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Louisiana History Collection - Part 1
Romance ignites amidst the tumult of a territory striving to find its identity as it passes from pre-colonial rule to US statehood and beyond. Parts 1 and 2 of the Louisiana History Collection present these lush, politically tense historical romances in chronological order.
FIERCE EDEN
Reynaud, half Natchez Indian, requires that Elise share his bedroll in exchange for saving her friends during an uprising. Widowed after a brutish marriage, Elise fears intimacy more than the Natchez. How can she view Reynaud as an enemy after his tender introduction to love?
LOUISIANA DAWN
Cyrene rescues a handsome rake from drowning for the sake of his silver lace. In return, she requests he relieve her of her tiresome virginity. She expects to be her own woman afterward...but fails to reckon with René's skill or her own lonely heart.
EMBRACE AND CONQUER
Félicité despises the Irish colonel who marches into New Orleans with the Spanish conquerors; pride demands she escape from his beguiling embrace. Will he let her go, or follow into the trap of a pirate's lair?
FIERCE EDEN
Reynaud, half Natchez Indian, requires that Elise share his bedroll in exchange for saving her friends during an uprising. Widowed after a brutish marriage, Elise fears intimacy more than the Natchez. How can she view Reynaud as an enemy after his tender introduction to love?
LOUISIANA DAWN
Cyrene rescues a handsome rake from drowning for the sake of his silver lace. In return, she requests he relieve her of her tiresome virginity. She expects to be her own woman afterward...but fails to reckon with René's skill or her own lonely heart.
EMBRACE AND CONQUER
Félicité despises the Irish colonel who marches into New Orleans with the Spanish conquerors; pride demands she escape from his beguiling embrace. Will he let her go, or follow into the trap of a pirate's lair?
1053 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 17, 2012
320 people are currently reading
563 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Blake
170 books542 followersA pseudonym used by Patricia Maxwell.
Jennifer Blake has been called a “pioneer of the romance genre”, and an “icon of the romance industry.” A New York Times and international best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of the RWA Hall of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Rita. She holds numerous other honors, including two “Maggies”, two Holt Medallions, multiple Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine, and the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence. She has written over 60 books with translations in 20 languages and more than 30 million copies in print worldwide.
Jennifer and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style retreat in North Louisiana where they often entertain family and friends. Always a gardener, she spends much of her time encouraging her garden to bloom with her favorite daylilies and antique roses. She also enjoys walking her two dogs, Buffy and Lucky, and indulging in needlework, painting, and travel.
Jennifer Blake has been called a “pioneer of the romance genre”, and an “icon of the romance industry.” A New York Times and international best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of the RWA Hall of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Rita. She holds numerous other honors, including two “Maggies”, two Holt Medallions, multiple Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine, and the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence. She has written over 60 books with translations in 20 languages and more than 30 million copies in print worldwide.
Jennifer and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style retreat in North Louisiana where they often entertain family and friends. Always a gardener, she spends much of her time encouraging her garden to bloom with her favorite daylilies and antique roses. She also enjoys walking her two dogs, Buffy and Lucky, and indulging in needlework, painting, and travel.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 5, 2014
I liked them. I'm surprised by the comments. people require an earth-shattering meaningful experience from a dime store novel? It was entertaining. Move on.
May 13, 2022
I was hankering for a good old fashioned historical and that is exactly what I got! 3 stories in one collection. Sometimes when I read historicals, the tone or the dialogue doesn't seem to match the time period, so this makes me vey skeptical about finding new ones to read. This collection did not disappoint me. It gave me a very good sense of being in the time and place described.....Now a little about the stories, is it strange that the one I liked the best was the most violent and chauvinistic towards women? I guess sometimes I like my damsel to really be in distress! :-) Books take place in New Orleans, in the last story, there is a transition from French rule to Spanish rule, our heroine Felicite is a French woman, wary of the new Spanish soldiers. To make a show of force and establish order, they arrest 12 men, accused of plotting against the Spanish rule. Her father is one of the men arrested. The second in command, Morgan is an Irish mercenary who has also been a pirate - so he can be very 'rough'. She also has a 'brother' (not a blood relative, but was taken in and raised by her father) who is not all that he seems. Abuses and adventures ensue but we finally get to the HEA! it's been a while since I have wanted to stay up and read, and this on kept me up!
October 18, 2025
The first book in this collection had an interesting plot, but was horribly written and riddled with errors. The second book was my favorite of the three, but I still wouldn’t give it more than 3 stars. The last one I couldn’t even finish. So much of the plot didn’t even make sense. I gave up. I have another collection of Blake’s that I picked up years ago, but I have no desire to read it if this is what I can expect from her.
August 25, 2019
Louisiana love
This was a wonderful collection. The research that must have gone into these books is impressive. Being a next door neighbor to New Orleans, reading the stories of the beginning of the area was very interesting. I look forward to continuing with Volume 2 and highly recommend these books to discerning readers.
This was a wonderful collection. The research that must have gone into these books is impressive. Being a next door neighbor to New Orleans, reading the stories of the beginning of the area was very interesting. I look forward to continuing with Volume 2 and highly recommend these books to discerning readers.
February 13, 2017
Enjoyable read of 3 separate stories
I liked all 3 stories. Different premises but all with challenges based on the timeframe. Struggles in all to accept the love found along with the limits of the setting. Yes will read more from this author.
I liked all 3 stories. Different premises but all with challenges based on the timeframe. Struggles in all to accept the love found along with the limits of the setting. Yes will read more from this author.
May 18, 2017
I really enjoyed this book so much, there were 3 stories in all, the love scenes were very poetic instead of being crude. I noticed some of the reviewers put down the rape scene it was in the final story and it was done in good taste and it added to the story plus it all ended in a HEA.
September 14, 2017
Good books
I like the books and she is very descriptive the only drawback in my opinion only, is the ending seems to be cut short, as if it has to be quick , I rather it maybe drawn out just a little to build it up, but I still liked them!
I like the books and she is very descriptive the only drawback in my opinion only, is the ending seems to be cut short, as if it has to be quick , I rather it maybe drawn out just a little to build it up, but I still liked them!
January 15, 2019
Three different historical stories with similar difficulties in love.
Filled with adventure and unexpected events. Love interest in all three books were similar with anticipated endings. You won't be able to put these books down once you start.
Filled with adventure and unexpected events. Love interest in all three books were similar with anticipated endings. You won't be able to put these books down once you start.
November 30, 2020
I absolutely loved these books and this is my second reading. This is probably not the last time, either because the high caliber of writing is so enjoyable, so enthralling. Adventure and romance are wrapped in history that is wonderfully brought to life. Well done.
November 27, 2021
Good but hard to follow
Different type of romance. Hard to follow in parts. If you like the new world era, you'll probably enjoy this mix of romance, pirates, sword fights and military take over.
Different type of romance. Hard to follow in parts. If you like the new world era, you'll probably enjoy this mix of romance, pirates, sword fights and military take over.
May 26, 2017
Full of surprises
This book provided history, action, love and adventure making it a well rounded read that I couldn't put down until the end.
This book provided history, action, love and adventure making it a well rounded read that I couldn't put down until the end.
July 16, 2018
Excellent!
Gripping with historical accuracy, this one is almost impossible to put down. Jennifer Blake, as always, lures one in with exquisite details and an enticing storyline.
Gripping with historical accuracy, this one is almost impossible to put down. Jennifer Blake, as always, lures one in with exquisite details and an enticing storyline.
December 10, 2018
Got thru the first story only -- had no interest in reading the next two in the collection.
February 20, 2019
Interesting characters
But once again the female lead makes every stupid move in the book concerning who to trust. Why are all these females nitwits?
But once again the female lead makes every stupid move in the book concerning who to trust. Why are all these females nitwits?
February 24, 2018
Historically accurate but too much romance
January 17, 2021
Good but lots of historical details
December 27, 2012
1 1\2 stars
I barely liked the first book, Fierce Eden, but disliked the second, Louisiana Dawn, quite strongly.
In both cases I didn't like the heroines who are, supposedly, strong-headed women. If you look into the story, they are only strong in minor details, almost as they were waiting for the hero to show how weak they really are.
In both cases, heroes were almost ugly for me, controlling and lying jerks in a historical setting. René was despicable in his never-ending use of his "heroine" for his own gain. Morgan did the same. There is no way I can accept an HEA with that background. Not before a "river of blood" (or at least a few years :P).
In both cases, the descriptions of the attire/houses/etc in that time period were bogging down the story and I skim-read a lot.
(The third book was much like the second one.)
Mind: this is a reaction to stories and characters. It doesn't reflect my opinion of the author. She writes beautifully. It simply doesn't appeal to me.
I barely liked the first book, Fierce Eden, but disliked the second, Louisiana Dawn, quite strongly.
In both cases I didn't like the heroines who are, supposedly, strong-headed women. If you look into the story, they are only strong in minor details, almost as they were waiting for the hero to show how weak they really are.
In both cases, heroes were almost ugly for me, controlling and lying jerks in a historical setting. René was despicable in his never-ending use of his "heroine" for his own gain. Morgan did the same. There is no way I can accept an HEA with that background. Not before a "river of blood" (or at least a few years :P).
In both cases, the descriptions of the attire/houses/etc in that time period were bogging down the story and I skim-read a lot.
(The third book was much like the second one.)
Mind: this is a reaction to stories and characters. It doesn't reflect my opinion of the author. She writes beautifully. It simply doesn't appeal to me.
March 14, 2015
The first two books were kind of blah, but I kept with them because they were different from what I had read in the past. The history side was interesting, even if I could never learn to care for the characters. Most of their relationship problems come from stubbornness from both of them and a complete lack of communication (one of my romance novel pet peeves. Seriously, just talk to each other so we can get on to some actual conflict.)
The last book though? The hero straight up rapes the heroine. I had always heard that this was a problem in older romances novels but had never come across it until today. It was violent, with the heroine crying and saying no, and of course the dude doesn't seem to realize what he's doing is terrible until he realizes she's a virgin. ::eyeroll:: Not that that stops him from basically blackmailing her into being his mistress in exchange for some protection for her father. I bought both part one and part two of the series because there was an amazing discount on Amazon, but now I think I'll skip part two.
The last book though? The hero straight up rapes the heroine. I had always heard that this was a problem in older romances novels but had never come across it until today. It was violent, with the heroine crying and saying no, and of course the dude doesn't seem to realize what he's doing is terrible until he realizes she's a virgin. ::eyeroll:: Not that that stops him from basically blackmailing her into being his mistress in exchange for some protection for her father. I bought both part one and part two of the series because there was an amazing discount on Amazon, but now I think I'll skip part two.
January 31, 2016
The first two books are merely okay, but the last book I dislike greatly due to the main characters. I don't care how the author sugar coats it or tries to have the so-called hero make amends later in the story, nothing changes the fact that the lead male character is a rapist. I can't even call him a hero. The heroine is not quite as bad, but lacks common sense and ruins her small chances at happiness with her lies and gullibility.
The first two books were better as far as characters and plot. However, all three books flow through the plot very slowly. The history is interesting, but at times presented like a reference in an encyclopedia. When the historical facts are not dumped into the story simply for the historical reference the writing is good though.
The first two books were better as far as characters and plot. However, all three books flow through the plot very slowly. The history is interesting, but at times presented like a reference in an encyclopedia. When the historical facts are not dumped into the story simply for the historical reference the writing is good though.
October 15, 2013
The first in a two part collection contains three stand alone novels. All three are full of steamy romance and suspense with a real insight into the hard life of early Louisiana settlers. Each story has an equally captivating storyline and great in depth characters that are very relatable, making it very easy to be sucked right into the story, feeling everything the characters themselves feel. If you like historical romances, this is definitely a must for you! You will NOT be disappointed! A Book Junky's Obsession - http://myopenlife2001.wordpress.com/2...
June 8, 2013
I read the first book and enjoyed it. I'd say I give it 4 stars. I was only able to get through 4 chapters of the second book and I put it down and have no desire currently to pick it back up again. That may change in the future, but until then, this review will stand as written.
I purchased this set on Amazon.com for $.99. An excellent deal, but I'm not at this point, feeling like I got my money's worth.
I purchased this set on Amazon.com for $.99. An excellent deal, but I'm not at this point, feeling like I got my money's worth.
September 6, 2016
Outstanding
Volume One finished and Volume Two waiting for the touch of my finger to get started.
Louisiana history is very well represented in these books and I recommend it if you like history in fiction.
Volume One finished and Volume Two waiting for the touch of my finger to get started.
Louisiana history is very well represented in these books and I recommend it if you like history in fiction.
June 8, 2013
Although I thought this would be more historical I enjoyed all the stories in the collection.
June 30, 2016
Great fast passed reading!
Very descriptive fast passed read. Very well thought out characters. Hard to put down. Loved the history included in each story.
Very descriptive fast passed read. Very well thought out characters. Hard to put down. Loved the history included in each story.
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September 25, 2016Very exciting read.
I enjoyed reading this book, always on edge as to what would happen next. I recommend this to anybody interested in history.
I enjoyed reading this book, always on edge as to what would happen next. I recommend this to anybody interested in history.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews