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briesespieces's review against another edition
4.0
4 absolutely disgusting toxic stars! Their relationship was so toxic lmao I just could not put the book down.
ALSO, this book should have been titled "All That Quivers" because if I decided to start a drinking game from the amount of times the word "quiver" was used in the book I would blackout every time I played the game. ARE THERE NO SYNONYMS FOR QUIVER? ARE THERE NOT??!! ARE THERE NOT???!!! I was ready to pull my hair out of my head and had my breath held hoping, just hoping - in fact I was quivering myself- that the author would choose a different word other than "quiver" every time she wanted to state that a character quivered, before the book ended. But alas, it never happened.
I was gonna give this book 3 stars but decided to give it 4 instead because it was so intense and toxic I know I will not be forgetting about it anytime soon.
ALSO, this book should have been titled "All That Quivers" because if I decided to start a drinking game from the amount of times the word "quiver" was used in the book I would blackout every time I played the game. ARE THERE NO SYNONYMS FOR QUIVER? ARE THERE NOT??!! ARE THERE NOT???!!! I was ready to pull my hair out of my head and had my breath held hoping, just hoping - in fact I was quivering myself- that the author would choose a different word other than "quiver" every time she wanted to state that a character quivered, before the book ended. But alas, it never happened.
I was gonna give this book 3 stars but decided to give it 4 instead because it was so intense and toxic I know I will not be forgetting about it anytime soon.
skiracechick's review
2.0
Ugh. This book. I kept waiting for it to get better, to redeem itself, but that didn't happen until the very very end. And it wasn't all that redeeming. Niko is an egotistical maniac, who verbally abuses Jessica with his desires, then actually abuses her on their wedding night. She's pretty pathetic as well, a lovely doormat that he stomps all over. From reading other reviews, it is my understanding that this type of story is typical for novels of that time, but seriously. I can't believe I even finished it, it was so irritating.
Reading this book also reminded me that I don't really like romance novels.
Reading this book also reminded me that I don't really like romance novels.
lestatmalfoy's review against another edition
1.0
This was an appalling book. Emotional abuse and manipulation, rape. If you're thinking of reading this book: DON'T. I am very disappointed in Linda Howard.
sveak's review against another edition
2.0
as I have a goal of reading all of Linda Howard books, I took this on. She actually said on her website not to read it (haha!) as it is not as good as her newer stuff. I have to agree, this book has a harlequin vibe to it, very dramatic, not much character building, spineless h and domineering H. My favourite character was the dog Samantha. The plot didn't really make sense either...
But I am glad I read it because it is a great example of how her writing style has developed and gotten better.
But I am glad I read it because it is a great example of how her writing style has developed and gotten better.
katiev's review against another edition
4.0
Difficult to rate this one. I suppose I'll go with a 3.5. There are parts that make me want to scream, but I couldn't stay away.
This is a Silhouette Romance from 1982, but for all intents and purposes it is a vintage Harlequin Presents.
The h is an American, but she is living in England. The hero is an ultra arrogant Greek Tycoon. The h was also an orphan, raised in poverty, with the reputation of being a opportunistic whore who sleeps with anyone. Actually, she's a virgin with lots of relationship fears/insecurities due to her background. Very HP, as I said.
Jessica meets a rich English man old enough to be her grandfather (she was 18). I think he's lonely, his wife is dead, and he has no kids. She's definitely lonely and has never had a family. It's a totally platonic relationship where the h is like is daughter/granddaughter. He only marries her because he knows that's the easiest way to ensure she gets his $ and is taken care of when he dies a couple of years later.
When the book begins Jessica is a 22-23 year-old widow, living quietly in the English countryside, trying to use the wealth she acquired in a way she believes her husband would be proud of. She votes some stock in a way that opposes the wishes of another powerful stockholder, Nikolas Constantino. No one ever does that!
The two meet and he tries to buy her stock... and his way into her bed. He says lots of horribly insulting things to our poor little orphaned virgin. Plus lots of punishing kisses and crushing grips. The hero is a cruel ass. The usual vintage HP stuff.
The heroine and what happens in the relationship is a bit hard to understand at times. For one thing the heroine is terrified of sex. Not just the usual virgin nerves, she's TERRIFIED. The hero even believes she's had a traumatic experience. However, supposedly she never did. So, her fear was a bit OTT, IMHO.
Also the first time between the two is very much fade to black, so we are left to draw our own conclusions about 'how bad it was'. That's a major plot point, so won't say much more. Just be aware that there are consent issues going on if you are sensitive to the subject. I enjoy the old school stuff, but was squicked when he fondled her breast in the hospital. Really?
Still the h was a bit overwrought by my standards. I think I'd have enjoyed it more if LH had dialed Jessica back a bit. She wasn't unlikeable, but she's such a wreck that she even ponders if she's going into a 'Victorian decline' at one point. I giggled and I think the heroine was even somewhat bitterly amused at herself.
This is a Silhouette Romance from 1982, but for all intents and purposes it is a vintage Harlequin Presents.
The h is an American, but she is living in England. The hero is an ultra arrogant Greek Tycoon. The h was also an orphan, raised in poverty, with the reputation of being a opportunistic whore who sleeps with anyone. Actually, she's a virgin with lots of relationship fears/insecurities due to her background. Very HP, as I said.
Jessica meets a rich English man old enough to be her grandfather (she was 18). I think he's lonely, his wife is dead, and he has no kids. She's definitely lonely and has never had a family. It's a totally platonic relationship where the h is like is daughter/granddaughter. He only marries her because he knows that's the easiest way to ensure she gets his $ and is taken care of when he dies a couple of years later.
When the book begins Jessica is a 22-23 year-old widow, living quietly in the English countryside, trying to use the wealth she acquired in a way she believes her husband would be proud of. She votes some stock in a way that opposes the wishes of another powerful stockholder, Nikolas Constantino. No one ever does that!
The two meet and he tries to buy her stock... and his way into her bed. He says lots of horribly insulting things to our poor little orphaned virgin. Plus lots of punishing kisses and crushing grips. The hero is a cruel ass. The usual vintage HP stuff.
The heroine and what happens in the relationship is a bit hard to understand at times. For one thing the heroine is terrified of sex. Not just the usual virgin nerves, she's TERRIFIED. The hero even believes she's had a traumatic experience. However, supposedly she never did. So, her fear was a bit OTT, IMHO.
Also the first time between the two is very much fade to black, so we are left to draw our own conclusions about 'how bad it was'. That's a major plot point, so won't say much more. Just be aware that there are consent issues going on if you are sensitive to the subject. I enjoy the old school stuff, but was squicked when he fondled her breast in the hospital. Really?
Still the h was a bit overwrought by my standards. I think I'd have enjoyed it more if LH had dialed Jessica back a bit. She wasn't unlikeable, but she's such a wreck that she even ponders if she's going into a 'Victorian decline' at one point. I giggled and I think the heroine was even somewhat bitterly amused at herself.
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