Book Review: The Yielding (Age of Faith Book two), by: Tamara Leigh
I give this book three out of five stars for being an entertaining read with action and fight scenes reminiscent of the first book in the series. I enjoyed the non-typical protagonist of Beatrix and the hate to love plot she had with Michael. I kept comparing this book to the first. The romantic conflict and resolution was stronger in the first book, even though the plot in this one was just as engaging.
What I liked:
1) I like the plot, and how Beatrix was set on proving her innocence. This became even more compelling as Beatrix had to contend with a head injury. It created a believable and difficult character arch for Beatrix.
2) How clever Beatrix was. She was a damsel in distress in parts of the book, but when push came to shove she was cunning and quick witted. We got to see her smarts in action as she lived alone in hiding, and thought through the dangers and dilemmas she was faced with. Beatrix’s choices also added depth to her character. She chose the high road often sacrificing her needs to help someone else or to keep intact the honor of her family.
3) The secondary plots involving Christian, Michael’s Lord, and his troubled relationship with his father. It created some tense moments at the end and a really nice battle scene. I also liked how Michael’s stepmother was woven into the main conflict.
What I didn’t like:
1) Michael’s character was all over the map. He’s billed as a womanizer, but the reader only witnesses this behavior once when he’s leaving a usual tryst with a servant. Later he turns down his usual servant’s queries about his need for her sexual services. His close friends mention his womanizing behavior, but Michael is never seen charming a woman. His point of view never eye’s up any other women’s appearance other than Beatrix. He seemed like a typical guy to me and not a full-blown “womanizer”. In the beginning of the book he swears and question’s God’s existence. By the end of the book he’s praying all the time, praying out loud next to Beatrix, and asking her to help him find God. I could see him being open to change by the end of the book, maybe have one prayer that get’s answered, but it was a little to much to soon and thick for me to find it relatable or real.
2) The kissing, each and every kiss felt tainted by something. The worst ones being the kisses in front of Beatrix’s brothers, right when she is first reunited with them. Shouldn’t Michael have been asking Garr’s permission to marry Beatrix? Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think this was typical behavior in the era portrayed. Then Michael and Beatrix having conflict of misunderstandings right after a kiss, not once but twice. They have a kiss, one that almost led to sex, while she’s being held in his prison? The only kiss in the book I liked was the kiss that didn’t happen when they were sitting cloaked in the rain.
