Rating: 
Summary: Triple whammy: heaps of sexual tension, emotion, and smarts
Review: A truly adult historical romance, possibly for more mature readers, that scores high on sexual tension while also scoring big on clear, thinking, almost poetic prose. (I might mention that sexual tension here is not to be confused with a lot of sex, though, boy, is the reader ready for the staircase scene when it comes!) Fresh characters, good examples of smart people who discover how inadequate intellect is when it comes to high emotions. And a plot that revolves around the mystery of a dead man's true intentions. All fascinating stuff.If you are looking for a mindless story to skim thru for the sex, this is NOT your book. Ivory goes deep into what love and attraction can mean and do to people, then builds an erotic tension that more or less combusts when the hero and heroine least expect it. Black Silk doesn't read like a traditional romance. It is its own kind of love story and not to be missed if you long for something unique in a genre that doesn't always specialize in one-of-a kind concepts. Pass if you like to be lead by the nose through a comfortably familiar story, though this one does begin with some familiar ideas: the rake, the widow in dire straits. If you enjoy unexpected twists, however, as a book assembles itself like a well-built, complicated puzzle, you'll fall in love with this story and keep it on your shelf for rereading. This version of Black Silk is an "author-enhanced" (some romance site reviewer said this somewhere) reprint of a cult classic from the early 90's that fully deserves the attention of this versitile author's new, much larger audience. It's like none of her other books. But then which of her books are? Only the author's style seems to link her books, while each novel--each new set of characters, each new story--seem an attempt to reinvent the romance paperback again and again to the author's own liking.
Rating:
Summary: Tossing in my two cents
Review: After seeing that this book had receieved a few negative reviews, I have to toss in my vote as well. And it's a postive one. This book was originally published under Judy Cuevas (Judith Ivory's pseudonym). There are two others she's publshed under the Cuevas name and all of them are excellent as well. No, this is not your typical, run-of-the-mill, written-by-the-formula romances. Yet it works. The characters are unique and interesting and their encounters are incredibly sexy. There's only one sex scene in this book, so if you're looking for lots of action, this will not be a read you'll enjoy. However, if you are open to an intelligent and witty story, with lots of sublte sensuality, then I would recommend that you snatch this title up, because this book will surprise, amuse and entrance you. Well, it did me at least.
Rating: 
Summary: Hot Thoughts Beget Hot Deeds...
Review: After the death of her elderly husband, Lady Submit Channing-Downes is left with one last wifely obligation to fulfill. Her husband has let it be known through his will that she is to deliver a small, black box to its rightful owner - Graham Wessit, The Earl of Netham.
The delivery of this box ,however, is not so cut and dried as Submit had originally assumed. Upon meeting the notorious Lord Wessit, she becomes entangled deeply into his life and all of the troubles and relationships that comprise it. During this time as Submit and Graham grow closer, Submit makes many new and shocking discoveries about both her late husband and herself.
"Black Silk" was a dark, intelligently written story. Miss Ivory has an obvious love for her work and for words. She weaves this tale and all of its pieces together seamlessly.
I enjoyed the character of Submit, but the attraction here ,for me, was all about Graham. He was so full of passion, he was overflowing with it. His thoughts and his reactions regarding Submit made me wish that he was a real man and that I was the focus of his attentions. He was a truly riveting character and I loved him for his own personal oddities.
As much as I adored this book, I did have a few complaints.
First, I felt frustrated by how long we were made to wait for the intitial meeting between Submit and Graham. I see that it was necessary, but still, I found it annoying.
My main complaint with this story though was the way the first scene of intimacy was handled. I was disappointed by the fact that instead of divvying it out, Ivory sort of threw all of the relationships "firsts" into one somewhat anti-climactic scene.
"Black Silk" just missed being a keeper for me, but it was still an amazing book. The last pages alone would have made it worth reading. I would recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Bless you, Ms. Ivory. What a jewel of a book!
Review: An extraordinarily well-developed and surprisingly literate novel. (Can I mention smart and sexy too?) The relationship between the heroine and hero compellingly evolves from fascination to attraction, from lust to love. I can't think of another "romance" that I would recommend more.
