Rosehaven (Song Novels) Mass Market Paperback – June 1, 1997

This is only my second Catherine Coulter novel but I'm sensing some themes running through her work: helpless yet feisty maiden, alpha male husband who takes her against her will...but she loves it! (or, alternately, learns to love it), you get the picture. Another reviewer called her style "the rougher side of romance" and I think that's pretty accurate. None of that bothers me; after all, it's escapist literature and I personally find the alpha male trope kind of sexy when done well. However, if this is not your thing, you may want to move on. Catherine Coulter is probably not for you.That said, I bought the Kindle edition for $8 and wish I hadn't. Not that it's awful - it's definitely worth, say, $3 for a used copy - but right now, just having finished it, I feel kind of cheated. The first 150 pages or so, before Severin and Hastings (may I just say, I love her name) FINALLY make some kind of peace with each other after two (not one but two!) horrible sexual encounters and lots of inane bickering, are extremely tiresome. Like I said, the alpha male trope doesn't bother me one bit and even I was about ready to throw in the towel on Severin as a desirable hero - dude was acting like a total brute!And then the "miracle" happens. Don't worry, I won't spoil it but I will say this: I wasn't wild about the secondary female characters telling Hastings that the problems in her marriage were basically all her fault. That kind of pissed me off. But I don't have a problem with the idea that sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and be nice to your partner even when they're acting like a jerk to maintain peace and happiness in the relationship - haha, that actually seems fairly accurate to me vis a vis my own relationships. Anyway, from that point on, the book got a lot better because I was invested in the couple and when the second threat to their relationship occurred, I actually wanted them to overcome it. So, yeah, it takes 150 pages for the story to become a romance novel. Just be forewarned.As for the writing itself, Catherine Coulter seems to have this minimalist, bare-bones style that might just be better suited to the crime/action/spy stuff she writes rather than her romance novels. But once I got used to it, it wasn't so bad. The dialogue was a little iffy but at least it wasn't littered with all the weird spellings/idioms/turns of phrase that authors like to use to make their historical romances seem more "accurate." No, what bothered me the most about this book were the effing marten and the goat. Listen, I love animals as much as the next person - but the goat kept eating gauntlets for no reason and the marten just screamed plot device. Dear old Catherine constantly had people spilling their guts out to this glorified squirrel-thing. It was So. Damn. Annoying.Anyway, if you can put up with all that, the book if worth it - provided you like your romance heroes on the dominant side. Just remember: $3 used copy not $8 kindle/mass market edition. Just trust me on that, please.

I read this book several years ago and fell in love with it. When I saw I could get it on my kindle I jumped at the chance. I have seen some of the reviews and wondered if we were reading the same book. I am a great history lover, I think this is one reason I love historical fiction books, ranging from Catherine Coulter to Bernard Cornwell. Some of the readers that object to the way men treated women in this era remind me of what happened to my daughter when she was writing a paper for college. Her professor reminded her that the paper on the treatment of women at that time wasn't relevant, that she could not "see" the book through the eyes of a modern woman, she had to know what was happening in that time period. What we consider awful behavior and cruel treatment was the norm for that time period, accepted by both men and women.I not only have this book in paperback but also in hardcover and on my kindle. I think this should show anyone just how much I liked this book. A definite five star story as far as I'm concerned.

I loved this book! The Song Series is a great series and I think the characters and storylines are well written. Though Dienwald from Earth Song is probably my favorite hero, Severin isn't too bad. I LOVE Hastings and most of the heroines in her books! People who choose to read Coulter need to realize that she doesn't "soften" her heros. Her heros are not Fabio in a castle. Coulter's heros are rugged men and sometimes force sex in the marriage bed, have mistresses, and sometimes have agressive and/or humiliating behaviors. This is what happened in those times. Wives were treated as property and supposed to do nothing but run a household and produce male heirs. Coulter doesn't say that it's right, but that is just the way of things for her characters. If you can't handle that, then go read some other "fluffy" romance book by another author. In fact, comapared to what really happened in those times, her heros are probably softer. I don't condone rape or abuse, nor do I feel these heros are my dream guy, but I am able to read these books and enjoy the characters' journey. For those that can handle it and want to enjoy a good book, I highly recommend Rosehaven...and the entire Song Series! You'll LOVE them!

I first read this book years ago, it is still one of my very favorites by this author. First of all, I read all of her books, in and out order, this one is part of the song series and like all of this series; is both hilarious and poignant. I will never forget the part where she wouldn't let go, I almost fell over laughing. They are a very young couple who meet for the first time on their wedding day, at her fathers' death bed. She is prideful and ignorant of relationships as she grew up with no mother; and a father who barely paid her any attention. He is a warrior, who expects obedience in all things. You have never met two such prideful people. With some help of meddling friends, a villain, who wants the bride and her inheritance for himself, a mysterious property, a healer who is a man hater, and plenty of crazy advice from friends; you just can't go wrong. I know everything that happens in this book and I still read it again and again, just to visit these characters.

I enjoyed the Read! Understand the time period before you read!!! I'm sick of seeing RAPE FEST on most of the forums when it is not true. This is dated back when civilization did not see women a souls, but as mere possessions and sinful creatures, causing men to lust, and enter into the devils shadows if men were not mindful of where they stood in the relationship. If anything, this book should make women thankful that they do not live in a time frame where they are considered souless, and evil! People take these books too seriously, just enjoy the read...just a little bodice-ripping and enjoy! Every woman loves a little excitement every now and then. I hate the same ole song and dance...at least this one gives you something different for a change.

I love Ms Coulter's books. A finely woven tale with great characters and very human interactions. highly recommended. lots so sex too!