Prisoner of My Desire

Rating:
Summary: Be Warned: Provocative Medieval Romance
Review: "Prisoner of My Desire" was pretty shocking to me the first time I read it about 10 years ago. I was a teenager then, and a HUGE fan of Johanna Lindsey, so I couldn't understand why she would write a romance about a man and woman raping each other. Needless to say, this book went on my list of "never to read again" obscurity. Luckily, I threw away that list!!!

I just reread "Prisoner" and, to my absolute surprise, enjoyed it immensely. It is a provocative book, but the rape scenes weren't as outrageous as I remembered (actually, they're pretty hot). The heroine Rowena is the one who starts raping Warrick, after all. Not because she wants to, of course, but because she is the victim of her scheming brother's greed and either has to straddle manly Warrick or watch her mother die. What would you do?

To say the least, Prisoner is one of JL's more steamy romances. I think half the book takes place in bed somewhere. Rowena and Warrick are fun characters, too, both with strong, likable personalities. It's hard not to like everyone in this book. Even Gilbert, the bad guy, has redeemable traits.

My biggest criticism of "Prisoner" is how closely related plot- and character-wise it is to JL's earlier work, "So Speaks the Heart." Both are medieval romances, both have blond lovers, both revolve around the knight treating the lady like a slave because of something bad involving the lady's brother, and both deal with pregnancies. However, "Prisoner" is the better book of the two, with stronger characters and a more intriguing storyline.

I personally would recommend "Prisoner" any day as a great medieval romance. However, if it sounds like too violent a book for you, read "So Speaks the Heart" or Lindsey's other medieval novels "When Love Awaits," "Defy Not the Heart," or "Joining." If you're in the mood for time travel to the medieval period, read JL's "Until Forever," about a gorgeous Viking with a cursed sword.

Rating:
Summary: Be Warned: Provocative Medieval Romance
Review: "Prisoner of My Desire" was pretty shocking to me the first time I read it about 10 years ago. I was a teenager then, and a HUGE fan of Johanna Lindsey, so I couldn't understand why she would write a romance about a man and woman raping each other. Needless to say, this book went on my list of "never to read again" obscurity. Luckily, I threw away that list!!!

I just reread "Prisoner" and, to my absolute surprise, enjoyed it immensely. It is a provocative book, but the rape scenes weren't as outrageous as I remembered (actually, they're pretty hot). The heroine Rowena is the one who starts raping Warrick, after all. Not because she wants to, of course, but because she is the victim of her scheming brother's greed and either has to straddle manly Warrick or watch her mother die. What would you do?

To say the least, Prisoner is one of JL's more steamy romances. I think half the book takes place in bed somewhere. Rowena and Warrick are fun characters, too, both with strong, likable personalities. It's hard not to like everyone in this book. Even Gilbert, the bad guy, has redeemable traits.

My biggest criticism of "Prisoner" is how closely related plot- and character-wise it is to JL's earlier work, "So Speaks the Heart." Both are medieval romances, both have blond lovers, both revolve around the knight treating the lady like a slave because of something bad involving the lady's brother, and both deal with pregnancies. However, "Prisoner" is the better book of the two, with stronger characters and a more intriguing storyline.

I personally would recommend "Prisoner" any day as a great medieval romance. However, if it sounds like too violent a book for you, read "So Speaks the Heart" or Lindsey's other medieval (and fantastic) novels "When Love Awaits" and "Defy Not the Heart." If you're in the mood for time travel to the medieval period, read JL's "Until Forever," about a gorgeous Viking with a cursed sword.

Rating:
Summary: Not for the faint-hearted
Review: Fearing for her mother's life, Lady Rowena Belleme has no choice but to agree to her evil stepbrother Gilbert's wish: she must marry the lecherous old lord of Kirkburough and produce an heir, so that he could control the old man's lands and increase his own lands and army in order to take on his enemy, the Lord of Fulkhurst. However, when the old lord dies before the marriage was consummated, Gilbert covers up the death and quickly orders his men to find a man with similar physical characteristics for Rowena to copulate with.

Enter Warrick de Chaville, the Lord of Fulkhurst himself. When Gilbert's men mistake him for a serf, he finds himself held captive, chained on a bed and forced to procreate with Rowena. Known as the Dragon of the North, with a reputation for exacting swift retribution to anyone who crosses him, he vows to make her pay once he escapes. So when he gets his chance, he comes back to raze Kirkburough to the ground and takes Rowena prisoner and subjects her to the same fate.

While the rape element in this novel may appal some readers, I didn't think it was distastefully written. Although unwilling to start with, both are unable to deny their strong physical attraction for each other and end up taking pleasure in their lovemaking. Warrick also doesn't really hurt Rowena physically, as his intention is actually to make her want him so bad that she ends up begging for him to take her. And underneath his gruff exterior, we slowly see a man capable of giving love, as we see him softens towards Rowena, to the point that he starts feeling guilty about the things he's subjected her to.

As mentioned by the other readers, the love scenes is a little kinky and involves a little bit of bondage, but if you can get past this, then this book is not bad at all.


Rating:
Summary: Refreshing twist on stale romance
Review: I am a big fan of Johanna Lindsey and this book is no disappointment. Rowena is at the mercy of her evil stepbrother Gilbert. He needs more money (i.e. soldiers) to fight his nemesis the Lord of Fulkhurst, so he forces Rowena to marry this old fart by nearly beating he mother to death. Turns out the old man dies before the marriage can be consummated thus creating problems with keeping the old man's money from his brother. The solution is to find a serf with same features as the old Lord so that they could pass a baby off as his.

This is the first time I've ever read a book where a guy was raped. Too bad they picked the wrong guy to rape. Turns out the man they found was Warrick, Lord of Fulkhurst himself. Boy was he ticked. Upon his release granted by Rowena and her maid, Warrick comes back with his men and takes the keep and burns it to the ground. He takes Rowena back to his keep and has his revenge in kind on her. Somewhere along the way she finds out that she's pregnant with his child and that she has fallen in love with him.

This has to be one of my favorite Jo. Lindsey books ever. Rowena is strong and she wont let Warrick keep her down. But you should judge for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: I have re-read this so many times!
Review: I can't believe it has taken me so long to get around to reviewing this great book, as it has been on my keeper shelf for years. I read through some of the negative reviews here, and really have to wonder if some of these folks bothered to read the back of the book before they read it, because they act like they had no idea what was going to happen to Warrick in the beginning. There was no way JL could have sugar-coated it, people, it was rape, period. Was it fun to read? Of course not, but what is gripping about this book is their relationship once he is free and has Rowena under his control. He could have treated her so much worse, and it is difficult going for a while, but they couldn't just fall in love right away. That wouldn't have made sense given their situation. I think Lindsey does an incredible job with the pacing of the progression of their feelings, so to me it was very believable when they finally do realize how much they care for one another. This is a dark romance with disturbing subject matter, but as long as you understand that going in you may well be as pleased as I was with the outcome.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not a 5 star!
Review: I guess my first reason for holding back on a top rating would be the subject matter - it no way offended me - how Warwick was raped at the beginning but seeing the male have that done to him just goes against what I personally enjoy in a romantic book. The way he deals with Rowena afterward however I did feel was justified and her response was intriguing. Books of this time period are not often my favorite so it takes a good writer like Lindsey to bring me into the story - and she is such an amazing writer that I often feel the depths in her books - no matter the time period. These characters were so true to the period and I loved how she was able to show a tenderness in the fierce Warwick even though he was a ruthless man of the period. Rowena was a good balance for Warwick and it was wonderful watching the love develop between these two in spite of their circumstances!

Rating:
Summary: Very politically incorrect but ever so kinky!
Review: Lady Rowena Belleme is forced to marry old codger Lord Godwine Lyons so that her step brother Gilbert d'Ambray may secure his lands and men. However, before the marriage can be consummated and an heir produced Lord Godwine suddenly dies. Rowena is more than happy that she does not have to lie with the old man but her step brother comes up with an idea that they kidnap a man with the same colourings as Lord Godwine and that Rowena lies with the man until she conceives, whilst they deceive the world of Lord Godwine's death.

Enter one handsome blond and muscular Warrick de Chaville, Lord Faulkhurst who is kidnapped by Gilbert's men thinking that he is a lowly serf. He is sent back to Gilbert's castle and chained to a bed. Rowena must now seduce him and lie with him until she conceives a child. If she does not do as she is told Gilbert will kill her mother. So Rowena sets out to seduce the handsome Lord who is at all times chained to the bed. In fact she she literally rapes him for three nights in a row until she she finds an opportunity to set him free on the third night. Warrick has never been so humiliated in his life and tries to resist Rowena's charms but his body betrays him.

On his release Warrick returns to capture Rowena and now the tables are turned. He treats her like for like and ties her to his bed and seduces her until her body betrays her and she gives in to his sensous touches.

However, as the days passes, Warrick finds himself being attracted to the wench and can no longer find it in himself to do her harm. Rowena learns of Warrick's hurtful past and also finds herself being attracted to the arrogant but handsome Lord. Will they find it in each other to forgive the other for their unforgiveable deeds?

Be warned this book is not written to be politically correct as the hero and the heroine both rape each other. However, the "rape" scenes are written in such a way that they can hardly be considered rape scenes as both parties seem to enjoy being seduced by the other. I myself found the scenes quite sexy but this is purely fantasy and in a real life situation I would be completely appalled. Still this was an enjoyable read as long as you considered it just as fiction and not get too emotionally involved with the rape scenes.

Lealing

Rating:
Summary: Revenge turns into Love...
Review: This book reminded me a lot of Catherine Coulter's "Devil's Embrace." They both seem to be controversial books, but with "Devil's Embrace" the hero does everything because he wants to convince her that he love's her, has forever. I think that the reason a lot of people are turned off by this book is because the hero's intention is to hurt and belittle the heroine. It is done well, in my opinion, because he doesn't hurt her physically and he does feel justified because she did wrong him. Stole from him, in his eyes, his child that she got by raping him. But his goodness is constantly shining through his gruff exterior by the little considerations he does give her. And when he does succeed in hurting her in turn feels terrible him self. When I read a romance I go in with the firm belief that the main characters are good people, so that is always in my mind when they lash out at each other, which help's a lot in plots like this one. This is a story where two individuals, that have both had a rough time of it, learn to love and trust each other. They were both honorable, albeit misguided. They don't know each other and think the worst because they're both lashing out. The story progresses well, and realistically. I certainly couldn't put it down until I finished it. But, it's not nearly as good as "Devil's Embrace" or its sequel "Devil's Daughter." Warning: if you didn't like this do NOT read Woodiwiss's "The Wolf and the Dove" (considered by some to be a classic in romance) because in my opinion that man had absolutely NO redeeming qualities. And his treatment of the heroine and her family turned my stomach continually.

If you liked this you'll love: Kathleen E. Woodiwiss "The Flame and the Flower"(first in a series). Also recommended: anything by Dorothy Garlock, Linda Howard, and Julie Garwood's Historicals.


Rating:
Summary: ~ Was Not Disappointed ~
Review: This is my second book that I have read by Johanna Lindsey, this is also my first time reading this book, I have notice that so many have reread this book a couple of times, I have heard so many good things about this book, just now I had to see what all the fuss was about and now that I read it for myself, and I know why this book has capture readers. A very enjoyable book, from the start I fell in love with Warrick, you could feel the love he had for Rowena, I wouldn't mind being Warrick prisoner of Desire LOL :)
I am looking forward to reading more of Johanna Lindsey's books.

Happy Reading
Lisa

Rating:
Summary: The Very Best
Review: This was the very first romance novel I ever embraced, and I truly believe that I will cherish it until I die. I know the plot involved a lot of sexual encounters, but these episodes were all extremely enticing to read and one could not miss the fact that Rowena and Warrick's passion led to their powerful love. It is my opinion that Lindsey created her best male character ever in Warrick. Physically and emotionally described on every level, he is one of the few personas in the romance novels that I have read that seems "real," if you know what I mean. Rowena was wonderful, too, but her character was basically just like a lot of Lindsey's other heroines; there was nothing really that distinctive about her. Regardless, I love this book. I pick it up to review my favorite passages all the time ... and I've been doing this for the past 8 years! It's thoroughly enjoyable, and it may sound odd to say, but it changed my life. When I first read it when I was young, I got my first taste of what love would be.