What do you think?
Rate this book
Bitterleaf
HER DESIRE WAS HER SHAME In sultry Charleston, Meredith Whitney was known as the icy Mistress of Bitterleaf. Then she met the regal blue gaze of a golden-haired slave upon the auction block, and with one burning look he branded her as the victim of his desire and revenge. Tall, sapphire-eyed Jeremy Devlin was no simple servant. He was a nobleman's son betrayed into bondage, unhumbled by the lash, who treated Meredith and every woman as his possession. Again and again, she would be shamed by her own secret desires. Then they were secret no longer...and as her wildfire passions locked with his, all fears and doubts were swept away in the ecstatic storm of unexpected love...
392 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1983
4 people are currently reading
468 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Gregory
15 books33 followersPseudonym of Candace Camp
Candace Pauline Camp was born on May 23, 1949 in Amarillo, Texas, U.S.A.. The youngest of three children born into a newspaper family -- her mother, Lula Mae (Irons) Camp, had been a reporter and her father, Grady Camp, was the business manager of the Amarillo, Texas, newspaper -- some of Candace's earliest memories are of making up stories which she played out on the floor of their den with whatever objects were handy. She cannot remember a time when she was not interested in creating stories. She began writing down her stories when she was about 10, and from then on writing was her favorite form of relaxation. Explains Candace: "I was always very shy and did not talk much. However, in written form, I could express all my thoughts and feelings."
Writing remained only a hobby, though, as Candace attended college at the University of Texas at Austin and West Texas State University, then became a secondary teacher in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. She later moved to North Carolina, where she worked in the trust department of a bank. It was there that she discovered the romance novel in modern form and started to write her first romance. She also began law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and while she was there, she finished her first novel, entitled Bonds of Love, that was published by Jove Publishing in 1978, under the pseudonym Lisa Gregory. Candace credits the rigorous training of law school with teaching her the discipline necessary to finish a book. She gave up the practice of law to devote her time to writing. Two pseudonyms later (Kristin James and Sharon Stephens), Candace writes under her own name Candace Camp-- and still loves creating stories.
Candace is married since 1980 with Pete Hopcus, and they had a daughter Anastasia Hopcus in 1982, who had started on her own career path in the field of acting and now also writes young adult novels.
Candace Pauline Camp was born on May 23, 1949 in Amarillo, Texas, U.S.A.. The youngest of three children born into a newspaper family -- her mother, Lula Mae (Irons) Camp, had been a reporter and her father, Grady Camp, was the business manager of the Amarillo, Texas, newspaper -- some of Candace's earliest memories are of making up stories which she played out on the floor of their den with whatever objects were handy. She cannot remember a time when she was not interested in creating stories. She began writing down her stories when she was about 10, and from then on writing was her favorite form of relaxation. Explains Candace: "I was always very shy and did not talk much. However, in written form, I could express all my thoughts and feelings."
Writing remained only a hobby, though, as Candace attended college at the University of Texas at Austin and West Texas State University, then became a secondary teacher in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. She later moved to North Carolina, where she worked in the trust department of a bank. It was there that she discovered the romance novel in modern form and started to write her first romance. She also began law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and while she was there, she finished her first novel, entitled Bonds of Love, that was published by Jove Publishing in 1978, under the pseudonym Lisa Gregory. Candace credits the rigorous training of law school with teaching her the discipline necessary to finish a book. She gave up the practice of law to devote her time to writing. Two pseudonyms later (Kristin James and Sharon Stephens), Candace writes under her own name Candace Camp-- and still loves creating stories.
Candace is married since 1980 with Pete Hopcus, and they had a daughter Anastasia Hopcus in 1982, who had started on her own career path in the field of acting and now also writes young adult novels.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 22, 2009
This is my favorite antebellum-set historical romance hands down. It's safe to say I don't like this time period, and typically I try to avoid it. But this book sounded too interesting to turn down. It was worth the read. I love a good marriage of convenience story, and this is one of my favorites.
In some ways, it reminded me a little of Dark Torment by Karen Robards, which has long been a favorite of mine, in that the heroine is a plain Jane spinster, and the hero is more or less an indentured servant that stepfather buys off the auction block. Other than that, it goes in a different direction than Dark Torment. In this case, they marry almost immediately, at the behest of her stepfather.
This is a book about strangers becoming spouses, lovers, and friends. I was pleasantly surprised at the passion in this book. Meredith thinks herself unattractive, but it is clear that Jeremy feels a passion for her, although he doesn't want to be married to her or love her. However, they make the best of their situation.
I liked the way this book dealt with the slavery issue. Meredith family owned slaves, and she wasn't particularly happy about it. When Jeremy takes over running the plantation, his goal is to free all the slaves. He has some opposition from people in the community, but he is determined and comes up with a workable solution to the slavery issue. That was a bonus for me, as the slavery issue is a painful subject for me, and it undermines my ability to care about a hero/heroine who owns other people and doesn't feel angst or realize that human bondage is wrong.
What I loved about this book was the passion and the love between Meredith and Jeremy. It wasn't expected, but it was powerful, and it changed their lives and united them much deeper than their marriage of convenience did. Each scene between them showed the current of intense feeling running between them, even long before they actually consummated their marriage.
Meredith and Jeremy were characters I liked and admired, and wished well for. Even after this book ended, I could imagine them having a good life together, raising their family, and running their plantation with honor, and not on the backs of enslaved labor.
This was a sure keeper for me. Unfortunately I read it from the library. But I hope to find my own copy someday.
In some ways, it reminded me a little of Dark Torment by Karen Robards, which has long been a favorite of mine, in that the heroine is a plain Jane spinster, and the hero is more or less an indentured servant that stepfather buys off the auction block. Other than that, it goes in a different direction than Dark Torment. In this case, they marry almost immediately, at the behest of her stepfather.
This is a book about strangers becoming spouses, lovers, and friends. I was pleasantly surprised at the passion in this book. Meredith thinks herself unattractive, but it is clear that Jeremy feels a passion for her, although he doesn't want to be married to her or love her. However, they make the best of their situation.
I liked the way this book dealt with the slavery issue. Meredith family owned slaves, and she wasn't particularly happy about it. When Jeremy takes over running the plantation, his goal is to free all the slaves. He has some opposition from people in the community, but he is determined and comes up with a workable solution to the slavery issue. That was a bonus for me, as the slavery issue is a painful subject for me, and it undermines my ability to care about a hero/heroine who owns other people and doesn't feel angst or realize that human bondage is wrong.
What I loved about this book was the passion and the love between Meredith and Jeremy. It wasn't expected, but it was powerful, and it changed their lives and united them much deeper than their marriage of convenience did. Each scene between them showed the current of intense feeling running between them, even long before they actually consummated their marriage.
Meredith and Jeremy were characters I liked and admired, and wished well for. Even after this book ended, I could imagine them having a good life together, raising their family, and running their plantation with honor, and not on the backs of enslaved labor.
This was a sure keeper for me. Unfortunately I read it from the library. But I hope to find my own copy someday.
March 12, 2017
Old school romance. Glad the author moved on to write much better stories.
May 5, 2012
This was a book I read over and over and over. I wore it out. Meredith is a plain, tall bookish young woman in sultry Charleston. She has learned over the years to keep her feelings and passions locked in, so noone can hurt her or have the ability to make fun of her.
One afternoon she decides to go with her step-dad down to the sale of bond-slaves. She hates that part of plantation life, but she hates sitting at her relatives and having to deal with their incessant ridicule more.
Tall, sapphire-eyed Jeremy Devlin was no simple servant. He was a nobleman's son betrayed into bondage, unhumbled by the lash, who treated Meredith and every woman as his possession. Again and again, she would be shamed by her own secret desires. She couldn't stay away from him or keep her heart out of his hands. Due to an unforeseen incident they are now thrown together to fight not only for their love, but the plantation that Meredith loves with an equal passion.
For the time, this was a hot romance. Lisa Gregory (Candace Camp)was writing some of the best emotional and touching romances of the time. Admittedly it was about the taboo subject of slavery and abuse, but Meredith step-dad had a ace up his sleeve with Jeremy and it wasn't made clear what his true aim was with Jeremy until after the incident and then you just thought he was one smart man.
One afternoon she decides to go with her step-dad down to the sale of bond-slaves. She hates that part of plantation life, but she hates sitting at her relatives and having to deal with their incessant ridicule more.
Tall, sapphire-eyed Jeremy Devlin was no simple servant. He was a nobleman's son betrayed into bondage, unhumbled by the lash, who treated Meredith and every woman as his possession. Again and again, she would be shamed by her own secret desires. She couldn't stay away from him or keep her heart out of his hands. Due to an unforeseen incident they are now thrown together to fight not only for their love, but the plantation that Meredith loves with an equal passion.
For the time, this was a hot romance. Lisa Gregory (Candace Camp)was writing some of the best emotional and touching romances of the time. Admittedly it was about the taboo subject of slavery and abuse, but Meredith step-dad had a ace up his sleeve with Jeremy and it wasn't made clear what his true aim was with Jeremy until after the incident and then you just thought he was one smart man.
August 2, 2010
The setting of this story is during the colonial days on a plantation (Bitterleaf) in the south. This was during the time of slavery in America and I have never read a romance that set in this time period. I was pleasantly surprised.
This is the story of an illegitimate English lord who becomes an indentured servant in America. He is sold to a rich landowner to work and is quickly "moved up the ranks". The landowner has a daughter whom is described as "plain, unattractive, and mousy".
The first half of this book is just alright. The second half after Jeremy and Meredith are married gets much better so hang in there! There were a few things that kept this book from being a 5 star read for me. Meredith's lack of looks and how many references there are to this fact really was bothersome to me. Even Jeremy, the love of her life, finds her unattractive and plain but still desires her. Isn't beauty in the eye of the beholder. I guess I just like romances where the heroine is seen as beautiful, if by no one else.....by her husband!
I liked Jeremy and there are some awesome scenes in this book. There is some mild suspense as there is someone trying to hurt Jeremy and Meredith, but it's all rather predictable.
This is a good read. If you're interested in a GREAT read try The Rainbow Season by this author. It is incredible.
This is the story of an illegitimate English lord who becomes an indentured servant in America. He is sold to a rich landowner to work and is quickly "moved up the ranks". The landowner has a daughter whom is described as "plain, unattractive, and mousy".
The first half of this book is just alright. The second half after Jeremy and Meredith are married gets much better so hang in there! There were a few things that kept this book from being a 5 star read for me. Meredith's lack of looks and how many references there are to this fact really was bothersome to me. Even Jeremy, the love of her life, finds her unattractive and plain but still desires her. Isn't beauty in the eye of the beholder. I guess I just like romances where the heroine is seen as beautiful, if by no one else.....by her husband!
I liked Jeremy and there are some awesome scenes in this book. There is some mild suspense as there is someone trying to hurt Jeremy and Meredith, but it's all rather predictable.
This is a good read. If you're interested in a GREAT read try The Rainbow Season by this author. It is incredible.
September 18, 2009
This is my favorite antebellum-set historical romance hands down. It's safe to say I don't like this time period, and typically I try to avoid it. But this book sounded to interesting to turn down. It was worth the read. I love a good marriage of convenience story, and this is one of my favorites.
In some ways, it reminded me a little of Dark Torment by Karen Robards, which has long been a favorite of mine, in that the heroine is a plain Jane spinster, and the hero is more or less an indentured servant that her stepfather buys off the auction block. Other than that, it goes in a different direction than Dark Torment. In this case, they marry almost immediately, at the behest of her stepfather.
This is a book about strangers becoming spouses, lovers, and friends. I was pleasantly surprised at the passion in this book. Meredith thinks herself unattractive, but it is clear that Jeremy feels a passion for her, although he doesn't want to be married to her or love her. However, they make the best of their situation.
I liked the way this book dealt with the slavery issue. Meredith family owned slaves, and she wasn't particularly happy about it. When Jeremy takes over running the plantation, his goal is to free all the slaves. He has some opposition from people in the community, but he is determined and comes up with a workable solution to the slavery issue. That was a bonus for me, as the slavery issue is a painful subject for me, and it undermines my ability to care about a hero/heroine who owns other people and doesn't feel angst or realize that human bondage is wrong.
What I loved about this book was the passion and the love between Meredith and Jeremy. It wasn't expected, but it was powerful, and it changed their lives and united them much deeper than their marriage of convenience did. Each scene between them showed the current of intense feeling running between them, even long before they actually consummated their marriage.
Meredith and Jeremy where characters I liked and admired, and wished well for. Even after this book ended, I could imagine them having a good life together, raising their family, and running their plantation with honor, and not on the backs of enslaved labor.
This was a sure keeper for me. Unfortunately I read it from the library. But I hope to find my own copy someday.
In some ways, it reminded me a little of Dark Torment by Karen Robards, which has long been a favorite of mine, in that the heroine is a plain Jane spinster, and the hero is more or less an indentured servant that her stepfather buys off the auction block. Other than that, it goes in a different direction than Dark Torment. In this case, they marry almost immediately, at the behest of her stepfather.
This is a book about strangers becoming spouses, lovers, and friends. I was pleasantly surprised at the passion in this book. Meredith thinks herself unattractive, but it is clear that Jeremy feels a passion for her, although he doesn't want to be married to her or love her. However, they make the best of their situation.
I liked the way this book dealt with the slavery issue. Meredith family owned slaves, and she wasn't particularly happy about it. When Jeremy takes over running the plantation, his goal is to free all the slaves. He has some opposition from people in the community, but he is determined and comes up with a workable solution to the slavery issue. That was a bonus for me, as the slavery issue is a painful subject for me, and it undermines my ability to care about a hero/heroine who owns other people and doesn't feel angst or realize that human bondage is wrong.
What I loved about this book was the passion and the love between Meredith and Jeremy. It wasn't expected, but it was powerful, and it changed their lives and united them much deeper than their marriage of convenience did. Each scene between them showed the current of intense feeling running between them, even long before they actually consummated their marriage.
Meredith and Jeremy where characters I liked and admired, and wished well for. Even after this book ended, I could imagine them having a good life together, raising their family, and running their plantation with honor, and not on the backs of enslaved labor.
This was a sure keeper for me. Unfortunately I read it from the library. But I hope to find my own copy someday.
September 12, 2020
I love tall heroines and I was very happy to find out Meredith was as tall as they came. In the beginning, she was a bit too stiff and slightly haughty but it didn’t discourage me as I believed she’d change later.
Jeremy and I didn’t get off to a good start. He was too pompous and I’m not certain, but I doubt an indentured servant -even one who was a lord - would be that cocky. It didn’t help that he insulted Meredith’s physique or tried to sleep with Lydia. And it certainly didn’t help when he called Meredith a b!tch and s|ut for refusing his kiss (rightfully so). What kind of servant could be so audacious? I wanted the pomposity “worked” out of him.
The book troupe seemed to be based on miscommunications but I truly didn’t mind. I like that Meredith made things hard for Jeremy, slashing him with her sharp tongue. I do like when a heroine gives a hero a tough time. He thought her plain and a “dry stick” but she still didn’t make it easy for him in the slightest!
I’m not certain how I felt about Lydia almost sleeping with Jeremy and then trying to act like it never happened and supporting his marriage to Meredith. One would think Meredith was acting shrewd, but she did see them right in the act so I definitely did not blame her for constantly over thinking. I liked Daniel very much though.
—————
After the first half, I started liking Jeremy more. He was quite patient with Meredith, even with all her insecurities and he was just charming/sweet altogether. He obviously changed into a better man and most of the time, during their many quarrels, I found myself rooting for them both (which is crazy).
There were a lot of emotions running high in this book and I commend the author for capturing them so well (Meredith’s imaginations were as wild as they came!). I also appreciated the details of the settings, clearly the author knew well what she was talking about. Seeing this book was published before I was born, I wish it’ll be repackaged and marketed. So many HR fans will enjoy it, I believe.
Jeremy and I didn’t get off to a good start. He was too pompous and I’m not certain, but I doubt an indentured servant -even one who was a lord - would be that cocky. It didn’t help that he insulted Meredith’s physique or tried to sleep with Lydia. And it certainly didn’t help when he called Meredith a b!tch and s|ut for refusing his kiss (rightfully so). What kind of servant could be so audacious? I wanted the pomposity “worked” out of him.
The book troupe seemed to be based on miscommunications but I truly didn’t mind. I like that Meredith made things hard for Jeremy, slashing him with her sharp tongue. I do like when a heroine gives a hero a tough time. He thought her plain and a “dry stick” but she still didn’t make it easy for him in the slightest!
I’m not certain how I felt about Lydia almost sleeping with Jeremy and then trying to act like it never happened and supporting his marriage to Meredith. One would think Meredith was acting shrewd, but she did see them right in the act so I definitely did not blame her for constantly over thinking. I liked Daniel very much though.
—————
After the first half, I started liking Jeremy more. He was quite patient with Meredith, even with all her insecurities and he was just charming/sweet altogether. He obviously changed into a better man and most of the time, during their many quarrels, I found myself rooting for them both (which is crazy).
There were a lot of emotions running high in this book and I commend the author for capturing them so well (Meredith’s imaginations were as wild as they came!). I also appreciated the details of the settings, clearly the author knew well what she was talking about. Seeing this book was published before I was born, I wish it’ll be repackaged and marketed. So many HR fans will enjoy it, I believe.
December 9, 2020
*** 3 Stars***
So this story had a lot of potential to be a 5 star HR. I really liked the overall theme of having a rich plantation owner fall in love with an indentured servant. But I just couldn't relate to either Jeremy or Meredith. They certainly weren't your likeable hero & heroine couple. Meredith had lots of issues with herself & Jeremy. She was overly self-conscious & acted like a stubborn little girl. I honestly didn't see her as an attractive heroine overall and couldn't understand what Jeremy saw in her. The author could've given her a more mature, sensible personality. I also couldn't connect with Jeremy even though his character wasn't as bad as Meredith. I just found him to be lame & he didn't convince me he was the dashing, aristocratic womanizer that Ms Camp wants her readers to believe. Another thing is that I felt the book lacked drama. The other characters were all lovey-dovey, so there wasn't anything in the storyline to make you "hooked".
So this story had a lot of potential to be a 5 star HR. I really liked the overall theme of having a rich plantation owner fall in love with an indentured servant. But I just couldn't relate to either Jeremy or Meredith. They certainly weren't your likeable hero & heroine couple. Meredith had lots of issues with herself & Jeremy. She was overly self-conscious & acted like a stubborn little girl. I honestly didn't see her as an attractive heroine overall and couldn't understand what Jeremy saw in her. The author could've given her a more mature, sensible personality. I also couldn't connect with Jeremy even though his character wasn't as bad as Meredith. I just found him to be lame & he didn't convince me he was the dashing, aristocratic womanizer that Ms Camp wants her readers to believe. Another thing is that I felt the book lacked drama. The other characters were all lovey-dovey, so there wasn't anything in the storyline to make you "hooked".
August 28, 2007
So, when I was about 11 or 12, believe it or not, i was THE sexpert amongst my group of underdeveloped pre-teens. Not due to any personal experience (ew, that would be gross), but to books like Bitterleaf, which I did, in fact, swipe from under my mom's bed and NEVER GAVE IT BACK. I'm suprised at my daring, but she really couldn't confront me or my sister as it would be a confession of her own. So, I still have it. A little worse for wear...binding completely broken, paper brittle and yellowed, but praise the lord, the cover is still intact.
Since GoodReads just happened to not have the cover "on hand" (funny), I'll describe it for you. A very 80's couple stands clasped together in a lake, her head thrown back, hair tumbling down her back, wearing a pink dress, soaked transparent. Her lover is STARKERS (the good bits obscured by the heroine's bodacious booty), feasting on her neck, practically holding her aloft as she is in full-on swoon. The cover is a picture of a painting (love it!) by someone named Morgan Kane (it's signed!). The subtitle reads: "He was purchased to be her servant...and destined to be her lover." WHAAAAA? Racy!
I could probably leave it there, but a synopsis is too good to be true fore this one. It goes like this...
Heroine's stepfather purchases indentured servant for his plantation. A love/hate thang ensues between servant and mistress (ooooh, RACY!). But wait, stepfather saw something in servant's hauty gaze on the block and he actually purchased Jeremy Devlin (eeeee!) to take over the plantation AND wed his his step-daughter. (whaaa?) "Good parts" abound in this one and writer, Lisa Gregory, uses words like "raw maleness" and "pleasure button." HAHA. Oh man. Tooooo good. I highly recommend reading it out loud to friends when you're all drunk. Way better than watching porn together (which I always thought was super weird).
Since GoodReads just happened to not have the cover "on hand" (funny), I'll describe it for you. A very 80's couple stands clasped together in a lake, her head thrown back, hair tumbling down her back, wearing a pink dress, soaked transparent. Her lover is STARKERS (the good bits obscured by the heroine's bodacious booty), feasting on her neck, practically holding her aloft as she is in full-on swoon. The cover is a picture of a painting (love it!) by someone named Morgan Kane (it's signed!). The subtitle reads: "He was purchased to be her servant...and destined to be her lover." WHAAAAA? Racy!
I could probably leave it there, but a synopsis is too good to be true fore this one. It goes like this...
Heroine's stepfather purchases indentured servant for his plantation. A love/hate thang ensues between servant and mistress (ooooh, RACY!). But wait, stepfather saw something in servant's hauty gaze on the block and he actually purchased Jeremy Devlin (eeeee!) to take over the plantation AND wed his his step-daughter. (whaaa?) "Good parts" abound in this one and writer, Lisa Gregory, uses words like "raw maleness" and "pleasure button." HAHA. Oh man. Tooooo good. I highly recommend reading it out loud to friends when you're all drunk. Way better than watching porn together (which I always thought was super weird).
May 13, 2009
(semi spoiler alert)
This is a very old school, bodice ripper from the early 80's. (1983 to be exact) In the day I feel like it was the stuff, but reading it nearly 26 years later it has lost some of its original luster.
Meredith Whitney is a shy, plain, nearly 6 foot tall plantation heiress just outside of Charleston, SC in the pre-Civil War era. (A good bit of time actually, although the storyline never really gives you an exact date) Her stepfather "buys" an indentured servant on the auction block, all the while having ulterior motives (no intention of leaving the man a servant)
Jeremy is the bastard son of an English nobleman and Irish prostitute. He was educated and refined but wasted his time gambling and whoring and eventually his uncle (father is deceased) takes the easy route and ships him to the colonies when Jeremy "shames" him with his raunchy behavior in London. Bought on the auction block by Meredith's stepfather, he soon finds life much harsher on the flip side.
Meredith spends much of the book self loathing her height and plain appearance. Even when Jeremy expresses his desire for her, she refuses to believe he has any other motive other than personal gain. Surely he could not love such an ungainly woman as she.
Jeremy is a cad, plain and simple. Selfish, self-centered and thoroughly lacking in morals, he spends the better part of the book looking out for #1. He even goes so far as to scheme to marry Meredith and then sell off her plantation and move back to London, leaving her penniless and on the mercy of relatives. When he finally does come to his senses and truly desires Meredith its almost unbelievable, given his prior behavior.
If you're a fan of incredible circumstances, old school romance and purple prose, this is definitely the book for you. Otherwise I'd skip it.
This is a very old school, bodice ripper from the early 80's. (1983 to be exact) In the day I feel like it was the stuff, but reading it nearly 26 years later it has lost some of its original luster.
Meredith Whitney is a shy, plain, nearly 6 foot tall plantation heiress just outside of Charleston, SC in the pre-Civil War era. (A good bit of time actually, although the storyline never really gives you an exact date) Her stepfather "buys" an indentured servant on the auction block, all the while having ulterior motives (no intention of leaving the man a servant)
Jeremy is the bastard son of an English nobleman and Irish prostitute. He was educated and refined but wasted his time gambling and whoring and eventually his uncle (father is deceased) takes the easy route and ships him to the colonies when Jeremy "shames" him with his raunchy behavior in London. Bought on the auction block by Meredith's stepfather, he soon finds life much harsher on the flip side.
Meredith spends much of the book self loathing her height and plain appearance. Even when Jeremy expresses his desire for her, she refuses to believe he has any other motive other than personal gain. Surely he could not love such an ungainly woman as she.
Jeremy is a cad, plain and simple. Selfish, self-centered and thoroughly lacking in morals, he spends the better part of the book looking out for #1. He even goes so far as to scheme to marry Meredith and then sell off her plantation and move back to London, leaving her penniless and on the mercy of relatives. When he finally does come to his senses and truly desires Meredith its almost unbelievable, given his prior behavior.
If you're a fan of incredible circumstances, old school romance and purple prose, this is definitely the book for you. Otherwise I'd skip it.
February 18, 2010
Hot, steamy,lustful, passionate,enveloping,....need I say more. An author with a true penchant for believable, steamy love scenes. I was wiping the sweat from my brow several times during this one, of course the outside temp being 20 below did nothing to cool the singe off of this one. Another of my favorite writers.
October 1, 2025
Bitterleaf by Lisa Gregory, pseudonym for Candace Camp (1983) … a big dramatic read. It’s set in the Carolina Colony 1761 near Charleston. Meredith Whitney who’s the mistress of Bitterleaf plantation after the death of her father is plain, gawky and almost 6 feet tall.
She and her stepfather are in Charleston where he buys at an auction an indentured servant.., she’s furious as they’ve only had slaves and doesn’t think they need one. He’s Jeremy, bastard son of an English nobleman, bright gold hair, blue eyed, exceedingly handsome, and taller than her. He views the colonists as peasants, not his equal in bloodline, manners and education. In his mind he calls her “the Amazon.” Initially they didn’t know his background or why he was on the auction block.
The story centers around the clash between Meredith and Jeremy as he settles into plantation life. He’s cheeky and insufferable. She’s bossy, prickly and has loads of self doubt … she continually misreads him .., thinks he’s having affairs with other women.
A tension filled storyline with surprises. However, at times it dragged on and on with her insecurities and wrong assumptions. Thankfully, there are plenty of sizzling passionate scenes that heat up the story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Note: I’m deeply disappointed that the scene on the cover is not in the book. And he is shown with brown hair which is incorrect. Cover artist is Morgan Kane.
She and her stepfather are in Charleston where he buys at an auction an indentured servant.., she’s furious as they’ve only had slaves and doesn’t think they need one. He’s Jeremy, bastard son of an English nobleman, bright gold hair, blue eyed, exceedingly handsome, and taller than her. He views the colonists as peasants, not his equal in bloodline, manners and education. In his mind he calls her “the Amazon.” Initially they didn’t know his background or why he was on the auction block.
The story centers around the clash between Meredith and Jeremy as he settles into plantation life. He’s cheeky and insufferable. She’s bossy, prickly and has loads of self doubt … she continually misreads him .., thinks he’s having affairs with other women.
A tension filled storyline with surprises. However, at times it dragged on and on with her insecurities and wrong assumptions. Thankfully, there are plenty of sizzling passionate scenes that heat up the story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Note: I’m deeply disappointed that the scene on the cover is not in the book. And he is shown with brown hair which is incorrect. Cover artist is Morgan Kane.
August 11, 2024
This is one of my very favorite books that I first read when I was a very young teenager. (Thank you, Mom, for letting me pilfer your historical smut stash.) I love it just as much upon this reread, and Jeremy is still in my top ten of book boyfriends.
It’s not a book that everyone will love. There’s a lot of head hopping which I know can be very annoying to some, and Meredith’s insecurities can be frustrating. But I love the growth the two main characters experience and how they both discover things about themselves and each other over the course of the story. The historical details are interesting and the sensual scenes are very well done. It’s a book that’s firmly on my keeper shelf.
It’s not a book that everyone will love. There’s a lot of head hopping which I know can be very annoying to some, and Meredith’s insecurities can be frustrating. But I love the growth the two main characters experience and how they both discover things about themselves and each other over the course of the story. The historical details are interesting and the sensual scenes are very well done. It’s a book that’s firmly on my keeper shelf.
August 27, 2016
A Sultry Tale from the Old South
Set in Charleston, in the Carolina colony in 1761, this is the story of Jeremy Devlin, the bastard son of an Irish mother and an English nobleman, and Meredith Whitney, the too tall plain daughter of a plantation owner. Though her stepfather brought his money to Bitterleaf, the plantation has been in Meredith’s family for generations and she cannot envision ever leaving it.
Jeremy, betrayed into indentured servitude in the colonies, was a man admired by the women of London, “able to smile and wheedle his was with them or take them as his right, whichever suited his purpose and mood.” When he first sees Meredith and the beautiful mistress of her stepfather, Jeremy determines to have them both, no matter his lowly status at Bittlerleaf where he’s been consigned to the stables.
When Jeremy, who is good with horses and an expert rider, offers to teach Meredith to ride (she does not ride well), her stepfather thinks it’s a grand idea and asks also Jeremy to ride their spirited stallion in an upcoming race. Her stepfather has a plan and Jeremy is a part of it.
It’s a story of what happens when a man who has enjoyed pleasure with beauties is surprised to find himself enthralled with a plain woman with low self-esteem who has more passion and more intelligence than any other woman he’s known. And it’s a story of learning to trust. (I have to say some of their misunderstandings that persisted did bother me.)
Lisa Gregory (pen name for Candace Camp) and author of the classic THE RAINBOW SEASON, can certainly spin a tale. In this detailed story, she brings to life the world of the Southern plantation in 18th century America, before the Revolutionary War. Most of the story takes place at Bitterleaf and in Charleston. Some richly drawn characters add a wonderful depth to the story, though you may find the pace is a bit leisurely.
Oh, and while I love the cover, I should note that Jeremy has golden hair, not dark brown.
Set in Charleston, in the Carolina colony in 1761, this is the story of Jeremy Devlin, the bastard son of an Irish mother and an English nobleman, and Meredith Whitney, the too tall plain daughter of a plantation owner. Though her stepfather brought his money to Bitterleaf, the plantation has been in Meredith’s family for generations and she cannot envision ever leaving it.
Jeremy, betrayed into indentured servitude in the colonies, was a man admired by the women of London, “able to smile and wheedle his was with them or take them as his right, whichever suited his purpose and mood.” When he first sees Meredith and the beautiful mistress of her stepfather, Jeremy determines to have them both, no matter his lowly status at Bittlerleaf where he’s been consigned to the stables.
When Jeremy, who is good with horses and an expert rider, offers to teach Meredith to ride (she does not ride well), her stepfather thinks it’s a grand idea and asks also Jeremy to ride their spirited stallion in an upcoming race. Her stepfather has a plan and Jeremy is a part of it.
It’s a story of what happens when a man who has enjoyed pleasure with beauties is surprised to find himself enthralled with a plain woman with low self-esteem who has more passion and more intelligence than any other woman he’s known. And it’s a story of learning to trust. (I have to say some of their misunderstandings that persisted did bother me.)
Lisa Gregory (pen name for Candace Camp) and author of the classic THE RAINBOW SEASON, can certainly spin a tale. In this detailed story, she brings to life the world of the Southern plantation in 18th century America, before the Revolutionary War. Most of the story takes place at Bitterleaf and in Charleston. Some richly drawn characters add a wonderful depth to the story, though you may find the pace is a bit leisurely.
Oh, and while I love the cover, I should note that Jeremy has golden hair, not dark brown.
July 23, 2014
Jeremy Devlin was a nobleman's son betrayed into bondage, purchased by Meredith Whitney's step-father, to work on the plantaion of Bitterleaf, near Charleston, SC. Meredith is a spinster and the mistress of Bitterleaf. He was actually purchased to take over the plantation and to wed Meredith. But he has plans of revenge on his mind.
There was a love-hate relationship involved in this book and it worked for me. Written in the days of bodice rippers.
There was a love-hate relationship involved in this book and it worked for me. Written in the days of bodice rippers.
July 2, 2018
There was a lot to like about Bitterleaf, but 3/5 stars.
April 24, 2019
Bitterleaf by Lisa Gregory aka Candace Camp was first published when I was just barely one year old. Since this book has never been released in the eBook format, I purchased a used paperback copy of the novel sometime back. This book was listed in one of the recommendation threads I had been searching through way back, in my attempt to find novels where plenty of angst is to be had in a story that brings together two strong willed characters in a marriage of convenience.
When Bitterleaf begins, 21 year old Meredith Whitney, considered plain and gawky because she is taller than average and is not considered a beauty that would turn a man’s head, goes to Charleston with her stepfather Daniel Hurley. Meredith’s mother had died sometime back, leaving her with her stepfather, whom she had grown to love and respect in time. Under Daniel’s hands, Bitterleaf, the homestead where Meredith had grown up, had flourished and prospered, making Meredith a wealthy woman in her own right.
It is when Meredith, in her bid to escape the companionship of her vapid cousin Phoebe steps out into the market with her stepfather that she faces the man who would change her life in ways she would never have thought possible. Jeremy Devlin, a member of the aristocracy, whose uncle finally has enough of him and sends him on his way to the colonies as an indentured servant, finds himself purchased by none other than the man accompanied by the haughty woman whom he promises to teach a thing or two, if he ever has the chance.
Even though Jeremy finds Meredith to be plain and lacking in terms of beauty, there is something about her that draws him to the “Amazon” that she is in his mind. Jeremy prefers women who are more comely, but it is Meredith and the way she looks at him, with innocent wonder in her eyes that makes him burn.
For Meredith, laying eyes on the tall and sapphire-eyed Jeremy is the end to life as she has known it. Meredith, who had considered herself above those ruled by their want for pleasures of the flesh, finds herself wanting something that she herself does not even understand. It is perhaps owing to this and Jeremy’s frustration with Meredith that culminates in the resulting events, causing a rift that practically defines the whole story from that point onward, casting a dark shadow on every interaction that takes place between Meredith and Jeremy, especially when they are “forced” into a marriage of convenience.
I wanted to like the story, I really did. After all, this had all the ingredients that should rightfully satisfy my appetite for the less than conventional/accepted romances by readers today. To a certain point in the story, everything did work for me. But from the point where Meredith couldn’t seem to come clean about what was bothering her, how she started to continually grate on my nerves (now imagine poor Jeremy who actually had to put up with her?) was the point of no return for me when it came to my dislike for Meredith as a character.
Meredith turned out to be a tiresome, hateful in some ways, unable to look beyond her own insecurities that are of course ingrained deeply in her psych. However, for me, just like a man’s inexcusable behavior towards the heroine is not forgiven all because of what he may have faced during his childhood, I hold the heroine too to the same standard. I found Meredith wearisome especially when it came to not being able to see Jeremy’s desire for her for what it truly was – desire for the woman he wants above anything and anyone else.
Meredith never gives Jeremy the chance to explain things, which once again puts a black mark against her already laborious character. I dislike couples who detract from the enjoyment of the angst that should rightfully be present in a book such as Bitterleaf, but Meredith’s way of being unable to open her mouth without something scathing coming out of it, her self righteousness above everything else was certainly the straw that broke the camel’s back when it came to Meredith and the story itself.
I felt that the story would have been better had Jeremy left and Meredith finally had to face the erroneous assumptions she had made about a man who would would have given her everything. She should have learnt the hard way that Bitterleaf alone wouldn’t give her lifelong happiness. The way one of the secondary characters left the story was also a bit of a sore point. While I understood Meredith’s jealousy, I found her inability to forgive and move on a sore point, especially when nothing had actually happened. For me whatever good that was Meredith was overshadowed in a large way by her critical nature. Her inability to look beyond and see the larger picture.
In the end, I skipped through huge chunks of the story just so I could reach the ending because I had invested a lot of time in reading Bitterleaf, not to to mention the first half of the story that was enjoyable.
Final Verdict: Bitterleaf’s name is synonymous with a character trait that defines the heroine. I expected more from the story than a woman who could not look past her own insecurities.
Rating = 2.75/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
When Bitterleaf begins, 21 year old Meredith Whitney, considered plain and gawky because she is taller than average and is not considered a beauty that would turn a man’s head, goes to Charleston with her stepfather Daniel Hurley. Meredith’s mother had died sometime back, leaving her with her stepfather, whom she had grown to love and respect in time. Under Daniel’s hands, Bitterleaf, the homestead where Meredith had grown up, had flourished and prospered, making Meredith a wealthy woman in her own right.
It is when Meredith, in her bid to escape the companionship of her vapid cousin Phoebe steps out into the market with her stepfather that she faces the man who would change her life in ways she would never have thought possible. Jeremy Devlin, a member of the aristocracy, whose uncle finally has enough of him and sends him on his way to the colonies as an indentured servant, finds himself purchased by none other than the man accompanied by the haughty woman whom he promises to teach a thing or two, if he ever has the chance.
Even though Jeremy finds Meredith to be plain and lacking in terms of beauty, there is something about her that draws him to the “Amazon” that she is in his mind. Jeremy prefers women who are more comely, but it is Meredith and the way she looks at him, with innocent wonder in her eyes that makes him burn.
For Meredith, laying eyes on the tall and sapphire-eyed Jeremy is the end to life as she has known it. Meredith, who had considered herself above those ruled by their want for pleasures of the flesh, finds herself wanting something that she herself does not even understand. It is perhaps owing to this and Jeremy’s frustration with Meredith that culminates in the resulting events, causing a rift that practically defines the whole story from that point onward, casting a dark shadow on every interaction that takes place between Meredith and Jeremy, especially when they are “forced” into a marriage of convenience.
I wanted to like the story, I really did. After all, this had all the ingredients that should rightfully satisfy my appetite for the less than conventional/accepted romances by readers today. To a certain point in the story, everything did work for me. But from the point where Meredith couldn’t seem to come clean about what was bothering her, how she started to continually grate on my nerves (now imagine poor Jeremy who actually had to put up with her?) was the point of no return for me when it came to my dislike for Meredith as a character.
Meredith turned out to be a tiresome, hateful in some ways, unable to look beyond her own insecurities that are of course ingrained deeply in her psych. However, for me, just like a man’s inexcusable behavior towards the heroine is not forgiven all because of what he may have faced during his childhood, I hold the heroine too to the same standard. I found Meredith wearisome especially when it came to not being able to see Jeremy’s desire for her for what it truly was – desire for the woman he wants above anything and anyone else.
Meredith never gives Jeremy the chance to explain things, which once again puts a black mark against her already laborious character. I dislike couples who detract from the enjoyment of the angst that should rightfully be present in a book such as Bitterleaf, but Meredith’s way of being unable to open her mouth without something scathing coming out of it, her self righteousness above everything else was certainly the straw that broke the camel’s back when it came to Meredith and the story itself.
I felt that the story would have been better had Jeremy left and Meredith finally had to face the erroneous assumptions she had made about a man who would would have given her everything. She should have learnt the hard way that Bitterleaf alone wouldn’t give her lifelong happiness. The way one of the secondary characters left the story was also a bit of a sore point. While I understood Meredith’s jealousy, I found her inability to forgive and move on a sore point, especially when nothing had actually happened. For me whatever good that was Meredith was overshadowed in a large way by her critical nature. Her inability to look beyond and see the larger picture.
In the end, I skipped through huge chunks of the story just so I could reach the ending because I had invested a lot of time in reading Bitterleaf, not to to mention the first half of the story that was enjoyable.
Final Verdict: Bitterleaf’s name is synonymous with a character trait that defines the heroine. I expected more from the story than a woman who could not look past her own insecurities.
Rating = 2.75/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
August 30, 2020
2.5 stars
This is antebellum so go in at your own risk.
My problems were with Meredith, Oh God.
there were moments where it was good but then we would circle back to Meredith decrying her terrible looks then good moments then back to Meredith feeling bad for herself and her terrible looks.Good Grief, we get it. Also Headache.
I get it's old school and all and tbh was better then most old school stuff (no bodice ripping) but too much of that whole must-misunderstand-everything overthink-everything stuff that ruined the good bits for me. I did like the writing so maybe I'll check out some other books by the author.
This is antebellum so go in at your own risk.
My problems were with Meredith, Oh God.
there were moments where it was good but then we would circle back to Meredith decrying her terrible looks then good moments then back to Meredith feeling bad for herself and her terrible looks.Good Grief, we get it. Also Headache.
I get it's old school and all and tbh was better then most old school stuff (no bodice ripping) but too much of that whole must-misunderstand-everything overthink-everything stuff that ruined the good bits for me. I did like the writing so maybe I'll check out some other books by the author.
May 3, 2012
I really, really liked this book. It's an antebellum which I don't usually get into. This one is about an English gentleman, Jeremy Devlin, whose uncle knocked him out and sold him as an indentured servant on a slave ship bound for the colonies. He lands in Charleston and is put on the auction block. The owner of Bitterleaf plantation, Daniel Hurley, sees potential in him and purchases him. Daniel has a step-daughter, Merideth, who is also present.
The plot gets complicated but is easy to follow and easy to relate to. Jeremy ultimately proves his worth many times over. The story revolves around his relationship to Merideth, of course.
I found this to be an emotional story. I felt their anger, hurt, disappointment, and passion right alongside them. Great book.
The plot gets complicated but is easy to follow and easy to relate to. Jeremy ultimately proves his worth many times over. The story revolves around his relationship to Merideth, of course.
I found this to be an emotional story. I felt their anger, hurt, disappointment, and passion right alongside them. Great book.
September 8, 2023
A Write to Review
Very well-written story with good plot detail and very developed characters. The novel itself is highly erotic and is one of my favorite novels to date. This book really can never go out of style with its timeless take on a great love affair, it can stand the test of time and last throughout the ages. The compelling narrative of the novel keeps the reader wanting more. I have read this book many times over and I never get bored with it, I just can never put it down when I start reading it! I highly recommend it!!!
Very well-written story with good plot detail and very developed characters. The novel itself is highly erotic and is one of my favorite novels to date. This book really can never go out of style with its timeless take on a great love affair, it can stand the test of time and last throughout the ages. The compelling narrative of the novel keeps the reader wanting more. I have read this book many times over and I never get bored with it, I just can never put it down when I start reading it! I highly recommend it!!!
June 13, 2021
DNF @ page 90.
Bitterleaf held none of the charm that Lisa Gregory's Bonds of Love did, though the writing was still quite beautiful. Also, all the characters were intensely racist, which made me dislike all of them so much and not want to keep reading.
Bitterleaf held none of the charm that Lisa Gregory's Bonds of Love did, though the writing was still quite beautiful. Also, all the characters were intensely racist, which made me dislike all of them so much and not want to keep reading.
April 9, 2011
3 1/2 stars.
Read
June 6, 2023Anecdote:
Bitterleaf is the first romance novel I ever read. I found it as a teenager and "hid" it under my pillow when I read it because I was certain I was not allowed to have it. That still makes me chuckle. I still have the original copy that I found all those years back. It is ripped, creased and losing pages. The sure marks of a book well read.
Notes:
Trigger warnings:
Slavery, physical assault, and attempted sexual assault
Note on slavery:
The book takes place in the Carolina's in the 1700s on a plantation. The plantation is worked almost in its entirety by African and Black slaves. However, the male protagonist does free the slaves and then offers them jobs and wages.
I would also like to note that the n-word is never used within the book.
On to the book:
As an insecure teenager I loved the idea that a "plain jane" protagonist falls in love and is loved by an incredibly handsome and intelligent man. As an adult that particular trope has continued to be a favourite.
The novels follows Meredith Whitney, the aforementioned "plain jane". She is insecure, intelligent, impatient and kind. Years of being dismissed as unattractive or boring have giving her a hard prickly exterior and she does not suffer fools. As the reader we are shown her vulnerability through her internal monologues and her actions. She care for everyone on the plantation, providing medical care for all those who live there. The reader is given a very clear picture of a caring, emotional woman hidden under a lifetime of hurt.
Meredith's world goes topsy turvy when her stepfather purchases an indentured slave, typically someone of European descent who "buys" their passage by selling themselves on the auction block for a term of slavery (typically 7 years).
Jeremy Devlin is handsome, smart, and arrogant. He sets out a plan of revenge that includes seducing Meredith. However, he is soon caught up the scheming of Meredith's step father. Devlin is charming and very self-aware. It means that the reader has a male protagonist to fall in love with who is more than just a pretty face. He is fully flushed out and very likeable.
The story follows the course of love between the two characters through machinations, nosy neighbours, controlling family members, death of loved ones and attempted murder. There is never a dull moment as the novel unfolds.
Bitterleaf is well written with lovable characters and vivid descriptions. I thoroughly enjoyed this read through and all the many I have done before now.
Bitterleaf is the first romance novel I ever read. I found it as a teenager and "hid" it under my pillow when I read it because I was certain I was not allowed to have it. That still makes me chuckle. I still have the original copy that I found all those years back. It is ripped, creased and losing pages. The sure marks of a book well read.
Notes:
Trigger warnings:
Slavery, physical assault, and attempted sexual assault
Note on slavery:
The book takes place in the Carolina's in the 1700s on a plantation. The plantation is worked almost in its entirety by African and Black slaves. However, the male protagonist does free the slaves and then offers them jobs and wages.
I would also like to note that the n-word is never used within the book.
On to the book:
As an insecure teenager I loved the idea that a "plain jane" protagonist falls in love and is loved by an incredibly handsome and intelligent man. As an adult that particular trope has continued to be a favourite.
The novels follows Meredith Whitney, the aforementioned "plain jane". She is insecure, intelligent, impatient and kind. Years of being dismissed as unattractive or boring have giving her a hard prickly exterior and she does not suffer fools. As the reader we are shown her vulnerability through her internal monologues and her actions. She care for everyone on the plantation, providing medical care for all those who live there. The reader is given a very clear picture of a caring, emotional woman hidden under a lifetime of hurt.
Meredith's world goes topsy turvy when her stepfather purchases an indentured slave, typically someone of European descent who "buys" their passage by selling themselves on the auction block for a term of slavery (typically 7 years).
Jeremy Devlin is handsome, smart, and arrogant. He sets out a plan of revenge that includes seducing Meredith. However, he is soon caught up the scheming of Meredith's step father. Devlin is charming and very self-aware. It means that the reader has a male protagonist to fall in love with who is more than just a pretty face. He is fully flushed out and very likeable.
The story follows the course of love between the two characters through machinations, nosy neighbours, controlling family members, death of loved ones and attempted murder. There is never a dull moment as the novel unfolds.
Bitterleaf is well written with lovable characters and vivid descriptions. I thoroughly enjoyed this read through and all the many I have done before now.
January 11, 2020
I think 16-year-old me would've devoured this, but 27 year-old-me is a bit more circumspect. She didn't like the way the author described black characters as "blank-faced", "vapid" or fit only to do menial tasks. I get that this is a colonial-based novel, and that Ms. Camp was trying to be progressive in the genre by having the male lead free the slaves, but the assumption that they'd "just stay on the plantation for wages" and basically their freedom was only granted because of monetary convenience, not desire to do right, kind of rankled. 27-year-old-me didn't like fussy Meredith, who was mercurial and a self-proclaimed doctor and a boring prude (I mean, she literally vacillates from crybaby to revered healer, account keeper, wax maker, housekeeper, etc. at any given time, when she isn't getting Jeremy whipped for offending her, and holy moly, is she insecure and quick to assume the worst. If I had a dollar for every time she got needlessly jealous, I'd probably be richer than Jeff Bezos). She didn't like nasty Jeremy Devlin, who sees no qualms in making out with his crush's pseudo stepmother after making out with said crush, or in talking with a land agent about selling her beloved plantation and birthright, or who boasts that his prowess with women is due to his mantra of "Treating the ladies like whores, and the whores like ladies". She didn't like how obvious the murder plot was, or that the overseer was even allowed to stay on the plantation after the first accosting happened. The only thing she liked was the depiction of muggy, magical Charleston and the unique situation of a stepfather showering his haughty stepdaughter with kindness and providing a good life for her. Otherwise, while some bodice-rippers will always be beloved due to sentimental value or the rare ones that aged well and aren't rapey, this one is going right back to the store it came from. Buh-bye.
August 26, 2021
This book is more than a romance with hot loves scenes; it gives you some historical info about plantation life in the 18thc south, the unfortunate system of both slavery and indentured servitude, and - maybe of most importance - the consequences of insecurities and lack of self worth. That's what Meredith, the novel's leading lady, suffers from in abundance, and most of the troubles she goes through, particularly the problems and misunderstandings between her and leading man, Jeremy (an indentured servant on her plantation, with ties to British gentry), are the result of her lack of self-confidence, and failure to believe someone could genuinely love her.
i won't give anything more away, just recommend you read this.
i won't give anything more away, just recommend you read this.
March 3, 2025
I found this so utterly boring. Many pages in and they barely have scenes together. And, of course, there was a lack of chemistry. Meredith didn’t come off attractive to Jeremy and myself, as Jeremy himself was pretty lame and tame, no? For a certain nobleman to be sold he wasn’t hardcore, mostly rambling about how embarrassed he was and the humiliation he suffered. I wish he gave a more idgaf attitude and was brooding, mysterious and dangerous. He was kind of annoying and simple, ehh.
April 27, 2025
The writer pulled me in with the unusual characters: the plain Jane who is confident in her abilities, the stepfather whom she likes and dislikes… but the modern language and lack of research into the clothing lost me. Words like “femme fatale” wouldn’t be around for a while and why do writers insist on leaving out crucial bits of clothing like stays? So annoying because I wanted to like the book.
August 14, 2017
What a lovely, trope-filled read! The angst took almost too long to resolve and the end was suitably melodramatic, but I guess the issue of slavery and indentured servitude was handled as well as it could be considering it's a romance novel set in pre-independence America.
July 3, 2018
Great book one of the first I stared reading after many years would highly recommend 👍👍
June 17, 2019
I read this book when I was between 18 and 20. I fell in love with the story. I was obsessed with the correlation of innocence and sexuality.
November 14, 2024
My most favourite historical romance. I wish she would have written more of these. I also wish this had been a full on bodice ripper. Alas, can’t have everything.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews