Customer Reviews

Her Only Desire

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Raised in India, Miss Georgiana Knight is an impetuous free spirit who has a mind of her own. Since her mother died when she was young, Georgie is used to taking care of the men in her life. The younger sister of two formidable soldiers and the daughter of one of the key stakeholders in the East India, Georgie is used to fighting for what she believes in and usually gets her way. With such shining examples of male dominance in her household, she is wary of marrying anyone who does not live up to the impossible standards that she has established. Georgie was named after her aunt, the notorious Hawkscliffe Harlot, and takes the famed duchess's teachings to heart. As the previous Georgiana stated, "Wedlock is a padlock," and Georgiana refuses to be tied down unless she knows for sure that it is with a man who will treat her as an equal and love her without measure.

Lord Ian Prescott, the Marquess of Griffith, has traveled to India in his role as a diplomat to broker peace between the nation of Janpur and England. An old friend of the Hawkscliffe family, Ian plans to accept their hospitality during his stay and has sought out the help of Georgie's brothers, Gabriel and Derek. What he does not expect, is to meet the impetuous Miss Knight and immediately be drawn in by her beauty, volatile nature, and cloying charm. Ian cannot afford a distraction during his negotiations, and if Georgie is anything she is that. When she makes it clear that she plans to accompany him on the trip to Janpur, Ian makes plans to ensure that she is safe in Calcutta and away from danger. Little does he know that Georgie cannot be so easily handled, and his attempts at managing her only further remind her of the teaching's of her infamous aunt. Will Ian be the one to tame Georgie's volatile nature, or will her feminist ideals and quick temper be too much for even England's finest diplomat to mellow?

Her Only Desire is the first story in Gaelen Foley's new series about the Indian branch of the Knight family. The previous books about the London Knights (ie, The Duke, Lord of Fire, Lord of Ice, Lady of Desire, Devil Takes a Bride, One Night of Sin, Her Wicked Kiss) introduced us to the formidable family and I fell in love with them over the course of these novels. When the series ended with Her Wicked Kiss, I was disappointed to say the least. I needn't have worried. Gaelen Foley has brought back my favorite family with these stories about their Eastern-bred cousins and Her Only Desire is the perfect start to this new series.

Georgiana is all that I would have expected from the famous Hawkscliffe Harlot's namesake. She is full of pride, willful, and at times too arrogant, but she is also fiercely loyal, idealistic, and willing to do anything for her friends. Over the course of the book, she changed from a stubborn hoyden so focused on her own ideas of right and wrong that she refused to see any other possibility, to a caring, compassionate young woman who was able to see that life just isn't black and white. Likewise, Ian began the book as the consummate diplomat and quiet hero who would let nothing stand in the way of success, least of all love. With Georgie's help he learned that there was more to life that serving one's country and doing one's duty, and that love and happiness should have a place as well. Together these two found a lasting love, and their story is told with all the thoughtful imagery and careful plotting that you would expect from Gaelen Foley. This book was enjoyable from start to finish, and though it isn't quite on par with the previous books about the Knight family, it's definitely a good start to this new series. I would definitely recommend it for anyone in the mood for a thoroughly fulfilling, richly-told romance.

I absolutely love Gaelen Foley, but she kind of missed the ball park with this book. I will read the next installment in the Spice Trilogy, but I can wait, no rush. However, with the Knight series, I could not wait. Griff was great, but he was not as Alpha as she would want you to believe. Georgie's impulsiveness and feistiness never came to fruition. Their love story needed more. The India part of the book was awesome, intriguing and sexy. Their English relationship was boring. Georgie became boring. Gaelen could have done better. But, I still love her and will read the next two installments.

Gaelen Foley introduces three cousins to her much-loved Knight family. Georgiana, Gabriel and Derek Knight have been born and raised in India during the time of British imperial rule. Her Only Desire tells Georgiana's story and sets up the other books in the trilogy.

Georgie is determined that her elevated standing in society be used to help the people of India. She is a fiercely independent, caring young woman who has embraced the philosophies of nonviolence and social equality. She respects the culture, loves the vibrant/colorful aspect of Indian life and even practices yoga to stave off asthma.

Ian Prescott, the Marquess of Griffith, is her opposite. Though he and Georgie know of each other due to his friendship with the Duke of Hawkscliffe (whose story started the original Knights series), they have never met. Ian is England's top diplomat. He has brokered peace treaties, averted wars and believes that "displays of emotion are for peasants."

I love Gaelen Foley's books and have always been impressed with the originality of her stories, as well as her ability to tell them... which makes me sorry to say that this one barely gets three and a half stars. It starts off well and then gets lost in the clichéd land of harems, eunuchs and manipulative first wives. But don't give up, because it finds its way around page 220 and the rest of the book feels like the Foley of old.

Overall, Her Only Desire isn't bad, it just doesn't live up to the author's high standards.

Pick this one up if you're already a fan of Gaelen Foley's. If not, start with the original Knights series - The Duke, Lord of Fire, Lord of Ice, Lady of Desire, Devil Takes a Bride, One Night of Sin, and His Wicked Kiss. They are excellent, while this one is merely okay.

I have anticipated this trilogy ever since Gaelen Foley's last book. I applaud the setting, rarely are historicals set in India. I thought Ms. Foley did a fantastic job describing India from its crowded streets to its incredible aromas. (I have friends who lived in Calcutta. They confided the most wonderful and worst smells they have ever experienced were in India.) The culture was well researched as well as the historical upheavals during British occupation.

My biggest problem with this novel was the unrealistic storyline of the main characters Georgie, the Indian born British lady and Ian, the British diplomat in India. His mission is to stop potential bloodshed. Georgie, however, decides to make it her mission to interfere with Ian's diplomacy talks. She does this through several ways even interrupting Ian's negotiations with her ill-timed arrival. There is no way a citizen would be allowed to shoulder her way into declicate diplomacy as Georgie does repeatedly. Furthermore, her arrogance that she thinks that she has the right to do so makes her unlikable. She was rash and her idolization of her dear aunt, Georgiana is not a particularly likeable trait. Her aunt was an admitted adulterer numerous times over and from reading previous books about her, quite unconcerned about those people she hurt, including her husband and children. Yet, Georgie has put this woman on a pedestal. I can understand Georgie's rejection of the married state. She has seen how married women are treated in India (widow burnings, harems, multiple wives and concubines) and naturally views marriage in that light.

The romance between Ian and Georgie is slow going at first. Ian is a little too accommodating to Georgie's meddling in State affairs and the fact that he briefs someone outside the foreign office about sensitive information makes me wonder about his commitment to his mission (loose lips sink ships) and yet he keeps personal secrets right to the very end. The book doesn't pick up romantic steam until the two are in London. The second half of the book finally explores the relationship between these characters. This is where the book seems to hit its romantic stride and the story unfolds between these lovers with humor and compassion. Georgie becomes more likable and Ian begins to develop trust. Georgie blossoms, especially in her relationship with Ian's son. Ian adds some dimension to his character also. The book is very well written but at times I just wanted Georgie to admit her aunt was not a woman worthy to emulate and Ian needed to remember he was a diplomat on a mission. Still, the book has a certain charm and Foley can write some steamy scenes.

Too much mayhem and political upheaval in India. I gave up about half-way through. Too bad, I'm a big fan of her other books. Definitely check out the Fire and Ice books about her twin brothers instead.

I've read all of Foley's Knight series, and loved them, so I was really looking forward to the Spice Trilogy, but this book was really a disappointment. It's a decent book, certainly, but when compared to any of the books in the previous series (especially the most recent, Jack and Eden's book) it just falls far short.

The first half, set in India, is extremely lush and well-researched, and I enjoyed seeing Georgiana's comfort in her environment, but I just couldn't muster up very much interest in Georgiana and Ian as a couple. I also have next to no interest in her brothers, which is pretty unfortunate considering that the next two books feature them -- it was so much different in the other series, where after I'd read Lucien's book I could not wait for Damien's, etc. The second half in England feels like a completely different book, with Georgiana losing a lot of her pep and fiestiness for a good portion of the middle. It's back by the end, but I did find myself losing interest.

It is the plot in this book that keeps it rolling, rather than the relationship. I'm not really saying that this is a bad thing -- there are more than a few romance books out there that rely entirely on relationship when the plot has fizzled out -- but usually Foley is utilizing both. I honestly just think that the problem was that she had a hero and a heroine (Ian left the perpetual bachelor from the Knight series, and Georgiana set to start off the Spice series) who weren't setting off many sparks and had to just mash them together when I think that both would've been better served with other partners. The character just don't throw many sparks off of each other, so the book tends to roll along as Problem, Solution; Problem, Solution (minor sex scene); Problem, Solution.

I'll read the next book, but I'll certainly hope for an improvement. Gaelen Foley is one of my favorite authors, but this just wasn't her best effort.

I cannot believe this book was just not what I expected. I absolutely loved her last book, and I have really enjoyed all of her other novels. This book was a real disappointment. She usually has alot of passion and steam in her novels and while there are love scenes, they aren't the norm. Do not judge this author by this book alone. Every other book she has written I have really loved.

I was honestly reluctant to read this book based off the not-so-stellar 3 1/2 star ratings (compared to Foley's other work), but I decided to give it a try anyway because she is one of my all-time favorite romance authors (right up there with Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught, Lorretta Chase, Cathy Maxwell, Sabrina Jeffries, Judith Ivory, etc.) AND I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!!!

Since everyone else has pretty much summarized the plot, I will just list below what I liked (and disliked) about this novel and hence why it earns 5 stars from me:

What I liked:

-The vivid descriptions and historical details included about both India and England that added richness to the story without burdening the reader with too much "unnecessary" information (I find that a lot of times, "historical" romance authors may get too carried away with the "history" element, like Beatrice Small, hence making the romance secondary and in my opinion, a more boring novel, but that is just my personal taste).

-The hero!!! I have to admit I was reluctant to read about a straight-laced man who was already previously married and supposedly madly in love with his previous wife (I hate romances where the hero "suddenly" gets over his first "love" to get with the heroine-- in most of these cases, their romance is based on lust and not love), but boy was I wrong with this guy! There is MUCH more to Ian than meets the eye, plenty of secrets and surprises to keep the reader entertained, including falling in love with the hero himself!

-Georgiana!!! With her, I also had reservations about liking her, a seemingly spoiled upper-caste British girl raised in India who is so many years younger than the hero, but in this story, none of that really mattered and their SEEMINGLY different backgrounds and personalities actually enhanced their romance.

- The plot. It moved quickly, and I didn't feel like the first half of the book in India was completely separate from the second half in England (like some other reviewers complained... were they reading the same book?), and it was also a unique story-line. Sure, some of the similar plot devices we've seen in other romances (misunderstandings, mistresses, jealousy, etc.) are seen in this novel, but it's not so contrived that it becomes unbelievable or makes the main characters look silly, and Foley has a way of twisting things and making them both believable AND original.

- The secondary characters. We see some characters from the previous Knight series, but this novel definitely stands alone just fine (it is, after all, the first in a trilogy). Also, Foley did manage to capture my interest with what is going to happen with Georgie's brothers in the next 2 books (Derek's story and then I'm especially curious about Gabriel's)!

And now, what I thought could have been better:

- IMHO, the first half of the book in India was more romantic than the second half in England, and perhaps a little more exciting, but I never found myself skimming through any of the pages which is pretty rare for me considering I am a speedy reader and have read so many romances that I find myself doing that a lot-- but not with this one!

- Georgie's transition in England. I thought it would have been fun to read about how she adapted to England, considering she had never stepped foot outside of India all her life, but instead, we are just given a couple paragraphs (out of 477 pages) explaining how she thought her initial fears and prejudices about England were wrong, how her Knight cousins were sweet, how much fun she had at the ball, etc.

- I thought there could have been a little more closure in the Epilogue, but I suppose this is the first in a series so that may not be so relevant.

But those are really my only main complaints about this book.

For those who are familiar with Foley's other works, I would rate this one up there with The Duke, Lady of Desire, and Princess (notice how all of these books have spoiled/pampered heroines... so this is also probably just my personal taste).

If you are reluctant to try this newest installment by Foley, DON'T. Just pick it up and start reading it, and you will be pleasantly surprised. Can't wait for her next 2 books in the series!

I've read (and re-read) every single book by Gaelen Foley. In my opinion, this book is almost unrecognizeable as a product of her imagination. Foley's signature emotional intensity between the two main characters was nowhere to be found. In fact, the characters were flat and boring, and the love scenes and sexual tension were about as hot as dry ice. I am severely disappointed--I hate to give this author such a bad review (and check out my other reviews-I am not a negative reviewer!) but it is well deserved. Don't waste your money--rent from the library if you're curious.

The best book in the spice trilogy, it is also the first book. DO NOT READ THE OTHERS!!!