Customer Reviews

Dearest Enemy

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

 

 

I'll be the first to admit that I bought this book because I had heard good things about this author, and, well, the cover is really hot! I normally don't buy books based on the covers. I wish i would have saved my money on this one! This is quite literally one of the worst historical romances I have ever read. The heroine ( I use the term loosely) is not at all likeable. The hero is a completely underdeveloped character. When I read a historical romance, i want to feel like I am involved in the story as if I am there. i felt like a distant and very bored spectator. The worst part of the story is that after being utterly betrayed by Susanna, Mitch ends up begging for "her" forgiveness!! Give me a break. I was also tired of the endless descriptions of how perfect this woman's body was. It was enough to give the average woman an eating disorder!! I can't imagine how this was even published other than the fact that nan Ryan is an established author. I only finished this book because I am a huge fan of the Civil War genre and I paid good money for this book. If you like Civil War romances, skip this one and read Heather Graham's trilogy " One Wore Blue", "One Wore Grey", and "One Rode West." I would suggest that nan Ryan do the same and learn how to write a really hearfelt novel with great characters.

It took me a while to really engage in this story, but I was glad I stuck it out. It's an epic story that spans about a decade, not your typical romance that only spans a few weeks or months. I read this book many weeks ago and I tell you the story really has stuck with me. It's a passionate love story with both heartache and triumph. Suzanna and Mitch are from opposite sides of the war, but as a spy Suzanne makes Mitch believe they are on the same side. A deeply passionate romance evolves between them, which leaves Suzanna with some very tough choices. They both make mistakes out of misplaced loyalties and beliefs. I can't say this is the best book I've ever read, but it was a very enjoyable read.

The two leading characters in this book are not very likeable and lacked depth. She's young and beautiful and every man who sees her falls at her feet. Even the man she sets her cap on, might as well have been on a leash. It's just as well that he dies since he would have been led around by his nose (or another obvious appendage) their entire married life.

The union officer she sets her sights on to avenge her brother's and sweetheart's life fairs a little better. At least he doesn't succumb to her wiles as readily. After a bit of suffering on both sides, they find each other and begin a series of emotionless couplings that did not endear me to their characters. It isn't until the last few pages of the book that they admit their love for each other but I wasn't moved, only relieved that I was finished with the book!

Don't let this review turn you off to this author. I've read several other books by Nan Ryan and have enjoyed them. This book is written well (which earned it an extra star) but it was difficult to empathize with the character's plight. For better efforts of this author, read Because You're Mine or The Sheriff.

I purchased the unabridged audio edition of this novel and I admit after 1 hour I deleted it from my ipod. The two main characters and their couplings just didn't appeal to me. There wasn't enough action to keep my interest. In audio novels there needs to be more going on than just backstory and the characters need to be LIKEABLE. Being told how smart, funny, attractive the heroine is, instead of having this be shown, just left me bored. The first hour features the heroine and her romance with the hero's predecessor (who is predicted to die from the get go). Why waste the page count?

Overall it didn't do it for me. Perhaps it picks up later, but 1 hour of blandness is my limit in audiobooks, and this novel just never picked up.

1 star.

This was not one of Nan Ryan's better books. This book is very shallow and does not grab the reader into the story. I felt nothing for either character and there wasn't one surprise hidden in the pages. I could guess from the first chapter the entire book as if I had already read it. It is however an easy read and if you like are the type of reader who doesn't like a lot of detail, this book might be for you.

I hardly know where to begin to describe how terrible this book is. DEAREST ENEMY is ... my God, words actually fail me. Silly and trite, I guess are the best words I can come up with to describe this - a true example of all that a poorly written historical romance novel can be. It's a Confederate v. Union spy saga set mostly during the Civil War, but it's a fantasy-land spy saga/romance - there's like, *zero* realism in the plot; the setting, or the characters. Incorporating realistic elements into a romance novel can only ADD to its appeal. DEAREST ENEMY's plot and character development are somewhere out in la-la land.

Sometimes with a historical romance novel, it's possible to forgive an author for one or two slips of accuracy - especially if the story has great characters to propel it, or, let's face it, a smokin' hot romantic and emotionally involving storyline. With DEAREST ENEMY you get neither great characters or smokin' story line. The author gives her heroine's mother a man's name. That was my first warning signal... And then again, no *thoughtful* romance author could possibly create a male character named Rear Admiral Mitchell Longley (think about it) and expect a reader to take that seriously. (Other characters frequently refer to him just as "the Rear Admiral".) The heroine is a bratty, spoiled, plastic character, with no emotional depth aside from the fact that her brother and fiance get killed early in the war (that's no spoiler - it happens by Chapter 2), which gives her the impetus to be a (so-called) spy for the Confederacy. For no discernable reason other than it moves the plot along, she's a great success until her affair with the Rear Admiral trips her up.

Bad as DEAREST ENEMY really is, I have to admit I kept reading its short, staccato-sounding and historically lazy, chapters. It got so bad it actually became funny and rather enjoyable. At least I had a few chuckles. For that alone, it would rate at least half a star, but I can't really recommend this book.

Wonderful, breathtaking, eventful, fully detailed, and Historicaly correct!
Having red this book has revealed so much of the suffering and loss that happened during the war between the states. Each time i read this book i put myself in Suzannas shoes and re-live it with her!!!Awesome written book. Get it if you dont have it for your (keeper) collection!
Great love story, full of passion. in life and death.

I loved this book. It has a deep story line with a lot of history. The romance is hot. Parts make you want to cry and others make you chuckle. Wish I could find more books like this.

In 1859, eighteen years old Suzanna LeGrande is happy living in Virginia with her widow mom and an older brother, Matthew, a West Point graduate. Her brother introduces her to a friend from his cadet days, Ty Bellinggrath. It is love at first sight as they begin seeing one another. One year later he proposes and she accepts. By April 1861, Virginia secedes from the Union and joins the Confederate States; her brother and her fiancé join Lee. That summer as the Confederacy gains a great victory at nearby Manassas, the two men in her life die in battle. Suzanna vows vengeance on the damn Yankees.

Over the next few years Suzanna pretends to be a social butterfly, but is obtaining valuable information for the South as she spies on her Northern guests. In 1864 Union Naval Rear Admiral Mitchell Longley falls in love with Suzanna, but stupidly leaves classified material lying around that she obtains. Suzanna loves Mitch, but her vow means more. She steals the information, which leads to many deaths. Mitch is shattered as he knows who betrayed him. He lives for one thing to destroy the Southern Belle who killed their love.

Nan Ryan writes a terrific star-crossed Civil War romance that grips readers once Suzanna vows to see Yankee blood flow and never slows down until Mitch pledges to avenge the flow of Yankee blood caused by the betrayal. The lead characters are fully developed especially when anger takes over reasoning as each drives the exhilarating story line with the personal conflicts over loving a DEAREST ENEMY. This is a one sitter historical to learn how it plays out.

Harriet Klausner

It started slow , my sister did not finsh it , i picked it up got further than where she stopped , it turned out ok, after all. I like the sex scences tehy were the greatest . Ina hammock , imagine that . It reminds me of in Naughty Marrietta where they made love ont he back of a moving horse , wow , imagine that . It leaves much to the imagination. I loved both of these books. Keep up the good works Mrs Ryan and write some new novels PLEASE !!!!!!!!