Customer Reviews

Of Noble Birth

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Brava, debut author Brenda Novak for delivering an unforgettably emotional, action-packed, grand-scale historical romance! OF NOBLE BIRTH is a moving story about loss and forgiveness, and a testimony to the healing power of love. Rich, rewarding, and romantic. Don't miss it!

This book was excellent - the characters fairly leapt out off the page and the plot was fascinating yet believable. Perhaps more believable than my life which appears dreary in comparison to the exciting adventures of the heroine. I never have been more engrossed in Victorian England - the mores and customs and beautiful clothing and balls. The pomp and circumstance and rigid caste system I found especially interesting. I would have sincerely loved to been part of that time - of course born on the right side of a title or landed estate! This book will remain one of my treasured pleasures and I will no doubt keep it on the night stand beside my bed for that late night insomnia when dreams can be created whether awake or not.

Brenda Novak's stunning debut novel, OF NOBLE BIRTH, is a fast-paced historical romance, a High Seas adventure with walk-off-the-page characters so vital they'll steal your heart from the first page! This is one I could not put down. Ms. Novak pulls out all the stoppers, proving herself to be a most skilled wordsmith with her vivid portrayal of characters, time and place. Darkly handsome but marred Nathaniel Kent comes boldly alive, making our hearts race as we follow him along the path to attaining his life-mission: exacting revenge on his noble but utterly cold father. Seamstress Alexandra Cogsworth is his ideal match, and as with Nathaniel, Ms. Novak has created an endearing character, one you'll root for from the moment she walks onto the page. This is one novel without any flaws, everything works just right, casting a magical spell as you read. Ms. Novak sweeps you so thoroughly into her character's lives and world, you'll imagine yourself right there with them. I could almost breathe in the tangy salt air, picture myself aboard Nathaniel's ship, even half-expected to see his shipmates standing in the shadows as I read -- so real are these story-people. Yes, this one has it all: superb characterization, excellent motivation, worthy goals for her hero and heroine, and a fast-paced and gripping plot. OF NOBLE BIRTH offers a vivid story-world to escape to, a romance that will make you believe in love again, and an ending in which everything comes together so beautifully you'll close the book with a great sigh of satisfaction. Don't miss this one --- it'll be sure to win a place of honor in your heart and on your keeper shelf.

This book was unique. The main characters were so real, I couldn't put it down. Lots of twists and surprises and a great theme. This is not a novel where you skip to the good parts because it's all good. I can't wait for Ms. Novak's next book!

This review is for Of Noble Birth, Kindle version. I downloaded this book a couple of days ago because the premise sounded very interesting. The book contained themes I wasn't expecting, and found quite upsetting.

***** Spoiler Alert *****

The premise is that the ducal heir, scorned by his father, grows up to become a pirate and vows revenge. In order to exact said revenge, he kidnaps a woman whom he believes to be his half-sister. And then discovers that he is attracted to her.

Instead of the 'hero' being horrified at his reaction to his 'half-sister', he more or less shrugs it off after a token comment here and there about how disgusted he is. He has a 'blame the victim' attitude, and for me, this book comes across as a light bodice ripper.

To be fair, I did not finish this book. I got 18% of the way through it and gave up. The scene that was the last straw for me is where the hero is fighting with the heroine, who has just attacked him after being held captive and tied up all night, and he has her pinned down on a bed. Her bodice rips, and he starts becoming aroused. He grins at her and warns her to be more ladylike, because "even though she's his half-sister, he's no eunuch."

I'm leaving this review because none of the other reviews mention this theme. I wanted to give fair warning to other readers who might find the issue of incest as upsetting and distasteful as I do.

ETA: There is a mention of this theme in the blurb, in one line where the hero fights "yearnings he believes to be incestuous". However, I still think the issue bears mentioning, as other readers might do what I did - skim the description. Also, I didn't see him fighting his inclinations very hard, which is why I gave up reading the book.

Tabatha L. Haddix

Wonderful historical detail, a wounded hero and heroine that made my heart ache, lots of action and adventure. I loved this book!

I read a lot of historical (regency) romance novels. I've enjoyed more "classical" regency books by Georgette Heyer and Mary Jo Putney. I've read Amanda Quick and discovered new author Grace Burrowes. I don't need a "high born" hero. The hero in this book is Nathaniel. While born the heir to a Dukedom, Nathaniel was almost killed at birth by his father when the father learned of his infant son's deformed arm. Fast forward many years and Nathaniel is now a man. He was spirited away from the duke by a housekeeper and raised by her. He is now seeking revenge on his father by acting as a pirate and stealing from his father's ships.

We also meet Alexandra who is abused by her step-father (he has already locked her in a truck where she almost suffocated) and forced to work as a seamstress. She is trying to make her escape to a cousin when Nathaniel abducts her in a case of mistaken identity (he thinks she is is half-sister and abducts her to blackmail his father into returning one of Nathaniel's friends). I agree with a previous reviewer that it was disturbing to read about Nathaniel being sexually attracted to someone he thought was his half-sister. At one point, it did seem like he was threatening to rape her. I have no idea how/why she was attracted to him after he abducted her, kept her captive on his ship, implied he or his crew would rape her, etc. Then, he realizes that she is not his relative, so then everything is okay? Also, the focus of the book seems much more on the adventures of the characters (the race away from the seamstress shop when they abduct her, the piracy adventures, firing on other ships, etc.) rather than on the supposed romance. Also, the coincidence of who they catpure from one of his father's ships and the traitorous shipment of guns seems way too coincidental. I gave up about 50% in to this one, as it never really felt like a romance and I just could not get into the story.

I recently discovered Brenda Novak when I read Inside and In Seconds and I was mesmerized by her ability to not only transport the reader to the tension filled scenes but also to evoke emotions we so often suppress. When I wrote Ms. Novak to tell her how enthralled I was with her 2 novels she promptly wrote back a thank you and thought I might like one of her first novels, Of Noble Birth. I just finished it and I cannot thank her enough for such a thrilling ride. Her writing is superior, her characters are so well drawn you feel instantly as if you are acquainted with them, and the situations they end up in left me on the edge of my seat for much of the novel. I never knew where the novel would go next, the twists and turns were amazing. I would have preferred a few steamy scenes but it was such a phenomenal novel I overlooked that missing detail. The injustices our hero, Nathaniel, must suffer are softened by the love of innocent seamstress, Alexandra. Please do not pass this novel up, it is well worth the experience. I will now read all of Ms. Novak's back list as she is an incredible romance author.

And convoluted. The over-kill in the story made me put the book down - how many things can yuo expect to happen to two people? Enough already.

In this 4 1/2 star read, the Duke of Greystone's son was born deformed, and in a fit of rage the Duke attempts to murder the babe. The housemaid grabs the child and flees. Though lacking an arm, Nathaniel Kent has made his way in the world. The master of the Royal Vengeance, he preys on the ships of the Duke of Greystone. Alexandra Cogsworth needs to escape her abusive stepfather when she is mistakenly kidnapped by Nat in a plot to get his hands on Greystone's daughter. Of Noble Birth pits son against father, Kidnapper and the wrong victim-- young man who knows his origins and a young woman who knows her heart. This period romance may be a bit far fetched, but nonetheless, interesting. Brenda Novak has made a bright beginning.