Арабски нощи

The Masqueraders #2

by Laura Parker, Ваня Пенева (Translator), Правда Панова (Editor)

Младата и красива Вероника с ужас разбира, че е бременна — това е резултатът на бурната любовна нощ, която е прекарала с тайнствения индиец Хинд Див. А когато я застига вестта за смъртта на индиеца, тя се вижда принудена да се омъжи за застарелия виконт Шрюсбъри… Но и той скоро се прощава с живота и Вероника е принудена да отпътува за Англия, където я очаква изненада — Девлин Синклер, наследникът на виконта, който прилича като две капки вода на нейния възлюбен Хинд Див…

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, British Literature, Regency Romance, Regency

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2002

About the author

Pseudonym: Laura Castoro

Reviews

[Ренета Кирова · Rating 5 out of 5]

Като приказка от „1001 нощ“ е този любовен роман, екзотичен и романтичен. Въпреки някои наивни моменти в него, ми допадна самата история и начинът, по който е написан. Описани са персийските традиции, а героите използват поетични арабски изрази, което прави текста екзотичен и приказен.
Вероника е отраснала в Персия, но е принудена да се върне в Англия като вдовица и с титлата виконтеса. Тя се омъжва за застарелия и болен виконт Шрюсбъри, давайки обещанието да се погрижи неговите пет дъщери да бъдат възпитани и въведени в обществото. Само че тя трудно забравя индиеца Хинд Див, който я съблазнява с хитрост, когато тя отива да го помоли за помощ. Но кой е тайнственият индиец и защо тя го намира в Англия, след като са я уведомили, че не е жив? А той не помни нищо от онези дни и Вероника ще трябва да впрегне всичките си сили, за да успее да го накара да повярва в любовта, въпреки душевните и физически рани, които е получил в Персия.

[Lynsey A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea behind this story. Not many people enjoy the secret baby theme but it doesn't bother me. The hero's memory was lost due to some torture he experienced so he doesn't even recall his past with our heroine. So, it would be quite difficult for Japonica (horrid name) to tell him Devlyn about his son.

Word of warning, in the beginning seduction scene, she is drugged so it is a bit of a forced seduction. However, as the heroine tells Devlyn about her past she mentions how she was drugged and seduced by a man and our hero is appalled at the tale and vows to call out the cad, not knowing it was him. There were circumstances that led to him drugging Japonica. He thought she was an assassin sent to kill him.

So, all in all, it isn't something the hero would normally do. He was quite upset when he found out he was the man who had drugged her.

I wasn't wowed by this book but I did enjoy the story. The step-daughters were horrid, the character of Laurel, mainly and dumb to boot. I wanted more of a come-uppance for Laurel but she did seem to learn the error of her ways. Still, she annoyed me.

This is kind of a mish mash review to say I liked to book but not enough to keep it. It was a nice way to while away the weekend.

[Apple R · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved reading about the Hind Div, the mysterious exotic man. I was very disappointed when there was very little of him after Devlin lost his memory. I wanted more of him, not just Devlin. I stayed up reading half the night in anticipation. It was frustrating, to say the least.

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Japonica Fortnom is a relation of the British shop family of Fortnum & Mason. Her branch lives in Persia and specializes in the spice trade which they supply to the British branch. Japonica has lived all her life there even though she's English. After her father's death, the British East Indies Company requests her healing services in Baghdad for Viscount Shrewsbury, who's dying. Unable to heal him, she's now trapped by Napoleon's forces. Shrewsbury sends her to the Hind Div to arrange their escape. The Hind Div is greatly feared and in fact a British agent. He thinks she's a spy, drugs her, and takes her virginity. He does help her escape, but is taken, hand cut off and presumed dead. Japonica is prevailed upon to marry the dying viscount and take responsibility for his 5 daughters in England. On the way home with his body, she discovers she's pregnant by the Hind Div. Held up by war in Portugal, she delivers there and then goes on to England to be met by 5 teenagers who do NOT want her around. The new viscount turns out to be Devlyn Sinclair - the Hind Dev. He's now missing his hand and his memory and doesn't remember Japonica or being the Hind Dev. Eventually they work out their problems including the step-daughters.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

While in Persia, Japonica Fortnom is seduced by a wily rogue known as the Hind Div. Sent to him by her patient, the elderly Viscount Shrewsbury, to arrange for his escape from Baghdad, she asks for the Hind Div’s help as the price of his vile deed. He’d thought she was an assassin sent to kill him and realized his blunder only too late, so he agrees. When Japonica hears that the Hind Div is dead, she accepts the Viscount’s marriage proposal. He dies, leaving her the sole caretaker for his unruly daughters. She travels to their home in England and assumes her rightful place. Then the new Viscount Devlyn Sinclair shows up, and she’s shocked to recognize him as the Hind Div, who still lives. However, he’s lost his memory and doesn’t recall ever meeting her. She fears his recovery because then he might discover the secret she’s trying to hide. A well-paced story with an interesting background setting make this tale a delightful read.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

While in Persia, Japonica Fortnom is seduced by a wily rogue known as the Hind Div. Sent to him by her patient, the elderly Viscount Shrewsbury, to arrange for his escape from Baghdad, she asks for the Hind Div’s help as the price of his vile deed. He’d thought she was an assassin sent to kill him and realized his blunder only too late so he agrees. When Japonica hears that the Hind Div is dead, she accepts the Viscount’s marriage proposal. He dies, leaving her the sole caretaker for his unruly daughters. She travels to their home in England and assumes her rightful place. Then the new Viscount Devlyn Sinclair shows up, and she’s shocked to recognize him as the Hind Div, who still lives. However, he’s lost his memory and doesn’t recall ever meeting her before. She fears his recovery because then he might discover the secret she’s trying to hide. A well-paced story with an interesting background setting make this tale a delightful read.

[ChristineZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has EVERYTHING! Exotic locale (Persia), spies, a secret baby, a heroine with a fortune who marries a dying viscount so now she is titled, amnesia, stepdaughters to be launched into society, a faithful servant with wise advice, and an ugly duckling to beautiful swan heroine. I thought I would try a new author but I don’t think I will read another book in this series. There’s just too much going on. The redeeming quality of this book is that it is written well - it is fast paced, though I did skim sections just to finish it (like the endless bedroom scene that went on for ever).

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was mostly a romance with some historical details thrown in. There's nothing unique that I would remember about the book.

[Sec2000 · Rating 4 out of 5]

different in a good way

[Sally Hannoush · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the story. It had a lot of entertaining aspects. The novel had many parts that belonged together and some that stood apart from the rest. The descriptive writing is done very well.