Patience (Passion Quartet, #2)

Apr 06, 2010 Auntee rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of erotic historicals

Shelves: historical-romance, 2010_reads, erotic-romance

This was a kind of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde book for me. On one hand you have a traditional, well-written romantic historical with a decent plot, which I truly enjoyed. On the other hand, you have a smutty, sometimes vulgar historical erotica--which at first I thought was kind of hot.:) But after reading page after page of how to have sex without actual penetration, I was rolling my eyes (his "boiling" cods! her "gushing" quim!), shaking my head (the porntastic, acrobatic upside down oral sex scene),...more This was a kind of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde book for me. On one hand you have a traditional, well-written romantic historical with a decent plot, which I truly enjoyed. On the other hand, you have a smutty, sometimes vulgar historical erotica--which at first I thought was kind of hot.:) But after reading page after page of how to have sex without actual penetration, I was rolling my eyes (his "boiling" cods! her "gushing" quim!), shaking my head (the porntastic, acrobatic upside down oral sex scene), the irrumatio scene (definition right here http://www.sex-lexis.com/Sex-Dictiona...) and cringing (spanking her bottom for "his pleasure" and therefore, "her pleasure"). Was Lisa Valdez trying to shock the reader? Titillate? Maybe. All I know is that once the hard spanking commenced, she lost me. Ouch! I don't mind a smutty historical (I thought Passion was smutty but hot)--I guess what I didn't like was the direction that LV took with the sex scenes.

To explain: Our lonely but beautiful red-haired heroine, cello-playing Patience Dare (younger sister of Passion from the book Passion) is not looking for love or a traditional HEA of a husband or children since being spurned years ago by her cello instructor. What? She's giving up after one failed attempt at love? Everyone she loves always leaves Patience, one way or another (her mother died; her sister Passion became busy raising their younger sister; her cello teacher Henri spurned her) so she's not putting her heart out there again. However, she is attracted to her new brother-in-law, the darkly handsome Matthew Hawkmore (brother of Mark from "Passion")...maybe...

Matt's been going through some scandalous tough times--he just found out he's been born a bastard and it's the talk of the ton. He faces financial and social ruin because of the revelation (in the newspapers!) that he was fathered by a common gardener. Horrors! His fiancee has dumped him and his ex future father-in-law (Lord Benchley) is hell bent on destroying him since he thinks Matt knew all along about the circumstances of his birth (he didn't) and lied to him. The only bright spot in his life right now is Patience, who he's hungered for since he first met her...

To make a long story short, Matt makes a move on Patience. She tells him she can't give him love. Matt says that's okay (he's sworn off love himself), I know what you need, and only I can give it to you (or something like that). Patience bites, and they have a wild old time where Patience learns that what she longs for is to submit--and Matt teaches her the many ways she can submit to him and give him pleasure...because his pleasure will lead to her pleasure, etc. This goes on and on, as Matt and Patience (who turns out to be a master at fellatio since she practiced on a cucumber as a teen!) progress from him teaching her to submit to his wishes ( "lick my cods", "spread your legs and rest your heels on the edge of the mantle") to teaching her all about obeying and discipline. Along the way they discover that they really have come to need each other, and that maybe love isn't such a far fetched idea. But will Matt's thirst for revenge against those who have wronged him get in the way of their happiness?

Even though I wasn't all too keen on the direction LV took with the love scenes (bondage and spanking to hurt just isn't my cuppa), outside of the bedroom I could really feel the love that Matt and Patience had for each other. Just something about them not being equals in the bedroom bugged/irked me, even though Patience was a willing and eager (that girl was constantly gushing!) participant. But if that kind of bedroom action doesn't bug you, I'm sure you'll love this book. I enjoyed the plot, the characters were mostly likable (and plenty kinky), and somehow I even shed a few tears at the end. (I especially loved Matt's declaration of love to Patience when he finally figured out in which direction he wanted to take his life.) Each chapter starts out with a verse from the biblical "Song of Solomon", and there's references to the mythological Persephone (Patience) and Pluto/Hades (Matthew), and Adam and Eve, which I found rather interesting. While this wasn't quite up to the quality of Passion, it was pretty good and it managed to entertain me. I hope LV has plans to write not only about youngest sister Primrose, but also Matt's friend Lord Fitz Roy and the young street lad Mickey Wilkes (I sense a good story there)--I just hope we don't have to wait years for them! 4 stars.(less)

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Apr 24, 2010 UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who loved Passion

Shelves: author-lisa-valdez, historical-romance, 2010-reads, 5-stars, historical-romance-series, reviewed-by-me, virgins

Updated below

Those of you who have read Passion know that most people either loved it or hated it, and the same holds true for Patience. I fall into the “love it” camp and will not apologize nor feel ashamed for doing so. The language and sexuality are just as raw and edgy in Patience as they were in Passion, so if you were hoping for a tamer book, you’ll be disappointed. I, however, loved it!

Matthew is much different from the happy go lucky, carefree man he was in the last book, and who wouldn’...more

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May 03, 2010 Maureen rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotic, own-it, 19

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was more like a "HOW TO" book in my opinion, "HOW TO MAKE SOMEONE TOTALLY SUBMIT" or "A LESSON IN BRAINWASHING " might have being a better title.

The Dom/Sub theme wasn't the only problem for me as it is in most erotic books and I don't mind it. But this book takes it to the extreme and beyond. In one scene Matthew teased Patience then left her tied to the bed for HOURS, I personally think most women would heve stood on his head if he did that to them, but each to their own and I am totally...more This was more like a "HOW TO" book in my opinion, "HOW TO MAKE SOMEONE TOTALLY SUBMIT" or "A LESSON IN BRAINWASHING " might have being a better title.

The Dom/Sub theme wasn't the only problem for me as it is in most erotic books and I don't mind it. But this book takes it to the extreme and beyond. In one scene Matthew teased Patience then left her tied to the bed for HOURS, I personally think most women would heve stood on his head if he did that to them, but each to their own and I am totally open minded to a bit of play and variety, adventure etc in books.

My main problem was Matthew, I felt more love from him for his exfiance Rosalind in "Passion" than in this book for Patience. Rosalind hurt him bad and now he is on the rebound and no woman was ever going to rule him again and that is what I believe after reading this. He didn't just want to be master in the bedroom but now was a total control freak who wanted to control and rule Patience totally. He wrote and got an important music tuition cancelled just to keep her from leaving and the spanking in the rain was close to abusive as Patience was crying . I hated his "dont hide your tears they please me", Maybe I just like my Heros to comfort the women they love when they are crying, not keep hitting them. There was no romance or love in him, even when he was giving her a compliment it sounded false and cold.

Clearly Matthew was always a Dominant but now it seemed that Matthew at last got someone he could bend to his will (mentally as well as physically)and no way was he letting her go, love..hell no, possesion..yes. It was like brainwashing a girl who was in awe of him and trusted him, "If it pleases me it will please you", "you will get your pleasure through my pleasure" repeating constantly over and over.

I also don't get the point of the bible quotes? and bible referances?
"Did god not create eve in answer to adams needs and desires"
"Men carry the staff of their dominance between their legs, what greater proof can there be that feminine submission is gods will"etc.
I think it is clear what Matthew thought of women, here only for the pleasure of men.

As I have said I dont mind reading about a man/woman wanting to be master in the bedroom and the Sub/Dom theme, it was cold arrogant Matthew both inside and outside the bedroom I disliked. I like my H/H to believe they are equals and if this story was real life I could see Patience in a couple of years still worshipping him and browbeaten asking him could she use the loo! "Please Matthew", "Thank You Matthew". This book is a story of submission and a control freak, it is not a love story. I hated it but kept reading in the hope that LV might redeem the characters, well she didn,t it just got worse.

What I did like was Fitzroy and Micky Wilkes and they are the reason this book got a star, and I hope they are in the next book if they are I will buy it and hope it as enjoyable as "Passion".(less)

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Mar 30, 2010 Katie(babs) rated it 1 of 5 stars

As I read Patience, a few things stood out for me:

The virginal heroine Patience has an interesting family trait: thick, distended nipples. She's also is skilled at giving fellatio because when she and her sisters where little girls, they spotted one of their maids "servicing" their butler. From that educational viewing, they decided to grab some cucumbers from their family's garden and practice their sucking techniques. Patience becomes so good at "servicing" cucumbers that she soon wins the, "v...more

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Jul 26, 2010 Lisarenee rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

This is a book most people will either love or hate. I'm probably one of the few who falls somewhere in between. If you like the Pain/Pleasure aspect of a relationship you'll probably like this book, but if you don't you probably won't like it. Lisa uses words like C@nt and F@ck quite frequently so if you like authors who use flowery terms and dance around other words you may not like this book. Matthew is a domineering and controlling sort when it comes to the bedroom scenes. I almost feel the...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Ivana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, erotic-romance, bdsm, alpha-male-character

Dikkat +25 uyarısı !(yorum için değil kitap için :D)
Vallah kitap bitti ama beni de bitirdi onu söyleyeyim ! Ne biçim bir kitaptı diyesim var.Tabii şimdi ne biçim bir kitaptı diyorsun ve neden 4 verirsin diye de sora bilirsiniz ama bazı yerlerini düşünmezsek gayet de güzel okuttu kendini.İtiraf edeyim okumaya başladığımda hiç de BDSM olayına gireceğimizi ummamıştım.Sadece bir historicaldir diye safça bir kanıya varmıştım ki Primrose-un ön okumasını okuduktan sonra böyle bir düşünceye sahip olduğu...more

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Apr 22, 2010 Jen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, read-in-2010

At last the long awaited book has arrived! Like its namesake, this book pretty much requires patience to get through— I found myself skimming at some points (maybe I was genuinely kicked into boredom, or maybe I just wanted to get to the infamous smut). It's more restrained than Passion which is the point at which fans may become divided – just saying that makes me chuckle inwardly, considering the level of passion and steaming hot sex (and puntastic puns for that matter!) by which I'm measuring...more

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Apr 14, 2010 Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-read

I wanted to love this really really wanted to. I thought Matthew was so sweet and brotherly in Passions.

I was prepared for him to be broken and lost from his ex fiances casting off and his newly found bastardness. I was not at all prepared for his bedroom activities.

I am not a fan of BSDM and while I tried not to let this effect my reading and rating it has.

I felt almost like I was reading two different books. Nothing flowed for me. I just couldn't shake off the sex scenes and it effected my...more

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Jun 10, 2010 Jill Dunlop rated it 4 of 5 stars

Patience is the second book by Ms. Valdez featuring the Dare sisters. Patience Dare is the sister-in-law of Matthew Morgan who has recently discovered that he is illegitimate. In a very short time, Matthew has lost his fiancé, become a social piranha and finds his fortune quickly dwindling away. Matthew is certain his former fiancé’s father is behind the cause. As Matthew is struggling with the disdain of the Ton, he finds himself soothed by Patience and her gentle, caring nature.

