Saving Grace

When Lady Johanna is widowed, her brother suggests she marry his friend, Gabriel MacBain. He's a Scot who can protect her from King John. At first, she's intimidated by the big Scot and baffled by their customs, but gradually, the two move to an accord and then love.
This is one of those Medieval romances that is weak on historical details, so much that it's annoying sometimes. I had to think about 'Bridgerton' because the book had so much wrong. But the story is well-written with some very funny moments, and I ended up enjoying it.

Oh, how I enjoyed this one! I was forced to take a little longer with it than usual because I was just busier than normal, but I'm glad that was the case. Gabriel and Johanna learn to adapt to each other's ways fairly quickly and become undyingly loyal to each other over time. I loved watching their relationship develop. The biggest takeaway from this novel is a woman's worth. While the evil bishop claims that women are last in God's love, Johanna proves to him and everyone else—especially herself—that that is far from the truth. Most of all, she decides to be in control of her own destiny.

I read this for Romance Book Bingo 2017: Man in a Kilt square.

I have to have some happy right now and this book is it. I have been reading this since I was 12 or 13 and still have a copy of it on my shelves. The heroine (Johanna) kicks butt. The hero (Gabriel) kicks butt. We actually have a hero/heroine who thank God do not have any rape scenes between them. They reluctantly fall in love with each other which I thought was hilarious. The little family between Johanna, Gabriel, and Gabriel's son was so cute. I was so happy with them. And then we have Judith's foster brother Nicholas and I maybe swooned a bit there.

Johanna was married when she was a child (typical for the time period) and her first husband is a wife beater and also show more apparently raped and harmed other women. When her husband is believed dead, she is commanded to remarry by King John. She agrees to marry a man her foster brother believes will protect her and also come to love her. That man is Gabriel MacBain, who is in charge of two clans who have recently come together after the death of his father.

Johanna wins my heart when on her wedding day when she freaks out over saying obey in her vows and wants to reword them or she's not going to marry. Gabriel who pretty much has enough of that, decides he is going to marry Judith (it's pretty much lust in first sight for the guy).

Johanna is very interesting though. Even though she appears meek and timid, we find out that she learns to read since it is forbidden for women at the time. She has a hard time reconciling the Church's teachings that she is less worth an oxen and that her husband beating her is okay. There is a scene with a rival clan where Johanna is like a freaking Valkyrie and it was awesome.

We do find out about Gabriel's background and his constant struggle to lead his clan due to issues that happened with Gabriel's father not claiming him. He is trying his best to get the two clans to come together, but the backbiting and refusal to trust one another is slowly tearing everything apart. Who knew that Johanna in the end will get them to ultimately come together.

I loved the secondary characters in this one a lot. We have Johanna's brother, servants galore, and Gabriel's trusted men. We also get to see though that Johanna though she may be timid around people, does not lack any backbone. And she decides after her first terrible marriage, she is not going to be beaten by anyone ever again.

The romance between Gabriel and Johanna is great. The love scenes were excellent and I did love it when Johanna starts getting demanding in bed. Hey, orgasms are great.

The writing and flow also works. Though I will say that towards the end things felt a little bit rushed and melodramatic. I didn't care because I was cheering things the whole time. Evil is slayed (temporarily) and we know that Johanna and Gabriel will get their happily ever after.

The book takes place during the 1200s so there was definitely issues aplenty between the Highlands (Scotland) and England at the time. I really enjoyed how Garwood weaved the politics of the day (King John being seen as a murderer and usurper) and how it all tied things together with Johanna. I maybe cheered when the evil priest gets his due in the end as he lays dying and calls out for his mother. I sure as heck toasted. show less

Johanna and Gabriel have fairly nice chemistry albeit a little forced in feeling. They come together quickly but love doesn't come into play until later in the story. Johanna and Gabriel's histories are tragic but the author does not dwell too heavily on their pain. Supporting characters are fun but lack depth. But like I said, this is not a serious, heart wrenching tale by any means so it shouldn't be taken in any other way. Fun and romantic, 'Saving Grace' is a nice light weekend read.

