Rating: 
Summary: A Gentle, Funny, and Very Sexy Hero
Review: It's 1890 in the Egyptian desert and a perfect setting for a touching romance. Harry Braxton and Desdemona (Dizzy)Carlisle, both from England, have been close friends for five years and neither will admit they are desperately in love with the other. As You Desire is truly the most enjoyable book I have read from page one. The first pages of the book grab you quickly and by page ten, you are swept up in Harry and Dizzy's relationship and laughing and sighing over the fantastic hero, Harry. The first half of the book had me laughing again and again. The synopsis on the back of the book refers to Harry as a notorious rake. I did not see him in this manner. He has a real heart and his character is written well as a very desirable but concientious man. He adores Dizzy but hides from her a problem that he fears would repulse her. Reading the book, I did not understand the seriousness of his problem, but once I finished the book, I read the author's notes at the end of the book and realized that his problem was considered to be very significant in 1890. I suggest that you read the author's notes before beginning the book to understand many of Harry's feelings. Dizzy has thrown herself at Harry three years earlier and he had refused her advances due to her young age and his hidden problem. She was a child genius and is now a talented translator of ancient manuscripts. She is a very likable heroine and is embarassed by her earlier overtures that Harry declined. She longs to return to England someday. Harry and Dizzy enjoy their close friendship. When Harry's handsome cousin comes to visit him from England, he fears Dizzy is slipping away from him and sees her welcoming his cousin's attentions. The romance between Harry and Dizzy develops quickly at this point and it is one of the sweetest I have read. Connie Brockway is a fantastic author and does no formula romance writing. Everything about this book is fresh and unusual. Although I feared some misunderstandings arising towards the middle of the book, this author simply does not write silly misunderstanding between her love leads as we so often see in historical romance novels. Harry and Dizzy are each very hesistant to reach beyond the confines of their friendship. They communicate well and don't get lost in lies. There is a beautiful sensual scene between the two that I would rate about a three (see more about me for these guidelines) but this is a story that does not need additional sensual writing. The action of this book is quick for the first half, then falters for another fourth of the book and then picks back up to deliver a very satisfying ending. This is a book you will probably want to save to read again someday. I read many books each week and find I remember few storylines. This is one story that has stayed with me for months now. It is simply outstanding.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful
Review: Just a quick blurb from me...I thought that this book was wonderful. The truly refreshing aspect of this book is that, unlike 90% of the other romances I have read, the 'hero' in this one is not perfect, and the two main characters'love evolves out of a strong friendship rather than a flash-in-the-pan lust/love. Yet the tale still remains very sensual and very romantic.
Rating: 
Summary: And now for a dissenting opinion...
Review: Perhaps because I have actually lived in Egypt and known archeologists, I have to report that this book is just plain silly. It appeared to this reader that the setting was not researched at all; it takes more than throwing a dart on the map and buying a guidebook to flesh out a setting. I don't think even those who love this book will dispute that there is nothing genuine or authentic in the setting; probably they would argue that I'm missing the point... this is fantasy. OK, OK, but it's not MY fantasy - I need more meat, and this is tofu. NO, it's tofuti - some synthetic resemblance to an actual novel, but utterly contrived. Now, maybe a case could be made that it's a character story - I can enjoy stories that delve deeply into the psyches of two complex characters and demonstrate how they complete each other. However, this book is quite, quite weak in the characterization department. No, I don't hate Harry or Desdemona - I can barely remember them (and I just finished reading it last week!) I don't dis Connie Brockway as a writer, but I think when you crank em out at a certain pace, one can forget what one knows of craft - the author informs the reader of the personalities and psychological issues of the hero and heroine, rather than indicating them through dialogue and action. The hero and heroine were modern day people with modern day conversational styles and viewpoints who were implausibly plopped into an unfleshed out, unresearched setting. Someone else here pointed out that the book had a comic book, cartoonish feel - and I concur with that. It may be that the very quality I found cartoonish is, for the many people who enjoyed this book, the quality they define as "light-hearted" or "fun." I found the author's note at the end about dyslexia (a term that's 20 years out-of-date, by the way) just plain puzzling - grafting on an incompatible serious note of social import onto a work that had all the gravitas of "Midnight at the Oasis" (?!) It just didn't make sense in this completely unrealistic orientalist fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: As You Desire
Review: RO-MAN-TIC! This was my first book by this author. I bought the book based on the back cover write-up and didn't realize the story takes place in Egypt. I'm used to reading historical romances, usually Scotland, but this book blew me away. It dit not follow the usual outline - big strong man - sweet little virgin, but I loved it. The love scene was one of the romantic I've read and I loved the poems. Needless to say, I'll be checking out Brockway's other books. This one was a wonderful read!
Rating:
Summary: Great characterization; smart, snappy dialogue.
Review: Set in Victorian Egypt, As You Desire is the story of Harry Braxton, an English entrepreneur-archeologist-adventurer and Desdemona Carlisle, a translator who is living with her archeologist grandfather. Desdemona, or "Dizzy", as Harry calls her, was a child prodigy who knows twelve languages. Her parents took her around the world when she was a child, showing her off to scholars and basically isolating her, so now she has a tendency to spin romantic daydreams and get into scrapes. The only real friend she has is Harry, with whom she fell in love five years ago, when she first came to live with her grandfather in Egypt. However, she once foolishly offered herself to Harry and was turned away, and now she thinks her eyes have been opened to the "real" Harry--he may be a friend, but he's an unscrupulous businessman and is a shameless opportunist as well. Harry is secretly crazy in love with Dizzy, and has been for years, but he has a devastating secret that prevents him from declaring his love to her. Instead, he settles for being her friend and all-around tormenter, always rescuing her from scrapes and never letting her forget his existence. Then, Harry's aristocratic cousin arrives from England, and he is exactly what Dizzy thinks she wants: the perfect English gentleman, brooding, and dark and handsome. So maybe he's a bit dull and self-centered, but he's interested in her. Harry realizes that he has to fight to keep Dizzy, and Dizzy comes to see that perhaps the heroes of our dreams don't make such great heroes in real life. But before they can have their Happily Ever After, they have to deal with twisted old enemies, desert slave traders, misguided friends, and their own insecurities. The *idea* of this books is great, and the characters are entirely sympathetic and likeable, but Brockway's language and execution are quite choppy. However, Harry is enough to give the book five stars. He's a character whom you rarely encounter in romance novels: a hero who has had a lot of challenges in his life, but who works hard to overcome his problems and retains a big heart (instead of dwelling on those problems and becoming bitter against the injustice of the world.) Desdemona is a likeable heroine, and her uncertainties concerning the soundness of her judgment and what her desires are are understandable. Other characters, such as the other woman, the guardian grandfather, and the other man, thankfully do NOT come from central casting, and add depth to this very charming romance.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely in the top 10 of my favorite books
Review: The only word that comes to my mind when asked to describe this book is: WOW! There's no doubt about it, this is one of the best book I've ever read. AS YOU DESIRE just have it all: love, wit, drama, family, and of course, the laugh out loud humor that is just so charming! Some might find this book a little too light on the emotional side because of all the funny parts but nevertheless, this incredible story still tugs the old heartstrings as the readers experience the frustration, loneliness, and all-consuming love the book's hero, Harry, feels for his annoying, yet delightful best bud, Dizzy. It was just so delicious seeing him trip all over his feet trying to get his beloved Dizzy away from his too-handsome cousin, while debating with himself whether to tell her how he truly feels for her. Also, the reason why I totally fell in love with this book is because it was such a delightful contrast to the tired plot where the hero is ridiculously determined to cling to his bachelorhood and its all up to the heroine to convince him that he loves her and should marry her. This book has none of that. Dizzy might have loved Harry years ago but ever since he refused her because of her tender age (and his honor) she convinced herself that Harry is not her knight-in-shining armor and its all up to Harry to convince her otherwise. Take my word for it, this is one of the best books you would ever read and it's definitely worth every penny. The hilarious twist of the hard and cynical gravedigger who turns into a quivering pile mush when paired with the beautiful scholar whose romantic and naive musings were at odds with her genius mind is just way too good to pass up! Believe me, this is the one book you would never want to slip away from you.
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Romance of All!
Review: The summary says it all. I've reread this book about a dozen times and each time it satisfies like no other I've read. It's pure romance and pure fun and the hero and heroine couldn't be any better.
Rating:
Summary: The Most Romantic of the Genre!
Review: This is my favorite romance of the genre. Why? Because Connie Brockway really wrote a love story, a story about romantic little things, about two people who had a real relationship and not just the usual "yeah-yeah" back and forth. Dizzy and Harry are just perfect for one another and the setting is inviting. Not the usual backdrop at all. It's Indiana Jones in Cairo with the usual bad guys and fun. When I can't find a good romance to read, which is often these days, I go and reread this book, and I highly recommend it to all romance fans! It's not to be missed. Ms. Brockway, please leave Scotland and come back to Egypt where you belong!
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT READ
Review: This was a great book! I loved both characters....very sweet an heartwarming. Something everyone should read.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: This was a great romance! The author was right, the synopsis is all wrong, it is nothing like the general desert romance. It is a truly great story with very believable characters. I especially liked this story because one could really see why the characters loved one another - they were true friends. It was not your run of the mill book where their eyes meet and they fall in love, but then act like they hate each other for the rest of the book. The characters were very well developed and believable. Their friendship was also well developed and touching. I loved the heroine, she was someone I could relate to, not some simpering airhead who hates the hero for most of the book just so the story won't end quickly. Truly a great book, with a good plot, and wonderful characters. END
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