Status Updates From Love's Burning Flame

Finally. The tedious China portion comes to an end—now moving on to Baja California via Spanish trading ship. 😶 This book is tragically schizo. The good parts are good, but the tedious parts are so flat + wooden.

‘She could not endure the loss of his touch, or of the frantic agitation of his tongue. They shook w/ a common passion, then lay resting. Tanya felt as if she had been caught in a dream from which she had no desire to waken. Her body was fluid, soft, & pulsating in his arms. She tried to think of Alexius, but his image wouldn’t come to her mind.’ ….Understandable, as he’s never around. 😂

‘Never had she felt any cloth so deliciously soft & erotic, & she was thankful that she had been given no undergarments to interfere w/ her enjoyment of her new robe. The entire gown was so light that she felt as if she were naked, & that sensation, too, increased her sensuousness.’ ….Chinese harem slice-of-life. 😂

‘Because she had displeased the Tsar, two men were dead: her father & an innocent youth whose only fault had been his sympathy for a sorrowing woman. Each move of her body, every breath she took, reminded her that they were gone.’

‘Tanya let the words flow over her. Somehow, even w/ her newfound realism, she had expected more. There was no concern in her Queen’s voice for the suffering her favorite Lady had experienced. There was no objection voiced that a man should be free to deflower any woman he chose without being punished. Catherine was outraged b/c her son had taken something—something—that belonged to her.’

‘She had a natural curiosity regarding the “evils” that so terrified her nurse, & now she would have an opportunity to learn exactly what they were. And she would not be hindered in her investigation by a protective father or a motherly companion. She could not deny it; she felt more anticipation than terror as the carriage rolled through the streets on its way to the grand court of the Empress.’

‘Catherine’s appearance reflected her royalty as well as her age. Of moderate height, slightly plump, she bore herself nobly. Yet years of indulgence had taken their toll, dissipation had dulled her eyes, & her expression was more sensuous than regal.’

Starting to look like our heroine will be a sacrifice to Pele? That sure was one swift footed barrier who carried her from Mona to Mauna Loa. Took me a good part of a day in the car.

Time to wrap this up already.

Than goodness the China part is over. That dragged on way too long.

When they reached Canton, her miseries would be over.

Ha.

Wait...she's special. No honey for this heroine, it's pineapple sweetness :D

This book is going to make the heroine love juices shelf.

Come in little foreign jewel!

Her Chinese master has summoned her to his bed chamber.

…The sweet fragrance of feminine juices filled Tanya's nostrils, and stirred her own sensuality.

You would think after the hell she's been through, that would be the last thing on her mind.

Come along, little lady. The Tsar has a new room prepared for you.

Ah, you'll make a lusty partner, my hot little kitten. All you need is to have the gate to your desire open.

The book might fly soon.

There were times when she felt as if the Queen were wooing her. But that, she realized, was ridiculous! Everyone knew of Catherine's proclivity for men.

The exclamation points are as thick as as old growth forest.