Defiant Desire

by Anne Carsley

A wild passion sang in her blood...She had been chosen lady in waiting to Mary Tudor, queen of England! But it was the dashing Lord Charles Varland who was to rule Lady Julian Redenter's passionate heart, to sweep into the sweet fires of a dangerous passion.She had vowed allegiance to her queen, but her traitor flesh could not forget Charles's thrilling touch, his searing embrace. Soon she too, was swept into his dark schemes of heresy and treason.From the great courts of Whitehall to the dungeons below the Tower of London to a depraved nobleman's palace of pleasure, Julian fought for her freedom, longing for the fiery kisses of her rebel lord, ready to risk life itself for his undying love.

Genres: Historical Romance, Tudor Period

379 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1982

About the author

Anne Carsley is a prolific romance writer who has traveled throughout Europe, cruised the Atlantic and Caribbean, visited the Bahamas and Venezuela but prefers her home state of Mississippi to them all. Anne mingles love and idealism with history in her novel, Lady Defiant, as she believes people throughout the ages honor the brave and are charmed by lovers. Anne enjoys gardening, driving on the Natchez Trace in Mississippi, and sitting in her garden amid her flowering plants while reading and writing.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 74%
WTF acid trip was this author on? Drugs don't always led to good books instead of Alice And Wonderland you get this kind of shite!

Bad Bad Bad characters. The H is mysterious but in annoying way, like always disappearing.

The h is BORING!! She could have been interesting if the author gave her friends, suitors, or any family. Actually, she did well considering.

The biggest problem is the Plot! Pick one and go with it.

I think the author had too many Bloody Marys!

[Cat The Curious · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really want to to give this five stars because I enjoyed this book so much. I have to settle for 4 1/2. This book takes place during the times of Mary I and Phillip of Spain. Julian our heroine, is one of Mary's ladies in waiting. Julian is a head strong personality who never seems to stay out of trouble. She has garnered the attentions of Phillip of Spain and is afraid spurning him will lead to much trouble for her and it does. She is intrigued by the mysterious Lord Varlane but is afraid of him as well. Lord Varlane seeing Julian with King Phillip assumes they have a dalliance and schemes to get Julian alone so that he can have her as his mistress. Things don't go as planned and Julian fights him with a brand from the fire. I love the heroines spunk. She's a scrapper. Although you get the feeling Lord Varlane cares for Lady Julian, both are betrothed to others, and he insists he will never marry her. There are many rescues, schemes, and plots to keep the story filled with action and intrigue. The hysteria of who will be accused of heresy is palpable along with Mary's paranoia. The church is fanatically burning people at the stake and throwing them into The Tower at a moments whim. Lord Varlane isn't what he seems to be and neither are many characters. The characters are vividly drawn in this tale and the action is robust. The book moves at a steady pace. I was never bored until close to the end. That is about as much as I can say without giving too much away. I love this authors writing style and will be reading more of hers. She really put forth an excellent effort in the first 3 3rds of the book. Only at the end did I feel she rushed and flailed a bit with the HEA. I loved the chemistry of the hero and heroine. There is an extreme forced seduction scene which qualifies this as a bodice ripper. Carsley isn't afraid of a descriptive sex scene either. There is violence and gore. All that withstanding this is a keeper for me.

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Нещото, което отличава по-старичките траши любовни романи от сегашния им еквивалент, е липсата на превземки и политическа коректност, както и на липсата на “правилната” насока на разните там душевни и други терзания, щадяща чувствителния и просветен читател, или пък кривващи в странни, докарващи въртене на очи и малко смешни посоки (след като преди това чеклистът със забранени теми е прилежно отметнат, остават глезотиите и някои неприятни, направо психопатски, неща, пакетирани като “екзотика”). Героите често са далеч от симпатични по днешния стандарт, споделят възгледи, които в 21-ви век звучат ететично, но през 1558 г., когато се развива действието, биха били разбрани и поне отчасти споделяни. Другото приятно разнообразие е, че преди да дойде гарантираният хепи енд (това крепи цялата постройка на всеки любовен роман, все пак), сюжетът хич не кърши пръсти и не цепи басма на епохата. Клади с тълпи зяпачи и свещеници от испанската инквизиция, призовани от Мери Тюдор да спасяват душите на неблаговерни англичани; съскането и откровените интриги сред придворните дами; изклано село по религиозни съображения; дявол да го вземе, авторката набърка даже протестантка-фанатичка-атентатор, килиите в Тауър, симпатични цигани, един откачен лорд-сериен убиец и една врачка! Как да не се възхити човек на лудницата. Героинята ми дойде малко хард - не че е нереалистична, но си беше чиста проба нарцис. Но в двора на Мери Тюдор надали други биха оцелели. Затова с удоволствие си закръглям звездичките нагоре.

⭐️3,5 звезди⭐️