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Jasmine Moon
Lili innocently thought her disguise as a servant was a harmless way to find out what the man she married was really like. She didn't consider that her husband would force her to become his mistress and then sell her as a slave before she could reveal her true identity. Before she can utter a sound, Lili is ripped from her pampered life on a Carolina plantation and forced to begin a dangerous journey that will test her willingness to survive and strength of spirit. In the unfamiliar Canadian wilderness Lili discovers that her passion cannot be tamed.
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First published January 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 9, 2022
Nope. DNF.
I can’t stand this hero. Even by vintage standards he’s callous, overbearing, & cruel, not to mention dumber than a box of rocks. I’m fine with asshole heroes, but cruel, whiny, mansplaining, AND dumb? STFU. It’s too bad, really; the heroine isn’t awful, the plot is whackadoodle, & the cover is gorgeous, but I can’t deal with the trifecta of terrible hero, terrible prose, & terrible Big Mis on endless repeat.
It’s unfortunate, as I’ve had this a long time (& seriously, take a minute to admire that classic cover 💚), but I refuse to force myself through another page. Humbug. ☹️
I can’t stand this hero. Even by vintage standards he’s callous, overbearing, & cruel, not to mention dumber than a box of rocks. I’m fine with asshole heroes, but cruel, whiny, mansplaining, AND dumb? STFU. It’s too bad, really; the heroine isn’t awful, the plot is whackadoodle, & the cover is gorgeous, but I can’t deal with the trifecta of terrible hero, terrible prose, & terrible Big Mis on endless repeat.
It’s unfortunate, as I’ve had this a long time (& seriously, take a minute to admire that classic cover 💚), but I refuse to force myself through another page. Humbug. ☹️
August 18, 2015
You have to have a high tolerance for old school bodice rippers, especially those taking place in the antebellum south. To be honest, had I read this as a teen I'd have probably eaten it up with a spoon, but obviously tastes change.
This had some potential to be a good old fashioned BR, but the potential for really deep angst was overloaded by ... well... too much angst. As soon as one crisis was over, another began, leaving no time for a resolution of any depth. Good gravy!
As Jacqueline said in her review: "There's floods, amnesia, babies, jealousy, angst, repentance, nunneries, voodoo... there might even be elephants."
There were no elephants, but definitely a wild boar, alligators, and deadly snakes. Oh and let's not forget the British. The British were always coming.
This was VERY old school and unapologetically so. Warning: slavery is present and the hero is a slave owner.
Also the hero's attitude was definitely not that of a modern man when it comes to women. He loved the heroine, but was very much of the mind that she was his and he had all rights to dictate her life. A very paternal attitude that might make you want to scream at times.
I was very angered by the hero's jealousy against the trapper who had bought his wife when she was sold into slavery (by himself!). The trapper was too drunk to perform the first night and then the heroine somehow managed to convince him she was a nun and got him to leave her at a nunnery. So, improbably, the heroine never had sex with the trapper. I say improbably, because he sure as heck didn't buy her to do his laundry.
The grossness of the H's attitude, no matter how historically fitting, was just *blech*. Even if the trapper had had sex with the heroine, it would have been rape. She wouldn't have been his mistress (as the hero kept referring to the relationship) she would have been a sex slave. Big difference there bucko! Then again, that would probably have been the mindset of many men of the time.
Also, the hero, while determined to do right by the heroine and find her and restore her to her rightful position as 'lady of the manor' had also planned to never sleep with her again since she was "ruined". The only thing that made me able to deal, was that he eventually decided he'd get past it since he wanted her so much. Still, he was jealous of this potential RAPIST for vast majority of the book.
The reason why he was jealous (aside from outdated ideas about sex) was the absurd lack of communication going on. Yeah, yeah, I realize misunderstanding moves the plot along, but give me a break. It was one misplaced assumption after another and no one ever just came out and said what was on their mind.
This had some potential to be a good old fashioned BR, but the potential for really deep angst was overloaded by ... well... too much angst. As soon as one crisis was over, another began, leaving no time for a resolution of any depth. Good gravy!
As Jacqueline said in her review: "There's floods, amnesia, babies, jealousy, angst, repentance, nunneries, voodoo... there might even be elephants."
There were no elephants, but definitely a wild boar, alligators, and deadly snakes. Oh and let's not forget the British. The British were always coming.
This was VERY old school and unapologetically so. Warning: slavery is present and the hero is a slave owner.
Also the hero's attitude was definitely not that of a modern man when it comes to women. He loved the heroine, but was very much of the mind that she was his and he had all rights to dictate her life. A very paternal attitude that might make you want to scream at times.
I was very angered by the hero's jealousy against the trapper who had bought his wife when she was sold into slavery (by himself!). The trapper was too drunk to perform the first night and then the heroine somehow managed to convince him she was a nun and got him to leave her at a nunnery. So, improbably, the heroine never had sex with the trapper. I say improbably, because he sure as heck didn't buy her to do his laundry.
The grossness of the H's attitude, no matter how historically fitting, was just *blech*. Even if the trapper had had sex with the heroine, it would have been rape. She wouldn't have been his mistress (as the hero kept referring to the relationship) she would have been a sex slave. Big difference there bucko! Then again, that would probably have been the mindset of many men of the time.
Also, the hero, while determined to do right by the heroine and find her and restore her to her rightful position as 'lady of the manor' had also planned to never sleep with her again since she was "ruined". The only thing that made me able to deal, was that he eventually decided he'd get past it since he wanted her so much. Still, he was jealous of this potential RAPIST for vast majority of the book.
The reason why he was jealous (aside from outdated ideas about sex) was the absurd lack of communication going on. Yeah, yeah, I realize misunderstanding moves the plot along, but give me a break. It was one misplaced assumption after another and no one ever just came out and said what was on their mind.
April 1, 2011
This was one of my first historical romances. It's definitely a wild old bodice ripper. Lili is married by proxy to Robert and pretends to be a light skinned slave when he comes to the plantation as she is scared of this unknown man. He takes her as a mistress (oh why don't these romance heroine's just tell the truth?) then decides he has become too fond of her and sells her to a fur trader. That's when he learns who she really is and off he goes to rescue her and get her back. There's floods, amnesia, babies, jealousy, angst, repentance, nunneries, voodoo... there might even be elephants. Hard to remember. There's so much going on here.
I sold this book once in my "I'm too good for romances" stage. But I never forgot it and eventually had to replace my copy.
If you missed the bodice ripper phase the first time around, (oh you poor things!) and you're looking to give them a try, start here. You won't regret it.
I sold this book once in my "I'm too good for romances" stage. But I never forgot it and eventually had to replace my copy.
If you missed the bodice ripper phase the first time around, (oh you poor things!) and you're looking to give them a try, start here. You won't regret it.
Read
April 15, 2020Had to give up on this one. Too much tell and no show. Sex scene was "behind closed doors" And it was just plain boring. I made it to page 112 before deciding to quit.
December 23, 2016
This book would have been a lot shorter if there weren't so many misunderstandings.
I nearly gave up numerous times from weariness of the constant jumping to conclusions for ridiculous reasons.
After getting off to a good start, the book sank into mediocrity and stayed there.
A disappointing read after such a promising beginning.
will-not-read-own-it-sell-gift
March 9, 20221.6 average rating from 23 GR buddies and the unforgivable sin of being boring probably means I'll never read this one.
It's such a shame, as I do adore the Tom Miller Cover.
Life's too short, so scan the book, skim a chapter or two, read the end and sell this turkey.
It's such a shame, as I do adore the Tom Miller Cover.
Life's too short, so scan the book, skim a chapter or two, read the end and sell this turkey.
Read
March 3, 2015Old school historical romance. Lots of drama. Almost too much drama. A bit of history. One knows this author did her research.
Why this was only ok- the hero was an idiot. He made so many bad decisions. Such an idiot.
The heroine was too sweet. And I like sweet heroines. I avoid historicals with heroines described as feisty however this heroine could do with a jolt of feisty.
Why this was only ok- the hero was an idiot. He made so many bad decisions. Such an idiot.
The heroine was too sweet. And I like sweet heroines. I avoid historicals with heroines described as feisty however this heroine could do with a jolt of feisty.
August 31, 2017
I understand that writing a romance novel set in the antebellum South is tricky to begin with but this author seemed to go out of their way to make it even worse. We are expected to believe that our heroine will not only forgive the man who raped her multiple times (when he took her for a slave) and then then sold her, but will fall in love with him. She fled to a convent to hide from him, for crying out loud, and then falls in love with him after they are reunited and she is caring for their son (not to mention that he rapes her again). We are also expected to believe that she will excuse her husband for threatening to sell a person she's known her entire life, a slave who has comforted and cared for her since she was a child. Like I said, the antebellum South is problematic at best for romance novels, but the character arcs and the writing leave a lot to be desired.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2019
I love Statham and most of her books. I love the historical fiction genre and this definitely falls into that category. A lot of Statham's books are old-school bodice rippers which I dig. This one I found frustrating at times, like someone else said, this book would have been so much shorter if it weren't for the ridiculous misunderstandings. The book is set during the 1800s and having read some of the author's other work I saw this stuff coming but the rape scenes and how women are treating in this book made me uncomfortable. I find it frustrating that the main character was trapped and essential had Stockholm Syndrome. Overall a pretty good and easy read, cheesy, full of drama and romance (if you can call it that).
July 15, 2025
While this had a major issue (the h being sold as a slave, due to disguised/mistaken identity and the complicated situation with her arranged marriage to the H) I still enjoyed reading it, though not enough to add another star. While there was enough adventure, historical info as well as entertainment with the children in the story, there was also too much time wasted when it came to the H and h. First their separation, and her time in the convent, and all the confusion and misinformation, then both of them hiding their true feelings, each thinking the other's heart was elsewhere. He thought she had fallen for his friend (the OM in the story who had in fact fallen for her) and she thought he resented their marriage because it kept him from the woman he really loved, their son's governess (the OW, who did want the H and was determined to get the h out of the way, no matter what it took.
Meanwhile, the H had no romantic interest in the OW, and the h thought of the OM as a friend, but nothing beyond that.
As for both those characters, the OM didn't try to hide his feelings and even told the h if she was unhappy in her marriage, he'd do what he could to help her get a divorce. He said this without getting the H's side of things, which doesn't sound like much of a friend to me. But he does come to accept (after quite an entertaining horserace with the H, where both men are rivals about more than the race) that he never had a chance with the h.
Meanwhile, the OW was diabolical using an island legend to first make the h think she was being haunted, then attempting to kill her twice, as well as putting her son's life in danger. (And the h never tells the H about this, thinking he won't believe her, which was dumb, because it concerned their son). She also goes the typical way of OW, by telling the h that it's really her the H loves, she's in the way of their happiness, etc. and of course the insecure h believes her. But she gets her comeuppance in the end!
The H spends too much time in a bad temper, ordering the h about because he's frustrated thinking he doesn't care but of course, never talks to her about it, letting pride get in the way. She does the same as well, so time is wasted and the HEA (as well as the circumstances that bring it about) seems too rushed, as the author waited until almost the end of the book.
It was good but could have been better.
Meanwhile, the H had no romantic interest in the OW, and the h thought of the OM as a friend, but nothing beyond that.
As for both those characters, the OM didn't try to hide his feelings and even told the h if she was unhappy in her marriage, he'd do what he could to help her get a divorce. He said this without getting the H's side of things, which doesn't sound like much of a friend to me. But he does come to accept (after quite an entertaining horserace with the H, where both men are rivals about more than the race) that he never had a chance with the h.
Meanwhile, the OW was diabolical using an island legend to first make the h think she was being haunted, then attempting to kill her twice, as well as putting her son's life in danger. (And the h never tells the H about this, thinking he won't believe her, which was dumb, because it concerned their son). She also goes the typical way of OW, by telling the h that it's really her the H loves, she's in the way of their happiness, etc. and of course the insecure h believes her. But she gets her comeuppance in the end!
The H spends too much time in a bad temper, ordering the h about because he's frustrated thinking he doesn't care but of course, never talks to her about it, letting pride get in the way. She does the same as well, so time is wasted and the HEA (as well as the circumstances that bring it about) seems too rushed, as the author waited until almost the end of the book.
It was good but could have been better.
May 1, 2016
I did end up enjoying the book even though there is a maddening lack of communication between the couple. Someone is always trying to come between them in the book and attempts are even made on people's lives. The amount of things that happen to these people is crazy, bear attacks, wild boar attacks, alligator attacks, hurricanes, British invasions, duels, nuns, amnesia, Indians, evil plots... the list just goes on. Not to mention Eulalie being sold as a slave by her own husband.
*Note: I don't know why the description of the book mentions Canada... they are never in Canada.. The vast majority of the book takes place around the Charleston, SC and Columbia, SC areas.. A small part takes place in New Orleans, LA.
*Note: I don't know why the description of the book mentions Canada... they are never in Canada.. The vast majority of the book takes place around the Charleston, SC and Columbia, SC areas.. A small part takes place in New Orleans, LA.
October 7, 2013
Very old school romance - you have to remember the genre in which is was written and the year (1978). I think this was the first romance book I ever read and I think it began my love affair with alpha males. I just re-read it 25 years later and it still was a good read even thought it is soooo politically incorrect :).
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July 21, 2014I read this book before I was a teenager and it made such an impression (I am not sure what type) on me that I've not been able to forget it in over 20 yrs. I plan to read it again so that I can see if it was a good as I found it then.
June 26, 2012
Eulleee
June 12, 2015
Storyline was ok but it was so boring
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews