What do you think?
Rate this book
The Black Rose
An interplanetary marriage of convenience between noblewoman Alexandra Fallon, and an aristocratic spy, Lucien Charbonneau, yields an unexpected passion between these two unlikely lovers. Original.
368 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2000
45 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 15, 2025
The heroine is both shocked and extremely disgusted with the fact that he uncle has sold her to the bastard son of the enemy and vows to do everything in her power to escape.
The hero had no idea that when he finally accepted the summons of her father that he would be forced into marriage. But neither can escape their fate and soon they are married. The heroine is far from attracted to her new husband, thinking him nothing more than a soft bellied aristocrat that useless to her.
The hero thinks his new wife is a temptress but an entirely frustrating and stubborn creature made to make a man's life a living hell. The night of their wedding, she bashes him over the head and flees the planet, seeking transport to the barren moon planet in hopes of continuing her father’s work. The hero is quite astonished with his luck as it's his ship she seeks passage on. With his ability to shapeshift and change his features and body build, he lives under his alter ego.
The heroine has no idea that the arrogant pirate captain is her husband and though they are like oil and water in most things, she admits he is much more attractive. But he tends to push her buttons and to treat her like a commoner rather than the noble lady she is. She also has the suspicion he knows she's hiding things. When they reach the planet where she's expected to get off, the hero tags along and when he discovers she's onto a conspiracy to expose the fact the shapeshifting aliens live among the general population, he knows he must steal the proof at any cost. But his presence and the fact that he's a rebel has put her in danger and makes her a wanted fugitive.
I felt a case of whiplash after reading this story. It bounced around so much I found it near impossible to stay interested in what I was reading. Let's start off with the fact that I absolutely detested the heroine from the first page to the last. I thought she was a whiny, hypocrite with the intelligence of a peanut and the personality of a spoiled and useless child. She argued over every single thing and she judged people harshly. I can't stand characters like hers. Second reason why I felt like this book was a complete waste of time was the fact that the hero spent the book as 3 different men. First was Lucien, the lanky peacock with the big lips (no joke, that's how he's described) whom his wife has zero sexual attraction for. Then there's the main character he portrays, the cocksure gunrunner pirate/smuggler who does everything in his power to annoy the heroine then seduce her. Lastly there's the Lord, sophisticated one who speaks eloquently and is of so charming but whom the heroine can't love as she already loves the pirate! I was so disenchanted with the whole book and couldn't wait for it to be over. I don't think I'll attempt any further books by this author for some time.
The hero had no idea that when he finally accepted the summons of her father that he would be forced into marriage. But neither can escape their fate and soon they are married. The heroine is far from attracted to her new husband, thinking him nothing more than a soft bellied aristocrat that useless to her.
The hero thinks his new wife is a temptress but an entirely frustrating and stubborn creature made to make a man's life a living hell. The night of their wedding, she bashes him over the head and flees the planet, seeking transport to the barren moon planet in hopes of continuing her father’s work. The hero is quite astonished with his luck as it's his ship she seeks passage on. With his ability to shapeshift and change his features and body build, he lives under his alter ego.
The heroine has no idea that the arrogant pirate captain is her husband and though they are like oil and water in most things, she admits he is much more attractive. But he tends to push her buttons and to treat her like a commoner rather than the noble lady she is. She also has the suspicion he knows she's hiding things. When they reach the planet where she's expected to get off, the hero tags along and when he discovers she's onto a conspiracy to expose the fact the shapeshifting aliens live among the general population, he knows he must steal the proof at any cost. But his presence and the fact that he's a rebel has put her in danger and makes her a wanted fugitive.
I felt a case of whiplash after reading this story. It bounced around so much I found it near impossible to stay interested in what I was reading. Let's start off with the fact that I absolutely detested the heroine from the first page to the last. I thought she was a whiny, hypocrite with the intelligence of a peanut and the personality of a spoiled and useless child. She argued over every single thing and she judged people harshly. I can't stand characters like hers. Second reason why I felt like this book was a complete waste of time was the fact that the hero spent the book as 3 different men. First was Lucien, the lanky peacock with the big lips (no joke, that's how he's described) whom his wife has zero sexual attraction for. Then there's the main character he portrays, the cocksure gunrunner pirate/smuggler who does everything in his power to annoy the heroine then seduce her. Lastly there's the Lord, sophisticated one who speaks eloquently and is of so charming but whom the heroine can't love as she already loves the pirate! I was so disenchanted with the whole book and couldn't wait for it to be over. I don't think I'll attempt any further books by this author for some time.
April 14, 2012
The Black Rose by Jan Zimlich
I liked this story.
The description of the book I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict this story.
Though Lucien Charbonneau was born a noble, he'd implemented plans to bring about galactic revolution. He wore two faces, that of an effete aristocrat and that of someone darker, more mysterious. He had subtle yet potent charms, and he played at deception with the same skills that he might caress a lover. And though Lucien was betrothed, he swore not even his beautiful fiancé would ever learn his heart's secret, that of...The Black Rose... Alexandra Fallon had of course heard of that infamous spy, but her own interests were far less political. When interplanetary concerns forced her to marry, the man who came to her bed was in for a rude awakening. But the shadowy hunk who appeared lit a passion hotter than a thousand suns—and in its fiery glow, both she and Lucien would learn that between lovers no secrets could remain in darkness.
I liked this story.
The description of the book I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict this story.
Though Lucien Charbonneau was born a noble, he'd implemented plans to bring about galactic revolution. He wore two faces, that of an effete aristocrat and that of someone darker, more mysterious. He had subtle yet potent charms, and he played at deception with the same skills that he might caress a lover. And though Lucien was betrothed, he swore not even his beautiful fiancé would ever learn his heart's secret, that of...The Black Rose... Alexandra Fallon had of course heard of that infamous spy, but her own interests were far less political. When interplanetary concerns forced her to marry, the man who came to her bed was in for a rude awakening. But the shadowy hunk who appeared lit a passion hotter than a thousand suns—and in its fiery glow, both she and Lucien would learn that between lovers no secrets could remain in darkness.
February 14, 2008
It's strange, the premise is frankly a little offputing to me, but the shapeshifting thing really finds the loophole of the heroine never having had sex with anyone but the hero before they get married while still allowing her to get it on with dudes in spaceports.
That's all that's really stuck with me about this book. I read it twice though, and it's sort of made me always be on the lookout for romance of the sci-fi persuasion when I'm in bookstores.
That's all that's really stuck with me about this book. I read it twice though, and it's sort of made me always be on the lookout for romance of the sci-fi persuasion when I'm in bookstores.
April 27, 2011
Still updating my shelves with past reads. This is another book read and reviewed for All About Romance, the review is archived HERE .
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews