Customer Reviews

The Lady's Tutor (Zebra Splendor historical romance)

5 star:		(74)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This was the third time I have read this book, and after reading some of the negative reviews here I decided to finally add my 2 cents. To the comments that this book was just sex with no romance, I have to wonder at those readers' definition of romance. True, the hero and heroine do not go for quiet walks, hold hands over candlelight dinners and make cow eyes at each other. But their deep feelings for one another are quickly obvious from the beginning. Ramiel could have all the sex he wants, with any woman he wants, but Elizabeth moves him in ways no one else ever has, making him want to protect her and her sons and make a commitment to them. She is married and should expect nothing more than a physical fling, but he makes her feel cherished and deserving of her own happiness in life. That is real romance to me, not poetry and flowers.

As to the complaints about homosexuality and/or homophobia, I did not see the gay men in this books represented in any more negative a light than men who cheat on their spouses in other books. And, I have read *much* more adult + minor sex between heterosexuals in other romance novels - why is it only bad for gays, and not for 30+ year-old men taking 16 or 17 year-old girls? That's just downright hypocritical. If you call it pedophilia in this book, then it's pedophilia in all those others, too.

And to the charges of racism, I just don't see it. This book did not paint Arabic people as bad in my mind, just culturally different, and that should be no surprise. And the opinions expresses by the characters should be taken in the context of the time period it is set in. If you expect 19th century characters to have 21st century open minds, you have no business reading a historical novel.

I have read several other books and short stories by Ms. Schone and I beleive this is the best so far well atleast my favorite.

A wonderful story of a woman needing love and wanting to give love. Elizabeth believes her husband has taken a mistress so she sets out to win him back by taking lessons in love from a notorious disreputable man (Rameil-the bastard sheik) with a reputation for sexual excess.

These are not physical lessons but turorial book work from the famed 'The perfumed Garden'. She wants her husband back not a lover but as the sexual tension builds and Elisabeth tries to seduce her husband with her new skills and courage her world begins to unravel.

This book has many secrets and at times you can almost guess the secrets but it is the careful weaving of the plot that keeps you reading on. Like lots of Schones books each page reveals more and more, you become hypnotized by the rythme of the conversation and plot, almost riveted. I like Ms Schones books greatly. I am not sure its literature or not I just enjoyed the read. It dawned on me that it remined be of DH Lawrences' LADY CHATTERLY'S LOVER of course no comparison in style or literary greatness just simple similarities in the characters. Lady Chatterly was a very lonely woman looking for love and so is Elisabeth Petre.

Of course a warning for those readers who are offended by sex situations, sex talk, and alternitive life styles: this book is full of erotic situations and should not be read by the easily offended reader.

I've read other authors who claim to test the boundaries between romance and eroticism (Susan Johnson and Thea Devine) and this is the first one where I have actually been able to believe that the lead protagonists have fallen in love. This is not just a book about two people meeting one another and immediately beginning to engage in meaningless, well, to quote Ally McBeal, "that verb"ing. It is very erotic, yes, because it isn't just about the actual act, but because it is also about anticipation. Besides the very well-written sub-plot, and the incredibly finely-drawn characters, all of which I enjoyed, the other benefit of this book is educational. It's like a far more interesting and engaging version of the Kama Sutra.

I still can't get over how good this book was. It was incredible. I don't know how Schone did it. The story is set in late 1800's, Victorian times. Elizabeth seems to be the perfect Victorian wife. But she isn't. All she wants is to be loved, to experience passion, to feel alive. She is not able to get that from her husband. He shows her no love, no tenderness. So she seeks out Ramiel who is known as a bastard shiek; a man who knows how please a woman in many ways. She hopes that he can teach her how to seduce her husband; so he teaches her the art of seduction through a book and with his words. Soon the heat and passion becomes too much for them, and they have to face their feelings for one another. Meanwhile someone is trying to kill Elizabeth. Her husband is hiding a dark secret. Elizabeth's life is unravelling and she is trying to gain her control and life back. Ramiel is so sexy and hot. He is so good to Elizabeth. The dialogue between the two of them is amazing, and yes, highly erotic. I just loved this book. It is a must read.

I started with Thea Devine and moved onto Robin Schone, based on the recommendations on Amazon. Last night, I devoured The Lady's Tutor and finished The Lover today. The Lady's Tutor is by far the best well-written AND erotic novel I've read. There is romance, intrigue, suspense, and the sexual scenes were erotic w/o being so explicit and crude. I was hardly breathing during the "tutoring" scenes.

Schone's heroine feels genuine. Elizabeth is a mother, who at the age of 33, is no longer considered desirable in society's eyes. I really enjoyed reading about Elizabeth's sexual awakening, as well as her development into a strong woman, something that is rare in most novels. The plot is engrossing and the characters feel very real. I'll have to break my rule and read it again.!

If you're looking for a erotic story that actually has a plot and characters, I highly recommend The Lady's Tutor.

In an effort to reconnect to her distant husband, Elizabeth daringly requests Ramiel to tutor her on the art of sexually pleasing a man. The tutorial sessions are conducted with a book, pens, and paper because Elizabeth has no intention of pleasing a man other than her husband. The "stimulating" dialogues between teacher and student ignite delicious sexual tension that steadily builds throughout the novel.

Elizabeth has an inner core of independence, passion, and wit, and after their first meeting, Ramiel only has eyes for her. He wants her to love her body, and he wants her to freely express her true self; he wants to shield her from all pain and make everything "right" for her.

The writing is excellent because Schone confides in the reader and reveals her characters' secrets along the way. Suspense builds steadily until the biggest secrets are revealed, and the story ends with an incredibly erotic and romantic "bang."

I would highly recommend this book to erotic romance readers. The only disclaimer is that some readers may not be able to handle the "biggest secrets" about Elizabeth's political family. Although some... were extremely put off by these "secret events," I found them to be integral to the story line, and therefore, not too bothersome.

There is courage, love, and healing in this story, and the "good," honest characters ultimately overcome the "bad," cold-hearted, deceitful ones. Therefore, if the reader is willing to overlook Schone's inclusion of some brief objectionable scenes, this book will be a very enjoyable read.

This is indeed explicitly erotic, so those who prefer more traditional romances may not enjoy the book as much as I did. To Ms. Schone's credit, the erotica was essential and central to the story, which made it all the more enjoyable to read.

I am very impressed with Ms. Schone's writing. Her characters in this novel are realistic and very human, the plot is creative and bold, and the sexual tension and relationship between the two main characters is authentic and heartfelt(rather than the more typical contrived, tiresome bickering and I-hate-you-want-you-hate-you-love-you ploy of so many romances). She did a superb job of integrating Victorian lifestyle and morals into the story, which again, made the story a pleasure to read.

The reason I have awarded the book 4 stars instead of 5 are simply due to some writing elements that could have been improved. A couple of weak plot points, some storyline backfill that didn't integrate well where it was placed in the story, excessive use of italics, things like that. Yes, I am being extremely picky, and they are minor points. This book is definitely a keeper and a re-reader. One of the best romances I've read.

It's been 2 days since I finished The Lady's tutor. I still feel a bit uneasy and uncomfortable when I think back on the book. I wish and want to think about the many good parts of the book but I can't. I only picture the one sick/disgusting bedroom scene that I don't ever want to think about again. (sodomy) Then I think about what happens to her son. (pedophelia) I hear about these things in some "real-TV" shows. So why would I want to spend my good money on a book to read about that instead of something good in life? When I pick up a romance, I don't want perversion in my fairy tale fantasy world.

I can't imagine any sane person wanting sordid ugliness in their fantasy/dream world. A friend of mine told me to skip those parts and concentrate on the good parts. Well, I wanted to do that. The good parts were really good. But when I was getting all hot & bothered by her great bedroom scenes and sex talk between the hero & heroine, why did she have to throw cold water in my face w/such horridness! Talk about ruining the mood! (She did this in the Lover too! I didn't bother to review that book since I agreed wholeheartedly with the review titled 9 & 1/2 weeks meets silence of the lambs. VERY on-the-mark)

I like Schone's writing better than Bertrice Small. But when it comes to pure historic romance/erotica, Susan Johnson still reigns. Of course if you want sodomy and pedophilia thrown in with your romance/erotica, do read the Lady's Tutor. If you want incest thrown in w/your r/e, do read Bertrice Small's Skye O'malley.

If you're like my friend and you believe you can over look the small bad parts, then please get this book for the good heated bantering that goes on between the hero & heroine. (this part of the book is worth five stars) I think the two talking is even hotter than when the two actually get to know each other in EVERY way.

I have friends some of whom happen to be gay. I know there are men who like to dress as women. I know there are bad cruel parents in this world. I know awful things happen to the children of this world. I know I can go to the library and there are plenty of books on these subjects in the NON-FICTION section. But that does not mean I want any of this reality in my dream world. That is why I buy fiction. I want to read of a happy place where love is forever after and he loves her & she loves him(and the pleasure they give each other is wonderful & graphically detailed). And all the ugliness in the world, especially the illegal perverted stuff does not have a place there. Does it in yours?

Robin Schone has quickly become one of my favourite romance authors. She writes novels of emotional depth and searing sexuality, with characters who are not perfect in either body or spirit. Yet in every piece of fiction Ms. Schone writes, has as its overall theme, the redemptive power of love.

Some readers might take offense at the supposedly stereotyped vision of Arab men as sexually voracious and adept lovers; however keep in mind the novel takes place in Victorian England, and precious little was known (much less did the Victorians care), about the Muslim world.

Elizabeth, the main character, is a woman typical of her era. She the proper wife of a politician, and the mother of two boys. She should be satisfied with her lot, and yet, she feels her life to be devoid of passion. Enter Ramiel, the son of an English countess and an Arab sheik. Ramiel has the reputation amongst the beau monde as a lover without equal, and he has become nothing more than a toy for bored noblewomen cuckolding their husbands.

Elizabeth persuades Ramiel to take her as his student in the arts of love, in order for her to seduce her husband. The subsequent chapters where the two discuss the techniques described in a copy of The Perfumed Garden are the most erotically tense ever written.

Like some of her previous novels, homosexuality figures prominently, and some readers might find it offensive. Once again, keep in mind that in Victorian England, homosexuality was a criminal act, subject to imprisonment.

Ramiel and Elizabeth were two people I felt such an affinity for, and they stayed with me long after I finished the book.

Robin Schone has become a champion of a woman's right to sexual expression, and her novels explore this idea with sensitivity and empathy.

I came across this title while looking at a Web site of romance novel covers. The original cover had the voluptuous torso of a Victorian lovely in an unlaced corset, chemise off her shoulders. In the background could be seen the shadow of an undressed male, his hand hovering at the woman's shoulder. A very erotic cover, for a very erotic book. THE LADY'S TUTOR is more than simply erotic, however. It verges (and there is more than one meaning for that innocent-seeming word!) on the raw. It's graphic and explicit, and truly not for everyone. This book, detailing the erotic/sexual education of a repressed Victorian wife by an extroardinarily studly half-Arabian/half-English lord, is understandably a cult favorite among aficionadas of the genre, and an education in and of itself. It will be difficult for readers to forget Elizabeth Petre and Ramiel, Lord Sayfre. The plot... is secondary to Elizabeth's tutoring in the erotic arts, and unsavory, as well. Nasty stuff, when all is finally revealed. Rating the secondary plot alone would probably bring this down to 3 stars, but the primary plot, the thrust (!) if you will, is the interaction of the two protagonists. All else pales by comparison.