Bliss by Judy Cuevas

Finally, finally, I got a chance to read Bliss by Judy Cuevas (Judith Ivory) on the weekend. It has been killing me for ages when readers discuss this book and Damce and I hadn’t read it. I started looking for it a few years ago when I started visiting the message boards and so many people recommended this book and said how good it was, but could never find it at any of the UBS. Thank you so much to Robin, who recognizing the desperation when it was discussed yet again, came to my aid and sent me an extra copy she had found. My thoughts on the book:
It was wonderful! It was obviously published before the whitewashing of historical romance began.
1) It takes place in France – not England
2) The hero is French – not some English Duke or Earl
3) The hero is an ether addict
4) The heroine is NOT a virgin, although by no means a skeet (Sybil – I did it)
5) The story takes place in the early 20th century

I loved both Hannah and Nardi. Both of them were so wonderfully imperfect. Hannah was a tiny bit on the selfish side and influenced by money, although when push came to shove, she chose love every time. She was childish and wise, brave and scared. She was a heroine I could really relate too.
And Nardi, what a wonderful hero he was. He’s temperamental and insecure with an addictive personality. He is indulged by his family and used by them at the same time. He is charming, spoiled charismatic and so loveable. And imperfect; wonderfully and deliciously imperfect.
This is a book I know that I will read over and over again, if only to read what good historical romance books can be. Thanks again Robin
Grade 5 out of 5

Afterthoughts:
When I was flipping through the back pages where they advertise other books published around the same time (For My Lady’s Heart) I was surprised that I didn’t buy it when it first came out. I was heavily into book buying that year. I think though, that was long before I discovered review sites and message boards so somehow it just escaped my notice. Thank goodness for them now. I don’t think a book this good could escape me now.

How on earth can she redeem Sebastian in Dance? I know she does and I know Judith Ivory/Judy Cuevas has the talent, but Sebastian certainly was very dislikeable in Bliss. Of course, I'll have to get a copy first :)

Why, oh why haven’t these been re-released? I was at the bookstore the other day and I noticed that Kinley MacGregor’s A Pirate of Her Own has just been reissued. I would love to know how Avon decides what should and shouldn’t be re-released. Not to take anything away from MacGregor, but I bought the original only a couple of years ago, so it’s not that old and probably not very hard to find. In fact I stopped at Chapters on the way home from work and the original ($8.99) and rerelease ($9.99) were both on the shelves. Why do Avon and other publishers reprint books that are readily available but not classics?