Customer Reviews

Bound by Love

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

 

 

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!!

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.

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

I love this book. I've read a few of rosemary's books now and so far she has not disappointed me. I look forward to reading more of her stuff. The chars were great and I even found some of it romantic, some funny moments and the building of the relationship was just the right pace, not to slow but not rushed either.

The "hero" and "heroine" are very uninteresting. There's no real personality for either, the only thing they seem to have in common is their oft mentioned physical beauty and their "romance" is boring. There's no build up at all, the arrogant guy has the virginal daughter of the emperor's clothes completely off out in a garden by their second meeting, and it's not even interesting. She's Russian but only makes exclamations in French ("Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu!) The plot is pretty thin and the bad guys are all your stereotypical mustache twirling types. Everyone sounds the same and it's hard to even figure out or even care who the other characters are because they all have the same speech mannerisms and the characterizations are trite. I tried to muddle through this book but could only get half way through. Not recommended.

This book although used recieved in good condition and on time. Will buy from this seller again.