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Amanda Rose
New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards deliciously mixes adventure and romance in her beloved tale of a buccaneer and a convent girl—a romance so magnificent it will make your pulse pound and your heart rejoice.
Orphaned heiress Lady Amanda Rose Culver wanted to run from the injured man she found on the rocky shore near her convent school. But his hard-muscled hand stopped her even before she saw the pain and longing in his eyes. And she trembled, not with fear, but with a desire to believe in his story, his innocence, his passion.
New World privateer Matt Grayson, unjustly accused of murder by the British Crown, has narrowly escaped hanging. Now his freedom depends on winning this beautiful girl's co-operation so he can sail back to New Orleans. He never meant to hold her captive on his ship. He never meant to fall in love....
Orphaned heiress Lady Amanda Rose Culver wanted to run from the injured man she found on the rocky shore near her convent school. But his hard-muscled hand stopped her even before she saw the pain and longing in his eyes. And she trembled, not with fear, but with a desire to believe in his story, his innocence, his passion.
New World privateer Matt Grayson, unjustly accused of murder by the British Crown, has narrowly escaped hanging. Now his freedom depends on winning this beautiful girl's co-operation so he can sail back to New Orleans. He never meant to hold her captive on his ship. He never meant to fall in love....
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1984
153 people are currently reading
661 people want to read
About the author
Karen Robards
135 books3,240 followersKaren Robards is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than fifty books and one novella. She has won multiple awards including six Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Awards for favorite author.
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."
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November 4, 2012DNF at 37% with a little bit of "ick".
I've never really given much thought to how long I've been reading romances. They have just always been lying around - on bookshelves, my kindle, library books, borrowed from friends, given away and fondly remembered, just always there. I talk a lot about Shanna being the first one I read back in the late 70s, but I've never really connected the dots between how old I was then, and how old I am NOW.
It really became clear to me today when I picked up Amanda Rose by Karen Robards. Amanda Rose was written back in 1984, right around the time I was gorging myself on historical romances by Woodiwiss, McBain and Busbee.
The story begins with American privateer Matt Grayson and his harrowing escape from the gallows at Tyburn Hill. Injured in his escape, he is found by the virginal orphan Amanda Rose on an early morning walk on the beach.
Of course, he is injured (YAY! Sponge-bath-and-fever, my favourite trope!) and Amanda takes care of him. Of course, she spies his lush man-pelt and has to deal with those pesky tinglings in her nether parts. Of course, the stubbly beard that makes him look old gets shaved off, and she is overcome with feelings for this dangerously handsome convict. Of course, he is too old for her (33 to her 18) and tells her so. Often. And, of course, he kisses her.
All of this so far is quite good, and par for the course for romances written in the early 80s. I was settling in for an afternoon of adventure and romance - "so magnificent it will make your pulse pound and your heart rejoice".
Until Amanda starts looking at the Hero with huge, trusting, wonder-filled eyes and asks him if all girls feel the same when they are kissed? Is it always like this for him? And Hero answers her in a indulgent (shall we say patronizing) tone that no, hardly any girls are swept away by passion as she is and that he must not kiss her again, else he give in to his fever for her and take the gift that she should be saving (if you know what I mean).
All of this was absolutely fine with me 25 years ago when I dreamed of a tall, handsome manly man who would sweep me off my feet and teach me all I needed to know about lurv.
But reading a book like this 25 years later, when said tall, handsome manly man is chasing after the equivalent of a high school senior, and it squicks me out.
I've been spoiled by all the late-twenties spinsters populating historicals lately, I guess. The old standard age gap is has widened so far that for me, in this book, it was unbridgeable. And that's when it occurred to me just how long I've been reading romances, and how my perspective has changed.
Maybe I'll try to skew my thinking and try this book again later, when I'm more able to channel my inner 18 year old ingenue.
I've never really given much thought to how long I've been reading romances. They have just always been lying around - on bookshelves, my kindle, library books, borrowed from friends, given away and fondly remembered, just always there. I talk a lot about Shanna being the first one I read back in the late 70s, but I've never really connected the dots between how old I was then, and how old I am NOW.
It really became clear to me today when I picked up Amanda Rose by Karen Robards. Amanda Rose was written back in 1984, right around the time I was gorging myself on historical romances by Woodiwiss, McBain and Busbee.
The story begins with American privateer Matt Grayson and his harrowing escape from the gallows at Tyburn Hill. Injured in his escape, he is found by the virginal orphan Amanda Rose on an early morning walk on the beach.
Of course, he is injured (YAY! Sponge-bath-and-fever, my favourite trope!) and Amanda takes care of him. Of course, she spies his lush man-pelt and has to deal with those pesky tinglings in her nether parts. Of course, the stubbly beard that makes him look old gets shaved off, and she is overcome with feelings for this dangerously handsome convict. Of course, he is too old for her (33 to her 18) and tells her so. Often. And, of course, he kisses her.
All of this so far is quite good, and par for the course for romances written in the early 80s. I was settling in for an afternoon of adventure and romance - "so magnificent it will make your pulse pound and your heart rejoice".
Until Amanda starts looking at the Hero with huge, trusting, wonder-filled eyes and asks him if all girls feel the same when they are kissed? Is it always like this for him? And Hero answers her in a indulgent (shall we say patronizing) tone that no, hardly any girls are swept away by passion as she is and that he must not kiss her again, else he give in to his fever for her and take the gift that she should be saving (if you know what I mean).
All of this was absolutely fine with me 25 years ago when I dreamed of a tall, handsome manly man who would sweep me off my feet and teach me all I needed to know about lurv.
But reading a book like this 25 years later, when said tall, handsome manly man is chasing after the equivalent of a high school senior, and it squicks me out.
I've been spoiled by all the late-twenties spinsters populating historicals lately, I guess. The old standard age gap is has widened so far that for me, in this book, it was unbridgeable. And that's when it occurred to me just how long I've been reading romances, and how my perspective has changed.
Maybe I'll try to skew my thinking and try this book again later, when I'm more able to channel my inner 18 year old ingenue.
August 16, 2022
3 stars is genenerous for me!
The story was okay but it was also a bit of a mess. I don't think the author could decide what kind of book she wanted. I was so 😴!
KR has written soo many better books, I'd skip this one if I were you!
Sidenote: I read KU version so the original version might be better. Who knows?? Though, I doubt it!
The story was okay but it was also a bit of a mess. I don't think the author could decide what kind of book she wanted. I was so 😴!
KR has written soo many better books, I'd skip this one if I were you!
Sidenote: I read KU version so the original version might be better. Who knows?? Though, I doubt it!
September 14, 2015
Not great, not bad either. The sex scenes were a bit TMI for me, and the adjectives flew pretty heavy at times. There is a bit of a big misunderstanding that leads to the heroine being kidnapped and , but it wasn't quite as bad as I'd been prepared for based on other reviews. I might have rated it higher, but I really didn't connect strongly with either of the characters or feel any real passion between the two. Sex yes, plenty of that. YMMV.
September 13, 2015
Victorian Set in England and New Orleans, the Innocent and the Older Man
Robards is a great romance author and always delivers a fast-paced story. I love her historicals. This one, while not my favorite, is still a worthy read and kept me up late at night to finish it.
The story begins in 1842 as ship’s captain Matt Grayson, an American from New Orleans is about to hang in London—for crimes he didn’t commit. He escapes from the gallows but is wounded as he flees to the coast. There, he is discovered by Lady Amanda Rose Culver, a duke’s daughter who has been confined to a convent school by her half brother. Amanda helps Matt and cares for him in a forgotten cave connected to the convent.
Amanda is an innocent waking to the passion of a handsome, older, experienced man who begins as a gentleman but then succumbs to the temptation of the young vixen. He is a man with a past and knows the betrayal of a woman.
When Amanda’s brother shows up with a fat, older suitor in tow who will dig the family out of their money woes, he blackmails Amanda into agreeing to the marriage or he will turn Matt over to the authorities. But Matt has other plans for her.
There’s a lot of action and a lot of angst as the scene moves from England to New Orleans where Matt essentially holds Amanda his prisoner. When he would do the honorable thing, she refuses. Ah, the rocky path of love.
Not much history here but the stage is well set with vivid descriptions of locations, clothing and food—all the goodies we romance readers love.
Robards is a great romance author and always delivers a fast-paced story. I love her historicals. This one, while not my favorite, is still a worthy read and kept me up late at night to finish it.
The story begins in 1842 as ship’s captain Matt Grayson, an American from New Orleans is about to hang in London—for crimes he didn’t commit. He escapes from the gallows but is wounded as he flees to the coast. There, he is discovered by Lady Amanda Rose Culver, a duke’s daughter who has been confined to a convent school by her half brother. Amanda helps Matt and cares for him in a forgotten cave connected to the convent.
Amanda is an innocent waking to the passion of a handsome, older, experienced man who begins as a gentleman but then succumbs to the temptation of the young vixen. He is a man with a past and knows the betrayal of a woman.
When Amanda’s brother shows up with a fat, older suitor in tow who will dig the family out of their money woes, he blackmails Amanda into agreeing to the marriage or he will turn Matt over to the authorities. But Matt has other plans for her.
There’s a lot of action and a lot of angst as the scene moves from England to New Orleans where Matt essentially holds Amanda his prisoner. When he would do the honorable thing, she refuses. Ah, the rocky path of love.
Not much history here but the stage is well set with vivid descriptions of locations, clothing and food—all the goodies we romance readers love.
January 22, 2015
Convent-bred teenager rescues and secretly cares for an injured man, who repays her by repeatedly raping and emotionally battering her because of a big misunderstanding. So naturally, she loves him all the more... Rapey and vicious even by the standards of 80s bodice rippers. Back then, I had a pretty high tolerance for abusive "heroes" and heroines who loved them for it, but this one just made me feel ashamed that I was reading it. Be warned.
March 9, 2014
I read this because I was curious whether the itty bitty heroine falls for her rapist thing could be done well by anyone other than Woodiwiss or Gaffney. (Why was I wondering this? Because of a thread on Goodreads.)
Not only is that iffy trope not done well here, it's boring. The hero is a self-absorbed wanker and the heroine has the sense of a turnip. The plot is heavy on the wrong details--maybe it's just me but extended descriptions of the wind-swept coast make me drowzy--and light on ones that matter--I'm still unclear on how the hero cleared his name.
In a bodice-ripper, the scene where the bodice is truly torn, metaphorically speaking, should not leave the reader and the heroine disgusted and in pain. Nor should the hero be so selfish in bed that the reader begins to hope he has a tragic encounter with a scalpel. And if the sex scenes are revolting in an 80s era rape-omance, the book needs to have some other redeeming qualities.
This one does. One. Ms. Robards writes quickly and clearly and with a too hidden bite of humor.
If you're looking to read a book you'll feel badly about enjoying because its sexual politics are just wrong, pick up Ms. Woodiwiss's The Wolf and the Dove and leave Amanda Rose on the used paperback shelf.
Not only is that iffy trope not done well here, it's boring. The hero is a self-absorbed wanker and the heroine has the sense of a turnip. The plot is heavy on the wrong details--maybe it's just me but extended descriptions of the wind-swept coast make me drowzy--and light on ones that matter--I'm still unclear on how the hero cleared his name.
In a bodice-ripper, the scene where the bodice is truly torn, metaphorically speaking, should not leave the reader and the heroine disgusted and in pain. Nor should the hero be so selfish in bed that the reader begins to hope he has a tragic encounter with a scalpel. And if the sex scenes are revolting in an 80s era rape-omance, the book needs to have some other redeeming qualities.
This one does. One. Ms. Robards writes quickly and clearly and with a too hidden bite of humor.
If you're looking to read a book you'll feel badly about enjoying because its sexual politics are just wrong, pick up Ms. Woodiwiss's The Wolf and the Dove and leave Amanda Rose on the used paperback shelf.
September 19, 2019
This one was just okay, in my opinion, since it felt a little hurried and lacking in character substance. The Hero’s wounded plight was glossed over, his recovery was way too fast and relatively pain-free. And the way in which his alleged crime was hardly tackled, as well as how it was resolved. The heroine’s character was quite well written though. A fair 3 stars for plot and content.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2017
Karen Robards mistura em Amanda Rose aventura e romance.
A história ocorre em 1842, quando o capitão Matt Grayson (beirando aos trinta), um americano de Nova Orleans está próximo de ser enforcado por um crime que não cometeu. Num golpe de sorte consegue escapar e mesmo ferido vai parar na praia nas proximidades do convento, onde a órfã e herdeira Amanda Rose (17 anos) vive até completar a maioridade. Ela foi confinada lá pelo meio-irmão...
Ela o socorre e o ajuda a se esconder. Uma inesperada e ardente paixão os colhe enquanto ela o ajuda furtivamente. Porém, a chegada do meio-irmão que deseja obrigá-la a se casar para conseguir dinheiro para pagar as dívidas rompe com esse incipiente romance. E desconfiando de que ela tem algo a esconder, descobre que há alguém no convento e o denuncia as autoridades. Ela que correra para alertá-lo cai na armadilha do meio-irmão e leva a milícia diretamente a ele. Ele consegue escapar pensando que ela o traiu.
E jura, ao ser resgatado pelo irmão dele (que estava em busca dele) que se vingará daquela traição... E, após ser resgatado pelo irmão, decide levá-la, raptando-a e mantendo-a cativa. E a leva para Nova Orleans. Matt tem uma história de traição no seu passado e a dor de uma nova traição o faz querer humilhá-la, tratando-a como uma qualquer, o que a faz ser desprezada diante da rica sociedade de Nova Orleans.
Porém, o meio-irmão dela que falira ao perder sua "galinha de ovos de ouro" os persegue até o continente americano e a rapta novamente para obrigá-la a ser amante do velho, já que era uma "mercadoria" usada...
E Matt, que nunca teve intenção de se apaixonar terá que resgatar a garota que conquistara seu coração.
****
Leitura que flui rapidamente. Com personagens secundários cativantes, o irmão dele e os marinho...
Recomendo? Sim. Eu amei como a história se desenvolveu.
A história ocorre em 1842, quando o capitão Matt Grayson (beirando aos trinta), um americano de Nova Orleans está próximo de ser enforcado por um crime que não cometeu. Num golpe de sorte consegue escapar e mesmo ferido vai parar na praia nas proximidades do convento, onde a órfã e herdeira Amanda Rose (17 anos) vive até completar a maioridade. Ela foi confinada lá pelo meio-irmão...
Ela o socorre e o ajuda a se esconder. Uma inesperada e ardente paixão os colhe enquanto ela o ajuda furtivamente. Porém, a chegada do meio-irmão que deseja obrigá-la a se casar para conseguir dinheiro para pagar as dívidas rompe com esse incipiente romance. E desconfiando de que ela tem algo a esconder, descobre que há alguém no convento e o denuncia as autoridades. Ela que correra para alertá-lo cai na armadilha do meio-irmão e leva a milícia diretamente a ele. Ele consegue escapar pensando que ela o traiu.
E jura, ao ser resgatado pelo irmão dele (que estava em busca dele) que se vingará daquela traição... E, após ser resgatado pelo irmão, decide levá-la, raptando-a e mantendo-a cativa. E a leva para Nova Orleans. Matt tem uma história de traição no seu passado e a dor de uma nova traição o faz querer humilhá-la, tratando-a como uma qualquer, o que a faz ser desprezada diante da rica sociedade de Nova Orleans.
Porém, o meio-irmão dela que falira ao perder sua "galinha de ovos de ouro" os persegue até o continente americano e a rapta novamente para obrigá-la a ser amante do velho, já que era uma "mercadoria" usada...
E Matt, que nunca teve intenção de se apaixonar terá que resgatar a garota que conquistara seu coração.
****
Leitura que flui rapidamente. Com personagens secundários cativantes, o irmão dele e os marinho...
Recomendo? Sim. Eu amei como a história se desenvolveu.
August 12, 2016
Hooked from the beginning scenes -- a hanging, hiding in a cave, to the convent. Seductive and humorous. Silly Amanda, I liked her - and I could see how Matt found her charming and felt for her plight -- especially when she's so good to him in his hours of need. She's his angel with red hair. He warns her not to fall in love with him. I wish he'd warned me. All goes tedious post-kidnapping aboard ship (middle book). He's all mean & distant, so ... the story suffers, Amanda suffers, you suffer. Blah torment, but it does pick up again.
July 17, 2016
I will admit that the first half of the story was good. But after Matt rapes Amanda, the story lost its appeal. I can't believe after all the verbal and physical abuse she suffer, she went back to him. It would have been better if she became a nun or stayed and fall in love with Matt's brother Zack. The story would have become interesting.
December 19, 2020
3.5 stars
September 24, 2020
What starts out as a romance (a swarthy seaman from America, falsely accused of murder, found injured on the beach by a beautiful young woman locked in a convent until her half brother decides to marry her off to his cousin), quickly becomes a horror story.
Spoilers & Warning: rape, abuse, sympathizing with captor, slavery (slavery is mentioned, but we do not see violence perpetrated against the slaves)
It is one thing for a story to include atrocities such as rape, abuse, and slavery, as plot points or as events in a character’s life. As something terrible and dark. However here, it is, in the most indecent sense, romanticized. Let me first say that Amanda is seventeen and Matt is thirty-three. I think this fact is incredibly important, as it colors everything that is about to happen. She is nearly an adult, but still a very young person and he is well past his teenage years, creating the perfect set-up for an unhealthy power dynamic. Upon Amanda and Matt’s first sexual experience together, Amanda (the protagonist) verbally and clearly demands that Matt stop his sexual advances. Instead of stopping, he continues and rapes Amanda stating that there was nothing he could do because he wanted her so badly. And afterward, Amanda feels pain, embarrassment, and shame, she is upset and feels he violated her. Matt apologizes later, but then soon after kidnaps and forces her in to incredibly shameful and embarrassing situations while upon his boat as they sail from England to America. And no, not at all the throw-you-over-my-shoulder-for-your-insolence-and-take-you-to-my-cabin kind of embarrassing that leads to something saucy, but he truly degrades and assaults Amanda before he attempts to rape her, only stopping in his attempt to rape her because he “loves” her, to be clear, he still violated and assaulted her. Later on, he has sexual intercourse with her while she is very drunk. And while he tells her she will regret it later, as she is asking for him in her drunken state,she he complies and has sex with her. In the morning Amanda feels angry and used. Upon reaching America, it is revealed that Matt owns slaves. Say what you will of writing authentic time periods, but he is still painted as the love interest, not the villain. At this point, Amanda has been taken from her country and brought to America. And it is important to note that she did need to leave her country, they both did. So it could be argued that this was necessary to their survival and therefore realistic motives for the character’s actions. However, in America Amanda knows no one, has no way to get a job and earn her own way, and she finds herself alone, isolated, and looked down upon for being an unmarried woman in a man’s house. Matt offers to make her life more comfortable if she will take the “job” of being his concubine. And before we move on, this is not in a fulfill-our-sexual-desires-as-I-give-you-gifts-and-we-both-have-a-good-time kind of way. At the end of the book, there is one final rape scene where he takes her up to his bedroom after she refuses to wed him. Now, let me be clear, I think this book is trying to walk the line between heated desire and power dynamics, but it comes off as cold, frightening, and violent instead of heated and lustful. So, at this point in the novel Matt has assaulted and raped Amanda multiple times, in a new country he refuses to aid her, and he owns slaves. He eventually apologizes, and the two admit their “love” for one another, but one might think that apologies don’t right wrongs such as these. These types of characters exist, and it is not their mere existence that causes such offense (they make great villains). It is the fact that Matt is painted as her lover, while their relationship reeks of abuse. As a romance novel I warn readers against it, at least until they have a clear sense of what it is they will be reading. However, as a psychological thriller that turns the plot of a romance novel on its head as seaman turns to sadist, it is a thrilling read. So let me be clear, if you wish to read a romance novel with adventure, romance, and a bit of argumentative angst where feisty becomes fun, this is not the book. If you wish to read a sexy romance novel that includes power dynamics oozing with sexual tension, this is not the book. If you wish to read a book about the unravelling of a woman’s life as her dreams of romance and freedom are utterly squashed under the boots of men, look no further.
Spoilers & Warning: rape, abuse, sympathizing with captor, slavery (slavery is mentioned, but we do not see violence perpetrated against the slaves)
It is one thing for a story to include atrocities such as rape, abuse, and slavery, as plot points or as events in a character’s life. As something terrible and dark. However here, it is, in the most indecent sense, romanticized. Let me first say that Amanda is seventeen and Matt is thirty-three. I think this fact is incredibly important, as it colors everything that is about to happen. She is nearly an adult, but still a very young person and he is well past his teenage years, creating the perfect set-up for an unhealthy power dynamic. Upon Amanda and Matt’s first sexual experience together, Amanda (the protagonist) verbally and clearly demands that Matt stop his sexual advances. Instead of stopping, he continues and rapes Amanda stating that there was nothing he could do because he wanted her so badly. And afterward, Amanda feels pain, embarrassment, and shame, she is upset and feels he violated her. Matt apologizes later, but then soon after kidnaps and forces her in to incredibly shameful and embarrassing situations while upon his boat as they sail from England to America. And no, not at all the throw-you-over-my-shoulder-for-your-insolence-and-take-you-to-my-cabin kind of embarrassing that leads to something saucy, but he truly degrades and assaults Amanda before he attempts to rape her, only stopping in his attempt to rape her because he “loves” her, to be clear, he still violated and assaulted her. Later on, he has sexual intercourse with her while she is very drunk. And while he tells her she will regret it later, as she is asking for him in her drunken state,she he complies and has sex with her. In the morning Amanda feels angry and used. Upon reaching America, it is revealed that Matt owns slaves. Say what you will of writing authentic time periods, but he is still painted as the love interest, not the villain. At this point, Amanda has been taken from her country and brought to America. And it is important to note that she did need to leave her country, they both did. So it could be argued that this was necessary to their survival and therefore realistic motives for the character’s actions. However, in America Amanda knows no one, has no way to get a job and earn her own way, and she finds herself alone, isolated, and looked down upon for being an unmarried woman in a man’s house. Matt offers to make her life more comfortable if she will take the “job” of being his concubine. And before we move on, this is not in a fulfill-our-sexual-desires-as-I-give-you-gifts-and-we-both-have-a-good-time kind of way. At the end of the book, there is one final rape scene where he takes her up to his bedroom after she refuses to wed him. Now, let me be clear, I think this book is trying to walk the line between heated desire and power dynamics, but it comes off as cold, frightening, and violent instead of heated and lustful. So, at this point in the novel Matt has assaulted and raped Amanda multiple times, in a new country he refuses to aid her, and he owns slaves. He eventually apologizes, and the two admit their “love” for one another, but one might think that apologies don’t right wrongs such as these. These types of characters exist, and it is not their mere existence that causes such offense (they make great villains). It is the fact that Matt is painted as her lover, while their relationship reeks of abuse. As a romance novel I warn readers against it, at least until they have a clear sense of what it is they will be reading. However, as a psychological thriller that turns the plot of a romance novel on its head as seaman turns to sadist, it is a thrilling read. So let me be clear, if you wish to read a romance novel with adventure, romance, and a bit of argumentative angst where feisty becomes fun, this is not the book. If you wish to read a sexy romance novel that includes power dynamics oozing with sexual tension, this is not the book. If you wish to read a book about the unravelling of a woman’s life as her dreams of romance and freedom are utterly squashed under the boots of men, look no further.
October 15, 2022
COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER.
I was terribly disappointed when everything was sailing smoothly and then, the STUPID BETRAYAL MISUNDERSTANDING happened, and I question the hero's intelligence, which then overshadows my enjoyment because I just found him too pigheadedly stupid.
AMANDA discovered the wanted murderer wounded on a beach and somehow found herself nursing him back to health, and saving his life. Her attraction to MATT started easily, with the appreciation of a young woman of 18 who has never met a virile male, and naturally her attraction comes with a tinge of fear, but at the same time, craving. I can understand her desire to explore kisses for the first time, and the wantonness that comes with blooming sensuality of a woman's passion, but I didn't like it when the author made it as if Amanda led Matt on, and when they finally had sex and she didn't like the pain, she turned on him like a wild banshee. The annoying thing about bodice ripper stories is how the characters are always so blinded, proud and stubborn! Their misunderstandings could have been easily solved but nope, they had to take the hard way out. Did I like Amanda? Not really. Her young character just made me feel kinda sorry for Matt, and innocence can be a double edged sword when she comes with a tantrum.
MATT was wrongly accused of murder and suffered months in prison before it was time to be hanged, but by sheer luck, he escaped! And nearly found himself dead on a beach until an angel rescues him. I know age gaps are de rigueur and common in the past, but Matt's attraction to AMANDA who had the slight mentality of a child had me feeling all kinds of taboo, until it didn't. Matt liked her from the start, and he was sweet until he wasn't. Believing later that Amanda betrayed him, Matt turned into the NIGHTMARE of all bodice ripper stories. I was so happy at first when he was charming, gentlemanly and kind, but all that went to shit when he embraced his evil villain side and treated Amanda like shit. He kidnapped her, "raped" her (well the consent was dubious) and verbally abused her. THAT WAS...ugghh bad. Thus, the reasons why I dropped em stars.
OVERALL I don't usually have a problem with asshole heroes, but here, when Matt was so blinded by hurt and resentment, can you consider it love when you're supposed to KNOW the woman you love. If he truly loved Amanda, he would get his head out of his ass and realize that betraying someone she claims to love ISN'T IN HER NATURE. And she was young for God's sake! Naturally she's going to act like a woman of her time, all hissy fits and offended tantrums. So, when he was set to not believe her whenever she confessed her truth twice! I made up my mind I didn't like him at all. I get that this is supposed to be part revenge story, but the reason for Matt's revenge seemed lame and childish.
I was terribly disappointed when everything was sailing smoothly and then, the STUPID BETRAYAL MISUNDERSTANDING happened, and I question the hero's intelligence, which then overshadows my enjoyment because I just found him too pigheadedly stupid.
AMANDA discovered the wanted murderer wounded on a beach and somehow found herself nursing him back to health, and saving his life. Her attraction to MATT started easily, with the appreciation of a young woman of 18 who has never met a virile male, and naturally her attraction comes with a tinge of fear, but at the same time, craving. I can understand her desire to explore kisses for the first time, and the wantonness that comes with blooming sensuality of a woman's passion, but I didn't like it when the author made it as if Amanda led Matt on, and when they finally had sex and she didn't like the pain, she turned on him like a wild banshee. The annoying thing about bodice ripper stories is how the characters are always so blinded, proud and stubborn! Their misunderstandings could have been easily solved but nope, they had to take the hard way out. Did I like Amanda? Not really. Her young character just made me feel kinda sorry for Matt, and innocence can be a double edged sword when she comes with a tantrum.
MATT was wrongly accused of murder and suffered months in prison before it was time to be hanged, but by sheer luck, he escaped! And nearly found himself dead on a beach until an angel rescues him. I know age gaps are de rigueur and common in the past, but Matt's attraction to AMANDA who had the slight mentality of a child had me feeling all kinds of taboo, until it didn't. Matt liked her from the start, and he was sweet until he wasn't. Believing later that Amanda betrayed him, Matt turned into the NIGHTMARE of all bodice ripper stories. I was so happy at first when he was charming, gentlemanly and kind, but all that went to shit when he embraced his evil villain side and treated Amanda like shit. He kidnapped her, "raped" her (well the consent was dubious) and verbally abused her. THAT WAS...ugghh bad. Thus, the reasons why I dropped em stars.
OVERALL I don't usually have a problem with asshole heroes, but here, when Matt was so blinded by hurt and resentment, can you consider it love when you're supposed to KNOW the woman you love. If he truly loved Amanda, he would get his head out of his ass and realize that betraying someone she claims to love ISN'T IN HER NATURE. And she was young for God's sake! Naturally she's going to act like a woman of her time, all hissy fits and offended tantrums. So, when he was set to not believe her whenever she confessed her truth twice! I made up my mind I didn't like him at all. I get that this is supposed to be part revenge story, but the reason for Matt's revenge seemed lame and childish.
September 6, 2024
Amanda Rose is Karen Robards second stand alone book and … it’s barely readable.
🥀 The back cover of the paperback says in large letters… “A Rebel Pirate was Her Only Master…” There were NO pirates in the book I read. Lol
🥀 The heroine Amanda Rose who’s 17 is living in a convent at Land’s End … she’s been sent there to go to school. One night while taking a walk in the beach she comes across a man … he’s barely conscious. She helps him, hides him in a cave, and discovers Matt is the man wanted for murder thru out all of England. He’s a ship owner from New Orleans who’s actually innocent of the crime.
🥀 Amanda is one of those too sweet, innocent and immature heroines who of course is stunningly beautiful with flaming red hair, violet eyes, a tiny waist and long legs. The tall, dark and handsome hero who’s 33 years old is utterly smitten. Besides her beauty and that she helps him, I didn’t understand why he fell in love with her.
🥀 There’s an age gap in this story… which is fine … what didn’t work is their attraction to each other, it never felt credible. He was either nice or horrible to her thru out most of the story, and mostly just thought about satisfying his own desires. Amanda hated her first time, and then vacillated between coy, sweet, furious, sad etc. It was just annoying.
🥀 Not much of a plot, way too many internal thoughts from the MCs, and repetitive descriptions of them made this embarrassingly boring. Robards really can write great HRs .., such as Loving Julia, Dark Torment, Dark of the Moon and Nobody’s Angel. Alas, Amanda Rose fell flat.
🥀 Two and a half stars rounded up to 3 just because it’s Robards, and one of her earliest HRs.
🥀 The back cover of the paperback says in large letters… “A Rebel Pirate was Her Only Master…” There were NO pirates in the book I read. Lol
🥀 The heroine Amanda Rose who’s 17 is living in a convent at Land’s End … she’s been sent there to go to school. One night while taking a walk in the beach she comes across a man … he’s barely conscious. She helps him, hides him in a cave, and discovers Matt is the man wanted for murder thru out all of England. He’s a ship owner from New Orleans who’s actually innocent of the crime.
🥀 Amanda is one of those too sweet, innocent and immature heroines who of course is stunningly beautiful with flaming red hair, violet eyes, a tiny waist and long legs. The tall, dark and handsome hero who’s 33 years old is utterly smitten. Besides her beauty and that she helps him, I didn’t understand why he fell in love with her.
🥀 There’s an age gap in this story… which is fine … what didn’t work is their attraction to each other, it never felt credible. He was either nice or horrible to her thru out most of the story, and mostly just thought about satisfying his own desires. Amanda hated her first time, and then vacillated between coy, sweet, furious, sad etc. It was just annoying.
🥀 Not much of a plot, way too many internal thoughts from the MCs, and repetitive descriptions of them made this embarrassingly boring. Robards really can write great HRs .., such as Loving Julia, Dark Torment, Dark of the Moon and Nobody’s Angel. Alas, Amanda Rose fell flat.
🥀 Two and a half stars rounded up to 3 just because it’s Robards, and one of her earliest HRs.
October 2, 2019
Disappointed in this one.
So far I’ve loved all of this authors books but the main hero was just to much for me. He starts out as this gentle, affectionate, communicative, protector type and that’s the protagonist you begin to know and like and then he does this complete turn around and is a total closed off, abusive, distrusting bully who treats her like property for the second half of the book. I mean, come on, readers who like the first type of hero probably aren’t gonna like the total personality change. The heroin just keeps loving him throughout all the abuse even though the original reason she falls fell for him was Because he was so caring and gentle. She spends the second half of the book wishing he would believe in her undying devotion while he treats her like trash.
Is this supposed to be a kind hearted beta hero or an abusive alpha? The personality switch was just too disjointed for my taste. I’m not usually picky about the believability of characters in romance novels but it’s like she was starting off writing one character and once the reader starts to know and like the guy, she switches him out with this other completely different awful character. I don’t get it. It totally ruined the book for me.
So far I’ve loved all of this authors books but the main hero was just to much for me. He starts out as this gentle, affectionate, communicative, protector type and that’s the protagonist you begin to know and like and then he does this complete turn around and is a total closed off, abusive, distrusting bully who treats her like property for the second half of the book. I mean, come on, readers who like the first type of hero probably aren’t gonna like the total personality change. The heroin just keeps loving him throughout all the abuse even though the original reason she falls fell for him was Because he was so caring and gentle. She spends the second half of the book wishing he would believe in her undying devotion while he treats her like trash.
Is this supposed to be a kind hearted beta hero or an abusive alpha? The personality switch was just too disjointed for my taste. I’m not usually picky about the believability of characters in romance novels but it’s like she was starting off writing one character and once the reader starts to know and like the guy, she switches him out with this other completely different awful character. I don’t get it. It totally ruined the book for me.
July 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It's clearly from a certain era, so if you're a fan of classic bodice-ripper-ish romance novels this one fits the bill. For the 1st half of the book, the hero and heroine are good to each other and communicate well. There is a big misunderstanding and then the hero becomes a more typical roguish hero but even then he find it hard to truly mistreat the heroine. There is a big age difference here (H-33, h-17) but I felt it worked given the period and the life the heroine had lived. Definitely recommend to old school historical romance fans.
October 16, 2022
The more I read these books written by this author the more I find them similar in how they are written. For me the first bit always seems boring.
He's falsely accused of murder and she is the daughter of a Duke. Forced by her brother she now resides in a convent waiting for an arranged marriage. He escapes his hanging only to end up injured. She finds him, hides him in a cave and nurses him back to health. When he is nearly caught again, he blames her. In seeking revenge for her so called betrayal he then kidnaps her, taking her on his boat to American.
He's falsely accused of murder and she is the daughter of a Duke. Forced by her brother she now resides in a convent waiting for an arranged marriage. He escapes his hanging only to end up injured. She finds him, hides him in a cave and nurses him back to health. When he is nearly caught again, he blames her. In seeking revenge for her so called betrayal he then kidnaps her, taking her on his boat to American.
May 27, 2021
Very beautifully written,here many reviews says that the hero raped her but its not like that they mutually came to make love and heroines maidenly fear comes crushing when he cross her virgin barrier with the pain she wants no part of sex go further but the hero was too arouse to stop which result s to misunderstanding.thats it no rape was comitted.though many won't agree with me its alright🙂.
December 5, 2022
The Storyline was not very romantic
I don’t particularly care for sex outside of marriage, neither sex meant to punish one’s lover, neither the absence of good communication. This had all 3. Karen Robards is a very satisfying author normally. It was an interesting premise for a story. Just because there was a happy ending does not make up for the main body of the story.
I don’t particularly care for sex outside of marriage, neither sex meant to punish one’s lover, neither the absence of good communication. This had all 3. Karen Robards is a very satisfying author normally. It was an interesting premise for a story. Just because there was a happy ending does not make up for the main body of the story.
June 11, 2023
okay karen robards set a high bar for herself before but this??? matt basically kidnaps, abuses, and r**es amanda like three times and gaslights her into believing it's her fault all three times and then professes his love for her and drags her back to louisiana with him to get married - um, no, that's not okay. please get help and for God's sake, leave poor Amanda alone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2017
Half n half
Storyline sounded good. Somebody did not do a good job proofreading. Lead female character was annoying in some cases. She was a sheltered/innocent teen but was fast to give up her innocence.
Storyline sounded good. Somebody did not do a good job proofreading. Lead female character was annoying in some cases. She was a sheltered/innocent teen but was fast to give up her innocence.
April 24, 2019
I used to enjoy historical romance books; however, the heroine in this book is just a little too gullible and spoiled. She has a temper when she doesn’t get her way. Her home life just doesn’t ring true. She is so self centered I found it hard to like her.
June 22, 2019
Old one
I’ve read most of Karen Robards books and enjoyed them. This one has the sexually enslaved but fairly brutal hero and revoltingly stupid but sexy heroine. Reminded me of The Flame and the Flower— not in any good way.
I’ve read most of Karen Robards books and enjoyed them. This one has the sexually enslaved but fairly brutal hero and revoltingly stupid but sexy heroine. Reminded me of The Flame and the Flower— not in any good way.
January 21, 2024
An older novel by Ms. Robards. Two people in dire straights. He's running from the noose, she is running from her brother who wants her to marry an older man to help with finances. They have a love-hate relationship at first, distrusting each other, but finally need each other to survive.
July 1, 2025
I enjoyed this book. Amanda helped Matt but at one point he thinks she betrayed him. I really felt for her. Will he ever believe she really loves him? Will he ever admit to loving her? Thankfully they finally get their happy ever after. I loved the epilogue and seeing how they end up.
March 8, 2019
A great romance with lots of drama and interesting characters.
May 28, 2019
Love the characters. Parts make the heart jump, but the plot could stand more fleshing out. I really wanted to read that Edward got more than a beating.
June 12, 2020
While the writing was decent, the book seemed to revolve around an abusive man and a women who enjoyed the abuse. No thank you.
August 5, 2021
Amanda Rose
I b had read this book when it was first published and fell in love with the writer. I truly loved her Dr. Charlotte Stone. Never knew a ghost could be so sexy.
I b had read this book when it was first published and fell in love with the writer. I truly loved her Dr. Charlotte Stone. Never knew a ghost could be so sexy.
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