Customer Reviews

Silver Angel

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

"Silver Angel" is one of Lindsey's more exotic, detail-oriented romance novels. Set in Barikah in the Middle East, "Silver Angel" runs on the premise that Englishman Derek Sinclair impersonates the Dey of Barikah -- also his twin brother -- while the Dey seeks out his would-be assassin. In the meantime, Derek disrupts his brother's harem by pursuing a newly acquired, utterly rebellious concubine, beautiful Chantelle, who was kidnapped off the coast of England and sold into slavery. The detail Lindsey puts into everyday harem life is amazing, and you end up absolutely fascinated with the setting alone. Add to that the fact that Chantelle is a spirited, fiery, and vulnerable heroine, while Derek is a sexy (and considerate) master, and you end up with a sumptuous read. Amazingly, they don't actually make love until page 300, but their nonstop interplay is so sensual and passionate, you never even notice. There are several unforgettable moments in this novel, such as the first time Chantelle is brought to the Dey's palace, as well as the attempted poisoning. The secondary characters also capture your attention, including the eunuch in charge of guarding Chantelle, the Dey's first wife Sheelah, and Derek's mother, the grand dame of the harem.

"Silver Angel" is only one of two Lindsey books set in the Middle East. The other is "Captive Bride," her first novel, and not a very good one at that. I highly recommend "Silver Angel" not only for its exotic locale and interesting tidbits about Arab life, but also for its smooth story, outstanding characters, and intensely satisfying romance.

I am a big fan of harem themed romances which is why I was so looking forward to this one.

Overall, it is good, but I have read better and Lindsey has written better too.

The plot is exciting and tinged with intrigue. The hero is great (I am not to thrilled with his rakish past, but this is fiction not fact, so I'll digress...) and the setting ang background history were detailed but never dull. The dialogue was punchy and the action was fast paced. the love scenes were good--not great, but better than average.

My prblem is the heroine--Chantelle--who is so 'stubborn' (more like stupid!) and so wishy-washy-whiny and so dull that I really didn't care either way what happened to her. And how many times does her silver hair and violet eyes have to be mentioned? It is nauseating! She is a two-dimmensional character notable only for her looks and little else--kind of like reading the harem adventures of Barbie and Ken.

Ann Chamberlin, Bertrice Small, Connie Mason and Jane Feather have written better harem tales than this. Read one of those first!

Orphaned Chantelle watches her distant relatives squanders the fortune left to her that she can not touch until she is married. Desperate, she flees only to be kidnapped by barbary pirates. Derek Sinclair has received a secret message from his twin brother Jamil, the Dey of Barikah. Upon his arrival, he is asked to take the Dey's place while an assassin is being hunted down. As a gift Jamil buys Derek his own woman to use while he is gone. Chantelle is that woman. Angry and frightened, she longs for her home in England and fights her captivity. Then she is summoned by the Dey and to her shock the man begins to court her. What will happen when she learns the truth?

Chantelle is stunningly beautiful, but perhaps too willful and full of pride. At first I was amused by her fury, then I was thinking "enough! Let's get too the good stuff." Derek is wonderful, patient, kind, and downright seductive. A few times I thought he was more than she deserved, but overall I enjoyed this story.

The first problem with the book came with the two main characters. They did not meet until half way into the book!!! However, when they were together there was the usual passion that Lindsey is known for. Unfortunately, she drops the ball again with the conclusion of the book. Lindsey leaves about ten unanswered questions. Furthermore, the heroine acts uncharacteristically at the end. After turning the last page, the reader will be immensely disappointed. I do not recommend this book. Lindsey needs to rewrite the ending and answer the questions she left hanging.

Having been orphaned before reaching her maturity, Chantelle Burke finds herself at the mercy of greedy relatives who are determined to spend her fortune before she can touch a penny of it. In an attempt to escape their evil clutches, she runs away, but is kidnapped by slavers before she ever reaches the boundaries of her own property.

Whisked off to a strange country, she is sold into the harem of a young Pasha. She means to refuse him, to maintain her virtue and secure her freedom, but her `master' is insidious, finding his way into her heart as easily as he seduces her body.

Readers who enjoy historical romance set in the lush atmosphere of the Middle East will undoubtedly be charmed by Johanna Lindsey's novel SILVER ANGEL. With an Englishwoman for a heroine kidnapped into the harem of a mysterious Pasha, the plot is ripe with possibilities, something Ms. Lindsey certainly makes the most of in this wonderful story.

The mix of suspense, intrigue, and sheer sexual heat combined with the romance between the Chantelle and her Pasha is palpable, making for a story that readers will long remember. No one and nothing is exactly what they seem, and secrets have a way of divulging themselves when you least expect it, much to this reviewer's delight.

SILVER ANGEL is a must-read for fans of Johanna Lindsey, but I daresay that readers new to her work, as I was, will find much to love about this fascinating romance!

For nineteen years, Derek Sinclair, the Earl of Mulbury, has lived in England after leaving the coast of Barikah. Only him and his grandfather know that he also left behind his twin brother, now the current Dey. When he receives a cryptic note from him, he immediately leaves for Barikah knowing that it could only mean that his brother's life is in grave danger.

Unbeknownst to him, the crew that sailed from Barikah to deliver that message ends up abducting Chantelle Burke. Running away from an unwanted marriage, Chantelle finds herself the newest concubine in the Dey's harem. But little does she know that the real Dey bought her as a present for Derek. Derek, on the other hand, has assumed the role of the Dey, while Jamil has left the palace to find out who is behind the attempts on his life.

Beautiful, fiery and rebellious, Chantelle stirs up Derek's blood like no other woman ever have. Yet even though Chantelle finds herself attracted to him, she is abhorred by the cruelty she knows the Dey is capable of after what she's witnessed on her first night at the palace. And not knowing that it wasn't Derek but his brother she met that night puts Derek in the most difficult position of winning Chantelle's heart. Knowing he couldn't possibly tell her the truth without revealing his true identity, he courts her English-style, which completely baffles Chantelle.

Although the middle part of the book lagged a little, and even with my dissatisfaction with the ending, I still enjoyed reading this. Johanna Lindsey has created an exotic location with this novel; her description of the palace, harem life and the women is so vivid that I was intrigued by it and felt as if I was actually part of it. The characters are well-portrayed and the sexual tension between Derek and Chantelle makes for a pretty good read.

Sliver Angel...

Interesting backdrop. Loved the details on how the ranks worked in the Pasha's harem , The characters were likable and the book was a fast read that kept you guessing...

Chantelle runs away from a forced marriage and in all irony she is kidnapped and forced into slavery and enters the Pasha's harem and including her self there are 48 other slaves only there to please Jamil Reshid. Chantelle is a Englishwomen of the highest standards and being held captive and expecting to lose her virginity to a man she loathes is heart -wrenching for her she longs to escape but cannot.

Derek Sinclair is an adventures hero always looking for the next big adventure mixed with a little danger, anything is possible for the young Englishman

Derek receives an incepted message from the Dey of Barikah, asking for help ,he decides to go help Jamail but also to help his English friends in the process

Once in Barikah he realizes there is a plot to assassinate the Dey. And from there it begins.

My thoughts... the assassin plot was a disappointment ,when the truth came out on who was behind it I couldn't believe it I wasn't buying it at all

I wasn't convinced that a unending love was blossoming between the hero and heroine.

What I did see was a conquering need to tame a resistant foe

The end was abrupt and just ended to quickly I would of like to see a more passionate response between Chantelle and Derek but instead I got a quickie

If I could be honest for a moment.. I always say that I read romance novels for the romance and deep love of the characters and in some truth I do but if I could just say this book didn't have enough steamy pulse racing love scenes. It is sad when you read a romance novel and your more interested in the conversation the characters are having instead of the sex they are having.. Okay with that said...

Sliver Angel is filled with riches , mystery, intrigue , and with a little jealousy mixed in it makes for a good book, worth reading and escaping into the exotic eastern desert.

I have enjoyed several of Johanna Lindsey's other books, so I was very disappointed. As stated by another reader, I felt the ending was quite abrupt.

Derek is a real jerk. He's already being unfaithful to his best childhood friend and fiancee,Caroline,and planning to continue being unfaithful after they are married. When he is in a position to set Chantelle free,and possibly back to England, he still takes her virginity. Chantelle suddenly becomes a floor mat for him.

Save your money.

It was an ok book but i think other readers might have a problem because of the long interduction...which i can sooooooooooooooooooooo do with out but it started picking up after a while so it wasn't much of a bad read. love desert romance so not bad

I read pther reviews before actually reading the book so I came into it thinking that the book would be a bad read but really it was pretty okay. I was expecting not to like Derek but I changed my mind about that as well. Chantelle was a hellcat that's for sure but she was a pretty good heroine. The plot, with the killer and all, could have been a little more intricate but I won't way how without giving away the book's ending to potential readers. Other wise it was a good book. Surely better than Captive Bride.