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The Winter King
When ice meets fire, the ice melts...
Yvonne Trent had it all. She was beautiful and talented, with famous parents and a glamourous life-style. But pretty soon Yvonne discovered that fame and fortune weren't enough...
It took all of Adam Ruarke's powers of persuasion to encourage Yvonne back to work. And Yvonne knew immediately that she would do anything to gain Adam's love and admiration. Loving Adam had it's rewards, but there was also a price to pay...
Yvonne Trent had it all. She was beautiful and talented, with famous parents and a glamourous life-style. But pretty soon Yvonne discovered that fame and fortune weren't enough...
It took all of Adam Ruarke's powers of persuasion to encourage Yvonne back to work. And Yvonne knew immediately that she would do anything to gain Adam's love and admiration. Loving Adam had it's rewards, but there was also a price to pay...
Hardcover
Published February 1, 1994
5 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Carpenter
37 books43 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Amanda Carpenter (aka Thea Harrison) resides in northern California. She wrote her first book, a romance, when she was nineteen and had sixteen romances published under the name Amanda Carpenter.
She took a break from writing to collect a couple of graduate degrees and a grown child. Her graduate degrees are in Philanthropic Studies and Library Information Science, but her first love has always been writing fiction. She's back with her paranormal Elder Races series under the pseudonym Thea Harrison.
Amanda Carpenter (aka Thea Harrison) resides in northern California. She wrote her first book, a romance, when she was nineteen and had sixteen romances published under the name Amanda Carpenter.
She took a break from writing to collect a couple of graduate degrees and a grown child. Her graduate degrees are in Philanthropic Studies and Library Information Science, but her first love has always been writing fiction. She's back with her paranormal Elder Races series under the pseudonym Thea Harrison.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 18, 2017
Actress heroine. Director hero.
Actress is dramatic. Director is manipulative.
Water is wet.
Need more detail? The heroine is forced out of retirement by the hero. He won't give her father a supporting part, if she doesn't take the lead. The opening scene is the heroine slapping "The Winter King" during a Hollywood party.
Then in the privacy of her room with the intrigued hero, she screams and cries and carries on and is rude to the maid. (These two are rude to all of the little people, btw. Not a good look.)
The hero is unperturbed by her dramatics. The heroine lives a life of misery in her own head and resents the hero for making her join the living. But the heroine eventually learns to trust the acting process again and they make a good movie. They are still playing games once the film wraps.
The hero has one last manipulation to get the heroine to come to him.
Their dynamic has a bit of the D/s relationship. The hero is the "mind-reader Dominant" and the heroine is the bossy sub. The hero knows what's best. The heroine finally surrenders her will to the hero and now she's at peace.
If you like that sort of dynamic, you'll probably like this one. I found the overwritten prose a bit much to take.
Actress is dramatic. Director is manipulative.
Water is wet.
Need more detail? The heroine is forced out of retirement by the hero. He won't give her father a supporting part, if she doesn't take the lead. The opening scene is the heroine slapping "The Winter King" during a Hollywood party.
Then in the privacy of her room with the intrigued hero, she screams and cries and carries on and is rude to the maid. (These two are rude to all of the little people, btw. Not a good look.)
The hero is unperturbed by her dramatics. The heroine lives a life of misery in her own head and resents the hero for making her join the living. But the heroine eventually learns to trust the acting process again and they make a good movie. They are still playing games once the film wraps.
The hero has one last manipulation to get the heroine to come to him.
Their dynamic has a bit of the D/s relationship. The hero is the "mind-reader Dominant" and the heroine is the bossy sub. The hero knows what's best. The heroine finally surrenders her will to the hero and now she's at peace.
If you like that sort of dynamic, you'll probably like this one. I found the overwritten prose a bit much to take.
September 24, 2020
‘I’m obsessed with the thought of taking you.’
‘I’m so obsessed with the thought of taking you because I won’t allow it.’
‘You run from the taking every time.’
‘You’ll give of your own volition, or you’ll get nothing at all.’
"The Winter King" is the story of Yvonne and Adam.
Is it hot in here? Maybe (two radiators are on in my room)- but this book.. hubba hubba.
Filled with prose and metaphors, the book depicts two distinctly different characters who experience attraction that borders insanity. The heroine is a child-turned-adult actress who disappears from the industry following an extremely illustrious beginning, the hero is the perfectionist director who lures her back two years later. Theirs is a combustive romance, filled with crazy jealousy, intense passion and heaving lust. He pulls her out of her restrictive shell, while slowly immersing himself into her and making her his.
Absolute bonkers but oh so enjoyable! Their chemistry is palpable, and when their romance culminates into lovemaking, the book reaches its own crescendo and the characters finally find their ultimate HEA. Volatile characters, very Type A, likely to get hypertension. And totally likely to murder each other during sex. Fun!
The ending was SUPER sweet though.
Safe
3.5/5
‘I’m so obsessed with the thought of taking you because I won’t allow it.’
‘You run from the taking every time.’
‘You’ll give of your own volition, or you’ll get nothing at all.’
"The Winter King" is the story of Yvonne and Adam.
Is it hot in here? Maybe (two radiators are on in my room)- but this book.. hubba hubba.
Filled with prose and metaphors, the book depicts two distinctly different characters who experience attraction that borders insanity. The heroine is a child-turned-adult actress who disappears from the industry following an extremely illustrious beginning, the hero is the perfectionist director who lures her back two years later. Theirs is a combustive romance, filled with crazy jealousy, intense passion and heaving lust. He pulls her out of her restrictive shell, while slowly immersing himself into her and making her his.
Absolute bonkers but oh so enjoyable! Their chemistry is palpable, and when their romance culminates into lovemaking, the book reaches its own crescendo and the characters finally find their ultimate HEA. Volatile characters, very Type A, likely to get hypertension. And totally likely to murder each other during sex. Fun!
The ending was SUPER sweet though.
Safe
3.5/5
February 28, 2022
If I had a purple prose shelf, this would be on it.
I like this author, but this is ridiculously overwritten and not nearly as witty as it thinks it is.
I like this author, but this is ridiculously overwritten and not nearly as witty as it thinks it is.
June 25, 2011
Okay maybe its more like 4.5 stars. Different than a normal HQN read. I've never bookmarked as many pages before and that's always a good thing, I guess. A lot of things to think about and the hero's a sweetheart.
NOTE: WHAT I IMAGINE THE HERO TO LOOK LIKE:
NOTE: WHAT I IMAGINE THE HEROINE TO LOOK LIKE:
Some choice quotes:
'.....It's funny, but your parents can give you everything in the world, but they can't teach you what to do with it. That, you have to learn for yourself.'
---
'I'm too offended to give you praise.'
'You're too offensive for me to accept it, even if you were,' she
snarled back.
---
'The individual act of will is the strongest, most transcendent part of us. To look upon something with our deepest overriding passions, whether it be rage, grief, hope or love, and yet recognise a greater need or goal, and to say, "I will do this" or "I will not do that", no matter what the personal cost, is a triumph of the spirit. The exercise of the will is the art of humans in the state of being.'
--
These are just some of the things I liked in the writing. There were a lot of things that I've left out. The romance is lovely too, just in case you're wondering.
The song for the story (Caution: It's different and press 'cc' [closed captions] for lyrics) - HERE
NOTE: WHAT I IMAGINE THE HERO TO LOOK LIKE:
NOTE: WHAT I IMAGINE THE HEROINE TO LOOK LIKE:
Some choice quotes:
'.....It's funny, but your parents can give you everything in the world, but they can't teach you what to do with it. That, you have to learn for yourself.'
---
'I'm too offended to give you praise.'
'You're too offensive for me to accept it, even if you were,' she
snarled back.
---
'The individual act of will is the strongest, most transcendent part of us. To look upon something with our deepest overriding passions, whether it be rage, grief, hope or love, and yet recognise a greater need or goal, and to say, "I will do this" or "I will not do that", no matter what the personal cost, is a triumph of the spirit. The exercise of the will is the art of humans in the state of being.'
--
These are just some of the things I liked in the writing. There were a lot of things that I've left out. The romance is lovely too, just in case you're wondering.
The song for the story (Caution: It's different and press 'cc' [closed captions] for lyrics) - HERE
November 1, 2015
Too Hollywood for my taste and I never understood the heroine's logic or thinking. It was clear she had suffered a severe mental breakdown due to the stress of her career. I was just never convinced that she had fully recovered. Her actions and thought patterns (when I could understand them) were deeply disturbing. Something, I'm not looking for when reading category romances.
The ending helped, but it wasn't enough to make the story salvageable.
I walked away disturbed and wanting my 3 hours back.
I know this author is extremely popular, but she just isn't for me.
The ending helped, but it wasn't enough to make the story salvageable.
I walked away disturbed and wanting my 3 hours back.
I know this author is extremely popular, but she just isn't for me.
May 4, 2012
Rating 3.5
There is something compelling about AC's writing style even if her characters especially the heroine here has a tendency to be overly dramatic and turn everything into a tragic drama. Seriously, the book was over the top so much so that I wanted to send the heroine to some therapy still I enjoyed it. She from a famous family in Hollywood and herself very succesful when at 22 she found herself drowning, losing her identity, so she ran and has lived quietly for two years.
She then returns for what she thinks is her father's career and promptly slaps the hero, the acclaimed director who she thinks is blackmailing her into coming back to act to give her father a role. Of course that is not really the case as we learn a little later since it was an attempt by her parents to bring her into the land of living. She is a great actress but she has a tendency to lose herself in the role and the hero promises her that he won't let her come to the brink.
Honestly, I found the heroine kind of immature she made every little thing out to be WWIII, so why did I still like the book you ask? The whole drama of it, sometimes I am just in the mood for melodrama. The hero is pretty great and from the start it is evident he gets her and her moods and how to get her out of them and also that he is crazy for her.
I loved how he finally got her out of her daze and come to the realization that she was crazy in love with him. You know if this book was written now, they would totally have this mad passionate relationship, with loud fights and even better make-ups, the book did have it but it would have been more explicit.
There is something compelling about AC's writing style even if her characters especially the heroine here has a tendency to be overly dramatic and turn everything into a tragic drama. Seriously, the book was over the top so much so that I wanted to send the heroine to some therapy still I enjoyed it. She from a famous family in Hollywood and herself very succesful when at 22 she found herself drowning, losing her identity, so she ran and has lived quietly for two years.
She then returns for what she thinks is her father's career and promptly slaps the hero, the acclaimed director who she thinks is blackmailing her into coming back to act to give her father a role. Of course that is not really the case as we learn a little later since it was an attempt by her parents to bring her into the land of living. She is a great actress but she has a tendency to lose herself in the role and the hero promises her that he won't let her come to the brink.
Honestly, I found the heroine kind of immature she made every little thing out to be WWIII, so why did I still like the book you ask? The whole drama of it, sometimes I am just in the mood for melodrama. The hero is pretty great and from the start it is evident he gets her and her moods and how to get her out of them and also that he is crazy for her.
I loved how he finally got her out of her daze and come to the realization that she was crazy in love with him. You know if this book was written now, they would totally have this mad passionate relationship, with loud fights and even better make-ups, the book did have it but it would have been more explicit.
March 6, 2012
4 1/2 Stars! ~ This is the first book I've read written by Amanda Carpenter and it will not be my last. Yvonne is a very talented actress who is manipulated from seclusion to star in a new movie by the charismatic director Adam Ruarke. Sparks fly when these two are together. Yvonne focusing her rage at Adam, and Adam pushing Yvonne to break free from her demons. Theirs is a volatile relationship that will keep you riveted to seat eagerly turning the pages. I'm very much looking forward to reading more of Ms. Carpenter's books.
October 29, 2015
Wow! I mean Wow! I've always known that AC/TH was simply brilliant. She has this range that is on a different stratosphere. It's not only about story of two people's lives colliding, but she takes romance to the core of self. She brings about the vulnerability of surrendering oneself to falling in love.
March 3, 2014
All I can say I : wow!
I like this author, but this time around I wanted to jump in and separate the hero an heroine and send them both to therapy. All the manipulation and heaving drama! I think the needed an intervention more than a HEA.
I like this author, but this time around I wanted to jump in and separate the hero an heroine and send them both to therapy. All the manipulation and heaving drama! I think the needed an intervention more than a HEA.
April 28, 2015
BEST ENDING EVER!
August 18, 2021
OK I liked this despite having a slightly strange writing style. Our H and h are both such OTT lovies and drama queens that I couldn't help liking it. WE have our ice king, cool as a cucumber H who chill level is epic and our highly strung, needs a psychiatrist because she was on the verge of a breakdown, Hollywood family, drama queen h who's shenanigans I couldn't help laugh at.
She did NOT want to make a film with our hotshot Hollywood director but is blackmailed into it anyway.
I found the language in this book a little quirky but it didn't ruin it for me. Its definitely a love or hate book as our h can come across as unlikeable. she has her reasons for not wanting to act again and yet is forced into it so I can understand her attitude but so she is a biatch a lot to our H. He is just pretty much totally into her and found him hard to dislike although he is our usual arrogant H we know and love.
She did NOT want to make a film with our hotshot Hollywood director but is blackmailed into it anyway.
I found the language in this book a little quirky but it didn't ruin it for me. Its definitely a love or hate book as our h can come across as unlikeable. she has her reasons for not wanting to act again and yet is forced into it so I can understand her attitude but so she is a biatch a lot to our H. He is just pretty much totally into her and found him hard to dislike although he is our usual arrogant H we know and love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2015
Sensational
I did not realize until afterwards that this was a retro romance.You know the ones we used to tease our mothers about reading. The writing in this book is phenomenal.
An actress at the peak of her career disappears for two years to keep her sanity. A director blackmailed her into returning for his movie. She finds a man who appreciates the woman more than her skill and he discovers a woman who melts his icy heart and makes him feel. You laugh out loud as they argue and learn. Bravo!
I did not realize until afterwards that this was a retro romance.You know the ones we used to tease our mothers about reading. The writing in this book is phenomenal.
An actress at the peak of her career disappears for two years to keep her sanity. A director blackmailed her into returning for his movie. She finds a man who appreciates the woman more than her skill and he discovers a woman who melts his icy heart and makes him feel. You laugh out loud as they argue and learn. Bravo!
January 10, 2022
Apparently I read this last year because the quote was super familiar. Had to go search on my fb.
Very prose-ey, very dramatically written. The leads are both top actors, and the H is now a super talented, intense movie director.
I loved their chemistry. It was insane. Their first encounter is the very first scene in the book, and it got me hooked. I think the h had major issues thanks to her child star past and the H refused to let her hide behind them. The last scene was super dramatically written but I forgive these artist types lol, still made me swoon.
Very prose-ey, very dramatically written. The leads are both top actors, and the H is now a super talented, intense movie director.
I loved their chemistry. It was insane. Their first encounter is the very first scene in the book, and it got me hooked. I think the h had major issues thanks to her child star past and the H refused to let her hide behind them. The last scene was super dramatically written but I forgive these artist types lol, still made me swoon.
November 18, 2022
Probably one of the most interesting heroines I've ever read in a M&B romance. She felt things so deeply, did everything at 100 miles-an-hour, threw her all into her work to the point of succumbing to a complete mental breakdown, and then she forges a painful path to recovery and love.
Normally I despise 'explosive' heroines, but this one was so complex and deep and empathetic that I simply fell in love with her. There was some great steam too, sustained entirely by the force of these characters' obsession with each other.
Now I'm dying to see what else this author has written :)
Normally I despise 'explosive' heroines, but this one was so complex and deep and empathetic that I simply fell in love with her. There was some great steam too, sustained entirely by the force of these characters' obsession with each other.
Now I'm dying to see what else this author has written :)
August 24, 2014
Adam is very calm and cool overall, but Yvonne pushes his buttons and breaks his vaunted control again and again. The sparks they create are quite breathtaking. The sex scenes are mostly implied, characteristic for a category romance of its time. Fans of Thea Harrison who want to peek at her earlier works and those who enjoy old school category romance books will enjoy THE WINTER KING.
See my complete review at Fresh Fiction:
http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id...
See my complete review at Fresh Fiction:
http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id...
January 2, 2017
A retro read that I love for its lovely turns of phrase and the ultra Bollywood-ish feel. This book is what a collaboration between Madhur Bhandarkar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali would feel like! And my drama-loving, happy ending addict self loves it.
May 13, 2022
This was so melodramatic and awful. The heroine is ridiculous the man is manipulative and aggressive. It’s flowery and full of itself. Who uses the word “niggardly” anymore especially during a love declaration.
November 26, 2023
2 Stars 2022
⭐️⭐️
📖✅
4 Stars 2014
⭐️⭐️
📖✅
4 Stars 2014
August 19, 2014
This feels earlier than a 1994 book to me. The prose is completely overblown.
May 6, 2020
Flowery, over-the-top melodramatic and somewhat cheesy, but nevertheless a fun and feel-good read.
January 22, 2017
Didn’t finish
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews