Customer Reviews

La Basquaise (Black Lace)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I could not bring myself to finish this book. An avid reader of Black Lace I was distracted not entranced by the plot twists of this novel. After reading for an hour or so, I put the book back under my bed and thats where it has stayed.

Just when I thought I was ready to give up on Black Lace along came this wonderfully entertaining novel. In a genre that can become all too predictable, Angel Strand seems to have bridged the gap between what looked like the heavy constraints (sorry, no pun intended) demanded by this kind of fiction, and the mainstream romantic blockbuster. It reads at times like an 18th century novel, rambling and picaresque, with loads of characters popping on and off the stage. Great characters they are too, with real needs, feelings and desires. The setting is Biarritz in the twenties; there's plenty of colour and atmosphere. Oruela Bruyere is a sort of female Candide, charming, innocent and deliciously sexy. I was both surprised - this really does seem a tad experimental for Black Lace, the sex much less contrived and a natural part of a very lively story - and delighted. Maybe I wont be giving up on this imprint after all. I'll certainly be looking out for more by Angel Strand.

I hadn't read a Black Lace novel for quite some time because they had become tedious, contrived and repetitious. Also, they don't publish historical erotica quite so much anymore and their contemporaries read more like Penthouse letters than anything else. I loved the reprinted novel White Rose Ensnared and was ecstatic when Black Lace reprinted another historical, one set during the Roaring Twenties called LA Basquaise. My enthusiasm, however, came to an abrupt end when I began to read this mess. All Oruela wants is to be a part of the Biarritz society, and she would do just about anything to be among the party crowd. But then the Biarritz high society isn't very important when her father turns out dead. To make things worse, she is suspected of killing him and becomes the victim of blackmail. Money isn't exactly what is asked from her when she is blackmailed, and she soon becomes part of every sexual game imaginable. There are some twists throughout the novel.

The opening of this novel is quite interesting and strong. I was immediately pulled into the party circuit of the Biarritz. The 1920s setting was also a strong influence because this particular era has interested me for a while. The initial sex scenes are sensual, provocative and smoldering to the max. But then things begin to fall apart after reading about fifty pages. The female protagonist is annoying, the secondary characters are either one-dimensional, uninteresting or downright unlikeable (and not in the good sense). The plot is so disjointed I sometimes felt I was reading a Choose Your Own Adventure type of book in which you have to read the book without order. The sex ceased to be erotic and it was simply used as a tool to fill the novel's word count. I wasn't interested in how the story (if you can call this a story) ended anymore, but I forced myself to finish it anyway. I have become wary of reading Black Lace books because of insipid offerings like this one. I may never read a BL novel like The Ninety Days of Genevieve, The Captivation, The Amulet, Pleasure's Daughter, Menage or White Rose Ensnared again. Ah, well. I guess this is goodbye to Black Lace, for a while at least.

this is a great period novel...... au contraire to what other folk have said, this is a great novel with some steamy scenes and top o' the art writing. couldn't put it down even if i wanted to! lots of awesome scenes, great writing, just awesome! cannot wait to pick up another book from ms. strand. she is a rare talent. man oh man.........

I've been enjoying Black Lace books for a few years and was looking forward to reading a new one. I found La Basquaise and began what turned out to be an aggravating and seemingly unending read. The opening was strong & fun--which was simply the juicy meat of a terrible leg-hold trap. By the time I'd gnawed through the bone, I was ready to die. Strand has no idea how to tell a story, no idea how to resolve her plot threads. The characters are boring and there is so little time spent fleshing them out that you could care less what happens to them. Unrealistic (I know this is a fantasy, whatever!) situations, characters who are best friends with each other abondoning one another without a thought. It felt like it was written by three different people over a weekend and sewn together hastily with thick ragged string. Don't waste your time, unless you feel like using it as a teaching aid for how NOT to write erotica. Terrible--!

This would be my least favorite black lace book. I could not get involved with the character at all, and was not impressed by the love scenes.