These two HaBOs come from Nadine. Both are historical romances, though one has a fantasy element:
The first book takes place in the Renaissance (I think) era somewhere in Europe (Ireland or Scotland?) and it has to do with fairies and folk lore. I know that the heroine was some sort of fairy or elf and she had some sort of magical destiny. The biggest distinguishing details I can remember are that she had extremely painful periods for some plot related reason and she was a virgin when she met the hero.
The second book takes place in Medieval times in England. The story begins with the hero kidnapping the heroine; I think for some sort of revenge. At some point they stay in a little cottage in the woods with an old woman. The hero is scarred (physically) and has some big emotional baggage. The heroine is pretty feisty at the beginning, trying to run away, etc. until she begins to understand the hero’s struggle. The heroine is a virgin when they meet and at some point they have sex in a cave.
Does anyone recognize either of these?
The second one sounds like Marsha Canham’s Through a Dark Mist. It’s definitely set in Medieval times and it’s a loose re telling of the Robin Hood legend. My feeble brain recalls the hero kidnaps the heroine and there’s smexy times in a cave. However, I think the heroine was a widow so idk about the virgin part.
@Gigi: Romance has a long and storied tradition of virgin widows, so that’s not necessarily a disqualification!
Hmmm. Lady of Conquest by Teresa Medeiros? Is that the one where he captures her and forces her to stay at a cottage on an island? Also ticks the Medieval box. But I don’t remember an old woman.
My memory is too faulty these days, but both books sound like Jill Barnett to me–maybe one of the Regency Magic books for the first, and one of the Medieval Wedding books for the second?
Is the second one The Bride by Claire Delacroix? He’s scarred, and he kidnaps her and they have sex in a cave, from my memory. He lets her be on top because she was afraid of men, I think, if that rings any bells. I have no memory of the rest of the book, though, so I’m not sure about the old woman in the cottage.
And by The Bride, I meant The Beauty (in the Bride Quest series). Of course. *rolls eyes*
The second one could maybe the Rose Red Bride also by Claire Delacroix.
Hmm . . . Wasn’t there a cave sex scene in one of Helen Mittermeyer’s Medieval romances?
Still thinking The Pledge by Helen Mittermeyer. The heroine has adopted someone else’s child as her own. I think the kid is the heir to the throne, but in hiding, so she pretends to be his mother even though she’s a virgin. She gets forced into marriage with the hero. He falls into a raging fever, and she jumps in bed with him while he’s hallucinating so he’ll take her virginity but not remember it. Lots of crazy sauce there.
@Aislinn – I think you are right! I read The Beauty by Delacroix last night and all the elements are there: heroine kidnapped for revenge, scarred hero, old woman in cottage and sexy cave times. Plus so many ‘‘tis and ‘‘twas it made my head hurt.
The first description reminded me of Uncertain Magic by Laura Kinsale, but not certain of timeperiod or the painful periods.
@Heather
It’s definitely not Uncertain Magic. That’s set in the late 1700’s and there’s zero mention of periods. It is partially set in Ireland, there’s lot’s of mind reading and the occasional fairy, but no heavy periods for ~reasons~.
Sounds like sex in caves is a recurring theme… I think the second book sounds like Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. A pretty awesome fantasy series.
Ooops, It’s actually the second book in the series that I’m talking about… Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier.