Customer Reviews

Intrigued (Brava Historical Romance)

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

 

 

Everytime I read one of Small's novels, I get so caught up in the rich, lush prose that I feel that I am an actual participant in the story, not just a reader. Not this time. With past novels I have plotted with Skye, struggled and wept with Catriona, shared captivity with Cyra, and fought Roman conquerors with Zenobia. But this book just did not sweep me off my feet as her other books have done. Perhaps I had too great expectations for this heroine. After all, she is the granddaughter of the brillant Cat Leslie and the great-granddaughter of the legendary Skye O'Malley. She was bound to be a magnificent addition to the story. However, I found her to be weak, cynical, and flighty. Usually she came off as whiny and spoiled as India with an occasional display of practicality like Fortune. Perhaps, it is that with Autumn the was no true villian to battle, no great cause to fight for (other than complaining about the English roundheads and the one assistance to King Louis.) Autumn had no goals, except when she decided to seduce King Charles II so she could get an English title. (Can anyone see Skye or Cat prostituting themselves over something so minor?) There was no strong, underlying plot. No Aidan trying to get home to her husband. No Valentina trying to find her father's identity. Autumn just merely existed as time passed. No life of adventure. Heck, not even a life! All she pretty much did was whine to her mother. The relationship between her and Gabriel was so empty. The potential was there for some amazing scenes, but his and Autumn's relationship was pretty much glossed over and focusing on the rest of the family. Perhaps if this were another author, I would not be so critical. This is Bertrice Small! The woman responsible for pulling her readers into the lives of her characters by the rich tapestry of her brillant writing. I say, "Take us across the Atlantic, Mrs. Small. Give us one of Fortune's children. Create for us the wild, brave, new world of the early colonies where only the very strong can survive. Give us adventure and a brave new heroine that will show us O'Malley spirit."

I just finished this book and overall I was pleased with the outcome. Harriet Klausner gives a good summary of the plot so I won't repeat. Longtime fans will see that the book has a hint of past plots. However, Autumn's personality does justice to her female ancestors. Bertrice Small does a good job of weaving historical events into the events of Autumn's life.

I still find that Bertrice Small is one of the best writers in the subgenre of historical romance. Her plots have substance in the sense that many historical figures make appearances into the story and by virtue of the main characters' stations in life, the appearances are somewhat feasible. Bertrice Small had a few books in the past few years that were missing her magic, but with "Besieged" and "Intrigued" she has returned.

Back to "Intrigued" .... What I enjoyed most about this book was watching the growth that Autumn experiences. She moves from sheltered teenager to a wise woman, learning from and accepting her mistakes along the way, making her seem much more human.

I would recommend this book both to long time fans and readers who have never read her before now. This book will whet the appetite for future books in the series as well as a revisitation of past books.

In 1650 forces loyal to Cromwell win the Civil War and Autumn Leslie's beloved father dies in battle in support of Charles. Autumn, accompanied by her mother Jasmine, flees to her half-brother's estate, but when the Roundheads kill her sister-in-law in cold blood, the two Leslie women flee to the family estate in France.

In France, Sebastian d'Oleron courts Autumn, earns her love, and marries her. They are happy together and have a child, but he suddenly dies from an apparent heart attack. A year later, when young King Louis XIV learns of Sebastian's death, he provides comfort to the widow and soon they make love. She has a child with him. When Cromwell dies, the King is restored and Autumn returns to England where she seduces King Charles, becomes pregnant, but the child is stillborn. A hero of the restored throne, Gabriel Birmingham loves and loathes Autumn, but he has a history as the man who led the Roundheads when her sister-in-law was murdered years ago.

Although there is much filler material that provides detailed information on some of the stars of previous novels in the saga, this is an exciting historical romance that brings alive the seventeenth century courts of France and England. The story line is fast-paced in spite of the unnecessary flashbacks. The plot requires a bit of a stretch since much centers on Autumn sleeping with two kings, but Beatrice Small makes it feel as if her lead character was truly a real person. This is a solid O'Malley after the next generation tale that will please the diehard series reader.

Harriet Klausner

Even a pedestrian effort by Bertrice Small is better than most other authors' best, but she's been resting on her laurels for about a decade now. It's probably time to face the truth-- she's written seven or eight extraordinary books, but everything since "Wild Jasmine" has failed to live up to "Skye O'Malley," "All the Sweet Tomorrrows," "Love Wild and Fair," "The Kadin," "Unconquered," "Beloved," "A Love for All Time," and perhaps "Lost Love Found" and "This Heart of Mine." It's hard to put one's finger on the real problem with "Intrigued." It isn't as silly as "Hellion" or as dull as "Betrayed," but there's something about the main characters that makes it impossible to maintain interest in them. Autumn Rose Leslie romps around Europe and has a lot of sex with royalty and the nobility. But we never care the way we were made to care when, say, James I forced Cat Leslie into an affair that destroyed her marriage in "Love Wild and Fair." Even Jasmine feels like a weak retread of Skye and is scarcely recognizable as the feisty heroine of "Wild Jasmine" (let's not talk about "Darling Jasmine," shall we?) The entire book feels like we're watching chess pieces being moved around on a board; that's how one-dimensional and uninteresting all the characters are. I'm sure I'll read Bertrice Small's upcoming books, because I can't forget that she once was the most extraordinary writer that romance writing has ever known. But her era of genius seems, unfortunately, to be over.

I enjoyed this book. While it was not as great as the Skye O'Malley, All the Sweet Tomorrows, or Kadin, this book is much better than the story about India (Bedazzled?). The plot may be a bit unreal, but hey, this is fiction after all. I am glad there were clips about what happened to some of Skye's family, but was saddened in the end when it was noted that all of Skye's children had died and that Jasmine was in her seventies. It makes me want to read All the Sweet Tomorrows again. While Jasmine is wonderful, she is not as magnificent as Skye. All in all, a great read a must for fans of Skye's saga.

This book captures the wonderful Betrice Small spirit that was so prevalent in her earlier books, but so lacking in her last couple of efforts. I was greatly disappointed in her novella in the "Fascinated" collection of short stories. However, Ms. Small is back in force with all the passion, tragedy and joy of some of her best novels.

"Intrigued" is the kind of book that one needs to have an entire weekend to savor. Curl up with it, make a hot cup of tea and enjoy being swept up in the story !

Despite a poor review below from a sour grapes reader who clearly doesn't like the genre, I hope other Betrice Small fans will read this book and savor it.

I am a devout lover of all of the Betrice Small books. I especially enjoy the Skye O'Malley books. I bought this book because having read the other ones I noticed that Autumn was discussed in them. As I began to read it Betrice Small began to entwine me in this net where I am living in France and England with them and that I am part of the family. Autumn's story is different from the ones that I have read. She is very practical and does not love very easily as opposed to Skye and Jasmine. I would recommend this book because it is part of the series and you are with the whole family again.

Readers of the Skye O'Malley series will enjoy this book, for no other reason than it continues the story of her family along.
There is not much else to recommend it. It is like going to a
family reunion...you enjoy seeing everyone and hearing how
they are doing, but in the end you are glad when it is over.

I've always enjoyed the majority of Bertrice Small's books and in fact have read every one of them. But this one was rather boring. The heroine, Autumn, never went anywhere exciting or got involved in anything dangerous. She never went to harems or did anything outlandish. As a descendant of Skye O'Malley all the fire and bravery of her great grandmother was not there. The storyline was boring. I was disappointed.

i loved this book.i was a little wary of purchasing it after realizing there was a book before it,but i didnt let that stop me,and am i ever glad i did buy it!the story moves from England,during the commonwealth,to France,and then back.the whole time,you see Autumn grow and mature,although there were points wher i thought she could have been more mature and made better desicions.but thats what i like about Bertrice Smalls charaters,they make desicions and have to live with thwm.the ending was good too,what a twist!i recommend this to anyone who loves Bertrices books!