What do you think?
Rate this book
Louisiana Plantation Collection #4
Una dulce traición
Melanie concibe un plan descabellado: casarse con Roland Donovan, el causante de todas sus desgracias. Por culpa de Roland, su abuelo a muerto, su reputación ha quedado mancillada y su prometido la ha abandonado. Así pues, ¿por qué no contraer matrimonio con él para luego, aprovechando su condición de esposa, arruinarle la vida? Melanie no prevé, sin embargo, los dictados de su propio corazón, y cuando tiene ya la venganza al alcance de la mano, los sentimientos dirán la ultima palabra.
468 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
71 people are currently reading
412 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Blake
171 books542 followersA 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 18, 2018
Está bien escrito y los personajes están bien definidos tanto los protagonistas como los secundarios. Sin embargo hay un exceso de descripción de lugares y hechos históricos que aunque son importantes en la trama se me han hecho muy largos en ocasiones. Se hace muy evidente el amor de Roland hacia Melanie desde las primeras páginas, además de una caballerosidad tremenda. Pero Melanie es muy fría aun cuando sabía que sus sentimientos habían cambiado no consigue transmitirlos con intensidad. La trama me ha gustado y es un amor que nace a medida que se van conociendo pero creo que le sobran páginas.
June 25, 2024
Blake can be an enjoyable author, and one of the rare ones to put an actual, authentic, historical flavor to her bodice-ripper lite fare, but this one was too clunky, flat, and boring to make it further than approximately halfway through.
We have the usual trope of the H who bodice-rips his way through our Southern Belle's bloomers via a Great, Terrible, Big Misunderstanding, followed by a marriage of convenience to preserve our compromised heroine's honour. Hero is of course smitten and heroine is full of traitorous body feelings but more and more Great, Big, Terrible, Misunderstandings continually block what we know will be their eventual LURVE declaration.
I stopped my numerous attempts to continue trudging with the plot when I realized, despite my best efforts to focus, that the words on the page were all morphing to "Yaddi, Yaddi, Yadda."
DNF at 63%.
We have the usual trope of the H who bodice-rips his way through our Southern Belle's bloomers via a Great, Terrible, Big Misunderstanding, followed by a marriage of convenience to preserve our compromised heroine's honour. Hero is of course smitten and heroine is full of traitorous body feelings but more and more Great, Big, Terrible, Misunderstandings continually block what we know will be their eventual LURVE declaration.
I stopped my numerous attempts to continue trudging with the plot when I realized, despite my best efforts to focus, that the words on the page were all morphing to "Yaddi, Yaddi, Yadda."
DNF at 63%.
July 30, 2018
I read this for my Bodice Ripper selection in HRBC Romance Across the Ages Challenge. As per usual with a Bodice Ripper, I come away feeling very conflicted. There were moments involving the hero that were decidedly non-con. And then there was reluctance, but I found myself really liking the hero and heroine and liking them together. He was a complex and intriguing character, and the biggest miss for the book for me was getting none of his perspective. It was all hers. She was a resilient heroine, and I really liked her.
The heroine faced the prospect of rape several times from multiple men, and it got to be a little much. Or a lot much. This was just a bit too far on the OTT side for my taste. But great period appropriate details, which were at times disturbing due to the time and place (pre-Civil War and Deep South).
Overall, a good read but not definitely an easy one.
The heroine faced the prospect of rape several times from multiple men, and it got to be a little much. Or a lot much. This was just a bit too far on the OTT side for my taste. But great period appropriate details, which were at times disturbing due to the time and place (pre-Civil War and Deep South).
Overall, a good read but not definitely an easy one.
October 5, 2015
As much as I enjoy Jennifer Blake's southern romances, this isn't one of her stronger ones. The main story is focused on heroine Melanie Johnston believing Roland Donovan responsible for her grandfather's death after some dirty deeds while they were serving in the Texas/Mexican wars. It's all too complicated to try and explain, but she wants revenge and the silly girl gets it in her head to ride to Roland's hotel in the seedy part of Natchez in the middle of the night in the rain and shoot him dead. Well, he's not in his room and she has to wait and since it's cold and her clothes are wet, she takes some of them off to dry and when he does return, he's been drinking and he doesn't recognize her in the dark and he assumes the half-dressed woman in his room is a you-know-what.
Not really a spoiler since it's in the first chapters, but ------>>>>>, so for those readers this likely isn't the book for you.
After that event, Melanie's reputation is in shreds, ; but she'll take her revenge in another way - make him fall in love with her and break his heart. Or some such silly nonsense.
The rest of the book revolves around the misunderstanding, perpetuated by Melanie's foolish trust in her former fiancé and his sister, who are up to no good and constant pot stirring to keep our pair from their HEA. Why Melanie is so stupid not to see through their obvious tactics, I haven't a clue. She's not quite TSTL, but she's close. This just takes too long to resolve, and since Roland is involved in the attempt to take Cuba by Narciso López, he's out of the picture a lot, so all we get is Melanie's analyzing everything in her head.
This might have been better if the reader had been able to see more from Roland's POV (he was dishy), but it was all Melanie and her foolish judgment putting herself in need of constant rescue and self-centered me! me! me! me! that just dragged this down. YMMV.
My copy borrowed via Kindle Unlimited.
Not really a spoiler since it's in the first chapters, but ------>>>>>, so for those readers this likely isn't the book for you.
After that event, Melanie's reputation is in shreds, ; but she'll take her revenge in another way - make him fall in love with her and break his heart. Or some such silly nonsense.
The rest of the book revolves around the misunderstanding, perpetuated by Melanie's foolish trust in her former fiancé and his sister, who are up to no good and constant pot stirring to keep our pair from their HEA. Why Melanie is so stupid not to see through their obvious tactics, I haven't a clue. She's not quite TSTL, but she's close. This just takes too long to resolve, and since Roland is involved in the attempt to take Cuba by Narciso López, he's out of the picture a lot, so all we get is Melanie's analyzing everything in her head.
This might have been better if the reader had been able to see more from Roland's POV (he was dishy), but it was all Melanie and her foolish judgment putting herself in need of constant rescue and self-centered me! me! me! me! that just dragged this down. YMMV.
My copy borrowed via Kindle Unlimited.
July 24, 2023
Ако някой може да ми обясни защо в част от бодис рипърите от 80-те проклетите робски плантации са толкова популярни и обект на екзотика?! Ясно, че южните щати и през 21-ви век са си бесни на севера за премахването на робството, но това романтизиране през 80-те е било ужасно, сега поне правилно липсва, но липсва и каквото и да е истинско споменаване на проблема….
Иначе тук плантациите не са натрапчиви, но са част от живота на героите, най-вече на героинята. И ако има нещо перверзно в старите бодис рипъри, то това е именно романтизирането на робството, драги читателки, нищо друго.
Но има и интересни гледни точки, като тази на главния герой, който откровено в една от сцените показва презрението си към институцията, по съвсем прагматични причини.
Иначе сюжетът е интересен, твърде много липса на комуникация, но в случая в по-голямата си част се понася добре. Отново има герой, по-симпатичен от героинята, но хайде - накрая поумнява малко и тя.
Иначе тук плантациите не са натрапчиви, но са част от живота на героите, най-вече на героинята. И ако има нещо перверзно в старите бодис рипъри, то това е именно романтизирането на робството, драги читателки, нищо друго.
Но има и интересни гледни точки, като тази на главния герой, който откровено в една от сцените показва презрението си към институцията, по съвсем прагматични причини.
Иначе сюжетът е интересен, твърде много липса на комуникация, но в случая в по-голямата си част се понася добре. Отново има герой, по-симпатичен от героинята, но хайде - накрая поумнява малко и тя.
September 1, 2016
Jennifer Blake's book proved a very mixed bag. It starts off well, with a hero and a heroine who promise interesting and intelligent conflicts, only to disappoint almost immediately after managing to raise one's interest.
***Contains SPOILERS, SPOILERS, SPOILERS***
As a reader of historical romances, who's used to all sorts of styles within the confines of the genre, I don't feel I have to struggle to read through what used to be the dominant writing styles of the past. I have no problem with the florid, expansive sentences, the profuse descriptiveness,the purple prose. On the contrary, sometimes, I think, such narratives managed to achieve more interesting character and milieu shading than our contemporary historical romance writers, who sugar-coat the past and serve up characters who haven't the remotest connection to a past sensibility. They are all 21st c. people in costume. However,'Tender Betrayal', is not one of those books where some insights (or even pleasures) could rise out of its outmoded style. After finishing the book, this reader was left feeling that what Jennifer Blake gave with one hand she took back (thrice over) with the other.
The weakest point of the book is its heroine, and since hers is the main (and only) perspective, one can guess how that sabotages whatever merit the book could have had. Blake wanted to write a heroine that was brave,intelligent (along with being the most ravishing beauty this side of the Mississippi, naturally),charming, full of the manners and mannerisms of your average Southern belle, but what we get instead is a vain, coquettish, feeble minded, emotional nincompoop, whose social manners are haphazardly treated by the writer (one moment we are told that she cannot refuse to receive her ex fiancé alone in her parlour, and with her husband gone, because it'll be bad manners (!), and the next we see her publicly insulting a lady she's been introduced to by her husband). Throughout the book, with few exceptions, there's little the heroine does that is not flippant, thoughtless or childish. What is worse is that she seems to be doing all those things behind her writer's back, for Blake is completely oblivious to what is actually on the page and continues to treat her heroine with admiration (probably as blinded by her creamy décolletage as half of Louisiana is).
There are other serious problems with the narrative. One does not expect to get a degree in History through the reading of historical romances, although some writers are better than others in weaving their research into the plot, avoiding the dreaded info dump and without being clunky, but when your hero is heavily involved in the historical events your book evokes, and to which a substantial amount of pages is devoted, then his perspective is sorely needed. What is not needed is more of the insufferable heroine's POV. We simply had enough of her. Instead of history dramatisation through an account of the hero's woes and experiences, we get a narrative that states the facts -Cuba, General Lopez, etc,- and then swiftly moves to the heroine's idiotic justifications of her actions, and by 'actions' I mean her dancing and flirting on a steamer all the while the man she supposedly loves to destruction is risking his life in Cuba (and have I mentioned that little matter of the heroine's betraying the whole Cuban mission in which her husband is involved to his enemies?).
The narrative's serious problems are nowhere more prominent than in the way the first crescendo moment of all romance novel's, the moment the heroine realises she's in love with the hero (and vice versa when there's a dual POV), is handled. In all that expansive and loquacious narrative one would expect Jennifer Blake to allow for the build up to her heroine's epiphany in a convincing and felt manner but no, it was not to be. The heroine discovers she's in love with the hero (her husband) in the middle of a scene that has left the reader so irritated and exasperated that no amount of realisation could stay one's hand from throwing the book across the room. The heroine realises she loves the hero immediately after running out on him -and his mother, whom she had previously publicly insulted- at a ball, having left in the company of another man(her ex fiancé, a man she neither loved nor desired,even though she was going to marry him, a man whom she considered weak, cowardly, etc.), a man for whom she has no feelings yet whose company she constantly courts ands seeks out, creating a completely unnecessary scandal (the kind of scandal romance heroines create only if they love the man with whom they leave) and risking ostracisation for absolutely NOTHING, for zilch. Nevertheless, the reader is supposed to swallow such infantile reactions and focus on the heroine's realisation.
Although I finished the book, after skimming over large chunks of it, I wish I hadn't wasted my time. Truth be told, Blake is not a bad writer, in the early chapters she sets up some nice scenes and writes some nice exchanges between her lovers, so one looks forward to following the fortunes of this pair with their story of misplaced loyalties and pride, poisoned minds and emotional sclerosis. All those expectations are soon disappointed. Blake's heroine is painfully vain (although Blake tries to hide the obvious fact),coquettish and not the brightest bulb in a box of twelve (she's also what in the romance readers' lingo is called TSTL). A heroine who's endlessly indulged by everyone in her vicinity, and who's given a happy end she has neither earned nor deserved -this reader longed to see the hero do a Rhett Butler and slam the door in her face... at least,the vain and selfish Scarlett O'Hara had one little excuse, she thought she loved another man, what does Blake's heroine have?). As with many books of this kind, one is left wondering how the hero could have ever loved such a heroine.
***Contains SPOILERS, SPOILERS, SPOILERS***
As a reader of historical romances, who's used to all sorts of styles within the confines of the genre, I don't feel I have to struggle to read through what used to be the dominant writing styles of the past. I have no problem with the florid, expansive sentences, the profuse descriptiveness,the purple prose. On the contrary, sometimes, I think, such narratives managed to achieve more interesting character and milieu shading than our contemporary historical romance writers, who sugar-coat the past and serve up characters who haven't the remotest connection to a past sensibility. They are all 21st c. people in costume. However,'Tender Betrayal', is not one of those books where some insights (or even pleasures) could rise out of its outmoded style. After finishing the book, this reader was left feeling that what Jennifer Blake gave with one hand she took back (thrice over) with the other.
The weakest point of the book is its heroine, and since hers is the main (and only) perspective, one can guess how that sabotages whatever merit the book could have had. Blake wanted to write a heroine that was brave,intelligent (along with being the most ravishing beauty this side of the Mississippi, naturally),charming, full of the manners and mannerisms of your average Southern belle, but what we get instead is a vain, coquettish, feeble minded, emotional nincompoop, whose social manners are haphazardly treated by the writer (one moment we are told that she cannot refuse to receive her ex fiancé alone in her parlour, and with her husband gone, because it'll be bad manners (!), and the next we see her publicly insulting a lady she's been introduced to by her husband). Throughout the book, with few exceptions, there's little the heroine does that is not flippant, thoughtless or childish. What is worse is that she seems to be doing all those things behind her writer's back, for Blake is completely oblivious to what is actually on the page and continues to treat her heroine with admiration (probably as blinded by her creamy décolletage as half of Louisiana is).
There are other serious problems with the narrative. One does not expect to get a degree in History through the reading of historical romances, although some writers are better than others in weaving their research into the plot, avoiding the dreaded info dump and without being clunky, but when your hero is heavily involved in the historical events your book evokes, and to which a substantial amount of pages is devoted, then his perspective is sorely needed. What is not needed is more of the insufferable heroine's POV. We simply had enough of her. Instead of history dramatisation through an account of the hero's woes and experiences, we get a narrative that states the facts -Cuba, General Lopez, etc,- and then swiftly moves to the heroine's idiotic justifications of her actions, and by 'actions' I mean her dancing and flirting on a steamer all the while the man she supposedly loves to destruction is risking his life in Cuba (and have I mentioned that little matter of the heroine's betraying the whole Cuban mission in which her husband is involved to his enemies?).
The narrative's serious problems are nowhere more prominent than in the way the first crescendo moment of all romance novel's, the moment the heroine realises she's in love with the hero (and vice versa when there's a dual POV), is handled. In all that expansive and loquacious narrative one would expect Jennifer Blake to allow for the build up to her heroine's epiphany in a convincing and felt manner but no, it was not to be. The heroine discovers she's in love with the hero (her husband) in the middle of a scene that has left the reader so irritated and exasperated that no amount of realisation could stay one's hand from throwing the book across the room. The heroine realises she loves the hero immediately after running out on him -and his mother, whom she had previously publicly insulted- at a ball, having left in the company of another man(her ex fiancé, a man she neither loved nor desired,even though she was going to marry him, a man whom she considered weak, cowardly, etc.), a man for whom she has no feelings yet whose company she constantly courts ands seeks out, creating a completely unnecessary scandal (the kind of scandal romance heroines create only if they love the man with whom they leave) and risking ostracisation for absolutely NOTHING, for zilch. Nevertheless, the reader is supposed to swallow such infantile reactions and focus on the heroine's realisation.
Although I finished the book, after skimming over large chunks of it, I wish I hadn't wasted my time. Truth be told, Blake is not a bad writer, in the early chapters she sets up some nice scenes and writes some nice exchanges between her lovers, so one looks forward to following the fortunes of this pair with their story of misplaced loyalties and pride, poisoned minds and emotional sclerosis. All those expectations are soon disappointed. Blake's heroine is painfully vain (although Blake tries to hide the obvious fact),coquettish and not the brightest bulb in a box of twelve (she's also what in the romance readers' lingo is called TSTL). A heroine who's endlessly indulged by everyone in her vicinity, and who's given a happy end she has neither earned nor deserved -this reader longed to see the hero do a Rhett Butler and slam the door in her face... at least,the vain and selfish Scarlett O'Hara had one little excuse, she thought she loved another man, what does Blake's heroine have?). As with many books of this kind, one is left wondering how the hero could have ever loved such a heroine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2018
Pensé que me iba a gustar mucho esta historia, no niego que está bien escrita, pero lamentablemente por ratos me aburría leyéndola, me pareció muy larga y la protagonista muy fría, más todos los acontecimientos y desgracias que le sucedían, (poco creíbles), terminó por cansarme, Roland, el héroe de esta historia, si que me gustó mucho, solo el me animó a continuar la lectura.
Primera lectura del #RETO RITA 2.0
Primera lectura del #RETO RITA 2.0
August 6, 2022
Re-read 2022 - 3.5 ⭐️
Dunno what I was thinking when I read this over 15 years ago to give this 5 stars, but I wanted to smack this entitled, TSTL h.
Safety
No cheating
This is not pc!
There is rape.
The H rapes the h, and she doesn’t feel any pleasure, only pain.
But this h is tstl… it’s basically her own fault for sneaking into a strange man’s room with a gun to commit murder.
Then staying in said room, in the dark at that - for hours, then falling asleep, losing her damn gun, oh and she took off some of her clothes to get more comfortable…
Wtf
And then… when the drunk H shows up, not saying a damn word about who she is, or turning on the lights so he can see who she is (they met before. So he knows her!)🙄
He thought she was a whore sent there to pleasure him in the dark, she fights him.
But she could’ve said something to stop it!! Like her name. She didn’t even deny that she wasn’t a whore!! ( or turned on the lights!)
As I said, she was a HUGE moron!!
A week later, the H had to go to her house when sober to ask if she was in his room, because he was so drunk that he couldn’t remember, and people saw her leaving his hotel room. So she not only got raped by being a dumbass, she was ruined and this poor H had to marry this dumb cow. 😂
I couldn’t even finish this book, she just infuriated me by acting so stupid lol.
Dunno what I was thinking when I read this over 15 years ago to give this 5 stars, but I wanted to smack this entitled, TSTL h.
Safety
No cheating
This is not pc!
There is rape.
The H rapes the h, and she doesn’t feel any pleasure, only pain.
But this h is tstl… it’s basically her own fault for sneaking into a strange man’s room with a gun to commit murder.
Then staying in said room, in the dark at that - for hours, then falling asleep, losing her damn gun, oh and she took off some of her clothes to get more comfortable…
Wtf
And then… when the drunk H shows up, not saying a damn word about who she is, or turning on the lights so he can see who she is (they met before. So he knows her!)🙄
He thought she was a whore sent there to pleasure him in the dark, she fights him.
But she could’ve said something to stop it!! Like her name. She didn’t even deny that she wasn’t a whore!! ( or turned on the lights!)
As I said, she was a HUGE moron!!
A week later, the H had to go to her house when sober to ask if she was in his room, because he was so drunk that he couldn’t remember, and people saw her leaving his hotel room. So she not only got raped by being a dumbass, she was ruined and this poor H had to marry this dumb cow. 😂
I couldn’t even finish this book, she just infuriated me by acting so stupid lol.
July 12, 2013
I just couldn't get into it! Tender Betrayal just wouldn't end. The storyline had promise but the actual book was lack luster. Sad to say but I don't think I'll read another Jennifer Blake book.
March 11, 2016
3.75/5. Set in Louisiana in the mid 1800s, it follows the story of Melanie, affianced to one man, Dom, yet forced to marry another, the imposing Roland Donavan after he accidentally took her maiden-status as frequently happens in such novels. To be fair to Roland, it was a case of too much grog in too dark and seedy a hotel room, and a girl who ought not to have been there in the first place. Melanie vowed revenge on Roland, whom she blamed for her beloved grandfather's fall from military and societal grace and her marriage was no barrier to achieve this, but rather coolly planned by Melanie to be used to obtain such gain. Unfortunately, she didn't count on Roland to turn out to be such a decent guy, and thereby saved the book from a potential bodice-ripper label. Long absences cooled their slow burning ardour not assisted by multiple misunderstandings which prolonged their inevitable union. Though well written and greatly detailed, the characters did not display much emotional depth and anguish as required by some of the scenes. These were inferred and glossed over quickly and hence I could not empathise enough with them. Bottom line, it didn't get my lacrimal glands to go into production gear when I expected it to, and thus the lower rating.
April 24, 2025
Fue una lectura muy rápida, soy muy fan de los romances de época y aunque había características cuestionables al inicio, también había otras que me generaba querer seguir leyendo pero se inclinaron en darle forma a los puntos malos haciendo desastrosa la historia y perdiera el encanto.
April 29, 2021
In one corner we have Melanie Johnston, a Louisiana belle who apparently suffers from color blindness as she never does see any red flags. They're right there, Melanie!
In the opposite corner we have Roland Donavan. A man. Who is there. Sometimes. Roland has a past with Melanie's grandfather (but never mind about that). He's had a tragic childhood (but never mind about that). He's off to overthrow a foreign government (but never mind about that). Never mind about any sort of backstory for Roland as it is only mentioned in passing and not delved into. I didn't feel like I ever knew Roland. Then again, neither did Melanie. Roland is the kind of guy who tells his woman, "I can't stay away from you,"... and then does. He shows up, makes purple prose love to Melanie, and then has to be somewhere else.
In a way I don't blame him as I wouldn't want to spend much time with Melanie either. She's so bland and unemotional. A lot happens to Melanie, most of it absolutely terrible, and she just shrugs it off. Even a character in the book comments upon this blankness.
If I did not know that only a short time ago you were beaten, saw murder done, helped to dispose of the corpse of the dead man, that you had been abandoned by your husband, left alone with the knowledge that you will soon have his child, I would never suspect. You look calm and beautiful, untouched, and untouchable.
Mind you, I don't want her to be an emotional cripple, but c'mon! Have a little reaction to something, anything!
In the opposite corner we have Roland Donavan. A man. Who is there. Sometimes. Roland has a past with Melanie's grandfather (but never mind about that). He's had a tragic childhood (but never mind about that). He's off to overthrow a foreign government (but never mind about that). Never mind about any sort of backstory for Roland as it is only mentioned in passing and not delved into. I didn't feel like I ever knew Roland. Then again, neither did Melanie. Roland is the kind of guy who tells his woman, "I can't stay away from you,"... and then does. He shows up, makes purple prose love to Melanie, and then has to be somewhere else.
In a way I don't blame him as I wouldn't want to spend much time with Melanie either. She's so bland and unemotional. A lot happens to Melanie, most of it absolutely terrible, and she just shrugs it off. Even a character in the book comments upon this blankness.
If I did not know that only a short time ago you were beaten, saw murder done, helped to dispose of the corpse of the dead man, that you had been abandoned by your husband, left alone with the knowledge that you will soon have his child, I would never suspect. You look calm and beautiful, untouched, and untouchable.
Mind you, I don't want her to be an emotional cripple, but c'mon! Have a little reaction to something, anything!
April 11, 2018
Overly long and sometimes very boring. Historic and geographic facts tend to become lecture like. There is not much as far as relationship development concerned because most of the time they (h and H) are separated or not in talking terms.
November 20, 2013
The underlying emotional current this novel evokes is ANGST! Oh my goodness, this novel will summon up your fight/flight responses and make you feel on edge due to the suspenseful, and revealing moments! There is adventure in this book, plenty of it, but most of all, this book chronicles the journey to love for a relationship that seemed doomed from it’s beginning.
This novel is beautifully written. At first, it takes some time to get used to the amount of detail and historical presence in the book. Blake’s writing style unfolds a vision of a southern society with polite gentlemen and ladies who live vigorous lives. Yet, the luxurious lifestyles enjoyed by the upper class are built on the backbones of African slaves whose wills have been swallowed up. This book gives a complex historical perspective that may be hard to digest for the modern reader. I know I had a hard time with the reference to slaves and some of their situations. Blake also spares no sentiment when creating dangerous villains who are vicious in their intent in hurting the leads, especially the heroine. This novel is definitely what is known as a “bodice-ripper” novel. Those parts are very hard to read because they just make you feel sick to your stomach.
My favorite part of this book was the hero, Roland Donavan. Jennifer Blake has given us such a worthy hero! I mean the man has been through so many regretting events in his life that he should be afflicted with poor self-esteem. His father (plantation owner) rejects him; he returned from the war with a stained reputation; he gets caught up in various misunderstandings that lead him to marry a woman who despises him, and the list goes on and on…. Yet, Roland emulates strength of build, and character; he has a noble heart; he fiercely protects his wife, he works hard for her….And, he is a tall, handsome man with green eyes!!—He’s simply delicious! Roland does have flaws that impact his already troubled marriage though. During hard times he tends to withdraw, and he does not communicate his emotions with his wife.
The heroine, Melanie Johnston, granddaughter of Kernal Johnston, takes a bit of getting used to, as she is somewhat of an ice princess. I warmed to her character by allowing some of her motives to be explained by reason of grief over her grandfather’s death, she lost her parents early in life in a tragic accident, was alone, and emotionally bereft. Also, on her grandfather’s death bed, he charged her with the responsibility of destroying Roland Donavan who he blamed for tarnishing his reputation in the war with Mexico. I have to say, Melanie does have nice qualities, but certainly her reasons for marrying Roland were vengeful and unfortunate. She is a rather pampered heroine because of her dependence on slaves, even though she takes on more chores than ladies of her era. Melanie is described as a very beautiful woman, with auburn hair and blue eyes with an hourglass figure.
The love development between Roland and Melanie drove me nuts! My heart went out to Roland because it was apparent from the beginning that he entered the marriage with more honorable feelings than Melanie. I like how Roland made Melanie share his “marriage bed,” even though she wanted them to have a marriage, in name only. Roland was such a tender lover that Melanie became a participant in love-making with him right away (even though she would never admit it). Melanie tried to set up emotional barriers, but the man just melted her cold heart, in miniscule, but consistent steps….This is why the book is soooo long! There are sweet, tender moments between the couple, but there are also many stupid misunderstandings that could have easily been solved if they would have communicated with one another.
Unfortunately, as in a poker game, both of these lovers played their cards very close to their chests, not allowing too many advantages to the other. Finally, at the end, both bare their true feelings to one another and Melanie confesses her love for Roland (he of course confessed his love way before her…I believe..the book was so dang long, I lost track). Through many trials, long separations, misunderstandings, tragic events, great losses, the couple finally come together in heart, and you just know that they are going to live happily ever after with a deep, abiding love. This book had a "Gone With The Wind" type of flavor. But in this story, the leads are sure to find success in their marriage. Unfortunately, there was no epilogue ;-(
I really enjoyed the narrator. Her southern accent was great!
This novel is beautifully written. At first, it takes some time to get used to the amount of detail and historical presence in the book. Blake’s writing style unfolds a vision of a southern society with polite gentlemen and ladies who live vigorous lives. Yet, the luxurious lifestyles enjoyed by the upper class are built on the backbones of African slaves whose wills have been swallowed up. This book gives a complex historical perspective that may be hard to digest for the modern reader. I know I had a hard time with the reference to slaves and some of their situations. Blake also spares no sentiment when creating dangerous villains who are vicious in their intent in hurting the leads, especially the heroine. This novel is definitely what is known as a “bodice-ripper” novel. Those parts are very hard to read because they just make you feel sick to your stomach.
My favorite part of this book was the hero, Roland Donavan. Jennifer Blake has given us such a worthy hero! I mean the man has been through so many regretting events in his life that he should be afflicted with poor self-esteem. His father (plantation owner) rejects him; he returned from the war with a stained reputation; he gets caught up in various misunderstandings that lead him to marry a woman who despises him, and the list goes on and on…. Yet, Roland emulates strength of build, and character; he has a noble heart; he fiercely protects his wife, he works hard for her….And, he is a tall, handsome man with green eyes!!—He’s simply delicious! Roland does have flaws that impact his already troubled marriage though. During hard times he tends to withdraw, and he does not communicate his emotions with his wife.
The heroine, Melanie Johnston, granddaughter of Kernal Johnston, takes a bit of getting used to, as she is somewhat of an ice princess. I warmed to her character by allowing some of her motives to be explained by reason of grief over her grandfather’s death, she lost her parents early in life in a tragic accident, was alone, and emotionally bereft. Also, on her grandfather’s death bed, he charged her with the responsibility of destroying Roland Donavan who he blamed for tarnishing his reputation in the war with Mexico. I have to say, Melanie does have nice qualities, but certainly her reasons for marrying Roland were vengeful and unfortunate. She is a rather pampered heroine because of her dependence on slaves, even though she takes on more chores than ladies of her era. Melanie is described as a very beautiful woman, with auburn hair and blue eyes with an hourglass figure.
The love development between Roland and Melanie drove me nuts! My heart went out to Roland because it was apparent from the beginning that he entered the marriage with more honorable feelings than Melanie. I like how Roland made Melanie share his “marriage bed,” even though she wanted them to have a marriage, in name only. Roland was such a tender lover that Melanie became a participant in love-making with him right away (even though she would never admit it). Melanie tried to set up emotional barriers, but the man just melted her cold heart, in miniscule, but consistent steps….This is why the book is soooo long! There are sweet, tender moments between the couple, but there are also many stupid misunderstandings that could have easily been solved if they would have communicated with one another.
Unfortunately, as in a poker game, both of these lovers played their cards very close to their chests, not allowing too many advantages to the other. Finally, at the end, both bare their true feelings to one another and Melanie confesses her love for Roland (he of course confessed his love way before her…I believe..the book was so dang long, I lost track). Through many trials, long separations, misunderstandings, tragic events, great losses, the couple finally come together in heart, and you just know that they are going to live happily ever after with a deep, abiding love. This book had a "Gone With The Wind" type of flavor. But in this story, the leads are sure to find success in their marriage. Unfortunately, there was no epilogue ;-(
I really enjoyed the narrator. Her southern accent was great!
August 26, 2017
This story is long and drawn out and not quite believable. I began to get bored with the characters and, seriously, how many almost assaults/attempted rapes/disasters can one person survive in one novel? I completely lost interest in what would become of these two people. I'm not saying the writing is bad, nor even the story, really. I just think I personally would have enjoyed it more if it hadn't gone on for so long. I wanted to smack the hero/heroine several times and just say "Get on with it already. Tell him/her you love him/her." Sorry this one was a bit of a disappointment.
I do have to say, though, that I listened to the audio version and narrator, Kayla Asbell, did a wonderful job with all the southern accents, and bringing the characters to life.
I do have to say, though, that I listened to the audio version and narrator, Kayla Asbell, did a wonderful job with all the southern accents, and bringing the characters to life.
January 18, 2025
This one was great. I honestly came in with some pretty low expectations, since Melanie starts things off with the absolutely bananapants go-directly-to-jail decision to get naked and fall asleep in the hotel room of the guy she’s planning on killing. Gosh, I wonder what happens next.
Fortunately things get better from there and she and Roland quickly get caught up in each other. Their dynamic is really excellent and carries the book even when JB seems to be temporarily spinning her wheels plot-wise.
JB’s knowledge of southern American history is, as always, excellent (if somewhat *ahem* dated) and she once again finds an interesting and relatively obscure moment in American history to set her story against.
Fortunately things get better from there and she and Roland quickly get caught up in each other. Their dynamic is really excellent and carries the book even when JB seems to be temporarily spinning her wheels plot-wise.
JB’s knowledge of southern American history is, as always, excellent (if somewhat *ahem* dated) and she once again finds an interesting and relatively obscure moment in American history to set her story against.
April 18, 2025
It was foolish of me to continue reading this slow, boring, lackluster story after the first few pages. Ugh, the way this story started was so bad I almost didn’t move on…. Her grandfather’s reputation was besmirched purportedly by Donovan so her grandfather challenged Donovan to a duel on the field of honor where Donovan deloped and her grandfather acted dishonorably and kept shooting at the man. Then Melanie’s grandfather obtained a deathbed promise in the throws of a pmneonia fever for Melanie to kill Donovan for him in cold blood to restore his honor.
September 16, 2022
This was classic Jennifer Blake and the reason I fell in love with her books so long ago! Melanie and Roland are at odds from the beginning, yet always end up together. All that passion is sometimes misplaced causing spectacular rifts between them, but not for long, as they can’t stay away. It takes some heartaches, some misunderstandings, some painful truths, and a whole lot of honesty for these two to finally get the HEA they both so desperately want with each other <3
May 28, 2023
This is the BEST of Blake’s books. It has everything I love about her other writings and she even incorporated all the things I griped about missing in her other books.
To begin with, she actually had the couple spend a lot of time together. That really is unusual if you look at so many other works of hers. The couple isn’t as open and honest as I would like but that’s a whole lot better than the hero going off gallivanting for half the book. Roland is so wonderfully vulnerable (to the reader) at times that I couldn’t understand how Melanie kept missing all his signs of attachment.
Secondly, the story allows for mostly appropriate mourning over characters who died (except for one seemingly forgotten death) instead of just moving on with the tale.
I thought Blake would have a formula I would be able to predict already but nope! She still leaves me clutching the book, unsure of where she’s taking us.
A few points that I really enjoyed were Jean Claude’s beautiful little speech about women, as well as the fact that the book wasn’t as dark as many others and that it stayed mostly in one area, location wise. As always, I love Blake’s common sense heroines, historical accuracy and fresh historical moments. It’s always a learning experience.
I just wish she hadn’t made Melanie do the whole “I’ll make him fall in love with me to enact revenge” plot. It doesn’t make her seem kind or intelligent.
To begin with, she actually had the couple spend a lot of time together. That really is unusual if you look at so many other works of hers. The couple isn’t as open and honest as I would like but that’s a whole lot better than the hero going off gallivanting for half the book. Roland is so wonderfully vulnerable (to the reader) at times that I couldn’t understand how Melanie kept missing all his signs of attachment.
Secondly, the story allows for mostly appropriate mourning over characters who died (except for one seemingly forgotten death) instead of just moving on with the tale.
I thought Blake would have a formula I would be able to predict already but nope! She still leaves me clutching the book, unsure of where she’s taking us.
A few points that I really enjoyed were Jean Claude’s beautiful little speech about women, as well as the fact that the book wasn’t as dark as many others and that it stayed mostly in one area, location wise. As always, I love Blake’s common sense heroines, historical accuracy and fresh historical moments. It’s always a learning experience.
I just wish she hadn’t made Melanie do the whole “I’ll make him fall in love with me to enact revenge” plot. It doesn’t make her seem kind or intelligent.
April 25, 2018
Me encantan esas venganzas que llevan a otra parte (movimiento de cejas) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
No sé si seré yo, pero me ha parecido que tiene una ¿dinámica? ¿esencia? un poco parecida a "Forastera" de Diana Gabaldon, con esa serie de sucesos que dices "Madre mía, ni Mr. Bean tenía tan mala suerte" no sé si se me entiende.
En general, me ha gustado excepto algunas cosas que me hacen chirriar los dientes (imagino que es la época), entretenida, bien ambientada y Roland es un amor（-＾o＾-）
No sé si seré yo, pero me ha parecido que tiene una ¿dinámica? ¿esencia? un poco parecida a "Forastera" de Diana Gabaldon, con esa serie de sucesos que dices "Madre mía, ni Mr. Bean tenía tan mala suerte" no sé si se me entiende.
En general, me ha gustado excepto algunas cosas que me hacen chirriar los dientes (imagino que es la época), entretenida, bien ambientada y Roland es un amor（-＾o＾-）
February 14, 2018
A bit out dated but good
Melanie frustrated me, Roland was the man, Dom was a cowardly wimp. Plenty of intrigue and action to keep the reader interested. There is romance but it is mostly underlying throughout the story.
Melanie frustrated me, Roland was the man, Dom was a cowardly wimp. Plenty of intrigue and action to keep the reader interested. There is romance but it is mostly underlying throughout the story.
November 20, 2020
Roland and Melody
This was a good but but Melody was kinda getting on my nerves. She was just doing to much. I liked Roland. It seems he was always there to save her, except where the neighbor was concerned. Chloe wasn't a real friend and Dom was just a crazy coward.💞💞
This was a good but but Melody was kinda getting on my nerves. She was just doing to much. I liked Roland. It seems he was always there to save her, except where the neighbor was concerned. Chloe wasn't a real friend and Dom was just a crazy coward.💞💞
April 9, 2024
I adored so many things about this book. If it was not soooo long it might be a favorite. It could have been edited down a ton. But the author has a nice style and I find her easy to read. Unfortunately I had to skim a lot just from fatigue of getting thru it.
August 30, 2025
This was a really good one and I would have given it the full five stars, if it weren't for the fact that the H and h didn't have as many scenes together as they should, they were apart a lot more than they were together. However, the author packs a whole lot into the times they are together, and when they're apart manages to keep the story entertaining. Even scenic descriptions are interesting and don't feel like fillers, which is often the case in other books.
It's a "hate turns to love" story, with a h set upon revenge, yet never quite sure how she plans to go about it, as every attempt seems to get thwarted.
I give Ms. Blake credit, considering that this book was written in the late 70's, for not going the usual route back then of having both the H and h sleep around or the h get raped. They only slept with each other and while the h had some close calls (with a couple of psycho brothers and also an abusive neighbor) she was rescued before things got too far (though far enough, in my opinion). It's as if Ms. Blake felt obligated to thrown these scenes in because it was the thing to do back then, but would rather have not. Anyway, all those creeps got their comeuppance, I'm happy to say.
There's some history thrown in, like the Mexican War, a planned filibuster (historical definition) of Cuba, a lot of exciting moments (duels, a steamboat explosion), a glimpse into the society of the times, and the stormy relationship between the H and h, that starts out dramatic and continues with misunderstandings, jealousy, plans for revenge, as well as confusion, hidden feelings and a lot of passion!
There's the OM, who causes most of the trouble between the couple and is quite a character to read about. He at first seems a proper suitor seeking the h's hand in marriage, then becomes weak and self-righteous, abandoning the h when she needed him, then becomes obsessed with winning her back and earning her forgiveness, all the while plotting to get rid of the H by any means, even implicating the h in political intrigue, the old "end justifies the means" trope. His obsession gets the better of him, as he drinks, neglects his law practice and descends into madness, until both the H and h put a stop to him.
The OM's sister is the token OW, a silly, self-centered southern belle, yet you can't help feeling sorry for her, as her brother was all she had. Ms. Blake leaves you wondering what becomes of her later, and I wished she had put closure to the character.
There was also another "OW" , and when the h confronts her, she gets quite a surprise!
And the book uses the situation between the H and h to give some good advice: despite doubts, insecurities and other obstacles that stand in the way, when it comes to someone you truly love, you have to take a chance and trust.
This book is one you should check out, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
It's a "hate turns to love" story, with a h set upon revenge, yet never quite sure how she plans to go about it, as every attempt seems to get thwarted.
I give Ms. Blake credit, considering that this book was written in the late 70's, for not going the usual route back then of having both the H and h sleep around or the h get raped. They only slept with each other and while the h had some close calls (with a couple of psycho brothers and also an abusive neighbor) she was rescued before things got too far (though far enough, in my opinion). It's as if Ms. Blake felt obligated to thrown these scenes in because it was the thing to do back then, but would rather have not. Anyway, all those creeps got their comeuppance, I'm happy to say.
There's some history thrown in, like the Mexican War, a planned filibuster (historical definition) of Cuba, a lot of exciting moments (duels, a steamboat explosion), a glimpse into the society of the times, and the stormy relationship between the H and h, that starts out dramatic and continues with misunderstandings, jealousy, plans for revenge, as well as confusion, hidden feelings and a lot of passion!
There's the OM, who causes most of the trouble between the couple and is quite a character to read about. He at first seems a proper suitor seeking the h's hand in marriage, then becomes weak and self-righteous, abandoning the h when she needed him, then becomes obsessed with winning her back and earning her forgiveness, all the while plotting to get rid of the H by any means, even implicating the h in political intrigue, the old "end justifies the means" trope. His obsession gets the better of him, as he drinks, neglects his law practice and descends into madness, until both the H and h put a stop to him.
The OM's sister is the token OW, a silly, self-centered southern belle, yet you can't help feeling sorry for her, as her brother was all she had. Ms. Blake leaves you wondering what becomes of her later, and I wished she had put closure to the character.
There was also another "OW" , and when the h confronts her, she gets quite a surprise!
And the book uses the situation between the H and h to give some good advice: despite doubts, insecurities and other obstacles that stand in the way, when it comes to someone you truly love, you have to take a chance and trust.
This book is one you should check out, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2014
A marriage bed should be made for love, not revenge, but Melanie makes a promise to her beloved grandfather before he dies. She vows to kill Roland and make him pay for the misery that her grandfather suffered because of Roland. Blaming Roland for her grandpa’s death is reason enough to marry him so she can get close enough to destroy him. The only thing that gets in the way is that Melanie didn’t count on Roland’s seductive kisses and her burning attraction to the one man that she shouldn’t love.
Forbidden love, flaming desire and deep emotions sizzling with the heart’s fire lead Melanie to find the man of her dreams only after he first must be the man of her schemes. TENDER BETRAYAL by Jennifer Blake is a page-turner that doesn’t disappoint…an A+++ love story.
Forbidden love, flaming desire and deep emotions sizzling with the heart’s fire lead Melanie to find the man of her dreams only after he first must be the man of her schemes. TENDER BETRAYAL by Jennifer Blake is a page-turner that doesn’t disappoint…an A+++ love story.
March 31, 2016
Sweet Story
I loved the story line, the amount of passion without being vulgar, and the length of the story was good. My only drawback was, it was too "wordy". (Technical Term) Someone would ask a question and it would be two pages over before you read the answer. By then I had forgotten the question! I found myself skipping pages to move on in the story.
I loved the story line, the amount of passion without being vulgar, and the length of the story was good. My only drawback was, it was too "wordy". (Technical Term) Someone would ask a question and it would be two pages over before you read the answer. By then I had forgotten the question! I found myself skipping pages to move on in the story.
May 28, 2023
I have read this book so many times in my life, and I know I will return to it again in the future. I admire the author's ability to make me imagine what it would be like to be in our heroine' position. I love Roland and Melanie's story very much. He is very sexy too, absolutely. Great book. I am a big fan of J. Blake. Some of her books are better than other ones.
October 5, 2014
Tender Betrayal
This is a great romance novel. The characters are well developed and I loved the story line. It is very well written. Best grammar I've seen in a long time. Jennifer Blake is quite talented. This is a smooth read. I highly recommend it.
This is a great romance novel. The characters are well developed and I loved the story line. It is very well written. Best grammar I've seen in a long time. Jennifer Blake is quite talented. This is a smooth read. I highly recommend it.
December 31, 2015
Good story. Poor ending.
This was a very good story, but I cannot stand the heroine. She is self centered and rather cold. The plot has several twists and turns. The ending was too abrupt. I would recommend it though
This was a very good story, but I cannot stand the heroine. She is self centered and rather cold. The plot has several twists and turns. The ending was too abrupt. I would recommend it though
December 1, 2016
It is usually a treat to read a book written by Blake. I enjoy the touches of history she pulls into her books. This one was just OK. It was a little long on explanations & I just did not enjoy it as well as others. Hoorah for books about the South though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews