Bound by Love [Mass Market Paperback]

Rosemary Rogers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2009

The illegitimate daughter of the Russian czar, Leonida arrives at the estate of Stefan, the Duke of Huntley, with secrets…and a mission. Searching for covert documents sequestered in Stefan's massive library, she is the perfect guest—and the perfect spy.

Fascinated by her flawless beauty and her intriguing air of mystery, Stefan draws intimately closer…and Leonida, bound by duty to her family and country, finds herself utterly captivated. Yet as danger and desire meet in a tangled web of espionage and deceit, the two will face a choice that can be made only by love itself.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This perfect beach book moves effortlessly from the green English countryside to bustling Paris to the glittering court of Emperor Alexander Pavlovich. Leonida, the czar's illegitimate daughter, travels to Surrey in search of incriminating correspondence in which her mother revealed state secrets to the previous Duchess of Huntley. Stefan, the current duke, can't figure out what she's up to, but that doesn't stop him from pursuing her. After Leonida flees with the letters, he tracks her all the way to St. Petersburg. The villain and hero are obvious, but other players' motives are less clear. Leonida is very easy to like, idealistic and loyal; Stefan, who declares it a pity that women are no longer the property of men, is more stereotypical and less sympathetic. The history is skimpy, but fans of Regency romance will enjoy the familiar story and unusual setting. (Aug.)
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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books (August 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 037377396X
• ISBN-13: 978-0373773961
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #578,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great romantic book, August 23, 2009

By 

C. Pham - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bound by Love (Mass Market Paperback)

Finally an old fashioned romance book with love and adventure!!! It has been a while since I enjoyed a book such as this (even stayed up until 1 am to finish it). I enjoyed the characters who seem very real to me. This book gives me the goosebump especially the attraction between the hero/heroine. Love love it!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Difficult time finishing this, September 23, 2009

By 

SusieQ (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bound by Love (Mass Market Paperback)

I am always interested in finding romances that are set in unusual places, so finding this one, which is set in large part in early 19th century Russia, was a good sign, I thought. But I can hardly believe that the author of "Sweet Savage Love", "The Insiders" and other intense, character-driven romance novels, wrote this bloodless, gutless, meandering bore of a novel.

The plot has been described in other reviews here so I won't repeat it. I do think it might have been a good plot, IF the characters were less puppet-like and the pace of the story had been quickened. But page after page I was thinking, "WHEN is something going to happen??" We are given Leonida's and Stefan's instantaneous attraction to each other; descriptions of their clothing, and how beautiful these two people are. It was really difficult for me to stay focused on this story, despite my determination to finish it.

Leonida and Stefan don't even come close to generating the heat that a good romance needs. It's very difficult for me to say this, but Rosemary Rogers has lost her touch. Her plots and characters used to be innovative, with a can't stop reading quality. Based on this book, I'd say the qualities that made her writing HERS, have been politically corrected to death.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful Regency romance, August 2, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bound by Love (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1821 Leonida Karkoff arrives as a welcome guest of Lord Edmond and his wife Brianna (see SCANDALOUS DECEPTION). However, Leonida finds herself attracted to her shock to her host's twin brother Stefan, the Duke of Huntley. Stefan distrusts Leonida, who as the illegitimate daughter of Czar Alexander has no reason to be in England unless she has some diabolical plot to harm the Russian ruler.

However, Stefan is more upset with himself for wanting a woman he distrusts. Leonida feels guilt as she is pulled in two directions as her mother sent her to retrieve letters that will hurt the czar if exposed and her desire perhaps even love for Stefan. He seduces her, but soon afterward she vanishes with the letters to the content with him in pursuit. In St. Petersburg, Stefan catches up with his Leonida, who has fled his bed for fear her heart will die if she remains with her beloved.

The St. Petersburg setting refreshes a wonderful Regency romance sequel starring two beloved enemies. Besides the enticing Russian backdrop, Leonida is a refreshing protagonist pulled by her mother in one direction and yanked in the opposite by her love for Stefan. Fans will enjoy this brisk tale as Rosemary Rogers shows why she is consistently one of the historical romance sub-genre sure things.

Harriet Klausner