What do you think?
Rate this book
Crimson Rapture
Never had Christina seen a man as handsome as the notorious pirate Justin Phillips. His lean, masculine frame radiated a shocking strength; his piercing blue eyes left her feeling helpless and weak. Somewhere deep inside her, the innocent beauty felt a yearning for an unknown ecstasy, and thirsted for adventures that were forbidden even in her dreams. But, as his lips gently grazed her flesh and his hands thoroughly ravished her senses, Christina resolved that after he had his way with her, she would flee under the cover of night and forever escape his ardent demands! He forced her response...
There was nothing like a challenge to make the blood flow faster in Justin Phillip's veins. So, when the dashing pirate saw the timid wench shrink from his gaze, he decided that he'd take her with-or without-her consent. He coaxed desire from her pouting lips; he awakened passion with his expert touch. The experienced rake knew that Christina would try to run away from pleasure, but once he'd had her..he knew that he could never let her go. If it meant capturing her with kisses, and enslaving her with his caress, he would do it, and turn the seeds of her hidden desire into the full bloom of Crimson Rapture...
There was nothing like a challenge to make the blood flow faster in Justin Phillip's veins. So, when the dashing pirate saw the timid wench shrink from his gaze, he decided that he'd take her with-or without-her consent. He coaxed desire from her pouting lips; he awakened passion with his expert touch. The experienced rake knew that Christina would try to run away from pleasure, but once he'd had her..he knew that he could never let her go. If it meant capturing her with kisses, and enslaving her with his caress, he would do it, and turn the seeds of her hidden desire into the full bloom of Crimson Rapture...
495 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1986
14 people are currently reading
937 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 5, 2019
He had given her no choice from the start. Under the convenient guise of saving her life, he had first abducted her and then stolen her innocence. In a very real sense he forced her to fall in love with him.
She had never wanted to love him.
(...)
He would have her love again. If it took a year or five, he didn't care. He would have her love again.
That's a nice evolution for the vile, rapey, cruel anti-hero of Jennifer Horsman's bodice-rippery pirate adventure Crimson Rapture but not nearly enough to redeem himself, at least in my eyes.
The heroine is the most insufferable Mary Sue to end all Mary Sues, which is saying a lot in a genre saturated with innocent, bosom-heaving damsels in distress. Her stupidity and naivety know no bounds.
The writing style was uneven. Certain passages were quite beautiful. Other major plot points and character developments happened "off page", preventing the reader from completely connecting with the story or characters.
Props though for the scene where author has Mary Sue ingesting psychedelic mushrooms, which has the effect of finally removing the large baton that was stuck up her butt for the majority of her life. Too bad the "fun" Mary Sue only lasted for a couple of days and then it was back to the large eyes full of brimming tears, the shocked gasps, the forever-swooning Mary Sue.
A contrived Fourth Act designed to once again drive the lovers apart was tedious, all the more so because it wasted an opportunity for an Epic Grovel, one of my favorite tropes when well-executed.
Overall, I enjoyed it despite its unevenness and I would recommend it to fans of the genre.
She had never wanted to love him.
(...)
He would have her love again. If it took a year or five, he didn't care. He would have her love again.
That's a nice evolution for the vile, rapey, cruel anti-hero of Jennifer Horsman's bodice-rippery pirate adventure Crimson Rapture but not nearly enough to redeem himself, at least in my eyes.
The heroine is the most insufferable Mary Sue to end all Mary Sues, which is saying a lot in a genre saturated with innocent, bosom-heaving damsels in distress. Her stupidity and naivety know no bounds.
The writing style was uneven. Certain passages were quite beautiful. Other major plot points and character developments happened "off page", preventing the reader from completely connecting with the story or characters.
Props though for the scene where author has Mary Sue ingesting psychedelic mushrooms, which has the effect of finally removing the large baton that was stuck up her butt for the majority of her life. Too bad the "fun" Mary Sue only lasted for a couple of days and then it was back to the large eyes full of brimming tears, the shocked gasps, the forever-swooning Mary Sue.
A contrived Fourth Act designed to once again drive the lovers apart was tedious, all the more so because it wasted an opportunity for an Epic Grovel, one of my favorite tropes when well-executed.
Overall, I enjoyed it despite its unevenness and I would recommend it to fans of the genre.
January 26, 2013
Note: I generally given all these old Zebra's a 3-star rating just because I freakin' can. They're all mostly written pretty decent and likeable, at best. The Lolz are verra important to my smutty intake. The trope hop is amusing and isn't to be taken too seriously. I am biased of these Zebra's, and will strike you down with questionable wit and irrelevant whining if called out on said bias.
LOTS OF SPOILERS AHEAD...
For the bodice-ripper hype this one is famous for, it's really not all that concerning, truth be told. Telling me how terrabad and menacing characters are, isn't quite what preparation I had when the scenes were merely skimmed over, left in the black-void of PCville. Lots of the more critical scenes of rape were not centrally focused on, and I suppose the theme itself could be the true sniffling factor. ..Really? Then turn off CSI.
What irked me more than anything was the fact that Justin(the hero)fell absolutely head over heels for Christina(the heroine) in the first few exchanges of philosophy and intellectual discourse, albeit- once they were relocated to other, more climatic scenery, he immediately discarded that intellectual ruse entirely and donned a rather savage disposition. I mean, c'mon, I know we're stranded on a deserted island; I'm one of the island trollops, you're out killing boars& wildlife, keeping us fed and housed in a cave, where you've built me furniture and carved me out a fish-bone comb, but WHERE IS THE CONVERSATION!? Horsman has a tendency of being indecisive on what trope her heroes should be, but instead adds a rubrik's cube of variation, as she did in Magic Embrace.
Black Garrett from Magic Embrace's Heroic God-Moding Tendencies:
-Philosopher
-Pirate
-Earl
-Warlock
-Inventor
-Abolisher of Slaves
-Founder of Irrigation Systems
-Discoverer of Germs
-Buddhist Master of Two Continents
-Shapeshifter(interpreted as such; a Panther)
-Poor Widower with deceased children(Of course, his wife was merely cleaning out the chamber, but to him..they were all murdered. MURDERRRRRRRRR!!!)
-Previous Indentured Servant('Cause his parents wanted to make an 'example' out of him...right.)
-Dream Interpreter
-Mindsweeper(Conveniently erased heroine's mind of her horrifying past or his naughty conduct.)
-Healer(I mean, full-body scars, y'all. He'd make the big buckage in Hollywood.)
Crimson Rapture's Justin Phillips was more of a cocktail personality, than any multidimensional, magical manipulator. The heroine Christina's philosophical conversation brought them together(he was incapable of seeing her due to his imprisonment), but it seemed as though that aspect was never regarded again once he was capable of dubiously consensual sex0rz.
There's a scene where one of the shipwrecked wenches(A noble lady) showed her murderous true colors, having killed her ailing husband, toyed with the other stranded pirates in order to get a lean-to room for herself, and refused to allow any to court her -- so, Justin let her choose which one who have her. She selected one and rightly stabbed him during his cuddle-time. Afterwards, Justin threw her to the entire crew, but you're not viewed that scene, as it fades to black. We're merely witness to a few screams, and then Justin proceeds to have his way with Christina, as the screams commence down the beach. HAHAHAHA...I'm sorry, what? Oh yes, that was rather nasty of you, Justin. Shame shame! Meanwhile, Horsman did her best to suggest the Lady had it coming. Maybe she did...but I believe the audience would have been more sympathizing had we actually gotten to read through the gangbangin' good times. Needless to say, Christina thinks the man is a complete savage--among other things. He's had to kill off his ailing best friend who refused to commit suicide, he's threw that shrew to the hogs, he's stolen her virtue; you damn right she's on the move. She escapes onboard another shipping vessel where a homosexual doctor decides marrying her would rebuild his questionable reputation(and set rumors to ease), and supplies Christina's child with a father. There's no blatant actions that suggest that he was even homosexual, we just realize from the inner-monologue that he's incapable of loving women. Not to mention the LOLz between the Dr. and his apparent lover, on the word womb being hysterica in Latin, and the constant, motherly hormones leakin' outta Christina.
Of course, Christina--with her ridiculously innocent handicap, doesn't realize he's homosexual, but thinks he's celibate. This chick is for real. I am still waiting for the gerbil's to hit a speedbump for that one. She's 'innocent' in the eyes of everyone else, when I merely think she was touched as a child. She's incapable of discerning the most simplistic things, and blinks all doe-like, completely clueless to reality. She's the bastion of all things pure, good and true. Seriously...?? Mary Sue true!
We're not shocked when Justin tracks her down. They barely spent anytime apart, as the scenes change through the months, etc. He demanded an annulment, after discussing it with the good Dr., and no consummation was reached, so he snags Christina and the baby.
Now then, at this point there's a flamboyant mistress embarrassing Christina in her poor attire she was forced to wear throughout the ship over, and Justin saw no point in doing anything about it until the servants tattled. I believe I would have championed her on, if she had all big-girl-panties-on learned what the sharp end of a knife does(teehee) and carved out his gizzard.
Truthfully, I've never heard a hero claim his love or vocally/mentally assess it so often. He did love the girl. She was merely terrified to death of him, but never denied him after the pleasure factor kicked in. This also may be going out on a limb, but I thought Christine to be the stereotypical male-minded sort who generally judge the women by some sort of physical attribute. When Justin & Christine first started talking, he was caged and could only view people by their feet. He had settled into the fact that the heroine was likely not a real beauty, but in reality she was. Christine had painted this picture of Justin of purely gentle, puppy-dog faced cutesy pop, and was horrified by his savage appearance when it was revealed, which never quite graduated from that hysteria, either. I THINK CHRISTINE IS A STUPID BIATCH!! There, OK...!? I SAID IT. That's doormat heroine #2 for Horsman's literary pieces. The majority of the issues between H/h could have been resolved by simply talking to the other. Horsman kept interrupting conversation between the two for convenient animosity and to extend the storyline.
I think the story could have served up a far better scene than a komodo dragon attack, though. How Horsman described it, I thought they were in Land of the Lost. XD Dinosaurs? YESSSSSSSSSSSS!
Anyhow, the story was all right, but I wish Horsman didn't trope hop like a madhatter. And with that, I'll likely be another of her collection, quite soon. LOL I don't know when to quit.
LOTS OF SPOILERS AHEAD...
For the bodice-ripper hype this one is famous for, it's really not all that concerning, truth be told. Telling me how terrabad and menacing characters are, isn't quite what preparation I had when the scenes were merely skimmed over, left in the black-void of PCville. Lots of the more critical scenes of rape were not centrally focused on, and I suppose the theme itself could be the true sniffling factor. ..Really? Then turn off CSI.
What irked me more than anything was the fact that Justin(the hero)fell absolutely head over heels for Christina(the heroine) in the first few exchanges of philosophy and intellectual discourse, albeit- once they were relocated to other, more climatic scenery, he immediately discarded that intellectual ruse entirely and donned a rather savage disposition. I mean, c'mon, I know we're stranded on a deserted island; I'm one of the island trollops, you're out killing boars& wildlife, keeping us fed and housed in a cave, where you've built me furniture and carved me out a fish-bone comb, but WHERE IS THE CONVERSATION!? Horsman has a tendency of being indecisive on what trope her heroes should be, but instead adds a rubrik's cube of variation, as she did in Magic Embrace.
Black Garrett from Magic Embrace's Heroic God-Moding Tendencies:
-Philosopher
-Pirate
-Earl
-Warlock
-Inventor
-Abolisher of Slaves
-Founder of Irrigation Systems
-Discoverer of Germs
-Buddhist Master of Two Continents
-Shapeshifter(interpreted as such; a Panther)
-Poor Widower with deceased children(Of course, his wife was merely cleaning out the chamber, but to him..they were all murdered. MURDERRRRRRRRR!!!)
-Previous Indentured Servant('Cause his parents wanted to make an 'example' out of him...right.)
-Dream Interpreter
-Mindsweeper(Conveniently erased heroine's mind of her horrifying past or his naughty conduct.)
-Healer(I mean, full-body scars, y'all. He'd make the big buckage in Hollywood.)
Crimson Rapture's Justin Phillips was more of a cocktail personality, than any multidimensional, magical manipulator. The heroine Christina's philosophical conversation brought them together(he was incapable of seeing her due to his imprisonment), but it seemed as though that aspect was never regarded again once he was capable of dubiously consensual sex0rz.
There's a scene where one of the shipwrecked wenches(A noble lady) showed her murderous true colors, having killed her ailing husband, toyed with the other stranded pirates in order to get a lean-to room for herself, and refused to allow any to court her -- so, Justin let her choose which one who have her. She selected one and rightly stabbed him during his cuddle-time. Afterwards, Justin threw her to the entire crew, but you're not viewed that scene, as it fades to black. We're merely witness to a few screams, and then Justin proceeds to have his way with Christina, as the screams commence down the beach. HAHAHAHA...I'm sorry, what? Oh yes, that was rather nasty of you, Justin. Shame shame! Meanwhile, Horsman did her best to suggest the Lady had it coming. Maybe she did...but I believe the audience would have been more sympathizing had we actually gotten to read through the gangbangin' good times. Needless to say, Christina thinks the man is a complete savage--among other things. He's had to kill off his ailing best friend who refused to commit suicide, he's threw that shrew to the hogs, he's stolen her virtue; you damn right she's on the move. She escapes onboard another shipping vessel where a homosexual doctor decides marrying her would rebuild his questionable reputation(and set rumors to ease), and supplies Christina's child with a father. There's no blatant actions that suggest that he was even homosexual, we just realize from the inner-monologue that he's incapable of loving women. Not to mention the LOLz between the Dr. and his apparent lover, on the word womb being hysterica in Latin, and the constant, motherly hormones leakin' outta Christina.
Of course, Christina--with her ridiculously innocent handicap, doesn't realize he's homosexual, but thinks he's celibate. This chick is for real. I am still waiting for the gerbil's to hit a speedbump for that one. She's 'innocent' in the eyes of everyone else, when I merely think she was touched as a child. She's incapable of discerning the most simplistic things, and blinks all doe-like, completely clueless to reality. She's the bastion of all things pure, good and true. Seriously...?? Mary Sue true!
We're not shocked when Justin tracks her down. They barely spent anytime apart, as the scenes change through the months, etc. He demanded an annulment, after discussing it with the good Dr., and no consummation was reached, so he snags Christina and the baby.
Now then, at this point there's a flamboyant mistress embarrassing Christina in her poor attire she was forced to wear throughout the ship over, and Justin saw no point in doing anything about it until the servants tattled. I believe I would have championed her on, if she had all big-girl-panties-on learned what the sharp end of a knife does(teehee) and carved out his gizzard.
Truthfully, I've never heard a hero claim his love or vocally/mentally assess it so often. He did love the girl. She was merely terrified to death of him, but never denied him after the pleasure factor kicked in. This also may be going out on a limb, but I thought Christine to be the stereotypical male-minded sort who generally judge the women by some sort of physical attribute. When Justin & Christine first started talking, he was caged and could only view people by their feet. He had settled into the fact that the heroine was likely not a real beauty, but in reality she was. Christine had painted this picture of Justin of purely gentle, puppy-dog faced cutesy pop, and was horrified by his savage appearance when it was revealed, which never quite graduated from that hysteria, either. I THINK CHRISTINE IS A STUPID BIATCH!! There, OK...!? I SAID IT. That's doormat heroine #2 for Horsman's literary pieces. The majority of the issues between H/h could have been resolved by simply talking to the other. Horsman kept interrupting conversation between the two for convenient animosity and to extend the storyline.
I think the story could have served up a far better scene than a komodo dragon attack, though. How Horsman described it, I thought they were in Land of the Lost. XD Dinosaurs? YESSSSSSSSSSSS!
Anyhow, the story was all right, but I wish Horsman didn't trope hop like a madhatter. And with that, I'll likely be another of her collection, quite soon. LOL I don't know when to quit.
September 15, 2017
Absorbing, Heartrending Story of an American Privateer and an Endearing Young Englishwoman
Though no date is given, since England is at war with France and President Jefferson’s Embargo Act is referenced, I believe the story is set during 1807-08 at the dawn of the Regency era. It begins on a British naval vessel (a 3-masted sailing ship) on its way to Australia, transporting a famous prisoner—American privateer, Justin Phillips—as well as civilian passengers, including shy, 17-year old Christina Marks, in mourning for her father’s death and going to live with her uncle.
From the first time they meet, Justin and Christina share a love for books and ideas but are terribly different personalities. Were it not for the unusual circumstances in which the shy, unselfish girl speaks through a small window to a prisoner she can’t see, they never would have formed the bond they did. Though Justin, a successful privateer and man of the world, thought the timid young woman who brought him books, food and conversation was probably a plain girl (all he could see were her feet), she was nevertheless “a most sympathetic and sweet young lady.” And when, in the course of his crew’s rescuing him, he first sees her, her beauty leaves him speechless.
Horsman has brilliantly crafted a heroine who will win your heart from the first page. She is winsome, loving and incredibly unselfish. Christina has led a very sheltered life as the daughter of a vicar and is totally unprepared for a hardened man like Justin. To him, her kindness is a soothing balm. But his rough ways and harsh judgments are often too much for Christina. Despite that, the two fall quickly and desperately in love.
This is a love story of misunderstandings and second, even third chances as Justin struggles to accept the purity of Christina’s love, a love he has sought since childhood.
There is love on the high seas, a monsoon, a shipwreck, a tropical island and life in colonial America—and a wonderful crew of men and even a sweet, loyal St. Bernard dog, “Beau,” whose thoughts we occasionally hear.
Horsman’s historical romances are wonderful, well-written tales of passion and love that are on my keeper shelf. And this one is a story to read and re-read. I highly recommend it!
Though no date is given, since England is at war with France and President Jefferson’s Embargo Act is referenced, I believe the story is set during 1807-08 at the dawn of the Regency era. It begins on a British naval vessel (a 3-masted sailing ship) on its way to Australia, transporting a famous prisoner—American privateer, Justin Phillips—as well as civilian passengers, including shy, 17-year old Christina Marks, in mourning for her father’s death and going to live with her uncle.
From the first time they meet, Justin and Christina share a love for books and ideas but are terribly different personalities. Were it not for the unusual circumstances in which the shy, unselfish girl speaks through a small window to a prisoner she can’t see, they never would have formed the bond they did. Though Justin, a successful privateer and man of the world, thought the timid young woman who brought him books, food and conversation was probably a plain girl (all he could see were her feet), she was nevertheless “a most sympathetic and sweet young lady.” And when, in the course of his crew’s rescuing him, he first sees her, her beauty leaves him speechless.
Horsman has brilliantly crafted a heroine who will win your heart from the first page. She is winsome, loving and incredibly unselfish. Christina has led a very sheltered life as the daughter of a vicar and is totally unprepared for a hardened man like Justin. To him, her kindness is a soothing balm. But his rough ways and harsh judgments are often too much for Christina. Despite that, the two fall quickly and desperately in love.
This is a love story of misunderstandings and second, even third chances as Justin struggles to accept the purity of Christina’s love, a love he has sought since childhood.
There is love on the high seas, a monsoon, a shipwreck, a tropical island and life in colonial America—and a wonderful crew of men and even a sweet, loyal St. Bernard dog, “Beau,” whose thoughts we occasionally hear.
Horsman’s historical romances are wonderful, well-written tales of passion and love that are on my keeper shelf. And this one is a story to read and re-read. I highly recommend it!
November 19, 2011
Spoilers
This was a real page turner as the authors writing style was surprisingly enjoyable.
This is a book that was published in 1986 and is a little more of an old style bodice ripper than today's standard fare.
Christina is the lovely daughter of a vicar and has grown up in a very sheltered environment under the thumb of her father and has little self confidence and is excruciatingly shy. upon her father's death, she takes ship for Australia where her uncle lives and has agreed to take her in. She struggles with her shyness on board ship until she comes across a Justin Philips. Justin is a notorious pirate/ American privateer and is on route to the prison colony and is imprisoned in a small cell. Christina can not see him and to her he is just a voice that talks to her and to whom she is able to talk back. She brings him some books and food and they gradually bond over time. Christina has an idealistic view of Justin that he is a delicate gentleman who is good and gentle and tender. When one of the other ship's officers tries to rape her, Justin breaks his leg through the cell door and this starts to give the h pause. Justin's men arrive to rescue him in the middle of a monsoon. When he is freed, he goes looking for Christina in order to take her on board his own ship where he thinks she'll have a better chance of surviving the storm. He is shocked to find that she is beautiful and his intentions change immediately. For her part the h is stunned to find that Justin is a large, handsome but brutal looking man and is far from her imaginings and she is immediately frightened of him.
He forcefully removes her on to his ship, against her wishes with 4 other women and then kisses her in front of everyone to her shame and reluctance.
The storm is terrible and the ship sinks. A small number of survivors make it to a paradise island, including Justin, Christina, 2 other women and about 20 or so men.
Justin makes no shakes about his claiming of C and almost as soon as she awakes, he is kissing her. She becomes increasingly nervous throughout the day especially so when the two other women go off with 2 men and J makes the point that it is as well that they have chosen as otherwise there would be trouble with his other men.
He takes C to his shelter and there is a forced seduction scene, albeit that it is clear that in the end C enjoys the sex.
Therein follows a period of idyllic paradise on the island where everyone turns native and they makes almost continuous love. I did struggle to reconcile this with the author's portrayal of C as given her background, it was hard to credit that she saw nothing wrong with having relations with a man to whom she was not married Repeatedly and with little discretion.
There is however trouble in paradise and one of the men rapes and kills one of women, who had been unconscious since the wreck. Justin kills the man in front of C. Some other survivors turn up, amongst them, the unpleasant Lady Caroline who humiliates C, causing her to question the morality of her relationship with J. Caroline also teases the other men and following her admission of the fact that she had killed her elderly husband, there is a confrontation with a group of the men and she is told that she must pick one or take them all. She makes a pretence of picking John but once alone tries to defend herself and stabs him in the rear. An altercation arises and justin allows his men to beat and gang rape her. Christina hears the screams and begs J to intervene and is shocked to realise that he does not intend to intervene and has allowed it because caroline deserves this. He then makes love to Christina forcing her response. This is the most uncomfortable part of the book. Caroline is unlikeable and the reader knows from the outset that she had killed her husband but Justin's actions in this regard are brutal and unforgivable. Moreover, I did also find that christina's inability to withstand him was incomprehensible. There is a description of the other women trying to help caroline the next day but soon after she is being publicly humiliated by John.
Soon after this there is a further incident when Christina observes J to kill his sick friend who is unarmed and she comes o believe that although she loves him, she can not bear to live or stay with him as she can not cope with the violence.
A British navel vessel arrives and she escapes on board. It becomes clear that she is with child and she marries the ship doctor who is gay and has a baby boy.
Justin and his men turn up a number of months later and he kidnaps C and the child forcing her husband to obtain an annulment. He takes to Boston where he abandons her and keeps her in rags for weeks. She has no money and feels unable to approach him as he is cruel and abrupt with her.
After a number of months, things improve and gradually they start to trust each other again and their love blossoms. However french agents are on the scene looking for incriminating evidence against Justin. They approach christina to try and blackmail her but she realises what is up. This happens under the observation of his men who unfortunately believe the worst of C. More misunderstandings arise and in a final confrontation Justin accuses her of betraying him and strikes her, knocking her out. He then makes arrangements to send her away to Jamaica. C realises that he will find out the truth but feels betrayed that he doubted her and did not believe her in the first place and that she needs to get away from him and consider the relationship. Justin realises the truth just as the ship is sailing away with Christina and feels at a loss that this has happened a second time.
He follows her and she forgives him. Final reconciliation and hea.
The hero is a difficult character. On occasions he is tender and sympathetic to christina but some of his actions are unjustifiable. He forces himself on Christina in the firstplace, paying no heed to her objections or scruples, his actions re the killing of his friend turn out to be a form of assisted suicide but the incident with Lady Caroline ( whom he abandons on the island with John who intends to get her repeatedly pregnant against her will) are simply villainous. He lacks any understanding for why Christina may have thought she could not deal with his actions and punishes her for daring to leave him. He is again cruel upon arrival in the new world and I have to say that I did not think that Christina should have forgiven him so easily at the end and at the very least there should have been recognition of the fact that he was remorseful at having been violent towards her.
In terms of Christina, I thought that she was generally endearing and it was interesting to have a female character who was shy and uncertain and who did on occasions feel overwhelmed by events. One the other hand, as stated above , her descent into lust on the island despite her better instincts was hard to accept and it made her appear fairly slutty which was not in fitting with the general character portrayal of innocence, gentleness and kindness.
There were flaws in this book, but as stated above it was a page turner. This is the 3rd book I read by this author and was the best to date.
This was a real page turner as the authors writing style was surprisingly enjoyable.
This is a book that was published in 1986 and is a little more of an old style bodice ripper than today's standard fare.
Christina is the lovely daughter of a vicar and has grown up in a very sheltered environment under the thumb of her father and has little self confidence and is excruciatingly shy. upon her father's death, she takes ship for Australia where her uncle lives and has agreed to take her in. She struggles with her shyness on board ship until she comes across a Justin Philips. Justin is a notorious pirate/ American privateer and is on route to the prison colony and is imprisoned in a small cell. Christina can not see him and to her he is just a voice that talks to her and to whom she is able to talk back. She brings him some books and food and they gradually bond over time. Christina has an idealistic view of Justin that he is a delicate gentleman who is good and gentle and tender. When one of the other ship's officers tries to rape her, Justin breaks his leg through the cell door and this starts to give the h pause. Justin's men arrive to rescue him in the middle of a monsoon. When he is freed, he goes looking for Christina in order to take her on board his own ship where he thinks she'll have a better chance of surviving the storm. He is shocked to find that she is beautiful and his intentions change immediately. For her part the h is stunned to find that Justin is a large, handsome but brutal looking man and is far from her imaginings and she is immediately frightened of him.
He forcefully removes her on to his ship, against her wishes with 4 other women and then kisses her in front of everyone to her shame and reluctance.
The storm is terrible and the ship sinks. A small number of survivors make it to a paradise island, including Justin, Christina, 2 other women and about 20 or so men.
Justin makes no shakes about his claiming of C and almost as soon as she awakes, he is kissing her. She becomes increasingly nervous throughout the day especially so when the two other women go off with 2 men and J makes the point that it is as well that they have chosen as otherwise there would be trouble with his other men.
He takes C to his shelter and there is a forced seduction scene, albeit that it is clear that in the end C enjoys the sex.
Therein follows a period of idyllic paradise on the island where everyone turns native and they makes almost continuous love. I did struggle to reconcile this with the author's portrayal of C as given her background, it was hard to credit that she saw nothing wrong with having relations with a man to whom she was not married Repeatedly and with little discretion.
There is however trouble in paradise and one of the men rapes and kills one of women, who had been unconscious since the wreck. Justin kills the man in front of C. Some other survivors turn up, amongst them, the unpleasant Lady Caroline who humiliates C, causing her to question the morality of her relationship with J. Caroline also teases the other men and following her admission of the fact that she had killed her elderly husband, there is a confrontation with a group of the men and she is told that she must pick one or take them all. She makes a pretence of picking John but once alone tries to defend herself and stabs him in the rear. An altercation arises and justin allows his men to beat and gang rape her. Christina hears the screams and begs J to intervene and is shocked to realise that he does not intend to intervene and has allowed it because caroline deserves this. He then makes love to Christina forcing her response. This is the most uncomfortable part of the book. Caroline is unlikeable and the reader knows from the outset that she had killed her husband but Justin's actions in this regard are brutal and unforgivable. Moreover, I did also find that christina's inability to withstand him was incomprehensible. There is a description of the other women trying to help caroline the next day but soon after she is being publicly humiliated by John.
Soon after this there is a further incident when Christina observes J to kill his sick friend who is unarmed and she comes o believe that although she loves him, she can not bear to live or stay with him as she can not cope with the violence.
A British navel vessel arrives and she escapes on board. It becomes clear that she is with child and she marries the ship doctor who is gay and has a baby boy.
Justin and his men turn up a number of months later and he kidnaps C and the child forcing her husband to obtain an annulment. He takes to Boston where he abandons her and keeps her in rags for weeks. She has no money and feels unable to approach him as he is cruel and abrupt with her.
After a number of months, things improve and gradually they start to trust each other again and their love blossoms. However french agents are on the scene looking for incriminating evidence against Justin. They approach christina to try and blackmail her but she realises what is up. This happens under the observation of his men who unfortunately believe the worst of C. More misunderstandings arise and in a final confrontation Justin accuses her of betraying him and strikes her, knocking her out. He then makes arrangements to send her away to Jamaica. C realises that he will find out the truth but feels betrayed that he doubted her and did not believe her in the first place and that she needs to get away from him and consider the relationship. Justin realises the truth just as the ship is sailing away with Christina and feels at a loss that this has happened a second time.
He follows her and she forgives him. Final reconciliation and hea.
The hero is a difficult character. On occasions he is tender and sympathetic to christina but some of his actions are unjustifiable. He forces himself on Christina in the firstplace, paying no heed to her objections or scruples, his actions re the killing of his friend turn out to be a form of assisted suicide but the incident with Lady Caroline ( whom he abandons on the island with John who intends to get her repeatedly pregnant against her will) are simply villainous. He lacks any understanding for why Christina may have thought she could not deal with his actions and punishes her for daring to leave him. He is again cruel upon arrival in the new world and I have to say that I did not think that Christina should have forgiven him so easily at the end and at the very least there should have been recognition of the fact that he was remorseful at having been violent towards her.
In terms of Christina, I thought that she was generally endearing and it was interesting to have a female character who was shy and uncertain and who did on occasions feel overwhelmed by events. One the other hand, as stated above , her descent into lust on the island despite her better instincts was hard to accept and it made her appear fairly slutty which was not in fitting with the general character portrayal of innocence, gentleness and kindness.
There were flaws in this book, but as stated above it was a page turner. This is the 3rd book I read by this author and was the best to date.
February 12, 2020
Excellent book! Highly recommend it, my second book by J. Horsman. Magic Embrace is great too. Looking forward to reading Forever and a Lifetime next!
April 15, 2011
I had high hopes for this book because it is much talked about on Amazon discussions both in controversy and as a favorite. I also waited forever to get it by searching used bookstores and finally received it on Paper Back Swap after a year wait. It didn't live up to my expectations, although still a good read.
I love bodice rippers, I am not put off by the forced seduction and all the things that are politically incorrect by todays standards (that's why I read them) so that is not the reason for my slight disappointment. I never fell in love with the characters and I never felt the deep love between them. It still was a very fast paced book, interesting and I stayed up late finishing it. All hoping for this grand enduring love, it was written, but I didn't swoon over it.
Christina is on a ship headed to Australia to live with extended family after her father died. She is a gentle, sweet girl that is so shy she will not make eye contact or even talk to anyone except a few of the women on the ship. Justin is a prisoner and notorious pirate and they strike up a friendship through a small hole/window into his cell. Since she never actually sees him she has no problem talking to him, reading to him, or smuggling food to him throughout the voyage. This is a wonderful start to their love story and showed such promise. One of Justin's pirate ships overtakes their ship and she finally sees him physically as he takes charge, she is terrified by his beauty and frightened by his violence. She comes to see him as a completely different person than the one she fell in love with during their short time together. This is not a good thing because she doesn't like what she sees and questions her love of him. The ship is lost during a terrible storm and they are shipwrecked for many months on an island. I felt Christina was so weak and timid that she wasn't a challenge just always taken advantage of and the connection between her and Justin was lust and sex. I wanted her to find some sassiness and a back bone. She kept saying she didn't want to be with Justin and I believe that is how she felt, but as soon as Justin touched her she melted. Justin was your typical chauvinist alpha (you know those pirate types), but he was at times very mean and inconsiderate. I am all for possessive caveman types if they are doing it for love, but sometimes it was selfishness. I feel like I might be being too harsh because all that criticizing being said I still liked the book and had a hard time putting it down. I read Virgin Star by this author and like the love story much better, but they both had interesting plot lines.
Warning: There is forced seduction, gang rape, adultery, and spousal abuse to the heroine in this book.
August 30, 2011
My mother signed up with Zebra romances to get a box every month. Once a month the box would arrive with four shiny new books, this book was in one of the shipments. I can't remember what else was delivered, a lot of romance authors wrote for Zebra, some of them I really liked, Penelope Neri, Kay McMahon and Phoebe Conn, but Jennifer Horsman was the author I started to look for. Now, I only found two of her other books, but they just weren't as good as this one, but still, to have a book this wonderful is good enough for me.
The main character Christina was so real. Something about her really resonated with me. Probably because I'm shy too. But her shyness is debilitating and has had a terrible effect on her life. When the unthinkable happens, her sweet, gentle father dies, the shy, sheltered young woman has only one choice, to join a distant relative in primitive Australia. That's the setup, exciting, sorta, but not so different from about a hundred other romance novels from the 80's. But the one thing that is super different are the passengers, the shallow, cruel ladies, their fun and good natured maids who immediately take a liking to the shy, sweet Christina and Justin.
Justin isn't a passenger, he's a prisoner. A notorious pirate who's noble connections helped him escape the noose, but he's bound for a life of servitude in Australia.
Christina and Justin meet by accident and what follows is an adorable friendship and growing affection as these two very different people discuss everything, books, philosophy, the world and each other. Justin has never seen Christina and she's never seen him either, their conversations take place through the tiny grates of his prison cell that open up to the deck. So Christina, who is falling in love with Justin pictures him as the slight intellect she's unconsciously hoped to marry someday. Justin also has a different view of Christina, that of a quiet plain wren, and when they finally do meet, sparks and lightening, it is super exciting. Justin is a pirate and he does what a pirate would do, he kidnaps her!
Anyways, I've read this book at least once a year since I tracked down a copy of it in Tuscon seven years ago. It is well worth the time and effort to find this out of print book.
The main character Christina was so real. Something about her really resonated with me. Probably because I'm shy too. But her shyness is debilitating and has had a terrible effect on her life. When the unthinkable happens, her sweet, gentle father dies, the shy, sheltered young woman has only one choice, to join a distant relative in primitive Australia. That's the setup, exciting, sorta, but not so different from about a hundred other romance novels from the 80's. But the one thing that is super different are the passengers, the shallow, cruel ladies, their fun and good natured maids who immediately take a liking to the shy, sweet Christina and Justin.
Justin isn't a passenger, he's a prisoner. A notorious pirate who's noble connections helped him escape the noose, but he's bound for a life of servitude in Australia.
Christina and Justin meet by accident and what follows is an adorable friendship and growing affection as these two very different people discuss everything, books, philosophy, the world and each other. Justin has never seen Christina and she's never seen him either, their conversations take place through the tiny grates of his prison cell that open up to the deck. So Christina, who is falling in love with Justin pictures him as the slight intellect she's unconsciously hoped to marry someday. Justin also has a different view of Christina, that of a quiet plain wren, and when they finally do meet, sparks and lightening, it is super exciting. Justin is a pirate and he does what a pirate would do, he kidnaps her!
Anyways, I've read this book at least once a year since I tracked down a copy of it in Tuscon seven years ago. It is well worth the time and effort to find this out of print book.
June 10, 2024
Ok, I had to read this with one eye closed because what the author clearly didn’t mean for to be racist, was racist afffff (the weird comments about island woman’s color, reference to cannibalistic natives, Cajun’s character, the stereotyped speech of the house servants, the bizarre use of Spanish that made no sense other than to further “other” Cajun, etc.)…so if you’re a poc, take care of yourself while reading this one. I guess that’s just gonna be the case when you read older stories like these though. 🙃 They’re a product of their time for sure, but knowing that certainly doesn’t make it any easier to read it now in 2024 🥲
I loved Christina so much, she’s my favorite type of heroine. And I loved the depth to which the author explored her and Justine’s dynamic. Loved the island setting against the brutality of these men too.
But I swear to goooooooood I wanted to throttle Christina at the very end that she forgave him so freaking easily 🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴 she got me fucked up. I didn’t want an HEA just yet in this case!! Justin needed to suffer MORE at the end
Also…I think the author got coconut water and coconut milk mixed up 😭😭😭
I loved Christina so much, she’s my favorite type of heroine. And I loved the depth to which the author explored her and Justine’s dynamic. Loved the island setting against the brutality of these men too.
But I swear to goooooooood I wanted to throttle Christina at the very end that she forgave him so freaking easily 🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴 she got me fucked up. I didn’t want an HEA just yet in this case!! Justin needed to suffer MORE at the end
Also…I think the author got coconut water and coconut milk mixed up 😭😭😭
September 21, 2009
I Loved this book and wished it never ended.
March 14, 2014
So freaking sad! Ok, not the saddest book that I have read but still, very emotional. I had a bit of a problem with Christine if only because I'm so logical and while I know that many of my reactions would have been different than her's. That said, Christine was about 17 when this book started and up until her father died she had been sheltered to an extreme. I did think that Justin could have saved himself a lot of trouble however if he had just sat Christine down and explained why he did what he did, I know that that goes against macho man code but it would have solved whole lot. I did however love how he encouraged Christine in painting, pretty awesome of him. I was quite pleased with the end result so 4 stars!
March 30, 2011
I just loved this book.
June 21, 2013
love this book
January 2, 2014
First book read in 2014
February 9, 2021
Christina is shy and extremely quiet around others, to the point that she cannot speak. But while she’s traveling to her Australian relatives, she meets a mysterious prisoner onboard. She feels free to express herself with him, and Justin with her. In fact, he likes her so much he ends up kidnapping her before betrayals tear them apart.
The characters are good on their own. But around halfway, I started feeling like Christina and Justin weren’t a good pair romantically. She is just so naïve to the point that she can’t understand him at all. And Justin is too high-handed, never bothering to explain anything to her. But apparently they have chemistry so oh well.
Also, there is a sexual assault in this book by Justin’s crew members on a woman (not Christina). I didn’t like how the author tried to spin that because one of the abusers ended up being the woman’s love interest apparently. That’s just extremely distasteful, even though their ‘story’ was not really a big part of the book. Also, Justin didn’t care what happened to that woman at all which distressed Christina.
This book, in short, has some very traditional themes that one might expect from a historical romance novel. The hero can be callous and cruel, the heroine meek and sensitive. If these kinds of topics offend you or you hate bodice rippers, then just skip this one honestly.
However, I did enjoy reading generally speaking. There was always something going on and it was interesting. Also, I found myself rooting for the characters. Justin should’ve groveled more though.
I would keep this on my shelf and reread it for another day in a few years.
The characters are good on their own. But around halfway, I started feeling like Christina and Justin weren’t a good pair romantically. She is just so naïve to the point that she can’t understand him at all. And Justin is too high-handed, never bothering to explain anything to her. But apparently they have chemistry so oh well.
Also, there is a sexual assault in this book by Justin’s crew members on a woman (not Christina). I didn’t like how the author tried to spin that because one of the abusers ended up being the woman’s love interest apparently. That’s just extremely distasteful, even though their ‘story’ was not really a big part of the book. Also, Justin didn’t care what happened to that woman at all which distressed Christina.
This book, in short, has some very traditional themes that one might expect from a historical romance novel. The hero can be callous and cruel, the heroine meek and sensitive. If these kinds of topics offend you or you hate bodice rippers, then just skip this one honestly.
However, I did enjoy reading generally speaking. There was always something going on and it was interesting. Also, I found myself rooting for the characters. Justin should’ve groveled more though.
I would keep this on my shelf and reread it for another day in a few years.
March 19, 2017
I really liked the book. What I found especially unique about the writing was the usage of multiple perspectives. Even the most unlikely character, the baby found a space for his own point of view. The story does not get boring at all. It is gripping throughout and the tones are varied. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 13, 2018
It was good and much better than I expected to be honest. I hope I can find more of this author's books.
December 26, 2023
3.5 stars
July 1, 2014
Meskipun buku ini pertama kali diterbitin tahun 1986, namun sama sekali tidak terasa kuno membacanya. Dan meskipun ada beberapa bagian yang terasa kasar, tapi semuanya masih bisa di tolerir, it's a pirate book after all.
Ceritanya bermula saat 17 tahun Christina Marks yang pemalu harus pindah ke Australia karena kematian ayahnya. Di atas kapal Destiny yang membawanya ke Australia, tanpa sengaja Christina kenalan dengan Justin Philips, seorang penyelundup dan bajak laut yang menjadi tahanan di kapal itu untuk kemudian menjalani hukumannya di Australia.
Mungkin karena tidak pernah bertatap muka, Christina tidak merasa malu saat bicara dengan Justin. Ia merasa bebas berbagi cerita apapun pada Justin. Sampai anak buah Justin berhasil membajak Destiny untuk membebaskan Justin, Justin yang tidak mau berpisah dengan Christina pun memaksa Christina untuk ikut dengannya. Christina yang ternyata sangat cantik dan membuatnya jatuh cinta.
Badai Monsoon membuat kapal mereka akhirnya karam dan terdampar di sebuah pulau terpencil. Di pulau inilah Christina dan Justin kemudian jatuh cinta. Hidup bersama Justin dan crew kapalnya membuat Christina melihat sisi pribadi Justin yang lain. Sisi yang membuatnya takut dan kemudian pergi meninggalkan Justin saat akhirnya kapal militer Inggris datang menyelamatkan mereka.
Dalam perjalanan pulang ke Inggris, Christina yang tidak punya sanak saudara menyadari dirinya hamil. Keadaan yang kemudian membuat Richard melamar dan menikahinya.
Satu setengah tahun kemudian, Justin berhasil menemukan Christina dan putranya dan nekad membawa mereka ke Amerika. Pada Christina, Justin menjanjikan pernikahan namun tanpa cinta. Justin hanya akan menganggap Christina sebagai ibu dari anaknya. Dan dimulailah hubungan benci cinta mereka yang kemudian berhasil menyatukan mereka lagi. Namun satu peristiwa dan ketidakpercayaan Justin pada Christina membuat hubungan mereka kemudian hancur lagi, untungnya saat ini terjadi Christina sudah jauh lebih dewasa dari Christina saat pertama kali bertemu Justin.
Agak panjang ceritanya tapi ga bikin bosen, mungkin karena cerita yang mengalir cepat dan penggambaran kehidupan pirate dan setiap peristiwa didalamnya pun keren sehingga mudah dibayangkan.
Ceritanya bermula saat 17 tahun Christina Marks yang pemalu harus pindah ke Australia karena kematian ayahnya. Di atas kapal Destiny yang membawanya ke Australia, tanpa sengaja Christina kenalan dengan Justin Philips, seorang penyelundup dan bajak laut yang menjadi tahanan di kapal itu untuk kemudian menjalani hukumannya di Australia.
Mungkin karena tidak pernah bertatap muka, Christina tidak merasa malu saat bicara dengan Justin. Ia merasa bebas berbagi cerita apapun pada Justin. Sampai anak buah Justin berhasil membajak Destiny untuk membebaskan Justin, Justin yang tidak mau berpisah dengan Christina pun memaksa Christina untuk ikut dengannya. Christina yang ternyata sangat cantik dan membuatnya jatuh cinta.
Badai Monsoon membuat kapal mereka akhirnya karam dan terdampar di sebuah pulau terpencil. Di pulau inilah Christina dan Justin kemudian jatuh cinta. Hidup bersama Justin dan crew kapalnya membuat Christina melihat sisi pribadi Justin yang lain. Sisi yang membuatnya takut dan kemudian pergi meninggalkan Justin saat akhirnya kapal militer Inggris datang menyelamatkan mereka.
Dalam perjalanan pulang ke Inggris, Christina yang tidak punya sanak saudara menyadari dirinya hamil. Keadaan yang kemudian membuat Richard melamar dan menikahinya.
Satu setengah tahun kemudian, Justin berhasil menemukan Christina dan putranya dan nekad membawa mereka ke Amerika. Pada Christina, Justin menjanjikan pernikahan namun tanpa cinta. Justin hanya akan menganggap Christina sebagai ibu dari anaknya. Dan dimulailah hubungan benci cinta mereka yang kemudian berhasil menyatukan mereka lagi. Namun satu peristiwa dan ketidakpercayaan Justin pada Christina membuat hubungan mereka kemudian hancur lagi, untungnya saat ini terjadi Christina sudah jauh lebih dewasa dari Christina saat pertama kali bertemu Justin.
Agak panjang ceritanya tapi ga bikin bosen, mungkin karena cerita yang mengalir cepat dan penggambaran kehidupan pirate dan setiap peristiwa didalamnya pun keren sehingga mudah dibayangkan.
March 22, 2016
I do love a pirate's love story and this book gives you everything you need in romance book like kidnapping, monsoons, shipwrecks, runaways, fake marriages, plots and betrayal. Now, lets meet the heroine, Christina is a beautiful naive young girl who headed for Australia to live with her cousin and his family after her father’s recent death. In her journey, she met Justin.
Justin Phillips is actually a prisoner, a notorious pirate (he is lean when the first time Christina met him but also he has masculine frame radiated a shocking strength for her somehow) but he's bound for a life of servitude in Australia. So it starts when the ship the heroine and hero are on is caught in the doldrums. While Justin is locked up in the hold somewhere on his way to his execution. He spies her presence one day and strikes up a conversation. He can’t really see her, but he figures she’s extremely plain.
From the first time they meet, Justin and Christina share a love for books and ideas but are terribly different personalities. Were it not for the unusual circumstances in which the shy, unselfish girl speaks through a small window to a prisoner she can’t see, they never would have formed the bond they did. Though Justin, a successful privateer and man of the world, thought the timid young woman who brought him books, food and conversation was probably a plain girl then in the course of his crew’s rescuing him, he first sees her, her beauty captivates him. As he's a pirate, he does what a pirate would do, so he decided to kidnap her just to ensure her safety.
There was nothing like a challenge to make the blood flow faster in Justin Phillip's veins. So, when the dashing pirate saw the timid wench shrink from his gaze, he decided that he'd take her with-or without-her consent. The experienced rake knew that Christina would try to run away from pleasure, but once he'd had her, he knew that he could never let her go. If it meant capturing her with kisses, and enslaving her with his caress, he would do it in any risk, and turn the seeds of her hidden desire into the full bloom of Crimson Rapture. Then the adventure has only begun though and passion can’t be denied for both of them.
Justin Phillips is actually a prisoner, a notorious pirate (he is lean when the first time Christina met him but also he has masculine frame radiated a shocking strength for her somehow) but he's bound for a life of servitude in Australia. So it starts when the ship the heroine and hero are on is caught in the doldrums. While Justin is locked up in the hold somewhere on his way to his execution. He spies her presence one day and strikes up a conversation. He can’t really see her, but he figures she’s extremely plain.
From the first time they meet, Justin and Christina share a love for books and ideas but are terribly different personalities. Were it not for the unusual circumstances in which the shy, unselfish girl speaks through a small window to a prisoner she can’t see, they never would have formed the bond they did. Though Justin, a successful privateer and man of the world, thought the timid young woman who brought him books, food and conversation was probably a plain girl then in the course of his crew’s rescuing him, he first sees her, her beauty captivates him. As he's a pirate, he does what a pirate would do, so he decided to kidnap her just to ensure her safety.
There was nothing like a challenge to make the blood flow faster in Justin Phillip's veins. So, when the dashing pirate saw the timid wench shrink from his gaze, he decided that he'd take her with-or without-her consent. The experienced rake knew that Christina would try to run away from pleasure, but once he'd had her, he knew that he could never let her go. If it meant capturing her with kisses, and enslaving her with his caress, he would do it in any risk, and turn the seeds of her hidden desire into the full bloom of Crimson Rapture. Then the adventure has only begun though and passion can’t be denied for both of them.
February 21, 2014
I can't with the hero. Read in modern days, his attitude towards what constitutes as rape is both baffling and utterly ridiculous. There is glorious irony in the fact that he rapes the heroine, but condemns another person if they attempt to as well. The gang rape was extremely distasteful and the fact that it was couched in terms of revenge doesn't redeem it at all. In fact, the whole treatment of Carolyn Something-or-Other was exceedingly disgusting. Was she a murdering bitch? Yes. Did she deserve it? Not really. Maybe I'm warped, but killing her off would have been a kinder fate. In a nutshell, the entire book screams hypocrisy and if you want to read it and enjoy it, it would be best to turn off your brain.
Also: what is with the reunion? She left him because she couldn't stomach his behavior (and rightly so), but at the mere hint of his anger, ardor or manly fart, she turns into mush at his feet? She automatically hands over the get-out-of-jail-free card? I forget the details, but honestly, I wish she'd just take the annulment and raise her son into someone who isn't a rapist bastard. It'd defeat the purpose of a romance book, but hell, I'm certain that would have been ten times more satisfying to read.
I love romance and angst. More dated books are usually chock-full of them and I usually love it. But if it's in the form of rape-happy heroes and heroines that were established as shy but are little more than sexual objects, then we should keep them in a museum for future writers as an example of what romance shouldn't be.
Also: what is with the reunion? She left him because she couldn't stomach his behavior (and rightly so), but at the mere hint of his anger, ardor or manly fart, she turns into mush at his feet? She automatically hands over the get-out-of-jail-free card? I forget the details, but honestly, I wish she'd just take the annulment and raise her son into someone who isn't a rapist bastard. It'd defeat the purpose of a romance book, but hell, I'm certain that would have been ten times more satisfying to read.
I love romance and angst. More dated books are usually chock-full of them and I usually love it. But if it's in the form of rape-happy heroes and heroines that were established as shy but are little more than sexual objects, then we should keep them in a museum for future writers as an example of what romance shouldn't be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2016
was OK,but a very old book from Amz that was so strong with ciggie smoke it gave me a headache,I tossed it after reading it.
It had all the things from the usual Pirates books,I felt like I never really
knew the h,she was so self involved with her own feelings I don`t think
she really had any for anyone else.
Very hard doing this review since The Woman in Blue(one of GRs Ads is
sitting almost in the middle of it and refuses to leave)
It had all the things from the usual Pirates books,I felt like I never really
knew the h,she was so self involved with her own feelings I don`t think
she really had any for anyone else.
Very hard doing this review since The Woman in Blue(one of GRs Ads is
sitting almost in the middle of it and refuses to leave)
May 1, 2016
I loved this book especially all the parts while they were on the island. Great descriptions made the story very vivid. Christina and Justin fall in love while his is a prisoner on the ship she is a passenger on that is bound for Australia. She is incredibly shy with everyone but Justin. After pirates arrive and a monsoon hits they end up on a deserted island where Christina blooms. The island is like a paradise but between people and nature itself it is far from perilous. A really great read.
June 25, 2023
Oh, boy. What a book?! I loved it from the very beginning. Christina was so sweet and shy and very innocent. Justin was so very sexy, in his savage pirate form as in his later tidy shape. He made some bad decisions, I did not like that but it all ended well. I liked how the author managed to describe the conditions they lived in on the island. It was harsh and very believable. Great book. I have read it twice in the last 2 years. I wish I could get hands on more books written by this author.
July 9, 2013
While this book was definitely a quick-paced page turner, I felt it was lacking in character depth.
Throughout the entire book I never truly came to care for any of the characters...
Christina continuously annoyed me with her naivety...
With all that being said, I still enjoyed the read I just wished I felt a deeper connection with the characters.
Overall 2.5
Throughout the entire book I never truly came to care for any of the characters...
Christina continuously annoyed me with her naivety...
With all that being said, I still enjoyed the read I just wished I felt a deeper connection with the characters.
Overall 2.5
March 29, 2014
Horrifying is the only word that comes to mind. Justin was an apalling hero...from beginning to end. I don' know who I dislike more, Christina or Justin, I hate that she forgave him everytime and worst of all at the end. Believe me I don't mind when the hero is an egotistical ass who later changes, but Justin just became worse in the end.
October 2, 2013
Ugh, what a mess! So much violence that I'm speechless :/
December 31, 2015
Some of these books are better than others. This is not one of the better ones, let's just say.
December 18, 2018
Very,very good.characters were so real,I felt it was happening in front of my eyes. Just my kind of story 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews