Nothing Else Matters

By Susan Sizemore

Book Overview

In the turbulent twelfth century, politics and pressure from their fathers force French courtier Eleanor and English border knight Stian of Harelby into a marriage that neither wants. He sees her as a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061082074
• ISBN13: 9780061082078
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: HarperPrism
• Length: 307 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Medieval tale with good lead charachters

What easily could have been a formulaic forced marriage plot, turned out to be a refreshing and interesting novel. The heroine of Nothing Else matters was forthright and smart, the hero realistic for his time period and a little different than your typical medieval knight. Eleanor's world has changed drastically. Firstly she and her beauteous older sister have been taken out of Queen Eleanor's gentle court and are living with their English father. Now both girls are betrothed. Edythe will marry Sir Roger and Eleanor will marry his son Stian. The ladies travel to northern England to the Scottish border. When they arrive, Stian is totally smitten with Edythe and when he discovers that it is her younger less dazzling sister he is to marry, he is upset calling her a mouse. Eleanor thinks he is nothing but a barbarian. Still she knows her duty and is going to try to make the best of the situation. Stain does not want his mousy wife but after their wedding he is amazed at her transformation. Yes, she is still opinionated but she also quite understaning of his shy nature. Unlike most Knights Stian does not desire a lot of public attention. Stain is young, in his early twenty's and the reader sees he still needs to mature, his temper is really something. He is also caring, having raised a wolf and considers it a pet. This was touching and revealed much of his gentler side. Eleanor matures also and quickly the reader surmises that it is she rather than her older beautiful sister who has the greater achievements of loyalty and self sacrifice. Even though the two are close the reader sees that they are taking differing paths. The end of this novel reveals just how much the leads have matured as Eleanor is instrumental in helping her husband learn the fine art of chivalry and the virtue of forgiveness. For his part, Stian does not hamper Eleanor's natural confidence and wisdom. I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Nothing Else Matters

Stian of Harelby felt betrayed. When told that his father, Lord Roger, had brought him a woman to wed, he was angered. That anger quickly turned to lust when he spied the beautiful vision standing before him. This was just an illusion, the golden goddess was now his stepmother and it was the drab, mousy figure who stood nearby that was to be his bride. His father was now married to the woman who would haunt any man's dreams. Eleanor FitzWalter had lived at the court of Poitier; a civilized, cultured place with chivalrous knights and poetry. Now she is in the untamed northern reaches of England and to be the bride of an uncouth giant lout. Eleanor may wish to be able to return to the familiar Poitier, but she also realizes that she must try to make the best of her new life, and her marriage. She soon realizes that her barbaric husband is quite shy and unhappy in the public, whereas she craves the excitement of company. She also had heard of his conquests and seen first hand his attraction to her sister. How can a mouse like her compete? Nothing Else Matters reveals the unvarnished realities of the twelfth century. Many of the accepted attitudes of that time could be offensive to some readers who judge based on current standards - the acceptance of rape during war (acceptable only by secondary characters) being one example. That being said, it was very entertaining to read a romance between a hero and heroine that the one considers a mousy little thing and the other a hairy, red, overgrown barbarian. When they first meet, they cannot find any qualities about the other that they can compliment. The pleasure of this book is seeing how love changes their "vision". Kathy reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

enjoyable historical novel

4.5 blue ribbon review from Romance Junkies England, 1175 Hugo FitzWalter's wife remains at Salisbury with Queen Eleanor who's being held as King Henry's prisoner. While her loyalty to her Queen is commendable, her absence from home leaves Hugo with two marriageable daughters and no idea what to do with them, especially since they're determined not to be separated. Roger of Harelby, a widower of nine years, has a few ideas about finding husbands for the two young women. Eleanor and her sister, Edythe have been gently raised in the Queen's court. While Edythe is lovely and sweet natured, Eleanor is not concerned with her looks, she prefers scholarly pursuits, is sharp of wit and outspoken. The sister's get their wish, they will not be separated, Edythe is married to Lord Roger, and Eleanor is to be married to Lord Roger's son, Stian. He's a drunkard who practically mauled her upon their first meeting and refers to her as a "colorless mouse." Not even to remain with her sister will she tolerate marriage to this barbarian. Surely there must be a way out of this arrangement. Stian of Harelby is venomously opposed to marriage with Eleanor. It's bad enough that his father took the beautiful sister for himself and is forcing him into marriage with the colorless mouse, but Eleanor isn't at all biddable and his father is demanding grandchildren. Stian raised a wolf that was more agreeable. Even though he continues to see Edythe as the more beautiful sister, Eleanor's spirit is quickly winning him over. While neither Eleanor nor Stian are happy with their forced union, they do honor their fathers' wishes and go along with the ceremony, well sort of, they go through with the wedding but Eleanor makes it know that she's doing it under duress and Stian states he'd rather "marry to a plow horse than this mouse." The priest ignores both their protests and they're soon married. Can this battling couple find a way to keep from killing each other? Susan Sizemore's NOTHING ELSE MATTERS is a thoroughly enjoyable historical novel that readers are sure to love. Do you know that saying "beauty is as beauty does?" Well, this story displays that wonderfully as you read. Eleanor's caring personality has her outshining her physically beautiful sister who appears to only worry about her own needs and desires. Stian is the best kind of barbarian, as uncouth as he is, he still presents a caring personality, especially when it comes to his wolf. I'd definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historicals. Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)