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Book Reviews of Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4)

Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4)
Castles - Crown's Spies, Bk 4
Author: Julie Garwood
PBS Market Price: $8.09 or $4.19+1 credit
ISBN-13: 9780671744205
ISBN-10: 0671744208
Publication Date: 7/1/1993
Pages: 384
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 410

4 stars, based on 410 ratings
Publisher: Pocket Books
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

34 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 99 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
One of my favorites by Julie Garwood. Highly enjoyed, over an over.
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 72 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
A great read! Some of the characters are the same from The Lion's Lady and the two of these together are awesome. (Read The Lion's Lady first if you can.)
robinmy avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 2097 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Very entertaining read! Highly recommend.
TruckerBarbie65 avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 52 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Great story. Great characters. I loved this book and all of her historical books.
copiousreader avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on
Helpful Score: 2
Before reading "Castles", I suggest to start with "The Lyon's Lady", then "The Guardian Angel", "The Gift" and lastly, read "Castles". The characters in all 4 books are friends/related to each other. It is more fitting if you know each character before reading the next book. If you read it in this order, I think it will bring more excitement as some questions are answered in the later books. Some secrets are also revealed before hence.
cindyw5 avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on
Helpful Score: 2
This is not the same old Regencies with so much of the story being... The ton... Duke... Earl... Duchess... Marquess... It's something a bit different and I LOVED it. While I do love those stories, here is one that takes an average guy and makes him a Hero. Okay, Maybe Colin's not average, but very likeable. Alessandra is just as likeable. I especially like that she was so intelligent. I laughed outloud and loved this little tale.
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 147 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Nice quick read!
Janine avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 252 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great Book
camishou avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 28 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is the only book series by Julie Garwood that I have read and was quite appalled. I read her Highlander series, and they are really great!!! especially Ranson and the Bride..... But this one!!! Rarely have I ever met a book so god-awful I wanted to shoot myself in the face before I could finish. This one takes the proverbial cake. When the hero and heroine talk through their first sexual encounter (and I finally stopped deluding myself that the story would pick up)--- The writing itself was not very good at all. There was extreme word overuse. The story was even worse. Alesandra is made out to be a rich, bumbling dullard who cries every single second (I hate that in female). Don't give me wrong, I think it's good for female to cry once in awhile but not on every other pages of the book. Colin is the suave and intelligent one who laughs at her mistakes. It makes me sick, because this is basically all the book is about. I do not recommend this as any sort of reading material, serious or just for fun.
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 244 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Fun, loving, with a bit of intrigue.
justreadingabook avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 1726 more book reviews
Excellent book, the story is so engrossing, love the characters. You can so imagine the setting with the wonderful descriptions, has characters from previous books and that is great. You are really connected to them. Garwood is one of my favorite authors, she really makes the story come alive. A must read don't miss book.
sdgirl avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 160 more book reviews
Final book in the Regency Series, have loved them all.
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 43 more book reviews
terrific book
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 24 more book reviews
Absolutely loved this book.
princessdiana34691 avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 361 more book reviews
aawww....sweet. the knight in shining armor.
bichonmom avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 22 more book reviews
I LOVE THE HISTORICAL ROMANCE ONCE IN A WHILE AND THIS ONE IS A GREAT SERIES TO READ I LOVE THE CHARACTERS, SHE MAKES YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD WHEN YOU READ THESE BOOKS FUN TO READ AND A BIT OF DRAMA IN THE MIX
scoutmomskf avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 2609 more book reviews
This is my first reread of this book in many years, and I still love it. It had a few issues, such as using the word "sexy," which didn't come into use until the 1890s. All of that aside, it was a fun book with likable characters and Garwood's trademark humor.

Alesandra was orphaned at the age of 12 and spent the next several years being raised by the nuns at a convent. Her high spirits and unique perspective made her life with the nuns very interesting. Alesandra's conversation with the mother superior when told she would stay with her guardian was a good preview of what would come. Matters become complicated when she arrives at the Duke's house to find that his family and his oldest son's are ill. She is sent to stay with the Duke's younger son, Colin.

Colin spends his days working to make his shipping business a success. He has a five-year plan that doesn't include marriage. That hasn't stopped his parents from pushing him to get married. When Alesandra shows up at his house, Colin is sure it is another setup by his father. He's unhappy that the need to protect her is real and that he is stuck with her. He's not entirely out of the woods, though, because she needs to be married quickly, and he is at the top of the list of recommended suitors.

The sparks between Colin and Alesandra are evident from the start. Each tries to ignore the attraction. But when Colin becomes ill, Alesandra nurses him back to health, and the attraction grows. When she is nearly abducted, the need for marriage becomes urgent. The Duke calls a meeting at his house, which includes the entire family, and they attempt to decide on an appropriate husband for her. One of the book's best parts is this scene, as Colin consistently finds something wrong with each suggestion while resisting the suggestion for him to step up. Everyone around Colin can see the truth that he refuses to admit - he cares for her. I laughed out loud at the outcome. I loved watching Colin continue to fall under Alesandra's spell after they married and got to know each other. They finally admitted their feelings for each other in a sweet and humorous way.

The book is filled with how Alesandra gets around some of Colin's stubbornness. She is frequently in cahoots with Colin's butler, Flannaghan, who is starstruck around "their princess." From her financial dealings through her "Uncle Albert" to colluding with Colin's doctor about his leg injury to her deception about the shares in his company, Alesandra finds a way to help without fighting him over it.

There is also a bit of intrigue as Alesandra worries about a missing friend. Her refusal to accept the consensus keeps her pushing for more information. I figured out the answer early in the book, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment. The final confrontation was intense.
nikkia avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 47 more book reviews
Historical Romance- This is the third book in the series.
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 45 more book reviews
Not as good as Lion's Bride, but better than most books I've read.
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on
Princess Alesandra has been happily tucked away in a convent, but in 1820 the wicked General Ivan indicates that he has designs on the princess: if he marries her, he can take over the kingdom. Alesandra's guardian, the Duke of Williamshire, brings her to England to assure her safety. Unfortunately, the duke and his wife become afflicted with a "mysterious ailment"; the only solution is for the princess to live with Colin, the duke's eligible bachelor son, in his London townhouse. The duke and duchess think Colin should marry Alesandra. Colin, however, wants no part of marriage; and Alesandra, who alternates between moments of intelligence and sheer vacancy, will marry anyone who won't hand her over to that awful Ivan fellow. When Alesandra is almost abducted by men from her homeland, Colin's protective instincts shift into high gear. Can love be far behind? Also lurking in the background is a serial killer, who threatens Alesandra but serves no immediate purpose in furthering the silly plot.
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 283 more book reviews
Julie Garwood is one of my favorite authors.
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 16 more book reviews
I love how Julie Garwood makes me, as a reader, laugh while I'm reading her books. Truly a gem among all other romance writers. This is a continuation of a series, and sadly, I don't own those.
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 65 more book reviews
An oldie but goodie from Julie Garwood
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 11 more book reviews
I really enjoyed this fast-reading book. The story was sweet and fun to read!
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 162 more book reviews
A great read!
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 148 more book reviews
Great story, loved it!
crybabydakota avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 31 more book reviews
I liked this book very much. Typical Garwood with excellent characters.
justreadingabook avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 1726 more book reviews
If you like steamy then this is your book, the characters are wonderful and the tension will keep you turning the pages till your done! A really great read.
asausy74 avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 80 more book reviews
Enjoyed this story.
Marcia avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 378 more book reviews
Orphaned and besieged, Princess Alesandra knew that only hasty marriage to an Englishman could protect her from the turmoil in her own land.
kourtnie17 avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 156 more book reviews
Orpahned and besieged, Princess Alesandra knew that only hasty marriage to an Englishman could protect her from the turmoil in her own land. To the amusement of her makeshift guardian, Colin, younger brother of the Marquess of Cainewood, the bold raven-haired beauty instantly captivated London society. But when Alesandra was nearly abducted by her unscrupulous countrymen, the fighting instincts that won Colin a knighthood for valor were kindled.

Deceiving himself that he wanted only to protect her, Colin swept her into a union meant to be a marriage in name alone...yet Alesandra's tender first kiss and hesitant caress ignited a wildfire in his soul. As the lovely princess dashed headlong into unforseen dangers, Colin would follow, knowing he must claim her as his own forever. Now he would risk life itself before he would lose this sweet, tempestuous angel...
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 152 more book reviews
Orphaned and besieged, Princess Alesandra knew that only a hasty marriage to an Englishman could protect her from the turmoil in her own land. To the amusement of her makeshift guardian Colin, younger brother of the Marquess of Cainewood. the bold, raven-haired beauty instantly captivated London society. But when Alesandra was nearly abducted by her unscrupulous countrymen, the fighting instincts thar won Colin a knighthood for valor were rekindled.
Deceiving himself thar he wantedonly to protect her, Colin swept her into a union meant to be a marriage in name alone... yet Alesandra's tender first kiss and hesitant caress ignited a wildfire in his soul. As the lovely princess dashed headlong into unforseen dangers, Colin would follow, knowing he must claim her as his own forever. Now he would life itself before he would lose this sweet, tempestuous angel
Caffey avatar reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on + 120 more book reviews
This is the re-issued coer that is white with a Castle on it.
reviewed Castles (Crown's Spies, Bk 4) on
This is the title of this book, but, it does have a white cover.