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Night Trilogy #1
Night Fire
The classic New York Times bestselling tale of romance and intrigue in Regency England . . .
Dear Reader,
Arielle Leslie is a sixteen-year-old girl forced to wed Paisley Cochrane, a sadistic old man who abuses her. When he dies, she believes herself free. But she's not.
Burke Drummond, Earl of Ravensworth—a young man she'd worshipped three years before—is home from the wars, and he wants her. When he catches her, he's in for an appalling surprise.
Burke and Arielle are two people who have touched me deeply. Together they faced problems and obstacles never spoken of in Regency time.
If you haven't yet read Night Fire, do give it a try. See if you agree with me that Arielle and Burke are two very special people.
Catherine Coulter
Dear Reader,
Arielle Leslie is a sixteen-year-old girl forced to wed Paisley Cochrane, a sadistic old man who abuses her. When he dies, she believes herself free. But she's not.
Burke Drummond, Earl of Ravensworth—a young man she'd worshipped three years before—is home from the wars, and he wants her. When he catches her, he's in for an appalling surprise.
Burke and Arielle are two people who have touched me deeply. Together they faced problems and obstacles never spoken of in Regency time.
If you haven't yet read Night Fire, do give it a try. See if you agree with me that Arielle and Burke are two very special people.
Catherine Coulter
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 1989
665 people are currently reading
1604 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
October 1, 2021
I am still processing this book. It is a wonderful, thought provoking book. Of course, it’s not a serious or momentous book but acquits itself well on sincerity and sensitivity.
Amidst the seriousness, it finds moments for fluff and humour as well.
The prologue evokes disgust and I wasn’t sure I'd be able to continue reading on. I used to completely avoid reading about sexually abused and damaged hs/mcs and even now I‘d rather not read about them. So yes, I’m a wuss who’d rather avoid ugliness and sick bastards doing sick things to helpless innocents. Avoiding is not denying. Of course, there are unimaginable number of women who go through hell and more (have since the dawn of life) and it isn’t as if they don’t deserve a hea or romance but then I’m the coward here.
So I have read few such books but I have to say there were mostly disappointing. The woman either overcomes her fears/sexuality issues too soon or too unbelievably. Then the H either has to just flex his muscles to make the h overcome her fear and disgust or they continue in their self flailing pity mode for too long to make for an engrossing read. The balance is never there. Yes, the H always does provide some tender caring love at some point but it seems more like a box to tick.
Well, this book provides so much more.
So it could have been a perfect 5 but for the absurd ending and the annoying epilogue. Things suddenly went darkish from happy hopeful and uplifting.
Amidst the seriousness, it finds moments for fluff and humour as well.
The prologue evokes disgust and I wasn’t sure I'd be able to continue reading on. I used to completely avoid reading about sexually abused and damaged hs/mcs and even now I‘d rather not read about them. So yes, I’m a wuss who’d rather avoid ugliness and sick bastards doing sick things to helpless innocents. Avoiding is not denying. Of course, there are unimaginable number of women who go through hell and more (have since the dawn of life) and it isn’t as if they don’t deserve a hea or romance but then I’m the coward here.
So I have read few such books but I have to say there were mostly disappointing. The woman either overcomes her fears/sexuality issues too soon or too unbelievably. Then the H either has to just flex his muscles to make the h overcome her fear and disgust or they continue in their self flailing pity mode for too long to make for an engrossing read. The balance is never there. Yes, the H always does provide some tender caring love at some point but it seems more like a box to tick.
Well, this book provides so much more.
So it could have been a perfect 5 but for the absurd ending and the annoying epilogue. Things suddenly went darkish from happy hopeful and uplifting.
January 10, 2021
Serious ick situations. Not the first time I’ve thought that C. Coulter must hate her heroines as this one is wrong through more than one gross and sadistic ringer.
Alpha but nice hero falls for the 15 year old heroine, but realizes she’s too young. He has to go off and fight Napoleon and will be right back in a sec, but it doesn’t turn out that way. If you think 15 is waaaayyyyy too young, it is, but by Regency standards it’s not quite as bad as it is now.
H is back from war and the heroine is now a widow. A damaged, closed down, abused widow of an elderly pyscho-sexual torturer. Coulter happily provides the gross details robbing the book of anything close to a four star forever.
The H is still as smitten with the heroine who could care less about him now andhunts woos the heroine by kidnapping her after he takes on an incredibly short term mistress. Mistress is ditched immediately, but Coulter has to have her in there. Good thing the H kidnaps the h as her stepson, a chip off the abusive block, is waiting for his turn to kidnap her.
The H engages in some Heroine Whispering to gentle the abused heroine while really bad relatives and side creatures run amok with more kidnapping, servant abuse, rape, murder and arson. In addition to the seriously icky physical, sexual and emotional abuse of the heroine, a goose is killed as well.
3 stars only for the H who works at getting his girl back to normal. Great start to 2021, written with irony.
Alpha but nice hero falls for the 15 year old heroine, but realizes she’s too young. He has to go off and fight Napoleon and will be right back in a sec, but it doesn’t turn out that way. If you think 15 is waaaayyyyy too young, it is, but by Regency standards it’s not quite as bad as it is now.
H is back from war and the heroine is now a widow. A damaged, closed down, abused widow of an elderly pyscho-sexual torturer. Coulter happily provides the gross details robbing the book of anything close to a four star forever.
The H is still as smitten with the heroine who could care less about him now and
The H engages in some Heroine Whispering to gentle the abused heroine while really bad relatives and side creatures run amok with more kidnapping, servant abuse, rape, murder and arson. In addition to the seriously icky physical, sexual and emotional abuse of the heroine, a goose is killed as well.
3 stars only for the H who works at getting his girl back to normal. Great start to 2021, written with irony.
September 30, 2018
Burke Drummond is totally besotted upon his first meeting with Arielle Leslie.
He knows nothing can become of them right now, she being way too young and he about to go off to fight in France.
He vows upon his return he will have her for his own!
Ahhh..but departures can change many things, and what we expect to be still the same or waiting upon one's return is not always to be.
While Burke was off fighting, Arielle is sold by her half brother to a cruel and sadistic old man who needs a young beauty to be able for him to "perform" again.
Arielle abused physically and verbally not only by her husband, but who also starts to get his bastard son involved (since his peter-pointer wont work) by sheer luck (or is it?) she is spared anything further by her husbands death.
Free at last?
If only that could be true.
Arielle the young carefree, innocent, naive girl is gone forever, and left in her place is a terrified and scared woman from the inside out.
And this is who our hero Burke returns to find.
He pursues her, courts her, but nothing seems too work.
This is not the Arielle he knew!
Not understanding at all what has changed her and why she rejects him time after time, Burke decides to take matters into his own hands..he must have her!
After he kidnaps her all is to change, not only for them but other characters involved.
What I liked most about this story was the character Burke.
He really is "the story" as I saw it.
In most BR books the hero dosen't give a fig about the heroine and whatever has happened to her, his "needs" are always foremost in the story.
And maybe later the light bulb comes on and "hey..she has feelings too?"
Re-read..still a four star..but it did have it's three star moments this time.
But I leave it at four :)
Burke has his faults mind you, but he was understanding, patient, caring.
He helped and taught Arielle to trust and love again and to heal her soul.
Arielle's character on the other hand I felt was to "child-like" even after all that she had been through her "I'm so innocent" ways got on my nerves.
Again enter our hero Burke who begins to change her for us, and as she see's Burke for who the man he really is the changes begin in her to become a more mature woman.
And as some other things are thrown into this story we see how truly this couple is made for each other.
To sum up the book/story/characters it is not an OTT BR, but it is also not a "fluffy-romance."
I wouldn't have lasted..
A good story that was fast paced and kept me interested..but Burke really saved the story IMO.
I look forward to see what happens to Burke's friends Alec and Knight in their own book.
He knows nothing can become of them right now, she being way too young and he about to go off to fight in France.
He vows upon his return he will have her for his own!
Ahhh..but departures can change many things, and what we expect to be still the same or waiting upon one's return is not always to be.
While Burke was off fighting, Arielle is sold by her half brother to a cruel and sadistic old man who needs a young beauty to be able for him to "perform" again.
Arielle abused physically and verbally not only by her husband, but who also starts to get his bastard son involved (since his peter-pointer wont work) by sheer luck (or is it?) she is spared anything further by her husbands death.
Free at last?
If only that could be true.
Arielle the young carefree, innocent, naive girl is gone forever, and left in her place is a terrified and scared woman from the inside out.
And this is who our hero Burke returns to find.
He pursues her, courts her, but nothing seems too work.
This is not the Arielle he knew!
Not understanding at all what has changed her and why she rejects him time after time, Burke decides to take matters into his own hands..he must have her!
After he kidnaps her all is to change, not only for them but other characters involved.
What I liked most about this story was the character Burke.
He really is "the story" as I saw it.
In most BR books the hero dosen't give a fig about the heroine and whatever has happened to her, his "needs" are always foremost in the story.
And maybe later the light bulb comes on and "hey..she has feelings too?"
Re-read..still a four star..but it did have it's three star moments this time.
But I leave it at four :)
Burke has his faults mind you, but he was understanding, patient, caring.
He helped and taught Arielle to trust and love again and to heal her soul.
Arielle's character on the other hand I felt was to "child-like" even after all that she had been through her "I'm so innocent" ways got on my nerves.
Again enter our hero Burke who begins to change her for us, and as she see's Burke for who the man he really is the changes begin in her to become a more mature woman.
And as some other things are thrown into this story we see how truly this couple is made for each other.
To sum up the book/story/characters it is not an OTT BR, but it is also not a "fluffy-romance."
I wouldn't have lasted..
A good story that was fast paced and kept me interested..but Burke really saved the story IMO.
I look forward to see what happens to Burke's friends Alec and Knight in their own book.
September 30, 2021
MINI-REVIEW:
Night Fire by Catherine Coulter features one of her few truly nice guy heroes.
Arielle and Burke Drummond met years ago when she was 15. Burke instantly fell in love with Arielle but was called to war against the French. In the interim, Arielle was forced into marriage with a cruel, elderly lecher. Burke returns to find Arielle a bitter widow, suffering post-traumatic stress from the abuse she endured. She wants nothing to do with men while Burke’s feelings for Arielle still run strong.
Thus unfolds a tender, emotional love story where Burke patiently woos Arielle, although he is a randy rascal. Her recovery takes time, and Burke is there to give her genuine support and understanding.
Meanwhile, a wicked villain has his eye on Arielle. Will Burke also be there to save her before it’s too late? Read the book and find out!
4 stars
Night Fire by Catherine Coulter features one of her few truly nice guy heroes.
Arielle and Burke Drummond met years ago when she was 15. Burke instantly fell in love with Arielle but was called to war against the French. In the interim, Arielle was forced into marriage with a cruel, elderly lecher. Burke returns to find Arielle a bitter widow, suffering post-traumatic stress from the abuse she endured. She wants nothing to do with men while Burke’s feelings for Arielle still run strong.
Thus unfolds a tender, emotional love story where Burke patiently woos Arielle, although he is a randy rascal. Her recovery takes time, and Burke is there to give her genuine support and understanding.
Meanwhile, a wicked villain has his eye on Arielle. Will Burke also be there to save her before it’s too late? Read the book and find out!
4 stars
June 25, 2024
Idiot heroine goes on a pleasure ride in the woods, unarmed, unescorted, knowing full well there's a psycho serial killer madwoman out there still determined to kill her, after she botched the last attempt on her life. I hate books whose conclusions hinge on an implausibly stupid decision from the hitherto strong, intelligent heroine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2024
2.5 stars rounded up because the last half was better than the first
***possible spoilers***
Night Fire was a little ridiculous and a lot gothic, neither of which work for me. Psychos were so thick on the ground in the first half of this book it reminded me of Whack-a-Mole: as soon as one lunatic got beaten down another would pop up.
Psycho #1: Arielle’s first husband, Paisley. Try not to giggle over his name because this guy is a sicko sexual sadist who imprisons and tortures his 16-year-old bride for two years. Fortunately he dies choking on a fish bone. Or did he?
Psycho #2: Paisley’s illegitimate son Etienne, summoned by his father to impregnate Arielle because he wasn’t up for the job.
Psycho #3: Arielle’s half brother Evan, the SOB who sold his sister to Paisley.
Psycho#4: Dorcas, Arielle’s maid. Bonus psycho plot driver.
Psycho#5: Our hero, Burke, war hero, reluctant earl, and so impressively obsessive and morally sketchy he could easily jump to the 21st century as a Pucking Wrong hockey team player. Obvious conclusion: Arielle is a psycho magnet.
Psycho #6. Arielle, the heroine of the story. Yes, Arielle has been so damaged that she’s unbalanced, but at least she has a legit reason for hiding in her mansion and thinking all men are cruel, conniving sadists. For 60% of the book, she is a one-note refrain of “all men are monsters, all men are monsters.” So she’s also not very bright. And not very consistent in her belief that all men are monsters: she trusts estate managers who are stealing every dime from her, and likes to announce her traveling plans to all and sundry to assist kidnapping attempts. (See not very bright, above.)
Give credit where it’s due: Catherine Coulter has a vivid imagination and the courage to be outrageous. But there’s a fine line between outrageous and crazy and this might’ve crossed it.
***possible spoilers***
Night Fire was a little ridiculous and a lot gothic, neither of which work for me. Psychos were so thick on the ground in the first half of this book it reminded me of Whack-a-Mole: as soon as one lunatic got beaten down another would pop up.
Psycho #1: Arielle’s first husband, Paisley. Try not to giggle over his name because this guy is a sicko sexual sadist who imprisons and tortures his 16-year-old bride for two years. Fortunately he dies choking on a fish bone. Or did he?
Psycho #2: Paisley’s illegitimate son Etienne, summoned by his father to impregnate Arielle because he wasn’t up for the job.
Psycho #3: Arielle’s half brother Evan, the SOB who sold his sister to Paisley.
Psycho#4: Dorcas, Arielle’s maid. Bonus psycho plot driver.
Psycho#5: Our hero, Burke, war hero, reluctant earl, and so impressively obsessive and morally sketchy he could easily jump to the 21st century as a Pucking Wrong hockey team player. Obvious conclusion: Arielle is a psycho magnet.
Psycho #6. Arielle, the heroine of the story. Yes, Arielle has been so damaged that she’s unbalanced, but at least she has a legit reason for hiding in her mansion and thinking all men are cruel, conniving sadists. For 60% of the book, she is a one-note refrain of “all men are monsters, all men are monsters.” So she’s also not very bright. And not very consistent in her belief that all men are monsters: she trusts estate managers who are stealing every dime from her, and likes to announce her traveling plans to all and sundry to assist kidnapping attempts. (See not very bright, above.)
Give credit where it’s due: Catherine Coulter has a vivid imagination and the courage to be outrageous. But there’s a fine line between outrageous and crazy and this might’ve crossed it.
December 20, 2016
All about abuse and rape
Sorry, I just couldn't get into it.
Arielle, the h, has a crush on a neighbor when she is 15. She's too young for marriage, of course, so he goes off to war and she gets married off to an old sadistic pervert a year later.
For two years, he abuses her, however suffers from ED for which he naturally blames her. Her life consists of pleasing him. She talks when he asks, she eats when and what he says, and she obeys his every word.
For intimacy, she gets to spend her days naked in front of him, either doing some fine needlework while he can ogle and occasionally fondle her, or she demurely gets on her knees and pleasures him with her mouth. Anytime she disobeys or he perceives disobedience, she gets beaten and whipped. He also enjoys suspending her naked from the ceiling for hours of entertainment.
Thank goodness she has her nurse maid who treats her injuries.
Her half brother is of no use as he only views her as a means to make money.
So, after a couple years of thus described blissful marriage, her husband's bastard son shows up. This gives the old turd the glorious idea on how to get the h pregnant with an heir after all. So he makes her service the bastard son despite his weak protest against raping a woman. The deal is made and she is told that the very next day her duty to be impregnated will begin.
The next day they have dinner and the old man conveniently drops dead before the plan can be carried out.
Another year later our H is returning home from the battle field. He has high expectations of wedding the h who is now of age. It comes as a shock to find her widowed and not in the least interested in marriage. He also discovers the astonishing fact that she is afraid of him. However, being a true hero and all, he goes ahead with his original plan to wed her. I mean, that was his plan, right? She'll come around eventually since he has her best interest at heart, loves her, desires her body, and is overall a very decent man. Unfortunately she is hell bent on leaving the country just to escape him.
So he does what any honorable, decent, loving man would do in this situation: He kidnaps her. He is very confused that she repeatedly insists that he let her go. Clearly she doesn't know what's good for her.
She holds her prisoner in the middle of nowhere, determined to convince her of his honorable intentions and, of course, to win her over.
She escapes temporarily but he wrestles a riding crop from her and as soon as she sees it she goes into autopilot: She rips off her gown, gets on her knees and services him, which makes him feel a bit violated, poor thing. But finally he starts to understand that she's been abused. So when she tells him again to let her go, he naturally decides that all he has to do is convince her that he himself is not an abuser of women and she'll be in love with him and willingly in his bed in no time!
Well, the next morning she is dying of pneumonia and delirious. He calls a doctor, a priest and a housekeeper and convinces those good people to wed him and poor unconscious Arielle. She may be half dead but nonetheless makes her deceased first husband proud by obediently agreeing to anything a firm and commanding voice requests. That is, the says "I do" when prompted and signs the marriage certificate. Good girl!
The H cares for her until she comes out of unconsciousness a week later. She learns she is legally married and that is that.
It takes him a couple of weeks but finally he convinces her how awesome he is, plus she wants a child and there's only one way to get it. He's a model of patience, only demanding that she strip in front of him, lie with him naked and kiss him goodnight. It's no wonder she promptly falls in love with him - any woman in her situation and with her past would!
So they have sex and she enjoys it. She was still a virgin because remember! her first husband couldn't get it up - but her two minute first time intercourse is the bomb. Only her secretly voyeuristic nurse maid now thinks she's a trollop and hence requires extermination. The H wakes up just in time for the knife to be plunged into his shoulder rather than the heroine's throat.
He recovers and while they have some more sex with her now enjoying the task of servicing him, as it's said, the crazy nurse maid escapes. The h is so worried. No matter that the old hag tried to kill her and succeeded in killing some other girl- it's not the old maid's fault she is confused.
A couple of weeks later she rides off alone and returns to her previous prison just to finally understand that her new happy life is in fact real. She gets hit over the head by the nurse maid, tied up and offered to her first husband's bastard son.
He kindly reminds her that she was given to him and he does the same stuff daddy did. Before he can rape her, he gets stabbed to death by the maid. The H rescues her from the fire set by the maid and they live HEA!
Right???!!! I would give it 5 stars, if it were a satire.
Sorry, I just couldn't get into it.
Arielle, the h, has a crush on a neighbor when she is 15. She's too young for marriage, of course, so he goes off to war and she gets married off to an old sadistic pervert a year later.
For two years, he abuses her, however suffers from ED for which he naturally blames her. Her life consists of pleasing him. She talks when he asks, she eats when and what he says, and she obeys his every word.
For intimacy, she gets to spend her days naked in front of him, either doing some fine needlework while he can ogle and occasionally fondle her, or she demurely gets on her knees and pleasures him with her mouth. Anytime she disobeys or he perceives disobedience, she gets beaten and whipped. He also enjoys suspending her naked from the ceiling for hours of entertainment.
Thank goodness she has her nurse maid who treats her injuries.
Her half brother is of no use as he only views her as a means to make money.
So, after a couple years of thus described blissful marriage, her husband's bastard son shows up. This gives the old turd the glorious idea on how to get the h pregnant with an heir after all. So he makes her service the bastard son despite his weak protest against raping a woman. The deal is made and she is told that the very next day her duty to be impregnated will begin.
The next day they have dinner and the old man conveniently drops dead before the plan can be carried out.
Another year later our H is returning home from the battle field. He has high expectations of wedding the h who is now of age. It comes as a shock to find her widowed and not in the least interested in marriage. He also discovers the astonishing fact that she is afraid of him. However, being a true hero and all, he goes ahead with his original plan to wed her. I mean, that was his plan, right? She'll come around eventually since he has her best interest at heart, loves her, desires her body, and is overall a very decent man. Unfortunately she is hell bent on leaving the country just to escape him.
So he does what any honorable, decent, loving man would do in this situation: He kidnaps her. He is very confused that she repeatedly insists that he let her go. Clearly she doesn't know what's good for her.
She holds her prisoner in the middle of nowhere, determined to convince her of his honorable intentions and, of course, to win her over.
She escapes temporarily but he wrestles a riding crop from her and as soon as she sees it she goes into autopilot: She rips off her gown, gets on her knees and services him, which makes him feel a bit violated, poor thing. But finally he starts to understand that she's been abused. So when she tells him again to let her go, he naturally decides that all he has to do is convince her that he himself is not an abuser of women and she'll be in love with him and willingly in his bed in no time!
Well, the next morning she is dying of pneumonia and delirious. He calls a doctor, a priest and a housekeeper and convinces those good people to wed him and poor unconscious Arielle. She may be half dead but nonetheless makes her deceased first husband proud by obediently agreeing to anything a firm and commanding voice requests. That is, the says "I do" when prompted and signs the marriage certificate. Good girl!
The H cares for her until she comes out of unconsciousness a week later. She learns she is legally married and that is that.
It takes him a couple of weeks but finally he convinces her how awesome he is, plus she wants a child and there's only one way to get it. He's a model of patience, only demanding that she strip in front of him, lie with him naked and kiss him goodnight. It's no wonder she promptly falls in love with him - any woman in her situation and with her past would!
So they have sex and she enjoys it. She was still a virgin because remember! her first husband couldn't get it up - but her two minute first time intercourse is the bomb. Only her secretly voyeuristic nurse maid now thinks she's a trollop and hence requires extermination. The H wakes up just in time for the knife to be plunged into his shoulder rather than the heroine's throat.
He recovers and while they have some more sex with her now enjoying the task of servicing him, as it's said, the crazy nurse maid escapes. The h is so worried. No matter that the old hag tried to kill her and succeeded in killing some other girl- it's not the old maid's fault she is confused.
A couple of weeks later she rides off alone and returns to her previous prison just to finally understand that her new happy life is in fact real. She gets hit over the head by the nurse maid, tied up and offered to her first husband's bastard son.
He kindly reminds her that she was given to him and he does the same stuff daddy did. Before he can rape her, he gets stabbed to death by the maid. The H rescues her from the fire set by the maid and they live HEA!
Right???!!! I would give it 5 stars, if it were a satire.
September 20, 2018
De la saga, es el libro que menos me atrapa y eso es culpa de los protagonistas. Lo que sí me gusta mucho es el tiempo que se tomó Burke con Arielle para que ella lo aceptara. Pobrecita, después de tantas penurias, lo menos que podía era tener un final feliz.
July 18, 2012
3.5 Stars! This book won as the group read of the month in the Bodice Ripper Readers Anonymous Group, and I decided to participate, as it's been over 10 years since I read this book for the first and only time. I remember it not being anywhere near one of my favorites of Coulter's work (who I used to glom back in those days like she was my bff lol). In fact, I remember not being a big fan of this one at all. But, growing up some, and the experience of those in between years may give me a different outlook on this story, so I'm giving it a re-read :)
In fact I did like it better this time around. This time I could understand Arielle a lot better, her reasons for doing things, her attitude. She still frustrated me a little bit, but it was all understandable. I think if it was me though, I would've fought back or died, I wouldn't have just taken it like she did. I'm glad she learned to fight back in the end though, the way she stood up for herself even though she was terrified was pretty good. I'll admit I could've went for more details of her first marriage, but what was given was still enough to form a good picture in my mind of what happened to her. I imagine her poor father had to be rolling in his grave that such terrible things had happened to his beloved daughter. It really is too bad he chose his weirdo stepson as her guardian, a strange decision in my opinion, especially considering the fact that they'd only seen him a few times and weren't well acquainted with him or his personality. I was kind of mad that Evan didn't get more of a punishment for his part in Arielle's misery. He still got to keep his money and the house and lands that had belonged to Arielle's father and his life. I did like how she coshed him in the face, that was a small victory, but he should've been punished more in my opinion. The other villain, Etienne, Arielle's first husband's son, was a little weird. I mean, she was forced to pleasure him one time, and now he's obsessed with her and wants to kidnap her and keep her? He was a little over the top, but he was ok I suppose. But Dorcas! Arielle's maid, this old lady that's been with her forever, her 'snapping' kind of surprised me, I wasn't expecting it, but it was crazy! In a good way. Mad old lady on the loose. Towards the end, I was thinking this book would make an entertaining movie lol. The quiet times in between, when Arielle and Burke are married and he's trying to get her used to him, they weren't bad either. I wasn't sure I'd like the not-quite-alpha hero, but he was alright. I liked how he was kind and patient with her, but was still strong and able to take charge, he wasn't a sensitive, wussy guy. All in all, it was an entertaining read, and I'm glad I re-read it. Coulter's older work is better (in my opinion) than her newer stuff, it's got the action and crazy villains, and some steam to the love scenes, and interesting plots. Sure the dialogue got a little silly and over the top at times, but to me, it's all good. Gives it that dramatic flair or something, lol. I don't know if I'll continue re-reading this series right away, but I might give 'em a go, just out of curiosity as to my opinion on 'em now. 3.5 Stars!
In fact I did like it better this time around. This time I could understand Arielle a lot better, her reasons for doing things, her attitude. She still frustrated me a little bit, but it was all understandable. I think if it was me though, I would've fought back or died, I wouldn't have just taken it like she did. I'm glad she learned to fight back in the end though, the way she stood up for herself even though she was terrified was pretty good. I'll admit I could've went for more details of her first marriage, but what was given was still enough to form a good picture in my mind of what happened to her. I imagine her poor father had to be rolling in his grave that such terrible things had happened to his beloved daughter. It really is too bad he chose his weirdo stepson as her guardian, a strange decision in my opinion, especially considering the fact that they'd only seen him a few times and weren't well acquainted with him or his personality. I was kind of mad that Evan didn't get more of a punishment for his part in Arielle's misery. He still got to keep his money and the house and lands that had belonged to Arielle's father and his life. I did like how she coshed him in the face, that was a small victory, but he should've been punished more in my opinion. The other villain, Etienne, Arielle's first husband's son, was a little weird. I mean, she was forced to pleasure him one time, and now he's obsessed with her and wants to kidnap her and keep her? He was a little over the top, but he was ok I suppose. But Dorcas! Arielle's maid, this old lady that's been with her forever, her 'snapping' kind of surprised me, I wasn't expecting it, but it was crazy! In a good way. Mad old lady on the loose. Towards the end, I was thinking this book would make an entertaining movie lol. The quiet times in between, when Arielle and Burke are married and he's trying to get her used to him, they weren't bad either. I wasn't sure I'd like the not-quite-alpha hero, but he was alright. I liked how he was kind and patient with her, but was still strong and able to take charge, he wasn't a sensitive, wussy guy. All in all, it was an entertaining read, and I'm glad I re-read it. Coulter's older work is better (in my opinion) than her newer stuff, it's got the action and crazy villains, and some steam to the love scenes, and interesting plots. Sure the dialogue got a little silly and over the top at times, but to me, it's all good. Gives it that dramatic flair or something, lol. I don't know if I'll continue re-reading this series right away, but I might give 'em a go, just out of curiosity as to my opinion on 'em now. 3.5 Stars!
October 27, 2018
More like a 2.5
I like HF romances but this one was too dark for me. This is one broken heroine and it just never was fun to read. Coulter is an excellent writer and she creates excellent characters (the good, the bad and the ugly). Unfortunately there was just too much ugliness for me!
I like HF romances but this one was too dark for me. This is one broken heroine and it just never was fun to read. Coulter is an excellent writer and she creates excellent characters (the good, the bad and the ugly). Unfortunately there was just too much ugliness for me!
September 21, 2020
The heroine in this book is initially trapped in an appalling marriage and undergoes horrific abuse at the hands of her first husband. After his death, a neighboring earl returns from war intent on making the heroine (who he met pre-war as a 15-year old) his wife.
I seem to be more tolerant than many of "dubious consent" scenes and the like, but I couldn't handle the hero's (initial) aggressive tactics in trying to win the heroine over. Even after learning about her abusive past, he continues to force her into situations that are clearly traumatic for her (justified as attempts to help her overcome her past). After this initial creepster behavior, he does become a lot more sweet and patient, but it was too little, too late for me.
Separately, I also found aspects of the mystery's resolution to be a little out of left field ().
ETA: I can't believe this was published in 2014 and not in the 1980s!
I seem to be more tolerant than many of "dubious consent" scenes and the like, but I couldn't handle the hero's (initial) aggressive tactics in trying to win the heroine over. Even after learning about her abusive past, he continues to force her into situations that are clearly traumatic for her (justified as attempts to help her overcome her past). After this initial creepster behavior, he does become a lot more sweet and patient, but it was too little, too late for me.
Separately, I also found aspects of the mystery's resolution to be a little out of left field ().
ETA: I can't believe this was published in 2014 and not in the 1980s!
September 24, 2012
He knew now that he could control her. Oh, yes, indeed he could.
@.@ It's on like Donkey Kong.
@.@ It's on like Donkey Kong.
November 2, 2021
The audiobook is currently on sale for $1.99 on https://www.chirpbooks.com/.
The second book in the series, Night Shadow, is currently on sale for $2.99.
The second book in the series, Night Shadow, is currently on sale for $2.99.
May 30, 2022
2.5 stars.
I have to admit my acquaintance with Ms Coulter's books has been minimal. The only book of her that I read was The Countess' and my 15 years old self wasn't very discerning. I remember thinking the book was not bad (I think it was the gothic vibe that I enjoyed), so I thought to get myself reacquainted with her works.
Goodness, but the story is problematic on so many levels (which is expected as this is a bodice-ripper). Firstly, I did not enjoy the writing style. This was the major obstacle for me to enjoy the book. The book is fast-paced, which is good. However, the dialogues tend to be short, abrupt and sound way too American. The head-hopping was just too jarring for me. I saw that Ms Coulter writes thrillers, and I guess this sort of writing would fit that genre, but I don't think it suits historical romance. I usually enjoy bodice ripper due to the writing, so this was a major disappointment.
Secondly, the author's treatment of the heroine, Arielle. Arielle has suffered years of abuse at the hands of her late husband. Upon his death, she became a recluse due to PTSD. The hero, Burke, has been in love with her since three years ago, but he went off to War to fight Boney. He came back to his estate and found Arielle, a widow. Arielle wanted nothing to do with him (or any man for that matter). Instead of wondering or even asking why Arielle was a shell of her former self, he forced his attention on her. When she wanted to leave for America to escape him, he kidnapped her and forced her to marry him (she was not able to consent at that time since she was delirious from fever) and kept pushing her buttons for her to become like her former self. I guess when you push someone hard enough, it's either the person would break or bounce back? I am no psychologist, but I don't think treating her like her late husband would be helpful. Burke came across as selfish because it's always about what he wanted and not what Arielle needed. I came across a review saying that Burke is Ms Coulter nicest hero. Goodness! I shudder to think about her other heroes. I am not opposed to possessive a**holes in my heroes so for me to dislike Burke means that, well, he's just bad.
There were the odd scenes here and there where I couldn't make heads nor tails. I think some scenes were just added to lengthen the book. I was so ready for the book to end after the 70% mark. Another thing is, didn't they have locks back then? People kept barging in on other people because the door was unlocked. Weird.
Would I pick up another book of hers? I just might. I hope that her writing style in her other books isn't as bad as this one. If the next one is a dud, she is simply not my kind of author.
I have to admit my acquaintance with Ms Coulter's books has been minimal. The only book of her that I read was The Countess' and my 15 years old self wasn't very discerning. I remember thinking the book was not bad (I think it was the gothic vibe that I enjoyed), so I thought to get myself reacquainted with her works.
Goodness, but the story is problematic on so many levels (which is expected as this is a bodice-ripper). Firstly, I did not enjoy the writing style. This was the major obstacle for me to enjoy the book. The book is fast-paced, which is good. However, the dialogues tend to be short, abrupt and sound way too American. The head-hopping was just too jarring for me. I saw that Ms Coulter writes thrillers, and I guess this sort of writing would fit that genre, but I don't think it suits historical romance. I usually enjoy bodice ripper due to the writing, so this was a major disappointment.
Secondly, the author's treatment of the heroine, Arielle. Arielle has suffered years of abuse at the hands of her late husband. Upon his death, she became a recluse due to PTSD. The hero, Burke, has been in love with her since three years ago, but he went off to War to fight Boney. He came back to his estate and found Arielle, a widow. Arielle wanted nothing to do with him (or any man for that matter). Instead of wondering or even asking why Arielle was a shell of her former self, he forced his attention on her. When she wanted to leave for America to escape him, he kidnapped her and forced her to marry him (she was not able to consent at that time since she was delirious from fever) and kept pushing her buttons for her to become like her former self. I guess when you push someone hard enough, it's either the person would break or bounce back? I am no psychologist, but I don't think treating her like her late husband would be helpful. Burke came across as selfish because it's always about what he wanted and not what Arielle needed. I came across a review saying that Burke is Ms Coulter nicest hero. Goodness! I shudder to think about her other heroes. I am not opposed to possessive a**holes in my heroes so for me to dislike Burke means that, well, he's just bad.
There were the odd scenes here and there where I couldn't make heads nor tails. I think some scenes were just added to lengthen the book. I was so ready for the book to end after the 70% mark. Another thing is, didn't they have locks back then? People kept barging in on other people because the door was unlocked. Weird.
Would I pick up another book of hers? I just might. I hope that her writing style in her other books isn't as bad as this one. If the next one is a dud, she is simply not my kind of author.
January 29, 2020
Such a dramatic and beautiful love story about a strong man who is a count, ex-soldier Burke and a broken girl Arielle who experienced not so good times in her life (beating, being a slave, a force intimate games). After her father's death she was being married forcibly. She changed so much after her marriage and stopped trusting men. And Burke was the one who loved her all time and wished to heal her. But would it be a hard or easy task for him? And maybe his deeds won't look gentle if some readers can think. Anyway...you have to find out!
This story captivated me from the first pages and I've read it for 2 days. I loved the suspense, the tempo of the narration, and of course, the hot scenes. I adore Catherine Coulter's books and she didn't disappointed me at this time as well.
Cannot wait to check Night Trilogy, #2 written by Catherine Coulter !
This story captivated me from the first pages and I've read it for 2 days. I loved the suspense, the tempo of the narration, and of course, the hot scenes. I adore Catherine Coulter's books and she didn't disappointed me at this time as well.
Cannot wait to check Night Trilogy, #2 written by Catherine Coulter !
December 14, 2021
I liked this book, and I feel horrible about it because this book is messed up. And I don't mean that it has dark subject matter although it does. I'm talking about the fact that Burke despite his "good guy" role in this book, is a giant douchebag. Kidnapping a woman and forcing intimacy on her after the physical and emotion abuse Arielle suffered is not okay. Ever. But of course it works out in this book, and despite all of that I did like the book. However I can't give more than 2 stars, I know this book was written when people didn't really talk about this kind of abuse, but this is not okay. Burke was abusive himself and it pains me to say that because I'm not sure the author or time period would agree with that assessment.
June 12, 2012
First Coulter novel I've read.
I thought it was dry, repetitive, and confusing at the crucial moments. Not sure if I'll even look into the other in the series since this one turned me off so much. I've read other novels involving abusive relationships and healing love and this was just done poorly.
I thought it was dry, repetitive, and confusing at the crucial moments. Not sure if I'll even look into the other in the series since this one turned me off so much. I've read other novels involving abusive relationships and healing love and this was just done poorly.
February 10, 2018
lmao my first dnf. by the third chapter. This was awful and problematic honestly does not deserve my time. read this if you like books that are straight up terrible. how the fuck can anyone give this five stars???
December 5, 2017
3.5 stars.
An oldie from Catherine Coulter. I know Anne Flosnik is a popular narrator for HR but I've always found the way she drags the last syllable of the sentence very annoying.
This is definitely not your normal Regency romance and as I began listening, I realised that it's one that I've read many years ago.
The beginning is very dark and brutal and I'm not sure the hero's methods of getting the heroine out of her submissive self would really work in real life? Despite all that, it's dramatic enough to keep one's attention.
An oldie from Catherine Coulter. I know Anne Flosnik is a popular narrator for HR but I've always found the way she drags the last syllable of the sentence very annoying.
This is definitely not your normal Regency romance and as I began listening, I realised that it's one that I've read many years ago.
The beginning is very dark and brutal and I'm not sure the hero's methods of getting the heroine out of her submissive self would really work in real life? Despite all that, it's dramatic enough to keep one's attention.
February 2, 2020
Such a hot book. Enjoyed. Recommended by @OlgaGoa author.
May 8, 2022
All I wanted was a fun romance novel to curl up with. I got verbal, sexual, and physical abuse, and a douchey love interest instead. Ew. DNF.
October 28, 2019
liked it. didn't love it. apparently you can 'make' someone love you, and no doesn't actually mean no as love as you know best.
it's an older book, republished. so I'll give it a break.
it's an older book, republished. so I'll give it a break.
February 17, 2016
I enjoyed this book.
Burke Drummond, Earl of Ravensworth, meets Arielle Leslie when she is just 16 years old and is smitten. He tells her he loves her, but she is too young at the time, so he goes back to the wars with plans to return and marry her when the war is over.
A few months after Burke leaves, Arielle's beloved father dies and leaves her step-brother (whom she's never met) as her guardian. The step-brother is a real piece of work and hates Arielle. There doesn't appear to be a good reason for this -- he just does. He sells Arielle in marriage to a perverted, sadistic old man who abuses her most awfully.
Finally, the old man dies and Arielle is now a widow. She has no use for men or marriage -- but Burke has other ideas.
There is madness and mayhem aplenty in this book. Plenty of twists and turns and you never know what will happen next.
A good read.
Burke Drummond, Earl of Ravensworth, meets Arielle Leslie when she is just 16 years old and is smitten. He tells her he loves her, but she is too young at the time, so he goes back to the wars with plans to return and marry her when the war is over.
A few months after Burke leaves, Arielle's beloved father dies and leaves her step-brother (whom she's never met) as her guardian. The step-brother is a real piece of work and hates Arielle. There doesn't appear to be a good reason for this -- he just does. He sells Arielle in marriage to a perverted, sadistic old man who abuses her most awfully.
Finally, the old man dies and Arielle is now a widow. She has no use for men or marriage -- but Burke has other ideas.
There is madness and mayhem aplenty in this book. Plenty of twists and turns and you never know what will happen next.
A good read.
January 7, 2020
Too much abuse.
Heroine escapes 1st husband to get another that does not let her heal. He does come around in the end and explains his treatment of her but it does not change she had serious trauma. You do not handle trauma this way, people cannot reason when reacting to trauma. In real life, she would have never healed with the hero’s tactics.
Heroine escapes 1st husband to get another that does not let her heal. He does come around in the end and explains his treatment of her but it does not change she had serious trauma. You do not handle trauma this way, people cannot reason when reacting to trauma. In real life, she would have never healed with the hero’s tactics.
Read
December 2, 2008This is the first book in one of Coulter's trilogies. Set in regency times, it is about a girl who is forced to marry an older man who abuses her. When he dies, she thinks she is free only to find out that other problems arise.
August 31, 2014
This was a very different book. Very graphic for the time in which it is set. It was an interesting way that Burke set about his task. Not sure I agreed with his methods but it worked.
March 24, 2016
I absolutely hate it when a romance starts out with the abuse of the female lead, especially when it is described in cruel detail.
January 5, 2020
This author should stick with theFBI thrillers. This book was horrible
February 21, 2023
This was an awesome old-school romance! Burke Drummond meets Arielle Leslie when he is 24 and she is 15 as they are neighbors. They met at a pond near their properties and they share a lovely (chaste) afternoon. Burke is aware that Arielle is too young, but is willing to wait for her until he returns from the war. She agrees to wait too since she is immediately taken with him.
In the interim, Arielle's father dies and her half-brother marries her off to a sadistic 50 year old neighbor when she is only 16. Paisley is cruel and violent, whipping her so that he can perform - but alas he is never able to do the deed. However, he longs to have an heir. So he actually asks his illegitimate son, Etienne, to step in and do the job! Paisley forces Arielle to orally pleasure Etienne as he watches - or he will beat her old "nanny". He promises Etienne that Arielle will be willing to sleep with him by the next night as he will persuade her. However, Paisley chokes on a chicken bone and dies, thus allowing Arielle to throw Etienne out.
When Burke comes back from the war, he cannot wait to see Arielle and make her his wife. He learns that she is a widow, but he still wants her. However, he is very surprised with the changes in Arielle in the 3 years that he has been away. Arielle is almost frightened of him, though he's not to know she's fearful of any man. He notices she is withdrawn and gone is the young girl filled with happiness.
Arielle refuses Burke's proposal, but he is not to be deterred. He resorts to kidnapping her, which may seem bad, but he has good intentions. He wants to spend time with her without any interference and learn what caused these changes in her. Burke wants to gain Arielle's trust before they will be intimate. At the same time, he shows her that he is a man of his word. He also encourages Arielle to gain confidence.
I enjoyed the craziness of the plot, but also the slow thaw that occurred with Arielle. She had been seriously traumatized and it was impossible for her to be that girl that Burke knew before. But he knew that the happiness still lurked underneath and he sought to draw that out while at the same time acknowledging the fear/pain that she felt.
In the interim, Arielle's father dies and her half-brother marries her off to a sadistic 50 year old neighbor when she is only 16. Paisley is cruel and violent, whipping her so that he can perform - but alas he is never able to do the deed. However, he longs to have an heir. So he actually asks his illegitimate son, Etienne, to step in and do the job! Paisley forces Arielle to orally pleasure Etienne as he watches - or he will beat her old "nanny". He promises Etienne that Arielle will be willing to sleep with him by the next night as he will persuade her. However, Paisley chokes on a chicken bone and dies, thus allowing Arielle to throw Etienne out.
When Burke comes back from the war, he cannot wait to see Arielle and make her his wife. He learns that she is a widow, but he still wants her. However, he is very surprised with the changes in Arielle in the 3 years that he has been away. Arielle is almost frightened of him, though he's not to know she's fearful of any man. He notices she is withdrawn and gone is the young girl filled with happiness.
Arielle refuses Burke's proposal, but he is not to be deterred. He resorts to kidnapping her, which may seem bad, but he has good intentions. He wants to spend time with her without any interference and learn what caused these changes in her. Burke wants to gain Arielle's trust before they will be intimate. At the same time, he shows her that he is a man of his word. He also encourages Arielle to gain confidence.
I enjoyed the craziness of the plot, but also the slow thaw that occurred with Arielle. She had been seriously traumatized and it was impossible for her to be that girl that Burke knew before. But he knew that the happiness still lurked underneath and he sought to draw that out while at the same time acknowledging the fear/pain that she felt.
May 22, 2021
Trigger warnings all over the place on this one.
Two young people fall in love but are separated by war and the cruel decisions of their family.
He survives the war and returns home to find the girl he fell in love with.
She was sold to a sadistic old man who humiliated, tortured, and abused her. The old guy dies but his son by another marriage develops an obsession with her. She's scarred mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Still determined to have the future he's set his mind and heart on the male main character goes to extremes to force the lady into his plans and expectations. His actions are pretty drastic and while the story insists the ends justify the means it's a bit of a struggle to just roll with it.
"Yes," she said, praying he would release her. If she could put distance between them again, she'd be safe, at least for a while. She'd learned to think and live in minutes. She'd thought she'd forgotten that habit during the months after Paisley's death. It came back to her, as naturally as breathing." ch 7
There are a lot of hurts and breakages before the eventual happy ever after.
I did cry a few times.
This book combines two elements that are at the opposite ends of the spectrum of my love/hate for a book. I hate that the cure for her problems was to get into another relationship, I did appreciate that the author didn't just throw in a sex scene to fix everything, they had to actually communicate and trust each other first. I love a book where a woman shows her strength and goodness even when life has just piled up against her until she should be hard and bitter. With those two extremes for me it could have gone either way but I ended up being drawn into the story enough to let the pros outweigh the cons on this one.
The story is just overflowing with high drama and emotional upheaval. The villains are horrific. The good guys go to extremes. It's a page turner for sure.
Violence. Sex. Swearing. Scenes of graphic domestic abuse and lots of discussion of cruelty. Gets pretty dark.
Two young people fall in love but are separated by war and the cruel decisions of their family.
He survives the war and returns home to find the girl he fell in love with.
She was sold to a sadistic old man who humiliated, tortured, and abused her. The old guy dies but his son by another marriage develops an obsession with her. She's scarred mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Still determined to have the future he's set his mind and heart on the male main character goes to extremes to force the lady into his plans and expectations. His actions are pretty drastic and while the story insists the ends justify the means it's a bit of a struggle to just roll with it.
"Yes," she said, praying he would release her. If she could put distance between them again, she'd be safe, at least for a while. She'd learned to think and live in minutes. She'd thought she'd forgotten that habit during the months after Paisley's death. It came back to her, as naturally as breathing." ch 7
There are a lot of hurts and breakages before the eventual happy ever after.
I did cry a few times.
This book combines two elements that are at the opposite ends of the spectrum of my love/hate for a book. I hate that the cure for her problems was to get into another relationship, I did appreciate that the author didn't just throw in a sex scene to fix everything, they had to actually communicate and trust each other first. I love a book where a woman shows her strength and goodness even when life has just piled up against her until she should be hard and bitter. With those two extremes for me it could have gone either way but I ended up being drawn into the story enough to let the pros outweigh the cons on this one.
The story is just overflowing with high drama and emotional upheaval. The villains are horrific. The good guys go to extremes. It's a page turner for sure.
Violence. Sex. Swearing. Scenes of graphic domestic abuse and lots of discussion of cruelty. Gets pretty dark.
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