach don't even have a method to figure out who is the swordbearer. Did they think they were just going to waltz around the country randomly and find her? Well, I guess they did, and I think that's ridiculously stupid. Honestly, they met her and if they didn't travel with her and she didn't accidentally touch the sword, they would never have known. What kind of idiots are they? Did they even have a solid plan? No wonder their country is going to be invaded if the rulers just up and leave their throne to go on a wild goose chase with no plan. Their meeting was too contrived. Too happenstance for it to have happened.
What more can I say about this book? It was empty of magic. Oh there are shapeshifters and spells, but it's the same old, same old you see in any fantasy book. There are monster. Yep, scary things that you fight. There are... horses? Pretty horses. It's just such an empty world besides Morgan and Miach. And I don't like them nearly enough to like this book.
I was going to give it 2 stars because it was okay, but after writing all of my annoyances out, it's more like a 1.5 stars. But I'll round up to 2 because I'm generous and I did manage to finish without ever angrily tossing the book at my window.
I don't think I would recommend it to any of my friends though. I can't recommend it to people who like fantasy, because I think it's more of a romance novel. I can't recommend it as a romance because the pacing is a little too slow. I can't recommend it for people who like strong female characters, because I don't think she is one (besides her physical strength). I just don't know who I could recommend this to, even though it's really not a horrible book. Maybe nobody.
Note: I do not think I will pick up the second book unless I run out of things to read. I was just not convinced. And running out of things to read? Haha, highly unlikely. show less
I can't say that I like this book though. It hits a lot of the usual notes for a female-lead fantasy book, but it missed the mark for me, overall. I had problems with main characters, the side show more characters, the romance, the plot... I guess I had a lot of problems with this book.
To start off, Morgan is supposed to absolutely kick-ass what with her amazing sword skills and no-nonsense personality. She takes it like a man and can throw down harder than one in a swordfight. But even though she is supposed to be the strong female character (and I love those in my books!), I don't like her. I think the reason is because I haven't seen her "earn" her strength. She just comes into the book already the strongest shieldmaiden that can take down any man and a pretty little backstory of being trained by one of the greatest fighters. But I don't care about that. I haven't seen her sweat tears and blood for that strength so it bores me. It's like a cheap way of making her a strong character. She's a "strong female character" because she's physically strong. That's not strength to me.
Morgan also really annoyed me whenever she spoke. She complains about Adhemar bragging about himself, but her words are so freaking arrogant and casually dismissive. And then she would pry for Miach's secrets with the parting words that she'll figure him out, and then be obstinately closed-mouth about herself, her goals, and her past. Until, of course, y'know, they start falling in love. Then they're open books. Blahh..
Other major problem I have: freaking perfect main characters. Not only are Morgan and Miach powerful and magical and the strongest of all, they are also beautiful. Insta-fall-in-love beautiful. I don't do perfect characters and I don't do beauty without a major flaw. I think having characters moon over someone's beauty cheapens any romance that develops.
Riddle me this: what character flaw do they have?
... right. Thought so. And that makes them boring.
The side characters were useless. Why were they even there?
I am just annoyed because this entire book was a romance. The plot is a flimsy reason for these characters to meet. Honestly, in the whole book nothing happened but the romance. In the long journey, only a romance was achieved. At the end of the book, we find out that Morgan is indeed the swordbearer. Which we knew from the beginning since they introduced her!! So what excitement is there for the reader? Uhhhhh no plot (since the big plot purpose was figured out from meeting Morgan), not world building (we just see trees and horses). What's left? Oh right. Romance. Whoop-de-doo.
If you think about it, Adhemar and Miach don't even have a method to figure out who is the swordbearer. Did they think they were just going to waltz around the country randomly and find her? Well, I guess they did, and I think that's ridiculously stupid. Honestly, they met her and if they didn't travel with her and she didn't accidentally touch the sword, they would never have known. What kind of idiots are they? Did they even have a solid plan? No wonder their country is going to be invaded if the rulers just up and leave their throne to go on a wild goose chase with no plan. Their meeting was too contrived. Too happenstance for it to have happened.
What more can I say about this book? It was empty of magic. Oh there are shapeshifters and spells, but it's the same old, same old you see in any fantasy book. There are monster. Yep, scary things that you fight. There are... horses? Pretty horses. It's just such an empty world besides Morgan and Miach. And I don't like them nearly enough to like this book.
I was going to give it 2 stars because it was okay, but after writing all of my annoyances out, it's more like a 1.5 stars. But I'll round up to 2 because I'm generous and I did manage to finish without ever angrily tossing the book at my window.
I don't think I would recommend it to any of my friends though. I can't recommend it to people who like fantasy, because I think it's more of a romance novel. I can't recommend it as a romance because the pacing is a little too slow. I can't recommend it for people who like strong female characters, because I don't think she is one (besides her physical strength). I just don't know who I could recommend this to, even though it's really not a horrible book. Maybe nobody.
Note: I do not think I will pick up the second book unless I run out of things to read. I was just not convinced. And running out of things to read? Haha, highly unlikely. show less
First of all let me say I do not usually care for or read romance novels but this one was well worth it. Lynn Kurland's novel, This Is All I Ask, is one of those rare stories that will stay with me for years to come. It tells the poignant tale of an achingly lonely young woman and an emotionally ravaged warrior in thirteenth century England, two people whose heartbreaking lives are all the more touching because of their courage, vulnerability, and strength. It's been a long time since I've show more been as moved by two characters as I was by Gillian and Christopher. The setting is wild and majestic, a forbidding castle high above the sea near Scotland. The love scenes are tasteful and never resort to the purple prose that can so often ruin an otherwise good story. The touches of sweetly gentle humor further enhance the tale, another sign of Kurland's gifts as a storyteller. This is a book well worth the read, for romance and fantasy lovers alike. show less
{First of 10 in Nine Kingdoms series; fantasy, quest fantasy, sword and sorcery}(2008)
In the prologue Adhémar, king of Neroche, loses his magic and the magic imbued in the Sword of Neroche and is sent on a quest to find a solution by his brother, the archmage Miach, who meanwhile has to fend off magical attacks on the country's borders by an unknown black mage.
I really enjoyed this book, partly because it was reminiscent of late-20th century fantasy which is my personal favourite niche genre. I liked the word play, which had a more subtle humour than banter, and I wanted to keep reading (I still do ... but I've finished this book. Well, there are ten in the series). I was amused at how Morgan appreciated a comfortable bed and felt that a week in Nicholas's well appointed manor had spoiled her for the mercenary life.
I'm going looking for the next in the series ...
February 2025
4-4.5***** show less
In the prologue Adhémar, king of Neroche, loses his magic and the magic imbued in the Sword of Neroche and is sent on a quest to find a solution by his brother, the archmage Miach, who meanwhile has to fend off magical attacks on the country's borders by an unknown black mage.
A slow, almost imperceptible tremble in his spells of defense along the northern border.show more
He’d wondered at first if he’d just
imagined it. He’d paid special attention to the border for the fortnight following, but he’d sensed nothing else.On the island of Melksham the mercenary Morgan, who has a deep aversion to magic and all things magical, is asked by her foster father Nicholas to take a magic dagger to the king at Tor Neroche and so she sets off on her own quest. She soon runs into Adhémar, who is travelling incognito - although one of her traveling companions recognises him and is hard put to to prevent himself from bowing every time he addresses his king - and he decides to tag along with them (partly because she knocked him out in a fight and claimed most of his money and his spare pair of socks as fair spoils of war but he wants them back). Miach, worried by his brother's long absence, comes to find him and joins the party as they journey northwards towards Tor Neroche. As they travel, they encounter more of the fell monsters that caused Adhémar to lose his magic and Morgan has haunting nightmares which might be secrets from her past - and reveal the future salvation of Neroche.
And then, yesterday, he realized that his spells were being eroded from beneath their underpinnings, much like sand being pulled out from a bather’s feet as he stood upon the shore. It was a very gentle tide, but a relentless one.
Miach’s first thought had been Lothar. But the tide didn’t have that stench of rottenness that permeated all that Lothar did. Indeed, there was nothing but a faint smell of evil, as if it were nothing but tainted water that washed away at his spells. It had made him wonder . . .
So he’d brought up to his tower all the manuscripts and scrolls he could find describing any of the black mages who’d ever troubled the Nine Kingdoms.
I really enjoyed this book, partly because it was reminiscent of late-20th century fantasy which is my personal favourite niche genre. I liked the word play, which had a more subtle humour than banter, and I wanted to keep reading (I still do ... but I've finished this book. Well, there are ten in the series). I was amused at how Morgan appreciated a comfortable bed and felt that a week in Nicholas's well appointed manor had spoiled her for the mercenary life.
She put the matter out of her mind and sought her chamber, finding it just as she had left it two years earlier. Indeed, it looked just as it had for the six years she’d called it her own. She hadn’t used it very often since going on to make her way to other places, but each time she’d returned, she had found it thusly prepared for her. She leaped into her bed with a guilty abandon she would regret in a se’nnight’s time when she was reduced to rough blankets near a weak fire. She closed her eyes and promised herself a good, long march through bitter chill at some point in the future as penance.One quibble - I really felt the lack of a map that would have explained the route that they travelled and the relationship of the places mentioned, both geographically and politically.
But not tonight.
I'm going looking for the next in the series ...
February 2025
4-4.5***** show less
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