Oh Joanna....you stupid stupid girl!

It took me a long time to work through my feelings about Joanna's behavior. I remember lying in my closet reading this section (because Dh was tired and I wanted to keep reading) and just being so angry at her.

I have about 25 pages left.  I could not keep my eyes open any longer last night.  I sooooo wanted to skim to the ending but forced myself not to.  I'll be able to finish it tonight.

Yeah, that wasn't the brightest thing in the world to do, was it?

Finished it last night.  Wow!  What a wild ride. I was positive that he wasn't going to take her back.  She was one lucky woman!

So some final thoughts of things I liked:

-All of the conversations were so real, although some of expressions felt a little contemporary.  Did they really say "You''re a hard habit to break" in 1223?
-I love the way that the burning bed became a running joke between Llewelyn and Joanna.  Every time it was mentioned, it cracked me up. That kind of joking and teasing is real between a husband and wife.  Although I doubt that they joked about it after Joanna's "mistake"
-Llewelyn is now my historical crush.  Sorry, William.
-And the most amazing thing about the book?  When I turned the last page a realized it was written 25 years ago!  What??  I had no idea what I've been missing all these years!

Comparing EC and SKP, I'll have to say that I like EC's writing better.  It's a little easier on my brain. But I liked SKP's character development better.

And just think of the rest of Sharon's books you have to look forward to. They are all top notch.

Sharon and EC really set the gold standard for the medieval period, but they are also like apples and oranges at times. Sharon's strength is in taking the most complicated political/family situations and putting them into something that we mere mortals can understand without feeling dumbed down. EC, well she's like a magic carpet ride to the past and makes you feel like you are right there, sights, sounds, smells, etc.

Another thing I like about Sharon is the way she can put some serious sexual chemistry between her MC's without a bunch of gratuitous sex. Wait until The Reckoning with the next Llewellyn. Or Henry and Eleanor. Talk about sizzling off the pages.

until The Reckoning with the next Llewellyn. Or Henry and Eleanor. Talk about sizzling off the pages.   Amen!  I agree with everything misfit says.