Saving Grace

by Julie Garwood

Paperback, 1994

Status

Disponible

Call number

813.54

Genres

Romance

All Topics

Fiction

Publication

Pocket Books (1994), Edition: 1st, 432 pages

Description

Fiction. Literature. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML:In this splendid New York Times bestseller, Julie Garwood brilliantly crafts the majestic story of a young Englishwoman determined to fight for her freedom...a woman whose life would be transformed by the rare, unexpected gift of love. When Lady Johanna learned that she was a widow, she vowed she would never marry again. Only sixteen, already she possessed a strength of will that impressed all who looked past her golden-haired beauty. Yet when King John demanded that she remarry �?? and selected a bridegroom for her �?? it seemed she must acquiesce, until her beloved foster brother suggested she wed his friend, the handsome Scottish warrior Gabriel MacBain. At first Johanna was shy, but as Gabriel tenderly revealed the splendid pleasures they would share, she came to suspect that she was falling in love with her gruff new husband. And it was soon apparent to the entire Highlands clan that their brusque, gallant laird had surrendered his heart completely. But now a desperate royal intrigue threatened to tear her from his side �?? and to destroy the man whose love meant more to her than she had ever… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member cranberrytarts

Re-read 02/08/13 - LOVE!

How many times do you suppose I can re-read this and review it by saying LOVE!? Because I feel like this could go on forever.

Re-read 11/14/11 - LOVE!

This is one of my top 5 favorite Julie Garwood books. I absolutely adore everything about it from the setting to the

characters.

The overall message - that women are just as important as men - could have become preachy, but it didn't. Johanna dealt with a lot during her first marriage and I like that Garwood addressed her issues. She was a strong character who really came into her own throughout this book. My heart ached for her and all she endured.

Gabriel I loved right from the beginning. His honor and strength were immediately evident, but it was his caring and compassion with Johanna that won me over.

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LibraryThing member chosler

Strong humor and a stronger protagonist characterize this period set in the Scottish Highlands during King John’s reign {1200-1207}. Johanna is the abused wife of Baron Raulf, who has just died. During their marriage, she has learned the secret of Raulf’s murder of Arthur, whose claim to the

English throne threatens King John. The King is eager to re-marry Johanna, and her brother manages to match her with Laird MacBain, at once removing her from John’s grasp and giving her an honorable husband. The central theme of the novel is the two coming to cherish each other, and Johanna gaining self-esteem and a sort of self-determination that was likely not possible for a woman in the 13th century. Otherwise the novel is fairly accurate. Mostly mild violence, except for a quick scene of Raulf being repeatedly shot with arrows; 5 or 6 sex scenes between Johanna and MacBain, moderately explicit, including oral sex; mild profanity; descriptions of spousal abuse.

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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend

Lady Joanna was happy as a widow. Having escaped a joyless marriage she was now looking forward to some freedom. However the King (John) had different ideas and wants her to remarry. The bridegroom he has selected fills her with fear. When her foster brother suggests his friend, Scottish warrior

Gabriel MacBain.

Gabriel has problems himself forging a clan out of two clans at odds and Joanna finds herself trying her best to fix all this. She's determined to make this work.

It's funny and barely relates to reality but still a lot of fun to read.

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LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C

This is set in Britain in 1206 and revolves around a 16 year old English girl, Johanna, who was married for three years to an abusive husband, then second time around marries a Scottish laird, Gabriel, in an arranged marriage. I did actually stick it out to the end with this novel and enjoyed some

of it. On the other hand, there were parts that struck me as implausible, there were the usual style issues that seem endemic to romance (God, the Ping-pong point of view problems in these books!), not much happens for half of the book and the overprotectiveness of Gabriel and the initial timidness of Johanna got on my one nerve. Still, there's smile-worthy humor, primitive golf, lovable wolfhounds and manly men in kilts, and I liked how it dealt with one aspect of women's status in the medieval period. This doesn't strike me as a book-even-someone-that-hates-romance-books-might-enjoy, (and at this point I may be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome to have finished it) but if you like the genre already, this might be a good bet.

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LibraryThing member KDSarge

I'm not much of a romance reader, but I really enjoyed this book. I picked it up as the only book at hand, read it from someone else's bookmark--then turned to the beginning and read the whole thing.

Garwood has a talent for writing strong and likable heroines within the tropes of the romance genre.

This is not a breaks-the-rules book, but it is an enjoyable read and a good way to spend an afternoon.

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LibraryThing member melorem

Johanna is a young girl in an arranged marriage to a brutal Baron. He beats her because he feels it is his right (as taught by the local Bishop). She endures this for three years before the Baron is killed. She is grateful for his death and tries with all her might to avoid any future marriages

thinking they will all be like this one. Her brother (Nicholas) feels it is safer for her if she is wed. Johanna has a secret that affects the King of England and needs a protector. Nicholas marries her to Gabriel, a laird in the highlands of Scotland.

Johanna begins to feel safe, protected and eventually gains her courage and confidence back. A great medieval romance with some very comical moments. Another great one from Garwood.

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LibraryThing member sferguson

Great book for those who have enjoyed other historical romance. Set in pre Magna Carta England and Scotland, this book is a great romance with a backdrop of historical intrigue. A great read.

LibraryThing member Jaguar897

This is only the second novel I've read by Julie Garwood and I'm already a fan. It was a fast read with some action, romance, and a little bit of humor. Overall not a bad read. I really give this book 3 1/2 stars only because I was not into Judith as much as I would have liked to have been.

However, by the end of the book she grew on me.

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LibraryThing member Lost_Lenore

This is without a doubt my favorite of all the books by Julie Garwood.
Filled with humor, love, strength and beliefs, this story can keep you enthralled and smiling all the time. You'll be sad when you finish it because you will want more.

Lady Johanna was raised to believe in love and happiness but

after a cruel and violent marriage, everything in her is broken, even her faith in God. When her husband is believed dead and she's brought to court to be given in marriage again, she and her brother Nicholas managed to delay the inevitable but finally Nicholas gives her away to a noble and fierce Highland warrior, Gabriel MacBain, his somewhat friend.
Her latest husband had destroyed the village of her future husband and Johanna is terrified not only of him but also of everything until she finds herself in an award position and with the nickname of Courageous... and then, Lady Johanna surprises everyone including her husband.

Again we can see that this is not a "normal" warrior nor a "normal submissive wife". Gabriel, Johanna and all the rest of the characters are lovable and extremely funny. I loved Keith and Calum and their bickering and Auggie and his stone game.
This is one is on my top 5 to read (and read again).

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LibraryThing member AddictedToMorphemes

Read 12-7-11
Re-read 8-2-14

One of my favorites by Garwood, and she is one of my all-time favorite authors for this genre. This is one book where the story stuck with me over the years although I couldn't remember the name of the book. When I picked it up again it came back to me but I was happy to

have rediscovered it...so I read it again! I don't do that with many books.

Hero and heroine are both to be admired, and it is fun to watch their relationship develop, how they banter back and forth in a humorous way, and how they appreciate each other's qualities. Lady Joanna is way ahead of her time as far as demanding empowerment for women; but that's part of the fun, seeing how she overcomes past abuse and comes into her own, knowing she is safe with her new husband, Gabriel MacBain.

Great story. Also introduces a relationship between Joanna's brother figure, Nicholas, and Lady Clare. I need to check out which book, if any, covers their story. Edited: After searching, it looks like there is no book written for them as of yet.

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LibraryThing member BookaholicCat

One of the best HR I have read in a while.

LibraryThing member LadyJoana

These are the types of books that could change how people view the romance genre. Unforgettabble.

LibraryThing member Carol420

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.

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LibraryThing member PNRList

I liked the abused heroine theme even if it didn't quite invoke the angst and protective, healing hero bit that makes that theme one of my favorites (wouldn't it be great if there was someone who could just "fix" us?) Still, I liked this and will continue to make my way through Julie Garwood's

work. (3.5 stars)

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LibraryThing member RachDani

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 are looking for other historical romances, try "The Bride" or "The Prize." I loved both of those books!

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LibraryThing member spinsterrevival

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.

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