Review courtesy of: http://escapebetweenthepages.blogspot...

Have you ever found yourself reading a certain book over and over again. Not because you didn't understand it, but because it was just that good? That is how I feel about Saving Grace by Julie Garwood. This book has it all. When I first bought it, I read it straight through, never putting it down, except for the occasional potty break.

After looking over the elegant cover, with its simplistic style and inviting colors, I opened the book and traveled back to 13th-century England and Scotland. A timid Lady Johanna is relieved to learn that her abusive husband is dead. I found myself wanting to congradulate her. Unfortunately, her freedom is short lived, when the wicked King John show more wants to marry her to another abusive lord. Her brother makes a decision to save his sister and convinces the powerful highland laird Gabriel MacBain to put aside his natural disgust for all things English and wed her. Of course, he needs to agree sight unseen, and is given an incentive. He gets land that once belong to Scotland. The laird agrees and is of the mind, that he will sacrifice for the good of his people. The only problem is that the beloved brother has to convince Johanna to marry Gabriel. Johanna's first impression of Gabriel, he is a barabarian. Gabriel's first impression of Johanna, OH YES!, She will be mine. LOL, you just know he was mentally on his hands and knees thanking God, that she wasn't a walking hairy zit.

The dialog between Johanna and Gabriel was fun and exciting. Getting married proved to be a challenge in itself. Gabriel being the alpha male, is used to things being his way. Johanna, the suppressed female, is tired of being disrespected and mistreated. The bickering back and forth was well written and gave credablitly to the story. There are also moments, that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, I was like Awwwwwww. But under all the fun and fuzzy, there were some real serious and thought provoking issues.

For so long, Johanna lived in fear. Fear from her first husband and fear from the church, who's confessor taught that women were last in God's love. Now she finds herself, afraid and uncertain as to the ways of life with the clan. Johanna has difficulty adjusting to life within a clan and being the new wife of the laird. The clan women make fun of Johanna behind her back, she has a hard time trusting her new husband, always expecting the shoe to drop or should I say the hand to start flying. She also has to learn to accept that not all men of the church are as sadistic as her previous confessor. But with the friendship of an old man obsessed with golf, a little boy, and a dog, Johanna begins to step out of her shell and grow strong. Her relationship with her new husband grows into love. Unfortunately, her new strength is tested when she rescues a battered woman and all the painful memories come flooding back. Not to mention, her brother returns to reveal news so shocking, that it could very well destroy all that she has come to love.

What I appreciate about this story is the fact that there are real issues that could pertain to this day and age. There is physical and psychological abuse, political intrigue, corruption within the church, and so much more. When I say this book has it all, it does. The story is not only enjoyable, but believable and with a ending that leaves you both satisfied and wanting more. If you have never read a Garwood book, you are missing out. Saving Grace had my emotions going back and forth. Laughing, awing, anger, etc... You have to love a book that can accomplish that! show less

Spent a whole Sunday reading this great romance; Julie Garwood is becoming a favorite of mine. It was lovely to see Johanna come in to her own, and Gabriel was a wonderful hero for her.

I have read several of Garwood's books, especially the historical romances, and I have to say, this is probably my least favorite. Like several of the books I've read, you have an English female and a Highlander male... cue the unexpected attraction, humor, and inevitably love. It's a good formula for a romance novel...but this one falls flat because I didn't really like the characters. Gabriel starts out as totally dominant and doesn't ever seem to let Johanna finish a thought, and Johanna just seems ditzy and a little clueless. Toward the middle of the book, the characters started growing on me, but I still hurried through the story, just so I could be done.

If this is your first Garwood book and you find you aren't crazy about it but show more are looking for other historical romances, try "The Bride" or "The Prize." I loved both of those books! show less