| Rivals for the Crown | 
 enlarge | Author: Kathleen Givens
Publisher: Pocket
Category: Book
List Price: $14.00
Buy Used: $4.88
You Save: $9.12 (65%)
New (4) Used (8) from $4.88
Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 466307
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 432
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.3 x 1.3
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
ASIN: B00150GI7S
Publication Date: July 24, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
1290: Turmoil erupts when the seven-year-old queen of Scotland perishes en route to claim the crown. Two bitter foes -- John Balliol and Robert Bruce -- emerge as possible successors, but England's Edward I has his own designs on Scotland.In London, Edward has expelled all Jews from his kingdom. Rachel de Anjou is heartbroken to leave behind her best friend, Isabel de Burke, and travel with her family to the Scottish border town of Berwick. Danger is everywhere, but the tall, dark Highlander Kieran MacDonald presents a risk of a different sort. Isabel, appointed as lady-in-waiting to Edward's queen, Eleanor, is soon immersed in a world of privilege and peril where she attracts the notice of two men -- Henry de Boyer, an English knight, and Rory MacGannon, a Highland warrior and outlaw. Isabel and Rachel are soon reunited in Berwick, but as the enmity between Scotland and England reaches its violent peak, each woman must decide where her loyalty -- and her destiny -- lies.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 A little less than expected April 10, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I bought this book because I love the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon and was looking forward to reading other books set in the Highlands.
This book could not have been more disappointing to me. The story was okay, which is why I give it 3 stars, but the romance I was waiting for was lacking throughout. Everything about the book felt like it was ALMOST written well, from the descriptions of the characters to the overall plot. I agree with another reviewer that it felt disjointed.
Unless you read the first book and just have to have this one, I really cannot recommend this book.
 Scotland the brave February 29, 2008
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
In 1290, trouble begins between Scotland and England when the 7 year old girl Queen of Scotland dies, and two rival factions, those of John Balliol and Robert Bruce, vie for the title of King of Scotland. England's Edward 1, known as Longshanks, seizes the opportunity to step in and demand that whichever candidate wins, he would be subservient to Edward and would rule, only as his vassal. English soldiers flood into Scotland, plundering, raping, destroying and abusing the Scots, until a rebel faction under the lead of William Wallace, known as Braveheart, manages to unite the warring clans, to defeat the English. Isabel deBurke was a lady in waiting to Edward's Queen Eleanor but was threatened and menaced by a corrupt and venal bishop, who sought her compliance by expelling the Jewish family of her childhood friend, Rachel deAnjou. Valiant Highlanders, Rory MacGannon and Kieran MacDonald, who love the girls, are thrown into many dangerous situations while trying to keep the girls safe at the same time as they are fighting the English. It's a great read for lovers of Scottish history.
Excellent in every way, but one! February 23, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Oh my, I gripped the edges of this book as the story developed into itself! Using the internet, I followed along to the different towns, the different castles. I read further and in more detail about the times, the characters and whatever other link appealed to me. I know this is not the story of Braveheart, starring Mel Gibson, but I would like to watch Braveheart again after reading this book. I did not understand the movie as well as I would have preferred.
This is the second book I have read of Kathleen Givens. Thank you for both! The historical and familial duty, fondness, longing and love at times of war, as well as kingship, abuse of authority, violence, and power was powerfully presented. I know Ms. Givens ponders the inhumanity of man for she made me wonder again. Another wonderful story like this is, "Here be Dragons" by Sharon Kay Penman. Well worth reading.
I would have preferred Ms. Givens leave out the horrid scene between Isabella and Walter Langton. It was not needed. I was well aware of what this mans capabilities were without details, thanks to Ms. Givens fully revealing this mans tendencies in other ways. Unfortunately, the scene left a lasting impression and that is not fair to the author or her story.
good, but did I miss something? December 3, 2007
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
I couldn't wait to get this sequel to On a Highland Shore. And I liked it, but it seemed like a lot happened between the two books, particularly with Davey and Nell, that was referred to, and I kept thinking I must have missed a book, because I had no idea what they were talking about. I mean, one of the things I was looking forward to reading about was the whole Davey rescue thing, and I must admit, I was confused and a bit annoyed. It felt a bit choppy throughout, but still definitely a good read.
Fabulous! November 17, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This book was spectacular, ranking right up there with Phillipa Gregory. With the historical conflict as a background, the love story is riveting and the characters leap off the page. I could hardly put the book down--Givens is a master storyteller. If you haven't read On a Highland Shore, the prequel to this, be sure and get it too. They are both truly excellent historical sagas.
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