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Louisiana Plantation Collection #3
Arrow to the Heart
Around two of the most wonderful characters she has ever created, Jennifer Blake spins an utterly passionate story set within a steamy, languorous time and nineteenth-century Louisiana, where a Southern version of the medieval court of love still flourished ....
Arrow To The Heart
Their marriage merged two of Louisiana's most prominent families. But after five years, Katrine remained untouched in body and heart, her husband unable to fulfill his wish to produce an heir. For the sake of that goal, Giles would allow his wife to be bedded by the noble man who won the annual tournament of champions, a medieval contest held on the grounds of Arcadia, his magnificent estate.
The honor fell to Rowan de Blanc, who had his own secret reason for joining the games. Katrine refused to submit to her husband's insane demands, no matter how devastatingly attractive her chosen partner. Succumbing to temptation would mean defeat for them both... until love and desire interfered with their best intentions ....
Arrow To The Heart
Their marriage merged two of Louisiana's most prominent families. But after five years, Katrine remained untouched in body and heart, her husband unable to fulfill his wish to produce an heir. For the sake of that goal, Giles would allow his wife to be bedded by the noble man who won the annual tournament of champions, a medieval contest held on the grounds of Arcadia, his magnificent estate.
The honor fell to Rowan de Blanc, who had his own secret reason for joining the games. Katrine refused to submit to her husband's insane demands, no matter how devastatingly attractive her chosen partner. Succumbing to temptation would mean defeat for them both... until love and desire interfered with their best intentions ....
267 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
44 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Blake
171 books542 followersA pseudonym used by Patricia Maxwell.
Jennifer Blake has been called a “pioneer of the romance genre”, and an “icon of the romance industry.” A New York Times and international best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of the RWA Hall of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Rita. She holds numerous other honors, including two “Maggies”, two Holt Medallions, multiple Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine, and the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence. She has written over 60 books with translations in 20 languages and more than 30 million copies in print worldwide.
Jennifer and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style retreat in North Louisiana where they often entertain family and friends. Always a gardener, she spends much of her time encouraging her garden to bloom with her favorite daylilies and antique roses. She also enjoys walking her two dogs, Buffy and Lucky, and indulging in needlework, painting, and travel.
Jennifer Blake has been called a “pioneer of the romance genre”, and an “icon of the romance industry.” A New York Times and international best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of the RWA Hall of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Rita. She holds numerous other honors, including two “Maggies”, two Holt Medallions, multiple Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine, and the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence. She has written over 60 books with translations in 20 languages and more than 30 million copies in print worldwide.
Jennifer and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style retreat in North Louisiana where they often entertain family and friends. Always a gardener, she spends much of her time encouraging her garden to bloom with her favorite daylilies and antique roses. She also enjoys walking her two dogs, Buffy and Lucky, and indulging in needlework, painting, and travel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 7, 2012
3.5 stars
“There are ways of being certain that a reluctant filly stands still for the stallion’s mount. You might strive to remember that.”
19C Louisiana. Katrine Castlereagh's lot in life is to be wife to a wealthy plantation owner. Problem is, her husband is older and impotent, and what do you do when you want your wife to produce an heir? Why, hold a medieval tournament with the champion getting the very best prize of all - although Katrine's not too fond of the whole idea. Into this muddle comes Rowan de Blanc, who believes Katrine is responsible for his half brother's death, and he aims to make her pay.
This being a romance novel and all you can pretty much guess where the story is going, although Blake does manage to slip a few twists and turns in to keep you guessing until the end. There's a fair bit of sex included, although IMHO Blake is classy enough to keep it from feeling smutty. While this wasn't an OMG best book ever, I did enjoy it and would pick it up again when I'm in the mood for a lighter read.
“There are ways of being certain that a reluctant filly stands still for the stallion’s mount. You might strive to remember that.”
19C Louisiana. Katrine Castlereagh's lot in life is to be wife to a wealthy plantation owner. Problem is, her husband is older and impotent, and what do you do when you want your wife to produce an heir? Why, hold a medieval tournament with the champion getting the very best prize of all - although Katrine's not too fond of the whole idea. Into this muddle comes Rowan de Blanc, who believes Katrine is responsible for his half brother's death, and he aims to make her pay.
This being a romance novel and all you can pretty much guess where the story is going, although Blake does manage to slip a few twists and turns in to keep you guessing until the end. There's a fair bit of sex included, although IMHO Blake is classy enough to keep it from feeling smutty. While this wasn't an OMG best book ever, I did enjoy it and would pick it up again when I'm in the mood for a lighter read.
April 7, 2022
2.5
Un libro que ha pasado sin pena ni gloria por mis manos
Lo mejor es lo ágil que es y lo rápido que se lee, y averiguar el misterio de la muerte del hermano de Rowan
Lo peor es la trama que es muy toxica como esta tratada
Una mujer casada con un hombre muy mayor en Luisiana (no se muy bien en que época, es histórico eso seguro) es persuadida por su marido para que sea el trofeo en una competición que va a celebrar en sus tierras, el ganador ganara tener un hijo con ella por que lo que mas desea su marido es tener descendencia y el esta muy enfermo como para poder contribuir, ella por supuesto hará todo lo que pueda para no participar pero es una ameba y al final hace todo lo que le dicen.
El mejor personajes es Rowan el que ira ganando todas las pruebas y que no esta allí por ella si no por la muerte de su hermano.
Un libro que ha pasado sin pena ni gloria por mis manos
Lo mejor es lo ágil que es y lo rápido que se lee, y averiguar el misterio de la muerte del hermano de Rowan
Lo peor es la trama que es muy toxica como esta tratada
Una mujer casada con un hombre muy mayor en Luisiana (no se muy bien en que época, es histórico eso seguro) es persuadida por su marido para que sea el trofeo en una competición que va a celebrar en sus tierras, el ganador ganara tener un hijo con ella por que lo que mas desea su marido es tener descendencia y el esta muy enfermo como para poder contribuir, ella por supuesto hará todo lo que pueda para no participar pero es una ameba y al final hace todo lo que le dicen.
El mejor personajes es Rowan el que ira ganando todas las pruebas y que no esta allí por ella si no por la muerte de su hermano.
October 4, 2016
No ha estado mal, pero tampoco me ha encantado. Y la calificación sigue bailando entre 2,5 y 3 estrellas.
La trama es original, no lo niego. Mi problema con este libro es que al haber leído uno hace relativamente poco con una temática no igual pero muy parecida, no me ha enganchado tanto.
Katrin es una joven que lleva cinco años casada con Giles, mucho mayor que ella y cuyos deberes de alcoba no ha podido llevar a cabo en ningún momento. (Más adelante del libro nos explican por qué) Decidido a tener un heredero a como de lugar, elige un torneo medieval que organiza todos los años para una serie de invitados, como el lugar perfecto para buscar al afortunado "semental" que elegirá para ser el amante de su mujer hasta que ésta quede encinta. Ella, debido a sus principio y su moral se niega a pesar de que el ganador, Rowen, despierta en ella diferentes sentimientos.
Rowen es un caballero que llega a Arcadia, el lugar de residencia de Katrin y Giles movido por su deseo de conocer qué ocurrió con la vida de su hermano Terence en el evento del año pasado, ya que apareció muerto de un disparo en el lago cercano de la propiedad y nunca creyó que fuera un accidente. Por este motivo, se acerca a Katrin y ve en el deseo del marido de esta que él sea el semental, el arreglo perfecto para estar más tiempo con ella y sonsacarla.
Al principio, ellos fingen que están cumpliendo el acuerdo y parece que todo va bien, pero cuando el marido se entera, decir que aborrezco todo lo que hace para conseguir su propósito es poco.
Es un libro en el que la autora nos centra en los motivos egoístas de cada uno para hacer lo que hacen y para mi gusto lo justifica con sentimientos que sí, puede que sean verdad, pero no deja de no tener sentido para mí algunas de las acciones de éstos.
El misterio que envuelve el asesinato de Terence y los que se suceden más adelante, desde el principio tienes más o menos la sospecha y hay algunas actuaciones que quedan inconclusas o que la autora no explica.
Tras esto, no quiero decir que el libro no esté bien ambientado, ni mucho menos ni que no enganche, de echo, he tardado apenas un día en leerlo. (Aunque reconozco que algunas escenas de cama y descripciones las he leído en diagonal porque eran demasiado densas)
La trama es original, no lo niego. Mi problema con este libro es que al haber leído uno hace relativamente poco con una temática no igual pero muy parecida, no me ha enganchado tanto.
Katrin es una joven que lleva cinco años casada con Giles, mucho mayor que ella y cuyos deberes de alcoba no ha podido llevar a cabo en ningún momento. (Más adelante del libro nos explican por qué) Decidido a tener un heredero a como de lugar, elige un torneo medieval que organiza todos los años para una serie de invitados, como el lugar perfecto para buscar al afortunado "semental" que elegirá para ser el amante de su mujer hasta que ésta quede encinta. Ella, debido a sus principio y su moral se niega a pesar de que el ganador, Rowen, despierta en ella diferentes sentimientos.
Rowen es un caballero que llega a Arcadia, el lugar de residencia de Katrin y Giles movido por su deseo de conocer qué ocurrió con la vida de su hermano Terence en el evento del año pasado, ya que apareció muerto de un disparo en el lago cercano de la propiedad y nunca creyó que fuera un accidente. Por este motivo, se acerca a Katrin y ve en el deseo del marido de esta que él sea el semental, el arreglo perfecto para estar más tiempo con ella y sonsacarla.
Al principio, ellos fingen que están cumpliendo el acuerdo y parece que todo va bien, pero cuando el marido se entera, decir que aborrezco todo lo que hace para conseguir su propósito es poco.
Es un libro en el que la autora nos centra en los motivos egoístas de cada uno para hacer lo que hacen y para mi gusto lo justifica con sentimientos que sí, puede que sean verdad, pero no deja de no tener sentido para mí algunas de las acciones de éstos.
El misterio que envuelve el asesinato de Terence y los que se suceden más adelante, desde el principio tienes más o menos la sospecha y hay algunas actuaciones que quedan inconclusas o que la autora no explica.
Tras esto, no quiero decir que el libro no esté bien ambientado, ni mucho menos ni que no enganche, de echo, he tardado apenas un día en leerlo. (Aunque reconozco que algunas escenas de cama y descripciones las he leído en diagonal porque eran demasiado densas)
March 6, 2012
Once in a while when I feel like doing some light - reading, then I pick up some romances, which I playfully term as 'Trashy Romances’, novels which are all about love, romance, sex, thrills, mystery, intrigues, the works. They serve their purpose well, as in they distract me, make me escape in a world which is rosy and everything is candy floss and glitter. At the same time, I cannot forget the ‘trashy’ part of such romances, as they are extremely patriarchal and seem to be written by male chauvinists rater than by intelligent female authors. They do not serve any purpose besides the satiating of the senses and perhaps adding to the knowledge about a particular era or place. However, there are few such romances which are a little more than what I have already elucidated above. Such novels are intelligent and add something to the repertoire of the reader but alas! Such novels are few and far between and this one was certainly not so!
Now after much meandering and my talk of romances, I must come to the novel in question. I never regret reading any book, as I believe every book has something to offer to the reader, however this novel has made me come close to regret, to have picked it up in the first place. The novel had nothing to offer to the reader except sex and some more. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against sex, it is as natural as eating and sleeping, however to have sex for a story instead of a real plotline is quite disappointing for a reader who expects a strong plotline if nothing else. The protagonists are not convincing and not neatly fleshed out. The heroine is always ‘sexualized’ and seen as a sexual object under the male gaze be it of her husband or her ‘lover’. The non –existent plotline is all about the heroine stuck in a loveless marriage and how her husband wants a male heir and wants a man to ‘bed’ her, flouting her wishes and is not above using force. The heroine is typically a virgin who has to be initiated in the ‘art of lovemaking’ by the hero. The protagonists seem to indulge in witty conversations, layered by entrendre and repartee, but it is neither interesting nor witty enough to hold the reader’s attention.
The hero has learnt to ‘control his lovemaking’ through a technique that he learnt from the Arabians and from certain odalisques. There are frequent references to the ‘ Orient’ and how adept they are in matters of amour; which of course is typical again, as the ‘ East’ has always been seen as ‘ exotic’ and ‘ sexual’ and ‘ licentious to the point of being depraved’. The maid and manservant of the protagonists are a quadroon and of Arabic lineage and they of course are quite ‘knowledgeable’ about amour as well.
The heroine is a typical damsel in distress, who has to be rescued by her knight in shining armor, who is hardly a ‘gentleman’. The feminist in any woman will certainly boil in rage upon reading this book. To be the object of lust and sexual gratification is what Katerine ( the heroine ) is reduced to, she can only feel ‘ complete’ when she has had a baby, she cannot leave her psychotic husband as she has ‘ nowhere to go’. At last, the final reunion comes about with Rowan (the male protagonist) ‘kidnapping’ Katerine by wrapping her in a rug and whisking her away much against her wishes. So much for female empowerment and feminism! It upset me to see that this novel has been written by a famous female author and that this book was written as recently as 1995. If our female authors will write such patriarchal novels, where women have no say and they are solely the object of sexual gratification and whose only aim in life is to feel ‘ complete’ by giving into patriarchy, then surely we are a long way away from the equality of the sexes. The novel has put me off romances, I won’t be reading one again in a hurry and I think my term for such romances is quite appropriate-‘trashy’.
The only positive thing that I can say about the book is that it paints a beautiful and vivid picture of nineteenth century Louisiana. Also, the language of the novel is quite lyrical and poetical with certain terms and phrases that I was not familiar with, so if nothing else, at least the novel helped me better my vocabulary! Now, I know what ‘comestibles’ and ‘dandle’ mean!
P.S – Sorry for the word ‘ typical’ used often in the review, could not help using it, as the novel is much a stereotype as it’s protagonists.
Now after much meandering and my talk of romances, I must come to the novel in question. I never regret reading any book, as I believe every book has something to offer to the reader, however this novel has made me come close to regret, to have picked it up in the first place. The novel had nothing to offer to the reader except sex and some more. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against sex, it is as natural as eating and sleeping, however to have sex for a story instead of a real plotline is quite disappointing for a reader who expects a strong plotline if nothing else. The protagonists are not convincing and not neatly fleshed out. The heroine is always ‘sexualized’ and seen as a sexual object under the male gaze be it of her husband or her ‘lover’. The non –existent plotline is all about the heroine stuck in a loveless marriage and how her husband wants a male heir and wants a man to ‘bed’ her, flouting her wishes and is not above using force. The heroine is typically a virgin who has to be initiated in the ‘art of lovemaking’ by the hero. The protagonists seem to indulge in witty conversations, layered by entrendre and repartee, but it is neither interesting nor witty enough to hold the reader’s attention.
The hero has learnt to ‘control his lovemaking’ through a technique that he learnt from the Arabians and from certain odalisques. There are frequent references to the ‘ Orient’ and how adept they are in matters of amour; which of course is typical again, as the ‘ East’ has always been seen as ‘ exotic’ and ‘ sexual’ and ‘ licentious to the point of being depraved’. The maid and manservant of the protagonists are a quadroon and of Arabic lineage and they of course are quite ‘knowledgeable’ about amour as well.
The heroine is a typical damsel in distress, who has to be rescued by her knight in shining armor, who is hardly a ‘gentleman’. The feminist in any woman will certainly boil in rage upon reading this book. To be the object of lust and sexual gratification is what Katerine ( the heroine ) is reduced to, she can only feel ‘ complete’ when she has had a baby, she cannot leave her psychotic husband as she has ‘ nowhere to go’. At last, the final reunion comes about with Rowan (the male protagonist) ‘kidnapping’ Katerine by wrapping her in a rug and whisking her away much against her wishes. So much for female empowerment and feminism! It upset me to see that this novel has been written by a famous female author and that this book was written as recently as 1995. If our female authors will write such patriarchal novels, where women have no say and they are solely the object of sexual gratification and whose only aim in life is to feel ‘ complete’ by giving into patriarchy, then surely we are a long way away from the equality of the sexes. The novel has put me off romances, I won’t be reading one again in a hurry and I think my term for such romances is quite appropriate-‘trashy’.
The only positive thing that I can say about the book is that it paints a beautiful and vivid picture of nineteenth century Louisiana. Also, the language of the novel is quite lyrical and poetical with certain terms and phrases that I was not familiar with, so if nothing else, at least the novel helped me better my vocabulary! Now, I know what ‘comestibles’ and ‘dandle’ mean!
P.S – Sorry for the word ‘ typical’ used often in the review, could not help using it, as the novel is much a stereotype as it’s protagonists.
August 10, 2010
This is my first time reading this author and if all of her books are like this one, it will be my last. My library copy is from 1993, so even considering that and making allowances for writing back then I think this was bad. Above is the summary so I’ll get straight to my review.
Pros: I think the plot was fairly well thought out. I couldn’t see any major plot holes. The characters were well described. The time period/location was unique. The author did a really good job at keeping you guessing as to who committed the crime.
********SPOILERS BELOW!!!!! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK********
Cons: Katrine’s (heroine) reason for not telling Rowan(hero) about his brother’s death was absolutely pathetic. An honor vow for knowing nothing? Plus its not as if Musetta was discreet. Everyone knew about Perry.
I don’t know whether it’s the authors style or what, but the language and especially the dialogue is horrible. I freely admit I didn’t understand a few conversations what with the flowery and purple prose. One example that kept sticking out was the word “species”- “Driven by a species of despairing anger, he had taken everything she had to give, given everything he had inside him.” pg 282.
I agree with Stacey Renee that the sex was rather long and did get boring after a while. Repetitive. From pg 194 to 243 you have 33 pages of those devoted to sex and intimacy. With another love scene about 7 pages long later in the book. The latter one being in bad taste if you ask me- with Katrine’s ill/dying husband laying on the other side of a connecting door.
Did Musetta share Giles’ love or was it just one sided? It was never really clarified. Also, didn’t Katrine say that Musetta was not that stupid to flirt so obviously with someone she was sleeping with? But supposedly she was or was doing everything, but sleeping with the men she was flirting with. At least with Terrence.
The last little gripe is When is the story set? We get indicators like it not being Louisiana yet. However, those like myself who are not into history would appreciate a date to start the story.
********END SPOILERS********
You would think with being locked in a tower and attempted murders this story would be exciting however it was quite dull and boring. Nothing really happened until half way through and as Stacey Renee said the mystery isn’t a focus until the last 2 or 3 chapters. Overall I would say it might be great for its time, but definitely not my preference.
If you are looking for something similar I would recommend Lisa Kleypas’ Vallerand series:
When Strangers Marry (book 1)
Only With Your Love (book 2)
Pros: I think the plot was fairly well thought out. I couldn’t see any major plot holes. The characters were well described. The time period/location was unique. The author did a really good job at keeping you guessing as to who committed the crime.
********SPOILERS BELOW!!!!! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK********
Cons: Katrine’s (heroine) reason for not telling Rowan(hero) about his brother’s death was absolutely pathetic. An honor vow for knowing nothing? Plus its not as if Musetta was discreet. Everyone knew about Perry.
I don’t know whether it’s the authors style or what, but the language and especially the dialogue is horrible. I freely admit I didn’t understand a few conversations what with the flowery and purple prose. One example that kept sticking out was the word “species”- “Driven by a species of despairing anger, he had taken everything she had to give, given everything he had inside him.” pg 282.
I agree with Stacey Renee that the sex was rather long and did get boring after a while. Repetitive. From pg 194 to 243 you have 33 pages of those devoted to sex and intimacy. With another love scene about 7 pages long later in the book. The latter one being in bad taste if you ask me- with Katrine’s ill/dying husband laying on the other side of a connecting door.
Did Musetta share Giles’ love or was it just one sided? It was never really clarified. Also, didn’t Katrine say that Musetta was not that stupid to flirt so obviously with someone she was sleeping with? But supposedly she was or was doing everything, but sleeping with the men she was flirting with. At least with Terrence.
The last little gripe is When is the story set? We get indicators like it not being Louisiana yet. However, those like myself who are not into history would appreciate a date to start the story.
********END SPOILERS********
You would think with being locked in a tower and attempted murders this story would be exciting however it was quite dull and boring. Nothing really happened until half way through and as Stacey Renee said the mystery isn’t a focus until the last 2 or 3 chapters. Overall I would say it might be great for its time, but definitely not my preference.
If you are looking for something similar I would recommend Lisa Kleypas’ Vallerand series:
When Strangers Marry (book 1)
Only With Your Love (book 2)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2012
Arrow to the Heart is the first book I've read by Jennifer Blake, but I am eager to read some of her other stories. Arrow to the Heart, set in 19th century Louisiana, complete with Southern take on the Court of Love, had an intriguing storyline that while predictable, still managed to throw in a few surprises along the way. The very premise of the book was almost unbelievable until the very end when everything clicked neatly into place. While I would certainly put this in the "trashy" romance genre, the writing was very artistic, by turns lyrical and flowery, with many words that I had never seen before -- something that does not happen often!
November 1, 2021
A una prima occhiata la trama mi era parsa un filo torbida e, in effetti, a lettura ultimata, posso dire che la Blake è dotata di una fervida immaginazione, anche se poi non concretizza in modo convincente.
Dunque: un riccone di mezza età della Louisiana, essendo impotente, decide, dopo cinque anni di matrimonio casto, di mettere in palio la giovane moglie tra i contendenti di un torneo medievale (!) che organizza nella sua tenuta (chiamata Arcadia: qui la stessa autrice non sa decidersi a che tradizioni richiamarsi).
I campioni si cimentano in tornei di spada, tiro con l'arco e giostre a cavallo, pensando di vincere un premio monetario, mentre la coppia dovrebbe invece valutarli come stalloni da monta (il vecchio Giles li considera proprio così nel libro).
Quando alla gara s'iscrive un avventuriero, tale Rowan de Blanc, il progetto sembrerebbe concretizzarsi.
Peccato che la moglie non sia per nulla convinta e il marito si stia impuntando ogni giorno di più, anche a costo di servirsi di qualunque mezzo.
La storia in realt�� non mi dispiaceva, e questo marito voyeur e al contempo geloso-manipolatore poteva imprimere una svolta dark al tutto, se non fosse che tutto si annacqua con la banalità dei personaggi, stereotipati e poco approfonditi: lei è riottosa e algida sino a un attimo prima (meritando il plauso), poi si lascia persuadere abbastanza facilmente; lui è enigmatico fino all'ultimo, anche se gli va dato atto che preferisce corteggiare più che imporsi.
Ma la colpa più grave è il procedere sonnolento della narrazione, scandita da qualche scena interessante (le gare, soprattutto), dispersa in mezzo a un mare di dialoghi inutili e sottotrame caotiche che hanno reso talora difficile la (mia) comprensione.
Dunque: un riccone di mezza età della Louisiana, essendo impotente, decide, dopo cinque anni di matrimonio casto, di mettere in palio la giovane moglie tra i contendenti di un torneo medievale (!) che organizza nella sua tenuta (chiamata Arcadia: qui la stessa autrice non sa decidersi a che tradizioni richiamarsi).
I campioni si cimentano in tornei di spada, tiro con l'arco e giostre a cavallo, pensando di vincere un premio monetario, mentre la coppia dovrebbe invece valutarli come stalloni da monta (il vecchio Giles li considera proprio così nel libro).
Quando alla gara s'iscrive un avventuriero, tale Rowan de Blanc, il progetto sembrerebbe concretizzarsi.
Peccato che la moglie non sia per nulla convinta e il marito si stia impuntando ogni giorno di più, anche a costo di servirsi di qualunque mezzo.
La storia in realt�� non mi dispiaceva, e questo marito voyeur e al contempo geloso-manipolatore poteva imprimere una svolta dark al tutto, se non fosse che tutto si annacqua con la banalità dei personaggi, stereotipati e poco approfonditi: lei è riottosa e algida sino a un attimo prima (meritando il plauso), poi si lascia persuadere abbastanza facilmente; lui è enigmatico fino all'ultimo, anche se gli va dato atto che preferisce corteggiare più che imporsi.
Ma la colpa più grave è il procedere sonnolento della narrazione, scandita da qualche scena interessante (le gare, soprattutto), dispersa in mezzo a un mare di dialoghi inutili e sottotrame caotiche che hanno reso talora difficile la (mia) comprensione.
January 12, 2013
3.5 - 4 stars
Jennifer Blake can write a romance. She paints such a beautiful picture with her words. Not just of the hero and heroine and their romance, but of the background setting as well. But don't let that fool you. Her writing is a little on the dark side. I'd say gothic would be a term that aptly describes it.
Like the previous book I read by this author, I was kept guessing with the twists and turns it took. When I thought things were one way, Jennifer Blake proved me wrong by making it go somewhere I didn't expect.
If you haven't read this, I would say go for it. I got this as a freebie on Amazon and I know it's been free several times since I downloaded it. You might want to see if you can get it that way :)
Jennifer Blake can write a romance. She paints such a beautiful picture with her words. Not just of the hero and heroine and their romance, but of the background setting as well. But don't let that fool you. Her writing is a little on the dark side. I'd say gothic would be a term that aptly describes it.
Like the previous book I read by this author, I was kept guessing with the twists and turns it took. When I thought things were one way, Jennifer Blake proved me wrong by making it go somewhere I didn't expect.
If you haven't read this, I would say go for it. I got this as a freebie on Amazon and I know it's been free several times since I downloaded it. You might want to see if you can get it that way :)
March 27, 2020
Lo leí hace mucho, pero lo recuero bien xq no me gustó la trama en absoluto. El adulterio simplemente no es lo mío, por muy justificado q esté y la historia de la impotencia de Giles y del torneo para ver quien va tener el dudoso honor de acostarse con su esposa para q la deje embarazada y le de un heredero a Giles, me parece auténticamente escandaloso. Y sinceramente, tampoco encontré muy convincente el romance entre Katrine y Rowan, simplemente no me convencieron como pareja xq la autora no supo sacarle la sordidez a la historia como para q quede romanticona, siquiera.
September 1, 2020
In the course of cleaning, I found two Jennifer Blake books I had never read. This is the one I picked to read first. Although it had some interesting parts, the whole idea of having a medieval style tournament at an antebellum Southern plantation was just too much. The plot itself was extremely far-fetched. The second book turned out to be more believable. P.S. Despite what this page says, look only read it once.
September 13, 2022
The base of the storyline is the same as another by the authour, but there were enough differences that made it different. While I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the main couple, their affection for each other was evident. It really was a twist when the bad guy was revealed, and I enjoyed the ‘who dunit’ part of it. Overall, a good read and interesting characters
May 28, 2023
I am a big J. Blake's fan. This book had a good mystery which I always like. There was a lot of hot steamy moments between our 2 main characters. I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. Sorry.
April 16, 2018
Could not put this book down!! Absolutely loved everything about it! Only complaint was the seemingly hastily done ending about Terrance and his death. Another great book by Jennifer Blake!
December 5, 2020
Not one of my favorites of hers - ended up skimming most of the middle
Want to read
March 22, 2025spring pile
March 18, 2013
I didn't enjoy Arrow to the Heart as much as the other historical romances I've read by Jennifer Blake. I've though hard about why that might be, and I've come to the conclusion that the power structure customary in Blake's novels is out of balance in this novel. Usually, the heroine is initially dominated by the man (i.e. kidnapped, held captive, forced into marriage) and a major joy of reading is taking in the situation, in which superficially the hero holds all the cards, all the while knowing the heroine, unbeknownst to herself, has completely mentally and emotionally dominated the hero. It's important that she not know, since (I believe) her power is greater than the hero's because it gives her the ability to control the hero's power, and the balance is equal only if she wields it unconsciously. Also, there wouldn't really be a plot otherwise.
However, in Arrow to the Heart, the hero and heroine are thrust into a situation by an external force and are equal in situational power, which immediately diminishes the hero's power. Also, the hero and heroine are more open and communicative than normal in Blake's historicals, which further upsets the power balance and makes the plot a bit more far-fetched, since the closer the heroine is to realizing the hero loves her, the more desperate the events keeping them apart appear. Basically, the delicious balance of the male dominating the physical while the female dominates the mental/emotional is off.
It's still a good book, and the ending is as satisfying as any other Blake historical. I wonder-- Blake returned to historical romances with Arrow to the Heart after writing a string of contemporaries-- can the difference in her typical power structure be attributed to the influence of more contemporary, "modern" expectations?
However, in Arrow to the Heart, the hero and heroine are thrust into a situation by an external force and are equal in situational power, which immediately diminishes the hero's power. Also, the hero and heroine are more open and communicative than normal in Blake's historicals, which further upsets the power balance and makes the plot a bit more far-fetched, since the closer the heroine is to realizing the hero loves her, the more desperate the events keeping them apart appear. Basically, the delicious balance of the male dominating the physical while the female dominates the mental/emotional is off.
It's still a good book, and the ending is as satisfying as any other Blake historical. I wonder-- Blake returned to historical romances with Arrow to the Heart after writing a string of contemporaries-- can the difference in her typical power structure be attributed to the influence of more contemporary, "modern" expectations?
June 2, 2015
I'm not really sure why I rated this book has five stars. I'm not saying that I didn't like the book, not by a longshot that. I enjoyed the plot characters and in the spirit of the novel. I guess it surprises me that I enjoyed it as much as I did. Maybe I was just in the mood for a good romance a good plot. And it wasn't just a fluffy fly either. I thought it had reasonable substance. It was also an easy read. To be honest this is probably more of a 4.5 star book than a five star but it was worth writing higher. I also liked Jennifer Blake's book Fierce Eden, which I believe was also rated five stars by me. This book like Fierce Eden took place in Louisiana. In this book, we meet a woman whose husband was incapable of giving her a child and therefore held a tournament to determine which man was worthy of giving her the child obviously since this is a romance novel the two initially resisted each other but fall in love anyway. It wasn't necessarily the plot that draws one in it is the way the story is written. Do you understand what I'm talking about you almost have to read the book. Trust me it's worth your time
November 1, 2013
When Katrine's older, sickly husband, Giles, needs an heir and is unable to produce one, he strikes an unusual arrangement with Rowan de Blanc. A former pirate and excellent swordsman, Rowan easily becomes Katrine's champion in a Southern version of the medieval court of love. With Katrine as his prize, the pirate in Rowan prefers passion. The gentleman in him longs for love. Giles simply wants to see an heir before he dies while Katrine refuses to be used as a "brood mare."
Rowan possesses his own motives for agreeing to Giles' terms of their deal. He desires to know what really happened to his younger brother, Terence, before he died. Is the plantation, Arcadia, cursed or from behind the scenes, does an unknown killer control the lives, loves and fate of each victim in the house?
ARROW TO THE HEART by Jennifer Blake is a page-turner from start to finish. This story with its irresistible hero, Rowan, certainly shot arrows into my own heart.
Rowan possesses his own motives for agreeing to Giles' terms of their deal. He desires to know what really happened to his younger brother, Terence, before he died. Is the plantation, Arcadia, cursed or from behind the scenes, does an unknown killer control the lives, loves and fate of each victim in the house?
ARROW TO THE HEART by Jennifer Blake is a page-turner from start to finish. This story with its irresistible hero, Rowan, certainly shot arrows into my own heart.
August 4, 2012
This book was pretty good. Blake is one of the few historical romance authors I can stomach as she tends to be fairly historically accurate and tell a fresh story. This novel was no different although I had to keep reminding myself that it was taking place in Louisiana and not Britain. Also, the premise was so odd - that the his and was more or less pimping out his wife for an heir and the love story was between said wife and pimp - it was pretty unbelievable. Fortunately, convenient deaths allow Romeo & Juliet to live happily ever after. LOL
February 15, 2014
Finished this one last night, and have to say I enjoyed it very much. I had no idea who the 'bad guy' was, so as a mystery, it was well written. I found the characters all to be believable...some pretty extreme situations, but in 1800s Louisiana, women didn't have a lot of say in their lives, so the situations described could have happened. I was never bored, and really have nothing bad to say about this book. I would recommend it to anyone interested in antebellum historical romance, with a mystery included. Will definitely read more of Jennifer Blake!
August 4, 2010
I just didn't understand the book until the last. Why... was the question that kept going through my brain. I probably would have liked it more if the situations where explained more in the first but hey that's what keeps you reading right? I thought it would be a quick read but it had some thinking to do and the emotions were out for grabs. It was a better book then I thought it was going to be. For future reference...One read was enough.
June 7, 2013
This was the first book in the Jennifer Blake Kindle 4 pack that I could not put down. I found the story line an interesting twist that kept me guessing through out. I loved the main characters, Rowan and Katrine, and found it hard to put it down. This book has changed my opinion of Jennifer Blake and am interested to see how the last book in my collection hold up. I have not given up on this author yet!
February 20, 2013
Story very well composed. Though there are some little confusions but the overall is that I really like how things turned out for the characters. The plot and outcome is unique and I very well like it. This is the second book I've read of Jennifer Blake and hope to read more. 5 out of 5 from me!
August 14, 2012
This is a nineteenth century romance set on a plantation in Louisiana. The plot is interesting and different.The author tell the tale of an unusual love affair, with constraint and a great deal of finesse.
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May 25, 2013Free on Kindle 7/11/12
April 18, 2013
OMG! I never would've guessed who was behind the murder attempts and murders that occurred.
March 26, 2013
Por fin termine de leer este libro. Lo termine de leer porque aunque no me guste un libro, aunque me tarde mucho, lo tengo que terminar de leer.
April 25, 2013
Decent love story with a few twists; sometimes confusing to follow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews