Bodice Ripper Readers Anonymous discussion
Group Reads and Challenges
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April Book Discussion: The Conqueror by Brenda Joyce
I started to buy this book from the vendors mall yesterday. I didn't know it was a bodice ripper though or I woulda bought it automatically.
Creeker wrote: "I started to buy this book from the vendors mall yesterday. I didn't know it was a bodice ripper though or I woulda bought it automatically."the BR was already dying by 1990. the bk was heralded by RT as the new type of sexy read. I used to have that issue of RT with CONQUEROR on the cover. dunno if i have it anymore
Hi! I just bought The Conqueror so I'm ready to read. This will be my very first bodice ripper so I really hope I like it.
I'll have to check the library, if not, I'll go by the used bookstore and hopefully they will have it. Can't wait to start!
I'm going to run out tomorrow and buy it (I hope they have it) so that I can join in on some chit chat with everyone!
I have read this book 4 or 5 times and it is one of my all-time faves :)
IT was a good book. I loved the tension between the H and the h. I also loved that he couldn't deny his feelings any more and claimed "first rights"!!!
I read this book last year and loved it. Will reread again- it's a fave.
I was major bummed last night when I went to two different local book stores trying to find this book. Neither one had it. I keep reading everyone's reviews of this book and I really want to read it so I'm going to jump onto Amazon and order it. I hope that it will get here quickly and I can do some quick catch up reading and join in.
I went to my local libraries to get copies. At the second one, I am first on the list for Wicked Loving Lies (gotta read it to keep up) and I am SIXTH in line for The Conqueror! There must be a lot of this group in my area because what are the odds of seven people suddenly wanting to read this book?! I went ahead and ordered copies from Amazon so I can get reading.
I love my Kindle on my PC. Thank you Jennefer! LOL Anyway, I'm only up to Chapter 6, but so far I really like it.
Found my copy at the library :) (Score! Didn't even have to wait) Just started yesterday and am only up to chapter six, but so far I think I like it... I must admit, this is the first bodice ripper I have ever read so I'm definitely a newbie. No point of reference, but we'll see how it goes.... Thanks Jennefer for signing me up for your group! ;)
Mod
You are welcome my sister! I am glad you are enjoying the book so far! xoxo
Acornn wrote: "...Jennefer, I'd like to thank you for listing questions for us to answer. I prefer when discussions have them because it gives me a place start/let's me know what to say. For me, it's easier to give my opinion if I have specific questions to answer. I'd like it even more if you'd list a few more for us to answer. :-) "
Glad you like the questions Acornn! Those were just a few I thought up off the top of my head when I posted the book. I will try to come up with a few more for next month. Maybe a list of 10 or so? They are completly optional of course. :)
I have my copy on my Kindle but have not started reading yet. I think I will probably get to it beginning of next week, maybe sooner. Depends when I finish my current Kindle read.
Well I'm totally sucked in. I've spent all afternoon reading and am up to chapter 18. So far I like it. It at least has me interested enough to not want to put it down! :)The only thing I think so far is that the relationship between Alice and Ceidre is oversimplified. Alice openly has all these terrible feelings towards Ceidre and Ceidre just continues to care for Alice's well being because they are sisters. Considering how much it bothers Ceidre when others think negatively of her I think that relationship should be way more complicated than that (At least on Ciedre's part. Her feelings toward Alice feel underdeveloped)
LOL... another book revisited. I love old friends!!!! And so glad that this one is on KINDLE!!! I love my kindle!!!
Started my revisit to this book. It was good from the start am about halfway through. It's a good read. I must agree that it is hard to like some of the characters. Readers must also understand what a huge amount of anger and hostility there was between the Normans and the Saxons in this time period. There really was a lot of rape, pillage, killing and other nasty things. My minor in colllege was history so I know some of the background that this is predicated on.
I'll post the rest of my thoughts on it as soon as it's finished. More than likely this afternoon...
I finished the book last night and I was kinda sad it was over. I really liked this book!How would you rate this book on a BR scale of 1-10? This is my first bodice ripper so I have nothing to compare it to.
Did you find the characters likable? Most were very likable for me. I loved Ceidre and her struggle with being faithful to her brothers and country and her struggle against her attraction to Rolfe. By the end of the book, I really liked Rolfe. I liked how he softened when it came to Ceidre. I also liked how he struggled with doing his job as the "kings best man"/Lord of Aelfgar and doing what he in his heart wanted when it came to Ceidre. Guy was a good man and treated Ceidre really well even though he thought she was a witch.
Do the characters become more/less likable as the book progresses? I think Ceidre and Rolfe definately become more likable as the book progresses but Alice becomes less and less likable. I hate that Alice never gave Ceidre a chance to be a real sister and she let her mother's hate influence their relationship so much.
What was your favorite scene? My favorite scene was at the end of the book when....
***SPOILER***
...Rolfe came and found Ceidre and told her he couldn't live without her. His attitude had changed so much. Loved that he was now asking instead of telling!
What do you think was the most “bodice ripper” scene in the book? ***SPOILER*** I think it would have to be her wedding night when Rolfe exercised his "right" as Lord of Aelfgar (I don't remember what they called it in the book). He bangs on the door and proclaims his right to Guy as his lord. Guy leaves. He then proceeds to rape (or would that be considered forced seduction?)Ceidre but then she really gets into it and starts to enjoy it and it ends up lasting all night. Again, this is my first bodice ripper but that sure sounds like a true bodice ripper scene to me!!
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book! It hooked me in the beginning and kept me reading and wanting to know what was going to happen in the end. I was really beginning to wonder if there would be a HEA between the two of them. I also liked the explaination at the end where the author quickly told "the rest of the story".
Lastly, I liked that she included an explaination of the real history that occured during that time period. I don't know anything about that time period (I really didn't like history in school and committed very little to memory!) and it helped me understand where the story came from a bit better.
p.s. This is not only my first bodice ripper but also my first written opinion (I wouldn't really call it a review) of a book. Yes, I am 37 years old but I have NEVER been good at writing so I usually don't even try!! Please be nice!
Mod
Great job!!! I am so glad you feel comforitable enough to let us be your first ;) Your comments just made me all the more excited to read this!!!
Thanks Jennefer! Having questions to answer really helped!!
Tonya, good job and good review!!!! Here is mine. I am intentionally keeping it as vague as possible so as not to ruin it for everyone else.
How would you rate this book on a BR scale of 1-10? This one is a 8.
Did you find the characters likable? Ceidre, I loved from the start. Most of the characters grew as the story progressed. Except Alice, didn't like her from the get go!!!
Do the characters become more/less likable as the book progresses? Rolfe and Guy both became more likable as the story progresses. You get some insight into both of them and why they do the things that they have to do. It was war and war makes good people do things that they don't like.
What was your favorite scene? ***SPOILER***
...When Rolfe realized that he was in love. That his life wasn't worth anything without Ciedre
What do you think was the most “bodice ripper” scene in the book? ***SPOILER*** I love the 'wedding night'. It is a classic bodice ripper from the ripping off of Ciedre's dress to the mutal enjoyment before it's over...
I really like how the author expalains the history to the reader at the end. I being a history minor in college understand the time period she set this book in. I think that a lot of readers have problems with the violence of the times that these characters lived in. We live in kinder and gentler times. This is set in a century where this book and it's actions were very common place. Women were chattel to be traded and treated only marginally better than the master's horse. Romantic love as we know it really didn't come into place until many 100's of years later.
All in all this is a good read and I loved going back and reading it again. I'll more than likely read the entire series based on the family.
I love reading everybodys reviews of this book! I'm almost done. Will probably finish tonight or tommorow. I've been really enjoying. Will post more soon!
Mod
Okay like Tonya this is my first review,and I like reading 'em but never cared much about postin 'em but for the good of the group I'll put in my 2cents :)I'd rate this book an 7. I liked the characters pretty well actually except Alice. I liked Guy alot more as the story progressed out of all characters.
**************WARNING SPOILER BELOW***********
My favorite scene was when Rolfe suffered when he was watching Ceidre get her ten lashes, and in front of every one he cut her loose and took her away. Loved It! The most bodice ripper scene to me was when Rolfe so called had his rights to Ceidre on her weddin night.
Creeker
Great post Jeanine! I agree with a LOT of what you said. Here's my review.... By the way, there's one big spoiler here which I will give warning on. But there a little semi-spoilers throughout. So be forwarned!:)How would you rate this book on a BR scale of 1-10? I haven't read any bodice rippers, so I really don't know. Just on initial impression I want to say 7 or 8 but I might feel differently when I have something else in the genre to compare it to
Did you find the characters likable? I did find the characters likeable. Rolfe was probably my favorite. I think his personality and issues were the most multi-dimensional making him feel the most like a real person to me. I liked Ceidre also. Joyce did a good job of explaining where she was coming from and her personality traits. She seemed strong and soft at the same time to me, which I think is great for a heroine. You got to know Alice a lot (I'll talk about her in a minute) but the others weren't involved enough for me to form a strong opinion on them. Guy was a good guy, but he was a somewhat flat character. I don't think you get to know him very well (which is fine. they can't all be super involved)
Do the characters become more/less likable as the book progresses? I think Ceidre and Rolfe become more likable as you get to know them. And I know everyone is supposed to hate her, but I actually liked Alice and felt bad for her. Yes, she was the bad guy, but like Jeanine I can totally see where she's coming from.
**************SPOILER TO FOLLOW!!!******************
I actually was pretty upset at the end when you learn that Alice killed herself. What a sad character and what a sad life she had. All she wanted was a husband and family and to be the lady of her home (something she felt she deserved)and she ended up living a tortured life that drove her mad. I'm ok with Alice dying at the end. I get that it kind of had to happen for the happily ever after to work. I just wish she had died some other way like in an accident of some sort. Maybe cross fire from war or something. I wish a little more attention had been paid to it too. The way it was presented in the epilogue seemed so casual to me which I just find sad.
I also agree with Jeanine that Ceidre and Alice were a little too black and white (good/bad). I mentioned earlier that it's hard for me to go along with that relationship because it was unrealistic. Alice should have had tender moments toward her sister and Ceidre spiteful ones. Their relationship lacked the dimension and complexity that I think it would have in reality.
What was your favorite scene? I think my favorite was when Rolfe was struggling with how to punish Ceidre for treason (the first time) He was so tortured over it. I loved when he picked her up after her lashings even though everyone was there to watch.
What do you think was the most “bodice ripper” scene in the book? I’m thinking that would have to be the opening.
I liked the pacing of this book a lot. Like Jeanine, it fell apart at the end a bit for me. I know happily ever after is some of the best stuff about these books and I can go with that, but it seemed to come a little too easily. And I think it's stupid that the author had to throw in a happily ever after for Ed too. Like that would ever happen! I didn't even know that relationship enough to care. One happily ever after between the characters you know and love is more than enough. The side story (if you can even call it that) between Ed and Isolda was definitely over-kill for me.
I liked this book enough to be really happy to have read it. Probably not enough that it would be called a favorite or given a permanent home on my bookshelf though. I got my copy from the library and am happy to let them have it back for someone else to enjoy :)
haha. Exactly! And Ed wasn't just any prisoner either. What he did was MAJOR! The basis for the entire book. How do we even know that him marying Isolda really is an HEA anyway? Maybe she hates him. We don't even know their story. I know it's not a big thing, but I was already thinking the HEA was a little much. That extra adition pushed it over the edge for me. Definitly could have done wihtout it.
Another note about the HEA: Near the end when Ceidre is imprisoned and holding hope that Rolfe will forget everything and love her, Guy comes to her and says "You are foolish. Rolfe is not a man to love a woman and he is a hard man with strict ieas of duty and loyalty. He will not forgive your betrayal. I know him well" ... and then just a few chapters later Rolfe does exactly that and *poof!* forgives her. It's like the author included that bit with Guy to say "well if this wasn't a romance novel it would go like this... but since it is just scratch all that!" Why didn't she just leave that bit with Guy out and let Ceidre AND her audience hold out hope?
Ok. Enough ranting! lol. I'm done.
Jeanine wrote: "I could almost here the Beatles song "all you need is love" playing during the last few chapters ..."lol. Agreed.
SPOILERS BELOW*
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How would you rate this book on a BR scale of 1-10? I really enjoyed it. I would give the book an 8.
Did you find the characters likable? For the most part yes. I didn't like Rolfe in the beginning and there was a time or two when I would have liked to shake him, ex. the whore treatment. There was a time or 2 when I wanted to shake Ceidre for her second betrayal (oh and when she told Alice about the mistress plan). Although, I understood being torn between loving the man and loyalty to family and country. However, you would think she would have learned about the price of betrayal the first time. And I didn't find anything likable about Alice. However, for me, Alice isn't supposed to be likable. I just see her as the antagonist in the story.
Do the characters become more/less likable as the book progresses? I always liked Ceidre, even when I wanted to shake her. Alice became less likable (if that was even possible). Rolfe became much more likable for me as the story progressed. Guy I liked from the beginning, well maybe not the very beginning. I began to feel sorry for him. He seemed like a character that I wanted to find a real love of his own, even though I know he is only a supporting character. LOL I'm such a sap! LOL The brothers I liked more in the beginning. I didn't really like how willing they were to put their sister in harms way regardless of the reasoning. However, I never disliked them.
What was your favorite scene? I had a few that I really liked, but the one that keeps coming to mind is the entire scene once Rolfe found out Ceidre was in the dungeon. I loved the way handled it from, as a lord, going down to get her out of the dungeon himself instead of ordering someone else to do it to bathing Ceidre to his punishment of Alice. The scene stands out more for me because of how gentle, protective and tender he was during the ordeal to help Ceidre through it. He wouldn't even let her husband take her from his arms. Summarizing: "My lord, can I take her from you?""NO!" LOL
What do you think was the most “bodice ripper” scene in the book? Well, being fairly new to BR's I believe the most BR scene in the book to me was the one that took place on her wedding night to Guy. I found that this scene probably, for me, sums up Rolfes passion for Ceidre. Rolfe has Ceidre married away to his closest friend to stop her from further treason and to stop Rolfes desire for her, but yet he can't stand the idea of Guy consummating the marriage. LOL
Other Comments I really like those stories where the heroine gradually thaws the heart of the hero. And in this story gets him to use the "L" word for the first time. Good story!
Love the questions by the way!
Darn it! My library doesn't carry it, maybe the used book store will have it. I'm tryin', gals! LOL!
Keep up the search Kim! Despite my gripes I actually really liked it! It's worth looking for ... plus we all want to know what you think of it!! :)
What was your favorite scene? **** Spoliers****I have to say one of my favorite scene's was when Alice was trying to push Ciedre out the window. She's stopped, constrained, and accused of being insane to which she replies "I'm not mad. I am perfectly sane! I hate her 'tis all!" HAHAHAHA. Been there!
Just started it today and boy, am I glad. The last couple books I (tried to) read were real woofers - dull romance-ish HF. I was missing my OTT bodice ripping! And this one delivered right out of the gate.
Despite Fabio being the cover model for it, from Rolfe's description I immediately envisioned Kevin McKidd. Which isn't at all bad, IMO. In fact, my brain is going to be a porn playland for the whole thing.
Despite Fabio being the cover model for it, from Rolfe's description I immediately envisioned Kevin McKidd. Which isn't at all bad, IMO. In fact, my brain is going to be a porn playland for the whole thing.
Karla wrote: "Just started it today and boy, am I glad. The last couple books I (tried to) read were real woofers - dull romance-ish HF. I was missing my OTT bodice ripping! And this one delivered right out of t..."Kevin McKidd! Oh, I can so see that! Great visual! LOL
Gigi wrote: "Kevin McKidd! Oh, I can so see that! Great visual! LOL"
Thanks, I'm rather proud of it and looking forward to the smut scenes with improper glee. >:)
Thanks, I'm rather proud of it and looking forward to the smut scenes with improper glee. >:)
Mod
**spoiler**
They finally get it on and I am a tiny bit disappointed. Good sex scene but where's the pillow talk? Where is the tenderness? Rolf has shown he has it in him at least a little bit..... come on!!! Where's the love??? The author even goes so far to say that during their wild night of lovemaking he never said a word to her! He just up and leaves in the morning without a sweet goodbye! Hrumph!
Mod
You are probably right but I am still a little bummed. Just a little tho. I am pretty happy with this read overall so far. And on that note.... I am going to go curl up in bed with said book and try to squeeze in a couple more chapters before bed :)
Mod
Spoilers
How would you rate this book on a BR scale of 1-10? Maybe a 7 or 8... it has a lot of those BR cliche elements we all know and love, evil/crazy family member, love/hate relationship, alpha hero, rape, heroine near death, heroine imprisoned, and of course the ripping of the clothing (hers and his), all executed well. I like the authors style.
Did you find the characters likable? I found the characters enjoyable and entertaining, all of them, but likable? hmmmm I don't know. Ceidre was a bit to sugar sweet, Rolfe a good combo of fierce and tender but not complex enough, Alice was too one dimensional, and the other characters left really pretty flat. I felt like all of the characters just fit into their own perfect little box. None of the characters were very complex and therefore did not seem very real. I think that is what makes it feel like a light easy read despite the intense war setting. You kinda figure out what everyone is about pretty quick.
Do the characters become more/less likable as the book progresses? Rolfe becomes more and more likable as he becomes more and more loving and tender with Ceidre. Other than that I think my feeling about all the other characters stayed about the same beginning to end.
What was your favorite scene? That would have to be the scene when Rolfe bathes and tends to Ceidre after pulling her out of the dungeon. There are a few scenes where he shows some real tenderness towards her but this was the best! My heart melted for him a little bit. *sigh* Oh and I liked the scene were he watches her swim in the stream but for very different reasons.... hehe
What do you think was the most “bodice ripper” scene in the book? The near rape at the very beginning is pretty high up there but I am going to go with the scene where he takes her on her wedding night... you know the scene where he actually rips her bodice!
Overall thoughts Very entertaining fast moving read. It was well written and tight w/o any slow spots in the storyline. Tension all the way! Just the way I like it! :)
My gripe Just the end... It is OK for the end to be a little bitter sweet! Why on earth did the author insist on making everything so tidy! Did Ed really need a happy ending too? Come on! Here's my ending if I had my way.... Ed escapes during transport or something goes into hiding heart broken from Morcars death never to be heard of again. Ciedre's mourns for her brothers but she finds love and happiness with Rolfe anyway. Alice is gone never to be heard from again living the rest of her life alone and unloved always wondering what her greatness could have been. Ciedre is Rolfe's prisoner and treated well, they have kids and love each other despite a difficult circumstance. She lives the rest of her days as loves captive! That would be happy enough! No need for a marriage, no need for Ed to have a happy ending, no need for Alice to die! Complicated but happy. Is that so hard????
Mod
I loved that bath scene after the dungeon. I'm adding Promise of the Rose to my TBR.
Loved your comments Jennefer! Totally agree with the ending thing. I know it's silly but that Ed thing really ticked me off. Far too tidy! And I agree about the idea of Ceidre always being loves captive. I might have liked that better I think :) I thought Rolfe saying near the end that she would always be the wife of his heart was tender and I kind of wish it had just been left that way!
**SPOILER**
Color me shocked that Joyce had the hero wank off while watching the heroine bathe. Granted, I haven't read a lot of bodice rippers/romances that I can recall in any great detail, but the only other instances of monkey-smacking I can remember usually were used to show just how perverted a bad guy was.
Color me shocked that Joyce had the hero wank off while watching the heroine bathe. Granted, I haven't read a lot of bodice rippers/romances that I can recall in any great detail, but the only other instances of monkey-smacking I can remember usually were used to show just how perverted a bad guy was.
I've forgotten who Wolf was....?
Bertrice usually has evil people, male and female, rub one out while watching someone else. At least she used to, back in the day. :D
Bertrice usually has evil people, male and female, rub one out while watching someone else. At least she used to, back in the day. :D
Ah, thanks for the reminder. :D
I'm finding this one a pretty tough one to want to finish. :-\ It started to go downhill on Ceidre's and Guy's wedding night with the rape - not because it's a rape per se, but because The. Whole. Rest. Of. The. Fricking. Book. Has. Been. Nothing. But. Sex. If not doing it, then thinking about it. My God. I'm bored! 20 pages left...I can do it....I can do it....
Yeah, too neat and tidy. I usually hate sequels/series, but this one could have used one and more story next time. Less throbbing appendages. There was way too much of that. The whole book was a mess of new romance and old romance tropes, mashed together. Didn't work for me.
Mod
I can see that. 1990 was right in that transition time of old skool/new skool romance... it was a bit of a mess of both wasn't it!
Boy, am I glad that's over.
I rate it a 7, not in terms of quality but BR traits. In terms of a well-executed book, I rate it a 4-5.
Likable characters? I liked Aethelstan.
Yes, I found them more unlikeable as time went on because there was very little growth in both Ceidre and Rolfe that didn't involve appendages. There is not a thought of Rolfe's that doesn't go through the vas deferens first. Very tedious.
Favorite scene? The opening one.
Most Bodice Rippery scene? The wedding night
Overall thoughts? Started out good, but it became clear that Joyce's bag of tricks was very small. She showed all her toys early on and then we got to watch her play with them for 350+ pages.
Gripes? Same as others - too neat and tidy at the end. Too repetitive on the sensuality. Not much plot beyond Ceidre sneaking out to meet her brothers and Rolfe punishing her for being a scheming little backstabber.
I rate it a 7, not in terms of quality but BR traits. In terms of a well-executed book, I rate it a 4-5.
Likable characters? I liked Aethelstan.
Yes, I found them more unlikeable as time went on because there was very little growth in both Ceidre and Rolfe that didn't involve appendages. There is not a thought of Rolfe's that doesn't go through the vas deferens first. Very tedious.
Favorite scene? The opening one.
Most Bodice Rippery scene? The wedding night
Overall thoughts? Started out good, but it became clear that Joyce's bag of tricks was very small. She showed all her toys early on and then we got to watch her play with them for 350+ pages.
Gripes? Same as others - too neat and tidy at the end. Too repetitive on the sensuality. Not much plot beyond Ceidre sneaking out to meet her brothers and Rolfe punishing her for being a scheming little backstabber.
Mod
I think I still feel the same. I liked it. I kinda feel like I shouldn't have liked it as much as I did, because there was really a lot of things wrong with it (flat black and white characters, too much sex and not enough conflict resolution, overly simple HEA etc), but I just did and still do anyway! For some reason it has stuck with me a bit. Its not so much the characters that have stuck with me the way they do with some books but just the experience of reading it and enjoying it.
And for another rap up activity lets cast the movie!
I don't remember what Alice was described to look like in the book (other than small and petite) but in my head she looked exactly like Angela from the Office... my sister says that she was described to have dark hair, but she doesn't! Not in my mind anyway! She is blond!
I don't have a strong image of any of the other characters.... other than I think Rolf has black, coarse, kinda curly hair and a beard, real scruffy looking, not sure who I would cast tho.
Bodice Ripper Readers Anonymous
Books mentioned in this topic
Promise of the Rose (other topics)The Conqueror (other topics)
The Conqueror by Brenda Joyce 1990 (tada!)
Average GoodReads rating: 3.88
Synopsis: Like a pagan god, Rolfe the relentless rode into Castle Aelfgar to claim it as his prize- and Lady Alice as his bride. Lauded for his bravery in France, in England he was the hated enemy. Once ensconced in his new domain, Rolfe became determined to tame the Saxon beauty Ceidre, Alice's illegitimate sister, whose spirit and sensuality made him risk treason to have her- not Lady Alice- in his bed...
Mysterious and seductive, she was no lady but a spy for the rebel cause of her noble half brothers. Refusing to bow to this arrogant warrior who ignited her forbidden passion, Ceidre was swept into a dangerous liaison tied to the fate of England and kings. Yet with his kisses on her lips, his skillful hands on her body, she would have to struggle not to surrender to...
Availability: Fortunately this book is available for new from Amazon in paperback and Kindle format (yay for us Kindle owners! I downloaded my copy last night!) and of course at your local bookstore/used bookstore.
Discussions: How would you rate this book on a BR scale of 1-10? Did you find the characters likable? Do the characters become more/less likable as the book progresses? What was your favorite scene? What do you think was the most “bodice ripper” scene in the book?
We will more than likely all be reading this at different times during the month so just jump in whenever you are ready! :) Feel free to post as you read every 100 pages or so or just once when you are done, whatever works for you! I hope we will have a fun and lively discussion!!!
Please be considerate of others and use 'spoiler spaces' when revealing key plot elements. (I hope you will feel free to provide spoilers with a warning! I love them!)