Rating: 
Summary: Good but not a 5 star!
Review: I guess my first reason for holding back on a top rating would be the subject matter - it no way offended me - how Warwick was raped at the beginning but seeing the male have that done to him just goes against what I personally enjoy in a romantic book. The way he deals with Rowena afterward however I did feel was justified and her response was intriguing. Books of this time period are not often my favorite so it takes a good writer like Lindsey to bring me into the story - and she is such an amazing writer that I often feel the depths in her books - no matter the time period. These characters were so true to the period and I loved how she was able to show a tenderness in the fierce Warwick even though he was a ruthless man of the period. Rowena was a good balance for Warwick and it was wonderful watching the love develop between these two in spite of their circumstances!
Rating:
Summary: Revenge turns into Love...
Review: This book reminded me a lot of Catherine Coulter's "Devil's Embrace." They both seem to be controversial books, but with "Devil's Embrace" the hero does everything because he wants to convince her that he love's her, has forever. I think that the reason a lot of people are turned off by this book is because the hero's intention is to hurt and belittle the heroine. It is done well, in my opinion, because he doesn't hurt her physically and he does feel justified because she did wrong him. Stole from him, in his eyes, his child that she got by raping him. But his goodness is constantly shining through his gruff exterior by the little considerations he does give her. And when he does succeed in hurting her in turn feels terrible him self. When I read a romance I go in with the firm belief that the main characters are good people, so that is always in my mind when they lash out at each other, which help's a lot in plots like this one. This is a story where two individuals, that have both had a rough time of it, learn to love and trust each other. They were both honorable, albeit misguided. They don't know each other and think the worst because they're both lashing out. The story progresses well, and realistically. I certainly couldn't put it down until I finished it. But, it's not nearly as good as "Devil's Embrace" or its sequel "Devil's Daughter." Warning: if you didn't like this do NOT read Woodiwiss's "The Wolf and the Dove" (considered by some to be a classic in romance) because in my opinion that man had absolutely NO redeeming qualities. And his treatment of the heroine and her family turned my stomach continually.
If you liked this you'll love: Kathleen E. Woodiwiss "The Flame and the Flower"(first in a series). Also recommended: anything by Dorothy Garlock, Linda Howard, and Julie Garwood's Historicals.
Rating:
Summary: Very politically incorrect but ever so kinky!
Review: Lady Rowena Belleme is forced to marry old codger Lord Godwine Lyons so that her step brother Gilbert d'Ambray may secure his lands and men. However, before the marriage can be consummated and an heir produced Lord Godwine suddenly dies. Rowena is more than happy that she does not have to lie with the old man but her step brother comes up with an idea that they kidnap a man with the same colourings as Lord Godwine and that Rowena lies with the man until she conceives, whilst they deceive the world of Lord Godwine's death. Enter one handsome blond and muscular Warrick de Chaville, Lord Faulkhurst who is kidnapped by Gilbert's men thinking that he is a lowly serf. He is sent back to Gilbert's castle and chained to a bed. Rowena must now seduce him and lie with him until she conceives a child. If she does not do as she is told Gilbert will kill her mother. So Rowena sets out to seduce the handsome Lord who is at all times chained to the bed. In fact she she literally rapes him for three nights in a row until she she finds an opportunity to set him free on the third night. Warrick has never been so humiliated in his life and tries to resist Rowena's charms but his body betrays him. On his release Warrick returns to capture Rowena and now the tables are turned. He treats her like for like and ties her to his bed and seduces her until her body betrays her and she gives in to his sensous touches. However, as the days passes, Warrick finds himself being attracted to the wench and can no longer find it in himself to do her harm. Rowena learns of Warrick's hurtful past and also finds herself being attracted to the arrogant but handsome Lord. Will they find it in each other to forgive the other for their unforgiveable deeds? Be warned this book is not written to be politically correct as the hero and the heroine both rape each other. However, the "rape" scenes are written in such a way that they can hardly be considered rape scenes as both parties seem to enjoy being seduced by the other. I myself found the scenes quite sexy but this is purely fantasy and in a real life situation I would be completely appalled. Still this was an enjoyable read as long as you considered it just as fiction and not get too emotionally involved with the rape scenes. Lealing
Rating:
Summary: Be Warned: Provocative Medieval Romance
Review: "Prisoner of My Desire" was pretty shocking to me the first time I read it about 10 years ago. I was a teenager then, and a HUGE fan of Johanna Lindsey, so I couldn't understand why she would write a romance about a man and woman raping each other. Needless to say, this book went on my list of "never to read again" obscurity. Luckily, I threw away that list!!! I just reread "Prisoner" and, to my absolute surprise, enjoyed it immensely. It is a provocative book, but the rape scenes weren't as outrageous as I remembered (actually, they're pretty hot). The heroine Rowena is the one who starts raping Warrick, after all. Not because she wants to, of course, but because she is the victim of her scheming brother's greed and either has to straddle manly Warrick or watch her mother die. What would you do? To say the least, Prisoner is one of JL's more steamy romances. I think half the book takes place in bed somewhere. Rowena and Warrick are fun characters, too, both with strong, likable personalities. It's hard not to like everyone in this book. Even Gilbert, the bad guy, has redeemable traits. My biggest criticism of "Prisoner" is how closely related plot- and character-wise it is to JL's earlier work, "So Speaks the Heart." Both are medieval romances, both have blond lovers, both revolve around the knight treating the lady like a slave because of something bad involving the lady's brother, and both deal with pregnancies. However, "Prisoner" is the better book of the two, with stronger characters and a more intriguing storyline. I personally would recommend "Prisoner" any day as a great medieval romance. However, if it sounds like too violent a book for you, read "So Speaks the Heart" or Lindsey's other medieval (and fantastic) novels "When Love Awaits" and "Defy Not the Heart." If you're in the mood for time travel to the medieval period, read JL's "Until Forever," about a gorgeous Viking with a cursed sword.
Rating: 
Summary: I have re-read this so many times!
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!
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