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The deWarenne Dynasty #4
The Prize
Vengeance ruled his day and nights.
An infamous sea captain of the British Royal Navy, Devlin O’Neill is consumed with the need to destroy the man who brutally murdered his father. Having nearly ruined the Earl of Eastleigh financially, he is waiting to strike the final blow. And his opportunity comes in the form of a spirited young American woman, the earl’s niece, who is about to set his cold, calculating world on fire.
Pride inflamed her spirit.
Born and raised on a tobacco plantation, orphan Virginia Hughes is determined to rebuild her beloved Sweet Briar. Daringly, she sails to England alone, hoping to convince her uncle to lend her the funds. Instead she finds herself ruthlessly kidnapped by the notorious Devlin O’Neill. As his hostage, she will soon find her best-laid plans thwarted by a passion that could seal their fates forever…
Love conquered them both…
An infamous sea captain of the British Royal Navy, Devlin O’Neill is consumed with the need to destroy the man who brutally murdered his father. Having nearly ruined the Earl of Eastleigh financially, he is waiting to strike the final blow. And his opportunity comes in the form of a spirited young American woman, the earl’s niece, who is about to set his cold, calculating world on fire.
Pride inflamed her spirit.
Born and raised on a tobacco plantation, orphan Virginia Hughes is determined to rebuild her beloved Sweet Briar. Daringly, she sails to England alone, hoping to convince her uncle to lend her the funds. Instead she finds herself ruthlessly kidnapped by the notorious Devlin O’Neill. As his hostage, she will soon find her best-laid plans thwarted by a passion that could seal their fates forever…
Love conquered them both…
575 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
82 people are currently reading
1063 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Joyce
106 books1,298 followersBrenda Joyce is the bestselling author of forty-one novels and five novellas. She has won many awards, and her debut novel, Innocent Fire, won a Best Western Romance award. She has also won the highly coveted Best Historical Romance award for Splendor and Two Lifetime Achievement Awards from Romantic Times BOOKreviews. There are over 14 million copies of her novels in print and she is published in over a dozen foreign countries.
A native New Yorker, she now lives in southern Arizona with her son, dogs, and her Arabian and half-Arabian reining horses. Brenda divides her time between her twin passions—writing powerful love stories and competing with her horses at regional and national levels. For more information about Brenda and her upcoming novels, please visit her Web sites: www.brendajoyce.com, www.thedewarennedynasty.com and http://mastersoftimebooks.com.
A native New Yorker, she now lives in southern Arizona with her son, dogs, and her Arabian and half-Arabian reining horses. Brenda divides her time between her twin passions—writing powerful love stories and competing with her horses at regional and national levels. For more information about Brenda and her upcoming novels, please visit her Web sites: www.brendajoyce.com, www.thedewarennedynasty.com and http://mastersoftimebooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
May 23, 2019
The Prize is the third instalment in the deWarrene Dynasty by Brenda Joyce and it is a great addition to the series. The Prize is the first regency in the series (I skipped The Game to get to this one!) and it stars Devlin O'Neill, one of the best Irish sea captains in the British army, if unorthodox, and he is completely fuelled by revenge against the Hughes family. His latest attempt to ruin them is to abduct Virginia Hughes, a niece from America, recently orphaned, and travelling to the UK to ask for help to rescue her debt-encumbered plantation. Did this ring a bell to Sean Culhane of Stormfire for anyone else? It even includes a lovely younger brother as a potential love interest too!
The Prize is so, so, so enjoyable. Virginia is such a delight as the naive tomboy but still classically beautiful type, yet halfway through I simply wanted Virginia to tell it like it is to Devlin. She knew what she wanted and she wore her heart on her sleeve, but Devlin kept rejecting her in numerous ways and on so many occasions that we finally got this sentence:
She no longer wished to compromise herself for the sake of their marriage, for the sake of being with him.
Just be with Sean. Quick. Before he ends up in Eleanor’s book! I yelled at my Kindle. Yes I talk to my Kindle. I don’t know why, but I think it will help.
Aside from taking on the thankless emotional labour of educating Devlin to be a decent human being, Virginia’s quest in life is to protect her tobacco plantation, Sweet Briar. After her parents’ untimely demise, she is off to see her English uncle, and her guardian, so she can argue her case to not sell Sweet Briar but keep it in the family.
I wished I knew beforehand Sweet Briar would be a powerful motivation for Virginia's character. At least I would have been prepared because if you don’t enjoy whitewashed plantation fantasies where everyone is friends with their slaves, maybe don’t read this. I just could not get into it in the same way I could not get into Connie Mason's Tender Fury even though I enjoyed both stories for the amazing BDs they are.
Authors and publishing houses should leave the OG BD scenes alone but if they want to update anything, start with problematic passages that reek of historical revisionism about the slave-owning South. If anything needs to be updated, it's one-dimensional portraits of plantation owners and the slaves. (Also, the horrible clip art covers. Something must be done about those Connie Mason covers.) "No one cared more more about their slaves” than Virginia. Right. I feel like the people who care the most about slaves are the ones that don’t have slaves in the first place.
Not to mention when Virginia compared her situation of “being a lady" to that of "being a slave… being a lady was no different from being in shackles.”
Overall, the Prize is a great addition to the deWarrenne Dynasty. Aside from Stormfire, I can't think of any other story aside from Lemonade that does a good job of a hero driven by self-destructive vengeance on this scale of crazy.
The Prize is so, so, so enjoyable. Virginia is such a delight as the naive tomboy but still classically beautiful type, yet halfway through I simply wanted Virginia to tell it like it is to Devlin. She knew what she wanted and she wore her heart on her sleeve, but Devlin kept rejecting her in numerous ways and on so many occasions that we finally got this sentence:
She no longer wished to compromise herself for the sake of their marriage, for the sake of being with him.
Just be with Sean. Quick. Before he ends up in Eleanor’s book! I yelled at my Kindle. Yes I talk to my Kindle. I don’t know why, but I think it will help.
Aside from taking on the thankless emotional labour of educating Devlin to be a decent human being, Virginia’s quest in life is to protect her tobacco plantation, Sweet Briar. After her parents’ untimely demise, she is off to see her English uncle, and her guardian, so she can argue her case to not sell Sweet Briar but keep it in the family.
I wished I knew beforehand Sweet Briar would be a powerful motivation for Virginia's character. At least I would have been prepared because if you don’t enjoy whitewashed plantation fantasies where everyone is friends with their slaves, maybe don’t read this. I just could not get into it in the same way I could not get into Connie Mason's Tender Fury even though I enjoyed both stories for the amazing BDs they are.
Authors and publishing houses should leave the OG BD scenes alone but if they want to update anything, start with problematic passages that reek of historical revisionism about the slave-owning South. If anything needs to be updated, it's one-dimensional portraits of plantation owners and the slaves. (Also, the horrible clip art covers. Something must be done about those Connie Mason covers.) "No one cared more more about their slaves” than Virginia. Right. I feel like the people who care the most about slaves are the ones that don’t have slaves in the first place.
Not to mention when Virginia compared her situation of “being a lady" to that of "being a slave… being a lady was no different from being in shackles.”
Overall, the Prize is a great addition to the deWarrenne Dynasty. Aside from Stormfire, I can't think of any other story aside from Lemonade that does a good job of a hero driven by self-destructive vengeance on this scale of crazy.
October 31, 2020
Brenda Joyce is one of my favourite authors of all time. She has written one of the most Epic Romantic Tales over the years and many of them are my all time favourites. With adventurous Alpha-heroes and strong beautiful heroines who dare to tame them Joyce just succeeds with entertaining...its Romance afterall and i love it!
"The Prize" is the fourth book in the "DeWarenne Dynasty"-series (i love these series so much) where it starts with Devlin`s and Sean`s father being killed right in front of them. That terrifying sight traumatized the 10-year old Devlin so badly that he grew up that day into becoming a warrior who lives and breathes for need of vengance...as in obsession of it. Now at the age of 24,our hero,the infamous Sea Captain Devlin O`Neill abducts our spirited 18-year old heroine Virginia Hughes, niece to the man who brutally killed his father. Little does he know that the moment he watches her on the ship with a gun pointed at him, that their fates were united into a Forever...
Devlin O`Neill and his brother Sean O`Neill are the descendents to Liam O`Neill (Hero from "The Game") so i already knew that i would fall in love with these Golden Haired brothers. I can truly understand why many REALLY disliked Devlin throughout the story, he had after all taken every means to carry on his heartless revenge against his fathers killer. Taken on his wife as his mistress (that`s pretty coldblooded) and even stole his sons mistresses and even ruined him economically,he is a very cruel character who lives in this deathly obsession only being 24-years old, which is too much for a young man like him. It was like he had the whole world`s populations hate on his shoulders so much that it had become a part of him and who he is. From seeing Virginia for the first time he never physically hurts her or even tries to rape her for the sake of the memory of his dead sister and that he had been raised by his parents to respect woman. He never seduced her first (so don`t worry about forced seduction) but she does seduce him. Even while he always hurt her mentally and declaring that she shouldn`t expect anything from him. For his revenge he taunts her openly as his mistress for the whole England to see, THREE times he left her bed after making love with her without saying goodbye much to her heartbreak, and he pushes her to his brother for him to marry her. Also at the same time not standing the sight of them together, as it was clear with his jealous outbursts.
But all that time he also suffered himself. He had been succumbing to the darkness of hate and revenge almost all his life that it had become a destructive obsession that had made him into who he is, so much that he denied himself the happiness of loving Virginia and being loved in return. That causes a whole lot of angst in this story, even after their marriage.
Virginia is a brave heroine Brenda ´Joyce created. It must have taken a lot of courage to escape that school to her plantation and even defying Devlin at every turn and simply and selflessly fought for his love...even thinking that it is a lost cause. Many heroines of BJ usually are proud spitfires against the heroes,but Virginia are a young woman who had her heart on her sleeve and i just simply adored her. It was no wonder Sean Ò`Neill also had fallen in love with her (much to Devlin`s disgust) and i so badly fell in love with him too. I know he will find his soulmate in "The Stolen Bride" which i am SO EXCITED for! We also get to meet Devlin`s stepbrothers: Tyrell deWarenne, Cliff deWarenne and Rex deWarenne-All these three are such flirts and i LOVE them,meeting Cliff again was so fun as i have read his book in "A Lady at Last" and i am such a sucker over him. I know that Tyrell has his book in "The Masquerade" and Rex has his book in "The Perfect Bride" and i SO plan to read them-gosh these deWarenne men are so MALE and SEXY!
There was that connection between Devlin and Virginia from the start that only grew deeper together with their sexual chemistry and blooming love. He was tender towards her and very passionate. When she would slap him after a horrible deed done from him he accepted it and said that he was sorry. He apologized when he saw that he had deeply hurt her-and it was so heartily said that i as a reader could see that he was slowly killing himself with the means he took to his revenge-knowing that Virginia also suffered. The conversations they had, slowly getting to know each other until there was nothing more to know and the passion was there simmering and dangerous... always burning and consuming me as a reader.I love Devlin and Virginia, and i love their Epic love-story in "The Prize".Devlin Ò`Neill will have come to the ultimate devastating point in the end where there will be no return to the darkness of unending anger and death, but instead the biggest realization that he can`t live without Virginia, finally surrender...in the name of love. Oh how i cheered and cried at the same time!
"The Prize" is the fourth book in the "DeWarenne Dynasty"-series (i love these series so much) where it starts with Devlin`s and Sean`s father being killed right in front of them. That terrifying sight traumatized the 10-year old Devlin so badly that he grew up that day into becoming a warrior who lives and breathes for need of vengance...as in obsession of it. Now at the age of 24,our hero,the infamous Sea Captain Devlin O`Neill abducts our spirited 18-year old heroine Virginia Hughes, niece to the man who brutally killed his father. Little does he know that the moment he watches her on the ship with a gun pointed at him, that their fates were united into a Forever...
Devlin O`Neill and his brother Sean O`Neill are the descendents to Liam O`Neill (Hero from "The Game") so i already knew that i would fall in love with these Golden Haired brothers. I can truly understand why many REALLY disliked Devlin throughout the story, he had after all taken every means to carry on his heartless revenge against his fathers killer. Taken on his wife as his mistress (that`s pretty coldblooded) and even stole his sons mistresses and even ruined him economically,he is a very cruel character who lives in this deathly obsession only being 24-years old, which is too much for a young man like him. It was like he had the whole world`s populations hate on his shoulders so much that it had become a part of him and who he is. From seeing Virginia for the first time he never physically hurts her or even tries to rape her for the sake of the memory of his dead sister and that he had been raised by his parents to respect woman. He never seduced her first (so don`t worry about forced seduction) but she does seduce him. Even while he always hurt her mentally and declaring that she shouldn`t expect anything from him. For his revenge he taunts her openly as his mistress for the whole England to see, THREE times he left her bed after making love with her without saying goodbye much to her heartbreak, and he pushes her to his brother for him to marry her. Also at the same time not standing the sight of them together, as it was clear with his jealous outbursts.
But all that time he also suffered himself. He had been succumbing to the darkness of hate and revenge almost all his life that it had become a destructive obsession that had made him into who he is, so much that he denied himself the happiness of loving Virginia and being loved in return. That causes a whole lot of angst in this story, even after their marriage.
Virginia is a brave heroine Brenda ´Joyce created. It must have taken a lot of courage to escape that school to her plantation and even defying Devlin at every turn and simply and selflessly fought for his love...even thinking that it is a lost cause. Many heroines of BJ usually are proud spitfires against the heroes,but Virginia are a young woman who had her heart on her sleeve and i just simply adored her. It was no wonder Sean Ò`Neill also had fallen in love with her (much to Devlin`s disgust) and i so badly fell in love with him too. I know he will find his soulmate in "The Stolen Bride" which i am SO EXCITED for! We also get to meet Devlin`s stepbrothers: Tyrell deWarenne, Cliff deWarenne and Rex deWarenne-All these three are such flirts and i LOVE them,meeting Cliff again was so fun as i have read his book in "A Lady at Last" and i am such a sucker over him. I know that Tyrell has his book in "The Masquerade" and Rex has his book in "The Perfect Bride" and i SO plan to read them-gosh these deWarenne men are so MALE and SEXY!
There was that connection between Devlin and Virginia from the start that only grew deeper together with their sexual chemistry and blooming love. He was tender towards her and very passionate. When she would slap him after a horrible deed done from him he accepted it and said that he was sorry. He apologized when he saw that he had deeply hurt her-and it was so heartily said that i as a reader could see that he was slowly killing himself with the means he took to his revenge-knowing that Virginia also suffered. The conversations they had, slowly getting to know each other until there was nothing more to know and the passion was there simmering and dangerous... always burning and consuming me as a reader.I love Devlin and Virginia, and i love their Epic love-story in "The Prize".Devlin Ò`Neill will have come to the ultimate devastating point in the end where there will be no return to the darkness of unending anger and death, but instead the biggest realization that he can`t live without Virginia, finally surrender...in the name of love. Oh how i cheered and cried at the same time!
June 25, 2024
Content warning: The hero has sex on page with his mistress (before he meets the heroine) and receives a blow job from a maid in his house (after he meets the heroine). Then he proceeds to have sex with the maid while imagining that she is the heroine.
Spoilers ahead as this is more of a summary of the book.
The prologue and first 2-3 chapters set up the hero and heroine's background. Devlin witnessed his father's murder at the age of 10 and vowed revenge on the Earl of Aisley (surname: Hughes) not by killing him but by ruining him financially and taking Hughes's second wife as his mistress. Virginia is the 18-year-old American orphaned niece to Hughes. Her parents owned a tobacco plantation named Sweet Briar that was going into debt. The bank refuses to give her a loan so she travels to England to ask her uncle for a loan and gets captured by Devlin and his crew on the sea for ransom as part of his revenge plot. He's now a captain of the British Navy and is often referred to as The Prince's Pirate (or something like that).
Side note: I really like the (female) narrator's voice for Devlin.
It must be my adoration for pirate romances because my favorite part of this entire book is during her captivity on his ship. The battle of wills, the forced proximity, the sexual tension, the crew, the escape attempts, etc. I wish these chapters lasted longer. Devlin was raised to be a gentleman, so compared to other pirate heroes, Devlin doesn't immediately seduce Virginia. He does his best to remove himself from that temptation. When he does give in, Virginia becomes curious and wants to be seduced and/or becomes the seducer since Devlin refuses to seduce her a second time. I felt that this change in her character was rather abrupt, but it makes sense since Devlin is trying hard not to be the seducer.
They arrive at his home in Ireland and we meet his younger brother by two years, Sean. Some reviewers compare the romance/plot to that of Stormfire by Christine Monson, and I can see why. After making love to Virginia, Devlin abandons her the very next day. I assume because he doesn't want to have feelings for her. They were separated for five months because he had a job to do (remember, he's a captain of the British Navy). The nation is about to go to war with America (her country). She lives with Sean for five months and he falls in love with her. Needless to say, she doesn't feel the same way.
Devlin returns and takes her to London to finally ransom her off to her uncle. They refuse to pay, so he parades her around as his mistress. Again, he doesn't sleep with her because he's a "gentleman." Eyeroll at this point. But he can only resist for so long. There's a spicy scene at the modiste.
At this point in the book, I am over his obsession with his revenge. It's gone on for too long.
His stepdad (who is a de Warren, of which this series is based) and mother visit him and persuade him to marry her to save her reputation. So they do, but they are separated again for a few months because now Britain is at war with America. He returns on her birthday (how romantic!) and they discover that she is pregnant. She gives him an ultimatum: choose a life with her and their child or his revenge. He chooses revenge and returns to his duties in the war. She decides to return to her plantation in America (even though there's a war going on! 🤦🏻♀️🙄) An incident occurs that makes him realize that he can't live without her.
I'm not sure how I feel about these last chapters about the war. Was it really necessary?
An epilogue would have been nice.
Other notes:
- Devlin's stepbrothers and stepsister are de Warrens: Tyrell, Cliff, Rex, and Eleanor.
- We see glimpses of Eleanor's feelings/infatuation for Sean (her stepbrother and Devlin's brother).
- The blurb for Sean's book states that he's a traitor. There's a scene in this book where he and Devlin meet with other Irish farmers who voiced their frustrations with the English.
Final thoughts
I enjoyed the first few chapters when she was held captive on his ship. His obsession for revenge lasted way too long and the romance suffered for it and made the remainder of the book a disappointing read. I'm not sure if I'll continue the series if there are chapters of unnecessary stuff that just drag the story.
Spoilers ahead as this is more of a summary of the book.
The prologue and first 2-3 chapters set up the hero and heroine's background. Devlin witnessed his father's murder at the age of 10 and vowed revenge on the Earl of Aisley (surname: Hughes) not by killing him but by ruining him financially and taking Hughes's second wife as his mistress. Virginia is the 18-year-old American orphaned niece to Hughes. Her parents owned a tobacco plantation named Sweet Briar that was going into debt. The bank refuses to give her a loan so she travels to England to ask her uncle for a loan and gets captured by Devlin and his crew on the sea for ransom as part of his revenge plot. He's now a captain of the British Navy and is often referred to as The Prince's Pirate (or something like that).
Side note: I really like the (female) narrator's voice for Devlin.
It must be my adoration for pirate romances because my favorite part of this entire book is during her captivity on his ship. The battle of wills, the forced proximity, the sexual tension, the crew, the escape attempts, etc. I wish these chapters lasted longer. Devlin was raised to be a gentleman, so compared to other pirate heroes, Devlin doesn't immediately seduce Virginia. He does his best to remove himself from that temptation. When he does give in, Virginia becomes curious and wants to be seduced and/or becomes the seducer since Devlin refuses to seduce her a second time. I felt that this change in her character was rather abrupt, but it makes sense since Devlin is trying hard not to be the seducer.
They arrive at his home in Ireland and we meet his younger brother by two years, Sean. Some reviewers compare the romance/plot to that of Stormfire by Christine Monson, and I can see why. After making love to Virginia, Devlin abandons her the very next day. I assume because he doesn't want to have feelings for her. They were separated for five months because he had a job to do (remember, he's a captain of the British Navy). The nation is about to go to war with America (her country). She lives with Sean for five months and he falls in love with her. Needless to say, she doesn't feel the same way.
Devlin returns and takes her to London to finally ransom her off to her uncle. They refuse to pay, so he parades her around as his mistress. Again, he doesn't sleep with her because he's a "gentleman." Eyeroll at this point. But he can only resist for so long. There's a spicy scene at the modiste.
At this point in the book, I am over his obsession with his revenge. It's gone on for too long.
His stepdad (who is a de Warren, of which this series is based) and mother visit him and persuade him to marry her to save her reputation. So they do, but they are separated again for a few months because now Britain is at war with America. He returns on her birthday (how romantic!) and they discover that she is pregnant. She gives him an ultimatum: choose a life with her and their child or his revenge. He chooses revenge and returns to his duties in the war. She decides to return to her plantation in America (even though there's a war going on! 🤦🏻♀️🙄) An incident occurs that makes him realize that he can't live without her.
I'm not sure how I feel about these last chapters about the war. Was it really necessary?
An epilogue would have been nice.
Other notes:
- Devlin's stepbrothers and stepsister are de Warrens: Tyrell, Cliff, Rex, and Eleanor.
- We see glimpses of Eleanor's feelings/infatuation for Sean (her stepbrother and Devlin's brother).
- The blurb for Sean's book states that he's a traitor. There's a scene in this book where he and Devlin meet with other Irish farmers who voiced their frustrations with the English.
Final thoughts
I enjoyed the first few chapters when she was held captive on his ship. His obsession for revenge lasted way too long and the romance suffered for it and made the remainder of the book a disappointing read. I'm not sure if I'll continue the series if there are chapters of unnecessary stuff that just drag the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2024
Read: 8/12/24
March 16, 2024
Güçsüz kadın karakterlerden nefret ediyorum😔 Bıktırıyor ve erkeğin son anda 180 derece saçma sapan değişmesi falan ıyk ya az gerçekçilik! Bu kitap olmamış valla hiç sevemedim 😪
March 9, 2010
When he was ten, Devlin O’Neill witnessed his father’s murder, and from that moment on hid life was dedicated to one thing only – revenge. Now, fourteen years later, his vengeance is about to be complete with the help of a young American, niece of the man who murdered his father.
Little did he know that by kidnapping Virginia Hughes and holding her for ransom would be the turning point in his life…
I have really mixed feelings about this book. On one hand it was a long, historical swashbuckling adventure, with multi-layered and well-developed characters and a great love story (albeit long in the making), which I like (historicals used to be my favorite genre), while on the other hand it was a tad too long, too unevenly paced, and those characters had a few layers too much on them, alternating between annoying and plain stupid.
I love reformed-rake storylines, but Devlin was a bit too much of a bastard for almost the entire story with just a few "sunny" moments in between, for me to actually appreciate him as a to-die-for, love-until-death kind of hero. And Virginia, was just perfect as the heroine, with all her idiosyncrasies a suitable counterbalance to Devlin and his many idiosyncrasies.
I felt like I was watching a tennis match, he was a brute, she was naïve and loving, then he decided to mellow a bit, and she turned into a little bitch in the making. The tag-o-war between them was rather headache inducing. He pulled stunts, she pulled stunts, he hurt her, she loved him, he tired to be nice, she hated him, because he hurt her too much. Make up your mind already!
This strange love story was a bit reminiscent of Kathleen E. Woodiwiss’s bodice-ripper from the seventies The Flame and the Flower with a reluctant sea captain (without the revenge angle) hero and a young, naïve lady heroine (though the marriage came a lot earlier).
The gripping moments couldn’t compensate for the slow, dragging ones, the romance was too sparsely interwoven into the story, the hero was too much of a (whoring) bastard for me to actually like him (I wanted him to be bashed on the head with a heavy, blunt object…and they say women cannot make up their minds), the heroine was too mercurial and too glutton-for-punishment for my taste, and the ending was too abrupt, Devlin’s change of heart too sudden to actually be believable. He had an entire, and very thick, book to see reason and he decided to in the last couple of pages? Unbelievable!
This book was too long, too convoluted, a tad sadistic, a lot masochistic, and I just wasn’t convinced. 2 ½ stars
Little did he know that by kidnapping Virginia Hughes and holding her for ransom would be the turning point in his life…
I have really mixed feelings about this book. On one hand it was a long, historical swashbuckling adventure, with multi-layered and well-developed characters and a great love story (albeit long in the making), which I like (historicals used to be my favorite genre), while on the other hand it was a tad too long, too unevenly paced, and those characters had a few layers too much on them, alternating between annoying and plain stupid.
I love reformed-rake storylines, but Devlin was a bit too much of a bastard for almost the entire story with just a few "sunny" moments in between, for me to actually appreciate him as a to-die-for, love-until-death kind of hero. And Virginia, was just perfect as the heroine, with all her idiosyncrasies a suitable counterbalance to Devlin and his many idiosyncrasies.
I felt like I was watching a tennis match, he was a brute, she was naïve and loving, then he decided to mellow a bit, and she turned into a little bitch in the making. The tag-o-war between them was rather headache inducing. He pulled stunts, she pulled stunts, he hurt her, she loved him, he tired to be nice, she hated him, because he hurt her too much. Make up your mind already!
This strange love story was a bit reminiscent of Kathleen E. Woodiwiss’s bodice-ripper from the seventies The Flame and the Flower with a reluctant sea captain (without the revenge angle) hero and a young, naïve lady heroine (though the marriage came a lot earlier).
The gripping moments couldn’t compensate for the slow, dragging ones, the romance was too sparsely interwoven into the story, the hero was too much of a (whoring) bastard for me to actually like him (I wanted him to be bashed on the head with a heavy, blunt object…and they say women cannot make up their minds), the heroine was too mercurial and too glutton-for-punishment for my taste, and the ending was too abrupt, Devlin’s change of heart too sudden to actually be believable. He had an entire, and very thick, book to see reason and he decided to in the last couple of pages? Unbelievable!
This book was too long, too convoluted, a tad sadistic, a lot masochistic, and I just wasn’t convinced. 2 ½ stars
June 24, 2024
I read this book out of order, by reading The Masquerade first, and then The Prize. I did not feel lost at all during both books, so it was not a problem. I did love The Masquerade more however.
I was loving this book, The Prize, up until the last few chapters. It just felt like it was dragged out a little bit too far: his revenge, his extreme rudeness to his little lady, his heartless ruination of her, and denial of his feelings for her until the very end.
The war scene turned me off, and by the last few chapters I was so tired of how the heroine was so accepting of the hero's rude behavior. She was 18 years old however, so it was somewhat realistic in how she responded to him. I just kept thinking that she needed to runaway sooner and make him realize how much he cared for her, but it took so long in the story for that to happen.
All in all, I did enjoy the book and am glad that I read it. Off now to the next de Warrene story....
I was loving this book, The Prize, up until the last few chapters. It just felt like it was dragged out a little bit too far: his revenge, his extreme rudeness to his little lady, his heartless ruination of her, and denial of his feelings for her until the very end.
The war scene turned me off, and by the last few chapters I was so tired of how the heroine was so accepting of the hero's rude behavior. She was 18 years old however, so it was somewhat realistic in how she responded to him. I just kept thinking that she needed to runaway sooner and make him realize how much he cared for her, but it took so long in the story for that to happen.
All in all, I did enjoy the book and am glad that I read it. Off now to the next de Warrene story....
November 19, 2021
Oh, you poor tortured asshole, Devlin O’Neil. 🥺
I do love you so. I can see why Virginia just can’t quit you.
This was a reread, and I’d forgotten the angst.
I know you wanted us to think you’re cold and unfeeling, but Virginia and I, we saw the cracks. And you had us like this:
Honestly, I had almost given up hope that you were ever gonna be a swoony prince for Sweet Virginia… but then you took her to the modiste for a new wardrobe… and of course, insisted on staying for the fitting 👀… and well, a *gentleman* can only be pushed so far… 😳🥵 … and we saw you begin to crack…
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Yeesh, Devlin. 😍
And then you really show your cards when Virginia is attacked and you fly into a rage and try to murder the perpetrator. 😳
Anwho, it was obvious all was not as it appears with our dear Hero. And I was able to carry on.
You know what’s great about the pain these tortured heros put us through? When they do FINALLY get their sh*t together and recognize that they love their h and allow her to love him too, it’s sooooooo good.
This was me the last 25% of this book:
💖Bottom Line? 4.5 angsty tortured stars. Why not a full 5 stars? It ends too abruptly. I wanted to see more of them together after all that pain. I wanted to see them with their baby. I earned it, D@MN it! 😅😈
⚠️FOR THE SAFETY SQUAD⚠️
- cheating? I mean… it’s a gray area, I guess. 😬 He does have sex with a maid after he’s kissed the h. At the time, He is actively trying to resist the h and it doesn’t occur to him that she could have feelings for him since he’s her captor. He uses the maid cuz the h has him in a lather. He has absolutely no feelings for the maid at all. A conversation with the h about his actions happens later, and his understanding of the situation kinda makes sense from his perspective. Do you still want to castrate him for upsetting the h? YES. Is it “cheating”?? Eh? 🤷🏼♀️
- no sharing
- OW drama - the H has/had a mistress before meeting the h, and we get a scene at the beginning of the book with that mistress, and we meet her later. She doesn’t really cause trouble. The H does not want her. He was only with her for revenge in the first place. And then of course the maid situation described above. 🤬
- no dubcon
- there are 2 attempted sexual assaults by OP on the h
I do love you so. I can see why Virginia just can’t quit you.
This was a reread, and I’d forgotten the angst.
I know you wanted us to think you’re cold and unfeeling, but Virginia and I, we saw the cracks. And you had us like this:
Honestly, I had almost given up hope that you were ever gonna be a swoony prince for Sweet Virginia… but then you took her to the modiste for a new wardrobe… and of course, insisted on staying for the fitting 👀… and well, a *gentleman* can only be pushed so far… 😳🥵 … and we saw you begin to crack…
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Yeesh, Devlin. 😍
And then you really show your cards when Virginia is attacked and you fly into a rage and try to murder the perpetrator. 😳
Anwho, it was obvious all was not as it appears with our dear Hero. And I was able to carry on.
You know what’s great about the pain these tortured heros put us through? When they do FINALLY get their sh*t together and recognize that they love their h and allow her to love him too, it’s sooooooo good.
This was me the last 25% of this book:
💖Bottom Line? 4.5 angsty tortured stars. Why not a full 5 stars? It ends too abruptly. I wanted to see more of them together after all that pain. I wanted to see them with their baby. I earned it, D@MN it! 😅😈
⚠️FOR THE SAFETY SQUAD⚠️
- cheating? I mean… it’s a gray area, I guess. 😬 He does have sex with a maid after he’s kissed the h. At the time, He is actively trying to resist the h and it doesn’t occur to him that she could have feelings for him since he’s her captor. He uses the maid cuz the h has him in a lather. He has absolutely no feelings for the maid at all. A conversation with the h about his actions happens later, and his understanding of the situation kinda makes sense from his perspective. Do you still want to castrate him for upsetting the h? YES. Is it “cheating”?? Eh? 🤷🏼♀️
- no sharing
- OW drama - the H has/had a mistress before meeting the h, and we get a scene at the beginning of the book with that mistress, and we meet her later. She doesn’t really cause trouble. The H does not want her. He was only with her for revenge in the first place. And then of course the maid situation described above. 🤬
- no dubcon
- there are 2 attempted sexual assaults by OP on the h
March 18, 2021
I loved how bold and unapologetic the h was , she wasn't afraid of telling the H of her needs, desires , she seduced him , that was quite a change
The H was really a tortured soul.
I really want to read Sean story
This serie is becoming one of my favorite.
The H was really a tortured soul.
I really want to read Sean story
This serie is becoming one of my favorite.
August 31, 2011
Very good historical romance. A little bit of everything for every romance reader. Everything from murder, revenge, kidnapping, arrogant hero, set in Ireland, England and America with the War of 1812 as the historical back drop. I love Virginia, the heroine. She is everything a heroine should be in a romance story.
This was not a perfect little light romance. It is emotional, painful and at times hurtful.
Devlin O'Neill is arrogant, ruthlesss, emotionally wounded. He is out for revenge for the death of his father. He has a lovely family that now not only includes his Mother - Mary, but a brother Sean, a step father The Earl of Adair and 3 step brothers - Tyrell, Rex, and Cliff. Devlin is a powerful man. He is the Capt of a naval ship. He wants revenge and the one way he knows to get that is by kidnapping his nemesis's neice, he already sleeps with the man's wife, but that is not enough. So he sets out to ruin a young innocent woman's life. Her name is Virginia and she is just what the Capt needs. She stands up to him, but most of all she loves him.
This was not a perfect little light romance. It is emotional, painful and at times hurtful.
Devlin O'Neill is arrogant, ruthlesss, emotionally wounded. He is out for revenge for the death of his father. He has a lovely family that now not only includes his Mother - Mary, but a brother Sean, a step father The Earl of Adair and 3 step brothers - Tyrell, Rex, and Cliff. Devlin is a powerful man. He is the Capt of a naval ship. He wants revenge and the one way he knows to get that is by kidnapping his nemesis's neice, he already sleeps with the man's wife, but that is not enough. So he sets out to ruin a young innocent woman's life. Her name is Virginia and she is just what the Capt needs. She stands up to him, but most of all she loves him.
August 18, 2021
3 stars. Virginia and Devlin. This epic story started out excellent and by the end just sort of fizzled. I was bummed when the hero goes from making out with the heroine to straight into another woman who performs oral sex and then they have sex all night. Even worse, it was the best sex ever because he was pretending in his mind that it was the heroine. Then later tells Virginia it was no big deal because it meant nothing to him. Anyways, for most of the story the hero treats Virginia like dirt and continues on with his revenge on the guy with murdered his dad. At one point he chooses the revenge over Virginia and then when he finally sees the light he ends up not perusing his revenge and the their hea feels very rushed. I would have preferred less about the war history lessons and more about finding out how these two are actually going to be able to live together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2024
So just a tiny tiny maybe. Spoiler but not so much.
It’s more like 3.75 but I was not impressed. I loved all the
books before this one but this h was just immature. And the last putting her baby in a war zone to keep it safe to be away from her husband who was away for 6 months RIDICULOUS
None of the writing really clicked for me. It had its moments but very few and far between. Not my fav. Plot 5 (1-10) steaminess 7.5(1-10)
It’s more like 3.75 but I was not impressed. I loved all the
books before this one but this h was just immature. And the last putting her baby in a war zone to keep it safe to be away from her husband who was away for 6 months RIDICULOUS
None of the writing really clicked for me. It had its moments but very few and far between. Not my fav. Plot 5 (1-10) steaminess 7.5(1-10)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2017
Lo compré sin saber que pertenecía a una serie de 6 libros, y este es el cuarto. Me ha gustado, y la historia, aunque larga, me ha durado un suspiro. Hay ciertas cosas bastante machistas que la autora pasa por virtudes en el protagonista, pero bueno, en romántica a veces una se arriesga a eso.
Me pensaré si seguir con las otras novelas.
Me pensaré si seguir con las otras novelas.
March 26, 2019
Si bien es un libro largo, es muy rápido de leer. La historia se centra en Devlin, cegado por la venganza. 5 estrellas porque tiene todo lo que personalmente me gusta, amor, barcos, trama basada en la realidad (guerra de 1812), final inesperado. Recomendado.
November 5, 2016
MÜKEMMEL!!
June 9, 2014
I really liked this although it was VERY long and there were times when I wanted to kill both the H and the h. However, it kept my interest. (I had the audible version, so I listened to it whenever I was in the car or doing housework).
Some may have considered the h TSTL, but I liked her. I think Joyce had the skill to pull off a heroine who did some really silly/impetuous things and still have her be sympathetic and likeable. She is only 18yrs old and had been sheltered, her naivety was understandable. Too often these heroines are 30-year-olds in a 18yr old body. Although, there were times I wanted to shake her just as much as I want to shake my own teenage niece at times.
The H was harder to like. He had a sympathetic back story (father murdered in front of him), but he took the revenge thing too far. His mother and brother did not agree with his actions and they lost the H's father too. Even though he seemed to think so, he wasn't the only victim in the world. He also should have known his father would never have condoned the way he hurt innocents in his determination to avenge him. He did feel a lot of guilt over what he was doing to the h, but kept on doing it for FAR too long. In the end, he does realize all of his mistakes and is on the path to making amends, but things had to get pretty bad first.
He kidnapped the h off an American ship sailing to England because she was the niece of the man who killed her father. He was a British navel officer and this was just before the War of 1812 started, so he had no need or excuse to attack that ship and kill some of the crew - aside from his revenge plot. He brought the heroine onto his ship and then had one of his men sail the American ship. However, there was a big storm and due to the damage the H had done to the American ship, it sank killing everyone aboard. Pretty bad, but not enough to stir his conscience.
He planned to ransom the h to her uncle who he knew could not afford it because the H had been slowly destroying him. (His revenge plan had been to ruin the man financially and basically torment him every way possible (like screwing his wife) rather than just outright kill him.) The h told him that she was going to lose her plantation if her uncle couldn't afford to help save it and if he had to pay a ransom she was pretty much screwed. He had a twinge of guilt,but not much.
He took her to his home in Ireland and finally gave into his desire for her and took her virginity. It wasn't rape, but the way he behaved afterward was horrible. He went and told his brother (who was falling in love with Virginia) that he should marry her (to assuage his guilt and give his child a name if she was pregnant). Then he sailed away without a word to her, leaving her broken hearted. His brother, Sean, was a real gentleman, however, and was a great friend to Virginia during the months the H was away. Although, he was hoping she'd someday forget about Devlin and consider him. When Devlin came back, he treated the h like a whore out of jealousy and asked his brother what it was like to f*ck her. He got punched for that one. once again, some guilt and self disgust, but not enough to stop his crap
He takes Virginia to London to try and ransom her and the uncle refuses. So, he decides to parade her around England as his mistress (they weren't really sleeping together) to humiliate the uncle and Virginia was just collateral damage. This one really does blow up in his face and he starts to make amends and do the right thing at that point, but is still obsessed with his vengeance and there are several more examples of his being a stubborn jackass before the HEA finally comes.
Some may have considered the h TSTL, but I liked her. I think Joyce had the skill to pull off a heroine who did some really silly/impetuous things and still have her be sympathetic and likeable. She is only 18yrs old and had been sheltered, her naivety was understandable. Too often these heroines are 30-year-olds in a 18yr old body. Although, there were times I wanted to shake her just as much as I want to shake my own teenage niece at times.
The H was harder to like. He had a sympathetic back story (father murdered in front of him), but he took the revenge thing too far. His mother and brother did not agree with his actions and they lost the H's father too. Even though he seemed to think so, he wasn't the only victim in the world. He also should have known his father would never have condoned the way he hurt innocents in his determination to avenge him. He did feel a lot of guilt over what he was doing to the h, but kept on doing it for FAR too long. In the end, he does realize all of his mistakes and is on the path to making amends, but things had to get pretty bad first.
He kidnapped the h off an American ship sailing to England because she was the niece of the man who killed her father. He was a British navel officer and this was just before the War of 1812 started, so he had no need or excuse to attack that ship and kill some of the crew - aside from his revenge plot. He brought the heroine onto his ship and then had one of his men sail the American ship. However, there was a big storm and due to the damage the H had done to the American ship, it sank killing everyone aboard. Pretty bad, but not enough to stir his conscience.
He planned to ransom the h to her uncle who he knew could not afford it because the H had been slowly destroying him. (His revenge plan had been to ruin the man financially and basically torment him every way possible (like screwing his wife) rather than just outright kill him.) The h told him that she was going to lose her plantation if her uncle couldn't afford to help save it and if he had to pay a ransom she was pretty much screwed. He had a twinge of guilt,but not much.
He took her to his home in Ireland and finally gave into his desire for her and took her virginity. It wasn't rape, but the way he behaved afterward was horrible. He went and told his brother (who was falling in love with Virginia) that he should marry her (to assuage his guilt and give his child a name if she was pregnant). Then he sailed away without a word to her, leaving her broken hearted. His brother, Sean, was a real gentleman, however, and was a great friend to Virginia during the months the H was away. Although, he was hoping she'd someday forget about Devlin and consider him. When Devlin came back, he treated the h like a whore out of jealousy and asked his brother what it was like to f*ck her. He got punched for that one. once again, some guilt and self disgust, but not enough to stop his crap
He takes Virginia to London to try and ransom her and the uncle refuses. So, he decides to parade her around England as his mistress (they weren't really sleeping together) to humiliate the uncle and Virginia was just collateral damage. This one really does blow up in his face and he starts to make amends and do the right thing at that point, but is still obsessed with his vengeance and there are several more examples of his being a stubborn jackass before the HEA finally comes.
March 12, 2016
Arrogant Irish Hero Takes His Revenge
Set in 1812, this is the story of Devlin O’Neill, a daring sea captain in the British Royal Navy, who is Irish by birth and loyalty. He cares nothing for England, only for Ireland and taking revenge on the Earl of Eastleigh, the English soldier who brutally murdered his father when Devlin was only 10. Devlin becomes a success for the wealth it brings and the opportunity for revenge.
Devlin has risen to become a well-educated, successful officer, recently knighted. He frequently flies in the face of his orders, but the British need him so they put up with his antics. Now he is ready for the final blow to Eastleigh, bankrupting him by requiring a ransom for his American niece.
American Virginia Hughes was born and raised on Sweet Briar, a tobacco plantation in Virginia. With her parents gone, she has one goal: to pay off her father’s debts and rebuild her beloved Sweet Briar. She sails to England, hoping to convince her uncle, the Earl of Eastleigh, to lend her the funds. On the way, Devlin abducts her.
For most of the book, Devlin is a man who has steeled himself against all emotion to accomplish his daring sea adventures and his revenge. Cold, uncaring and willing to use anyone he must to meet his ends (for 6 years, he takes the Earl of Eastleigh’s wife as his mistress, caring nothing for her). And, for most of the book, it’s a tug of war between Devlin, who shamelessly uses Virginia as well as others, and his captive.
At the end of it, Devlin finally realizes he has fallen in love with Virginia and wants a family, but it was a fairly abrupt turnaround. And Virginia just kept hanging in there through all his abuse (except for brief periods of sanity). It reminded me of Stormfire but lacked Monson’s fine touch or the angst of that story or a courageous heroine. Still, it was not dull and held my attention.
If you like bold, arrogant Irish heroes, you just might love this one.
Set in 1812, this is the story of Devlin O’Neill, a daring sea captain in the British Royal Navy, who is Irish by birth and loyalty. He cares nothing for England, only for Ireland and taking revenge on the Earl of Eastleigh, the English soldier who brutally murdered his father when Devlin was only 10. Devlin becomes a success for the wealth it brings and the opportunity for revenge.
Devlin has risen to become a well-educated, successful officer, recently knighted. He frequently flies in the face of his orders, but the British need him so they put up with his antics. Now he is ready for the final blow to Eastleigh, bankrupting him by requiring a ransom for his American niece.
American Virginia Hughes was born and raised on Sweet Briar, a tobacco plantation in Virginia. With her parents gone, she has one goal: to pay off her father’s debts and rebuild her beloved Sweet Briar. She sails to England, hoping to convince her uncle, the Earl of Eastleigh, to lend her the funds. On the way, Devlin abducts her.
For most of the book, Devlin is a man who has steeled himself against all emotion to accomplish his daring sea adventures and his revenge. Cold, uncaring and willing to use anyone he must to meet his ends (for 6 years, he takes the Earl of Eastleigh’s wife as his mistress, caring nothing for her). And, for most of the book, it’s a tug of war between Devlin, who shamelessly uses Virginia as well as others, and his captive.
At the end of it, Devlin finally realizes he has fallen in love with Virginia and wants a family, but it was a fairly abrupt turnaround. And Virginia just kept hanging in there through all his abuse (except for brief periods of sanity). It reminded me of Stormfire but lacked Monson’s fine touch or the angst of that story or a courageous heroine. Still, it was not dull and held my attention.
If you like bold, arrogant Irish heroes, you just might love this one.
June 1, 2010
More like a 2.5
Hmm....where to start, I think if I had read this book before the other de Warenne dynasty, I would not have continued with the series. I DETESTED Devlin and Virginia was such a ninny I would have left her on the boat to sink in the nor'easter! He kidnapped her,he treated her like dirt under his feet,ruined her and then made her out to be a whore in the eyes of the ton. I was shocked and sickened by his actions and I kept waiting for her to just get a back bone and tell him to kiss her booty...UGH!!! I wanted to reach thru the book and wring his neck. I know that V. was supposed to be a young 18,but if shes woman enough to get on a ship and sail across the ocean alone,she should have woman enough to walk away from him and not look back. I was terribly disappointed in this book..but glad I read the serie out of order or else I would not have read Rex's and Cliff and Sean's book. I really hoped she would find some happiness with Sean,even tho I knew he was with someone else in future books. Ugh....again. Ms Joyce,I like your books,but this one was awful!
Hmm....where to start, I think if I had read this book before the other de Warenne dynasty, I would not have continued with the series. I DETESTED Devlin and Virginia was such a ninny I would have left her on the boat to sink in the nor'easter! He kidnapped her,he treated her like dirt under his feet,ruined her and then made her out to be a whore in the eyes of the ton. I was shocked and sickened by his actions and I kept waiting for her to just get a back bone and tell him to kiss her booty...UGH!!! I wanted to reach thru the book and wring his neck. I know that V. was supposed to be a young 18,but if shes woman enough to get on a ship and sail across the ocean alone,she should have woman enough to walk away from him and not look back. I was terribly disappointed in this book..but glad I read the serie out of order or else I would not have read Rex's and Cliff and Sean's book. I really hoped she would find some happiness with Sean,even tho I knew he was with someone else in future books. Ugh....again. Ms Joyce,I like your books,but this one was awful!
September 17, 2021
There were times when I hated the hero, and times when I wanted him dead :)) He was cruel and I don't think he really loved the heroine. , Maybe, in the end, he did but is not possible to love someone and act as he did.
It was an enjoyable read but I felt that some scenes were unnecessary and the drama was a little OTT. Also, I did not like how easy the heroine forgave the hero for his betrayal * when he bedded the maid, when he chose the revenge when he left after their first night together*.
It was an enjoyable read but I felt that some scenes were unnecessary and the drama was a little OTT. Also, I did not like how easy the heroine forgave the hero for his betrayal * when he bedded the maid, when he chose the revenge when he left after their first night together*.
December 21, 2012
Loved. Loved. Loved The Prize by author, Brenda Joyce!
This novel was packed full of love, romance, seduction, action, and history.
Brenda Joyce does an exceptional job with this historical romance. She actually based this book off of a real historical figure who played an important role for the Irish. Other historical elements of this novel are also based on factual events.
Her attention to these details plus the sensual romance is a win-win combination. I absolutely was enthralled with this book.
The only thing I wished the book had is an epilogue. I got my happy ending, but I would have loved a couple pages that tie my happy ending into a perfect bow; maybe with a glimpse into their future happiness. Regardless, I adored this story.
The characters had flaws; they were believable. I hate when characters are so picture-perfect that the story is too fantastical and intolerably unbelievable. I'm so glad that Brenda Joyce took the time to really dive into character development. Her story is not rushed, but is not too slow either.
I highly recommend this historical romance. I definitely will be reading more from this extremely talented author and story teller.
Happy Reading, Y'all!
This novel was packed full of love, romance, seduction, action, and history.
Brenda Joyce does an exceptional job with this historical romance. She actually based this book off of a real historical figure who played an important role for the Irish. Other historical elements of this novel are also based on factual events.
Her attention to these details plus the sensual romance is a win-win combination. I absolutely was enthralled with this book.
The only thing I wished the book had is an epilogue. I got my happy ending, but I would have loved a couple pages that tie my happy ending into a perfect bow; maybe with a glimpse into their future happiness. Regardless, I adored this story.
The characters had flaws; they were believable. I hate when characters are so picture-perfect that the story is too fantastical and intolerably unbelievable. I'm so glad that Brenda Joyce took the time to really dive into character development. Her story is not rushed, but is not too slow either.
I highly recommend this historical romance. I definitely will be reading more from this extremely talented author and story teller.
Happy Reading, Y'all!
January 20, 2023
3.5 stars. March is Irish month on Regan Walker’s Historical Romance Review blog. So I felt The Prize with it’s Irish H and a story that takes place partly in Ireland was a good choice to read. Let me start by saying I really do like Brenda Joyce. I’ve read many of her books and a few of them are favorites of mine. This one was a little harder for me to get enthused about. I was hoping for something like ‘Stormfire’ with all it’s wonderful angst and maybe that was expecting too much. I liked the main characters enough, but the heroine I found a little hard to believe with her insta lust/ infatuation with the H/Devlin as she certainly suffered at his hands. One small item that began to annoy me was BJ’S use of the line ‘she wet her lips’ it was used so much I worry this poor girl/h’s mouth must have been terribly chapped with all that lip licking. H is a very obsessed, cold, revenge driven Alpha. Despite the afore mentioned the heroine’s falling for him seemed to work, but not enough to make this a page turner for me. That’s not to say that when they moved to America in part 3 it didn’t pick up and get a little more exciting because it did. Supporting characters, the de Warenne’s mostly the brothers, are all introduced for the next coming books. I do have Cliff’s book ‘A Lady at Last’ and I’ll be reading it so I I hope it’s good.
August 20, 2017
If it were possible to give negative stars, this book would've earned them in spades.
I bought this book...it's in a series I'm interested in reading...and so I tried. I tried to keep reading it. I even tried to stop taking it so seriously, in hopes that would ease the utter rage I felt turning page after page, but...no dice.
Even if the relationship between the hero and the heroine weren't outright abusive—and it is—I'd still have to contend with contrived plot devices and conveniently stupid characters mucking about for hundreds of pages, busy-busy-busy doing absolutely nothing.
This is an extraordinarily bad book. I refuse to waste any more time on it.
I bought this book...it's in a series I'm interested in reading...and so I tried. I tried to keep reading it. I even tried to stop taking it so seriously, in hopes that would ease the utter rage I felt turning page after page, but...no dice.
Even if the relationship between the hero and the heroine weren't outright abusive—and it is—I'd still have to contend with contrived plot devices and conveniently stupid characters mucking about for hundreds of pages, busy-busy-busy doing absolutely nothing.
This is an extraordinarily bad book. I refuse to waste any more time on it.
October 17, 2010
Wow! This book had a little of everything; romance, history, danger, revenge, and much more. I'm so glad Brenda Joyce wrote a historical novel that took place during the War of 1812.
I'm actually surprised I liked this book because of the beheading scene. If this book was a movie, I don't think I would have watched it. Devlin, a heroic sea captain, is out for revenge. Virginia, an orphan from Virginia, wants Devlin to forget about the revenge and love her.
I'm actually surprised I liked this book because of the beheading scene. If this book was a movie, I don't think I would have watched it. Devlin, a heroic sea captain, is out for revenge. Virginia, an orphan from Virginia, wants Devlin to forget about the revenge and love her.
January 14, 2020
Yıllar önce henüz küçük bir fangirl iken yazar için şöyle bir cümle kurmuştum. "İçten bir anlatım, ruhunuza kadar işleyen bir kurgu eşittir, Brenda Joyce!" Bence doğru bir cümle kurmuştum. Hâlâ da aynı şeyi düşünürüm. İlk okuduğum zamanki hayranlığı ve etkilenmeyi yıllar sonra da yaşatabiliyorsa o yazar gerçekten iyi yazmıştır. Kitabın kurgusu, anlatılan hikaye, karakterler öyle beni içine çekti ki aklıma gelen her sahnede kalbim burulur. Savaşın ne kadar yersiz olduğunu, tahribatının güçlü olduğunu, her koşulda en büyük zararı sivillerin masumların yaşadığını bir kere daha satır aralarında gizlenenlerde görebiliyorsunuz.
Devlin O'Neill...
Sen, anlatılmayıp yaşanacak bir adamsın.
Yaşadıkları çok can yakacak şeyler, yaşattıkları ise sinirden saç baş yolduracak şeyler. Bir ikilem arasında kalıyorsunuz okurken. Bir yanda hak verir evet böyle hisseder insan derken burnunun dikine gitmesi ve karşında olan kişiye acımadan yaşattıkları ile delirip elime geçse de boğsam dedirtirken öyle bir uçuruma sürüklüyor.
Kitabın konusuna gelirsem; başlangıcı epey gönül yakan bir hikaye. İngiliz askerleri İrlanda topraklarını işgal etmektedirler. Devlin'in babası da korkusuz bir adam, hem ailesini hem vatan toprağını korumak adına savaşa katılır. Devlin ise on yaşında ya var ya yok, çocuk daha.. Kırmızı ceketli subay Hughes, ailesinin gözü önünde Devlin'in babasının katleder. Bir çocuk için bu büyük bir yıkım. Ruhunda tamiri olmaz hasarlar veren büyük bir olay.. İşte o zamandan beri kalbini beynini ele geçiren intikam duygusu ile kavrulan bir adam halini alır Devlin O'Neill.
Yaşadığı bu travma sonrası hayatı tamamen değişmiştir. Devlin, artık Hughes'ın tükenip yok olmasını sağlamak için kurulmuş bir inkitamdan ibarettir. Tabi ezberlerini bozacak hiç aklına gelmeyen düşünmediği biri çıkar.
Virginia Hughes, masum ve saf ama bir o kadar da çetin ceviz. Zeki güçlü, o kadar benimseyip sevdim ki Virginia hakkında neler söylesem bilemiyorum. Ailesinden geriye kalan evini ayakta tutmak için verdiği hayat mücadelesi var. Bunun için amcasından yardım istemek için yola koyulur. Eh aklına gelmeyen de o esnada başına gelir. Gemisinin kaza yapması bir yana bir de alıkonulmuştur. Sonrası ise kitapta.
Öyle yerler vardı ki gözlerim dola dola okudum. Devlin'in çileden çıkıp Virginia için endişelendiği sahnelerde buruk gülümseme ile baktım kitaba. Aşkı, tutkuyu, pişmanlığı, kaybetme korkusunu yazar öyle işlemiş ki kitabı bitirince boğazda düğüm oluşturuyor. Hâlâ yazar ile tanışmamış, okumak için bekleten bekleyen varsa ve bu türü seviyorsanız bir şans verin ve daha fazla beklemeyin okuyun.
Şiddetle tavsiye ediyorum..
https://sonsayfasiask.blogspot.com/20...
Devlin O'Neill...
Sen, anlatılmayıp yaşanacak bir adamsın.
Yaşadıkları çok can yakacak şeyler, yaşattıkları ise sinirden saç baş yolduracak şeyler. Bir ikilem arasında kalıyorsunuz okurken. Bir yanda hak verir evet böyle hisseder insan derken burnunun dikine gitmesi ve karşında olan kişiye acımadan yaşattıkları ile delirip elime geçse de boğsam dedirtirken öyle bir uçuruma sürüklüyor.
Kitabın konusuna gelirsem; başlangıcı epey gönül yakan bir hikaye. İngiliz askerleri İrlanda topraklarını işgal etmektedirler. Devlin'in babası da korkusuz bir adam, hem ailesini hem vatan toprağını korumak adına savaşa katılır. Devlin ise on yaşında ya var ya yok, çocuk daha.. Kırmızı ceketli subay Hughes, ailesinin gözü önünde Devlin'in babasının katleder. Bir çocuk için bu büyük bir yıkım. Ruhunda tamiri olmaz hasarlar veren büyük bir olay.. İşte o zamandan beri kalbini beynini ele geçiren intikam duygusu ile kavrulan bir adam halini alır Devlin O'Neill.
Yaşadığı bu travma sonrası hayatı tamamen değişmiştir. Devlin, artık Hughes'ın tükenip yok olmasını sağlamak için kurulmuş bir inkitamdan ibarettir. Tabi ezberlerini bozacak hiç aklına gelmeyen düşünmediği biri çıkar.
Virginia Hughes, masum ve saf ama bir o kadar da çetin ceviz. Zeki güçlü, o kadar benimseyip sevdim ki Virginia hakkında neler söylesem bilemiyorum. Ailesinden geriye kalan evini ayakta tutmak için verdiği hayat mücadelesi var. Bunun için amcasından yardım istemek için yola koyulur. Eh aklına gelmeyen de o esnada başına gelir. Gemisinin kaza yapması bir yana bir de alıkonulmuştur. Sonrası ise kitapta.
Öyle yerler vardı ki gözlerim dola dola okudum. Devlin'in çileden çıkıp Virginia için endişelendiği sahnelerde buruk gülümseme ile baktım kitaba. Aşkı, tutkuyu, pişmanlığı, kaybetme korkusunu yazar öyle işlemiş ki kitabı bitirince boğazda düğüm oluşturuyor. Hâlâ yazar ile tanışmamış, okumak için bekleten bekleyen varsa ve bu türü seviyorsanız bir şans verin ve daha fazla beklemeyin okuyun.
Şiddetle tavsiye ediyorum..
https://sonsayfasiask.blogspot.com/20...
April 17, 2014
Bir Avuç Aşk
Brenda Joyce
Pegasus Yayıncılık
» Roman
Tutsak edici, güçlü bir aşk için nasıl bir değer biçersiniz?
"Denizlerin belası" olarak ün salmış Britanya Kraliyet Donanması Kaptanı Devlin O'Neill, babasını vahşice öldüren Kont'tan intikam alma arzusuyla yanıp tutuşmaktadır. Malını mülkünü elinden aldığı Eastleigh Kontu'nu neredeyse tamamen yıkıma uğratmış olmasına rağmen, son büyük darbeyi indirmek için doğru zamanı kollamaktadır. Kont'un güzeller güzeli Amerikalı yeğeni ortaya çıkınca gerçek bir intikam fırsatı yakalamış olur.
Virginia Hughes doğup büyüdüğü ve büyük bir sevgiyle bağlı olduğu çiftliği Yaban Gülü'nü borçlarından kurtarmaya kararlıdır. Amcasının, gerekli parayı kendisine vereceği ümidiyle İngiltere'ye doğru tek başına yola koyulur. Ancak yolun yarısında Devlin O'Neill tarafından kaçırılır. Genç ve güzel Virginia, fidye elde etmek için tehlikeli bir oyuna girişen Devlin'in soğuk ve çıkarcı kalbini de ateşe atmak üzeredir.
"Brenda Joyce destansı karakterleriyle okuyucunun en derin duygularına hitap eden, baştan çıkarıcı öyküler yazıyor ve onu bir okumaya başlayan sürekli daha fazlasını istiyor."
-Romantic Times Book Reviews-
"Brenda Joyce'un romanı ipek gibi akıcı! Güçlü, davetkâr ve duygusal anlatımı çok yoğun!"
-Literary Times-
Bir Avuç Aşk-Brenada Joyce
Papaza kızıp oruç bozmak benim tam olarak yaptığım buydu..Mükemmel bir yazar harika bir roman..Sanırım Judith Mcnaught'un yeni kitaplarına duyduğum özlemi bu yazar ile biraz olsun dindirebileceğim..Bu ara ard arda nefret ve intikam temasını işleyen romanlar okuyorum...Çok da büyük keyif alıyorum...
Ama şimdiye kadar nadir olarak kitabı fırlatıp atma duygusuna kapılmışımdır..Devlin O'Neil bu adamdan hem nefret ettim hemde haline içim parçalandı..Çünkü On yaşındaki bir çocuğun tanık olduğu katliam onu hayatı boyunca tahat bırakmayacaktı elbet..Ruhunu derinden yaralayacaktı hatta öldürecekti..Ruhunu bu olay öldürdü de o çocuk tanık olduğu cinayetten sonra asla eskisi gibi olamadı...
Virginia Hughes Amerikalı Ladyler okuluna giden bir genç kız..Okulda olmaktan kurallara bağlı kalmaktan nefret ediyor...Tek amacı anne ve babasını kaybettikten sonra amcası Kont Eastleigh Hughes 'un onayı ile evi Yaban Gülüne geri dönmekti..Ama amcası yıllardır Devlin O'neill sayesinde serveti hızla eriyordu..Oonu kıskacı altındaydı..Bu iki adamın amansız çekişmesi ve rekabetinden olan Virginia'ya olacaktır..Çünkü Devlin O'Neil ladyler okulundan kaçaarak İngiltere'ye amcasına gitmeye çalışan Virginia'yı kaçıracak onun için fidye isteyecektir..Ama planlar çoğunlukla bozulur..Devlin'in planlarını Virginia tam olarak bozamasada onun yıllradır bir buz haline getirdiği kalbine sızmayı başarmıştır..Bundan sonrası ikili arasında tam bir savaştır..
Devlin'in acımasızlığı Virginia'nın affediciliği sevgisi ile Devlin'i bu intikam cenderesinden kurtarma savaşı ve Virginia sayesinde ruhunun huzur bulması okunmaya değer..Harika bir roman..Çok geç kaldım ben bu romana..Ama okurken büyük bir keyif aldım..Ama bir ara fırlatı atmamak için de kendimi çok zor tuttum..Hala içinizde benim gibi bu romanı geciktirenler varsa artık beklemesin bence..Bu serinin ve bu yazarın takipçisi olacağım!!..
de Warenne Dynasty Serisi:
1-The Conqueror
2-Promise Of The Rose
3-The Game
4-The Prize (Bir Avuç Aşk)
5-The Masquerade(Maskeli Balo)
6-The Stolen Bride
7-A Lady At Last
8-The Perfect Bride
9-A Dangerous Love
10-An Impossible Attraction
11-The Promise
April 9, 2018
ANGST. THIS ONE WAS DEFINITELY PACKED WITH A LOT OF DRAMATIC ANGST. SO IF YOU ARE NOT A FAN OF IT, PLEASE DON'T ATTEMPT THIS.
IF YOU LOVE IT LIKE I DO, NO MATTER THE STUBBORNNESS OR STUPIDITY OF THE CHARACTERS, THEN YOU HAVE TO READ THIS!
OUR HERO is a man who has held onto revenge since he was 10, having watched his father being beheaded before his eyes. Due to that determination, he basically threw his life away paying no heed to danger, romance or even his family. His blindness and rage to pursue this bitter revenge against an older man has made him into an almost cold, ruthless man except when a woman he's planned to ruin becomes his downfall, he is extremely torn. The moment he heard of the Lord Hughes's niece, he decided to kidnap and use her as ransom. Throughout the story, Devlin proves his unshakeable drive to ruin the man who ruined his family, by sleeping with the man's wife for six years, for crumbling the man's business and estates and now he wants the man to pay a King's ransom for his niece. Said niece is not only spirited and beautiful but she managed to capture his heart even if he denies it vehemently. There are moments aplenty where you wish to slap him and encourage the heroine to move on but, then again Devlin's a haunted fellow who has been gripped by revenge for too long to let go. It was the only thing he knew until our heroine.
OUR HEROINE has a heart of gold. That's my summary of her after all the pain Devlin caused her. An innocent and a virgin, she's orphaned when her parents were killed in an accident. Now, ward to her uncle, the man has put up her family plantation up for sell. No way in hell will she allow that. Up and over she goes sailing the seas to England only to be kidnapped by a handsome naval pirate who has more agenda with her family name than her. Except she is a victim in all this. When Devlin stokes the fires of passion within, he may have awakened a siren in her that lusts only for him. Their relationship became real complicated when she fell for him and all he does is reject her over and over again. Luckily, she has his brother and family who are supportive of her. I think she is a strong girl who eventually grew up the moment she faced many harsh realities of life within a year.
OVERALL this was a really dramatic romance that I really did enjoy. The angst kept me up all night, turning page by page to know what the ending was. Truly magnificent!
IF YOU LOVE IT LIKE I DO, NO MATTER THE STUBBORNNESS OR STUPIDITY OF THE CHARACTERS, THEN YOU HAVE TO READ THIS!
OUR HERO is a man who has held onto revenge since he was 10, having watched his father being beheaded before his eyes. Due to that determination, he basically threw his life away paying no heed to danger, romance or even his family. His blindness and rage to pursue this bitter revenge against an older man has made him into an almost cold, ruthless man except when a woman he's planned to ruin becomes his downfall, he is extremely torn. The moment he heard of the Lord Hughes's niece, he decided to kidnap and use her as ransom. Throughout the story, Devlin proves his unshakeable drive to ruin the man who ruined his family, by sleeping with the man's wife for six years, for crumbling the man's business and estates and now he wants the man to pay a King's ransom for his niece. Said niece is not only spirited and beautiful but she managed to capture his heart even if he denies it vehemently. There are moments aplenty where you wish to slap him and encourage the heroine to move on but, then again Devlin's a haunted fellow who has been gripped by revenge for too long to let go. It was the only thing he knew until our heroine.
OUR HEROINE has a heart of gold. That's my summary of her after all the pain Devlin caused her. An innocent and a virgin, she's orphaned when her parents were killed in an accident. Now, ward to her uncle, the man has put up her family plantation up for sell. No way in hell will she allow that. Up and over she goes sailing the seas to England only to be kidnapped by a handsome naval pirate who has more agenda with her family name than her. Except she is a victim in all this. When Devlin stokes the fires of passion within, he may have awakened a siren in her that lusts only for him. Their relationship became real complicated when she fell for him and all he does is reject her over and over again. Luckily, she has his brother and family who are supportive of her. I think she is a strong girl who eventually grew up the moment she faced many harsh realities of life within a year.
OVERALL this was a really dramatic romance that I really did enjoy. The angst kept me up all night, turning page by page to know what the ending was. Truly magnificent!
March 25, 2013
Virginia Hughes, was raised on a plantation, the "Sweet Briar" a place that she treasures greatly. But then her parents die, and her guardian, a uncle that lives in England, has her go to a girls school until she is eighteen. Now she has recently turned eighteen and is eager to return to her home, however she is then informed that her uncle wants her to stay there another three years, so Virginia decides to leave the place and go to her uncle in England for help in getting her plantation back for her, since it is her inheritance and she knows everything in order to run it. However on the way to England, she gets taken prisoner by Captain Devlin O'Neill, who is bent on revenge against her uncle and is determined to use her in the process. However what neither Virginia or Devlin realized was how strong the desire that they feel for each other grows into a consuming passion, one that could very well change their lives forever...The Prize is the sixth installment in the de Warrene Dynasty series that Brenda Joyce has created. I have recently fallen in love with this author and her stories, and The Prize was no different, and I fell in love with the characters from the very beginning. Both were endearing and so likable throughout the whole of the story. There were parts of the story where I felt that Devlin was a bit too hard of a character, however the emotions that were portrayed by the characters felt so vividly real, and made the story come alive even more. The Prize is such a emotionally charged story that will pull at your heartstrings with every chapter. I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of this series, and The Prize definitely was filled with everything that I just adore in a historical romance....passion, adventure, intrigue and a powerful love....FANTASTICALLY WRITTEN!!!
June 18, 2017
I liked it, and I loved the main heroine(Virginia). She spoke her mind and was not scared of the main hero(Devlin). But I felt like Devlin was way to stubborn for my liking. He hurt her feelings several times and even when he felt bad he continue to do it. The revenge he was looking for,never came,and it was just weird how he decided to let it go after years of pursuing it. I agree with not wanting to finish it but it felt rush some how. Over all the story is good and he is very handsome, so I understand why Virginia fell in love so quickly.
January 18, 2021
After the first book the conqueror..I jumped to this..
I was a bit disappointed though..
It did not have the element The Conqueror had..
The heroine Virginia..was immature and I really didn't like her..
Devlin even though he was driven by revenge.. he was strong and made a stronger presence.. Virginia , on the other hand, couldn't mark her character strongly for me..
If I hadn't read the first book might have given more stars.. but not after the expectation raised so high..
I was a bit disappointed though..
It did not have the element The Conqueror had..
The heroine Virginia..was immature and I really didn't like her..
Devlin even though he was driven by revenge.. he was strong and made a stronger presence.. Virginia , on the other hand, couldn't mark her character strongly for me..
If I hadn't read the first book might have given more stars.. but not after the expectation raised so high..
May 16, 2014
¡Como odié este libro y a sus protagonistas, y como me hizo sufrir! ¬¬
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