Customer Reviews

The Tiger's Woman

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an absolutely wonderful book. The story is excellent, the building of a new life in the historical West by both the hero and he heroine very convincing and well thought out. The harshness of the circumstances and yet, how people survive in them is described realistically without being depressing. So the background is well thought out.

What impressed me so much was the personal growth of both heroine and hero, how they overcame the coldness and cruelty they had grown up with, and built a life together.

Emotionally gripping, well written - the tension is kept up very well - a story to fall into and "live along with the characters".

** spoiler alert **

Before I started this book, I asked around in the forums to see if this book had any cheating, raping, or beatings. I wondered if this was one of those bodice rippers from the early 80s. No one could answer me, all anyone could actually recall was that, they liked it. Mmkay, and yet no one remembered what the plot was about or any details of this book what so ever. Well, if you would like some spoilers, read on.

The Tiger's Woman, would be more accurate to call this, The Tiger's Doormat, is about a grieving widowed playboy and a sexually abused heroine. He is 15 years older than the girl, who is only 18 when they meet. Unusually enough, the heroine didn't have any sexual hang-ups, but there were just too many irritating things about her, I was glad this was the case.

The hero grieves for his wife, his one and only true love most of the book, even calling out her name during the love scene with the heroine. Almost saying, "I love you, <dead wifes name>" in a ahem moment. When he starts having real feelings towards the heroine (of course, this is a romance novel after all), he becomes cruel, emotionally abusive, making snide remarks, smacking her hard enough to leave a bruise on her face....and of course cheating on the her.

Now what made this book a failure for me. First of all, I started this book really liking the girl. Sexually abused heroine (how could anyone not feel sympathetic), over coming all, etc, etc...so of course I was expecting to see a heroine with some strength of character. Thats not the case here. What you will see is your typical bodice ripper romance heroine without a backbone, getting walked on by the hero constantly.

Clearly, she has a good reason to be afraid, and understandably, she will have issues with how she views herself. However, do we honestly want to read about a girl who's constantly afraid of everything, and taking crap from everyone around her for 650+ pages? Do we want to see her love interest, emotionally abuse her when she's been through so much already? A hero who will smack her, cheat on her, feels relief when she leaves him and goes after her only when his son seemed tormented by her absence?

My deal-breaker was(although I kept reading hoping it will get better), when the hero came back from a whore house smelling like a whore, and the heroine jumped in the sack with him, knowing he's been with another woman only few hours before. She didn't say a word to him about the other woman... Heck, she was glowing because he came back and that's all that mattered. This girl did not need a love interest but a shrink.

This book consists mainly of heroine clinging to hero, taking all kinds of crap while hero fights his growing feelings for the doormat.

I would defiantly NOT consider this a good book. This book is excessively wordy, and it shows it's age. Good thing I will say though, unlike most romance novel's that's out these days, this book had a plot. I just wish, this book had a different hero and heroine.


Steam - steamy enough(even has a oral sex scene)
Cheating - yes
Hitting - yes
Rape - Hero never rapes her.

"The Tiger's Woman" is one of the best books I have ever read, and I have read plenty. The characters are very well-developed, and while you admire them, at times they make you angry, for they are by no means perfect. Not only does it have wonderful characters, but it deals with a very serious issue, that of child-molestation, in a very realistic way. The book takes you on an emotional roller-coaster that you regret leaving when the book in finished.

I hope to someday read "The Proud Breed." I have read so much about it, and I would love to read another of de Blasis' novels.

Celest has been one of my favorite authors since I began the "Swan" trilogy. The Tiger's Woman is just another example of this authors ability to bring fictional characters to life. I have also read The Proud Breed, and unfortunately this is the last book written by the author I have been able to locate. I would read more, Celest, are you listening...?

All of Celeste De'Blasis' books that I have read have been amazing. She is not a formula writer and her historical accuracy is wonderful. When I inquired from her publisher about more books, I was told she had since passed from cancer. What a loss to the historical romance genre.

This book was really good, but I still believe the authors best work is the "Proud Breed". This book left me feeling a little depressed and dark, but it is very realistic.

This is one of my favorite books. It is one of the best historical romance works that I have ever read. The story is unique, the characters are unforgettable, and the detail is richly atmospheric. Like most of the other reviewers, I have read THE TIGER'S WOMAN more than once, and I plan to read it again. Recommended for romance fans and skeptics alike.

CATCHES YOUR INTEREST ON PAGE 3 AND HOLDS IT TILL PAGE 651. READ IT IN 2 DAYS

I read this book years ago in hardback. I read it over and over. We had a flood and my copy was distroyed, I was heartbroken! Today I was browsing and entered the title on a lark, assuming this was out of print. I am buying several copies to give friends. This book will touch your heart and never leave. I recommend this book to everyone.
The hero, though damaged and thinking himself unworthy of love, is compelling and the whole world created for him is wonderful. I felt like they all became friends.

I read this book when it was new and I was in HS. It was my most read, cherished book. Unfortuantly my folks threw out my copy when they moved and now I"m searching for a new one. I also wish that the author would write more stories as I've read every one of her books and they were all awesome. The characters in this story were so believable. YOu begin to live the live the character's lives with them. It's hard to leave them behind at the end. I have read each book and all the characters are clear and concise. They all have elements that keep you you coming back to read again and again.