Customer Reviews

The Spitfire

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

 

 

This book often does not get the respect it deserves. True, the characters are not particulary likeable. Arabella is spoiled and makes a very stupid choice. Tavis is overbearing and stubborn, but when you put these two together-WOW! Sparks fly from the first moment. The story is quite complex and since it is set in a very tumultous period of English history the people you encounter sometimes seem quite harsh. I love this book and read it often, I think it is one of Ms.Small's best books. An open mind is needed to fully enjoy this book and it is definitely NOT for those who are easily shocked or offended. If you are ready for an unforgettable journey with totally unique characters then this book is for you!

I'm not sure I mean this as a negative review or not. I'm not finished with the book yet. I might add I can usually finish a book in a 24 hour period but this book is giving me a bit of trouble.

Intricate is a subtle word. History and logistics are very prevelant. To me there is far too much about the King of England, the King of Scotland, politics, and who is related to who by their extramarital affairs. It is unfair for me to give an opinion before I finish the book but truthfully, I am of a mind to close the book and feel that I have not missed anything. I'm sorry to say, I'm bored with it.

This is not my first Bertrice Small book and am feeling a bit guilty for speaking my mind. At the moment, (where I am in the book) Arabella is a spy in France for Tudor. I understand Arabella's reasons and her plight but cannot help but feel it is toooooo much. She and Tavis are suppose to be in love with each other. Her determination and honor binds her to her ancestorial home and title even it if it for her daugher. I am forcing myself to finish this soon because I am curious to Tavis's reaction. I confess I have skimmed frequently and perhaps I am missing some vital events but the first and second line of the paragraph seems to explain the rest of the paragraphs intent.

To gage this review, I am partial to Stephanie Laurens, Susan Johnson, Connie Mason, Christine Feehan and I won't bore you by going on. Like most, I enjoy fiction because it is that, fiction; this however is far too detailed. The love scenes are so so. I am not one to look for many love that take up a chapter in itself describing every detail but I find them lacking in this book. The warmth and emotion are not emphasized adequately.

I apologize for my opinion before completing the book but I have read many romance novels over a 6 year period and am sorry to say this book does not hold my interest. The story and situations seem to go on forever.

I hope this has helped you. I personally rely on the reviews of other readers. I'm sorry that I cannot give this more than one star. I am not in any hurry to read any more of Ms. Small's book.

My apologies to Ms. Small and her fans. In closing, I suppose this is a negative review of this book. Sorry.

Geez, this is has to be the slowest Small book I've read. I love Scottish historicals and even enjoy the historical political detail, but this is way too drawn out. The heroine loves her plot of land more than her hunky hubby. Ans he is way too good for her, too understanding to put up with her antics. She is a spoiled, selfish little girl (Was anyone else repulsed that she is like...12...when Jasper the villain seeks to betrothe her? And only 14, when the hero, Tavis, seeks to wed her? Both men were old enough to be her dad!! i know its histroical, but she could have been 16 that would have been more comfortable for today's reader)

And how does she go from being all virginal and moral to committing adultery on her husband with a few men, whoring for the crown, and having a threesome with twin brothers? (I have to admit that scene was hot, but not worth buying the book. It is much too brief and you have to slog through 3/4 of the book to get there---seems like Small was trying to make up for how sexually tame and politically dry all the preceding chapters were.)

Arabella's mother is an airhead, and has way too many scenes in the beginning. The hero and heroine do not even meet till nearly half way through the book!

The story begins with a great hook--a border raid, including murder and rape, which set the plot in motion but alas, is not the stuff romances are made of.

I had to force myself to finish the book. I though Arabella too analytical, not a really passionate or romantic person, I did not beleive she ever loved Tavis and did not understand why he would love her (other than that she has ankle length platinium blonde hair and never shuts up and is half his age). Its sad when the heroine has better sex scenes with characters other than the hero. I can go on and on with what makes this book so dreary--but why bother? It is what it is.

in closing, i too found myself skimming whole sections of the book, which had no effect on furthering the plot, and several times I put the book down and left it there. I just wish i would not have wasted my time picking it back up to finsih it. Especially since the ending really sucked. The one saving grace is that Small never wrote a sequel to this tripe.

Skip it, and if you are looking for a great Small Scottish romance, read Betrayed or A Love Wild and Fair instead. Now those were terrific!!

She abandons her child and the man she loves for her run down, practically abandoned family home. She cheats on him with his nephew and others. He feels guilty for not getting her family home back for her sooner and forcing her to "sell" herself to get it back. Please! your choices; A: rich gorgeous, titled husband & infant daughter or B: small, barely profitable keep & lands. The choice would be clear to me. But not our heroine.

This was a great book. It combined the elements of romace with knoledge from the past and sensual love scenes. This is a wonderful example of Small's work and coincides perfectly with her reputation as the lady of lust.l

Alright, so I like reading cheesy romance novels so that I can sort of write mystery science theater style comments in the margins, but that's not the point with this book. This novel is the terrifying product of a nightmarishly diseased mind. The author is positively gleeful in describing the molestation of the heroine and the rape of her mother by the villain (the heroine is eleven years old at the time) and then at 13 the heroine is kidnapped by the "good guy" who's in his what... mid-twenties. He proceeds to oggle, fondle and offer to wed the THIRTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL. I know it's a historical, I know that was kind of... normal-ish at the time, but for the love of god writing erotic romances about thirteen year old girls is... creepy as hell.

Also the heroine and her mother both inexplicably have floor length hair (yeah, that's really likely) and the heroine keeps damn stabbing people.

The prose are typical romance novel (though less descriptive, except where Lady Arabella, queen of the mary sues, is concerned),

Also, seriously floor length hair and a hero who enjoys child molestation? Who thought this was a good idea?

I literally threw this book across the room in horror at the description of the thirteen year old heroine's breasts. Why would you describe that? Beatrice, seriously, you have something wrong with you. Why would you write this?

Why do none of the other reviewers seem to have a particularly intense reaction to the child rape? I know it's another era, but it's a romance novel for chrissake, you're allowed to make things more palatable. One of the things you might want to gloss over is the terrifying age differences (I mean you gave the heroine ankle length hair, I'm already suspending a lot of disbelief, I can take some more there)... just... gah, make the burning stop.

I read this book many years ago and I remember loving this book. It's slow yes, but give it a chance and you'll fall in love with it, too!

I would probably give this book a 3 1/2 stars. I enjoyed the story. Glad for the happy ending. A little boring with some of the political info but all in all I read it and enjoyed it for the most part. I have another B. Small book to read but I hope it will be better than this one???

Unlike most of the heroines in Bertrice Small's books, I wasn't as drawn to Arabella as I was to the others. The storyline itself is a good one and as usual the rich, vibrant descriptions lure you into the story. However, there was something missing that kept me from losing myself completely in this plot.

There is more to romance than sex. I wasn't convinced of any love existing between the characters. Worse, the heroine is a no more than a prostitute. There is a thing known as pride. This woman is no example for other women to model themselves after. It's the brain not the body. She had another choice.