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O'Malley Saga #3
A Love for All Time
Conn O'Malley is an Irish rogue no woman can resist. Known as the handsomest man at court, he has been seducing and abandoning wenches and royal ladies alike, until he meets the loveliest enchantress his roving eye has ever beheld - heiress Aidan St. Michael. By command of Britain's powerful Queen Elizabeth, Conn and Aidan marry, surrendering to the sweet tyranny of a dawning love that will bond them body and soul in a true union of the heart.
Yet a cruel scheme makes Conn a prisoner of the queen...and his cherished Aidan a harem slave to a rapacious sultan in a distant land. But clever Aidan is determined to use her superb skill in ecstasy's dark arts to free herself - and to be reunited forever with the only man she can ever love....
Yet a cruel scheme makes Conn a prisoner of the queen...and his cherished Aidan a harem slave to a rapacious sultan in a distant land. But clever Aidan is determined to use her superb skill in ecstasy's dark arts to free herself - and to be reunited forever with the only man she can ever love....
528 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
116 people are currently reading
918 people want to read
About the author
Bertrice Small
216 books1,127 followersBertrice Williams was born on December 9, 1937 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, the daughter of Doris S. and David R. Williams, both broadcasters. She studied at Attended Western College for Women and Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School. On October 5, 1963, she married George Sumner Small, a photographer and designer with a History Major at Princeton. They had a son Thomas David. She lived on eastern Long Island for over 30 years. Her greatest passions were her family; Finnegan and Sylvester, the family cats; Nicki, the elderly cockatiel who whistles the NY Mets charge call; her garden; her work, and just life in general.
Published since 1947, Bertrice Small was the author of over 50 romance novels. A New York Times bestselling author, she had also appeared on other best-seller lists including Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and the L.A. Times. She was the recipient of numerous awards including Career Achievement for Historical Romance; Best Historical Romance; Outstanding Historical Romance Series; Career Achievement for Historical Fantasy; a Golden Leaf from the New Jersey Romance Writers chapter of Romance Writers of America; an Author of the Year (2006) and Big Apple Award from the New York City Romance Writers chapter of RWA, and several Reviewers Choice awards from Romantic Times. She had a "Silver Pen" from Affair De Coeur, and an Honorable Mention from The West Coast Review of Books. In 2004 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine for her contributions to the Historical Romance genre. And in 2008 she was named by ROMANTIC TIMES along with her friends Jennifer Blake, Roberta Gellis and Janelle Taylor, a Pioneer of Romance.
Bertrice Small was a member of The Authors Guild, Romance Writers of America, PAN, and PASIC. She was also a member of RWA's Long Island chapter, L.I.R.W., and is its easternmost member on the North Fork of Eastern Long Island.
Published since 1947, Bertrice Small was the author of over 50 romance novels. A New York Times bestselling author, she had also appeared on other best-seller lists including Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and the L.A. Times. She was the recipient of numerous awards including Career Achievement for Historical Romance; Best Historical Romance; Outstanding Historical Romance Series; Career Achievement for Historical Fantasy; a Golden Leaf from the New Jersey Romance Writers chapter of Romance Writers of America; an Author of the Year (2006) and Big Apple Award from the New York City Romance Writers chapter of RWA, and several Reviewers Choice awards from Romantic Times. She had a "Silver Pen" from Affair De Coeur, and an Honorable Mention from The West Coast Review of Books. In 2004 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine for her contributions to the Historical Romance genre. And in 2008 she was named by ROMANTIC TIMES along with her friends Jennifer Blake, Roberta Gellis and Janelle Taylor, a Pioneer of Romance.
Bertrice Small was a member of The Authors Guild, Romance Writers of America, PAN, and PASIC. She was also a member of RWA's Long Island chapter, L.I.R.W., and is its easternmost member on the North Fork of Eastern Long Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
August 6, 2021
Another perhaps excellent and exhausting entry from Bertrice Small.
I have to admit again, this author, either you love her or detest her. I love the history lessons entwined in this story. I also didn't realize this book was published later in the series. No wonder, it was more 'meandering' than usual.
I have to admit again, this author, either you love her or detest her. I love the history lessons entwined in this story. I also didn't realize this book was published later in the series. No wonder, it was more 'meandering' than usual.
June 30, 2017
Doesn't matter if it's chock full of tropes, overly dramatic language and dialogue, and all sorts of WTFery...Small does it the best.
April 20, 2021
What makes this book a classic is the fact that Aidan and Conn are both seduced by the luxuries and pleasures of total sexual fulfillment in the Sultan's palace and at the hands of others . . . yet they both remain totally true to one another!
April 15, 2007
This is a book about Skye O'Malley's youngest brother, Conn, who becomes a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. While at court he meets one of the Queen's maids, Aiden, who is also a ward of the great Queen. When Conn gets in trouble, the Queen arranges for him to marry Aiden who is an heiress of an estate near Conn's beloved sister, Skye. This book follows Conn and Aiden's courtship and marriage and troubles along the way. Great book for fans of Skye O'Malley and Bertrice Small.
May 2, 2019
Really got sucked into this book, the first day I flew through 400 pages (only good thing about rainy days) its been a while since I have read a good super thick saga of a BR romance! If you have triggers you may not want to read this or if you only like super sweet romance books, for me I cut my teeth on books like this !!!
Read
March 9, 2015I'm putting this on my read shelves because I KNOW I read it, but it was a long time ago (probably around when it was first published, lol). No rating because although I probably loved it back then, if I did a current reread, I'm not sure what I'd think.
August 7, 2012
Beatrice Small is one of my favorite authors of Romance. She knows how to tell a story to make you laugh and cry all a tthe same time. She makes you fall in love with the heroes and heroines and absolutely loath the villans. She is truely amazing and you would be entranced to read any one of her books. I know I am! I can't wait for her new ones to come out!
March 23, 2013
I was about 10 or so when I first read this book. I was captivated, I never moved until I was done reading, my legs fell asleep. This was the first of her books that I read, after that, the only book that could measure up to this one was The Kadin. The love between Aidan and Conn truly was a love for all time.
December 15, 2024
3,5 - Se siete arrivate al terzo volume di questa saga (peraltro di grande successo ai tempi della sua uscita, tra il 2000 e il 2002) saprete che, dopo due volumi dedicati in modo esteso a Skye O’ Malley e a i suoi numerosi amori (alcuni sfociati in nozze e altri rimasti allo stato di flirt esotici), non era fattibile espandere ulteriormente altre fasi della sua vita.
Ecco quindi che la Small è passata al fratello minore di Skye, quel Conn già apparso qua e là, dedicandogli un ulteriore “mattoncino” di libro, dato che stiamo parlando di oltre 500 pagine, dense di fatti e colpi di scena.
Conn non è, ovviamente, inferiore alla sorella quanto a temperamento e ambizione; stesso carattere attaccabrighe e spregiudicato, stesse origini irlandesi, stessa tendenza a prendere fuoco alla corte di Elisabetta I d’Inghilterra, non proprio un ambiente facile in cui muoversi: dopo aver sedotto e abbandonato numerose dame, il nostro si trova costretto a sposare un’ereditiera, Aidan, per soddisfare l’ennesimo intrigo della Regina. Potevano, i due, starsene tranquilli a godersi le nozze nella loro tenuta?
Non sarebbe nello stile della Small, che infatti li separa e li fa viaggiare dalla Manica al Mediterraneo, tra nemici, pirati e – neanche chiederselo – il tradizionale periodo di prigionia in un harem, dove, tra lusinghe femminili e maschili, con aggiunta di lotte di potere degli stessi membri della famiglia del Sultano, è arduo mantenere la speranza nel trionfo del vero amore.
Tuttavia, il pregio di questi romanzoni è proprio l’alternanza tra sviluppi drammatici, a furia di arrembaggi, naufragi e notti in prigioni gelide, e passioni viscerali, stile bianco/nero e senza possibili sfumature di grigio in mezzo. Al terzo volume, ho imparato che questa serie va presa così, un’immersione in sentimenti totali verso un sicuro (per gli O’ Malley) lieto fine.
Ecco quindi che la Small è passata al fratello minore di Skye, quel Conn già apparso qua e là, dedicandogli un ulteriore “mattoncino” di libro, dato che stiamo parlando di oltre 500 pagine, dense di fatti e colpi di scena.
Conn non è, ovviamente, inferiore alla sorella quanto a temperamento e ambizione; stesso carattere attaccabrighe e spregiudicato, stesse origini irlandesi, stessa tendenza a prendere fuoco alla corte di Elisabetta I d’Inghilterra, non proprio un ambiente facile in cui muoversi: dopo aver sedotto e abbandonato numerose dame, il nostro si trova costretto a sposare un’ereditiera, Aidan, per soddisfare l’ennesimo intrigo della Regina. Potevano, i due, starsene tranquilli a godersi le nozze nella loro tenuta?
Non sarebbe nello stile della Small, che infatti li separa e li fa viaggiare dalla Manica al Mediterraneo, tra nemici, pirati e – neanche chiederselo – il tradizionale periodo di prigionia in un harem, dove, tra lusinghe femminili e maschili, con aggiunta di lotte di potere degli stessi membri della famiglia del Sultano, è arduo mantenere la speranza nel trionfo del vero amore.
Tuttavia, il pregio di questi romanzoni è proprio l’alternanza tra sviluppi drammatici, a furia di arrembaggi, naufragi e notti in prigioni gelide, e passioni viscerali, stile bianco/nero e senza possibili sfumature di grigio in mezzo. Al terzo volume, ho imparato che questa serie va presa così, un’immersione in sentimenti totali verso un sicuro (per gli O’ Malley) lieto fine.
October 23, 2023
4.5 stars
June 13, 2025
4.5 stars
Another banger from Bertrice Small!
Beginning in 1577, this is the story of Skye O'Malley's youngest brother, playboy Conn, and his bride, a sheltered country heiress named Aidan St. Michael. Interestingly (to me anyway), although this book is third in the Skye O'Malley series chronologically, it actually came out 2 years after the fourth book in the series. I always thought having Conn as the lead in this story was kind of an odd choice because he is just a random sibling of Skye's, but actually according to Bertrice Small she wrote this book in response to her readers who were apparently clamoring for more Conn and Aidan after reading about them in book 4, This Heart of Mine.
This book was basically more of the same Skye O'Malley formula, but the formula is still working for me thus far and so I thought this was another fun entry in the series. I found this story to be not quite as episodic and meandering as the two previous books. The vast majority of this story takes place in Istanbul, which was a setting I enjoyed. I think that the story being mostly rooted to one location allowed the characters to be more fleshed out than the characters in previous books. For example, this is the first book in the series where I've felt that the real life historical figures included (in this case, Murad III, Nurbanu Sultan, and Safiye Sultan) were actually incorporated well and added to the story rather than detracted from it. I also thought that the final climax sequence of this book was particularly exciting and featured an extremely satisfying villain death.
I was curious how Bertrice Small would possibly follow up a heroine like Skye O'Malley. How can you attempt to one-up a heroine who is canonically the most perfect woman on earth? The answer is, you don't. Nobody one-ups Skye O'Malley. Poor Aidan is plain of face with a mousy complexion, and must settle for only having magnificent red hair and an absolutely banging body. In all seriousness, I really liked Aidan as a heroine. I found her to be surprisingly relatable and was impressed by her character arc. Conn was neither here nor there for me. I preferred Aidan's secondary love interest, Javid Khan, over Conn. I've noticed in these books that the main heroes are usually kind of bland, and Bertrice Small seems to take more risks with the secondary love interests, so those characters usually end up being more complex and interesting.
My only real criticism is that this book lacked the earnestness and sincerity that I felt was present in All the Sweet Tomorrows, and was a return to the "sex adventure" format of Skye O'Malley. There was definitely a lot of weird sex stuff in this one which I did not enjoy. But overall I get a kick out of Bertrice Small's writing, and am looking forward to reading more in the series.
Another banger from Bertrice Small!
Beginning in 1577, this is the story of Skye O'Malley's youngest brother, playboy Conn, and his bride, a sheltered country heiress named Aidan St. Michael. Interestingly (to me anyway), although this book is third in the Skye O'Malley series chronologically, it actually came out 2 years after the fourth book in the series. I always thought having Conn as the lead in this story was kind of an odd choice because he is just a random sibling of Skye's, but actually according to Bertrice Small she wrote this book in response to her readers who were apparently clamoring for more Conn and Aidan after reading about them in book 4, This Heart of Mine.
This book was basically more of the same Skye O'Malley formula, but the formula is still working for me thus far and so I thought this was another fun entry in the series. I found this story to be not quite as episodic and meandering as the two previous books. The vast majority of this story takes place in Istanbul, which was a setting I enjoyed. I think that the story being mostly rooted to one location allowed the characters to be more fleshed out than the characters in previous books. For example, this is the first book in the series where I've felt that the real life historical figures included (in this case, Murad III, Nurbanu Sultan, and Safiye Sultan) were actually incorporated well and added to the story rather than detracted from it. I also thought that the final climax sequence of this book was particularly exciting and featured an extremely satisfying villain death.
I was curious how Bertrice Small would possibly follow up a heroine like Skye O'Malley. How can you attempt to one-up a heroine who is canonically the most perfect woman on earth? The answer is, you don't. Nobody one-ups Skye O'Malley. Poor Aidan is plain of face with a mousy complexion, and must settle for only having magnificent red hair and an absolutely banging body. In all seriousness, I really liked Aidan as a heroine. I found her to be surprisingly relatable and was impressed by her character arc. Conn was neither here nor there for me. I preferred Aidan's secondary love interest, Javid Khan, over Conn. I've noticed in these books that the main heroes are usually kind of bland, and Bertrice Small seems to take more risks with the secondary love interests, so those characters usually end up being more complex and interesting.
My only real criticism is that this book lacked the earnestness and sincerity that I felt was present in All the Sweet Tomorrows, and was a return to the "sex adventure" format of Skye O'Malley. There was definitely a lot of weird sex stuff in this one which I did not enjoy. But overall I get a kick out of Bertrice Small's writing, and am looking forward to reading more in the series.
July 27, 2013
We continue with the O'Malley saga learning Conn's story - the handsome youngest brother. This is another bodice ripper with a lot of action and adventure - though not near the level of the first two books of Skye's story. I think I would suggest that you don't read this series straight through. It seems that everyone gets sold into slavery at some point, so I can see that getting repetitive if you are reading one ok after another. Queen Bess was not such a villain in this story, so she was slightly redeemed after her treatment of Skye in the previous books. I hope the following bikes in the series move away from the slavery and harem angle... But I have a feeling I will be disappointed in that regard. Small seems to like working harems into her stories.
March 20, 2010
Awesome!!!
January 12, 2011
I have read almost all of her books. I've enjoyed reading every one of them!
July 10, 2011
Yet another great historical romance by Bertrice Small. I do wish that Conn would have played a bigger role in the story!
July 23, 2012
There are six books in the Skye O'Malley series; too many words, too much gratuitous unimaginative sex, too little story, getting progressively worse through the series.
April 8, 2017
No, it's not an April Fool's joke that I reread this book. Guilty pleasure. Spring Break. There may be more Small titles coming, sigh (April 2013); re-read again March 2017 (even BEFORE Spring Break)
March 1, 2015
boring...her formula has worn thin....all Bertrice Small books are the same; change name/description of characters, otherwise she doesn't have to rewrite much.
June 22, 2012
Fairly boring in comparison with the other books in this series.
August 19, 2012
I can't get enough of the O'Malleys!
June 8, 2024
Historical and wonderful read😊
I very much enjoyed Beatrice has done much studying in our history and shares what she has learned while in the process of teaching her readers. Your stories while romantic also share of the hardships of life during this time period. I continue to be an avid reader of yours and I thank you 😊
I very much enjoyed Beatrice has done much studying in our history and shares what she has learned while in the process of teaching her readers. Your stories while romantic also share of the hardships of life during this time period. I continue to be an avid reader of yours and I thank you 😊
July 27, 2017
A wonderful love story. Keeps you surprised!
I didn't dead the other O'Malley books. I really enjoyed this book. Has many surprises in it, enough to keep your interest. Highly recommended for any romantic!
I didn't dead the other O'Malley books. I really enjoyed this book. Has many surprises in it, enough to keep your interest. Highly recommended for any romantic!
March 27, 2018
Skye O'Malley's brother Conn. A rogue who needs a good woman
August 1, 2018
Ms. Small always delivers.
Love these books. I have been reading and rereading theme for better than twenty five years. They are like family.
Love these books. I have been reading and rereading theme for better than twenty five years. They are like family.
May 18, 2019
.
Love the book, great twists and turns. Great read. I can't think of anything else to say. Great Great Great!!
Love the book, great twists and turns. Great read. I can't think of anything else to say. Great Great Great!!
May 25, 2019
It was a wonderful story with a truly strong willed heroine who underwent a lot of trials. I liked how the hero Conn was steadfast in his love. This book was such a treat.
May 31, 2020
Great
Great job with this one was just thinking about getting together for dinner tomorrow and really reading whole time for that reason alone.
Great job with this one was just thinking about getting together for dinner tomorrow and really reading whole time for that reason alone.
December 24, 2021
Adian St Michael is wealthy heiress with a titile. In Elizabeth I time only males received the title. Marries Conn O'Malley. She's kidnapped and sold to Algiers. Good read. Continuing O'Malley saga
July 28, 2023
The only book of the series not available on Audible, I found a hardcover to read. Parts were hard, but overall I loved it and am glad to continue on with Skye’s Legacy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews