Customer Reviews

In The Flesh (Sapphire, Book 1)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love going in to the book store for one thing and coming out with something extra. In The Flesh by Livia Dare was a surprise and a really great read. The story is about a former concubine starting her life after retirement in a palace provided by her old lover/owner the King of Sari. Crown Prince Wulfric of a neighboring, warring country is given to Sapphire as a guard against his will. Once Sapphire knows who he is, she knows she must let him go. Wulfric needs to escape and return to his kingdom to find out who attempted to assasinate him and set him up as a guard for his enemies former concubine, yet his desire for Sapphire has him unwilling to leave.

The story follows these two as they try to resist their feelings because they are on opposite sides. The war is over but if the king finds out that Sapphire is with his enemy, it could restart the old feud. This book kept me captivated throughout, not to mention the steamy love scenes. Be warned, there are one or two moments where the heroes aggression toward the heroine before they have sex, make you pissed. He does however redeem himself with his love and willingness to fight the odds to be together. Sapphire is an AWESOME heroine and you cant help but like her. She is confident and self reliant. The end implies this could be a trilogy and I am eager to follow this new series

In the Flesh by Livia Dare
Futuristic Romance- June 2nd, 2009
4 stars

Theirs is a dangerous, forbidden love.

Sapphire is a trained concubine renowned because she holds the love of the King of Sari. For her, the King is a job and she can never love him because he only sees her as a possession. She does not regret becoming a concubine but has discovered that she does miss her independence. When the jealous Queen of Sari retires her and gives Sapphire her own palace, she is at first joyous. Freedom to live and be her own person is a pleasure she will never take for granted again. However, Sapphire does not realize that the Queen actually intends to punish her by bestowing upon Sapphire a male concubine that will endanger her life and that of her family.

Wulfric is the Crown Prince and mortal enemy of the King of Sari. When he is captured, tortured and finally given to serve the renowned concubine Sapphire he is outraged. All he can think of his is his hatred and a way to escape. Wulfric's plan is to seduce Sapphire, use her, and ruthlessly gain his freedom. But Sapphire is more than he expects and he finds himself respecting her and wanting things he knows he should not. He has never before met a woman with the strength of character to match his own. He finds Sapphire an aphrodisiac he can't live without. Wulfric's finds himself making excuses to stay despite the peril.

For Sapphire, Wulfric is completely different from the King of Sari. He values her opinion and treats her as an individual plus it doesn't hurt that his sensual skills rival her own! A heady combination indeed.

As Sapphire and Wulf find themselves unwillingly attracted to each other, both know their love is forbidden. But they cannot bear to be parted. Both are caught in an impossible situation especially since Sapphire's father is the highest commanding officer under the King of Sari. Their love is a betrayal of family and kingdom.

Livia Dare has written an amazing story in a futuristic landscape that is a compelling and fascinating. The love between the 2 star crossed lovers is a delight for the senses. I was particularly interested in Sapphire. It would have been nice to learn more about Sapphire complex history such as her decision/training to become a concubine and her combat training. My favorite part of the story is how Livia Dare portrays Wulfric. He is clearly an alpha male yet he accepts Sapphire as she is and allows her freedom to be herself. He is confident enough in himself that he does not feel the need to dominate her. The only thing I found slightly strange was the abrupt, somewhat rushed ending. I wish more time had been spent on the conclusion. However, the author will release 2 more books which will hopefully reveal more of the world and characters she has created. I highly recommend this story for those who love paranormal and futuristic romances with some very racy scenes! I thoroughly enjoyed this sensual story.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

For five years, the daughter of the Army's top general, Sapphire the concubine has been numero uno with the King of Sari. However, her popularity with the monarch means Sapphire has a powerful enemy, the queen orders her out of the palace. Her exile to her lavish home includes servants so Sapphire feels good that she no longer is a sex toy.

Crown Prince Wulfric of warring neighboring D'Ashier arrives at her home badly injured. She realizes who he is and once he heals they make love. He wants her in his home, but she is loyal to her nation. However, he rejects her refusal and takes her to his palace where he makes her his top concubine over her second objection. However, as they fall in love, Wulf begins to wonder who the prisoner is.

The first Sapphire other world romantic thriller is a fabulous tale starring a delightful courageous heroine and the stubborn Prince she conquers. Sub-genre fans will appreciate the fast-paced story line from the moment that the Sari Queen exiles her greatest rival into an affluent banishment and never slows down as the heroine is abducted by the royal she saves. With vivid detail to her exotic world that feels like an entry found in the Arabian Nights, Livia Dare provides a strong opening entry in what looks like a wonderful saga.

Harriet Klausner

I wasn't crazy about everything the characters said or even why or what they did. So I couldn't give it five stars, but it was close. Really close. I loved how easy to read and emotional this book was. The characters had big flaws. Huge bags going into this relationship, but I loved them just the same.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who likes really, really steamy stuff and really, really great writing.

Sapphire has been the contracted concubine of the King of Sari for 5 years and during that time she'd held his heart. In the beginning, she had hoped that she could also love him but since he had never truly seen her for the person she is, the love never came to pass. That's why when it comes time for the King to produce an heir and his wife insists on Sapphire's retirement, she's more than happy to go. But just because she's left the palace doesn't mean the King's love for her has ended. Now the Queen is determined that Sapphire needs to be gone, not just retired. So when a bounty hunter captures Wulfric, The Crown Prince of D'Ashier, whose country is an enemy of Sari, She sends him to Sapphire as a slave in hopes that Wulfric will kill her. Instead Sapphire and Wulfric fall in love and Wulfric kidnaps Sapphire and takes her to his home, intent on keeping her with him. With Sapphire's father being the famous general that defeated D'Ashier in battle, she's less than welcome when she arrives. Add to this the fact that the King of Sari will do anything to get her back. Despite the great love Sapphire and Wulfric share can they find a way to be together with two countries trying to keep them apart?

Absolutely outstanding! In The Flesh is everything I want in a futuristic romance. Livia Dare seamlessly creates a world that literally draws you in. With an emotional connection between Sapphire and Wulfric that leaps from the page. Sexy and filled with adventure In The Flesh simply rocks. Book 2 in this series can't come soon enough for me!

Melissa
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

The king of Sari's favorite concubine, Sapphire, has been officially retired from service. That doesn't mean Crown Prince Wulfric of rival country D'Ashier won't do everything in his power to make the beauty, and daughter of his enemy, his own. What neither of them expected was the all-consuming passion that ignited them every time they were together. An impossible situation for two high profile people in warring countries, but then again, how are they expected to deny their hearts?

Ms. Dare has written a fresh new series, at once historical and futuristic, erotic and action-filled. Sapphire and Wulf are the perfect couple: intelligent, strong-willed and sensual. Sexual passion between this pair is so explosive it'll fairly melt the pages. This book will create instant fans of Ms. Dare, including this reviewer.

Unfortunately, as this book is a couple of years old, no other additions to this series have been added. I sure would love to read about this world once again.

Livia Dare has created a world where concubines are respected and highly prized. Sapphire is a graduate of the School of Sensual Arts, where her mother is a tenured professor. Her father is the top general in the country, and because Sapphire has been the chosen concubine of the King of Sari for five years, she has become a national celebrity. Unfortunately, the king has fallen in love with her (a selfish sort of love, though), and won't sleep with anyone else, even the queen. The queen loves the king and, bitterly jealous of Sapphire, persuades the king to let her go by insinuating that his subjects are mocking his virility since he has not sired an heir on his wife (because he can't bear to sleep with his wife while Sapphire is around). The queen, however, wants to see Sapphire completely out of the picture, so she contrives a plan where a captured enemy prince is placed in her new "retirement" household as a slave, hoping that either he will kill her or she will kill him. (I should mention that Sapphire is a highly trained military operative thanks to her military father.)

Well, the whole thing backfires when Wulf and Sapphire fall in love rather than kill each other. But it is an impossible situation because Wulf is a prince who must marry a royal princess for the sake of his country, and even taking her as a concubine will start a war with Sari, whose king is desperate to get her back. Wulf kidnaps her and tries to make her a concubine, albeit, his favorite. But when she gives him the same "professional services" she gave to the king, he wants more. Wulf's father (another king) half-succeeds in convincing him that Sapphire is an assassin or a spy, and after an attack by Wulf's own brother, Sapphire manages to escape from them.

SPOILER:

The only thing I did not like about this book is the abrupt ending. Yes, there is a HEA, but there are too many loose ends. For example, Wulf has not been honest with Sapphire about his father's insistence that he make a political marriage with a neighboring princess. Ironically, Sapphire could end up in the same situation she was in with the King of Sari, except that this time she is in love with him and would be devastated if his marriage to another woman would take precedence over hers. This book came out 2-1/2 years ago. Where is the sequel?

Livia Dare is the pseudonym of author Sylvia Day and the range this author has for any kind of romance is phenomenal! I have never written a review for a book before nor jumped on a bandwagon for an author, however I felt compelled to give kudos to an awesome author and an over the top terrific novel. In The Flesh surpassed all of my expectations.

The daughter of the Sari Army's top general, Sapphire has been the favored concubine for the King of Sari. The King has vowed his love to her although Sapphire simply feels that she is "doing her job well". The monarch's love means Sapphire has a powerfully vengeful enemy. Using the guise that an Heir must be conceived the Queen of Sari orders her out of the palace to a lavish home that includes servants. Sapphire feels wonderful now that she is retired, for finally she can start an independent life where she can feel real value beyond the bedroom.

Crown Prince Wulfric of the warring neighboring land of D'Ashier is somehow delivered to her home as a badly injured servant. Sapphire soon realizes who he really is, and once he heals they begin an emotionally, sensuously, and physically challenging journey of denial until they finally resign themselves to be together for just one night before she sends him away to go back to his own land. One night proves not to be enough, he wants her in his home- in his bed, but she is loyal to her nation and her family. He rejects her refusal and kidnaps her to his palace where she challenges him in more than mind and body. She becomes his only love; He becomes hers. However, convincing the monarch and the people of D'Ashier of this unlikely match will prove as tricky as preventing a war with the neighboring Sari.

This first Sapphire Other-World romantic thriller is a fantastic tale featuring a delightful and courageous heroine and the stubborn and passionate Prince she conquers. Readers will appreciate the fast-paced story line from the moment that the Sari Queen exiles her greatest rival into an affluent banishment where she meets her destiny and the story never slows down as the heroine is abducted by the royal she saves, and literally vibrates with passion and intrigue all the way to a conclusion that will leave you breathless for more.

With vivid detail to the exotic world that she has created, which is reminiscent of the passions found in the Arabian Nights, Livia Dare provides a strong first entry in what promises to be a wonderfully powerful saga in the making!

Just finished the book this morning it was great I'm going to put this author on my favorites list and order more of her books!

Livia Dare pulled out all the stops with this one. Sapphire is amazing, she's as tough as any warrior around. I love reading about strong women and Sapphire hits the mark. I was completely in love with Wulfric from first sight and couldn't seem to get enough of him. We are taken on an amazing journey of longing , lust, and love as these two burn up the pages and push two kingdoms to the brink of war. This book is Hott Hott Hott and I want more!