Customer Reviews

If I Had You

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is outstanding! I love the way Ms. Kurland uses humor, and
this is the first historical I've read in a long time where I didn't
want to smack either or both of the main characters for acting like
nitwits. Anne and Robin certainly act like nitwits, but are so funny
while doing so that for once it's easy to understand why they forgive
one another for acting this way....

Wonderful! I too started with one the subsequent books and am now backtracking. I love Ms. Kurland's writing. I am sorry I did not discover her sooner. So much lost time! I am looking forword to all of the books I have yet to read and all of the books she has yet to write!

I found this book disappointing. I found the book to contain little plot or character development throughout the novel. The main character, Anne, was injured several years ago, although we never learn how or precisely when. Apparently Anne is blond haired and green eyed, but believes her self to be ugly. Anne and Robin fell in love at first sight when Anne was about eight years old. They were both too afraid of ridiculed to say anything to the other for the next ten years, but only after much argument and denial on both sides. The plot is made complete with a woman who wants revenge on Robin (I have yet to discover what she wants revenge for). She has decided she has a right to his castle and is attempting to slowly kill off his family and friends before finishing him off, but do you think any of the people could possibly be killed??

This book seemed quite shallow; I was skeptical of the love between Robin and Anne. I also found I did not care if any of the characters died or not. Perhaps this book would have been slightly better if one had read some of the other books by this author, but it is doubtful.

Find something else to reed.

P.S. If this is on your top ten list I feel so sorry for you. I honestly can't imagine what you have been reading.

This is the worst romance novel I have ever had the displeasure of reading.
I will write this review now to try deter you from buying this book and save you from hours of what can only be described as torture.
I'll do this while it is still fresh in my mind because I plan to forget it as soon possible.

Now, I've read a lot of romance novels, and this is the first time I've actually hated oneThere is a phrase the author uses at every possible opportunity. "By the saints". I started noting the number of times she used this, it was something like twenty times in eighteen pages. After that I stopped counting, but I can say with certainty that she used it every other page. (No exaggeration).

On to the second phrase- "She/he suspects". It was used enough times to fill an entire library.
"She suspected it wouldn't be long before she threw the book into the fireplace to take it's place among the rest of the firewood."

If it's possible to get past that, you have the poorly written characters to contend with.
The author focused entirely too much on Anne's disability throughout the story which detracted from the more important themes. (Again with the repetitiveness)
The hero of our story, Robin, bordered on being ridiculous and manic-depressive. Neither Anne nor Robin had any real depth or appeal. Instead of being caught up in the story, I was often reminded of how unrealistic and foolishly they had been written.

I should also point out that there is no physical love between the two except for three innocent kisses. (All in succession) I shy away from books that focus too much on sex, and have one love scene after another, but nonetheless I think it's important to have at least some sense of their physical connection. Even one not overly descriptive page would have sufficed. Although for some people this would not be a problem.

The climax is so laughable, and not because it's funny.

Anne of Fenwyck has loved her foster brother, Robin de Piaget, since they were children. Robin was smitten himself when he first laid eyes on her, and boys being boys, he put a frog down her dress to show his affection. When they were younger, the two of them had been as close as could be, but because of an act of humiliation Robin felt so profound, he kept himself and his heart away from Anne for fear that she would find him lacking. As soon as he could, he went off to war, determined to forget Anne, and prove himself.

Robin has grown up to become a most fierce and feared knight and has stayed away for five long years yet when he learns that Anne's father is husband-hunting he rushes home before it is too late. Proficient in war, but unskilled in wooing his surliness soon works to a distinct disadvantage as he tries to get on Anne's good side.

Knowing Robin's heart better than he knows himself, his brother Nicolas and his very strong-willed and domineering grandmother set out to bring a bit of chivalry to this fearsome knight! As if Robin didn't have enough on his plate trying to woo his lady, there is an evil plot afoot to take Anne from him before he ever makes her his.

I have to credit Kurland with creating a most beautiful and enjoyable love story. I absolutely adored the love and warmth portrayed by the sibling rivalries of this loving de Piaget family. It was both hilarious and touching to 'feel' the love and tenderness between these siblings as they beat on each other whether it be with words or fists. Her portrayal of Robin so manly and strong, yet so boyishly awkward when trying to woo Anne was nothing short of brilliant. Kurland draws you in and makes you one of the family, and I can hardly wait to for the next family reunion. Highly entertaining and heartwarming, this book will retain a space on my keeper shelf.

This book was excellent. These two people obviously care for each other, but think the other doesn't and so doesn't say anything. It just goes to show what childhood "trauma" can do to you.

The book is really great. There doesn't seem to be much left to describe it, if I don't want to sound redundant.

If you're familiar with Lynn Kurland's books and want to explore more about the second generation of de Piaget family, you should go ahead and buy this book..If not, I hope my review will help you to make your decision..somehow.. The story is about Robin de Piaget, a moody, arrogant but one of the finest warrior in England and Anne of Fenwyck, the only woman who left a print in his heart. A terrible accident in youth has left Anne a deep scar..mentally and physically... For Robin, after warring for 5 long years, he has returned home....wishes desperately to claim the only woman he loves. However, things did not turn out the way he planed... First half of the book is mainly about how Robin and Anne reacted when faith brought them back together after 5 long years...tell you the truth, a little tiny bit boring though...too much misunderstanding... However when a mysterious person threatened to kill Robin ..to take away every thing he holds dear, the story was spiced up and you will start thinking like..."well, this is not so bad"..The good point about this book is, as in other of Kurland's stories, two main characters are not flawless like other romance novels...and her style of writing is still enchanting... So in conclusion, if you ever read any of Lynn Kurland's books about de Piaget family before and want to know more about others in the family tree, buy this book. But if you don't even know Lynn Kurland and just look around for something sweet to read, I suggests you to start with other of Kurland's books..like "This is all I ask" or " The more I see you"..which I think are fun and very very good on their own...However,.. if you still don't really belive my suggestion and still want to buy this book, all I can say is..it's still good enough for the money you spend..

It was sort of romantic so I kept reading it thinking it will get better but It didn't. Being me, I had to finish what i started but i found myself skipping the pages where it's slow.

I rated this book in my all time top 10, it has been there for some time which is even though it is always up against fierce competition. This is a great story of two people who were brought up in a loving honest household and how that shaped who they turned out to be. Kurland has a gift to show the reader how loyalty, trust and love can trickle down through generations.
Annes father wants her to marry, so she seeks the solice of Artane, a keep she spent her childhood at, hoing her life long love would return for her. When Robin does return they do not immediately fall into each others arms, but when a murderer is threatening his true love,that is exactly how they end up. This opprotunity gave Robin the chance to have Anne all to himself, subsequently they are forced to marry and are then left alone. When his grandmother shows up and tries to teach Robin the ancient art of wooing, he realizes that Anne loves him just the way he is. Cute added character and witty dialogue.
I thought this story had alot of depth, especially how Robin overlooked her handicap and brought her to realize that she is all he would ever need. The degree of love that he held for her was easily shown through touching parts such as when Robin told Anne about her ring he had tailor made for her, hoping one day it would be a wedding ring, but how he kept it in a box along with other personnal items reminding him of Anne for five years.
Thier adventurous honeymoon expierence in his outdoor tent proved to be exactly how you would picture a knight in shining armour to be. He spends the next two chapters professing his love for her, he describes thier perfect wedding night and if he could he would of made it just so. The writing was so beautiful that it just made you sigh after reading it.
The ending also added a little twist when information regarding the DePique family heritage (which starts out in Another Chance To Dream) was revealed. Characters also appear in This Is All I Ask and The More I See You. A definate Re-Read.

Well, I bought this book for vacation and have to say that it was a disappointment. After 14 chapters I threw in the towel. I found the dialogue trite and it just didn't hold my interest.