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Love and Adventure Collection - Part 1
Two stand-alone classics by a legend of the genre in a single, value-priced bundle!
THE STORM AND THE SPLENDOR
Julia, involved in a dangerous international plot, becomes a sea captain's reluctant bride. When a violent storm flings them into the decadent splendor of a Turkish court, will they trust to love...or die in each other's arms?
LOVE'S WILD DESIRE
Catherine, tricked into attending an infamous quadroon ball, masks her identity until it's too late. Forced to wed the handsome planter who compromises her, she seeks a place in his life. But the madman stalking her will not rest until she pays the price for...Love's Wild Desire.
THE STORM AND THE SPLENDOR
Julia, involved in a dangerous international plot, becomes a sea captain's reluctant bride. When a violent storm flings them into the decadent splendor of a Turkish court, will they trust to love...or die in each other's arms?
LOVE'S WILD DESIRE
Catherine, tricked into attending an infamous quadroon ball, masks her identity until it's too late. Forced to wed the handsome planter who compromises her, she seeks a place in his life. But the madman stalking her will not rest until she pays the price for...Love's Wild Desire.
786 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 17, 2012
241 people are currently reading
467 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Blake
174 books545 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 27, 2021
Love's Wild Desire was great. I have to admit I never read The Storm And The Speldor. It never appealed to me.
Currently reading
February 10, 2024The first two books in the Love and Adventure series:
The Storm and the Splendor ?* 2/?/24 (408)
Louisiana; Julia Dupré & Rudyard Thorpe
Love's Wild Desire ?* 2/?/24 (378)
*
The Storm and the Splendor ?* 2/?/24 (408)
Louisiana; Julia Dupré & Rudyard Thorpe
Love's Wild Desire ?* 2/?/24 (378)
*
March 21, 2018
I wanted more
Both tales left me wanting more. They ended too soon. Or maybe they ended just right with the reader wanting more. Being a southerner I found both tales to be true to the period and therefore a bit painful, but the plots were wonderful, the characters rich and the adventures understandable. Not everyone will enjoy the second set. I had to put aside my prejudice against that way of life to enjoy it. It is probably too close to true for most to be happy reading the degradation of the slaves. Still, it was a good story.
Both tales left me wanting more. They ended too soon. Or maybe they ended just right with the reader wanting more. Being a southerner I found both tales to be true to the period and therefore a bit painful, but the plots were wonderful, the characters rich and the adventures understandable. Not everyone will enjoy the second set. I had to put aside my prejudice against that way of life to enjoy it. It is probably too close to true for most to be happy reading the degradation of the slaves. Still, it was a good story.
May 12, 2017
Mostly depressing
I prefer light hearted romances. These two books are not even romantic. They both have the same theme. The maiden gets into a comprising situation and is forced to marry someone she just met. After that it's one bad situation to another. At the very end she decides she loves her husband.
I prefer light hearted romances. These two books are not even romantic. They both have the same theme. The maiden gets into a comprising situation and is forced to marry someone she just met. After that it's one bad situation to another. At the very end she decides she loves her husband.
June 25, 2018
Julia and Rudyard. Catherine and Rafael
I have nothing but high praise for these two books. Adventure, excitement, and Jennifer Blake's ability to surprise, prevents me from being able to stop turning the pages. I will be reading everything penned by her.
I have nothing but high praise for these two books. Adventure, excitement, and Jennifer Blake's ability to surprise, prevents me from being able to stop turning the pages. I will be reading everything penned by her.
August 30, 2018
Wow!
Combined these two books are about 30 hrs of reading...prepare yourself but by ALL means, do it!!! Both were great stories with twists and turns, romance and action. I especially liked the first one.
Combined these two books are about 30 hrs of reading...prepare yourself but by ALL means, do it!!! Both were great stories with twists and turns, romance and action. I especially liked the first one.
January 3, 2019
Review
I enjoyed reading this volume ... so many surprises and interesting storylines .. turns that i would have never expected .. interesting ... i just loved it .. page turner from begining to end ... both excellent .. jennifer i am hooked
I enjoyed reading this volume ... so many surprises and interesting storylines .. turns that i would have never expected .. interesting ... i just loved it .. page turner from begining to end ... both excellent .. jennifer i am hooked
December 16, 2020
Skimmed through most of the book. Dragged on and on...
September 17, 2014
LOVE'S WILD DESIRE
I'm skimming a lot while I read Ms Blake's bodice rippers. I skim the bountiful descriptions that make me think of a wild nature documentary, I skim the way too much details of lesser consequential things. I wish I could have skipped also the rape galore this book is. The heroine is raped by her future husband, is basically legally raped by him after the wedding, she is almost raped by the men she meets at different times. Wow. Weirdly enough, this time Ms Blake's rape scenes weren't all the usual bodice ripper titillation. I do believe that the heroine's life was very truthful for the period and that a woman without means and family connection wouldn't have fared differently. For once I liked her leading character, she is really a strong woman.
On the other side I could have done without the author's defence of slavery. Yes, it's a character that is talking of her time. But a person living it wouldn't have given such a thought. Either it was accepted or not. I doubt it would have given rise to such a inner speech.
And from the romantic point of view is not particularly romantic her going back to him as a better choice (the other one was life without a protector).
The storm and the splendor
3+ stars plus for the first part, 0 for the second one
Part One of The storm and the splendor is a very funny romp with an exhilarating plot regarding Napoleon. It's an interesting idea and almost believable. For once in a Blake book, there was not one scene of forced seduction between hero and heroine. They come to sex, if not love, in a very believable way. Compelled to marry, they first know one another. Or so she thought.
As this is not exactly the truth, I was really eager to see how Ms Blake was going to resolve the quandary. :D
Then, Part Two started. And I wanted to bang my head on a wall and was wondering if I could strangle a book, too.
Ms Blake's solution? Let her stay 2 years as a concubine in a harem. Her husband will become the best choice, disregarding the past. ARRGGGHHHH
(And of course the prince is a very old man, so no risk for her virtue. She saves the day too.)
In case you are wondering, the strangling part came when the couple is reunited, even if still slaves, and he asks her to yield to him, 'cause he is horny after 2 years and well, he doesn't want to force her. (First time they see each other in 2 years after the debaclé... I so wanted to murder it.)
I'm thankful for the fact her books are often on offer (and therefore cheap or free)... But, I can't say I enjoy reading them. There's more than something/one wrong with them. So they end up being a 1 star experience for me, even when they don't start as such.
I'm skimming a lot while I read Ms Blake's bodice rippers. I skim the bountiful descriptions that make me think of a wild nature documentary, I skim the way too much details of lesser consequential things. I wish I could have skipped also the rape galore this book is. The heroine is raped by her future husband, is basically legally raped by him after the wedding, she is almost raped by the men she meets at different times. Wow. Weirdly enough, this time Ms Blake's rape scenes weren't all the usual bodice ripper titillation. I do believe that the heroine's life was very truthful for the period and that a woman without means and family connection wouldn't have fared differently. For once I liked her leading character, she is really a strong woman.
On the other side I could have done without the author's defence of slavery. Yes, it's a character that is talking of her time. But a person living it wouldn't have given such a thought. Either it was accepted or not. I doubt it would have given rise to such a inner speech.
And from the romantic point of view is not particularly romantic her going back to him as a better choice (the other one was life without a protector).
The storm and the splendor
3+ stars plus for the first part, 0 for the second one
Part One of The storm and the splendor is a very funny romp with an exhilarating plot regarding Napoleon. It's an interesting idea and almost believable. For once in a Blake book, there was not one scene of forced seduction between hero and heroine. They come to sex, if not love, in a very believable way. Compelled to marry, they first know one another. Or so she thought.
As this is not exactly the truth, I was really eager to see how Ms Blake was going to resolve the quandary. :D
Then, Part Two started. And I wanted to bang my head on a wall and was wondering if I could strangle a book, too.
Ms Blake's solution? Let her stay 2 years as a concubine in a harem. Her husband will become the best choice, disregarding the past. ARRGGGHHHH
(And of course the prince is a very old man, so no risk for her virtue. She saves the day too.)
In case you are wondering, the strangling part came when the couple is reunited, even if still slaves, and he asks her to yield to him, 'cause he is horny after 2 years and well, he doesn't want to force her. (First time they see each other in 2 years after the debaclé... I so wanted to murder it.)
I'm thankful for the fact her books are often on offer (and therefore cheap or free)... But, I can't say I enjoy reading them. There's more than something/one wrong with them. So they end up being a 1 star experience for me, even when they don't start as such.
April 19, 2017
The Storm and the Splendor
Really struggling through this one. Not as rape-full as the second book (so far) but I just can't seem to muster any care for these characters. Finally just skimmed through the rest. Ugh!
Love's Wild Desire
Um, what can I say? There are a lot of rape scenes and a lot of almost rape scenes in this book. And at no point did it feel like either Catherine or Rafael really enjoyed the sex, even when it wasn't rape (usually then it was closer to forced seduction). It's pretty clear that he's getting off a lot with her but so glossed over that it feels like she doesn't want it. If you've read the Ruthenia Duology, and didn't like it, this is a do not bother for you. In my opinion, this is even worse because at least in the Ruthenia books they acknowledge the damage done. Here, Rafe is really, really matter of fact about it all, just completely cold.
Overall
I can't even justify a 2 star "meh" rating on these. They were just that darn bad.
Really struggling through this one. Not as rape-full as the second book (so far) but I just can't seem to muster any care for these characters. Finally just skimmed through the rest. Ugh!
Love's Wild Desire
Um, what can I say? There are a lot of rape scenes and a lot of almost rape scenes in this book. And at no point did it feel like either Catherine or Rafael really enjoyed the sex, even when it wasn't rape (usually then it was closer to forced seduction). It's pretty clear that he's getting off a lot with her but so glossed over that it feels like she doesn't want it. If you've read the Ruthenia Duology, and didn't like it, this is a do not bother for you. In my opinion, this is even worse because at least in the Ruthenia books they acknowledge the damage done. Here, Rafe is really, really matter of fact about it all, just completely cold.
Overall
I can't even justify a 2 star "meh" rating on these. They were just that darn bad.
September 15, 2016
Hard to describe. I know this author is a great writer. If I did not know I would say she was not.
The 1st story was good. The 2nd was a good plot with lots of writing errors.
The female character was like a plastic doll, she kept rolling with the punches and even after she was raped she just kept plucking along. No depth to her at all. It was so frustrating to read how one dimensional the characters were. Many responses in one event would be the same set up in all events through the story.
It was hard to keep reading. The end was anticlimactic.
The 1st story was good. The 2nd was a good plot with lots of writing errors.
The female character was like a plastic doll, she kept rolling with the punches and even after she was raped she just kept plucking along. No depth to her at all. It was so frustrating to read how one dimensional the characters were. Many responses in one event would be the same set up in all events through the story.
It was hard to keep reading. The end was anticlimactic.
August 31, 2016
Good read
Overall I enjoyed these stories greatly, the first a little more than the second. Characters in the first story I enjoyed more and liked more than those in the second. Had a hard time with the second story's love interest due to how he and the heroine met a d the circumstances that started their relationship. The author did a good job with her research and history of her settings.
Overall I enjoyed these stories greatly, the first a little more than the second. Characters in the first story I enjoyed more and liked more than those in the second. Had a hard time with the second story's love interest due to how he and the heroine met a d the circumstances that started their relationship. The author did a good job with her research and history of her settings.
November 7, 2014
Strangely the writing was of very different levels. The first book in this boxed set was much stronger. The book about Catherine had her character all over the place even when it wasn't caused by pregnancy hormones. I liked the secondary characters better.
January 31, 2016
Ahm. Ok. So ahm. This is very very long stories. The sexual tension between the characters are in the end lost due to the length.
On the positive side. It promises adventure and it sure does deliver. But it is loooong.
Og and in case I forgot, these are very looong stories.
WaAr
On the positive side. It promises adventure and it sure does deliver. But it is loooong.
Og and in case I forgot, these are very looong stories.
WaAr
October 6, 2016
Old New Orleans
Was a little slow to start then picked up steam taking you into slavery in the south and Voodoo. I think it took the immature heroin too long to figure out she loved her husband.
Was a little slow to start then picked up steam taking you into slavery in the south and Voodoo. I think it took the immature heroin too long to figure out she loved her husband.
Want to read
March 10, 2013The storm and the splender was really good. Loves wild desire, however, is not as good and i lost interest.
August 15, 2015
Great Read
These were detailed, long books. I didn't like the women but loved their men. They were good stories. Historical fiction at it's best.
These were detailed, long books. I didn't like the women but loved their men. They were good stories. Historical fiction at it's best.
January 13, 2016
Cold chills
Jennifer Blake is an authoress who grabs your heart from the beginning and it only gets better. Very good read
Jennifer Blake is an authoress who grabs your heart from the beginning and it only gets better. Very good read
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews