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Ondine

Ondine

List Price: $6.50
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This thing got me hooked!!!!
Review: Being a 'book worm' myself, I enjoy nothing less than perfect, captivating, and strong novels, so you really would not consider me to go for romance. Still, one of those days came onto me in the library when I was dead bored out of my skin of all those 'serious' novels, and wanted something new and exiting. Well, reculantly sauntering over to the romance shelves, 'Ondine' caught my eye and I gingerly brought it over to the front desk, where the librarian gave me a quizzical look. Only after a few days did I dare pick the book up, and mind you, that was at 12 am at night. Well, as I started to read, I could not put it down, and naturally read all through the night and the next day, not getting a wink of sleep until I finished. Now, I'm a regular visitor to the romance section in the library, and the librarians stopped giving me 'those' looks!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: So disappointing-
Review: First, there is not a person who has seen a photograph of Shannon/Heather, who wouldn't agree this women is drop dead gorgeous. However, I didn't much care for the idea of her, and her husband gracing the front cover representing the so called "characters." Why? Through out the entire storyline, action, intense or amorous, I would immediately get a mental image of the two of them. I don't want to think of the author, and her husband during all the twist and turns, I want nameless faces, fictional mysterious characters with lots and lots of sex appeal. And speaking of the characters? By the time I arrived towards the end, I found I no longer cared what happened to the heroine, or the hero. I'm sorry to say, the sexual tension, intrigue, just wasn't there. Now if you do want a good read by Shannon/Heather. Pick-up "Surrender." The conflict between Risa and Jerome is strong, the tention precisely measured. This book is one of a trilogy series. Another must read is "Princess of Fire." Alaric and Fallon are characters no reader will soon forget.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Buried Treasure of a Read: Highly recommended
Review: I did happen to read one other Shannon Drake novel that I couldn't put down: No Other Man. It was good but the other books in the series were too cliched and predictable. ONDINE is a great example of a book that has a nice balance of mystery, romance and intrique. I did like the fact that the couple seem to work together and communicate with each other and there didn't seem to be ridiculous plot contrivances for the sake of having one in the plot. I really enjoyed this novel and think it is a buried treasure of a read. Highly recommend this book.

Other authors I would recommend: Kathleen Eagle, Laura Kinsale, Connie Brockway and Judith Ivory.


Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Hard to Get Through
Review: I have read several good Shannon Drake novels in the past and had high hopes for this one. However, the highlight for me was at the beginning when Warwick saved Ondine from being lynched. It all went downhill from there in my opinion.

Drake was very accurate in her historical detail, and I did enjoy that. However, I grew tired very quickly of the sparring between these two characters. I really didn't see what either one of them saw in each other.

I liked the "gothic" element of the plot, but it wasn't terribly original.

All in all, a disappointment.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Hard to Get Through
Review: I have read several good Shannon Drake novels in the past and had high hopes for this one. However, the highlight for me was at the beginning when Warwick saved Ondine from being lynched. It all went downhill from there in my opinion.

Drake was very accurate in her historical detail, and I did enjoy that. However, I grew tired very quickly of the sparring between these two characters. I really didn't see what either one of them saw in each other.

I liked the "gothic" element of the plot, but it wasn't terribly original.

All in all, a disappointment.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Once you pick it up, you cannot put it down.
Review: I only have two favorite historical romance novels and Ondine is one of them. In fact, I loved it so much, I was able to talk my husband into reading it. It is the only romance novel he's ever read and even he couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book to romance and non-romance readers

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: well written
Review: I really liked this book. It is the first Shannon Drake novel I've read and I have to say she is a great Romance novelist. The book wasn't just about sex,there was a real story going on. However when there was a love sceen they were exciting &powerful . My one complaint is the cover. I had A small problem with the picture of the couple. I know that it is of the Author and I not saying she isn't lovely but that is definately not the way I pictured Ondine or Warwick for that matter.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Here's the Shannon Drake I'm used too...
Review: It seems to me that Shannon Drake is using the same plot in most of her books: heroine and hero are enemies, they are forced together, they fight for most of the book, and right when you are about to burn the book in frustration, they FINALLY realize that they love each other. A prime example of this is Princess of Fire.

Ondine, however, was, in my opinion, Drake's best book. It had a plot to it that supported the characters, versus a watered-down plot held together soley by the characters. It had the perfect mixture of plot, mystery, romance and history. There was character conflict, but not to the extent that she sometimes gets carried away to. I would definitely reccomend this book.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Gothic with contemporary twist
Review: Not being a 'Gothic' fan, reading Ondine was slightly difficult. I began Ondine, put it down, read 'Glory'(Heather Graham's latest) and another author's novel before going back to Ondine. In my opinion, I have to be in the mood for gothic. And I figured out whom the sinister murderer was early in the novel. I guess I've read one too many mysterious romances. But was stunned to find that the murderer's son didn't share her opinion for her hatred of Warwick and his brides. The original plot, marrying the bride on the gallows was captivating, however, the plan to catch the murderer wore on. The sparring between the two was not as intense as it could have been, however, Ondine lived with the threat of being turned out if she didn't live up to Warwick's standards, or at least she believed so. In my opinion, Ondine dragged on without any major climaxes that could have kept me interested. But then again, I'm not a gothic fan. Nor am I the 'a typical romance novel' fan where the hero and heroine looks into each others' eyes and fall in-love. I like history, reluctant brides, reluctant grooms, and historical events that throw the two together of course encourages tenacity, stubborness, willful, strong, bullheaded but likeable characters. If you're a fan of Victoria Holt, Marilyn Harris of the 1970s, then you'll enjoy the more contemporary version of gothic that Drake pens. Contemporary gothic because Drake thinks and writes the prose that we want to hear in the 1990s, of course, paired with the sensuality that Graham/Drake is known for penning. But I agree with the reader from California whom submitted a comment on 2 Feb. 1998, 'Surrender and Princess of Fire' are exciting and exhilirating historical romances written by Graham/Drake. These two are just two of my favorites by this author!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What a story!
Review: This is a very fast paced story that keeps you in suspense as well as thoroughly engrossed. This is basically a story of two individuals who find love under some varied suspenseful series. The history of King Charles II, court life, aristocrats, servants, relatives, etc. At first, I did not think I would like this book, but boy was I wrong! The author is extremely good. There are stories within the story, that keep you moving. This book shows you the good, bad and the ugly of l7th century England. I highly recommend this book.


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