Customer Reviews

Lord of Desire (Warner Forever)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Ms. Quinn's debut effort is amazing!!! This story is perfect blending of historical detail, suspense, and romance. The end result...an enthralling read with larger than life characters and a very sweet romance.

Lord Brand Risande is known as "The Passionate" he loves life, and revels in it. But, a betrayal cuts him deep. The woman that he loved is caught with another man, but not just any man, a man that Brand calls friend. He gave his heart away once, he won't do it again. Even when he is commanded to marry Lady Brynna in order to avoid more bloodshed. But, what this tough knight doesn't realize is that Brynna knows him, and has loved him since she first set eyes upon him swimming in a lake a year earlier. Will this tough lady be able to scale the walls around his heart?

Brynna can't believe that her father lost a battle and that her home is going to the winner. She is shocked when her merman shows up with his brother and Duke William of Normandy. Despite her plans on avoiding marriage to the barbarian she can't help but be drawn to this wounded knight. She has feelings for him that she can't ignore. She has decided that anything worth having is worth fighting for. Brand is worth the pain...even when Colette the lady that hurt Brand shows up looking for a safe haven. Will they find a happy ending or will the plottings of royality conspire to keep these lovers apart?

This was a well written romance with amazing chemistry between our main characters. Secondary characters such as Dante, Brand's brother and Duke William of Normandy are wonderful additions to this romance. I truly look forward with great anticipation for the next book "Lord of Temptation" which, is Dante's story. In the meantime I highly recommend this debut effort. Ms. Quinn is going to be a shining star in the future I'm sure.

Official Reviewer for Romance Designs

Setting - England, 1065 A.D. --- A year ago Lady Brynnafar Dumont had fallen in love. She'd come upon a man cavorting in the water, so enjoying himself and whose beauty and zest for life and living was so miraculous to her eyes, she could only liken him to a merman. While watching him she saw a woman come to join him. She marveled at how he adored the beautiful blonde angel he welcomed and wished that someday she would be the object of such love and devotion. Instead, today she waited for the reputed cold-blooded Norman beast that had defeated her father in battle and was coming to wrest her beloved home from them. It was said he had no heart - a betrayal had sealed his heart and encased it in ice - leaving only a savage warrior who gloried in the kill. It there fore came as a shock to Brynna to discover, that the beast was he - the merman that had haunted her dreams for the past year.

That beautiful sensually handsome man was Lord Brand Risande - known as "The Passionate". Brand's ability on the battlefield and bedchamber alike was of a savage intensity that masked the bitterness of a betrayal that had ripped the heart from his chest. Now a victim himself, Brand would be forced by his friend the Duke of Normandy and the King of England to marry the Saxon daughter of the man he'd defeated. As beautiful and comely as she was, he vowed he would never love her - but as Brynna's honesty and unselfish love was given to him, he would find that she would prove to be a warrior to he might gladly lose the battle to.

___ This was an amazing and thoroughly enjoyable Medieval read encompassing all the grandeur, and the political intrigues of that era that lovers of historical romances are bound to take pleasure in. I was totally captivated by this author's well-researched writing, the emotion, and the sensual imagery of lovemaking scenes that took my breath away. The romance was SUPERB and I loved the author's characterization of the lead protagonists as well as the humor and loving friendships that existed between Brand and William, Duke of Normandy (later William the Conquerer) and his brother. Brynna and Brand were both wonderful leads and the author shined in making the reader feel all their emotions of the love, hurt, betrayals, and especially the passion that neither was able to hide for one another. This is a STELLAR Medieval romance that sparkles with wit, humor, and sensual passion that will put this newer author on the road to stardom! I will be anxiously awaiting the next book featuring Brand's brother Dante in LORD OF TEMPTATION. --- Marilyn,(...)

I loved Lord of Desire! This was a lovely story, fast paced and interesting. This was just the kind of romance novel I love. Wonderful characters. Characters that seems real because they are not perfect-something most novels like this lack. Paula Quinn writing instantly puts you into the scene. She has a good feel for the period, strong, engaging characters. For a debut I must say I was delighted with this new authors effort. I found her writing fresh, and her lead characters fully developed with their personalities very well crafted. The secondary characters were also all strongly laid out and motivationally insightful. This was a fine effort on the part of this author and I highly applaud it this book and sincerely recommend it to any and all. One of the things I liked best about this book is the way the author wove the emotional storyline with such a light touch -- I was engrossed with the relationship between the hero and heroine and truly felt as if I knew them both. Wonderful love story, great characters with an emotionally scarred hero and strong but vulnerable heroine, unique setting, intriguing plot, edge-of-your-seat pacing, heart-tugging emotion, excellent writing, intense sensual love scenes, and a superb ending. I was so engrossed, I read it in a day. The love scenes are ample & steamy, and the plot is a good one. A fast paced book with an intricate plot that I cannot help but enjoy.The author has a great gift in her ability to develop characters.

I can't wait for Lord of Temptation comes out Lord Brand's brother Sir Dante time to fall in love.

I read Paula Quinn's two books out of order but found that Lord Of Desire turned out to my favorite of the two. Brynna and Brand caught my attention from beginning to end simply because they were intriguing characters.

After finishing I thought: OMG, wonderful! I loved that the story flowed well and that the plot to get of rid Brand didn't overshadow the story itself. Sometimes romance is key to a story and it gets sidetracked by the suspense... But this was perfect. Now I can't choose between Dante and Brand. I love them both.. LOL...

Brynna's temper cracked me up at every turn. I loved it when she first met William! I think the way William was portrayed was so different and refreshing. Its the first time I have read a book where a Royal person wasn't protrayed badly. I tend to not like books that have "royal intrigue" in them for that reason. I was happy and surprised to meet a kind William...

Paula Quinn writes steamy and well flowing books with a dash of everything in it.. I wasn't disappointed and I don't think you will be either. So go out and buy yourself a copy! You wouldn't regret it! ;-)

I can't wait for her future books, especially "Lord Of Seduction". She has gained a life-long fan!

Darkly handsome and sensual, Lord Brand Risande- known as "The Passionate"- is temptation incarnate. But his prowess on the battlefield and in the bedchamber hides a bitter secret: the betrayal that has sealed his heart. Now as this most feared warrior rides out to possess the lands he has won in war, he engages his most formidable enemy ever.

Lady Brynnafar Dumont is prepared to do anything to protect her people- even seduce the savage Norman knight who defeated her father. Prepared to face down a cold-blooded beast, she instead confronts a wickedly attractive scoundrel who wants nothing to do with her. It's enough to sting a lady's pride... and strengthen her resolve. Innocent as she is, now she must use all her charms to defeat Lord Brand in the only battle worth fighting-the one for his love.


This is Paula's debut book, and what a debut it is!
Stay alert ladies, Paula is going to be a powerful presence in the romance genre, her gift for creating characters that don't just tug on your heartstrings, but YANK them loose altogether, will leave you breathless! I was absolutely entranced from beginning to end. The secondary characters in this book were so engaging you will be praying for their stories too! Brynna and Brand have realistic hurdles to leap; and a love in the making that is once in a lifetime. It has it all, desire and denial, passion and loyalty, pain and forgiveness.
Dive in and soak up a story of pure emotion!
I am anxiously looking forward to getting my hands on her next installment; "Lord of Temptation"!

It wasn't great, but it was good enough to interest me in the sequel. A lot of time is spent thinking about, wondering and describing the main characters' feelings. I might have preferred a little less of that. Good plot and action at the end. Characters were enjoyable. The story is about Brand who was deceived by a woman and never wants to marry. The King orders him to marry Bryanna. Bryanna had loved him earlier from afar. William the conqueror is their friend and wants Bryanna to win Brand's hear and advises her.

Sexual content: not evaluated, as I recall probably mild. Setting: 1064-1065 England. Copyright: 2005. Genre: historical romance.

To date, I have read two Paula Quinn books. The other one is "Lord of Temptation" copyright 2006. My 2 star review of that book was posted on 6/28/08.

This is the first book I've read by Paula Quinn, but I was so drawn in by the story that I finished in just two sittings -- which is rare for me these days. The hero, Lord Brand, is a to-die-for Alpha hero that historical fans will adore. I've already ordered Quinn's next book, Lord of Temptation, and can't wait to receive it!

WOW! What a great new author! Excellent medieval romance! A story in which love conquers all, even the most wounded of hearts. I won't rehash the plot as others have already done, but I tell you this -if you liked Garwood and McGreggor books, you'll love this one too. Quinn is maybe not as polished as a seasoned writer, but that won't keep you from getting enthralled by the story. Definitely one sitting! The main characters are excellent as well as the extras. I absolutely loved the Duke of Normandy -William (future King), he was hilarious. Plenty of love scenes and humor in this one. Get it!

Truly a 4 1/2 star book. What a great first novel. Quinn writes better than many seasoned vets. She immediately gets you involved with the seductive setting Brynna watches a couple years before with the very handsome knight and his ladylove in the water making love. Brynna had never forgotten this. He had become the man of her dreams. Then of course she finds out she has to marry a savage knight who has beaten her father in order to save her castle. And she is shocked to find out Lord Brand is her handsome hero. But her heart breaks again when she finds out his betrayal by the beautiful Collette she watched him make love to in the water. She realizes she will never have his heart. This book is filled with intense, loving moments. Brand and Byrnna have a passionate vibrant connection even before Brand is able to release his demons of Collette and finally find love again. The book has many secondary characters that complete a full package of solid, interesting knights and maidens and future kings. All in themselves have interesting personalities and you know another equally good book is in the making. This time period is often not one of my favorites but Brand is the kind of seductive, passionate hero we all would want no matter when he lived. And Bryanna has a heart and a beauty that you know will fill Brand with the happiness he deserves. This one you will read again and again!

Paula Quinn's debut novel LORD OF DESIRE is, certainly, a wonderful story of love that brims with poetic sensuality. The plot in and of itself is not particularly original, but Quinn still pulls it off quite deftly. The chemistry between Brynna and Brand is palpable - essential to any romance novel. Brynna's belief in the healing power of love and Brand's hesitation in accepting this belief make the couple a perfect match for each other.

Although the romance between the two main characters makes this book engrossing, Quinn's actual writing is filled with purple prose that has a tendency to overshadow the story. Granted, most romance novels are purple-prose-extravaganzas, but Quinn's seems overly so. Lengthy descriptions and constant comparisons between eyes and jewels, tears and crystals, etc, get in the way and quickly become irritating. It almost seems, at least to me, that Quinn is trying so hard to be poetic that her writing sounds forced.

One of the memorable aspects of the novel was the love scenes, however. Unlike a good part of the book, these scenes actually were poetic, and happen to be both steamy and thoroughly romantic - a definite plus. Kudos to you, Ms. Quinn! ^_^

LORD OF DESIRE is a great debut by a new author, but certainly not without its shortcomings. Despite this, I will continue to read Quinn's work with the hope that her tendency toward extreme purple prose will ease in the future.

Elaina S.