Rating: 
Summary: Publishers - Please Publish More Books Like This One
Review: Reading this book reminded me of why I first got excited about Romance. This is the kind of book Laura Kinsale used to write--a rich, complex story that that stays with you for weeks after you finish the book.The story was refreshingly different. I could not predict what would happen throughout the rest of the story after reading a chapter or two. It unfolded with its own logic and kept me entranced the whole time I was reading. And how wonderful too to have a book that is long enough to really be a book. I spent several days with it, savoring its rich, complex language and the subtle painting of emotions. When I turned the last page, I felt as if I'd just bid goodbye to a good friend. Thank you Judy Cuevas/Judith Ivory for having the guts to write something that might make some of your readers have to look up a word or two, for writing a romance that breaks all the rules, for giving me hope for the genre! And you editors out there. How about giving us some more like this. I'd buy them in a heartbeat!
Rating: 
Summary: Unique keeper though a somewhat uneven read
Review: The book begins beautifully and has a truly refreshing ending but some chapters in the middle are quite a challenge to read through, something due to Ivory's style I suppose. While Ivory's writing is rich and compelling it is also demanding. If you are looking for a light read with a familiar storyline this book is not for you. However if you have had enough of the love/lust at first sight pattern this is a book to sink your teeth into. Graham and Submit are two wonderfully portrayed characters, real and complex. Too often in romance books one or both of the main characters undergo a miraculous, almost unbelievable, change in order to ensure a happy ending. No such easy solution here and that's what makes the book worth reading. Graham is charming, wild, irresponsible and often childish but he is never mean and never stupid. He is ruled by his emotions (not for lack of brains, though), enjoys life and refuses to feel guilty about it. Submit is serious, reasonable, has a sharp open mind and the fact that she is not easily shocked, plus, that she has a very strong sense of self makes her a good mate for Graham.
The fact that Graham is a very appealing hero (and he is! faults and all) and that Submit is not boring is a tribute to Ivory's deep understanding of human nature. The dialogues are delightfully sophisticated, through them we discover the character's inner strengths and weaknesses and follow the growing friendship between two completely different people who move in different circles of London's society.A friendship that will eventually bring Graham and Submit together, supposedly against all odds, without giving up their essential personalities. When Submit finally agrees to take Graham on she knows exactly what she'll get. She is not blinded by his charm and faces the future without illusions. She is clever enough to see through Graham's rakish facade to the intelligence and kindness of the man inside and sensible enough to know better than to try and change him (though she is also honest enough to admit she might be tempted). No starry eyed acceptance but a mature one. Yes, I agree with the reviewer who called this book "a romance for grown ups", it is that and more. There is so much more I loved in the book:
* Henry - the man is already dead when the book begins and yet he is one of the main characters as he was a shaping force of both our hero and heroine.
* The rolls reversal between the male and female - Submit is the strong cool-headed one while our hero Graham is the emotional needy one.
* The consistent behavior of the characters, start to finish. No unexplained out of characters starts here.
* Graham's relationship with his mistress, which I thought further illuminated his personality. I disagree with the reviewers who felt his involvement with Rosalyn detracted from the story. So why after raving so much I give a grade of 4 stars?
Because as I mentioned at the beginning of my review the pacing was uneven, a few chapters were too detailed, and though I realize they were meant to reveal what drives Graham in the pattern of his life, long paragraphs could have been shortened to a few lines without detracting from the story, and at the same time move the story forward more fluently. So imagine how frustrating it was to finish the book and realize that some of the issues depicted in these paragraphs were left untied, for example: Graham's children disappeared in the middle of the book never to be heard of again or the struggling twin's fate... These and a few other minor flaws prevent the book from being a 5 stars read but the book is so unusual, the characterization so remarkable that I urge you to read it. For me "Black Silk" is a keeper. P.S. - "Black Silk" was my first Ivory book. After reading it I tried one of her latest books and it didn't come close to this one. While some of her writing style is recognized I felt it lacked the depth of Black Silk. So even if you are not a fan of Ivory's current writings you might want to give Black Silk a try, it's worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: Unbelievably Boring and Bland
Review: The book had potential, but Ivory writes with such a strange, convoluted style, using uncommon words here and there, that the book just infuriates you. The plot would have been better had Ivory's writing been more commanding of a true romance taking place. I think the book was a huge waste of my time and money. This was the first book I read of Ivory's, and needless to say, probably the last.
Rating: 
Summary: Very strange for a romance
Review: The writing was good but I just didn't like this book - the characters or the story. It wasn't much of a romance, in my opinion. And I sure didn't like the ending. I think I'll pass on Ivory from now on.
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: This book dragged on and on (hard to finish it). There was no great mystery behind it. I did not like the hero a bit, he was such a libertine! And the widow, well, not much to say about her either.
Rating:
Summary: Erotic!
Review: This book is amazing in the way it takes the reader and twists her in knots waiting for the hero and heroine to have sex. Black SIlk was so filled with sexual tension, I kept wanting to put it down so I could cool off, but I couldn't put it down because I kept wanting these people to do it! Really good! A definite keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Big Words Does Not a Good Book Make
Review: This book was all about character development. Lots and lots and lots of character development to be had here - that and really stilted dialogue...
"Do you love me?"
"I ate roast beef today."
Clearly this is not a direct quote, but the conversations do take on that "we are far, far too interesting to communicate clearly" edge.
As a romance novel this book fails miserably.
As a general work of fiction this book fails both on the grounds that the criteria are different outside the romance genre, and on it's own merit - it's just really dull.
As a general work of fiction graded on the romance curve it manages a C.
If you're looking to try something a little different, then go ahead and buy this book used or borrow it from a friend. It's received some glowing reviews, so it's possible it simply appeals to a taste I do not have.
If you prefer your romance novels to follow more traditional lines (i.e., the hero is not still sleeping with his mistress three fourths of the way through the book) then don't waste your time with this one, you'll hate it.
As a final note, the notion that this is an intellect's book, and to disparage it is to make a statement of your own lagging intelligence is just silly. I love everything by Dickens and Tolstoy, but I loathe fighting my way through anything by Hemingway and Upton. That makes me neither an idiot nor a genius.
Rating:
Summary: How many words are there for HORRIBLE!!!
Review: This is the first book I have read by Judith Ivory. I found it a huge disappointment, she is not a very good writer. First of all, I expected some mystery and thrills, you know something to put you on the edge of your seat, but the book just droned on, it actually put me to sleep once. If you are looking for a Romantic Suspense book, "Black Silk" is defintely not the book for you. The characters were out of place in the book, and there was too much romance for my taste. Sorry Judith.
Rating:
Summary: Black Silk
Review: This is the most luscious, engaging, sensual, brilliant romance novel I have ever read, and I have read hundreds, if not thousands. With the scandalous secret of Pandetti's Box between them, Submit and Graham have the most extraordinary relationship, utterly complex, utterly refreshing, utterly erotic - as erotic, naughty, and sensual as the box itself, with Graham providing all the erotic naughtiness. He is a master at it, seductive and dissolute in the face of Submit's unassailable honor, wry intelligence, and - the breach in her defenses - untested and therefore naive sexuality. With this book, Judith Ivory proves herself an absolute master of her craft. Read it and Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: The hero is unappealing.
Review: This romance is written better than most romances.
I wanted to like this book after having read so many high reviews and praises for this author and having heard the author compared to Laura Kinsale. The book is interesting and detailed and original. Original in that the hero and heroine actually get to know one another. They have long talks and lots of dialogue between them and he falls in love with her personality.
The minuses for me were the hero. His endless thoughts of himself, his past, how he is seen as a rake and somehow doesn't feel this is justified for example, his sleeping with the maid. As if it were some kind of magnanimous action for sleeping with someone below his status; as if he were "deep" for being attracted to an overweight, uneducated, big-hearted, limping maid (because he saw something special) but instead it just seemed another sordid and dirty escapade. This combined with the nude/sex drawings of himself, and his married mistress with her cuckolded, brokenhearted husband present at the hero's country home and the 2 kids that he loved but never paid attention to. I guess the heroine really did fall in love with other facets of his personality, because I don't know how she could fall in love with him for all this.
The heroine is dry and it was hard to see the attraction of her other than she was a thinker and a reader. Read this book because it is well written and interesting and so different from other romances. I just didn't like the hero but found the book interesting.
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