I found Patienc...more

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Jun 01, 2013 Karen Darling rated it 1 of 5 stars

I was very disappointed with this book. This book is all about bondage, oral sex and spanking. The so called hero is a dominatrix; he enjoys spanking and tying her up and ordering her around. Their first sexual encounter consisted of him tying her up and leaving her that way for hours while he goes and gamble. The heroin cries throughout the book. The author could not decide on a particular hang up for her so she gave her a few of them, she was tortured because she didn’t get to play her cello f...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Tanya rated it 4 of 5 stars

After reading Passion the first in this series, I thought this book took rather a long while to get going. I was gripped by the first book and devoured it quickly but something in this book was missing for quite a while. Luckily it did kick in and I was thrilled when it did.

Matthew after the heartache of his parentage was revealed in Passion he is very domineering and beside himself to prove that he is nothing like the gossip is trying to brand him as. Losing his place in society and his ex to b...more

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Sep 08, 2012 adoree rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

J'ai bcp plus apprécié la relation et l'histoire qu'à ma première lecture.
On y retrouve uen relation de dominant-dominé mais après avoir lu des trucs vraiment plus hard dernièrement, lire cette romance m'a donné un sentiment de fraicheur.
Ma première réaction serait de dire que dans cette romance, c'est le héros qui aurait du s'appeler Patient. Car il fait preuve d'une solide patience pour conquérir son héroïne et pour se venger.
L'histoire commence par un héros marri par ce qu'il lui est arrivé....more J'ai bcp plus apprécié la relation et l'histoire qu'à ma première lecture.
On y retrouve uen relation de dominant-dominé mais après avoir lu des trucs vraiment plus hard dernièrement, lire cette romance m'a donné un sentiment de fraicheur.
Ma première réaction serait de dire que dans cette romance, c'est le héros qui aurait du s'appeler Patient. Car il fait preuve d'une solide patience pour conquérir son héroïne et pour se venger.
L'histoire commence par un héros marri par ce qu'il lui est arrivé. Il faut avoir lu "une Lady nommée Passion" pour bien comprendre pourquoi. Si vous n'avez pas eu cette chanse (oui, chance, je n'exagère pas)votre lecture n'en sera pas moins complète mais il sera plus difficile de comprendre le degré de rancoeur.

Je dirai que la relation entre les héros est saine. Le héros est fort, patient, déterminé et dominant (uniquelement au lit). L'héroïne est remplie de doute, de douleur, de gentillesse et dominée (uniquement au lit également).
Il y a bien quelques détails ou effets qui m'ont fait faire la grimace:
comme je le disais la relation commence assez en force mais stagne pdt une bonne partie de livre. La patience du héros m'a un peu agacée à certains moments. Avec ce qu'il lui est arrivé et comment se passe les choses pour lu. Je dois dire que je l'ai trouvé assez plat. J'ai trouvé les héros un peu trop propres sur eux: elle fille de vicaire qui rappelle la bible à tout va Quand le héros est en droit de se venger: "non, non, n'oublie pas ce que dit la bible"... Heu... là, c'était vraiment un peu too much pour moi. Et évidemment, le final qui s'en suit... bref, limite harlequin, quoi. Quelques effets dramatiques sur le passé de l'héroïne m'ont aussi un peu agacée. Je crois que l'auteut en fait un peu trop... Mais bon, en même temps, il faut bien trouver une explication à certains comportement pour faire avance l'histoire, sinon cela aurait duré 2 chapitres...
Je ne mettrai définitivement pas 5 étoiles. Mais 3 bonnes étoiles bien remplies et bien méritées.
(less)

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Sep 20, 2011 G rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: victorian-erotic, keepers

I loved this book. I see other reviews which were low, primarily because of the BDSM aspects of the story. If this is a turn off for you, this book is not for you. But I have to say that Ms. Valdez can write a love story. This book is positively loaded with love----the tender, self-sacrificing, heart- thumping kind that makes you sigh and cry. The Dom/sub part is in there because that is who Matthew and Patience are as characters and it is secondary to the love story. I, too, could do without th...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Barb rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: wasted-money

Let me qualify my rating a bit. I was split on Patience. It's more like 2 1/2 stars because I felt like I was reading two different books. One I loved and the other that left me feeling nothing.

Lisa knocked me out with Passion (book one in the series) with the perfect blend of emotion, romance and very erotic sex. I didn't expect Patience to *be* another Passion, instead I'd hoped those three would be displayed in Patience with a whole new spin that I believe Lisa can brilliantly do. I can hones...more Let me qualify my rating a bit. I was split on Patience. It's more like 2 1/2 stars because I felt like I was reading two different books. One I loved and the other that left me feeling nothing.

Lisa knocked me out with Passion (book one in the series) with the perfect blend of emotion, romance and very erotic sex. I didn't expect Patience to *be* another Passion, instead I'd hoped those three would be displayed in Patience with a whole new spin that I believe Lisa can brilliantly do. I can honestly say that she is the only author who can write erotic, yes I thought Passion would have been better classified as erotic, and put so much romance and emotion wrapped around it. I normally don't see that in erotic books, it's normally just meaningless sex, IMO. When it's teamed with romance and emotion it doesn't get any better. That's what Passion was. Patience had moments of this but more often did not.

Lots of reviewers hated the BDSM. I'll have to agree with them. I also hated it and thought it was a shame it took up most of the book and only left one actual love scene (well into the book). For me I find nothing romantic or arousing about a dom/sub relationship, if you want to call it that. For me it's not. Since a good two thirds of Patience was dom/sub, it almost ruined the book for me. Take those parts out and you had the makings of a wonderful story that could have been exceptional. It kind of makes me sad and mad for the parts that were romantic, erotic and emotional, mostly the last third of the book.

I loved Matthew in Passion. Not so much in Patience. I felt he was almost two people in this book. The Matthew I disliked? One moment, or for most of the book, he was controlling, emotionless, and just a jerk. Not only was he controlling with Patience but also with his own desires. There were times he had to control his own feelings in order to carry out his dom personality over Patience. I also thought it was conceited of him to assume, without really knowing her at all, that what made him happy would make her happy, even if it wasn't something she wanted to do. What a load of garbage. And to hear the excuse that everything was taken away from him and he had to know he had Patience's trust was just empty. It was very apparent from the beginning, through his own thoughts, that he already trusted her. He kept on saying how loyal, moral, good she was so that part doesn't wash with me. The Matthew I loved? The Matthew I saw through his thoughts. I loved that Lisa throughout the book let us hear what Matthews thoughts were of Patience, when he was with her in quiet times and when he wasn't with her but only observing her from a distance. I found those highly romantic and emotional. That was the Matthew that was a dream. You could tell how deeply he loved her, it was almost as if he worshiped her, that's how emotional his thoughts of her were. During those times I felt he couldn't live without her and saw nothing of his dom personality. I kept thinking the whole time, I wish someone though that about me. LOL To me, the last third of the book was what I'd wished the first two thirds were. ***POSSIBLE SPOILERS*** The turning point for me was the kitchen scene (minus the spanking). I thought that was a wonderful scene (minus the spanking). I loved the sweetness of it. The other pivotal scene, the music lesson. Again I hated the spanking scene but what it revealed and the caring that resulted from it was beautiful. I loved how caring Matthew was with Patience after she revealed why she didn't want to play. It about broke my heart how he just wrapped her up in his body and held her through her pain. Absolutely fabulous! I'm just sorry it had to happen via a spanking. The rest of the book was wonderful, with the exception of when Patience left him and as she walked out he said those two stupid words, "Patience, stay.". I cheered her on when she kept walking. Other than that one sentence, the rest of the book had no dom/sub in it. Thank you that at least the last third I could enjoy minus that crap.

I'm glad I didn't wait five years for this book like most. I just read Passion so immediately was able to read Patience. Lets hope the wait for Primrose isn't as long. I'm not giving up on Lisa due to this one bad experience. So Patience wasn't what it could have been. So Patience had BDSM, which I hate. It still had moments of brilliance and I'm just chalking it up to a risk on Lisa's part that didn't work for me, and apparently a lot of people.

We can only hope Primrose stays away from BDSM. And please NO menage.(less)

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Jul 25, 2011 Sandy M rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

Wow, this book has me all wound up every which way, thrown for a loop all the way to next Sunday, and then boomeranged back right to where I started. Some of it good, some of it I could have done without, and then some it simply wonderfully terrific.

First of all, I never read Passion by Ms. Valdez. I, of course, heard the buzz when it released and wanted to read it, but I just never got to it. I know fans of that book have waited on pins and needles for this second one. So I’m assuming that beca...more Wow, this book has me all wound up every which way, thrown for a loop all the way to next Sunday, and then boomeranged back right to where I started. Some of it good, some of it I could have done without, and then some it simply wonderfully terrific.

First of all, I never read Passion by Ms. Valdez. I, of course, heard the buzz when it released and wanted to read it, but I just never got to it. I know fans of that book have waited on pins and needles for this second one. So I’m assuming that because I haven’t kept up with that buzz from the beginning, I was not prepared for the erotic nature of Patience. When I got to that first scene making it clear a D/s theme was imminent, especially after the opening of the book, which is emotional as all get-out, I had one huge moment of doubt.

I began so enamored of the hero in the gut-wrenching opening scenes. The latest gossip to scuttle through society is that Matthew Morgan Hawkmore is a gardener’s bastard, thus he’s shunned by everyone except those few close friends and family. We even get to read the letter his fiance sent to him breaking off their engagement. Everything that had been within his grasp is now gone.

In the midst of Matthew’s emotional struggle, Patience walks in and his senses flare double time, an intense smoldering cauldron of disbelief, despair, and then desire. This is all within a few pages, and I’m loving every darned minute of it, thinking what a read this is going to be. That thought does go on for a bit, but too soon all those emotions came crashing down around me.

I do read erotica now and again. There’s been very few I’ve cared for, however. While I did like parts of this book’s sex scenes, there were others concerning Matthew’s determination to master Patience that I just didn’t like. Humiliation is neither sexy nor erotic to me. Patience humping Matthew’s leg after a lengthy session of him denying her orgasm is humiliating, even though he loved every minute of it. The idea that Matthew just knows Patience is a submissive and he’s going to prove it read more like browbeating her into believing she is.

Of course, Patience has her own issues. She’s vowed not to let another man hurt her, so has given herself totally over to her music and is planning to leave soon to study with a renowned master of the cello, Patience’s adored instrument. Matthew doesn’t want her to go, manipulates the situation to keep her close, and systematically tears down her walls, mostly through mastering her. He plays the cello too, and there are a couple of scenes between them centering around the instrument that show a Matthew I like.

On that point, the man ran hot and cold for me. I would like him for a while and then his domination would send me in the other direction. He does, however, win me over in the end. And there’s plenty of other happenings in the book that kept me interested enough to keep reading. If this had been a straight erotic novel, I would have given up. There’s no doubt that Ms. Valdez is a powerful writer. She definitely moved me from one extreme to the other.

Once finished with this book, I wondered if Passion had been written in the same vein, but I’ve been informed it’s not. When I can finally locate it in the TBR pile, I’m starting on it right then. If this author can move me so while reading a theme that isn’t my favorite, my imagination runs wild with the idea of what she can do with something I usually enjoy reading.

See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com (less)

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Sep 10, 2010 Lynette rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is one of the hardest reviews ever written. Because I have no idea what to say and I'm going to be totally unfair and for that I apologize.

If I hadn't read Passion and picked up Patience, I would've thought Patience was a darn good book and given it a B or B+. However, since I read Passion, Patience was a let down. I know that this is totally my fault and a result of my higher than normal expectations that are unfair to the author.

What I mean to say is that Patience is better than 85% of th...more

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May 19, 2010 Crista rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2-star, historical, hot, series

I didn't get this one.

Maybe it's because after such a long wait and so much anticipation...Patience couldn't live up to my expectations. Maybe it's because I don't really understand the "pleasure" of submission, domination, masochistic, and sadistic tendencies. Maybe it's because I was expecting something so different. Maybe it's a little bit of all these things. I just didn't get it.

What I loved about Lisa Valdez's first novel Passion was that although it pushed some of my limits, I absolutel...more

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Apr 25, 2010 Mfred rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, romance-historical

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It is a rare experience for me that the exceptions I take to a romance novel are the theological ones.

Patience by Lisa Valdez, is the story of a male dominant and a female submissive who find each other in Victorian England. Subplots include more typical romance genre fare— redemption, revenge, the power of true luuuurve, blah blah blah. Mainly, this stuff was boring and by the last third of the novel, I starting skipping scenes.

Now, I don’t have a ton of experience with BDSM erotica; I’ve read...more

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Apr 18, 2010 Tina rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-reads, erotica

I toyed with not even acknowledging that I read this book so annoyed by it that I was. But I am finishing a 144 books for the year challenge, so I am including it.

I read Valdez's previous book Passion. And while I thought the sex scenes were badly (and often hilariously) written, I thought the story was great. I thought Passion and Mark's love for each other and their longing to be together was a nice counterweight to the execrable sex scenes. So it made that book, if not a hit out the ball park...more I toyed with not even acknowledging that I read this book so annoyed by it that I was. But I am finishing a 144 books for the year challenge, so I am including it.

I read Valdez's previous book Passion. And while I thought the sex scenes were badly (and often hilariously) written, I thought the story was great. I thought Passion and Mark's love for each other and their longing to be together was a nice counterweight to the execrable sex scenes. So it made that book, if not a hit out the ball park, at least a somewhat affecting romance novel.

Patience doesn't even have that going for it. The 'romance' between Matthew and Patience is paper thin. There is no tension in their relationship. There is no real obstacle or anything else that gives their romance any weight or heft. There is a largely convoluted plot about Matthew's ex-fiancee's father trying to ruin him. But this has no bearing on him pursuing a relationship with Passion. Take away the sex scenes (again, horribly written) and what do you have left? Nothing of any substance really.

Which brings me to the sex scenes. There are a lot of them and they are light BDSM. If I had a preference of what types of sex scenes to read BDSM scenes would be at the rock bottom. That said, I read some BDSM erotica where the scenes of submission weren't quite so.... degrading. It just strikes the wrong tone with me that in one memorable 'love' scene Matt should bring Patience to the point of climax over and over again but not let her get any relief. Until finally, after much torture, he condescendingly allows her to hump his boot (and she jumps at the choice which much joy while her clitoris ruptures). Seriously.

And even worse it is all couched in terms of religion. Each chapter is prefaced with a Song of Solomon quote. Matt tells Patience she is being remade into Eve, a woman who was created solely for the pleasure of her master, Adam (any guesses on who Adam is in this scenario? Anyone? Bueller?). And Valdez isn't picky about which religion she's using, sometimes Patience is Eve, sometimes she Persephone. And sometimes she's both even in the same sentence.

And it is made clear that his dick is some sort of holy object (or rather 'Organ of Dominon') that she is lucky to get communion from. Yes, fellating him is a form of taking communion, it is right there on the page. I have no words...

And the prose was so purple I kept expecting Prince to jump out and start serenading me as I was reading.

I'd give this negative stars if I could.(less)

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Apr 07, 2010 Jenny Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotica-romantica, super-steamy, romance-novels

I read "Passion" about 4 years ago, while searching for really good smutty romance. I immediately fell in love with it. After reading romance for almost 20 years, it's amazing to find a romance author that can surprise you, and surprise me Lisa Valdez did.

Yesterday, Lisa surprised me again.

I'm not a huge fan of the the dom/submissive genre. I can dip a toe in, but I get bored with the endless spankings, and the nipple clamps, and the 'shut up and do as I say'

I'd also read all the rumors of why...more

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Apr 06, 2010 Bookaholics rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have been awaiting the release of Lisa Valdez's second novel, "Patience" for so long! Ironically, I became a little impatient because I loved her debut novel, "Passion" so much. It contained all the elements of romance that I look for: strong/lovable characters, dialog that flows naturally, and sexy romantic elements. "Patience" delivers on all these elements and deserves all 5 stars. Both these books are among my all time favorite romance novels.

This story takes place immediately after Matthe...more I have been awaiting the release of Lisa Valdez's second novel, "Patience" for so long! Ironically, I became a little impatient because I loved her debut novel, "Passion" so much. It contained all the elements of romance that I look for: strong/lovable characters, dialog that flows naturally, and sexy romantic elements. "Patience" delivers on all these elements and deserves all 5 stars. Both these books are among my all time favorite romance novels.

This story takes place immediately after Matthew's illegitimacy is revealed to society and his fiancee leaves him for another man. This was revealed at the very end of "Passion". It has been sometime now that society has shunned him and the people who were supposed to be there to support him have left him. He only has his brother Mark and his sister-in-law. Matthew was always intrigued by the second Dare sister, Patience, but now he has the opportunity to explore those feelings. Every chapter reveals a new dimension of how Matthew's past has made him into a honorable man, despite his very dishonorable mother and disloyal fiancee whose father is on a mission to destroy him.

Matthew stays strong and fights for his company, and now, for the love of a truly strong woman who unquestioningly stands by him. I loved how perfectly suited for each other Matt and Patience are. I especially loved how they both played the cello and enjoyed the scene when they play together.

This story was not what I expected when I ran into the submission element. Normally, I am incredibly turned off by submission themes because I just don't get it. I can't describe what it is exactly that made this story different and made it work for me, but I actually found it kind of hot. I think it's because the submission is actually about learning to trust each other. Both Patience and Matthew have reason to be untrusting of people in general, but learn to trust each other. There is a lot of sexual tension throughout the book, but it isn't until 200+ pages into the story that Patience trusts him enough to gift him with her virginity.

I just love Valdez's writing. "Patience" is incredibly well written, believable, and romantic. I cannot wait till the next book about the last Dare sister, Primrose!!!

Reviewed by Sopia from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
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Jul 16, 2010 Tammy Walton Grant rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Tammy by: erotica fans, NOT straight historical romance fans

Shelves: erotica-romantica, couldn-t-finish, 2010-july, snarky-troll-lives-here, romance-historical

**PLOT SPOILERS AND EXPLICIT LANGUAGE WARNING**

So here is what I think is the set up for the story.

Matthew is devastated after his "bastardy" is exposed by his mother (nice lady, to be sure) who writes a letter to the London Times. The ton snubs him, friends desert him, his fiancee dumps him and his business interests are threatened with failure. Patience is his new sister-in-law. He yearns for her, but thinks he must regain his standing and set some wrongs to right before she can be his.

I'm no...more

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Nov 28, 2010 Beowulfwulf rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: alternative-love, erotica, dark-hero, historic-romance, nineteenth-century, bdsm, victorian

Comme les autres lectrices, je l'ai trouvé moins bon que "Passion". La raison principale : l'amour qui unit Matthew et Patience ne touche pas au sublime, contrairement à l'amour entre Mark et Passion. Je vois deux raisons pour cela. Tout d'abord, dans ce second roman, la relation entre les deux héros n'est pas contrariée (ou presque) par le monde extérieur, mais uniquement par leurs propres blessures et insécurités. Et la deuxième raison est qu'il s'agit d'une relation de Domination/soumission,...more Comme les autres lectrices, je l'ai trouvé moins bon que "Passion". La raison principale : l'amour qui unit Matthew et Patience ne touche pas au sublime, contrairement à l'amour entre Mark et Passion. Je vois deux raisons pour cela. Tout d'abord, dans ce second roman, la relation entre les deux héros n'est pas contrariée (ou presque) par le monde extérieur, mais uniquement par leurs propres blessures et insécurités. Et la deuxième raison est qu'il s'agit d'une relation de Domination/soumission, ce qui semble avoir gêné certaines lectrices (en particulier dans les reviews américaines, nettement moins bonnes que pour "Passion"). Lisa Valdez, avec "Patience", multiplie les difficultés : elle dépeint une relation BDSM, et le fait même très bien, mais en la transposant au XIXe siècle elle ne peut pas se reposer sur les standards du genre. Les relations de type Domination/soumission (D/s) ont sans doute toujours existé et de nombreuses personnes les vivent au quotidien sans forcément le savoir ou mettre un nom sur les choses. Au XXe siècle, ces relations et les pratiques qu'elles induisent ont enfin reçu des noms, des codes et des étiquettes qui les rendent plus visibles et, souvent, plus compréhensibles. La démarche de Lisa Valdez était donc courageuse et complexe, puisque l'époque à laquelle se situe l'intrigue la privait de ces codes. Elle a tout de même réussi à introduire la notion de "safeword", ce qui est une très bonne chose. On ne peut sans doute pas apprécier l'amour entre Matthew et Patience sans connaître les bases
d'une relation D/s et, dans les commentaires que j'ai pu lire en France ou aux USA, bien souvent les critiques viennent de là. La relation D/s exige la plus parfaite communication entre le dominant et sa soumise, car ce sont des pratiques parfois dangereuses, et parce que le dominant doit tout connaître de sa soumise pour mieux la satisfaire, mais aussi pousser ses limites en permanence. La soumise doit tout connaître de son dominant pour lui accorder une confiance absolue. Après tout, elle lui confie sa sécurité, en plus du reste ! Il n'est donc pas aberrant que Matthew exige de Patience qu'elle ne lui cache rien de ses pensées, rien de ses émotions, rien de ses larmes... Et que ces mêmes larmes l'excitent lui au plus haut point, car elles sont la preuve qu'elle se met à nu devant lui, et donc embrasse un peu plus chaque fois sa condition de soumise. Les larmes de sa soumise (colère, chagrin, plaisir, frustration) sont la preuve qu'elle lui fait confiance et lui appartient. Elles sont une récompense pour lui. Il est normal que Patience pleure autant, car un tel degré d'abandon de soi à un autre être humain laisse les émotions à vif, ce pour quoi l'héroïne ici n'était pas préparée, vu son passé. Elle qui contrôlait tous les aspects de sa vie depuis son plus jeune âge doit maintenant abandonner ce contrôle à Matthew, son dominant. Ce n'est pas facile du tout ! En ce qui concerne les pratiques sexuelles dépeintes dans le roman, la fellation est sans doute la caresse la plus révélatrice de la soumission de Patience, car elle donne du plaisir à son dominant et, par cet acte, embrasse encore davantage sa soumission... et trouve son propre plaisir. La fessée est le degré de base de la punition. Dans une relation D/s, il y a aussi une forte notion de discipline, nécessaire pour briser les défenses naturelles (mais handicapantes dans ce genre de relation) de la soumise. Et Patience aime sa punition, car elle sait que le dominant la lui administre non pour son plaisir à lui, mais pour son bien-être à elle. D'ailleurs, Matthew n'est pas un sadique : il ne la blesse pas, ne provoque pas de douleur inutile car il a compris que sa chérie n'est pas masochiste, et le plaisir qu'il tire de la punition vient du fait qu'il sait qu'elle aide Patience à se trouver. Le dominant est là pour guider la soumise sur le chemin de la soumission : il a le rôle le plus difficile, car il doit constamment garder le contrôle. J'ai trouvé que Lisa Valdez avait fait un travail remarquable dans la mise en place de cette relation. Elle a manifestement beaucoup réfléchi aux arcanes du BDSM. Matthew est un Dom sûr de lui et protecteur, Patience une soumise récalcitrante, ce qui est normal car elle est novice. Leurs échanges sont plausibles et l'amour est réel : les choix que fait Matthew à la fin du roman comptent parmi les plus belles preuves d'amour qu'il m'ait été donné de lire depuis longtemps. Si vous n'avez jamais lu de romans autour du BDSM avant, ne commencez pas par celui-là, car les codes sont implicites (à cause de l'époque où se situe l'action). Si le sujet vous intéresse, commencez plutôt par les romans de Cherise Sinclair (en particulier la série 'Masters of the Shadowland'). Cette auteur connaît très bien le milieu BDSM et explique parfaitement les codes et principes de la relation D/s (mais ses romans se déroulent au XXIe siècle, c'est plus facile). Surtout, ne laissez pas cet aspect déroutant de la relation entre Matthew et Patience vous cacher la vérité : ces deux-là s'aiment passionnément et ont beaucoup de respect l'un pour l'autre. Ils se sont juste embarqués dans une aventure un peu plus... exotique et complexe que l'ordinaire.(less)

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Feb 13, 2011 ALPHAreader rated it 2 of 5 stars

Matthew Morgan Hawkmore has just been ousted as the bastard son of his mother’s gardener. He has lost his title, his fiancée and his pride. Meanwhile, his elder brother Mark is living in wedded bliss to the woman of his dreams. The one plus to Mark marrying Passion Dare is that Matthew is now family to her delectable little sister, Patience. Patience of the fiery red hair, sensual mouth and kind nature. Now that they are related through their siblings, it’s impossible for Matthew to ignore his l...more Matthew Morgan Hawkmore has just been ousted as the bastard son of his mother’s gardener. He has lost his title, his fiancée and his pride. Meanwhile, his elder brother Mark is living in wedded bliss to the woman of his dreams. The one plus to Mark marrying Passion Dare is that Matthew is now family to her delectable little sister, Patience. Patience of the fiery red hair, sensual mouth and kind nature. Now that they are related through their siblings, it’s impossible for Matthew to ignore his lust for Patience . . . with her he can explore his dominant side, and introduce her to the bliss of submission.

But Matthew still lives in ton society and is trying to claw his way out of the social faux pas his bastardry has created for him. He needs to navigate a social landmine that could see him lose his business and his standing in society, especially if his ex- fiancée’s father has anything to say about it . . .

‘Patience’ is the second book in Lisa Valdez’s ‘Passion Quartet’ series. I was warned about this follow-up being a little let-down from the outstandingly luscious ‘Passion’. I thought a lot of fan ire surrounded the fact that ‘Passion’ came out in 2005, while ‘Patience’ was only released last year . . . but having now read this second instalment, I can see that it was more than just a frustratingly long interim that displeased fans.

Passion and Matthew have a similar relationship-start to Mark and Passion in that it is quickly ignited. Mark and Passion met at London’s Crystal Palace exhibit. Matthew and Patience meet because of their sibling’s betrothal – and it’s a temptation neither of them can ignore. Living in close quarters and meeting at family events, Matthew succumbs to his lust and seduces Patience. And with her, Matthew unleashes his dominant side and ignites Patience’s desire for submission.

BDSM in the 1800’s is a little saucy, but the attraction is mostly sexual rather than charismatic. Patience and Matthew connect on a sexual-level, but their affection for one another feels rushed and artificial. Matthew decides very quickly that he is going to marry Patience; and honestly it was so rushed I felt reader whip-lash. Although Valdez throws in many declarations of love between the two, I still wasn’t buying it. In fact, I found such declarations overtly syrupy and I couldn’t help but giggle at their outlandishness;

The gold in his hair gleamed in the sunlight. “I will never leave you. You and I are forever.”
His words made her eyes sting even more. Her tears fell.
“What if there is no earthly forever, Matthew? What if forever only exists in heaven and fairy tales?” She drew a shuddering breath. “What if our forever, isn’t really forever?”
Matthew’s dark eyes caressed her. “Love is eternal, Patience.”

One of the great things about ‘Passion’ was the twisted concurrent plotlines that crashed together into a brilliant finale. While also writing about Mark and Passion’s meeting and falling in love, Valdez included a storyline about Mark being blackmailed into marriage with another woman . . . it heightened everything, the foreboding was nail-biting and the conclusion all the sweeter. But it feels like Valdez missed a few potential plot twists in ‘Patience’.

There is a small point of contention concerning Matthew’s suffering business, thanks to his illegitimacy. But to be honest, the business side of things was boring and clerical. Things could have picked up when Matthew’s ex-fiancée, Rosalind, showed interest in rekindling their relationship. Matthew could have been much more duplicitous in his dealings with Rosalind, and Valdez really could have heightened tension for readers by tempting Matthew to ruin Rosalind in a bout of revenge (but at what price to Patience?). I honestly thought that was where the storyline was going – towards a love triangle between Matthew/Rosalind/Patience. Sadly, no. Where Valdez wrote an intensely twisted plot in ‘Passion’, she misses the mark with ‘Patience’.

Valdez fails to deliver a satisfying follow-up to her brilliant ‘Passion’. The romance between Matthew and Patience is mostly compiled of good sex, making their relationship somewhat hollow. The BDSM storyline is titillating, but repetitive ‘tie-me-up-tie-me-down’ sex scenes, in the absence of a more interesting plot, means ‘Patience’ is a lukewarm historical romance. And it’s a real shame because ‘Passion’ was such an outstanding first-outing from Valdez. Hopefully things pick back up with third book ‘Primrose’.
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Apr 08, 2011 Manuela rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: storico

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Questo è un romanzo che ha suscitato in me molti, forse troppi sentimenti contrastanti.
L'inizio è completamente spiazzante: se ne Il mio nome è Passion la passione selvaggia ed improvvisa tra i due protagonisti, seppur con modalità non convenzionali, era comunque spontanea e reale, in questo romanzo l'avvicinamento tra Matt e Patience sembra quasi costruito freddamente, senza alcun avvicinamento graduale.
E lo stesso vale per le inclinazioni sessuali di Matt, di cui non c'è nessuna anticipazione...more

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Apr 05, 2010 Kathleen rated it 3 of 5 stars

OK, I had a hard time deciding what to rate this book, that's why it took me so long to write this review. I have just recently reread Passion and LOVED it very much even the second time around. I was wanting to get my hands on Patience badly after waiting 5 years for the book. Those of you who know my tastes in books know that I like my books steamy hot. I'd rather read romantica than erotica though.

I must say that I don't care too much for submission/ domination and pain for pleasure type of...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Lord Rose rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: era-victorian, genre-historical-romance, romance

My problems with this book:

1. I generally avoid BDSM books, but I wasn't quite expecting it in a historical.

2. I like my heroines to be assertive, and I have definite problems with anything so blatantly male-dominant/female-subordinate. I don't feel at all comfortable with heroes who tell their heroines to be obedient and submissive in all things because it will bring the hero pleasure, therefore giving pleasure to the heroine. That sounds right on the way to being an abusive relationship.

3. I'm...more

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Nov 04, 2011 Isabel LpzR rated it 3 of 5 stars

I will start by saying that I love more the previous book Passion . To both of them I gave 3 stars because although Passion was my favorite, each one has a fantastic story. This author is a great revelation for me, OMG both books have such an amazing voice, each heroine had a very credible background for their actions. Although it was weird for me all the crying during sex,it was also very justified and symbolic, because this girls had to break in order to open themselves to something wonderful....more

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Apr 16, 2013 Selin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: school-time-2012-13

Kitabi çok sevdim. Bu sefer tüm bu anlatılan köleli efendili ilişkilere çok farklı bir açıdan çok daha derinlemesine incelemiş yazar ve bence iyi iş başarmış. Duygular çok net ve hissedilebilirdi lakin ben Matt'in çok hızlı bir an da aşık olduğunu düşüyorum...
Kitap ne tam olarak Romance di ne tam olarak Dramdı ne erotikti ne de tam olarak psikolojik bir kitaptı ama yazar her birinin de okuyucusunun hoşuna gidebilecek bir eser koyduğunu düşünüyorum ortaya.
Bunun dışında Döneminde Valdez için çok a...more

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Aug 28, 2011 Crazy4more rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars...only bc I don't care for sub/dom part of Patience&Matt. Otherwise, it would have been easily a 4 stars for me.

How I love the brother, Matthew, and his brewing turmoils & pain after finding out he's the illigitimate born of a prestigious line of earlhood. Unlike his half-brother, Mark, he's raised bounded within the love of his mother, a web of lies, deceit, unhonorable and hatred. Love so passionately thus cut so deeply had forced Patience & Matt built walls of defense pr...more

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title link	preview: Patience
avg rating	preview: Patience Goodreads rating: 3.30 (917 ratings)
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Patience (Passion Quartet #2)

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