I’m glad I gave Julie Garwood another chance. Last year I borrowed her The Wedding from the library, having seen it recommended as her best novel. It was my first by this prolific author, but I couldn’t make it past the first several chapters. My disappointment came as a result of the unnecessarily graphic scene between the hero and heroine. That’s just not what I want to read about.
But Shadow Music was better. Though there was eventually a scene between the protagonists, (they were married by then) it was less graphic and near the end of the book. Personally, I find reading sex scenes tedious and a little ludicrous. When I read a historical romance, much of my interest is in the setting and the characters. A great plot helps, but what goes on behind closed doors…or in the forest…does not enhance the story for me.
In Shadow Music, Ms. Garwood provided enough interesting characters and a plausible plot, to keep me interested. And of course, in addition to Highland warriors, a princess, royal secrets, monks and an abbey, there were castles! What didn’t I like? Two pesky little boys who needed a good spanking and never got one. They did eventually advance the plot, but not until the end.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I will rank it a 7.
