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Savage Lagonda #2
Savage Splendor
QUEEN OF LOVE
As the wife of Tajarez, the mighty King of the Lagonda tribe, beautiful Mara Golden was respected and admired. But was she truly happy? By day she questioned her decision to remain in her husband's world. By night, when Tajarez crushed her in his strong, muscular arms, taking her body to the highest peaks of rapture, she knew she could never live without him, she could never let him go...
KING OF PASSION
It was with great trepidation that Tajarez allowed Mara a brief visit with her people. What if she decided that she didn't truly love him? What if she never returned? Anxiously he awaited her homecoming, longing to caress her soft creamy flesh again. But fate had other plans for the lovers when Mara disappeared without a trace! Nothing would stop him from finding his beloved -- nothing could keep them from reuniting in searing savage splendor.
As the wife of Tajarez, the mighty King of the Lagonda tribe, beautiful Mara Golden was respected and admired. But was she truly happy? By day she questioned her decision to remain in her husband's world. By night, when Tajarez crushed her in his strong, muscular arms, taking her body to the highest peaks of rapture, she knew she could never live without him, she could never let him go...
KING OF PASSION
It was with great trepidation that Tajarez allowed Mara a brief visit with her people. What if she decided that she didn't truly love him? What if she never returned? Anxiously he awaited her homecoming, longing to caress her soft creamy flesh again. But fate had other plans for the lovers when Mara disappeared without a trace! Nothing would stop him from finding his beloved -- nothing could keep them from reuniting in searing savage splendor.
473 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1983
About the author
Constance O'Banyon
54 books198 followersEvelyn Gee was born on 1939 in Texas, USA. She makes her home in San Antonio with her husband, Jim and their son, Jason.
She signed her novels as Constance O'Banyon. She also wrote as Micah Leigh with Texan writer Emma Merritt. Her books range from historical to contemporary and include several novellas. Many of her books have been published in trade paperback.Among her many awards, she is the recipient of the 1996 Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. There are eight million copies of her books in print.
She says: "I have always loved history, and I loved storytelling — it was only natural that I would one day put them both together. I must have lived in another life and time, because when I write, I can almost feel I was there. My favorite part of writing is the research. Whenever possible, I will go to the place I am writing about to walk the land and smell the air."
https://www.facebook.com/Constanceobanyon/
She signed her novels as Constance O'Banyon. She also wrote as Micah Leigh with Texan writer Emma Merritt. Her books range from historical to contemporary and include several novellas. Many of her books have been published in trade paperback.Among her many awards, she is the recipient of the 1996 Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. There are eight million copies of her books in print.
She says: "I have always loved history, and I loved storytelling — it was only natural that I would one day put them both together. I must have lived in another life and time, because when I write, I can almost feel I was there. My favorite part of writing is the research. Whenever possible, I will go to the place I am writing about to walk the land and smell the air."
https://www.facebook.com/Constanceobanyon/
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 15, 2014
Not as Good as "Savage Desire", but Good Nonetheless.
"Savage Splendor" by Constance O'Banyon is the sequel to "Savage Desire" and continues the story from the first book about Mara Golden and her husband Tajarez, the now King of a tribe of Indians known as the Lagonda.
The Story: The book begins a year or so after the first book ended. Mara and Tajarez are happily married and in love and have two children, a son and a daughter. In "Savage Desire", Tajarez made a promise to Mara's eldest brother David, that when a son was born from his and Mara's marriage, that she would be able to come and visit David. (Mara's other brother, Jeffery, is married to Tajarez' cousin, Sasha. They, along with Mara and Tajarez, live in the Seven Cities of Gold, a mystical place where whites are not usually allowed to enter.) When Mara and her royal guards make the trip to see David and his wife, Mara makes a risky, foolish and unfortunately deadly decision; to try to cross a flood-swollen river. This decision costs several of Mara's guards their lives, and forces the guards to rescue Mara. Unfortunately, two white trappers, Jake and Zeke Caulfield, come along thinking that Mara is being attacked or kidnapped by her Indian guards. The guards are shot by the trappers, and Mara disassociates herself mentally from what she believes is their murder. (The guards are not killed, just seriously wounded.)
Zeke and Jake take Mara in, believing that they've done the right thing, and because Mara is in a state of not remembering anything, she goes willingly with them. She's treated well by the trappers, and she comes to view them as family since she can't remember her own identity or past. During her time with the trappers, Mara discovers she is pregnant. At first, she's highly uncomfortable with having the child, thinking that the baby is a product of rape; it's not. The baby is a product of the love she and Tajarez feel for each other.
The guards eventually make their way back to Tajarez, and he and Jeffery begin a massive search to find her, which is successful. The problem is that Mara still doesn't have her memory back. Tajarez and Jeffery are told by a Doctor not to tell Mara anything about her real life, for fear that this would cause her pain. Unfortunately, this decision backfires big time, as Mara, Tajarez and Jeffery spend the third quarter of the book hurting each other mentally, and in the case of Tajarez, physically; he takes Mara brutally in one scene. (It very well could be called rape.) In Mara's case, her hurting her husband and brother is clearly unintentional. Tajarez, on the other hand, doesn't always show the kind of sensitivity and understanding that Mara needs, and sometimes his actions come across as intentionally trying to hurt Mara because she is hurting him. Since this is a romance novel, you know that eventually, Mara regains her memory and she and Tajarez continue their happily ever after.
In addition to Tajarez' behavior toward Mara when she returns to him, another issue I have with this book is that there is really nothing new about these characters. One of the great joys I have in reading books is getting to know the characters, and with this sequel featuring virtually the same core group of people, there is no discovery for me.
Sex: One semi hot sex scene, and a few others. None of Ms. O'Banyon's love scenes are overly graphic.
Violence: A few moments. In addition to the aforementioned shootings, there is a scene where a frenemy of the Caulfields, a French trapper named Du Lac, kidnaps and tries to rape Mara. He is killed by one of Mara's royal guards. None of the violence is described in any graphic detail.
Bottom Line: Most of the reviews I've seen here on Goodreads and Amazon give "Savage Splendor" five stars. I hate to be in the minority, but I don't quite think it's worthy of that admiration. It's a good book, but not five star worthy in my eyes.
"Savage Splendor" by Constance O'Banyon is the sequel to "Savage Desire" and continues the story from the first book about Mara Golden and her husband Tajarez, the now King of a tribe of Indians known as the Lagonda.
The Story: The book begins a year or so after the first book ended. Mara and Tajarez are happily married and in love and have two children, a son and a daughter. In "Savage Desire", Tajarez made a promise to Mara's eldest brother David, that when a son was born from his and Mara's marriage, that she would be able to come and visit David. (Mara's other brother, Jeffery, is married to Tajarez' cousin, Sasha. They, along with Mara and Tajarez, live in the Seven Cities of Gold, a mystical place where whites are not usually allowed to enter.) When Mara and her royal guards make the trip to see David and his wife, Mara makes a risky, foolish and unfortunately deadly decision; to try to cross a flood-swollen river. This decision costs several of Mara's guards their lives, and forces the guards to rescue Mara. Unfortunately, two white trappers, Jake and Zeke Caulfield, come along thinking that Mara is being attacked or kidnapped by her Indian guards. The guards are shot by the trappers, and Mara disassociates herself mentally from what she believes is their murder. (The guards are not killed, just seriously wounded.)
Zeke and Jake take Mara in, believing that they've done the right thing, and because Mara is in a state of not remembering anything, she goes willingly with them. She's treated well by the trappers, and she comes to view them as family since she can't remember her own identity or past. During her time with the trappers, Mara discovers she is pregnant. At first, she's highly uncomfortable with having the child, thinking that the baby is a product of rape; it's not. The baby is a product of the love she and Tajarez feel for each other.
The guards eventually make their way back to Tajarez, and he and Jeffery begin a massive search to find her, which is successful. The problem is that Mara still doesn't have her memory back. Tajarez and Jeffery are told by a Doctor not to tell Mara anything about her real life, for fear that this would cause her pain. Unfortunately, this decision backfires big time, as Mara, Tajarez and Jeffery spend the third quarter of the book hurting each other mentally, and in the case of Tajarez, physically; he takes Mara brutally in one scene. (It very well could be called rape.) In Mara's case, her hurting her husband and brother is clearly unintentional. Tajarez, on the other hand, doesn't always show the kind of sensitivity and understanding that Mara needs, and sometimes his actions come across as intentionally trying to hurt Mara because she is hurting him. Since this is a romance novel, you know that eventually, Mara regains her memory and she and Tajarez continue their happily ever after.
In addition to Tajarez' behavior toward Mara when she returns to him, another issue I have with this book is that there is really nothing new about these characters. One of the great joys I have in reading books is getting to know the characters, and with this sequel featuring virtually the same core group of people, there is no discovery for me.
Sex: One semi hot sex scene, and a few others. None of Ms. O'Banyon's love scenes are overly graphic.
Violence: A few moments. In addition to the aforementioned shootings, there is a scene where a frenemy of the Caulfields, a French trapper named Du Lac, kidnaps and tries to rape Mara. He is killed by one of Mara's royal guards. None of the violence is described in any graphic detail.
Bottom Line: Most of the reviews I've seen here on Goodreads and Amazon give "Savage Splendor" five stars. I hate to be in the minority, but I don't quite think it's worthy of that admiration. It's a good book, but not five star worthy in my eyes.
December 15, 2014
I LOVE THIS BOOK. The characters Mara and Tajaharez (sp) are wonderful together, their releationship is sexy but loving and you are drawn along on their magical journey. I have read this book 20 times I pick it up every few months to read it as I love them so much!!!! If you can find a copy then read it, buy it, read it again.
September 7, 2020
Don't miss this read
This is the 2nd book of the series about an ancient tribe, an offshoot of the Egyptian Pharaoh's who had come to the new world fleeing demise. They gained a greatness but still at a costly cost.
If you love romance, thrills, terrors, fighting etc. Read this series you'll love it from beginning to the ending and still crave more.
This is the 2nd book of the series about an ancient tribe, an offshoot of the Egyptian Pharaoh's who had come to the new world fleeing demise. They gained a greatness but still at a costly cost.
If you love romance, thrills, terrors, fighting etc. Read this series you'll love it from beginning to the ending and still crave more.
November 23, 2020
Was super duper Young 😂 when I read this. Just knew I liked it at the time.
March 3, 2022
I have read this book over and over again. It is one of my favorite reads!
March 18, 2022
Joyous
What a wonderful story. So worth the read. What a great series, I did not want it to end ever.
What a wonderful story. So worth the read. What a great series, I did not want it to end ever.
February 20, 2016
Savage Splendor was a phenomenal book.
Ms. O'Banyon has a unique ability to draw her readers into the characters development almost immediately. Reading her description of the hero and heroine immediately engulfs the reader into believing one is actually living their life, experiencing their trials and tribulations, and their triumphs. I look forward to reading more from this author. Definitely a 5 star performance in my opinion.
Ms. O'Banyon has a unique ability to draw her readers into the characters development almost immediately. Reading her description of the hero and heroine immediately engulfs the reader into believing one is actually living their life, experiencing their trials and tribulations, and their triumphs. I look forward to reading more from this author. Definitely a 5 star performance in my opinion.
December 4, 2013
This is one of the first romance novels I ever read over 20 years ago and to this day it is still one of my favorites!
February 4, 2014
My love affair continues with Mara and Tajarez in Savage Splendor by Constance O'Banyon, the second book in this awesome series!
June 20, 2010
A truly fantastic read.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews