• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Big Girl Blue.com

Moe's Favourite Things

  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / Reviews / Fulk the Reluctant Review

Fulk the Reluctant Review

Fulk de Galliard is a giant among men both in stature and of honor. He loves his family and his horse. His downfall is his burning temper. A temper so strong he accidentally killed his older brother.

Fulk the Reluctant book cover.No amount of physical torture from his king or his fellow knights is enough to appease the guilt he feels. His father disowned him and his king lost patience with him.

His greatest fear is that the rage in him will be released on someone else he adores. Fulk vows never to let his rage run rabid but it becomes increasingly difficult when he meets Jehanne. His first thought after meeting her, “This one was certainly an eyeful and probably more than a handful.” Little did he know.

Jehanne, known to all as the Iron Maiden of Windemere is tall and fair but not your usual lady of silk and ribbons. Jehanne’s father wanted a boy and all through her childhood she was treated as such, trained in the fine arts of combat, swords and bows instead of sewing and stitching.

Jehanne spent her whole life trying to make her father proud with her skill as a knight but it hasn’t worked. As a young woman he seeks to control and change her. She denies every man’s affections because she knows it will lead to her succumbing to their rule as all women do. She would prefer never to leave Windemere, “a place she loved more than life.”

Fulk fights in tourneys to raise money for his sister Celine’s dowry. During his last battle he throws down his weapon, surrenders his horse and refuses to strike the last rider (Grimald). Doing so he becomes the prisoner of Lord Grimald. This leaves a sore impression of Fulk in Jehanne’s eyes but also a curiosity.

Grimald is one of the many men Jehanne’s father would marry her off to if she would just cooperate. Before the tourney she embarrasses him in front of a crowd.

To punish them both, Grimald orders Fulk to Windermere to take it by force with further instructions to make Jehanne his wife and produce an heir. Fulk agrees under order of the King but he wasn’t planning on the strength and tenacity of one woman. Neither thinks they are worthy of another’s love or that anyone is capable of loving them because of their perceived faults.

Fulk and Jehanne have much in common even though they don’t know it. Their training in knighthood, belief in honor and chivalry, their love of family and of horses as well as being at odds with their fathers. Both have unresolved conflicts external and internal.

This story is what everyone thinks a Harlequin novel is. It has the typical gorgeous man and gorgeous woman who almost come together numerous times but something or someone keeps getting in their way until they work things out in the end. This story is different. It has a great plot. Lots of deception and battles. It’s not just a sexy novel although there were a couple scenes that were hot. There was an especially erotic wagon scene that made me say “Wow”. The journey is fun and I think it would make a great movie.

The chemistry between Fulk and Jehanne and the plot to frame Fulk and trap Jehanne kept me reading. The supporting characters are charming. Especially the Scot, Malcolm MacNiall, Fulk’s best friend (who would follow him to the ends of the earth and back even if it meant he’d lose both his arms in the process) and Fulk’s frisky sister, Celine, the Wild Rose of Redware.

There was a confusing start after the prologue but from there on in I was hooked. Lots of action, lots of tension. Mild breaks of comedy to lighten the load. This was definitely not what I expected from a Harlequin novel. Author Elaine Knighton taught me a lot about chivalry, knighthood and tournaments as well as the treatment of women during the 1200s.

My only other complaint is with the title. Jehanne is a major character and I would have liked her to have been mentioned in there somewhere. Overall, an excellent summer read.

Harlequin Historicals, 2004

Purchase Fulk the Reluctant at Amazon.com.
Purchase Fulk the Reluctant at Amazon.ca.

Originally published 7/23/2004 at Large & Lovely, BellaOnline.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

My Name is Moe

Moe Wood
Thanks for joining me on my journey. I hope you will leave a comment before you go. To learn more about me check out my "about me" page.

Connect with Me On…

FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestYou TubeEmail Me

What I’m Obsessing Over Now

https://youtu.be/w7rewjFNiys

What’s Happening…

biggirlblue

Poached eggs Poached eggs
Peaceful morning by the water. Peaceful morning by the water.
Hey! Hey!
Hey! Hey!
The giant lilies opened while we were out. The giant lilies opened while we were out.
I haven’t seen these poppies for at least ten ye I haven’t seen these poppies for at least ten years. Now I have three.
We decided at the last minute to drive over to the We decided at the last minute to drive over to the grocery store parking lot to see a few of the fireworks. Look who was waiting for us to return.
Lots of flowers on our walk today. Butterflies sho Lots of flowers on our walk today. Butterflies should be here soon!
Little storm came through and left very quickly. Little storm came through and left very quickly.
Enjoy the little things, have a beautiful day. Enjoy the little things, have a beautiful day.
Bunny, take 2! Bunny, take 2!
Bunny! Bunny!
Garden update. Filling in! Garden update. Filling in!
Things are filling out in the garden. Today, I add Things are filling out in the garden. Today, I added mini rabbits I bought on FB marketplace. #gardening #birdbath #tulips #ferns #hostas #trillium #bleedinghearts #rabbits
Found this big guy hanging out on one of our cedar Found this big guy hanging out on one of our cedar trees watching ants go by. I told him to get to work but he just pretended I was talking to the rock behind him. He’s about the size of the palm of my hand. We used to have a fist size one for many years but I haven’t seen him in a long time. #toads #gardenfriends
Back in TO to get some stitches to fix the tear in Back in TO to get some stitches to fix the tear in my eye. Then Swiss Chalet! LOL it’s become a routine. PMH then SW. LOL
The new garden is coming along this spring! I just The new garden is coming along this spring! I just remembered I have glass rocks and bunnies to put in!
#succulents So tiny. So cute. #succulents So tiny. So cute.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Currently Reading

Marie Lu's Skyhunter
This ARC was gifted me to review and I have finally been able to crack it open. So far so good. Marie Lu Skyhunter

Stop Biting the Tail You’re Chasing

Tolerance
"No matter in what situations we find ourselves, when we don’t have so many opinions and preferences we naturally experience more peace of mind. We feel more agreeable, more comfortable, and more able to fit in with others. When we are more tolerant, not only do our minds’ stability and experience of meditation improve, but the conduct of our body, speech, and mind also improves because we stop being so reactive."
Find this book on Amazon.ca:

Or Amazon.com.

Expand Your Mind with a Quote

Quote Writing Prompt: read Mary Kay Ash quote, contemplate, then write for fifteen minutes.
Quote Writing Prompt: read C. P. Snow quote, contemplate, then write for fifteen minutes.
Quote Writing Prompt: read E. W. Howe quote, contemplate, then write for fifteen minutes.
Quote Writing Prompt: read this Eric Berne quote, contemplate it, then write for fifteen minutes.
Quote Writing Prompt: read this Amy Tan quote, contemplate it, then write for fifteen minutes.
Quote Writing Prompt: read this Ruth Benedict quote, contemplate it, then write for fifteen minutes.

Footer

My Current YouTube Addiction — Check out Trent and Allie

https://youtu.be/xgfw_ogCy7A

RSS Subscribe to my feed:

  • Evive Smoothies
  • MasterClass Steps Up Learning
  • Soak Up the Sun by Sheryl Crow

Learn to Play Ukulele

https://youtu.be/MVqxKEaQHM0

· Copyright M. E. Wood© 2023 · WordPress ·

Take a Random Look ARound

anna scholz authors biw member interview biw tips body image books bras Etsy handbags igigi Interviews journaling ideas Lane Bryant lingerie literary fiction literature nail polish novels plus size active wear plus size career wear plus size clothing plus size clothing sales Plus size denim plus size dresses plus size halloween costumes plus size jeans plus size maxi dresses plus size party dresses plus size swimsuits plus size t-shirts plus size tops reading squidoo lens building tips swimwear Threadless tops visual writing prompts writers writer´s block writing advice writing lessons writing life writing prompts writing related books writing tips