I found this book on my Mom's bookshelf a few months back. When I asked her if I could borrow it, she told me that if I lost or ruined it, she would bI found this book on my Mom's bookshelf a few months back. When I asked her if I could borrow it, she told me that if I lost or ruined it, she would break my neck.
So much for motherly love.
I now understand why. This book, to me, was a true gem.
The Love Token tells the story of a beautiful young orphan named Gemma. (For those who get squeemish about age differences, please note that the heroine is 15, and the hero is 30ish. However, in the context this did not bother me.)Gemma has been raised at an Italian convent until her conniving uncle comes to marry her off to a rich-old merchant.
Her merchant husband is truly an evil man. I should not go too much into that, as it will give much of the story away.
Gemma is used, abused, and raped by the first few male characters. We don't meet the hero, Dirk, until about half way through the book. And he truly IS a hero who saves Gemma in every way possible.
Gemma is a complete TSTL moron until about the last 25% of the book where she makes some surprsingly smart choices. But then again, she was 15.
What I loved so much about the book was the rich story telling, the adventure, the mystery, the humor, the romance, Dirk...Everything. This is one of my favorite reads.
I'll have to make sure Mom puts it in her will to me ;)
Five shooting friggin' stars. Read it.
FYI--Priscilla Hamilton is a pseudonym of Roberta Gellis.
I DNF'd this one, likely far too soon. I love Mary Balogh. I think she is in a class of her own. To be honest, I was drawn to this book by the outrageI DNF'd this one, likely far too soon. I love Mary Balogh. I think she is in a class of her own. To be honest, I was drawn to this book by the outrageously sexy cover model.
Anywho, the heroine is a plain "mouse" of a girl. She tells you all about her plainness in her inner monologue. She tells the hero all about it. The other characters tell her all about it.
I don't know. I can't get down with that much self-hate in the first 3 chapters. Probably because I know that it is leading up to the inevitable makeover.
What a frustrating book. I feel like I read a completely different book than 99% of the other reviewers. I wanted to like it. I wanted to find it cuteWhat a frustrating book. I feel like I read a completely different book than 99% of the other reviewers. I wanted to like it. I wanted to find it cute or charming or witty. I just didn't. This is Regency England at it's barfiest. Where to begin?
Ok, you guys, these titles aren't cute. They aren't clever. They are absurd.
So we meet Julian, an Italian firecracker (not really). She's some Marquess' illegitimate half sister. She stumbles her way in to the pompous ass of the century's carriage. Simon is a duke and a royal SOB. He is arrogant and selfish. Kanye West looks like Mother Theresa next to this clown. But whatever, he is gorgeous and has flowing blonde locks, so she's smitten. As is he. About 25% into the book.
Simple enough, right? Wrong. These two morons fail at communicating for the next 70% of the book. By the way, he is publicly engaged to a seemingly nice lady. He has no passion for his fiancé, he reserves that right for Julian. But he is too above Julian status-wise to marry her. So instead, he fools around behind his fiancé's back with our heroine. Julian knows all about his engagement and never says nay. She even offers to become his mistress while he is engaged to an otherwise innocent girl. If the roles were reversed...Julian would be the evil one-third of a love triangle in any other romance novel.
Whatever. I'm over it. It was pretty forgettable overall. Doubt I'll read more from this author. ...more
I'm quite convinced that Laura Kinsale is one of the best Romance author's of the past few years. Her stories are complex, engaging, original, and heaI'm quite convinced that Laura Kinsale is one of the best Romance author's of the past few years. Her stories are complex, engaging, original, and heavy on the history. She has yet to disapoint me.
Leigh is on a mission to avenge her family's killing. Her foe is a religious minister (we would now call him a cult leader) who turned the town against her family for one reason or another. She seeks the help of S.T Maitland, the famed Prince of Midnight...a fabled highwayman. What she finds isn't exactly the stuff of dreams but a half deaf, stumbling, shell of a man.
They travel across two countries and battle internal and external demons as equals. The main characters balance eachother's strengths and weaknesses. Neither is perfect, nor do they claim to be.
I realize there are some mixed reviews on the character of Leigh, who was a downright jerk to S.T (one of my favorite romance heroes of all time). If I may, I have a point to make. Time and time again we read about the aloof alpha hero, who is sexually desirable and available to the heroine, but he remains emotionally distant until he has been shown that he no doubt loves her with all his heart. The aloof male is such an archetype that we see over and over. In this book, the roles are reversed. The female is the aloof, distant love interest...the hero is the lovesick puppy willing to do anything to win the recognition of the heroine he loved.
I suppose for the above reason I liked Leigh. I understood her. This was a romance written the right way. I believed it when it happened for them. It was, if you will, a romance for feminists....more
I like reading romances, particularly those of the historical sort. Why? Because they let me escape from the drudgery of every day life and give me anI like reading romances, particularly those of the historical sort. Why? Because they let me escape from the drudgery of every day life and give me an enjoyable way to tune out for a while. I love watching a relationship unfold and await the HEA with anticipation...I don't, however, often become very emotionally invested in the stories. Usually romances are a trifle silly with improbable plot lines and characters with little depth.
That being said, this is not one of those books. This is one of the very few romances I was emotionally involved enough in to cry. That's right...I cried. I didn't always agree with the character's actions, but I emotionally responded to them. As heroes go, Dominic is an ass. But, at least he's a consistent ass who doesn't turn into a sugar puss around our heroine Catherine.
When they finally achieve their HEA, I believed it. I truly felt like they loved eachother and deserved eachother after all the tests and tribulations they were put through. But, don't take my word for it, read it yourself....more
4 stars. Unique and adventurous historical romance. Plot meandered and dialogue was sometimes vague. Still a smart, sexy read. I really need to sit do4 stars. Unique and adventurous historical romance. Plot meandered and dialogue was sometimes vague. Still a smart, sexy read. I really need to sit down and give this a proper review....more
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