Again and Again

by Susan Johnson

Snowbound, And Bound By Desire

In the midst of a blizzard, Caroline Morrow's coach is waylaid at an inn on the outskirts of a small village. More happy than annoyed at the unexpected stop, she basks in the warmth from a crackling fire, until a voice from the past sends a chill down her spine.

They'll Succumb To Temptation

Lord Simon Blair emerges from the shadows.still handsome, still powerful. In a moment, recollections of their sensuous affair scorch the space between them, even though their liaison ended badly-with his infidelity and her flight into marriage. Now divorced and nearly penniless, Caroline cannot hide her dire straits from her former lover-or the thrill that courses through her at the sound of his seductive voice.

Again And Again

An evening spent at cards becomes a night spent in bed, which turns into days of tantalizing bliss. But Caroline must make her escape. Tearing herself from Simon's arms, she finds her way to her new employer and takes up her new position as governess, only to learn that her surrender to Simon has whetted his appetite for more. And the chase is on.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Erotic Romance, Fiction, Erotica, Second Chance

249 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2002

About the author

And it all began rather serendipitously. Long ago, as they say, in another time, when fast food hadn't reached our area and the only shopping was what the feed mill offered, I was reading a book that annoyed me .

My husband was lying beside me in bed, watching TV. Turning to him, I sort of petulantly said, "How the hell did this book get published?"

"If you think you're so smart," he replied, with one eye still on the TV, "why don't you write a book?"

So I did. And very badly.

I've since learned how to do, he said, she said, and a great variety of other adverb heavy, sometimes lengthy explanations of why my characters are saying what they're saying, along with finally coming to an understanding of what things like POV means. Point of View for you non-writers}.

Although, I still don't fully comprehend why it matters if you switch POV and I cavalierly disregard it as much as possible. So while my technical skills have hopefully improved, what hasn't changed is my great joy in writing. There's as much pleasure today in listening to my characters talk while I type as fast as I can, as there was the first time I put dialogue to paper--in long-hand, then, in my leather bound sketch-book.

Reviews

[Kit★ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll say more like 2.5 Stars. My January Pick-It-For-Me book, first try at this author I do believe. Ok, wait, I'm wrong, I think I read one of hers like, more than a decade ago, but I don't remember it, so might as well be my first try.
Going in, I knew it was going to be an erotica, more than a standard HR. So, that didn't disappoint me. Those parts were pretty good, written well, good and steamy. Not purple, but not crude. But the characters and their relationship... They drove me crazy. One minute they're at each others throats, arguing, then the next they're at each others nuts, humping like bunnies, or longing to be. Then back to arguing, then a sort of friendship, then arguing, then sex, then arguing, then sex, but more emotional this time, then arguing... you get my drift. With all that going on, there wasn't much time for me to come to care about either one of them really, and when the happy ending came after all that strife, it seemed rushed and unsatisfying. I felt like once the glow wore off, they'd be back to the same old drama, they hadn't changed at all along the way. However, sometimes the bickering and all that led to some hot stuff, and even though I wouldn't want my relationship to be like that, I thought it was interesting, lol.
I liked the author's writing style aside from the antagonistic leads, so I'm definitely willing to try her again. I've got another on my TBR to try out one day soon, and if that one goes well, I'll try more.

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot damn! Role-play in a historical romance? Don't see that often! Yes, thank you!

Anyway, role-play aside, it was a good book. I loved how much these two dingbats loved each other, but didn't quite understand it. A bit frustrating, but it was worth it. Susan Johnson has one pervy mind....I dig it.

[bell · Rating 1 out of 5]

possible spoilers...Horrible... I only was able to finish it because I skimmed through half of it. The heroine had a fling with the hero when they were younger that led to sex. She caught him in a compromising position and left him for another man she eventually divorces. One night they meet up again at an inn, where they promptly have sex again, after bickering. Due to the sex being so good , the hero tries to track her down the next night, but is unable to find her until he goes to his friends house, where she just happens to be employed as a governess. The rest of the story basically follows the path of "I hate you, but want to F.. you" "I hate you too, but I am so horny that I can't help it" ..over and over again for 200 pages... the language and sex scenes are sprinkled liberally throughout, and the f and c words are used quite frequently. Personally, the text doesn't bother me. I am a fan of Sylvia day who is a borderline erotic writer. The difference is, the only thing this book had holding it together was sex. The plot was thin, and the characters unlikable. Sylvia's sex scenes are part of a larger story, which was sadly lacking in this book. 150 pages in, I was hoping that the hero would just leave, after the heroine told him for the hundredth time how much she hated the hero (as she was having sex with him) . The characters were immature and selfish, you couldn't picture them ever being together nor having a relationship with anyone else. I spent most of the book hoping they would go their separate ways, just so I could stop reading about them. The one decent character, was a man that the hero thought the heroine was having an affair with, but he only lasted about 20 pages of the book. The ending was also just as bad. They finally decide to trust each other and make a go of their marriage the last 3 pages of the book, and the promise seemed half hearted at best..Luckily, I bought this used..

[Ana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read more like porn than a love story to me. I was irritated with Simon's lack of respect and insulting attitude towards Caroline. The vulgarity she exhibited also turned me off. The ending felt rushed and there was not enough to show if he truly would change and give up his cheating ways.

[Missy · Rating 1 out of 5]

These two just argue way too much. Lots of sex though, the Susan Johnson way.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think what kept it from 5 stars is the use of "b***h" which while I understand is often used when mad, but I don't particularly like it. Plus, Simon was using it towards a woman he supposedly loved and was calling her something worse than a whore. Anyway, as I said the story was great and I enjoyed the fact that they both were so scared of marriage that they literally argued there way out of it. He had sex too much, scared of a life where he was monogomous. She had been married realizing that good sex wasn't enough and it certainly wasn't enough to keep a husband. Both of them were so attuned to eachother that they fought the attraction thinking sex was all there was too their relationship. I would love to read more from this author.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was such a cute story I loved the cat and mouse games they played with each other it kept the story interesting and had a nice warm and fuzzy happy ending just the way I like them!

[Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice twist for the genre. Pacing was good. Funny dialogue between the heroine and hero. Lots of sex complete with dirty talk Ending a bit rushed, however.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Iike Caro but Simon was annoying and untrusting.

Caro and Simon were young lovers from when she was 15 and he was 18. She walked in on him in bed with her maid and she ran. She married a French man and eventually divorced after 5 years. She had no money and was on her way to a governess job when she ran into Simon at an Inn. They have a night of passion and she runs away again. Simon happens to be going to the same house and continues his secret affair with Caro. She doesn't trust Simon and knows he can't remain faithful. He asks her to stay with him. She rejects him and he leaves for London, where he sleeps around for 4 weeks. Then he all of a sudden decides he wants to marry her. He makes all the preparations and brings a bishop, license, dress, and jewels to abduct her from her governess job.
He sees Caro kissing Will and assumes she has been sleeping with him. She only kissed him. They get married but he won't come in her unless he is sure she is not pregnant with Will's child. And when he is certain, they finally get pregnant. He remained a devoted husband until she is pregnant and he feels safe to leave her. He goes to a party in London after a fight and ends up reliving his life of debauchery with his friends. He is awaken and rushed home to Caro that was possibly miscarrying his baby.

[Pamela Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved the way it seamed cat and mouse, but also both stubborn! Their strong sexual appeal for each other was amazing to read! Thank you

[Anamika · Rating 1 out of 5]

Note for myself- DNR

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

As I love a good historical romance, especially with an extra helping of uncensored sex, I thought this book would offer up exactly what I was looking for...wrong! Way too much dysfunction going on between these two. Though it was completely uncensored, the sex between Simon, and Caroline was just crude, and although I believe it was intended, the fact that it continued throughout the book was unsettling. Simon was a rake of the highest order, and IMHO never proved he could possibly change. He was completely untrusting of Caro (right up to the end, actually). He called her vile names throughout, which if you feel a real love connection between the characters, that kind of banter may be rather cute, not so much here. Caroline was certainly no wallflower, she gave as well as she got. I liked her character for the most part, she did stand up to Simon, however I wished she would have handled his overbearing distrust of her differently, with say...a swift kick to his balls, it would have been nothing less than he deserved. My first read by this author, and although I wasn't impressed I will give it another try before crossing her off my list

[Roub · Rating 4 out of 5]

first thing dat comes to mind : the sex was awesome! these two burned the sheets and gave a new dimension to rough sex ! it was more than sex however! they shared a complicated and painful past. simon and caroline had grown up together, they were first best friends and then lovers. caroline had loved him then and loved him now. it tore my heart dat she found him in bed wid her maid. she did the right thing by going away and marrying another man. i admire her for leaving simon, for moving on and now when she's destitute and homeless, she chose to work instead of whoring herself! she had courage and tenacity. she was spirited, motivated and highly perseverant! simon knew he had loved her all along but he did not realise he was in love wid her. nevertheless, it was still obvious to me, as a reader, dat he was madly in love wid her and had been since childhood. he cud not show it better than when he kidnapped her and married her!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon and Caroline have been childhood friends, lovers, and split because Simon is a rake and apparently incapable of being faithful. They meet again in an inn in a rainstorm, and Simon decides he must marry Caroline because he wants her in his life and she refuses to be his mistress. They fight constantly, but eventually work things out. Hopeful and passionate.

[Mitzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm speechless, you'll just have to read it. I fell in love with them both from the first chapter.

[Vickie]

Harlequin like

[Judy Hillier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical romances.

A great read!!!

[Barbie Coomer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance at it's best. Loved this book. Couldn't put it down.

[Verity · Rating 4 out of 5]

TRADE SIZE

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent--- but the ending was lame.......