Rejar

Rating:
Summary: Ughh, not my kind of book...
Review: I picked this book because of the interesting premise - a science fiction/ fantasy set in the Regency period. Since I love regencies and like science fiction written by women, I thought I would give this book a try. A big mistake. Why?

Firstly, this book is very hard to understand without reading the prequel KNIGHT OF A TRILLION STARS (or something like it). That in itself limits the interest in the book to dedicated readers of this author, or to those who love series romances (as in books that form a series). I like series romances, but only if my attention has been caught positively by one or more books. This is what happened to me with the Darkover fantasy/science fiction series, and with several nicely developed series by Mary Balogh and other authors. If you are a Dara Joy fan and enjoy all her works, you will probably like this book - and hate this review.

Secondly, the book itself is one of those books that uses the Regency period merely as background wallpaper. The most convincing part is the shock that Rejar experiences when he realizes the poverty that exists in London, and the immense hardship experienced by the working and non-working poor. As for the social mores, the historical people who appear in the romance, and the general feel, the less said the better. This is a deeply unsatisfying book to most lovers of Regency romances.

Without these problems, the story itself put me off. A reviewer below has put it better - the heroine cannot understand the hero's real character, and has no wish to understand it. The hero's attraction to the heroine appears to be purely sexual. The part where the hero appears as a cat is fun at first, but then the attraction and novelty rapidly wore off, as the hero engaged in some questionable actions from my point of view. The heroine did not engage my interest at all.

While some readers may enjoy the descriptions of the sex scenes (hardly love scenes), they grated and jangled on my nerves. The description of the wedding night in particular was hard to get through. I don't consider myself a prude, but coupled with all the other things that felt wrong, the book left a bad taste in my mouth.

I suppose if you enjoy sexually explicit romances such as those by Susan Johnson, you might like this book. If you want the development of a consistently believable *emotional* relationship between hero and heroine and/or some attention to historical accuracy and general believability of the setting, this is definitely not the book that you want to pick up first.

Again, this review is not for the Dara Joy fan (feel free to hate this review) but for someone looking for a change of pace from reading Regency romances or fantasy science fiction.

Rating:
Summary: Regency England gets a new twist
Review: In Rejar, Dara Joy has created a man flung out of time and space into a time and place totally unfamiliar to him. He is of a race called the Familiar and arrives in Lilac's life as a cat, at least that's how it starts. From there on his destiny takes a new turn. She is of an age of nearly non existant sexual experience for single women, facing a Rake in Regency terms, but much more than any ordinary Rake. The trials of these two, along with the eccentric household Lilac lives in, make a difficult situation for two people of very different cultures. With the arrival of Traed, a wonderful character I sincerely hope to hear more about, new twists unfold. It alters Regency Romance forever and brings the trials of a relationship between a man accustomed to experienced women, and a woman of almost no sexual experience, into an endearing struggle. Both Rejar and Lilac have their problems dealing with the other's cultural and sexual mores and resolving their love and destiny.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific!!!
Review: I read this book a few years back and could not forget it. When I first read Dara Joy's Knight of a Trillion Stars I thought it was funny and sexy. But when I picked up Rejar, 'Knight' could not compare. Looking forward to Dara's new one, Ritual of Proof. Hope it is as sexy and funny as Rejar. I read Dara's other books she wrote in-between and they were ok, but Rejar. I cannot say his name enough. Hope to see more of him real soon.

Rating:
Summary: What a disappointment!
Review: Dara Joy normally writes wonderfully, and normally I thoroughly enjoy any book I read by her, but Rejar left me incredibly dissatisfied. There was neither the humor and lighthearted wit I found in Knight of a Trillion Stars nor the engaging storyline of the next book. There wasn't even the incredible bond between the two main characters; Lilac does not appreciate Rejar for who he is, nor do they seem to enjoy each other outside of the bedroom. I just didn't see any deep spiritual bond lurking anywhere in the text, except where it is said explicitly that she is His Mate. This book had such potential... At the end, I just felt sad for Rejar... But "Knight..." and the next book, "Mine to Take" (which used all the sensual potential of its Familiar hero, Gian Ren) are fantastic, and not at all formulaic, like some romance series. The only reason I would recommend reading this would be to further the plot of the series... but even there, it's not vital. Stick with the series, just skip "Rejar."

Rating:
Summary: Dazzling mixture of regency romance and fantasy
Review: What an amazing imagination Dara Joy has! This is one of the most unique romance novels you will ever read. Rejar is a "Familiar", a creature that is able to change itself from human form into a cat, who inadvertantly lands in Regency England. He meets and pursues a young lady of the ton. One problem - she's not too crazy about the idea of being married to a man who turns into a cat. However, she can't completely resist the incredibly senuous Rejar. Dara Joy's novels are always very sexy, but in Rejar she has created a particularly erotic hero. I was very impressed with how well she creates this unique character, and I really enjoyed watching him discover this new world and work through having a relationship with a woman totally unfamiliar with his kind. Fun book! I can't wait for the next novels in this series.

Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER DARA JOY WINNER!
Review: I loved this book! How could you not love Rejar? He is playful and strong alright he is also too sure of himself but all of his species are like this. Lilac and Rejar are a great match. I can't wait for more of the Matrix series. Please hurry with the book on Tread. Do not miss out on this book I couldn't put it down and finished it in a day and half(it works to stay up late when you can't stop wondering whats next.)

Rating:
Summary: Great potential anyways...
Review: This is my first Dara Joy novel. While the idea is novel and intriguing (who doesn't think the man-cat transformation is sexy?) the execution was a bit forced. The romance was not convincing, the worlds were not fleshed out well, and the characters were rather dry. The plot was, at best, predictable.

Great literature this is not. But despite all the snags, the book had some genuinely funny moments. The supporting characters were amusing if viewed as cartoonish. Sometimes it was so bad, it was good. (Entertaining, at least.) If you enjoy fluffy romances, this one is for you. If you have a short attention span, this one is for you. If you are looking for light entertainment, here you go. But if you were hoping for some attempt at a half-serious historical novel with romance? Try elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Dara Joy Need MORE books
Review: This book was one of my many favorites... I can not wait till she writes more on the characters that are involved in her other books. She has kept me laughing and other emotions in her book i do have to read in a room by myself so my outburst of laughter does not make me seem strange.. Dara keep the books coming... Love your writing..

Rating:
Summary: Dara joy you are the best!
Review: I found his personality as enchanting as he was In the knights of a trillion stars novel. How Dara has, in my opinion, wrote about the perfect man. Too bad he doesn't walk around this earth! Sigh, But I digress. Rejar was just the perfect balance of sexiness and childlike adorable in this novel. The way she wrote out the love scenes had me sitting on the edge of the couch. Tread really is a character that Dara Joy has made with her superb and innovative imagination that has me yearning for a book about him. In Rejar she made the reader believe as if they were really in regency England. I would recommend this book AND this writer to anyone who enjoys futuristic romance novels and even just Sci-Fi novels. I got the feeling she might be a Sci-Fi fan herself with her realistic writing styles. Two thumbs up Dara, keep them coming!

Rating:
Summary: PERFECT...
Review: i have fallen inlove with Rejar,his relationship with Lilac was perfect.Rejar character's was so kind and very sensitive,you could feel how much he cared and loved her.Lilac was so sweet and innocent,it was a perfect match.