Customer Reviews

Rejar (Timeswept)

5 star:		(93)
4 star:		(35)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I originally submitted this review in 1997 (before Amazon created the About You Page) and am resubmitting it under my public account as directed by Amazon's Customer Service. The original review will be deleted via Amazon.

In Dara Joy's 1996 release Knight of A Trillion Stars we were introduced to the lovable and very arrogant Rejar. KOATS ended with quite the cliffhanger and after waiting for what seemed like an eternity we finally learn the sexy Familiar's fate in Rejar.

Rejar, after tumbling through space for several months, finds himself tossed into a strange place called Regency England where he lands nearly in the lap of a most luscious female specimen. He decides this smelly world that offends all of his senses might not be quite so bad after all!

Lilac Devere was minding her own business when a handsome cat enters her carriage and settles in like he owns it. Despite her Aunt's warnings she takes this arrogant creature home and gets much more than she bargained for.

Rejar is a familiar from the futuristic planet Aviara. He's a descendent of a race of people who can change into the form of a cat whenever they wish. Along with their shape changing abilities familiars also have heightened senses, telepathic powers and extraordinary sensual appetites. However, once they meet their life mate and become bonded familiar's have an unshakable sense of devotion and never stray (remember this is a fantasy, folks :).

Rejar observes life on this strange planet and quickly learns that the only way to survive the brutal scrutiny of the ton is to create a persona they will fawn over. Using his powers of suggestion, he convinces Lord Byron that he is a Russian Prince and quickly becomes the most sought after man in Regency England. He's a man all of the women want but he is only attracted to the one whom he curls up with each night. The one who believes he is nothing more than a cat. But, arrogant fellow tha the his, he knows once she meets him in the flesh she'll fall head over heels in love with him.

Needless to say he's in for quite a shock when Lilac gets rip roaring mad and slaps his handsome face when he innocently states his intentions to "have" her. This only makes Rejar all the more determined to make her his. After all no woman has ever refused him! Just what kind of planet has he landed on?

When he realizes that Lilac is fated to be his life mate and he comes to the realization that he isn't winning her over with his stunning sex appeal he tries every trick he can think of to win her love.

Dara Joy has created a magnificent hero with Rejar. Anyone who has ever been owned by a feline will certainly understand and laugh out loud at his arrogant demeanor. His compassionate nature won my heart and while I didn't always agree with his tactics I realized he just couldn't help his sexy self.

The only problem I had with this story was the heroine. While Rejar was a well rounded character I found Lilac to be rather self-centered and uncompromising. The girl also had no curiosity. I think a hero as wonderful as Rejar deserved better. But, hey, maybe I'm just being catty. In Lilac's defense, I did enjoy her openness which made for some great laugh out loud scenes.

I really enjoyed REJAR for its bawdy and tender humor, scorching sensuality and unique storyline and highly recommend it to those searching for something a little different from the norm. Although this is a sequel it is not necessary to read the prequel, Knight of a Trillion Stars, first (although it is a spectacular book!). I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series when we will hopefully learn more about Rejar's brother Traed and the planet Aviara

Well, I must say, as the second book I read in this series (Mine to Take being the first) the story is getting a wee bit better... but only a wee bit. For about the first half of the book though... oh a FIVE STAR! The first half is delightful! Lilac is so cute with her constant putting off of Nickolai! Their dynamic in the first half is so cute and funny! It is more amplified because of the fact Rejar holds Lilac every night, yet when she sees him as Prince Nickolai during the day, she hates him! hehe :) I loved how these two didn't actually have sex until after they were married, that was a nice change of pace! But after the initial sex... the whole character interaction changed. Rejar totally took control of Lilac's life, despite her living perfectly well before he came in, he seemed to have developed the idea that after marriage she became stupid and incompetent... grr. And another thing that left a bad taste in my mouth was the fact that there were two sex scenes that were very close to rape... And that is NOT romantic! I even noticed this happening in Mine to Take as well... ick! And the females just take it because they find the man sexy! That is seriously demeaning to any woman capable of thought. Basically these stories are about sex. Not love, or romance. Just physical attraction. Admittedly the characters once or twice list some non-physical things they like about each other... but it always comes back to the fact that the Familiar is sexy and he's just horny for the female. It is emphasized every time Ms. Joy uses the word "sensual". She uses that word way too much I must say. Everything about the man is "sensual" this and "sensual" that. Use a thesaurus once in a while please. Other than that, I like the plot line. I'll continue reading the series, especially if Traed keeps showing up ;) and to find out more about the plot with Rejar and Yaniff and such.

On the way to a tea party, Lilac Devere and her Auntie Agatha are shocked when a flash of light, a booming crash, and a large black cat with two different colored eyes, one fiery gold, one ice blue, suddenly appear in their coach. Lilac is immediately taken with the pretty kitty, and vows to take it home with her if it's still here when they get back from the party.

Little does Lilac know, the black cat is not just a cat, but a man who can transform into a cat. A Familiar to be exact, who is from a future time and a different dimension. Rejar knows he's been sent here for a reason, so he decides to stay in Ree Gen Cee Ing Land and find out why he's here.

Lilac brings her kitty into her home to keep. Suddenly, Lilac starts having wonderful dreams about a sexual, NAKED man. Rejar knows he can't stay in this world as a cat, so he decides to tell people he's from a faraway land so no one can check his story. He tells people his name is Nickolai Azov and that he's a prince from Russia. When Lilac meets the Prince for the first time, she's shocked to find that it's the same sensual stranger from her dreams. What she also didn't expect was to see the Prince who had two different colored eyes, an eye of fiery gold, and an eye of ice blue!

Rejar decides then and there that he will marry the beautiful Lilac. But before he can do that, he wants Lilac to be used to him, hence the nighttime visits. There are some advantages of being able to do this, and when he discovers a kitten-shaped birthmark on Lilac's inner thigh, he uses it to his advantage. When he tells Auntie Agatha about the birthmark, she thinks he has compromised her niece, and proclaims that they will be married days later. Lilac's reaction was outrage, to say the least. She was very opposed to the marriage, which she knows the obnoxious Prince Azov has tricked her into. When the minister asks her 'Do you take this man...' she refuses to answer. Rejar finds this vastly amusing, and, having telepahic ability, sends her a message asking her if she wants him to stop the cerimony. When she shouts "Yes I do!" the minister pronounces them husband and wife, since no one else heard the thought. Lilac once again realizes she's been tricked. This results in a marriage of hilarious escapades.

Another good thing about this book is that we revisit with characters form the previous novel "Knight of a Trillion Stars", starring Lorgin, Rejar's brother, his wife Adeeann, and a new addition to the family! We also meet again with Traed, who shows up to 'pester' our hero the day after his wedding, and Yaniff, an ancient wizard who wants Rejar to join the Alliance, a group of extraordinary wizards on Rejar's home planet.

This book was a story of wild contradictions, explosive sexual encounters, a heroine with just the right amount of stubborness and laughter, and a hero with the biggest heart a hero could have. Definitely a keeper. ;)

A friend sent me Rejar as a gift. I wish she would have sent me the money, instead. That way I could have purchased a Suzanne Robinson romance, which is money well spent. My first problem with Rejar was the writing style. It is jarringly written in a uneven style that made one think that Ms. Joy was writing with a partner. It could have been that some poor editor somewhere was trying desperately to fix her mistakes, without much success. Whatever the reason, there are two forces at work in Rejar that made it a difficult read. What bothered me the most, however, were the issues involving Rejar, who was at once a charming rogue and a shape-shifting cat-man. The underlying tones of beastiality involved in the love scenes made my gorge rise, instead of making my heart race. The heroine, Lilac, is a simpering idiot who can not make a decision for herself. She is gullible, vapid, and completely without a personality of her own. She allows a random stranger to waltz into her life, and take it over, just because he is a good lay. Can you get more superficial? Lilac is a watered-down version of the spunky heroine I know and love in books by Amanda Quick, Elizabeth Lowell, and Lyndsay Sands. All in all, Rejar made for a painful experience.

I have read all of Dara Joy's Matrix of Destiny books and I love them. The sense of excitement and mystery keep me hooked. Dara is an example of an author who gets better as she writes. Of all three I think Mine to Take is her best in the series.

But on to Rejar. I thought this book was good. The humor, action and plot are well done. And of course, I love Rejar! I thought he was a great hero. The only complaint I have was with Lilac's character. But as I thought on it more, I realized that for the time period of the book and the fact that she was young, these contributed to her character. Hopefully in future books we will see Lilac's character mature and grow with time. So for that reason alone, since I know their will be more books in the series, I can overlook some of the flaws with the heroine.

I am impatiently waiting for the other books in this series, especially Traed's story (my favorite character.)

I think this book got a BAD RAP!!!!!!! I REALLY enjoyed this book!!!!!!!!! I loved the relationship between Lilac and Rejar! It was only fitting that he find someone who wasn't falling at his feet. I loved the embroidery scene!!! I think all the women who found the intensity of certain scenes upsetting need to review them again and compare them to other scenes in say (early Johanna Lindsey). There were NO rape scenes in this book!! Rejar was just very intense in the way he made love. He could not hurt her... that would have meant hurting himself. His whole purpose when he made love was to gain the pleasure being reflected back from his partner.

I've read many reviews for this book and am amazed at the mixed reviews (although that seems to be the norm for most books). Still, I bought the book, read it, and am very glad I did. My only real issue with this book (2nd in a series) is that there are a lot of references to people and events in the other books, but having now read the whole series, I can overlook that. And I have to admit I'm anxiously awaiting Traed's story... PLEASE HURRY MS. JOY!

Ms. Joy does a great job of making Rejar's character sooo very cat-like, from his mischievous nature as expressed by his "thought-provoking sweet nothings" to his I'm "king of the castle" arrogance, ...

I'm not bothered by his over-bearing manner toward Lilac--he is part Cat!--and besides there are also plenty of touching scenes, from his appreciation of her sewing talents -- or lack there of :), to his reassuring acceptance of her "chatty behavior".

I found Lilac's innocent naivete refreshing, although I didn't like her gullibility toward that would-be husband-thief especially considering her upset over gossip as a result of her own "chatty behavior"... She's smarter than that or should be, and lucky her "friend" has a heart, even if it's a small one. Fortunately, there are glimpses of her strength in character, as evident by her willingness to give the "cut-direct" (even if it was unsuccessful) and a well-deserved slap, her getting the better of Rejar at dinner (caviar & apples, anyone?), and her stubborn refusal to call Rejar by his real name no matter what he tries "physically"... ...She's not refusing his sexual advances but rather refusing to accept who he really is. I can excuse Rejar for his anger; I mean, who wouldn't be upset with a mate who refuses to call you by your real name?

I would have loved to see Lilac give Rejar a tougher time over all he saw and heard as a cat...before his unveiling...like, maybe offer him some snuff? ;)

All in all, I enjoyed the book (the whole series really) which is pleasantly different from the usual romance book. It's introduced me to "other worlds" and has me thanking Ms. Joy and wishing she'd open the next chapter soon! (Maybe then I'll finally learn just what a zorph is!)

I thought this was a wonderful book. A very well written and interesting novel like the rest in the trilogy. It is about a Femar ( a male that can turn into a cat) and a young woman that finds him as a cat and learns that once she took in the cat a strange, yet exotic man appears in her life. Very seductive and sexy Rejar invades her mind and body, doing anything to make her his. he uses his sensuality and prowless in bed to seduce her. Read this book, and learn what other "special" powers that rejar is of capable. It was a very good book, and the plot never ceased to bore me like many others do.

Man oh man! I want a cat like Rejar...

I like this book. It is well-written, funny as all get-out and STEAMY.

This is my second Dara Joy gig. I read "Ritual of Proof", and although that one has an interesting hook, "Rejar" beats the pants off it all-hollow.

READ THIS BOOK!!!!

Once again Dara has writen another purfect book in REJAR. He is the most provocatively sexy man/cat. Lilac is absolutely purfect for him. The sex scenes(of which there is a lot) are red hot. It wears you out just reading them. Aunt Agatha is a darling. She would be ideal for Yaniff. Some readers have already sugested this as a future story in the series and I think they are right.

Traed makes another welcome return in the book which is wonderful. I can't wait for his story which is 4th. in the series. Gian Ren's story is next(3rd). I have just finished it and it is another wonderful story.

Please Dara write Traed's story fast, we can't wait for it. Well done on another great book.