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House of Torres #1
Paradise & More
Second in command to Cristobal Colon, Aaron sets sail for the Indies seeking adventure in the new world and fleeing persecution in the old. Caught between King Fernando's desire and Queen Ysabel's jealousy, Magdalena follows the man she has always loved to the ends of the known world and beyond. Drawn together across religious barriers and storm-tossed oceans, they discover a lush paradise fraught with danger and desire.
443 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
3 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Shirl Henke
63 books77 followersaka Alexa Hunt.
Working my way through college provided great life experiences for a novelist. One problem. I didn’t know I was destined to write books. Instead, I floundered around during and after receiving my B.A. and M.A. in history from the University of Missouri. None of my wide variety of jobs satisfied me: cashier for a loan company, public welfare caseworker, assistant circulation manager for a small daily, editor for several “house organ” newspapers, administrator of a federal information program for the elderly.
Finally I was offered the opportunity to use my history degrees, teaching in a large urban university in the Northeast. I truly enjoyed it. Unfortunately, when the history requirement was dropped for incoming students, so was my instructorship. After that I taught gerontology, sociology, proposal writing for social service agencies and freshman composition at the same university. Further life experiences. My last two years of teaching were in remedial English—just the nudge I needed to take this writing thing seriously.
Since childhood I’ve been an avid reader, everything from Robert Heinlein’s sci-fi adventures to Frank Yerby’s historical romantic sagas. More recently I became hooked on thrillers. Since childhood I had story ideas in my head, but never the epiphany to write them. Okay, maybe I just didn’t have the courage. But there were just so many times I could explain what a verb was to a college senior before I realized that maybe writing a book might be easier. I sold my first novel, a big historical romance titled GOLDEN LADY, to Warner Books in 1985. Within two years, I quit remedial comp. Now I can't imagine doing anything but writing for a living. In 2005 I switched over to the “dark side.” Tor published two political thrillers, CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY and HOMELAND SECURITY under the pseudonym Alexa Hunt. I’ve also written romantic suspense for Penguin Onyx and Silhouette Bombshell as Shirl Henke. Since I began my career, I’ve appeared on the USA TODAY bestseller list, been a RITA Finalist twice, received a BookraK Bestseller Award, and won three Career Achievement Awards, an Industry Award and three Reviewers Choice Awards from Romantic Times.
My husband Jim Henke is a former cabdriver, bartender, sailor, judo instructor and English professor. He's a scholarly authority on obscene slang and a master at its use, but an astonishingly understanding man who puts up with my all-night writing sprees and sudden dashes to my desk to jot down bits of dialogue as dinner burns on the stove. Since he took early retirement from academe, he has helped me brainstorm plots and research my novels.
After four years in the U.S. Air Force, our son Matt works in telecommunications and lives in an adjacent county with his brute of a cat, Max. Jim and I now share our cedar house in the woods with a pair of utterly adorable tomcats, Inky and Pewter, whose destructive capacity rivals that of a medium sized thermonuclear weapon. But just as life without writing would be unimaginable, so would life without cats.
For therapy when I'm not at the computer or off researching a new book, I cook large dinners for our extended family, putter in my garden and greenhouse, and still read voraciously. When deadlines permit, I love to travel. I'm a member of the Author's Guild, Romance Writers of America, Missouri Romance Writers, Sisters in Crime, Novelists Inc. and International Thriller Writers
I wrote my first twenty-two novels in longhand with a ball-point pen--it's hard to get good quills these days. Dragged into the 21st century, I now use one of those "devil machines. Another troglodyte bites the dust
Working my way through college provided great life experiences for a novelist. One problem. I didn’t know I was destined to write books. Instead, I floundered around during and after receiving my B.A. and M.A. in history from the University of Missouri. None of my wide variety of jobs satisfied me: cashier for a loan company, public welfare caseworker, assistant circulation manager for a small daily, editor for several “house organ” newspapers, administrator of a federal information program for the elderly.
Finally I was offered the opportunity to use my history degrees, teaching in a large urban university in the Northeast. I truly enjoyed it. Unfortunately, when the history requirement was dropped for incoming students, so was my instructorship. After that I taught gerontology, sociology, proposal writing for social service agencies and freshman composition at the same university. Further life experiences. My last two years of teaching were in remedial English—just the nudge I needed to take this writing thing seriously.
Since childhood I’ve been an avid reader, everything from Robert Heinlein’s sci-fi adventures to Frank Yerby’s historical romantic sagas. More recently I became hooked on thrillers. Since childhood I had story ideas in my head, but never the epiphany to write them. Okay, maybe I just didn’t have the courage. But there were just so many times I could explain what a verb was to a college senior before I realized that maybe writing a book might be easier. I sold my first novel, a big historical romance titled GOLDEN LADY, to Warner Books in 1985. Within two years, I quit remedial comp. Now I can't imagine doing anything but writing for a living. In 2005 I switched over to the “dark side.” Tor published two political thrillers, CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY and HOMELAND SECURITY under the pseudonym Alexa Hunt. I’ve also written romantic suspense for Penguin Onyx and Silhouette Bombshell as Shirl Henke. Since I began my career, I’ve appeared on the USA TODAY bestseller list, been a RITA Finalist twice, received a BookraK Bestseller Award, and won three Career Achievement Awards, an Industry Award and three Reviewers Choice Awards from Romantic Times.
My husband Jim Henke is a former cabdriver, bartender, sailor, judo instructor and English professor. He's a scholarly authority on obscene slang and a master at its use, but an astonishingly understanding man who puts up with my all-night writing sprees and sudden dashes to my desk to jot down bits of dialogue as dinner burns on the stove. Since he took early retirement from academe, he has helped me brainstorm plots and research my novels.
After four years in the U.S. Air Force, our son Matt works in telecommunications and lives in an adjacent county with his brute of a cat, Max. Jim and I now share our cedar house in the woods with a pair of utterly adorable tomcats, Inky and Pewter, whose destructive capacity rivals that of a medium sized thermonuclear weapon. But just as life without writing would be unimaginable, so would life without cats.
For therapy when I'm not at the computer or off researching a new book, I cook large dinners for our extended family, putter in my garden and greenhouse, and still read voraciously. When deadlines permit, I love to travel. I'm a member of the Author's Guild, Romance Writers of America, Missouri Romance Writers, Sisters in Crime, Novelists Inc. and International Thriller Writers
I wrote my first twenty-two novels in longhand with a ball-point pen--it's hard to get good quills these days. Dragged into the 21st century, I now use one of those "devil machines. Another troglodyte bites the dust
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 16, 2022
"Paradise & More" is the first book in the House of Torres Saga that takes place in the late 1400s when Columbus New World started right after expulsion of jews from Spain where Catholic Monarchs of Castile and Aragon ordered the expulsion of practicing Jews from their kingdoms.This novel felt sometimes like a history textbook and i really learned by Shirl Henke`s detail of political and historical incidents throughout the story.But in the center of "Paradise & More" we follow the curageous noble lady Magdalena Luisa Valdes who follows the love of her life,the adventurer Aaron Torres across the seas to Espaniola to make him her husband.They are both prisoners of a desire that kept them drawing together across religious barriers and storm-tossed oceans.She never gave up,and have harbored this insane crush for him ever since she was a girl.Despite his hatred for her she still wants to marry him,and that he already has a Indian Royal Princess as a mistress and have a bastard son with her never made her run for her life to keep even a little bit of self-respect intact...(sigh).The only reason i am not ranting about this is because i DID NOT CARE ABOUT THE COUPLE!This was a interesting experience,but i did not enjoy it.I also have to figure out if i should delete one star,hmmmm.
There is also a sequel "Return to Paradise" where we get to follow the bastard son Navaro Torress and Aarons son with his wife Benjamin Torress-i do want to read their book since both half-brothers are heroes in that book.
There is also a sequel "Return to Paradise" where we get to follow the bastard son Navaro Torress and Aarons son with his wife Benjamin Torress-i do want to read their book since both half-brothers are heroes in that book.
May 10, 2023
Paradise and More by Shirl Henke is memorable to me for having one of the most eye-catching covers in romance. A dazzling beauty by Pino Daeni, it features a fully naked couple in a glorious clinch, their nudity covered by some strategically placed flowers and the book’s title. Lamentably, I have a later reissue, where their nakedness is hidden behind a respectable-looking stepback cover.
A swashbuckling historical, Paradise and More is the first book in the House of Torres duo. The romance takes place in late 1400s Spain. This is a seminal time in history, where Columbus’ exploration into the “New World” began after the expulsion of Jews from Spain. The Catholic Monarchs of Castile and Aragon had reconquered the Iberian Peninsula from the Muslims who had entered Hispania 700 years prior.
Lady Magdalena Luisa Valdes–for some unfathomable reason–falls madly in love at first sight with Aaron “Diego” Torres, the son of a wealthy converso family (a Jewish family that converted to Catholicism). Aaron is arrogant and contemptuous of Magdalena, a wonderful character with the kind of fortitude that makes a heroine legendary. Beautiful and kind-hearted, Magdalena has to navigate court intrigues to avoid the eyes of the Reyes Católicos. This is to say, the King’s wandering eyes and the Queen’s jealous ones.
To flee from prejudice and intrigue, Aaron decides to travel the uncharted seas with Columbus, as his second-in-command, to search for new lands. Meanwhile, Magdalena befriends Aaron’s family, becoming like a second daughter to them.
After a successful conquest, Aaron returns to find Magdalena living in his parents’ household. He takes advantage of her crush on him and forces himself upon her. After ravishing her, he leaves to return to the newfound colonies. The Torres family demands honor and avow their wayward son must marry their darling Magdalena.
Destiny has tragedy in store for the House of Torres, as they are accused of heresy by the Inquisition and then executed.
Alone in the world, Magdalena has but one mission in her life: to be with the man she loves. She follows Aaron across the ocean to Columbus’ settlement in Hispaniola. Despite his contemptible behavior towards her, Magdalena still wants to marry Aaron.
However, when Magdalena arrives, she finds Aaron already has a mistress, the Native Princess, Aliyah. What’s more, Aliyah is pregnant with Aaron’s child.
As a lone European woman in Hispaniola, Magdalena draws much attention from men, including the brothers of Columbus. Aaron cannot deny the allure she holds. And though he will never be forced to do anything against his will, Aaron knows his family’s final wishes were for him to marry Magdalena.
The tropical backdrop makes an appropriate setting for their heated attraction. Their passion for each other grows to a climax. After they marry, Aaron and Magdalena find that their adventures together are just beginning. Aaron’s spurned mistress connives with the villains to destroy him in every way she can. Aaron and Magdalena must work together to overcome even more obstacles.
I loved that Paradise and More took us to late 15th century Spain, an era I can’t get enough of. Columbus’ expedition into the Americas was an unusual backdrop for a romance. Shirl Henke did a great job capturing the era, even though her protagonists were sometimes a bit too modern in their thinking.
This epic, late-era bodice ripper is a tumultuous read that features a loveable, resilient heroine, but the hero is a bit of a jerk and not in a good way. Although I must say, the love scenes were…oh my! ¡Muy caliente!
The first half of this book was so good and filled with action: bloody sword fights, the hero’s entire family being killed, forced seduction, and the spanning of years & continents. Somehow, though, when Magdalena got to Hispanola, the pace slowed down a bit. Aaron was a douche canoe. If not for the machinations of the scorned other-woman, Aliyah, the last half would have dragged needlessly.
All in all, I found Paradise and More to be a mostly diverting historical romance that took both history and romance seriously. This had a great cover, likable heroine, a unique setting, but it needed a to-die-for hero to elevate it to a more spectacular level.
For those curious to continue the story, the love lives of Aaron’s two sons are told in the sequel, Return to Paradise.
A swashbuckling historical, Paradise and More is the first book in the House of Torres duo. The romance takes place in late 1400s Spain. This is a seminal time in history, where Columbus’ exploration into the “New World” began after the expulsion of Jews from Spain. The Catholic Monarchs of Castile and Aragon had reconquered the Iberian Peninsula from the Muslims who had entered Hispania 700 years prior.
Lady Magdalena Luisa Valdes–for some unfathomable reason–falls madly in love at first sight with Aaron “Diego” Torres, the son of a wealthy converso family (a Jewish family that converted to Catholicism). Aaron is arrogant and contemptuous of Magdalena, a wonderful character with the kind of fortitude that makes a heroine legendary. Beautiful and kind-hearted, Magdalena has to navigate court intrigues to avoid the eyes of the Reyes Católicos. This is to say, the King’s wandering eyes and the Queen’s jealous ones.
To flee from prejudice and intrigue, Aaron decides to travel the uncharted seas with Columbus, as his second-in-command, to search for new lands. Meanwhile, Magdalena befriends Aaron’s family, becoming like a second daughter to them.
After a successful conquest, Aaron returns to find Magdalena living in his parents’ household. He takes advantage of her crush on him and forces himself upon her. After ravishing her, he leaves to return to the newfound colonies. The Torres family demands honor and avow their wayward son must marry their darling Magdalena.
Destiny has tragedy in store for the House of Torres, as they are accused of heresy by the Inquisition and then executed.
Alone in the world, Magdalena has but one mission in her life: to be with the man she loves. She follows Aaron across the ocean to Columbus’ settlement in Hispaniola. Despite his contemptible behavior towards her, Magdalena still wants to marry Aaron.
However, when Magdalena arrives, she finds Aaron already has a mistress, the Native Princess, Aliyah. What’s more, Aliyah is pregnant with Aaron’s child.
As a lone European woman in Hispaniola, Magdalena draws much attention from men, including the brothers of Columbus. Aaron cannot deny the allure she holds. And though he will never be forced to do anything against his will, Aaron knows his family’s final wishes were for him to marry Magdalena.
The tropical backdrop makes an appropriate setting for their heated attraction. Their passion for each other grows to a climax. After they marry, Aaron and Magdalena find that their adventures together are just beginning. Aaron’s spurned mistress connives with the villains to destroy him in every way she can. Aaron and Magdalena must work together to overcome even more obstacles.
I loved that Paradise and More took us to late 15th century Spain, an era I can’t get enough of. Columbus’ expedition into the Americas was an unusual backdrop for a romance. Shirl Henke did a great job capturing the era, even though her protagonists were sometimes a bit too modern in their thinking.
This epic, late-era bodice ripper is a tumultuous read that features a loveable, resilient heroine, but the hero is a bit of a jerk and not in a good way. Although I must say, the love scenes were…oh my! ¡Muy caliente!
The first half of this book was so good and filled with action: bloody sword fights, the hero’s entire family being killed, forced seduction, and the spanning of years & continents. Somehow, though, when Magdalena got to Hispanola, the pace slowed down a bit. Aaron was a douche canoe. If not for the machinations of the scorned other-woman, Aliyah, the last half would have dragged needlessly.
All in all, I found Paradise and More to be a mostly diverting historical romance that took both history and romance seriously. This had a great cover, likable heroine, a unique setting, but it needed a to-die-for hero to elevate it to a more spectacular level.
For those curious to continue the story, the love lives of Aaron’s two sons are told in the sequel, Return to Paradise.
May 10, 2020
This could have gotten a four, but it was more history than romance. It was like a history book with a few sex scenes.
August 17, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ I had a lot of trouble wanting to read this book after the rather spectacularly scandalous first chapter. Although it’s well researched for something written in the early ‘90s about Christopher Columbus and the Spanish Empire, I felt that actually ended up being a detriment to the story. The author seemed to want a historical epic about the Jewish persecution of the time and felt trapped by her MMP romance contract. I had a hard time liking either the MMC or FMC, didn’t root for them as a couple, and didn’t believe in the HEA ending they got. Had this been published as a historical epic, I might have felt differently, but it fell flat for me as a romance.
Please note that this book includes sexual and other forms of violence, infidelity within the main couple, and that the author’s primary focus of wrongs done by the Spanish Empire is on Jewish people, not other forms of colonization, so if you’re sensitive about that, this may not be for you.
Please note that this book includes sexual and other forms of violence, infidelity within the main couple, and that the author’s primary focus of wrongs done by the Spanish Empire is on Jewish people, not other forms of colonization, so if you’re sensitive about that, this may not be for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2018
Deeply researched (back in the day when authors had to go to the library and dig out 20 books on the subject to know what they're talking about).
It's a good quality historical, really learned a lot and gave me some food for thoughts.
It's a good quality historical, really learned a lot and gave me some food for thoughts.
January 9, 2022
Испанската инквизиция и пътешествията на Колумб, плюс еврейския “въпрос” по времето на алчната, умна, но и изключително фанатично-регроградна кралска двойка Исабел и Фернандо е колоритен и доста добре разгърнат фон на доста буреносната любовна история между Кастилска аристокрсткс и марано. Помня, че оттук научих навремето името на едни от първите индианци, посрещнали Колумб - тайно. Много ясно, че нито един не е оцелял до днес, всъщност са загинали в рамките на първите 100 години от сблъсъка си с европейците, предимно от донесените болести.
April 14, 2018
Много добре написан и интересен роман. Показани са доста реалности и трудности в живота. Исторически е засегната темата за инквизицията и каква е религията по това време. Има моменти на осмисляне. С добра образна система. На моменти някои от героите изнервят с постъпките си, но нима и в живота не е така.
July 11, 2013
Excellent
August 15, 2024
Развлекателна книжка за дните, в които искаш да губиш време. При голямо желание могат да бъдат изведени поуки и добри изводи. По-приятно и лесно е да се чете като не твърде съществена история в бавни почивни следобеди или почивка на плажа. Преживява се обаче гама от емоции и има наличие на интересни развития в образите на героите.
Приятно четиво, но нищо особено.
Приятно четиво, но нищо особено.
March 13, 2022
Amazing
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews