Thankfully marriages aren't arranged anymore!

Emerald Knight caught me in a bit of a quandary. I didn’t know if I wanted to like it or not. Picking it up I hadn’t realized that it was more historical and as such there was a vast difference in age, livelihood and marital expectations than we have today. Also there was the narrator, Lesley Parkin, that I had trouble following her voice. As I was thinking, well what voice would I prefer this story be told in, I realized that it was indeed the Ms. Parkins’ voice that I expected. So it was a bit of a personal preference issue that bothered me more than the narrator. I think she did a fine job with the voices and the emotions, especially when Gin and Wolf were young.

Emerald Knight is the story of an eight year old boy, Wolfe, that is promised to a new born babe in order to seal an alliance. I believe that Wolfe would have accepted Gin and his fate a bit more had there not been the age difference and the brotherly torment at the declaration of their future marriage. The age difference and the fact that the two lived apart and never saw each other growing up did not help cement a healthy start to marriage.

I struggled to watch both Wolfe and Gin dance through their emotions and lives without realizing they were dance partners - one step forward, two steps back and begin again. Even when they were still growing up they were in the dance. And to be so young when considered available for marriage had to be hard for Gin. She really didn’t have a childhood while Wolfe was off at war and being part of bloody battles. Wolfe and Gin really couldn’t have expected to fall into marriage easily. It was all part of the historical accuracy that the book portrayed. Overall it was a good book and I’m glad to have listened to it.

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4 people found this helpful

Engaging Wonderful Story

What made the experience of listening to Emerald Knight the most enjoyable?

The story began from when the heroine is a babe and continues throughout her lifetime. It was wonderful to see her reactions to her circumstances, the difficult times she lived in and how she blossomed into a woman.

What did you like best about this story?

This rich historical fiction was richly described by Michelle Pillow. it was easy to get immersed in this world. Her hero and heroine both had their POV's depicted in the story which gave them better depth.

Which character – as performed by Lesley Parkin – was your favorite?

Our heroine was well performed, especially since Ms. Parkin had to begin from childhood, to maiden to beautiful woman.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was a long book which I was great full for as I really got to immerse myself in a major full length story and look forward to coming back to it whenever I took a break,

Any additional comments?

This book had so ,ice of everything from watching and experiencing the hero and heroine growing up, dealing with love, commitment, loyalty, war, heartbreak, sensuality. It is really a full length saga and I loved experiencing it in audio.

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The Emerald Knight

If you could sum up Emerald Knight in three words, what would they be?

heart-felt, roller-coaster, love

Who was your favorite character and why?

One of my favorite characters was William, the lead character's younger brother. He always appeared kind, pleasant and charming...the way a knight should. He was willing to sacrifice his own opportunity at love to keep a promise to his brother.

What about Lesley Parkin’s performance did you like?

Lesley Parkin's performance was spot on. I was initially hesitant when I first started listening, but soon began to look forward to hearing her read this tale. It was fun to listen to because the story takes place in old England, and with her British accent the story became more vibrant.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Oh goodness gracious! I was actually late to work one day because I was crying over one scene. I had to stay in my car until I could clear my eyes and reapply my make-up.

Any additional comments?

I have not once been steered in the wrong direction in regard to anything written by Michelle Pillow. I love her work!

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Good book

The story was good. It kept my interested once I bought the book to read rather then listen to it. I tried to listen to it but I just could not take the voice of the narrator. I kept blocking her out and getting lost on what was going on so that I would have to backtrack. I just didn't like the how she did the characters different voices and accents. However as I said the book itself is worth reading. The story line fit the time period very well and was believable.

Received ARC Copy
L

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5 people found this helpful

Great storyline, mediocre telling of it

This book sits somewhere between steamy romance and historical fiction. Following the lives of a noblewoman and a nobleman, betrothed at the noblewoman's birth, the author writes a tale of pride, strength, love and war encompassed in miscommunication.
The storyline is well worth telling, but, the author focuses too much on describing the emotions and physical contact rather than filling out the characters and building smooth time transitions.

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engaging story

At first I wasn't sure if the narrator's voice was really compatible with the story, but as I got more into the story I realized Ms. Parkin's narration was pretty good, showing emotions, the various characters were easy to recognize. This genre is not in my top five to read because of the rules and codes of the society of this era, the way the women of every class were treated, but the author created a world that once you step in, it is hard to leave. Ms. Pillow's writing style is quite engaging and the story of Wolf and Gen made me feel many emotions, especially frustration at the main characters and their miscommunication. It took many conflicts and much heartbreak to get them to see each other as they were meant to and finally have their HEA. I laughed at their antics as children, I cried at some pretty sad moments, I was cheering on when the men where in battle, and I got really mad at some of the secondary characters for their misguided meddling in the couple's lives. I am quite happy that I stuck with the story, would recommend it to the readers of this genre.

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patriciaq

If you could sum up Emerald Knight in three words, what would they be?

fun, adventure and knights.

Who was your favorite character and why?

the heroine for her strength and confidence once she found it within herself.

Which scene was your favorite?

the fight between the 2 women at the jousting tents.

If you could take any character from Emerald Knight out to dinner, who would it be and why?

the hero of course because once he realizes his love he went to claim it.

Any additional comments?

none.

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not all knights are in shining armor

Would you listen to Emerald Knight again? Why?

Definitely! I loved the story, elicited a wide range of emotions and it was easy to relate to the characters..

What did you like best about this story?

even though it sounds strange the constant battle between Gin and Wolfe; after all life is not always roses and fairy tales

Which character – as performed by Lesley Parkin – was your favorite?

Gin; not because she was the main character but because she persevered through so much hardship and still came out whole on the other side.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

not sure, that's a hard one to limit to one line

Any additional comments?

Unbelievably emotional story! I laughed, cried and had the urge to reach into the book and smack both Wolfe and Gin for being stubborn and stupid about how they felt for the other. I really got into this story; the characters were really easy to relate to and seemed like friends, pledged from birth to Wolfe Gin knows who she is to marry, but as she grows she decides she doesn’t have to like him! Wolfe on the other hand hates the idea from the start, 8 years her senior he sees her as a small child. When Gin turns 15 it is decided that the marriage is to take place, bad ideas and promises make it the worst wedding ever and Wolfe ends up in another’s bed and Gin sees, breaking her heart. Wolfe then leaves and she doesn’t see him for 3 years and she is definitely not childlike anymore! All of a sudden he becomes very interested in claiming his wife, she is not so interested telling him he is a stranger to her (not to mention she is still smarting from the disaster of a wedding and marriage night). Wolfe’s past indiscretions and reputation catch up with him and causes further marital issues. Even as they find each other consumed in passion for the other, they still don’t admit they feel more. There is so much more and I don’t want to spoil anything but it truly is a wondrous story.
Lesley Parkin did a great job narrating, she has a pleasant voice and did differentiate for different characters; the only thing I didn’t like was that there were many times you could hear her sucking in air and it was a bit distracting.

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Emerald Knight

This was a good story. It is not one of my favorites but it is still very well written. Michelle kept very well with the time period she was writing in with Wolfe and Gin. However, I kept getting very frustrated with my romantic leads. I was very upset when they got married and Wolfe ended up in another woman's bed. However, that is what usually happened at that period in time. By the end of the story I fell in love with the two main characters and was hoping that everything would work out for them. I enjoyed the narrations immensely. Leslie Parkins did a superb job in changing the voices while they were growing up and really showed their emotions.

received a free copy for an honest review

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1 person found this helpful

a very authentic look in to the life of a lady.

What about Lesley Parkin’s performance did you like?

Lesley had a very pleasing voice, and really gave the characters life.

Any additional comments?

I really didn't like wolf, he was so cruel and unthinking. but that just gave the story an authentic feel. Genivra was so innocent i almost didn't finish the story. i couldn't believe how she could keep from screaming at wolf. but then again it just made the story more real, because the women of that age, were kept in the dark about all most everything. in the end i was rooting for them and actually liked them. The way mrs pillow takes you through the hole story from childhood and into adulthood was so genius and made the story so real.

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