Prisoner of Desire

Louisiana History #4

by Jennifer Blake

Anya took Ravel as prisoner to save his life. But in a small dark room on her lush Louisiana plantation, it was Anya who became Ravel's prisoner of desire. As she struggled to contain her emotions, and Ravel strove to win her love, they both faced the challenge of staying alive....

AS MARDI GRAS FLARED IN THE GLITTERING STREETS OF NEW ORLEANS, ECSTASYBLAZED IN A SMALL, STARK ROOM...To prevent the duel she was sure would kill her sister's fiance, AnyaHamilton took as her prisoner the magnificently handsome Ravel Duralde. Butin a small, stark room on her lush Louisiana plantation, it was Anya whobecame Ravel's prisoner of desire. For in that little room, Ravel awakenedall of Anya's longings--and satisfied them. The protests running through hermind were no match for the heat coursing through her veins, and Anyareturned again and again to Ravel's chamber to love and be loved, toexperience pleasures' she'd never dreamed possible. As Anya struggled tocontrol her raging emotions, and Ravel strove to win her love, they bothfaced the challenge of staying alive to enjoy again the paradise in eachother's arms....

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Erotic Romance, Westerns

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

A pseudonym used by Patricia Maxwell.

Jennifer Blake has been called a “pioneer of the romance genre”, and an “icon of the romance industry.” A New York Times and international best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of the RWA Hall of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Rita. She holds numerous other honors, including two “Maggies”, two Holt Medallions, multiple Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine, and the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence. She has written over 60 books with translations in 20 languages and more than 30 million copies in print worldwide.

Jennifer and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style retreat in North Louisiana where they often entertain family and friends. Always a gardener, she spends much of her time encouraging her garden to bloom with her favorite daylilies and antique roses. She also enjoys walking her two dogs, Buffy and Lucky, and indulging in needlework, painting, and travel.

Reviews

[Pepa · Rating 3 out of 5]

reseña completa: http://masromance.blogspot.com.es/201...

2.5-3... indecisa me hayo
Pues no ha estado tan mal, supongo que iba con tanto miedo que al final me ha gustado y todo.
Eso sí, con muy grandes peros
La novela es de las de antaño y se nota muchísimo. Premia mucho más las aventuras y los giros que el romance (si os soy sincera todavía sigo intentando adivinar qué le ha enamorado a ella de él) porque lo único que hacen es darle al mambo.... lo de él me lo venía venir.. aunque con una mayor explicación hubiera sido genial
Y el romance y la forma en la que parte NO me ha gustado.... sigo pensando que ... pero no lo diré, porque sé que soy muy tiquismiquis con esto y no debo. Pero vamos, que los motivos con los que arranca, cuanto menos me parecen tóxicos y nada recomendables.
Por eso el romance NO me ha gustado, por mucho que la autora me venda al protagonista como un genial hombre, que sí, lo parece, y ella como una protagonista totalmente alocada que me deja cada tres por dos de piedra porque vamos... lo que le falta a esta chica son dos dedos de frente, eso no es valentía es cabeza loca, así de claro... que no sé en qué piensa cada vez que empieza a seguir a alguien... suerte que tiene que no se la cargan a la primera
Lo de las escenas rimbombantes con ese lenguaje para pasar censura es tema aparte jajaja. Me han arrancado más de una carcajada... uf esto lo ley yo hace treinta años y me encanta !!!!!
La trama me ha gustado, creo que es lo mejor, ese misterio que casi se sabe pero del que no se tiene constancia, quizás me ha faltado mayor profundidad de la situación política del momento pero en general eso es lo que más me ha hecho disfrutar de la lectura.
Como sigo, esta novela cuando la publicaron me hubiera gustado muchísimo más, ahora me ha parecido una lectura entretenida con algunos toques machistas, pero en general mucho mejor de lo que me esperaba

[Floripiquita · Rating 4 out of 5]

¿A que no os lo podéis creer? Pues si, esa puntuación le doy a un libro con un argumento que me ha gustado mucho, muy bien ambientado y documentado, con dos grandes protagonistas y una ardiente historia de amor. La escena del cementerio es maravillosa...

Y todo eso, a pesar del lenguaje rimbombante y rebuscado que utiliza la autora para describir los encuentros amorosos de los protagonistas. Lenguaje que a otras compañeras del #RetoRita2 #RitaBlake les ha horrorizado y a mí me ha conquistado por lo creativo. Desde ya hay que olvidarse de hacer el amor o foll..., hay que apostar por las cabalgatas lunares y los consuelos a medianoche.

[Alejandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Después de acabarlo solo puedo sentir una inmensa liberación porque este libro ha sido un aburrimiento supremo, derrocha soserío en cada página.
No me ha enganchado absolutamente nada, cero feeling entre los protas, nada de tensión sexual y mucho menos amor.

[Sonia De la rosa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ahora entiendo porque no recordaba haber leído el libro, ha sido una lectura de lo más aburrida. En la segunda parte mejoró algo con la subtrama de misterio, al menos consiguió engancharme un poco.
Es un libro romántico porque lo dice la editorial, porque yo el amor no lo he visto por ningún lado. Rafael y Anya son la pareja con menos química de la historia de la romántica.
Que tenga cuatro libros de esta autora sólo se puede entender por lo poco que se publicaba en este género hace 20 años.
#RitaBlake

[Jane Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

No me ha disgustado pero me ha parecido un tanto simplona. El principio del libro no auguraba nada bueno pero poco a poco ha ido mejorando.
La historia de amor no me ha convencido demasiado. Hay escasa tensión sexual entre ellos y la que se intuye se resuelve bastante rápido, con descripciones de lo más WTF (ellos “jadeantes de esfuerzo, se movieron juntos en el más antiguo de los exorcismos, la más salvaje de las cabalgatas lunares, el mejor consuelo de medianoche. (…) aceleraron maravillosamente la turbulencia de la vida”), propias de la época, imagino, y bastante chocantes para un lector actual, más acostumbrado quizá a descripciones más “realistas”.
Eso si, la parte de misterio que subyace me ha mantenido un poco más intrigada. También es destacable la ambientación, aunque me ha faltado algo más de desarrollo de los personajes.
En definitiva, una lectura entretenida que podría haber dado más de si.

[Misfit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Update 12/7/12. Picked this up as a reread on my kindle. Same thoughts on storyline, etc. as first read, but I did notice a few small typos in the new kindle edition. Lots of missing apostrophes (sp?). Not terribly distracting, but a bit distracting when they did pop up.

Her fiancé killed in a duel, Anya Hamilton is content wallowing in her grief and running the family's plantation. The man who killed Jean, Ravel Duralde, returns to New Orleans and promptly gets challenged to a duel when he *accosts* Anya at a masked ball. Desperate to prevent it so that her sister's intended isn't killed as well, Anya cooks up a hair-brained scheme to kidnap Ravel and hold him captive at the family plantation. Being a romance novel, you just know sparks are a-gonna start flying between the two, but things get complicated when it appears that someone wants one of them dead - or is the mysterious "boss" after both of them?

As much as I enjoyed Blake's Love's Wild Desire, this one didn't work as well for me. The whole prisoner bit was a tad bit hard to swallow, as was Anya's penchant for running out into the dark streets to strange houses inhabited by bad people, only for Ravel to rescue her so they can have hot sex. Wash, rinse, repeat. :(

I liked the New Orleans setting, and I enjoyed the way Blake uses her knowledge of the city and its culture to immerse the reader into her world. Anya is definitely not a TSTL heroine, but you will want to strangle her at the way she keeps walking into one dangerous situation after another. One big change between this one written in the 1980's and LWD written in the 1970's is the sex is a lot more prevalent and in your face than the earlier book. While still tame compared to what I've seen in some of today's romances this is not the first time I've noticed this pattern with other authors who wrote in both those decades. This is a quick, easy read and should do nicely when one is in the mood for some brain candy or a beach read.

[Cassandra Dexter Colby · Rating 4 out of 5]

La review en nuestro blog: http://alacamaconunlibro.blogspot.com...

[Alicia Maybach · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like Prisoner of Desire, by Jennifer Blake. In fact I considered giving it more stars simply for the fact it was well written. But in the end I decided I just couldn't do it.

While the writing was very good, and obvious the author put great time into development, it read like a history book, not a historical romance novel. It did not in my opinion add to the development of the characters. If anything it drew the readers interest away.

I will just venture a guess that more then half of what I read was the history of various events only loosely related to the characters at best.
While I can understand being passionate about the history surrounding the romance's setting. I don't think it should grossly overshadow the point until your lost.
Half the time I couldn't even recall where the author had left off with Anya or Ravel Duralde. Where they were, what they were doing. The back story and history lessons filled pages upon pages before the characters actually could get back to the swing of things. It drove me batty. I wanted to put my kindle down again, and again and just give up in frustration.

Still I trudged through the book only because I did enjoy the character of Anya, and her fresh take on "solving problems". The behavior of kidnapping when carried out by the heroine is an attention grabber given the time-frame of this work. Even still, it was difficult to reach the finish, and what finally developed into what I felt was a lukewarm ending.

[Debbie "Buried in Her TBR Pile"]

Louisiana History Collection - Part 2 (Louisiana History Boxed Sets)

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, but not the best. We have another R hero and A heroine (read other blurbs to see how often Blake used those initials). This book gave me mixed feelings and I'll attempt to explain why.
First, Anya herself. I intensely dislike girl power and boss babes, something Blake rarely does. But Anya rides astride, manages a plantation, reads up on politics. The saving grace for me was that her lifestyle was born as a way for her manage her grief after the senseless death of her fiancee. It also helped that other characters kept pointing out that her habits made her less than a lady. Other authors do this as a way for the heroine to be a “pick me girl” as she crushingly sneers at those who suggest she embroider rather than read a periodical. Anya has very little to answer for herself and kind of acknowledges over time that she sought the title of eccentric to mask the turmoil within.
Another aspect I didn't like was Anya’s pigheadedness. She keeps following people, spying on them, searching for information she has no business searching for, and CONSTANTLY getting knocked around and caught for it. Girl, learn your limits! Blake also had her be, what seemed to me, deliberately blind to keep misinterpreting Ravel’s words. I mean the man was basically shouting his love from the rooftops and somehow she missed ALL the signals?
Thirdly, the history that is always incorporated into the story. This tends to be one of my favorite parts of the Blake books but I wasn't satisfied with this one. I thought the Vigilence Committee would have a waaay bigger roll to play in the story. I'm actually confused as to why they were even a focus. This story seemed more romance oriented than history oriented. I even thought the committee would include Madame Rosa in a way.
Lastly, the dueling motif. It almost seemed like Blake was attempting to have a debate with the readers as she kept harping on WHY duels were necessary. Anya doubts their efficacy and honestly I do too. A small group of men who were well-off enough to receive arms training would keep society and honor in line because of the threat of being called out? Sadly, I don't believe that was the reality. There were plenty of dishonorable upper class men and plenty of honorable middle class men. The dishonest and cruel will always try to do what they want, regardless of who is policing.
What was good in the story? Ravel. He was such an emotive hero who was vulnerable enough to make all his Superman skills believable. I do wish we had a prologue or flashback to show us what his feelings for Anya were like before Jean’s death.
I did like the absolutely heathen description of Mardi Gras ( how did Christians sneak that one in?) and the description of Louisiana food and clothes.
Didn't much care for the quick way Celestine switched affection, didn't seem believable for her. Or maybe the author didn't seem to know if she wanted that character to be a petulant child or discerning woman. I also liked the look at wasted love with the relationship between Gaspard and Madame Rosa.
All in all, not bad but by no means Blake’s best.

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 3 out of 5]

😑 noiosetto
Ogni tanto con gli Oro scopro qualche autrice del passato, ma non sempre mi conquista: è il caso di Jennifer Blake, nota e prolifica, di cui non avevo gradito neppure "Una freccia dritto al cuore" della medesima serie.
Quest'opera è uscita nel lontano 1986 e, in effetti, ne ho ricavato l'impressione di un romanzo che risente molto dei decenni trascorsi nel frattempo.

Di apprezzabile, c'è certamente l'ambientazione in una New Orleans del 1860, con la buona società creola che si contrappone con fierezza e diffidenza ai rozzi "nuovi ricchi" inglesi.
Ci sono alcune belle scene dedicate ai balli, c'è la vita nella piantagione, c'è l'afa umida della Louisiana e questa natura sempre un po' selvaggia e cupa (non a caso ci sono pacchi di romanzi romance o paranormal che prendono vita tra le paludi e l'antico quartiere francese), c'è il celebre carnevale.

Piuttosto, è la trama in sé che si fa fatica a digerire.
La giovane Anya ha perduto il suo fidanzato a causa di un duello, ucciso da uno spadaccino temibile, tale Ravel Duralde. Non si è ancora ripresa dal lutto che il medesimo spadaccino sfida anche il fidanzato di sua sorella, gettandole nello sconforto.
Che fare? Anya chiede l'aiuto di due ex-schiavi per rapire Ravel e tenerlo prigioniero nella piantagione di famiglia.
Il piano è proprio questo: tenerlo legato fino a fargli cambiare idea ed evitare il duello (?).
Ma la sindrome di Stoccolma è in agguato: il lettore comincia a non capire perché Anya debba continuamente importunare il prigioniero con qualsiasi scusa, attirata come una calamita e perdendosi presto in discorsi vacui sotto impulso ormonale.
Così come si stenta a credere che, nel momento in cui si palesa una minaccia per i due (c'è un terzo soggetto che vuole colpire nell'ombra), Anya debba per forza prendere in mano la situazione, infilandosi in una serie ininterrotta di pericoli e rischi (con il Duralde che deve accorrere trafelato a salvarla).

Mah. Lei mi pare una classica eroina del tipo "ci è o ci fa?".
Per intenderci, una che parla, si agita, ma è di un'ingenuità sconfortante e si caccia in trappola nonostante ci sia appesa sopra un'enorme X luminosa.
Al contempo, non mi è piaciuta la sua propensione ad abbandonarsi all'ardore non appena l'eroe maschile appare all'orizzonte, per di più con il nemico a due passi. Va bene la passione, ma con il giusto contesto.
Libro discreto per l'atmosfera, sufficiente per la sostanza.

[Jennifer Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok book. I read it a while back when I first bought it and re-read recently having no memory of the book from the first time I read it. I am starting to feel like as years go by my taste in types of books seem to change. I am not as excited about romance novels as I once was. I want more substance. There was some here,but they lost me towards the last couple of chapters. The ending wasn't that exciting.It was interesting. There was a few typos making me wonder who proofread this book.The first time I read the book I was into it,but the second time I have a slightly different reaction.I think historical fiction takes me longer to read.

[Laavic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pues el libro comenzó gustándome, me enganchó y luego como se ha ido desinflando un poco... La prota tampoco es que me haya enamorado xD tenía ahí un punto que... que... no conecta conmigo, tiene algunos comportamientos que me dejaron pensando "En serio, tía, en serio?" ajajaja
Parte debe ser el año en que se escribió y la manera de narrar, que de verdad que no es mi estilo xD
Es ameno y para pasar la tarde, pues oye, no lo he detestado!
Que me lo voy a releer? No creo, no... pero bueno, peores cosas he leído...
#RetoRita2.0 #RitaBlake

[Avalle Rei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es una historia entretenida, por momentos no tiene ni pies ni cabeza. Mejora a partir del suceso de la granja. Pero el comportamiento de Anya es desquiciante, no da nunca el brazo a torcer y complica todas las situaciones.
En definitiva, que es entretenida y se deja leer, sobretodo a partir de la segunda mitad, y hacia el final se vuelve más emocionante, pero es muy predecible. Prácticamente desde el principio sabes de quien desconfiar y se intuye el motivo.
Hay autoras de la época mejores.

[TACORA MCCLUNEY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anya and Ravel

This was a good book but Anya was getting on my nerves cause she acted like she couldn't see no good in Ravel. She acted as if he didn't carry any pain or guilt for killing his best friend by accident seven years ago. She wanted to believe she hated him when in reality she was in love with him. I knew there was something fishy about Murray. I'm glad he got exactly what he deserved.💞💞

[Rina.P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich habe auch schon einige dieser Liebesromane gelesen. Aber keiner hat mich so gefangen genommen. Ich lese diese Buch immer wenn ich Liebeskummer habe. Ein echter Tröster. Perfekte Menschen mit Perfektem Happy End. Was will man mehr bei Liebeskummer. Also alle Herz-Schmerz-Geplagten lasst Euch in eine der typischen Perfekten Liebesschnulzen entführen. Danach geht es Euch bestimmt besser.

[Icarus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, the first few times Ravel's nipples are mentioned they are referred to as his paps. I didn't care for that. Otherwise this was a fun and exciting story with plenty of intrigue and twists and hot stuff.

[susana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nota Geral: 2.9/5
Escrita: 3.5
Cenário: 3.5
Originalidade: 3
Personagens: 3
Suspense: 3
Humor: 3
Romance: 3
Capa: 2
Aditivo: 3
Previsível: 2

[Bernardo Londoño · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una mujer pretende secuestrar en venganza y termina victima de su propio invento

[Romana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited about this book. Really wanted to like too. I don't know what happened. It was a bit long at the end and not very enjoyable. I am a big fan of J. Blake's books but this one let me down.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5, hubiera sido 4☆ si no hubiera tardado tanto en engancharme.
La historia está bien y la pareja también, pero el inicio fue un poco tedioso

[Crumb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forget how much I love Jennifer Blake's historical romances. She is why I started reading romance novels back in the 80s to begin with. Her detailed and vivid descriptions of social mores, the sartorial customs, the food, the quotidian minutia that make up almost all of our daily lives, as well as the interplay between different but adjacent cultures are all immensely gratifying. I especially appreciate how little presentism she burdens her characters with. All of her characters are honest and true to their time period and station-- there aren't any tedious monologues or lectures about any kinds of -isms, at least by the standards of the 21st century. In all fairness, I imagine that in 1984 the heroine was considered to be quite improprietous and headstrong, but the fact that the heroine doesn't harp like a Sarah Lawrence graduate student is refreshing and rejuvenating.

If you, like me, grew up reading historical romance novels because you wanted to understand how people lived in a specific time and place outside of your own, you will really enjoy Jennifer Blake's historical romances.

[Anto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mi primer libro de Jennifer Blake. No creí que lograría terminarlo después de tantas luchas con sus historias. Pero este me gustó.

Me pareció una vuelta de tuerca interesante en la que está vez es ella quien toma las riendas del conflicto e intenta resolverlo como mejor puede. Aunque falle miserablemente.

La cuestión de enemigos/amantes creo que se manejó bastante bien, aunque las escenas finales me tuvieron bufando por lo predecibles y aburridas que se tornaron. Pede a eso, la relación de los protagonistas arrancó muy interesante, gran parte gracias a la genial ambientación que logra la autora describiendo las costumbres de epoca en Nueva Orleans.

Es un viejuno de aquellos, que cumple con todas las características de la época: entretenido, un poco cursi y lleno de un lenguaje rimbombante que, junto con la buena documentación, hacen que uno se enganche aunque la lectura se haga un poco cuesta arriba.

[Patricia Poupart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical romances! Being a native New Orleanian, I especially love those set in my hometown or the pre- and post-Civil War south. Jennifer's descriptions of New Orleans historical places and events is well written to the point that you feel you are there, whether it be at a Mardi Gras ball or on the field of honor at the Duelling Oaks. I look forward to reading the other novels in the Louisiana History Collection

[Cindy Woods · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring

This book is a dead bore on every level. Either write a history book or a romance novel. This mixture does not work. I thought the book would never end....yawn! It is not sensual, not exciting, not erotic, not sweet......It is a poor attempt to educate via a romance story. Although I have read author's capable of the mix, but Blake does not , pull it off. Don't waste time or money reading this book.

[Michelle]

Prisoner Of Desire
Jennifer Blake
Historical Romance
387 pages
Copyright: 1986
ISBN: 0-449-90176-9

Anya took Ravel as prisoner to save his life. But in a small dark room on her lush Louisiana plantation, it was Anya who became Ravel's prisoner of desire. As she struggled to contain her emotions, and Ravel strove to win her love, they both faced the challenge of staying alive....

[Poonam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay read. I like the hero Ravel Duralde. It was annoying to see that Anya constantly doubting him throughout the story. Only one thing I really love about this story is how much Ravel Duralde's deep love for Anya .

[Vmontgzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primera novela que leo de esta autora y me gusto, la protagonista independiente y decidida algo impulsiva pero me simpatizó y el prota encantador sin esas poses de como soy hombre te tengo que proteger ni nada por el estilo. A pesar de ser una historia escrita en los 80's me parecio muy actual.

[Mara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Color me surprised. The first book of hers that didn't leave me in a snit. I can't give 3 stars, as I skipped half the pages. I'm really not interested in a documentary chocked full of meaningless details. They should give you the atmosphere, not replace the story.

[Autumn Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer Blake is one of my all time writers. I enjoyed reading the history surrounding Mardi Gras and everything New Orleans, (it was well written and informative) but the story itself was a ĺittle weak.