Customer Reviews

The Holding

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Holding is the first book by Claudia Dain I've read. I read it in one day - it was incredible! It's a refreshingly different kind of romance. It has all the elements of a sensual love story, yet this novel is a very unique mix of spirituality and sensuality. I'm happy to find an author that realizes the two are not mutually exclusive.

William, the hero has been given Greneforde Castle (including resident lady of Greneforde, the orphaned Cathryn) by the king to reward him for his loyal service. Both William and Cathryn have scars of their past to overcome. The story is completely absorbing as the author gradually reveals the tragedies that haunt them. William's character grows into a warm, tender and sexy husband. Cathryn has put up a strong front for so long that she finds it hard to let her defenses down to her new husband, but when she does, she finds ecstasy.

The secondary characters are some of the most well developed and interesting I've read in a long time. Among them is a priest who provides wise spiritual guidance and two servants who are falling in love themselves.

This book is well worth your time and money. It's truly an intelligent, thoughtful romance.

I totally agree with the reviewer that said the cover is bad. Ms. Dain, if you're reading this...don't let the publishers do that to you again! This book deserves better!!

I am sorry, but I have truly given up on Ms. Dain as an author. Nearly all of her supposed love scenes are nonconsensual. Please, can get get away from the bodice rippers of the 70s already. Intelligent modern readers want so much more. The deflowering of women is just not an entertaining topic, and especially not when done with such graphic and down right crass mishandling.
William finds out she is not a virgin and immediately blames her without ever once stoping to look around him at the ruined mansion he has got thanks to marrying a total stranger. she is just a possession to him like everything else. He just can't bear the thought of anyone sharing fun with her except him. He doesn't understand that every time he calls her CAt and falls upon her like a starving man on his dinner, that this is what her attacker used to do to her. He hardly even bothers to try to understand her point of view until it is forcibly shoved under his nose.
William is not quite as Neanderthal as her other heroes but he comes pretty close. Then we have her rapist Lambert going about scot free and trying to reclaim her. He tries to kill her, and at last she fights back for about a minute. Graphic violence ensues, and that includes William being stabbed in both sides with swords and still surviving to kill the villain. PUH-LEEESE.
We never see any commitment warmth or fondness in any of these books, just unremitting doom and gloom, and miserable lives for all her female characters. This is not quite as depressing as some of Ms. Dain's other books, but the characters are flat and insipid and not people I ever care about even though we are supposed to admire her as a victim. and him for 'forgivng' her.
I would rather admire my characters for being brave, noble, loving and committed to one another. As most intelligent readers of romance would. Let this one go for sure.

England, Winter 1155. "Nineteen years of war had taken its toll on William's holding ... field were broken wastelands of scorched earth ... there would be no corn this winter" (pg.1). Of course not! Corn is a New World crop that never existed in 12th-century England! I have to say, I put the book down after reading the 1st page and it was months before boredom forced me to pick it up again. I'm glad that I did. The plot is driven and, once started, I couldn't put it down. Tsk to Ms. Dain for poor research, but give her 10 pages and she will entertain you.

This is the first book I have read by Ms. Dain and I wasn't disappointed. She uses a surprising mix of true 'soul-connecting' spirituality and delicious sensuality to create a story that is at once moving and arousing. Definitely better than the same old same old.

My only problem was that it was somewhat unrealistic and at times I could feel myself scoffing in my mind... the hero was just a little too forgiving, committed and all-powerful and the heroine's problems were basically solved by one evening of good loving. What's the likelihood of that happening?

Anyway, I guess that's why they're called fairy tales - anything can happen and true love conquers all. She is definitely a budding " mistress of the craft" .

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book, that I just had to share my delight.

After getting past the horrible cover...the story itself is delightful.

Kathryn's cold exterior and the keep's shifty inhabitants kept me (and the hero) on our toes through the first part of the story. William's anger (horror even) when he dicovers her secret (although hypocritical by today's standards) is, in my opinion, understandable considering the 12th century timeframe. And makes his ultimate understanding and unwavering devotion truly breathtaking.

The priest's strong role, the lively word play, and quoted scripture, highten emotions and bring Catheryn and William's union to a level of divinity, unmatched.

["I do not believe I could love you any better", he rejoined..."To love you better, I would not slumber so I could watch you sleep...To love you better I would not travel more then two leagues distant for the ache being away from you brings...To love you better, I would travel to the King with all speed so that I may the sooner tell him that I will not, cannot, be parted from you, my wife, my very life's blood, except by God's own express will.

"I would sooner die than relinquish you Cathryn", William whispered. "Nay, wife, I cannot love you any better", brushing back a stray tendril he added, "But do you ask it, I will try."] - pages 334-336

Claudia Dain just got a new fan!

Nice style of writing, good characterization and dialogue that was realistic and flowing. The author was able to weave a tale that had me crying at one point and laughing at another. So why three stars and not five? Well I honestly found the plot a little bit simplistic. The conflict between the main characters, Cathryn and William, is based entirely on William misjudging Cathryn's morals. William felt betrayed by what he thought Cathryn had done, and Cathryn became a victim once again. This "misunderstanding" (that is putting it mildly) kept them apart for more than half the book, when just a simple question on his part, or a brief explanation on her part would have cleared the matter up very quickly. It was easy to guess, after only a few pages, what had happened to Cathryn, and I found it frustrating that it took William half the story to reach the same conclusion.

I loved Ms Dain's style of writing, and if the plot had been a more complex the book would have been a definite keeper.

This is the second of Ms Dain's book that I have read. I enjoyed this book much more than Tell Me Lies. The story seem to flow better. The Heroine and Hero were believable for the time period. In fact the hero show great compassion when the story of the heroine is finally revealed. Although I suspected what was goig to happen the unfolding of the story and the steps he takes to solve the problem do the author credit. I would definetly read the book again.

I read this book over a week ago and I still can't stop thinking about how great this book was. I've had this book in my TBR pile for months and now I regret not having read it sooner. I never started on it because I usually prefer the Regency/Georgian era and contemporary books compared to this earlier time period. I now realize how wrong I was to have pre-judged the book.

William is our hero and a favored knight of King Henry. He has never really had a home to call his own and thus has fought for the King for years to finally be rewarded with his own holding, Greneforde's Castle. Cathryn is lady Greneforde and our orphaned heroine. William meets Cathryn for the first time when he arrives at Greneforde. His first impression of Cathryn is worst than his first impression of her castle. Of course, he falls in love with both way before the book ends.

But the journey to that love is what really endeared me to this wonderful story telling. It's been a while since I've met a hero as wonderfully well-rounded as William. He brings to Greneforde the seeds that he's collected and kept safe all during his crusades. He knew that when he finally got a home, he'd want to plant the best of every crop. This is a man that is feared by the fiercest of all men! He is big, strong, and can kill a man before the victim even knows William is near. Thus all those that know him call him "The fog". He doesn't yell, he doesn't need to. He commands attention just with his presence. Yet he is the same man that pays special attention to the caring and handling of his seeds to make sure they arrive safely at his final destination. It's the small attentions to detail like this that distinguishes this book as three-dimensional as opposed to the run-of-the-mill romances which dish out two-dimensional characters.

His treatment of Cathryn is what warms me to him most of all. He may seem to some to be more like a 20th century man who is warm, sensitive and caring. Think Russell Crowe crossed with Tom Hanks but that's only to grasp for comparison as William defies anything to really compare with. He is sensitive because he is observant of everything around him. That is what makes him a great knight and ultimately an ideal husband. Ideal being that he puts the needs of his wife first because he can sense her when she's distressed or in need. Sigh, this is why I love romance novels. What girl doesn't dream of this stuff!

The Biblical references about honor and love are wonderful and appropriate for a romance novel. I'd have said a mainstream romance novel but to put this delicious love story in that same category would be doing this keeper of a book a big injustice. The references are not overbearing and would not be for even those that have never held a Bible. To my delight, Cathryn and William are well versed (William's priest has been a part of his crusade for years) and to be a voyeur in their back and forth dueling (more like flirting and taunting-teasing) with biblical quotes and passages warmed my heart.

I've barely cracked the surface of why I love this book. The back cover hints at the erotic content. That word does not do this book justice. Erotica leaves me cold but THE HOLDING left me hot and feverish and panting for more William. I believe William had the same affect on Cathryn.

I liked this book. This is the 1st book I've read by Claudia Dain and It won't be the last. I enjoyed the story of William, the hero who has been given Greneforde Castle as a gift for being a loyal knight by his king. His traveling companions Rowland, Kendall and his squire Ulrich are the best of friends and thier loyalty to each other is plain to see. William takes as his bride the orphaned Cathryn. She is a quiet and beautiful young woman who has protected her people during the long war as best she could. William must overcome many barriers to prove his love for Cathryn. He is tender with her but determined to win her love. This story was warm and touching and I would enjoy reading about the secondary characters in future books.

Like many others, I read a LOT of romance novels. And when I find one I love, I'll re-read it over and over.

The Holding is a keeper.

Lady Cathryn is a "real" woman. There is nothing mystical or fey about her. She is a down-to-earth woman who has managed to survive in some very brutal times. Cathryn's courage is daunting. She is a woman you want to see happy.

Sir William. Ah, well, Sir William is fine, indeed. He is a man who understands that wife and keep are his to protect. And he does just that. His strength and his character makes you fall in love with him.

lol - Of course, his "Frankish sensibilities" will allow nothing less.

He's incredibly charming with a "naughty" sense of humor...but not sooo naughty that it's insulting. Just enough to make you smile. And you will smile.

Their love story is beautiful. They come together strangers. Cathryn accepts him but doesn't trust him.

Slowly..oh, so slowly (and with a little help from some friends) they grow to trust one another.

And - once they trust one another - their love begins to blossom.

Cathryn and William's love story is truly beautiful. Enjoy!