Review: just ok
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 10 24, 2013
I only read 4 of these five books.  This author has a style that I just don't care for.  Animosity and action in the beginning, then they fall in love, (which is when the stories should end) then boredom, then finally a fight scene with their enemy, and then the end.The author also seems to skip periods of time.  They will admit their love at the end of one chapter and next chapter is a month or two down the road, I didn't understand that.Winters Heat (Book 1)Started off great, pulled me right in, couldn't put it down.  Unfortunately in chapter 3 he goes to war and she goes to his keep without him, he doesn't return until chapter 8. Those chapters are all about her taking control of his keep and making it hers. then they slowly fall in love.Summers Storm (Book 2)This was Temrics story.  I really liked him in the first book and couldn't wait to read his story.  This was actually the worst of all 4 books. Temric was in love with Phillipa at the very beginning, even though he'd never even met her.  I think she was admitting her love with in 2 or 3 days of them meeting.  Their love is "forbidden" they run away to be together, and then it's chapter after chapter of boredom. For part of the book he's gone traveling, she's learning to fit it with the new household.  Then finally comes with the fight scene with their enemy. the end.Springs Fury (Book 3)I got to know Gilliam pretty well in book 1, and even briefly met Nicola.  Couldn't wait to read their story.  I think this was actually the best of the 4 books.  But...same style.  Heroine forced to marry Hero, she hates him, actually tries to kill him before they are married. It was a great beginning, then they fall in love, boredom until they finally confront their enemy, the end.Autumn's Flame (book 4)This one was a little different. Instead of being forced to marry, she is unwillingly made his ward.  I actually did enjoy this book. But again the skipping of parts really bothered me.  example: his 5 year old daughter hasn't spoken a word since her mother died the year before, and can't even be in the same room with her father. Yet when Elyssa gets through to the girl and gets her over her fear of her father it's suddenly weeks or months later, we miss the father/daughter "reunion".  And what about her son, Jocelyn? Elyssa cries through half the book about how her boy is too sickly to be a squire, "it will kill him", yet when she finally gets to see him again, almost a year later, there's no reunion at all. No mother/son scene at all.  The bedding of the bride/groom scene would have been hilarious, except that her son was in that room too. Yuck!A love for all seasons (book 5)I made it to chapter 10. There are so many flashback scenes (chapters) to when she was 8 and he was around 10, that nothings really happening in the here and now.  I think they finally saw each other as adults in chapter 9. I give up!!!