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Louisiana History #7
Serenata
Se necesitaba una extraña combinación de odio, osadía y curiosidad para atraer al famoso bandido El León a la galería iluminada por la luna... e inclusive más para tentarlo a aceptar su audaz pedido. Pero la hermosa y obstinada Pilar Sandoval y Serna pagará cualquier precio para escapar de la tiranía de su padrastro, Don Esteban. Desesperada y enfurecida, Pilar recurre al apuesto y cambiante León, un noble empobrecido por la maldad de Don Esteban. Escondido con su banda de marginados en las montañas, también ha jurado matar al padrastro de Pilar. Pilar ofrece a El León su fortuna si simula secuestrarla y la devuelve a la casa de su amada tía. Peor antes de completar la misión, el León descubre que al dote de Pilar carece de valor y que la muerte a manos de Don esteban los espera a los dos. El León no se conformará con cofres vacíos. Jura que obtendrá de ella lo que corresponda, como le plazca y mientras le plazca. Sin Familia o amigos, Pilar sabe que está a su merced....
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First published January 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 12, 2018
3.5-4-stars
***the heroine is blond, but has dark hair on the cover of the kindle edition. Yes, there are blondes in Spain, just as there are brunettes in Norway.
This book is a part of Jennifer Blake’s “Louisiana” collection.
The previous books mostly focused on French Louisiana or at least Creole/French people if under Spanish Rule, but this book begins in Spain. The part of the book that takes place in Louisiana, is focused on the Spanish side of life in the colony.
There is a lot of adventure and travel. There is a sea voyage from the old world to the new with stops in different locations and action in Louisiana and in Tejas, both under Spanish rule.
Also, there are duels, attempted murder and murder, and a very evil villain. Sometimes (because I’m twisted ;-) like that) I enjoy the bad guy. This villain was not a “fun” bad guy. Completely ineligible for my “compelling” villian shelf.
I’ve read several books in this series and Jennifer Blake has a way with dialog in some of these books in terms of enjoyable to read exchanges between the H and h. Her dialog here
and in the other books of hers that I have read is far “above” the ubiquitous “witty or teasing banter” found in so many of more recent HR. There is serious stuff going on in this here book.
The heroine, for me, merits a place on my “strong” heroine shelf. Though this heroine “only” has the “typical” convent education of a Spanish girl of her station in life, she does what she can to take charge of her life without bickering with men and tantrums when she is not getting her way. This may not be seen as taking charge of her life these days, though, because she calls in a man for help.
The heroine, Pilar, is a woman of her times and Blake has refrained from giving her “modern” agency. Pilar knows what her limits are as a woman and results she’ll get as a young un-married woman. So, she wisely enlists the aid of a man to help her to get out of an unbearable situation.
Though the heroine doesn’t have a “unconventional” interest or talent such as mathematics, swordplay or something," to make her palatable this girl has a native intelligence and ability to: ask reasonable, logical, rational questions that command deserved respect from the men around her and and from me as well. Brilliance in swordplay or geometry combined with irrationality pedaled as "independence" and spuriously attributed "common sense" are both dead in the water to me. Pilar is a woman of the time=period who has taken control of her destiny in a society where her evil stepfather legally has dominion over her, but in keeping with the times, she needs help from a man.
A read with adventure and the added bonus of a sensible heroine.
Here is an example of Jennifer Blake’s writing (merits a place on my “romantic” hall-o-fame shelf on Goodreads!):
Loc 5564 97%
“No, my friend. Because of promises and pledges made in two hemispheres, unblessed but no less binding. Because of nights shared and dangers met and two minds that leap as one to a single conclusion. Because she is beauty and strength and truth, and I have need of them. Because she holds my soul in the hollow of her hand and keeps it secure when there is no other who will, or can. Because I must. Because she requires it.”
***the heroine is blond, but has dark hair on the cover of the kindle edition. Yes, there are blondes in Spain, just as there are brunettes in Norway.
This book is a part of Jennifer Blake’s “Louisiana” collection.
The previous books mostly focused on French Louisiana or at least Creole/French people if under Spanish Rule, but this book begins in Spain. The part of the book that takes place in Louisiana, is focused on the Spanish side of life in the colony.
There is a lot of adventure and travel. There is a sea voyage from the old world to the new with stops in different locations and action in Louisiana and in Tejas, both under Spanish rule.
Also, there are duels, attempted murder and murder, and a very evil villain. Sometimes (because I’m twisted ;-) like that) I enjoy the bad guy. This villain was not a “fun” bad guy. Completely ineligible for my “compelling” villian shelf.
I’ve read several books in this series and Jennifer Blake has a way with dialog in some of these books in terms of enjoyable to read exchanges between the H and h. Her dialog here
and in the other books of hers that I have read is far “above” the ubiquitous “witty or teasing banter” found in so many of more recent HR. There is serious stuff going on in this here book.
The heroine, for me, merits a place on my “strong” heroine shelf. Though this heroine “only” has the “typical” convent education of a Spanish girl of her station in life, she does what she can to take charge of her life without bickering with men and tantrums when she is not getting her way. This may not be seen as taking charge of her life these days, though, because she calls in a man for help.
The heroine, Pilar, is a woman of her times and Blake has refrained from giving her “modern” agency. Pilar knows what her limits are as a woman and results she’ll get as a young un-married woman. So, she wisely enlists the aid of a man to help her to get out of an unbearable situation.
Though the heroine doesn’t have a “unconventional” interest or talent such as mathematics, swordplay or something," to make her palatable this girl has a native intelligence and ability to: ask reasonable, logical, rational questions that command deserved respect from the men around her and and from me as well. Brilliance in swordplay or geometry combined with irrationality pedaled as "independence" and spuriously attributed "common sense" are both dead in the water to me. Pilar is a woman of the time=period who has taken control of her destiny in a society where her evil stepfather legally has dominion over her, but in keeping with the times, she needs help from a man.
A read with adventure and the added bonus of a sensible heroine.
Here is an example of Jennifer Blake’s writing (merits a place on my “romantic” hall-o-fame shelf on Goodreads!):
Loc 5564 97%
“No, my friend. Because of promises and pledges made in two hemispheres, unblessed but no less binding. Because of nights shared and dangers met and two minds that leap as one to a single conclusion. Because she is beauty and strength and truth, and I have need of them. Because she holds my soul in the hollow of her hand and keeps it secure when there is no other who will, or can. Because I must. Because she requires it.”
September 18, 2021
Испания на разбойници и фламенко, Луизиана и Тексас с индианци и ранчероси от края на 18-ти век. Идеално романсче.
November 6, 2014
Ooops, almost left this one unreviewed. It's been a week or more since I finished, so memory fails. But that's why we have book jackets to remind us :)
3.5 stars
This is a bit different from Ms. Blake's usual southern romances, where most of them are French/Creole, our hero and heroine are Spanish and events in Louisiana and Tejas take place under Spanish rule. This book begins in Spain, with a heroine in peril due to her evil stepfather who has stolen what she should have inherited from her mother and he's going to lock her up in a nunnery. Elene enlists the help of a notorious bandit to steal the gold back and...well...you things don't always go according to plan and of course we need to keep the pair together so that they can fall in love (this being a romance and all).
I won't go into details of the story itself, but our pair's adventure and takes them on the high seas, dodging robbers and Indians, snakes and plenty of heroic actions, sword fights and derring-do.
I do like Blake a lot, and while this had plenty of action and surprises, for some reason I didn't warm up to this pair and their chemistry as much as I've done in her other books. For that reason and for the numerous typos I suspect came from converting the original to digital, I'm dropping the rating a half-star. I obtained my Kindle copy about two years ago, and perhaps those typos have been spotted and corrected.
3.5 stars
This is a bit different from Ms. Blake's usual southern romances, where most of them are French/Creole, our hero and heroine are Spanish and events in Louisiana and Tejas take place under Spanish rule. This book begins in Spain, with a heroine in peril due to her evil stepfather who has stolen what she should have inherited from her mother and he's going to lock her up in a nunnery. Elene enlists the help of a notorious bandit to steal the gold back and...well...you things don't always go according to plan and of course we need to keep the pair together so that they can fall in love (this being a romance and all).
I won't go into details of the story itself, but our pair's adventure and takes them on the high seas, dodging robbers and Indians, snakes and plenty of heroic actions, sword fights and derring-do.
I do like Blake a lot, and while this had plenty of action and surprises, for some reason I didn't warm up to this pair and their chemistry as much as I've done in her other books. For that reason and for the numerous typos I suspect came from converting the original to digital, I'm dropping the rating a half-star. I obtained my Kindle copy about two years ago, and perhaps those typos have been spotted and corrected.
August 27, 2023
3 stelline e mezzo per il lavoro di ricerca e l’ambientazione 🙃
In effetti, la Blake non si risparmia in questo romanzo, partendo dalla Spagna di fine '700 per arrivare nel Nuovo Mondo: L’Avana e Nuova Orleans, sino alla Louisiana e alle praterie infestate da tribù di nativi minacciosi, con ben più di un'imboscata e di un assalto alla carovana.
Per sei lunghissimi anni la giovane Pilar è stata relegata dal secondo marito di sua madre, morta in circostanze sospette, in convento, al fine di rendersi più docile e arrendevole, per poter diventare o suora (senza dote) o moglie (con appropriazione della medesima dote) del figlio del patrigno (e considerate che padre e figlio sono entrambi viscidi).
Ma Pilar architetta un piano: farsi rapire da una banda di banditi, il cui capo (El Leon) nutre desiderio di rivalsa contro don Esteban.
Il rapimento riesce, e subito dopo il patrigno si vendica; così si parte, inseguendo lui, sfuggendo alle autorità spagnole, attraversando terre selvagge dove c'è la possibilità di mettere su casa (almeno i superstiti, dopo la decimazione dei personaggi dovuta ai vari eventi).
Si legge, dai. I protagonisti hanno comunque una loro crescita e le descrizioni delle città, dei costumi e degli eventi dell'epoca rimpolpano la trama un po' da telenovela.
Se non altro, Pilar non cade subito ai piedi di Refugio e si fa desiderare.
In effetti, la Blake non si risparmia in questo romanzo, partendo dalla Spagna di fine '700 per arrivare nel Nuovo Mondo: L’Avana e Nuova Orleans, sino alla Louisiana e alle praterie infestate da tribù di nativi minacciosi, con ben più di un'imboscata e di un assalto alla carovana.
Per sei lunghissimi anni la giovane Pilar è stata relegata dal secondo marito di sua madre, morta in circostanze sospette, in convento, al fine di rendersi più docile e arrendevole, per poter diventare o suora (senza dote) o moglie (con appropriazione della medesima dote) del figlio del patrigno (e considerate che padre e figlio sono entrambi viscidi).
Ma Pilar architetta un piano: farsi rapire da una banda di banditi, il cui capo (El Leon) nutre desiderio di rivalsa contro don Esteban.
Il rapimento riesce, e subito dopo il patrigno si vendica; così si parte, inseguendo lui, sfuggendo alle autorità spagnole, attraversando terre selvagge dove c'è la possibilità di mettere su casa (almeno i superstiti, dopo la decimazione dei personaggi dovuta ai vari eventi).
Si legge, dai. I protagonisti hanno comunque una loro crescita e le descrizioni delle città, dei costumi e degli eventi dell'epoca rimpolpano la trama un po' da telenovela.
Se non altro, Pilar non cade subito ai piedi di Refugio e si fa desiderare.
March 18, 2013
The first romance novel I ever read was written by Jennifer Blake. It was, I believe, Midnight Waltz, and I was fourteen years old. I still remember pulling it off the library bookshelf and examining the book jacket with furtive intensity and the first bloom of gleeful delight that would characterize my feelings towards all good romance novels from then on.
Spanish Serenade is almost exactly the same as Midnight Waltz, Royal Seduction, Fierce Eden, and, one can assume, all of Jennifer Blake's historical novels. In fact, though I have Blake's website before me, with a list of all her books, complete with synopses, I'll be damned if I can remember which ones I've read and which I haven't. I have a vague suspicion that this is my second time around with Spanish Serenade, but I can't be totally sure.
Each novel features a woman of superlative beauty and a man of superlative everything, and a few men who vie with the main man for possession of the woman. The woman is usually abducted by the main male character, and her virtue is often in question until he sleeps with her and discovers physical evidence of her innocence. The man is self-derisive and desperately in love with the heroine, which in conjunction with a series of events leads him to be cold, aloof, and intensely passionate in turns, making cryptic statements of feeling and intent that confuse the heroine and delight the reader. At the end of the novel, main male character (whose name usually starts with R), makes a flowery, soul-driven statement of love; this is often rejected by the heroine, who questions his motive. Then she is usually driven to admit her love and/or marry him by some forceful scheme on the part of the hero, usually with the help of a few faithful companions, sometimes even with the help of the one who fought him for her hand, since he can see that they are truly in love and accepts it manfully. The novels are usually set in New Orleans or somewhere else in Louisiana, though Spain, France, and islands such as Cuba and the Caribbean islands often play a role. There is always some high-class Eighteenth-Century living. There is usually at least one ship scene and pirate altercation. There is always at least one intense fight scene brought on by the jealousy and possessiveness of the virile hero. There is always sex, sometimes nearly immediately, often initially by force.
Now, this constant repeat of the same formula is only a problem if you don't like the formula -- I happen to love it. It has exactly what I want: it features a dark, brooding hero, whose coldness intensifies to conceal his one weakness (love for the heroine); drawn out angst; pirates; New Orleans; abductions. What's not to like, over and over again?
Spanish Serenade is almost exactly the same as Midnight Waltz, Royal Seduction, Fierce Eden, and, one can assume, all of Jennifer Blake's historical novels. In fact, though I have Blake's website before me, with a list of all her books, complete with synopses, I'll be damned if I can remember which ones I've read and which I haven't. I have a vague suspicion that this is my second time around with Spanish Serenade, but I can't be totally sure.
Each novel features a woman of superlative beauty and a man of superlative everything, and a few men who vie with the main man for possession of the woman. The woman is usually abducted by the main male character, and her virtue is often in question until he sleeps with her and discovers physical evidence of her innocence. The man is self-derisive and desperately in love with the heroine, which in conjunction with a series of events leads him to be cold, aloof, and intensely passionate in turns, making cryptic statements of feeling and intent that confuse the heroine and delight the reader. At the end of the novel, main male character (whose name usually starts with R), makes a flowery, soul-driven statement of love; this is often rejected by the heroine, who questions his motive. Then she is usually driven to admit her love and/or marry him by some forceful scheme on the part of the hero, usually with the help of a few faithful companions, sometimes even with the help of the one who fought him for her hand, since he can see that they are truly in love and accepts it manfully. The novels are usually set in New Orleans or somewhere else in Louisiana, though Spain, France, and islands such as Cuba and the Caribbean islands often play a role. There is always some high-class Eighteenth-Century living. There is usually at least one ship scene and pirate altercation. There is always at least one intense fight scene brought on by the jealousy and possessiveness of the virile hero. There is always sex, sometimes nearly immediately, often initially by force.
Now, this constant repeat of the same formula is only a problem if you don't like the formula -- I happen to love it. It has exactly what I want: it features a dark, brooding hero, whose coldness intensifies to conceal his one weakness (love for the heroine); drawn out angst; pirates; New Orleans; abductions. What's not to like, over and over again?
December 16, 2020
Este libro me dejo encantada pues no se parece en nada a otras historias de romance cliché, esta novela está llena de mucha aventura, los personajes se vieron en una vorágine de circunstancias bastante emocionantes, lo recomiendo mucho y les explicare porque, Pilar se ve forzada a solicitar la ayuda del famoso bandido el León, pues su padrastro quiere enviarla al convento luego de robarle su fortuna entera y matar a su madre y su tia, en un encuentro secreto Pilar y el León acuerdan el supuesto secuestro de ella mientras es llevada por don Esteban (su padrastro) al convento, una vez allí Refugio (el Leon) tendría también que robar no solo a la chica sino también un cofre lleno de oro que sería parte del pago al bandido parte la dote de la joven.
Pero lo que no imaginaron ninguno de los dos eran que el viejo aristócrata era muy astuto, luego de perpetuar el secuestro y robo del baúl, se dieron cuenta de que no había nada más que unas pocas monedas de plata, Pilar sin dote, sin pago a sus captores, sin el apoyo de nadie quien pudiera protegerla, desamparada decide unirse a la banda del famoso bandido, y emprender un viaje sin retorno en barco desde España a Luisiana en Estado Unidos, viaje el cual es para perseguir al malvado don Esteban quien ha secuestrado al hermano de Refugio y reclamar lo que le pertenece por derecho de nacimiento a Pilar.
Luchas, Indios Apaches, duelos a caballo, peleas de piratas, incendios en New Orleans y mas es lo que encontré en esta historia, el romance realmente estuvo poco detallado pero fue muy agradable leer las aventuras de un grupo pintoresco al margen de las leyes del reino español, espero que te animes a leerlo y me cuentes que te ha parecido de los comentarios.
Pero lo que no imaginaron ninguno de los dos eran que el viejo aristócrata era muy astuto, luego de perpetuar el secuestro y robo del baúl, se dieron cuenta de que no había nada más que unas pocas monedas de plata, Pilar sin dote, sin pago a sus captores, sin el apoyo de nadie quien pudiera protegerla, desamparada decide unirse a la banda del famoso bandido, y emprender un viaje sin retorno en barco desde España a Luisiana en Estado Unidos, viaje el cual es para perseguir al malvado don Esteban quien ha secuestrado al hermano de Refugio y reclamar lo que le pertenece por derecho de nacimiento a Pilar.
Luchas, Indios Apaches, duelos a caballo, peleas de piratas, incendios en New Orleans y mas es lo que encontré en esta historia, el romance realmente estuvo poco detallado pero fue muy agradable leer las aventuras de un grupo pintoresco al margen de las leyes del reino español, espero que te animes a leerlo y me cuentes que te ha parecido de los comentarios.
January 28, 2021
No recuerdo una sola historia de esta autora q me haya gustado y ésta no fue la excepción. Es una historia de secuestros, donde una vez más se explota el síndroma de Estocolmo. Q quede claro que cuando lo leí, no tenía los mismos reparos a la temática en cuestión. Por esa época me podía llegar a gustar bastante la historia de la secuestrada que se enamora de su secuestrador y obviamente ayudaba que el secuestrador en cuestión resulte una suerte de Robin Hood buenorro.
Pilar Sandoval y el León, no me llegó a gustar ni siquiera la ambientación, y eso q fue en Andalucía que me encanta.
Pilar Sandoval y el León, no me llegó a gustar ni siquiera la ambientación, y eso q fue en Andalucía que me encanta.
January 12, 2022
This author is really good with intriguing dialogue. The first few pages were hard to read and comprehend but after a while they started to flow easily. The ending was wrapped up not neatly in a bow but to be expected. It was an enjoyable read.
January 24, 2016
Loved it
Absolutely, without doubt....a good romance novel which I would highly recommend. Honor is constantly weighed and at stake. Adventure abounds
Absolutely, without doubt....a good romance novel which I would highly recommend. Honor is constantly weighed and at stake. Adventure abounds
June 30, 2023
One of my favorite books, that I can read over and over (and listen to on Audible).
This book was so well written that I could imagine the characters as if they were actually part of history. I could hear the guitar strumming in my mind as I read how beautifully the author described the settings.
The FML, although in need of a hero, was not weak but a statistic of the era and yet she manages to play a big part in her own salvation and that of the MML's.
I recommend this book to anyone who is in need of a good old fashion romance book, full of adventure, tension, suspense, humor and ultimately...love.
This book was so well written that I could imagine the characters as if they were actually part of history. I could hear the guitar strumming in my mind as I read how beautifully the author described the settings.
The FML, although in need of a hero, was not weak but a statistic of the era and yet she manages to play a big part in her own salvation and that of the MML's.
I recommend this book to anyone who is in need of a good old fashion romance book, full of adventure, tension, suspense, humor and ultimately...love.
May 24, 2024
While the story contains Blake’s lush settings, metaphorical language and vivid characters, it just didn't hit the mark. I think it may have had something to do with the emptiness between the hero and heroine. Their conversations, while unusual, didn't seem to contain the honesty seen in some of her other novels. They don't really open up to each other and it makes their relationship a little lackluster. But never underestimate Blake’s ability to keep you in your toes. I have NEVER successfully predicated the direction of any of her stories and I've read over ten of them.
June 7, 2022
Спомням си когато я четох най-забавния момент наизуст от нея:
— Моля ви, вървете си! Вземете си дяволското питие и вие си го пийте! Устата си ли ще плакнете, косата си ли ще клепете, ваша работа, само се махайте!
Тя хлопна вратата зад доня Луиза — отвън проехтя съвсем неподходяща за една дама ругатня, последвана от звънкото потракване на отдалечаващи се токчета. Пилар остана заслушана за няколко секунди. Защо не взе проклетата напитка и не я плисна в легена?!"
— Моля ви, вървете си! Вземете си дяволското питие и вие си го пийте! Устата си ли ще плакнете, косата си ли ще клепете, ваша работа, само се махайте!
Тя хлопна вратата зад доня Луиза — отвън проехтя съвсем неподходяща за една дама ругатня, последвана от звънкото потракване на отдалечаващи се токчета. Пилар остана заслушана за няколко секунди. Защо не взе проклетата напитка и не я плисна в легена?!"
February 25, 2024
I wasn't expecting any of the things that happened on this story, but I have to admit that I pretty much enjoyed every one of them.
Good characters and nice pace, there's not much to say about this book because Jennifer Blake's a classic. We all know her way of writing stories with her strong heroines and charming heroes.
Loved the dialogue between Pilar and Refugio. The dynamic was SO funny. Also, got fond of Doña Luisa, she was such a good character as well as Enrique and Charro.
Good characters and nice pace, there's not much to say about this book because Jennifer Blake's a classic. We all know her way of writing stories with her strong heroines and charming heroes.
Loved the dialogue between Pilar and Refugio. The dynamic was SO funny. Also, got fond of Doña Luisa, she was such a good character as well as Enrique and Charro.
April 14, 2018
Absolutely loved this book! Though the book was long, the story flowed naturally rather than feeling “never-ending.” Definitely would read it again!
Want to read
March 16, 2024I found a hardcover of this at the thrift store!!
May 25, 2016
As a fan of Jennifer Blake I have read quite a few of her novels. This will always be one of my favorites. From a history's point of view, I found it very informative and the way she describes the land and its people...spot on. From the rich down to the poor...everyone needs a hero. This hero came by way of being a bandit. This book is different as it starts out in Spain, travels to Louisiana and then on to Texas. This book is both...a story of love and betrayal. A very light enjoyable read...add it to your TBR list...you'll be glad you did.
August 15, 2016
I'm reading this as part of the Louisiana History Collection. Part Two, but I feel this needed to be reviewed by itself.
This book is sweeping and epic. It felt long - in some way it was good in other ways I wish Jennifer Blake was less wordy-less detailed. Despite that I was completely wrapped up in their story.
Pilar and Refugio don't talk "plainly" sometimes it was hard to follow the thread of their conversation. However drew me into the story more because I needed to pay close attention.
This book is sweeping and epic. It felt long - in some way it was good in other ways I wish Jennifer Blake was less wordy-less detailed. Despite that I was completely wrapped up in their story.
Pilar and Refugio don't talk "plainly" sometimes it was hard to follow the thread of their conversation. However drew me into the story more because I needed to pay close attention.
January 22, 2015
The history and adventure in this novel was the best part of the story. At some points,in my opinion, the writer went into to much detail. The lady in distress was not one I am used to in this type of book, I found her stubborn and a little annoying.
February 19, 2025
I have been recently mainly reading my favourite books. This one was not bad, it was good. As a big fan of her books I feel almost guilty saying anything bad, but some of her books are sometimes unnecessary long and stories too complicated. Sometimes it works for me, sometimes it does not.
November 23, 2011
Not a bad book , but not from the most interesting books. It was very difficult to understand it in places. The feelings, the people, the places weren't explained very well.
But it was a nice read.
But it was a nice read.
own-under-diff-title-or-anthology
January 9, 2016Louisiana History Collection - Part 2 (Louisiana History Boxed Sets)
April 20, 2016
Muy entretenido.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews