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Louisiana History #3
Embrace and Conquer
She was the toast of New Orleans, daughter of a rebel merchant. Then Lieutenant Colonel Morgan McCormack blazed into her life. With a ruthlessness that left her breathless, he forced her to become his mistress to save her father's life.
344 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
48 people are currently reading
1244 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Blake
169 books541 followersA pseudonym used by Patricia Maxwell.
Jennifer Blake has been called a “pioneer of the romance genre”, and an “icon of the romance industry.” A New York Times and international best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of the RWA Hall of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Rita. She holds numerous other honors, including two “Maggies”, two Holt Medallions, multiple Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine, and the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence. She has written over 60 books with translations in 20 languages and more than 30 million copies in print worldwide.
Jennifer and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style retreat in North Louisiana where they often entertain family and friends. Always a gardener, she spends much of her time encouraging her garden to bloom with her favorite daylilies and antique roses. She also enjoys walking her two dogs, Buffy and Lucky, and indulging in needlework, painting, and travel.
Jennifer Blake has been called a “pioneer of the romance genre”, and an “icon of the romance industry.” A New York Times and international best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of the RWA Hall of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Rita. She holds numerous other honors, including two “Maggies”, two Holt Medallions, multiple Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine, and the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence. She has written over 60 books with translations in 20 languages and more than 30 million copies in print worldwide.
Jennifer and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style retreat in North Louisiana where they often entertain family and friends. Always a gardener, she spends much of her time encouraging her garden to bloom with her favorite daylilies and antique roses. She also enjoys walking her two dogs, Buffy and Lucky, and indulging in needlework, painting, and travel.
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January 17, 2025
How nice to read a historical romance with an actual historical setting. Jennifer Blake's novel Embrace and Conquer takes place during the transfer of the French colony of Louisiana to Spain, in the eighteenth century.
The loyal French colonists feel betrayed by the Mother Land and resentful towards the Spanish usurpers. What worsens an already tense situation though is that the Spanish King has decided to enforce this transition through the use of Irish mercenaries.
To make an example to the rebellious French populace, the new Irish envoy promptly arrests a dozen of the most prominent men of New Orleans, accusing them of fomenting revolt against their new Spanish monarch. Our heroine Felicite's father is one of the men arrested. In despair, she begs our hero Morgan, a high ranking Irish official, to intercede on behalf of her father.
Naturally, a price is to be paid and our pure and virginal French Belle finds herself blackmailed into being Morgan's mistress.
Overall, I thought this read was enjoyable, adequately fast-paced, and devoid of too many cliches such as great, terrible, misunderstandings or TSTL moments. Were there some? Yes, but not unduly so and they were resolved within a fairly reasonable time.
The protagonists were pretty great. Felicite was strong and brave without going too far into making her a completely anachronistic character. Morgan was initially suitably despicable as a bodice-ripping anti-hero but the author successfully redeemed him imho.
The loyal French colonists feel betrayed by the Mother Land and resentful towards the Spanish usurpers. What worsens an already tense situation though is that the Spanish King has decided to enforce this transition through the use of Irish mercenaries.
To make an example to the rebellious French populace, the new Irish envoy promptly arrests a dozen of the most prominent men of New Orleans, accusing them of fomenting revolt against their new Spanish monarch. Our heroine Felicite's father is one of the men arrested. In despair, she begs our hero Morgan, a high ranking Irish official, to intercede on behalf of her father.
Naturally, a price is to be paid and our pure and virginal French Belle finds herself blackmailed into being Morgan's mistress.
Overall, I thought this read was enjoyable, adequately fast-paced, and devoid of too many cliches such as great, terrible, misunderstandings or TSTL moments. Were there some? Yes, but not unduly so and they were resolved within a fairly reasonable time.
The protagonists were pretty great. Felicite was strong and brave without going too far into making her a completely anachronistic character. Morgan was initially suitably despicable as a bodice-ripping anti-hero but the author successfully redeemed him imho.
July 2, 2014
***Update: 7/2/14 re: the Audible version***
I've read this book countless times starting somewhere in the 80's. It's one of my all time favorites. Morgan is so yummy and my model of what a ruthless, yet loveable alpha-hero should be. I needed something to listen to while I did some rather mind numbing work the past two days. Since I knew the story inside and out, I hoped it could function as a pleasant 'background noise' to keep me awake.
It worked. Although I did have to pause my work at times during particular passages I love. HOWEVER, I do not recommend the audible version in this case unless you're already familiar with the book and can get it cheap. The narrator was not the worst I've heard, but also not the greatest. She did a weird thing with accents that I still don't get.
The heroine of the novel is from New Orleans, in pre-Revolutionary War times. At the time, Louisiana was a French colony and the novel begins with the Spanish taking over due to some deal with the French King, Louis XV. The people of New Orleans weren't thrilled with becoming citizens of Spain as they considered themselves very much French. The hero, Morgan, is an Irish mercenary sent to help quell the rebellious plots of the former French colonists and bring them under Spanish rule. The background is important, because this is where the accent thing got weird.
Felicite would have spoken French as did the majority of LA at the time. However, the narrator decided to use a southern drawl more appropriate to your stereotypical Southern Belle. IMHO she should have used a French accent for her and the other citizens of N.O. or none at all. I'd rather a narrator skip an accent than do a horrible imitation of one or one that doesn't even make sense.
Morgan's accent was even stranger. He was Irish, but was fluent in French and Spanish. To Felicite he spoke French. However, the accent used was just 7 kinds of strange. I think at times she tried to do a Irish accent, but it was on par with Kevin Costner's so-called accent in Robin Hood where every now and again he'd pronounce a word in a British sounding way. Again, if you can't do an accent don't.
I realize this book may have produced a conundrum for a narrator. It was written in English, yet the majority of the characters did not speak English, at least not as their primary language. So, you had to imagine an Irishman speaking French in an Irish accent although the book is written in English (head is spinning). Still, doing a Southern Belle accent for Felicite made NO SENSE as did doing a more stereotypical American black accent for the slaves made no sense as they spoke French too.
I'm still not sure what the narrator was trying to do with Morgan's accent. She was either all confused or had no clue how to do an Irish accent.
***Original Review***
I loved this, because Morgan would do ANYTHING to be with Felicite. Warning, this is an old-school nonPC bodice ripper. There is one scene where the H rapes the heroine. He does have remorse for it and nearly loses Felicity forever because of how he forced the relationship on her.
Because Morgan was proud and afraid of rejection, he never came out and told her how he felt until the end. Of course, that led to plenty of misunderstanding about his motivations and made Felicite hide her feelings for him. I think she should have figured out the power she had over him before then, but I guess love makes you insecure.
I've read this book countless times starting somewhere in the 80's. It's one of my all time favorites. Morgan is so yummy and my model of what a ruthless, yet loveable alpha-hero should be. I needed something to listen to while I did some rather mind numbing work the past two days. Since I knew the story inside and out, I hoped it could function as a pleasant 'background noise' to keep me awake.
It worked. Although I did have to pause my work at times during particular passages I love. HOWEVER, I do not recommend the audible version in this case unless you're already familiar with the book and can get it cheap. The narrator was not the worst I've heard, but also not the greatest. She did a weird thing with accents that I still don't get.
The heroine of the novel is from New Orleans, in pre-Revolutionary War times. At the time, Louisiana was a French colony and the novel begins with the Spanish taking over due to some deal with the French King, Louis XV. The people of New Orleans weren't thrilled with becoming citizens of Spain as they considered themselves very much French. The hero, Morgan, is an Irish mercenary sent to help quell the rebellious plots of the former French colonists and bring them under Spanish rule. The background is important, because this is where the accent thing got weird.
Felicite would have spoken French as did the majority of LA at the time. However, the narrator decided to use a southern drawl more appropriate to your stereotypical Southern Belle. IMHO she should have used a French accent for her and the other citizens of N.O. or none at all. I'd rather a narrator skip an accent than do a horrible imitation of one or one that doesn't even make sense.
Morgan's accent was even stranger. He was Irish, but was fluent in French and Spanish. To Felicite he spoke French. However, the accent used was just 7 kinds of strange. I think at times she tried to do a Irish accent, but it was on par with Kevin Costner's so-called accent in Robin Hood where every now and again he'd pronounce a word in a British sounding way. Again, if you can't do an accent don't.
I realize this book may have produced a conundrum for a narrator. It was written in English, yet the majority of the characters did not speak English, at least not as their primary language. So, you had to imagine an Irishman speaking French in an Irish accent although the book is written in English (head is spinning). Still, doing a Southern Belle accent for Felicite made NO SENSE as did doing a more stereotypical American black accent for the slaves made no sense as they spoke French too.
I'm still not sure what the narrator was trying to do with Morgan's accent. She was either all confused or had no clue how to do an Irish accent.
***Original Review***
I loved this, because Morgan would do ANYTHING to be with Felicite. Warning, this is an old-school nonPC bodice ripper. There is one scene where the H rapes the heroine. He does have remorse for it and nearly loses Felicity forever because of how he forced the relationship on her.
Because Morgan was proud and afraid of rejection, he never came out and told her how he felt until the end. Of course, that led to plenty of misunderstanding about his motivations and made Felicite hide her feelings for him. I think she should have figured out the power she had over him before then, but I guess love makes you insecure.
July 9, 2020
Back in the eighteenth century Spanish takes over Lousiana which was the French colony. The French feeling betrayed rebels. The Spanish King decides to punish/execute the French rebels, among them Félicité's father was arrested. Félicité runs for help to Morgan who is an Irishman but serves the Spanish Army.
Félicité and Morgan meet on an issue on chamberpot, yes chamberpot where the contents of it were dumped on the Spanish soldiers by her step-brother Valcour (on his orders by his manservant), as a result Morgan came to investigate and Félicité takes the blame. Morgan forms a lot of misconceptions on Félicité for Valcours sinister deeds which makes him believe Félicité takes part in Valcours misdeeds. When Félicité is arrested she begs Morgan to use his position as a second-in-command to the King to intercede on behalf of her father, Morgan agrees but with a price. In one situation Morgan was ambushed for which he believed Félicité to be part of the plot when in rage he rapes her. With all intents and purpose for his actions Morgan tries to make up for it.
The story is not done here, there is another phase of high seas and adventure - the pirates! I'll leave that part of the story a mystery in my review. 😉
My favourite character in this book is Ashanti. She is the maidservant of Félicité, both of them grew up together. She seems to be the calm, cool headed person and supports and cares for Félicité in every step. Knowing Valcours true colours from the beginning she stays with Félicité knowing Valcour is always near. Her ending was tragic.
This book was a jollyful ride with plenty of scenes. If you want an adventure with pirates then this book is for you.
Félicité and Morgan meet on an issue on chamberpot, yes chamberpot where the contents of it were dumped on the Spanish soldiers by her step-brother Valcour (on his orders by his manservant), as a result Morgan came to investigate and Félicité takes the blame. Morgan forms a lot of misconceptions on Félicité for Valcours sinister deeds which makes him believe Félicité takes part in Valcours misdeeds. When Félicité is arrested she begs Morgan to use his position as a second-in-command to the King to intercede on behalf of her father, Morgan agrees but with a price. In one situation Morgan was ambushed for which he believed Félicité to be part of the plot when in rage he rapes her. With all intents and purpose for his actions Morgan tries to make up for it.
The story is not done here, there is another phase of high seas and adventure - the pirates! I'll leave that part of the story a mystery in my review. 😉
My favourite character in this book is Ashanti. She is the maidservant of Félicité, both of them grew up together. She seems to be the calm, cool headed person and supports and cares for Félicité in every step. Knowing Valcours true colours from the beginning she stays with Félicité knowing Valcour is always near. Her ending was tragic.
This book was a jollyful ride with plenty of scenes. If you want an adventure with pirates then this book is for you.
November 28, 2016
I have a particular love for pirates, historical sea battles, and girls dressing in boys' clothes; this book would have been a 4-star but all that swashbuckling goodness bumped it up to a five for me. Félicité (alt 0745 for fancy é!) is a wealthy, gorgeous young lady in New Orleans when the Spanish army takes it over to quell the French rebels. Morgan McCormack is the right-hand man of the Irish general who heads the Spanish soldiers. He's also super hot and dreamy and romantic, but I digress. The big antagonist is Felicité's adopted brother Valcour, a dangerous, sneaky rebel who grows exponentially more evil as the story progresses.
...So I started writing a couple paragraphs of step-by-step summary but I bored myself so forget it, I deleted it. Let's just say, there was a lot of action, angst, and pirates. Oh, and sexual tension! Can't forget that! One part, Félicité is trying to sneak out of bed in the morning without waking Morgan up, who's clutching her in his sleep. Every time she tries to inch away, he sleepily shifts and tightens his grasp, until finally she catches his eyelids flickering. Then she jumps out with a, "Wake up, you vile, grinning jackanapes!"
If there was one part of the story that I hated, it was the way Ashanti and Dom were handled. They're black slaves, "movable property" according to Valcour. This book was very historically realistic so I'm not trying to impose modern values on her, but Félicité shows a real weakness of character and mind when she continually chooses to trust Valcour and doubt/disregard Ashanti's warnings about him.
My favorite part of this book is how Morgan tries to make up for the way he brutally raped her in the beginning. It happened in a moment of bloodlust and anger because he was ambushed by three men trying to murder him and for all intents and purposes it appeared that she was part of the plot, acting as bait. I'll be honest, I had no problem with it because of the way he didn't trivialize his actions, and actually seemed more conscious and affected by it than she was throughout the rest of the story. He doesn't skimp on the self-abasement and angst, and thus totally redeems himself in my eyes. The romance between them was intense and comes with a satisfying payoff at the end, with one of the most gorgeous, extravagantly passionate declarations of love by a romance hero everrrrr.
Small excerpt from his grand speech:
"The thought of you is a constant flow in my mind, and has been since the first moment I saw you with the contents of that damnable chamber pot perfuming the air!"
I'll never smell a chamber pot again without thinking of you! Swoon! Seriously though it's a great speech and I won't quote any more of it so you can enjoy it yourself. Loved this book!
...So I started writing a couple paragraphs of step-by-step summary but I bored myself so forget it, I deleted it. Let's just say, there was a lot of action, angst, and pirates. Oh, and sexual tension! Can't forget that! One part, Félicité is trying to sneak out of bed in the morning without waking Morgan up, who's clutching her in his sleep. Every time she tries to inch away, he sleepily shifts and tightens his grasp, until finally she catches his eyelids flickering. Then she jumps out with a, "Wake up, you vile, grinning jackanapes!"
If there was one part of the story that I hated, it was the way Ashanti and Dom were handled. They're black slaves, "movable property" according to Valcour. This book was very historically realistic so I'm not trying to impose modern values on her, but Félicité shows a real weakness of character and mind when she continually chooses to trust Valcour and doubt/disregard Ashanti's warnings about him.
My favorite part of this book is how Morgan tries to make up for the way he brutally raped her in the beginning. It happened in a moment of bloodlust and anger because he was ambushed by three men trying to murder him and for all intents and purposes it appeared that she was part of the plot, acting as bait. I'll be honest, I had no problem with it because of the way he didn't trivialize his actions, and actually seemed more conscious and affected by it than she was throughout the rest of the story. He doesn't skimp on the self-abasement and angst, and thus totally redeems himself in my eyes. The romance between them was intense and comes with a satisfying payoff at the end, with one of the most gorgeous, extravagantly passionate declarations of love by a romance hero everrrrr.
Small excerpt from his grand speech:
"The thought of you is a constant flow in my mind, and has been since the first moment I saw you with the contents of that damnable chamber pot perfuming the air!"
I'll never smell a chamber pot again without thinking of you! Swoon! Seriously though it's a great speech and I won't quote any more of it so you can enjoy it yourself. Loved this book!
August 17, 2020
***I believe the original publication date for this book is 1981. In the process for digitization of her old HR titles, Jennifer Blake has refrained from "modifying" her old titles to make them politically correct. (on behalf of Fans of vintage HR, we kiss your ring Jennifer Blake!) Therefore, I must issue the warning that there is un-pc content in this book.
Jennifer Blake due to mad research skillz, in the days long before the Internet, manages to transport me to the location and time-period by including current events. She gives the reader and excellent sense of life in New Orleans. The story takes place when the Louisiana colony changes from France to Spain and includes detail of all of the tensions and resistance caused by Spanish occupation of a colony populated by people who see themselves as Frenchman. The author further shows of her stellar research and its use by sword fights, pirate and mariner culture, sailing/and type of ships of the period as well. Once the action moves to an unpopulated island in the caribbean, there is even detail about ship's maintenance tasks such as "careening."
Alas, as much as I loved the keen attention to detail of setting and life, current events and the superb writing, the characters just didn't capture my attention nor did the romance itself.
I would still read more of Jennifer Blake's old romances and I intend to download the next one in this Louisiana collection of her romances. This book is a great favorite of a couple of friends her on GR who like me, share a love for old HR titles, but this just didn't thrill me as I had hoped it would.
Jennifer Blake due to mad research skillz, in the days long before the Internet, manages to transport me to the location and time-period by including current events. She gives the reader and excellent sense of life in New Orleans. The story takes place when the Louisiana colony changes from France to Spain and includes detail of all of the tensions and resistance caused by Spanish occupation of a colony populated by people who see themselves as Frenchman. The author further shows of her stellar research and its use by sword fights, pirate and mariner culture, sailing/and type of ships of the period as well. Once the action moves to an unpopulated island in the caribbean, there is even detail about ship's maintenance tasks such as "careening."
Alas, as much as I loved the keen attention to detail of setting and life, current events and the superb writing, the characters just didn't capture my attention nor did the romance itself.
I would still read more of Jennifer Blake's old romances and I intend to download the next one in this Louisiana collection of her romances. This book is a great favorite of a couple of friends her on GR who like me, share a love for old HR titles, but this just didn't thrill me as I had hoped it would.
September 23, 2015
"The fleur-de-lis of France, the golden lilies on a blue ground, had been lowered, and the lions and castles on a field of scarlet that marked the banner of imperial Spain had taken its place."
The story begins as the French have turned control of Louisiana over to the Spanish (1763, the web tells me), and the citizens of New Orleans are in a bit of turmoil over the new government, since they've always been French citizens. Anyhoo, our heroine, Félicité Lafargue is the daughter of a prominent merchant, and when her father is arrested with other merchants for alleged plotting against the new regime, her adopted brother split town with all the family's money, she's high and dry and in dire need of a protector.
Enter Irishman Colonel Morgan McCormack who serves in the Spanish Army (don't ask me to explain it). At first Morgan's attitude towards helping Félicité are honorable, but things happen and he thinks the worst of her and ---->>>>>big spoiler, but it's a deal-breaker for some readers so you'd best read it .
Things happen that I don't need to tell you about, and eventually the story switches gear to the high seas with a pirate ship or two or three and a deserted island with a convenient (private) pool just made for bathing for two :p
There's also plenty of pirate action, swordfights, derring-do and evil doing by the nasty villain and a battle or two at sea. All jolly good fun, and hats off to Blake for not succumbing to the trend to rewrite her more controversial scenes for today's PC minded readers.
The story begins as the French have turned control of Louisiana over to the Spanish (1763, the web tells me), and the citizens of New Orleans are in a bit of turmoil over the new government, since they've always been French citizens. Anyhoo, our heroine, Félicité Lafargue is the daughter of a prominent merchant, and when her father is arrested with other merchants for alleged plotting against the new regime, her adopted brother split town with all the family's money, she's high and dry and in dire need of a protector.
Enter Irishman Colonel Morgan McCormack who serves in the Spanish Army (don't ask me to explain it). At first Morgan's attitude towards helping Félicité are honorable, but things happen and he thinks the worst of her and ---->>>>>big spoiler, but it's a deal-breaker for some readers so you'd best read it .
Things happen that I don't need to tell you about, and eventually the story switches gear to the high seas with a pirate ship or two or three and a deserted island with a convenient (private) pool just made for bathing for two :p
There's also plenty of pirate action, swordfights, derring-do and evil doing by the nasty villain and a battle or two at sea. All jolly good fun, and hats off to Blake for not succumbing to the trend to rewrite her more controversial scenes for today's PC minded readers.
July 21, 2009
This is a book that would probably not get published today because of the un-PC content. There is a (in my opinion) fairly violent rape scene, because the heroine was being flirty and the hero didn't like it, and because he thinks she is a spy for her native French countrymen, which are his enemies. I cringe when I think about it.
I enjoyed this book as a fiction book because it's really a great adventure book, and it really immerses you in the history of that time. It's been so long since I read it, so I'm not sure it's a great romance, from what I remember. I think it's more of a saga in which you see a spoiled young woman go through some really tough circumstances and mature into a woman who can take care of herself, no matter what life throws at her. Because I love reading about different parts of the world in a fiction setting, this book also found favor with its vivid descriptions of traveling/living aboard ship and on the various Caribbean islands. The villain (who is the heroine's stepbrother and is completely lusting after her the whole book) was memorable and I felt a little sympathy for him in some parts, although at the same time he deserved what he got.
I don't think I liked the hero very much (probably because of his actions toward the heroine), and the fact that they spend a good amount of time apart.
So I give this a higher rating because it was a very interesting historical book. The romance wasn't the highlight in this one.
I enjoyed this book as a fiction book because it's really a great adventure book, and it really immerses you in the history of that time. It's been so long since I read it, so I'm not sure it's a great romance, from what I remember. I think it's more of a saga in which you see a spoiled young woman go through some really tough circumstances and mature into a woman who can take care of herself, no matter what life throws at her. Because I love reading about different parts of the world in a fiction setting, this book also found favor with its vivid descriptions of traveling/living aboard ship and on the various Caribbean islands. The villain (who is the heroine's stepbrother and is completely lusting after her the whole book) was memorable and I felt a little sympathy for him in some parts, although at the same time he deserved what he got.
I don't think I liked the hero very much (probably because of his actions toward the heroine), and the fact that they spend a good amount of time apart.
So I give this a higher rating because it was a very interesting historical book. The romance wasn't the highlight in this one.
October 20, 2021
Love it! Absolutely loved it! An incredibly descriptive and aggressive book that kept me engaged from start to finish. That, to me, is what most modern historical romance books are missing… everyone too worried about offending or upsetting the readers. Screw that! This book held more passion and excitement than 90% of the books I have recently read. There was rape, murder, obsession, and HISTORY. Research and time spent getting it right. Highly recommend for bodice ripping lovers….BTW, this literally has bodice ripping…fantastic!
February 13, 2013
Absorbing 18th Century Bodice Ripper with an Irish Hero and Pirates!
It is 1769 and the former French colony of New Orleans is seething with unrest and violence after the Spanish take over. Proud 19-year-old Felicite LaFargue, like her French compatriots, will do anything to defeat the foreigner’ rule. However, soon after the Spanish arrive with their force led by an Irish captain and his lieutenant, Felicite’s adoptive brother and her beloved merchant father are arrested for plotting insurrection. She must save them, even if it means offering her company to the arrogant mercenary Lt. Colonel Morgan McCormack in exchange for leniency in her father’s case.
At first, all the handsome Irish mercenary asks is her company in public to demonstrate the Spanish are willing to make friends with the local women, though even that opens the young unmarried girl to criticism and harsh rumor. But then her adoptive brother Valcour Murat (a real cad) escapes and attempts to kill McCormack. McCormack, convinced Felicite was a part of the plot, takes his revenge and rapes her. When he realizes he’s raped a virgin, he offers marriage (but who would want to marry their rapist?). She refuses. From that moment on, she becomes his willing mistress because she feels she has little choice (in her mind, “Resistance now was futile, since her purity was forever gone…”)—and to save her father. But one night, when all hope for her father is gone, she disguises herself as a lad and flees with her adoptive brother on a ship called the Raven--bound, she believes, for her homeland in France. Unbeknownst to her, it’s a pirate ship bound, not for France, but for the pirate haven of Las Tortugas Island.
This is a classic bodice ripper and very well written with lots of intrigue, action and history. I loved it. Blake seamlessly weaves into the romance the facts of the Spanish rule in New Orleans and the pirate culture that existed in the Caribbean. Her writing reflects a deep knowledge of ships, sea battles and sword fighting (the latter which kept me biting my nails). Her characters are vivid and I promise you will not want to put this one down. If you like alpha male heroes who must suffer for their misdeeds to win the love of a heroine who is noble but misjudged (and I do), this one is for you! I recommend it.
This novel is a part of a 3-novel boxed set, Louisiana History Collection, Part 1.
It is 1769 and the former French colony of New Orleans is seething with unrest and violence after the Spanish take over. Proud 19-year-old Felicite LaFargue, like her French compatriots, will do anything to defeat the foreigner’ rule. However, soon after the Spanish arrive with their force led by an Irish captain and his lieutenant, Felicite’s adoptive brother and her beloved merchant father are arrested for plotting insurrection. She must save them, even if it means offering her company to the arrogant mercenary Lt. Colonel Morgan McCormack in exchange for leniency in her father’s case.
At first, all the handsome Irish mercenary asks is her company in public to demonstrate the Spanish are willing to make friends with the local women, though even that opens the young unmarried girl to criticism and harsh rumor. But then her adoptive brother Valcour Murat (a real cad) escapes and attempts to kill McCormack. McCormack, convinced Felicite was a part of the plot, takes his revenge and rapes her. When he realizes he’s raped a virgin, he offers marriage (but who would want to marry their rapist?). She refuses. From that moment on, she becomes his willing mistress because she feels she has little choice (in her mind, “Resistance now was futile, since her purity was forever gone…”)—and to save her father. But one night, when all hope for her father is gone, she disguises herself as a lad and flees with her adoptive brother on a ship called the Raven--bound, she believes, for her homeland in France. Unbeknownst to her, it’s a pirate ship bound, not for France, but for the pirate haven of Las Tortugas Island.
This is a classic bodice ripper and very well written with lots of intrigue, action and history. I loved it. Blake seamlessly weaves into the romance the facts of the Spanish rule in New Orleans and the pirate culture that existed in the Caribbean. Her writing reflects a deep knowledge of ships, sea battles and sword fighting (the latter which kept me biting my nails). Her characters are vivid and I promise you will not want to put this one down. If you like alpha male heroes who must suffer for their misdeeds to win the love of a heroine who is noble but misjudged (and I do), this one is for you! I recommend it.
This novel is a part of a 3-novel boxed set, Louisiana History Collection, Part 1.
July 1, 2012
I waged an internal battle with myself last night on how to properly rate this book. I rated it, finally, with a decided 4-star after much debate. I suppose, if I cannot articulately wrap my head around the reasons I disliked it at all, then it's probably a tiny pet-peeve that won't matter overall. Blake had the capacity of fleshing out the most taboo subjects, and glossing it over to appear almost acceptable. Any author who can shine a beautiful light on a dark matter, maintaining a certain grace and dignity, has my undying admiration.
Needless to say, Jennifer Blake's historical accuracy, writing eloquence and style were impeccable. At times, the descriptions of the attire in that time period, were bogging down the story a tidbit, but I shrugged it off as poetic license. She's definitely one of the best historical fiction writers I've stumbled across, but I do think the plotline suffered a tidbit. I know it picked up mid-way through the book, but I was tad-bit let down by the mediocre plot overall.
Needless to say, Jennifer Blake's historical accuracy, writing eloquence and style were impeccable. At times, the descriptions of the attire in that time period, were bogging down the story a tidbit, but I shrugged it off as poetic license. She's definitely one of the best historical fiction writers I've stumbled across, but I do think the plotline suffered a tidbit. I know it picked up mid-way through the book, but I was tad-bit let down by the mediocre plot overall.
July 20, 2015
ok writing but really boring plots. I have trouble putting the hero's personality and behaviors together. the heroine is boring.
February 8, 2019
Embrace and Conquer by Jennifer Blake is an entertaining read. As a reader slowly wading into the pirate genre, this is a good story to try out if you're still finding your sea legs.
Blake has a lovely writing style, and it shows from the historical tableaus she sketches to the consistently great banter between Morgan and Felicite. Blake has excellent control over each scene and character, and it's such a pleasure to read right from the beginning when Felicite argues with her adopted stepbrother, Valcour, the wisdom of dumping a full chamberpot on the Spanish troops passing by.
I particularly enjoyed Morgan as a hero. He is a very interesting breed of BD hero, as other GoodReads reviewers have noted. He has an obligatory forced experience with the heroine but then reverts to this 90s HR hero afterwards. He's all about consent, as much as he can while still putting up a pretence of being her lover in order to offer her protection against the other pirates that might get ideas. He keenly feels the error of his ways and apologizes for his actions. However, his actions, like hers, are confusing and open to interpretation so it is not surprising Felicite would ask him if he planned to take her to jail.
Valcour, Felicite's adopted brother, is an extremely engaging villain. It would have been interesting to have Valcour beautiful instead of consistently described as "pockmarked." Perhaps it would have added a bit more spice to the pot. Regardless, the showdown between him and Morgan is one of the best fights I have seen between hero and villain/misguided and unreturned love interest. Even though we know Morgan will triumph, Valcour had proven himself a villain not to underestimate, so Blake was able to create that sense of excitement for the reader. To be fair, all the sword fights were pretty epic. Felicite and Valcour, and Felicite and Isabella! Amazing.
I also learned a lot more about ships than I expected to learn in Part Two. Also, there needs to be justice for Ashanti. That was completely uncalled for.
Blake has a lovely writing style, and it shows from the historical tableaus she sketches to the consistently great banter between Morgan and Felicite. Blake has excellent control over each scene and character, and it's such a pleasure to read right from the beginning when Felicite argues with her adopted stepbrother, Valcour, the wisdom of dumping a full chamberpot on the Spanish troops passing by.
I particularly enjoyed Morgan as a hero. He is a very interesting breed of BD hero, as other GoodReads reviewers have noted. He has an obligatory forced experience with the heroine but then reverts to this 90s HR hero afterwards. He's all about consent, as much as he can while still putting up a pretence of being her lover in order to offer her protection against the other pirates that might get ideas. He keenly feels the error of his ways and apologizes for his actions. However, his actions, like hers, are confusing and open to interpretation so it is not surprising Felicite would ask him if he planned to take her to jail.
Valcour, Felicite's adopted brother, is an extremely engaging villain. It would have been interesting to have Valcour beautiful instead of consistently described as "pockmarked." Perhaps it would have added a bit more spice to the pot. Regardless, the showdown between him and Morgan is one of the best fights I have seen between hero and villain/misguided and unreturned love interest. Even though we know Morgan will triumph, Valcour had proven himself a villain not to underestimate, so Blake was able to create that sense of excitement for the reader. To be fair, all the sword fights were pretty epic. Felicite and Valcour, and Felicite and Isabella! Amazing.
I also learned a lot more about ships than I expected to learn in Part Two. Also, there needs to be justice for Ashanti. That was completely uncalled for.
September 25, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is set in New Orleans while New Orleans was a French Colony in the late 18th century. Jennifer Blake, as always injects this story with a healthy dose of history and intrigue.
Felicite, the heroine, is a somewhat spoiled merchant's daughter. She has a creeper brother (he was adopted as a teen) and an imprisoned father. In comes Colonel Morgan McCormack. Oh is he delicous. He's an Irish mercenary (working for the french) badass. He sets his sites on the beautiful Felicite and relentlessly courts her and seeks her out. She despises him because he is on France's side, and she is a colonist. Using her Father's imprisonment as blackmail, Morgan convinces Felicite to be seen in public with him, thus turning her colonist friends against her.
Mayhem ensues. Her turd brother sticks his nose where it doesn't belong. Morgan rapes Felicite out of anger over a what he thinks is a plan she was involved in to kill him. She then becomes his willing mistress.
Somewhere along the line pirates vecome involved. Morgan being one of them. 'Nuff said.
Anyway, I don't have the time or patience to list everything I liked about the book, but trust me, it was fantastic! It's everything a bodice ripper should be. If you don't care for a lot of history in your romances, this might be tough for you to get through...but well worth the effort!
Felicite, the heroine, is a somewhat spoiled merchant's daughter. She has a creeper brother (he was adopted as a teen) and an imprisoned father. In comes Colonel Morgan McCormack. Oh is he delicous. He's an Irish mercenary (working for the french) badass. He sets his sites on the beautiful Felicite and relentlessly courts her and seeks her out. She despises him because he is on France's side, and she is a colonist. Using her Father's imprisonment as blackmail, Morgan convinces Felicite to be seen in public with him, thus turning her colonist friends against her.
Mayhem ensues. Her turd brother sticks his nose where it doesn't belong. Morgan rapes Felicite out of anger over a what he thinks is a plan she was involved in to kill him. She then becomes his willing mistress.
Somewhere along the line pirates vecome involved. Morgan being one of them. 'Nuff said.
Anyway, I don't have the time or patience to list everything I liked about the book, but trust me, it was fantastic! It's everything a bodice ripper should be. If you don't care for a lot of history in your romances, this might be tough for you to get through...but well worth the effort!
April 8, 2024
I like bodice reapers when H was not a cheater.
September 30, 2018
Exciting romance!
Before reading this book I read the posted reviews. I read the aversion and disgusted outrage spewed by several regarding the rape. How short -sighted they are in my opinion.
Yes, there is a rape scene, and, yes, it is an integral part of of this amazing plot. Not all romance novels must fit in the box without going outside the lines of rigid rules of sexual conduct. How boring reading would be if all plots were regulated and held within stringent standards of our own personal moral codes.
I'm not saying I condone rape, either! But rape occurs every day. And in this case we are reading a "historical fiction" book where the actions and morals of the time were much different. Men were macho and women were basic objects, chattel, property, second-class citizens to be pampered, used as barter and collateral, forced into marriages of convenience by their own loving fathers and slaves to a male-run world. So we cannot expect our puritanical viewpoint to close our minds and limit our knowledge. So I say "poo" on all those who chose to write their limited and narrow-minded reviews without reading the entire book.
It's a very good book, rich in history, romance and adventure. The writing is very good as is the plot. The actions of the characters are believable given the historic timeframe and the romance sizzles.
I wholeheartedly recommend to readers of historic fiction. Great book!
Before reading this book I read the posted reviews. I read the aversion and disgusted outrage spewed by several regarding the rape. How short -sighted they are in my opinion.
Yes, there is a rape scene, and, yes, it is an integral part of of this amazing plot. Not all romance novels must fit in the box without going outside the lines of rigid rules of sexual conduct. How boring reading would be if all plots were regulated and held within stringent standards of our own personal moral codes.
I'm not saying I condone rape, either! But rape occurs every day. And in this case we are reading a "historical fiction" book where the actions and morals of the time were much different. Men were macho and women were basic objects, chattel, property, second-class citizens to be pampered, used as barter and collateral, forced into marriages of convenience by their own loving fathers and slaves to a male-run world. So we cannot expect our puritanical viewpoint to close our minds and limit our knowledge. So I say "poo" on all those who chose to write their limited and narrow-minded reviews without reading the entire book.
It's a very good book, rich in history, romance and adventure. The writing is very good as is the plot. The actions of the characters are believable given the historic timeframe and the romance sizzles.
I wholeheartedly recommend to readers of historic fiction. Great book!
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did-not-finish
February 7, 2019This is fantastic historical fiction, but the romance isn't working for me - I just can't feel any chemistry between the characters.
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July 23, 2023
Това е “перлата” на баба Дженифър. Испанска колонизация на френска Луизиана, осъдени на смърт политически активисти, наемници, пирати и райски остров - как да не се отнесе човек. И доста трезвомислещи герой и героиня, драмата не е безпочвена. И смелостта да наричаш нещата с истинските им имена, без писклив днешноамерикански фалш.
October 7, 2013
loved it ! think i'm actually a fan of bodice rippers though i condone rape n in this one ders no doubt it was rape the 1st time. felicite did not see it coming n he was rough.. so when he thought she was not a virgin, it was ok 2 rape her. but when he discovered she is a virgin, he proposes marriage. but then dats how society was back then. it's not really the bodice ripper which i like but the kind of hero in these books. they r besotted n so possessive. in this one, morgan was dat n more.he was ready 2 go 2 any length 4her. he pursued her in the seas, he fought valcour at his own risk even saved her from drowning n lost control of his ship 4 her. yes dats how besotted he was. he did save her father but valcour was even more devious than we imagined !! wonderful book:-) dunt miss it
November 8, 2016
While this is an engaging and well written book, I cannot help but wish that the author had given more importance to the hero. I would have loved to read more about him, about how he thought and what he felt for Felicity. Huff.
September 18, 2022
This was a sweeping story, with all sorts of locations, alliances, and secrets. Our main couple start out as enemies, but they have an attraction. The good guys don’t prevail, and the bad guys, disguised as good guys, cause issues. In the middle of it all, our couple become intimate and grow closer, but of course, they have to hide it. Part two gives us adventure on the high seas and all the problems with being a woman on a ship entails. More subterfuge, more secrets, more confrontations. The adventure doesn’t slow down, and even when it all seems lost, it twists again. Finally, our couple can be honest, truthful, and profess their love for each other, and build their lives together <3
February 9, 2018
The only thing that could have made this book better would have been dual pov.
December 31, 2024
During the Spanish takeover of New Orleans, Félicité is a socialite whose world is turned upside down. What sets off the events? The dumping of a chamber pot. Soon after covering for her adoptive brother for this derisive action, her father is imprisoned, her brother steals the family’s cache of gold and flees, and she tangoes with Colonel Morgan McCormack.
Everything Félicité does is for her father who has been imprisoned during the transfer of power from France to Spain.
Félicité’s adoptive brother, Valcour, is set up to be the villain, and snakes in and out of the story. When he appears, he very is much like the serpent making offers and promises to Eve. Unfortunately, our leading lady trusts him because they are family. Only once she’s boarded a pirate ship under false pretenses does she realize Valcour’s true colors and just how powerless she’s allowed herself to be.
The heroine, Félicité is a bit of a blank slate character. Let me explain: she has no hard lines of morality or ideas about the world. Much of what goes on happens to her and around her. She doesn’t have much agency. This (and being ridiculously pretty) makes her easy prey for the men in her life.
Félicité’s arc is definitely one of finding her strength and power and not shying away from understanding.
The hero, Morgan McCormack, is a man who abides by his own measure of right and wrong. He doesn’t deny he has done some bad things. McCormack has a full arc going from duty-focused and hard-hearted to risking it all for the woman he loves.
Embrace and Conquer is a of study in power imbalance. However, power is about influence, and what is more influential than love?
A note: This book falls into the bodice ripper category, so, if that’s not your thing, it’s one to avoid.
Everything Félicité does is for her father who has been imprisoned during the transfer of power from France to Spain.
Félicité’s adoptive brother, Valcour, is set up to be the villain, and snakes in and out of the story. When he appears, he very is much like the serpent making offers and promises to Eve. Unfortunately, our leading lady trusts him because they are family. Only once she’s boarded a pirate ship under false pretenses does she realize Valcour’s true colors and just how powerless she’s allowed herself to be.
The heroine, Félicité is a bit of a blank slate character. Let me explain: she has no hard lines of morality or ideas about the world. Much of what goes on happens to her and around her. She doesn’t have much agency. This (and being ridiculously pretty) makes her easy prey for the men in her life.
Félicité’s arc is definitely one of finding her strength and power and not shying away from understanding.
The hero, Morgan McCormack, is a man who abides by his own measure of right and wrong. He doesn’t deny he has done some bad things. McCormack has a full arc going from duty-focused and hard-hearted to risking it all for the woman he loves.
Embrace and Conquer is a of study in power imbalance. However, power is about influence, and what is more influential than love?
A note: This book falls into the bodice ripper category, so, if that’s not your thing, it’s one to avoid.
August 12, 2017
I usually love anything to do with pirates but this book was hard to finish. The heroine is kinda hard to like for me because she seems to have a lot of character flaws and I felt like she was just floating through the story. So also jsut gave into the 'hero' the 2nd time he approached her and that was a disapointment. I didn't like the narration at times and definitely didn't feel connected to any characters.
There are plot issues that bother me greatly, like some others mentioned, Ashanti was an amazing character and she was gone in about 3 paragraphs and as far as we know Félicité didn't even shed a tear. Then when the hero is whipped and beat up and they are warming to eachother she still makes him painfully climb up to the top bunk. Little stuff like that I jsut can't handle. Some of her thought processes were missing and that's what makes it seem more like I was was jsut being told what happened and not actually feeling into the book. The story also jumps a few times with no warning, leaving out scenes that I thought were important. There's not enough dialogue between Morgan and Félicité.
The accents on her name also bothered me everytime I read it because it really doesn't flow but that is more of a personal thing so I read it as Felicite with no accent.
I won't be running to another Jennifer Blake anytime soon...
There are plot issues that bother me greatly, like some others mentioned, Ashanti was an amazing character and she was gone in about 3 paragraphs and as far as we know Félicité didn't even shed a tear. Then when the hero is whipped and beat up and they are warming to eachother she still makes him painfully climb up to the top bunk. Little stuff like that I jsut can't handle. Some of her thought processes were missing and that's what makes it seem more like I was was jsut being told what happened and not actually feeling into the book. The story also jumps a few times with no warning, leaving out scenes that I thought were important. There's not enough dialogue between Morgan and Félicité.
The accents on her name also bothered me everytime I read it because it really doesn't flow but that is more of a personal thing so I read it as Felicite with no accent.
I won't be running to another Jennifer Blake anytime soon...
January 19, 2014
*SPOILER* Honestly, I was dumbfounded when I found out right smack dab in the first 1/4th of this book, the handsome, dashing hero, Irish Colonel, Morgan McCormack, raped the lovely virgin, Felicite, and then proceeded to keep her as his kinda "love slave" because she thought he could help her get her father out of prison. No, she didn't have to keep complying but she had nobody to turn to in her efforts to help her father.
Yes, Morgan seemed to be regretful of his actions but not enough to quit taking advantage of Felicite while he lived in her house, knowing she was being shunned by her neighbors and former friends. I did finish the book and some parts of the book were enjoyable, especially the latter part of the book. However, I was so disgusted and upset by the rape, I could never get past it. Apparently this book was first published in August 1983. I highly recommend that Jennifer Blake make some changes to this book - otherwise, I expect it will get some very bad reviews. I give it a low ONE STAR RATING due to the rape, even though technically it was very well-written.
Yes, Morgan seemed to be regretful of his actions but not enough to quit taking advantage of Felicite while he lived in her house, knowing she was being shunned by her neighbors and former friends. I did finish the book and some parts of the book were enjoyable, especially the latter part of the book. However, I was so disgusted and upset by the rape, I could never get past it. Apparently this book was first published in August 1983. I highly recommend that Jennifer Blake make some changes to this book - otherwise, I expect it will get some very bad reviews. I give it a low ONE STAR RATING due to the rape, even though technically it was very well-written.
February 19, 2025
Oh boy, one my all time favourites. I loved Morgan, he was so sexy. I have read this about three times in the last two years and the story is no less good than it was the first time I read it. Classic Jennifer Blake. Loved it.
July 8, 2021
My favorite and IMO best book by Jennifer Blake.
May 7, 2018
Packing it in at 54%. When I'm at this point and still have no real liking for either the H/h, I'll cut my losses and move on to another book. Warning: somewhat early in this book is a rape.
February 14, 2022
France has just relinquished the city of New Orleans to the Spanish Empire and now Felicite Marie Isabel Catherine Lafarque's father has been wrongfully arrested for treason. Desperate and without resources to rescue her father, Felicite becomes the mistress of Colonel Morgan McCormack in hopes of using the Irishman's influence in the new government.
This is an old skool historical romance with Morgan being a typical rapey hero so I wasn't expecting much out of him. It was Felicite who let me down. She just didn't really do anything. Any time Felicite faces a crisis, it is usually someone else who has to bail her out. There is talk of the past when she did more daring-do but alas those days are long gone. It also doesn't help that Felicite is constantly shown up by her maid, Ashanti; a woman who gets things done. (You were a better character, Ashanti.) It's not until way into the third act that Felicite decides she needs to stop depending on other people and start saving herself. At almost the very end she does get to have a sword fight with another woman. This is the epitome of too little, too late. And then the ending, well, ends. A rather flat conclusion to a pirate adventure.
This is an old skool historical romance with Morgan being a typical rapey hero so I wasn't expecting much out of him. It was Felicite who let me down. She just didn't really do anything. Any time Felicite faces a crisis, it is usually someone else who has to bail her out. There is talk of the past when she did more daring-do but alas those days are long gone. It also doesn't help that Felicite is constantly shown up by her maid, Ashanti; a woman who gets things done. (You were a better character, Ashanti.) It's not until way into the third act that Felicite decides she needs to stop depending on other people and start saving herself. At almost the very end she does get to have a sword fight with another woman. This is the epitome of too little, too late. And then the ending, well, ends. A rather flat conclusion to a pirate adventure.
May 27, 2022
I have very mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it’s got a lot in common with Notorious Angel, which is one of my favourite Blake books. Also pirates! And Lady Duels! And a relationship between female characters that isn’t antagonistic! And history!
But something just didn’t quite work for me? Unlike Notorious’s Eleanora, Félicité is an extremely passive heroine. Not in the sense that she’s spineless, but all of the action in the book happens to her, while she is merely buffeted along by the current of history and men who are obsessed with her. And despite her spunky personality, she’s extremely complacent; when Ashanti, with whom, we have been told, Félicité is ‘closer than sisters,’ is brutally raped and murdered she’s shocked for half a page and then Ashanti is never mentioned again. Likewise when Morgan moves in with her; initially she’s all ‘this is a great opportunity to make his life miserable’ and then nothing happens. She just spends the first half of the book whining about the Spanish.
But something just didn’t quite work for me? Unlike Notorious’s Eleanora, Félicité is an extremely passive heroine. Not in the sense that she’s spineless, but all of the action in the book happens to her, while she is merely buffeted along by the current of history and men who are obsessed with her. And despite her spunky personality, she’s extremely complacent; when Ashanti, with whom, we have been told, Félicité is ‘closer than sisters,’ is brutally raped and murdered she’s shocked for half a page and then Ashanti is never mentioned again. Likewise when Morgan moves in with her; initially she’s all ‘this is a great opportunity to make his life miserable’ and then nothing happens. She just spends the first half of the book whining about the Spanish.
March 16, 2019
Trigger warning - "hero" rapes heroine.
I don't like leaving bad reviews because authors put so much time and hard work into their books. But I couldn't get behind this one.
Author included a lot of interesting historical information and plenty of detail (pro or con depending on the reader). On one hand, the author did demonstrate how difficult it could be for anyone to survive and thrive during the time, especially a woman. I often felt utterly helpless for the heroine, who is thrust into worse and worse circumstances by the men around her. So at times I thought the book had potential to really bring a dialogue about important but difficult topics...but then it felt totally thrown away when the heroine falls for a guy who rapes her and forces/tricks his way into staying with her. I feel a big rant coming on, so I'll leave it at that.
I don't like leaving bad reviews because authors put so much time and hard work into their books. But I couldn't get behind this one.
Author included a lot of interesting historical information and plenty of detail (pro or con depending on the reader). On one hand, the author did demonstrate how difficult it could be for anyone to survive and thrive during the time, especially a woman. I often felt utterly helpless for the heroine, who is thrust into worse and worse circumstances by the men around her. So at times I thought the book had potential to really bring a dialogue about important but difficult topics...but then it felt totally thrown away when the heroine falls for a guy who rapes her and forces/tricks his way into staying with her. I feel a big rant coming on, so I'll leave it at that.
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