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The Betrayers
Nick Cutter--starting with nothing--crosses oceans and continents as he conquers the world's gambling and liquor markets, only to risk everything for the love of a woman.
Luz had nightheat, the sensuous quality in a woman that makes men ache with desire. Nick loved and lusted for her the first time he saw her. But what he didn't know was that Luz had secrets--that beneath the glamour and sex appeal was a woman determined to turn her back on wealth and challenge a corrupt political system. Even if it meant her life.
Nick started out dirt poor--as a child, he survived the war-torn frozen hell of the Siege of Leningrad and saw his mother starve to death as fat cat bureaucrats ate well. He learned early that there were the haves and have-nots in this world. He was going to get everything rich people had--and more.
From a brutal Soviet orphanage to a plantation in the steamy jungles of the Caribbean, from sultry, violent Havana to the dangerous streets of Santo Domingo, Nick battled men who controlled and exploited the wealth of nations. With bootleg vodka and exotic rum, he built a business empire that would one day bring him into conflict with the most brutal dictator in the Caribbean--and a struggle for the love and life of the only woman he ever truly loved.
Luz had nightheat, the sensuous quality in a woman that makes men ache with desire. Nick loved and lusted for her the first time he saw her. But what he didn't know was that Luz had secrets--that beneath the glamour and sex appeal was a woman determined to turn her back on wealth and challenge a corrupt political system. Even if it meant her life.
Nick started out dirt poor--as a child, he survived the war-torn frozen hell of the Siege of Leningrad and saw his mother starve to death as fat cat bureaucrats ate well. He learned early that there were the haves and have-nots in this world. He was going to get everything rich people had--and more.
From a brutal Soviet orphanage to a plantation in the steamy jungles of the Caribbean, from sultry, violent Havana to the dangerous streets of Santo Domingo, Nick battled men who controlled and exploited the wealth of nations. With bootleg vodka and exotic rum, he built a business empire that would one day bring him into conflict with the most brutal dictator in the Caribbean--and a struggle for the love and life of the only woman he ever truly loved.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2004
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169 people want to read
About the author
Harold Robbins
327 books442 followersBorn as Harold Rubin in New York City, he later claimed to be a Jewish orphan who had been raised in a Catholic boys home. In reality he was the son of well-educated Russian and Polish immigrants. He was reared by his pharmacist father and stepmother in Brooklyn.
His first book, Never Love a Stranger (1948), caused controversy with its graphic sexuality. Publisher Pat Knopf reportedly bought Never Love a Stranger because "it was the first time he had ever read a book where on one page you'd have tears and on the next page you'd have a hard-on".
His 1952 novel, A Stone for Danny Fisher, was adapted into a 1958 motion picture King Creole, which starred Elvis Presley.
He would become arguably the world's bestselling author, publishing over 20 books which were translated into 32 languages and sold over 750 million copies. Among his best-known books is The Carpetbaggers, loosely based on the life of Howard Hughes, taking the reader from New York to California, from the prosperity of the aeronautical industry to the glamour of Hollywood.
His first book, Never Love a Stranger (1948), caused controversy with its graphic sexuality. Publisher Pat Knopf reportedly bought Never Love a Stranger because "it was the first time he had ever read a book where on one page you'd have tears and on the next page you'd have a hard-on".
His 1952 novel, A Stone for Danny Fisher, was adapted into a 1958 motion picture King Creole, which starred Elvis Presley.
He would become arguably the world's bestselling author, publishing over 20 books which were translated into 32 languages and sold over 750 million copies. Among his best-known books is The Carpetbaggers, loosely based on the life of Howard Hughes, taking the reader from New York to California, from the prosperity of the aeronautical industry to the glamour of Hollywood.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 28, 2017
Having read several Harold Robbins novels in my time, I was curious what this “posthumously” published book (reportedly based on a Harold Robbins story idea), would be like. It seemed it could be either like the historically rich The Carpetbaggers or it could lean far more towards the sexually explicit and raunchy The Stallion, or just about anything in between. I wasn’t familiar with Junius Podrug’s work, as the ghost writer, either, so I just threw caution to the wind and plunged in.
The results: I was pleasantly surprised. While not up to The Carpetbaggers level, this novel was still quite a good read. The main character, Nicholas Cutter, begins as a young boy in Europe, becomes orphaned and suffers through the siege of Leningrad in 1942 and ultimately makes his way to the Carribean where he becomes a business man/deal-maker, often thwarting the law on his way to riches in the rum, sugarcane, and tobacco industries. It’s quite a journey to follow but it’s not an easy one for Nick as he comes up against corrupt governments, mob thugs, and the perils of romance.
I tend to enjoy historical fiction in general but especially when I learn along the way. This time I learned quite a bit more than I expected to, whether it was the siege of Leningrad, the political power shifts among nations such as British Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, or how the sugarcane industry works. The style, I found, was quite similar to Harold Robbins’, and certainly contains a steamy scene or three sprinkled in among the plot, but they were relevant to the story and the characters.
So, I’m pleasantly surprised, as I said, and wouldn’t be surprised if I pick up another of these Harold Robbins books by Junius Podrug at some point.
The results: I was pleasantly surprised. While not up to The Carpetbaggers level, this novel was still quite a good read. The main character, Nicholas Cutter, begins as a young boy in Europe, becomes orphaned and suffers through the siege of Leningrad in 1942 and ultimately makes his way to the Carribean where he becomes a business man/deal-maker, often thwarting the law on his way to riches in the rum, sugarcane, and tobacco industries. It’s quite a journey to follow but it’s not an easy one for Nick as he comes up against corrupt governments, mob thugs, and the perils of romance.
I tend to enjoy historical fiction in general but especially when I learn along the way. This time I learned quite a bit more than I expected to, whether it was the siege of Leningrad, the political power shifts among nations such as British Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, or how the sugarcane industry works. The style, I found, was quite similar to Harold Robbins’, and certainly contains a steamy scene or three sprinkled in among the plot, but they were relevant to the story and the characters.
So, I’m pleasantly surprised, as I said, and wouldn’t be surprised if I pick up another of these Harold Robbins books by Junius Podrug at some point.
December 6, 2017
This book, although written by his ex-wife and a ghost-writer after his death, is typical Harold Robbins -- a steamy, interesting dramatic novel, firmly rooted in events of the day. This one starts in Russia in the mid-forties and concludes in British Honduras in the 1970's; following the protagonist through a childhood in Russia, young manhood in British Honduras, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and back to British Honduras.
Along the way he learns to become a moderately successful criminal, and businessman in a variety of opportunistic enterprises, finally falling in love with a captivating woman and risking nearly everything to save her, from the corrupt Latin American regime she has chosen to betray.
Well worth the read.
Along the way he learns to become a moderately successful criminal, and businessman in a variety of opportunistic enterprises, finally falling in love with a captivating woman and risking nearly everything to save her, from the corrupt Latin American regime she has chosen to betray.
Well worth the read.
August 3, 2016
A stunning historical thriller
This is clearly not the handwritten work of Mr. Robbins that much we know. I don't even know if I can say it was that inspired by him. What I do know however is that this is a very strong work all around, one that holds up very well without the Robbins tag. It was a very well-written piece of cold war fiction and only wished it was a little longer. Rich in all the right ingredients: action, drama, intrigue, money, greed and of course, sex, all interwoven with well researched historical information. I do however gripe over the fact that it didn't allow for a lot of character development, but I suppose that is what we are to expect from a book of its length. In any case, very solid effort I think.
This is clearly not the handwritten work of Mr. Robbins that much we know. I don't even know if I can say it was that inspired by him. What I do know however is that this is a very strong work all around, one that holds up very well without the Robbins tag. It was a very well-written piece of cold war fiction and only wished it was a little longer. Rich in all the right ingredients: action, drama, intrigue, money, greed and of course, sex, all interwoven with well researched historical information. I do however gripe over the fact that it didn't allow for a lot of character development, but I suppose that is what we are to expect from a book of its length. In any case, very solid effort I think.
September 4, 2012
Fast-paced and well-packed. This book is entertaining and politically colorful, still full of sense, style and sex as the author would want to have it. Robbins proves that one can cover so much ground without having to make it look like it. And it's one hell of a ride around the world.
July 17, 2013
I just love Harold Robbins.. I have almost completed reading half of his books.. And the rest half I haven't got the chance 2 read yet.. :(
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August 30, 2013Read 1/05
July 26, 2022
An OK book. Great theme, but ending is forced into a few pages and in not believable. Even in fiction, I believe that (unless it is science fiction) events need to be explained so the reader can see that the actions could be a reality. The final ending in this book does not do so.
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November 25, 2016Once again, love his books.
February 3, 2017
Curti! Sou lento para ler, então quando um livro flui um pouco mais rápido é sinônimo de que gostei bastante e me capturou. o que foi o caso.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews