Helpful Score: 9
My first Anna Campbell...and it made me FURIOUS.
First, let me say that this is a good book. Basic plot--courtesan meets man who wants more from her than just services. The main character, Julian the rake, displays an infinite amount of patience (more than 200 pages worth!) to convince the courtesan, Olivia, of his patience, love, and desire for her.
Then, the BIG DUMMY goes and wrecks 200 pages of his effort with a few rude, horrible comments. So out of his character that I was forced to reread and think, "This guy just undid everything he did in the past." It was off-putting, jarring, and bummed me out. (He did this in the book for what I consider a minor reason.) I think that Campbell took a great book and here transformed it to only a good-average book.
The book was worth the read and had great character development and was very touching in some parts. Just get past the inevitable "misunderstanding" and you'll enjoy it.
First, let me say that this is a good book. Basic plot--courtesan meets man who wants more from her than just services. The main character, Julian the rake, displays an infinite amount of patience (more than 200 pages worth!) to convince the courtesan, Olivia, of his patience, love, and desire for her.
Then, the BIG DUMMY goes and wrecks 200 pages of his effort with a few rude, horrible comments. So out of his character that I was forced to reread and think, "This guy just undid everything he did in the past." It was off-putting, jarring, and bummed me out. (He did this in the book for what I consider a minor reason.) I think that Campbell took a great book and here transformed it to only a good-average book.
The book was worth the read and had great character development and was very touching in some parts. Just get past the inevitable "misunderstanding" and you'll enjoy it.
Helpful Score: 8
Anna Campbell is one of my favorite romance writers right now. I appreciate that she is willing to go places other writers would not dare.
Haveing ssid , especially in the great quantities that are examined in this book. I am o.k. with SOME darkness, but the heroine in this story had almost no lightness in her life.
Familial betrayal. Childhood sexual slavery. Bearing a child as a result of childhood rape followed by barrenness. Separation from her child. Inability to enjoy sex. A complete absence of loving adult relationships.
I mean, come on. This woman's suffering knew no end. She even ended up with a hero who treated her very shabbily very deep into the book. What was the point of that scene? To show the reader just how miserable Olivia's life was? Yeah, we got it.
In addition to having a very put upon heroine, the book also featured a not very compelling hero. I didn't like the way he treated the heroine in particular(even at the end) or other peoplein general. Not a nice man.
I also thought there were too many scenes depicting one on one interations between the hero and the heroine. It was as if their relationship took place in a vacuum. Clausterphobic at times.
Haveing ssid , especially in the great quantities that are examined in this book. I am o.k. with SOME darkness, but the heroine in this story had almost no lightness in her life.
Familial betrayal. Childhood sexual slavery. Bearing a child as a result of childhood rape followed by barrenness. Separation from her child. Inability to enjoy sex. A complete absence of loving adult relationships.
I mean, come on. This woman's suffering knew no end. She even ended up with a hero who treated her very shabbily very deep into the book. What was the point of that scene? To show the reader just how miserable Olivia's life was? Yeah, we got it.
In addition to having a very put upon heroine, the book also featured a not very compelling hero. I didn't like the way he treated the heroine in particular(even at the end) or other peoplein general. Not a nice man.
I also thought there were too many scenes depicting one on one interations between the hero and the heroine. It was as if their relationship took place in a vacuum. Clausterphobic at times.
Helpful Score: 2
I read this powerful book in one sitting because I could not stop until the very end. The focus is exclusively on the two protangonists and the intense and sensual journey of their relationship. The frequent and explicit sex scenes may classify this book as erotica, but they are essential to progression of the plot and are never gratuitous. I could read an Anna Campbell book every day!
Helpful Score: 1
not my favorite book by this author but i have to admit it was a good quick read
