Helpful Score: 5
A beautiful and emotionally charged story, but too wordy. My biggest problem with it was that everything was just slightly overdone. Some of the more emotional scenes lost a little of their impact to melodrama, and there was too much detail in the more mundane aspects of the story, which made much of it very tedious. About the only thing that wasn't overly detailed were the love scenes, which seemed skimpy by comparison. Even so, this was a very good story. Very unique, interesting plot, fully dimensional characters, and lots of emotional turmoil. I think a bit of very judicious editing to trim some of the excess fat, and it would be perfect.
Grade: A-
Sensuality Rating: PG-13
Grade: A-
Sensuality Rating: PG-13
I think Ive read my favorite book of the year, and its only January. Other books, need not apply. With all the buzz from my bloggy friends on Broken Wing, I knew it would be good. And good is just no good enough to describe this book.
Its not only an epic love story of Gabriel and Sarah, its about friendship and healing with things life has thrown your way, that you had no control over. Gabriels tarnished goods, and he believes hes not salvageable. In the event that sets this book up, he meets Sarahs family and the two are drawn together. Months go by and they havent acted on the attraction. One night, hes invited to Sarahs room, he believes she wants his services from his profession as a former courtesan. She doesnt, she wanted to share the stars with him, and with that Gabriel feels there may be a chance hes able to heal, but only from Sarah. That night starts a friendship, one that Gabriel never had, and one that Sarah needed. It is these encounters that you feel their walls coming down and a wall of love being built around them. It is months even after that, that their love is professed. As soon as that loves professed, Gabriel goes pirating to bring back a fortune and win Sarah as a wife. It is that moment I knew something bad would happen and it did. Hes taken away from her for years. YEARS. Can a love based on friendship last after a tarnished life has been thrown right back into hell?
I wont say anything more for the readers that have not yet had the pleasure in reading this book. This book is dark, emotional, but has the star power of Passion by Lisa Valdez and The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt. I know that I cant pick up a book right away, I was so immersed in every word on every page. I have purchased 3 more copies of this book. One to let people borrow, one to give to a friend and one to give away on my blog!
Its not only an epic love story of Gabriel and Sarah, its about friendship and healing with things life has thrown your way, that you had no control over. Gabriels tarnished goods, and he believes hes not salvageable. In the event that sets this book up, he meets Sarahs family and the two are drawn together. Months go by and they havent acted on the attraction. One night, hes invited to Sarahs room, he believes she wants his services from his profession as a former courtesan. She doesnt, she wanted to share the stars with him, and with that Gabriel feels there may be a chance hes able to heal, but only from Sarah. That night starts a friendship, one that Gabriel never had, and one that Sarah needed. It is these encounters that you feel their walls coming down and a wall of love being built around them. It is months even after that, that their love is professed. As soon as that loves professed, Gabriel goes pirating to bring back a fortune and win Sarah as a wife. It is that moment I knew something bad would happen and it did. Hes taken away from her for years. YEARS. Can a love based on friendship last after a tarnished life has been thrown right back into hell?
I wont say anything more for the readers that have not yet had the pleasure in reading this book. This book is dark, emotional, but has the star power of Passion by Lisa Valdez and The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt. I know that I cant pick up a book right away, I was so immersed in every word on every page. I have purchased 3 more copies of this book. One to let people borrow, one to give to a friend and one to give away on my blog!
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book! It was a bit wordy at times, but a fantastic story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters and their emotions were incredibly real, and they drew me into the book and wouldn't let me go! I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical romance.
Helpful Score: 1
Story: 4.75 stars
Romance: 4.25 stars
Overall rating: 4.5 stars
Possible Spoiler Alert!
This is one of those dark and haunting stories that stays with you long after you finish the book. I was gripped from the very beginning of the story as Gabriel and Jamie are "rescued" from a brothel. I enjoyed very much the way the friendship, trust and attraction grew slowly between Gabriel and Sarah. It was so much better than the all-too-common "we got carried away by our passions" approach.
I had a bad feeling about his decision to leave Sarah to pursue his own fortunes, but the story would not have been nearly as complete without the added drama of his second enslavement and renewed self-loathing. After his second escape, I was sad that he didn't feel he was worthy of being happy with the woman he loved.
If I had a criticism, it would be that their professions of love were just a bit overdone and saccharin. Once or twice, I thought we were going to be subjected to: "I love you more." "No, I love YOU more!" However, the story was good enough to offset such a minor point of contention.
All in all, a memorable, haunting story that may well be your next keeper.
Romance: 4.25 stars
Overall rating: 4.5 stars
Possible Spoiler Alert!
This is one of those dark and haunting stories that stays with you long after you finish the book. I was gripped from the very beginning of the story as Gabriel and Jamie are "rescued" from a brothel. I enjoyed very much the way the friendship, trust and attraction grew slowly between Gabriel and Sarah. It was so much better than the all-too-common "we got carried away by our passions" approach.
I had a bad feeling about his decision to leave Sarah to pursue his own fortunes, but the story would not have been nearly as complete without the added drama of his second enslavement and renewed self-loathing. After his second escape, I was sad that he didn't feel he was worthy of being happy with the woman he loved.
If I had a criticism, it would be that their professions of love were just a bit overdone and saccharin. Once or twice, I thought we were going to be subjected to: "I love you more." "No, I love YOU more!" However, the story was good enough to offset such a minor point of contention.
All in all, a memorable, haunting story that may well be your next keeper.
