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Rebel's Love
(Raised a loyalist in luxurious Virginia plantation, golden-haired Venetia Fleming had been sent to England away from the fires of the American revolution. But the moment she met Joaquin St Cloud, her sheltered world became no more than s memory)
464 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 26, 2011
2.5 stars
The colonies are awash with rebellion and danger, so Venetia Fleming and her younger brother Robin are sent to school in England for their safety. They have an accidental meeting with privateer Joaquin St. Cloud just before he's captured by the Brits and thrown into Mill prison (it is too hard to explain how this all comes about - sorry). Joaquin believes it is Venetia and Robin who betrayed them (so of course he now hates them), but our incredibly resourceful Venetia plots to get him out of prison. The action eventually switches to the Fleming's Virginia Plantation as Venetia and Joaquin are swept up into the battle for independence (we even get an appearance from Lafayette himself).
Eh, this did have possibilities but the story was filled with more holes than Swiss cheese so that in the end it left me rather *meh*. Venetia and her brother are being cared for by some high and mighty English lord, yet she's able to get out and bribe a driver to take her to Mill prison. She even goes out on dates to the theatre and what not with the young British officer who is courting her - no chaperone in sight ever. But wait! There's more! Whilst returning to the colonies Joaquin's ship stops the mail packet Venetia and Robin are on for some privateering and plundering and decides to kidnap a grieving Venetia and take her on his ship for a fortnight in hopes he can help her get through her grief over her father's death (yes, I know that's lame but that's what happens). He keeps her on board for a fortnight, yet when she's returned to the loving arms of her brothers no one, but no one raises an eyebrow over being with the notorious privateer and wonders whether she's been compromised. Not. One. Word.
Joaquin secretly stays at the Fleming Plantation, and he comes and goes from Venetia's room for frequent bouts of mad, passionate sex, but again no one notices and not an eyebrow is raised. Not the maids who change the sheets, nor the brothers who know she was alone on a ship with him for a fortnight - he's never once spotted in the hall nor heard in her bedroom. Ever. As for the sex, which is to be expected in a romance. Was it OTT in gawd-awful purple prose? No, it was not, but it did get a wee bit cheesy at times.
"His eyes, all emerald streaks and sparks, raised to watch the desire building in her as he ringed her waist with the firebrand of his kisses, made her belly alive with sparks, her thighs crowned with flame."
I recommend giving this one a pass, it really doesn't work well as a romance or a historical setting. I do give the author an extra half star for not making Venetia TSTL or a Mary-Sue.
The colonies are awash with rebellion and danger, so Venetia Fleming and her younger brother Robin are sent to school in England for their safety. They have an accidental meeting with privateer Joaquin St. Cloud just before he's captured by the Brits and thrown into Mill prison (it is too hard to explain how this all comes about - sorry). Joaquin believes it is Venetia and Robin who betrayed them (so of course he now hates them), but our incredibly resourceful Venetia plots to get him out of prison. The action eventually switches to the Fleming's Virginia Plantation as Venetia and Joaquin are swept up into the battle for independence (we even get an appearance from Lafayette himself).
Eh, this did have possibilities but the story was filled with more holes than Swiss cheese so that in the end it left me rather *meh*. Venetia and her brother are being cared for by some high and mighty English lord, yet she's able to get out and bribe a driver to take her to Mill prison. She even goes out on dates to the theatre and what not with the young British officer who is courting her - no chaperone in sight ever. But wait! There's more! Whilst returning to the colonies Joaquin's ship stops the mail packet Venetia and Robin are on for some privateering and plundering and decides to kidnap a grieving Venetia and take her on his ship for a fortnight in hopes he can help her get through her grief over her father's death (yes, I know that's lame but that's what happens). He keeps her on board for a fortnight, yet when she's returned to the loving arms of her brothers no one, but no one raises an eyebrow over being with the notorious privateer and wonders whether she's been compromised. Not. One. Word.
Joaquin secretly stays at the Fleming Plantation, and he comes and goes from Venetia's room for frequent bouts of mad, passionate sex, but again no one notices and not an eyebrow is raised. Not the maids who change the sheets, nor the brothers who know she was alone on a ship with him for a fortnight - he's never once spotted in the hall nor heard in her bedroom. Ever. As for the sex, which is to be expected in a romance. Was it OTT in gawd-awful purple prose? No, it was not, but it did get a wee bit cheesy at times.
"His eyes, all emerald streaks and sparks, raised to watch the desire building in her as he ringed her waist with the firebrand of his kisses, made her belly alive with sparks, her thighs crowned with flame."
I recommend giving this one a pass, it really doesn't work well as a romance or a historical setting. I do give the author an extra half star for not making Venetia TSTL or a Mary-Sue.
August 26, 2012
This is the book that Started It All for me. The first romance I ever read. The book where I learned where two people can make love work despite coming from opposite sides of everything. Even if I had no idea how the hero's name was pronounced (I thought it was Jo-Quim), it has stuck with me since I read it in the mid-80s. Thank you, Joyce Verrette.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews