Bliss

I didn’t finish this book because there is a really off-putting spoiler that readers need to know:When the hero is about 17 he marries a 12 year old, gets her pregnant, and she dies in childbirth. Yes, that may have happened fairly often several hundred years ago but I really couldn’t get past the fact that the author wanted me to like a guy who would have sex with a child bride. Buyer beware.

I have read thousands of books over my lifetime and of all different genres. Bliss is by far the BEST book I have come across yet! Ms. Sands has the ability to mix mystery, drama, romance and comedy all into a book that will take you for a wonderful ride in your mind. I HIGHLY recommend this book and all of the other books that Lynsay Sands has written. I have read the entire Argeneau series and have now read 3 of the historical romances. I plan on continuing to read on the historical ones as well. I will read anything Lynsay Sands puts out right now because has such talent and always gives me a smile, chuckle or downright laugh out loud not to mention the drama, romance and mystery.

Excellent book.King Henry is fed up with complaints from Lady Tiernay and Lord Hethe Holden. Lady Helen Tiernay continually writes the king of Holden's cruel, abusive behavior of his serfs; Lord Holden complains the lady is a busybody who makes his life hell. The king decides that they shall be wed; to each other. The news is received by each with disbelief and unwillingly. Lord Holden decides he will marry Lady Tiernay and immediately set off to another battle, as his routine.Once he actually sees Helen, he decides the marriage may not be so bad; Helen feels it is too bad that she really doesn't want to marry him because he is attractive; however she has decided that she needs him to refuse to marry her so she and her aunt embark on a plan to, mildly put it, discourage Holden from wanting her and her estate. The book is full of humor, the back and forth plotting by the characters keeps you wondering who will do what next.

I enjoyed this book, but I realized shortly after I started reading this that it was a reprint. The original book was published in 2001. I had read it then, but I forgot (until I got a couple of pages in). I wish amazon had mentioned it somewhere on this page that it was a reprint. I only gave it 4 stars because of the reprint business and I thought the Heroine went too far in some of her pranks and got too upset when they backfired. I think if you pull a prank and it backfires, you should be able to be good natured about it. It happens some times.

Lynsay Sands an extraordinary writer. She weaves her stories with magic and then remembers past loved characters. She is right up there with Johanna Lindsey and Julie Garwood when it comes to these type of formats. I will purchase them every time I find one. I discovered her last year and already have all her books. I have bought all hardback when I can. I love the large print ones the best as my library is extensive to these writers and my books are for keeps. Hard back books last longer. Thanks Ms. Sands. Exceptional. D'Nanna -

This is my second Sands and let me tell you its excellent! I didn't care for The Deed (despite all the 5 star reviews) because I found the heroine extremely naive and the the hero just dumb as dirt! Here, on the other hand, you have two intelligent people trying to out wit each other in their own private war. What results is a really funny novel that'll have you burst out laughing.Whats a king to do with when two of his subjects bicker constantly and want him to solve their problems? Marry them to each other of course! Make it their problem and not his. And so Lady Helen receives the command that she must marry her notorious neighbor Lord Hammer, whom she believes is a cruel and ruthless lord. She can't go against the king, right? So, she decides that she'll make Lord Hammer the one who breaks the command by refusing to marry her.Hethe is shocked to learn that he must return home from battle and marry the crone by order of the king. But the Tyrant of Tireny, Helen, is quite beautiful until -she opens her mouth and he takes a whiff of her breath, phew!!! and then there's those pesky fleas in his bed, and the nasty ale and food they give him. God! How is he going to marry her? But he must! Its the kings order!Soon he finds out her little charade and it turns out that he can give as good as he gets! She's allergic to posies? He puts them on their picnic blanket and she gets a nasty ichy rash. Revenge is sweet.Soon their married, but Helen takes one last attempt to avoid consummation in hopes of an annulment and its a 'stinky' solution. Later she realizes that Hethe is not the ruthless man she believed, and slowly falls in love. And soon their looking for the person who's trying to kill him.Just a great story, very different than any other historical I've ever read. Humorous historical with a bit of romance.

King Henry is feed up to the gill with the constant complaints of Lady Tierney and Lord Holden. Neighbours, one is always bringing forth a charge against the other. What do??? Well, to settle the problem, hopefully get some peace from their squabbles - and maybe get a little revenge...Henry orders them wed.Only Lady Tierney does not go down without a fight!!!The problem is Lord Holden little understands women and the mysterious workings of their minds - but warfare is something he DOES understand, so he more than happy to let the battle begin.Lynsay is like no other writer in the romance field today. She is so FUNNY she will have you howling out-loud!! Her voice is natural and clear, she always grabs you from the first pages and keeps you entertained to where you cannot put the book down.So if you wish something refreshing, enchanting and original, and love to laugh (and I don't mean giggle - you will laugh out loud so chose where you read it!!)...this one is for you!!WISE Writers and Readers BOOK OF THE MONTH for September 2001

Lady Tierney and Lord Holden hate each other, quite a great as they have never met. They are neighbours sharing a border and Lady Tierney is forever taking in serve fleeing Holdens harsh rule. This has gone on for five years with each writing the King regularly demanding something be done about the other. The Kings solution make them marry, they will be forced to get along then_---_---------- or will they Lady Tierney for one has no intention of meekly marrying Lord Holden.

Another funny romantic tale from a great author. Love the humour and story twists in all Lynsay Sands books. Don't like American terms such as 'diaper' In a story set in a medieval England or anywhere else for that time. Other than that loved the story

I have only been reading Lynsay's work for a short while but have so far wracked up 6 of her books, Bliss being the latest treat. Every time I finish reading one, I think, "OK, maybe THIS one is my favourite". Her books are a sheer delight to read and the time simply flies by.Bliss is just SOOOOOOOOOO funny. I actually scared my two dogs while sitting reading because I just kept bursting out in hoots of uncontrollable laughter.The lead characters are Lady Helen Tierney and Lord Hethe Holden. They are so perfectly matched in love, marriage and warfare!!! Some of the stunts that Helen pulls on Hethe are simply delicious. Everything from the garlic and stinkweed to the gigantic wolfhound that has a special new 'trick' especially for Hethe.As always, there is a very happy and satisfactory ending that will leave you sighing and smiling for the rest of the day. I am so impressed by this fantastic author that I have ordered every book of hers' and am now impatiently waiting for them to be delivered.My only words of warning about this or any of Lynsay's books are, don't pick one up unless the chores are done and the dinner is prepared, or else you may have to deal with a slightly confused and unhappy family when there are no clothes to wear or food to eat! Believe me, I speak from experience!! :o)Buy this book and get ready to laugh your socks off...It's a definate keeper in my opinion.Enjoy!

King Henry II's reputation of being 'the Spawn of the Devil' didn't help him solve his problems with his two feuding nobles: Lady Helen Tiernay, 'the Tyrant or Tiernay', and Lord Hethe Holden, 'the Hammer of Holden'. So he decided to force the two to marry. They could share the bed they had made and leave him alone!Lord Hethe Holden is never home. He's always away fighting for his king. Even though his father is dead, he doesn't want to go back home because it brings him too many painful memories of his father's treatment. He returns home to marry, he can't go against the king's wishes, and he's very surprised when he meets his intended bride.Lady Helen Tiernay would do anything to prevent that wedding, she doesn't like how Lord Holden treats people, but she can't defy the king so she decides 'the Hammer' should be the one refusing to marry her.What she does to prevent that wedding had me laughing so hard I cried. She even trains Goliath, her faithful huge wolfhound to... No, I won't tell you. Read it. It's worth it. I love Lynsay Sands's books, and 'Bliss' isn't an exception. It's well written and very funny.(I read this book in 2003 and wrote this review then.)

I enjoyed this because it differed from the norm.I have read thousands of historical novels and sometimes they are so similar they begin to blur into one.This, although not historically factual, was amusing