Customer Reviews

Darling Jasmine

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

After forty-two years of happy matrimony, seventy-five year old Skye O'Malley becomes a widow. Though she deeply grieves the death of her cherished Adam, Skye sends all her visiting relatives home, allegedly to mourn in solitude. Instead, Skye plans to leave her home to visit her granddaughter, Jasmine, and her grandchildren in France. Her objective is to convince Jasmine that it is time to return to England in order to talk with her court-ordered fiance, Jemmie Leslie, the Earl of

One of Skye's children, Robin, realizing that his mother is very sly and devious, figures out that she is going to France. He tells Jemmie, who follows her to the home that Jasmine is hiding on the continent. As the legal guardian to all her children (one by him; the rest by previous marriages)Jemmie forces Jasmine to return as his wife. The spark between them that existed just before she fled is now an inferno. However, though they passionately love each other, their relationship remains shaky. He does not trust her to stay with him and she resents being forced to marry, even if she does love him.

Bertice Small has received warranted acclaim for her Skye O'Malley seventeenth century romances from a wide cross section of romance readers. Skye has been an endearing character to the fans of the historical romance, however, the latest Skye novel, DARLING JASMINE, adds a freshness to the series as it stars a new lead protagonist. Though Jasmine is not quite as energetic and dazzling as Skye, she leads the series to a different, but still lofty plateau of excitement and passion. This novel is a great addition to a fabulous series. Harriet Klausner

I read this book because I am a huge Bertrice Small fan, and I was hoping that it would keep up with the rest of the Skye O'Malley series. It was an entertaining book, I read it all one night, but it was by far at the bottom of the list of the seven books in the series. My problem was the unnecessary vulgarity. I see nothing romantic in the hero calling the heroine "bitch" during their interludes, and I find the excessive use of the "F"-word gratuitous. I don't really believe that word was used much then. I think that fans of the Skye O'Malley series will like the book, but to a new reader of Bertrice, I would not recommend this book. My advice is to start at the beginning of the series and work your way up to this book.

Yes, I am a Bertrice Small fan. I admit it. She writes a story that is interesting, very sexual, hard to fanthom, sometimes funny but always with wonderful characters. I don't think anyone can possibly write an honest review about this book without having read all of the previous books of the series. I very much enjoyed the story but I did cringe at some of the brutal things that was in the story. Whether you want to believe things like that it is sad to say there are real people that awful. The ending was very sad. I loved this book along with all of the others of the series.

This was a great book.I just wish jasmine could have been stronger.Like she was in wild jasmine.But other then that it was a great book.

Within a few pages of the book I was already crying.Mrs. small is clever & witty. I've read all her books about the o'malley saga and the other related books. All are masterpieces. I've read all at least three times. The Kadin started it all really and Skye was added in . Darling Jasmine was a bit brutal and rushed and it's not my favorite, but the ending was beautiful and done only as Mrs. Small could do it. Sad & poignant the ending stays with you and brings all the other sagas together at once. BRAVO!

In absolute terms, this book is still worth reading (which is why it's getting two stars.) Small's worst pretty stacks up to everyone else's best. That being said, it's sad to read this and remember her masterworks (mistressworks?) such as Skye O'Malley, Kadin, and Beloved. At her best, Small had written books that were genuinely literary. With Darling Jasmine, and the last several in general, she gives the impression of simply going through the motions.

I found this book to be wonderful. It brought many things to a wrap in the saga of Skye O Malley and her family. Skye was there in all her fiery passions and never weakened once. There were plenty of Bertrice Small's erotic scenes and I was really touched by the characters. It takes a truly wonderful writer to bring tears to my eyes and at the end of this book all I could do was lay my head down and bawl. I loved it!

I felt that Darling Jasmine was just a very bad book all around--despicable characters, frenzied plot twists, faulty editing, weak dialogue, and on and on. This was an unpleasant surprise for me. I have read the entire O'Malley Saga; Darling Jasmine brings Skye O'Malley's life of adventure to a fitting close. However, Darling Jasmine is nothing like the other O'Malley books and belongs in a place all to itself--the trash can.

This book is an absolute wonder. Bertrice has a vivid imagination and puts forth the knowledge of her imagination to the readers! Its hard to start her book and be able to do anything else until the very last page...The more she does the more you want. The characters are alive and capture the imagination of all who read about them. Again, the author is excellent in her vivid imagination and its a search for the next book from her. Can't wait until her next one. The Skye O'Malley saga was and still is her best literary accomplishments. Too bad the character, Skye, had to age. Anyone who has not had the opportunity to actually read this saga, is missing a world of pleasure, and hardships faced by one hellish woman as she travels through life. What a joy to read all the books by Bertrice Small. Talent is what this lady has, and this reader is glad she does!! Thank you Bertrice for all your accomplishments!!

I must admit that I have read every Bertrice Small novel. Some I have read many times. Yet, with each new novel Ms. Small becomes less concerned with the plot, setting, and characterization and more obsessed with extroardinarily graphic sex. Darling Jasmine is no exception. I hope that in the futore Bertrice Small returns to her roots and doles out novels the likes of the Kadin, which focus on the entire lifestyles of the characters as opposed to the time they spend in the bedroom.