Book Review-If I Had You

lynn kurland

First Impressions

If I Had You is the second installment in the de Piaget series and this will immerse the reader into a deeply rich medieval landscape. This is set in England in 1225 and what is known as the “Plantagenet” Era. This features a blend of suspense, angsty love affair of yearning and deeply riveting characters that will dig deeper and will captivate the reader from the get go. The humor and bantering between the characters is on point and the focus of wooing and courtly manners is supreme.

Book Evaluation:

Plot: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
Hero: 4/5
Heroine: 4/5
Intimacy Level: 2
Relationship Building: 4
Heart & Feels: 4.25
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 5/5
Page Turner Level: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Overall View: 4.5/5

The Main Protagonists

The Hero: Robin de Piaget

The Heroine: Anne of Fenwyck

What I Loved

If I Had You is a captivating read and this was one of the first romances that I had the pleasure to pick up. I truly loved doing a reread of this one and being able to share my love of this book within this review. (I hadn’t realized I hadn’t done a review for this book until this week). It was intriguing to see this book come to life again for me. The story is about two people who grew up together but due to some mutual misunderstandings, pride and stubborness neither Robin or Anne truly came clean for years. Robin is a warrior and has been fighting wars for quite some time but has stayed away from home on purpose. He doesn’t know where he fits in his family. He was born the oldest and his father’s heir but has felt apart from his family at times. When he returns home he also has to face up to the woman he has always loved but has never known how to express his feelings for. Anne has been in love with Robin since they were in children but her father despises him and he spurned her as kids and doesn’t know if she can trust her heart with him. But with the combination of a danger plot where Anne’s life is in danger, the forced proximity, the wild shenaningans of Robin’s grandmother, and the moments of wooing that bring Robin and Anne back together.

I think what I find most impressive about this book is how fascinating the author pulls you into this medieval world and its books like this one that proves why medieval era’s are the best to read when you are reading historical romance. The romance that builds between Robin and Anne is angsty and packed with yearning and connection. You see how they have to face up the past and trying to unmask truths that they have even kept from themselves. There is such fun banter between Robin and his siblings that will have you bursting out with laughter in the best of ways.

What I Struggled With

I have loved this book for years so there honestly isn’t much that I could say that you will struggle with. The stubborness of the character might drive some readers crazy at times but I found it fascinating seeing the yearning being built within the story to assist in revealing the secrets.

Overall Thoughts

If I Had You will be a fascinating read that will tug you deep into the enthralling medieval portrait of this era of England’s history. Its packed with passion, friendship and intrigue to keep you more and more interested…

Book Details

Title: If I Had You

Author: Lynn Kurland

Series: #2 in ‘de Piaget’

Publication Date: October 1 2000

Publisher: Berkley Publishing

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 433 Pages

Tropes/Character Types: Broody Hero, Softer FMC, Disability, Forced Proximity, Second Chance, Childhood Ties, Friends to Lovers, Marriage of Convenience

Spice Level: Simmering-soft warm touches and light intimacy

POV: 3rd POV

Artane…..a majestic keep on the edge of the sea

Artane….the foster home of Anne of Fenwyck and the legacy of Robin de Piaget.

Warrning had kept Robin far from home for so long. Anne had all but given up hope he would ever return. But now Robin has returned to Artane—to the enchanting young woman who leaves him breathless with longing…and to a treachery that places them both in terrible danger. Then as the past threatens their future, he realizes that he wants nothing more than to her her—forever…