What do you think?
Rate this book
Braddock-Black #2
A Seductive Flame
Forced to sell her body to the highest bidder, Empress Jordan can't help but hope she's bought by the handsome stranger in the back of the room...
When the dashing half-native rogue Trey Braddock-Black learns of Empress' scandalous proposal - three weeks of interminable pleasure to the highest bidder - he knows he must possess her first. But when he collects his hard-won prize, Empress' wide-eyed charm and unaffected sweetness conquer him completely. Will three weeks be enough for Trey, or is this just the beginning of a battle to claim Empress as his own forevermore?
C.C. Gibbs was born and lives in the USA. She is the author of over 40 romance and erotica novels, including the recent bestsellers Knight’s Mistress and Knight’s Game. Many of her novels were originally published under the name Susan Johnson.
This book is intended for mature audiences.
When the dashing half-native rogue Trey Braddock-Black learns of Empress' scandalous proposal - three weeks of interminable pleasure to the highest bidder - he knows he must possess her first. But when he collects his hard-won prize, Empress' wide-eyed charm and unaffected sweetness conquer him completely. Will three weeks be enough for Trey, or is this just the beginning of a battle to claim Empress as his own forevermore?
C.C. Gibbs was born and lives in the USA. She is the author of over 40 romance and erotica novels, including the recent bestsellers Knight’s Mistress and Knight’s Game. Many of her novels were originally published under the name Susan Johnson.
This book is intended for mature audiences.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1988
48 people are currently reading
862 people want to read
About the author
Susan Johnson
270 books574 followersAnd 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 23, 2015
★★★★★! The Braddock-Black series, book 2 of 5. Continuing the family saga with the love child & heir; the beyond handsome playboy Trey Braddock-Black.
US EDITION SERIES INFO & REVIEW
Braddock-Black series
Book 2
Formats: Kindle & paperback in both US/UK
The Braddock-Black family saga, started in book 1 with its matriarch Jon Hazard Black; an Absarokee Indian chief, Harvard educated attorney, rich and successful business man, land & mine owner, gorgeous and sexy playboy meeting the beyond rich heiress Blaze Braddock. Together they have amassed fortune and power, equally respected AND hated and so their story continues with the next generation.
Susan Johnson aka C.C. Gibbs, is published by different publishers in the US and UK, hence the different titles and covers.
These are stand-alones, but most enjoyed if read in order:
Book 1: (Year 1865)
Blaze (US) / Burning Touch (UK)
Book 2: (Year 1889)
Silver Flame (US) / A Seductive Flame (UK)
Book 3: (Year 1891)
Forbidden (US) / Forbidden Pleasure (UK)
Book 4: (Year 1896)
Brazen (US) / Rapture (UK)
Book 5: (Year 1888)
Force of Nature (US only)
Trey Braddock-Black: half Absarokee Indian/23 years/attorney-heir-playboy/$$$$/black hair/grey eyes.
The second book in series brings us the love child and heir to the Braddock-Black fortune and legacy. In true Susan Johnson fashion I’d describe the father Jon Hazard Black (book 1) as the playboy MAN alpha male hero and their son, Trey Braddock-Black as the entitled and unattainable playBOY alpha.
“His looks were the kind that women followed with their eyes; even men did with surreptitious dismay…”
Trey has been blessed (or cursed) with uncanny beauty; He is sexy, and indulgent and far too suave. Coveted by women for his looks and his fortune and hated by many for the very same he moves about with his bodyguards. This is his story.
Empress Jordan: French-American/~18 years old/golden-blond hair/green eyes/virgin.
It’s year 1889 in the city of Helena, Montana and Empress Jordan, of French blue-blood has found herself raising her siblings after the death of their parents. At the brink of starvation she puts herself up for sale; three weeks of service and her virginity, at a local bordello.
Trey happens to be there and notices one of his adversaries, with a track record of abuse towards women bidding on Empress. So Trey outbids him, but really has no interest in spending time with a virgin. Empress, fearful that she will lose the money seduces him and so a love affair begins.
“Trey was not like other men, he had a hard resilience lightly restrained in his powerful body that lured and dazzled. The catalogue of faultless attributes lavishly bestowed on him was unfair.”
But the odds are very much against them. Trey has enemies and Empress soon falls victim to conniving vengeful villains setting them on a course that sweeps us from Montana’s high society all the way to the glitzy ballrooms of Paris.
Suspense and intrigue will have you wondering and worrying until the very end!. A memorable hero and a sexy read! I highly recommend Trey’s and Empress’ story!
In this book we will also meet Etienne, Duc de Vec the hero in Forbidden (book 3). His story is next.
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 5 stars
Storyline concept rating: 4.5 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
******************************
Overall rating: 5 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
Be sure to join CCGibbsFANS here on GR for the latest news:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
(Public group for members 18 years and older)
August 15, 2017
★★★★★! The Braddock-Black series, book 2 of 5. Continuing the family saga with the love child & heir; the beyond handsome playboy Trey Braddock-Black.
UK EDITION SERIES INFO & REVIEW
Braddock-Black series
Book 2
Formats: Kindle & paperback in both US/UK
The Braddock-Black family saga, started in book 1 with its matriarch Jon Hazard Black; an Absarokee Indian chief, Harvard educated attorney, rich and successful business man, land & mine owner, gorgeous and sexy playboy meeting the beyond rich heiress Blaze Braddock. Together they have amassed fortune and power, equally respected AND hated and so their story continues with the next generation.
Susan Johnson aka C.C. Gibbs, is published by different publishers in the US and UK, hence the different titles and covers.
These are stand-alones, but most enjoyed if read in order:
Book 1: (Year 1865)
Blaze (US) / Burning Touch (UK)
Book 2: (Year 1889)
Silver Flame (US) / A Seductive Flame (UK)
Book 3: (Year 1891)
Forbidden (US) / Forbidden Pleasure (UK)
Book 4: (Year 1896)
Brazen (US) / Rapture (UK)
Book 5: (Year 1888)
Force of Nature (US only)
Trey Braddock-Black: half Absarokee Indian/23 years/attorney-heir-playboy/$$$$/black hair/grey eyes.
The second book in series brings us the love child and heir to the Braddock-Black fortune and legacy. In true Susan Johnson fashion I’d describe the father Jon Hazard Black (book 1) as the playboy MAN alpha male hero and their son, Trey Braddock-Black as the entitled and unattainable playBOY alpha.
“His looks were the kind that women followed with their eyes; even men did with surreptitious dismay…”
Trey has been blessed (or cursed) with uncanny beauty; He is sexy, and indulgent and far too suave. Coveted by women for his looks and his fortune and hated by many for the very same he moves about with his bodyguards. This is his story.
Empress Jordan: French-American/~18 years old/golden-blond hair/green eyes/virgin.
It’s year 1889 in the city of Helena, Montana and Empress Jordan, of French blue-blood has found herself raising her siblings after the death of their parents. At the brink of starvation she puts herself up for sale; three weeks of service and her virginity, at a local bordello.
Trey happens to be there and notices one of his adversaries, with a track record of abuse towards women bidding on Empress. So Trey outbids him, but really has no interest in spending time with a virgin. Empress, fearful that she will lose the money seduces him and so a love affair begins.
“Trey was not like other men, he had a hard resilience lightly restrained in his powerful body that lured and dazzled. The catalogue of faultless attributes lavishly bestowed on him was unfair.”
But the odds are very much against them. Trey has enemies and Empress soon falls victim to conniving vengeful villains setting them on a course that sweeps us from Montana’s high society all the way to the glitzy ballrooms of Paris.
Suspense and intrigue will have you wondering and worrying until the very end!. A memorable hero and a sexy read! I highly recommend Trey’s and Empress’ story!
In this book we will also meet Etienne, Duc de Vec the hero in Forbidden (book 3). His story is next.
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 5 stars
Storyline concept rating: 4.5 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
******************************
Overall rating: 5 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
Be sure to join CCGibbsFANS here on GR for the latest news:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
(Public group for members 18 years and older)
March 19, 2021
This sequel to Blaze has just as many misunderstandings, just as much distrust, just as much sexxx, but not many of the redeeming qualities that the prequel had. The first half was very good, filled with minimal silly misunderstandings. But the second half... ouch.
Trey Braddock-Black is the wealthy, spoiled, only child to one of the richest families in late 19th Century Montana. The fact that he is half-Absarokee only lends him a huge family and support system should something befall him. Like his father was before his marriage, he's a womanizer, cutting a swathe through all the women in Montana. He diverts every attempt to get him to the altar, including many false claims of paternity. Empress Jordan is a the eldest orphaned daughter of a disgraced French Comte, and is now responsible for getting herself and her four younger siblings through the rough Montana seasons. When she has no other choice, she goes into town and auctions herself at the local brothel, but she makes the stipulation that it's only for three weeks. Trey has never bidded, nevertheless bought someone, in one of these auctions, but when the young white woman is about to fall into the hands of the one man in town with the most rough sexual predilections, he tops all the other bids beyond match: $50,000.
Within the next month, he's shot, she's accepted into his home to care for him, she overhears guests talking about all his many women, she runs away, he follows her and enmeshes himself in her family life, she gets sick, and they all return to the ranch. Trey and Empress exchange ILY's and are planning to be married. This is the half-way point of the book.
Then real disaster strikes: one of Trey's former lovers, Valerie, has constructed a marriage trap so skillful that it not only affects Trey's life, but the life of two of his clansmen who will be hanged for rape if Trey doesn't agree. Valerie, of course, is pregnant and claims it is Trey's, even though there's no biological way it could be. But Trey has no other choice and agrees. That's right, the hero marries someone else. Empress is devastated, but she stays on (?!?!?!) because she can see that Trey doesn't have a usual marriage. After all, he comes home to her every night, doesn't he? But it's not too long before Valerie sinks her malicious talons into Empress's hope, and drives Empress away. With the money she has left from Trey, she takes the children back to France to reclaim her father's title for her younger brother. And, lookie there, she's pregnant, too. But after all the other paternity claims that Trey laughed off, would he take this one seriously? She's not willing to find out.
Trey can't follow because of his marriage and impending "fatherhood" and as time passes, he remembers Empress less for who he thought she was and more for what his cynical mind concocts as her motives. He only knows that she left after he couldn't marry her and that he hasn't received a letter yet from her, although the children occasionaly write. When Valerie gives birth and finds that the child is biracial, she gives up parental rights, and Trey is quickly enamored of his adopted daughter. She becomes the center of his whole world, wiping away the memories of Empress.
But when Trey receives a letter that Empress almost died, he leaves his daughter with his parents and jumps on the first steamer to France, only to find Empress glowingly healthy, vital, and in the middle of a dozen male suitors. Oh, and he finds out later that she's given birth to his son. They exchanged heated words and have punishing sex, but IMO they never really reconnect after he chases her down. And neither apologize or even seem to feel sorry at all for their mistrust. In my mind, nothing was resolved: Empress will probably still jump to the wrong conclusions whenever another woman claims Trey's affections; Trey will probably doubt Empress's fidelity again, and the cycle will continue. Disappointing end to what had potential to be a very good Western romance. C-
Trey Braddock-Black is the wealthy, spoiled, only child to one of the richest families in late 19th Century Montana. The fact that he is half-Absarokee only lends him a huge family and support system should something befall him. Like his father was before his marriage, he's a womanizer, cutting a swathe through all the women in Montana. He diverts every attempt to get him to the altar, including many false claims of paternity. Empress Jordan is a the eldest orphaned daughter of a disgraced French Comte, and is now responsible for getting herself and her four younger siblings through the rough Montana seasons. When she has no other choice, she goes into town and auctions herself at the local brothel, but she makes the stipulation that it's only for three weeks. Trey has never bidded, nevertheless bought someone, in one of these auctions, but when the young white woman is about to fall into the hands of the one man in town with the most rough sexual predilections, he tops all the other bids beyond match: $50,000.
Within the next month, he's shot, she's accepted into his home to care for him, she overhears guests talking about all his many women, she runs away, he follows her and enmeshes himself in her family life, she gets sick, and they all return to the ranch. Trey and Empress exchange ILY's and are planning to be married. This is the half-way point of the book.
Then real disaster strikes: one of Trey's former lovers, Valerie, has constructed a marriage trap so skillful that it not only affects Trey's life, but the life of two of his clansmen who will be hanged for rape if Trey doesn't agree. Valerie, of course, is pregnant and claims it is Trey's, even though there's no biological way it could be. But Trey has no other choice and agrees. That's right, the hero marries someone else. Empress is devastated, but she stays on (?!?!?!) because she can see that Trey doesn't have a usual marriage. After all, he comes home to her every night, doesn't he? But it's not too long before Valerie sinks her malicious talons into Empress's hope, and drives Empress away. With the money she has left from Trey, she takes the children back to France to reclaim her father's title for her younger brother. And, lookie there, she's pregnant, too. But after all the other paternity claims that Trey laughed off, would he take this one seriously? She's not willing to find out.
Trey can't follow because of his marriage and impending "fatherhood" and as time passes, he remembers Empress less for who he thought she was and more for what his cynical mind concocts as her motives. He only knows that she left after he couldn't marry her and that he hasn't received a letter yet from her, although the children occasionaly write. When Valerie gives birth and finds that the child is biracial, she gives up parental rights, and Trey is quickly enamored of his adopted daughter. She becomes the center of his whole world, wiping away the memories of Empress.
But when Trey receives a letter that Empress almost died, he leaves his daughter with his parents and jumps on the first steamer to France, only to find Empress glowingly healthy, vital, and in the middle of a dozen male suitors. Oh, and he finds out later that she's given birth to his son. They exchanged heated words and have punishing sex, but IMO they never really reconnect after he chases her down. And neither apologize or even seem to feel sorry at all for their mistrust. In my mind, nothing was resolved: Empress will probably still jump to the wrong conclusions whenever another woman claims Trey's affections; Trey will probably doubt Empress's fidelity again, and the cycle will continue. Disappointing end to what had potential to be a very good Western romance. C-
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2021
I want to re-read this, but I remember nothing, why did I give this 5 stars....
Does anyone have Safety spoiler? Does he sleep with the OW he married after h?
Does anyone have Safety spoiler? Does he sleep with the OW he married after h?
January 6, 2025
*3.5 stars
This book could have ended a little before page 200 if there had been no other woman drama. However, there would have been very little conflict & there wouldn't have been much of an actual story. The other woman, Valerie Stewart, manipulates the hero Trey into marrying her. She also manipulates the heroine Empress (yes, that is actually her name lol) into thinking Trey is seeing both of them simultaneously. Empress flees to France with her siblings to reclaim her brother's inheritance and Thus, the long separation ensues.
The separation didn't bug me so much because what was going on in each of their lives was still interesting. However, what did bug me is that when Trey finally chased her down in France, they acted so hostile to each other. Empress didn't even want to let Trey know that he had a son!! WTF girl. I didn't like how they kept arguing, and I just didn't see how they would finally be together.
In the beginning, Trey seemed super chill & charming. Not so much in the second half 😂 He kills two people in this book (well one guy tried to kill him twice...my eyebrow still raised especially since Trey killed the guy with his bare hands via strangulation), and he acted so surly when he came to France. But I think that was mostly jealousy.
I was a little disappointed by the epilogue. It's only a page and more of tell than show. I want to know if Sunny, their daughter, is blonde like Trey had hoped? And isn't Guy and his children supposed to inherit the title in France? Not Empress's daughter?
I loved how Hazard & Blaze from Book 1, Trey's parents, featured heavily in this book. It was nice to get a glimpse into their life together, 20 years or so in the future. Sadly, all their children except Trey died. I also liked how Hazard and Trey would pray to the Native American gods/spirits.
In my other reviews for Susan Johnson's books, I complained about how the hero always was forced into marrying the heroine. Well, that wasn't the case with this one! He asked her to marry him right before he was forced to marry the other woman.
Most HR these days is the Regency period England. This one takes place in Montana in the late 19th century, which was a nice change of setting. (I think the author lives in Montana.)
When Trey asked Empress to come back with him to live in Montana, I was just thinking to myself how France seems so much more of an interesting place to live 😂
This book had me looking up words in the dictionary that's how good the author's vocabulary is 😂
I think I would have liked this book better if Trey & Empress talked more about their past and their life so we'd get a better sense of why they liked each other minus the explosive sex.
The reason it took me so long to finish this was that I had to put the book down for a bit to catch up on my library books (so my dad won't bug me about them...I've now finished all my original books taken out since I came home from university.)
This book could have ended a little before page 200 if there had been no other woman drama. However, there would have been very little conflict & there wouldn't have been much of an actual story. The other woman, Valerie Stewart, manipulates the hero Trey into marrying her. She also manipulates the heroine Empress (yes, that is actually her name lol) into thinking Trey is seeing both of them simultaneously. Empress flees to France with her siblings to reclaim her brother's inheritance and Thus, the long separation ensues.
The separation didn't bug me so much because what was going on in each of their lives was still interesting. However, what did bug me is that when Trey finally chased her down in France, they acted so hostile to each other. Empress didn't even want to let Trey know that he had a son!! WTF girl. I didn't like how they kept arguing, and I just didn't see how they would finally be together.
In the beginning, Trey seemed super chill & charming. Not so much in the second half 😂 He kills two people in this book (well one guy tried to kill him twice...my eyebrow still raised especially since Trey killed the guy with his bare hands via strangulation), and he acted so surly when he came to France. But I think that was mostly jealousy.
I was a little disappointed by the epilogue. It's only a page and more of tell than show. I want to know if Sunny, their daughter, is blonde like Trey had hoped? And isn't Guy and his children supposed to inherit the title in France? Not Empress's daughter?
I loved how Hazard & Blaze from Book 1, Trey's parents, featured heavily in this book. It was nice to get a glimpse into their life together, 20 years or so in the future. Sadly, all their children except Trey died. I also liked how Hazard and Trey would pray to the Native American gods/spirits.
In my other reviews for Susan Johnson's books, I complained about how the hero always was forced into marrying the heroine. Well, that wasn't the case with this one! He asked her to marry him right before he was forced to marry the other woman.
Most HR these days is the Regency period England. This one takes place in Montana in the late 19th century, which was a nice change of setting. (I think the author lives in Montana.)
When Trey asked Empress to come back with him to live in Montana, I was just thinking to myself how France seems so much more of an interesting place to live 😂
This book had me looking up words in the dictionary that's how good the author's vocabulary is 😂
I think I would have liked this book better if Trey & Empress talked more about their past and their life so we'd get a better sense of why they liked each other minus the explosive sex.
The reason it took me so long to finish this was that I had to put the book down for a bit to catch up on my library books (so my dad won't bug me about them...I've now finished all my original books taken out since I came home from university.)
October 17, 2024
Ok let me be honest. I liked this book. I was drawn to its story along with the magnetic leads. BUT, argh, something happens that made me want to flush it down the toilet. I’m still angry at how it played out. I thought it was unfair and despicable. And that’s why it’s only a 3 star rating for me. Although, for angst lovers, this book will definitely check that box for you. Happy reading ☺️
September 29, 2021
Not for me. Sorry to my friends who really liked it and I don’t want to ruin their happy place.
First off the books is quite lengthy with descriptions and dialogues for days. Not involving the mc’s. I had to skip in places to move forward. The beginning quarter of the book is also trippy. I didn’t like empress or Trey in a way that I’d be excited to see their relationship pick up. Trey’s intrusive family (as he’s the only surviving child) got to me repeatedly.
Eventually dnf’d. Maybe another time.
First off the books is quite lengthy with descriptions and dialogues for days. Not involving the mc’s. I had to skip in places to move forward. The beginning quarter of the book is also trippy. I didn’t like empress or Trey in a way that I’d be excited to see their relationship pick up. Trey’s intrusive family (as he’s the only surviving child) got to me repeatedly.
Eventually dnf’d. Maybe another time.
October 16, 2012
11/11/13 Second time was just a good as the first. Some of the more erotic moments are captivating. Characters as well. Really enjoyed this unusual spin on cross cultural romance. Trey Braddock-Black is arrestingly handsome and darkly alpha, while Empress is the complete opposite. They shine together.
10/3/12 I wish these books had better covers, because I think many potential readers would avoid these because they are so cheesy looking. In reality they are very well written and sophisticated dialogue and charmingly hot. Characters are so interesting, with the Absarokee (Crow) American Indian background in a way I have never seen them. Loved Trey and his appealing manner and Empress' protection of her siblings.
10/3/12 I wish these books had better covers, because I think many potential readers would avoid these because they are so cheesy looking. In reality they are very well written and sophisticated dialogue and charmingly hot. Characters are so interesting, with the Absarokee (Crow) American Indian background in a way I have never seen them. Loved Trey and his appealing manner and Empress' protection of her siblings.
February 6, 2022
This is the first book I read in this series, and pretty sure it'll be the last. The H and h never came across as having any feelings for each other besides sex, the whole thing about auctioning herself off at a brothel was dumb, the whole virgin/whore bit got tiresome, the h, supposedly smart enough to care for her siblings and endure a lot of adversity, becomes TSTL when she takes everything the OW says at face value and takes the next ship back to France, and the H doesn't appear too smart either, when he smokes his sorrows in an opium den, and gets hooked on his hallucinations!
When he finally decides to sail after her, he gets angry at her returning to her society roots and automatically assumes her suitors are her lovers and that her flirting (which almost all society women do) is meant as an invitation to bed! Not to be outdone in the foolish department, the h thinks she can hide the fact that she had his son, despite the baby being his spitting image. He flirts with other women; she keeps flirting with her ardent suitors, he insists, despite her truthful protests, that she's sleeping with all of them, seduces her (getting a kick out of drinking her breast milk, hope he left enough for his son), then pays her for her time! He almost sleeps with a married woman; she almost sleeps with a married man and then they declare their true love for a HEA!
(WTF!!!!!!)
My advice is to skip this, you have much better books to read.
When he finally decides to sail after her, he gets angry at her returning to her society roots and automatically assumes her suitors are her lovers and that her flirting (which almost all society women do) is meant as an invitation to bed! Not to be outdone in the foolish department, the h thinks she can hide the fact that she had his son, despite the baby being his spitting image. He flirts with other women; she keeps flirting with her ardent suitors, he insists, despite her truthful protests, that she's sleeping with all of them, seduces her (getting a kick out of drinking her breast milk, hope he left enough for his son), then pays her for her time! He almost sleeps with a married woman; she almost sleeps with a married man and then they declare their true love for a HEA!
(WTF!!!!!!)
My advice is to skip this, you have much better books to read.
March 15, 2009
This is the book that made me say I wanna do that!!!! and "get serious' about writing.
March 12, 2011
3.5. 1889. Interesting. Entertaining. Vicious. Crude. Steamy. Hot.
Still wondering how Empress could carry $37,000 worth of gold?
Still wondering how Empress could carry $37,000 worth of gold?
April 2, 2013
I only read up til about 29% but I just couldn't read anymore of this book. Sad because so many of my goodreads friends seemed to have loved this book. =/
Empress (h) has come to town to sell the one thing that she has left, her self but only for 3 weeks. That should earn her enough to feed her younger brothers and sisters for a while.
Trey (H) has come to town to blow off some steam and he and his bodyguards decide to do that at Lily's, the local brothel. When Trey sees Empress he knows that he has to have her and offers the winning bid at 50,000.00.
I had felt that the writing wasn't really up to par on this one and I already didn't like where the plot was heading with the evil woman and a few other things that had me thinking whether I would finish this book or not. The deciding point was the love scene at 29% where the author had described how Empress had Trey's sperm running down her thighs and felt it was wonderful, she showed this to Trey and when he looked it was described as a lustrous glaze. More was said about how he can give her more, fill her up sort of thing and then he goes down on her like there was no tomorrow.......without cleaning her up first. I was thinking ..." wait, wasn't she just covered in his......." yuck. I kind of think the author just forgot about the "mess " she created and went on with the love scene but it proved to much for me, I kept picturing Trey looking up and looking like he was doing a "Got Milk" commercial.
Empress (h) has come to town to sell the one thing that she has left, her self but only for 3 weeks. That should earn her enough to feed her younger brothers and sisters for a while.
Trey (H) has come to town to blow off some steam and he and his bodyguards decide to do that at Lily's, the local brothel. When Trey sees Empress he knows that he has to have her and offers the winning bid at 50,000.00.
I had felt that the writing wasn't really up to par on this one and I already didn't like where the plot was heading with the evil woman and a few other things that had me thinking whether I would finish this book or not. The deciding point was the love scene at 29% where the author had described how Empress had Trey's sperm running down her thighs and felt it was wonderful, she showed this to Trey and when he looked it was described as a lustrous glaze. More was said about how he can give her more, fill her up sort of thing and then he goes down on her like there was no tomorrow.......without cleaning her up first. I was thinking ..." wait, wasn't she just covered in his......." yuck. I kind of think the author just forgot about the "mess " she created and went on with the love scene but it proved to much for me, I kept picturing Trey looking up and looking like he was doing a "Got Milk" commercial.
July 15, 2010
It basically felt like a tale of two people who hated each other, but were too aroused to give each other up.
Trey and Empress fall into bed immediately upon meeting (well, seeing how she sold herself off at the auction block) but through the course of a few weeks, develop what holds the promise of being a sweet and lasting love. The only thing I really didn't care for was the long separation--heroine going back to Paris, and it taking the hero a year to realize he really loved her and needed to go and find her. This last half of the book is of them hurling hurtful words at each other while being unable to resist each others' bodies.
What one takes away after reading ”Silver Flame” is that the complications in Trey's life made sense in the context of the storyline, and Empress makes decisions that would make any modern woman proud. That being said, I did tend to think that she was too wordy. A brief dialogue can drag out for pages to the point of forgetting what a character's response was in reference to.
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title Silver Flame (Braddock-Black #3)
Author Susan Johnson
Reviewed By Purplycookie
Trey and Empress fall into bed immediately upon meeting (well, seeing how she sold herself off at the auction block) but through the course of a few weeks, develop what holds the promise of being a sweet and lasting love. The only thing I really didn't care for was the long separation--heroine going back to Paris, and it taking the hero a year to realize he really loved her and needed to go and find her. This last half of the book is of them hurling hurtful words at each other while being unable to resist each others' bodies.
What one takes away after reading ”Silver Flame” is that the complications in Trey's life made sense in the context of the storyline, and Empress makes decisions that would make any modern woman proud. That being said, I did tend to think that she was too wordy. A brief dialogue can drag out for pages to the point of forgetting what a character's response was in reference to.
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title Silver Flame (Braddock-Black #3)
Author Susan Johnson
Reviewed By Purplycookie
November 20, 2014
Empress Jordan is the daughter of a former French count and fugitive. Trey Braddock-Black is the son of a wealthy mine and landowner. When he buys three weeks of her services in a brothel auction, they end up falling in love. An ex-lover of Trey's and corrupt Montana politicians cause problems for the couple.
Entertaining enough read with likable supporting characters. I really felt their love for the first two-thirds of the book, but when they so easily allow a 10 month long separation, it becomes a little less believable. The hero is definitely obsessed, but their stubbornness is ridiculous. In an age when a trip from Montana to Paris is expedited by train and steamship, it's hard to believe that the hero wouldn't have gone after the heroine sooner than 10 months. The week he spent in an opium den would have got him a good deal of the way there.
Entertaining enough read with likable supporting characters. I really felt their love for the first two-thirds of the book, but when they so easily allow a 10 month long separation, it becomes a little less believable. The hero is definitely obsessed, but their stubbornness is ridiculous. In an age when a trip from Montana to Paris is expedited by train and steamship, it's hard to believe that the hero wouldn't have gone after the heroine sooner than 10 months. The week he spent in an opium den would have got him a good deal of the way there.
April 24, 2014
I loved the first half of the book...even when all the angsty stuff started happening with the evil female villain i still loved it but i felt that the uncommunicated misunderstandings went on for too long! I wish they hadn't been so dang stubborn and confronted each other sooner, instead they were both unnecessarily mean, especially Trey...he said some pretty awful and hurtful things that he needed to do some major groveling for...she forgave way too easily imo!
October 24, 2022
3.5 stars 🌟
This book was good but I didn’t like the way it went towards the middle / end. Also the hero being a HUGGGGGE manwhore is a turn off 🤨
I will say, this book shows a great example of how important it is to speak your mind when you have the chance. I had some hair pulling moments where the characters drove me nuts because their problems could have been easily solved HAD THEY COMMUNICATED with each other.! 😣
Also the hero getting married to someone else…. huge turn off 😫😫😫😫
This book was good but I didn’t like the way it went towards the middle / end. Also the hero being a HUGGGGGE manwhore is a turn off 🤨
I will say, this book shows a great example of how important it is to speak your mind when you have the chance. I had some hair pulling moments where the characters drove me nuts because their problems could have been easily solved HAD THEY COMMUNICATED with each other.! 😣
Also the hero getting married to someone else…. huge turn off 😫😫😫😫
October 27, 2011
LOVED IT........best book I have read in a while.....
May 2, 2023
I’m still recovering from a sudden faint because well, that’s the only one where the hero has been celibate in all SJ books!
And he wasn’t even a jerk at all.
The heroine was far worse.
Of course there’s the matter of lack of credibility of the plot.
The heroine is a young woman who has several siblings to take care of, so she decides to sell herself in a brothel.
She’s a virgin of course.
The hero is half Indian and a profligate as usual SJ heroes are, he decides to buy her out of pity.
Of course she’s the typical slutty virgin and she takes on the task beautifully.
The hero is not a bad guy, and falls in love with her and her sibling, and decides to propose.
They are happy and engaged when evil ow decides she wants to marry the hero because he’s filthy rich.
We’re talking gold mines rich here, so she threatens to sue two of his Indian friends for rape if he won’t marry her. She’s pregnant because she had sex with those two men and she wants to pass her child as the hero’s.
Of course he knows the child is not his and after being pressured by both his parents and friends he decides to marry ow until the child is borne.
He tells the heroine and they keep on living in bliss while he is married to ow, only in name.
Sadly the first time ow goes to meet the heroine, she tells her a lot of lies and the heroine believes her.
She even asks the hero, who of course denies and tells her ow is an evil witch, but the heroine decides to leave him and go back to France where her brother will have an inheritance.
The hero falls into depression and as soon as the child is born he divorces his wife.
When one of the heroine’s siblings writes him that she’s been very sick and almost died he goes to France in search of her.
And he finds her very healthy and full of male admirers.
There’s a bit of banter between them, with the hero flirting with ow and she with om until he realizes she’s had his son.
Even then the heroine doesn’t want him and the hero must basically bang her in the head and take her forcibly back with him, which was a novelty, and a pleasant one since he really begs and grovels.
Even too much imo, since the whole heroine being angry with him, running away and still being angry doesn’t much make sense.
He was blackmailed by ow and it was planned he would divorce her when her child was born, so why all the fuss? And actually I didn’t appreciate that she believed all ow lies, after all the woman blackmailed a man into marriage threatening to have his two friends hanged, so the heroine knew how wicked and insane the woman was. When she didn’t believe the hero I was annoyed and I really pitied him, since he also used drugs to forget his pain.
He was the one to go back to her and she was angry with him, and I really didn’t understand the reason why she was, after all she left him and wrote him only a couple of brief notes, never mentioning she was expecting his child. He would have married after he divorced ow, so I can’t really blame the hero for her silly behavior.
And the whole thing where she flirted with om was not nice. Even if the hero flirted as well, but he couldn’t do much more because there was only her for him, and that’s new in SJ.
In the end he stops her from having sex with om, she was determined to move on and if the hero hadn’t come I am certain she would have done the deed. Another novelty.
Anyway, some inconsistencies here, when ow threatens to have his friends hang for rape I would have preferred he made her disappear somewhere in the world where she couldn’t be found, if you know what I mean. That were the times and the places for this kind of things.
And how the hero could believe the heroine had sex with tons of om if she had a child of two months? It simply wouldn’t be possible…
Sex was everywhere and I skipped some parts, but SJ is fond of raunchy sex.
The hero’s celibacy saved the book, the plot was not bad, but I’m not fond of SJ heroes. They are never alpha men, they are only manwhore, spoiled, selfish and often whiny and can’t stand responsibility and duty. Not manly at all.
The promiscuous behavior is only sickening after a while.
And he wasn’t even a jerk at all.
The heroine was far worse.
Of course there’s the matter of lack of credibility of the plot.
The heroine is a young woman who has several siblings to take care of, so she decides to sell herself in a brothel.
She’s a virgin of course.
The hero is half Indian and a profligate as usual SJ heroes are, he decides to buy her out of pity.
Of course she’s the typical slutty virgin and she takes on the task beautifully.
The hero is not a bad guy, and falls in love with her and her sibling, and decides to propose.
They are happy and engaged when evil ow decides she wants to marry the hero because he’s filthy rich.
We’re talking gold mines rich here, so she threatens to sue two of his Indian friends for rape if he won’t marry her. She’s pregnant because she had sex with those two men and she wants to pass her child as the hero’s.
Of course he knows the child is not his and after being pressured by both his parents and friends he decides to marry ow until the child is borne.
He tells the heroine and they keep on living in bliss while he is married to ow, only in name.
Sadly the first time ow goes to meet the heroine, she tells her a lot of lies and the heroine believes her.
She even asks the hero, who of course denies and tells her ow is an evil witch, but the heroine decides to leave him and go back to France where her brother will have an inheritance.
The hero falls into depression and as soon as the child is born he divorces his wife.
When one of the heroine’s siblings writes him that she’s been very sick and almost died he goes to France in search of her.
And he finds her very healthy and full of male admirers.
There’s a bit of banter between them, with the hero flirting with ow and she with om until he realizes she’s had his son.
Even then the heroine doesn’t want him and the hero must basically bang her in the head and take her forcibly back with him, which was a novelty, and a pleasant one since he really begs and grovels.
Even too much imo, since the whole heroine being angry with him, running away and still being angry doesn’t much make sense.
He was blackmailed by ow and it was planned he would divorce her when her child was born, so why all the fuss? And actually I didn’t appreciate that she believed all ow lies, after all the woman blackmailed a man into marriage threatening to have his two friends hanged, so the heroine knew how wicked and insane the woman was. When she didn’t believe the hero I was annoyed and I really pitied him, since he also used drugs to forget his pain.
He was the one to go back to her and she was angry with him, and I really didn’t understand the reason why she was, after all she left him and wrote him only a couple of brief notes, never mentioning she was expecting his child. He would have married after he divorced ow, so I can’t really blame the hero for her silly behavior.
And the whole thing where she flirted with om was not nice. Even if the hero flirted as well, but he couldn’t do much more because there was only her for him, and that’s new in SJ.
In the end he stops her from having sex with om, she was determined to move on and if the hero hadn’t come I am certain she would have done the deed. Another novelty.
Anyway, some inconsistencies here, when ow threatens to have his friends hang for rape I would have preferred he made her disappear somewhere in the world where she couldn’t be found, if you know what I mean. That were the times and the places for this kind of things.
And how the hero could believe the heroine had sex with tons of om if she had a child of two months? It simply wouldn’t be possible…
Sex was everywhere and I skipped some parts, but SJ is fond of raunchy sex.
The hero’s celibacy saved the book, the plot was not bad, but I’m not fond of SJ heroes. They are never alpha men, they are only manwhore, spoiled, selfish and often whiny and can’t stand responsibility and duty. Not manly at all.
The promiscuous behavior is only sickening after a while.
July 2, 2021
I have to say that this book upsets me unexpectedly.Even though i love the first book of this series and would love to know more about their son in this book, the hero and heroine’s plot are too insensible.First, i don’t see a ‘real’ chemistry between hero and heroine.Of course, their sex scenes are more steamy than the first book’s , but i dont have any faintest ideas why they loved each other that much in such a short time?!!What’s their turning points? I must say that i love the ‘love at first sight’ plot in many books but this one doesn’t make readers convinced. Not to mention the other 1/3 of the book, both of them listened to ppl’s words too much.Too arrogant to listen to each other. And eventually in the end, the writer didnt even bother to make their problem clear. When i come near the end, i was like’whatt?!! this is the end?!! this is how they solved the problem?!! And they loved each other again?? Any apologizes?’. I know anyone who read book1 will definitely continue the next one.But be prepared, book2 cant be compared to book1.btw, i love her footnotes and every little details on historical events.Hard to find a writer these day to write like this and she also wrote them in the late80s.Try to figure out how hard it would be to search for many historical details without google!!
November 3, 2018
Silver flame , five stars
I had read this novel years ago
This year I remember the story and told my daughter about it , I forgot the name and author of the
Novel , I ask around just using part of the story and remembering his name was black , and he was native American
And how she sold her self to feed her siblings, I call different book store , I look up how to find a novel
With Out the name of the novel and author, I finally join pin , I refused to give up, month's of searching
And I found it this month i wanted to cry ,
I am so happy, thank you pin , and thank you Susan Johnson for your novels, I Will be reading more
I had read this novel years ago
This year I remember the story and told my daughter about it , I forgot the name and author of the
Novel , I ask around just using part of the story and remembering his name was black , and he was native American
And how she sold her self to feed her siblings, I call different book store , I look up how to find a novel
With Out the name of the novel and author, I finally join pin , I refused to give up, month's of searching
And I found it this month i wanted to cry ,
I am so happy, thank you pin , and thank you Susan Johnson for your novels, I Will be reading more
June 15, 2021
So enjoyed this book about Trey and Empress. Trey is the son of Blaze and Hazard from SJ book Blaze. As gorgeous as his father. Empress was from France but living in America with her siblings and taking care of them all due to family issues in France. She sold herself in a brothel for money so she can help her siblings and Trey made the purchase. Trey and Empress were from two different worlds but fell in love. I really enjoyed this book. It's not the first time I've read it. Susan Johnson style of writing is awesome. You feel like part of the story. The descriptions of people and places is so well done you can feel like you are there and know them. Not to be missed.
November 5, 2017
Silver Flame
Fifty thousand dollars was the price for three weeks with a young woman dressed in worn trousers and too large flannel shirt. Trey Braddock-Black was the man that won those three weeks. However, Trey's first night with her almost ended his life. Shot in the back by the man he had outbid, Trey nearly lost his life. If Empress hadn't known healing arts, he would have. But their time was not to be, a ruthless female wanted Trey and was willing to cause the death of two of Trey's family to die if he refused to marry her.
Fifty thousand dollars was the price for three weeks with a young woman dressed in worn trousers and too large flannel shirt. Trey Braddock-Black was the man that won those three weeks. However, Trey's first night with her almost ended his life. Shot in the back by the man he had outbid, Trey nearly lost his life. If Empress hadn't known healing arts, he would have. But their time was not to be, a ruthless female wanted Trey and was willing to cause the death of two of Trey's family to die if he refused to marry her.
September 8, 2021
„O dorea mai mult decât pentru obișnuita lui plăcere sau ca pe o împreunare întâmplătoare. O dorea enorm, așa cum dorește un băiat să guste pentru prima oară dragostea, sau așa cum un copil încăpățânat vrea să atingă curcubeul, o dorea mai presus de orice raționament sau logică. O voia… acum.”
”Poate că e de vină surâsul lui, se gândi ea deodată – surâsul lui plin de cruzime și totodată ademenitor. Oare trebuia să exersezi ca să ajungi să ai un farmec atât de devastator, sau era doar o prelungire firească a vieții lui încântătoare și perfecte?”
”Poate că e de vină surâsul lui, se gândi ea deodată – surâsul lui plin de cruzime și totodată ademenitor. Oare trebuia să exersezi ca să ajungi să ai un farmec atât de devastator, sau era doar o prelungire firească a vieții lui încântătoare și perfecte?”
June 10, 2018
I loved this book
I will read anything from Susan Johnson and this book had me engaged from start to finish. Anyone who wants a riveting historical romance read, should read this book.
I will read anything from Susan Johnson and this book had me engaged from start to finish. Anyone who wants a riveting historical romance read, should read this book.
August 14, 2018
I loved this book...until the end. Empress was more of a bitch than was normal.for.her character. Also the end felt way too rushed. All that build up and just acquiescence. Readers deserves a bit more resolution and a way better epilogue. But the book itself I loved before the last five pages.
June 22, 2023
The story was really good!! But the book had way too much spice for me especially considering there wasn’t romance with it. Just a lot of sex until the end. If you like spice though, this book should be an A+ for you!
November 2, 2017
Did not finish. The hero is a spoiled brat the whole time, how could anyone be attracted to that?
May 21, 2019
Great Story
This was one of the best books I've ever read . A beautiful story that I couldn't put down. Great love story.
This was one of the best books I've ever read . A beautiful story that I couldn't put down. Great love story.
Read
January 18, 2021Note to self.
Dnf.
Writing style didn’t suit me. Descriptions were too much.
Dnf.
Writing style didn’t suit me. Descriptions were too much.
June 28, 2022
This book is good but not at the same level as Blaze. Sadly once empress goes to France the book takes on a whole other vibe ( not a good one). Recommend this series be read in order.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews