Customer Reviews

Love's Wild Desire

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This is one of Blake's earlier works, originally published in 1977. While it promised at first to be "steamy", with the opening duel, and subsequent rape scene early on, this book does not quite measure up to some of her later works. Except for that one rape scene, sex was not explicit. Although I loved the character of Rafael, he is not developed as thoroughly as could have been possible. Some actions of the story likne were only talked about, and not shown first hand, which would have been more effective. Especially lacking were scenes showing Rafe's grief when he thought Catherine had drowned. Overall, however, I am always impressed by Blake's knowledge of the history of the area and the different cultures that exist along the Mississippi, in Natchez and New Orleans. One can see just how much Jennifer Blake has improved as a writer over the years, by comparing this book and others, such as LUKE and ROAN, and PRISONER OF DESIRE.

I've heard the name "Rafe Novarro" bandied about as one of the big, bad alphas that Romance is now doing quite well without, thankyouverymuch. (My opinion of that opinion is "Bah!") While the plot does get off on the rape/forced seduction foot, the vast middle of it is a suspenseful romance with creepy Gothic elements, wrapping up with a slave revolt and a scene where the baddie gets his just desserts in a gruesome way. It was a page turner, simply put.

The story begins with Catherine Mayfield, a Creole debutante, going to a Quadroon Ball at the instigation of her hopeful fiance, Marcus. Unfortunately for her, Rafe Novarro and Marcus have a long-running pissing contest going on and Rafe takes a shine to her. Thinking her up-for-grabs like all quadroons, he spirits her off and has his wicked way with her. She in turn hates him but responds, as is the way with these heroines. To save face, they marry with Marcus being the loser and he doesn't take too kindly to that. At all. From here on out, Catherine has to battle with her conflicting emotions about the husband who was foisted on her and the constant need to remain strong in a brutal world that has it out for any pretty woman.

The long interlude at Rafe's plantation Alhambra was my favorite. There was lots of creepiness going on with Rafe's unbalanced sister Solange and her dour "companion" Madame Thibeaut. There are sullen slaves, a decrepit mansion, and a power struggle that starts right off between Catherine and Madame Ti. Catherine really has her work cut out for her, and she handles it in a way that got me rooting for her. Despite making some dumb decisions in the course of the story (driven by the crazy way her life was changed), I thought she was very likable and sympathetic. I felt like I was reading about a young woman in 1810 making c. 1810 decisions, not reading about a character who sounds like they're from 2010.

It wasn't only Catherine. I really liked Blake's way of handling her characters. Rafe, however, seemed to be an enigma more than the others, but he was absent for quite a large portion of the book and so I guess it's no surprise that he should seem a bit more ill-sketched than the rest. Blake kept action moving during Catherine's journey to - and stay in - Natchez, with an array of characters from all walks of life, each with their strengths and weaknesses. Special mention goes to Ali, Rafe's freedman Arabic valet, who is a rock if ever there was one. His subplot was deftly woven into that of Catherine and Rafe's, and I was as attached to him as I was to our virile, moody hero. The attention to other characters and details reminded me greatly of Kathleen Woodiwiss; however, the story didn't get bogged down or distracted, as I found to be the case with KW.

The one thing that did dampen my enjoyment was the tendency for Blake to recap off-scene events in dialogue. I don't want to hear about it! I want to see it! Since the focus of the story was entirely on Catherine, she had to be brought up to date on what happened while she was away. Now that I think about it, I don't think there were any scenes without her! It might as well have been a first person POV novel, which I'm glad it wasn't.

Another gripe was that the story of the quadroon Lulu would have benefited from elaboration. She is the source of Marcus and Rafe's animosity and for such rancid hate, she was only referred to a few times. Still, enough was given for the reader to fill in the blanks with their own imagination, and sometimes I like being given the opportunity to do that rather than getting spoonfed everything about a story.

The sex is pretty tame and fade-to-black, and with the creepy gothic elements, for most of the book I felt like I was reading a slightly sexed-up Victoria Holt. It was far from a disappointment, though. I love my hardcore old school bodice rippers, but a departure from my usual diet is always welcome.

I love Jennifer Blake's novels. She doesn't use formulas like many other romance writers. Her plots are complex and packed with adventure and action. While some of her storylines and characters' motivations strain one's credibility at times, I always allow her leeway, because her novels are so exciting. And her characters are colorful, unusual, and credible. The historical detail about the period is really interesting and well researched.

"Love's Wild Desire" is set in New Orleans and Alhambra, a Louisiana plantation, owned by super-hunk Rafael Navarro. Catherine Mayfield, a spirited, aristocratic Creole beauty makes a poor decision when she agrees to accompany a friend to a quadroon ball one evening, a place where no lady would ever be seen. Navarro see her there and is immediately attracted. He mistakes her for a "lady of the night" and literally sweeps her off her feet. He carries her away to his townhouse and has his way with her, thereby ruining her reputation. Although there is another man who is willing to marry her, the fortune hunting Marcus Fitzgerald, (a nasty villain, disguised by a handsome face and a lying tongue), Rafael has his way - again. So, Catherine becomes Maitress of Alhambra and goes there to live with her husband.

This is a period filled with danger for plantation owners, as slaves are rebelling and rioting throughout Louisiana Territory. Catherine feels the tension immediately with the house slaves. She also has problems with her young sister-in-law and her companion who dabbles in voodoo. Although she is very attracted to her husband, she is guarded with him, afraid to open herself emotionally. She is sure he only married her to save her reputation and she doesn't want to be hurt. Rafe, is also fearful of being hurt. So, the usual misunderstandings which take place when two people are not open with each other about their strong feelings, occur. As a consequence, Catherine gets herself into all kinds of trouble, even risking her own life on a few thrilling, chilling occasions.

This is a real swashbuckler that will keep you reading well into the night. ENJOY!
JANA

New Orleans, 1810. Catherine Mayfield's sleazy escort Marcus convinces her to attend a Quadroon ball with him on a dare, and when she's left on her own she meets the dashing (but ever so mysterious) Rafael (Rafe) Navarro. Rafe assumes Catherine is a Quadroon and up for grabs and he has his way with her - but when he discovers he's compromised a young maiden he marries her and whisks her off to Alhambra, the plantation he won from Marcus at cards. They find the plantation sorely neglected, the slaves restless and near revolt and his nut-case sister Solange under the thumb of the even nuttier voodoo spell casting Madame Thibeaut (Madame Ti).

Catherine's not quite sure what to make of her enigmatic husband, so she keeps herself busy whipping things into shape despite the constant sabotage from Solange and Madame Ti. And if that's not enough, we get the return of the nasty Marcus still bent on revenge and he doesn't care who gets hurt in the process and he'll stoop to any method - including inciting the slaves to riot and murder. Can Rafe save his beloved Catherine from Marcus' evil plots?

I enjoyed this a lot, and despite the lurid title and covers this really is quite tame in the sex department and just right for what I want in a historical romance. I had a few minor storyline quibbles, i.e. why was Rafe so concentrated on Alhambra he forgot about his own family's plantation, but otherwise the writing was very good and I had a hard time putting this down. Rafe was a near-perfect hero without being overbearing in the alpha-male/rapine department and despite the prerequisite heroine in peril, Catherine was most definitely not TSTL. How refreshing. From the author's listing over at Fantastic Fiction it appears she wrote quite a few Louisiana based novels in the 1970's and 80's and I plan on trying a few more in the very near future.

This is one of the first romances I ever read, and its still one of my favorites. Rafe is amazing, the setting is great.