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Love and Adventure Collection #1
The Storm and the Splendor
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She gambled with destiny and lost...or did she?
Julia is caught up in the fervor to rescue Napoleon that grips New Orleans after Waterloo. She doesn't, however, trust the handsome sea captain chosen by her father to carry out a daring invasion of the emperor's island prison. Rudyard's self-assurance is infuriating and his intentions open to question.
She was right to worry; nothing goes as planned. Alone, bereaved and far from home, Julia must become Rudyard's bride or abandon the undertaking. The desire that flares between them touches a desolate corner of her soul--but it cannot be allowed to matter.
Then a wild storm at sea flings Julia into a harem where dangerous games are played amidst silken decadence. Can she summon the wit and courage to escape the violence around her--and prevent the death of the man she loves?
National Bestseller
Doubleday Book Club Selection
(Just copy the url into your address bar - it goes to a page right here in the Amazon store.)
________________________
She gambled with destiny and lost...or did she?
Julia is caught up in the fervor to rescue Napoleon that grips New Orleans after Waterloo. She doesn't, however, trust the handsome sea captain chosen by her father to carry out a daring invasion of the emperor's island prison. Rudyard's self-assurance is infuriating and his intentions open to question.
She was right to worry; nothing goes as planned. Alone, bereaved and far from home, Julia must become Rudyard's bride or abandon the undertaking. The desire that flares between them touches a desolate corner of her soul--but it cannot be allowed to matter.
Then a wild storm at sea flings Julia into a harem where dangerous games are played amidst silken decadence. Can she summon the wit and courage to escape the violence around her--and prevent the death of the man she loves?
National Bestseller
Doubleday Book Club Selection
446 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1979
18 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Blake
171 books542 followersA pseudonym used by Patricia Maxwell.
Jennifer Blake has been called a “pioneer of the romance genre”, and an “icon of the romance industry.” A New York Times and international best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of the RWA Hall of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Rita. She holds numerous other honors, including two “Maggies”, two Holt Medallions, multiple Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine, and the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence. She has written over 60 books with translations in 20 languages and more than 30 million copies in print worldwide.
Jennifer and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style retreat in North Louisiana where they often entertain family and friends. Always a gardener, she spends much of her time encouraging her garden to bloom with her favorite daylilies and antique roses. She also enjoys walking her two dogs, Buffy and Lucky, and indulging in needlework, painting, and travel.
Jennifer Blake has been called a “pioneer of the romance genre”, and an “icon of the romance industry.” A New York Times and international best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of the RWA Hall of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Rita. She holds numerous other honors, including two “Maggies”, two Holt Medallions, multiple Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine, and the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence. She has written over 60 books with translations in 20 languages and more than 30 million copies in print worldwide.
Jennifer and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style retreat in North Louisiana where they often entertain family and friends. Always a gardener, she spends much of her time encouraging her garden to bloom with her favorite daylilies and antique roses. She also enjoys walking her two dogs, Buffy and Lucky, and indulging in needlework, painting, and travel.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 27, 2016
The Storm and the Splendor by Jennifer Blake is a 2012 Steel Magnolia Press publication.
Jennifer Blake is one of the authors who initiated me into the world of historical romance back in the day, and will always be one of my all-time favorite romance authors.
This story was written Wwwaaayyy back in 1979, but is now available in e book format. ( Also in Kindle Unlimited, if you subscribe to that service)
Three years after Waterloo, Julia and her father join in the effort to rescue Napoleon by invading the island where he is being held prisoner. Her father commissions the sea captain Rudyard Thorpe to lead the mission with his ship, the Sea Jade, although Thorpe has no political leanings one way or another, and is only in it for the money.
However, Julia and Thorpe immediately butt heads as Thorpe challenges her ability to keep quiet about the mission and cope with conditions aboard the ship. Insulted by his questioning of her involvement, she sets out to prove her mettle. However, once on board the ship, Julia finds herself in a sticky situation that only Rudyard can rescue her from.
Initially, Julia is horrified by his interferences and utterly despises him, but when they finally proceed with their mission, the adventure takes a turn Julia never could have anticipated, as she winds up in the harem of the dey of Algiers, and she and Rudyard become separated.
Believing Rudyard betrayed her, Julia learns to use her wits to survive the dangerous intrigues surrounding her, while Rudyard becomes the next in line for the crown.
Wow! What a tale! This book was written back when the long adventurous sagas were very popular. These stories tended to last for a while with lots of plot twists, drama and intrigue. The romance is torrid and steamy, filled with venom and passion, but the relationship lost ground while the couple were separated and had no contact with each other. However, if the reader will be patient, things do heat back up again, and the romance you are dying for will not only reignite hotter than ever, but will also cement the relationship emotionally.
But, in the meantime, there is a lot of intrigue to keep you entertained and the historical details are simply exquisite! I used to read these types of romances all the time, and really do lament the loss of the great adventure sagas that took the characters on eventful journeys, filled with intense, passionate, sweeping and epic love stories that span lengthy periods of time. Good stuff!
I thoroughly enjoyed this classic retro-romance and with so many of Blake’s novels available in the Kindle store, I plan to indulge in as many of these wonderful romances as possible.
4 stars
Jennifer Blake is one of the authors who initiated me into the world of historical romance back in the day, and will always be one of my all-time favorite romance authors.
This story was written Wwwaaayyy back in 1979, but is now available in e book format. ( Also in Kindle Unlimited, if you subscribe to that service)
Three years after Waterloo, Julia and her father join in the effort to rescue Napoleon by invading the island where he is being held prisoner. Her father commissions the sea captain Rudyard Thorpe to lead the mission with his ship, the Sea Jade, although Thorpe has no political leanings one way or another, and is only in it for the money.
However, Julia and Thorpe immediately butt heads as Thorpe challenges her ability to keep quiet about the mission and cope with conditions aboard the ship. Insulted by his questioning of her involvement, she sets out to prove her mettle. However, once on board the ship, Julia finds herself in a sticky situation that only Rudyard can rescue her from.
Initially, Julia is horrified by his interferences and utterly despises him, but when they finally proceed with their mission, the adventure takes a turn Julia never could have anticipated, as she winds up in the harem of the dey of Algiers, and she and Rudyard become separated.
Believing Rudyard betrayed her, Julia learns to use her wits to survive the dangerous intrigues surrounding her, while Rudyard becomes the next in line for the crown.
Wow! What a tale! This book was written back when the long adventurous sagas were very popular. These stories tended to last for a while with lots of plot twists, drama and intrigue. The romance is torrid and steamy, filled with venom and passion, but the relationship lost ground while the couple were separated and had no contact with each other. However, if the reader will be patient, things do heat back up again, and the romance you are dying for will not only reignite hotter than ever, but will also cement the relationship emotionally.
But, in the meantime, there is a lot of intrigue to keep you entertained and the historical details are simply exquisite! I used to read these types of romances all the time, and really do lament the loss of the great adventure sagas that took the characters on eventful journeys, filled with intense, passionate, sweeping and epic love stories that span lengthy periods of time. Good stuff!
I thoroughly enjoyed this classic retro-romance and with so many of Blake’s novels available in the Kindle store, I plan to indulge in as many of these wonderful romances as possible.
4 stars
June 10, 2012
After Elba and after his defeat at Waterloo, the British exiled Napoleon to the tiny Island of St. Helena, but there are still those faithful to his cause and hope to restore him, including Charles Dupré and his daughter Julia. The book begins with a secret meeting in New Orleans to finalize plans for an expedition to St. Helena to whisk the former Emperor off the island and leave a look-alike in his place - a ship captained by Rudyard (Rud) Thorne. So as not to spoil, I'll just say that not all goes well on the voyage and Julia finds herself alone, penniless and very much in need of someone to protect her. Oh-so-hunky Rud fits the bill to a "T", but for Julia it's just a marriage of convenience and she plans to annul it as soon as the adventure is over - no loveless marriage for her.
That's about all the plot description you need, and I don't want to spoil the fun by telling you more, just sit back and enjoy the ride. The voyage is a lengthy one with stops in England, St. Helena and finishes up in Algiers after a storm at sea. What a ride, I was hooked from the get-go and the action rarely stopped. I really enjoy Blake's romances, she can definitely steam up the pages, but it is always tastefully done without going too OTT. I did start nodding off a bit at the end wondering when Blake was going to wrap things up, but never fear - she had a few more surprises for Rud and Julia.
That's about all the plot description you need, and I don't want to spoil the fun by telling you more, just sit back and enjoy the ride. The voyage is a lengthy one with stops in England, St. Helena and finishes up in Algiers after a storm at sea. What a ride, I was hooked from the get-go and the action rarely stopped. I really enjoy Blake's romances, she can definitely steam up the pages, but it is always tastefully done without going too OTT. I did start nodding off a bit at the end wondering when Blake was going to wrap things up, but never fear - she had a few more surprises for Rud and Julia.
February 8, 2013
Captivating Adventure with a Mysterious Ship’s Captain Sailing From New Orleans to London to Algiers!
Set in 1818, three years after the Battle of Waterloo, this is a sweeping saga that begins as a group of Napoleon loyalists in New Orleans plot to free the former emperor from his captivity on St. Helena. Well-educated and independent Julia Marie Dupre, a beautiful French Creole, is deeply involved, her father being one of the conspirators. Joining the group is a handsome English sea captain, Captain Rudyard Thorpe, who looks down on Julia as a mere woman. He says he’s in it for the money, and offers his ship the Sea Jade to assist in the daring attempt to free the former emperor, but Julia doesn’t trust him. By her father’s bidding, and her own desire, she and her father will accompany the Sea Jade on its mission. Soon, however, she is alone and far from home. Left with no other option, Julia must become Rudyard's bride or abandon the undertaking.
Many adventures befall them including treachery at sea as they travel to London and onto St. Helena and then toward Rio. A wild storm at sea results in Rud and Julia being captured by pirates. Julia, deceived by the man she was forced to trust, ends up in the harem of the dey of Algiers where dangerous games are played and her wisdom will be tested. Rud becomes a privateer for the dey’s nephew, a contender for the next dey.
It’s a brilliant, captivating tale, well told with wonderful characters, rich historic detail based on considerable research. Absorbing storytelling at its best! I highly recommend it.
Set in 1818, three years after the Battle of Waterloo, this is a sweeping saga that begins as a group of Napoleon loyalists in New Orleans plot to free the former emperor from his captivity on St. Helena. Well-educated and independent Julia Marie Dupre, a beautiful French Creole, is deeply involved, her father being one of the conspirators. Joining the group is a handsome English sea captain, Captain Rudyard Thorpe, who looks down on Julia as a mere woman. He says he’s in it for the money, and offers his ship the Sea Jade to assist in the daring attempt to free the former emperor, but Julia doesn’t trust him. By her father’s bidding, and her own desire, she and her father will accompany the Sea Jade on its mission. Soon, however, she is alone and far from home. Left with no other option, Julia must become Rudyard's bride or abandon the undertaking.
Many adventures befall them including treachery at sea as they travel to London and onto St. Helena and then toward Rio. A wild storm at sea results in Rud and Julia being captured by pirates. Julia, deceived by the man she was forced to trust, ends up in the harem of the dey of Algiers where dangerous games are played and her wisdom will be tested. Rud becomes a privateer for the dey’s nephew, a contender for the next dey.
It’s a brilliant, captivating tale, well told with wonderful characters, rich historic detail based on considerable research. Absorbing storytelling at its best! I highly recommend it.
August 14, 2018
It's Almost a Bodice Ripper
It's almost an old school bodice ripper, but it falls short. The hero never raped the heroine, the heroine is out in a harem, but to an old guy who only wants to play chess. It's lacking the teeth of good old bodice rippers, but it makes an attempt. I was disappointed, but not every novel can be The Silver Devil.
It's almost an old school bodice ripper, but it falls short. The hero never raped the heroine, the heroine is out in a harem, but to an old guy who only wants to play chess. It's lacking the teeth of good old bodice rippers, but it makes an attempt. I was disappointed, but not every novel can be The Silver Devil.
October 18, 2018
The life of a young French Creole woman changes when her father decides to be part of a scheme to rescue Napoleon and place him back on the throne. In order to make their journey from America to England and then on to St Helena less obvious, he takes his daughter on the sea voyage. The captain of the ship, Rudyard Thorpe isn’t keen on this idea but there’s not much he can do, besides kick his second-in-command Lt Free out of his room and give it over to Miss Julia Marie Dupre. It shares a wall with the captain’s cabin.
She is not only her father’s confidant and handles all his household matters, but she has been given a level of education and independence that most young women of the age did not have. She has turned down several offers of marriage; her father would never force her to choose a suitor she didn’t want but she also is a lot naive.
A body double for Bonaparte is part of the scheme. He’s dying and is happy to replace the Emperor who has been pretending to be ill for weeks.
Partway into the voyage her father is mugged in a port town and dies of his injuries. It is only then that she discovers he has mortgaged all of their property to fund the expedition. She has nothing. No companion. No support. No assets, no money and no way to protect herself. Her father has confessed all this on his deathbed and asked the Captain to look after his daughter.
Another party member, Marcel de Gruys, suggests she marry him, but he creeps her out - his licked her palm when they met [dude… gross] - and she suspects he wants her for the inheritance she no longer has. She turns him down, but he is not happy about it. The Captain hears her vehement refusal and knows de Gruys tried to force himself on her.
She’s banking on Bonaparte to repay her father’s debts. The Captain just blithely points out that her father’s investment won’t be paid back, Bonaparte will need every centime to fund his army. And she’s just a woman…
When they get to England she is kidnapped by de Gruys. She stabs him in the back and is rescued by the Captain. Given few other choices, she has to marry Rudyard. He’s handsome and charming and she’s certainly attracted to him, but after some initial passion, she starts to withdraw from him. He does all the right things, presents her to his family and friends, but she’s not sure of her ground.
They hang around for weeks, arranging ships in the right location at the right time, and so on.
De Gruys once again tries to kidnap her, and is shot. [why they don’t just KILL him, I will never understand…]
Off they go to rescue Bonaparte… and as they sail away with him safely on board, it all starts to go very wrong.
It’s a full on 1970’s epic. Sunken ships, destroyed fortunes, failed plans, traitors, spies… it’s all here.
There’s a few other loose ends, his mother allegedly betraying his father and something else I can’t remember now… but given how over the top it all is, I’m betting Blake forgot, too.
4 stars
Oh wait… I remember, he was supposed to get 40 lashes and hasn’t got a mark on him.
She is not only her father’s confidant and handles all his household matters, but she has been given a level of education and independence that most young women of the age did not have. She has turned down several offers of marriage; her father would never force her to choose a suitor she didn’t want but she also is a lot naive.
A body double for Bonaparte is part of the scheme. He’s dying and is happy to replace the Emperor who has been pretending to be ill for weeks.
Partway into the voyage her father is mugged in a port town and dies of his injuries. It is only then that she discovers he has mortgaged all of their property to fund the expedition. She has nothing. No companion. No support. No assets, no money and no way to protect herself. Her father has confessed all this on his deathbed and asked the Captain to look after his daughter.
Another party member, Marcel de Gruys, suggests she marry him, but he creeps her out - his licked her palm when they met [dude… gross] - and she suspects he wants her for the inheritance she no longer has. She turns him down, but he is not happy about it. The Captain hears her vehement refusal and knows de Gruys tried to force himself on her.
She’s banking on Bonaparte to repay her father’s debts. The Captain just blithely points out that her father’s investment won’t be paid back, Bonaparte will need every centime to fund his army. And she’s just a woman…
When they get to England she is kidnapped by de Gruys. She stabs him in the back and is rescued by the Captain. Given few other choices, she has to marry Rudyard. He’s handsome and charming and she’s certainly attracted to him, but after some initial passion, she starts to withdraw from him. He does all the right things, presents her to his family and friends, but she’s not sure of her ground.
They hang around for weeks, arranging ships in the right location at the right time, and so on.
De Gruys once again tries to kidnap her, and is shot. [why they don’t just KILL him, I will never understand…]
Off they go to rescue Bonaparte… and as they sail away with him safely on board, it all starts to go very wrong.
It’s a full on 1970’s epic. Sunken ships, destroyed fortunes, failed plans, traitors, spies… it’s all here.
There’s a few other loose ends, his mother allegedly betraying his father and something else I can’t remember now… but given how over the top it all is, I’m betting Blake forgot, too.
4 stars
Oh wait… I remember, he was supposed to get 40 lashes and hasn’t got a mark on him.
July 2, 2023
Julia and her father are determined to free Napoleon from his island prison. Rud is the sea captain chosen to transport them. There are many betrayals and hardships including a sinking ship and enslavement. It is an action packed book.
March 16, 2023
I would have liked to give this book another star, but the second part took it away for me. The first was great, as it takes place in one of my favorite time periods, the early 19thc, and it included some history, as well as having Napoleon play a part in the story. (Ms. Blake comes up with the intriguing idea that there was a lookalike taking his place on St. Helena, while Napoleon was taken in disguise aboard ship, ostensibly to freedom. But of course, things don't go as planned.) The main characters, British-American Rudyard Thorpe and Julia Dupre, of French descent from New Orleans, have different political ideologies, despite apparently being on the same side when it comes to the scheme to free the former emperor, and this causes more than one battle between them despite their strong attraction to each other. There's a lot going on, with intrigue, duplicity, betrayal, villains, attempted rape, a botched kidnapping, shootings, stabbings, adventure at sea, an "accidental death", a sudden marriage, and then it's onto St Helena, to put the plan in to action!
Unfortunately, the second half of the book (at least for me) doesn't live up to the promise of the first, as the whole scene switches to the Middle East, with all the usual white girl in the harem trope, though thankfully (and surprisingly, since this was written in the late 70's) Julia doesn't become the willing sex slave of a horny sultan. In this case, he's an old guy who treats her more like a daughter. But the rest of the book mostly took place in that background, and those stories never held my interest.
Another fault is being introduced to members of Rud's family, including his estranged mother, then having them disappear from the story. That was especially annoying, as there was an accusation concerning Rud's mother that was never dealt with, so you don't find out the truth.
The book had two things in its favor: Rud and Julia never cheat on each other, and they don't go overboard with their arguments (though they do have their moments). In fact, Julia has more reason to be angry at Rud than a lot of other h's in HR novels have with the H, yet she doesn't take things to the extreme or let her emotions get the better of her. And Rud isn't too autocratic or my-way-or-the-highway, like some H's tend to be.
All in all, not a bad story, but I wish the second part had taken place back in England or America instead.
Unfortunately, the second half of the book (at least for me) doesn't live up to the promise of the first, as the whole scene switches to the Middle East, with all the usual white girl in the harem trope, though thankfully (and surprisingly, since this was written in the late 70's) Julia doesn't become the willing sex slave of a horny sultan. In this case, he's an old guy who treats her more like a daughter. But the rest of the book mostly took place in that background, and those stories never held my interest.
Another fault is being introduced to members of Rud's family, including his estranged mother, then having them disappear from the story. That was especially annoying, as there was an accusation concerning Rud's mother that was never dealt with, so you don't find out the truth.
The book had two things in its favor: Rud and Julia never cheat on each other, and they don't go overboard with their arguments (though they do have their moments). In fact, Julia has more reason to be angry at Rud than a lot of other h's in HR novels have with the H, yet she doesn't take things to the extreme or let her emotions get the better of her. And Rud isn't too autocratic or my-way-or-the-highway, like some H's tend to be.
All in all, not a bad story, but I wish the second part had taken place back in England or America instead.
July 16, 2018
A glorious adventure
Julia Dupre and her father are among the Bonapartists in New Orleans planning to free Napoleon from his exile on St. Helena. A sea captain, Rudyard Thorpe, will take the Dupres, Edward Robeaud and Marcel du Gruys to London on his Sea Jade. From there, they will board an Indiaman which makes regular stops at St. Helena to deliver supplies.
Thus the adventure begins. The plan is simple, unexpectedly so. Also unexpected is the severe storm which follows, sinking the Sea Jade and leaving Julia and Rud to be taken aboard a Turkish pirate ship and brought to Algiers as slaves.
39
Julia Dupre and her father are among the Bonapartists in New Orleans planning to free Napoleon from his exile on St. Helena. A sea captain, Rudyard Thorpe, will take the Dupres, Edward Robeaud and Marcel du Gruys to London on his Sea Jade. From there, they will board an Indiaman which makes regular stops at St. Helena to deliver supplies.
Thus the adventure begins. The plan is simple, unexpectedly so. Also unexpected is the severe storm which follows, sinking the Sea Jade and leaving Julia and Rud to be taken aboard a Turkish pirate ship and brought to Algiers as slaves.
39
May 28, 2023
This just went on for waaay too long. I didn’t mind the Napoleanic story, that was fascinating. It was Blake’s dragging the whole Algier saga into it that made me wish the story would wrap itself up already.
Julia could have been more cautious with her allies in the beginning and maybe a little less forgiving of Rud towards the end, in my opinion.
I did like their dynamic as a couple, and did appreciate him doing what he could to save her throughout the story but she shouldn’t have been as involved in the first place.
The more I read about Middle Eastern harems the more grateful I am for some aspects of Westernization’s modernizing influence.
Julia could have been more cautious with her allies in the beginning and maybe a little less forgiving of Rud towards the end, in my opinion.
I did like their dynamic as a couple, and did appreciate him doing what he could to save her throughout the story but she shouldn’t have been as involved in the first place.
The more I read about Middle Eastern harems the more grateful I am for some aspects of Westernization’s modernizing influence.
January 8, 2017
Loved it
I truly enjoy a good, solid historical romance novel. This one is especially good with a great adventurous plot and steamy storyline. Jennifer Blake is always good at interweaving historical fact with her creative fiction. This is a must-read for lovers of the genre.
I truly enjoy a good, solid historical romance novel. This one is especially good with a great adventurous plot and steamy storyline. Jennifer Blake is always good at interweaving historical fact with her creative fiction. This is a must-read for lovers of the genre.
November 4, 2016
I read it 6-8 year ago(2-3 gimnazjum/secondary school) and from what I remember I didn't loved it.
March 17, 2017
Classic Historical Romance
I've been looking for a book that I had read in the early 80's and in my search, I came across this book. It was not the book I'm looking for but it was a very good read! The character development was very good and I found myself trying to figure out what each of them would do next. There were moments that my heart broke for Julia and all the trauma both her and Rud suffered thru. (Even sometimes at Rud's choices). Although this book was not the one I have been looking for, I would recommend it to others.
I've been looking for a book that I had read in the early 80's and in my search, I came across this book. It was not the book I'm looking for but it was a very good read! The character development was very good and I found myself trying to figure out what each of them would do next. There were moments that my heart broke for Julia and all the trauma both her and Rud suffered thru. (Even sometimes at Rud's choices). Although this book was not the one I have been looking for, I would recommend it to others.
March 3, 2017
The book was very long and had a very intricate story. There was a lot of passion between the two main characters but no intimacy or feeling until the very end. The setting was complicated moving between rescuing Napolean and taking him to Brazil and the second half was in Algeria. I couldn't enjoy the tension of the story especially the second half. The author has depicted the harem life faithfully and lots of horrible things happen but not to the heroine or she is rescued just in time.
January 9, 2016
A long and involved plot! I almost felt as if I had read 2 books, one about the escape plot and one about their time in Algiers. This was especially pronounced to me because I had to stop reading (to work!) at exactly the time they were taken to Algiers, so when I came back to the book, it definitely felt like a whole new story line that had little to do with the previous. Which is interesting because very little about the 2nd half of the story had anything to do with the romance story or advancing the relationship between Rud and Julia. It was an adventure for Julia, no doubt, and interesting but we saw so very little of Rud until almost the end that one almost forgot this was a romance. This part of the book exemplified Julia's strength and character, made you consider the plight of women (then and now) in such cultures, but there was almost too much stuff going on in the middle, after their abduction and before they were reunited. It might be that if there had been less back story development, Julia's ability to influence events wouldn't have been believable and thus their eventual reunion not possible. And possibly Julia needed all that time apart in order to prepare her heart for forgiveness. But I still wish there had been more interaction between the 2 during their captivity.
Ah well, the plot lines are not my responsibility and I am not here to say I didn't enjoy the way the story-lines played out. It was an excellent read and I did enjoy it immensely!!
Ah well, the plot lines are not my responsibility and I am not here to say I didn't enjoy the way the story-lines played out. It was an excellent read and I did enjoy it immensely!!
December 11, 2016
What book have you read again for the first time....do you have an old favorite, one you've read over and over?
Jennifer Blake's Storm and the Splendor is one of those books for me. I bought it when it first came out in 1979 -- I still have my original, well worn, copy. It's one of the things I did for myself that got me through law school. When the Socratic method got to be too much to deal with day to say I'd pick up this book -- as well as Teresa Conway's Honor Bound and Gemine Hall's Fury's Sun, Passion's Moon and read them over and over.
Reading the Storm and the Splendor again this weekend for the first time (again) in about 25 years it's even better than I remembered. There were parts I still new by heart and other parts that as I read them had the memory come back.
I've often wondered what happened to Rud and Julia -- did Ali Pasha-Dey ever come after them? And Basim? Was he happy in the end?
Just a wonderful story and one of the reasons I fell in love with reading romance.
So what book have you read again for the first time?
Jennifer Blake's Storm and the Splendor is one of those books for me. I bought it when it first came out in 1979 -- I still have my original, well worn, copy. It's one of the things I did for myself that got me through law school. When the Socratic method got to be too much to deal with day to say I'd pick up this book -- as well as Teresa Conway's Honor Bound and Gemine Hall's Fury's Sun, Passion's Moon and read them over and over.
Reading the Storm and the Splendor again this weekend for the first time (again) in about 25 years it's even better than I remembered. There were parts I still new by heart and other parts that as I read them had the memory come back.
I've often wondered what happened to Rud and Julia -- did Ali Pasha-Dey ever come after them? And Basim? Was he happy in the end?
Just a wonderful story and one of the reasons I fell in love with reading romance.
So what book have you read again for the first time?
January 25, 2016
Julia and her father sail from New Orleans to save Napoleon from the Island where the England is holding him prisoner. Rudyard ends up saving her. Her father is killed by a trader in his party in Havanna. It was a wonderful adventure. They complete there mission with many twists, turns and shocks. Great book.
March 1, 2016
Jennifer Blake (aka Patricia Maxwell), PB-B @ 1979, 7/91. A novel about a plot to free Napoleon from his island prison of St. Helena. When the plan fails, and the ship sinks, the hero and heroine become prisoneers of the dey of Algiers. Too contrived to be really good, but interesting enough to be okay!.
August 20, 2013
the book had great potential of becoming a 4 or 5 star but it got really boring as they reached the arab soil. the main plot was not longer about the romance between these 2 but it focused more on the race 2 the crown..which i'm not really interested in. good one though;p
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
December 10, 2018
They don't write books like this anymore. This was a sweeping saga. It's more than a romance and goes through continents. I will pretty much read anything Jennifer Blake and scour the internet for old pdfs of her books.
May 28, 2023
I have read this book, just like many of J. Blake's, years ago at first in my first language. Then just like many other books I started reading in English, and I could not stop reading. There are some parts in this books that are simply so beautifully written it makes me cry every time. Love it.
Want to read
February 17, 2013Part of Love and Adventure Collection
own-under-diff-title-or-anthology
January 9, 2016Love and Adventure Collection - Part 1 (Love and Adventure Boxed Sets)
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