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The Love Token
In this turbulent, blazing romance set against the rich tapestry of 16th century Italy, beautiful, flame-haired Gemma leaves the convent to marry the man her uncle has selected for her. As passionate as she is innocent, Gemma enters a world of luxury, intrigue and excitement. Although she is used as a spy by her evil, repulsive husband and forsaken for another woman by a practiced young seducer, she is worshiped from afar by her husband's swordsman. Her restless search for love takes her from the splendor of Florence to the political turmoil of Venice, from the harems of Constantinople to the high seas of the Aegean.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1979
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 6, 2019
Pretty good story...but Gemma is one of the stupidest heroines I've ever read. Ever. Seriously. She's so freakin' dumb that it's painful. Our hero, Dirk, isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but Gemma makes him look like a Mensa candidate.
Overall this is a decent story arc (though the pacing is a bit herky-jerky), but Roberta Gellis is such a Tell Author that it ruins much of the suspense. It's all telling, telling, telling, every nuance & reason behind the characters' actions toward each other. Can we please have a little mystery? Or how about revealing these things through action or dialogue? TRUST YOUR READER. Let them draw at least some conclusions on their own.
As I said, it's not a bad book. And I really wish there were more bodice-rippers set in the Renaissance period (esp ones that don't rely on the Borgias -- I love that whackadoodle family, but how 'bout some OCs?), because it's a criminally underused setting for OTT shenanigans. This one relies on the reader having at least some prior awareness of Borgias or Medicis; there's very little orientation, & almost zero historical backstory for the current problems on Galeazzo's plate.
But. BUT. There is Gemma. 😑
3.5 stars. Even with the telling & the uneven pace, I'd probably have given it 4, because I love this setting & the visuals -- but I can't make myself round up. Gemma is the female version of Derek Zoolander, & I just can't condone that sort of bodice-shredding heroine, esp one who learns ABSOLUTELY NOTHING by the end. Mary Sues are one thing -- dumbass bimbo Sues are something else entirely. *cringe*
Overall this is a decent story arc (though the pacing is a bit herky-jerky), but Roberta Gellis is such a Tell Author that it ruins much of the suspense. It's all telling, telling, telling, every nuance & reason behind the characters' actions toward each other. Can we please have a little mystery? Or how about revealing these things through action or dialogue? TRUST YOUR READER. Let them draw at least some conclusions on their own.
As I said, it's not a bad book. And I really wish there were more bodice-rippers set in the Renaissance period (esp ones that don't rely on the Borgias -- I love that whackadoodle family, but how 'bout some OCs?), because it's a criminally underused setting for OTT shenanigans. This one relies on the reader having at least some prior awareness of Borgias or Medicis; there's very little orientation, & almost zero historical backstory for the current problems on Galeazzo's plate.
But. BUT. There is Gemma. 😑
3.5 stars. Even with the telling & the uneven pace, I'd probably have given it 4, because I love this setting & the visuals -- but I can't make myself round up. Gemma is the female version of Derek Zoolander, & I just can't condone that sort of bodice-shredding heroine, esp one who learns ABSOLUTELY NOTHING by the end. Mary Sues are one thing -- dumbass bimbo Sues are something else entirely. *cringe*
July 27, 2016
I found this book on my Mom's bookshelf a few months back. When I asked her if I could borrow it, she told me that if I lost or ruined it, she would break my neck.
So much for motherly love.
I now understand why. This book, to me, was a true gem.
The Love Token tells the story of a beautiful young orphan named Gemma. (For those who get squeemish about age differences, please note that the heroine is 15, and the hero is 30ish. However, in the context this did not bother me.)Gemma has been raised at an Italian convent until her conniving uncle comes to marry her off to a rich-old merchant.
Her merchant husband is truly an evil man. I should not go too much into that, as it will give much of the story away.
Gemma is used, abused, and raped by the first few male characters. We don't meet the hero, Dirk, until about half way through the book.
And he truly IS a hero who saves Gemma in every way possible.
Gemma is a complete TSTL moron until about the last 25% of the book where she makes some surprsingly smart choices. But then again, she was 15.
What I loved so much about the book was the rich story telling, the adventure, the mystery, the humor, the romance, Dirk...Everything. This is one of my favorite reads.
I'll have to make sure Mom puts it in her will to me ;)
Five shooting friggin' stars. Read it.
FYI--Priscilla Hamilton is a pseudonym of Roberta Gellis.
So much for motherly love.
I now understand why. This book, to me, was a true gem.
The Love Token tells the story of a beautiful young orphan named Gemma. (For those who get squeemish about age differences, please note that the heroine is 15, and the hero is 30ish. However, in the context this did not bother me.)Gemma has been raised at an Italian convent until her conniving uncle comes to marry her off to a rich-old merchant.
Her merchant husband is truly an evil man. I should not go too much into that, as it will give much of the story away.
Gemma is used, abused, and raped by the first few male characters. We don't meet the hero, Dirk, until about half way through the book.
And he truly IS a hero who saves Gemma in every way possible.
Gemma is a complete TSTL moron until about the last 25% of the book where she makes some surprsingly smart choices. But then again, she was 15.
What I loved so much about the book was the rich story telling, the adventure, the mystery, the humor, the romance, Dirk...Everything. This is one of my favorite reads.
I'll have to make sure Mom puts it in her will to me ;)
Five shooting friggin' stars. Read it.
FYI--Priscilla Hamilton is a pseudonym of Roberta Gellis.
September 28, 2014
Slow-moving Story set in 16th Century Iraly
I note first, this book was written by the classic author Roberta Gellis (under a pen name) which is why I thought to read it. Nevertheless—and this is rare for me—at the midway point, I stopped reading.
Set in 16th century Italy, it tells the story of 15-year-old Gemma, raised in a convent in Florence after her parents’ death and then, to the horror of the Mother Superior, is betrothed to a man of her uncle’s choosing, Galeazzo Malinconico, “old, more than fifty and of ill reput.” Before she can wed him, her beauty attracts several admirers: Prince Sinibaldi from Venice and Gian-Carlo Correlli, the younger son of an impoverished noble family.
What Gemma does not know is that Galeazzo is plotting with Borgia to assist his takeover of Florence, and he cares nothing for Gemma, even anticipating the day when he will kill her. And he has in mind a despicable act for Gemma’s wedding night.
The story is told with great detail and several points of view, all going on at once, which in one sense, slowed the action (the book is 400 pages long). While Gemma begins as an innocent, she soon becomes embroiled in all the sordid plots of others, allowing herself to be used by them for their own purposes. She is betrayed by everyone: her uncle, her husband and her lover. Sometimes she aware, and at other times, so naïve as to appear stupid.
A third of the way through the book, a hero emerges: Richard Trevor, an English guard who rescues her when her litter is attacked on return from a night rendezvous her husband sent her to. Alas, what made me finally stop reading was that everyone misunderstood each other all the time and it seemed to grow repetitive. If I had no other books on my “to read” shelf, I may have finished it, but as I do, I could not continue. I know others have and came to love the book, so don’t let me bias you against it. But for me, I knew I could not recommend it.
I note first, this book was written by the classic author Roberta Gellis (under a pen name) which is why I thought to read it. Nevertheless—and this is rare for me—at the midway point, I stopped reading.
Set in 16th century Italy, it tells the story of 15-year-old Gemma, raised in a convent in Florence after her parents’ death and then, to the horror of the Mother Superior, is betrothed to a man of her uncle’s choosing, Galeazzo Malinconico, “old, more than fifty and of ill reput.” Before she can wed him, her beauty attracts several admirers: Prince Sinibaldi from Venice and Gian-Carlo Correlli, the younger son of an impoverished noble family.
What Gemma does not know is that Galeazzo is plotting with Borgia to assist his takeover of Florence, and he cares nothing for Gemma, even anticipating the day when he will kill her. And he has in mind a despicable act for Gemma’s wedding night.
The story is told with great detail and several points of view, all going on at once, which in one sense, slowed the action (the book is 400 pages long). While Gemma begins as an innocent, she soon becomes embroiled in all the sordid plots of others, allowing herself to be used by them for their own purposes. She is betrayed by everyone: her uncle, her husband and her lover. Sometimes she aware, and at other times, so naïve as to appear stupid.
A third of the way through the book, a hero emerges: Richard Trevor, an English guard who rescues her when her litter is attacked on return from a night rendezvous her husband sent her to. Alas, what made me finally stop reading was that everyone misunderstood each other all the time and it seemed to grow repetitive. If I had no other books on my “to read” shelf, I may have finished it, but as I do, I could not continue. I know others have and came to love the book, so don’t let me bias you against it. But for me, I knew I could not recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews