The Lover

Rating:
Summary: Robin Schone does it again
Review: I had first read Robin Schone's "Awaken, my Love" by accident and though slightly shocked at the blatent sensuality and bluntness, I loved her distinctive style. Ever since then, I have been an avid seeker of titles by her and was very pleased to see her publishing again. "The Lover" does not fail in living up to our expectations. Anne Aimes is a 36 year old spinster who is tired of being boring and staid as is expected of her. So she decides to put her dowry to good use. She purchases the services of one Michael des Anges whose beauty she has been infatuated with since she was eighteen. Then the danger element of the story enters. Someone from Michael's past is coming back for him and he must protect Anne. I have to admit, the was must confusion because of all the foreshadowing that Schone applies and the characters seem to live in the future more than the prsent, but it is all cleared up by the end. A second read is probably best and that is the only reason why I would not say that "The Lover" is exceptional but I look forward to Schone's next effort. I think her best is yet to come.

Rating:
Summary: Anne Saves the Angel
Review: Robin Schone's boks always hold delightful surprizes for the reader, and The Lover is no exception. The main character, Anne, seems a bit out of step for her times - but is a delight anyway. She is a gently reared virgin a la Harlequin Romance style, or so you think at first. You are quickly shown that this is incorrect, as Anne, who is seen as on the shelf and no longer likely to marry, seeks a male prostitute to learn about sex and passion. And learn she does! And so do we! Michael, her choice, is an eginma, a scared angel with many unresolved issues. In spite of his challenges [or because of them, for the rader's sake], this couple makes every effort to make a success of their unusual relationship. I foud myself hoping against logical hope that they would make it, even knowing that the ending of every romance novel is boy gets girl, or in this case, girl gets boy.
There is hot sex, complex characterization, and somewhat turgid dialog at times. The dialog and fact that Anne seems slightly out of place for her time, lead me to give this book 4 stars instead of 5.
Would I buy this book? Yes. Would I keep this book? Maybe...

Rating:
Summary: My gosh, are women this desperate for erotica???
Review: I mistakenly bought 4 of Robin Schone's novels. I should know enough by now to try one first to see if I like it. Robin Schone is in my opinion, the worst writer I have ever read. I understand fantasy, but to use a male prostitute as a hero??? Reality just hits me in the face here. I worked in San Francisco around real male prostitutes and let me tell you it is not a romantic or sexy picture. As for the 30 something spinster as heroine, I just hate it. Why can't a writer use experienced female characters. Most of us have had sex. Why have the male characters had 100's of sex partners, but the women none? These novels are just sad and not at all erotic for me. Can't anyone just write a really good romance novel with realistic explicit sex scenes?

Rating:
Summary: Very deep, dark and erotic love story!
Review: This was truly a different type of love story. The spinster Anne and the very emotionally and physically scarred former whore Michael. Both are searching for someone to truly care about them - with all their imperfections and faults. Michael's story runs constantly between sensual and frightening - and you have to be able to handle the darkness with the sensuality. I would not want to read a lot of books like this because it is more depressing than most - However Robin Schone does a beautiful job of writing an emotional story that is compelling and mysterious. I will read other books by Robin in the future!!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent erotic romance ...
Review: Well ... after reading the other reviews, I searched my own recommendation to see if I had overrated The Lover. I think it was great~ There was most definitely a plot--and the veiled threats kept me guessing until near the end of the book as to what Michel/Michael's past might hold. I also really liked the character of Anne Aimes -- she was nobody's fool and certainly not a simpering ninny. I loved her bold, yet shy attitude. I love the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton and I thought the character of Michel/Michael was a bit of a take-off on Asher in the Anita Blake novels -- he speaks french in bed (now there's something I'd like to experience in my lifetime) and Michel also has scars, though not as extreme as Asher's. I would certainly recommend this book. I checked it out from the library and bought it AND Gabriel's Woman (a sequel) on amazon.com the next day (if I'm willing to pay cold, hard cash it must be good ;+) Definitely a keeper for me...