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Star Quartet #1
Evening Star
Dear Reader:
Evening Star, formerly titled Sweet Surrender, first appeared in 1984. I have not rewritten it, but now this novel is where it belongs --- it's the first book in what has become the Star Quartet. In Midnight Star, the first book in the former Star Trilogy, you met Delaney Saxton in San Francisco in 1851. Evening Star features his older brother Alex Saxton, with Delaney making a cameo appearance.
Giana Van Cleve, the heroine, has fallen in love with a vicious fortune hunter. Her mother, the renowned shipowner and builder Aurora Van Cleve, is desperate to save her daughter. She agrees to support Giana's wedding if Giana agrees to first spend an unusual three months in Rome with her Uncle Daniele. But Giana's uncle takes his bargain far beyond Aurora ever imagined.
Thus, Giana first sees Alex Saxton not in a society drawing room, but in a brothel. The next time she sees him, she is one of the virgins to be sold to the highest bidder at the infamous Roman Flower Auction. He wins the bid and her but not for long.
Four years later, when Alex meets Giana again in London, she has become a woman intent on success in a man's world. Alex is set on revenge --- he will have her and nothing will stop him.
Would you make Giana's bargain with Daniele? Would you keep the bargain? Agree to be part of the Roman Flower Auction? Let me know ---
Catherine Coulter (The Author)
Evening Star, formerly titled Sweet Surrender, first appeared in 1984. I have not rewritten it, but now this novel is where it belongs --- it's the first book in what has become the Star Quartet. In Midnight Star, the first book in the former Star Trilogy, you met Delaney Saxton in San Francisco in 1851. Evening Star features his older brother Alex Saxton, with Delaney making a cameo appearance.
Giana Van Cleve, the heroine, has fallen in love with a vicious fortune hunter. Her mother, the renowned shipowner and builder Aurora Van Cleve, is desperate to save her daughter. She agrees to support Giana's wedding if Giana agrees to first spend an unusual three months in Rome with her Uncle Daniele. But Giana's uncle takes his bargain far beyond Aurora ever imagined.
Thus, Giana first sees Alex Saxton not in a society drawing room, but in a brothel. The next time she sees him, she is one of the virgins to be sold to the highest bidder at the infamous Roman Flower Auction. He wins the bid and her but not for long.
Four years later, when Alex meets Giana again in London, she has become a woman intent on success in a man's world. Alex is set on revenge --- he will have her and nothing will stop him.
Would you make Giana's bargain with Daniele? Would you keep the bargain? Agree to be part of the Roman Flower Auction? Let me know ---
Catherine Coulter (The Author)
421 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
409 people are currently reading
1103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
June 12, 2024
Reread: 6/12/24
Reread: 2019
Reread: 2016
Read: 2013
Setting: 1846
A very enjoyable CC book with a unique plot! This story surpassed my expectations. It's entertaining, and it tugs at your heart strings.
On rereads, I tend to skip the beginning and go straight to when the MC are reunited. The first part is disturbing and sad. The rest of the book is with this adorable couple as they slowly fall in love. Some of their playful banter are hilarious!
There are some very steamy love scenes 🔥
Reread: 2019
Reread: 2016
Read: 2013
Setting: 1846
A very enjoyable CC book with a unique plot! This story surpassed my expectations. It's entertaining, and it tugs at your heart strings.
On rereads, I tend to skip the beginning and go straight to when the MC are reunited. The first part is disturbing and sad. The rest of the book is with this adorable couple as they slowly fall in love. Some of their playful banter are hilarious!
There are some very steamy love scenes 🔥
May 26, 2025
I was browsing through my Kindle and stumbled upon this book (which I’d had for quite some time but, for some reason, never got around to reading). As far as Catherine Coulter books go, this one is actually very good.
The hero, Alex, isn’t too much of a dickhead—which is saying something for a bodice ripper. Yes, there’s an almost-rape scene (unfortunately, so so common in older romances), and he’s very much the quintessential alpha male. But compared to others in the genre, he’s relatively tolerable.
The plot? Absolutely bonkers. Giana is sent to Rome by her mother, Aurora, supposedly to learn “certain facts of life.” Giana is an heiress being pursued by a fortune-hunter, and Aurora, in an attempt to open her daughter’s eyes, asks a family friend to show her how suffocating married life can be... and what life is like for “fallen women.” Vague instructions, to say the least.
The result? Giana is dragged to a brothel and spends two months interacting with clients and watching the “carnal acts” (thank you, Mommy Dearest!). The grand finale? She's forced into a virgin auction—because of course—and bought by none other than Alex (whom she met once at the brothel, in disguise). Her uncle was supposed to “rescue” her by winning the auction, but Alex beat him to it. She’s nearly assaulted, but the uncle steps in just in time.
Needless to say, Giana develops serious trust issues, and we get to watch her battle those for the rest of the book.
That said, I really enjoyed the historical details sprinkled throughout. My usual gripe with Coulter’s books is how American all her characters sound, even when they’re supposed to be English. IMO, she should just stick to American characters—it’s what she does best. Also, the scene transitions are jarring. Coulter tends to cut from one moment to another with no warning, which makes the pacing feel choppy.
Still, Evening Star is a pretty good read. You just have to accept Coulter’s style and be in the right headspace for the darker themes and trigger warnings. If you’re a fan of old-school, high-drama historicals with a side of madness, this might be your thing.
Rating: 3.75/5 – bonkers but entertaining, with just enough heart to balance the chaos.
The hero, Alex, isn’t too much of a dickhead—which is saying something for a bodice ripper. Yes, there’s an almost-rape scene (unfortunately, so so common in older romances), and he’s very much the quintessential alpha male. But compared to others in the genre, he’s relatively tolerable.
The plot? Absolutely bonkers. Giana is sent to Rome by her mother, Aurora, supposedly to learn “certain facts of life.” Giana is an heiress being pursued by a fortune-hunter, and Aurora, in an attempt to open her daughter’s eyes, asks a family friend to show her how suffocating married life can be... and what life is like for “fallen women.” Vague instructions, to say the least.
The result? Giana is dragged to a brothel and spends two months interacting with clients and watching the “carnal acts” (thank you, Mommy Dearest!). The grand finale? She's forced into a virgin auction—because of course—and bought by none other than Alex (whom she met once at the brothel, in disguise). Her uncle was supposed to “rescue” her by winning the auction, but Alex beat him to it. She’s nearly assaulted, but the uncle steps in just in time.
Needless to say, Giana develops serious trust issues, and we get to watch her battle those for the rest of the book.
That said, I really enjoyed the historical details sprinkled throughout. My usual gripe with Coulter’s books is how American all her characters sound, even when they’re supposed to be English. IMO, she should just stick to American characters—it’s what she does best. Also, the scene transitions are jarring. Coulter tends to cut from one moment to another with no warning, which makes the pacing feel choppy.
Still, Evening Star is a pretty good read. You just have to accept Coulter’s style and be in the right headspace for the darker themes and trigger warnings. If you’re a fan of old-school, high-drama historicals with a side of madness, this might be your thing.
Rating: 3.75/5 – bonkers but entertaining, with just enough heart to balance the chaos.
June 17, 2024
2.5 stars, rounded up to three because that’s how many times the MMC ripped the FMC’s clothes off her…or was it four? Five? One loses count.
One thing Catherine Coulter doesn’t lack is imagination. Each of her books is creative, unique, and fantastical. That last quality tends to be the problem. Surely, SURELY, not even a horny old faux uncle would send a 17-year-old into a brothel as a pretend-prostitute or allow, no, ENCOURAGE her to watch the clients having sex, or put her on the block in a virgin auction. And yet, he did. It was distasteful.
No wonder she decided she would never marry.
And that sets the background for the romance, a concept almost giggle-worthy. And speaking of the romance, it started as a coerced sexual encounter. I use the worse “coerced” instead of non-consensual because Alex maintained that Giana used the coercion as an excuse to have sex with him because she WANTED to have sex with him. I kid you not. Worse: he might have been right.
There comes a point in any Catherine Coulter book where the reader either stops reading or decides to just go with it. I went with it and there was some fun to be had.
One thing Catherine Coulter doesn’t lack is imagination. Each of her books is creative, unique, and fantastical. That last quality tends to be the problem. Surely, SURELY, not even a horny old faux uncle would send a 17-year-old into a brothel as a pretend-prostitute or allow, no, ENCOURAGE her to watch the clients having sex, or put her on the block in a virgin auction. And yet, he did. It was distasteful.
No wonder she decided she would never marry.
And that sets the background for the romance, a concept almost giggle-worthy. And speaking of the romance, it started as a coerced sexual encounter. I use the worse “coerced” instead of non-consensual because Alex maintained that Giana used the coercion as an excuse to have sex with him because she WANTED to have sex with him. I kid you not. Worse: he might have been right.
There comes a point in any Catherine Coulter book where the reader either stops reading or decides to just go with it. I went with it and there was some fun to be had.
October 14, 2024
This book has been on my TBR for so long and finally I read it. From the get go, the only reason I’m taking one star down is that really awkward and traumatizing beginning. I could get through the premise that curing a young girl’ infatuation is to show her life in brothel. But the execution of it was strange but also little hot.
After that though rough beginning the love story continues very nicely especially since our heroin is pregnancy for most of it. I really liked how infatuated of hero with her.
After that though rough beginning the love story continues very nicely especially since our heroin is pregnancy for most of it. I really liked how infatuated of hero with her.
October 7, 2019
I realized I had read this a long time ago, but I started it and had to finish as I couldn't remember exactly how it ended.
It is a good romance teaching a young girl that men aren't the great and faithful beings she thinks they are. With permission from her mother Daniel take Gianna to Rome and introduces her to whores and the wives of the men who visit them.
It is a good story and an enjoyable read, even though some of the people are dumb and do dumb thing. I hate when people don't tell the truth because they think someone wont believe them.
It is a good romance teaching a young girl that men aren't the great and faithful beings she thinks they are. With permission from her mother Daniel take Gianna to Rome and introduces her to whores and the wives of the men who visit them.
It is a good story and an enjoyable read, even though some of the people are dumb and do dumb thing. I hate when people don't tell the truth because they think someone wont believe them.
March 20, 2019
Trošku zvrátené strčiť mladé dievča do rúk strýka, ktorý ju nechá celé leto nazerať mužským chúťkam v nevestinci. Nuž, Giana sa poučila a po návrate z Talianska svojho snúbenca Randalla nakoniec odmietla. Rozhodla sa zaučiť do tajomstiev obchodu, a stala sa z nej obchodníčka ako jej matka. Naviac sa zaprisahala, že sa nikdy nevydá.
Hlavný hrdina Alex je sebavedomý, domýšľavý chlapík - pravdaže je to muž, ktorý hlavnú hrdinku presvedčí, že láska a vernosť existujú, a nie každý muž potrebuje hľadať spoločnosť či potešenie v náručí inej ženy. Iste, nemá to jednoduché, Giana je tvrdohlavá a cynická.
Po tom, ako si ju privedie do Ameriky, vydávajúc ju za svoju manželku, jej postupne ukáže, čo znamená niekoho milovať a postupne sa mu krok za krokom podarí zničiť ľadovec, ktorý si Giana za niekoľko rokov stihla kolo srdca nahromadiť.
Keby Alex nebol taký protivný, možno by som si ho aj obľúbila :-)
Román je čitateľný, avšak niektoré pasáže mi prišli dosť nereálne, niektoré situácie dokonca nasilu vytvorené.
Hlavný hrdina Alex je sebavedomý, domýšľavý chlapík - pravdaže je to muž, ktorý hlavnú hrdinku presvedčí, že láska a vernosť existujú, a nie každý muž potrebuje hľadať spoločnosť či potešenie v náručí inej ženy. Iste, nemá to jednoduché, Giana je tvrdohlavá a cynická.
Po tom, ako si ju privedie do Ameriky, vydávajúc ju za svoju manželku, jej postupne ukáže, čo znamená niekoho milovať a postupne sa mu krok za krokom podarí zničiť ľadovec, ktorý si Giana za niekoľko rokov stihla kolo srdca nahromadiť.
Keby Alex nebol taký protivný, možno by som si ho aj obľúbila :-)
Román je čitateľný, avšak niektoré pasáže mi prišli dosť nereálne, niektoré situácie dokonca nasilu vytvorené.
February 27, 2020
A very unique and interesting story closer to the Suspense Romance.
At last, I met in that story the eldest brother of the hero Delaney Saxton from the STAR series (which I liked a lot in the book Midnight Star), Alex Saxton. He is a very arrogant, sexy and smart rich man who didn't get used to be ruled by women and hold everything in his hands. What he wants, he gets, and he doesn't care about anything else.
However, when he meets Giana in the most beautiful city in the world, Rome, (OH MY GOSH! I LOVE BOOKS THAT INCLUDE MY FAVORITE CITY!) he intrigued by her temper and her wild energy. However, he meets her in the brothel! YAA! You heard right! [Her mother Aurora adviced her Italian friend Daniele to send Giana to Rome and teach an innocent Giana life skills, because she is doesn't know a life. Aurora wants to dissuade her from the marriage with a scammer man as Randel.]
The location of Alex and Giana's meeting scene was surprising for me! OMG! I didn't expect it for sure! But I like unexpected things in the books. I know, some of you, do like too.
Well, seeing Giana on Flowers auction he decided to buy a night with her. He wants to have her passionately...But... The circumstances made them to be apart...
After 4 years, Alex met Giana in London due to his ships' business. And from that moment something very interesting begins...The duel between Alex and Giana when Alex wants to prove her that not all men are bad womanizers, menwhores, and unfaithful.
So they made a bargain.
But can Alex to make Giana believe in the true marriage and true feelings? Because his world turned upside down since she met her in Rome and she made him going crazy about her! How he can show her how wrong she was? Because she has a damned temper! And he called her, SHE-DEVIL! Ha-ha! And I like how feisty she is.
You have to find out, guys! And I hope you will like it!
At last, I met in that story the eldest brother of the hero Delaney Saxton from the STAR series (which I liked a lot in the book Midnight Star), Alex Saxton. He is a very arrogant, sexy and smart rich man who didn't get used to be ruled by women and hold everything in his hands. What he wants, he gets, and he doesn't care about anything else.
However, when he meets Giana in the most beautiful city in the world, Rome, (OH MY GOSH! I LOVE BOOKS THAT INCLUDE MY FAVORITE CITY!) he intrigued by her temper and her wild energy. However, he meets her in the brothel! YAA! You heard right! [Her mother Aurora adviced her Italian friend Daniele to send Giana to Rome and teach an innocent Giana life skills, because she is doesn't know a life. Aurora wants to dissuade her from the marriage with a scammer man as Randel.]
The location of Alex and Giana's meeting scene was surprising for me! OMG! I didn't expect it for sure! But I like unexpected things in the books. I know, some of you, do like too.
Well, seeing Giana on Flowers auction he decided to buy a night with her. He wants to have her passionately...But... The circumstances made them to be apart...
After 4 years, Alex met Giana in London due to his ships' business. And from that moment something very interesting begins...The duel between Alex and Giana when Alex wants to prove her that not all men are bad womanizers, menwhores, and unfaithful.
So they made a bargain.
But can Alex to make Giana believe in the true marriage and true feelings? Because his world turned upside down since she met her in Rome and she made him going crazy about her! How he can show her how wrong she was? Because she has a damned temper! And he called her, SHE-DEVIL! Ha-ha! And I like how feisty she is.
You have to find out, guys! And I hope you will like it!
March 9, 2011
Steet Surrender aka Evening Star is the first book I have read by Catherine Coulter but won't be the last.
Giana is some silly English chit that comes out of school enamored by a fortune hunter. Her mom is a successful bossiness woman and sees through him right away but cannot convince her daughter that he is only after the family money so she takes drastic measures and sends her off to Italy in the care of her uncle who is to show her another side of life by meeting her with prostitutes. Well the dear uncle does more then that and installs her to see what goes on in a bawdy house. I have to say this was very amusing and interesting to read about. The culmination of Giana’s “holiday” in Italy ended up being a flower auction for her virginity, which was bought by the very irresistible American Alexander:). We see him perform in the bawdy house earlier when Giana is watching and the scene is very yummy.
Four years latter Giana is successful businesswoman like her mother and meets with Alexander for business purposes. The moment he sees her he recognizes that she is the virgin he bought and never tasted that night in Italy. Well he is very upset by being tricked out of that pleasure but is convinced that she is playing some sort of game and blackmails her into coming with him to a cottage at the sea side. I won’t spoil it completely for you but she does get pregnant that night but since she is so headstrong and convinced marriage to a man will be her downfall she does not want to marry him. Here comes his outrageous offer that she pretends until the baby is born that she is his wife, that way she can leave him after if she wants. So the journey to New York begins. From here on you have to find the story for yourself but I have to mention that this book has my favorite pregnant scenes ever. The way Alex treats Giana is so fairitaleish that it made me giddy with happiness.
I enjoyed this book immensely and highly recommend it.
Giana is some silly English chit that comes out of school enamored by a fortune hunter. Her mom is a successful bossiness woman and sees through him right away but cannot convince her daughter that he is only after the family money so she takes drastic measures and sends her off to Italy in the care of her uncle who is to show her another side of life by meeting her with prostitutes. Well the dear uncle does more then that and installs her to see what goes on in a bawdy house. I have to say this was very amusing and interesting to read about. The culmination of Giana’s “holiday” in Italy ended up being a flower auction for her virginity, which was bought by the very irresistible American Alexander:). We see him perform in the bawdy house earlier when Giana is watching and the scene is very yummy.
Four years latter Giana is successful businesswoman like her mother and meets with Alexander for business purposes. The moment he sees her he recognizes that she is the virgin he bought and never tasted that night in Italy. Well he is very upset by being tricked out of that pleasure but is convinced that she is playing some sort of game and blackmails her into coming with him to a cottage at the sea side. I won’t spoil it completely for you but she does get pregnant that night but since she is so headstrong and convinced marriage to a man will be her downfall she does not want to marry him. Here comes his outrageous offer that she pretends until the baby is born that she is his wife, that way she can leave him after if she wants. So the journey to New York begins. From here on you have to find the story for yourself but I have to mention that this book has my favorite pregnant scenes ever. The way Alex treats Giana is so fairitaleish that it made me giddy with happiness.
I enjoyed this book immensely and highly recommend it.
August 2, 2012
Giana (short for Georgiana) was sent to visit her Uncle Daniele to learn about the world.
He took her to brothels, to learn the ways of men.
She was put in the Flower Auction, where they auction off, you know, women's virginity.
Alex purchased her for $2000. Which, back in the 1800, that's an insane amount of money.
He wasn't able to get what he "purchased" and it pissed him off.
Fast forward 4 years, and he and Giana meet up again.
She ends up pregnant. In the 1800s.
They pretend to be married.
Things happen. The normal romance novel stuff: they fall in love.
There's more, obviously, but it's a good read, all in all.
He took her to brothels, to learn the ways of men.
She was put in the Flower Auction, where they auction off, you know, women's virginity.
Alex purchased her for $2000. Which, back in the 1800, that's an insane amount of money.
He wasn't able to get what he "purchased" and it pissed him off.
Fast forward 4 years, and he and Giana meet up again.
She ends up pregnant. In the 1800s.
They pretend to be married.
Things happen. The normal romance novel stuff: they fall in love.
There's more, obviously, but it's a good read, all in all.
June 22, 2010
Historical Romance that takes place in the 1800's. This story takes place in Europe, England and America dealing with a women who was auctioned off in a brothel and the man the bought her and lost her and will not stop until he can find her. Great story and great characters.
4.8 on a 5.0 scale
4.8 on a 5.0 scale
July 12, 2024
Well this was a very bizarre setup. Giana is in love with Randall and wants to marry him. Her mother, a successful businesswoman, believes Randall to be a fortune hunter. So she says that she will approve of the marriage if Giana goes to Italy to stay with her "uncle" (older family friend) for 3 months. Uncle Daniele tells Mom that he will expose Giana to married women to see how unfulfilled their lives are and to prostitutes, to show how men will never be faithful. So, I was a little confused as to how this would really prevent Giana from marrying Randall.
But unbeknownst to Mom, Daniele decides to take Giana's education further. He makes her actually pretend to be a prostitute and is stripped by the madam in front of him while they appraise her virtues. Giana is then forced to mingle and flirt with men who come to the brothel, but not actually do anything with them. Even weirder, Daniele makes Giana watch from behind a voyeur mirror as people have sex. It baffles me as to how any of this was necessary.
The worst thing is that she must participate in the Roman Flower Auction, which is where gentlemen bid on virgins who they plan to deflower. It is beyond crazy to me that Daniele thought this was a good idea. He promised to bid for her, but another man, Alex Seton, had seen Giana around the brothel and wanted her. Just when Alex was taking Giana into his carriage, Daniele knocked him out and took Giana away. So for years, Alex harbored vengeful fantasies of what he would do if he saw Giana again. (As an aside, Alex does not even appear until page 100 which is not something I really like).
Years later they meet back in England and Giana is desperate to keep that summer a secret from the ton and her mother. She claims to hate him, but she is powerfully attracted to him at the same time. I did not love the back and forth between the two of them, it got very tedious. I felt that Alex made the most sense and I could not understand her resistance.
But unbeknownst to Mom, Daniele decides to take Giana's education further. He makes her actually pretend to be a prostitute and is stripped by the madam in front of him while they appraise her virtues. Giana is then forced to mingle and flirt with men who come to the brothel, but not actually do anything with them. Even weirder, Daniele makes Giana watch from behind a voyeur mirror as people have sex. It baffles me as to how any of this was necessary.
The worst thing is that she must participate in the Roman Flower Auction, which is where gentlemen bid on virgins who they plan to deflower. It is beyond crazy to me that Daniele thought this was a good idea. He promised to bid for her, but another man, Alex Seton, had seen Giana around the brothel and wanted her. Just when Alex was taking Giana into his carriage, Daniele knocked him out and took Giana away. So for years, Alex harbored vengeful fantasies of what he would do if he saw Giana again. (As an aside, Alex does not even appear until page 100 which is not something I really like).
Years later they meet back in England and Giana is desperate to keep that summer a secret from the ton and her mother. She claims to hate him, but she is powerfully attracted to him at the same time. I did not love the back and forth between the two of them, it got very tedious. I felt that Alex made the most sense and I could not understand her resistance.
March 4, 2013
This was a vastly complex and character-filled story. And a bit bizarre. It was a decent story but so much was going on that the many story-lines, characters, etc., made it hard to get overly invested in what was going to happen.
The idea that an uncle could place a young girl in the situation that he does seems very over-the-top. Although it does seem to be a sound way of showing a young, naive girl the truth of the world. It is the ultimate wake-up call but I felt that the uncle did go too far. And there was no accounting that despite her words, her mind was still trying to deal with the information and she was forming an understanding of her beau. There should have been more thought process during the time that she was in Italy.
The relationship between Aurora and the duke was bizarre and I didn't see the point of its inclusion.
The relationship between Alex and Giana didn't seem plausible. So much of the relationship was physical and sudden. Even after her first, bad time their first moment alone on the ship they go at it again.
The story took a long time to get going, with some characters and events that didn't seem essential to the story as a whole.
I think that the relationship had a lot going for it but I had some issues with the characters, I just didn't love them or get emotionally involved in their circumstances. The idea that she would willingly go into the relationship between Alex as pretending to be married but not really. I don't think that during the time period portrayed that it would be done, unless there was some dangerous, pressing reason, which was not the case in the story.
The idea that an uncle could place a young girl in the situation that he does seems very over-the-top. Although it does seem to be a sound way of showing a young, naive girl the truth of the world. It is the ultimate wake-up call but I felt that the uncle did go too far. And there was no accounting that despite her words, her mind was still trying to deal with the information and she was forming an understanding of her beau. There should have been more thought process during the time that she was in Italy.
The relationship between Aurora and the duke was bizarre and I didn't see the point of its inclusion.
The relationship between Alex and Giana didn't seem plausible. So much of the relationship was physical and sudden. Even after her first, bad time their first moment alone on the ship they go at it again.
The story took a long time to get going, with some characters and events that didn't seem essential to the story as a whole.
I think that the relationship had a lot going for it but I had some issues with the characters, I just didn't love them or get emotionally involved in their circumstances. The idea that she would willingly go into the relationship between Alex as pretending to be married but not really. I don't think that during the time period portrayed that it would be done, unless there was some dangerous, pressing reason, which was not the case in the story.
March 20, 2014
This was the first Catherine Coulter novel I have read. I purchased Evening Star because it was a book selected by many romance readers as their favorite romance re-read. This book was originally published in 1984 under the name Sweet Savage.
Giana Van Cleve, an innocent 17 years old, has fallen in love with a vicious fortune hunter. Her mother, the renowned shipowner and builder Aurora Van Cleve, is desperate to save her daughter. She agrees to support Giana's wedding if Giana agrees to first spend an unusual three months in Rome with her Uncle Daniele. But Giana's uncle takes his bargain far beyond Aurora ever imagined.When Alex Saxton, a wealthy ship builder from America, wins virgin Giana Van Cleve in the infamous Roman Flower Auction, he never expects to lose his heart or be knocked unconscious. When Alex finally sees Giana 4 years later, built up revenge and anger sets him on a course in which love will finally become the victor.
I really enjoyed this book. I found the right blend of humor... suspense...strong supporting characters...and hot steamy passion that is Catherine Coulter's trademark. I look forward to reading other novels from this author.
Giana Van Cleve, an innocent 17 years old, has fallen in love with a vicious fortune hunter. Her mother, the renowned shipowner and builder Aurora Van Cleve, is desperate to save her daughter. She agrees to support Giana's wedding if Giana agrees to first spend an unusual three months in Rome with her Uncle Daniele. But Giana's uncle takes his bargain far beyond Aurora ever imagined.When Alex Saxton, a wealthy ship builder from America, wins virgin Giana Van Cleve in the infamous Roman Flower Auction, he never expects to lose his heart or be knocked unconscious. When Alex finally sees Giana 4 years later, built up revenge and anger sets him on a course in which love will finally become the victor.
I really enjoyed this book. I found the right blend of humor... suspense...strong supporting characters...and hot steamy passion that is Catherine Coulter's trademark. I look forward to reading other novels from this author.
September 23, 2010
You wouldn't think you'd learn much from a romance, but I had great fun learning about 19th century life in the bawdy house, written in terms not sleazy, but rather funny. Coulter's books were a much-needed balm in a time of mourning my dear husband's death. I could only stomach these sweet stories and read a bunch of them during this time.
October 12, 2009
I didn't care for this book. I didn't like the man taking her to a brothel at all to observe!!!!! YUCK!
August 8, 2020
This story had so many twists and turns! The characters were "normal" and hilarious at times yet frustrating at times.
Giana Van Cleve, the heroine, has fallen in love with a vicious fortune hunter. Her mother, the renowned shipowner and builder Aurora Van Cleve, is desperate to save her daughter. She agrees to support Giana's wedding if Giana agrees to first spend an unusual three months in Rome with her Uncle Daniele. But Giana's uncle takes his bargain far beyond Aurora ever imagined.
Thus, Giana first sees Alex Saxton not in a society drawing room, but in a brothel. The next time she sees him, she is one of the virgins to be sold to the highest bidder at the infamous Roman Flower Auction. He wins the bid and her but not for long.
Four years later, when Alex meets Giana again in London, she has become a woman intent on success in a man's world. Alex is set on revenge --- he will have her and nothing will stop him.
This was a definite good read!
Giana Van Cleve, the heroine, has fallen in love with a vicious fortune hunter. Her mother, the renowned shipowner and builder Aurora Van Cleve, is desperate to save her daughter. She agrees to support Giana's wedding if Giana agrees to first spend an unusual three months in Rome with her Uncle Daniele. But Giana's uncle takes his bargain far beyond Aurora ever imagined.
Thus, Giana first sees Alex Saxton not in a society drawing room, but in a brothel. The next time she sees him, she is one of the virgins to be sold to the highest bidder at the infamous Roman Flower Auction. He wins the bid and her but not for long.
Four years later, when Alex meets Giana again in London, she has become a woman intent on success in a man's world. Alex is set on revenge --- he will have her and nothing will stop him.
This was a definite good read!
May 19, 2025
The setting of Giana is special and impressive. Liked her spirit as a smart and independent business woman. Compared to her, Alex is less brilliant, but still appears to be a convincing partner for Giana.
Overall, I would say the story is of certain depth as it tries to offer some interesting exploration of trust issue by women towards men. I'm glad to see that Alex acknowledge the issue and is willing to work on it with Giana. That's a kind of romantic, isn't it?
Overall, I would say the story is of certain depth as it tries to offer some interesting exploration of trust issue by women towards men. I'm glad to see that Alex acknowledge the issue and is willing to work on it with Giana. That's a kind of romantic, isn't it?
October 9, 2020
Such a good read.
I have always thought Catherine Coulter was an amazing writer of crime novels but her historical romance novels are really, really good. Would definitely recommend.
I have always thought Catherine Coulter was an amazing writer of crime novels but her historical romance novels are really, really good. Would definitely recommend.
August 9, 2019
Love how she connects her books together in her trilogies.
August 5, 2020
Felt there was a lot of wasted potential with the beginning of the book, and several characters who just dropped off with no resolution.
August 23, 2020
I randomly came across this book years ago and I am
So glad I did it’s seriously one of my favorite books it’s so exciting and well written. I want to read it again.
So glad I did it’s seriously one of my favorite books it’s so exciting and well written. I want to read it again.
December 15, 2020
One of those feel-good stories. Quirky and calming.
July 6, 2021
I could not put this book down. It was as if I was there the writing so descriptive. Oh to wonder what happens next to Alex and Giana
February 19, 2022
Good book!
June 7, 2024
The first of in Victorian/Early San Francisco/Star Quartet Books. The love story between Alex Saxton, an American and Giana Van Cleve, a Brit. They saw each other the in Rome in a brothel!
December 25, 2022
A unique story with some interesting twists and turns. Over all it ends giving you the warm fuzzy feeling.
April 17, 2013
I wish that I would have known that Catherine Coulter's books Evening Star and Sweet Surrender was the same book just a different name and cover, it would have saved me some money. Instead I have both copies. =/
Giana (h) is the daughter of a wealthy woman in England. She has been raised in boarding schools and largely ignored by her mother how is too busy being one of the first women in business in England. This leaves an unloved 17 year old heires ripe for the picking of any gold digger.
She meets said gold digger and falls madly in love, though mostly in love with the idea of being some ones wife.... and being loved in return. Her mother sees right through this guy but can not convince Gian that he's only after her money. So she comes up with a plan, one so far out there that it has to work. She will get Giana to agree to go with her Uncle to Rome for 3 months. There she will meet with married women, girls her own age and prostitutes.....yes prostitutes. Once there in Rome, her uncle sees that she is more stubborn that either her mother or he has guessed and decides that more drastic measures are needed.
Alex (H) is in Rome on business but decides that he needs a woman to ease his needs. So he heads to a brothel that is well known. There he spies a young woman who interests him but he chooses some one else for the night. A few nights later,just before he is to leave Rome and return home to America, he attends the Flower Auction at the brothel. The Flower Auction is where virgins willingly auction off their virginity. He sees the young woman from the other night being auctioned off and he bids on her.....and wins. As he's taking his winnings off to another hotel he's boshed over the head and knocked out . When he awakens he sees that his little whore is gone. He never sees her again until years later. Then he's bound and determined to get what he paid for.
*******************************SPOILERS************************************************************************************
Now I really had to suspend belief in this book just to make it readable but that is only the first part of the book. To think that any loving Mother would send her 17 year old daughter to Rome to learn what she did is unbelievable. True , that the Uncle took it way farther than the mother ever intended , but then you would have to believe that an old uncle would feel comfortable taking his 17 year old virgin niece to a brothel and watching sex acts performed together. He also made her join the brothel as a whore (just no one would touch her and her virginity would stay intact) made her strip down in front of him so that she could be inspected by the madam, and join the Flower Auction, which he was suppose to be the winning bid but things do go wrong.
To really sum up what the mother and uncle did was the whole "Scared Straight" program. They showed her what married life was like for women back then by having her spend time with married ladies her age, spend time with the whores (because married men all visit them) and then spend time with unmarried girls her own age so that she could see how boring her life would be if she wasn't her own woman, running her business and not a married woman. If you can get past that , it's a pretty good read. =)
Giana (h) is the daughter of a wealthy woman in England. She has been raised in boarding schools and largely ignored by her mother how is too busy being one of the first women in business in England. This leaves an unloved 17 year old heires ripe for the picking of any gold digger.
She meets said gold digger and falls madly in love, though mostly in love with the idea of being some ones wife.... and being loved in return. Her mother sees right through this guy but can not convince Gian that he's only after her money. So she comes up with a plan, one so far out there that it has to work. She will get Giana to agree to go with her Uncle to Rome for 3 months. There she will meet with married women, girls her own age and prostitutes.....yes prostitutes. Once there in Rome, her uncle sees that she is more stubborn that either her mother or he has guessed and decides that more drastic measures are needed.
Alex (H) is in Rome on business but decides that he needs a woman to ease his needs. So he heads to a brothel that is well known. There he spies a young woman who interests him but he chooses some one else for the night. A few nights later,just before he is to leave Rome and return home to America, he attends the Flower Auction at the brothel. The Flower Auction is where virgins willingly auction off their virginity. He sees the young woman from the other night being auctioned off and he bids on her.....and wins. As he's taking his winnings off to another hotel he's boshed over the head and knocked out . When he awakens he sees that his little whore is gone. He never sees her again until years later. Then he's bound and determined to get what he paid for.
*******************************SPOILERS************************************************************************************
Now I really had to suspend belief in this book just to make it readable but that is only the first part of the book. To think that any loving Mother would send her 17 year old daughter to Rome to learn what she did is unbelievable. True , that the Uncle took it way farther than the mother ever intended , but then you would have to believe that an old uncle would feel comfortable taking his 17 year old virgin niece to a brothel and watching sex acts performed together. He also made her join the brothel as a whore (just no one would touch her and her virginity would stay intact) made her strip down in front of him so that she could be inspected by the madam, and join the Flower Auction, which he was suppose to be the winning bid but things do go wrong.
To really sum up what the mother and uncle did was the whole "Scared Straight" program. They showed her what married life was like for women back then by having her spend time with married ladies her age, spend time with the whores (because married men all visit them) and then spend time with unmarried girls her own age so that she could see how boring her life would be if she wasn't her own woman, running her business and not a married woman. If you can get past that , it's a pretty good read. =)
March 18, 2009
Businesswoman Aurora Van Cleve is desperate to keep her daughter Giana from marrying a fortune hunter, and sends her with her uncle to Italy, to experience life in society and out of it--in a brothel. While up for auction at the infamous Flower Auction, Giana meets American shipbuilder Alex Stanton.
This was a weird, weird book. First of all it takes a long time to get the setup just right--more than 100 pages before the hero actually shows up! Then the whole 'learning to be a hooker' thing is very strange, and so is the newfound cynicism of Giana. I also didn't like Giana herself--she is supposed to be so tough, but she crumbles and bleats distressingly. Alex goes from stone-cold bent on revenge to perfect husband material the second he discovers she really was a virgin. And then there's the whole 'you love me, but you can't trust me!' debacle. Very strange.
This was a weird, weird book. First of all it takes a long time to get the setup just right--more than 100 pages before the hero actually shows up! Then the whole 'learning to be a hooker' thing is very strange, and so is the newfound cynicism of Giana. I also didn't like Giana herself--she is supposed to be so tough, but she crumbles and bleats distressingly. Alex goes from stone-cold bent on revenge to perfect husband material the second he discovers she really was a virgin. And then there's the whole 'you love me, but you can't trust me!' debacle. Very strange.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2014
I picked this book up erroneously thinking that it was a mystery - it's not, it's a romance novel. I pretty much figured how it would end about 1/2 way through, but continued reading hoping it would prove me wrong. It didn't. The story line is interesting, if a bit unbelievable because it's suppose to take place in the mid to late 1800's. There is a lot of gratuitous sex which I understand is one of the reasons for romance novels. I liked the author's style of writing and would be willing to read something that she wrote that was not a "romance".
February 4, 2015
I used to enjoy some CC books in the past but this book just failed to entertain me in the level that I was expecting. The trope was something I couldn't feel comfortable reading although I still managed to trudge on to finish the book. I also failed to really feel connected with the main characters. I guess Gianna and Alex's main story was okay but in the overall scheme of things but I just felt there were too many parts that quite dragged for me.
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