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This Ravished Rose
She endured the bruising passions of a man she tried to hate. . . .
She defied the evil lust of another who schemed to corrupt and control England. . . .
Daughter of a nobleman exiled by Edward IV, Katherine Hartley's flashing beauty and hot-blooded pride took her from dire poverty to the dangerous glamour of Westminster Court. Threatened by royal intrigue, forced into satanic sacrificial ceremonies, Katherine finally discovered why her father had been labeled a traitor. And, at last, when the one man who might claim her soul as totally as he had captured her flesh was freed of his haunted past, she would know the glorious ecstasy of passion's wild fulfillment.
She defied the evil lust of another who schemed to corrupt and control England. . . .
Daughter of a nobleman exiled by Edward IV, Katherine Hartley's flashing beauty and hot-blooded pride took her from dire poverty to the dangerous glamour of Westminster Court. Threatened by royal intrigue, forced into satanic sacrificial ceremonies, Katherine finally discovered why her father had been labeled a traitor. And, at last, when the one man who might claim her soul as totally as he had captured her flesh was freed of his haunted past, she would know the glorious ecstasy of passion's wild fulfillment.
372 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
124 people want to read
About the author
Anne Carsley
8 books3 followersAnne Carsley is a prolific romance writer who has traveled throughout Europe, cruised the Atlantic and Caribbean, visited the Bahamas and Venezuela but prefers her home state of Mississippi to them all. Anne mingles love and idealism with history in her novel, Lady Defiant, as she believes people throughout the ages honor the brave and are charmed by lovers. Anne enjoys gardening, driving on the Natchez Trace in Mississippi, and sitting in her garden amid her flowering plants while reading and writing.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 19, 2021
4-4.5 stars, but I'm rounding up, because I haven't read a bodice ripper as compelling since I read Stormfire, Savage Surrender, Dangerous Obsession, Wild Sweet Witch, Lovefire, and Follow the Shadows last year. Medieval romance is hit or miss with me, but this medieval romance holds up to Lovefire and Follow the Shadows especially. With that said, I was immensely frustrated with both characters throughout this book, but like real life, what person is 100% likable? We all have faults. I was craving a romance with emotional depth, where both main characters go through pain and tragedy and come out on the other end together and this book delivered. Full review to come.
November 16, 2020
This story has all the awesomeness which favours all my favourites. I haven't read a cruel hero in a while and this story gave me that along with a strong heroine who is admirable. The story is set in medieval period and has excellent writing.
Triggers: miscarriage, forced seduction, rape, voo-doo idiots.
***too much spoilers***
Sir Anthony Harley was banished by his dear friend and lord, King Edward for reasons Katherine Hartley never knew,
Once she had said, “You never tell me about your life, the court and King, or how it was with you and my mother.” She had wanted to say more but there was that about Antony that held even his daughter at a distance.
Katherine stopped asking her father about the King and her mother for it pained him. Her father died sick leaving Katherine penniless and alone. The story began with an intriguing and curious pace. Katherine's mother died at child birth. She was sent to convent when her father came to take her away and she readily went along. Katherine was shown to have a headstrong mind and was independent but I didn't realise her strong character until she met James.
Lord James Hunsdale was a friend and follower of Lord Richard, brother of the King, he has been fighting for him for years. James has a painful past, he was betrayed by the woman, Margaret, he once loved. Since then his view towards women has changed and he uses them to sate his desires only. He met Katherine at an inn thinking she was a wench by looking at her attire (she wore old clothes). In their second meeting James and Katherine sleep together. The story was going well for me and in this part I was disappointed with the heroine - I wanted some reluctance, shyness, indignation - a little bit of historical period drama. But I overjudged the book too soon. When James found her with Lady Dorotea he was angry. He thought she was a maid working for Lady Dorotea and was following him. Katherine was the ward of Lady Dorotea who took her under her care in debt for Katherine's father. The two become fast friends. Lady Dorotea is also the friend of James mother and godmother of James. Katherine who knew James as only "James" and not a lord was surprised.
'she, proud Katherine, who had vowed to set the course of her own life.'
After her father's death Katherine decided to live for love and marriage instead of dedicating her life to the convent. When she met James she knew she was in love with him and no other man could take his place. But Katherine was kept afar by James past. When James and Katherine was forced to marry by Lady Dorotea in her death bed that put another hurdle between them. James believed she manipulated Lady Dorotea to marry him. After their marriage night James sent her far away to live in recluse with no money to buy clothes, jewellery or any comforts. But this wonderful heroine spared herself no self-pity! She made many friends and lost them too. Among the servants of James are few enemies who gave her trouble. After a year of no news from James she was one day called to attend him who was wounded in battle. Even in sick bed he spared her no hurt,
'“I’ll have no wife!” He rose again and flailed from side to side. “Katherine . . . Margaret ... I want you ... I hate you . . . slut. Margaret, where are you, love?” The last words were tender in contrast to his earlier fury.'
Katherine a woman of courage and pride is realistic,
'“I am well aware of my lord’s feelings, Sir Priest, and need no explanations of what is obvious to all.” She took James’s hand and he was instantly still in exhausted sleep.'
'She loved this man with all her being. His feelings toward her did not matter, his past behavior, cold and cruel, did not matter. She was jealous of the woman whose name he called and for whom he mistook her. How did he mean to be free of her, his wife whom he hated? Even that mattered little. How had she ever wanted to live apart from him? That would be death indeed. She would hide her love from him, he would never know, but she would fight to remain his wife if he lived. Better the barest crumbs than the loveless poverty forevermore. So Katherine thought in the abnegation of her pride, bare before the first real love she had ever known.'
James is duely attracted to Katherine and impressed by her who, "gave him word for word and blow for blow", who is different from any other woman. There is a lot of misunderstanding mostly on James side who has hard time trusting Katherine.
I'm hoping to find similar kind of main characters from Anne Carsley's books. I like this old time period and the dialogues so attuned and perfectly put. I recommend this.
Triggers: miscarriage, forced seduction, rape, voo-doo idiots.
***too much spoilers***
Sir Anthony Harley was banished by his dear friend and lord, King Edward for reasons Katherine Hartley never knew,
Once she had said, “You never tell me about your life, the court and King, or how it was with you and my mother.” She had wanted to say more but there was that about Antony that held even his daughter at a distance.
Katherine stopped asking her father about the King and her mother for it pained him. Her father died sick leaving Katherine penniless and alone. The story began with an intriguing and curious pace. Katherine's mother died at child birth. She was sent to convent when her father came to take her away and she readily went along. Katherine was shown to have a headstrong mind and was independent but I didn't realise her strong character until she met James.
Lord James Hunsdale was a friend and follower of Lord Richard, brother of the King, he has been fighting for him for years. James has a painful past, he was betrayed by the woman, Margaret, he once loved. Since then his view towards women has changed and he uses them to sate his desires only. He met Katherine at an inn thinking she was a wench by looking at her attire (she wore old clothes). In their second meeting James and Katherine sleep together. The story was going well for me and in this part I was disappointed with the heroine - I wanted some reluctance, shyness, indignation - a little bit of historical period drama. But I overjudged the book too soon. When James found her with Lady Dorotea he was angry. He thought she was a maid working for Lady Dorotea and was following him. Katherine was the ward of Lady Dorotea who took her under her care in debt for Katherine's father. The two become fast friends. Lady Dorotea is also the friend of James mother and godmother of James. Katherine who knew James as only "James" and not a lord was surprised.
'she, proud Katherine, who had vowed to set the course of her own life.'
After her father's death Katherine decided to live for love and marriage instead of dedicating her life to the convent. When she met James she knew she was in love with him and no other man could take his place. But Katherine was kept afar by James past. When James and Katherine was forced to marry by Lady Dorotea in her death bed that put another hurdle between them. James believed she manipulated Lady Dorotea to marry him. After their marriage night James sent her far away to live in recluse with no money to buy clothes, jewellery or any comforts. But this wonderful heroine spared herself no self-pity! She made many friends and lost them too. Among the servants of James are few enemies who gave her trouble. After a year of no news from James she was one day called to attend him who was wounded in battle. Even in sick bed he spared her no hurt,
'“I’ll have no wife!” He rose again and flailed from side to side. “Katherine . . . Margaret ... I want you ... I hate you . . . slut. Margaret, where are you, love?” The last words were tender in contrast to his earlier fury.'
Katherine a woman of courage and pride is realistic,
'“I am well aware of my lord’s feelings, Sir Priest, and need no explanations of what is obvious to all.” She took James’s hand and he was instantly still in exhausted sleep.'
'She loved this man with all her being. His feelings toward her did not matter, his past behavior, cold and cruel, did not matter. She was jealous of the woman whose name he called and for whom he mistook her. How did he mean to be free of her, his wife whom he hated? Even that mattered little. How had she ever wanted to live apart from him? That would be death indeed. She would hide her love from him, he would never know, but she would fight to remain his wife if he lived. Better the barest crumbs than the loveless poverty forevermore. So Katherine thought in the abnegation of her pride, bare before the first real love she had ever known.'
James is duely attracted to Katherine and impressed by her who, "gave him word for word and blow for blow", who is different from any other woman. There is a lot of misunderstanding mostly on James side who has hard time trusting Katherine.
I'm hoping to find similar kind of main characters from Anne Carsley's books. I like this old time period and the dialogues so attuned and perfectly put. I recommend this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2017
NB: Originally I gave this 4/4.5 stars, but now I'm rounding up. It never bored me; I was glued to the story despite its (occasionally) bumpy writing, while the OTT plot & bodice-shredding hatesex offered pure old skool awesomeness. This is also one of a very few Pocket/Gallen rippers that landed on my keeper shelf...so there you go. Belated 5-star. :P
(Methinks I've been a bit too stingy with 5s lately, so expect a handful of previously read 4s-rounded-up to circulate the feed. Apologies in advance for the clutter. ;))
(Methinks I've been a bit too stingy with 5s lately, so expect a handful of previously read 4s-rounded-up to circulate the feed. Apologies in advance for the clutter. ;))
March 16, 2022
3.5
RTC
RTC
January 25, 2025
Anne Carsley's This Ravished Rose is a captivating bodice ripping read. Medieval power squabbles, witchcraft, and devil worship? Um YES. Aside from the plot that gives Inheritance vibes, can we talk about Jamie? He is an absolute brute! I mean, from gasping out the name of his last love during coitus, physical violence to Katherine, icing her out for 80% of the novel (banishing her to a molding estate in the wild, not even bothering to come see her when she loses the babe), and maddeningly never believing in her innocence - this is why I can't stand alpha heroes sometimes!
I love the cuckoo bananas of alpha heroes but damn. It sure was infuriating to see Jamie go, enjoy your night out, you bad woman? when Katherine is literally like, omg I need comfort as I was being held hostage by a dangerously powerful cult, and escaped death by pure luck.
Also, Jamie has that "a woman hurt me one time and now I am a misogynist" backstory that is also so cry me a river, bud! And I don't think he ever apologizes for his behaviour.
So that's Jamie.
When we meet Katherine, she has lost her father and finds herself at a convent until the opportunity to be a companion to one of her father's friends in London presents itself. She, however, is mistaken by Jamie as a lowly maiden. And of course Jamie does that thing where, even though he assumes her identity and Katherine never has the chance to correct him, when he does discover the truth, he acts like it was all her fault. Grr.
Katherine's got some pluck to her, but when she realizes she loves Jamie pretty early on in the story, that's really all her character development. She just ... hopes that he will be nice to her one day?
However, the plot moves, and it's quite interesting. I loved the OTT ending. I haven't read too many romances that handle ritualistic cults (sexual or non-sexual) in a way that is very convincing, but Carsley does a good job of creating a powerful cult in the shadows, and she depicts the final ceremony with a spooky atmosphere.
The one thing that I'm not sure I missed but... Jamie, when he was in the fugue state after battle, that was a result of the cult's interference, right? I feel like that wasn't stated or maybe I was reading too fast.
Anyways, overall a fun read!
I love the cuckoo bananas of alpha heroes but damn. It sure was infuriating to see Jamie go, enjoy your night out, you bad woman? when Katherine is literally like, omg I need comfort as I was being held hostage by a dangerously powerful cult, and escaped death by pure luck.
Also, Jamie has that "a woman hurt me one time and now I am a misogynist" backstory that is also so cry me a river, bud! And I don't think he ever apologizes for his behaviour.
So that's Jamie.
When we meet Katherine, she has lost her father and finds herself at a convent until the opportunity to be a companion to one of her father's friends in London presents itself. She, however, is mistaken by Jamie as a lowly maiden. And of course Jamie does that thing where, even though he assumes her identity and Katherine never has the chance to correct him, when he does discover the truth, he acts like it was all her fault. Grr.
Katherine's got some pluck to her, but when she realizes she loves Jamie pretty early on in the story, that's really all her character development. She just ... hopes that he will be nice to her one day?
However, the plot moves, and it's quite interesting. I loved the OTT ending. I haven't read too many romances that handle ritualistic cults (sexual or non-sexual) in a way that is very convincing, but Carsley does a good job of creating a powerful cult in the shadows, and she depicts the final ceremony with a spooky atmosphere.
The one thing that I'm not sure I missed but... Jamie, when he was in the fugue state after battle, that was a result of the cult's interference, right? I feel like that wasn't stated or maybe I was reading too fast.
Anyways, overall a fun read!
March 17, 2022
Entertaining bodice ripper with fair amount of crazy involved. It takes place during the reign of King Edward IV and ascendance to the throne of Richard III. Part of the plot revolves around the mystery concerning legality of marrige of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville but the main action is between H/h James and Katherine, their forced marriage and subsequent battle of wills.
Normally, It’s not my favourite theme when Hero is cruel and reluctant to love heroine while paining for his previous flame, however, this BR was so emotionally charged, it kept me turning
pages and I had hard time putting it down.
Normally, It’s not my favourite theme when Hero is cruel and reluctant to love heroine while paining for his previous flame, however, this BR was so emotionally charged, it kept me turning
pages and I had hard time putting it down.
October 19, 2020
"This Ravished Rose" is an unusual combination of a bodice-ripper, an old-school historical novel in the vein of Anya Seton, and a gothic novel. Towards the end of the reign of Edward IV, obligations force Lord James Hunsdale and Katherine Huntley into marriage. He is a loyal servant of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, scarred by a former love affair; she is the daughter of a disgraced former confidant of the king, headstrong and often her own worst enemy. Against the turbulence of the last years of the Plantagenets, and beset by very real nefarious forces, can these two overly proud people get past their own misunderstandings of each other? The novel is slow to start and then becomes gripping. Carsley's prose is sterner than most romance writers and her authority never wavers, even when the plot incorporates the literally diabolical--which surely makes "This Ravished Rose" unique in the annals of its first-generation historical romance compatriots.
May 3, 2020
This was a perfect old school angsty dark medieval romance. Probably not one for those on the womens lib front but not really a bodice ripper either as all the major plot and interaction centers on our two main characters and their relationship (not on a surplus of outsiders and random bad situations) ala a angsty romance. That being said however, there is a nice lil dose of WTFery in there (political shenanigans, a creepy suitor & a satanic cult) that made it a bit more interesting.
That’s two books now by Carsley i’ve read, a 4 star & a 5 star so i will definitely seek out her others. Although I don’t know that any will top The Winged Lion for me 😉 That had all kinds of cray plus it was well written a winning combo for me...
That’s two books now by Carsley i’ve read, a 4 star & a 5 star so i will definitely seek out her others. Although I don’t know that any will top The Winged Lion for me 😉 That had all kinds of cray plus it was well written a winning combo for me...
April 5, 2018
I stopped at 70%. This was just too depressing for me. I hated the hero.
February 9, 2021
3.5 stars
avoid
May 1, 2023Self note: Avid.
H still in love with his ex and pined for the ow for 80% of the book, even "gasping out the name of his last love " during sex with the h.
- bodice ripper
H still in love with his ex and pined for the ow for 80% of the book, even "gasping out the name of his last love " during sex with the h.
- bodice ripper
March 5, 2022
Човек никога не знае какво ще открие из този стар траш 🤣 Сатанинска секта, управляваща тайно Англия по време на войната на Розите и посредством известната Бяла кралица Елизабет Удвил определено е изненада. Толкова глупаво, че чак добре се е получило.
3,5 ⭐️
3,5 ⭐️
December 31, 2021
I tried, I really did. The hero was mean, the heroine was stupid and I hated all that voodoo shit involving the queen and other subjects.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews