tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post3253799018781425815..comments2024-03-27T03:28:56.209-04:00Comments on Ramblings on Romance Etcetera. Etcetera: Recent ReadKristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-17690613125874910492009-06-25T22:48:44.058-04:002009-06-25T22:48:44.058-04:00Great review, Kristie. Thanks for reminding me I ...Great review, Kristie. Thanks for reminding me I need to re-read this book. I loved it but it's been quite a while but some scenes are still fresh in my mind and you described them perfectly. Some scenes were just downright painful but I loved them anyway which is rare in most books I read. A very unusual romance. I'm going to have to dig through some boxes to find it.ReneeWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04184560393907186300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-635854031220182802009-06-25T07:28:40.244-04:002009-06-25T07:28:40.244-04:00Willaful: I couldn't really remember whether s...Willaful: I couldn't really remember whether she actually said no either and could it have been called a forced seduction - that's one of the reasons I wanted to read it again. But she did. And even stronger so the second time. Now the second time it was because she was starting to feel something, but HE didn't know that was the reason and a no is a no is a no. Which leads me to comment on Heather's comment :-)<br /><br />Heather: Exactly!! And that's why if one reads this book, one should try and get into the mind set of the times when lines were much more blurry. Today we see it for what it is, but back then I don't think it was quite so obvious. And while Sebastian knew what he did was wrong, wrong, wrong after his epiphany, I still don't know if he saw it as rape. And that is part of what makes this book so very intriguing. And he did come to see that he needed Rachel to make life worth living - and vice versa.<br /><br />Ames: I do think you should give it a try if only to see your take on it. It's a great book that can be debated about and discussed. I think Jessica was planning on using it for one of her classes and I can see why she would want to. It would make for some very interesting talk. And that's another reason why I have no problem recommending it for those who don't see such a thing as a hot button for them.<br /><br />Leslie: It is unique among romance books - that's for sure :) And a lot more people then just me say one of the reasons is the skill of the author in writing such ambiguous characters that you can go from hating them to hoping things work out!<br /><br />Peggy: I agree! I don't think a newbie to romance would find this one anything but a wall banger. But if one is a regular romance reader, it's a very good example of the story a "romance" can tell.Kristie (J)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-10441081351670393182009-06-23T23:10:31.623-04:002009-06-23T23:10:31.623-04:00Interesting point, Kristie J. I don't actually...Interesting point, Kristie J. I don't actually remember her saying no as said here, but in a way it almost doesn't matter, because you're right, she did not feel she had any choice. -- willafulAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-22786959500612837092009-06-23T00:52:53.908-04:002009-06-23T00:52:53.908-04:00This definitely sounds like a must read. Thanks fo...This definitely sounds like a must read. Thanks for the recommendation. <br /><br />On the topic of rape, in todays society we view rape as a woman saying no and the man continuing, however before the mid-twentieth century, the woman really had no say, it didn't matter if she said yes or no, she was the property of the man. This scene would have been historically correct.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02330420189568229904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-30546294924131061582009-06-23T00:48:42.443-04:002009-06-23T00:48:42.443-04:00I read a review of this book a long time ago and s...I read a review of this book a long time ago and stayed away. But I think I'm going to try it out - it sounds compelling, to say the least.~ames~https://www.blogger.com/profile/17683205224039402987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-7961963113927731192009-06-23T00:26:49.212-04:002009-06-23T00:26:49.212-04:00Kristie your review has made me add this to my buy...Kristie your review has made me add this to my buy list. I think I would like it <i>because</i> it's different. Thanks! :)Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12055116610295076439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-2093106651430415832009-06-22T21:54:15.853-04:002009-06-22T21:54:15.853-04:00I too love this book but have reservations...God h...I too love this book but have reservations...God help you if this was the first romance novel you ever picked up! It is a wonder to me how Gaffney turns this story around when it seems headed for every cliche we've ever read... but it is good and memorable and a keeper for me. Dark? Definitely but you come to understand the motivations through alot of "show don't tell" and what a story it is!PeggyPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14754377668555438816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-57630832318990122832009-06-22T21:10:48.636-04:002009-06-22T21:10:48.636-04:00Stacy: Love it or hate it, this is a book you wil...Stacy: Love it or hate it, this is a book you will never forget isn't it? It was years ago that I read it and I was fuzzy on some parts of it, but overall I remembered it very well. And if one is in the love it camp - that's a very good thing. And I agree - it would have been so easy to make Sebastian completely unredeem able but it is due to her incredible talent as an author that we actually hope they are able to work things out.<br /><br />Sula: I've always preferred darker type books where there is a further internal journey for either the hero or heroine or both have to take. Light is nice sometimes, but I'd take dark over light much more often. And there is no question that this is a dark book.<br /><br />Nath: One of the things I find fascinating about this book - and I may be wrong - but I don't know if Rachel really considers what Sebastian does AS rape. In todays enlightened times of awareness of such things, we see it for what it is, but when Rachel agreed to work for Sebastian as his housekeeper, she was aware from the beginning that more than housekeeping would be expected of her. I'm not saying that makes it better - not at all, but to her it was a forgone conclusion what would happen. And once he looked inside himself and saw what he really was, she started developing feelings for her. And he was the one who brought her back to life - back from the abyss where she had lived for so long. And because she was still in that abyss when it happens - hmm, I'm not sure how to explain it - but it's not quite the horror it could have been if he had been violent.<br /><br />Orannia: *g* Well - you can tell from my review that I"m all for this book. I think besides ultimately being a great romance, it's also very well written in that the author can turn a character we despise into someone we think is good for the heroine makes it special. I say it's worth trying to track down.<br /><br />Lori: You definitely have to be in the mood for dark as this is quite dark. But if you ever are *g* this is a VERY good dark romance.<br /><br />Kati: Oh I hope you do read this one. I first read it years ago and while I think I see life a lot different and my taste in books have changed considerably, this book more then stands the test of time.Kristie (J)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-80858084799305606682009-06-22T19:12:05.509-04:002009-06-22T19:12:05.509-04:00Thank you Kristie! I think you expressed your thou...Thank you Kristie! I think you expressed your thoughts on the book very well! And you've actually tempted me into hunting it down...I think books with lots of grey, characters that change and grow...oranniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14007355589161084262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-67203644792770106642009-06-22T12:18:41.043-04:002009-06-22T12:18:41.043-04:00I bought this one last year I think and still have...I bought this one last year I think and still haven't read it. <br /><br />Rape is always an uncomfortable subject and it's distasteful... However, I think we shouldn't forget this is fiction and at least, the book was emotional and dark... nothing fluffy, so that's good.nathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02626894830238717124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-20995743729607183992009-06-22T10:56:55.496-04:002009-06-22T10:56:55.496-04:00This is one of those books that over and over I me...This is one of those books that over and over I mean to pick up and just haven't. This review is enough to make me want to read it.<br /><br />Since you and I have pretty similar thresholds, Kristie.<br /><br />Thanks for the reminder!Katihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08178354927628992485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-43916209190157807022009-06-22T10:41:07.370-04:002009-06-22T10:41:07.370-04:00Hmmm... I never read this one. Now wondering if I ...Hmmm... I never read this one. Now wondering if I should for the power of it, or if I'll hate the hero. Lately, dark isn't my thing. I may have to wait till I'm more ready for dark.Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08250972350798310498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-25204575242570031482009-06-21T22:45:46.592-04:002009-06-21T22:45:46.592-04:00I read this one a few years ago and remember it be...I read this one a few years ago and remember it being a very powerful and emotional book. Definitely not a happy-joy-joy bunny book, but totally worth the read. I was actually looking at it on my shelf the other day and considering a re-read....hmm.sulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05470361085886637371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-34840291790048515982009-06-21T20:45:52.200-04:002009-06-21T20:45:52.200-04:00I also read this book many years ago, and still to...I also read this book many years ago, and still today, remember how uncomfortable I felt while reading it, but I didn't hate it. I agree that what Sebastian did to Rachel was rape; he believed he could do whatever he wanted to her, that it was his right. I felt the author was able to turn my feelings of anger at Sebastian around and make him more sympathetic and remorseful. At that point, his motives changed, and he began to see her as a person, someone he could truly care for.<br /><br />No question, this is not an easy story to read, yet that's what made it so memorable for me. It could have totally gone in a wrong direction and I could have hated it, but instead the author handled it in such a manner that I ended up caring about these two damaged people and wanting to see them together. I got what I wanted. <br /><br />Great review Kristie.Stacy~https://www.blogger.com/profile/14919278697757441246noreply@blogger.com