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Francesca
Now you belong to me...only me!
Her husband spoke softly, menacingly, and Francesca quivered beneath his touch. She had been forced to marry Raoul, a man who represented everything she despised. But, unable to ignore her growing attraction for him, she soon found herself torn between a husband she loved passionately and a brother to whom she owed allegiance.
Her new home — the decadent court of the ruthless Borgias — appalled her. She clung to her husband's professed love. With him she would be safe...
How was Francesca to know she would be brutally betrayed!
Her husband spoke softly, menacingly, and Francesca quivered beneath his touch. She had been forced to marry Raoul, a man who represented everything she despised. But, unable to ignore her growing attraction for him, she soon found herself torn between a husband she loved passionately and a brother to whom she owed allegiance.
Her new home — the decadent court of the ruthless Borgias — appalled her. She clung to her husband's professed love. With him she would be safe...
How was Francesca to know she would be brutally betrayed!
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
1 person is currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Valentina Luellen
35 books7 followersPseudonym for Judith Hagar. AKA Judith Polley and Helen Kent.
Valentina Luellen is one of the pen names of Judith Hagar. She published 33 historical romances for Mills & Boon, with many of the tiles featured in the Masquerade series.
Valentina Luellen is one of the pen names of Judith Hagar. She published 33 historical romances for Mills & Boon, with many of the tiles featured in the Masquerade series.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 7, 2020
I don't have it in me to write a full, proper review. So these are just notes so I can remember why I like this book if I ever want to revisit it. I think this might be the first harlequin I've ever read, my first historical harlequin at least. Growing up, neither my mother nor grandmother ever read harlequins, none of my friends in school, and I don't ever remember seeing them at my library. Thank god for Goodreads so I can skip to the good ones and don't have to wade through the likely many mediocre harlequins that exist.
The plot was cleverly constructed, with lots of conflict and clash between the characters. Excellent dialogue, some humor within tense situations which I always appreciate. More than once I wondered: "how is this going to be resolved?" I like it when the plot is unpredictable and the author manages to draw that reaction from me. The heroine was an ice queen, the Hero incredibly possessive. Raoul was great. When I first started reading this book I thought Cesare Borgias was the Hero, and thus shelved this on my 'cruel hero' shelf, but no--he's the villain. I was so disgusted by Amelia at the end. She deserved her fate. Anyway. This impressed me so much I'm definitely going to read more by this author. Maybe Madelon, Lord Of Darkness, or Maria Elena next.
The plot was cleverly constructed, with lots of conflict and clash between the characters. Excellent dialogue, some humor within tense situations which I always appreciate. More than once I wondered: "how is this going to be resolved?" I like it when the plot is unpredictable and the author manages to draw that reaction from me. The heroine was an ice queen, the Hero incredibly possessive. Raoul was great. When I first started reading this book I thought Cesare Borgias was the Hero, and thus shelved this on my 'cruel hero' shelf, but no--he's the villain. I was so disgusted by Amelia at the end. She deserved her fate. Anyway. This impressed me so much I'm definitely going to read more by this author. Maybe Madelon, Lord Of Darkness, or Maria Elena next.
May 6, 2020
This one was a lot of fun...if you like un-PC harlequins and/or old-skool bodice rippers. :D
Basically the author flung her heroine into the Borgia court & watched her flail in the water. Francesca is no mousy little miss; as the daughter of a rich Florentine family she's haughty, proud, & pampered. She's also suspicious of anything the Borgia clan says or does -- not that anyone could blame her. :P The hero is Raoul, an OC Borgia bastard & mercenary; Rodrigo has taken a shine to this battle-hardened son & given him a sort of unofficial clout, which is bolstered by Lucrezia's gamine devotion to both him & Cesare. While Raoul is tired of Cesare's brutality & asshole behavior, he suddenly embraces that Borgia possessiveness re: our icy heroine & her standoffish ways. He vows to force some womanly swoons with punishing kisses, shoulder grabs, & rude comments about her equally rude behavior towards him.
...Of course, circumstances force them to marry. Copious marital rapes, murders, & attempted poisonings ensue; also miscarriages, torn bodices, & near-death experiences. Typical Borgia soap fodder. :D
Unlike some Masquerades, Raoul is a true HQN hero with his punishing sex & cutting remarks. But Francesca is almost as bad -- she tries to murder Raoul in bed, responds to kindness with bitchiness, & plots insurrection at every chance. Ultimately they're both Good People, but neither is willing to back down until the very end. Cesare's evul mustache-twirling antics don't help, but Lucrezia is determined to see them pushed into a HEA...perhaps because she's being forced to remarry by order of father & brother.
An interesting twist comes from Kalim, Raoul's moorish body servant (not a slave, but a devoted Jeeves type). Francesca is alternately afraid & contemptuous of Kalim until necessity forces them to get along, & a strong friendship is born. Their evolving trust added an extra layer to Francesca's character. :)
4.5 stars & quite enjoyable despite the sloppy formatting (oh paragraph breaks, where art thou?), so I rounded up.
Basically the author flung her heroine into the Borgia court & watched her flail in the water. Francesca is no mousy little miss; as the daughter of a rich Florentine family she's haughty, proud, & pampered. She's also suspicious of anything the Borgia clan says or does -- not that anyone could blame her. :P The hero is Raoul, an OC Borgia bastard & mercenary; Rodrigo has taken a shine to this battle-hardened son & given him a sort of unofficial clout, which is bolstered by Lucrezia's gamine devotion to both him & Cesare. While Raoul is tired of Cesare's brutality & asshole behavior, he suddenly embraces that Borgia possessiveness re: our icy heroine & her standoffish ways. He vows to force some womanly swoons with punishing kisses, shoulder grabs, & rude comments about her equally rude behavior towards him.
...Of course, circumstances force them to marry. Copious marital rapes, murders, & attempted poisonings ensue; also miscarriages, torn bodices, & near-death experiences. Typical Borgia soap fodder. :D
Unlike some Masquerades, Raoul is a true HQN hero with his punishing sex & cutting remarks. But Francesca is almost as bad -- she tries to murder Raoul in bed, responds to kindness with bitchiness, & plots insurrection at every chance. Ultimately they're both Good People, but neither is willing to back down until the very end. Cesare's evul mustache-twirling antics don't help, but Lucrezia is determined to see them pushed into a HEA...perhaps because she's being forced to remarry by order of father & brother.
An interesting twist comes from Kalim, Raoul's moorish body servant (not a slave, but a devoted Jeeves type). Francesca is alternately afraid & contemptuous of Kalim until necessity forces them to get along, & a strong friendship is born. Their evolving trust added an extra layer to Francesca's character. :)
4.5 stars & quite enjoyable despite the sloppy formatting (oh paragraph breaks, where art thou?), so I rounded up.
November 19, 2017
That was a hilarious spoof of Cesare Borgia as a moustache-twirling villain but a disappointing portrayal of aristocratic Italian women of the era as vapid, TSTL airheads. Both Lucrezia Borgia and the heroine come off about as smart and attentive as a pair of squirrels, which is really not my understanding of the very learned, cunning, and politically involved famous females of that time.
Sure, there must have been a few airheads in the Italian courts of the Renaissance like in any period, but I was disappointed that the author chose to make both prominent female characters in the story such breathtaking dunces.
The hero also was way too weak, imho, to live up to his reputation as Il Tigre.
Teresa Denys has forever spoiled me with her no holds barred, Machiavellian portrait of the Duke of Cabria and his street smart paramour in her The Silver Devil so that any other book set in that era pales in comparison.
Sure, there must have been a few airheads in the Italian courts of the Renaissance like in any period, but I was disappointed that the author chose to make both prominent female characters in the story such breathtaking dunces.
The hero also was way too weak, imho, to live up to his reputation as Il Tigre.
Teresa Denys has forever spoiled me with her no holds barred, Machiavellian portrait of the Duke of Cabria and his street smart paramour in her The Silver Devil so that any other book set in that era pales in comparison.
November 9, 2016
Quite a good historical, I really felt it was authentic and for such a small book, so much happened.
May 21, 2020
A good story, descriptive historical romance set in Italy at the time of the Borgias giving a sense of the menace and danger of these times.
August 16, 2022
Old school harlequins are such a vibe. Even the the unspectacular ones establish their world and characters so well. Raoul was such a sweetheart under all the brawn and Borgia blood association, but I couldn't stand Francesca's stubborn resistance in the last third. She was determined to be miserable and I was miserable by the end too.
September 27, 2025
2.5 stars
Francesca: A Romance Undermined by Cultural Ignorance
*The Story
The central romance between Francesca and Raoul is undeniably compelling in its emotional complexity. These two characters love each other in an impossible, painful way that captures the reader despite all the story's other flaws. Their connection feels genuine and tortured - you believe in their attraction even as circumstances tear them apart. The author has a real gift for creating that kind of desperate, complicated love that makes you root for the couple against all odds.
However, the romance is frequently exaggerated to melodramatic extremes. Every emotion is heightened, every conflict amplified, every passionate moment overwrought. While this intensity can be captivating, it sometimes crosses the line from passionate into absurd. The author seems unable to trust that genuine emotion can speak for itself without constant dramatic flourishes.
The Borgia court setting provides natural intrigue and political tension, and when the author focuses on the Italian Renaissance elements, the historical backdrop feels authentic and well-researched. The European characters and customs are generally handled with care and accuracy.
* The Author
While not malicious in intent, this author is profoundly irresponsible in her treatment of non-European cultures. Her portrayal of Muslim and Moorish characters in this book is nothing short of scandalous - built entirely on ignorant stereotypes and fictional inventions that bear no resemblance to historical reality.
The problems are systematic:
**Complete Cultural Ignorance**: She creates fake Arabic names (like "Kalim" and "Eliinah") that don't exist in the language, revealing she couldn't be bothered with even basic research into Islamic naming conventions.
**Racist Stereotyping**: Her Moorish characters exist only as exotic props - mysterious fortune tellers in transparent robes, servants who pimp out women from their own culture, and other orientalist fantasies that reduce an entire civilization to Western sexual fantasies.
**Historical Fabrication**: She treats Muslim cultural values with complete disregard, portraying Muslim men as lacking honor or moral standards around protecting women - the exact opposite of actual Islamic cultural values.
**Double Standards**: While she clearly researches European customs and uses authentic Italian names and historically plausible (if fictional) noble titles, she feels free to completely invent details about Islamic culture.
This isn't just lazy writing - it's the spread of ignorance disguised as historical fiction. Readers may believe they're learning about different cultures when they're actually absorbing pure fiction.
**Formulaic Writing**: The author follows an unchanging pattern across her novels: every hero is tall, broad-shouldered, and physically imposing; every hero has a devoted servant whose life he once saved; every hero is both harsh and chivalrous, resolves emotional conflicts through heavy drinking (which he handles supernaturally well), and is naturally excellent at romance. This cookie-cutter approach to character creation shows a lack of imagination and suggests she's more interested in reproducing a successful formula than in creating authentic characters shaped by their specific historical contexts.
**What Works**: To her credit, the author does understand certain universal masculine virtues. Her male protagonists consistently display chivalry, generosity, and genuine courage. These men protect women, honor their commitments, and face danger with dignity - qualities that resonate regardless of cultural background. When she focuses on these core human virtues rather than cultural specifics, her writing shows real insight into what makes a man admirable.
* Final Verdict
This author possesses genuine talent for writing emotionally complex romance and creating admirable male characters. However, her cultural ignorance and historical irresponsibility make her work problematic and potentially harmful.I would prefer that she stuck to writing about the European settings she clearly understood.
This said, readers should approach her work with extreme caution, especially regarding any non-European cultural elements.
Francesca: A Romance Undermined by Cultural Ignorance
*The Story
The central romance between Francesca and Raoul is undeniably compelling in its emotional complexity. These two characters love each other in an impossible, painful way that captures the reader despite all the story's other flaws. Their connection feels genuine and tortured - you believe in their attraction even as circumstances tear them apart. The author has a real gift for creating that kind of desperate, complicated love that makes you root for the couple against all odds.
However, the romance is frequently exaggerated to melodramatic extremes. Every emotion is heightened, every conflict amplified, every passionate moment overwrought. While this intensity can be captivating, it sometimes crosses the line from passionate into absurd. The author seems unable to trust that genuine emotion can speak for itself without constant dramatic flourishes.
The Borgia court setting provides natural intrigue and political tension, and when the author focuses on the Italian Renaissance elements, the historical backdrop feels authentic and well-researched. The European characters and customs are generally handled with care and accuracy.
* The Author
While not malicious in intent, this author is profoundly irresponsible in her treatment of non-European cultures. Her portrayal of Muslim and Moorish characters in this book is nothing short of scandalous - built entirely on ignorant stereotypes and fictional inventions that bear no resemblance to historical reality.
The problems are systematic:
**Complete Cultural Ignorance**: She creates fake Arabic names (like "Kalim" and "Eliinah") that don't exist in the language, revealing she couldn't be bothered with even basic research into Islamic naming conventions.
**Racist Stereotyping**: Her Moorish characters exist only as exotic props - mysterious fortune tellers in transparent robes, servants who pimp out women from their own culture, and other orientalist fantasies that reduce an entire civilization to Western sexual fantasies.
**Historical Fabrication**: She treats Muslim cultural values with complete disregard, portraying Muslim men as lacking honor or moral standards around protecting women - the exact opposite of actual Islamic cultural values.
**Double Standards**: While she clearly researches European customs and uses authentic Italian names and historically plausible (if fictional) noble titles, she feels free to completely invent details about Islamic culture.
This isn't just lazy writing - it's the spread of ignorance disguised as historical fiction. Readers may believe they're learning about different cultures when they're actually absorbing pure fiction.
**Formulaic Writing**: The author follows an unchanging pattern across her novels: every hero is tall, broad-shouldered, and physically imposing; every hero has a devoted servant whose life he once saved; every hero is both harsh and chivalrous, resolves emotional conflicts through heavy drinking (which he handles supernaturally well), and is naturally excellent at romance. This cookie-cutter approach to character creation shows a lack of imagination and suggests she's more interested in reproducing a successful formula than in creating authentic characters shaped by their specific historical contexts.
**What Works**: To her credit, the author does understand certain universal masculine virtues. Her male protagonists consistently display chivalry, generosity, and genuine courage. These men protect women, honor their commitments, and face danger with dignity - qualities that resonate regardless of cultural background. When she focuses on these core human virtues rather than cultural specifics, her writing shows real insight into what makes a man admirable.
* Final Verdict
This author possesses genuine talent for writing emotionally complex romance and creating admirable male characters. However, her cultural ignorance and historical irresponsibility make her work problematic and potentially harmful.I would prefer that she stuck to writing about the European settings she clearly understood.
This said, readers should approach her work with extreme caution, especially regarding any non-European cultural elements.
November 11, 2023
this book was ok. didn't like the hero or heroine at times but very intuging and enjoyable to degree.
it take me only 18 hours to read this book. it kept me on my toes
it take me only 18 hours to read this book. it kept me on my toes
November 18, 2014
Dikasih sama tetangga. Jadul bener, tapi enak bacanya, tak bisa ditaruh sampe selesai :))
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews