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Title: King of Storms
ISBN: 044661856X
Author:
Amanda Scott
Publicate Date: 2007-08-01
Publish: 2007-08-01
List Price: $6.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Mass Market Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $2.99
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $0.01
Amazon Merchant Price: $6.99
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Scottish Historial Romance Perfection
The last in a series by Amanda Scott can stand on its own,however, when read from first to last it is even more amazing! Characters are fully developed and almost immediately intriguing if not addictive. Strong women more than making their way in a male dominated time, the story telling of the Templars makes each story even more appealing. It was hard not to turn the page too soon. Although these are historical in setting, much of the relationships have common threads to today... No other author on the subject of scottish romance novels fully develops their characters or story to the degree that Amanda Scott does! BRAVO!
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2: Shipboard Romance
This book is the last in the series following a family of young women in Scotland. Sidony is the youngest of the sisters and somewhat overlooked by both her sisters and their husbands, so much so that she has discovered part of the secret of the Templar treasure which is hidden in a valley on the estate of her brother in law Rob. Our story starts when Sidony bumps into Sir Giffard MacLennan, a rather adventurous man who has been summoned, as one of the Templars, to help move the treasure (the Stone of Scone) from its hiding place by using his ships.
The first half of this book, unfortunately, really drags. We learn very little about Sidony and Giff, we just listen in on various conversations and discussions about the treasure and about Sidony's youthful inability to make decisions. It was quite difficult to keep reading the book as there was so little action and very little of interest to hold the reader's attention. However, halfway through the book picked up when Sidony found herself kidnapped and stashed in a hold on a ship belonging to the Earl of Fife whose designs on becoming king of Scotland have been a constant throughout this series of books. Unfortunately for Fife and his assistant, the Chevalier de Gredin, the ship that Sidony is hidden on is almost immediately stolen by Giff who eventually discovers Sidony. She's now compromised, of course, by having spent time on the boat with him and so Giff has to kidnap a priest to smooth things over in the only way possible. The description of the sailing vessel sneaking around Scotland's harbours and coves in the dark is enjoyable and Sidony is definitely coming into her own now there's some action in her life. Rather like the overall story which definitely picked up at this point.
The second half of the book is largely based on the ship Giff has stolen and we learn more about young Jake, son of the ship captain, and his curiosity - he seems rather like a young Giff. The boats are in a kind of race and Sidony is doing all she can to stay with Giff and not be left ashore. The ending came fairly quickly at which point the 'real' baddie is unmasked although this didn't work entirely well to me.
All in all the book was rather disappointing because it was so hard to plough through the first half and the second half, although interesting in its own way, didn't have enough characterisation to make the reader really engage with the story.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book, www.curledup.com. ?? Helen Hancox 2007
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3: Amanda Scott fans will be thrilled again
In Scotland in 1381, alliances, political betrayals and ambitions shift and change with the tides that border the country. Sir Giffard MacLennan, who is known as the king of storms, has been summoned to a meeting with members of the Scottish Knights Templar. These men have been entrusted with the safekeeping of some the legendary treasures that the Templars are known to have. Others, including the Pope and the Earl of Fife, son of the present King of Scotland, are actively seeking to gain possession of this treasure.
As he rides to his meeting, Giff meets 19-year-old Lady Sidony Macleod, and in this new high-seas romance, it's true that opposites attract. Giff owns the ship, Storm Lass, and is known to be impulsive, impetuous and daring-while Sidony is quiet, unassuming and often finds herself "invisible" at family gatherings. Since her presence is overlooked during conversations, Sidony becomes privy to secret matters including the most recent, the treasure of the Templars. Those who threaten the treasure soon become a threat to Sidony.
Having secured a ship, albeit stolen, to transport the treasure to a safer place, Giff, along with Sidony, who was found as a hostage on the stolen ship, endure rough seas, billowing sails, storms and pursuing ships. As their relationship grows, Giff and Sidony begin to discover strengths in themselves and each in other, and when the anticipated danger becomes actual hand-to-hand combat with swords and bows, Sidony finds she is fully capable of decisive and reckless action. Self-confident and stubborn, Sidony becomes a challenge and a temptation for Giff, but their personalities begin to clash as the undercurrent of romance builds.
Amanda Scott gives her story a sound historical backdrop with some authority as she has a master's degree in history specializing in British history.
Armchair Interviews says: Amanda Scott fans will not be disappointed. She is as entertaining as ever.
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