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Desire
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From the windswept, craggy coast of a remote British Isle comes the thrilling tale of a daring lady and a dangerous knight... bound by the tempests of fate and the dawning of Desire.
Upon her father's death, beautiful, headstrong Lady Clare knew that she must wed, for the protection of the Isle of Desire now fell to her. Yet when her guardian's choice of prospective husban ...more
Upon her father's death, beautiful, headstrong Lady Clare knew that she must wed, for the protection of the Isle of Desire now fell to her. Yet when her guardian's choice of prospective husban ...more
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Mass Market Paperback, 373 pages
Published
December 1993
by Bantam Books
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Start your review of Desire
Ahhhh good old Amanda Quick!
Sometimes you read a few pretty bad books, trying to get to know a few new writers, get used to their styles, and you realize: man I am tired. I want a good old-fashioned romance story where the heros, while dark nad brooding, know their responsibilities and the heroins, while strong-willed and sometimes foolishly romantic, are gentle and loving. I don't know whether it is a trend in romance novels, but nowadays readers seem to love a hellcat or a heroin, warrior pri ...more
Sometimes you read a few pretty bad books, trying to get to know a few new writers, get used to their styles, and you realize: man I am tired. I want a good old-fashioned romance story where the heros, while dark nad brooding, know their responsibilities and the heroins, while strong-willed and sometimes foolishly romantic, are gentle and loving. I don't know whether it is a trend in romance novels, but nowadays readers seem to love a hellcat or a heroin, warrior pri ...more
This was a really good medieval romance. I wonder why there are not that many of these out there anymore? When I was growing up I always saw a romance cover with a heroine (bosoms heaving) being clutched by a man with a sword with a castle in the background.
Ah well.
"Desire" has Lady Clare of the Isle of Desire being forced to wed after her father's death. Her guardian suggest that she marry Sir Gareth of Wyckmere or her closet neighbor, Sir Nicholas of Seaborn. Due to Lady Clare being abducted b ...more
Ah well.
"Desire" has Lady Clare of the Isle of Desire being forced to wed after her father's death. Her guardian suggest that she marry Sir Gareth of Wyckmere or her closet neighbor, Sir Nicholas of Seaborn. Due to Lady Clare being abducted b ...more
As an avid fan of the author, I was extremely tempted to giving this book 4 stars purely out of loyalty. But alas, I couldn't find it in my heart to overlook its flaws. Clare was simply too annoying for me, especially with all her "By Saint Hermione's (insert body part here)." GOD. When I reached half of the book, I've read so much about Saint Hermione's body parts that I simply wanted to bang my head on the wall.
Another thing was the pacing. Unlike her other novels (e.g. Ravished, Dangerous et ...more
Another thing was the pacing. Unlike her other novels (e.g. Ravished, Dangerous et ...more
Lady Clare's father died and her guardian is Thurston of Landry. She knows she must marry and so requests a man with certain qualities. Instead she is sent Sir Gareth of Wyckmere also known as Hellhound of Wyckmere. Sir Gareth is the bastard son of Thurston of Landry and the opportunity to have his own land appeals to him. He isn't going to let a few paltry qualities keep him from it.
Fun and clever at times. I started reading this and realized I had already read it and for whatever reason my rat ...more
Fun and clever at times. I started reading this and realized I had already read it and for whatever reason my rat ...more
Dec 22, 2013
Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!}
marked it as did-not-finish
DNF on page 74. DNF because this romance is dead to me. will not be resuscitated.
Cause of Death: Throwing against the wall. Blunt force trauma.
It feels like so many authors try to duplicate Scarlett/Rhett from Gone with the Wind but it is a miss for me. I think because they force it, and make the hero an asshole with no charming wit. Also it wasn't instalove/instalust between Scarlett and Rhett. Just my thoughts.
I mean when you wish the hero will either be poisoned or the heroine become a nun ...more
Cause of Death: Throwing against the wall. Blunt force trauma.
It feels like so many authors try to duplicate Scarlett/Rhett from Gone with the Wind but it is a miss for me. I think because they force it, and make the hero an asshole with no charming wit. Also it wasn't instalove/instalust between Scarlett and Rhett. Just my thoughts.
I mean when you wish the hero will either be poisoned or the heroine become a nun ...more
"Desire" is the story of Lady Clare and Knight Gareth.
Basically, Lady Clare is the leader of her keep, and is in desperate need of a husband since her father's death. This is to protect herself from lecherous men, like their neighbor Lord Sebastian. She writes a missive to the Thurston of Landry, asking for his help to choose an ideal husband with certain qualities.
What the latter does instead is choose his bastard son and send him to Lady Clare!
Gareth is opposite of what Clare wants- but soon t ...more
Basically, Lady Clare is the leader of her keep, and is in desperate need of a husband since her father's death. This is to protect herself from lecherous men, like their neighbor Lord Sebastian. She writes a missive to the Thurston of Landry, asking for his help to choose an ideal husband with certain qualities.
What the latter does instead is choose his bastard son and send him to Lady Clare!
Gareth is opposite of what Clare wants- but soon t ...more
I have a confession: I am predisposed to like heroes named Gareth. Ever since Julia Quinn's Gareth St. Clair, I have been enamored of the name and since then, other favorite authors have also done the name justice. Ergo, if a hero is named Gareth, I'm already smiling when I begin reading.
While this book had many problems, Gareth was not one of them. He was an even tempered knight, with a strong code of honor, a healthy sense of the absurd, and the largest well of patience I've ever encountered i ...more
While this book had many problems, Gareth was not one of them. He was an even tempered knight, with a strong code of honor, a healthy sense of the absurd, and the largest well of patience I've ever encountered i ...more
4/23/2009: My second favorite Jayne-Ann-Krentz-writing-as-Amanda-Quick book, I enjoy reading it most years. When I got up this morning to find it snowing on Easter in St. Louis, I grabbed Desire and spent the day cozily visiting with Clare and Sir Gareth. Note that both Desire and Mystique (my two favorites) are set in earlier times than the remaining Amanda Quicks. I'm not sure why I like these better. Usually I don't care for this period in history because it is so violent and there is no appr
...more
Nov 09, 2008
Adrianna
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Adrianna by:
Saw on a bookshelf in the library
This is my favorite novel written by Amanda Quick. Clare, the heroine, creates perfume. She marries Gareth, the Hellhound of Wyckmere, and the two get caught up in an evil plot to steal an alchemist's book. One aspect that brings this tale to life is the setting, the isle of desire. It's a beautiful place and the descriptions leave me wondering if Clare and Gareth live in the garden of Eden. My favorite part of the book, though, is Clare's strong, independent nature. Quick is able to create a he
...more
I didn't realize this was more medieval rather than regency. All the other Quick's I'd read with this similar cover design were from regency England (think Pride and Prejudice era), so I was surprised by all the knights and "my ladies" in this one. It isn't my favorite historical romance time period, and this one did nothing to change my mind. I didn't hate it, and there were a few funny moments. The heroine, Clare, annoyed me so much, and while I liked the hero, Gareth, better, it wasn't enough
...more
Clare, lady of the Isle of Desire, has no other choice but wed. What little choice she does have, will be spent on choosing the right husband, following a specific "recipe". All she needs are suitable candidates; they must not be big, they must be kind and have a pleasant disposition, and they must read.
Her liege lord sends her only two possible candidates. Sir Nicholas is out of the question, since he's an idiot, while Sir Gareth, the knight they call the Hellhound of Wyckmere, will not do eith ...more
Her liege lord sends her only two possible candidates. Sir Nicholas is out of the question, since he's an idiot, while Sir Gareth, the knight they call the Hellhound of Wyckmere, will not do eith ...more
My mom bought me this one for Christmas and I'm very excited to read it because it's not my usual genre.
--------------------------------------------
There were so many things that bothered me, but I'll start with the one I found most important. There was little plot in this, all the 'real' action happened near the end of the novel and it all seemed rather rushed and all over the place. The author spent more than a half of the book with the arguments between the two characters. There were some w ...more
--------------------------------------------
There were so many things that bothered me, but I'll start with the one I found most important. There was little plot in this, all the 'real' action happened near the end of the novel and it all seemed rather rushed and all over the place. The author spent more than a half of the book with the arguments between the two characters. There were some w ...more
That was a fun, light and fairly low-angst medieval romance by a new-to-me author. The ending was kinda abrupt and I wish there was an epilogue. However, the book was still enjoyable. Will definitely read more books from this author.
Re-read this and omg the lady is annoying! Like she totally does not deserve the H. I could not finish the book in this re-read..
I'm sorry to say that I have read better books by Amanda Quick than this one. My complains are based dolely upon the characters nothing else, the writing, the mystery and the thrill of the events were as expected of Amanda Quick.
For one I really didn't like Lady Clarre, she kept on rejecting Gareth since the beginning, and she didn't even have a sound reason for that. Plus she kept on saying she hates over-bearing brutes , but to me she was the one who seemed over-bearing, opinionated, fast-temp ...more
For one I really didn't like Lady Clarre, she kept on rejecting Gareth since the beginning, and she didn't even have a sound reason for that. Plus she kept on saying she hates over-bearing brutes , but to me she was the one who seemed over-bearing, opinionated, fast-temp ...more
Apr 28, 2013
Cruth
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical,
removed-review-from-zon
"By Saint Hermione's elbow, my lord. You call this kissing?"
Plot:
Gareth was ready to give up the fighting and put down roots. Clare wasn't sure he was the one for her. But was willing to do her duty. Eventually.
Comments:
- Historical Romance - set in the time of Henry II (1133-89)
- 392 pages, 5492 kindle locations.
- m/f - reasonably frequent, reasonably explicit.
- Includes references to an anchorite, Beatrice. Anchorites were a type of religious hermit who tended to live in an anchorhold, a small ...more
Plot:
Gareth was ready to give up the fighting and put down roots. Clare wasn't sure he was the one for her. But was willing to do her duty. Eventually.
Comments:
- Historical Romance - set in the time of Henry II (1133-89)
- 392 pages, 5492 kindle locations.
- m/f - reasonably frequent, reasonably explicit.
- Includes references to an anchorite, Beatrice. Anchorites were a type of religious hermit who tended to live in an anchorhold, a small ...more
I had not read this one in a very long time when it went on sale for a very low price, so I picked it up. Amanda Quick (aka JAYNE ANN KRENTZ) was an autobuy author for me back in the day or B.KA (before Kristen Ashley). I have read all of the early Amanda Quick books and many are favorites and re-reads (Mistress, Dangerous, Ravished, Scandal, etc.) I have held on to my paperback collection so long, that I don't know if I can part with them even if I collected my favorites on my Kindle.
Desire is ...more
Desire is ...more
Oct 03, 2010
Vannessa Anderson
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
romance-romance-suspense
Desire was a well-written romance novel. Desire is Amanda Quick at her best! Desire is a great example of an author allowing the characters to write their stories. What I appreciated was Quick making the female character strong and independent, which is rarely seen in romance novels.
With mother, father and brother dead and no other relatives, Lady Clare was left to run her father’s kingdom the Isle of Desire. Sir Gareth of Wyckmere, aka the Hellhound of Wyckmere, born a bastard but raised in hi ...more
With mother, father and brother dead and no other relatives, Lady Clare was left to run her father’s kingdom the Isle of Desire. Sir Gareth of Wyckmere, aka the Hellhound of Wyckmere, born a bastard but raised in hi ...more
Lady Clare knows that after her father's death, she's going to be married off. She also knows that she doesn't want to marry some lunkhead knight. She wants a gentle poet. But her liege lord only sends two men. One who kidnapped and tried to rape her to force her into marriage and the other is his bastard son, Sir Gareth of Wyckmore, also known as the Hellhound. She knows that the latter is not a good guy and at least the Hellhound can read. Plus, he seems more intelligent than the knights she's
...more
A very entertaining read.
Hilarious at times, this book also had touching moments and some actions, but overall it had a lighthearted atmosphere.
Two people with very different but very similar personalities who complement each other, I just loved their battle of wit. Their interaction, conversations and arguments, flowed nicely. Although there were times when Clare just didn't know when to shut up, but Gareth's way of dealing with her was endearing.
The side characters were also interesting. The ...more
Hilarious at times, this book also had touching moments and some actions, but overall it had a lighthearted atmosphere.
Two people with very different but very similar personalities who complement each other, I just loved their battle of wit. Their interaction, conversations and arguments, flowed nicely. Although there were times when Clare just didn't know when to shut up, but Gareth's way of dealing with her was endearing.
The side characters were also interesting. The ...more
A familiar historical romance formula in which the female character is forced to marry to save her lands. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it. It had a bit of a taming of the shrew feel to it, one of my favorite shakespeare stories (along with much ado about nothing).
All in all an enjoyable read.
All in all an enjoyable read.
I don't think I've read this Amanda Quick book before. It's medieval, not regency, which is different. Generally I'm not all that fond of knights and jousting and such, but this book doesn't have any of that.
I think I've finally figured out why I like Quick's books, and it has to do with the strong heroines. Here we have Clare who has been in charge of a profitable manor for years, because both her father and brother were not interested in the business aspects nor in the running of the place. S ...more
I think I've finally figured out why I like Quick's books, and it has to do with the strong heroines. Here we have Clare who has been in charge of a profitable manor for years, because both her father and brother were not interested in the business aspects nor in the running of the place. S ...more
Clare has written to her liege Lord to tell him her father is dead and that she realizes she must marry. She lives on an island that grows flowers and herbs and provides a very good income for her, everyone who lives on the island and of course her liege Lord. Clare has been managing things for quite some time and she considers herself the Boss. She does not really want to marry, but in order to protect the island, she knows she will have to accept a husband.
She has a recipe for a husband just ...more
She has a recipe for a husband just ...more
Summary
The back of the book pretty much covers it. After the death of her father and an attempted kidnapping by a neighbor attempting to force marriage, Clare decides to surrender to the inevitable and write her guardian (at least I think that's who Thurston was supposed to be to her - he had some sort of control over her island even though it was largely considered to be hers and I'm not familiar enough with medieval hierarchies to remember) that she is ready to take a husband. Her guardian com ...more
The back of the book pretty much covers it. After the death of her father and an attempted kidnapping by a neighbor attempting to force marriage, Clare decides to surrender to the inevitable and write her guardian (at least I think that's who Thurston was supposed to be to her - he had some sort of control over her island even though it was largely considered to be hers and I'm not familiar enough with medieval hierarchies to remember) that she is ready to take a husband. Her guardian com ...more
Desire
3.5 Stars
One of Quick's rare romances set in medieval times, which comes across as a more politically correct version of Kathleen E. Woodwiss's The Wolf and the Dove.
Although the romance is entertaining and the minor suspense plot has its moments, the characterization and dialogue are too anachronistic to be believable. To begin with, the idea that Lady Clare would be allowed a say in choosing her husband is completely unrealistic as the women of the time were considered nothing more than ...more
3.5 Stars
One of Quick's rare romances set in medieval times, which comes across as a more politically correct version of Kathleen E. Woodwiss's The Wolf and the Dove.
Although the romance is entertaining and the minor suspense plot has its moments, the characterization and dialogue are too anachronistic to be believable. To begin with, the idea that Lady Clare would be allowed a say in choosing her husband is completely unrealistic as the women of the time were considered nothing more than ...more
Dec 13, 2009
namericanwordcat
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
glasses,
historical-romance,
5-star-romance,
married,
medieval,
swords,
uncommon-setting,
mystery,
flowers,
knight
Desire is one of Amanda Quick's less talked about romances. Its set in the medieval period which is very much unlike most of her other books. I so wish she would set more books in this period.
Now, this is not a overly serious medieval romance where you are going to feel steep in the history of the era and comfortable discussing nuances of history at dinner parties but it is a great book for the every day live of the the period.
I love the unusual setting of a little British Isle where flowers a ...more
Now, this is not a overly serious medieval romance where you are going to feel steep in the history of the era and comfortable discussing nuances of history at dinner parties but it is a great book for the every day live of the the period.
I love the unusual setting of a little British Isle where flowers a ...more
This is one of my first books of Amanda Quick’s I’ve read. It involves an elder bastard son and a strong willed heiress. Garath has had to become a knight because his lordly father expected it. He becomes known as the Hellhound by all. Clare, on the other hand, has always had control of the Isle of Desire and the perfumes she made. When she sees that she must marry for her own protection, her guardian is Garath’s father. Garath is sent as a candidate for the marriage. It was funny to see them am
...more
I liked this book so much when I rented it from the library about 8 years ago, I was thrilled to find a paperback version for 50 cents.
I guess I've changed. The story is still cute. Lady Johanna has recently lost her father and brother. She lives on the Isle of Desire, and it needs protection, she must marry. Enter Gareth. He comes in, and is clever and sexy and this once independent young woman suddenly does whatever he wants.
Another thing that sort of annoyed me was her use of "Saint Hermione ...more
I guess I've changed. The story is still cute. Lady Johanna has recently lost her father and brother. She lives on the Isle of Desire, and it needs protection, she must marry. Enter Gareth. He comes in, and is clever and sexy and this once independent young woman suddenly does whatever he wants.
Another thing that sort of annoyed me was her use of "Saint Hermione ...more
A very smooth Medieval romance.
Lady Clare, 23, officially mistress of the Isle of Desire since her father passed away, but in actuality since she was 12, needs to get married. It is the only way to take care of her people and the island.
Sir Gareth of Wyckmere, the Hellhound, a landless knight, bastard son of Lord Thurston, is sent by his father to marry her.
Two people used to being in control of themselves and all their retainers are going to clash, and they do. Then there is the murder of the r ...more
Lady Clare, 23, officially mistress of the Isle of Desire since her father passed away, but in actuality since she was 12, needs to get married. It is the only way to take care of her people and the island.
Sir Gareth of Wyckmere, the Hellhound, a landless knight, bastard son of Lord Thurston, is sent by his father to marry her.
Two people used to being in control of themselves and all their retainers are going to clash, and they do. Then there is the murder of the r ...more
This was a nice and decent historical romance.
I did not absolutely love it but it wasn't bad either.
I had a nice time reading it.
The characters were easy going and had no melodrama as such tagging along.
They were straightforward and pretty forthcoming about things.
The plot was decent too.
No suspense but still entertaining.
A decent job. ...more
I did not absolutely love it but it wasn't bad either.
I had a nice time reading it.
The characters were easy going and had no melodrama as such tagging along.
They were straightforward and pretty forthcoming about things.
The plot was decent too.
No suspense but still entertaining.
A decent job. ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romance Novel Boo...: SOLVED - the heroine makes soap | 7 | 55 | Sep 16, 2016 02:32AM | |
| Western and Medie...: July 2014 - BOM: Desire, by Amanda Quick | 16 | 21 | Jul 18, 2014 11:43AM | |
| Best scene! | 12 | 62 | Jan 22, 2013 02:08PM | |
| Jayne Ann Krentz ...: Desire (1993) | 1 | 1 | Sep 27, 2012 11:57AM |
Readers also enjoyed
Pseudonym of Jayne Ann Krentz
The author of over 40 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense, often with a psychic and paranormal twist, in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the Uni ...more
The author of over 40 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense, often with a psychic and paranormal twist, in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the Uni ...more
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“(Gareth)
"I am not certain what you hoped to accomplish, madam, but one thing is clear. No one who views this sheet will believe for one moment that I made love to a virgin last night."
(Clare)
"And just what will they think, sir?"
(Gareth)
"That I sacrificed one.”
—
2 likes
"I am not certain what you hoped to accomplish, madam, but one thing is clear. No one who views this sheet will believe for one moment that I made love to a virgin last night."
(Clare)
"And just what will they think, sir?"
(Gareth)
"That I sacrificed one.”
“I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I have seen you amused.”
“You exaggerate.”
“Nay, my memory is clear because on each occasion you came within a hair’s breadth of getting us both killed.”
—
1 likes
More quotes…
“You exaggerate.”
“Nay, my memory is clear because on each occasion you came within a hair’s breadth of getting us both killed.”
