Customer Reviews

All That Glitters

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(33)

 

 

Fellow Linda Howard fans, you certainly have a right to be angry about a heroine who has a backbone as rigid as a wet spaghetti noodle, and a hero who was not only domineering, but also downright sadistic, but that's what almost all the series romances were like then. This was the Harlequin formula at the time, and Silhouette, who originally published this book, was still following the Harlequin formula. Jayne Castle/Krentz/stephanie James, Nora Roberts, etc., were just beginning to change America's series romance readers views on doormat-ish women and psychotically possessive heroes. But even then, Linda Howard showed her talent; I did not like All That Glitters in 1982, but Linda's ability as a storyteller was very much in evidence, and boy, did she improve over the years. New writers have to start somewhere and if you love the Mackenzies, Dream Man , and Son of the Morning, then realize how far Linda has come since All That Glitters, and also how far we readers have come--in the 1970's and early 80's , we category-romance readers used to accept those kind of heros and heroines as the norm. My quarrel is with publishers who cash in on an author's popularity by republishing his/her older books without considering whether they deserve republishing (and, I might add, at a much higher price). If Ms. Howard wanted it reprinted, she might be thinking twice now . Those people who are just discovering her might not buy another book of hers if this is the first they read, but I hope they will try one of her more recent books (but not Now You See Her) and find out why we Linda Howard fans are so loyal.

As a confirmed Linda Howard fan, I looked forward to a story I'd not yet read - but oh boy, this one was not one of her better efforts! Linda's heroes are renowned for their "alpha" male characteristics, but Niko Constantinos takes it two steps past alpha, and does Greek men a disservice at the same time. Jessica Stanton is a whiny, tearful idiot, who lacks the courage of her convictions. She's also never read the instruction manual for heroines - you don't mention marriage the first time you're in bed with the hero! Tsk tsk. It's an interesting read for Howard fans, but if you're looking to try one of her books, don't start with this one unless you're still convinced that men are dominant and should control the lives of their women. If you do feel this way, then by all means take this book back into your cave, but make sure you skin the woolly mammoth carcass before you settle down to read!

I fell in love with Linda Howard reading MacKenzie Mountain and Dream Man and have eagerly snatched up all her books since then. I love her style of writing and her characters, they are strong, well-adjusted, perfectly matched both in bed and out! This book was a shock, the storyline gave me the creeps and I had to struggle to finish it.

The story went something like this, they met, sparks fly, Nicholas goes into a fit of jealous rage for no apparent reason, Jessica crys, they make up, Jessica crys, they go to Greece, Jessica crys, Nicholas forces Jessica (in more ways than one) to stay on the Island, Jessica crys. They live happily ever after, or at least as happily as dripping faucet can live with an extremely violent, immature man.

Shame on the publishers for reprinting this -- don't buy it, get Dream Man, Son of the Morning or any of the MacKenzie books instead!

I am a huge fan of Ms. Howard's and was delighted that her early novels were being reprinted. I eagerly snatched up "All That Glitters" and rushed home to read it. Boy, was I in for a disappointment! The plot revolves around the heroine's slutty reputation (totally unfounded, of course) and the hero's desire to marry a virgin. (He's a Greek tycoon, you see.) The heroine cries and trembles a lot and the hero acts like a rutting boar (or should that be bore?) as he tries to get her into bed. I found myself getting angry at the hero's abusive behavior and the heroine's masochistic acceptance of his treatment of her. This book was originally published in 1982 - it must have been Ms. Howard's first novel - and I cannot imagine her creating such flat and one-dimensional characters now, much less making physical intimidation and near rape seem acceptable behavior in a hero! (The hero makes the heroine sign a prenuptual agreement that forbids her to leave their home on his Greek island without him AND makes her turn over control of her finances to him! Can we say control freak?) This book is a good demonstration of Ms. Howard's subsequent growth as a writer, if nothing else. I don't recommend this book to women with high blood pressure - believe me, it will shoot through the roof as you read! Pick up "Dream Man" or "Son of the Morning" instead.

This book is deceiving because it is listed as being printed in 1998, however it was written in 1982 and it shows. Linda had not yet developped the writting style we know and love from her more recent works. The most emotion this book generated on my part was a desire to shake the so called heroine until she wised up and got a spine! She was just pitiful. The weird thing is that in the 80's most romance books were like this and this one must have been a success because LH is a talented author. However, times have changed, thank God, and the type of man that treats the woman he loves like he always knows what's best for her and carts her around like a piece of luggage is a thing of the past and should stay in the past!

This must be the earliest book penned by Linda Howard. The characters are so immature. The heroine does not deserve to be called hero, the best she can do is crying for no apparent reason. I absolutely agree to the previous reviewer, this book is not worth buying. If you are Linda Howard's fanatic reader and do not want to miss even one of her book, just borrow this book, DO NOT BUY ! All The MacKenzie books, Heart a Fire, After the Night and Dream Man are highly recommended for all Linda Howard's first reader.

I wish I could give this no stars. I have read most all of Linda Howard's other books and liked most all of them very much. This, however, is the worst book I have ever read, written by anyone! I can't even finish it, because it just doesn't get any better. The heroine is spineless, lacking all self-respect, and unlikable. THe hero is hateful, ego-maniacal, cruel, and like the another reviewer said, would make a good villain. I kept reading until Jessica left Nikolas after he insulted her, verbally abused her really, told her she wasn't good enough to marry him! Then she went back to him and I couldn't stomache any more. This is not a romance. Actually, I wondered if some chauvenistic male wrote it and Linda Howard just put her name on it. Don't read this, any other Linda Howard book will be worth your time.

I love Linda Howard, but oh boy! was this a stinker. The other reviewers are right - the "hero" is so irredeemably awful and the heroine is so moistly ineffectual, that I wanted to throw up. This is not some post-feminist, can't-men-be-more-like-women rant. I love strong, capable heroes, but Nick is a spousal-abuse case waiting to happen.

And the heroine - what does it say that I don't even remember her *name*! She puts the "co" in co-dependent. She keeps saying she'll just turn Nick away and get him to leave her alone, but she never says "no" like she means it. Why not call the cops, refuse to answer the door, leak the story to the press, etc? It's not like this was feudal England and she had no options.

If you want to read a good romance with a strong, difficult hero, I'd recommend "Duncan's Bride" (Howard) or "These Old Shades" (Georgette Heyer).

I adore Linda Howard and have only stumbled over two of her books. This one and her next novel 'An indepent wife.'Call it premonition but from the first sentence I had a deep feeling that it was going to be like 'An independent wife.' I wonder did/do women really enjoy misogynist, whiny, degrading written word?
Jessica Stanton, a financially independet widower, is the only woman to oppose Nikolas Constantinos, Greek billionare. Because of his uncontrolled response to her and her defiance, Niko belives it is fine to treat Jessica like a disobidient dog. The only repulsive thing he did not do to this character is physically beat her, and truthfully I don't think that would have shocked me as some of the things he did throughout the book.
This book, although it is appalling, demonstrates how much Howard has drawned and pushed her female characters into confident roles in her recent works. Thank you, Linda Howard, for that redemption. Unless you are a die hard Howard fan, do not, and I repeat, do not read this book!
I recommend "Open Season", "Dream Man", and "Mr. Perfect". Those are, in my own personal opinion, her best works.

I don't ususally write reviews but I just had to with this book. The first time I read All that Glitters I loved the book. The second time i read it I hated it with a passion. I guess you can account it for the time that the book was written. But the hero (Niko) was manipulative, unsensitive and not a hero in the sense that a hero should be in a romance novel. The heroine (Jessica) was just a weak cry baby that had no spine and allowed him to do anything to her. She put up with a lot of junk that any heroine in any other book would have not put up with.

I agree with the reviewers that say that the publishers should be ashamed that they republished this book.

If you want to read a good Linda Howard book read any of the McKenzies, Diamond Bay, White Lies, or Midnight Rainbow.