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Enslaved
WHERE ARE ALL THE REAL MEN? SHE WONDERED....
For Lady Diana Davenport, they existed only in her books and dreams. There she could lose herself, becoming the licentious Diana, goddess of the hunt — far from the rigid restraints of eighteenth-century London, where she was courted by fops and fools. That is, until she tried on an authentic Roman helmet in an antiques store and was catapulted back in time, landing in Marcus Magnus's arms. This was no dream! She was lost in Aquae Sulis, the city she knew as Bath, prisoner of a Roman general who accused the violet-eyed beauty of being a Druid spy — and then made her his slave!
"COME TO ME."
His words were soft, imperious, charged with danger and desire. Marcus Magnus was powerful, arrogant, and infuriating. A real man. And now Lady Diana was his slave, hostage to his will, vowing to fight him to the end — with every seductive weapon she possessed....
For Lady Diana Davenport, they existed only in her books and dreams. There she could lose herself, becoming the licentious Diana, goddess of the hunt — far from the rigid restraints of eighteenth-century London, where she was courted by fops and fools. That is, until she tried on an authentic Roman helmet in an antiques store and was catapulted back in time, landing in Marcus Magnus's arms. This was no dream! She was lost in Aquae Sulis, the city she knew as Bath, prisoner of a Roman general who accused the violet-eyed beauty of being a Druid spy — and then made her his slave!
"COME TO ME."
His words were soft, imperious, charged with danger and desire. Marcus Magnus was powerful, arrogant, and infuriating. A real man. And now Lady Diana was his slave, hostage to his will, vowing to fight him to the end — with every seductive weapon she possessed....
436 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
107 people are currently reading
1920 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Henley
66 books636 followersVirginia Syddall was born on December 5, 1935 in England, where her father, Thomas Syddall, taught her to love history. She obtained a degree in History in the University. In 1956, Virginia married Arthur Henley. They moved to America, and now they live most of the year in St. Petersburg, Florida, and they spend the hot summers in Ontario, Canada, where they have their two adult children and three grandsons.
Virginia Henley is a New York Times bestselling writer of historical novels. Her work has been translated into fourteen languages. She is the recipient of more than a dozen writing awards, including a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award, a Waldenbooks' Bestselling Award, and a Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers.
Virginia Henley is a New York Times bestselling writer of historical novels. Her work has been translated into fourteen languages. She is the recipient of more than a dozen writing awards, including a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award, a Waldenbooks' Bestselling Award, and a Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
September 13, 2023
Nostalgic re-read of an old favorite. I finally got this on kindle and decided to do a full re-read. I’ve had the paperback since 2009 when I first read it and have done numerous re-reads and partial re-reads over the years.
Anyways. 5 completely biased stars. This story is ridiculous and I love it. Marcus and Diana forever lol.
Anyways. 5 completely biased stars. This story is ridiculous and I love it. Marcus and Diana forever lol.
August 12, 2022
Story: GOOD
Intimacy Level: GOOD
Enjoyment: VERY GOOD
Length: 450 pages
Style: Time Travel/ Historical / Roman
Reread: 11/25/2012
Reread 2/2021
Original review
This was an unique read for me as it was a historical taking place within the historical time. Rereading this book, the movie 300 / Spartacus comes to mind. I love that it was a Roman/Greek time travel, why, because the slave concept made the story more appealing for that time period of Ancient Rome as they were very sexual beings and the garments were sometimes revealing. Diana lives in eighteenth century London. Unbeknownst to Diana, she has time travel back to Aquae Sulis and is now a prisoner and slave of the general where he believes her to be a spy.
I loved Enslaved and I can admit I detest time travel romances as I haven't found many that appeals to me. The concept was good. It was almost like a kismet thing between Diana and Marcus. Marcus is the general who enslaves Diana and he is every bit a Greek god. I love his character and though he was the powerful general, I love how Diana could drive him crazy. I think the heroine held her own and not too many heroines can say they lost their virginity twice. I also like both connection of Marcus/Mark, won't give it away with letting the reader know the connection of both names. With this being a historical I haven't read much Ancient Rome historical and would love to see more. Originally read in 2005.
Intimacy Level: GOOD
Enjoyment: VERY GOOD
Length: 450 pages
Style: Time Travel/ Historical / Roman
Reread: 11/25/2012
Reread 2/2021
Original review
This was an unique read for me as it was a historical taking place within the historical time. Rereading this book, the movie 300 / Spartacus comes to mind. I love that it was a Roman/Greek time travel, why, because the slave concept made the story more appealing for that time period of Ancient Rome as they were very sexual beings and the garments were sometimes revealing. Diana lives in eighteenth century London. Unbeknownst to Diana, she has time travel back to Aquae Sulis and is now a prisoner and slave of the general where he believes her to be a spy.
I loved Enslaved and I can admit I detest time travel romances as I haven't found many that appeals to me. The concept was good. It was almost like a kismet thing between Diana and Marcus. Marcus is the general who enslaves Diana and he is every bit a Greek god. I love his character and though he was the powerful general, I love how Diana could drive him crazy. I think the heroine held her own and not too many heroines can say they lost their virginity twice. I also like both connection of Marcus/Mark, won't give it away with letting the reader know the connection of both names. With this being a historical I haven't read much Ancient Rome historical and would love to see more. Originally read in 2005.
December 18, 2021
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club.)
Basic plot
Diana just isn’t happy in her current Georgian time period. Her father was a scholar and she lives for the stories in his books. The only man that has remotely captured her interest is Mark, the Earl of Bath. While visiting in Bath, she tries on an ancient roman helmet and is cast back in time, sometime during the reign of Emperor Nero in Rome so around 60 AD. Here, she is taken captive by Roman Marcus.
Give this a try if you want:
- Time travel – the “current” time is just before George IV becomes Regent. Heroine travels back to Roman times for most of the book
- Fairly high steam – this book is explicit and has a number of scenes, though I feel like many are on the shorter side
- Captive theme – hero does hold the heroine as his slave for a time
- You’re okay with various content warnings including some dubious consent (this is classic ravishment fantasy)
- There is a small masquerade part of the book
- Scarred soldier romance hero/aristocracy hero
My thoughts:
I wasn’t a big fan on this one. I thought I might like it at first – going in knowing there’s going to be content warnings and craziness. And I did like the first half, though it didn’t make the most sense.
As the book came to a close though, it made even less sense to me. I did struggle with this, as well as how the timeline went back and forth.
The hero, Marcus, is very pushy and arrogant. Most of it is consensual, but he does hold her as his slave, so there’s a level of dubious consent over the whole thing. He’s a Roman soldier that is struck by how unique and beautiful Diana is.
Diana is a free spirit that just sees nothing of worth in her current time. She loves reading her father’s collection of books and is a student of history and is convinced she wasn’t born in the right time period.
Going to get into specifics here, so spoiler warning!
Content Warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club.)
Basic plot
Diana just isn’t happy in her current Georgian time period. Her father was a scholar and she lives for the stories in his books. The only man that has remotely captured her interest is Mark, the Earl of Bath. While visiting in Bath, she tries on an ancient roman helmet and is cast back in time, sometime during the reign of Emperor Nero in Rome so around 60 AD. Here, she is taken captive by Roman Marcus.
Give this a try if you want:
- Time travel – the “current” time is just before George IV becomes Regent. Heroine travels back to Roman times for most of the book
- Fairly high steam – this book is explicit and has a number of scenes, though I feel like many are on the shorter side
- Captive theme – hero does hold the heroine as his slave for a time
- You’re okay with various content warnings including some dubious consent (this is classic ravishment fantasy)
- There is a small masquerade part of the book
- Scarred soldier romance hero/aristocracy hero
My thoughts:
I wasn’t a big fan on this one. I thought I might like it at first – going in knowing there’s going to be content warnings and craziness. And I did like the first half, though it didn’t make the most sense.
As the book came to a close though, it made even less sense to me. I did struggle with this, as well as how the timeline went back and forth.
The hero, Marcus, is very pushy and arrogant. Most of it is consensual, but he does hold her as his slave, so there’s a level of dubious consent over the whole thing. He’s a Roman soldier that is struck by how unique and beautiful Diana is.
Diana is a free spirit that just sees nothing of worth in her current time. She loves reading her father’s collection of books and is a student of history and is convinced she wasn’t born in the right time period.
Going to get into specifics here, so spoiler warning!
Content Warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
January 18, 2024
A darker version of Bridgerton meets Spartan in this old school romance.
4 stars.
Daydreamer, Lady Diana Davenport, wishes she could go back into time when men were full of muscles and not be with the “fops” of the 18th century. She steps back into time when she stumbles upon an old-looking helmet. She gets more than what she bargained for when she meets her own chiseled Roman general.
Pros:
- Time traveling trope
- Steamy scenes (5+ major ones)
- Attraction between h/H
- Interesting plot
- Old school romance
Cons:
- Hero (Marcus) can seem demanding and arrogant at times. Obviously, the book is titled Enslaved, and it does deal with all kinds of slaves: bath slaves, stable slaves, sex slaves, and so on. Marcus wants Diana to be his slave (but the heroine is quite headstrong and deters him). As this is an old school, vintage book, I looked past this and enjoyed it for what it was.
- Some scenes are just plain crazy! "I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT JUST HAPPENED."
4 stars.
4 stars.
Daydreamer, Lady Diana Davenport, wishes she could go back into time when men were full of muscles and not be with the “fops” of the 18th century. She steps back into time when she stumbles upon an old-looking helmet. She gets more than what she bargained for when she meets her own chiseled Roman general.
Pros:
- Time traveling trope
- Steamy scenes (5+ major ones)
- Attraction between h/H
- Interesting plot
- Old school romance
Cons:
- Hero (Marcus) can seem demanding and arrogant at times. Obviously, the book is titled Enslaved, and it does deal with all kinds of slaves: bath slaves, stable slaves, sex slaves, and so on. Marcus wants Diana to be his slave (but the heroine is quite headstrong and deters him). As this is an old school, vintage book, I looked past this and enjoyed it for what it was.
- Some scenes are just plain crazy! "I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT JUST HAPPENED."
4 stars.
February 6, 2024
Read for the URR 2017 New Year's Reading Challenge prompt 'Bodice Ripper'
31/3 - I buddy read this with my friend Nenia (her review is here and if you're looking for a review that actually talks about the plot in a logical way I suggest you give hers a read) and finished it at least two weeks ago (not exactly sure as I didn't 'finish' it in the normal way), but I just haven't felt capable of writing a review of it until tonight. I think my problem has been that I didn't want to put into words how disillusioned I was with the book.
I really don't know how many times I read this as a teenager, but I'm estimating it's way over 20 (this has been logged as the 21st time on GR, but that's a very cautious guesstimate) and I LOVED it. It was one of my favourite romances from the ages of 13 to 22 (when I think I started visiting the library and borrowing all-new romances from what was a much-expanded selection compared to my mum's collection), and while I had accepted the possibility that I wouldn't enjoy it as much as teenage me did, I didn't really think that was what would happen. I had this rosy memory of the story, but when I started re-reading it as a 32 year old who has since read triple the number of romances I had 10 years ago I saw all the flaws that I had overlooked (or not understood the implications of) back then. I recognised the writing for its questionable quality (especially some of the descriptive phrases during the sex scenes), I can now see how horrible the way bisexuality was treated was (although as a teenager I thought Petrius was a homosexual who forced himself to pretend attractions towards women for the sake of his brother's image) and I think this being my first ever M/M sex scene may have coloured my impression of how gay people behave for years afterward. Thank goodness non-straight characters have become so much more mainstream (and less villainous) that future generations (even if they do read this at an impressionable age like I did) won't grow up with Petrius as their only model for a character/person of a different sexuality than their own.
I stopped reading this just before Petrius did something very bad to his own father in order to get rid of Diana because that was always my most hated part of the book and I only read it that first time. I was intending to skip straight to her return to her own time, but after putting it down I never felt the need to pick it back up again then I offered it to a friend who had never read a romance (I wonder what she's thinking of it...) The plot had lost all the allure that it once had and I think that's why I put off writing this review. I was sentimentally attached to this, sure that I was going to love it as much as I had in my 'youth' and I didn't want to admit the truth when I realised how my feelings had changed. But after much dithering about writing the review I've realised that it's just a book and while the story no longer works for me, there are lots more out there.
31/3 - I buddy read this with my friend Nenia (her review is here and if you're looking for a review that actually talks about the plot in a logical way I suggest you give hers a read) and finished it at least two weeks ago (not exactly sure as I didn't 'finish' it in the normal way), but I just haven't felt capable of writing a review of it until tonight. I think my problem has been that I didn't want to put into words how disillusioned I was with the book.
I really don't know how many times I read this as a teenager, but I'm estimating it's way over 20 (this has been logged as the 21st time on GR, but that's a very cautious guesstimate) and I LOVED it. It was one of my favourite romances from the ages of 13 to 22 (when I think I started visiting the library and borrowing all-new romances from what was a much-expanded selection compared to my mum's collection), and while I had accepted the possibility that I wouldn't enjoy it as much as teenage me did, I didn't really think that was what would happen. I had this rosy memory of the story, but when I started re-reading it as a 32 year old who has since read triple the number of romances I had 10 years ago I saw all the flaws that I had overlooked (or not understood the implications of) back then. I recognised the writing for its questionable quality (especially some of the descriptive phrases during the sex scenes), I can now see how horrible the way bisexuality was treated was (although as a teenager I thought Petrius was a homosexual who forced himself to pretend attractions towards women for the sake of his brother's image) and I think this being my first ever M/M sex scene may have coloured my impression of how gay people behave for years afterward. Thank goodness non-straight characters have become so much more mainstream (and less villainous) that future generations (even if they do read this at an impressionable age like I did) won't grow up with Petrius as their only model for a character/person of a different sexuality than their own.
I stopped reading this just before Petrius did something very bad to his own father in order to get rid of Diana because that was always my most hated part of the book and I only read it that first time. I was intending to skip straight to her return to her own time, but after putting it down I never felt the need to pick it back up again then I offered it to a friend who had never read a romance (I wonder what she's thinking of it...) The plot had lost all the allure that it once had and I think that's why I put off writing this review. I was sentimentally attached to this, sure that I was going to love it as much as I had in my 'youth' and I didn't want to admit the truth when I realised how my feelings had changed. But after much dithering about writing the review I've realised that it's just a book and while the story no longer works for me, there are lots more out there.
December 27, 2021
Ridiculous, bloated, firmly old-school and at times so surreal that I’m convinced this was simply an experiment on the author’s part to see how far she could push her readers’ suspension of disbelief.
When the words ‘will you be my pater familias?’ were uttered by the heroine, I laughed so hard I fell off the couch.
My reading experience was vastly improved by the glass of prosecco I enjoyed throughout.
When the words ‘will you be my pater familias?’ were uttered by the heroine, I laughed so hard I fell off the couch.
My reading experience was vastly improved by the glass of prosecco I enjoyed throughout.
April 8, 2021
*3.5 stars*
February 1, 2009
I read the reviews on this book, and can't believe how many readers didn't like it. I thought it was a great book. It's a TT story. Lady Diana loves history. While shopping she puts on an old helmet and is transported back in time to the Roman days. She is taken captive, made a slave by Marcus Magnus,and they fall in love. She and Marcus are betrayed in the past...and when she comes back to her real time....she is being cared for by none other than MM's many times great grandson. When she tells him of her incredible story, he doesn't believe her, but she changes his mind.....but then they are betrayed by her relatives. Really fun story. A on a scale of 1 to 10 for hot, I'd give this book an 8.
November 29, 2008
Loved it! The Hero is so hot and the setting of ancient Rome if so different than the usual Regency romance
July 17, 2025
Throughly enjoyed this ridiculously fun time travel featuring a Roman general and an Earl. Virginia Henley knows how to write a spunky lass who’s never down for long. 💘 Would re-read.
January 11, 2025
I am completely in awe of what I just read. I recommend going in minimally blind to fully experience the mastery of this novel. It definition doesn't hurt to brush up on some history of the Ancient Roman Empire. Why it is know as ancient times is a marvel considering the "modernness" of their engineering, innovation and tangible technology was so advanced compared to the following hundred years after the fall of Rome where Europe was thrown into the dark ages.
The Roman MMC Marcus Magnus likes to brag about the greatness of Roman civilization and so does our doppelgänger Marcus Hardwick, Earl of Bath who is coincidentally an archeologist and Roman Historian.
I did not think that when I pick this up for the heck of reading a historical romance I completely skipped over the part that was a time travel romance. Similar to outlander a British woman going back in time to ends of finding love with a very manly and rugged man with gentle nature only for her. except instead of falling for a Scottish Highlander its Roman General/ Primus Pilus(Senior Centurion). Our Heroine Dianna gets transported back in time to Roman occupied Britannia in 61 A.D. The 80 percent of the novel took place in Bath, England perviously known as Aqua Sulis. I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of researching that went in to making sure the history of the Roman occupation of Britannia was accurate and especially during the time of Emperor Nero.
The love was so beautiful is transcends time and space. Marcus loved his Goddess Dianna so much that he would do anything for her even wait 1700 years to meet her again. I teared up at 75% percent of this novel thinking it was over and I was going to have a broken heart for the foreseeable future than the author thankfully mended it throughout the next part of the book as well as the ending.
I feel like there as unanswered questions regarding the technicalities of this specific time travel.
If anyone has read this book recently or is planning to please message me when you finish to we can compare thoughts! I have so many questions.
The Roman MMC Marcus Magnus likes to brag about the greatness of Roman civilization and so does our doppelgänger Marcus Hardwick, Earl of Bath who is coincidentally an archeologist and Roman Historian.
I did not think that when I pick this up for the heck of reading a historical romance I completely skipped over the part that was a time travel romance. Similar to outlander a British woman going back in time to ends of finding love with a very manly and rugged man with gentle nature only for her. except instead of falling for a Scottish Highlander its Roman General/ Primus Pilus(Senior Centurion). Our Heroine Dianna gets transported back in time to Roman occupied Britannia in 61 A.D. The 80 percent of the novel took place in Bath, England perviously known as Aqua Sulis. I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of researching that went in to making sure the history of the Roman occupation of Britannia was accurate and especially during the time of Emperor Nero.
The love was so beautiful is transcends time and space. Marcus loved his Goddess Dianna so much that he would do anything for her even wait 1700 years to meet her again. I teared up at 75% percent of this novel thinking it was over and I was going to have a broken heart for the foreseeable future than the author thankfully mended it throughout the next part of the book as well as the ending.
I feel like there as unanswered questions regarding the technicalities of this specific time travel.
If anyone has read this book recently or is planning to please message me when you finish to we can compare thoughts! I have so many questions.
June 11, 2023
From 4 to 5 stars after a re-read.
Books these days aren’t written like this. I’m having a terrible book year, and this books been the best read so far this year and it’s June.
This is an epic PN romance with time travel and reincarnation. There’s a MC dying in the past, so some tearjerker moments, but it’s a romance so HEA.
A type of book you’ll only appreciate if you like this sort of thing.
It’s about 700 pages on an ereader, so it’s a pretty big book.
Spoilers
The h - a feisty, gutsy girl - goes back in time to meet the current H in the past.
She’s attracted to the present H, but they don’t get along.
Back in time, he’s a Roman general in the year 60AD, and he prompted enslaves her when she pops up in the middle of the road with her big white wig (she’s from Georgian time period where people, including men wore white wigs) thinking her an annoying old woman.
But this hs a one clever girl, because she promptly turns around and enslaves him in the bedroom and they fall deeply in love, etc.
But months later, right before they’re to marry, she’s captured ( when the H was away) and is executed.
The H came on to her execution in shock, she was burning in fire with lions ripping her apart.
So after killing the lions, he kills her - Yes, the H kills the h- after telling her he will love her forever and beyond to end her suffering…I was crying.😭😭😭
Then she’s back home in the present and has to deal with the grouch H in the present.
they fall in love again, because Marcus in the past is Mark in the present, and they’re true soulmates. 🥹
This book was a journey, and it makes you feel.
I enjoyed this book because I loved this strong h. This girl had a mouth on her, and she had me laughing at times.
Safety
Virgin h - of course, it’s a historical, but she loses it twice.
No cheating.
Some ow drama, om drama.
H was with ow/mistress after meeting the h and getting rejected by her in the present, this scene is a few sentence long .
I’m a safety reader and it was safe for me.
Books these days aren’t written like this. I’m having a terrible book year, and this books been the best read so far this year and it’s June.
This is an epic PN romance with time travel and reincarnation. There’s a MC dying in the past, so some tearjerker moments, but it’s a romance so HEA.
A type of book you’ll only appreciate if you like this sort of thing.
It’s about 700 pages on an ereader, so it’s a pretty big book.
Spoilers
The h - a feisty, gutsy girl - goes back in time to meet the current H in the past.
She’s attracted to the present H, but they don’t get along.
Back in time, he’s a Roman general in the year 60AD, and he prompted enslaves her when she pops up in the middle of the road with her big white wig (she’s from Georgian time period where people, including men wore white wigs) thinking her an annoying old woman.
But this hs a one clever girl, because she promptly turns around and enslaves him in the bedroom and they fall deeply in love, etc.
But months later, right before they’re to marry, she’s captured ( when the H was away) and is executed.
The H came on to her execution in shock, she was burning in fire with lions ripping her apart.
So after killing the lions, he kills her - Yes, the H kills the h- after telling her he will love her forever and beyond to end her suffering…I was crying.😭😭😭
Then she’s back home in the present and has to deal with the grouch H in the present.
they fall in love again, because Marcus in the past is Mark in the present, and they’re true soulmates. 🥹
This book was a journey, and it makes you feel.
I enjoyed this book because I loved this strong h. This girl had a mouth on her, and she had me laughing at times.
Safety
Virgin h - of course, it’s a historical, but she loses it twice.
No cheating.
Some ow drama, om drama.
H was with ow/mistress after meeting the h and getting rejected by her in the present, this scene is a few sentence long .
I’m a safety reader and it was safe for me.
May 6, 2011
Lady Diana Devenport has had a hard time coping with her aunt and uncle who are these nasty scheming individuals greedy for her money. She wants freedom and adventure. While in Bath she puts an ancient roman helmet and is transported in time to 61AD where she becomes the slave of Marcus Magnus – a roman general. I don’t know much about Bath other then the Romans build some nice bathing facilities there which our hero/heroine used on a daily basis and multiple times a day contrary to any other period of English History except the present:) Hero was typical Alfa type man and I was astonished that he treated Diana so well.
The romance story was nice and also the villains were interesting, however I believe they didn’t get enough of their own evil brew.
Diana was transported back in her own time, from where she has been missing for about 9 months, her aunt and uncle have declared her dead and embezzled all her money. Safe to say they weren’t happy at her reappearance. To save the day comes Mark (who is the modern day Marcus). All the characters in this book are the same through time, except for the aunt and uncle, they were the modern day villains. I liked the romance story, it was unique to have such connection through time, sex was hot, though funny phrases like mons (I do not know what that means just guessing) and phallus were used repeatedly, which was strange since dick was used as well, don’t know why we had to go back to calling it something else.
I rate books by their story content but also by how interested I am to keep reading. This book was very fast to read and I did not want to put it down. I am staring immediately on another one by the same author “Tempted” and fyi I would love to have Virginia Henley as my grandmother, mine has never even used the word sex or any other connecting to that one……children just come dropped by storks if you ask mine:)
The romance story was nice and also the villains were interesting, however I believe they didn’t get enough of their own evil brew.
Diana was transported back in her own time, from where she has been missing for about 9 months, her aunt and uncle have declared her dead and embezzled all her money. Safe to say they weren’t happy at her reappearance. To save the day comes Mark (who is the modern day Marcus). All the characters in this book are the same through time, except for the aunt and uncle, they were the modern day villains. I liked the romance story, it was unique to have such connection through time, sex was hot, though funny phrases like mons (I do not know what that means just guessing) and phallus were used repeatedly, which was strange since dick was used as well, don’t know why we had to go back to calling it something else.
I rate books by their story content but also by how interested I am to keep reading. This book was very fast to read and I did not want to put it down. I am staring immediately on another one by the same author “Tempted” and fyi I would love to have Virginia Henley as my grandmother, mine has never even used the word sex or any other connecting to that one……children just come dropped by storks if you ask mine:)
May 11, 2021
I’m going to start this review by acknowledging that yes this book is problematic but I absolutely frickin loved it and I refuse to feel shamed about that. Viginia Henley can write some serious steam 🔥🔥🔥 as well as some crazy ass plot lines that you won’t want to put down. And only old school romance will celebrate pubic hair and liken certain parts on the male body to swan eggs 😂🙈.
Our heroine resides in Georgian England and is trying to escape being tricked into marriage when she goes exploring in an antique shop. She finds a Roman helmet and puts it on and..... is transported to Ancient Roman times. Immediately she becomes a slave of a Roman General who wants her for one thing, however she decides it will be her with the upper hand and sets out to enslave him. What she didn’t expect was an all consuming love- but Ancient Rome was a brutal time and could she and her love survive?
This book turned up the heat as well as well as rip my heat out. The love between the main characters was all consuming and I actually believed it! The time travel aspect while crazy was done well and in a way that I totally didn’t expect (and I did have to flick to the end to make sure a HEA was on the cards- and it was). This book also had the most sexually free heroine I have ever read in a historical romance- and it was exciting and refreshing to read. If you love old school romance and can still read problematic books- read this one and thank me later!
Our heroine resides in Georgian England and is trying to escape being tricked into marriage when she goes exploring in an antique shop. She finds a Roman helmet and puts it on and..... is transported to Ancient Roman times. Immediately she becomes a slave of a Roman General who wants her for one thing, however she decides it will be her with the upper hand and sets out to enslave him. What she didn’t expect was an all consuming love- but Ancient Rome was a brutal time and could she and her love survive?
This book turned up the heat as well as well as rip my heat out. The love between the main characters was all consuming and I actually believed it! The time travel aspect while crazy was done well and in a way that I totally didn’t expect (and I did have to flick to the end to make sure a HEA was on the cards- and it was). This book also had the most sexually free heroine I have ever read in a historical romance- and it was exciting and refreshing to read. If you love old school romance and can still read problematic books- read this one and thank me later!
November 23, 2010
The hero (Marcus Magnus), reminds me of Gerard Butler's character in 300, w/ all those 'Roman Soldiers' and everything
AH! AH! AH! HOTNESS TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL!!!!
AH! AH! AH! HOTNESS TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL!!!!
October 21, 2021
Task un libro ambientato nella antica Roma.
Schiava di Virginia Henley
"Marcus..."
Con orrore lui vide che i capelli di Diana stavano prendendo fuoco mentre il palo incatramato bruciava sopra la sua testa. La costrinse a fissarlo. "Ti amerò per l'eternità" le giurò mentre le infilava la spada nel cuore.
Mi avvicino a questo libro con poca voglia ; L’ultimo libro sull’antica Roma mi aveva lasciata tiepidina, e soprattutto sono in un periodo che gli storici mi invogliano poco.
Però… questo libro mi è piaciuto. Aldilà di alcuni difetti di cui parlerò dopo ,sia la storia , sia il modo in cui è stata raccontata è abbastanza da non far finire questo libro nel famoso mio calderone degli storici tutti uguali.
Questo è un “time travel “ , E devo ammettere che per colpa della “straniera” della Gabaldon ho una certa diffidenza su questo genere di salti temporali. Diana Davenport è una giovane ereditiera sfruttata dai suoi tutori avidi come rapaci , Che non apprezza per niente il suo tempo, ne detesta la ristrettezza mentale ne detesta l’esempio maschile. La parte che io considero prologo del libro si svolge nel 1800 in un periodo appena prima di quello regency, E avremo modo di vedere come Diana sia un pelino al di sopra delle convenzioni sociali per quanto se lo possa permettere. In una notte sopra le righe incontra Mark, Conte di Bath … ma malgrado la fatale attrazione, fra di loro ci saranno scintille e niente più. il conte di bath dal canto suo è uno scapolo impenitente,” ricco come Creso” , ambizioso e supponente.
Ne avremo un assaggio all’inizio per poi rivederlo in altra veste, sotto altri occhi alla fine del libro o comunque nelle fasi finali.
L’oggetto che permette il viaggio nel tempo è un non meglio specificato elmo di epoca romana e la bella Diana si ritrova nell’antica Roma al cospetto del generale Marcus Magnus , un uomo di valore, forte e protettivo, ma un uomo del suo tempo, Diana invece è una donna abituata a un genere di pudore e a un punto di civiltà differente. Non voglio anticipare altro però il bello sarà che malgrado le differenze fra di loro l’amore e la passione sarà incontenibile e appianerà qualunque cosa.
Inoltre Diana imparerà quanto la libertà,valga il sacrificio e lo scendere a compromessi.
Nel raccontare la storia ho gradito il realismo della henley che invece di perdersi in troppe chiacchiere romantiche ha preferito dare uno scorcio molto realistico, molto crudo della realtà dell’epoca pre-regency e di quella romana. Stilisticamente ho apprezzato la ricerca; sono 450 pagine di cartaceo 1800 quasi digitale di corposa ricerca e minuziosa descrizione dell’epoca romana come non l’ho trovata in nessun altro letto finora. Bello anche il fatto che nel momento in cui si cambia epoca anche il modo di argomentare si adegua alla storicità. Mi è piaciuto anche la continuità spazio-temporale quando poi si ritorna al presente. Ovviamente ci sono anche dei lati negativi; L’oggetto del time-travel è leggermente incoerente e soprattutto non viene data mai spiegazione del perché tutto questo sia avvenuto. Anche il filo conduttore di una pseudo reincarnazione dei personaggi in epoca moderna, non viene mai spiegato in maniera più vicina alla logica,ma viene lasciato all’intuizione del lettore .La trasposizione di Diana All’epoca romana è un tantino out of contest: Diana ha quasi diciott’anni e per gli standard dell’epoca romana era già bella vecchiotta, Anche se è come attenuanti possiamo trovare il fatto che magari un manto di bei riccioli biondi ,dei denti non cariati e una pelle più curata probabilmente potevano dare più chances anche una donna più grande. Anche il fatto che riesca a mettere come oggetto di contrattazione la sua verginità in cambio della sua salvezza è un pochino azzardato, in quanto in epoca romana non veniva data importanza all’illibatezza di una donna a maggior ragione di una schiava.
Una via di mezzo fra positivo e negativo è il fatto che molto spesso nelle digressioni storiche ci si distacca dal romanticismo, E si analizza più l’intrigo politico la società corrotta, il massacro degli schiavi in maniera molto dettagliata alcune volte anche troppo dettagliata, perdendo momentaneamente di vista la storyline , lasciando i protagonisti solo sullo sfondo. Elemento certamente apprezzabile dal punto di vista della ricerca, meno dal punto di vista della lettura; non nascondo che alla fine di un volo pindarico sugli schiavi da galea o sacrifici di animali agli dei sono dovuta tornare indietro perché non mi ricordavo Diana o Marcus dove fossero…
Tutto questo per dire che non è il classico romanzo Mondadori e non è la letterurina facile che ti può accompagnare un pomeriggio … è complessa e anche quando si ritorna indietro ci saranno ulteriori peripezie per arrivare al tanto sospirato lieto fine. Ma forse proprio per queste caratteristiche,compresi i suoi difetti me ne ricorderò ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Schiava di Virginia Henley
"Marcus..."
Con orrore lui vide che i capelli di Diana stavano prendendo fuoco mentre il palo incatramato bruciava sopra la sua testa. La costrinse a fissarlo. "Ti amerò per l'eternità" le giurò mentre le infilava la spada nel cuore.
Mi avvicino a questo libro con poca voglia ; L’ultimo libro sull’antica Roma mi aveva lasciata tiepidina, e soprattutto sono in un periodo che gli storici mi invogliano poco.
Però… questo libro mi è piaciuto. Aldilà di alcuni difetti di cui parlerò dopo ,sia la storia , sia il modo in cui è stata raccontata è abbastanza da non far finire questo libro nel famoso mio calderone degli storici tutti uguali.
Questo è un “time travel “ , E devo ammettere che per colpa della “straniera” della Gabaldon ho una certa diffidenza su questo genere di salti temporali. Diana Davenport è una giovane ereditiera sfruttata dai suoi tutori avidi come rapaci , Che non apprezza per niente il suo tempo, ne detesta la ristrettezza mentale ne detesta l’esempio maschile. La parte che io considero prologo del libro si svolge nel 1800 in un periodo appena prima di quello regency, E avremo modo di vedere come Diana sia un pelino al di sopra delle convenzioni sociali per quanto se lo possa permettere. In una notte sopra le righe incontra Mark, Conte di Bath … ma malgrado la fatale attrazione, fra di loro ci saranno scintille e niente più. il conte di bath dal canto suo è uno scapolo impenitente,” ricco come Creso” , ambizioso e supponente.
Ne avremo un assaggio all’inizio per poi rivederlo in altra veste, sotto altri occhi alla fine del libro o comunque nelle fasi finali.
L’oggetto che permette il viaggio nel tempo è un non meglio specificato elmo di epoca romana e la bella Diana si ritrova nell’antica Roma al cospetto del generale Marcus Magnus , un uomo di valore, forte e protettivo, ma un uomo del suo tempo, Diana invece è una donna abituata a un genere di pudore e a un punto di civiltà differente. Non voglio anticipare altro però il bello sarà che malgrado le differenze fra di loro l’amore e la passione sarà incontenibile e appianerà qualunque cosa.
Inoltre Diana imparerà quanto la libertà,valga il sacrificio e lo scendere a compromessi.
Nel raccontare la storia ho gradito il realismo della henley che invece di perdersi in troppe chiacchiere romantiche ha preferito dare uno scorcio molto realistico, molto crudo della realtà dell’epoca pre-regency e di quella romana. Stilisticamente ho apprezzato la ricerca; sono 450 pagine di cartaceo 1800 quasi digitale di corposa ricerca e minuziosa descrizione dell’epoca romana come non l’ho trovata in nessun altro letto finora. Bello anche il fatto che nel momento in cui si cambia epoca anche il modo di argomentare si adegua alla storicità. Mi è piaciuto anche la continuità spazio-temporale quando poi si ritorna al presente. Ovviamente ci sono anche dei lati negativi; L’oggetto del time-travel è leggermente incoerente e soprattutto non viene data mai spiegazione del perché tutto questo sia avvenuto. Anche il filo conduttore di una pseudo reincarnazione dei personaggi in epoca moderna, non viene mai spiegato in maniera più vicina alla logica,ma viene lasciato all’intuizione del lettore .La trasposizione di Diana All’epoca romana è un tantino out of contest: Diana ha quasi diciott’anni e per gli standard dell’epoca romana era già bella vecchiotta, Anche se è come attenuanti possiamo trovare il fatto che magari un manto di bei riccioli biondi ,dei denti non cariati e una pelle più curata probabilmente potevano dare più chances anche una donna più grande. Anche il fatto che riesca a mettere come oggetto di contrattazione la sua verginità in cambio della sua salvezza è un pochino azzardato, in quanto in epoca romana non veniva data importanza all’illibatezza di una donna a maggior ragione di una schiava.
Una via di mezzo fra positivo e negativo è il fatto che molto spesso nelle digressioni storiche ci si distacca dal romanticismo, E si analizza più l’intrigo politico la società corrotta, il massacro degli schiavi in maniera molto dettagliata alcune volte anche troppo dettagliata, perdendo momentaneamente di vista la storyline , lasciando i protagonisti solo sullo sfondo. Elemento certamente apprezzabile dal punto di vista della ricerca, meno dal punto di vista della lettura; non nascondo che alla fine di un volo pindarico sugli schiavi da galea o sacrifici di animali agli dei sono dovuta tornare indietro perché non mi ricordavo Diana o Marcus dove fossero…
Tutto questo per dire che non è il classico romanzo Mondadori e non è la letterurina facile che ti può accompagnare un pomeriggio … è complessa e anche quando si ritorna indietro ci saranno ulteriori peripezie per arrivare al tanto sospirato lieto fine. Ma forse proprio per queste caratteristiche,compresi i suoi difetti me ne ricorderò ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2024
now 2nd reread....4 1/2 stars
1st read 5 stars
1st read 5 stars
February 16, 2022
Barbara - per RFS
.
Che bello, carissime Fenici, oggi finalmente vi parlo di un libro vecchio come il cucco ma bellissimo, uscito nella prima edizione Euroclub nel 1987 per poi essere ripubblicato dai romanzi Mondadori nel 2017 (lo si trova ancora nella versione ebook sui migliori store online).
Chi ama i time travel e crede nella reincarnazione deve leggere Schiava di Virginia Henley.
Per prima cosa parto subito con il dirvi che, come già avrete capito dalla trama e guardando la cover, non si tratta assolutamente di un’opera legata alla spiritualità, ma di un romanzo rosa erotico – anche se non ci sono quelle scene volgari (oddio, mentre lo sto scrivendo mi sento già vecchia ahahah) che vanno tanto di moda ultimamente. È un classico romance (e state tranquilli… non si danno del Voi dopo aver fatto sesso) in cui le scene degli amplessi vengono sì descritte, ma senza sconfinare nel volgare – sebbene quest’autrice in tutti i suoi romanzi ne mette parecchie.
Se quando lessi il romanzo la prima volta, appena uscito, mi aveste chiesto se era adatto a una ragazzina, vi avrei detto assolutamente di no, ma oggigiorno le teenager sono talmente tanto sveglie che, probabilmente, a sedici anni considerano questo libro idoneo per le educande.
Veniamo al dunque e iniziamo a parlare delle mie impressioni, questa volta mi vedo costretta a mettervi un pochino di trama e probabilmente per chi non l’ha letto ci saranno qualche spoiler… ma pazienza!
Per prima cosa diciamo chiaro e tondo che se vi attendete verità storiche sulle epoche trattate, lasciate perdere e leggetevi un saggio, perché questo è un romanzo di fantasia in tutto e per tutto.
Lady Diana Davenport, la protagonista, è una giovane ereditiera che ha come tutori due zii molto venali (la zia anche alquanto acida); ha un carattere particolare e, benché viva nell’Inghilterra Georgiana, non riesce ad apprezzare gli uomini del suo periodo storico; li considera tutti effeminati eccetto lo sfuggente Mark Hardwick, archeologo e duca di Bath, che ha sempre pensato fosse troppo preso dai suoi studi per badare ad altro. Lui è niente di meno che fratello del suo fidanzato Peter, scelto dai suoi zii, ma che lei non ha mai apprezzato poiché lo ritiene uno snob troppo dedito alle feste e al gioco d’azzardo. Durante una passeggiata per la famosa città termale Diana si trova davanti a un negozio d’antiquariato e, attratta da un elmo romano, decide di metterselo in testa venendo subito trasportata nel 61 d.C., dove per poco non viene investita da Marcus Magnus, un nobile romano (dai tratti molto somiglianti a Mark), che la prende come schiava. Dopo averla ripulita e aver visto la bellezza della ragazza, l’uomo la fa diventare una schiava del sesso proteggendola dal perfido fratello Petrus.
Marcus però non ha fatto bene i conti con il destino, nel giro di poco tempo s’innamora di Diana fino a volerla sposare e decide di portarla a Roma con sé per presentarla al padre e avere la sua benedizione. Nello stesso tempo Petrus (infame carogna di uno stronzo), dopo essere diventato l’amante dell’Imperatore Nerone (bellissima coppia! Completamente fuori di testa tutti e due), convince quest’ultimo a prendere la donna del fratello per il quale prova invidia e a farla uccidere nel Colosseo, dandole fuoco e lasciandola sbranare dalle belve.
“Marcus…”
Con orrore lui vide che i capelli di Diana stavano prendendo fuoco mentre il palo incatramato bruciava sopra la sua testa. La costrinse a fissarlo. “Ti amerò per l’eternità” le giurò mentre le infilava la spada nel cuore. (Tratto dal libro)
Marcus, resosi conto della situazione, corre nell’arena e, mentre i bellissimi capelli della donna prendono fuoco e i felini stanno per raggiungerli, la uccide sussurrandole che l’amerà sempre. Nel momento in cui il suo uomo la colpisce al petto Diana inizia il lungo viaggio per tornare nella sua epoca, dove uno sconvolto Mark la farà curare dal suo medico/amico. La donna non ci mette molto ad accorgersi che Mark in realtà è Marcus, il suo amore rincarnato, invece Peter è Petrus il bastardo; peccato solo che nessuno di loro si ricordi della vita passata.
Cosa succederà? Bene non ve lo dico perché allora vi racconterei tutto il libro, ma la storia diventa molto intrigante, anche se personalmente ho preferito la parte romana.
Scrivere i time travel non è facile ma Virginia Henley c’è riuscita benissimo e mi ha fatto sognare per ore portandomi in un’epoca che sempre ho amato (quella dell’Antica Roma).
Se ancora non l’avete letto vi consiglio la lettura di questo libro e se siete un pochino restie di fronte alle scene di sesso MM, tranquille, è tutto solo accennato e per nulla difficile d’accettare.
.
Che bello, carissime Fenici, oggi finalmente vi parlo di un libro vecchio come il cucco ma bellissimo, uscito nella prima edizione Euroclub nel 1987 per poi essere ripubblicato dai romanzi Mondadori nel 2017 (lo si trova ancora nella versione ebook sui migliori store online).
Chi ama i time travel e crede nella reincarnazione deve leggere Schiava di Virginia Henley.
Per prima cosa parto subito con il dirvi che, come già avrete capito dalla trama e guardando la cover, non si tratta assolutamente di un’opera legata alla spiritualità, ma di un romanzo rosa erotico – anche se non ci sono quelle scene volgari (oddio, mentre lo sto scrivendo mi sento già vecchia ahahah) che vanno tanto di moda ultimamente. È un classico romance (e state tranquilli… non si danno del Voi dopo aver fatto sesso) in cui le scene degli amplessi vengono sì descritte, ma senza sconfinare nel volgare – sebbene quest’autrice in tutti i suoi romanzi ne mette parecchie.
Se quando lessi il romanzo la prima volta, appena uscito, mi aveste chiesto se era adatto a una ragazzina, vi avrei detto assolutamente di no, ma oggigiorno le teenager sono talmente tanto sveglie che, probabilmente, a sedici anni considerano questo libro idoneo per le educande.
Veniamo al dunque e iniziamo a parlare delle mie impressioni, questa volta mi vedo costretta a mettervi un pochino di trama e probabilmente per chi non l’ha letto ci saranno qualche spoiler… ma pazienza!
Per prima cosa diciamo chiaro e tondo che se vi attendete verità storiche sulle epoche trattate, lasciate perdere e leggetevi un saggio, perché questo è un romanzo di fantasia in tutto e per tutto.
Lady Diana Davenport, la protagonista, è una giovane ereditiera che ha come tutori due zii molto venali (la zia anche alquanto acida); ha un carattere particolare e, benché viva nell’Inghilterra Georgiana, non riesce ad apprezzare gli uomini del suo periodo storico; li considera tutti effeminati eccetto lo sfuggente Mark Hardwick, archeologo e duca di Bath, che ha sempre pensato fosse troppo preso dai suoi studi per badare ad altro. Lui è niente di meno che fratello del suo fidanzato Peter, scelto dai suoi zii, ma che lei non ha mai apprezzato poiché lo ritiene uno snob troppo dedito alle feste e al gioco d’azzardo. Durante una passeggiata per la famosa città termale Diana si trova davanti a un negozio d’antiquariato e, attratta da un elmo romano, decide di metterselo in testa venendo subito trasportata nel 61 d.C., dove per poco non viene investita da Marcus Magnus, un nobile romano (dai tratti molto somiglianti a Mark), che la prende come schiava. Dopo averla ripulita e aver visto la bellezza della ragazza, l’uomo la fa diventare una schiava del sesso proteggendola dal perfido fratello Petrus.
Marcus però non ha fatto bene i conti con il destino, nel giro di poco tempo s’innamora di Diana fino a volerla sposare e decide di portarla a Roma con sé per presentarla al padre e avere la sua benedizione. Nello stesso tempo Petrus (infame carogna di uno stronzo), dopo essere diventato l’amante dell’Imperatore Nerone (bellissima coppia! Completamente fuori di testa tutti e due), convince quest’ultimo a prendere la donna del fratello per il quale prova invidia e a farla uccidere nel Colosseo, dandole fuoco e lasciandola sbranare dalle belve.
“Marcus…”
Con orrore lui vide che i capelli di Diana stavano prendendo fuoco mentre il palo incatramato bruciava sopra la sua testa. La costrinse a fissarlo. “Ti amerò per l’eternità” le giurò mentre le infilava la spada nel cuore. (Tratto dal libro)
Marcus, resosi conto della situazione, corre nell’arena e, mentre i bellissimi capelli della donna prendono fuoco e i felini stanno per raggiungerli, la uccide sussurrandole che l’amerà sempre. Nel momento in cui il suo uomo la colpisce al petto Diana inizia il lungo viaggio per tornare nella sua epoca, dove uno sconvolto Mark la farà curare dal suo medico/amico. La donna non ci mette molto ad accorgersi che Mark in realtà è Marcus, il suo amore rincarnato, invece Peter è Petrus il bastardo; peccato solo che nessuno di loro si ricordi della vita passata.
Cosa succederà? Bene non ve lo dico perché allora vi racconterei tutto il libro, ma la storia diventa molto intrigante, anche se personalmente ho preferito la parte romana.
Scrivere i time travel non è facile ma Virginia Henley c’è riuscita benissimo e mi ha fatto sognare per ore portandomi in un’epoca che sempre ho amato (quella dell’Antica Roma).
Se ancora non l’avete letto vi consiglio la lettura di questo libro e se siete un pochino restie di fronte alle scene di sesso MM, tranquille, è tutto solo accennato e per nulla difficile d’accettare.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2025
"หล่อนเปรียบเสมือนของขวัญจากเทพเจ้า"
#โรมันรัญจวนEnslaved
#Virginia Henley
(เขินชื่อไทย🤣)
#ไดอาน่า เดเวนพอร์ต🖤มาร์คัส แม็กนัส/มาร์ค ฮาร์ดวิค(เอิร์ลแห่งบาธ)
สนุกกกก😍 เรื่องราวบีบคั้นอารมณ์ ลุ้นตามในหลายๆซีน คอยเอาใจช่วยไดอาน่าให้อยู่รอดปลอดภัยจากคนใจร้าย🥺
-ไดอาน่า เดเวนพอร์ต-เป็นสาวลอนด้อนในศตวรรษที่18 พ่อตายจากทิ้งสมบัติมหาศาลไว้ให้ตั้งแต่น้องยังเด็กอายุ15ปี เลยต้องมีผู้ปกครองมาดูแลและจัดการทรัพย์สินให้ซึ่งก็คือน้องชายของพ่อคุณอาริชาร์ดและคุณพรูเดนซ์ อาสะใภ้ ซึ่งตลอด2ปีที่มาเป็นผู้ปกครองให้หลานสาว สองผัวเมียคู่นี้ก็จ้องแต่จะฮุบสมบัติของไดอาน่ามาเป็นของตัวเอง เมื่อไดอาน่าอายุ17ปีจวนเจียนจะอายุ18ที่ดูแลตนเองได้โดยไม่ต้องมีผปค.ตามกฎหมาย สองผัวเมียจึงต้องรีบดำเนินการ วางแผนหาผู้ชายหล่อเท่ติดแกลมแต่จริงๆขัดสนมาแต่งงานกับไดอาน่า เพื่อจะดีลลับยักยอกถ่ายเทแบ่งสมบัติ
และหวยก็มาออกที่ปีเตอร์ ฮาร์ดวิค หนุ่มหล่อหน้าตาดี โพร์ไฟล์เริ่ดเพราะมีพี่ชายเป็นเอิร์ลแห่งบาธ และมีแต่คนวงในที่จะรู้ว่าอิปีเตอร์นี่ติดพนันงอมแงม เป็นหนี้บ่อนไปทั่ว
สองผัวเมียจึงวางแผนพาไดอาน่าไปเมืองบาธ
โดยก่อนหน้านั้นไดอาน่าเคยแอบหนีอาสะใภ้ไปที่อโคจรแล้วเจอ-มาร์ค ฮาร์ดวิคเข้าใจผิดว่าไดอาน่าเป็นโสเภณี ความทรงจำระหว่างไดอาน่ากับมาร์คเลยเหมือนจะไม่ลงรอยกัน แต่จริงๆคือต่างก็ใจสั่นวูบวาบรัญจวนในใจแต่พยายามทำว่าไม่รู้สึกอะไร555
ระหว่างอยู่ที่เมืองบาธไดอาน่าจับพลัดจับผลูไปลองใส่หมวกโรมันในร้านขายของเก่า แล้วได้ย้อนอดีตไป1700กว่าปี ในยุคสมัยที่โรมันเป็นใหญ่ เจอกับ-มาร์คัส แม็กนัส-ที่เป็นนายพลชาวโรมันหุ่นแซ่บบบ อยู่ๆมีสาวโผล่มาขวางทางแข่งม้า มาร์คัสก็สงสัย จะเป็นนาตาชามาสืบความลับอะไรรึป่าว เลยให้คนกักตัวนางไว้ก่อนในฐานะเชลยผู้ต้องสงสัย...แต่ เมื่อสอบสวนและให้ถอดเสื้อผ้าค้นหาหลักฐาน มาร์คัสก็ปิ๊งเลย😍อยากได้ๆแต่ไดอาน่าไม่ยอมเสียพรหมจรรย์ง่ายๆ มาร์คัสโกรธ จากเป็นเชลยจะให้เป็นนางบำเรอ เลยเลื่อนให้มาเป็นทาสให้ขัดพื้นนู่นนี่ไปก่อนจนกว่าไดอาน่าจะยอมมีอะไรๆด้วย แต่ก็นะ...ทำไปทำมามาร์คัสที่เป็นเจ้านายอยู่ดีๆก็กลายเป็นทาสรักเธอขาซะเอง😆
สำหรับเราเวลานึกถึงเรื่องนี้จะแบ่งเรื่องราวเป็นสามพาร์ท
พาร์ทแรก-ลอนดอนศตวรรษที่18 ก่อนไดอาน่าย้อนอดีต ปูพื้นฐานเรื่องราวที่มาที่ไปว่าไดอาน่าเป็นใคร พบเจออะไร นิสัยอย่างไร
พาร์ทสอง-ย้อนอดีตมาคศ.61 เมืองอเควซูลิส ไดอาน่าอยู่ในสถานะทาส+เมียรักของนายพลมาร์คัสราวๆ8-9เดือน พาร์ทนี้สนุก แซ่บเวอร์ และตอนท้ายๆเศร้าสะเทือนจิตมาก🥺
พาร์ทสาม-กลับมายุคศตวรรษที่18 ได้กลับมาเจอกับพี่มาร์คเอิร์ลแห่งบาธ ที่ยังไม่รู้ว่าในอดีตตัวเองคือนายพลมาร์คัส เป็นพาร์ทที่เราลุ้นใจหายใจคว่ำเลย เพราะพอกลับมายุคนี้ก็ต้องเผชิญชะตากรรมกับอิคุณอาจอมชั่วทั้งสอง ที่ครั้งนี้พวกมันเล่นแรงอัปเลเวล เอาไดอาน่าไปขังและทำให้เป็นบ้า(เพื่อที่ศาลจะได้สั่งให้ไดอาน่าเป็นบุคคลไร้ความสามารถและพวกมันก็จะฮุบสมบัติไป) ไดอาน่าคือต้องรอคอยพี่มาร์คมาช่วยอย่างเดียว🥺 เป็นพาร์ทที่อ่านเหนื่อยอ่านไปด่าตัวร้ายไปบีบคั้นหัวจิตหัวใจมากกก แต่สุดท้ายก็คลี่คลายด้วยดี (แม้จะดูรวบรัดตัดความไปก็ตาม)แต่ก็คือจบดี สะใจกับบทสรุปเล็กน้อยถึงปานกล��ง🎉
โดยรวมคือ สนุก อ่านเพลิน ซีนแซ่บมีมาเรื่อยๆสายกินแซ่บสบายใจได้🥳 เป็นเล่มที่สุ่มหยิบมาอ่านได้เหมาะกับช่วงเวลาเบื่อๆของเรามาก👍🏻
สุดท้าย...อะไรบางอย่างที่ตอนอ่านเจอแล้วร้องห๊ะ!😳เลยอยากจดไว้เฉยๆ:
"ของเขามันใหญ่เกินไป แข็งเกินไป และพุ่งผงาดราวกับเสาโรมันออกมาจากรังสีดำ เจ้ารังนั้นมีไข่หงส์สองลูกด้วย"
#โรมันรัญจวนEnslaved
#Virginia Henley
(เขินชื่อไทย🤣)
#ไดอาน่า เดเวนพอร์ต🖤มาร์คัส แม็กนัส/มาร์ค ฮาร์ดวิค(เอิร์ลแห่งบาธ)
สนุกกกก😍 เรื่องราวบีบคั้นอารมณ์ ลุ้นตามในหลายๆซีน คอยเอาใจช่วยไดอาน่าให้อยู่รอดปลอดภัยจากคนใจร้าย🥺
-ไดอาน่า เดเวนพอร์ต-เป็นสาวลอนด้อนในศตวรรษที่18 พ่อตายจากทิ้งสมบัติมหาศาลไว้ให้ตั้งแต่น้องยังเด็กอายุ15ปี เลยต้องมีผู้ปกครองมาดูแลและจัดการทรัพย์สินให้ซึ่งก็คือน้องชายของพ่อคุณอาริชาร์ดและคุณพรูเดนซ์ อาสะใภ้ ซึ่งตลอด2ปีที่มาเป็นผู้ปกครองให้หลานสาว สองผัวเมียคู่นี้ก็จ้องแต่จะฮุบสมบัติของไดอาน่ามาเป็นของตัวเอง เมื่อไดอาน่าอายุ17ปีจวนเจียนจะอายุ18ที่ดูแลตนเองได้โดยไม่ต้องมีผปค.ตามกฎหมาย สองผัวเมียจึงต้องรีบดำเนินการ วางแผนหาผู้ชายหล่อเท่ติดแกลมแต่จริงๆขัดสนมาแต่งงานกับไดอาน่า เพื่อจะดีลลับยักยอกถ่ายเทแบ่งสมบัติ
และหวยก็มาออกที่ปีเตอร์ ฮาร์ดวิค หนุ่มหล่อหน้าตาดี โพร์ไฟล์เริ่ดเพราะมีพี่ชายเป็นเอิร์ลแห่งบาธ และมีแต่คนวงในที่จะรู้ว่าอิปีเตอร์นี่ติดพนันงอมแงม เป็นหนี้บ่อนไปทั่ว
สองผัวเมียจึงวางแผนพาไดอาน่าไปเมืองบาธ
โดยก่อนหน้านั้นไดอาน่าเคยแอบหนีอาสะใภ้ไปที่อโคจรแล้วเจอ-มาร์ค ฮาร์ดวิคเข้าใจผิดว่าไดอาน่าเป็นโสเภณี ความทรงจำระหว่างไดอาน่ากับมาร์คเลยเหมือนจะไม่ลงรอยกัน แต่จริงๆคือต่างก็ใจสั่นวูบวาบรัญจวนในใจแต่พยายามทำว่าไม่รู้สึกอะไร555
ระหว่างอยู่ที่เมืองบาธไดอาน่าจับพลัดจับผลูไปลองใส่หมวกโรมันในร้านขายของเก่า แล้วได้ย้อนอดีตไป1700กว่าปี ในยุคสมัยที่โรมันเป็นใหญ่ เจอกับ-มาร์คัส แม็กนัส-ที่เป็นนายพลชาวโรมันหุ่นแซ่บบบ อยู่ๆมีสาวโผล่มาขวางทางแข่งม้า มาร์คัสก็สงสัย จะเป็นนาตาชามาสืบความลับอะไรรึป่าว เลยให้คนกักตัวนางไว้ก่อนในฐานะเชลยผู้ต้องสงสัย...แต่ เมื่อสอบสวนและให้ถอดเสื้อผ้าค้นหาหลักฐาน มาร์คัสก็ปิ๊งเลย😍อยากได้ๆแต่ไดอาน่าไม่ยอมเสียพรหมจรรย์ง่ายๆ มาร์คัสโกรธ จากเป็นเชลยจะให้เป็นนางบำเรอ เลยเลื่อนให้มาเป็นทาสให้ขัดพื้นนู่นนี่ไปก่อนจนกว่าไดอาน่าจะยอมมีอะไรๆด้วย แต่ก็นะ...ทำไปทำมามาร์คัสที่เป็นเจ้านายอยู่ดีๆก็กลายเป็นทาสรักเธอขาซะเอง😆
สำหรับเราเวลานึกถึงเรื่องนี้จะแบ่งเรื่องราวเป็นสามพาร์ท
พาร์ทแรก-ลอนดอนศตวรรษที่18 ก่อนไดอาน่าย้อนอดีต ปูพื้นฐานเรื่องราวที่มาที่ไปว่าไดอาน่าเป็นใคร พบเจออะไร นิสัยอย่างไร
พาร์ทสอง-ย้อนอดีตมาคศ.61 เมืองอเควซูลิส ไดอาน่าอยู่ในสถานะทาส+เมียรักของนายพลมาร์คัสราวๆ8-9เดือน พาร์ทนี้สนุก แซ่บเวอร์ และตอนท้ายๆเศร้าสะเทือนจิตมาก🥺
พาร์ทสาม-กลับมายุคศตวรรษที่18 ได้กลับมาเจอกับพี่มาร์คเอิร์ลแห่งบาธ ที่ยังไม่รู้ว่าในอดีตตัวเองคือนายพลมาร์คัส เป็นพาร์ทที่เราลุ้นใจหายใจคว่ำเลย เพราะพอกลับมายุคนี้ก็ต้องเผชิญชะตากรรมกับอิคุณอาจอมชั่วทั้งสอง ที่ครั้งนี้พวกมันเล่นแรงอัปเลเวล เอาไดอาน่าไปขังและทำให้เป็นบ้า(เพื่อที่ศาลจะได้สั่งให้ไดอาน่าเป็นบุคคลไร้ความสามารถและพวกมันก็จะฮุบสมบัติไป) ไดอาน่าคือต้องรอคอยพี่มาร์คมาช่วยอย่างเดียว🥺 เป็นพาร์ทที่อ่านเหนื่อยอ่านไปด่าตัวร้ายไปบีบคั้นหัวจิตหัวใจมากกก แต่สุดท้ายก็คลี่คลายด้วยดี (แม้จะดูรวบรัดตัดความไปก็ตาม)แต่ก็คือจบดี สะใจกับบทสรุปเล็กน้อยถึงปานกล��ง🎉
โดยรวมคือ สนุก อ่านเพลิน ซีนแซ่บมีมาเรื่อยๆสายกินแซ่บสบายใจได้🥳 เป็นเล่มที่สุ่มหยิบมาอ่านได้เหมาะกับช่วงเวลาเบื่อๆของเรามาก👍🏻
สุดท้าย...อะไรบางอย่างที่ตอนอ่านเจอแล้วร้องห๊ะ!😳เลยอยากจดไว้เฉยๆ:
"ของเขามันใหญ่เกินไป แข็งเกินไป และพุ่งผงาดราวกับเสาโรมันออกมาจากรังสีดำ เจ้ารังนั้นมีไข่หงส์สองลูกด้วย"
July 11, 2024
This is a soap opera daydream and I enjoyed it immensely for that.
A young English lady on the cusp of both marriage and inheritance dreams of a less restrictive time period. Georgian society is a bore to her, and Georgian dandies are even worse. Her wish is unexpectedly granted when she is transported back to the time of the Roman Empire. A Roman general suspects her of being a druid spy and takes her as a slave. The rest is [saxophone plays lavishly in the background].
It's been a long time since I read 90s smut. I've really missed how physical it is. Genitals! We wanna see 'em, not hide 'em offscreen! Sex is sweaty and musky and about enjoying bodies! Yeah! I am willing to pay the price of reading terms and euphemisms that were in vogue in the 90s and now do psychic damage (mm, love juices). This is just something I think is sometimes missing from modern stuff.
Another hidden gem was the protagonist's attitude. Diana is seventeen, and she has the most relatable approach to men in all of literature. It goes like this: she reads about sweeping romances of ages past; she wants a manly man who will protect her and take charge; but every time a man exerts authority toward her she hates it; men try to pursue her and it's thrilling; but also she feels the need to escape; but also she thinks about it nonstop. Girl, I get it. Anyway, it's not often I get to see a protagonist be horny yet hot-and-cold.
That said, Diana is also a seventeen-year-old with big dreams and no idea what she's doing. Several times, she tries to use her womanly wiles to negotiate with the Roman general, Marcus. It doesn't work very well. Fortunately, she feels very strongly yet changes her mind often, and so eventually she ends up agreeing with him but thinking it was her idea. Terrible if you're taking her very seriously as a romance heroine, but I found it entertaining. Theirs is a romance of fighting, bargaining, driving each other nuts, and being absolutely obsessed with each other.
Some people may know that I picked this up for Roman historical romance purposes. And that part was pretty fun. Marcus is a stern general, and high up enough in rank to be involved in some politicking. There were inevitably some historical and moral arguments between the established Brit and the conquering commander. Nero was there.
So is this book GOOD? No. It's over the top and silly. Its homophobia and disdain for fat people will smack you in the face. The most beautiful delicate hypnotizing woman in the world is always 100% certain that she's right. But she also has fun sex with a big soldier man, and they invent and solve their own drama daily. I had a great time.
A young English lady on the cusp of both marriage and inheritance dreams of a less restrictive time period. Georgian society is a bore to her, and Georgian dandies are even worse. Her wish is unexpectedly granted when she is transported back to the time of the Roman Empire. A Roman general suspects her of being a druid spy and takes her as a slave. The rest is [saxophone plays lavishly in the background].
It's been a long time since I read 90s smut. I've really missed how physical it is. Genitals! We wanna see 'em, not hide 'em offscreen! Sex is sweaty and musky and about enjoying bodies! Yeah! I am willing to pay the price of reading terms and euphemisms that were in vogue in the 90s and now do psychic damage (mm, love juices). This is just something I think is sometimes missing from modern stuff.
Another hidden gem was the protagonist's attitude. Diana is seventeen, and she has the most relatable approach to men in all of literature. It goes like this: she reads about sweeping romances of ages past; she wants a manly man who will protect her and take charge; but every time a man exerts authority toward her she hates it; men try to pursue her and it's thrilling; but also she feels the need to escape; but also she thinks about it nonstop. Girl, I get it. Anyway, it's not often I get to see a protagonist be horny yet hot-and-cold.
That said, Diana is also a seventeen-year-old with big dreams and no idea what she's doing. Several times, she tries to use her womanly wiles to negotiate with the Roman general, Marcus. It doesn't work very well. Fortunately, she feels very strongly yet changes her mind often, and so eventually she ends up agreeing with him but thinking it was her idea. Terrible if you're taking her very seriously as a romance heroine, but I found it entertaining. Theirs is a romance of fighting, bargaining, driving each other nuts, and being absolutely obsessed with each other.
Some people may know that I picked this up for Roman historical romance purposes. And that part was pretty fun. Marcus is a stern general, and high up enough in rank to be involved in some politicking. There were inevitably some historical and moral arguments between the established Brit and the conquering commander. Nero was there.
So is this book GOOD? No. It's over the top and silly. Its homophobia and disdain for fat people will smack you in the face. The most beautiful delicate hypnotizing woman in the world is always 100% certain that she's right. But she also has fun sex with a big soldier man, and they invent and solve their own drama daily. I had a great time.
February 24, 2021
I'm surprised I hadn't already added this to my shelves. This is one of my favorite Virginia Henley stories. Time travel romance. Love through time and all that. Oh and of course, when the hero
Didn't even have to look up that quote. It has always stuck with me. This is a good one. I highly recommend.
Didn't even have to look up that quote. It has always stuck with me. This is a good one. I highly recommend.
April 17, 2017
3,5 - Ammetto di provare sempre una certa diffidenza verso i timetravel, perché spesso ho trovato poco credibili le ragioni che giustificano le "porte del tempo", salvo che si tratti di un fantasy.
Qui tutto è affidato a un elmo d'epoca romana che, indossato e troppo stretto, conduce dal 1800 direttamente al primo secolo d.C... e sospendiamo la nostra sete di coerenza.
A dispetto di questo elemento, però, questo romanzo non è stato una delusione completa. Anzi. Sono quasi quattrocentocinquanta pagine dense, ricche di avvenimenti e di personaggi, e fondate su un'indubbia cura nei dettagli e nella ricostruzione storica.
Se la prima parte ambientata nell'abituale regency è comunque vivace, concentrata sulle peripezie della sfortunata Diana Davenport, lady orfana in balia di due zii tutori avidi e rapaci, la seconda parte ci porta in una Britannia occupata dai Romani e attraversata da ribellioni e tensioni.
C'è un filo conduttore, ed è il fatto che i personaggi del futuro sono una sorta di reincarnazione dei loro antichi avi, con lo stesso fascino, gli stessi vizi e virtù. E c'è un certo sgomento nel riuscire ad accettare che lady Diana riesca a barattare la propria salvezza con una verginità molto ottocentesca (e forse poco romana, anche perchè comunque la nostra bellissima doveva apparire un pelino "vecchiotta" per i tempi passati).
Ma non nego che un corpo in salute, con denti sani e capelli fluenti,e una pelle perfetta e non butterata, doveva essere comunque una rarità, anche per un generale navigato come Marcus Magnus.
Poi si fa un ulteriore salto nella Roma di Nerone e qui ho davvero apprezzato il realismo della Henley, che non concede spazio per divagazioni romantiche e descrive invece una società corrotta, avida di giochi crudeli, di supplizi e massacri di schiavi.
Senza contare che vi è un ulteriore salto-ritorno nel tempo, con ancora parecchi colpi di scena prima di giungere al tradizionale lieto fine.
In conclusione, non è un libro che consiglierei alle anime romantiche o per un pomeriggio di puro svago, ma una lettura più corposa che può comunque soddisfare chi cerca maggior sostanza oltre che leggerezza (anche perché, quanto a stile, i venti anni del libro si sentono tutti...).
Qui tutto è affidato a un elmo d'epoca romana che, indossato e troppo stretto, conduce dal 1800 direttamente al primo secolo d.C... e sospendiamo la nostra sete di coerenza.
A dispetto di questo elemento, però, questo romanzo non è stato una delusione completa. Anzi. Sono quasi quattrocentocinquanta pagine dense, ricche di avvenimenti e di personaggi, e fondate su un'indubbia cura nei dettagli e nella ricostruzione storica.
Se la prima parte ambientata nell'abituale regency è comunque vivace, concentrata sulle peripezie della sfortunata Diana Davenport, lady orfana in balia di due zii tutori avidi e rapaci, la seconda parte ci porta in una Britannia occupata dai Romani e attraversata da ribellioni e tensioni.
C'è un filo conduttore, ed è il fatto che i personaggi del futuro sono una sorta di reincarnazione dei loro antichi avi, con lo stesso fascino, gli stessi vizi e virtù. E c'è un certo sgomento nel riuscire ad accettare che lady Diana riesca a barattare la propria salvezza con una verginità molto ottocentesca (e forse poco romana, anche perchè comunque la nostra bellissima doveva apparire un pelino "vecchiotta" per i tempi passati).
Ma non nego che un corpo in salute, con denti sani e capelli fluenti,e una pelle perfetta e non butterata, doveva essere comunque una rarità, anche per un generale navigato come Marcus Magnus.
Poi si fa un ulteriore salto nella Roma di Nerone e qui ho davvero apprezzato il realismo della Henley, che non concede spazio per divagazioni romantiche e descrive invece una società corrotta, avida di giochi crudeli, di supplizi e massacri di schiavi.
Senza contare che vi è un ulteriore salto-ritorno nel tempo, con ancora parecchi colpi di scena prima di giungere al tradizionale lieto fine.
In conclusione, non è un libro che consiglierei alle anime romantiche o per un pomeriggio di puro svago, ma una lettura più corposa che può comunque soddisfare chi cerca maggior sostanza oltre che leggerezza (anche perché, quanto a stile, i venti anni del libro si sentono tutti...).
December 8, 2021
Great characters and love story but then there’s time travel. Not for me.
March 14, 2018
A little corny in a few places but over all I enjoyed it much more than I was expecting. A very different take than any time travel book I’ve read. Sort of reincarnation meets time travel or soulmates connected over multiple lifetimes.
I kind of wish it was a series and the good doctor got his own soulmate through time happy ending as well.
As far as I can recall this was my first Virginia Henley book and I’d absolutely read another.
Totally recommend it.
I kind of wish it was a series and the good doctor got his own soulmate through time happy ending as well.
As far as I can recall this was my first Virginia Henley book and I’d absolutely read another.
Totally recommend it.
October 5, 2011
Redonk Nutshell: Woman is transported back in time to Roman-occupied Britain where she gets lessons in ancient history and passion
I've recently been on a time-traveling kick. I found myself searching GoodReads for romance books that featured a time-traveling hero or heroine and I came across Enslaved by Virginia Henley. I've not yet read anything by her, though I've come across her name several times in my travels through romance-land.
Lady Diana Davenport lives in 18th century London and is on the cusp of inheriting her father' s legacy. Her guardians have other plans for the money, and are anxious to make a match for Diana so she can be married off. Diana, however, has other ideas. She's smart and opinionated, and most of the men in her life are dandies. She daydreams about times long past, how knights rode to defend the honor of their ladies, blah blah blah. When Diana comes across an old roman helmet in an antiques shop she can't keep herself from putting it on her head. And WOOSH! She' whisked back through time.
Figuring the strangely dressed woman as a Druid priestess and spy, Marcus Magnus instructs the woman to be enslaved. When he recognizes her light hair and pale skin as strangely beautiful, he takes her as his personal consort. Diana, once again, has other ideas. But she struggles to keep herself from becoming enraptured with the Roman who has taken charge of her.
My experience with this book was mixed. I'd say for the first half I was really intrigued and really into it, especially because we get a lot of set-up featuring Diana in her time period. Her guardians are odious people, and Diana's small ways of rebelling against them are lovely. We are also introduced to a blackguard of an earl who sets his sights on Diana, and their exchange are feisty as well.
When Diana is thrown back in time, we the reader quickly realize that the Roman Marcus Magnus is a distant relative of the aforementioned earl, so identical to a point where Diana can barely see a difference between the two. I found myself wondering if Diana was perhaps experiences a Dorothy Gale moment and wasn't actually transported back in time but rather having a delirious hallucination. But alas, no, she was in fact really back in that time period.
The parallels between Marcus and Mark Hardwick, the earl, really turned me off. I don't typically dig reincarnation stories, and this one really spoiled that story for me. When Diana is returned to her time she has to convince those around her that she had, in fact, been back in roman times. When Mark starts to remember things is about when my head started to hurt from rolling my eyes so many times.
There's nothing wrong with a bodice-ripping cheese fest of a romance novel, but I at least like a good hearty story behind it. Unfortunately, Enslaved fell short for me. The first half was fun, spirited and rich, but the second half fell flat with cliched predictability. A plus? It was pretty raunchy to which I say, "ohhhh...those Romans!"
Enslaved by Virginia Henley, 436 pgs, 1/1/95
Rating: C-
Romance: 2/5 Raunch: 4/5
I've recently been on a time-traveling kick. I found myself searching GoodReads for romance books that featured a time-traveling hero or heroine and I came across Enslaved by Virginia Henley. I've not yet read anything by her, though I've come across her name several times in my travels through romance-land.
Lady Diana Davenport lives in 18th century London and is on the cusp of inheriting her father' s legacy. Her guardians have other plans for the money, and are anxious to make a match for Diana so she can be married off. Diana, however, has other ideas. She's smart and opinionated, and most of the men in her life are dandies. She daydreams about times long past, how knights rode to defend the honor of their ladies, blah blah blah. When Diana comes across an old roman helmet in an antiques shop she can't keep herself from putting it on her head. And WOOSH! She' whisked back through time.
Figuring the strangely dressed woman as a Druid priestess and spy, Marcus Magnus instructs the woman to be enslaved. When he recognizes her light hair and pale skin as strangely beautiful, he takes her as his personal consort. Diana, once again, has other ideas. But she struggles to keep herself from becoming enraptured with the Roman who has taken charge of her.
My experience with this book was mixed. I'd say for the first half I was really intrigued and really into it, especially because we get a lot of set-up featuring Diana in her time period. Her guardians are odious people, and Diana's small ways of rebelling against them are lovely. We are also introduced to a blackguard of an earl who sets his sights on Diana, and their exchange are feisty as well.
When Diana is thrown back in time, we the reader quickly realize that the Roman Marcus Magnus is a distant relative of the aforementioned earl, so identical to a point where Diana can barely see a difference between the two. I found myself wondering if Diana was perhaps experiences a Dorothy Gale moment and wasn't actually transported back in time but rather having a delirious hallucination. But alas, no, she was in fact really back in that time period.
The parallels between Marcus and Mark Hardwick, the earl, really turned me off. I don't typically dig reincarnation stories, and this one really spoiled that story for me. When Diana is returned to her time she has to convince those around her that she had, in fact, been back in roman times. When Mark starts to remember things is about when my head started to hurt from rolling my eyes so many times.
There's nothing wrong with a bodice-ripping cheese fest of a romance novel, but I at least like a good hearty story behind it. Unfortunately, Enslaved fell short for me. The first half was fun, spirited and rich, but the second half fell flat with cliched predictability. A plus? It was pretty raunchy to which I say, "ohhhh...those Romans!"
Enslaved by Virginia Henley, 436 pgs, 1/1/95
Rating: C-
Romance: 2/5 Raunch: 4/5
February 14, 2013
I'm not even certain what to say about this story. It's a mix of story concepts like Outlander (Time Travel), reincarnation and Wizard of Oz.
The story begins in Georgian England with a seventeen year old heiress preparing for her her come out season. Her greedy guardians try to trick her into marrying the man of their choice (a good looking but evil man) so they can split her inheritance before she reaches the legal age of eighteen.
(Confused I am! Back then, legal age for a male was twenty one and for a female it was twenty five. This is just before the official Regency period. King George is mad and Prinny is just waiting for the Regency bill to be passed. Not only that but the heroine wears powdered wigs and panniers. I thought that except for court dress, they were wearing the Grecian style gowns by then and had discarded the wigs due to the huge tax on wig powder. The change of dress was inspired by the French Revolution and the fear that the same thing would happen in England. Whatever. It's fiction...).
In kind of like Wizard of Oz introduction, things happen to introduce people (like the hero, his brother, an abbess) who will become part of people she meets in her trip back in time. That happens when she dons an antique helmet. She becomes the slave of a rich powerful Roman soldier (the hero but not the hero).
That's the set-up.
The story is told in an omnipotent voice, head hopping quite a bit, which I found distracting. The voice contains an emotional distancing quality, as if told by an omnipotent reporter, which prevented me from making a deep emotional connection with the characters.
The historical detail for both ages is rich and the descriptions wonderful (in fact, I think the life and times of the people more than the adventure kept me engaged). The potential for brutality was eluded to and not shown (my preference) for the most part.
The story was compelling enough that I had to finish it. I can't say there was anything particularly compelling about the seventeen year old heroine or the thirty something hero. They are both pretty much typical of the romance genre. She the innocent who discovers her womanly powers and he the dominant alpha male intent on mastering and possessing her rebellious spirit.
The story begins in Georgian England with a seventeen year old heiress preparing for her her come out season. Her greedy guardians try to trick her into marrying the man of their choice (a good looking but evil man) so they can split her inheritance before she reaches the legal age of eighteen.
(Confused I am! Back then, legal age for a male was twenty one and for a female it was twenty five. This is just before the official Regency period. King George is mad and Prinny is just waiting for the Regency bill to be passed. Not only that but the heroine wears powdered wigs and panniers. I thought that except for court dress, they were wearing the Grecian style gowns by then and had discarded the wigs due to the huge tax on wig powder. The change of dress was inspired by the French Revolution and the fear that the same thing would happen in England. Whatever. It's fiction...).
In kind of like Wizard of Oz introduction, things happen to introduce people (like the hero, his brother, an abbess) who will become part of people she meets in her trip back in time. That happens when she dons an antique helmet. She becomes the slave of a rich powerful Roman soldier (the hero but not the hero).
That's the set-up.
The story is told in an omnipotent voice, head hopping quite a bit, which I found distracting. The voice contains an emotional distancing quality, as if told by an omnipotent reporter, which prevented me from making a deep emotional connection with the characters.
The historical detail for both ages is rich and the descriptions wonderful (in fact, I think the life and times of the people more than the adventure kept me engaged). The potential for brutality was eluded to and not shown (my preference) for the most part.
The story was compelling enough that I had to finish it. I can't say there was anything particularly compelling about the seventeen year old heroine or the thirty something hero. They are both pretty much typical of the romance genre. She the innocent who discovers her womanly powers and he the dominant alpha male intent on mastering and possessing her rebellious spirit.
November 10, 2013
J'ai adoré ce roman !
Comme toujours je ne suis pas déçue avec Virginia Henley !
J'ai beaucoup ce Time Travel, j'ai trouvé que la manière dont il était fait cohérent.
L'héroine (Diana) est un personnage fort, elle ne laisse pas désespérée car elle n'est plus dans son siècle et fait en sorte de s'adapter.
Et à sa manière fait en sorte que sa relation avec Marcus Magnus marche malgré leurs différences.
Le héros (Marcus Magnus / Mark Hardwick) sait ce qu'il veut ! Diana en l’occurrence et ce quelque soit le siècle ! Il sait quels sont les sentiments qu'il l'anime vis-à-vis d'elle et fait en sorte que cela fonctionne. Et même si les mots ne sont pas forcément prononcé et les actions démontrent les sentiments.
J'ai trouvé bien fait que le temps qu'elle est en 61 après Jésus Christ, elle est absente de son siècle, tout le monde la recherchant. J'ai trouvé le moment et les mots prononcés par Marcus Magnus lorsqu'elle retourne dans son siècle très fort, touchant, poignant et plein de sentiments. Dommage que l'on ne sache pas ce qu'il advient de Marcus Magnus après.
Mais le retour n'est pas si facile puisqu'il faut ce confronter aux problèmes déjà présent.
Comme toujours je ne suis pas déçue avec Virginia Henley !
J'ai beaucoup ce Time Travel, j'ai trouvé que la manière dont il était fait cohérent.
L'héroine (Diana) est un personnage fort, elle ne laisse pas désespérée car elle n'est plus dans son siècle et fait en sorte de s'adapter.
Et à sa manière fait en sorte que sa relation avec Marcus Magnus marche malgré leurs différences.
Le héros (Marcus Magnus / Mark Hardwick) sait ce qu'il veut ! Diana en l’occurrence et ce quelque soit le siècle ! Il sait quels sont les sentiments qu'il l'anime vis-à-vis d'elle et fait en sorte que cela fonctionne. Et même si les mots ne sont pas forcément prononcé et les actions démontrent les sentiments.
J'ai trouvé bien fait que le temps qu'elle est en 61 après Jésus Christ, elle est absente de son siècle, tout le monde la recherchant. J'ai trouvé le moment et les mots prononcés par Marcus Magnus lorsqu'elle retourne dans son siècle très fort, touchant, poignant et plein de sentiments. Dommage que l'on ne sache pas ce qu'il advient de Marcus Magnus après.
Mais le retour n'est pas si facile puisqu'il faut ce confronter aux problèmes déjà présent.
August 13, 2023
It was super trashy, and I loved it. The twists! The turns! Sometimes out of nowhere! The three parts of the story felt occasionally disjointed. Still, I enjoyed this tale of the wild Diana very much.
January 29, 2022
DNF on page 148. I love a good trashy book from time to time but this one was just too unbelievable. Heroine is a virgin with the wiles of a courtesan. Hero is unpleasant. Oh well. On to the next book.
May 23, 2009
This is the book I always claim as my ultimate favorite when asked "What is your favorite romance novel?"
Hands down this book is singularly responsible for many of my complex dreams.
Hands down this book is singularly responsible for many of my complex dreams.
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