Taming Charlotte

Quaid #2

by Linda Lael Miller

Kidnapped and confined in a harem -- that's not the scenario Charlotte Quade envisioned when she prayed for just one grand adventure before sailing home to Washington Territory from Europe. While exploring the ancient, exotic island kingdom of Riz, Charlotte foolishly lost her way. In a dizzying moment, she was snatched, bound up in a sack and unceremoniously dumped... more -- completely naked! -- in the ship's cabin of the very same man who had caught her fancy as a young girl in Seattle: Captain Patrick Trevarran.

But Charlotte's dream lover turned out to be no gentleman! He had once gallantly fetched her, as a mischievous teenager,from the riggings of his ship, but now he appraised her with exasperation and quickly packed her off to the harem of a sultan friend. When they were reunited -- as much by mercy as by fate -- it was clear that Patrick wished merely to tease and trifle with this pretty, rebellious American. But, through their adventure, Charlotte had discovered a provocative man torn between recklessness and devotion, between storm and calm. Now, with all the strength and passion she possessed, Charlotte would chart a course that would sweep them at last to their destiny -- a glorious and resounding love

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Westerns, Western Romance, Harem

368 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

The daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West. Raised in Northport, Washington, Linda pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a spacious property outside Spokane.
Linda traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold Fletcher’s Woman in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Long a passionate Civil War buff, Linda has studied the era avidly for almost thirty years. She has read literally hundreds of books on the subject, explored numerous battlegrounds and made many visits to her favorite, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she has witnessed re-enactments of the legendary clash between North and South. Linda explores that turbulent time in The Yankee Widow, a May 7, 2019 MIRA Books hardcover, also available in digital and audiobook formats.
Dedicated to helping others, “The First Lady of the West” personally financed fifteen years of her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, which she awarded to women 25 years and older who were seeking to improve their lot in life through education. She anticipates that her next charitable endeavors will benefit four-legged critters.
More information about Linda and her novels is available at www.lindalaelmiller.com, on Facebook and from Nancy Berland Public Relations, nancy@nancyberland.com, 405-206-4748.

Reviews

[Dendera · Rating 1 out of 5]

My very first read from Miller and certainly will be my LAST! It sucks! No story, no talent, no substance, no love, no history, just absolute and utter cheap trash! This book is not fit to be in the HR genre because it's not one. The heroine's reason for being in an eastern country was bogus and unrealistic. Do you really want me to believe an unmarried young girl would sail across the world to the far east unchaperoned with her silly young friend in the 1877??? Does that sound real to anyone with logic? The dialogue between the characters was modern and not in accordance with the time period. The whole novel was filled with historical inaccuracies. And I'd appreciate it if this lame author would keep her opinions towards a certain region and its people out of her work (i.e. out of this book). This is not how a professional, educated writer tells a story. And it is an automatic THUMBS DOWN for me. Look at all the successful HR writers who've written about exotic locations: Kathleen Woodiwiss, Johanna Lindsey, Bertrice Small, Rosemary Rogers, etc etc... Look at their neutrality towards certain places. Miller needs to learn from them.

[Mareli · Rating 3 out of 5]

well, this was not my cup of tea. I'm not into exotic places, sheiks, harem or pirates. So the book was good but someway it was fickle. Too manu adventures and too little feeling.

Charlotte is not my favourite kind of heroine, even if she's a smart woman she's a bit too naive in the facts of life. Sure her step-mother was another kind of woman.

[Jazmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is totally different from what she usually writes, but it worked...to an extent. There's tons of action and what's-gonna-happen-next moments but the romance between the two main characters falls a little flat. It was too much backing & forthing between them and Patrick is a downright jerk to her most of the time. Like I said though, I loved all the action and the plot resolution.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast and enjoyable read. Two things did annoy me. Too many crises, one after the other, and the main female character had a decided lack of self-preservation. "Oh, I'm safe here with the battle raging outside, but I'm bored and curious, let me just go have a look."

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I need to stop trying to read Miller's older books. LOVE her recent ones, but her early ones just aren't for me.

[Maddy Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of reasons to like this book, and no e of them involve the hero. Patrick started off this strong swaggering pirate who had a soft spot for Charlotte and then turned into a jerk that said all the worst things to hurt Charlotte. She had to threaten to marry someone else two times and divorce for him to FINALLY stay with her. Commitment phobia to this level is exhausting. He resigns to marry her and deposit her in a house near family and drop by occasionally from his travels. Why bother being married?! If he really loved her, he would just be with her or let her be happy with someone else. But it’s a romance novel, so they end up together. Charlotte was brave, witty, and fun, albeit made some stupid decisions(ie trying to escape the desert with no food and very little water),but I really liked how she was also kind and made the best of her circumstances. The settings of Spain, Riz, and the island were super fu. I love that was get to see a bit of the Quade brood as a loving big family.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The is the second book in the Quade series. Ten years later, Charlotte is traveling the world and looking for her storybook adventures. Millicent is going to marry. Her stepmother Lydia and father Brigham have added five sons to their family.
In her quest for adventure Charlotte convinces her shy friend to dress as dancers in foreign country. She attracts much unexpected attention and thinks she sees her childhood hero, Patrick Trevarren who rescued her on one of her first outings when she climbed aboard the Enchantress and couldn't come down from the mast, someone she never stopped dreaming of.
Charlotte is bundled up in a sack, taken away from her friend and civilization. She is left to wonder her fate, when she awakens after being tossed at the feet of the captain of the ship due to a lost gaming bet. The captain is Patrick, and many, many adventures follow.
Passionate and emotional this was definitely a Good read!

[L.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This type of storyline isn't really my thing but this was well-written and fast-paced. I do like the fact that Miller's heroines were always strong and independent, though Charlotte behaved in a very TDTL way several times and darn near got herself killed basically being defiant just for the sake of being defiant.

[Bette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't like the ending

I didn't like Patrick's treatment of Charlotte especially at the end - she forgave him too easily. He was unforgiving for leaving her

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this one!!!!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the dates from the time I began the book to the time I finished is visible please don't take that in to account as an indicator of how good the book was. I have just been so busy here recently that I've not had the opportunity to sit down and really read. IF I would have had the spare time I don't doubt that I could have had it finished in a few short days, it was that captivating to me. That being said, it was a great book...Although in some sense I may be partial because I've always enjoyed Pirate stories, and this was a good Pirate story...It was filled with a lot of adventure. It had its funny moments and serious ones as well. Overall it just had a well-rounded variety of everything that makes a good book and it was well written.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my last book from my TBR pile from last year. This is an excellent historical romance between two Americans, Charlotte who loves an adventure and a pirate named Patrick Trevarren, and Patrick, who loves the sea more than Charlotte, have brought danger, excitement, romance, and a child into the world. From Spain to the USA, there's dangerous intrigue in every turn, until he realizes that she's the only one he can't live out. Truly beautiful. I'll be reading more of her work later this year.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book is clearly just a cheesy romance novel it was rather fun to read. I enjoyed the adventure Charlotte endured throughout it. The ending was somewhat disappointing to me but overall a decent read I suppose. Would I recommend it? No.

[karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the story and adventure. I did not like how 2 people that loved each other could ever think it was better to be apart to protect them but yet be hurting them so deeply. I like strong women story though.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fast fun read! Just what we were looking for book club!

[Janet Meeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Lael Miller never disappoints. !! I have loved all of her books I have read so far.( 49 soon to be 50 ).About to start the 3rd book in this Quade series. Keep writing Ms. Miller!!! ;)))

[Hailey Greene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found Charlotte a little bit too stubborn for my liking.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Mrs. Miller's books are a GREAT read!! Always worth read over again!