Customer Reviews

Prisoner of My Desire

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

I am an avid reader of romance novels. I have read many but never have I come across one so original. If you read romance novels as much as I do, you would know that great, imaginative storylines are rare and hard to find. This, indeed, is one of the best books I've come across. I always find it irritating when I read a one-sided review that tells me nothing about what the book is about, so here it is [briefly]: Rowena Belleme, a young, beautiful, virginal, aristocratic woman is forced to do the unthinkable due to some terrible circumstances. She's made to 'rape' Warrick, a great Lord, who also happens to be a gorgeous, big giant of a man. After the deed is done - the reason the deed was done was because Rowena's elderly husband croaked in the nick of time and a suitable replacement was needed fast! so became the abduction of Warrick - they let the handsome knight go, never expecting to hear from him again. What a shock they were in for because in not too long Warrick was back, and with his army too. Rowena was captured, as Warrick had vowed revenge and Rowena was going to pay. She was taken to his castle, where she was repaid in kind by Warrick, over and over, again and again. After a while Rowena is made his personal servant to serve him only. I bet you can guess that his passion is very ardent and she recoils at first, fearing his lust ... I'll let you wonder the rest.

Anyway, the book was a delightful read. I'm not an obssessive fan of Ms. Lidsey's but I must say that she has done a very, very good job. I recommend this book to anyone who likes tummy-wrenching erotica along with sweet romance. I thought this book was a two-hanky read.

Okay, as you've no doubt realised from reading the other reviews here, this book is controversial. It has two rape scenes, beginning with a man being raped by a woman (against both of their wills) and followed by him exacting revenge by visiting the same treatment upon her. I don't like rape. I'm always one of those people who call for tougher penalties in rape cases, and if I were a narrow minded person I might have condemned this book for featuring rapes.

However, I must admit, I found this book utterly compelling. Sometimes it shocked me, I'll grant you, but this gave me a great excuse to explore my own feelings about the subject matter, and also gave me a view into the psyche of both the perpetrators and victims of such crimes. It was an intelligent work of fiction from a skillfull writer, and she didn't gloss over the realities of the situation. There were consequences of actions for the characters, who had both been essentially good people before being forced into a brutal situation not of their choosing, and they were also forced at later times to confront the feelings of guilt and shame that committing such acts brought out in them. They both grew from the experience, and became better people. They proved themselves worthy of forgiveness, and eventually love -- love that they both earned the hard way. I liked that. I like to think that people can redeem themselves, especially when they are not really bad people but rather just victims of tragic circumstance. Another thing, too, is that this book is set in medieval times, and they were harsh times. There was a reason they were called the dark ages -- dark things happened! To shine the light of modern ethics and standards on the behaviour of medieval characters is unrealistic.

I liked this book. It was exceptionally well written for its genre. I liked that it dared to go beyond the normal light and fluffy boundaries of your usual romance books. I liked that it featured a PREGNANT woman as its sexy leading lady, proving that yes, pregnant women can be gorgeous, and men do find them attractive! And I liked that the story was utterly compelling, to the point where I couldn't put it down. I laughed. I cried. I FELT for the characters. I cared what happened to them. It was realistic enough that it made me forget it was a work of fiction.

But when it all boils down to it, that's what this book is -- FICTION. The author clearly doesn't condone or encourage rape in any way. She is simply presenting us with a story, to entertain us, to make us think, to let us see the world from a different perspective. That's what the fantasy of books is all about. It's not the real world that you'll find in books. It's this other place, one where we can go to to see the things that aren't done in real life. And I for one enjoyed this book, and the places it took me to, controversial subject matter or no.

I think there will be a few people who will refuse to read or enjoy this book for fear that by liking it they might be showing that they approve of rape. But think about it this way: if you watch a horrifying slasher flick, does that mean you want to go out and murder people? No! If you watch a movie about a junkie, does that mean you condone drug use? No! This is the same principle. You don't have to support what the characters are doing to like the book. And just because you may end up liking the characters, doesn't mean you have to like everything they do. Intelligent readers will figure that out, and look beyond the controversy to see what this really is -- a good book.

"Prisoner of My Desire" was pretty shocking to me the first time I read it about 10 years ago. I was a teenager then, and a HUGE fan of Johanna Lindsey, so I couldn't understand why she would write a romance about a man and woman raping each other. Needless to say, this book went on my list of "never to read again" obscurity. Luckily, I threw away that list!!!

I just reread "Prisoner" and, to my absolute surprise, enjoyed it immensely. It is a provocative book, but the rape scenes weren't as outrageous as I remembered (actually, they're pretty hot). The heroine Rowena is the one who starts raping Warrick, after all. Not because she wants to, of course, but because she is the victim of her scheming brother's greed and either has to straddle manly Warrick or watch her mother die. What would you do?

To say the least, Prisoner is one of JL's more steamy romances. I think half the book takes place in bed somewhere. Rowena and Warrick are fun characters, too, both with strong, likable personalities. It's hard not to like everyone in this book. Even Gilbert, the bad guy, has redeemable traits.

My biggest criticism of "Prisoner" is how closely related plot- and character-wise it is to JL's earlier work, "So Speaks the Heart." Both are medieval romances, both have blond lovers, both revolve around the knight treating the lady like a slave because of something bad involving the lady's brother, and both deal with pregnancies. However, "Prisoner" is the better book of the two, with stronger characters and a more intriguing storyline.

I personally would recommend "Prisoner" any day as a great medieval romance. However, if it sounds like too violent a book for you, read "So Speaks the Heart" or Lindsey's other medieval (and fantastic) novels "When Love Awaits" and "Defy Not the Heart." If you're in the mood for time travel to the medieval period, read JL's "Until Forever," about a gorgeous Viking with a cursed sword.

Lady Rowena Belleme is forced to marry old codger Lord Godwine Lyons so that her step brother Gilbert d'Ambray may secure his lands and men. However, before the marriage can be consummated and an heir produced Lord Godwine suddenly dies. Rowena is more than happy that she does not have to lie with the old man but her step brother comes up with an idea that they kidnap a man with the same colourings as Lord Godwine and that Rowena lies with the man until she conceives, whilst they deceive the world of Lord Godwine's death.

Enter one handsome blond and muscular Warrick de Chaville, Lord Faulkhurst who is kidnapped by Gilbert's men thinking that he is a lowly serf. He is sent back to Gilbert's castle and chained to a bed. Rowena must now seduce him and lie with him until she conceives a child. If she does not do as she is told Gilbert will kill her mother. So Rowena sets out to seduce the handsome Lord who is at all times chained to the bed. In fact she she literally rapes him for three nights in a row until she she finds an opportunity to set him free on the third night. Warrick has never been so humiliated in his life and tries to resist Rowena's charms but his body betrays him.

On his release Warrick returns to capture Rowena and now the tables are turned. He treats her like for like and ties her to his bed and seduces her until her body betrays her and she gives in to his sensous touches.

However, as the days passes, Warrick finds himself being attracted to the wench and can no longer find it in himself to do her harm. Rowena learns of Warrick's hurtful past and also finds herself being attracted to the arrogant but handsome Lord. Will they find it in each other to forgive the other for their unforgiveable deeds?

Be warned this book is not written to be politically correct as the hero and the heroine both rape each other. However, the "rape" scenes are written in such a way that they can hardly be considered rape scenes as both parties seem to enjoy being seduced by the other. I myself found the scenes quite sexy but this is purely fantasy and in a real life situation I would be completely appalled. Still this was an enjoyable read as long as you considered it just as fiction and not get too emotionally involved with the rape scenes.

Lealing

Let's call a spade a spade here, folks. This is a bondage novel thinly disguised as a historical romance. So many of Lindsey's novels contain elements of bondage and discipline, why doesn't she just write an actual erotic novel and stop hiding behind the ruffles and cloud-castles of romance? I have a feeling that this author has a well-worn copy of The Story of O hidden somewhere by her bed.Okay, I will admit that some of the sex scenes are rather tasty. The characters are likeable in a strange sort of way. And the story itself is entertaining even if some parts seeem contrived. For instance, why couldn't our dear heroine just have opened her mouth and told him WHY she was doing what she was doing? She had plenty of opportunities... I also can't imagine these two lovers ever going back to "normal" lovemaking, I imagine them having permanent chains installed in their bedroom.Overall, this book was worth reading if you fantasize about being chained, ravished and kept as a slave in a faraway castle. If you don't, skip it. If you're unsure, borrow it from a friend.

Fearing for her mother's life, Lady Rowena Belleme has no choice but to agree to her evil stepbrother Gilbert's wish: she must marry the lecherous old lord of Kirkburough and produce an heir, so that he could control the old man's lands and increase his own lands and army in order to take on his enemy, the Lord of Fulkhurst. However, when the old lord dies before the marriage was consummated, Gilbert covers up the death and quickly orders his men to find a man with similar physical characteristics for Rowena to copulate with.

Enter Warrick de Chaville, the Lord of Fulkhurst himself. When Gilbert's men mistake him for a serf, he finds himself held captive, chained on a bed and forced to procreate with Rowena. Known as the Dragon of the North, with a reputation for exacting swift retribution to anyone who crosses him, he vows to make her pay once he escapes. So when he gets his chance, he comes back to raze Kirkburough to the ground and takes Rowena prisoner and subjects her to the same fate.

Some people have expressed disgust on the subject of rape on this book. But if you really read the book, Rowena was blackmailed into coupling with Warrick, and that scene was written in a way that doesn't come across as disgusting. And when the table was turned, Warrick doesn't really hurt Rowena physically, as his intention is actually to make her want him so bad and this is how the scenes are depicted. And underneath his gruff exterior, we slowly see a man capable of giving love, as we see him softens towards Rowena. And it is most interesting to see all the tender things he does for her.

As mentioned by the other readers, the love scenes is a little kinky and involves a little bit of bondage (but in no way offensive), and if you can get past this, then this book is not bad at all.

This is the second time I have read Prisoner of Desire and it was as much fun to read as eighteen months ago. I did not write reviews then but could still remember the plot lines well which is unusual because I have read at least 300 books since then. This book was written during an era of romance writing that portrayed aggressive heroes who indulged in a single or occasional scene of non-consensual sex. This book definitely falls into that category but it is very different in that both the alpha hero and innocent heroine take their turn as the aggressor of these scenes. I picked it up knowing it contained some of those scenes but remembered, aside from all of that, is was a fun, not-to-be-put-down type of book. It takes you from sadness to laughter repeatedly and cruelty to kindness more than once.

It's 1152 in England, and Rowena Belleme has been forced into a marriage with a very elderly man by the machinations of her greedy stepbrother, Gilbert. Although Rowena owns lands that have long been in her family, Gilbert controls all of her properties and wants Rowena to marry a wealthy lord and thereby increase her holdings. Gilbert wants the additional lands but NEEDS the additional fighting men the alliance will provide. A formidable, powerful, vastly wealthy and certainly vengeful warlord is fighting Gilbert on many fronts. This lord and formidable knight is none other than the hero, Warrick deChaville. Warrick is only fighting Gilbert in retribution for his attempted seizure of one of Warrick's holdings. And one thing Warrick does very well is exact "utter destruction on anyone so unwise as to encroach on what was his."

Rowena, a spirited, young, and truly innocent woman, must participate in Gilbert's awful schemes because he holds her mother's life in his hands and will beat her or even kill her if Rowena refuses. Gilbert places one condition upon her marriage to the decrepit lord - she must produce an heir. None of his holdings will transfer to Rowena upon his death without an heir. When the old man is unable to produce an heir, Gilbert's men capture a younger man in a bathhouse who possesses similar physical features to Rowena's husband. They are to take a serf or villein - certainly no one of nobility. But it is a bathhouse and their chosen prey, Warrick deChaville, is not wearing any trappings of nobility or wealth. Gilbert does not realize the horrible mistake he has just made and chains Warrick in a bedchamber and commands Rowena to use him to produce an heir.

And oh --- that's just the beginning pages of the book. Things only get more and more involved, spiraling deeper and deeper as you consume the pages with greater and greater speed. Although there are a few predictable situations of typical romance writing, this story is rather unusual in that you do not know what to expect next. Just when I had figured out what I thought would happen next, it didn't.

Warrick is an unforgiving and hard hero. Rowena is a subjugated and overpowered heroine first by Gilbert and then by Warrick. But slowly her spunk begins to show. And the pages just get more enjoyable as Rowena begins to stand up for herself. It's a delicate undertaking to confront her captor without totally alienating him. She is in no way bratty or self centered. Her actions are always those of a true lady and she is ruled by kindness. She is a very lovable heroine and Warrick eventually becomes a likable guy - but it takes a while for him to get there.

Another interesting aspect of this book is the unusual villain, Gilbert. Although he is dastardly as expected, he has a soft spot in his heart for Rowena. You actually find yourself pitying him more than hating him because he doesn't seem to know better. He is quite nice compared to his really, really awful father. He loves Rowena but has no idea how to show it. He is actually crushed when Rowena rejects him after he has beaten her mother to force her to do as he wishes. His father, after all, had beat her mother all the time, so what is so bad about him doing the same? Geeesh! But yet you do find him somewhat of a sympathetic character - errr - villain.

There is no way to avoid the sensual nature of this book. It is intricately woven into most of the story. However, this book, in no way, is centered on the sexual scenes. This is an excellent and at times severe story that demands it be told - first and foremost. It is also one romance novel that is aptly named - Prisoner of My Desire. It is literal in more ways than one. The sensual scenes, while not as explicit as you would find in a book of this nature today, are still strong. These scenes rate a solid 4.5 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines).

Prisoner of My Desire is one of several Lindsey earlier romance novels on my keeper shelf. Although the story line is sometimes harsh, it is totally captivating as long as you are prepared for it. Gird yourself up for one fascinating read.

Loved it from start to finish. Have read it twice in the last ten years. Love the time period, the plot, the hero and heroine. All good. One of Lindsey's best! These idiots who write about how demeaning it is to women...blah blah blah, they should read something written by a ball- busting left wing lesbian (someone like Hilary Clinton). As for me I'm sticking with Lindsey.

Opinions differ and I understand how some readers would be offended by the bondage in this novel. I'm not a fan of bondage, but the bondage in this novel is NOT painful. Rowena and Warrick never do anything to intentionally cause each other physical pain. That is the entire difference. Rowena and Warrick have an attraction that cannot be denied which make the bondage scenes very appealing. The love scenes leave the reader tingling. I loved that Rowena got to "..." Warrick. For a change, the man is the sex object.

All that said, there are other aspects of the novel that make it worth reading. This novel has one of the most intricate, ironic, and original plots I have ever read. There are times of hilarity. Touching moments. Rowena is an admirable character. She is strong, stubborn (at the right moments), and witty. I'm not a big Johanna Lindsey fan. This is one of her best. She wrote it around the same time when she wrote other really great novels such as Man of My Dreams and Angel.

I've read all of Johanna Lindsey's books, and this is my favorite. The plot turns the usual romance formula on its head. Here, the heroine, Rowena Belleme, must seduce a very unwilling hero, Warrick deChaville. Later, Warrick vows to seek revenge, but despite his best plans, he cannot resist Rowena. One of my favorite things about this book is that Warrick is not a modern male lurking in medieval clothing. He's a medieval warrior - he's violent, he treats his daughters as nothing more than chattel and he considers women to be little more than sexual conveniences. Not that those are good things; it's just more realistic for the time period. It is a sign of Lindsey's talent as a writer that she is able to work within these limitations and still create an appealing romance.