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Surrender To Love
When Alexa Howard meets Nicholas Dameron during a midnight swim, their paths and destinies become entwined, and she is drawn to his blatant sensuality and realizes that her heart and soul are possessed by the brazen scoundrel. Reprint.
704 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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542 people want to read
About the author
Rosemary Rogers
111 books420 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Rosemary Jansz Navaratnam Rogers Kadison
Rosemary Jansz was born on 7 December 1932 in Panadura, British Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka), she was the oldest child of Dutch-Portuguese settlers, Barbara "Allan" and Cyril Jansz. Her father was a wealthy educator who owned three posh private schools. She was raised in colonial splendor: dozens of servants, no work, summers at European spas, a chaperone everywhere she went. A dreamy child, she wrote her first novel at eight, and all through her teens scribbled madly romantic epics in imitation of her favorite writers: Sir Walter Scott, Alexandre Dumas and Rafael Sabatini.
At 17, Rosemary rebelled against a feudal upbringing and went to the University of Ceylon, where she studied three years. She horrified her family by taking a job as a reporter, and two years later marrying with Summa Navaratnam, a Ceylonese track star known as "the fastest man in Asia." The marriage had two daughters. Unhappily, he often sprinted after other women. Disappointed with her husband, in 1960, she moved with her two daughters and took off for London.
In Europe she met her future second husband, Leroy Rogers, an african-american. "He was the first man," she recalls, "who made me feel like a real woman." After getting a divorce from her first husband, she married Rogers in his home town, St. Louis, Missouri. They moved with her family to California, where she had two sons. Six years later, when that marriage broke up, Rosemary was left with four children to support on her $4,200 salary as a typist for the Solano County Parks Department. In 1969, in the face of a socialist takeover of Ceylon, her parents fled the island with only ?100, giving Rosemary two more dependents. At 37, the rich girl from Ceylon was on her uppers in Fairfield.
Every night for a year, Rogers worked to perfect a manuscript that she had written as a child, rewriting it 24 times. When she was satisfied with her work, she sent the manuscript to Avon, which quickly purchased the novel. That novel, ''Sweet Savage Love'', skyrocketed to the top of bestseller lists, and became one of the most popular historical romances of all time. Her second novel, ''Dark Fires'', sold two million copies in its first three months of release. Her first three novels sold a combined 10 million copies. The fourth, ''Wicked Loving Lies'' sold 3 million copies in its first month of publication. Rosemary Rogers became one of the legendaries "Avon Queens of Historical Romance". The difference between she and most of others romance writers is not the violence of her stories, it is the intensity. She says: "My heroines are me", and certainly her life could be one of her novels.
In September of 1984, Rosemary married a third time with Christopher Kadison, but it was a very brief marriage and they soon began to live apart. "I'd like to live with a man," she admits, "but I find men in real life don't come up to my fantasies. I want culture, spirit and sex all rolled up together."
Today single, Rosemary lives quietly in a small dramatic villa perched on a crag above the Pacific near Carmel. Her four children are now away from home and she continues to write.
Rosemary passed away at the age of 87 on November 12, 2019 in Carmel, California where she called home since the early 1970s.
Rosemary Jansz Navaratnam Rogers Kadison
Rosemary Jansz was born on 7 December 1932 in Panadura, British Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka), she was the oldest child of Dutch-Portuguese settlers, Barbara "Allan" and Cyril Jansz. Her father was a wealthy educator who owned three posh private schools. She was raised in colonial splendor: dozens of servants, no work, summers at European spas, a chaperone everywhere she went. A dreamy child, she wrote her first novel at eight, and all through her teens scribbled madly romantic epics in imitation of her favorite writers: Sir Walter Scott, Alexandre Dumas and Rafael Sabatini.
At 17, Rosemary rebelled against a feudal upbringing and went to the University of Ceylon, where she studied three years. She horrified her family by taking a job as a reporter, and two years later marrying with Summa Navaratnam, a Ceylonese track star known as "the fastest man in Asia." The marriage had two daughters. Unhappily, he often sprinted after other women. Disappointed with her husband, in 1960, she moved with her two daughters and took off for London.
In Europe she met her future second husband, Leroy Rogers, an african-american. "He was the first man," she recalls, "who made me feel like a real woman." After getting a divorce from her first husband, she married Rogers in his home town, St. Louis, Missouri. They moved with her family to California, where she had two sons. Six years later, when that marriage broke up, Rosemary was left with four children to support on her $4,200 salary as a typist for the Solano County Parks Department. In 1969, in the face of a socialist takeover of Ceylon, her parents fled the island with only ?100, giving Rosemary two more dependents. At 37, the rich girl from Ceylon was on her uppers in Fairfield.
