The Hawk and the Dove

Rating:
Summary: Held my attention but...something was missing
Review: I picked this book up because I had read "A year and a Day" and "A Woman of Passion" and thought Ms.Henley was a very captivating writer. The Hawk and the Dove was fast-paced, and while it did keep me reading, ultimately something was missing. Typical to romances, both the hero and heroine were unbelievably good-looking, but I thought both to be vain and self-absorbed. While the plot wasn't horrible, it wasn't great. If you're looking for some hot sex scenes, I would recommend this to you, but if you want a more substantial read, look elsewhere

Rating:
Summary: Nothing special, nothing horrid. . .
Review: I read an excerpt of this book in Joanne Redd's Chasing a Dream. I was young, impressionable and eager to see what happened to the promising heroine Sara Bishop (Sabre Wilde). It was a fast-paced read, but rather disjointed. Everything the heroine did seemed to be due to her desire to prove what a colossal brat she was, and the hero was worse! Henley, like almost all historical authors who have tried to tackle the personality of Elizabeth I, made her out to be a vain and vituperative woman. At least the historical innaccuracies were not as glaring in this book as they were in her others.

Rating:
Summary: HORRIBLE!
Review: I tried Virginia Henley's A Year and a Day first and loved it so I decided to try this after reading some of the reviews. BIG MISTAKE. Was this the same author? This book had terrible, shallow characters and an uninteresting plot. The so-called hero was a violently jealous uncaring tyrant and the heroine was just plain stupid and unbelievable. A Year and a Day was much better but after reading this trash I don't know if I'll ever try another Henley book.

Rating:
Summary: Could have been a good book
Review: I was disgusted when I read this book. Most of it would have been okay if the "Sea God" hadn't raped Sabre. It was completely unforgivable, but of course she ends up in love with him. Sabre is not the kind of woman who would let a man get away with that or fall in love with him after raping her. She is too proud and self-respecting.

Rating:
Summary: Luv it
Review: Luv it, Virginia Henly's ability to create un-forgetable characters is amazing. With this book you'll find yourself sharing the emotions, and forgetting to sleep.

Married by proxy, and abandoned, Sara Bishop is determined to wreak revenge.As flame-haired, emerald eyed Sabre Wilde, she would scandalize Queen Elizabeth's court as she sets out to seduce her unknown husband, become his mistress and make him her slave. But will her plan backfire and leave her hopelessly in love with him?

Rating:
Summary: horrible
Review: READ THE ABOVE AMAZON EDITORIAL REVIEWS FOR BOOK SYNOPSIS:

My OPINION: I find this book terribly inadequate. I have read and enjoyed quite a few of Virginia Henleys work but I am sad to admit, this most certainly is not one of them.

The back book description drawned me to buy this one. Since I am fond of Ms. Henley, I didn't bother checking the Amazon book reviews either. Now, however, I wish I had... The beginning of this story was truly interesting and pulling. But as soon as our heroine, Sara, went to London to enforce her "revenge" plot to her unseen husband, Shane... that's when everything sorta went downhill. It should have been more exciting as I expected it to be but unfortunately, it didn't feel that way to me. There was something missing that I can't quite put together. Then, in the end, I was simply not satisfied. The "hearty feeling" wasn't there. I also had many questions that's left unanswered, like for instance, what happened to Queen Elizabeth's fury towards Sara and Shane? Seems that part was just forgotten. Perhaps they were both forgiven. Just like that, huh? What about the attack to Spain? How did that go? What happend to the Baron? Did he end up with Giorgianna? Perhaps I just missed these parts when I was skipping pages. Well, that fact alone, that I was skipping pages intentionally pretty much says it all about this book. I am sorry, I do love Ms. Henley's style of writing but her talent just wasn't "IN" this particular book. Mayhap this is one of her earlier works. Hawk and the Dove is a foil compared to "A YEAR AND A DAY" & "THE PLANTAGENET TRILOGY". I sure love all 4 books and recommend it!

As for the characters, well... I did like Sara in the beginning but I'll admit, I was turned off the moment she decided to "barrow" (without permission, mind you) the Queens sapphire necklace. That alone shows how ambitious and materialistic she is. I don't mind ambitious heroine but I prefer it in a practical and in an average flight not over-flown like this one. To actually go to the extent of "barrowing-without-permission", to risk such danger just to show off in a party? Hmm, not my kind of heroine. However, I decided not to judge her and tried to shove that thought aside. I tried to understand Sara by remembering her childhood, give excuses for her so that I can just continue reading this book! Eventually, I sorta accepted her character. That is how she is portrayed and so be it. Our hero, Shane, The Sea God, on the other hand is.... Hmmm, I can't even find a proper description to fit him! (shows how I am interested by his character, huh?). Well, let's see... Handsome, Intelligent, Rakish, Rich (the usual character for a hero, I guess). He also gives Sabre (Sara) everything! I mean, EVERYTHING! Tolerates her ways all the time. Except for when jealousy kicks in, of course. If not for the desire and sexual tension, I'd say Shane's like a father to Sara. He treated her more like a child. A spoiled one, at that. Again, not my kind of hero. Another thing that also bothered me about Shane is he never asked questions about Sabre/Sara past or family. Seems like he wasn't interested about her past life, childhood, where she came from for that matter. Seemed like he is in love with her the moment he saw her beautiful FACE and her luscious BODY. He wants her and that's that! I don't think he really knows anything else about Sara. So where and how did love weaved in? No relationship development at all. Again, not my kind of love-romance.

The reason why I haven't rated this book a 1 star after all my negative comments above is simply because of the unique plot. It really does have potential and like I said, I did enjoy the first part. It also made me want to look into Queen Elizabeth I. Despite my skipping pages towards the end, I did finished this book and for me, that counts... that matters. However, If you are a first time Virginia Henley reader, please, I beg you not to start with this one! Of course, that is only my opinion.

Rating:
Summary: What a disappointment...
Review: READ THE ABOVE AMAZON EDITORIAL REVIEWS FOR BOOK SYNOPSIS:

My OPINION: I find this book terribly inadequate. I have read and enjoyed quite a few of Virginia Henleys work but I am sad to admit, this most certainly is not one of them.

The back book description drawned me to buy this one. Since I am fond of Ms. Henley, I didn't bother checking the Amazon book reviews either. Now, however, I wish I had... The beginning of this story was truly interesting and pulling. But as soon as our heroine, Sara, went to London to enforce her "revenge" plot to her unseen husband, Shane... that's when everything sorta went downhill. It should have been more exciting as I expected it to be but unfortunately, it didn't feel that way to me. There was something missing that I can't quite put together. Then, in the end, I was simply not satisfied. The "hearty feeling" wasn't there. I also had many questions that's left unanswered, like for instance, what happened to Queen Elizabeth's fury towards Sara and Shane? Seems that part was just forgotten. Perhaps they were both forgiven. Just like that, huh? What about the attack to Spain? How did that go? What happend to the Baron? Did he end up with Giorgianna? Perhaps I just missed these parts when I was skipping pages. Well, that fact alone, that I was skipping pages intentionally pretty much says it all about this book. I am sorry, I do love Ms. Henley's style of writing but her talent just wasn't "IN" this particular book. Mayhap this is one of her earlier works. Hawk and the Dove is a foil compared to "A YEAR AND A DAY" & "THE PLANTAGENET TRILOGY". I sure love all 4 books and recommend it!

As for the characters, well... I did like Sara in the beginning but I'll admit, I was turned off the moment she decided to "barrow" (without permission, mind you) the Queens sapphire necklace. That alone shows how ambitious and materialistic she is. I don't mind ambitious heroine but I prefer it in a practical and in an average flight not over-flown like this one. To actually go to the extent of "barrowing-without-permission", to risk such danger just to show off in a party? Hmm, not my kind of heroine. However, I decided not to judge her and tried to shove that thought aside. I tried to understand Sara by remembering her childhood, give excuses for her so that I can just continue reading this book! Eventually, I sorta accepted her character. That is how she is portrayed and so be it. Our hero, Shane, The Sea God, on the other hand is.... Hmmm, I can't even find a proper description to fit him! (shows how I am interested by his character, huh?). Well, let's see... Handsome, Intelligent, Rakish, Rich (the usual character for a hero, I guess). He also gives Sabre (Sara) everything! I mean, EVERYTHING! Tolerates her ways all the time. Except for when jealousy kicks in, of course. If not for the desire and sexual tension, I'd say Shane's like a father to Sara. He treated her more like a child. A spoiled one, at that. Again, not my kind of hero. Another thing that also bothered me about Shane is he never asked questions about Sabre/Sara past or family. Seems like he wasn't interested about her past life, childhood, where she came from for that matter. Seemed like he is in love with her the moment he saw her beautiful FACE and her luscious BODY. He wants her and that's that! I don't think he really knows anything else about Sara. So where and how did love weaved in? No relationship development at all. Again, not my kind of love-romance.

The reason why I haven't rated this book a 1 star after all my negative comments above is simply because of the unique plot. It really does have potential and like I said, I did enjoy the first part. It also made me want to look into Queen Elizabeth I. Despite my skipping pages towards the end, I did finished this book and for me, that counts... that matters. However, If you are a first time Virginia Henley reader, please, I beg you not to start with this one! Of course, that is only my opinion.

Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST
Review: THIS BOOK IS JUST GREAT

Rating:
Summary: I absoloutly loved this book
Review: This book was a perfect change from the books I read before. I adored the characters of the book especially the heroine for her scheme to become her husband's mistress.This book was the first story I read for Virginia Henley,after it I couldn't stop reading for her.THANK YOU Virginia VERY MUCH.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best in Historical Romance!
Review: This book will keep you turning the pages even when you should be doing the dishes! Virginia Henley's ability to create unforgettable characters is one of a kind. This book will not only make you hot for your husband again, but it will also give you a wonderful idea of what it was actually like living in Queen Elizabeth's Court. Only Virginia Henley can make me visualize everything I am reading with such detail; I can even smell the food on the table and feel the beautifully described materials of Sara's wardrobe on my skin. I recommend every one of Ms. Henely's books. If you like to read Historical Romance, you will be hooked on Henely!