Allreaders.com
Author Virginia Henley booklist (click here)

Book Review By Rachel
The Dragon and The Jewel by Virginia Henley

Eleanor Plantegenet, the youngest sister of King Henry, has lived a spoiled, indulged life when she is promised to be the wife of William Marshall at the age of 9. They are wed for 7 years before she is deemed old enough to be a "real wife" to him. On the night they are to first make love, he is poisoned and dies. Eleanor is heartbroken and vows to be chaste for the rest of her life.

Simon de Montfort is a fierce warrior who loves England as his own land though he was born in France. He greatly admires Eleanor's grandfather, who became king by forcefully wedding her grandmother. From the first moment he sees Eleanor, he wants her as his own. But first he must overcome her vows of chastity and pursue her. He wins her hand and they marry after she becomes pregnant.

In the midst of hs wooing, Englnd is starting to suffer under the weak hand of King Henry and the nobles are not happy. Simon rises as the leader of the movement. Eleanor is torn between her loyalty to her beloved husband and her brother, the king.


Plot & Themes
Time/era of story
Action/suspense subplot? Yes
Action:
If one lover chases another... - they alternate

Main Male Character
Profession/status:
Age/status: - 20's-30's
Sex makes him
Unusual characteristics?

Main Female Character
Age/status: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
Effect of sexing

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
Misc setting - castle

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
What % of story is romance related? - 70%
How explicit is the sex? - descript of kissing - touching of anatomy - licking - impregnation/reproduction - actual description of sex - Boob talk - Vagia talk - Weiner talk
Focus of story - equally on him and her
How much dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
How much sexing? - 5-9 sex acts
Back To Main Menu