Shadow Music: A Novel

WIFE LIKES

I won't give a synopsis as a very full one has been given by the other two reviewers and any more and there won't be any point in you reading the book.I think that this is the first historical novel I've read by Julie Garwood, although I can't be sure of that. I was surprised and somewhat disappointed to discover on receiving the book that it was historical, as from the title, I'd expected a similiar book to Shadow Dance.The book gets it's title from the noise that Colm's warsword makes through the air when he wields it into battle.It's a nice enough read for a fantasy historical (fantasy because it does not have any historical basis apart from the fact that it's set in medieval Scotland). Although I'm not that well up on the convoluted medieval history of Scotland and its kings, I was a bit surprised that in the book England's King John seemed to have so much jurisdiction in Scotland and King David of Scotland none that is mentioned in the book. Personally, I wouldn't have thought that the very touchy Scot's and their king would have taken so kindly to a troop of English baron's and their armed men traipsing around causing mayhem on Scotish soil.However, as I say it's a nice enough read.

Gabrielle grows up in the loving embrace of her family and 4 guards, though her mother is sick and bound to her bed she still manages to tell Gabrielle all about her inheritance. She is after al a princess, it may be a small country but St.Biel is a content place to live and its history is rich. For when the crusades started it was St.Biel that needed to be traveled through to get to the Holy Lands, and with the wise King at the time made a pact with the crusaders. Crossing the country will cost gold but it will be send to the pope as a gift of devotion. But as the crusades died a rumor toke root, not all gold was given to the pope and a treassure was buried...How Gabrielle was familiar with all these stories of treasures, the battle between St. Biel and England, the marriage between her mother, the princes and her father, the Baron. Though her mother died Gabrielle's love for St.Biel shined bright within her heart and her four guards from St.Biel where an ever reminder. When her father tells her she is to be married to Laird Monroe she prepares herself for the life as the wife of a Laird, little did she know that the journey to Scotland is the beginning of something unexpected.....I think anyone who has ever read Julie Garwood's earlier historical novels will recognize my initial outburst of utter joy and excitement which I felt upon discovery that she has returned to her roots. Not only a historical but also a highlander to boot, for me it is a much treasured theme and time period and nostalgia of my youth rode me in waves as I received my copy of Shadow music.I took my time with it, wanting to savor every page, every character and every storyline. How did I get lost in the feelings of confusion? Because from the first page this story had a different vibe, which is not to say that that is a bad thing of course and was set on giving it all my attention and time. I enjoyed getting to know Gabrielle, her guards and the history of her mother's country only I got a bit restless at a certain point, when would the hero and heroine meet, when would the love story commence?? For me it felt like Julie Garwood took way too much time to set up this story taking away time and pages from the main couple creating an almost stale and unconvincing romance.The background story of the treasure was interesting, Gabrielle's four guards: Christien, Lucien, Stephen and Faust were a joy to read and fabulous secondary characters. The greedy Barons with their own plans are a convincing lot and the woman in the shades one to watch out for. Colm MacHugh as the hero came across as this big gruff bear of a highlander with pride to match his build and a thundering voice to lure you in to Scotland. He is an unadulterated highlander that I just crave to read about and especially the interaction with his brother and his neighboring Laird Buchannan made me smile.The separate threads of this novel sometimes gave me that hint of Garwood skill I enjoyed in all her other historicals,it was holding a promise but never truly giving it to me. When Gabrielle was exiled and Colm tried to do the chivalrous thing was for me the only true moment I could feel the talent of Julie Garwood as she once was. Colm and Gabrielle lack enough depth together, lack creating a delighted friction of two strong characters that sizzle into a passionate love which grabs me and makes me a part of the story. For me it felt that the background story and the secondary characters demanded so much time from them as the main characters, that there wasn't enough left. And when I read a Julie Garwood historical I want a romance that can rival with all the legendary lovers of the past, endearing, passionate, bold and within their own way have a gripping punch to it.Maybe it is unfair to Julie Garwood that I compare Shadow Music to her other historical novels and I did try as best as I could to judge this book solely on its own. But when I closed the book I just thought: `Where did the awesome talent of Garwood go for the historical genre?' The plot holds very little surprises, each character does play its part in the grant scheme of things that makes me interested enough to keep reading but all in all it is that Julie Garwood didn't change for the better in my opinion, Shadow Music is at its best mediocre and at its worst a disappointment for those who've read other novels by her hand like: Ransom, The Wedding, The Secret and so on.In the end, as I look back on reading this novel, I would say what I missed the most was the romance, the plot and the secondary characters held potential and they were meant to make the romance story of Colm and Gabrielle shine and this is something I just didn't get nor feel.Sometimes it just isn't meant to happen and Julie Garwood just couldn't create the sparkle of an endearing historical that nurtures the tale of a heart rendering love.reviewed by LeontineCourtesy of Realms on our Bookshelves

In this sequel of sorts to Garwood's Ransom, Princess Gabrielle of St. Biel, a daughter of an English Baron, is sent by King John to marry an older highland Laird to keep peace between the borders (??!! more on this later). Two of John's scheming Barons with their nefarious (and ridiculous) schemes get involved and Gabrielle's intended is murdered, she is disgraced as a wanton woman and disinherited and banned from England (this from one woman accusing her of entering a wounded man's bedroom??). She meets up with Laird Brodick Buchanan who is her cousin by marriage, as Brodick is married to Gillian a distant cousin of Gabrielle's father. Accompanying Brodick is the fearsome Laird MacHugh who takes her into protection after her banishment. There is also a big mystery about the search for some missing gold that is all too predictable, I figured where that was at the first mention of.... well I won't be a spoiler but trust me you'll spot that one a mile away.Sound exciting? No, it's not, it's actually quite awful and I'm having a hard time believing Garwood wrote this. Although her older historicals are not high fiction, the healthy dose of humor she throws in along with the romance usually makes for an entertaining read. Unfortunately, along with an embarrassingly bad plot Garwood forgot to throw in the humor that might have saved a story that's predictable from the first page to the last. Even worse, there is little description of the sights, sounds, clothes, etc. to give the reader a good sense of the time period. I don't think I heard mention of any Scott wearing a kilt until well towards the end of the book, Gabrielle's clothing was only noted by the color of the dress she was wearing, etc. I won't even get started on the way Brodick was ruined -- without the banter between he, Gillian, Ramsey and Ian what was an awesome hero in Ransom is reduced to nothing but mush. We don't even get a glimpse of Gillian, only occasional mentions of her being home and pregnant. And worst of all, there is absolutely no chemistry between our two main protagonists, an absolute death knell for any romance book.And finally, although I don't expect an historical romance to be historically accurate, I appreciate it when an author makes some effort to have knowledge of the period they're writing in. I wish I'd taken notes, because I'm not able to remember all the boners in this book to recount them here. Examples, and since I'm not a history major anyone may correct me if I'm wrong:* Gabrielle's native country St Biel (somewhere in Europe where the crusaders passed through), is invaded and occupied by King John !!??? John Lackland who couldn't even hold on to Normandy?* What is it with the women running around with their long hair flowing loose? No woman in medieval times, especially a noblewoman would be seen in public without a proper head covering.* Gabrielle's original marriage was to settle the border disputes between England and Scotland. Hellooooo, if I recall correctly John was too busy trying to subdue the Welsh to be bothered with Scotland. And what help does a marriage to a highland Laird have to do with any border wars? The borders are in the lowlands - you'd think a marriage to someone with closer ties to the border would make more political sense.All in all, this is pretty close to one of the worst books I've ever read - not quite but almost. Boring, predictable and downright silly. Garwood would have done much better by making her sequel to Ransom writing about the Buchanans, Ramsey and Sinclairs and putting those people together into her story. Better yet, put their grown children together into a tightly woven story with that sadly missing dose of humor and she might have had something here. As it is, this is a bad way to spend $18 US on a hardback and a serious waste of a tree. If you are dead set on reading it, get it from the library (as I did) or wait for the mass market paperback.Last complaint - what the heck is with the book cover? The man and woman in the bottom corner are in evening dress and the building with the onion dome looks like something out of the Far East, and certainly not a castle that one would find in Scotland. It's all just stupid, stupid, stupid and doesn't even deserve one star.

Wonderful novel ..has evrything in adventure,Romance,humour ....i m big fan of julie garwood aftr Ransom n bride this is yet an other feather in the capSome part of the novel can be little drag .But overall its great book

read this in the past, daughter did as well and was looking to buy one. great condition, good price.

Julie Garwood is one of my favorite authors. I have read all her books and more than once. Love them all.

As usual novel from Julie Garwood is enjoyable to read, She is a good writer and she is one of my favorite writer

this warrior is one of my favorite! I fell in love with him. I need my very own Highlander !!

ヨーロッパの小国の王家の血をひく美しいイギリス貴族の娘Gabriellはイギリス王によりスコットランドとの友好のため政略結婚させられることになる。しかし、美しいGabrielleをわがものにしようとする二人のイギリス貴族CoswoldとPercyの策略によって事態は急変する。婚約者は殺害され、Gabriellは男と密通したあばずれと不実の罪でイングランドから追放されてしまうのだ。追放され行き場を失ったGabrielleを助けたのがスコットランドの有力領主のColmだった。最初はGabrielleに弟を助けてもらった恩義からだったが、次第に美しく思いやりのある彼女に惹かれColmはGabrielleを妻として迎えいれる。そしてGabrielleも強く冒頓だがやさしいColmを愛するようになる。しかし、王家の莫大な隠し財産を持っていると信じるCoswoldはあきらめきれずGabrielleに執拗にせまる。ストーリー的には美しいGabrielleを巡っての男たちの争いや謀略、隠された王家の遺産など盛りだくさんで、それなりに楽しめましたが、何故かいまひとつ盛り上がりにかける気がしました。

I read this when it first came out and thought it was acceptable. It wasn't anywhere near the quality of other historical romances by Julie Garwood (Ransom, Bride, The Secret, etc.) but it sufficed. I decided to re-read it today since I'm on a historical binge and I have to say I'm mad that I even thought this was acceptable then. I was 100% wrong. It is a complete disappointment.I can look past the fact that Colm and Gabrielle don't meet until more than 100 pages in. I can get over the complete lack of chemistry between them. I can suspend disbelief and accept all of the historical inaccuracies. Accept the horrible- and not at all relevant- cover. I can even try to comprehend the fact that Brodick (a favorite hero of mine) has apparently become boring after the events that occurred in Ransom. What really makes this book so horrible is the fact that it is supposed to be a follow up to Ransom, but they got one of the most pivotal plot points from that book WRONG.*From the Kindle edition*"Then, urging his horse alongside Colm's, Brodick asked, "Do you know how I met my wife"An odd question, Colm thought. "She was bringing Laird Ramsey Sinclair's brother home to him," he replied.Stop. Now unless I have the wrong edition of Ransom, or the book has been re-written in the last 6 months, it is well known that Gillian did not save Ramsey's brother. She saved Alec Maitland, Iain Maitland's son. It's a crucial point in the book. That's a huge editing error to have in a book that was positioned as the long-awaited follow up to Ransom. I wanted to love this book because it was the follow up to Ransom, but she can't even get the characters right for continuity sake! Then you add in all of the plot issues, and this book just became a pass for me.I hate to do this because I really do consider Julie Garwood to be one of the best writers of historical romance, but if you loved Ransom, the Secret, Bride, Honor's Splendor, etc, then pass on this one. Save yourself the frustration and re-read those.

I have read many of her books, had to be a stinker in the batch I suppose. This one was it. The other Laird books in the series are enjoyable, the characters a treat. The main characters in this installment don't even meet until half way through the book. No passion, no build up. A chore to get through, also errors are made in the remembrances of characters as to prior books and the story involved. You would think the writer would remember her own books.

This is 3d of three books about the same grouping of highland clans during the reign of King John with a little twist and less interclan involvement. The heroine is the daughter of a well-respected and powerful English Baron and a foreign, small country Royal Princess-also considered a Royal PRINCESS. Her father is connected through the marriage of his sister to a half highland/1/2 English Baron who is connected through marriage to the English wife of Laird Buchanan of THE SECRET & RANSOM.When our heroine is caught in the web of one-upsmanship between two evil Barons and bethrothed by King John to a highland Laird who ends up murdered on the eve of the wedding, the heroine is forced to rely on the protection of her relative Laird Buchanan and his neighboring friend Laird MacHugh. into the middle of all that she stumbles upon a plot to kill Laird MacHugh using the Laird's younger brother as bait; kills one of the men who captured the younger brother and then arranges the safe keeping of the nearly dead Liam MacHugh in the local abbey. Each time she tries to tell the Laird that she knows who wants to harm him, she is rebuffed. and the.... HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING! If the reader has read the prior two books the reading of this book is made considerably easier and more enjoyable as the subtle nuances of the "highland character" have already been spun out, observed and judged in prior books. Nevertheless, this book could very well stand alone on its own merits. And as with all her other books, the writer gets the intrigue, evil, the feel and the taste of the time of Robin Hood and Wicked King John as well as the personality of her characters so that they could be real persons.

Love this author but feel she didn’t spend enough time developing the love/romantic angle of the relationship. Also, this would have been a perfect opportunity to reintroduce Gillian, but she didn’t. I love her work but was left wishing there’d been more and a closer connection to existing characters. Brodick’s attitude was also disappointing and silly (if he hates the English so much, why did he fall in love with Judith, go there to find a bride, marry Gillian, etc.?). It would also be nice if, just once, the heroine had brown eyes and hair. All the other beauties have eyes that tend to be unusual colors and are blown or have hair in exotic shades. Are brown haired, brown eyed women not pretty enough? And do they always have to have big breasts and tiny waists? The heros don’t tend to be this much of s stereotype. The plot is good but parts are dissatisfying. Worth reading if you like the author but bot my favorite of hers. I also am not sure why she didn’t pair Gabrielle with Liam, but, oh well.

I very much enjoy this book. I love both the heroine and hero, and I am generally a big fan of the Scottish Laird series. I wish Garwood would write more historicals. I was rooting for the hero/heroine the whole time, and loved how things happened between them. However, I will say that this one is not quite as good as Garwood's earlier novels along the same lines (like the Secret and Ransom). The romantic development between the hero and heroine seems to happen in spurts, or a bit quickly (or, at least, without enough groundwork laid), and at least 1/3 of the book is taken up by a subplot or secondary characters (such as chapters that feature only the "bad guy" characters, as opposed to being told from the heroine's point of view). I found the switching back and forth distracting (and honestly wasn't that interested in those chapters of the book, preferring hearing the story solely from the hero/heroine). These factors are why this book has only 3 stars. However, that being said I really did (do) enjoy both this book as a relaxing read (if I skip over the uninteresting chapters), the characters, and the plot. It was definitely enjoyable.

I was disappointed that I could not in good consciousness give this book a higher review. I ADORE Julie Garwood's historical romances and had recently been re-reading some of my older favorites when I came upon this one. I was thrilled to have found it and was excited to dive in! It was not long, however, before I realized this was nothing like the Julie Garwood I have come to know and love. The plot meandered- often in strange and pointless directions. Some characters were introduced for a single "scene" and never brought back, and others who are repeating characters served no purpose; they drove neither plot nor character development. I did read the whole thing, because I don't believe in starting a book (especially by an author I respect so much), just to leave it gathering dust but with this one it was difficult and I was glad to be finished with it. I never would have expected something like this- and immediately re-read another old favorite just to get the bad taste out of my mouth. Not worth the read, especially for a Garwood fan.

I love Julie Garwood and the first two books in the Highland Lairds series were wonderful and I could hardly put them down. Shadow Music was so poorly constructed, jerky, stilted dialogue and a plot that seemed to be written on a whim without a plan. I can still hardly believe this was written by Ms. Garwood. It fails to even come close to her other novels.

I've been a Garwood fan since the release of The Bride in about 1973 and her historical romances are my favorite because they are light, funny fairytales that come to life with polite-lady heroines whose gentle, yet courageous manner wins the heart of their warrior husbands. This book never comes to life; Gabrielle allows life to happen to her instead of earning people's respect and goodwill. She watches life but doesn't participate. Cole is reportedly a fierce warrior yet the reader only sees him chasing around like a chicken with its head cut off. This fierce Highland laird submits to marriage with a hated English woman due to a debt, unbelievable. Basically, the plot has potential but is sorely underdeveloped.

Julie Garwood’s historicals have always held a special place in my heart. This book is beyond disappointing—it’s unreadable. There are too many extraneous characters and the hero and heroine don’t meet until 1/3 of the way into the book. There’s tepid chemistry between them. It is a plodding mess.Oh and what’s up with the random cover design?!