Customer Reviews

The Defiant One

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Both the bride and the groom had vowed never to marry, but a few drops of an aphrodisiac invented by Andrew left Celsie thoroughly compromised (or was it the other way around?) and marriage was the only option. Although Andrew found himself beginning to like the idea of being married to Celsie, he knew that she would despise him when she found out the truth about him. Celsie found herself falling in love with her handsome new husband, but knew that whatever horrible secret he was keeping from her had the potential to destroy their marriage.

Although this is the first book I have read by Danelle Harmon, it is apparently the third part of a series of romances involving the de Montforte family and their matchmaking duke of a brother, Lucien. (Reminds me a great deal of the Malloren family saga by Jo Beverley.) This book had me so spellbound I could hardly put it down! I'll be looking for more books (past and future) by this talented author!

I must say this is a great book it was wonderful and funny.Many people have complained that they have not read the first 2 and so this is confusing or such. Well I feel that this book carries it own. There is no need to read the others if you don't want to because this book tells a little about the other two.But I sugjest you do anyways because they are excellent. Ms. Harmon is an excellent writer. I have Read the wild on and the beloved one and they are both great books First the wild Lord Gareth and Juliet then the beloved Lord Charles and Amy(both women are americans) and now the defiant Lord Andrew and Lady Chelesana. it was funny from the first moment and romantic to the last. I would give this book and its brother books 8 stars if I could. I can't wait for the last book about The Wicked Duke of Blackheath. READ IT! is all I can say

It's been a little while since I was so engrossed in a bookthat I could not put it down. Happily enough The Defiant One was oneof those books.

Celsie and Andrew the main characters in this rich story line are a well matched pair and the way that those two get together is fantastic. He is a inventor who accidentally invents an aphrodisiac and well ... you just have to read it. All I have to say is that I usually skip sex scenes in romance novels because they are too contrived and boring but this was waaay steamy. They are also both charminlgy vulnerable and it was truely wonderful to watch them become friends and lovers.

The only complaint that I have about this book is that there are two books before it, in the de Montforte saga, and the first book in that saga, The Wild One, is out of print. I know, waaa.

This is a must read book that I hope is part of a must read series. It does have at least one book left in the series, slated to come out in January of 2001. I can not wait for it to be released.

this is so far my favorite of the De Montforte books. Andrew is the youngest brother, an inventor and scientist and Celsie is also an societal outcast for her decided and foreword thinking beliefs on animal rights. The oldest brother Lucien can see that the two loners are perfect for each other and does his usual scheming to throw them together.

The relationship between Celsie and Andrew is very comical ala' "Taming of The Shrew" and the love scenes are smoking hot! But the great part of the book is the wonderful friendship and love that builds between the hero and heroine who has never quite "fit in" anywhere else. As usual the secondary characters are well written-even the four legged ones introduced in this book.

While you can read this alone-it would be better enjoyed if read after The Wild One and The Beloved One. I'm eagerly starting The Wicked One now to see the alpha, arrogant and Machiavellian eldest brother Lucien get his comeuppance and be brought down by love as well.

5 stars for the book and the series.

This is such a charming, delightful read of two lonely souls connecting with one another, for they are both separated from society; Lord Andrew de Montforte for his nature to be the Defiant One and therefore, refrains from wanting to go out in public, to do his family's bidding, wanting to stay in the comfortable confines of his laboratory immersed in science where he is alone and where no one can see the state of his supposed decaying of the brain. Lady Celsiana Blake for her unique beauty of having a tall, slender frame with small breasts, and her passionate views on the salvation of animals from abuse. Both are clearly ahead of their time with their stances to their passions; the inventor and animal rights activist both wanting to change the world. This is a tale not to be missed.

We see that thanks to the cunning ways of the Duke of Blackheath, Lucien, Andrew and Celsie have been thoroughly compromised due to an aphrodisiac and have one route to take; marriage. (May I add that Andrew had one of the hottest releases that I have ever seen on paper?? That may be a bit lewd of me to say, but my goodness!! You are in store for such CREATIVE, sensual, steamy love scenes! *plural*) One HUGE problem, however. Both detest the idea of marriage, seeing it as the perpetual loss of their freedom, their ability to live out their ambitious dreams, seeing it as a frightful thing since they think they are such severe loners. Yet the progress these two make towards opening up, understanding one another, the burgeoning friendship and love will bring proud tears to your eyes, especially for the Defiant One.

Throughout this book, there are hints to Andrew's deepest secret that is truly the driving force behind who he is; oblivious to even female attention, being bored and impatient when not in a lab. This secret is one he keeps from Celsie, fearful of her reaction but chooses to close himself off in anger instead of her leaving him because of it. This creates a nice facet of intrigue since this seemly ailment is mysterious. His fear is so very real, so very scary, amazingly believable, it'll seize your heart when he doesn't want Celsie to leave him with his 'strangeness.'

The two beautifully compliment the other. When he's angered by his imperfections, her compassionate, calm gaze meets his angry glare. Her optimism aids his dreary pessimism, and so on. Harmon emphasizes her tale in a wondrous manner, punctuates the dialogue, actions and feelings of her characters justly. There is this over very special, magnificently written part that left me breathless. Unforgettable, it was. That's the reason I read books! To be overwhelmed by the stunningly unforgettable moments and Harmon delivers them, rest assured :) in a tale of whether two loners can fall for one another wholeheartedly, with wonderful secondary characters and animals, with moments of vulnerability, and the idea of whether one can be defiant to love, companionship, and understanding. I absolutely LOVED this charming story and I know you will, too.

Happy Reading!

This was an adorable love story, and I loved it. A lot of romance novels start to sound the same after a while, but this one had a few surprising twists here and there that made it very memorable, and extremely entertaining. This was a very quick read for me because I enjoyed it so much.

Celsie and Andrew are both stubborn, which leaves a lot of room for quick witted lines on both of their parts giving the reader a lot to chuckle at throughout the book. By doing this, Ms. Harmon has proven her ability to develop characters that do not leave a reader dissapointed or disinterested. An excellent book, by a very talented author.

After reading the first two books in the series, The Wild One and Beloved One, I found this book lacking. The plot and love interest felt forced, possibly because the reason the male and female got together initially was due to a "love potion", or more appropriately, a lust potion. The attraction felt false and it seemed like Andrew and Celsiana got thrown together because they were the outsiders and not because they were truly into each other. The whole plot seems a bit unbelievable and after reading the first 2 books which contained much more depth and believability, I wasn't really expecting such a turn of events. I am hoping the last book, The Wicked One, turns out to be a lot like the first two in the series.

I liked this book very much, it was great, but I would not call it excellent. I liked that Andrew as a visionary, and I was able to interpret what most of his visions were, all except 1 or 2. Celsie was great, another strong female. I like the way all the females in this series compliment the males. Everyone is well matched up.

On the 1-10 scale, I'd probably give it a 9.7 or so.
Not exccllent, but very good. As with the other books in the series, definitely worth the time to read and a very nice change from regency romances.

Usually I find when reading a series that most of the books within it are average with one or two of them being true keepers. Well not so with this fantastic series about the de Montforte brothers! So far..they have ALL been keepers! "The Defiant One" was about Andrew..whom I have to tell you thus far is my personal favorite. I absolutely loved watching him and Celsiana come together. Now, some may say that this story was just a bit too unbelievable..and perhaps it was, but you know...its fiction..and thats the fun of it!...if you havent already read this series I wholeheartedly urge you to..I think youll be glad that you did..I CANNOT WAIT to now read Luciens story..I have a feeling that he is going to blow all of the other brothers out of the water!

I have to say this book disappointed me somewhat. I guess I just expected more. I found it a little hard to fall for the dark hero, Lord Andrew. Maybe I just like my heros to be a little less brooding and a little more charming. True, Celsiana livens things up a bit, but again, it was hard for me to sympathise with her. I just couldn't seem to get involved in their lives and the plot was just a little much for me to believe. I did however enjoy the scenes with Lucien, Andrew's cunning and very manipulating brother! I'd very much like to read more about him.

THE DEFIANT ONE is the 3rd book in the de Montforte series, but of course, I didn't realize that when I started reading. As I haven't read the first 2 books, THE WILD ONE and THE BELOVED ONE, perhaps that would make all the difference. As it stands right now, I can't say that this is my favorate book by Danelle Harmon.