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Russian/Kuzan Family #2
Love Storm
Desperate to avoid a loathsome match, Zena Turku ran from the glittering ballroom into a snowy night—and threw herself on the mercy of a darkly handsome stranger. He was her only hope of escape, her one guarantee of safe passage to her home in the Causasus Mountains. But Prince Alexander Kuzan mistook the alluring redhead for a lady of the evening, the perfect plaything to relieve the boredom of his country journey.
Only after her exquisite innocence was revealed did the most notorious rake in St. Petersburg realize that his delicious game of seduction had turned into a conquest of his heart.
Only after her exquisite innocence was revealed did the most notorious rake in St. Petersburg realize that his delicious game of seduction had turned into a conquest of his heart.
391 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
About the author
Susan Johnson
269 books576 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 23, 2015
★★★★★! The Russian/Kuzan Family, book 2 of 4. Prince Alexander Kuzan, Sasha, the prodigal son sets out for a night of passion, but finds himself rescuing a girl taking them across Russian to a Sultan’s harem & beyond!
US EDITION SERIES INFO & REVIEW
Russian/Kuzan Family series
Book 2
Formats: Kindle & paperback in both US/UK
The Russian/Kuzan Family series takes us to a less used setting, the Russian Empire following three generations of alpha males with amber eyes. The Kuzan family is Russian Royalty, wealthy beyond belief, entitled, worldly and sophisticated. Their stories will sweep you off your feet with the glittering ballrooms of St. Petersburg and Moscow, hunting lodges in the country, private railroad cars, European shopping excursions and much more…
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 1874)
Seized By Love (US) / At Your Mercy (UK)
Book 2: (Year 1899)
Love Storm (US) / A Storm Of Desire (UK)
Book 3: (Year 1919)
Sweet Love Survive (US) / Surrender To You (UK)
Book 4: (Year 1877)
Golden Paradise (US)
PRINCE ALEXANDER KUZAN, AKA “SASHA” AKA “ALEX”: 23 years/Royalty-playboy/$$$$/black hair/amber eyes.
ZENA TURKU: 18 years/run-away /red hair/navy eyes/virgin.
In 1899, on a cold winter night in St. Petersburg, Zena Turku finds herself on the run, trying to escape an unwanted marriage and get herself and her little brother back home to the mountains.
Prince Alexander Kuzan, “Sasha” is used to getting his way! He is very much the gloriously handsome, jaded, playboy, his parent’s (book 1) coddled love child and the privileged royal heir to a legacy. And what he wants he gets!
When Sasha encounters Zena he mistakes her for a prostitute, his perfect plaything for the night. However one night appears to not be enough and instead Sasha finds himself trying to help Zena and her brother.
Sasha and Zena’s story is a whirlwind erotic romance, taking us across Russia and into the sweltering desert and a Sultan’s harem.
A very memorable sex scene on horseback at break-neck speed! Suspenseful and intriguing plot! Excellent storytelling! Swoon-worthy playboy hero!
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4.5 stars
Storyline concept rating: 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)
May 20, 2025
2005 Sonia: 5 stars
2025 Sonia: —7499372664892 stars
There are so many amazing reviews about this one that do the book justice in terms of what you’re getting into(Heather and Melluvsbooks have super detailed ones), but basically:
She’s a virgin and he’s a HUUUUGE manwhore who takes her virginity (thinking she was a loose woman) and is NEVER faithful. Like. Ever. Not even AFTER they get married 🤬🤬🤬
He continues sleeping around until the very end
ON PAGE!!!!🥴🥴🥴
He even takes another girl’s virginity in the book
And the only time the h sleeps with someone else is when she’s forced to
This manwhore even questions the baby the h is pregnant with when he has kids all over the world 🤬
I could NEVER believe in their HEA 🤷♀️
Like ever 🤬
He’s NEVER been faithful
And continues NOT being faithful
Sure. He comes to the realization that he has “feelings” for the h EVENTUALLY, but to ME, it’s just NOT worth all the ow sex and cheating that I witness in this book to believe it 🤷♀️
But Sonia from 20 years ago loved reading Susan Johnson because her sex scenes are freaking 🥵🔥
Like seriously? Damn SJ, you get DOWN 👏
I remember saving her books for when I was reading non spicy books and needed a pick-me-up 🤣🤣🤣 (those women fiction books just don’t hit the same 🤣🤡)
And I savored them 🤣👀
But you know what 2025 Sonia would be thinking about NOW?
About how dirty the H’s D is 🥴🥴🤢
About the double standards that are still accepted today 😐
That even though this was written in the 80s before I was born, it’s still more socially acceptable for men to sleep around and women to remain chaste/virgins or remain faithful
And all for the scraps men give 😒😐🙄
About how NOT unique the h is to the H since he’s done it all and continues to do to all (not even taking her virginity is unique since he takes another one after the heroine on a bet)
About how he DOESNT respect the heroine enough to not do this to her
And yes. I know this was set in the 1800s, but my stomach doesn’t care (even though my mind tries to “justify” it)
I could go on and on and on
I’m so happy I never bought this one when I started reading ebooks and I’m so glad I donated my paperback decades ago 🤣🤣🤣
I would probably wanna burn this one and pray that the heroine eventually wakes up and finds a faithful man at some point 🤣🤡
Maybe I’ll just keep rewriting the ending in my head 💀🤣🤡
2025 Sonia: —7499372664892 stars
There are so many amazing reviews about this one that do the book justice in terms of what you’re getting into(Heather and Melluvsbooks have super detailed ones), but basically:
She’s a virgin and he’s a HUUUUGE manwhore who takes her virginity (thinking she was a loose woman) and is NEVER faithful. Like. Ever. Not even AFTER they get married 🤬🤬🤬
He continues sleeping around until the very end
ON PAGE!!!!🥴🥴🥴
He even takes another girl’s virginity in the book
And the only time the h sleeps with someone else is when she’s forced to
This manwhore even questions the baby the h is pregnant with when he has kids all over the world 🤬
I could NEVER believe in their HEA 🤷♀️
Like ever 🤬
He’s NEVER been faithful
And continues NOT being faithful
Sure. He comes to the realization that he has “feelings” for the h EVENTUALLY, but to ME, it’s just NOT worth all the ow sex and cheating that I witness in this book to believe it 🤷♀️
But Sonia from 20 years ago loved reading Susan Johnson because her sex scenes are freaking 🥵🔥
Like seriously? Damn SJ, you get DOWN 👏
I remember saving her books for when I was reading non spicy books and needed a pick-me-up 🤣🤣🤣 (those women fiction books just don’t hit the same 🤣🤡)
And I savored them 🤣👀
But you know what 2025 Sonia would be thinking about NOW?
About how dirty the H’s D is 🥴🥴🤢
About the double standards that are still accepted today 😐
That even though this was written in the 80s before I was born, it’s still more socially acceptable for men to sleep around and women to remain chaste/virgins or remain faithful
And all for the scraps men give 😒😐🙄
About how NOT unique the h is to the H since he’s done it all and continues to do to all (not even taking her virginity is unique since he takes another one after the heroine on a bet)
About how he DOESNT respect the heroine enough to not do this to her
And yes. I know this was set in the 1800s, but my stomach doesn’t care (even though my mind tries to “justify” it)
I could go on and on and on
I’m so happy I never bought this one when I started reading ebooks and I’m so glad I donated my paperback decades ago 🤣🤣🤣
I would probably wanna burn this one and pray that the heroine eventually wakes up and finds a faithful man at some point 🤣🤡
Maybe I’ll just keep rewriting the ending in my head 💀🤣🤡
May 2, 2022
Read: 5/2/22
3.5 stars
This was a book of crazy! I wouldn't know where to begin to review this story. I CAN say that nobody writes sex scenes like SJ 🥵 and as crazy as the story gets, I couldn't put it down! So that deserves an extra star!
Warning: cheating, steamy sex scenes, bad language, non-consensual sex, ect..
This author is definitely not PC and I love her for it!
3.5 stars
This was a book of crazy! I wouldn't know where to begin to review this story. I CAN say that nobody writes sex scenes like SJ 🥵 and as crazy as the story gets, I couldn't put it down! So that deserves an extra star!
Warning: cheating, steamy sex scenes, bad language, non-consensual sex, ect..
This author is definitely not PC and I love her for it!
August 15, 2017
★★★★★! The Russian/Kuzan Family, book 2 of 4. Prince Alexander Kuzan, Sasha, the prodigal son sets out for a night of passion, but finds himself rescuing a girl taking them across Russian to a Sultan’s harem & beyond!
UK EDITION SERIES INFO & REVIEW
Russian/Kuzan Family series
Book 2
Formats: Kindle & paperback in both US/UK
The Russian/Kuzan Family series takes us to a less used setting, the Russian Empire following three generations of alpha males with amber eyes. The Kuzan family is Russian Royalty, wealthy beyond belief, entitled, worldly and sophisticated. Their stories will sweep you off your feet with the glittering ballrooms of St. Petersburg and Moscow, hunting lodges in the country, private railroad cars, European shopping excursions and much more…
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 1874)
Seized By Love (US) / At Your Mercy (UK)
Book 2: (Year 1899)
Love Storm (US) / A Storm Of Desire (UK)
Book 3: (Year 1919)
Sweet Love Survive (US) / Surrender To You (UK)
Book 4: (Year 1877)
Golden Paradise (US)
PRINCE ALEXANDER KUZAN, AKA “SASHA” AKA “ALEX”: 23 years/Royalty-playboy/$$$$/black hair/amber eyes.
ZENA TURKU: 18 years/run-away /red hair/navy eyes/virgin.
In 1899, on a cold winter night in St. Petersburg, Zena Turku finds herself on the run, trying to escape an unwanted marriage and get herself and her little brother back home to the mountains.
Prince Alexander Kuzan, “Sasha” is used to getting his way! He is very much the gloriously handsome, jaded, playboy, his parent’s (book 1) coddled love child and the privileged royal heir to a legacy. And what he wants he gets!
When Sasha encounters Zena he mistakes her for a prostitute, his perfect plaything for the night. However one night appears to not be enough and instead Sasha finds himself trying to help Zena and her brother.
Sasha and Zena’s story is a whirlwind erotic romance, taking us across Russia and into the sweltering desert and a Sultan’s harem.
A very memorable sex scene on horseback at break-neck speed! Suspenseful and intriguing plot! Excellent storytelling! Swoon-worthy playboy hero!
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4.5 stars
Storyline concept rating: 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)
May 9, 2025
This book... I first read it in High school in the mid-90s, I think. I luuurrrved it. ���� So much drama and adventure and heart breaking angst and oh soooo smexxy. It’s so very decadent. 💗 I’ve reread it over and over again so many times since. It had been a while since I’d reread it all the way through, though. And this time my heart was breaking for how much Sasha finds comfort outside of his relationship with Zena. I know it’s the time and the society they lived in, that was just how things were. His behavior was basically EXPECTED, even Zena isn’t all that surprised, but this time it hurt my heart in a way it never has before. 😢 I could have smacked him. He is a manhoooaaar like we rarely see in more current romance. Sasha makes the manwh0r€s in contemporary romance look like prim nuns. 👀😬😱🥴 Don’t get me wrong, he eventually comes to his senses, recognizes and embraces his love for Zena, and reforms, like only a promiscuous j@ckass rake can do, but yeesh, that was a rough journey. This book is still a 5-star read, to me, because the story and writing render it completely riveting, but man, my stomach for this sort of Hero has diminished over the years. Apparently, my adolescent self had girl-balls of steel, because the infidelity never really registered in my memory. 👀😬😂 (although that could be because my rereads tended to stick to very particular scenes. 😅)
If you can keep the cheating in perspective to the time period, and also recognize that the sheer number of OW demonstrates his complete disregard for those women and his lack of any sort of feeling behind the acts, I think it’s worth a read. He’s delightfully clueless that he’s falling in love. It’s not even in his wheelhouse, he has no frame of reference for those feelings. It doesn’t even occur to him as a possibility, and he’s both bewildered by his actions while also bucking up against the strange feelings. His arrogance, lack of self-reflection or self-awareness, and surety in his charm and rejection of love, are frankly hilarious to watch. Because the whole time, you’re just shaking your head, knowing for sure this @sshat is gonna fall so HAAAAARRRD. 🙈😂😂😂 He can’t understand why he feels so possessive and jealous, and why he wants Zena with him at all times, when he’s never been that way before. 🤣
The drama is top-notch. Including kidnappings and a stint in a harem that is so ridiculously hawt, you’ll be revisiting that scene again. And again. (Not at all speaking from experience, of course 👀😜) Also, if you’re ready to throttle Sasha, and you will be 😒, take comfort that eventually Zena gets to experience her own non-Sasha pleasures, even if it’s not completely consensual. 😏... and Sasha spends some time sweating, not completely sure that his sweet Zena was absolutely faithful. Hehehehe. #whatsgoodforthegoose 😏🤷🏼♀️
Highlights:
- h is a v*rg*n 18 year old running away from an impending forced marriage - she starts off seemingly like a doormat but eventually finds her voice and backbone
- H is an arrogant spoiled manhoooooaar who is charming and clueless when it comes to love - his lack of fidelity is offset by how effortlessly sweet and protective he is with Zena and her baby brother - he is j/p, though he tries to suppress it
- this is a fast-burn
- h is pregnant for much of the book
- includes forced aphrodisiacs, a dildo, lactation kink, a very hot ride on a horse, and an interesting use of a plum... 🙈😬😏😂
#alphaholesaremyjam
‼️PSA: These old school historical bodice rippers really have to be read almost like a history lesson. You can’t hold them to the same standard as our current books. The time periods and cultures that they are depicting are very different to our modern culture, and the age that they were written in (in this case, early 80’s) sensitivities, perspectives, concerns, and priorities were very different. So, if you decide to read, keep an open mind. It's pretty standard for an H to only be faithful after the "I love yous" in these vintage books, so just be prepared for what you're getting yourself into.
⚠️For the Safety Squad⚠️
- the H cheats on page multiple times
- dubcon/noncon by persons other than the H
- there is a scene where the H is forced into “sharing” the h. No one has intercourse with the h but she is drugged, on display, and is touched by persons other than the H
- h is a virgin - the H mistakes her for a courtesan
- H is a manwhore
- heroine is forced into sex with OM - it reads like a fantasy scene - not a violent scene - but it IS forced
If you can keep the cheating in perspective to the time period, and also recognize that the sheer number of OW demonstrates his complete disregard for those women and his lack of any sort of feeling behind the acts, I think it’s worth a read. He’s delightfully clueless that he’s falling in love. It’s not even in his wheelhouse, he has no frame of reference for those feelings. It doesn’t even occur to him as a possibility, and he’s both bewildered by his actions while also bucking up against the strange feelings. His arrogance, lack of self-reflection or self-awareness, and surety in his charm and rejection of love, are frankly hilarious to watch. Because the whole time, you’re just shaking your head, knowing for sure this @sshat is gonna fall so HAAAAARRRD. 🙈😂😂😂 He can’t understand why he feels so possessive and jealous, and why he wants Zena with him at all times, when he’s never been that way before. 🤣
The drama is top-notch. Including kidnappings and a stint in a harem that is so ridiculously hawt, you’ll be revisiting that scene again. And again. (Not at all speaking from experience, of course 👀😜) Also, if you’re ready to throttle Sasha, and you will be 😒, take comfort that eventually Zena gets to experience her own non-Sasha pleasures, even if it’s not completely consensual. 😏... and Sasha spends some time sweating, not completely sure that his sweet Zena was absolutely faithful. Hehehehe. #whatsgoodforthegoose 😏🤷🏼♀️
Highlights:
- h is a v*rg*n 18 year old running away from an impending forced marriage - she starts off seemingly like a doormat but eventually finds her voice and backbone
- H is an arrogant spoiled manhoooooaar who is charming and clueless when it comes to love - his lack of fidelity is offset by how effortlessly sweet and protective he is with Zena and her baby brother - he is j/p, though he tries to suppress it
- this is a fast-burn
- h is pregnant for much of the book
- includes forced aphrodisiacs, a dildo, lactation kink, a very hot ride on a horse, and an interesting use of a plum... 🙈😬😏😂
#alphaholesaremyjam
‼️PSA: These old school historical bodice rippers really have to be read almost like a history lesson. You can’t hold them to the same standard as our current books. The time periods and cultures that they are depicting are very different to our modern culture, and the age that they were written in (in this case, early 80’s) sensitivities, perspectives, concerns, and priorities were very different. So, if you decide to read, keep an open mind. It's pretty standard for an H to only be faithful after the "I love yous" in these vintage books, so just be prepared for what you're getting yourself into.
⚠️For the Safety Squad⚠️
- the H cheats on page multiple times
- dubcon/noncon by persons other than the H
- there is a scene where the H is forced into “sharing” the h. No one has intercourse with the h but she is drugged, on display, and is touched by persons other than the H
- h is a virgin - the H mistakes her for a courtesan
- H is a manwhore
- heroine is forced into sex with OM - it reads like a fantasy scene - not a violent scene - but it IS forced
July 3, 2010
I honestly cannot see where this author came up with the title of "Love Storm". The "hero" of this story had sex with so many women before he was "in love" and after he was "in love" that I lost count. Even after Sasha started feeling romantic feelings for Zena, that did not stop his sex feast. He had sex with other women because he was trying to forget his feelings for Zena, he had sex with other women because he and Zena had a fight, he had sex with other women to teach her a lesson.
Sasha is hot-headed, like most men in novels, but the way he treats Zena is horrific. Zena is made out to be some meek creature who can't speak up about the way she's being treated. Why, oh why would anyone think a human being getting "sold" would be romantic? Who thinks rape is romantic? Who thinks being treated like less than decent is romantic?
During her flight from him, she gets sold as a harem slave, drugged and put on display (in the buff) for this group of disgusting lechers (which includes the hero). After they're married for a few weeks, she tries to run away after realizing he's just never going to change his lecherous, alcoholic ways. I thought okay now she'll really make him pay for treating her so badly. No such luck. After this second attempt to escape, she's raped (which I too didn't see why this scene had to be added to the storyline) and in the end, she docilely goes back to him for the final "happy ending."
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title Love Storm (Kuzan #2)
Author Susan Johnson
Reviewed By Purplycookie
Sasha is hot-headed, like most men in novels, but the way he treats Zena is horrific. Zena is made out to be some meek creature who can't speak up about the way she's being treated. Why, oh why would anyone think a human being getting "sold" would be romantic? Who thinks rape is romantic? Who thinks being treated like less than decent is romantic?
During her flight from him, she gets sold as a harem slave, drugged and put on display (in the buff) for this group of disgusting lechers (which includes the hero). After they're married for a few weeks, she tries to run away after realizing he's just never going to change his lecherous, alcoholic ways. I thought okay now she'll really make him pay for treating her so badly. No such luck. After this second attempt to escape, she's raped (which I too didn't see why this scene had to be added to the storyline) and in the end, she docilely goes back to him for the final "happy ending."
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title Love Storm (Kuzan #2)
Author Susan Johnson
Reviewed By Purplycookie
May 15, 2025
3.5-ish stars
First and foremost, a HUGE shout out to my friend,
Melluvsbooks
whom I found this book through. She warned me that this might end up being kind of a rage read for me lol, but even though I didn't enjoy it as much as she did, I still truly appreciate the rec and consider her one of my most trusted sources for OTT, jealous/possessive, alphahole MMC's and spicy romances (that aren't necessarily PC lol) I will actually love and enjoy!
This was interesting as I haven't read many (if any) historical romances that were set in this particular area of the world and/or time period. It takes place in Russia, visiting cities such as St. Petersburg and Moscow. The MMC is a playboy Russian prince of the Kuzan line. He mistakes the FMC for a "streetwalker" and after taking her virginity on a train, decides he's not done with her and keeps her around for a lot longer than any of his other previous paramours. I'm not sure how accurate it is or isn't (because, like I said, I'm not too familiar with the social habits of the period and/or location) but there seemed to be a lot of infidelity and debauchery amongst these social elites. I'd like to think I'm not a prude.... BUT if I'm being 100% honest, it was a little off putting and hit some of my buttons.
Ok, so I'm just going to cut straight to it... I did not like the MMC. Like, at all. He has no redeeming qualities other than he's hot and good in bed. I truly do think that the only reason why our FMC was totally enamored with him was because he was her first lover (and only lover for the longest time) and that in and of itself helped to create such a fierce bond with him. He, however, while still appreciating that he was the only man that had ever touched her, became more possessive of her because of it, rather than bonded. He also has bastard children all over the place that he has no emotional attachment to whatsoever. So this story not only proved that he was a terrible husband/partner, but a terrible father as well. Aside from this, at the end of the book he had the nerve to doubt that his son with the FMC was his. Didn't even want to have anything to do with him because he was born with blonde hair and blue eyes. The ONLY thing that saved that situation, was that the baby's eyes turned golden like his a couple of days after birth. And all this happened at the VERY END of the book... Like I said, just no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
So if you know me, you know I hate cheating. I don't like a betrayal of trust from the person who is supposed to care about the other person most. There are some exceptions, though. And I will say that this started out being an exception. He's a prince that's used to sleeping with everyone whenever he wants, where ever he wants and because the FMC knew this and accepted it herself, the first time or two didn't hit quite as hard. HOWEVER.... the son of a bitch cheated MORE after he married her than he ever did before. He even found another social elite's virgin daughter and deflowered her for shits and giggles (a bet with his best friend) after he was married to the FMC. I know she was gone, but he was already cheating before he even knew she had left-- all because they had gotten in an argument, so he decided to go on a fucking spree. And he was with and did some of the raunchiest things with these hoes... and NEVER once cared about how it would affect the FMC. Even at the end, the author never had an epiphany go through his head about the hurt and shame his behavior brought to the FMC. Yeah, he wanted her back and said he would stay home every night if she wanted him to and not go to the clubs etc., but he never apologized to her. Realistically, I can't see him being faithful to her. He might be for a time, but once he gets complacent, he will be out looking for a thrill once more. It's just too deeply embedded in his personality. Not only that, he never saw anything wrong with the behavior in the first place.
To wrap this all up, I will say that this author, Susan Johnson, writes some of the most titillating spice you'll find! I mean, truly top notch. Needless to say, I'm excited to check out some of her other work, as the writing was very good and held my interest from start to finish.
First and foremost, a HUGE shout out to my friend,
Melluvsbooks
whom I found this book through. She warned me that this might end up being kind of a rage read for me lol, but even though I didn't enjoy it as much as she did, I still truly appreciate the rec and consider her one of my most trusted sources for OTT, jealous/possessive, alphahole MMC's and spicy romances (that aren't necessarily PC lol) I will actually love and enjoy!
- Told in 3rd person, omniscient
- Manwhore MMC (aged 24- a Russian prince and the oldest legitimate heir)
- Virgin FMC (aged 18- orphaned, mother was from a mountain tribe, whereas father was a Russian aristocrat)
- Set in year 1899
- OW drama
- OM drama
- Cheating... so much cheating by the MMC
- FMC is SA'ed by another man other than the MMC when she is 8 months pregnant with the MMC's child (in the end is thoroughly pleasured during this encounter, but it is not welcome nor wanted) but the MMC never finds out about the SA and FMC tells him he's the only man she's ever made love to
- MC's are separated TWICE in the book
- Supposed HEA for couple
This was interesting as I haven't read many (if any) historical romances that were set in this particular area of the world and/or time period. It takes place in Russia, visiting cities such as St. Petersburg and Moscow. The MMC is a playboy Russian prince of the Kuzan line. He mistakes the FMC for a "streetwalker" and after taking her virginity on a train, decides he's not done with her and keeps her around for a lot longer than any of his other previous paramours. I'm not sure how accurate it is or isn't (because, like I said, I'm not too familiar with the social habits of the period and/or location) but there seemed to be a lot of infidelity and debauchery amongst these social elites. I'd like to think I'm not a prude.... BUT if I'm being 100% honest, it was a little off putting and hit some of my buttons.
Ok, so I'm just going to cut straight to it... I did not like the MMC. Like, at all. He has no redeeming qualities other than he's hot and good in bed. I truly do think that the only reason why our FMC was totally enamored with him was because he was her first lover (and only lover for the longest time) and that in and of itself helped to create such a fierce bond with him. He, however, while still appreciating that he was the only man that had ever touched her, became more possessive of her because of it, rather than bonded. He also has bastard children all over the place that he has no emotional attachment to whatsoever. So this story not only proved that he was a terrible husband/partner, but a terrible father as well. Aside from this, at the end of the book he had the nerve to doubt that his son with the FMC was his. Didn't even want to have anything to do with him because he was born with blonde hair and blue eyes. The ONLY thing that saved that situation, was that the baby's eyes turned golden like his a couple of days after birth. And all this happened at the VERY END of the book... Like I said, just no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
So if you know me, you know I hate cheating. I don't like a betrayal of trust from the person who is supposed to care about the other person most. There are some exceptions, though. And I will say that this started out being an exception. He's a prince that's used to sleeping with everyone whenever he wants, where ever he wants and because the FMC knew this and accepted it herself, the first time or two didn't hit quite as hard. HOWEVER.... the son of a bitch cheated MORE after he married her than he ever did before. He even found another social elite's virgin daughter and deflowered her for shits and giggles (a bet with his best friend) after he was married to the FMC. I know she was gone, but he was already cheating before he even knew she had left-- all because they had gotten in an argument, so he decided to go on a fucking spree. And he was with and did some of the raunchiest things with these hoes... and NEVER once cared about how it would affect the FMC. Even at the end, the author never had an epiphany go through his head about the hurt and shame his behavior brought to the FMC. Yeah, he wanted her back and said he would stay home every night if she wanted him to and not go to the clubs etc., but he never apologized to her. Realistically, I can't see him being faithful to her. He might be for a time, but once he gets complacent, he will be out looking for a thrill once more. It's just too deeply embedded in his personality. Not only that, he never saw anything wrong with the behavior in the first place.
To wrap this all up, I will say that this author, Susan Johnson, writes some of the most titillating spice you'll find! I mean, truly top notch. Needless to say, I'm excited to check out some of her other work, as the writing was very good and held my interest from start to finish.
February 15, 2021
I might have liked this one a bit better than Book 1, to be honest, even though there was a similar formula. Wow, I would really like to read one Susan Johnson book where the hero isn't forced to marry the heroine & rather of his own accord marries her because he loves her.
I'm gonna be real with you right now: Prince Alex, aka Sasha, was pretty freaking horny. (not that half of the guys I read in romance novels aren't) But he didn't even seem particularly attracted to Zena at first, at least to me (maybe he was, idk), but because she was the only female conveniently there, he decided to have sex with her in the train carriage. She didn't seem to have so much personality compared to him.
Wait, and did they also actually have sex on a moving horse? Jeez
I think Alex was mostly faithful to her (minus kissing some gypsy) when they were together. When she fled to Nice, however, he wasn't faithful and bedded many women, but after a while, he realized that none compared to his wife Zena. That's why I'm tagging this book as cheating.
I also think that Zena should have told Alex about what happened with Abdul.
I didn't really like how in the end he doubted that his son Apollo was really his (because of Apollo's blondeness & Kuzans always are dark-haired) until he realized that Apollo had the same Kuzan golden eyes.
I'm gonna be real with you right now: Prince Alex, aka Sasha, was pretty freaking horny. (not that half of the guys I read in romance novels aren't) But he didn't even seem particularly attracted to Zena at first, at least to me (maybe he was, idk), but because she was the only female conveniently there, he decided to have sex with her in the train carriage. She didn't seem to have so much personality compared to him.
Wait, and did they also actually have sex on a moving horse? Jeez
I think Alex was mostly faithful to her (minus kissing some gypsy) when they were together. When she fled to Nice, however, he wasn't faithful and bedded many women, but after a while, he realized that none compared to his wife Zena. That's why I'm tagging this book as cheating.
I also think that Zena should have told Alex about what happened with Abdul.
I didn't really like how in the end he doubted that his son Apollo was really his (because of Apollo's blondeness & Kuzans always are dark-haired) until he realized that Apollo had the same Kuzan golden eyes.
May 15, 2019
This isn't a book for romance. It's smart girl porn.
I loved it, of course.
I loved it, of course.
July 5, 2023
Highly recommended for mature readers , if you cannot handle before -PC books ; I don't recommend this to you at all ...Honestly the twists are not for the faint of heart readers ...Loved it
February 7, 2016
what a disappointment...
the prince is selfish, totally condescending, arrogant, and dare i say it, unfeeling. he's probably one of the worst "heroes" (if i could call him that) ever written. i hate that throughout the story, he keeps calling zena "child," as if she's more like a kid sister. and i despised his reaction to their first-born. zena does not deserve such a man in her life.
this is just porn supposedly packaged as a love story. even in the end, i did not feel that the guy was that in love with zena. and zena is just strongly obsessed with him, not in love. the woman has a very weak character. i feel that the prince is going to just overwhelm and trample on her for the rest of their lives. he might feel affection for her, but nowhere is it near a romantic love.
that scene where zena was in the harem and made to pleasure the men gathered was totally degrading. i found it distasteful. and even then the reaction of alex was totally unfitting. he treated her like property and stained goods, even if he feels such a strong lust for her. not even close to romantic.
the prince is selfish, totally condescending, arrogant, and dare i say it, unfeeling. he's probably one of the worst "heroes" (if i could call him that) ever written. i hate that throughout the story, he keeps calling zena "child," as if she's more like a kid sister. and i despised his reaction to their first-born. zena does not deserve such a man in her life.
this is just porn supposedly packaged as a love story. even in the end, i did not feel that the guy was that in love with zena. and zena is just strongly obsessed with him, not in love. the woman has a very weak character. i feel that the prince is going to just overwhelm and trample on her for the rest of their lives. he might feel affection for her, but nowhere is it near a romantic love.
that scene where zena was in the harem and made to pleasure the men gathered was totally degrading. i found it distasteful. and even then the reaction of alex was totally unfitting. he treated her like property and stained goods, even if he feels such a strong lust for her. not even close to romantic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2012
I desparately wanted to like this book. I tried. But I just couldn't understand how the heroine could just accept the hero. He constantly disrgarded the heroine's feelings. He didn't even have to grovel at the end because the heroine came back to him and she accepted him. Although I liked the intensity of this book, it's not enough to make me like the hero. All the things the hero did are just too much to be forgiven that easily.
December 1, 2021
This book was recommended to me by another reader. It started out as a 5 star read but disintegrated to 1 star at the end, I gave this 2 stars overall. The reason - it had me engaged for 80% of the story. I just cannot stop turning the pages and read it.
This book was originally published in 1981 by Playboy publishing. Back then, was considered an erotica and I suspect, republished again in 2012 to cash in on the 50 shades wave.
The H (Alex or Sasha) was an extremely wealthy Russian prince (his family owns gold mines!), at the age of 24, is a young buck in his prime hopping from one bed to another. He was stopped by the h (Zena) outside a ball, who want to escape an old widower whom her aunt wanted her to marry. Hearing him saying to his driver they are travelling south, she asks him for a lift. He agrees because he’s drunk, and thinking she’s a streetwalker. So begins the h’s adventure.
The story started well, with the H’s and h’s point of view expressed. She is a naive virgin, whom he finds refreshing. It started off with them together, H initiating the h into pleasure and the joys of sex. Things starts to unravel when she realises she’s pregnant and it makes this entire story like, pregnancy is a disadvantage and will ruin you.
Things I liked:
1. Writing style - many readers didn’t like it but I didn’t mind it too much.
2. History - there were some interesting historical facts about Russian culture.
3. The H’s interaction with h’s young (3 year old) brother. He showed he was capable of been a good father yet he doesn’t want to be a father.
What went wrong:
1. The rape towards the end- I kept reading this story and the sudden shift in the last part put my reading to a gridding halt. It wasn’t the rape, it was how it came about - it was just “shoved” in and as A reader I was unsatisfied with the lack of closure. The fact that this rapist got away with the act, the Jealous-possessive H never knew anything about it, so that he can rip this a$$hole’s guts out, didn’t sit well with me. The secondary character (male) report this to police and have him exiled was just unacceptable.
2. The h’s responses to drugging and the rape. It was just against human nature!
3. By the end of the novel, the character who have shown growth and change is the H, while the h, a naive and somewhat confident character, was an unconfident, insecure, mess! In all romance novels both parties “grow” and you see them move forward, this was not the case.
These 3 facts, along with other parts in the second half of the novel makes me ask, was this author forced to make revisions in her final draft, inserting “plot points” that doesn’t progress the story- turning this into a porn novel, instead of a romance??? With all these issues, it’s hard to call this a romance novel. The H was cheating on the h while she is pregnant, this is just so wrong on so many levels.
I felt this story began with so much potential. It slowly disintegrated into a depressing story.
This book was originally published in 1981 by Playboy publishing. Back then, was considered an erotica and I suspect, republished again in 2012 to cash in on the 50 shades wave.
The H (Alex or Sasha) was an extremely wealthy Russian prince (his family owns gold mines!), at the age of 24, is a young buck in his prime hopping from one bed to another. He was stopped by the h (Zena) outside a ball, who want to escape an old widower whom her aunt wanted her to marry. Hearing him saying to his driver they are travelling south, she asks him for a lift. He agrees because he’s drunk, and thinking she’s a streetwalker. So begins the h’s adventure.
The story started well, with the H’s and h’s point of view expressed. She is a naive virgin, whom he finds refreshing. It started off with them together, H initiating the h into pleasure and the joys of sex. Things starts to unravel when she realises she’s pregnant and it makes this entire story like, pregnancy is a disadvantage and will ruin you.
Things I liked:
1. Writing style - many readers didn’t like it but I didn’t mind it too much.
2. History - there were some interesting historical facts about Russian culture.
3. The H’s interaction with h’s young (3 year old) brother. He showed he was capable of been a good father yet he doesn’t want to be a father.
What went wrong:
1. The rape towards the end- I kept reading this story and the sudden shift in the last part put my reading to a gridding halt. It wasn’t the rape, it was how it came about - it was just “shoved” in and as A reader I was unsatisfied with the lack of closure. The fact that this rapist got away with the act, the Jealous-possessive H never knew anything about it, so that he can rip this a$$hole’s guts out, didn’t sit well with me. The secondary character (male) report this to police and have him exiled was just unacceptable.
2. The h’s responses to drugging and the rape. It was just against human nature!
3. By the end of the novel, the character who have shown growth and change is the H, while the h, a naive and somewhat confident character, was an unconfident, insecure, mess! In all romance novels both parties “grow” and you see them move forward, this was not the case.
These 3 facts, along with other parts in the second half of the novel makes me ask, was this author forced to make revisions in her final draft, inserting “plot points” that doesn’t progress the story- turning this into a porn novel, instead of a romance??? With all these issues, it’s hard to call this a romance novel. The H was cheating on the h while she is pregnant, this is just so wrong on so many levels.
I felt this story began with so much potential. It slowly disintegrated into a depressing story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2021
This book... I first read it in High school in the mid-90s, I think. I luuurrrved it. So much drama and adventure and heart breaking angst and oh soooo smexxy. It’s so very decadent. I’ve reread it over again so many times since. It had been a while since I’d reread it all the way through, though. And this time my heart was breaking for how much Sasha finds comfort outside of his relationship with Zena. I know it’s the time and the society they lived in, that was just how things were. His behavior was basically EXPECTED, even Zena isn’t all that surprised, but this time it hurt my heart in a way it never has before. I could have smacked him. He is a manwhore like we rarely see in more current romance. Sasha makes the manwhores in contemporary romance look like nuns. 👀😬😱🥴 Don’t get me wrong, he eventually comes to his senses, recognizes and embraces his love for Zena, and reforms, like only a promiscuous jackass rake can do, but yeesh, that was a rough journey. This book is still a 5-star read, to me, because the story and writing is completely riveting, but man, my stomach for this sort of Hero has diminished. Apparently my adolescent self had balls of steel. 👀😬😂
If you can keep the cheating in perspective to the time period, and also recognize that the sheer number of OW demonstrates his complete disregard for the OW and his lack of any sort of feeling behind the acts, I think it’s still worth a read. He’s delightfully clueless that he’s falling in love. It’s not even in his wheelhouse, it doesn’t even occur to him as a possibility, and he’s both bewildered by his actions while also bucking up against the strange feelings. His arrogance, lack of self-reflection or self-awareness, and surety in his charm and rejection of love, are frankly hilarious to watch. Because the whole time, you’re just shaking your head, knowing for sure this asshat is gonna fall so HAAAAARRRD. 🙈😂😂😂 He can’t understand why he feels so possessive and jealous, and why he wants Zena with him at all times, when he’s never been that way before. 🤣
The drama is top-notch. Including kidnappings and a stint in a harem that is so ridiculously sexy, you’ll be revisiting that scene again. And again. (Not at all speaking from experience, of course 😜) Also, if you’re ready to throttle Sasha, take comfort that eventually Zena gets to experience her own non-Sasha pleasures, even if it’s not completely consensual. 😏... and Sasha spends some time sweating, not completely sure that his sweet Zena was absolutely faithful. Hehehehe. #whatsgoodforthegoose 😏🤷🏼♀️
If you can keep the cheating in perspective to the time period, and also recognize that the sheer number of OW demonstrates his complete disregard for the OW and his lack of any sort of feeling behind the acts, I think it’s still worth a read. He’s delightfully clueless that he’s falling in love. It’s not even in his wheelhouse, it doesn’t even occur to him as a possibility, and he’s both bewildered by his actions while also bucking up against the strange feelings. His arrogance, lack of self-reflection or self-awareness, and surety in his charm and rejection of love, are frankly hilarious to watch. Because the whole time, you’re just shaking your head, knowing for sure this asshat is gonna fall so HAAAAARRRD. 🙈😂😂😂 He can’t understand why he feels so possessive and jealous, and why he wants Zena with him at all times, when he’s never been that way before. 🤣
The drama is top-notch. Including kidnappings and a stint in a harem that is so ridiculously sexy, you’ll be revisiting that scene again. And again. (Not at all speaking from experience, of course 😜) Also, if you’re ready to throttle Sasha, take comfort that eventually Zena gets to experience her own non-Sasha pleasures, even if it’s not completely consensual. 😏... and Sasha spends some time sweating, not completely sure that his sweet Zena was absolutely faithful. Hehehehe. #whatsgoodforthegoose 😏🤷🏼♀️
April 13, 2016
I MOST DEFINITELY ENJOYED THIS BETTER THAN THE FIRST BOOK. IF YOU ARE A MASOCHIST, YOU WILL THRIVE IN THIS.
WHY? Because I torture myself with the fact that the hero is an A-class whore. Despite that, I still enjoyed reading this.
OUR HERO:
He is the son of Nikki and Alisa. And like father like son, he has no qualms about sowing his wild oats. I am only glad he is a cold hearted son of a bitch towards his bastards. I have no care for them because Sasha's whoring made you want to seriously do damage to that man. He even has a reputation as ARCHER for having continuous sex for more than 20 hours as a competition with his bestie Yuri. Although he can be charming, caring and sweet which are his redeemable qualities. I loved how he treated Bobby (Zena's brother) like his own kid.
OUR HEROINE:
This poor creature had to endure it all and as a woman I rooted for her to grow some balls. It may not be as much like some Irish lass with bold spirits but she fought in her own way. Although some may think it is childish for her to runaway but I think those are the times when we get to see the good stuff happening. I would runaway too if I tried to do the mature thing and talk it out but my husband is ignorant and goes out merrying and whoring, while you sit at home loving him and is pregnant with his child...and it is just too heartbreaking to be around him. I VOUCH RUNAWAY. Zena has her moments and she is quite resilient and also very loyal to her loved ones.
OVERALL:
I am just glad for the HEA but seriously the hero can be such a dick. When you're angry with your wife, you continuously fuck any woman and even deflowered a virgin. Wtf! I was glad he was attacked with guilt. Blame it on the fact that they are both young. Only 18 and 24. At least they found their HEA faster than Nikki and Alisa.
My favorite scenes:
1) When Sasha acts like a perfect Papa to Bobby
2) When Sasha pursues after the pregnant Zena for DAYSSSS (shows you what's going on in his heart)
3) When Sasha starts whoring to forget his wife and later has a wake up call that he loves her and goes to win her back
FRANKLY THIS IS ONE HOT MESS OF SEX, HEARTBREAK AND INTENSE EMOTIONS.
STORIES LIKE THIS LEAVES YOU UNSATISFIED YET BEGGING FOR MORE.
WHY? Because I torture myself with the fact that the hero is an A-class whore. Despite that, I still enjoyed reading this.
OUR HERO:
He is the son of Nikki and Alisa. And like father like son, he has no qualms about sowing his wild oats. I am only glad he is a cold hearted son of a bitch towards his bastards. I have no care for them because Sasha's whoring made you want to seriously do damage to that man. He even has a reputation as ARCHER for having continuous sex for more than 20 hours as a competition with his bestie Yuri. Although he can be charming, caring and sweet which are his redeemable qualities. I loved how he treated Bobby (Zena's brother) like his own kid.
OUR HEROINE:
This poor creature had to endure it all and as a woman I rooted for her to grow some balls. It may not be as much like some Irish lass with bold spirits but she fought in her own way. Although some may think it is childish for her to runaway but I think those are the times when we get to see the good stuff happening. I would runaway too if I tried to do the mature thing and talk it out but my husband is ignorant and goes out merrying and whoring, while you sit at home loving him and is pregnant with his child...and it is just too heartbreaking to be around him. I VOUCH RUNAWAY. Zena has her moments and she is quite resilient and also very loyal to her loved ones.
OVERALL:
I am just glad for the HEA but seriously the hero can be such a dick. When you're angry with your wife, you continuously fuck any woman and even deflowered a virgin. Wtf! I was glad he was attacked with guilt. Blame it on the fact that they are both young. Only 18 and 24. At least they found their HEA faster than Nikki and Alisa.
My favorite scenes:
1) When Sasha acts like a perfect Papa to Bobby
2) When Sasha pursues after the pregnant Zena for DAYSSSS (shows you what's going on in his heart)
3) When Sasha starts whoring to forget his wife and later has a wake up call that he loves her and goes to win her back
FRANKLY THIS IS ONE HOT MESS OF SEX, HEARTBREAK AND INTENSE EMOTIONS.
STORIES LIKE THIS LEAVES YOU UNSATISFIED YET BEGGING FOR MORE.
October 31, 2014
I first read Love Storm about 10 years ago when I was in highschool and for all the detractors out there, this tantalizing romance/erotic historical novel is memorable.
Here's why:
Set against a backdrop of a decadent Russian Aristocracy, Love Storm is one of the few books I've read that don't shade Russians in harsh light and from what i gather, this novel was published in 1981? Susan Johnson paints a human face onto Russian and Circassian people and her historical additives make this erotic romance such a pleasure to read.
The characters are very well developed and memorable and the writing style, albeit for a generation prior, has a certain highclass allure to it. I felt like I was back to the good old days when writing was such a high art that not anyone could venture into and reading was such a joy before the advent of the internet the distraction it brought.
If one's not to be daunted with some of the heavy words the author uses(those can be ignored) I felt the plot had some good meat on it. Of course, feminists would claim this book debases females. But the thing is, Susan Johnson wrote from a historical perspective much as she let her imagination run wild. This was how it was back then. Goes to show how far we've come.
All in all, I am glad I got to reread this classic. Would recommend it to anybody who would be able to get their hands on it
Here's why:
Set against a backdrop of a decadent Russian Aristocracy, Love Storm is one of the few books I've read that don't shade Russians in harsh light and from what i gather, this novel was published in 1981? Susan Johnson paints a human face onto Russian and Circassian people and her historical additives make this erotic romance such a pleasure to read.
The characters are very well developed and memorable and the writing style, albeit for a generation prior, has a certain highclass allure to it. I felt like I was back to the good old days when writing was such a high art that not anyone could venture into and reading was such a joy before the advent of the internet the distraction it brought.
If one's not to be daunted with some of the heavy words the author uses(those can be ignored) I felt the plot had some good meat on it. Of course, feminists would claim this book debases females. But the thing is, Susan Johnson wrote from a historical perspective much as she let her imagination run wild. This was how it was back then. Goes to show how far we've come.
All in all, I am glad I got to reread this classic. Would recommend it to anybody who would be able to get their hands on it
March 8, 2022
So WTF did I read last night?? I honestly need therapy after this book. For one, I stayed up to til 2am to finish this book. And now I have an answer for who is the worst hero I've ever read. There was no redeeming qualities about this guy. At all. His alpha-ness was just jerky, all he wanted to do was drink and party. He didn't care about his illegitimate children or getting the heroine pregnant. He nearly had to be beaten to death to agree to marry her. And there was so much cheating! Like, steamy, on the page cheating at 70% into the book! And no guilt or groveling! By that point, I was routing for the heroine to sleep with someone else! But no, she just gets sexually assaulted with that old school romance of enjoying it (she never tells hero and in fact, tells him he's the only man she's been with and I was actually happy for her with that lie). It was just completely old school but without any of the redeeming features that make me okay with old school romances. Like none of the caring that alpha-holes can sometime show or insight into why he's like this. He was just a spoiled playboy who threw fits when he couldn't get his way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did Not Finish
March 31, 2026Alas, this book just didn’t hold my interest… it’s so similar to Seized by Love, the first book in the series. Father and son are the heroes, both rich, spoiled men, thoughtless rakes, and sweet nice women are the heroines . Lots of sex in detail … and that’s not very passionate. I loved Blaze by the same author … these books just didn’t have interesting stories and excellent writing.
January 7, 2013
i loved this book even better than the first one beacuse alex was much better in character than his dad (nicki) and he was faithful while he was with zena and did his best as a husband. i absolutely adored the book !! it lost one star at the end however when he had sex with all those women because zena left him and also the basic plot was much like the first book in the series..i mean alex's story quite ressembled his dad's. so it was not original
February 24, 2016
I wanted to love this book, since I have read a few of Susan Johnson's books in the past and really enjoyed them. However, this books was just...bad. The premise/plot was nice and typical for a historical romance but I could just not get into the characters or their "romance."
Read
June 1, 2022dushka['little heart'],"
26 hours
“my fierce kitten,”
26 hours
“my fierce kitten,”
February 16, 2026
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨
First Impressions
I have been making the attempt to get in the mood for a historical for a while now but its really hard of me of late. Trying to get my passion back for them after the modern HR burnt me out is no easy take let me tell ya. lol But once I really got into this book then I had a hard time putting this one down. I am glad I was finally able to return to this author though and this was one ANGSTY read, I forgot what some of these old school romances actually had content wise. And this Russia series from this author is more angsty than some of her other books.
First Line
"Damn it, Amalie" Prince Alexander hissed into the soft pink ear so close to his lips as he twirled the tall, queenly, blonde beauty through the crowd of elegantly dressed, coiffed and bejeweled nobles dancing in the gilt and white rococo ballroom of the Dolgrouky palace.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Prince Alexander
The Heroine: Zena Turku
Summary
Zena is determined not to marry the match that her aunt would have for her as he is old and now what she imagined. So she leaves her aunt's home in the goal of locating her grandfather into the Caucasus Mountains but on her journey there she falls for a handsome stranger who offers her refuge and some passion in her life. So with her young brother in tow, she enjoys a life of leisure with Alex. But Alex isn't looking for love .....just a easy passion and then to move onto the next woman. But Zena is not like the normal women he enjoys his time with .....and when he has to chase her into the mountains after wounding her fragile heart, he will be taken on an adventure he didn't expect...
What I Loved
There were many things that I liked about this. I do love the way that this author writes intimacy. Its kinda refreshing when its not super explicit and just more about the intimacy of the moment. I did love the spirit of Zena and how she isn't afraid of being honest with herself about her feelings for Alex especially. Alex was a delight ...even if he could be a bit of a jerk at times. He was so emotionally constipated and it was such a hoot to see that from him. I did love how it ended and how Alex is the one that needs to fight for his girl when she spends so much of the book trying to fight for him.
What I Struggled With
The angst. I didn't really love what caused these two to seperate at times. I know this writing style for this series and I was prepared for it but wow all the drama that these two engage in lol But I still had a fun time despite my current eye strain issues. I am not sure how I felt about her being so casually raped (not by the hero) and the hero not knowing about it. That was hard for me to see especially when she is so heavily pregnant.
Overall View
Love Storm was a angsty emotionally gripping story that brings the history of this time in Russian to life...
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Historical Romance, Russian Victorian Era
Character Types: Rake, Jerk Hero, Bluestocking
Themes: Angsty, Forced Marriage, Marriage in Trouble
Tropes: Protector, Marriage of Convenience, Accidental Pregnancy
Book Perspective
3rd POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both
If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Joan Johnston
Johanna Lindsey
Virginia Henley
Song This Book Inspires
Let Me Be Your Wings
Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standalone but this series is based on a family so you could read book one first for historical context going into book 3
Steam/Spice Explanations
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
January 9, 2023
Oh boy, this was a rough one. This 1981 bodice-ripper is a LOT to take in, but I've been forewarned.
I've read Susan Johnson's later books, and I liked some of her stuff. But this OLD old, so I'm willing to forgive and overlook some outdated views that just don't pass the test of time.
Minus all of that, I do have very complicated feelings about it though. On the one hand, it has hilarious moments and we owe it to the main hero, the handsome Prince Alexander, who I can best describe as a man-child. His attitude to women is unapologetically gross (but also, am I supposed to find him charming...?)
I don't know what it is about Johnson's writing, but I find this sexist pig to be kind of endearing because he's such a dum dum. I don't know whether to laugh or scream because in the end I'm left wondering where the hell he finds the audacity.
Alas, that's not the worst part. It's got some REALLY dark moments that I was warned about but was not prepared for. So brace yourself for content warnings such as casual threats to r*p*, kidnapping, sexual slavery, vivid descriptions of r*p* and cheating. It's extremely disturbing and so vile, I felt so sick there were many times where I had to take a moment. It's a LOT.
But I am fascinated by Johnson's treatment of it though, and I think that's part of what's truly bonkers about this book. From the first chapter to the last, all these horrific things that happen to the characters are treated casually and/or are problems swept under the rug. It was STRANGE to me, I've never read anything like it in romance.
This book is an experience, and I have no regrets reading it. I will never revisit and I could not recommend. But if you decide to, read it, do it at your own risk!
I've read Susan Johnson's later books, and I liked some of her stuff. But this OLD old, so I'm willing to forgive and overlook some outdated views that just don't pass the test of time.
Minus all of that, I do have very complicated feelings about it though. On the one hand, it has hilarious moments and we owe it to the main hero, the handsome Prince Alexander, who I can best describe as a man-child. His attitude to women is unapologetically gross (but also, am I supposed to find him charming...?)
I don't know what it is about Johnson's writing, but I find this sexist pig to be kind of endearing because he's such a dum dum. I don't know whether to laugh or scream because in the end I'm left wondering where the hell he finds the audacity.
Alas, that's not the worst part. It's got some REALLY dark moments that I was warned about but was not prepared for. So brace yourself for content warnings such as casual threats to r*p*, kidnapping, sexual slavery, vivid descriptions of r*p* and cheating. It's extremely disturbing and so vile, I felt so sick there were many times where I had to take a moment. It's a LOT.
But I am fascinated by Johnson's treatment of it though, and I think that's part of what's truly bonkers about this book. From the first chapter to the last, all these horrific things that happen to the characters are treated casually and/or are problems swept under the rug. It was STRANGE to me, I've never read anything like it in romance.
This book is an experience, and I have no regrets reading it. I will never revisit and I could not recommend. But if you decide to, read it, do it at your own risk!
February 21, 2023
I'm currently getting my fix of 80's romance after reading Stormfire and The Flesh and the Devil. So, reading an erotic historical romance that takes place in late 19th century Russia seemed like a good route to go, so I thought.
Things were fine in this book up to a certain point. I can only take so much, like Alex's cheating, fine, Zena getting sexually abused by two gross men in front of Alex, sure. What I can't handle is reading about Zena getting full on raped, rather explicitly I might add. I also find it hard to understand why that scene was thrown in, it was abruptly thrown in and abruptly solved. It was acknowledged again in passing for one sentence.
The plot was quite thin; boy meets girl, boy has commitment issues, girl runs away. It's unfortunate since I liked the leads a lot in the beginning but as the book went on, there wasn't much development. The rape scenes by the men other than Alex were very explicit and detailed while the sex scenes between the leads were quite tame in comparison. I mean they were good for a book written in the early 80's but your standard affair.
People say Alex was better than his daddy Nikki, probably masochistic of me to want to give Seized by Love a try too.
Things were fine in this book up to a certain point. I can only take so much, like Alex's cheating, fine, Zena getting sexually abused by two gross men in front of Alex, sure. What I can't handle is reading about Zena getting full on raped, rather explicitly I might add. I also find it hard to understand why that scene was thrown in, it was abruptly thrown in and abruptly solved. It was acknowledged again in passing for one sentence.
The plot was quite thin; boy meets girl, boy has commitment issues, girl runs away. It's unfortunate since I liked the leads a lot in the beginning but as the book went on, there wasn't much development. The rape scenes by the men other than Alex were very explicit and detailed while the sex scenes between the leads were quite tame in comparison. I mean they were good for a book written in the early 80's but your standard affair.
People say Alex was better than his daddy Nikki, probably masochistic of me to want to give Seized by Love a try too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2019
Sasha is free to travel to Moscow when a young lady he presumes in a streetwise asks to join him. As a favor, he stops and she collects a child he presumes is hers. Later, he finds out she is untouched and the child is her brother. He is fascinated with her but marriage is out. Or is it? Read and immerse yourself in this passionate tale.
May 28, 2024
Can you get anymore disgusting? I doubt it!
This book has a crummy H, who thinks that every woman has a vagina just waiting for a visit from his penis, a TSTL h who thinks nothing of turning to a stranger to help her escape an arranged marriage (and letting him f--- her brains out); she falls madly in love, he insists it's nothing but lust (though he intends to "keep" her until he's bored, like some exotic pet, which he seems to think she is). She's jealous of other women, he's jealous of his friend (and partner in debauchery), she becomes pregnant, he (despite his sophistication) took forever to figure it out, she runs away, he chases after her, she's kidnapped and taken to a harem, where he finds her.
In what has to be one of the most nauseating scenes ever, the h is drugged, made to dance naked in front of a bunch of horny men (including the H), one of them plays with her breasts and southern lips, then sticks a dildo (complete with balls) inside her and, being stoned out of her mind, she just loves it, and has orgasms galore in front of everyone! (The author makes a big deal out of her dripping wet lady bits. BLAH!!! I wonder if she played with her own while writing this?)
The H rescues the h, gives her a good f--- (she was so out of it she forgets what happened), brings her to her far away Grandpa (whom she had been on her way to when "sidetracked"), gets beat up for seducing and impregnating her, does the honorable thing and marries her (though he resents it), and soon begins to feel restless of the bonds of matrimony. Apparently, he misses the days when he was noted for the many hours he could have sex nonstop! (Give the man a prize: how about a basket of manure?) She wants his love, he can't seem to give it, she runs away yet again (can you say "ad nauseum"), but leaves him a note where to find her, which he doesn't get. Not hearing from him, she assumes he doesn't care and leaves for France (just pick a country out of a hat and head there) while he assumes she dumped him flat and took their unborn baby with her, and returns to his life of debauchery, a.k.a. "f--- 'em and leave 'em".
Soon, there's the OM, who wants to marry the "widow", despite her big bun in the oven. That big bun doesn't bother her harem pal either (the dildo guy), because he finds her again, takes her hostage, ties her up, strips her, ignores her bulging belly, sucks her nipples and makes milk flow (this isn't the first time this happens in one of her novels, so the author must get off on it), then gives her one heck of a penis pounding, and SHE LOVES IT SO MUCH SHE ORGASMS GALORE, EVEN FAINTS FROM THE PLEASURE!)
Two things I take severe umbrage with: the h having sex with anyone but the H while pregnant with his baby, and the h getting raped and enjoying it, and this scene had both! (I took a vomit break.)
You got to love this: the h excuses her shocking behavior to herself by claiming it had been so long since she was made love to! WTF!!! She was only gone a couple of months, she's almost ready to pop out her kid, and she's suffering from sex starvation???? I think NOT!!! And since she equates rape with making love, she has a serious problem!!!
And she keeps playing the victim! In case she wasn't aware, rape victims do not beg the perp to stick it in, unless they're coerced at gun or knifepoint, and in which case they will NOT be asking out of desire, but to hopefully preserve their life! This horn toad was so into the abuse she was salivating from both pairs of lips! And she had the gall to call herself a victim!
If anyone asks a real life rape victim if she begged for it, I hope she slaps them so hard their head goes flying off in space! Think of the insult and disrespect to any real rape victim who reads one of these books, remembers her own ordeal (which most likely will still give her nightmares) and gets presented with a "victim" who goes into ecstasy! No wonder so many rape victims weren't believed, it probably came from reading books like this!
Equally lame, is the H's sex crazed lifestyle; after all, it had been six whole weeks since the h left! A guy's got to have some way to pass the time! And then, after yet another night of hot sex with Whoever, suddenly he has a revelation: he loves the h! He misses her!! It was his indifference and crappy attitude that drove her away!!! (You THINK??? Gee, maybe you do have a brain after all!)
I'm surprised the author didn't make him get this wisdom while he was pumping another woman, that seems to be her style.
Once again, he sets out to find her. (Yawn.)
The story ends up with the OM rescuing the h from her orgy (oh, pardon me, her "ordeal"), proposing bigamy (oh, pardon me, "marriage"), she has the nerve to consider it, the H finds her (miracle he's not dead from an STD), they're blissfully reunited, he avoids details of his infidelity, she swears she was never unfaithful (neglects to tell of her bondage lust interlude), the kid's born, he's blond, the H is dark, he suspects it's not his (wonder how many babies out there are, probably a few dozen), changes his mind and they have their.....
I refuse to say it, as these two deserved a trash heap instead.
This is my second book by Susan Johnson (whom I suspect is a man) and MY LAST!!!
This book has a crummy H, who thinks that every woman has a vagina just waiting for a visit from his penis, a TSTL h who thinks nothing of turning to a stranger to help her escape an arranged marriage (and letting him f--- her brains out); she falls madly in love, he insists it's nothing but lust (though he intends to "keep" her until he's bored, like some exotic pet, which he seems to think she is). She's jealous of other women, he's jealous of his friend (and partner in debauchery), she becomes pregnant, he (despite his sophistication) took forever to figure it out, she runs away, he chases after her, she's kidnapped and taken to a harem, where he finds her.
In what has to be one of the most nauseating scenes ever, the h is drugged, made to dance naked in front of a bunch of horny men (including the H), one of them plays with her breasts and southern lips, then sticks a dildo (complete with balls) inside her and, being stoned out of her mind, she just loves it, and has orgasms galore in front of everyone! (The author makes a big deal out of her dripping wet lady bits. BLAH!!! I wonder if she played with her own while writing this?)
The H rescues the h, gives her a good f--- (she was so out of it she forgets what happened), brings her to her far away Grandpa (whom she had been on her way to when "sidetracked"), gets beat up for seducing and impregnating her, does the honorable thing and marries her (though he resents it), and soon begins to feel restless of the bonds of matrimony. Apparently, he misses the days when he was noted for the many hours he could have sex nonstop! (Give the man a prize: how about a basket of manure?) She wants his love, he can't seem to give it, she runs away yet again (can you say "ad nauseum"), but leaves him a note where to find her, which he doesn't get. Not hearing from him, she assumes he doesn't care and leaves for France (just pick a country out of a hat and head there) while he assumes she dumped him flat and took their unborn baby with her, and returns to his life of debauchery, a.k.a. "f--- 'em and leave 'em".
Soon, there's the OM, who wants to marry the "widow", despite her big bun in the oven. That big bun doesn't bother her harem pal either (the dildo guy), because he finds her again, takes her hostage, ties her up, strips her, ignores her bulging belly, sucks her nipples and makes milk flow (this isn't the first time this happens in one of her novels, so the author must get off on it), then gives her one heck of a penis pounding, and SHE LOVES IT SO MUCH SHE ORGASMS GALORE, EVEN FAINTS FROM THE PLEASURE!)
Two things I take severe umbrage with: the h having sex with anyone but the H while pregnant with his baby, and the h getting raped and enjoying it, and this scene had both! (I took a vomit break.)
You got to love this: the h excuses her shocking behavior to herself by claiming it had been so long since she was made love to! WTF!!! She was only gone a couple of months, she's almost ready to pop out her kid, and she's suffering from sex starvation???? I think NOT!!! And since she equates rape with making love, she has a serious problem!!!
And she keeps playing the victim! In case she wasn't aware, rape victims do not beg the perp to stick it in, unless they're coerced at gun or knifepoint, and in which case they will NOT be asking out of desire, but to hopefully preserve their life! This horn toad was so into the abuse she was salivating from both pairs of lips! And she had the gall to call herself a victim!
If anyone asks a real life rape victim if she begged for it, I hope she slaps them so hard their head goes flying off in space! Think of the insult and disrespect to any real rape victim who reads one of these books, remembers her own ordeal (which most likely will still give her nightmares) and gets presented with a "victim" who goes into ecstasy! No wonder so many rape victims weren't believed, it probably came from reading books like this!
Equally lame, is the H's sex crazed lifestyle; after all, it had been six whole weeks since the h left! A guy's got to have some way to pass the time! And then, after yet another night of hot sex with Whoever, suddenly he has a revelation: he loves the h! He misses her!! It was his indifference and crappy attitude that drove her away!!! (You THINK??? Gee, maybe you do have a brain after all!)
I'm surprised the author didn't make him get this wisdom while he was pumping another woman, that seems to be her style.
Once again, he sets out to find her. (Yawn.)
The story ends up with the OM rescuing the h from her orgy (oh, pardon me, her "ordeal"), proposing bigamy (oh, pardon me, "marriage"), she has the nerve to consider it, the H finds her (miracle he's not dead from an STD), they're blissfully reunited, he avoids details of his infidelity, she swears she was never unfaithful (neglects to tell of her bondage lust interlude), the kid's born, he's blond, the H is dark, he suspects it's not his (wonder how many babies out there are, probably a few dozen), changes his mind and they have their.....
I refuse to say it, as these two deserved a trash heap instead.
This is my second book by Susan Johnson (whom I suspect is a man) and MY LAST!!!
October 11, 2023
What in the 1981 fuckery was this? At first I thought this was a book about "what if we pretend women have no rights and are there only for the pleasure of men" on steroids and but i feel like it has to be a parody? Right? Riiiight???
August 25, 2018
Fantastic
I absolutely love this author. She keeps you hanging on thru the whole book. can't wait to read another of her books.
I absolutely love this author. She keeps you hanging on thru the whole book. can't wait to read another of her books.
December 7, 2018
Oh My Good gracious
Wow what a book!!!! Sasha is such a dick! I LOVED this book! This is what I want to see in a book! So much angst and drama and amazing sex! Oh God I loved it!
Wow what a book!!!! Sasha is such a dick! I LOVED this book! This is what I want to see in a book! So much angst and drama and amazing sex! Oh God I loved it!
March 22, 2019
4 for the erotica
3 for the sharpness (good start then slides)
0 for the romance (there is none xD)
3 for the sharpness (good start then slides)
0 for the romance (there is none xD)
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