Rating: 
Summary: TERRIFIC!...
Review: This is one of JL's best books. Warrick IS really mean at times and you want to kill him, but as the book goes on you just fall in love with him. Rowena is adorable too! A must-read!
Rating: 
Summary: Predictable but Fun
Review: This being one of Ms. Lindsey's better novels, it is, however, just like all her others. Rowena Belleme is a virtuous yet fiesty heiress mistreated by an evil step-brother. Yadda, yadda, yadda; not many plot-twists one couldn't've predicted from the first.
However, the sex-scenes are incredibly steamy (I had to wipe off my glasses) and the word-play between Rowena and Warrick is proof that they were made for each-other.
Though this novel was wrought with easy problems and petty bullies, the fun of reading this book was not diminished (the first time I read it, anyways).
Rating:
Summary: Not her best, but pretty good for fans of the genre
Review: Another reader has pointed out that a review should contain at least some words about the content of the book, so here you have a brief synopsis: The story takes place sometime in the 12th century. Rowena Belleme is a beautiful young woman who is forced by her step-brother to marry a very old man so that her brother will have control of her husband's wealth to fight a very determined enemy of his. (If she doesn't marry than her brother will punish severely her mother.) The husband dies on the wedding night and now Rowena is forced to produce a heir with the help of somebody else - a man that her brother kidnaps. She "rapes" him for three nights in a row than sets him free. But her victim - who turns out to be precisely her brother's enemy - is determined to have his revenge, so he makes her his prisoner and submits her to the same treatment - rapes her for three nights in a row, then makes her his serf and keeps her in his castle as his exclusive servant. However, their mutual attraction gradually changes things between them. He has had a very sad past, and she teaches him laughter and love again, even if he accepts the changes only very slowly. In response to some other reviewers' complaints about the sex scenes: I do not like rape scenes in books myself, but these are not like the scenes in "A Pirate's Love" - that is, even if they are forced to, both characters take pleasure in making love to each other, and this makes the "rape" not quite a rape. Another thing: when first reading the synopsis, it left me the impression that most of the book will take place with Warrick as a prisoner of Rowena and not the other way around. It is quite the opposite: only the first quarter or even less of the book finds Warrick as Rowena's prisoner. I was quite confused by this. What I liked about this book are the characters, they are both strong and complex, both have faults, which make them more human. The supporting characters were quite nicely done themselves, Warrick's daughters and friend Stephen, Rowena's maid and the others.
Also, the book describes very nicely life in the castles of the 12th century, with interesting details like how candles are made, clothes are washed, food is served (did you know what a "trencher" is?) and so on. I gave the book only 4 stars because even if the sex scenes are not rape, I would have prefered them more two-sided, with both him and her willingly participating. I do not quite believe that somebody (mentally sane :) ) can reach physical pleasure if he/she is afraid of the other person or does not want to have sex with her/him -- that is, I cannot believe that the body can command the mind even if the physical attraction is there. Also, the entire setup for the conflict seemed a little too exaggerated. In my opinion, no man would want to have revenge on a woman the way Warrick has on Rowena. After the humiliation he has suffered at her hands, the last thing he would want would be to make love to her again, even if only as a punishment.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful romance
Review: This story had it all, happiness, saddness, revenge and love. It broke my heart at times especially after Warrick took Rowena prisoner and I wanted him to finally come to understand what had happened. But it really kept me interested and wanting to continue to read to see what would happen and when they would finally understand eachother. I think reading a book you don't want to put down is a true hallmark of good writing. I would certainly and in fact, I have recommended this to my friends.
Rating:
Summary: An Incredible Book!
Review: I read this book for first time about 10 years ago and I couldn't stop myself since then to re-read it again and again...
This book is maginficent and so powerful, full of emotion from the beginning to the end! I love this book because it made me laugh but most of all, it broke my heart to the point I cried my eyes out. This book is a keeper and I highly recommend it. Lady Rowena is such a delightful heroine trapped in men's world, in their selfishness. Warrick is a man so blinded for his wounded-pride that he made a total mess of everything just to "justify"it... his revenge would not only break her heart but also his but at the end their love and their passion would conquer any obstacle on their path... Two thumbs up for Ms. Lindsey!
Rating: 
Summary: Definetly a sugar-coated S & M story
Review: If you are a fan of Black lace novels this might be a treat for you. Some of the reviewers pointed out that it wasn't a S & M story because there were no pain involved in the bondage scenes (the story is full of them). Well, how would you feel being strapped on a bed for the whole night in total darkness, without the possibility to move or to relieve yourself, not knowing what will happen to you? You would be scared to death knowing that you have been prisoned by the man who has every reason to hate you. And then when he comes with the intention to rape you, his heart full of hate and revenge, you wouldn't mind because he doesn't beat you before he punishes you in another far more hurting physical way (he actually need not beat you for you are still immovable). And that is not sick stuff? That do people understand as "romance"? I'm really at my wits end. The book didn't shock me but the reviews certainly do. 30 years of feminism and this is the result. We still have a long way to go.
Rating:
Summary: I love Johanna Lindsey's books!
Review: I can never stop reading a Johanna Lindsey book! I'm eagerly awaiting the next one!!!
Rating: 
Summary: NOT what I prefer
Review: The first portion of this is rape. She rapes him because she has to save her mothers' life from Gilbert; she rapes Fulkhurst, he then rapes her for revenge. Normally I like romance with love scenes. Sexy, stirring scenes that you wish your husband or lover were there at the moment but this left much to be desired (no pun intended). I like a story or mystery involved with that being the main topic. This, to me, the sex scenes were more prevelent. Of course there are the usual "misunderstandings" that take up half of the book before the couple realizes it's 'true love' they are experiencing but this somehow didn't do it for me. Maybe I just don't care for forced sex. Maybe, it took too long for them to rectify the misunderstanding. I dunno. I don't care for reviews that get into every detail of the book but so hopefully my synopis is: the first 3/4's of the book is rape and revenge. Reasons abound on both sides. The last quarter involves the love and love scenes and emotions still with a tinge of remorse. I'm not a writer and couldn't possibly know where or how to produce a good romance novel but this book left me feeling as though I should have done something better with my time. In defense of Ms. Lindsey, I have been reading romance novels for at least 6 or 7 years. I can't recall exactly which of her books I've read but to date nothing has really attracted me to her, however something must have if I found the story line interesting on Amazon. I apologize to her fans but this book did not do it for me. I do not care for forced sex and/or emotions. Perhaps I've misjudged the author and her other work is forgotten to me but I did not care for this book. The contents of this, in my opinion would be a PG13. It was somewhat graphic but without the emotion or love. The mystery of a book, which I prefer before the love scenes was understated. It seemed to me the sex was more dominate than the fact that she, Rowena was who she was and Fulkhurst being who he (Fulkhurst) was and the basis of the story on the whole. I'm sorry. I'm not one of those who read a book a second time no matter how much I enjoyed it; once read there are no surprises. Granted, one may have missed something the first read that wasn't caught the first time around but I wouldn't read this again even if I had been that type of person. Sorry fans. I call it like I see it. Sorry Ms. Lindsey fans. It is only my opinion. I am partial to Stephanie Laurens, Nora Roberts, Andrea Kane and even Kat Martin. I hope this has helped you in some way.
Rating:
Summary: My Opinion
Review: I agree with " A good novel--for more than just the sex!". Read that review. The Editorial Review is a little misleading. It doesn't mention the fact that Rowena is forced by her step brother in her actions from the beginning. All Lindsey's books are worth reading and rereading. I have done so many times and will continue to do so.
Rating:
Summary: A good novel--for more than just the sex!
Review: Opinions differ and I understand how some readers would be offended by the bondage in this novel. I'm not a fan of bondage, but the bondage in this novel is NOT painful. Rowena and Warrick never do anything to intentionally cause each other physical pain. That is the entire difference. Rowena and Warrick have an attraction that cannot be denied which make the bondage scenes very appealing. The love scenes leave the reader tingling. I loved that Rowena got to "..." Warrick. For a change, the man is the sex object. All that said, there are other aspects of the novel that make it worth reading. This novel has one of the most intricate, ironic, and original plots I have ever read. There are times of hilarity. Touching moments. Rowena is an admirable character. She is strong, stubborn (at the right moments), and witty. I'm not a big Johanna Lindsey fan. This is one of her best. She wrote it around the same time when she wrote other really great novels such as Man of My Dreams and Angel.
| 
