Customer Reviews

Patience (Passion, Book 2)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(26)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

Valdez is finally back with the sequel to her sexually explicit historical romance book Passion. And as anyone whose read the prequel knows this author can really push the envelope when it comes to love scenes in mainstream romance, some may call it erotic romance, some erotica and some even porn. Doesn't matter which label you use because if that is all there were to the story then it would have been easily forgotten. But Valdez is a good writer, she knows her characters, knows how to bring out emotions and best of all knows how to make a connection with the reader. I admit that I was shocked by the content of Passion but it opened up my mind to other possibilities in the historical romance genre and I was extremely excited when this sequel came out. Patience is about Matthew struggling with his recently revealed illegitimacy and his new found love, Patience, who equally struggles to define the person she really is. Its dark, intense and contains a potentially wicked revenge plot. But unfortunately I don't think Patience is nearly as good as its predecessor. In a nut shell I felt that their emotional love story was sacrificed for the sex shock factor.

My major problem with Patience is the love scenes -you can't get away from them. Well, you know that there won't be vanilla sex here. But BDSM? OK, I can open my mind up to some domination and submission. And let me tell you -You think Passion was smoking? Honey, you ain't seen nothing yet! It was shocking, titilating, and frankly educational (do NOT read this book in public! *blushing furiously*)! Seriously this a new flavor to anyone not familiar with submissive sex. BUT sadly there was waaay tooo much of it!!! Yes I'm complaining about too many love scenes in a romance?!! It seemed like they were having sex or thinking about ALL THE TIME! Really I didn't want to read another line about a red, purple veined thing or waterfalls between someones legs. It got to a point when I didn't know if I was reading a romance novel or a how to book on BDSM. To be honest I don't get the whole submission thing BUT to be fair, I'm going to assume that all that stuff, including the cringe-worthy crying and spanking parts (OMG!! stop that already!), have some roots in affection. I just wish that some of the romance was more obvious to the average reader. Its a case of too much information about one thing (sex life) and not enough of the other (romantic relationship).

This is not to say that whatever pages that were left over for romance weren't good, they were excellent. But they were just not long enough! Either cut out a bunch of the racy love scenes or add another 50 pages. Because by the end of the book I couldn't answer a critical question: Are Matthew and Patience really in love? Or did they just find their perfect bed partner? Yes there was a beautiful ending but I needed more (remember the scene in in Passion when Mark tells Passion he will write her letters?.... I'm getting teary already *sniff*) I wanted that same feeling in Patience too. I don't mind sex early in a book provided that eventually the author spends time revealing the characters true feelings not just their body parts. There were points in the book that gave me hope but sadly not enough. Wish there more, that would have made a huge difference and maybe gone from 3 to 5 star.

What I did absolutely love was Aunt Matty, she is hilarious! Her straight talking provided the comic relief from all that intense love scenes and the fizzled out revenge plot. Thank goodness for quircky characters!

I also have to mention one other thing that had me going WTH? Cucumbers. I won't be eating them for awhile. Can someone explain to me why a *vicars* daughter, who quotes the bible in the book, has experience practicing on cucumbers? and she's not making salad people!!! Isn't she supposed to be this sweet angelic woman with high morals? Oh yeah give her a few big O's and eventually she's using the f-word too. Come on! This is a historical romance. Maybe if she was a courtesan I would buy it but a piously raised girl? Victorian era? Not buying it.

Anyway as far as recommendations go I recommend this to anyone that reads or has read and enjoyed any type of erotica or erotic romance but definitely not if your the type of reader that's uncomfortable with explicit love scenes with little romance. If on the other hand your like me and curious (you know its like those accidents, you just can't look away) then you should consider this book cause you know I'm keeping mine purely for scientific purposes....yep scientific purposes..that's what I'm telling myself ;).

Some other red hot historical romances that I have read and enjoyed-
The Stranger I Married
Lessons From a Scarlet Lady (Signet Eclipse)

PATIENCE is the story of two strong-willed, independent creatures that have each been betrayed by those whom they trustingly gave their hearts only to be found lacking. Now, having brutally learned their lesson, neither is interested in repeating their previous pain but thankfully there's an undeniable pull that draws these two fated beings together. And once in each others arms, their well fortified walls begin crumble as if so much dust.

An incomparable beauty, Patience Emmalina Dare is coveted by all the male members of the ton. As they preen, peck and squawk their candidacy as potential suitors, they know not that their efforts fall upon deaf ears for Patience has no desire to belong to any man. Instead, her heart - her everything - belongs to her cello and the music she persuades from its strings for you see, her instrument could never forsake her, can never ever leave her thus providing the perfect guard against any who contrive to poach upon her love. However, despite Patience's instrumental guard, she also recognizes a deep-seeded yearning for one man that has the very real potential to obliterate all that she is but the secrets he dangles before her are utter temptation and they have her leaping for a glimpse of the freedom he offers.

Matthew Morgan Hawkmore, formally the second son of an earl but now a known bastard and recent social pariah of the ton, is grasping with white knuckles to the remaining pieces of his former life that he can still call his own. But there are those that would glory at seeing his financial demise and none is more hungry for that than Archibald Benchley - the Earl of Benchley and Matthew's would be father-in-law if news of his bastard birth had never made light. Accused of withholding his bastardy from "good society", Matthew has been snubbed by those he had once called friends and now to have his name and his honor slandered atop of the fierce financial crush that Benchley has heaped upon him, the desire for revenge has him swirling in an all encompassing darkness of anger and hatred. There is only one light capable of piercing through the black that is now Matthew's tarnished soul and that is Patience. Her goodness and her light calls to him, beckoning with sensual promise as well as soothing acceptance.

It's really no surprise that from an early age, Matthew recognized and cultivated a burning need and desire to sexually dominate. With evidence of his already controlling nature, his role as a sexual dominant is no coincidence for he's a man that inherently seeks control - needs control - and in his current uncontrollable and crumbling world this unequivocal need to dominate gravitates him on a very primal level towards Patience. As if viewing a mirror image of himself, Matthew recognizes a deep-seeded and complicated pain within her and his reaction to it is fierce. Ultimately, Matthew desperately craves Patience's absolute surrender; to strip her of all her fortified walls, crumble her resistance, and tear asunder the pain that has burdened her so greatly. Perhaps by unleashing and healing Patience, Matthew can heal his own dark pain and the only way he knows how to do this is by requiring her complete and utter submission.

Patience, nervous and unsure of the submission Matthew is demanding, follows him with a tentative trust. No man has ever demanded anything of her and while she should be affronted by his commands, instead Matthew brings to light a curious feeling that she's never before felt; one that awakens a previously dormant and unknown faucet of her nature that ultimately causes her to grasp hold of it with desperate hands and an aching heart. Soon, Patience finds solace in her submissive bonds. She no longer has to control her thoughts or maintain her strict independence for in truth they're not her nature. She was meant to be a nurturer, a calm example but instead she became closed off, seemingly un-needing of anyone but her cello. For years Patience has unknowingly forced herself into something she's not and with Matthew's help she's released from these constricting bonds of her own making and instead basks in the silken bonds of his dominance.

However, while Patience unveils hidden aspects of her personality, hauntingly painful moments in her past, as well as gifted Matthew with her complete trust, he's hidden a plan from her that could potentially tear apart their burgeoning relationship. His revenge scheme for his enemy, Archibald Bentley, has escalated to such a high degree that Matthew recognizes no moral bounds. It's kill or be killed in his mind and he has every intention of beating Benchley to the punch despite the fact that his conscience is saying he's wrong. There's strong evidence of this because Matthew does his absolute best to make sure that Patience is kept completely in the dark from his nefarious plotting. She is everything that is good and beautiful in his world and to make his plans known to her would only spell his doom. Instead, Matthew is so twisted with anger and hatred that he becomes nearly blinded by the revenge he seeks rather than the cling to the love he's already been given by the woman that longs to lighten his world.

Truly, what I think surprised me the most about PATIENCE, and it's not the unbelievable depths that Valdez explored with the D/s relationship between Matthew and Patience, but the fact that it didn't resemble PASSION in any way. Instead, the novel is compellingly unique and held its own superbly against its famous predecessor. That accomplishment in and of itself is rare and quite splendid. Bravo Ms. Valdez!

If you love intense romance with graphic sex, x-rated language, an uber alpha hero who also happens to be a sexual dominant, and a complex heroine who lives and breathes to submit to her hero, than PATIENCE is the historical romance for you.

This book was nothing like its predecessor Passion. Now do not get me wrong I knew they were going to be different but expected the same love and intensity that Passion possessed...sadly Patience fall flat.

I did not buy or believe the "love" they felt for each other it seems as though Lisa tacked that in every other minute to make you believe it because you read it as oppose to us feeling it. IMO I believed that Matthew used Patience to get through all that he was dealing with and not because he loved her. The whole dominance thing was annoying and did not make any sense, all the talk about him "knowing" Patience and what she wanted was lame...and as far as everyone saying the sex was constant...it was page after page of oral stimulation for both him and her, and not in an endearing or loving way. They did not have actual intercourse or f*** in their case until later down in the book, around page 300 then all the love and happiness followed...sort of! I found him to be abrupt and hard, she was timid and stupid acting...whatever he told her she accepted, and went along with, like she had no mind of her own!! It drove me batty reading this after waiting so long for it to be published.

I did not believe the "love" they professed in the least and every time he took the dominant role and made her do something that was for her own good...it was not tasteful, it seemed deeming! There is a part in the book that disturbed me...it was when they were in the cabin stranded by the storm, Matthew stimulated Patience to a fever pitch and denied her a release as usual...he liked to prolong her desire; he had a leash on her and when he did allow her to reach her pinnacle of pleasure it was by letting her hump his foot (which was still in his leather boots) like a dog in heat!!! That irked me to no end!! I have read a few books with BDSM in them and it was tastefully done and never did the heroine come off as being demeaned in the act at all, but this was just too much and again I never got the feeling of the love he professed he felt for her.

It's hard not comment and compare the two books, but Patience lacked the love and intensity that Passion had. The sex scenes between Mark and Passion were in your face out there, but behind them you felt the emotions that drove them...in a since the Passion! With Matthew and Patience I felt as though because we knew they were the hero and heroine and was destined to be together, that they just were...nothing more!

I am sorry to say but this book was a letdown, I am sure that Lisa worked long and hard on it but it crashed and burned before lift off!

Patience is the looooong awaited sequel to Passion by Lisa Valdez. I really liked Passion. wasnt what I expected in a historical romance but I thought Valdez did an amazing job with the characters. while I cringed at the love scenes in Passion involving uterus shaking, (yes really) I was able to enjoy it because Passion and Mark were so in love.

In Patience, the romantic love that draws the previous couple together is missing. Patience is Passion's sister and Matt the hero is Mark's brother. I fell in love with Matt in Passion and felt for him with losing his fiance, his reputation and his mother in a sense. I thought this book would focus on Matt's struggles with all that happened to him and Patience guiding him to acceptance. I knew there would be BDSM-dom/sub specifically and wouldnt have had a problem with it except the sex was non stop. Seriously, I think they had more sex than in Passion and yet I didnt get it. There are also unflattering references to body parts but in this one *sigh* Matt refers to meat often and its not dinner.

What really bothered me aside from the romance lacking was that Valdez focuses more on Matt (fixing) Patience by helping her accept her submissive nature. Oh and we dont really know how he instantly knows she's a sub. Valdez doesnt go into detail on why Matt is a dom or if he would have been like this with his ex fiance. Patience in my opinion never gets the opportunity to focus and help Matt with his issues, which in my book were plenty considering the circumstances. Its as if Matt uses there dom/sub sex life to pretend there is nothing wrong with him and that life will be great if Patience can get herself in tune. There was nothing wrong with Patience in my opinion. In the end, Matt has 5 pages of self discovery and rushes to Patience.

Lastly the cello bothered me. We are told in Passion that Patience is awesome at the cello and an old flame has kept her music sterile for lack of a better word. Matt is an awesome cello player but we dont know why or what made him study under a master for 8 years. Small gripe but due to a couple of scenes where music and cello are discussed, it bothered me.

I waited for the release of this book since 2006. Passion was a beautiful erotic romance that moved me and haunted me and I couldn't wait for Patience's story. The author had a difficult time with this book, as often described on her website, and the release date was delayed many times. After a while, I sort of gave up. My "patience" had run out. Then lo and behold, I catch a glimpse of the cover at the bookstore and gasp. It's finally out! So, delighted, I buy a copy and begin to read. Three or four chapters later, I put the book down for a moment, unable to believe that the same author who wrote Passion has written this drivel.

England, 1850s. Matthew Hawkmore is ostracized from society after the news of his illegitimate birth is revealed. His fiancee breaks up with him, and her father is dragging Matthew's name deeper into the mud. His half brother Mark, who is also the Earl of Langley, and his wife Passion love and support Matthew, and they do whatever is in their power to help. But Matthew has only two things on his mind. One is revenge, and the other is Patience Dare, Passion's beautiful younger sister. Matthew's desires are dark and unpredictable -- a Dominant through and through -- and Patience complements his needs. Neither Matthew nor Patience wants to surrender to love, but will they have a choice?

***WARNING: This portion of the review contains some spoilers***

The plot is very thin. You get pages and pages of intercourse-free sex, and then maybe a chapter or two of Matthew plotting his revenge, followed by a chapter of Patience having tea with her aunt or her sister (or both). Remember all the conflict and emotional roller coaster ride we had in Passion? You won't find it here. The writing is very straight forward. Matthew and Patience meet up for secret sexual encounters ALL THE TIME, and that, in a nutshell, sums up their relationship. You don't get to wonder when and how they fall in love because this is revealed long before the characters admit it to themselves. We're told they're in love, but they never really show it. The BDSM part doesn't bother me the way it bothers some. I've read this sort of erotic book before. However, the way it is portrayed here bothers me very much. Matthew comes across as a madman and Patience is a simpering moron. This novel needed a good copy editor as well. This is just one example of a badly structured sentence found in the book: "Gasping, his hands gripped his [you-know-what]..." I don't blame the author for this. It is the copy editor's job to find and fix errors. Alas, Patience is a huge disappointment, an anticlimax, I should say. If you want an erotic romance with plenty of feeling, read Passion, but if you want a how-to book on different ways to perform oral sex, then this is definitely a keeper.

I was so eager to get this book, having waited years and being a fan of Passion. I still haven't finished it and despite being 200 pages in, I just can't get over the whole controlling/misogynistic male lead of Matt and how happy Patience is to be controlled and told what to do. That's just not my idea of romance or escapist reading. I read romances to get away from the realities of everyday life and, yes, to get turned on. And this book does neither for me. I will admit that there are some hot and satisfying scenes, and I occasionally pick the book back up in hopes that Matt will change for the better (that and I want my money's worth!) All that changes though is Patience's realization that she wants to be told what to do and her willingness to be a lapdog to a man.

Things are going downhill fast in the bedroom department for these three vicar's daughters. First Passion falls in love with a guy who can't be bothered with some kind of added lubricant, in spite of his challenging size for sexual partners. Don't most guys carry condoms in their wallets for unexpected sexual encounters? A little bottle of oil in Mark's back pocket would have been very helpful, don't you think? But then we wouldn't have had that obvious symbolism of Passion being THE ONE to accommodate his heavy emotional baggage. Now, I don't mean to criticize the book PASSION. In spite of the gymnastic sex and 4-letter words, it was a darned romantic book and I liked it.

PATIENCE is another story. Many people are saying wow, what graphic sex and so much of it! I was left with a feeling that there was less sex than in PASSION and the sexual encounters were very unsatisfying (to me, not to the H and H, I guess). Didn't even so much as titillate. It was a darned unromantic book and I didn't quite like it. Guess I'm not into that whole sub/dom spanking stuff. And the cello symbolism? Still not sure of that, except you have to open your legs wide to accept the instrument while playing it. But both Matt and Patience played cello, so that left me puzzled.

On to my fears for Primrose. It seems that maybe the character FitzRoy from PATIENCE will be her partner, because she sings and he plays piano. But I worry about the sex scenes. Where do you go from PATIENCE? On to real hard-core stuff? Or perhaps it will be something more innocuous, such as FitzRoy just needing Primrose to sing C above High C before he can climax. Just so long as we don't have many menages-a-trois, snuff films, or animals involved, I suppose it will be OK.

Whatever the case, it can't be denied that Valdez is a capable writer. Now if she could just channel that talent for the greater good? Please let Primrose have a real romantic romance in addition to great sex.

Ok, now I loved "Passion" so I am comfortable with Lisa Valdez's style of writing. And her erotic imagery. But this...just left me perplexed.
The sex scene was jaw-droppingly strange. He didn't care about her "distress" even though she was a virgin. Her tears turned him on?
and enough with the "Yes, Matthew!" She is not a dog! I mean, "Stay, Patience"?? Really?
There was no warmth, and BDSM goes both ways. She's not supposed to submissive ALL the time.
And last, there would be a heated coversation, or a tender moment about love and suddenly the word c**k would be thrown around. I'm all for it in the right times, but sometimes it does not fit the moment!
Meh.

Like some reviewers, I too found parts of this book difficult to read. The Dom/Sub concepts and intimate scenes were hard to swallow (no pun intended) and totally opposite to a normal woman's way of thinking. I mean, after awhile I had to put the book down because it made me feel so uncomfortable to witness the pain and humiliation of another. But, unlike other reviewers, I got it. Even though it was extremely unconventional, it was a romance all the same. Though some will point out that Valdez's first book Passion is completely different from Patience, I strongly disagree! In Passion, Passion needed something that only Mark could give her, and in Patience, both Matthew and Patience need something that only they can fulfill. As uncomfortable as it was, I found thier love story beautiful. And though the sex scenes were more than plentifull and seemed cold, it is within those submission scenes that their kind of unconventional love blossoms, therefore doing away with traditional wooing. I think Valdez did her best to convey this, but I can see how some die hard romance junkies who are used to the same romance formula can be soooo put off by that concept.

Well...I am reviewer number 44 so I guess I won't have any thing fresh to add to the conversation but I'm not going to let that stop me :)

Like everyone else, the last 5 years for me has been a long wait for the sequel to "Passion". OK...Passion wasn't perfect but I adored the romance and the very sexy love scenes. Passion remains for me an all-time favorite historical romance.

"Patience" does not live up to its predecessor at all. I'm afraid the sub/dom did nothing for me - I didn't think the sex scenes were sexy at all - they felt cold and unromantic...sex for the sake of sex. Matthew was lovely in "Passion" but there seemed to be a disconnect between his character in Passion and here. The main problem for me was that Matthew tried to turn Patience into something she was not and I just couldn't work out why he would do that.

I have dithered about the rating. I want to give it 1 star for the romance and terrible sex scenes. But at the same time, I enjoyed the last third of the book because it was only then that Valdez started to get on with the story. So I've stuck with 3 stars with the additional comment that this book is not a keeper for me.