Rating:
Summary: Intricate and complicated, a ballet rather than a romance
Review: Black Silk ends up feeling more like a literary novel than a romance. Sure, many events take place that fit into genre conventions: boy meets girl, boy aggravates girl, boy establishes a friendship with an eye on pushing it farther. But Judith Ivory set the novel in 1858 particularly so that her characters could have a modern mindset - don't expect to see swooning females, heroic males, and so forth. Graham Wessit, the Earl of Nethem, is a lonely ne'er-do-well, a lady's man. In a simple romance he would be reformed by the love of a good woman. In this book he treats his mistress, a married American woman, approximately the same way he treats the heroine, Submit Channing-Downs. He has a keen and rude sexual interest in women but he also wants to be friends with them in a completely believable characterization. His riches and poor reputation have him spend the first several chapters of the book unsuccessfully defending himself against a paternity suit. The world at large thinks he is getting what he deserves and Graham sulks about the fact that not even his attorney believes he is innocent. Graham is summed up by an exchange with his attorney : "It is a shame to see someone your age so cynical. Especially someone who has as much as you." Gathering his things, Graham said, "I am up to here" - he made a chop at the underside of his chin - "with how much I have." Submit Channing-Downs, on the other hand, has spent her life before Graham doing what other people tell her to do. She married the older man her father picked out to take care of her - Henry Channing-Downs, the marquess of Montmarche - and did what she was told through the burial the carrying out of his last bequests. Unfortunately, her husband left an illegitimate son who has her immediately removed from the properties that were left to her, out of pique that he was recognized in cash but not in title or property. She disregards her lawyer's advice to let someone else deal with Henry's oddest bequest - a simple box, left to his cousin and in previous times ward Graham Wessit. Submit comes into the book a distant figure wrapped in black, and soon decides to have a personality of her own; an understandable reaction when humble obedience leaves one out on the street. The strange relationship evolving between Graham and Submit, and the legal battles between Submit and Henry's illegitimate son, make the entire middle part of the book feel like some sort of surreal dance. There are many partners swinging in and out : Graham's mistress, her unashamedly loving husband, Submit's lawyer, her opponent William, Graham's legally allotted children - Add the despondent mother who won the suit against Graham and the deceased : Henry, a maid Graham had an affair with once, and objects: the box and its contents, the serial that keeps appearing in a magazine mocking Graham's life... Each individual and each object has something to bring to the story, and each addition is something of a surprise. The wrapping-up follows many twists and turns, and is tied up with one final neat surprise, like a bow on an elaborate gift. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Delightful erotic tension between an unlikely couple
Review: Black Silk is a delightful book. Cuevas does a wonderful job detailing her characters giving them idiosyncracies that make them very real. Graham is an overly, indeed aggressively attractive man intent on enjoying himself and not too concerned with the dangers (One of his hobbies is fireworks). Submit, on the other hand, is the prim, slightly smug widow of Graham's former guardian. When the story opens both Graham and Submit are in legal troubles. A cousin is contesting Submit's husband's will while Graham is in a paternity suit. This context of intransigent legal troubles sets the stage for their frustrations and gives reason for this very unlikely couple's ongoing interaction. Cuevas builds the erotic tension beautifully through the book. Graham and Submit's perplexity over their attraction, their prickly friendship, and their simultaneous fascination and annoyance with the others habits is both poignant and sensuous. A tour de force
Rating: 
Summary: A romance that is more of a character study
Review: Black Silk is an enigmatic romance that departs from the mainstream - and you can see why - it is a reissue from 1991 by popular romance novelist Judith Ivory. The strength of the book bolsters on the central protagonists - Graham Wessit and Submit Channing Downes. The former being the Earl of Netham who is rocked by a recent scandal over an allegation by a girl who gets impregnated by him and the latter a mourning widow who is entrusted by her husband to deliver the Pandetti box to Graham. The contents of the box are salacious drawings by a royal artist called Pandetti which caused the public ostracizing of Graham. It is later revealed that it is a scheme of Henry to see Graham destroyed. Black Silk is highly descriptive and vivid but at times it reduces the novel to a pretentious and verbose mode. The romance is slow and is more of a character study that unfolds quietly through the turn of events.It reveals depth in Graham and his paradox on sex and love. It displays Submit's inclination to sensual awakening and bursting out of her mourning for her husband yet guilty of doing so. The ghost of Henry hangs unauspiciously in the wake of their nascent love and the obstacle in the form of Rosalyn Schild as a lover of Graham threatens their romance. Black Silk certainly isn't for the mainstream romance readers who wants their novels fast and snappy. It slowly meanders through the past events of the characters to fully develop them -like legal contest of wills, Graham's children et al. Their romance grows from utter strangers to a platonic form then graduates to desire and passion. Its ending may be a bit overblown but for readers who take it slow - they may find the read ultimately satisfying.
Rating: 
Summary: The hero is unappealing.
Review: Black silk is incredible. What a wonderful story this book gives us. After reading this book it's no wonder to me that Judith Silk wins awards; she surely deserves them. Good writing is hard to find in any genre, but she is one of the best romance writers I know of.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: Black silk is incredible. What a wonderful story this book gives us. After reading this book it's no wonder to me that Judith Silk wins awards; she surely deserves them. Good writing is hard to find in any genre, but she is one of the best romance writers I know of.
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Summary: Just as wonderful the second time around !
Review: BLACK SILK is the ultimate Romance for inteligent readers. This is a book for people who enjoy just absolutely brilliant writing in any genre. The cast of characters, while not always likable, are certainly fascinating and different. The romance doesn't jump out at you, you ease into it,like a lovely, luxurious warm bath. If you are expecting a light and fluffy beach read, and there is nothing wrong with that, this is not the book for you. However, if you want to wake up your senses, and immerse yourself in truly creative writing, dazzling characters, and luscious, sophisticated, supremely sexy Romance, you can't do better than BLACK SILK. This is one of the very first Romances I ever read, and it set high standards for the many novels that have followed. If you try this book, and don't "get" it, it's not Judith Ivory's fault. I have enjoyed all the Cueavas/Ivory books,and am eager for her next effort, but Ms. Ivory will never write a better book than BLACK SILK. I am, however, certainly delighted she keeps trying to top herself. As for being a re-issue, I can only say thank you! My original copy has been re-read so many times, it's falling apart. I'm glad to have the chance to replace it. I envy those lucky readers who are discovering this novel for the first time, and hope they will enjoy it as much as I have.
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