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In Your Arms
Orphaned by a tragic accident, sixteen-year-old Amalie Courtland set sail from America for a new life in England with her godmother. What she didn't expect to find was Lady Winford's handsome rogue of a grandson, Robert Holt Braxton, Earl of Deverell. Immediately smitten by Holt's careless good looks and smoldering blue eyes, Amalie's naive young heart fell in love. Little did she know Holt was trying to resist his own temptation --- by having his grandmother take Amalie away.
Years later, Holt is shocked by the change in the one-provincial Amalie. The tawny-skinned enchantress with raven hair and lustrous green eyes has become a cool, composed beauty. Soon Amalie is lost in the arms of this experienced rake as they succumb to the tempestuous passion of their hearts and bodies. Then, when Holt learns of her brother's plot to destroy his business holdings, he suspects Amalie has betrayed him and he vows revenge. But not even he can deny the all-consuming storm of desire that threatens to drown them both ...
Years later, Holt is shocked by the change in the one-provincial Amalie. The tawny-skinned enchantress with raven hair and lustrous green eyes has become a cool, composed beauty. Soon Amalie is lost in the arms of this experienced rake as they succumb to the tempestuous passion of their hearts and bodies. Then, when Holt learns of her brother's plot to destroy his business holdings, he suspects Amalie has betrayed him and he vows revenge. But not even he can deny the all-consuming storm of desire that threatens to drown them both ...
380 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1999
4 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Rosemary Rogers
111 books421 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Rosemary Jansz Navaratnam Rogers Kadison
Rosemary Jansz was born on 7 December 1932 in Panadura, British Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka), she was the oldest child of Dutch-Portuguese settlers, Barbara "Allan" and Cyril Jansz. Her father was a wealthy educator who owned three posh private schools. She was raised in colonial splendor: dozens of servants, no work, summers at European spas, a chaperone everywhere she went. A dreamy child, she wrote her first novel at eight, and all through her teens scribbled madly romantic epics in imitation of her favorite writers: Sir Walter Scott, Alexandre Dumas and Rafael Sabatini.
At 17, Rosemary rebelled against a feudal upbringing and went to the University of Ceylon, where she studied three years. She horrified her family by taking a job as a reporter, and two years later marrying with Summa Navaratnam, a Ceylonese track star known as "the fastest man in Asia." The marriage had two daughters. Unhappily, he often sprinted after other women. Disappointed with her husband, in 1960, she moved with her two daughters and took off for London.
In Europe she met her future second husband, Leroy Rogers, an african-american. "He was the first man," she recalls, "who made me feel like a real woman." After getting a divorce from her first husband, she married Rogers in his home town, St. Louis, Missouri. They moved with her family to California, where she had two sons. Six years later, when that marriage broke up, Rosemary was left with four children to support on her $4,200 salary as a typist for the Solano County Parks Department. In 1969, in the face of a socialist takeover of Ceylon, her parents fled the island with only ?100, giving Rosemary two more dependents. At 37, the rich girl from Ceylon was on her uppers in Fairfield.
Every night for a year, Rogers worked to perfect a manuscript that she had written as a child, rewriting it 24 times. When she was satisfied with her work, she sent the manuscript to Avon, which quickly purchased the novel. That novel, ''Sweet Savage Love'', skyrocketed to the top of bestseller lists, and became one of the most popular historical romances of all time. Her second novel, ''Dark Fires'', sold two million copies in its first three months of release. Her first three novels sold a combined 10 million copies. The fourth, ''Wicked Loving Lies'' sold 3 million copies in its first month of publication. Rosemary Rogers became one of the legendaries "Avon Queens of Historical Romance". The difference between she and most of others romance writers is not the violence of her stories, it is the intensity. She says: "My heroines are me", and certainly her life could be one of her novels.
In September of 1984, Rosemary married a third time with Christopher Kadison, but it was a very brief marriage and they soon began to live apart. "I'd like to live with a man," she admits, "but I find men in real life don't come up to my fantasies. I want culture, spirit and sex all rolled up together."
Today single, Rosemary lives quietly in a small dramatic villa perched on a crag above the Pacific near Carmel. Her four children are now away from home and she continues to write.
Rosemary passed away at the age of 87 on November 12, 2019 in Carmel, California where she called home since the early 1970s.
Rosemary Jansz Navaratnam Rogers Kadison
Rosemary Jansz was born on 7 December 1932 in Panadura, British Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka), she was the oldest child of Dutch-Portuguese settlers, Barbara "Allan" and Cyril Jansz. Her father was a wealthy educator who owned three posh private schools. She was raised in colonial splendor: dozens of servants, no work, summers at European spas, a chaperone everywhere she went. A dreamy child, she wrote her first novel at eight, and all through her teens scribbled madly romantic epics in imitation of her favorite writers: Sir Walter Scott, Alexandre Dumas and Rafael Sabatini.
At 17, Rosemary rebelled against a feudal upbringing and went to the University of Ceylon, where she studied three years. She horrified her family by taking a job as a reporter, and two years later marrying with Summa Navaratnam, a Ceylonese track star known as "the fastest man in Asia." The marriage had two daughters. Unhappily, he often sprinted after other women. Disappointed with her husband, in 1960, she moved with her two daughters and took off for London.
In Europe she met her future second husband, Leroy Rogers, an african-american. "He was the first man," she recalls, "who made me feel like a real woman." After getting a divorce from her first husband, she married Rogers in his home town, St. Louis, Missouri. They moved with her family to California, where she had two sons. Six years later, when that marriage broke up, Rosemary was left with four children to support on her $4,200 salary as a typist for the Solano County Parks Department. In 1969, in the face of a socialist takeover of Ceylon, her parents fled the island with only ?100, giving Rosemary two more dependents. At 37, the rich girl from Ceylon was on her uppers in Fairfield.
Every night for a year, Rogers worked to perfect a manuscript that she had written as a child, rewriting it 24 times. When she was satisfied with her work, she sent the manuscript to Avon, which quickly purchased the novel. That novel, ''Sweet Savage Love'', skyrocketed to the top of bestseller lists, and became one of the most popular historical romances of all time. Her second novel, ''Dark Fires'', sold two million copies in its first three months of release. Her first three novels sold a combined 10 million copies. The fourth, ''Wicked Loving Lies'' sold 3 million copies in its first month of publication. Rosemary Rogers became one of the legendaries "Avon Queens of Historical Romance". The difference between she and most of others romance writers is not the violence of her stories, it is the intensity. She says: "My heroines are me", and certainly her life could be one of her novels.
In September of 1984, Rosemary married a third time with Christopher Kadison, but it was a very brief marriage and they soon began to live apart. "I'd like to live with a man," she admits, "but I find men in real life don't come up to my fantasies. I want culture, spirit and sex all rolled up together."
Today single, Rosemary lives quietly in a small dramatic villa perched on a crag above the Pacific near Carmel. Her four children are now away from home and she continues to write.
Rosemary passed away at the age of 87 on November 12, 2019 in Carmel, California where she called home since the early 1970s.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 8, 2024
Reread: 8/7/24
3.5 The espionage part was not necessary. I wish the story stuck with the romance. I would have liked an epilogue. The story
feels rushed otherwise.
*********Read: 5/17/24*******
4 stars
3.5 The espionage part was not necessary. I wish the story stuck with the romance. I would have liked an epilogue. The story
feels rushed otherwise.
*********Read: 5/17/24*******
4 stars
March 29, 2023
My first historical romance and.I read this book 5 times! I loved this book so much! A book that will always be with me.
December 1, 2022
I really enjoyed this story and love the fact that Ms. Rogers got away from the trashy stories she used to write (how people can be fond of Steve and Ginny I'll never know, two poster children for STD's) and started writing higher quality novels. This was one of them.
The story takes place in the days of the Napoleonic Wars, and includes the War of 1812, as the story moves from England to America, time spend in London and new Orleans, with island of belle Terre in between. It includes battles, espionage, murder attempts, kidnapping, pirates, as well as balls, dances and other social functions. The Lafitte brothers and Andrew Jackson make an appearance. All this revolves around the story of Holt Braxton, Earl of Deverell, and Amalie Courtland, his grandmother's ward. It continues over several years, full of misunderstandings, separations, and (too long) undeclared love.
There's also the story of Amalie's brother, Christopher, who transforms from an unsophisticated young man with aspirations to be a sailor, to the worldly pirate Kit Silver, commander of a crew, owner of a ship and determined to make a good life for himself and his sister, no matter what path he has to take to achieve this.
It's an entertaining novel, though it has a few flaws. The ending's too abrupt, Kit and Holt don't solve their differences, Don Carlos was taken too abruptly out of the picture, and after the story turns to America, Holt's grandmother (and Amalie's "Grandmama") is no longer in it, just mentioned a few times. She was a fun, lovable eccentric character (who had more than one battle with her grandson) and after both Holt and Amalie leave England (each for different reasons), there are no more scenes with her. That was a mistake.
But, no one's perfect. Anyway, I recommend this book.
The story takes place in the days of the Napoleonic Wars, and includes the War of 1812, as the story moves from England to America, time spend in London and new Orleans, with island of belle Terre in between. It includes battles, espionage, murder attempts, kidnapping, pirates, as well as balls, dances and other social functions. The Lafitte brothers and Andrew Jackson make an appearance. All this revolves around the story of Holt Braxton, Earl of Deverell, and Amalie Courtland, his grandmother's ward. It continues over several years, full of misunderstandings, separations, and (too long) undeclared love.
There's also the story of Amalie's brother, Christopher, who transforms from an unsophisticated young man with aspirations to be a sailor, to the worldly pirate Kit Silver, commander of a crew, owner of a ship and determined to make a good life for himself and his sister, no matter what path he has to take to achieve this.
It's an entertaining novel, though it has a few flaws. The ending's too abrupt, Kit and Holt don't solve their differences, Don Carlos was taken too abruptly out of the picture, and after the story turns to America, Holt's grandmother (and Amalie's "Grandmama") is no longer in it, just mentioned a few times. She was a fun, lovable eccentric character (who had more than one battle with her grandson) and after both Holt and Amalie leave England (each for different reasons), there are no more scenes with her. That was a mistake.
But, no one's perfect. Anyway, I recommend this book.
October 29, 2020
Amalie is pretty passive and I don't like that in a heroine. She is able to stand up to the hero, Robert, aka "Holt", (his middle name.) She's aged 17-23 in here, not sixteen at the beginning like the synopsis says. She has dark hair and green eyes and is tall. Her brother Christian, aka "Kit" is two years older. SPOILER>>>He disappears for most of the story then reappears in the last part, but you can see that coming. He's taken to a life of crime as a pirate. END SPOILER
Holt is eleven years older than Amalie. He has dark hair, blue eyes, and dark skin. He's cold and angry towards her for no reason. He cares nothing at all for her throughout the whole book. He wants revenge on her because he assumes she's involved in something bad against him when there was no reason to think that. She hadn't done anything to him, ever, that would make him think she's that kind of person. Their love for each other came out of nowhere at the very end of the story and we're supposed to believe it. I don't. We saw no signs that they were falling for each other. We're just told that they're in love. He's also verbally abusive towards her, calling her a bitch and slut.
As I always say, I love a villain and there was one in here by the name of Alex. We didn't get to see the bad side of him until the last 100 pages. He's after revenge on Holt.
This story was pretty uneventful after Amalie sailed from Virginia to England, which happened early on, about page 53. Even after 200 pages not much went on. We didn't get to see her life in England at all. She's there one minute and the next, it's 3.5 years later and Holt reappears. The story is divided into four parts and each part jumps ahead 1-3 years. The last 109 pages was basically a history lesson about war and I didn't appreciate so much of that being in a romance book. I had trouble following along and I didn't know how much of it was factual. It took place in Louisiana.
Two things that I did like was Amalie's godmother (grandmamma) Lady Winford and the banter between her and Holt. I also liked the old school feel of this novel.
April 4, 2021
Amie and her brother Christian are orphaned in American and are sent for by their mothers god mother. But while in route their ship is attacked by pirates. Christian volunteers to go with them to protect his younger sister. 4 years will pass before they see each other. Once in England Amie meets her godmother and her rude grandson, Holt, that mistakes her for a thief, but still desires her every time he visits. When Amir marries a Spaniard that Holt believes to be working against the crown he tries to follow them and stop the marriage,but pirates attack Amies ship taking her hostage and Holt is impressed into a Dutch crew. Holt and Amie won’t see each other for another year and half, but when Amies ship was attacked by another pirate ship it turned out to be her brother! She had thought he to be dead. Holt and Amie will see each other again in the Colonies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2017
X. Is it possible to give a book negative stars??? “Deverell” was a bloody pig of a man! He was physically and emotionally abusive to Amalie and not to mention he friggin RAPED her more than once! Now I am no prude, and some well thought out BDSM is often just the ticket. However, this was just course and gross. Don’t get me even started on Amalie’s complete lack of character, personality, grit....everything that SHOULD have made her a robust, American character. If by chance you were not completely turned away by the horror of hero/heroine, the constant droll, historical lessons might’ve put you straight off. I mean seriously how much British/American/Napoleon war yadda yadda yadda...yadda can you even stomach? No. Just, no all the way around.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2025
Holt is super cold and rude the whole time until the end, so his attraction and love for Amalie was not very easy to believe. She stands up to him (on occasion) but mostly gives in and loves him from the start. A lot of separation and boring war and pirate nonsense makes it boring. Both characters are flat the whole book. Still, great writing and scene establishment, but all of Rosemary's books have the exact same plot with a kidnapping, betrayals, rape, going to America (why always New Orleans), and similar personalities. I still love her books but this was pretty flat.
May 23, 2023
This book was what I needed after the heart breaking stories Ive had to read this year. Its a wonderful enemies to lovers, in a form of a joy ride to us readers. It also takes place in the time of the war against England and America, something in these historic romances that haven't really talked about despite being taken in that time zone. I did also like the play of names with the character Holt, I would recommend to those who want a quick and easy to read romance.
October 4, 2017
Hard to get through
February 13, 2017
This book was such a let down! I was expecting a little more than this based on the blurb in the back. Instead I was given a piece of garbage that was not worth my time!
Amalie was so damn passive and so defenseless against Holt. She is like a delicate flower, with no thoughts of her own. When she first travels to England with Christopher, her thoughts are about them as the sole surviving members of their family, later it is trying to please Grandmama and not letting Holt get under her skin. She tries hard to please everyone (in a hurry to get married due to Holt's words to the Grandmother), but she is so weak and pathetic like.
There were zero character development of Amalie and Holt. Basically, she is a helpless gypsy who "ensnares" Holt, and Holt is the ruthless typical guy She didn't want it, yet he persisted and eventually she gives in.... what a love story. She thinks he loves her, but he keeps putting her down and demeaning her. Ummm, last I checked that is not exactly the definition of happily ever after love. Oh and he keeps making these bad assumptions about her (a gypsy there to steal stuff, a scheming gold digging woman, etc).
The story lines are so disjointed. When we jump ahead a few days or weeks or months, we are left to piece together what happened during that time frame. The whole history and battle with the French, English, and America is like it was thrown in at the last second in a horrible attempt to make this book seem more relevant <- it failed miserably because it really didn't have that much to do with the main story (well except in like the last quarter of the book) and even then we don't get a clear understanding of what and who is going on!
It talks about Christopher's treachery, yet his story in this doesn't show up until the last quarter of the book. For the most part the book is about how grating and irritating both Amalie and Holt are against each other.
Amalie was so damn passive and so defenseless against Holt. She is like a delicate flower, with no thoughts of her own. When she first travels to England with Christopher, her thoughts are about them as the sole surviving members of their family, later it is trying to please Grandmama and not letting Holt get under her skin. She tries hard to please everyone (in a hurry to get married due to Holt's words to the Grandmother), but she is so weak and pathetic like.
There were zero character development of Amalie and Holt. Basically, she is a helpless gypsy who "ensnares" Holt, and Holt is the ruthless typical guy She didn't want it, yet he persisted and eventually she gives in.... what a love story. She thinks he loves her, but he keeps putting her down and demeaning her. Ummm, last I checked that is not exactly the definition of happily ever after love. Oh and he keeps making these bad assumptions about her (a gypsy there to steal stuff, a scheming gold digging woman, etc).
The story lines are so disjointed. When we jump ahead a few days or weeks or months, we are left to piece together what happened during that time frame. The whole history and battle with the French, English, and America is like it was thrown in at the last second in a horrible attempt to make this book seem more relevant <- it failed miserably because it really didn't have that much to do with the main story (well except in like the last quarter of the book) and even then we don't get a clear understanding of what and who is going on!
It talks about Christopher's treachery, yet his story in this doesn't show up until the last quarter of the book. For the most part the book is about how grating and irritating both Amalie and Holt are against each other.
March 26, 2008
In Your Arms had an interesting storyline, but there were a few things about it that just detracted from it's overall likeability.
One complaint I had was that there was a bit too much actual history in the story - things about Napolean, war with America, and all that. True, historical accuracy and details can add to a story, but there were points in this book where the author would go on for pages about points in history. It was just a bit excessive. I was reading the book for the romance, not the history.
Secondly, Rogers did a poor job developing a true emotional relationship between Amalie and Holt. There was definitely chemistry between them and they were an interesting pairing, but I just...wanted a little more. Holt's feelings were a bit suspect. He spends most of the book cursing her and trying to keep away from her. Then at the very end he just shows up and says he's come for and wants to marry her. There just needed to be a little more there to make love between them workable.
Besides all that, I liked the general plot. It made for an interesting story. With a few adjustments, I would have really enjoyed the book.
One complaint I had was that there was a bit too much actual history in the story - things about Napolean, war with America, and all that. True, historical accuracy and details can add to a story, but there were points in this book where the author would go on for pages about points in history. It was just a bit excessive. I was reading the book for the romance, not the history.
Secondly, Rogers did a poor job developing a true emotional relationship between Amalie and Holt. There was definitely chemistry between them and they were an interesting pairing, but I just...wanted a little more. Holt's feelings were a bit suspect. He spends most of the book cursing her and trying to keep away from her. Then at the very end he just shows up and says he's come for and wants to marry her. There just needed to be a little more there to make love between them workable.
Besides all that, I liked the general plot. It made for an interesting story. With a few adjustments, I would have really enjoyed the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2014
this book was horendous. the guy in here was abusive and just terrible.just because she danced with this guy, trying to make him jealous, he drags her away and treats her the way she "deserves." after parading her around like a mistress,while she let him, i think he finally professed his love at the very end of the book. but who actually believed it?
id never read this again.
the only good thing about it was the inside cover.
-I was going through my books, getting rid of the ones I didn't want anymore. I remember not liking this, but I was considering maybe keeping it and reading it again. I reread the prologue. he sleeps with someone's wife&is caught in the act. this is prime time romance right here. how absolutely disgusting. that was the deciding factor of me getting rid of this book.
&I remember him basically forcing her to have sex with him. &then using her as his mistress.&then all of a sudden claiming love4 her at the end. who bought that? im not sure what this author was thinking when she wrote this trash, but it was not enjoyable at all. &just skimming &scanning this book made me remember all the things I hated about it.
this book was an epic fail.
id never read this again.
the only good thing about it was the inside cover.
-I was going through my books, getting rid of the ones I didn't want anymore. I remember not liking this, but I was considering maybe keeping it and reading it again. I reread the prologue. he sleeps with someone's wife&is caught in the act. this is prime time romance right here. how absolutely disgusting. that was the deciding factor of me getting rid of this book.
&I remember him basically forcing her to have sex with him. &then using her as his mistress.&then all of a sudden claiming love4 her at the end. who bought that? im not sure what this author was thinking when she wrote this trash, but it was not enjoyable at all. &just skimming &scanning this book made me remember all the things I hated about it.
this book was an epic fail.
August 4, 2017
Loved this book! Very hot love scenes, especially the one on the island. I like my romantic heroes to be a little arrogant and alpha-male like Braxton and I liked that Amalie got more mature and strong-willed as the story went along. Highly recommend it.
March 12, 2010
I didn't like how the hero treated the heroine throughout the book. I am usually really good about finishing a book even if I didn't like it, but I couldn't even bring myself to finish this one.
Read
August 16, 2012A passionate read. I loved it
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews