Juliet Rising

by Cleo Cordell

Nothing is more important to Reynard than winning the favors of the bright and willful Juliet, a pupil at Madame Nicol's exclusive but strict eighteenth- century ladies' academy. Her captivating beauty tinged with a hint of cruelty soon has Reynard willing to do anything to win her approval. This classic piece of erotica is a Black Lace special reprint of one of the earliest titles in the series – by an author who pioneered the new women's erotica.

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Cleo Cordell is an artist and author who was a pioneer of the new women's erotica when the Black Lace series was launched in 1993. Her books eroticise history and are now seen as classics of the genre.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a very hot book by a hot author. Juliet Rising is my first book I read by Cleo Cordell but be assured I am running to check out all her other books.

Ladies if you are looking for ways to get your man in line than read this book but be warned as you need to have a cool drink by your side.

[okyrhoe · Rating 1 out of 5]

The style is too similar to a Harlequin romance (or whatever this genre is called nowadays). Its contrived language I personally found unnerving:
"She felt a note of discord."
"An air of menace hung around her."
"His mood permeated the room."
"The full white skirts of her dress whispered against the polished boards. The faint sound echoed in Reynard's ears."

Then there was this strange business of psychological analysis which seemed out of place, period-wise:
"And in a strange way his strength was not diminished, nor his persona demeaned."
"Juliet knew that was only part of Madame Nichol's persona."
"She knew that she was seduced by the glimpse of darkness within her."
"Part of her....", "...in her nature" & "the barrier of his integrity" are phrases repeated often.

To be honest, all this psychobabble reminded me somewhat of the wacky psychiatrist in Deep Throat... but I don't think there is any intended humour in Juliet Rising.

And shall I mention the numerous typographical errors?
p.27 borders (correct: boarders),
p.74 baited (correct: bated),
p.103 humilitated,
p.155 (missing a full stop at the end of 3rd paragraph),
p.172 part of her exhulted,
p.235 drove her made with lust, etc.

Madame Nichol should administer the appropriate corrective punishment to those at fault!

There's a lot of peeping going on in this story, with most characters spying in on one another, and gaining insight into the other's/their own "nature" through these vicarious experiences.
If the story is a fantasy, why not go all the way? I would have appreciated a scene in which the daughter spies on her father, or the other way round. Now *that* would have been suitable material for the analyst's couch!

[penelopewanders]

Had read and traded this years ago, but just got it via bookman-8's spiral. So much better than all the horrid P.Birch books in the spiral (which I've now asked not to receive).

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Lace Erotica

[Manda · Rating 1 out of 5]

too euphemistic. a couple of scenes. crappy characters.