Every night for a year, Rogers worked to perfect a manuscript that she had written as a child, rewriting it 24 times. When she was satisfied with her work, she sent the manuscript to Avon, which quickly purchased the novel. That novel, ''Sweet Savage Love'', skyrocketed to the top of bestseller lists, and became one of the most popular historical romances of all time. Her second novel, ''Dark Fires'', sold two million copies in its first three months of release. Her first three novels sold a combined 10 million copies. The fourth, ''Wicked Loving Lies'' sold 3 million copies in its first month of publication. Rosemary Rogers became one of the legendaries "Avon Queens of Historical Romance". The difference between she and most of others romance writers is not the violence of her stories, it is the intensity. She says: "My heroines are me", and certainly her life could be one of her novels.
In September of 1984, Rosemary married a third time with Christopher Kadison, but it was a very brief marriage and they soon began to live apart. "I'd like to live with a man," she admits, "but I find men in real life don't come up to my fantasies. I want culture, spirit and sex all rolled up together."
Today single, Rosemary lives quietly in a small dramatic villa perched on a crag above the Pacific near Carmel. Her four children are now away from home and she continues to write.
Rosemary passed away at the age of 87 on November 12, 2019 in Carmel, California where she called home since the early 1970s.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 20, 2018
I never wrote a review for this one, so I’m cobbling together my old comments to create one:
Rosemary Rogers, the Grande Dame Of Bodice Rippers wrote a few exceptional epics, but alas, this isn't one of them. It’s my least liked of her books I’ve read so far.
Surrender to Love begins in the hot, sultry nation of Ceylon where the British heroine Alexa lives. Alexa is so spunky; she just hates convention and why-oh-why do rules have to be so strict for women and why couldn't she have been born a man?
Look, I like feminist heroines in my bodice rippers; a meek, wishy-washy heroine in one is no fun, but Alexa…it just never ended with her. Her attitude is very draining. But worse are the random italicized words, sometimes just a couple per page, sometimes dozens. It made me crazy.
Alexa is one of those wild heroines who courts danger and is susceptible to intense mood swings. I got the suspicion it was the author's mania slipping though. The writing was erratic, the POV changed without warning from within paragraphs...and did I mention those italics!
I definitely get a sense of Alexa's instability with her long internal rants or when she's scratching the hero Nicholas's face off or sobbing hysterically in front of him.
The tempo in this book a bit more sluggish than the other Rogers books I've encountered, even the deeply introspective the Wildest Heart.The pacing is very slow there's no consummation until page 337 of this 612-page brick, which ticked me off.
It turned around a bit after Part Two, but it was rough starting out a book with not much happening for the first 200 pages. Alexa gets involved in a few scandals and then marries an older husband who brings her to the "Temple of Venus" to catch a show or two.
Eventually, I saw where Rogers was going with the plot: it’s the tale of a woman who defies the stifling conventions of Victorian Era though her overt sexuality. I wondered if Rogers was ever a fan of Mexican telenovelas. The hidden family secrets, brutish hero and spunky heroine reminded me of "Alondra" about a "beautiful, rebellious girl, with very independent and progressive views for that time (i.e., she has sex with another man besides the hero)" who looks and acts just like Alexa.
Random observations:
All the Viscounts of this and that running around did get confusing...
Nicholas was too nebulous. Despite learning the history with his first wife, I didn't understand him.
As always, Rogers drew upon themes of women's liberation, but this time it came on a bit thick. Yes, Alexa, being a woman in the 19th century was stifling and oppressive, but if you were part of the wealthy upper class, beautiful & widowed—like Alexa was—she had privileges that the average woman of the time did not share. Alexa’s rash impetuosity was her major flaw. She never thought her out actions first.
Nobody forced her to move to London and deal with the repressive London ton, but she had to have her "revenge" on Nicholas for ruining her in Ceylon. Sure, Alexa, it was revenge you were after.
The world was that woman's oyster but she had a hankering for geoduck:
The first two hundred pages could have been condensed to half that and the ending was weird--not the "trial" and whipping which was awesome--but Alexa's engagement and glossed-over consummation with Charles and then her marriage to Nicholas.
The villains in this one weren’t very interesting, although I liked Alexa’s evil grandma, but she was like the diet coke of evil; just one calorie; not evil enough. Same opinion of the Marquess. But as long as I kept imaging Mexican actress Beatriz Sheridan as the evil dowager Marchioness, I had a good time with that villainess.
I gave this book 2 1/2 stars, but rounded up to 3 because the pluses slightly outweighed the negatives in this one. But those italics, made it difficult!
Rosemary Rogers, the Grande Dame Of Bodice Rippers wrote a few exceptional epics, but alas, this isn't one of them. It’s my least liked of her books I’ve read so far.
Surrender to Love begins in the hot, sultry nation of Ceylon where the British heroine Alexa lives. Alexa is so spunky; she just hates convention and why-oh-why do rules have to be so strict for women and why couldn't she have been born a man?
Look, I like feminist heroines in my bodice rippers; a meek, wishy-washy heroine in one is no fun, but Alexa…it just never ended with her. Her attitude is very draining. But worse are the random italicized words, sometimes just a couple per page, sometimes dozens. It made me crazy.
Alexa is one of those wild heroines who courts danger and is susceptible to intense mood swings. I got the suspicion it was the author's mania slipping though. The writing was erratic, the POV changed without warning from within paragraphs...and did I mention those italics!
I definitely get a sense of Alexa's instability with her long internal rants or when she's scratching the hero Nicholas's face off or sobbing hysterically in front of him.
The tempo in this book a bit more sluggish than the other Rogers books I've encountered, even the deeply introspective the Wildest Heart.The pacing is very slow there's no consummation until page 337 of this 612-page brick, which ticked me off.
It turned around a bit after Part Two, but it was rough starting out a book with not much happening for the first 200 pages. Alexa gets involved in a few scandals and then marries an older husband who brings her to the "Temple of Venus" to catch a show or two.
Eventually, I saw where Rogers was going with the plot: it’s the tale of a woman who defies the stifling conventions of Victorian Era though her overt sexuality. I wondered if Rogers was ever a fan of Mexican telenovelas. The hidden family secrets, brutish hero and spunky heroine reminded me of "Alondra" about a "beautiful, rebellious girl, with very independent and progressive views for that time (i.e., she has sex with another man besides the hero)" who looks and acts just like Alexa.
Random observations:
All the Viscounts of this and that running around did get confusing...
Nicholas was too nebulous. Despite learning the history with his first wife, I didn't understand him.
As always, Rogers drew upon themes of women's liberation, but this time it came on a bit thick. Yes, Alexa, being a woman in the 19th century was stifling and oppressive, but if you were part of the wealthy upper class, beautiful & widowed—like Alexa was—she had privileges that the average woman of the time did not share. Alexa’s rash impetuosity was her major flaw. She never thought her out actions first.
Nobody forced her to move to London and deal with the repressive London ton, but she had to have her "revenge" on Nicholas for ruining her in Ceylon. Sure, Alexa, it was revenge you were after.
The world was that woman's oyster but she had a hankering for geoduck:
The first two hundred pages could have been condensed to half that and the ending was weird--not the "trial" and whipping which was awesome--but Alexa's engagement and glossed-over consummation with Charles and then her marriage to Nicholas.
The villains in this one weren’t very interesting, although I liked Alexa’s evil grandma, but she was like the diet coke of evil; just one calorie; not evil enough. Same opinion of the Marquess. But as long as I kept imaging Mexican actress Beatriz Sheridan as the evil dowager Marchioness, I had a good time with that villainess.
I gave this book 2 1/2 stars, but rounded up to 3 because the pluses slightly outweighed the negatives in this one. But those italics, made it difficult!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2010
Surrender To Love?!?! No doubt! But, certainly not before you beat the crap out of each other, body and soul, for the first 690ish pages of this 700 page tome.
Historical Romance?!?! More like a sexually deviant, psychological thriller, with a dash of the past.
These characters are unbalanced, to the extreme. Give 'em all a strong dose of Prozac I say... Oh wait... hasn't been invented yet. Right... Well then... Hmmm.. I know, I know!!!! How about you defy convention, lie, cheat, steal, humiliate, brutalize, seduce and manipulate everyone within your direct vacinity instead! Yes, that will make you feel so much better.
This book was so bad... Well, that's not true. It was great writing, just a horrible concept. Well... wait... Maybe not.. maybe it was a genius concept... I couldn't put it down after all..
Oh My! I seem to have developed as many personalities as this bloody book!
How do I explain....?
Like... Have you ever seen that lady, you know the one with the GOD AWFUL spandex, like I mean the type of spandex that shouldn't ever be seen on even the most fit of people.. shopping in Walmart, and you don't want to look, yet your eyes keep straying, till you find yourself staring at the hidiousness of it all...? Yah... that's this book.
Horrible, yet captivating.
Historical Romance?!?! More like a sexually deviant, psychological thriller, with a dash of the past.
These characters are unbalanced, to the extreme. Give 'em all a strong dose of Prozac I say... Oh wait... hasn't been invented yet. Right... Well then... Hmmm.. I know, I know!!!! How about you defy convention, lie, cheat, steal, humiliate, brutalize, seduce and manipulate everyone within your direct vacinity instead! Yes, that will make you feel so much better.
This book was so bad... Well, that's not true. It was great writing, just a horrible concept. Well... wait... Maybe not.. maybe it was a genius concept... I couldn't put it down after all..
Oh My! I seem to have developed as many personalities as this bloody book!
How do I explain....?
Like... Have you ever seen that lady, you know the one with the GOD AWFUL spandex, like I mean the type of spandex that shouldn't ever be seen on even the most fit of people.. shopping in Walmart, and you don't want to look, yet your eyes keep straying, till you find yourself staring at the hidiousness of it all...? Yah... that's this book.
Horrible, yet captivating.
January 3, 2017
This must be a joke. I hated the book, the characters and the writing style all along, but could barely manage to put it down. Read, party, come home and read some more.
The writing style is strange, with useless information, leads not going anywhere, irrational logic everywhere. The bad characters were actually more fun than the good ones. Also all the action happens in only one year which is really hard to believe considering how long it took back then to get from India to 'lessons' all over the world, to France, to Italy, to England, to country side England back and forth, to Spain, and back to India. I will one day re-read it just to see if it makes more sense knowing the plot already.
The characters... ooof they are a mess.
The 'chit' - An 18 year old adolescent who thinks she can play grown-up games and fails miserably at whatever she does. And I really mean miserably. She doesn't have one iota of sense, lets herself be used by whomever is smarter, which is actually everyone around her, loses her true self and rediscovers it just in time to save herself and then ruins everything by acting again like a spoiled brat who can't face life. It strikes me that her character's description in words has nothing to do with the actions. For instance the guy she loves goes through a VERY traumatic experience that would do psychological damage for life to any human being and what does our girl do? Feels hurt by his polite attitude (for a change) and deserts him. Without even trying to fix things up. Nothing. For real, is this love?
The 'man' - The book's words definitely lead us to think he is smart but again the actions are those of an idiot. He doesn't know how to actually communicate what he wants, why he is doing stuff and doesn't ask the right questions. Usually acts like your average caveman: me like, me take. There's a difference between a novel 'bad boy' who needs to be turned good by a female's magical touch and a real-life bad boy. Well this one seems pretty real to me unfortunately so in the end maybe our girl didn't get a very good bargain.
The evil characters - fantastic, in an evil kind of way of course but psychologically very well done. I love to hate them. Won't give details not to spoil any (un)pleasant surprises grandma has for us. The author proves she is good at understanding evil although definitely she doesn't understand love.
The ending is meant to be happy but personally seeing the character flaws these two have I don't think they can make things work in the long run.
I did give it 4 stars and would read it again because all along I saw the characters as human beings; they were not idealized as usually in romance books. I also found some of my own self in the girl, like being 18 and thinking I could take over the world and fate's sick pleasure in showing me otherwise repeatedly. On the wave again, underwater again... But how many of us don't cringe at certain 'stupid' past doings? If so, there's no reason to think in ten years time we won't cringe at what we are doing now either.
Another thing - the book reminds us that there is bad in good people and also good in bad people. It doesn't change what they are though.
So yes, I would definitely recommend reading the book despite my annoyance with it. I got more than I ask from most books I read.
The writing style is strange, with useless information, leads not going anywhere, irrational logic everywhere. The bad characters were actually more fun than the good ones. Also all the action happens in only one year which is really hard to believe considering how long it took back then to get from India to 'lessons' all over the world, to France, to Italy, to England, to country side England back and forth, to Spain, and back to India. I will one day re-read it just to see if it makes more sense knowing the plot already.
The characters... ooof they are a mess.
The 'chit' - An 18 year old adolescent who thinks she can play grown-up games and fails miserably at whatever she does. And I really mean miserably. She doesn't have one iota of sense, lets herself be used by whomever is smarter, which is actually everyone around her, loses her true self and rediscovers it just in time to save herself and then ruins everything by acting again like a spoiled brat who can't face life. It strikes me that her character's description in words has nothing to do with the actions. For instance the guy she loves goes through a VERY traumatic experience that would do psychological damage for life to any human being and what does our girl do? Feels hurt by his polite attitude (for a change) and deserts him. Without even trying to fix things up. Nothing. For real, is this love?
The 'man' - The book's words definitely lead us to think he is smart but again the actions are those of an idiot. He doesn't know how to actually communicate what he wants, why he is doing stuff and doesn't ask the right questions. Usually acts like your average caveman: me like, me take. There's a difference between a novel 'bad boy' who needs to be turned good by a female's magical touch and a real-life bad boy. Well this one seems pretty real to me unfortunately so in the end maybe our girl didn't get a very good bargain.
The evil characters - fantastic, in an evil kind of way of course but psychologically very well done. I love to hate them. Won't give details not to spoil any (un)pleasant surprises grandma has for us. The author proves she is good at understanding evil although definitely she doesn't understand love.
The ending is meant to be happy but personally seeing the character flaws these two have I don't think they can make things work in the long run.
I did give it 4 stars and would read it again because all along I saw the characters as human beings; they were not idealized as usually in romance books. I also found some of my own self in the girl, like being 18 and thinking I could take over the world and fate's sick pleasure in showing me otherwise repeatedly. On the wave again, underwater again... But how many of us don't cringe at certain 'stupid' past doings? If so, there's no reason to think in ten years time we won't cringe at what we are doing now either.
Another thing - the book reminds us that there is bad in good people and also good in bad people. It doesn't change what they are though.
So yes, I would definitely recommend reading the book despite my annoyance with it. I got more than I ask from most books I read.
May 15, 2018
Amazing story! Not a minute respite. Love and passion, lust, angst and mystery. I do love Rosemary Rogers! She is the absolute queen.
Esta novela está a la altura de las de los muy famosos Ginny y su pareja Steve Brandon y puede que incluso mejor. Para todos aquellos amantes de los Bodice Rippers: NO OS LA PERDAIS. Avisados estáis.
Nicholas y Alexa son algo muy fuera de lo normal, memorables.
Esta novela está a la altura de las de los muy famosos Ginny y su pareja Steve Brandon y puede que incluso mejor. Para todos aquellos amantes de los Bodice Rippers: NO OS LA PERDAIS. Avisados estáis.
Nicholas y Alexa son algo muy fuera de lo normal, memorables.
February 3, 2014
The book becomes really interesting after the first 100 pages, then drags a little & then becomes interesting again however the interesting & not-so-interesting bits are well-balanced.
Overall it is a good read. I enjoyed reading this one.
Also, for me it was Nicholas Dameron who kept me hooked :)
Overall it is a good read. I enjoyed reading this one.
Also, for me it was Nicholas Dameron who kept me hooked :)
June 7, 2011
I think Alexa is bipolar and Nicholas is a sociopath. I couldn't believe that there was any possibility of a HEA. Rosemary Rogers managed to give this unlikely couple a happy ending that I actually liked.
March 6, 2019
This review is long and full of spoilers. Originally shared on my blog : https://thehaughtymiss.blogspot.com/2...
This week has been long. It has been wet, cold, and dreary. Kind of like most pictures of Seattle, but in normally sunny Charleston, SC. And through this perfect reading weather, I trudged back through a story that bothered me to no end when I was 16. Due to several requests, I decided to give this very divisive novel a second chance to see if Alexa and Nick's romance could change my mind. I can normally clear a lengthy book in about 4-6 hours, if not a day. But this book has taken me since Monday get through.
The issue here is that while I hated this book at the age of 16, I couldn't quite pinpoint the reasons why. The rhyme and reason as to why this tale of love transcending the course of what I can only assume to be several years truly bothered me to my core. And now I can finally give a definitive answer.
While the book gives us luscious descriptions of steamy climates, beautiful sites and ruins, and a hero and heroine that are both somewhat damaged and quite deserving of each other, it also gives us elements of what could be considered levels of physical and emotional abuse as well as a heavy handed twisting of what BDSM is and represents. The book managed to make me wonder if Alexa and her never ending temper tantrums would ever truly grow up and learn that though there were restrictions in the mid 1800s, she still would have been able to be her own woman. It made me question how many women felt that Nick's brusque and quite frankly abusive way of speaking and dealing with Alexa was okay.
I seem to be getting ahead of myself, first here is some background on the book. It opens in the steamy near jungle climate of Ceylon, where our "heroine" is introduced as a tomboyish child woman who cannot accept the fact that she is indeed a woman. We spend a good quarter of the book with Alexa doing almost everything in her power not to throw tantrums only to give in and do so anyway. It's her 18th birthday and the governor appointed by the queen throws a coming out ball in her honor. So naturally the first night she is there she sneaks off, strips, and goes swimming in the governor's pool where there are several other people staying with no regards to her reputation or well-being. And is shortly thereafter interrupted by our "hero". Nick immediately swims up and starts kissing and belittling her as soon as humanly possible.
The duo then meet once again at her coming out ball and continue to throw barbs at each other. Which in a normal romance novel is par for the course. However in this particular book the insults come in the form of Nick calling our dear heroine everything from slut to b**** as often as he possibly can. Alexa and Nick's encounter in Ceylon is not the end of this tumultuous relationship. No these two run into each other after she is married off and subsequently becomes a widow, and then go on to torture each other through the entirety of a London season.
And this is where the book just drags to a grinding resounding halt for me, because this man does everything in his power to ruin her with no regards to the person he is already somewhat involved with, or her own happiness. Only his baser needs come before..I don't know, reason. He carries her off to a brothel, threatens her, and then is shocked when she acquiesces, only to continue to degrade her during the escapade. And yes, it may seem as though I am heaping all of the blame on Nick, I also have quite a rant for Alexa.
How does one stand by and get called a slut or whore to her own face, say and do nothing about it but pout, allow a man to just near violently and almost quite without consent have his sexual way with them and not feel as though he was completely insane and just all around terrible for them. But no, even when she knows that he is doing nothing short of being terrible, she still pursues him! Not to mention the fact that she makes some of THE most naive mistakes that I have ever seen. All because she doesn't want to be treated like other women. I am all for feminism, I support it wholeheartedly. However, she kept putting herself in harmful reckless situations all for the sake of not being like other women. When does one's personal safety and accountability trump the need to be edgy?
But, I digress. The story continues on with a paternity plot twist that puts Nick in danger in this really twisted sadomasochistic prison scene that strips his already flawed character even more and turns him into basically a non speaking non existent character through almost the remaining chapters of the book. The two marry and more turmoil ensues as Alexa figures out that she is pregnant but cannot deal with how withdrawn from relationship he has become. Not that he was exactly there to begin with but, moving on. In the end she flees back to Columbo in the hopes that she can have her child and forget about the man who has invaded every part of her life. Unfortunately it ends in a repeat of the opening of the book and Nick spouts his never ending love for her and how he needs her back.
While I do hate a majority of this book, the locations and settings are very well done. Some of the side characters are well fleshed out and to some, this book can be seen as endearing. However, having a whiny lead female and a domineering emotionally abusive male just doesn't sit too well with me. I tried to look at this one from a much different perspective but ended up just as angry as the first time I read it from start to finish. And the fact that this literary work is one of he most divisive books I have seen in the romance community speaks volumes of the pacing and growth of a stories characters.
This week has been long. It has been wet, cold, and dreary. Kind of like most pictures of Seattle, but in normally sunny Charleston, SC. And through this perfect reading weather, I trudged back through a story that bothered me to no end when I was 16. Due to several requests, I decided to give this very divisive novel a second chance to see if Alexa and Nick's romance could change my mind. I can normally clear a lengthy book in about 4-6 hours, if not a day. But this book has taken me since Monday get through.
The issue here is that while I hated this book at the age of 16, I couldn't quite pinpoint the reasons why. The rhyme and reason as to why this tale of love transcending the course of what I can only assume to be several years truly bothered me to my core. And now I can finally give a definitive answer.
While the book gives us luscious descriptions of steamy climates, beautiful sites and ruins, and a hero and heroine that are both somewhat damaged and quite deserving of each other, it also gives us elements of what could be considered levels of physical and emotional abuse as well as a heavy handed twisting of what BDSM is and represents. The book managed to make me wonder if Alexa and her never ending temper tantrums would ever truly grow up and learn that though there were restrictions in the mid 1800s, she still would have been able to be her own woman. It made me question how many women felt that Nick's brusque and quite frankly abusive way of speaking and dealing with Alexa was okay.
I seem to be getting ahead of myself, first here is some background on the book. It opens in the steamy near jungle climate of Ceylon, where our "heroine" is introduced as a tomboyish child woman who cannot accept the fact that she is indeed a woman. We spend a good quarter of the book with Alexa doing almost everything in her power not to throw tantrums only to give in and do so anyway. It's her 18th birthday and the governor appointed by the queen throws a coming out ball in her honor. So naturally the first night she is there she sneaks off, strips, and goes swimming in the governor's pool where there are several other people staying with no regards to her reputation or well-being. And is shortly thereafter interrupted by our "hero". Nick immediately swims up and starts kissing and belittling her as soon as humanly possible.
The duo then meet once again at her coming out ball and continue to throw barbs at each other. Which in a normal romance novel is par for the course. However in this particular book the insults come in the form of Nick calling our dear heroine everything from slut to b**** as often as he possibly can. Alexa and Nick's encounter in Ceylon is not the end of this tumultuous relationship. No these two run into each other after she is married off and subsequently becomes a widow, and then go on to torture each other through the entirety of a London season.
And this is where the book just drags to a grinding resounding halt for me, because this man does everything in his power to ruin her with no regards to the person he is already somewhat involved with, or her own happiness. Only his baser needs come before..I don't know, reason. He carries her off to a brothel, threatens her, and then is shocked when she acquiesces, only to continue to degrade her during the escapade. And yes, it may seem as though I am heaping all of the blame on Nick, I also have quite a rant for Alexa.
How does one stand by and get called a slut or whore to her own face, say and do nothing about it but pout, allow a man to just near violently and almost quite without consent have his sexual way with them and not feel as though he was completely insane and just all around terrible for them. But no, even when she knows that he is doing nothing short of being terrible, she still pursues him! Not to mention the fact that she makes some of THE most naive mistakes that I have ever seen. All because she doesn't want to be treated like other women. I am all for feminism, I support it wholeheartedly. However, she kept putting herself in harmful reckless situations all for the sake of not being like other women. When does one's personal safety and accountability trump the need to be edgy?
But, I digress. The story continues on with a paternity plot twist that puts Nick in danger in this really twisted sadomasochistic prison scene that strips his already flawed character even more and turns him into basically a non speaking non existent character through almost the remaining chapters of the book. The two marry and more turmoil ensues as Alexa figures out that she is pregnant but cannot deal with how withdrawn from relationship he has become. Not that he was exactly there to begin with but, moving on. In the end she flees back to Columbo in the hopes that she can have her child and forget about the man who has invaded every part of her life. Unfortunately it ends in a repeat of the opening of the book and Nick spouts his never ending love for her and how he needs her back.
While I do hate a majority of this book, the locations and settings are very well done. Some of the side characters are well fleshed out and to some, this book can be seen as endearing. However, having a whiny lead female and a domineering emotionally abusive male just doesn't sit too well with me. I tried to look at this one from a much different perspective but ended up just as angry as the first time I read it from start to finish. And the fact that this literary work is one of he most divisive books I have seen in the romance community speaks volumes of the pacing and growth of a stories characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2020
This is my third consecutive Rosemary Rogers book and I admit it was my favorite (over the The Wanton and Jewel of My Heart).
I found Alexa to be a likable heroine. She's unconventional and fearless. Alexa has so few allies, with the vast majority of the other characters being horrid people (especially all "family" relations). Thankfully, Sir John Travers, a family friend and the one good guy in the story, ensures that his wealth is left to Alexa so that she can have more control of her own life.
The hero Nicholas, being haunted by his prior marriage, at least tries to be somewhat respectable towards Alexa by stopping things once he discovers she is a virgin and warning her about men. But when they encounter each other later in the story, he starts assuming the worst of her, gives her cutting remarks, and manhandles her.
About half-way through this 700-page chunkster of a book, the weird bodice-ripper elements start coming into play:
-drug use
-torture/whipping
-sleeping with other people
-trips to brothels
-incest vibes
-kinky sex involving voyeurism , licking wine off bodies, and light bondage
My only gripe of this story is that because early on I really liked Alexa and Nicholas, I was so disappointed that they both slept with other people and seemingly had no regrets. I was hoping for more love and romance between the two because it really did seem like they were meant to be together.
I found Alexa to be a likable heroine. She's unconventional and fearless. Alexa has so few allies, with the vast majority of the other characters being horrid people (especially all "family" relations). Thankfully, Sir John Travers, a family friend and the one good guy in the story, ensures that his wealth is left to Alexa so that she can have more control of her own life.
The hero Nicholas, being haunted by his prior marriage, at least tries to be somewhat respectable towards Alexa by stopping things once he discovers she is a virgin and warning her about men. But when they encounter each other later in the story, he starts assuming the worst of her, gives her cutting remarks, and manhandles her.
About half-way through this 700-page chunkster of a book, the weird bodice-ripper elements start coming into play:
-drug use
-torture/whipping
-sleeping with other people
-trips to brothels
-incest vibes
-kinky sex involving voyeurism , licking wine off bodies, and light bondage
My only gripe of this story is that because early on I really liked Alexa and Nicholas, I was so disappointed that they both slept with other people and seemingly had no regrets. I was hoping for more love and romance between the two because it really did seem like they were meant to be together.
March 8, 2011
A peculiarity.
First part of book set in Ceylon was fairly traditional romance.
But when heroine marries, her husband encourages her to associate with whores and prostitutes to learn about life. Thereafter it seems focused on brothels and bizarre and sadistic sex.
The hero is tortured by his uncle who wants to rape the heroine, only to discover that he is her father. The parties marry but he can not consummate the marriage as he is traumatised by the torture. The heroine then turns into a complete ho and appears to be ready to sleep with anyone just for sex.
She eventually returns to Ceylon . The hero turns up miraculously. They reconcile. The end.
This was just fairly unpleasant and sordid. Not a keeper
First part of book set in Ceylon was fairly traditional romance.
But when heroine marries, her husband encourages her to associate with whores and prostitutes to learn about life. Thereafter it seems focused on brothels and bizarre and sadistic sex.
The hero is tortured by his uncle who wants to rape the heroine, only to discover that he is her father. The parties marry but he can not consummate the marriage as he is traumatised by the torture. The heroine then turns into a complete ho and appears to be ready to sleep with anyone just for sex.
She eventually returns to Ceylon . The hero turns up miraculously. They reconcile. The end.
This was just fairly unpleasant and sordid. Not a keeper
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2020
What a ride! Great love story. So much pride, arrogance, ignorance, romance, and love. These 2 worked really hard to avoid their feelings. Such a journey through all the arguments and trials.
The ending was torture to get through as I felt the pain endured and couldn't believe what was done to the hero. I was a bit angry with the heroine and how she handled things, but of course the young are stupid and ignorant and make dumb decisions.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and the ending.
Finally a story of Rosemary's that doesn't include the rape scenes she so often writes about.
The ending was torture to get through as I felt the pain endured and couldn't believe what was done to the hero. I was a bit angry with the heroine and how she handled things, but of course the young are stupid and ignorant and make dumb decisions.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and the ending.
Finally a story of Rosemary's that doesn't include the rape scenes she so often writes about.
June 14, 2017
Great book! It is very similar to sweet savage love - my favorite book. I really loved the characters and the book is epic. 5 parts... the story really draws you in. I love the ending and highly recommend!
February 6, 2025
The parts of them together are really good and angsty, Nick is complicated and enigmatic and Alexa is headstrong and bold but there is a big portion of the book where they are apart and it's mostly Alexa off on her own. More of them actually building a romance would be nice.
February 5, 2019
Disjointed
April 30, 2020
The page count is off by almost 100 pages, its about 600 pages, not 700. But other than that it was an okay book.
Read
March 11, 2021This was a tumultuous train wreck in the sense I couldn’t stop reading and everyone was horrible.
July 2, 2023
Couldn't finish :(
dnf @ 65%
dnf @ 65%
May 30, 2010
[These notes were made in 1982:]. This book - and let us not deceive ourselves; it is but a single example of the hundreds and thousands like it - left me disturbed and disgruntled. For while I can put off a Harlequin with a shrug, saying "I see your formula, and am not in any way impressed by it," this novel, equally formulaic, manipulative, and despicable, succeeds in stirring something within me. And, upon reflection, those dregs it is stirring are best left alone. In many ways, this is just an expanded Harlequin - young woman moving from Innocence to Experience, dark, saturnine, domineering hero, etc. etc. But it is expanded in another way as well, for this is what our ancestors called a "stimulating" novel: its sexual explicitness, tho' only "soft-core" is strangely disturbing in a way that hard-core porn is not. This can only be, I think, because while "real" porn frankly dispenses with emotion and admits only lust, here we are playing with much more dangerous fires: power, dominance, submission, and a doctrine of helplessness in the face of passion which is and must be repugnant to any rational human creature. To read this is to leave oneself open to manipulation, and I resent, above all things, being openly and remorselessly manipulated - unlike the heroine, who revels in it - or am I so unlike her? Ay, there's the rub. I finished the book, didn't I?
December 30, 2017
I used to read this author years ago. I found this at a yard sale. I read it, even though I kept thinking this book is so trashy. I was hooked, but I did skip through extra steamy parts this time. I remember her, from prior books. I'm not sure how she hooks you, but she does. No more yard sale books for me, or next I'll be on Jerry Springer show. That would be awful. I'll just say that her books do keep your interest, but she can really be erotic, and not always in a good way. Skip and go for better story lines.....fair warning. I was really young when I read her. She was a go to author, along with Woodiwess, and Mathews. I guess we all passed them around, and found them edgy..who knows. This is not a clean romance..Sexual situations...They are referred to as bodice rippers now. Lots of current writers, write the same way, but I'd rather have more story, and less violent ripping these days.
December 30, 2017
I can only say in my defense of reading these books that my mother in law gave them to me after she finished. She was a widow. My excuse. Not sure. So much violence. Humiliation and sexual non healthy activity. Puts 50 shades of grey to shame. You read it ,and put it down, but it's like that brownie you know is bad for you , but the kids are in bed ,and the rest of this book is waiting. Bad. Habit books. No one wants a relationship like this , but when he plays the hero lookout. She makes you wait for it. What kind of life does this author live, and why am I reading this yummy trash book.??? This is a 're- read...read them back in the 70's originally.
April 11, 2012
An interesting book, and not as romantic as I thought it would be (After all, who calls their lover whore and bitch during a period romantic novel? Apparently Nicholas.) This book has a little of everything, sex, torture, gowns and intrigue. Everyone's related, of course. How can it not be exciting if the main character doesn't find out she's a heiress, or marry the wrong man, after all? I did enjoy it though, in all it's perverted glory. A long read, but it kept me hooked for the time I've had to read lately. So, four stars!
September 21, 2014
cud have been a 5 star, only the narration was too tedious! i also felt so bad at the end as nicholas was so cold and distant wid alexa. she did all the pursuing, yet he got the final word even in the end! i also felt like he raped her at many times.yet she justified his behaviour/rough sex and called dat making love! this is a not to be missed kinda read! very passionate and intense! absolutely loved it!
February 5, 2017
I borrowed this paperback from a friend. I found myself lost in the story due to lengthy narratives and italicized words all over the place. I had to go back to reread some of the parts over again to understand it well. I enjoyed some of it but there were parts that I really couldn’t get into. It’s a bit dry on the love portion. It greatly lacked romance and I love to read heartwarming, make you feel good inside after reading the book kind of love story, and this book did not do that for me.
August 20, 2015
Don't waste your time on this trash.
I skimmed many pages just to get through all the nastiness. Too much nudity and cruelty, even with animals! Don't wast your time reading this one. I used to like Rosemary Rogers, but I don't think I will read any more of her work. Unless you just loved 50 Shades of Grey, you won't like this one.
I skimmed many pages just to get through all the nastiness. Too much nudity and cruelty, even with animals! Don't wast your time reading this one. I used to like Rosemary Rogers, but I don't think I will read any more of her work. Unless you just loved 50 Shades of Grey, you won't like this one.
April 18, 2013
This romance frustrated the hell out of me. They meet in the 4th chapter, but not again until 10 chapters later. Also too sexually graphic for my tastes.
October 11, 2014
good read
Read
September 4, 2014Wonderful book worth reading. Love the setting.
Read
March 2, 2019I have the german edition: Zartlichkeit der Nacht
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