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Russian/Kuzan Family #1
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Well versed in the sensual arts, Prince Nikolai Kuzan wagers that he will be able to seduce the chaste Alsia Forseus in three days and steal her from her husband, but the lark turns serious when Kuzan finds himself falling in love.
312 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
33 people are currently reading
1087 people want to read
About the author
Susan Johnson
251 books573 followersAnd it all began rather serendipitously. Long ago, as they say, in another time, when fast food hadn't reached our area and the only shopping was what the feed mill offered, I was reading a book that annoyed me .
My husband was lying beside me in bed, watching TV. Turning to him, I sort of petulantly said, "How the hell did this book get published?"
"If you think you're so smart," he replied, with one eye still on the TV, "why don't you write a book?"
So I did. And very badly.
I've since learned how to do, he said, she said, and a great variety of other adverb heavy, sometimes lengthy explanations of why my characters are saying what they're saying, along with finally coming to an understanding of what things like POV means. Point of View for you non-writers}.
Although, I still don't fully comprehend why it matters if you switch POV and I cavalierly disregard it as much as possible. So while my technical skills have hopefully improved, what hasn't changed is my great joy in writing. There's as much pleasure today in listening to my characters talk while I type as fast as I can, as there was the first time I put dialogue to paper--in long-hand, then, in my leather bound sketch-book.
My husband was lying beside me in bed, watching TV. Turning to him, I sort of petulantly said, "How the hell did this book get published?"
"If you think you're so smart," he replied, with one eye still on the TV, "why don't you write a book?"
So I did. And very badly.
I've since learned how to do, he said, she said, and a great variety of other adverb heavy, sometimes lengthy explanations of why my characters are saying what they're saying, along with finally coming to an understanding of what things like POV means. Point of View for you non-writers}.
Although, I still don't fully comprehend why it matters if you switch POV and I cavalierly disregard it as much as possible. So while my technical skills have hopefully improved, what hasn't changed is my great joy in writing. There's as much pleasure today in listening to my characters talk while I type as fast as I can, as there was the first time I put dialogue to paper--in long-hand, then, in my leather bound sketch-book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 15, 2017
★★★★★! The Russian/Kuzan Family, book 1 of 4. Prince Nikki wagers at seduction, but soon finds himself torn between his playboy lifestyle & the possibility of love!
UK EDITION SERIES INFO & REVIEW
Russian/Kuzan Family series
Book 1
Formats: Kindle & paperback in both US/UK
The Russian/Kuzan Family series takes us to a less used setting, the Russian Empire following three generations of alpha males with amber eyes. The Kuzan family is Russian Royalty, wealthy beyond belief, entitled, worldly and sophisticated. Their stories will sweep you off your feet with the glittering ballrooms of St. Petersburg and Moscow, hunting lodges in the country, private railroad cars, European shopping excursions and much more…
Susan Johnson aka C.C. Gibbs, is published by different publishers in the US and UK, hence the different titles and covers.
These are stand-alones, but most enjoyed if read in order:
Book 1: (Year 1874)
Seized By Love (US) / At Your Mercy (UK)
Book 2: (Year 1899)
Love Storm (US) / A Storm Of Desire (UK)
Book 3: (Year 1919)
Sweet Love Survive (US) / Surrender To You (UK)
Book 4: (Year 1877)
Golden Paradise (US)
PRINCE NIKOLAI KUZAN, NIKKI: 35 years/Royalty-playboy/$$$$/black hair/amber eyes.
ALSIA FORSEUS: ~25 years/married-mother/red hair/violet eyes.
Book 1 in the Russian/Kuzan Family series follows Prince Nikolai Kuzan, “Nikki”, a sinfully handsome, rich, entitled playboy with no plans on ever growing up nor settling down.
While on an extended stay at his family’s hunting lodge he comes across the chaste Alsia Forseus and he wagers that he can steal her away from her abusive husband in three days. And so his seduction begins. But before he knows he ends up rescuing Alsia and her daughter, taking them away.
Though Prince Nikki has a fierce desire for Alsia, he won’t permit himself to fall for her. Instead he wants to possess and control her while continuing his playboy ways. Alsia stands up to him and so a very tumultuous relationship begins. Add to that they still has her husband to contend with.
As the story unfolds we will learn that there are reasons for Nikki’s commitment issues. You may not like the way he treated Alsia at times. But I say that considering WHO and WHAT he was plus his past, he acted as I would have expected. There is no question that Nikki is every bit the jaded, alpha playboy of his era, year 1874.
Sex, danger and suspense! Excellent story-telling! Mesmerizing setting! A very memorable hero!
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4.5 stars
Storyline concept rating: 5 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
******************************
Overall rating: 5 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
Be sure to join CCGibbsFANS here on GR for the latest news:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
(Public group for members 18 years and older)
April 23, 2015
★★★★★! The Russian/Kuzan Family, book 1 of 4. Prince Nikki wagers at seduction, but soon finds himself torn between his playboy lifestyle & the possibility of love!
US EDITION SERIES INFO & REVIEW
Russian/Kuzan Family series
Book 1
Formats: Kindle & paperback in both US/UK
The Russian/Kuzan Family series takes us to a less used setting, the Russian Empire following three generations of alpha males with amber eyes. The Kuzan family is Russian Royalty, wealthy beyond belief, entitled, worldly and sophisticated. Their stories will sweep you off your feet with the glittering ballrooms of St. Petersburg and Moscow, hunting lodges in the country, private railroad cars, European shopping excursions and much more…
These are stand-alones, but most enjoyed if read in order:
Book 1: (Year 1874)
Seized By Love (US) / At Your Mercy (UK)
Book 2: (Year 1899)
Love Storm (US) / A Storm Of Desire (UK)
Book 3: (Year 1919)
Sweet Love Survive (US) / Surrender To You (UK)
Book 4: (Year 1877)
Golden Paradise (US)
PRINCE NIKOLAI KUZAN, NIKKI: 35 years/Royalty-playboy/$$$$/black hair/amber eyes.
ALSIA FORSEUS: ~25 years/married-mother/red hair/violet eyes.
Book 1 in the Russian/Kuzan Family series follows Prince Nikolai Kuzan, “Nikki”, a sinfully handsome, rich, entitled playboy with no plans on ever growing up nor settling down.
While on an extended stay at his family’s hunting lodge he comes across the chaste Alsia Forseus and he wagers that he can steal her away from her abusive husband in three days. And so his seduction begins. But before he knows he ends up rescuing Alsia and her daughter, taking them away.
Though Prince Nikki has a fierce desire for Alsia, he won’t permit himself to fall for her. Instead he wants to possess and control her while continuing his playboy ways. Alsia stands up to him and so a very tumultuous relationship begins. Add to that they still has her husband to contend with.
As the story unfolds we will learn that there are reasons for Nikki’s commitment issues. You may not like the way he treated Alsia at times. But I say that considering WHO and WHAT he was plus his past, he acted as I would have expected. There is no question that Nikki is every bit the jaded, alpha playboy of his era, year 1874.
Sex, danger and suspense! Excellent story-telling! Mesmerizing setting! A very memorable hero!
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4.5 stars
Storyline concept rating: 5 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
******************************
Overall rating: 5 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
Be sure to join CCGibbsFANS here on GR for the latest news:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
(Public group for members 18 years and older)
June 10, 2021
The characters have both personality disorders: he is a pervert narcisist, showing no empaty nor respect for anyone (including himself), she’s a masochist dependent, a passive aggressive, ready to submit to every abuse for fear of losing him. I don’t think that this is acceptable because the book is written 40 years ago. It’s simply a disfunctional relation between two disturbed persons. The hero is a russian prince, bored, drug addict, borderline alcholist, debauched and without morals. He seduces the heroine for a bet, because he's tired of his many vices, the drug, the alcohol, the w**res. She's married to an abusive man, and is naive and not very smart, but beautiful. A victorian bimbo. So she's charmed by his platitudes and has sex with him after two days. So much for innocent and virtuous. He decides to make her his mistress and she refuses, but she's forced to accept when he saves her after his abusive husband beat her to a pulp. He takes her and her daughter to his palace and she becomes his mistress. Unfortunately, as we well know, intelligence is not an adaptive characteristic, since all those heroes and heroines with the IQ of a jellyfish are as fertile as a manured field, and she's pregnant in a moment. The prince, because he's a prince, is not worried. In fact he has already several illegitimate sons around the world (with his IQ????) and is ready to provide to her and his spawn and even to her daughter. All is well now. But. There's a but. His father, who's tired of his son's profligate ways, intimates him to marry his pregnant mistress, otherwise he will be sent where all bad russian children are sent: to Siberia. And since our prince is still a child (especially his IQ) he throws a tantrum and misbehaves. And here's where the book starts to fall down a very deep hole of dysfunctionals behaviour, bordering on sociopathy. I'm not joking.
The hero:
Cheats on her. Repeatedly. And after the cheating, with still the smell and the fluids of his previous encounters, he forces the heroine to have sex with him. Yuk yuk yuk. Here's where my blood pressure got seriously high. My ears are buzzing. I must take a beta blocker.
- he kidnaps her
- he rapes her (yes, really rapes her, and hurts her)
- he starves her
-he demeans her and is abusive to her
And she's pregnant with his child.
She's a passive aggressive dependant, so she's not able to resist him, she's really pityful, disgusting. She's a weak stupid woman, unable to have a minimum of dignity.
Then the hero is forced to marry her and even after marriage he comes back to his debauched ways, taking drugs, having sex with everything with two legs, and simply ignoring her.
I don't see any king of affection here, neither respect.
She's obviously upset and she is in her usual whining mode, crying and complaining. The dependent at her best.
And he's cold, selfish, demeaning, and everything is about him and him alone. The others exists only to be used by him for his purposes. The narcissist.
The worst match of all. Fated to their destruction (unfortunately only psychological, not physical, alas)
Eventually she risks her life during childbirth and he realizes he loves her and promises her he will change, except for cheating. Really. He says so. I swear! And she accepts, of course. After this we have an epilogue where he's completely redeemed and has not even looked at another woman and is happy with his wife and children (As i said, the less intelligent, the more fertile). And of course i start to laugh and my laugh becomes hysterical because I know for sure that a man like that, a pervert nacissist, who doesn't even has a sad past, because his parents adored him and are a happy family, will never ever change, even after 20 years of therapy. I am really disappointed by this book, I hate cheating and abusive men and this has it all. And a happy ending is impossible. I can't recommend it. Now I'm going to take some chamomil to calm down.
Not at all.
The hero:
Cheats on her. Repeatedly. And after the cheating, with still the smell and the fluids of his previous encounters, he forces the heroine to have sex with him. Yuk yuk yuk. Here's where my blood pressure got seriously high. My ears are buzzing. I must take a beta blocker.
- he kidnaps her
- he rapes her (yes, really rapes her, and hurts her)
- he starves her
-he demeans her and is abusive to her
And she's pregnant with his child.
She's a passive aggressive dependant, so she's not able to resist him, she's really pityful, disgusting. She's a weak stupid woman, unable to have a minimum of dignity.
Then the hero is forced to marry her and even after marriage he comes back to his debauched ways, taking drugs, having sex with everything with two legs, and simply ignoring her.
I don't see any king of affection here, neither respect.
She's obviously upset and she is in her usual whining mode, crying and complaining. The dependent at her best.
And he's cold, selfish, demeaning, and everything is about him and him alone. The others exists only to be used by him for his purposes. The narcissist.
The worst match of all. Fated to their destruction (unfortunately only psychological, not physical, alas)
Eventually she risks her life during childbirth and he realizes he loves her and promises her he will change, except for cheating. Really. He says so. I swear! And she accepts, of course. After this we have an epilogue where he's completely redeemed and has not even looked at another woman and is happy with his wife and children (As i said, the less intelligent, the more fertile). And of course i start to laugh and my laugh becomes hysterical because I know for sure that a man like that, a pervert nacissist, who doesn't even has a sad past, because his parents adored him and are a happy family, will never ever change, even after 20 years of therapy. I am really disappointed by this book, I hate cheating and abusive men and this has it all. And a happy ending is impossible. I can't recommend it. Now I'm going to take some chamomil to calm down.
Not at all.
November 17, 2017
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Seized By Love is a sexy well written historical romance with a Russian Prince playboy and an introvert and shy heroine...will our prince give up his life of parties, gambling, and women for love...
Seized By Love is a book I have been really looking forward to picking up ever since I saw it on the shelf at my local library. And yes I knew it would be a more older style type romance, but I have been in the mood for those lately so in some ways this story really worked for me. Seized By Love is one of the most earlier books that this author has written, orginally published in the late 70's and then this copy was a republishing in the late 90's. So it still has that old school feel, with the typical forced seduction (although I wouldn't call it rapey, it doesn't cross that line thankfully) and it does deal with some face slapping from the heroine and some angst, a sweet little girl and a emotional love story with a selfish and spoiled playboy prince who falls in love over what begins as a wager.
So Seized By Love begins when our hero is becoming bored with women, and his current mistress he is ready to cast aside soon. And then his buddies make a wager that he can't seduce any woman they pick in three days. They choose a young woman sketching in the park. Nikki is used to getting his way with women and from the moment he introduces himself to Alsia, a chaste but married woman stuck in a marriage with an abusive husband. Alsia has never really known what it feels like to feel desire and passion until she meets Nikki. They begin an affair that starts out with only sex in mind, but soon love enters the equation, and how long will Nikki wait to accept what he feels for Alsia.
There were some aspects of this story I really enjoyed and other I wasn't a huge fan of. Let me talk about what I didn't like first off. My biggest problem with this story was the angst, it felt a bit too drawn out in the story and I felt at times both Nikki and Alsia just couldn't communicate. I was rolling my eyes every time a misunderstanding got in the way of them being open and honest with each other. Another aspect I wasn't a huge fan of was the fact that the heroine was married. Now she doesn't stay married for long, but there is still some cheating involved and boy her husband is one brutal piece of work. He does make a good villain for the story however but we only see him in a few scenes but your heart just opens up more for the heroine and having to deal with such brutality as she is dealt by him.
Now what was pretty fantastic about this book: First off I really loved the heroine here for the most part. Even though she is more introverted. She liked to pain and sketch, and spend time with her young daughter. She tries to stay out of her husbands way because he takes out his anger on her in a brutal way. At first we see how strong she is, feisty and she lets Nikki know exactly what she thinks. But she also knows when to fight and when to back down. I did like seeing her come more into herself as she discovers desire and love. I also liked the romance that develops. Now it's not an easy story to read that is for sure, but seriously all the sweet and poignant moments that erupt in the most unlikely places, makes all the angst all the worth it to read through. Seeing these two find a love worth fighting for is epic and memorable. Another delightful portion of this book was spent on the historic and cultural aspects of the time. I don't know much about European's and Russian's culture and so Johnson did a detailed job of portraying it well without taking away from the story. I felt like I was in one of those dazzling Russian ballrooms, or a beautiful country side estate. Another delightful element was Nikki's parents, his father especially. His parents have a love match and the way the father involves himself was pretty entertaining at times and added some lightheartedness to the story that has a more serious tone to it at times.
Seized By Love is a beautifully well detailed love story that brings together opposites who have to fight through some conflicts to find their happy ever after in a most satisfying ending!!
[foogallery id="46200"]
Seized By Love is a sexy well written historical romance with a Russian Prince playboy and an introvert and shy heroine...will our prince give up his life of parties, gambling, and women for love...
Seized By Love is a book I have been really looking forward to picking up ever since I saw it on the shelf at my local library. And yes I knew it would be a more older style type romance, but I have been in the mood for those lately so in some ways this story really worked for me. Seized By Love is one of the most earlier books that this author has written, orginally published in the late 70's and then this copy was a republishing in the late 90's. So it still has that old school feel, with the typical forced seduction (although I wouldn't call it rapey, it doesn't cross that line thankfully) and it does deal with some face slapping from the heroine and some angst, a sweet little girl and a emotional love story with a selfish and spoiled playboy prince who falls in love over what begins as a wager.
So Seized By Love begins when our hero is becoming bored with women, and his current mistress he is ready to cast aside soon. And then his buddies make a wager that he can't seduce any woman they pick in three days. They choose a young woman sketching in the park. Nikki is used to getting his way with women and from the moment he introduces himself to Alsia, a chaste but married woman stuck in a marriage with an abusive husband. Alsia has never really known what it feels like to feel desire and passion until she meets Nikki. They begin an affair that starts out with only sex in mind, but soon love enters the equation, and how long will Nikki wait to accept what he feels for Alsia.
There were some aspects of this story I really enjoyed and other I wasn't a huge fan of. Let me talk about what I didn't like first off. My biggest problem with this story was the angst, it felt a bit too drawn out in the story and I felt at times both Nikki and Alsia just couldn't communicate. I was rolling my eyes every time a misunderstanding got in the way of them being open and honest with each other. Another aspect I wasn't a huge fan of was the fact that the heroine was married. Now she doesn't stay married for long, but there is still some cheating involved and boy her husband is one brutal piece of work. He does make a good villain for the story however but we only see him in a few scenes but your heart just opens up more for the heroine and having to deal with such brutality as she is dealt by him.
Now what was pretty fantastic about this book: First off I really loved the heroine here for the most part. Even though she is more introverted. She liked to pain and sketch, and spend time with her young daughter. She tries to stay out of her husbands way because he takes out his anger on her in a brutal way. At first we see how strong she is, feisty and she lets Nikki know exactly what she thinks. But she also knows when to fight and when to back down. I did like seeing her come more into herself as she discovers desire and love. I also liked the romance that develops. Now it's not an easy story to read that is for sure, but seriously all the sweet and poignant moments that erupt in the most unlikely places, makes all the angst all the worth it to read through. Seeing these two find a love worth fighting for is epic and memorable. Another delightful portion of this book was spent on the historic and cultural aspects of the time. I don't know much about European's and Russian's culture and so Johnson did a detailed job of portraying it well without taking away from the story. I felt like I was in one of those dazzling Russian ballrooms, or a beautiful country side estate. Another delightful element was Nikki's parents, his father especially. His parents have a love match and the way the father involves himself was pretty entertaining at times and added some lightheartedness to the story that has a more serious tone to it at times.
Seized By Love is a beautifully well detailed love story that brings together opposites who have to fight through some conflicts to find their happy ever after in a most satisfying ending!!
[foogallery id="46200"]
February 1, 2014
I wanted to add a quick review on this book I have read a few years back. I was just reading another GR friend's review and it jarred my memory of this book that I fell in love with it when I read it! In fact, after I read "Seized By Love," I immediately ran out and bought the rest of this series. Of course, as I get side tracked very easy, I didn't continue on with the series; but my paperbacks are still waiting in my library! I now am committed to cracking them open as I would love to see where this series will take me!
Susan Johnson's style of writing is the kind that I immediately took a liking to. I fell in love with her characters, but also her descriptive way of wording each scene. I look forward to rediscovering her work, and as it has been awhile since I have read a Historical Romance; I am eager to jump back into that genre as well!
Susan Johnson's style of writing is the kind that I immediately took a liking to. I fell in love with her characters, but also her descriptive way of wording each scene. I look forward to rediscovering her work, and as it has been awhile since I have read a Historical Romance; I am eager to jump back into that genre as well!
July 1, 2010
I was completely appalled and abhorred reading this book. In an introductory letter to the reader, Johnson writes that this story follows the tradition of romances of the past described as "bodice-rippers". The story was originally printed in 1978. This book is incorrectly labelled a "bodice-ripper"; bodice ripping is far to mild a description for this story.
The characters in this book are completely reprehensible. The hero treats the heroine wretchedly. He insults, ignores, domineers, and forces his attentions on her. At one point, he outright rapes her. The "love" scenes, if you can even call them that, are on the borderline of rapes and that is because the heroine's lust for the hero makes her capitulate to him. I tried to sympathize with the heroine because she is initially innocent in this story. However, her masochistic tendencies to put up with her abuse at the hands of the hero and to continue to love him removed any pity I had for her. I kept waiting for Alisa to give Prince Nikolai his final comeuppance for his behavior towards her but it never came!
The hero never reforms. Even at the end of the story when the couple inevitably acknowledge their love for one another; Nikki's declaration left me hollow. After his declaration of love following his wife's near death during the birth of their child, the heroine asks him to abandon his philandering ways and give up his mistresses. He first considers lying to her, but he doesn't want to make promises he can't keep, so he replies that he will "one day at a time."
I do admit that Nikki is a realistic character, given the period and the fact that he is rich and spoiled, but he is not the type of man that I would base a romance book around. It is true that some of these traits add hints of realism to the novel, but this book is a romance novel, hence its design is to inspire fantasy and a feeling of enjoyment, I felt none of this.
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title Seized by Love (Kuzan #1)
Author Susan Johnson
Reviewed By Purplycookie
The characters in this book are completely reprehensible. The hero treats the heroine wretchedly. He insults, ignores, domineers, and forces his attentions on her. At one point, he outright rapes her. The "love" scenes, if you can even call them that, are on the borderline of rapes and that is because the heroine's lust for the hero makes her capitulate to him. I tried to sympathize with the heroine because she is initially innocent in this story. However, her masochistic tendencies to put up with her abuse at the hands of the hero and to continue to love him removed any pity I had for her. I kept waiting for Alisa to give Prince Nikolai his final comeuppance for his behavior towards her but it never came!
The hero never reforms. Even at the end of the story when the couple inevitably acknowledge their love for one another; Nikki's declaration left me hollow. After his declaration of love following his wife's near death during the birth of their child, the heroine asks him to abandon his philandering ways and give up his mistresses. He first considers lying to her, but he doesn't want to make promises he can't keep, so he replies that he will "one day at a time."
I do admit that Nikki is a realistic character, given the period and the fact that he is rich and spoiled, but he is not the type of man that I would base a romance book around. It is true that some of these traits add hints of realism to the novel, but this book is a romance novel, hence its design is to inspire fantasy and a feeling of enjoyment, I felt none of this.
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title Seized by Love (Kuzan #1)
Author Susan Johnson
Reviewed By Purplycookie
January 18, 2022
HERE IT IS, MY FAVORITE BOOK EVER! (This is the review I wrote 10 years ago on amazon) September 14, 2004.
Dear readers, I love reading about bad boys, and there is no boy badder, than Nikki Kuzan! If you are softhearted and can't handle the drama that a bad boy is going to bring, then this book is not for you, but to all the others who is a little on the wild side, go an take a ride with Nikki Kuzan. It seems to me that Susan Johnson knows every woman’s fantasies. Nikki is not your average romance hero. He is the kind of hero you save for your naughty dreams. He is devastatingly sexy, hard to get, and every women wants him. Who does he want? (Alisa). He might not show it in the conventional way, but show it he does!
Alisa is a wonderful and realistic heroine, because it doesn't matter what era we are living in, there will always be women who rebels against their plight, and take a chance on something better. Put aside how wonderful Alisa and Nikki are, the story in itself was magnificent. Susan Johnson captivates you with her writing. I was hooked from the first page. It took me one day to finish this book. Heroes like Nikki are the very reason I started reading historical romances and not contemporary. The men of that era were very dominant and so different from the men of today and it’s exciting to see the difference, but men like Nikky should be left for your fantasies, and I want to live out my fantasies in every book that I read! That is why I think Susan Johnson is such a refreshing author. She was bold enough to write a romance novel like this for all the people who wanted to read something more daring, and for that I am her biggest fan!
Dear readers, I love reading about bad boys, and there is no boy badder, than Nikki Kuzan! If you are softhearted and can't handle the drama that a bad boy is going to bring, then this book is not for you, but to all the others who is a little on the wild side, go an take a ride with Nikki Kuzan. It seems to me that Susan Johnson knows every woman’s fantasies. Nikki is not your average romance hero. He is the kind of hero you save for your naughty dreams. He is devastatingly sexy, hard to get, and every women wants him. Who does he want? (Alisa). He might not show it in the conventional way, but show it he does!
Alisa is a wonderful and realistic heroine, because it doesn't matter what era we are living in, there will always be women who rebels against their plight, and take a chance on something better. Put aside how wonderful Alisa and Nikki are, the story in itself was magnificent. Susan Johnson captivates you with her writing. I was hooked from the first page. It took me one day to finish this book. Heroes like Nikki are the very reason I started reading historical romances and not contemporary. The men of that era were very dominant and so different from the men of today and it’s exciting to see the difference, but men like Nikky should be left for your fantasies, and I want to live out my fantasies in every book that I read! That is why I think Susan Johnson is such a refreshing author. She was bold enough to write a romance novel like this for all the people who wanted to read something more daring, and for that I am her biggest fan!
December 16, 2022
DNF @ 22%
I wanted to get this off my TBR, and was reading Little Deaths as a reward for enduring this one. But it's just not good enough to sit through, even though it's short. The hero is gross and he sucks. The heroine, I don't even know if she's had any lines at this point? She just seems a little dim. And it's all tell, no show.
I wanted to get this off my TBR, and was reading Little Deaths as a reward for enduring this one. But it's just not good enough to sit through, even though it's short. The hero is gross and he sucks. The heroine, I don't even know if she's had any lines at this point? She just seems a little dim. And it's all tell, no show.
April 27, 2021
This is not my first Susan Johnson novel (it was her first novel, however) and probably won't be my last lol. She has a very unique style of writing, where maybe more is told than shown. Her heroes are always rakes of the highest order, very hard to pin down, and resistant to love and marriage at all costs.
Shout out to Nenia Campbell for reviewing this one, giving it 5 stars, which made me curious about it & led me to read this book. This is at least the second time I've read a book because of her.
Prince Nikolai, aka Nikki, feels constant ennui, so his friends bet him that he can't have any woman he wants. Basically, he has to seduce (i.e. have sex with) a woman after 3 days of knowing her. His friends pick Alisa, the wife of an abusive and old (in his sixties) merchant. Sure enough, he beds her on the third day, but their relationship does not end there. (She was telling him no, but she quickly acquiesced. Does that count as not full consent??)
Lol, I still can't believe he seduced her through art that he didn't even know much about...I just realized they never really talked about the art after that. Wow. The author might have cheated us.
Nikki seemed to have mood swings that would last weeks. Frankly, he was standing in the way of his own happiness a lot of times by resisting Alisa & the feelings that would come with her. I honestly do not think I would have been able to date him/be attracted to him other than his looks. He drank WAY too much for starters; I was surprised his body was still "magnificently fit". Also, I wonder if he would have been able to survive had he not been born in wealth. He seemed impractical & I bet he had never worked a day in his life. So, nothing I find attractive lol.
I wasn't surprised he was dumb enough to knock Alisa up either; he refused to wear condoms at the beginning when she asked about protection.
Also, warning, he cheats on her (just once) I think, but he was not really into it.
I found the period of time where they were mad at each other (it lasted a while & basically started with Nikki being misogynistic) to be entertaining, so it didn't bother me too much. I really hope Nikki was cured of his misogyny by the end of the novel...I liked how Alisa was a feminist.
Recently I was reading the race car driver series by Erin McCarthy and one of the women was named Nikki. She was a very thin blonde with not much in the way of brains. Sometimes Nikolai's nickname, which he was referred to the whole time, reminded me of the dumb blonde Nikki.
Shout out to Nenia Campbell for reviewing this one, giving it 5 stars, which made me curious about it & led me to read this book. This is at least the second time I've read a book because of her.
Prince Nikolai, aka Nikki, feels constant ennui, so his friends bet him that he can't have any woman he wants. Basically, he has to seduce (i.e. have sex with) a woman after 3 days of knowing her. His friends pick Alisa, the wife of an abusive and old (in his sixties) merchant. Sure enough, he beds her on the third day, but their relationship does not end there. (She was telling him no, but she quickly acquiesced. Does that count as not full consent??)
Lol, I still can't believe he seduced her through art that he didn't even know much about...I just realized they never really talked about the art after that. Wow. The author might have cheated us.
Nikki seemed to have mood swings that would last weeks. Frankly, he was standing in the way of his own happiness a lot of times by resisting Alisa & the feelings that would come with her. I honestly do not think I would have been able to date him/be attracted to him other than his looks. He drank WAY too much for starters; I was surprised his body was still "magnificently fit". Also, I wonder if he would have been able to survive had he not been born in wealth. He seemed impractical & I bet he had never worked a day in his life. So, nothing I find attractive lol.
I wasn't surprised he was dumb enough to knock Alisa up either; he refused to wear condoms at the beginning when she asked about protection.
Also, warning, he cheats on her (just once) I think, but he was not really into it.
I found the period of time where they were mad at each other (it lasted a while & basically started with Nikki being misogynistic) to be entertaining, so it didn't bother me too much. I really hope Nikki was cured of his misogyny by the end of the novel...I liked how Alisa was a feminist.
Recently I was reading the race car driver series by Erin McCarthy and one of the women was named Nikki. She was a very thin blonde with not much in the way of brains. Sometimes Nikolai's nickname, which he was referred to the whole time, reminded me of the dumb blonde Nikki.
May 3, 2010
The heroine in this novel was treated as chattel for the most part, and her supposed-hero even addressed her as chattel at one point in the text. This was quite literally a bodice-ripper, originally written in 1978. Happily, there wasn't any outright rapes in the novel.
On the positive side, the Russian backdrop was an interesting variation, and the hero did have some redeeming qualities despite his neandertal romance hero outlook on life. However, in the end, I won't rush out to read any further books by this author.
On the positive side, the Russian backdrop was an interesting variation, and the hero did have some redeeming qualities despite his neandertal romance hero outlook on life. However, in the end, I won't rush out to read any further books by this author.
October 11, 2018
1.5.
The prince was a bit too controlling for me. Definitely a true rake, sleeping with other women, and not caring that he sires bastard children. But then again, our heroine isn't a saint either, cheating on her abusive husband with the hero. I wish the heroine had more backbone and made the hero grovel more.
The prince was a bit too controlling for me. Definitely a true rake, sleeping with other women, and not caring that he sires bastard children. But then again, our heroine isn't a saint either, cheating on her abusive husband with the hero. I wish the heroine had more backbone and made the hero grovel more.
November 3, 2010
Diabolically bad. Do yourself a favour and stay far, far away from this one. This has got it all - everything bad about bodice-rippers - and then some. I can't believe I kept reading in the hope that the hero would improve. He doesn't.
November 8, 2009
I'm surprised I enjoyed this book as much as I did... It is a very old school bodice ripping romance which isn't my usual taste but it was very good. The leading man (the prince) is very dominant, he's truly loving and comapssionate underneith, but demanding, possessive, controlling and passive agressive at times. His leading lady (Alisa) is timid, shy and submissive (qualities that are not abundant in myself and I therefore have a hard time understanding in others)
Alisa escapes her physically abusive first marriage... well actually she is rescued by the prince... only to be forced to become the princes mistress. She initially refuses his demands, only to have him indirectly announce that she is in fact his new mistress, ruining her chances at finding gainful employment and the chance to independently support her self and daughter. He has a need to possess her completely to be everything to her while still maintaining his independence and bachlor ways, and she chafes against the degridation and lack of feeling on his part. They argue several times over different provocations and yet the same initial problem, his need to control her to create a submissive obedient mistress, and her want for equality affection and to simply feel like she is choosing her prince, and not that he is her only option. There arguments are mostly stalemates until he either gives into her demands, which prompt her to eventually give him what he wants (because she wants the same things, not because he is forcing her), or he gives up and plans to leave her and she asks him to stay (he of course stays on her terms because he wants her anyway he can have her, even though he does not realize it) leaving them in a temporary state of complete peace after there monumental arguments. A past relationship in the princes life is the cause of his overwhelming need to completely posses Alisa, his saving grace in my eye is his consistently loving caring relationship he instantly forges with Alisa's daughter indulging her in all of the silly desires of a 5 year old girl, and the almost mentor like relation ship he has with his younger cousin, without which I would write him off as the biggest bastard every to grace the pages. His need to dominate Alisa is sprung from fear something she apparently can either see or tolerate, a quality I do not possess but can respect in her.
As I said they argue several times over basically the same thing but after extensive changes in situation the prince comes to realize that the independence and need for equality he tries to squash in her are the part of what makes him fall in love with Alisa, and almost loosing her makes him realize exactly what he stands to loose. They finally create a lasting peacefully equal relationship.
These characters are not my cup of tea he is a man that in real life I would despise, no matter what good qualities he does posses deep down, and she is the type of woman that in real life I would feel pity for, the book is very well written and there is something about the story that appeals to me despite my own personal inclinations, which to me is the mark of a good story teller and one of the reasons Susan Johnson has become one of my favorite authors.
Alisa escapes her physically abusive first marriage... well actually she is rescued by the prince... only to be forced to become the princes mistress. She initially refuses his demands, only to have him indirectly announce that she is in fact his new mistress, ruining her chances at finding gainful employment and the chance to independently support her self and daughter. He has a need to possess her completely to be everything to her while still maintaining his independence and bachlor ways, and she chafes against the degridation and lack of feeling on his part. They argue several times over different provocations and yet the same initial problem, his need to control her to create a submissive obedient mistress, and her want for equality affection and to simply feel like she is choosing her prince, and not that he is her only option. There arguments are mostly stalemates until he either gives into her demands, which prompt her to eventually give him what he wants (because she wants the same things, not because he is forcing her), or he gives up and plans to leave her and she asks him to stay (he of course stays on her terms because he wants her anyway he can have her, even though he does not realize it) leaving them in a temporary state of complete peace after there monumental arguments. A past relationship in the princes life is the cause of his overwhelming need to completely posses Alisa, his saving grace in my eye is his consistently loving caring relationship he instantly forges with Alisa's daughter indulging her in all of the silly desires of a 5 year old girl, and the almost mentor like relation ship he has with his younger cousin, without which I would write him off as the biggest bastard every to grace the pages. His need to dominate Alisa is sprung from fear something she apparently can either see or tolerate, a quality I do not possess but can respect in her.
As I said they argue several times over basically the same thing but after extensive changes in situation the prince comes to realize that the independence and need for equality he tries to squash in her are the part of what makes him fall in love with Alisa, and almost loosing her makes him realize exactly what he stands to loose. They finally create a lasting peacefully equal relationship.
These characters are not my cup of tea he is a man that in real life I would despise, no matter what good qualities he does posses deep down, and she is the type of woman that in real life I would feel pity for, the book is very well written and there is something about the story that appeals to me despite my own personal inclinations, which to me is the mark of a good story teller and one of the reasons Susan Johnson has become one of my favorite authors.
May 30, 2011
Alisa I feel for you! I didn't want to LOVE Prince Nikolai how could I he was an insufferable, spoiled, cad! So I didn't find your character weak but I am now questioning mine! LOL
I'm not surprised Seized by Love received such mixed ratings. Susan Johnson draws a hero that is deeply flawed and many romance readers don't go for cheating Hero's.
I just wanted to fix him make Nikki come around and see how lucky he was to have found Alisa.
The Russian scape was fantastic and made me long for St. Petersburg. (also all things Russian bring me to The Bronze Horseman with Bonus Material) Historically this seems very accurate and she includes some interesting historical facts at the end of the book.
I would recommend this for lovers of the Bodice Ripper our hero really strips the heroine to the bone!
So my 4 star rating is based on the fact that I read most this one in one sitting, will not forget it, want to read book two and most of all who doesn't love a book that stirs your emotions. The Prince has me fired up and I like that!
I'm not surprised Seized by Love received such mixed ratings. Susan Johnson draws a hero that is deeply flawed and many romance readers don't go for cheating Hero's.
I just wanted to fix him make Nikki come around and see how lucky he was to have found Alisa.
The Russian scape was fantastic and made me long for St. Petersburg. (also all things Russian bring me to The Bronze Horseman with Bonus Material) Historically this seems very accurate and she includes some interesting historical facts at the end of the book.
I would recommend this for lovers of the Bodice Ripper our hero really strips the heroine to the bone!
So my 4 star rating is based on the fact that I read most this one in one sitting, will not forget it, want to read book two and most of all who doesn't love a book that stirs your emotions. The Prince has me fired up and I like that!
December 5, 2013
this one was originally published under the title of Seized by love.
Why change the title?? ( although I admit that this new title matches the story ;-) )
More important Ms Gibbs/Johnson : why have you change the titles of yours old books???? This make it very confusing :-/
As for this story :
what makes me like it : the Russian historical background, the many twists and turns (very entertaining)
what makes me dislike it : the "hero", Nikolai's character!! Very selfish and a very bad behavior. He always belittles the heroine and never makes amends.
Every time that i said to myself , it's good now, he will calm down and makes amend ... he was even more horrible and cruel.
An odious character!
Why change the title?? ( although I admit that this new title matches the story ;-) )
More important Ms Gibbs/Johnson : why have you change the titles of yours old books???? This make it very confusing :-/
As for this story :
what makes me like it : the Russian historical background, the many twists and turns (very entertaining)
what makes me dislike it : the "hero", Nikolai's character!! Very selfish and a very bad behavior. He always belittles the heroine and never makes amends.
Every time that i said to myself , it's good now, he will calm down and makes amend ... he was even more horrible and cruel.
An odious character!
Read
April 10, 2012If you like dumb women with no self respect or pride then this is for you. Goodness gracious, I hated this cruel, nasty, ass, jerkoff. He was horrible and spent most of the book having sex with everything with a hole, bragging about his bastards and OF COURSE treating the heroine like sh*t. Definitely a wonderful read. Heavy on the sarcasm.
October 26, 2014
I can tell from my shelf placement that I was really confused about this book. I finished it, because it was relatively short and the beginning intrigued me enough to see it through. The characters however, got more irritating as we went and I can't say that I ended up liking either one of them too much. At the same time it wasn't as bad as some bodice rippers I've read. So just...whatever.
December 6, 2009
Just finished this one last night. It took the near death of the heroine in childbirth to get the hero to become faithful. Even then, you had to wonder if he meant it. I liked this book okay, I've read much better (including Susan's book Outlaw, which I like very much), but I've also read worse.
December 16, 2019
Just by the antics of the hero I thought this book was older than 1993. He was awful till the very end, and I was hoping he’d redeem himself a lot earlier. They were both awful, well playing “games”. Anyway, just what I was craving in the old school “bodice ripper” style
August 28, 2013
Dear God,
What utter drivel...it was like reading the creative writing of an angsty 13 year old...
What utter drivel...it was like reading the creative writing of an angsty 13 year old...
February 12, 2021
I wouldn't even mark this as a bodice ripper. It's just a legit story of this girl who jumps from one abusive relationship to the next.
I should clarify that I do not blame the heroine. She's obviously has to live at the whims of the men in her life. It's a pretty awful story of this Prince who gets whatever he wants and "falls in love" with this chick. He's constantly cheating on her through out the story and refuses to make an honest women of her, even after he finds out she's preggo with his child.
I should clarify that I do not blame the heroine. She's obviously has to live at the whims of the men in her life. It's a pretty awful story of this Prince who gets whatever he wants and "falls in love" with this chick. He's constantly cheating on her through out the story and refuses to make an honest women of her, even after he finds out she's preggo with his child.
October 16, 2018
Can't remember what it was about. Should be usual SJ formula that is lots of romps + insulting bickerings = nothing else to remember.
April 13, 2016
A SOLID 4.5 STARS. IF YOU ARE A MASOCHIST, YOU WILL ENJOY THIS.
As much as I love a good whoring from my heroes, Nikki was pushing his luck a little too much. The story was fabulous, written in its time when men were pig-headedly dominant and overbearingly arrogant. It was obvious Nikki loved Alisa, but because he didn't want to give up his independence and was afraid of falling in love, it proved complications in their relationship and marriage.
The best highlights in the story for me:
1) When Nikki rescues Alisa after her husband abused her
2) When Nikki rescues Alisa from her husband's abduction
3) When Nikki realises that he was going to lose his wife in childbirth
What these three scenes have in common are whenever Nikki and Alisa get caught in an argument about his depravities and arrogance, and she gets into trouble, it makes him REALISE little by little how much his wife means to him and how she would have been lost to him one too many times. And I would say ABOUT TIME DUDE!
AN HONEST TO GOD BITTERSWEET STORY. THIS IS HIS STORY.
As much as I love a good whoring from my heroes, Nikki was pushing his luck a little too much. The story was fabulous, written in its time when men were pig-headedly dominant and overbearingly arrogant. It was obvious Nikki loved Alisa, but because he didn't want to give up his independence and was afraid of falling in love, it proved complications in their relationship and marriage.
The best highlights in the story for me:
1) When Nikki rescues Alisa after her husband abused her
2) When Nikki rescues Alisa from her husband's abduction
3) When Nikki realises that he was going to lose his wife in childbirth
What these three scenes have in common are whenever Nikki and Alisa get caught in an argument about his depravities and arrogance, and she gets into trouble, it makes him REALISE little by little how much his wife means to him and how she would have been lost to him one too many times. And I would say ABOUT TIME DUDE!
AN HONEST TO GOD BITTERSWEET STORY. THIS IS HIS STORY.
September 2, 2011
I have a high tolerance power when it comes to douchebags in HR, but Prince Kuzan was a little over the top for me, even by my standards. I'm one of those people who loves crazy, jealous, dominant, psycho heroes lol. But cheating is where I draw the line. I still don't understand what happened to the hero after the wedding and why he suddenly went back to his ways of douchery and debauchery.
The book was otherwise engaging and well written. I would've liked the Prince more had he not cheated. I liked how possessive he was about Alisa and how sweet he was to her daughter. Alisa was TSTL like most other heroines. I expected the wager thing to be the huge issue in the story, but it was not suprisingly. The only issue in this story was the size of Prince Kuzan's head.
The book was otherwise engaging and well written. I would've liked the Prince more had he not cheated. I liked how possessive he was about Alisa and how sweet he was to her daughter. Alisa was TSTL like most other heroines. I expected the wager thing to be the huge issue in the story, but it was not suprisingly. The only issue in this story was the size of Prince Kuzan's head.
November 2, 2017
All I can say is that it certainly was not what I'd been expecting. It is my first and last Susan Johnson novel that I'll be reading. The fact that Prince Kuzan (hero) falls in love with Alisa (heroine) in a seemingly very hasty, quick, and unrealistic way changed my mind about this novel. In fact, there were many instances and events in the story that seemed unrealistic for the reader to believe. But this story did kind of remind me of Lord of Scoundrels (by Loretta Chase) and the story of Anna Karenina, with both put together to create Seized By Love.
September 29, 2018
Pleasurable
Ms. Johnson is the top of my favorite top five authors. I have purchased and read all, all of her erotic historical romance books. I read each book at least two to three times a year, in addition to anything new. My favorite is ,SIN and this one is runner up. Her quickness to the erotic sex keeps me coming back for more. Loved the bickering from Nikki, because he was afraid to love or marry. Thank you.
Ms. Johnson is the top of my favorite top five authors. I have purchased and read all, all of her erotic historical romance books. I read each book at least two to three times a year, in addition to anything new. My favorite is ,SIN and this one is runner up. Her quickness to the erotic sex keeps me coming back for more. Loved the bickering from Nikki, because he was afraid to love or marry. Thank you.
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April 5, 2013This book's title should have been "Seized by a Misogynyst!" Ugh, the novel left me feeling dirty and abused. What a horrible way to treat the woman one "loves" ... By abusing her, cheating on her and insulting her through words and actions! Yuck! Negative 10 stars for me!
March 9, 2022
I find these older bodice-rippers are either complete hits or misses, this book was the later. The writing felt off (kept switching povs and time skipping). The characters also felt two dimensional and not well thought out.
September 2, 2015
Loved it! Discovered a new favorite author.
September 12, 2025
While it had quite a few flaws, the love story of Nikki and Alisa is a good enough read to kill time on a lazy afternoon or whenever you have your free moments.
It takes place in early 19thc Russia, where wild, rakish aristocrat Nikki bets his friends he can seduce the virtuous Alisa, a young woman with a little daughter, who's trapped in a loveless marriage with Foseus, a cruel, abusive much older man, and is miserable and lonely. She finds solace by sketching and painting outdoors, and that's where Nikki begins setting the trap, never dreaming he'd get caught in it.
It kind of reminds me a bit of "Dangerous Liaisons", except this one has a HEA, though it takes a heck of a long time to get there.
it didn't take long for Alisa to fall in love, even after learning about the bet she still couldn't resist Nikki, and soon finds herself and five year old Katelina living with him, assured of his protection from Forseus.
Much of the conflict comes from Nikki's unwillingness to commit himself to Alisa. Though his family's money and connections (as well as Forseus's sadism) would enable Alisa to get a divorce, Nikki has no intention of becoming her next husband. Despite his parents' happy marriage, he's seen too many society couples in loveless unions to ever want to attempt it himself. He likes being free and has always enjoyed a profligate lifestyle. Alisa's just the opposite: her horrible, arranged marriage hasn't soured her against it, but only if it's based on love. They end up at a stalemate, as Nikki will only admit to desire and passion, and wants her with him, until he doesn't, whenever that might be. until then, he expects her to stay with him and be faithful, even if he isn't. Alisa's sweet, gentle nature can't help but rebel at this treatment, and she determines to leave and try to make a new life somewhere for her and Katelina.
Throughout most of the novel, Nikki fights his feelings for Alisa, won't even admit to himself how much she means to him, buys her expensive clothes and jewelry and treats her like a live doll he enjoys playing with. When she tries to escape, he finds her and puts her under house arrest. She resists his lovemaking, he turns to other women (but only a couple of times, which for him was a miracle), and starts escorting a young debutante to social events. Alisa reacts by encouraging the attentions of a young army lieutenant, which infuriates Nikki. On and on it goes.
However, things change when she's kidnapped and nearly raped by Forseus; Nikki rescues her and declares his love.
The newfound happiness doesn't last, as Alisa becomes pregnant ,and Nikki is coerced by his well-meaning father into marrying her. He feels trapped and spends time away from home, drinking, gambling, even smoking opium and hashish. (More like a rebellious college kid than a grown man.) He ignores Alisa so much, that she retaliates by flirting with other men at social functions. Neither one will give in, but the real problem is Nikki's unwillingness to admit how much she means to him.
There are some scenes that get to your heart, like when Alisa watches Nikki with Katalina, who just adores him and who he's become fond of. (In fact, he treats her much better than his own illegitimate children, whom he just sends money to and never visits.) Alisa wishes for even a small amount of the kindness and affection he shows her daughter.
Another time, while they're making love, Nikki takes out his frustrations about his repressed feelings and all their misunderstandings on Alisa and ends up hurting her. When he sees her tears, he's overcome with remorse and then he's all tenderness.
Later, when there's a chance she may not live, he breaks down and cries, finally admitting how much she means to him.
Yes, everything's resolved in the end, but it's a long, exhausting road to get there. Still, it's an okay book, not bad for passing the time.
It takes place in early 19thc Russia, where wild, rakish aristocrat Nikki bets his friends he can seduce the virtuous Alisa, a young woman with a little daughter, who's trapped in a loveless marriage with Foseus, a cruel, abusive much older man, and is miserable and lonely. She finds solace by sketching and painting outdoors, and that's where Nikki begins setting the trap, never dreaming he'd get caught in it.
It kind of reminds me a bit of "Dangerous Liaisons", except this one has a HEA, though it takes a heck of a long time to get there.
it didn't take long for Alisa to fall in love, even after learning about the bet she still couldn't resist Nikki, and soon finds herself and five year old Katelina living with him, assured of his protection from Forseus.
Much of the conflict comes from Nikki's unwillingness to commit himself to Alisa. Though his family's money and connections (as well as Forseus's sadism) would enable Alisa to get a divorce, Nikki has no intention of becoming her next husband. Despite his parents' happy marriage, he's seen too many society couples in loveless unions to ever want to attempt it himself. He likes being free and has always enjoyed a profligate lifestyle. Alisa's just the opposite: her horrible, arranged marriage hasn't soured her against it, but only if it's based on love. They end up at a stalemate, as Nikki will only admit to desire and passion, and wants her with him, until he doesn't, whenever that might be. until then, he expects her to stay with him and be faithful, even if he isn't. Alisa's sweet, gentle nature can't help but rebel at this treatment, and she determines to leave and try to make a new life somewhere for her and Katelina.
Throughout most of the novel, Nikki fights his feelings for Alisa, won't even admit to himself how much she means to him, buys her expensive clothes and jewelry and treats her like a live doll he enjoys playing with. When she tries to escape, he finds her and puts her under house arrest. She resists his lovemaking, he turns to other women (but only a couple of times, which for him was a miracle), and starts escorting a young debutante to social events. Alisa reacts by encouraging the attentions of a young army lieutenant, which infuriates Nikki. On and on it goes.
However, things change when she's kidnapped and nearly raped by Forseus; Nikki rescues her and declares his love.
The newfound happiness doesn't last, as Alisa becomes pregnant ,and Nikki is coerced by his well-meaning father into marrying her. He feels trapped and spends time away from home, drinking, gambling, even smoking opium and hashish. (More like a rebellious college kid than a grown man.) He ignores Alisa so much, that she retaliates by flirting with other men at social functions. Neither one will give in, but the real problem is Nikki's unwillingness to admit how much she means to him.
There are some scenes that get to your heart, like when Alisa watches Nikki with Katalina, who just adores him and who he's become fond of. (In fact, he treats her much better than his own illegitimate children, whom he just sends money to and never visits.) Alisa wishes for even a small amount of the kindness and affection he shows her daughter.
Another time, while they're making love, Nikki takes out his frustrations about his repressed feelings and all their misunderstandings on Alisa and ends up hurting her. When he sees her tears, he's overcome with remorse and then he's all tenderness.
Later, when there's a chance she may not live, he breaks down and cries, finally admitting how much she means to him.
Yes, everything's resolved in the end, but it's a long, exhausting road to get there. Still, it's an okay book, not bad for passing the time.
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