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Golden Ecstasy
ANDREA WAS TOO INNOCENT
...to know that she felt intense desire for the rakehell Gil Barlow. The stunning beauty was furious that he had seen her tumble from her horse. But nothing could match her rage when he thoroughly kissed her full trembling lips and intimately caressed her lush ripe curves. Then suddenly the untouched young lovely was awash in a deluge of sensations that urged her into his arms and filled her with a yearning that could be satisfied only one way!
GIL WAS TOO WORLDLY
...to get entangled with an inexperienced female like ravishing Andrea Treherne. That she was his enemy's family was all the more reason to pass her on the deserted bridlepath and never look back. But her sparkling topaz eyes begged him to teach her all he knew. Her soft creamy flesh implored him to turn the blushing maiden into a passionate woman. And once he savored Andrea's alluring red lips he was addicted to the rapture she gave him, forever enslaved to their precious GOLDEN ECSTASY
...to know that she felt intense desire for the rakehell Gil Barlow. The stunning beauty was furious that he had seen her tumble from her horse. But nothing could match her rage when he thoroughly kissed her full trembling lips and intimately caressed her lush ripe curves. Then suddenly the untouched young lovely was awash in a deluge of sensations that urged her into his arms and filled her with a yearning that could be satisfied only one way!
GIL WAS TOO WORLDLY
...to get entangled with an inexperienced female like ravishing Andrea Treherne. That she was his enemy's family was all the more reason to pass her on the deserted bridlepath and never look back. But her sparkling topaz eyes begged him to teach her all he knew. Her soft creamy flesh implored him to turn the blushing maiden into a passionate woman. And once he savored Andrea's alluring red lips he was addicted to the rapture she gave him, forever enslaved to their precious GOLDEN ECSTASY
461 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1985
15 people want to read
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July 28, 2016
A 3 star Wanda Owen Book.
Please note: this review contains spoilers. If you do not wish to know what goes on, do not read any further.
“Golden Ecstasy” by Wanda Owen is the sequel to her “Golden Gypsy” book. In this book, the son of the hero and heroine of the previous book finds love.
The Story: As is the case with Wanda Owen’s books, “Golden Ecstasy” takes place in parts.
Part 1: A Girl with Topaz Eyes.
“Golden Ecstasy” begins with an introduction to the hero of the book, Gilbert “Gil” Barlow. Gil is the son of Dominique Randell Barlow and Jared Barlow from the prequel to this book, “Golden Gypsy.” Unlike his father, who previously owned a gaming house/house of ill repute and is now a gentleman planter, Gil much prefers the sea rather than the soil under his feet. One day, while out riding, Gil meets the heroine of the book, Andrea Treherne. Andrea is originally from England, and has been brought to Natchez, Mississippi, by her cousin, Jules Montague, who is also her guardian; Andrea is 17. Jules is the nephew of Julian Fontaine. That name is significant in these two books. In “Golden Gypsy”, Julian was chasing Dominique for his bride. He shot and tried to kill Jared. Jared, in turn, shot and killed Julian. No one has been held responsible for Julian’s death, which enrages Jules. He wants two things. 1. To punish the Barlow family for his uncle’s death, and 2. To marry and deflower his beautiful cousin, Andrea. At least part of the second becomes a moot point as Gil and Andrea become lovers. Jules schemes to force Andrea into a marriage, drugging and imprisoning her. With the help of her maid, Marta, Andrea escapes.
Andrea and Marta gain passage on a boat, the Pretty Polly, intending to go to New Orleans. However, fatigue and unawareness find them passing The Big Easy and landing in Charleston, South Carolina! However, the captain of the ship, Kirk Payne, agrees to help the women by finding them a home and employment with his Uncle Hannibal at his home and bookstore. Kirk is doing this both because he is a Good Samaritan and because he is in love with Andrea.
Meanwhile, Gil is unaware of what is going on with Andrea. He is about to receive a seduction attempt, not by Andrea, but by his best friend Jeff Cartwright’s sister, Suzanne. Gil refuse’s Suzanne’s offer, because he’s in love with Andrea. Suzanne is not heard from after this.
Part 2: Turbulent Tempest of Passion.
Andrea and Marta are settling into their new lives in Charleston. However, things are about to take a turn for the worse for Andrea, as Jules has found her and tries to kidnap her. Andrea escapes, to be rescued by Gil. Gil takes Andrea aboard his boat the “Golden Gypsy” and takes her to England. Gil has business to address in England. That business: trying to stop Peers of the Realm in England from engaging in war profiteering-the U.S. is about to become embroiled in the Civil War-and finding out the truth about Andrea’s background, as she has told Gil that Jules has forced her to marry him. Gil doesn’t tell Andrea about either of these things, however, when he leaves her with an old family friend, Lady Alice Winslow.
While Gil goes about solving the mystery that is Andrea, part of his work involves sidling up to other women, as Andrea and Lady Alice find him squiring another woman around. That is bad enough, but, once again, Jules catches up to Andrea and tries yet again to kidnap her. Gil assaults him brutally, but the bad news is that Jules has put out a warrant for Gil’s arrest, and he has friends in high places in England.
Part 3: Deceptions of the Heart.
With the help of London barristers and investigators, Gil finds out many things about Andrea’s life:
1. Her “marriage” to Jules Fontaine isn’t legal in any way, shape or form.
2. Jules isn’t her guardian.
3. The people Andrea believes to be her parents, Edmund and Elizabeth Fontaine, are not her biological parents.
4. Her real parents are a gypsy couple named Guido Lorenz and Marta, yes, the same Marta who is Andrea’s maid.
5. Edmund “bought” Andrea from her parents, ostensibly to keep Elizabeth from a potential affair with Jeffrey Treherne. It didn’t help, as Elizabeth later married Treherne. The reasoning isn’t gone into in any detail.
6. Jeffrey Treherne, Andrea’s stepfather, is a piece of human garbage. This also, isn’t gone into in enough detail.
7. Andrea has a cousin she will meet later named Valentina, who has fallen in love with Jeff Cartwright.
Unfortunately, while Gil is doing this, Andrea has been kidnapped by two goons working for Jules, who is also blackmailing his wife, Jane, to be an unwilling accomplice to his criminal acts.
Part 4: The Heart’s Desire.
While Jeff and Valentina are falling deeper in love and making plans to marry, Gil is searching for Andrea, who is being held in a mansion in the countryside of England. Assisting Jules in his nefarious efforts is Jeffrey Treherne, Jules’ long-standing co-conspirator (although the true nature of their efforts together isn’t completely stated.) When Jeffrey realizes that Jules will kill him just as soon as his plans are complete, Jeffrey strikes first, killing Jules and then trying to rape Andrea before Gil finally arrives and shoots Jeffrey. Jeffrey is later heard yelling, although he isn’t seen, and what happens to him is not revealed, which is both disappointing and stupid. It would have been nice to see him get his comeuppance as well, but that is typical Wanda Owen for you.
Finally, the truth about Andrea’s identity is revealed. She finds out that she is not actually Andrea Treherne, but is in actually Gina Lorenz, and Marta is her mother. Gina and Gil get married, find out that Gina is to have a baby and have their happily ever after.
This book has some good parts. I liked both Andrea and Gil. However, Andrea is also put too often into perilous situations that Gil has to get her out of. I found the book ending to be both slow and disappointing. The fact that Jeffrey Treherne was neither shown to be dead or alive is a big problem for me, but that, sadly, is one of the things I dislike about Wanda Owen’s books, the lack of finishing some storylines. There are also too many instances of lack of background to characters. The book also petered out of energy toward the end, although it was nice to see both Gil and Gina and Jeff and Valentina marry, it was still not all that interesting to me. However, overall, it’s a pretty decent book.
Sex: As usual, Wanda Owen is more focused on the feelings of sex rather than the mechanics. Sex scenes: lukewarm.
Violence: As mentioned above, several assaults, and a killing. These are not described in overly graphic detail.
Bottom Line: A book for Wanda Owen’s fans only. If you’re not already a fan, I doubt you’ll become one after this book.
Please note: this review contains spoilers. If you do not wish to know what goes on, do not read any further.
“Golden Ecstasy” by Wanda Owen is the sequel to her “Golden Gypsy” book. In this book, the son of the hero and heroine of the previous book finds love.
The Story: As is the case with Wanda Owen’s books, “Golden Ecstasy” takes place in parts.
Part 1: A Girl with Topaz Eyes.
“Golden Ecstasy” begins with an introduction to the hero of the book, Gilbert “Gil” Barlow. Gil is the son of Dominique Randell Barlow and Jared Barlow from the prequel to this book, “Golden Gypsy.” Unlike his father, who previously owned a gaming house/house of ill repute and is now a gentleman planter, Gil much prefers the sea rather than the soil under his feet. One day, while out riding, Gil meets the heroine of the book, Andrea Treherne. Andrea is originally from England, and has been brought to Natchez, Mississippi, by her cousin, Jules Montague, who is also her guardian; Andrea is 17. Jules is the nephew of Julian Fontaine. That name is significant in these two books. In “Golden Gypsy”, Julian was chasing Dominique for his bride. He shot and tried to kill Jared. Jared, in turn, shot and killed Julian. No one has been held responsible for Julian’s death, which enrages Jules. He wants two things. 1. To punish the Barlow family for his uncle’s death, and 2. To marry and deflower his beautiful cousin, Andrea. At least part of the second becomes a moot point as Gil and Andrea become lovers. Jules schemes to force Andrea into a marriage, drugging and imprisoning her. With the help of her maid, Marta, Andrea escapes.
Andrea and Marta gain passage on a boat, the Pretty Polly, intending to go to New Orleans. However, fatigue and unawareness find them passing The Big Easy and landing in Charleston, South Carolina! However, the captain of the ship, Kirk Payne, agrees to help the women by finding them a home and employment with his Uncle Hannibal at his home and bookstore. Kirk is doing this both because he is a Good Samaritan and because he is in love with Andrea.
Meanwhile, Gil is unaware of what is going on with Andrea. He is about to receive a seduction attempt, not by Andrea, but by his best friend Jeff Cartwright’s sister, Suzanne. Gil refuse’s Suzanne’s offer, because he’s in love with Andrea. Suzanne is not heard from after this.
Part 2: Turbulent Tempest of Passion.
Andrea and Marta are settling into their new lives in Charleston. However, things are about to take a turn for the worse for Andrea, as Jules has found her and tries to kidnap her. Andrea escapes, to be rescued by Gil. Gil takes Andrea aboard his boat the “Golden Gypsy” and takes her to England. Gil has business to address in England. That business: trying to stop Peers of the Realm in England from engaging in war profiteering-the U.S. is about to become embroiled in the Civil War-and finding out the truth about Andrea’s background, as she has told Gil that Jules has forced her to marry him. Gil doesn’t tell Andrea about either of these things, however, when he leaves her with an old family friend, Lady Alice Winslow.
While Gil goes about solving the mystery that is Andrea, part of his work involves sidling up to other women, as Andrea and Lady Alice find him squiring another woman around. That is bad enough, but, once again, Jules catches up to Andrea and tries yet again to kidnap her. Gil assaults him brutally, but the bad news is that Jules has put out a warrant for Gil’s arrest, and he has friends in high places in England.
Part 3: Deceptions of the Heart.
With the help of London barristers and investigators, Gil finds out many things about Andrea’s life:
1. Her “marriage” to Jules Fontaine isn’t legal in any way, shape or form.
2. Jules isn’t her guardian.
3. The people Andrea believes to be her parents, Edmund and Elizabeth Fontaine, are not her biological parents.
4. Her real parents are a gypsy couple named Guido Lorenz and Marta, yes, the same Marta who is Andrea’s maid.
5. Edmund “bought” Andrea from her parents, ostensibly to keep Elizabeth from a potential affair with Jeffrey Treherne. It didn’t help, as Elizabeth later married Treherne. The reasoning isn’t gone into in any detail.
6. Jeffrey Treherne, Andrea’s stepfather, is a piece of human garbage. This also, isn’t gone into in enough detail.
7. Andrea has a cousin she will meet later named Valentina, who has fallen in love with Jeff Cartwright.
Unfortunately, while Gil is doing this, Andrea has been kidnapped by two goons working for Jules, who is also blackmailing his wife, Jane, to be an unwilling accomplice to his criminal acts.
Part 4: The Heart’s Desire.
While Jeff and Valentina are falling deeper in love and making plans to marry, Gil is searching for Andrea, who is being held in a mansion in the countryside of England. Assisting Jules in his nefarious efforts is Jeffrey Treherne, Jules’ long-standing co-conspirator (although the true nature of their efforts together isn’t completely stated.) When Jeffrey realizes that Jules will kill him just as soon as his plans are complete, Jeffrey strikes first, killing Jules and then trying to rape Andrea before Gil finally arrives and shoots Jeffrey. Jeffrey is later heard yelling, although he isn’t seen, and what happens to him is not revealed, which is both disappointing and stupid. It would have been nice to see him get his comeuppance as well, but that is typical Wanda Owen for you.
Finally, the truth about Andrea’s identity is revealed. She finds out that she is not actually Andrea Treherne, but is in actually Gina Lorenz, and Marta is her mother. Gina and Gil get married, find out that Gina is to have a baby and have their happily ever after.
This book has some good parts. I liked both Andrea and Gil. However, Andrea is also put too often into perilous situations that Gil has to get her out of. I found the book ending to be both slow and disappointing. The fact that Jeffrey Treherne was neither shown to be dead or alive is a big problem for me, but that, sadly, is one of the things I dislike about Wanda Owen’s books, the lack of finishing some storylines. There are also too many instances of lack of background to characters. The book also petered out of energy toward the end, although it was nice to see both Gil and Gina and Jeff and Valentina marry, it was still not all that interesting to me. However, overall, it’s a pretty decent book.
Sex: As usual, Wanda Owen is more focused on the feelings of sex rather than the mechanics. Sex scenes: lukewarm.
Violence: As mentioned above, several assaults, and a killing. These are not described in overly graphic detail.
Bottom Line: A book for Wanda Owen’s fans only. If you’re not already a fan, I doubt you’ll become one after this book.
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