Review: A wonderful romantic time traveler read!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 11, 2010
I must say-I got way more than my money's worth here!Jareth De Machadle  Duke of Catheda Very Handsome & Noble Englishman( You will fall in love with this Hero-I dare you not too!) Resides on the Scottish Border ( the English side of Course) This is the 1500's and it's Scots -vs- "bloody" English!Flash to 2007-Seattle, WA- Briana Connally (Young & Single) wakes up in the Morgue. - she is really dead and it's her spirit we are introduced to. When her guide to the afterlife Carol drags her along through time (backwards) Briana realizes she has many things she has never experienced in her short time on earth and her sadness makes her request a second chance. When Carol tells her it cannot be-she sees an opportunity during a young woman's (Alexandra-Jareth's wife from the 1500's) run to escape her life during childbirth!!!  Yes, Briana drops into the historical castle during Alexandra's child labor!  HahahaWell,.....She was hellbent on experiencing more in life and she is in for a doozy! Alexandra's life we find out is a hellish mess! She is a cheating, Lying Bitch of a Duchess who is having an affair with Jareth's 1/2 brother-trumble- and in the process of giving birth to his bastard love child.When Briana lays eyes on her husband, Jareth, he is the man of her dreams and can't believe her luck. She has a beautiful son and gorgeous husband-a snit of a mother-in-law. However, there is trouble in paradise.  Her husband loathes her -she was a prisoner to her bedchamber because Jareth feared she would commit suicide. (he doesn't know the 1/2 of it) Briana makes an attempt to convince him she is from the future. This is when we get a small glimpse into the character of our hero-after all that his wife put him through-he still cares and loves her--ahhh "sigh" a hopeless romantic hero!She insists he call her Lady Briana!!! She is not That traitor Alexandra!!While he wars with himself -and his traiterous brother--QUOTE to step-mom-- "His share of the bickering,  mother-lies squalling in my nursery upstairs"...THEN TO TRUMBLE:"..feel free to take your son with you when you go!..."He questions his wife's strange new behavior--He can't understand how she doesn't remember any of the horrible things of their marriage-she treats him with tenderness and acts like she cares about him-She wants to spend time with their son. (something Alexandra never wanted before)She remembers nothing of their 4 year old son Caleb who died not long ago........SHE CAN'T SPEAK A WORD OF FRENCH-he learned the language so he could understand her..hmmmmmm.....And.... When things start getting dangerous along the border. He begins spending a lot of his time fighting with his step-mother about Lady Briana-she wants her committed to Bedlam (for crazy's), his 1/2 brother Trumble-who lives under his roof -with whom he still believes his wife is having an affair with! He is driven to heavy drinking and brooding thoughts about his life and happiness-or lack thereof.Jareth trains boys, young men into military for England. Catheda is a very successful and sought after prestigous military prep schoolish Estate-He and Kendall are very accomplished swordsmen and keep a large number of young men scattered around the property-along with specific training areas...When Briana visits the merchant area a fire breaks out (very funny part) and wanders onto the archery training-narrowly being missed by arrows-Jareth is not sure what to think-he forbids her to wander thru again though.......Why is it every time he lets her out of her room she gets into trouble?????Meanwhile: Briana is slowly winning over her ladies maid and his man servant Kendall ( you will love him too) Who is more a friend and great moral support for both Jareth and Briana. She stands up to her mother in law Katherine-and because she loathes anything to do with Alexandra she gives away all her gowns-she wears only nightdresses!!!All the while insisting everyone call her Lady Briana--she is instantly dubbed the CRAZY DUCHESS!!! ( she gives herself the name of course! haha)--oh ya, love the jogging...heheJareth's torturous mind, he feels is playing tricks with his heart. He wants to believe she is a 20th century dead girl inhabiting his beautiful wife's body. He can't keep his hands off her-he never could-but as Briana's personality chips away at his icy hatred for Alexandra we are treated to some wonderful romantic love scenes as well as good fights ( as only a 20th century emancipated American woman can give!)Reiver raids along the border start to cause more trouble than Jareth and his not fully trained recruits can really handle-He inlists the help of a Scot clan to help with night surveilance missions. When Briana is out riding with some of the young trainees, she accidently happens upon these reivers (Trumbles men we find out)about to hang one of the Scot clans young boys-she hilariously rescues him.  (This proves to be very fortunate in the emotional climax of this story for Jareth!)This story has sooooo much more-I don't have room to put it all in!The characters in Love of a Lifetime are written well and become so real-you actually believe you've been transported to 1587 Scotland/England along with Briana. When Kendall addresses her as Lady Briana-you'll cry-when Jareth calls her Lady Briana you will celebrate...I enjoyed this story very much ( can you tell) and I would highly reccommend it to all true romance readers.....Keep up the good work Maren!!!