11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From the Keeper Shelf, April 11, 2005
This review is from: My Lady's Honor (Harlequin Historical) (Paperback)
I pulled this from my keeper shelf when I couldn't find anything new I wanted to read, and I loved it as much the second time. I was shocked when I checked Amazon and saw the other review--but I guess that's the problem with redemption stories. Either you get them or you don't. In fact, I have to applaud Ms. Justiss for tackling the problem of redeeming a man with a seemingly closed mind. We see it all the time, people who judge others based on stereotypes without ever going any deeper, and that's why I love this story so much. It isn't easy and it isn't always pretty, but that's what makes the ending that much more satisfying. It's lesson to take with you.
Oh, and the idea that "idiotish" isn't a word? It may not appear in American dictionaries, but the reviewer could easily find it in the Oxford English dictionary. As for me, I'm off to reread another Julia Justiss title and anxiously await her next release.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just like a man but we love them anyway, June 18, 2010
I read the negative review before I bought this book. I think a well thought out negative opinion often gives me more information than a vapid "I LOVED this book" review. That does not mean that negative reviews convince me not to read a book, but they do often offer insight about what to expect or notice as I read. However, I must say I read a completely different book than the negative reviewer read.
First, I am a grammar hound. I don't use public libraries much because I like to write in my books correcting errors I find. From reading other Justiss books, I immediately doubted the statement that there were so many grammatical errors. Justiss is an author who rarely errs. I found three mistakes as I read. One was an ommitted word, which might have been a printer's error. Another was using the adverb form of a word instead of the adjective. The third was a mistake in pronoun usage in the subjunctive mood. She used the objective "him" not the subjective form "he" ["Were circumstances different, might that young man have been HE, not "him"] I do not think these three errors qualify as "so many" and from what I know about the average American's education, I believe most people would not really notice them. I think I'm the last person in the universe who knows or even cares about Lie and Lay, for example.
Secondly, the hero... he certainly has many weaknesses: close minded, opinionated, arrogant, bigotted, sure of his infallibility. But we know men just like him, don't we? I once married his twin. How the intelligent, resourceful, brave, alpha female deals with him is fascinating. I love strong females. Steadfastness and courage combined with righteous indignation win in the end. What could be more satisfying. The riding whip scene was a gem of wonderful writing. For that scene alone, I classify this book a keeper.
Thirdly, it is typical of the male NOT to believe the female's assertions or even his own observations as to the truth. Instead, in typical male fashion he has to hear it from another male. Isn't that the way of it! What a scoundrel, but we females love them anyway, don't we. The lesson here is the heroine allows him to be a nodcock if he so insists. She knows his awakening will not come about because of her protestations. Distance and patience overcome. Even if she does not consciously use those weapons, we can see how effective they are.
Finally, Justiss is most skilled at building sexual tension. So many romance authors do not know how to be subtle. They seem to believe clinical dissection of a love scene is sufficient if they include explicit scenes every 50 pages or so. Judith Ivory in The Proposition was the first romance author I read who was as good as Justiss in creating a mood through innuendo and suggestion. Later I found Laura Kinsale, Flowers from the Storm, who is equally as good. Elizabeth Hoyt in The Raven Prince does the same thing. These authors give the lie to the commonly held opinion that romance authors are somehow inferior to "real" writers. These women and other romance writers too exemplify their own strong, self assured heroines that we have all come to love.
So I say buy this book. Most readers will not be sorry.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Flawed hero gets his comeuppance, June 12, 2010
This review is from: My Lady's Honor (Harlequin Historical) (Paperback)
The hero in this book has to be one of the most flawed I have ever read about. He jumps from one irrational conclusion to the other that I almost hated him. His only saving grace was you know he was only trying to convince himself of the heroine's unworthiness. The Heroine is great. I wish I could weild a whip like her. And the ending is worth it. The hero deserves all he 'pain' he goes through, both physically and mentally. All I have to say is....'MEN...think they know everything!'
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