Customer Reviews

My Lady's Honor (Harlequin Historical)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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!'

After reading My Lady's Trust and My Lady's Pleasure as well as almost all of Julia Justiss' books, I find this book redundant. The plot was unoriginal with confusion being the main culprit, the characters were egotistical and stubborn, and of course, the male character was a sex fiend. Overall it just sucked. I found myself skipping chapters of the book as the thoughts of the characters played out for paragraphs and paragraphs. Boring. Just don't do it.

the premise is very good there is good chemistry and fun banter. the side characters were not that great except for at the end. i thought the flaws of the hero very very real and true to character as were the strengths of the herione. i read the bok in one seating.

Justiss manages to combine a strong heroine with a boorish, though supposedly honorable, hero -- a hero you want to like, but often cannot because his actions are often reprehensible. It makes the reader wonder how the heroine can love this man who treats her with such little respect.

Justiss also makes far too many grammatical and other writing errors for the reading to be smooth or the writing of top quality. By the way, Ms. Justiss, there's no such word as "idiotish." There are also a number of historical gaffes and plot errors (Has the author even seen a waltz? It doesn't appear so since the stance is repeatedly described incorrectly.) There is also far too much exposition, too much "telling" rather than "showing," making many segments of the book remarkably slow.

To be fair, the love scenes are decently written, and there moments of witty repartee and romance. Unfortunately, the cons outweigh the pros, and the moments when you think the potential might be realized after all never come to fruition. One & 1/2 stars.