Spanish Serenade

Rating:
Summary: 1 star, really
Review: Accidently hit 2 stars instead of 1 (0 not allowed.) Have to be more careful when I'm in a rush --- can't change it.

Anyway, the plot line seemed promising, but it just didn't pan out for me, can't exactly say why. It just didn't keep my attention.

A good first half of the book or so was spent trying to outsmart the evil stepfather.

Then, the heroine just sort of climbed into bed with the hero to aid in his recovery from an injury, to help him not lose hope.

From there it just felt drawn out with a lot of toing and froing which I followed without much interest. During this time, the hero and heroine sort of comforted each other in bed sometimes and then, at the end, well, of course it was love.

I much prefer some of Jennifer Blake's other books --- pass on this one.

Rating:
Summary: An intriguing Spanish historical well worth searching out
Review: I am so enjoying reading through Jennifer Blake's backlist - especially those from the eighties and those that may have been originally written under the name of Patricia Maxwell. As well as I can surmise, Spanish Serenade was originally published in 1990 under Blake's name. These older romance novels of hers are definitely worth the search to find them.

Refugio, also known as El Leon (The Lion), is a nobleman turned into a Spanish Robin Hood of sorts. He is an outlaw who champions the underprivileged and leads a band of men to accomplish his kind acts that may be outside of the law. He is especially opposed to Don Estaban, his sworn enemy, who is responsible not only for stealing his family's wealth, but also the death of a family member. He is a dashing figure, multi-talented in weaponry, and the ladies love him. In the opening scene of Spanish Serenade, Refugio is coming to investigate a possible rescue of a damsel in distress, Pilar, Don Estaban's stepdaughter.

Pilar is a young lady in dire straits. Her mother had married Don Estaban years ago and he had treated her mother horribly and immediately sent Pilar to live at a convent. Pilar's mother has just died and Pilar suspects that her stepfather, Don Estaban, has murdered her. Pilar is a beauty who greatly fears her stepfather but is brave enough to attempt to escape her enforced confinement at his order. She sends a message to Refugio, El Leon, asking him to rescue her and in exchange for her rescue; she will give him her dowry.

Don Estaban is a really mean villain - just too mean for believability. He has told Pilar that he is returning her to the convent and will provide the church with a large sum of money to keep her there indefinitely. This money is the dowry that Pilar offers to Refugio. Refugio decides to help this damsel in distress and attacks the caravan escorting Pilar back to the convent. Inside the carriage which carries her and her lady's companion, sits the cache of gold which will be paid to the convent upon their arrival. Refugio and his band successfully take Pilar and the trunk of gold, leaving Don Estaban wounded on the road and swearing to get even with Refugio. When the outlaw band had attacked the caravan, Estaban had ordered his men to kill Pilar. For some incomprehensible reason, Refugio does not kill Estaban - only wounds him. Why he didn't is a mystery to me. As I indicated earlier, this is one very mean villain and does not deserve to live. Also, the trunk of gold has no gold - only a few pieces of silver.

The first portion of Spanish Serenade takes place in Spain. After several more despicable acts by Don Estaban, Refugio and his band, with Pilar, sail to America following Estaban to New Orleans. The latter half of the book takes place in Louisiana and Texas territory. It is an action filled book with many fun and dangerous pages. Refugio and his band remind you of Zorro and all have their moments. When Blake writes a book, you don't feel like you are reading a book about the leads with secondary characters used to fill out the story. You feel like you are reading a book about a family where many are involved equally. However, Refugio and Pilar's romance definitely does steer the bulk of the interaction.

Refugio and Pilar are romantic leads that are both very likable. He is really a man of honor and she is truly a kind-hearted lady. Although they both are definitely romantically interested in each other, they do not voice it often. Their romance is a slow build. Refugio is more vocal in his care of Pilar but she does not believe that he can ever be interested in her for the long haul. Besides there is always the possibility that Refugio will be captured and tried as a criminal. The sexual chemistry between Refugio and Pilar shoots off the page but the sensual scenes are rare and rate a 2.5 to a 3.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines).

Spanish Serenade was a feel-good read with an enticing story line. Each time I picked it up to continue reading, I felt like I was picking up a comfortable companion that would provide me with gentle enjoyment. I have purchased many of Blake's older novels and anticipate relishing each one.

Rating:
Summary: An intriguing Spanish historical well worth searching out
Review: I am so enjoying reading through Jennifer Blake's backlist - especially those from the eighties and those that may have been originally written under the name of Patricia Maxwell. As well as I can surmise, Spanish Serenade was originally published in 1990 under Blake's name. These older romance novels of hers are definitely worth the search to find them.

Refugio, also known as El Leon (The Lion), is a nobleman turned into a Spanish Robin Hood of sorts. He is an outlaw who champions the underprivileged and leads a band of men to accomplish his kind acts that may be outside of the law. He is especially opposed to Don Estaban, his sworn enemy, who is responsible not only for stealing his family's wealth, but also the death of a family member. He is a dashing figure, multi-talented in weaponry, and the ladies love him. In the opening scene of Spanish Serenade, Refugio is coming to investigate a possible rescue of a damsel in distress, Pilar, Don Estaban's stepdaughter.

Pilar is a young lady in dire straits. Her mother had married Don Estaban years ago and he had treated her mother horribly and immediately sent Pilar to live at a convent. Pilar's mother has just died and Pilar suspects that her stepfather, Don Estaban, has murdered her. Pilar is a beauty who greatly fears her stepfather but is brave enough to attempt to escape her enforced confinement at his order. She sends a message to Refugio, El Leon, asking him to rescue her and in exchange for her rescue; she will give him her dowry.

Don Estaban is a really mean villain - just too mean for believability. He has told Pilar that he is returning her to the convent and will provide the church with a large sum of money to keep her there indefinitely. This money is the dowry that Pilar offers to Refugio. Refugio decides to help this damsel in distress and attacks the caravan escorting Pilar back to the convent. Inside the carriage which carries her and her lady's companion, sits the cache of gold which will be paid to the convent upon their arrival. Refugio and his band successfully take Pilar and the trunk of gold, leaving Don Estaban wounded on the road and swearing to get even with Refugio. When the outlaw band had attacked the caravan, Estaban had ordered his men to kill Pilar. For some incomprehensible reason, Refugio does not kill Estaban - only wounds him. Why he didn't is a mystery to me. As I indicated earlier, this is one very mean villain and does not deserve to live. Also, the trunk of gold has no gold - only a few pieces of silver.

The first portion of Spanish Serenade takes place in Spain. After several more despicable acts by Don Estaban, Refugio and his band, with Pilar, sail to America following Estaban to New Orleans. The latter half of the book takes place in Louisiana and Texas territory. It is an action filled book with many fun and dangerous pages. Refugio and his band remind you of Zorro and all have their moments. When Blake writes a book, you don't feel like you are reading a book about the leads with secondary characters used to fill out the story. You feel like you are reading a book about a family where many are involved equally. However, Refugio and Pilar's romance definitely does steer the bulk of the interaction.

Refugio and Pilar are romantic leads that are both very likable. He is really a man of honor and she is truly a kind-hearted lady. Although they both are definitely romantically interested in each other, they do not voice it often. Their romance is a slow build. Refugio is more vocal in his care of Pilar but she does not believe that he can ever be interested in her for the long haul. Besides there is always the possibility that Refugio will be captured and tried as a criminal. The sexual chemistry between Refugio and Pilar shoots off the page but the sensual scenes are rare and rate a 2.5 to a 3.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines).

Spanish Serenade was a feel-good read with an enticing story line. Each time I picked it up to continue reading, I felt like I was picking up a comfortable companion that would provide me with gentle enjoyment. I have purchased many of Blake's older novels and anticipate relishing each one.

Rating:
Summary: A great couple.
Review: The girl in this book Pilar is really an interesting character, to strongwhiled but with the kind of mind that makes her interesting and not spoiled. El Leon is really a great man, but also with his pride problems that get him and Pilar into a lot of drama twists. I found this novel to be not only a great reading, but also fun.