Prisoner of My Desire

Rating:
Summary: very interesting
Review: I am an avid reader of romance novels, I have read many but never have I come across one so original. If you read romance novels as much as I do, you would know that great, imaginative storylines are rare and hard to find. This, indeed, is one of the best books I've come across. I always find it irritating when I read a one-sided review that tells me nothing about what the book is about, so here it is [breifly]: Rowena Belleme, a young, beautiful, virginal, aristocratic woman is forced to do the unthinkable due to some terrible circumstances. She's made to 'rape' Warrick, a great Lord, who also happens to be a gorgeous, big giant of a man. After the deed is done - the reason the deed was done was because Rowena's elderly husband croaked in the nick of time and a suitable replacement was needed fast! so became the abduction of Warrick - they let the handsome knight go, never expecting to hear from him again. What a shock they were in for because in not too long Warrick was back, and with his army too. Rowena was captured, as Warrick had vowed revenge and Rowena was going to pay. She was taken to his castle, where she was repaid in kind by Warrick, over and over, again and again. After a while Rowena is made his personal servant to serve him only. I bet you can guess that his passion is very ardent and she recoils at first, fearing his lust ... I'll let you wonder the rest.

Anyway, the book was a delightful read. I'm not an obssessive fan of Ms. Lidsey's but I must say that she has done a very, very good job. I recommend this book to anyone who likes tummy-wrenching erotica along with sweet romance. I thought this book was a two-hanky read.

Rating:
Summary: A definate thirller keeps you guessing to the last page
Review: if you're tired of fairy tales that you know would never take place in real life then this book is for you. Rowena goes threw life the hard way. she may have been born a lady but she will suffer to keep her mother alive. She will be forced to marry an old man and when an hier is not produced her greedy step brother finds a man at the locall inn and forces Rowena to rape him. Her step brother makes the mistake of picking the wrong man. how wrong? well his worst enimy, Warrick. Rowena fears that her step brother will kill him so she lets him go. Warrick come back to her and makes her pay dearly for what she did to him. What Rowenda refuses to tell him costs her dearly. Now she finds her self in Warrick's dungin and carrying his cild! Johanna Lindsey is a ginous. this book keeps you wondering what will happen to the last page. this is definatly no fairy tale but a situation that you can extually imagin happening long ago! A must read!

Rating:
Summary: I have re-read this so many times!
Review: I can't believe it has taken me so long to get around to reviewing this great book, as it has been on my keeper shelf for years. I read through some of the negative reviews here, and really have to wonder if some of these folks bothered to read the back of the book before they read it, because they act like they had no idea what was going to happen to Warrick in the beginning. There was no way JL could have sugar-coated it, people, it was rape, period. Was it fun to read? Of course not, but what is gripping about this book is their relationship once he is free and has Rowena under his control. He could have treated her so much worse, and it is difficult going for a while, but they couldn't just fall in love right away. That wouldn't have made sense given their situation. I think Lindsey does an incredible job with the pacing of the progression of their feelings, so to me it was very believable when they finally do realize how much they care for one another. This is a dark romance with disturbing subject matter, but as long as you understand that going in you may well be as pleased as I was with the outcome.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing twist on stale romance
Review: I am a big fan of Johanna Lindsey and this book is no disappointment. Rowena is at the mercy of her evil stepbrother Gilbert. He needs more money (i.e. soldiers) to fight his nemesis the Lord of Fulkhurst, so he forces Rowena to marry this old fart by nearly beating he mother to death. Turns out the old man dies before the marriage can be consummated thus creating problems with keeping the old man's money from his brother. The solution is to find a serf with same features as the old Lord so that they could pass a baby off as his.

This is the first time I've ever read a book where a guy was raped. Too bad they picked the wrong guy to rape. Turns out the man they found was Warrick, Lord of Fulkhurst himself. Boy was he ticked. Upon his release granted by Rowena and her maid, Warrick comes back with his men and takes the keep and burns it to the ground. He takes Rowena back to his keep and has his revenge in kind on her. Somewhere along the way she finds out that she's pregnant with his child and that she has fallen in love with him.

This has to be one of my favorite Jo. Lindsey books ever. Rowena is strong and she wont let Warrick keep her down. But you should judge for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: MyShelf.com Book Reviewer
Review: Desperate times, calls for desperate measures. . .

Lady Rowena Belleme's stepbrother, Gilbert d'Ambray, had pledged her hand to the undesirable Lyons of Kirkburough. Being a spirited lass, Rowena refuses to abide by her stepbrother's demands. When Gilbert threatens to kill her mother if she doesn't go through with the marriage, Rowena knows she is powerless to resist him. Reluctantly Rowena agrees to Gilbert's demands. Before the marriage is consummated, Lyons unexpectedly dies. Rowena is overjoyed at her newfound freedom. Her celebration is short lived, however, when Gilbert demands that she become pregnant before Lyon's death is made public. To help her carry out this demand, he kidnaps Lord Warrick de Chaville. For three nights, Rowena carries out the plan with the helpless prisoner. She is finally unable to stand by and watch the inhuman treatment of Warrick; she makes the decision to help him escape.

Turnabout is fair play . . .

Lord Warrick de Chaville finds himself captive, chained, and at the mercy of Rowena Belleme. As much as he tries to resist her beauty, he is unable to submit to the temptress demands. All the while he is succumbing to her wiles, he is plotting his revenge against all those responsible for his imprisonment. Will the revenge come at a high price?

There is probably not a romance reader worldwide who doesn't immediately recognize the name Johanna Lindsey. To say her books are what legends are made of is an understatement. There are very few authors who can even come close to writing with the effortless style she is capable of achieving. To all that have ever experienced her work, they can easily agree her novels are treasured jewels that are to be cherished and closely guarded. I feel privileged to have received this rare opportunity to once again revisit one her of timeless classics. I feel growing up with her novels has given me a greater understanding and appreciation of what true love is made up of. She has taught me that true love can weather any storm that comes in its path

Rating:
Summary: ~ Was Not Disappointed ~
Review: This is my second book that I have read by Johanna Lindsey, this is also my first time reading this book, I have notice that so many have reread this book a couple of times, I have heard so many good things about this book, just now I had to see what all the fuss was about and now that I read it for myself, and I know why this book has capture readers. A very enjoyable book, from the start I fell in love with Warrick, you could feel the love he had for Rowena, I wouldn't mind being Warrick prisoner of Desire LOL :)
I am looking forward to reading more of Johanna Lindsey's books.

Happy Reading
Lisa

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: This is one of my all-time favorite JL books, and is near to falling apart on my keeper shelf. I have read all of the reviews that rant about how awful the forced sex is in this book, but I believe JL *wants* us to be horrified. We should be shocked that a woman could be so desperate that she would tie a man up and take advantage of his natural responses. And we should be upset that he exacts a similar (but not hurtful) revenge on her - because we live in a time when women have equality and are not driven to such measures. But this novel is set in the very distant past, where people could find themselves in such a situation. If you insist on applying 21st century morals to a 12th century plot, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. That these two can end up in love despite all they put each other through is a wonderful romantic story and a testament to JL's talent.

Rating:
Summary: Loved this book!!
Review: While I agree with one of the other reviewers who states that the "rape" at the beginning of the book is a little much to take, the book does have many redeeming qualities. The way that Warrick gets revenge over Rowena is exactly what one would expect him to do after being so humiliated and abused by her and her brother. But, after getting past that, the book is wonderful. Warrick and Rowena do surprisingly have great chemistry and make the story wonderful. I felt so horrible for all of the things that Warrick and Rowena had suffered throughout their lives and was happy that they could eventually make each other happy. All in all, I gave this book four stars due to how uncomfortble the beginning made me feel, but, after that point the book was wonderful!

Rating:
Summary: Stark yet entrancing - a sensual medieval tale
Review: This is the second time I have read Prisoner of Desire and it was as much fun to read as eighteen months ago. I did not write reviews then but could still remember the plot lines well which is unusual because I have read at least 300 books since then. This book was written during an era of romance writing that portrayed aggressive heroes who indulged in a single or occasional scene of non-consensual sex. This book definitely falls into that category but it is very different in that both the alpha hero and innocent heroine take their turn as the aggressor of these scenes. I picked it up knowing it contained some of those scenes but remembered, aside from all of that, is was a fun, not-to-be-put-down type of book. It takes you from sadness to laughter repeatedly and cruelty to kindness more than once.

It's 1152 in England, and Rowena Belleme has been forced into a marriage with a very elderly man by the machinations of her greedy stepbrother, Gilbert. Although Rowena owns lands that have long been in her family, Gilbert controls all of her properties and wants Rowena to marry a wealthy lord and thereby increase her holdings. Gilbert wants the additional lands but NEEDS the additional fighting men the alliance will provide. A formidable, powerful, vastly wealthy and certainly vengeful warlord is fighting Gilbert on many fronts. This lord and formidable knight is none other than the hero, Warrick deChaville. Warrick is only fighting Gilbert in retribution for his attempted seizure of one of Warrick's holdings. And one thing Warrick does very well is exact "utter destruction on anyone so unwise as to encroach on what was his."

Rowena, a spirited, young, and truly innocent woman, must participate in Gilbert's awful schemes because he holds her mother's life in his hands and will beat her or even kill her if Rowena refuses. Gilbert places one condition upon her marriage to the decrepit lord - she must produce an heir. None of his holdings will transfer to Rowena upon his death without an heir. When the old man is unable to produce an heir, Gilbert's men capture a younger man in a bathhouse who possesses similar physical features to Rowena's husband. They are to take a serf or villein - certainly no one of nobility. But it is a bathhouse and their chosen prey, Warrick deChaville, is not wearing any trappings of nobility or wealth. Gilbert does not realize the horrible mistake he has just made and chains Warrick in a bedchamber and commands Rowena to use him to produce an heir.

And oh --- that's just the beginning pages of the book. Things only get more and more involved, spiraling deeper and deeper as you consume the pages with greater and greater speed. Although there are a few predictable situations of typical romance writing, this story is rather unusual in that you do not know what to expect next. Just when I had figured out what I thought would happen next, it didn't.

Warrick is an unforgiving and hard hero. Rowena is a subjugated and overpowered heroine first by Gilbert and then by Warrick. But slowly her spunk begins to show. And the pages just get more enjoyable as Rowena begins to stand up for herself. It's a delicate undertaking to confront her captor without totally alienating him. She is in no way bratty or self centered. Her actions are always those of a true lady and she is ruled by kindness. She is a very lovable heroine and Warrick eventually becomes a likable guy - but it takes a while for him to get there.

Another interesting aspect of this book is the unusual villain, Gilbert. Although he is dastardly as expected, he has a soft spot in his heart for Rowena. You actually find yourself pitying him more than hating him because he doesn't seem to know better. He is quite nice compared to his really, really awful father. He loves Rowena but has no idea how to show it. He is actually crushed when Rowena rejects him after he has beaten her mother to force her to do as he wishes. His father, after all, had beat her mother all the time, so what is so bad about him doing the same? Geeesh! But yet you do find him somewhat of a sympathetic character - errr - villain.

There is no way to avoid the sensual nature of this book. It is intricately woven into most of the story. However, this book, in no way, is centered on the sexual scenes. This is an excellent and at times severe story that demands it be told - first and foremost. It is also one romance novel that is aptly named - Prisoner of My Desire. It is literal in more ways than one. The sensual scenes, while not as explicit as you would find in a book of this nature today, are still strong. These scenes rate a solid 4.5 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines).

Prisoner of My Desire is one of several Lindsey earlier romance novels on my keeper shelf. Although the story line is sometimes harsh, it is totally captivating as long as you are prepared for it. Gird yourself up for one fascinating read.

Rating:
Summary: Not my favorite
Review: I tried, really I did. I've read every Johanna Lindsey at least twice if not more, even this one...I think I've given it three chances. Yes, it does seem to grow on me after such a time BUT I still find it incredibly absurd. Granted, most of Lindseys are...and I love so many...but this one really does take the cake for being quite unbelievable. I just found the whole concept of her tying him up to 'have her way with him' and him gaining revenge in the same manner ridiculous. Not Johanna's best.