Customer Reviews

Beyond Desire

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

 

 

"Beyond Desire" is a book that includes the full-length stories "Beyond Innocence" and "Beyond Seduction." There is nothing new added to these two titillating reads accept they can now be found under the same book cover.

"Beyond Innocence" is the story of Florence Fairleigh. She finds herself in London looking for the one man that can bring her the things she needs such as companionship. Instead she finds herself trapped in a game of sorts by Edward Burbrooke. Edward will do what he must to protect his younger brother Freddie...even if that means allowing the one woman who has touched his heart and soul marry his brother. Will these two find a happy ending or will Florence realize she has lost more then her heart but her innocence as well?

"Beyond Seduction" is the story of Marry Vance. Merry is an independent woman who agrees to pose for Nicolas Craven. This notorious man is an equally notorious artist. Merry has no idea that Nicolas has plans for the Victorian beauty. But is Nicolas ready for the way Merry makes him feel? Maybe he is about to find out what happens when his heart is engaged.

These are two of Ms. Holly's better efforts and it's nice to have them in one book. These are both full-length stories. If you have already read these two stories be forewarned there is nothing new between the pages. Ms. Holly is one of the better authors in this genre and one that I highly recommend.

I loved this book mainly because it has two great stories in one book, although they were published earlier (2001 & 2002). Beyond Innocence about a brother, Earl of Greystowe falls in love with the woman he has found for is younger gay brother.

Beyond Seduction, my favorite, where a very independent young woman poses nude for a notorious artist against her very strict fathers orders. The most erotic and sensual of the two.

Romantic, erotic and sexual defines both stories. Too hot for the faint of heart!

Kindle Edition -- $19.99
Paperback -- $26.10

Is this a joke? Two novels, one published in 2001 and one in 2002 are selling for these prices in 2010 having been packaged together way back in 2006? What's worse is that I have read Beyond Seduction on my Kindle and downloaded a sample of Beyond Innocence -- BUT that book is no longer available on Kindle. Not unless I want to pay $20.00 to get a book I already have, that I paid $6.99 for and is still available at that price, to get one I don't have. Either the publisher or the author has lost their minds.

I love Emma Holly but Beyond Seduction is probably the last book from this writer I will read.

I'm a huge Kindle reader and this is the first time I have actually been insulted by the pricing of an ebook (or the paperback for that matter) on Amazon.

Good luck Emma; you're good but not that good!

I keep trying to like Emma Holly's stuff but am not having much success. The frist EH book I read was The Prince of Ice which was pretty interesting. So I thought I would try Demon's Daughter(ho hum). Then I wanted to give her another shot because she had done such a good job with Prince of Ice and bought Beyond Desire - snooze.

The books both lacked true passion, true fire in the story itself. Not saying that she doesn't write an arousing bedroom scene, but outside of the bedroom scenes the books lacked "life". The stories were boring. They dragged. The characters lacked depth. They were basically corny. Perhaps it's simply her Victorian era stories that I find so lackluster but I don't think that I will be attempting any more EH books unless they're from the library. (Well..maybe if she writes a sequel to Prince of Ice) I would suggest Virginia Henley if you like a sensual historical romance with depth and grit.

Not Quite a Review....(Brace yourself....lol!!! I had a "MOMENT", as my mother used to call it!) hehe!


I Looked at the 2 digital books in this "collection" ~Beyond Innocence(2001) & Beyond Seduction (2002)~ seperately, even then I thought they were priced high for their age($7.99 each), plus I don't know the author. Then I found this...Beyond Desire(2006), Published by Penguin and Berkley. The earlier ones were Penguin and Jove. The 2 book set at $19.99, they are charging you $2 over what you would pay for them seperately!! Pardon my language but, WHAT ASSES!!!! I wonder if these companies EVER check their prices against other publishers or even just "manage" theirs by checking the price vs. age vs. sales? That would seem to me how you should set price, yes? I have seen some publishers that ALWAYS have the same RIDICULOUS price on every book they release(Macmillian...Ahemm) or most of them anyway. Digital books are MUCH cheaper to "publish" than what I call 3D books. I think that the major publishers should be aware that their high prices are not acceptable. I can find just as many self-published authors as I can ones from the large publishing houses now that there are e-readers. I do love all authors from all publishers, I just wish the gap wasn't so wide when it comes to price. Not all of us can spend $7.99 on 8 books a month by our favorite authors. I read 7-10 books a week! It's time to speak up and let the publishers know they are ripping us off. Otherwise, they'll just keep doing it!!


Sorry about the rant, I get a little carried away when I get ticked off!!
Happy Reading!!!!
DawnBee <3

This was the first Emma Holly book I read. I was impressed! Her attention to detail is amazing! It is so easy to get lost in her prose. I like a well written romance with a little, or a lot, of steam and Emma Holly never fails! The character development and story lines are well thought out and executed with a light touch, and, unlike some other writers, the love scenes don't rule the book. BRAVA, Ms. Holly!

****½ Beyond Innocence.

An earl finds a young woman he hopes will marry his younger brother but falls in love with her himself. The twist is that the younger brother is gay.

Written with a lot of affection for the characters, and Holly's trademark sensuality.


***** Beyond Seduction.

Merry's being coerced into marrying (her mother's being blackmailed, unbeknownst to Merry), and when Merry, dressed as a maid, is rescued by the rakish & intriguing painter Nicolas who asks her to pose for him, she sees a way out of her difficulties.

The romance & sensuality is great, of course, but there's a lot more to this--Merry's mother, Nicolas's illegitimate son, his hedonistic friends, and Merry's insecurity.