Devil's Embrace

Devil #1

by Catherine Coulter

Dear Reader:

Welcome to my very first historical romance, Devil's Embrace, titled by my husband, and first published in 1982. I've updated it stylistically, edited it, trimmed it just a bit, and the art department designed a splendid new cover that magically includes some of the original art work.

Cassie Brougham and Anthony Welles, Earl of Clare, are my favorite characters of all time. Cassie has known the Earl of Clare all her life, but she's in love with a soldier she's been secretly writing to since she was fifteen. Now he's home and they're going to be married. But the day before her wedding, Anthony Welles kidnaps her aboard his yacht and sails away with her to Genoa, Italy; his stated intention to make her his wife.

Cassie is not happy about this.

This is an unusual love story, to say the least, that will make you weep and laugh and root for what you know is best for both of them. There is pain, doubt, captivation, and escape. But regardless of what happens, this is a love that is of the forever sort, something that is true and very real, and will stay close to your heart, I hope, for a very long time.

If you missed Devil's Embrace the first time around, do read it now.

Enjoy,

Catherine Coulter (The Author)

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, Abuse, Fiction

397 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Azet · Rating 4 out of 5]

WARNING FOR SPOILERS!

"Devil`s Embrace" is the first book i have ever read by Catherine Coulter and would have probably read it anyway if my dear cousin hadn`t recommended it!Its a bodice-ripper,one that made me feel conflicted even when i have read far more hard-core bodice-rippers and loving those more (Gypsy Lady and Lady Vixen is one of them).The first half of the story is my favourite part.The scene where the heroine goes out fishing and the hero kidnapping her after that made me (cough sorry) laugh out loud so much that i fell off my couch.That scene was so well done and hilarious!I also like it when she shoots him to escape,i was applauding her bravery so much for that!

Cassandra Brougham is a very spirited lady.She even reminded me of Scarlett O'Hara sometimes.Her fierce stubborness and passion was met with her captor`s,as she desperately tries to deny her growing love for him.She goes pretty far to do that,and i wish...i SO DAMN HELL WISH that she never succumbed to sleep with her former fiance after she escapes the hero.I hated that so much that i was tempted to throw my cumputer away and dnf this book...but i restrained from doing that despite wanting to vomit...so i kept going.In betraying her hero,she betrayed herself..and along that i just wish she had been more steadfast when it came to her feelings.I know that i should feel more sorry for her,and i do.She have after all been through the worst kind of traumatic experiences and nightmares.But i wish...just wish that the author had left that part out cuz it irks me to the core.

Anthony Welles is one of the most arrogant Anti-heroes i have ever come across in this genre.He is this dark and rugged half-italian pirate rake...and a lord with honor (what sort of honor i also wonder).He falls in love with Cassandra while she grows up into a woman...and when she announces her engagement to another man he kidnapps her and takes her away from everything she loves.Anthony is pretty much unpredictable and too honest and conceited.He understands and forgives easily,and never lets himself become a slave to his temper...despite how many times Cassandra goades him to it.His character is showed in too much resemblance to a demi-god.He knows and feels everything and knows he is right everytime.I believed in his love for Cassandra,it never wavered and stood strong all the way through despite her betrayal and insults.He even treats her as equal and admire her spirit and intelligence.He never treats her roughly or forces kisses on her.But he did force her their first night and he did hit her with his belt at the start just so she would never repeat her disobedience (he hated doing it).It feels kinda strange saying this,but i don`t envy Cassandra having him as her husband.Not for 2 penny.

I am looking forward to reading the sequel "Devil`s Daughter" where Anthony`s and Cassandra`s son and daughter will find their heroine and hero.I know that their daughter Arabella will be kidnapped by (OW) Giovanna`s son Kamal and that their son Adam will find his heroine in (OM) Edwards daughter Rayna.More adventure,romance and excitement to come...and i am looking forward to it!

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 1 out of 5]

No, thank you.
After the gang rape I kind of fast forward through reading this :/
It did start off kind of interestingly wild, childhood love, kidnapping, and drama lama but as it approached the half way point it started to drag and the last half just wasn't interesting. Our supposed hero Anthony doesn't really make an appearance, except to kidnap and then rape the heroine, he mostly hangs around waiting for the heroine to agree to marry him. Our heroine Cassie is 18-20yrs old in the story and is written fairly well, it's just that the only material she has is to react to men wanting to rape her and/or marry her. There wasn't even any wild fun shipwrecks or the heroine picking up a sword, although she does shoot hero at one point; it was lacking the wild kookiness dramatic flare that brings me back to these old bodice rippers.
This is best lost to the annuals of time.

[Mermarie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh wow, Jesus Christ on a crutch. This literary piece emphasizes and stands as a catalyst against for every arbitrary guideline by an author, that we've embraced even in the most shoddy of stories(Stormfire?).

He practically had her floor-planned since she was FIVE! And this is why, in my abject misery, I strive to discern its meaning; I knew from the very instant when she shot the hero, and didn't reload, that her usefulness and entertainment factor was at its end for me.

Generally in most bodice-ripper pieces, we're accustomed to the hero's unruly antics--torture tactics and control management, but I've found it's mostly a product of revenge. This novel accumulates every dastardly premise and attempted to gloss it over as an act of affection. The cocktail of nefarious scheming, life-long plans against a motherless child, eventually leading to training rapes, clown-car rapes by hired thugs, keep-me-pretty confinement, and all I've left out--were implied to be conditions of love itself. It really adds insult to injury, because the hero started off in this mindset, and never really purged himself of its vulgar ideology..or perhaps the author assumes the reader isn't capable of discerning the revenge-driven plot actions to that of actions manifested on the hero's own accord for the heroine's own good and well-being.....

Book #2... Anthony buries Cassie alive but promises her a shopping spree, once she's thinned down enough to wear his mother's exhumed ballgowns. >.<

So appalled, I barely even blinked through the flies rollerskatin' across my eyeballs. Sorry, Coulter..I need a purpose driven evil, not a figure who has the rudimentary senses of a reptile.

[Bella Foxygobble · Rating 4 out of 5]

**comes out from under the bed**

Yes I liked this book. Yes, it was degrading, yes both the heroes in this story were complete IDIOTS. Yes, the heroine was a simpering mess and made some pretty lame choices.

That being said, I still enjoyed this book. It was degrading, unbelievable, and made me want to beat every character. Yet, I found myself not wanting to put this book down. I still think it was well written, and although a darker romance, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. IT'S FICTION. Not real-life. It was an escape for me, and an enjoyable one at that.

In true bodice-ripper fashion there is love, kid-napping, adventure, villians, exotic locations and in the end a happy ending (if you like the kidnap, rape, seduce, beat, rape, seduce, escape, chase after you, but I love you anyway sort of thing)

It was an entertaining read and that's all I can ask for in a book. and *GASPS* I'll probably read it again.

**promise you won't throw too many tomatoes at me please**

Rating: 4 stars
Warning: Kidnapping, Rape, Torture, Love Triangle

My Ratings:

5*****I loved this book, consider it an all time favorite
4**** Thoroughly enjoyed the book and will recommend it
3*** I liked it well enough,
2** Brain Candy - It was okay. Writing mediocre, will
keep/re-read if part of a series
1* didn't like/possibly not finished. (less)

[Naksed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Coulter's Old Skool, no holds barred, bodice-ripper, was over-the-top, campy fun the likes of which will never be published nowadays.

Just take a gander at this unforgettable scene:

She closed her eyes a moment, her body aching for his fingers to continue their movement, and leaned her head back against his belly. Long strands of golden hair weaved themselves into the thick black hair at his groin.

Purple Prose in all its Glory. To the happy few...:)

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was gonna be like,



"um, it was meh. Didn't like it all that much" *ducks back down*

but you know what...


I happened to enjoy this story very much. And I don't care.


And to all you readers who are ashamed to like this story,



because you should never be ashamed about what you enjoy to read. People will have their opinions just like you are entitled to have your own. Read whatever you want, just as long as you keep reading!

I in no way agree with the way our main male protagonist, the earl, went about in seducing Cassandra. But it's was still a damn good story for me. The earl's intentions were selfishly conducted. He got to decide that he would become Cassandra's husband, not her, and that was not very.... loving nor understanding, something he kept telling Cassandra that he was. Why not woo her? Don't rape her and hope to gain her affections by seducing her with your apparently amazing lovemaking.

The only reason I was able to even like the earl's character was that he in no way wanted to "hurt" Cassie. He didn't want her just to take her for one night and abandon her. He wanted to marry her and please her... against her (very malleable) will, no doubt. I know that this sounds all wrong, it sounds wrong to me too. But if this is wrong........ well, then... I guess, I don't want to be right (I was being sarcastic....no? okay.)

Cassandra was cursed with good looks and arousing every man in sight. Mhm. Or so it seemed. She does actually get raped (in this instance not by the earl), which I believe is one of the negative things other readers are talking about in the book. It's kind of a brutal scene actually. But I really doubt this type of stuff didn't occur, and it just so happened to have happened to our protagonist; it was real, harsh and real, and yes, disturbing.

Anyway, I really did enjoy this story, just be aware of the contents in this book. Those other readers negative opinions/reviews on the book are there for a reason, one I don't quite agree with, but take in mind that not everyone hated it and not everyone loved it. Read for yourself, judge for yourself.

Now,

Good day.

[daemyra, the realm's delight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had he nurtured her, as would a gardener, raised her in the image that he himself had created for her?

One romance writer’s hero is another romance writer’s villain. Nowhere is this more obvious than in Devil’s Embrace, a bodice ripper that tells the classic love story of boy-abducts-girl. There are precise notes of physical and mental abuse the so-called heroes of bodice rippers hit, whether they employ rape as a form of punishment, hatch a plot to seclude the heroine away as a kept woman, call her slurs or simply beats her.

Oftentimes the hero is simply the villain that the heroine loves, and I would argue Anthony, Earl of Clare and his Pygmalion motivations, more than his pirate-like abduction of Cassandra, is what makes him one of the most psychologically scarring lovers to grace the history of cult romances.

The spirit of so-called heroes like Lord Clare lives on in villains in romances published decades later. For example Lisa Kleypas’ Worth Any Price (my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2405101154): The hero and heroine meet because she is running away from an older man that wants to control her life.

Half of the fun in going back to OG romances is to see their influence on today's romances and how there is a new spin to familiar plots and archetypal figures, where one generation's hero archetype is another generation's villain.

Upon Cassandra’s realization that the man who has boarded her fishing boat is a somewhat familiar face, she observes of Anthony, “You seem different, changed. I have always thought of you as an indulgent uncle.”



Which is honestly one of the best things that’s ever happened in a romance novel.

Coulter then does her very best to convince the reader that Anthony is hot and not old, so much so I judge Cassandra's powers of perception. Yet that little line that would have been scrubbed if it had been published today, along with other scenes, is a perfect moment. No matter how much you expect (ok anticipate) the shocking bits, there will be a moment that will jar you out of your suspension of disbelief in the bodice ripper.

In Devil’s Embrace , the discovery of the letters is one of the most stomach-churning moments of the story that touts an gang rape scene. Sweeping aside Anthony’s infatuation with Cassandra’s mom (seriously, how old is Anthony) because all romance novels get one pass from the reader, Anthony has been grooming Cassandra to be his wife since she has been a minor and that is a tough pill to swallow. The details of how Anthony singled her out with his attention since she was a minor, lavishing chess sets and having his female relation installed as her chaperone and teaching her Italian as a child is sketchy af, especially when Anthony admits he first noticed her due to her physical similarity to her mother.



Consider Cassandra herself is just 18. We’re all here for the sordid tale, but now we’ve gone to the Flowers in the Attic with our accumulation of taboos here. Cassandra tries very hard, along with the reader, to reconcile this new and horrifying information with her love of Anthony in the final act of the novel. Anthony has been proven right about his opinions throughout the novel. Early on, he asserts she would never have been happy with Edward but with him, and this casts a shadow over Cassandra’s triumphant moment of clarity about choice, as it never fully convinces the reader that she’s made a choice at all.

[DelilahW · Rating 5 out of 5]

I unapologetically loved this book. It reminded alot of Christine Monson's "Stormfire" (which I am obsessed with). This book, like many in its genre, is not for the faint of heart. There's kidnapping, rape, gang rape, psychological abuse, stalking, etc. In fact, the hero is a psycho stalker that, if he were to live in 2012, would be on America's Most Wanted. I found Anthony to be a kind of fun-loving stalker as opposed to Sean Culhane in Stormfire who was just a serious pyscho. I mean, after he initially beds the heroine against her will, he turns into a charmer of sorts. The plot goes quickly, I read it in two evenings. Classic 1980s bodice-ripper. Read it for the incredulous expression you'll have on your face alone. There were countless "Holy sh*t" moments for me where I just could not believe how the heroine could be so thick. "Cassie, I kidnapped you for your own good! I needed to rape you! Can't you see the sense in that?" Well, I'm paraphrasing here. Devil's Embrace is definitely entertainment.

[Simona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone compared the H in this book to Sean Culhane of Stormfire so I thought I was in for a ride. But besides the abduction, H bent over backwards throughout the book to win over h's love. Hardly a rival to the Culhane's level of asshole. The heroine's rape at the hands of some thugs was graphically violent without adding much to the overall plot and character development. I liked that the h was a potent mixture of innocence, intelligence, adventurous, sensuality, feisty and stubborn. She went through body-betraying syndrome to Stockholm's syndrome and, to author's credit, an effort to get away from H's influence. All in all it was a good read, bit prolonged as most bodice rippers seem to be. h's struggle to free herself during day hours while surrendering to passion in night were the best parts. The book also tried to incorporate historical bits like barbary pirates and american revolution, though overall it didn't indulge in giving historical lesson.

[Melluvsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I read this book, I was in high school in the 90s. I loved it so much, and have reread it dozens of times since. It had been probably a decade since my last reread, so I decided to see if it still holds up.

It has all the stuff I love in a 1980's Bodice Ripper:

🖤 obsessed ruthless alpha male - with his eye on the long game and not afraid to do whatever he has to get his woman

🖤 the H steals the h away from the man she was to marry

🖤 kidnap/captive trope

🖤 Bodices ripped

🖤 dubcon/noncon

🖤 brave, impetuous (surprise) virgin h

🖤 OM drama

🖤 Evil Cackling Whore OW drama


I mean, this book really has it all. 🤷🏼‍♀️🥰

⚠️SPOILER⚠️

For me, this is still a great read, even though it includes some things that I avoid now:

😭 brutal on-page gang rape of the h by someone who isn't the hero

😭 the h runs away from the H and sleeps with someone else

I remember, keenly, the rape. It has stuck with me all these years. In fact, it was why I had been dragging my feet on a reread. (it’s the last half of chapter 17, if you want to skip. I skipped on this read.)

And I had completely blocked out the fact that she runs back to the man the H stole her from, and then sleeps him. I can see why she did it now, and honestly, I see it more as much needed karma for the H. It's really the only consequence he faced for stalking, kidnapping, and essentially raping a young woman, even if it all turns out ok, as it only can in an old school romance novel 😬😅😈🤡


Bottom Line? It's still a very compelling read. All the drama and angst. Gah. I can see why it has stuck with me for so long. They don't write them like this anymore, and I for one, am kinda sad about that. 🙈😅 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️









⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️

- cheating - the h runs away from the H (her captor) and runs back to the man she wanted to marry before she was kidnapped - they have sex twice - this is after she's been living with the H and sleeping with him for months, consent dubious -- the H never cheats on the h

- no sharing

- OW drama - the H has an ex mistress - the h is confronted by her at a party and later while shopping - she's evil and vindictive and the cause of the attack on the h

- OM drama - the h thought she was in love with her childhood sweetheart and was about to marry him when she was kidnapped but the H - she pines for him for months - and she runs to him and sleeps with him when she gets away from the H

- h was an 18-yr old virgin when the H kidnapped her

- the H was a 30-something manwhore who had mistresses before falling for the the h

- the h is brutally raped on-page by a group of 5 men - the h is early pregnant at the time and miscarries her baby

- noncon/dubcon - the first time between the H and h is full noncon - the rest of the time its dubcon - her resistance eventually stops, but she's still being held against her will, so the consent remains dubious even though she's an active enthusiastic participant

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Darker Side Of Historical Romance

Devil’s Embrace by Catherine Coulter is a story that is not for the faint of heart…if you swoon like a Regency debutant, you probably won’t enjoy this story. However, If you enjoy the darker side of romance and are looking for a story to satisfy the craving—this book is for you!

Personally I love a dark story with a perfect anti-hero and all of his devilish deeds. I also enjoy the innocent heroine being corrupted and then realizing she would have it no other way. This book has both types of characters and their journey to their HEA is one full of topics many readers will shy away from including abduction, noncon-dubcon carnal encounters between H/h, rape, attempted murder, and probably more topics as well. The thing is each of these things helped to progress the story, mature the characters, bring the H/h together, and ultimately lead to their deserved HEA.

I loved it all. 😈

When you purchase a book called “Devil’s Embrace” you should expect it’s going to be a dark story. I say this because of all the horrible reviews of this story — what were people expecting? Don’t buy books that embrace darkness if you don’t enjoy those types of stories—it’s that simple.

I can’t really say much more about the story than I already have because dark books require a shock factor for them to work. I refuse to spoil the content. I applaud the author for being brave enough to do justice to the characters and story, I get really annoyed when authors promise darkness and then chicken out.

I recommend this story to all my fellow lovers of the gritty, raw, and forbidden side of romance!!

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 | Darkness 5/5 😈

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sure I will read books worse than this, but at this point, I can't remember being as angry about a novel than I am right now.

Here's how it started: Someone mentioned bodice rippers, and I felt the need to read one. This here was available for some reason, so I started it and have realized that reading rape-scenes comes with degrees of anger.

Most people have some sort of experience with sexual assault and most readers have had to read books where abusive behaviour was romantacised, yet this book - so far - takes the cake and became downright unbearable. It's not that I'm angry, although I am, but that I hate how this book made me feel: Powerless.

I know that a lot of 80ies noves were attempts to get agency back over our experiences with sexual assault and rape and that a lot of authors explored those themes in sometimes unhealthy ways, etc etc. I don't give a fuck, this was bad and made me angry and reading other reviews makes me pretty sure that not all bodice rippers are this fucking toxic.

A more insightful review: this one.

I'm now off, attempting to cope with this awful reading experience; in case it wasn't obvious - I don't recommend.

[Regan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE ENTHRALLING ROMANCE! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!

This was Coulter’s first long historical romance, published in 1985, and it is a superbly written, heart stopping, action-filled story that I could not put down. Literally. I do not recommend you begin it in the evening as I did. That night I did not sleep until nearly dawn. Forget the low reviews, and set aside your 21st century sensibilities and go with what may be one of the most enthralling romances I’ve read in a long time. Certainly it’s a classic that affected the genre of historical romance—and well worth the read just for that!

Set in the late 18th century (I estimate 1775-76), it tells the story of highborn 18-year-old Cassie Brougham, who on the day before her marriage to a Viscount she has loved for years, is abducted by 34-year-old Anthony Wells, the Earl of Clare, who has been watching her since she was a child all the while believing she is his perfect mate. Though Anthony’s intention is marriage, that doesn’t stop him from rape to claim her, nor imprisonment, first on his yacht and then in his Italian villa, as he tries to persuade her to marry him. Cassie hates him for what he has done to her life (as well she should and Coulter does that really well), but succumbs to the passion he calls forth each time he makes love to her. You can feel the terrible conflict within this strong-willed, courageous girl as she feels she has no choices. Even her attempt to escape comes to naught. (There’s a bit of the Stockholm syndrome working here, I do believe.)

The plot is intricate and intriguing with lots of action and lots of mystery. The characters are richly drawn, including the hero who has a noble side notwithstanding his selfish and brutal act of taking another man’s bride. But the heroine is the one who really garnered my sympathy. She faces mad dogs and Englishmen and manages to overcome every challenge to gain the respect of all. I highly recommend it.

The second book is THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER.

[Raffaella · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly I don’t know what is worse.
The hero raping repeatedly the heroine after kidnapping her, his obsession with her mother ( seriously) or the heroine’s obsession with om.
I don’t want to spoil it too much because it would take away all the fun, since, besides the many traumatic and cringeworthy experiences in this book there’s not much more.
So that you know there is
- kidnapping
- rape
-gang rape
- miscarriage
- cheating
- awful detail of the hero doing surgery on the heroine. This scene will forever be imprinted in my memory because it was completely ott. Oh, for your info, it was not on a leg or an arm. Just have a guess.
The heroine having sex with om to prove a point was equally bizarre.
Aaaannnnnndddd the good part is: no PTSD for the heroine here after all she went through. Maybe those Victorian maidens were much stronger than women in these times because I felt ptsd only reading what she went through.
You may read it only if you are in a very good and serene mood, maybe after taking one Xanax or two.
No thanks

[FlibBityFLooB · Rating 1 out of 5]

If there was ever a book where I didn't want the heroine to remain with any of the love interests in the book, it was this one. Seriously, the two men in this book were complete and total a-holes. *sigh* No redemptive qualities in either of them. Where was my fiesty ex-pirate from Gentle Rogue when I needed him? :)

Then again, I didn't particularly like the heroine, either. She was a simpering wimpy girl, and not the spitfire heroine I would have preferred, even if she shot a pistol in the book.

I have to agree with the authors of Beyond Heaving Bosoms who on page 77 admitted that the character of Anthony Welles was a character who was an "alphahole hero we'd like to slap around some". All I can say is: me, too. I'm not sure who could possibly think that this hero had redemptive qualities, and the heroine's ex-fiance was not any better himself. UGH.

[Auj · Rating 3 out of 5]

*16-year age gap (he's 34, she's 18)~ this one might be the greatest age gap in my shelf

I had a hard time getting into this for some reason in the beginning. It may have been just because I was tired (it was past 1 am). I was just waiting for Cassandra to be abducted already, and when that happened, I was able to get into the book more. I think I enjoyed the book's second half more, though the separation towards the end when she escapes him and flees to New York to see Edward, the man she was supposed to marry grew a little tiresome (it was too long).

If I think about it rationally, I shouldn't even like a book where the guy abducts the woman he wants to marry and rapes her. Good thing this is only fiction. Despite that, Anthony treated Cassandra well, in my opinion. He always seemed like a gentleman. I didn't like how Catherine Coulter always mentioned his belly because it made him seem less attractive to me. Call it abs instead, lol.

Not much happens in the book besides the few OTT fuckery gang rape, miscarriage, someone sending an assassin after Cassandra (causing her to get gang-raped and the subsequent miscarriage ) . This book is definitely NOT safe (see spoiler above), and Cassandra even sleeps with Edward, the other man, though she doesn't enjoy it.

I still liked it, but I thought I'd enjoy the book more. I remember a few months ago I was so desperate to pick it up. I would have finished this book earlier, but I was working hard editing my story. I read this book in the Large Print font, so my copy had 729 pages.

[Shar · Rating 1 out of 5]

Romance? More like a study of Stockholm Syndrome!

A truly disgusting and twisted story. I though the so called 'hero' was the villain until I skipped to the end.

[Nona · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok so I had to pick it up due to the hype.. much older man, abduction, rape and on and on... I'm glad I did though. Maybe it's because I married my husband at the ripe old age of twenty, keep in mind my dshing hero in real life is sixteen years my senior. so the age thing, while it shocked some, didn't phase me. I like a good abduction, don't mind a rape or whatever the more drama and chaos usually the better I like it but Devil's Embrace wasn't anything special, to me.

I see why the Ladies love and hate Anthony, yes his ego was large and in charge, hmmph, and yes he was one of the most self entitled men but really was he all that bad or just stubborn and deseprate to have his own way at the cost of all others? again spoilt little boy grows up to be over bearing Lord! And Cassie, well geez, she was just so smart and so stupid I found I was ranting at her, "you hussy"..."why you deserved that you little shit"! anyways far from my favorite heroine but ok I didn't write this so I can't be true dissapointed in it as I did finish it and it didnt get thrown at the wall.

[BJ Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

WARNING! SPOILER IN THIS REVIEW!!


I just finished my reread of this book, which I would not have done if not for the BHB challenge! So I knew about the abduction and rape - what a wonderful lover! (Just in case you didn't recognize it, that was sarcasm!!) - and the gang rape that comes later, and really expected those events to negate everything else. That said, I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed the rest of the book. I loved the sailing activities and descriptions, and almost-travelogue approach to descriptions of Genoa and Italian countryside. And as a history buff, I thoroughly enjoyed the British look at the 'irritating rebellion' in the Colonies. Setting aside the rapes (which it's impossible to do), this would have been a weak 4*, so I'm giving it a weak 3*

[~Sara~ · Rating 1 out of 5]

The 30 year old Earl of Clare falls in love with the 14 year old Cassandra because he had a teenage infatuation with her pregnant mother. Hmmm... When she is 18, he kidnaps her the day before her wedding to her sweetheart who has just come back from war. Even though he barely knows her, and she thinks of him like an uncle, he is sure that he is the right man for her and is determined to marry her. Wow!!! This is why I don't read historical romances written in the 80's. I'm only on page 50 but I'm very worried about how much worse this will get!

Much worse apparently. On page 62, Anthony says "I won't hurt you, Cassandra, you know that." just before he ties her to the bedposts and rapes her while she cries. Aww, how sweet he is. So kind and loving.

Well, I'm done - I made it to page 86. I don't have a problem with difficult subjects like an older man falling in love with a child, kidnap and rape but the whole, 'I love you, I'm raping you for your own good' and the worst bodice ripping flowery language you can conceive of is just too much for me. I'm on to (much) better things!

[Arabellavidal · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not read the entire book. Why? Because the hero was a delusional pscho! I like dark heroes but I do not like rape- that was when I stopped reading, when I realized that the author was going to have them end up together. I agree with all the reviewers that this is probably a study of the Stockholom Syndrome. It would have been a better book if the author had explored it from that point of view. What I don't understand is why, if the hero loved her from afar for that long, he never attempted to woo her. Age differences were not such an issue in the 18th-century. And the date the heroine and her fiancee set for the wedding was not so close that he couldn't try to change her mind during that time. His reaction was way too extreme, in my opinion. I usually base my opinions of romance on my reaction to the hero no matter how irritating a heroine might be. This hero repulsed me, ergo the book repulsed me.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent writing, though I can't say I finished it. I was too blindsided by the amount of violence. Maybe I'll read it again now I know what to expect.

[Rhapsody · Rating 4 out of 5]

The darkest romance novel I've ever read. I'm embarrassed to say that I enjoyed it considering that the heroine is basically raped by the hero and then comes to love him (yeah right), but I guess all that smutty manga I've read has affected my brain. After reading Shinjo Mayo's work (Haou Airen mainly), this sort of book doesn't give me much pause.

Cassandra (18 years old) has been in love with her childhood friend Edward all her life, but the day before their wedding, she's kidnapped by the Earl of Clare (34). Other than the fact that he forces himself upon her (yeesh), he's a pretty typical hero; domineering, arrogant, handsome, charming, totally obsessed with her, etc. A lot of the book passes in his yacht The Cassandra, and then in Genoa. As if the one rape in the boat isn't already enough, there's also a gang rape toward the middle. It wasn't very graphic, but it wasn't the nicest thing to read either... Pretty hardcore stuff. Definitely not for everyone.

[Sapheron · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read and loved The Duke (seriously, one of my faves from childhood, right), so, when in adulthood I took up this book (bought and frakking paid for) thinking 'Yay another Catherine Coulter Historical, Yay', imagine my consternation and downright disapprobation at what turned out to be a gruesome (if only for the squalid quality of the writing) GANG-rape scene in the middle of an already mediocre (I am feeling awfully meritorious tonight) book. I NEVER expected that, and it remains my biggest gripe about this book. Just Uh! You know what, I recant that star.

I still love The Duke though, that, I reread every year.

[Missy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know...I wanted more romance, I guess. I wanted to see the heroine falling in love with the hero. And was that gang rape truly necessary? Because when the villains were finally caught, their punishments occurred off-page, so what was the point? And I did not see that plot twist about her governess coming!

[Grace*dnfing books since 2022* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was certainly an interesting book. Definitely a bodice-ripper, and definitely containing rapity-rape-rape elements.

I actually started this book with the intention of just flipping through it, but I ended up going back to the beginning and starting over. If you didn't read the blurb (which I didn't), you would not have known who she would be ending with from the beginning. In fact, the beginning of the book started from the perspective of the OM (other man), as befits a true bodice-ripper epic. Plus, she has sex with both of them! And other men! (The other men were because of a gang rape. Super uncomfortable to read about, considering she was also pregnant at the time. Readers beware.)

It starts off from the perspective of Edward, coming home from being a soldier. Stumbling across a childhood friend, Cassie, conveniently going swimming in her shift and clearly all grown up. Well, Cassie's no shrinking violet, and she's doing the chasing and slinking up to the honorable person that is Edward. She's had a massive crush on Edward all her life and soon they are about to be married. Happiness reigns supreme. People are arriving to their engagement ball, among them Anthony Welles (cue dramatic music). Except you suspect nothing because Cassie hardly notices him. He reveals nothing of the churning madness within. Then, with the wedding looming, Cassie goes out sailing at the behest of her governess, and her boat is captured by, uh-oh -- The Cassandra?? What a coincidence!

It turns out it's Anthony Welles, and he has no intention of ever letting her go. At this point, I was sucked into the book as much as a teenage girl to Flowers in the Attic for the first time. It was gothic, it was dramatic. Anthony Welles is, in modern historical romance, a hunk of the first order. Half-Italian, an earl, in his 30s, well-traveled and super desirable to the ladies. These are pretty much guaranteed in all the newer historical romances. But in this bodice ripper of the past, he was a villanous hero. Cassie wasn't having any of him. She's throwing fits, trying to escape, she even dives off the ship at one point (but then realizes there are other more nefarious characters also trolling the Mediterranean).

To give the author credit, Anthony Welles was pretty single-minded. A bit sick. But then, aren't all kidnappers and rapists? But in fiction, Coulter did pretty good by me. She strode a fine line between psycho violent dude (Judith McNaught was known for these) and uber metro softies that try to explain away their kidnapping. I thought she did a decent job.

At one point, Cassie was captured by Anthony's enemies and gang-raped. Horrible and kind of par for the course for this era of books. Apparently we've come a long way in literature and in real life. It was seriously ghastly because she had to be stitched up. How graphic is that?? Then she somehow gains momentum again and escapes to the US to find Edward.

Again Coulter strode a fine line. At some point, I felt she made Edward to be (suddenly) not that chivalrous for the purpose of putting Anthony in a better light. A lot of authors do this, I think in order to avoid a love triangle, or people comparing the two heroes. I see the point in this, I do, given the annoyance I felt when some heroines end up with the guy who's clearly the lesser. But I think the emphasize shouldn't be on who's the BETTER man, but who's better for HER, in which case, it's not about who's good or bad. So Edward was made to be not as nice a person because he wasn't as good a lover, he forgot she has never liked tea, and also he's been involved with another woman. Really? I mean, she was presumed dead. For over a year. I mean, she got pregnant, then miscarried, and then got pregnant again. Super unhealthy for the mom, but you know, what can you do.

But it worked out because Anthony strode back into the limelight and stole the show with the line: "I have come to reclaim what is mine, Lyndhurst. You have had your time with her, and you will have no more. I suggest that you choose to divorce her." That's pretty awesome in its civility and also accompanied by a bow.

So, despite its age and some gruesome details and the controversial aspect of a totally psychotic stalker dude, this book worked!

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never cared for Coulter's Historical-Romance books. I feel the same for this one. It is just too hard to get past Cassie's kidnapping. I get it that Anthony really, really loves her and shows it all the way through the book. The violence is just a little too much for my taste. Cassie finally finds out why Anthony knows so much about her and freaks and runs. Anthony follows her and all ends happily ever after. By the way, if you like sex scenes, this book has lots.

[Jana · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't understand any of the reasoning behind the actions of the hero (anti-hero).

No, please tell me, how, or what could've justified him kidnaping her, repeatedly raping her and then flogging her because she reasonably didn't obey his orders. Mind you, she is to be his wife and he says he loves her! What? From what I've observed he dosn't enjoy hurting women and then again he does that. I actually think he acts a little like a psychopath. Like he's oblivious of other peoples feelings and can't discern right from wrong? Well that's how he acted. I refuse to read on and be subjected to this kind of torture. I've read really depriving books before, but they all had at least some reasonable background. Hell, tell me he's a psychopath then I'll really love to see how it ends, but to make them think and try to make me think they're all sane? Hell, NO!


I've read, well 15 % of this book and I see no future for them. I feel nothing but pure hatered for the hero, and I'm repulsed. Some authors just make you love the (hero) villain, okey? He can sew his skin to that of the heroine and you'll just love to hate him. But here, I just, you know, it was blah!

Okey, I may just give it a second chance lets see....




"I have never been drunk before, you know,” she said aloud, trying to focus her eyes upon his face. “Nor,” she added thoughtfully, “have I ever been beaten before.”

  “I did not want to thrash you, but you gave me no choice.”

  Her hazy thoughts wove themselves together as his gently spoken words penetrated her mind. “No, there was no choice. You did what was just.”

At this words all I wanna do is curl into myself and cry untill my tears run dry, how can they say they didn't have choice? There's always a choice (especially in a book), and to make her feel like there wasn't was so painfull to read...

You did what was just.” She sighed and whispered, her words so slurred that he could barely make them out, “But there have been other things you have done to me, things you have made me feel that I did not wish. There was choice there, I think.”

  Before he could decide how to respond to her, she said, “Your laudanum and French burgundy have worked. I do not hurt now.”


What kind of a man is he? Am I supposed to like him? Hate him? No, I despise him! At this point I'll acept her marry his valet over him.



"Ah, here it is,” he said, grinning at her. “It is fortunate that I thought to add this dowdy garment to your wardrobe, is it not?”

  “It is obvious that you had in mind all along to beat me.”

  “Oh no,” he said cheerfully. “Indeed, I can think of fewer things less pleasurable than beating you. But it is a question of control, is it not, Cassandra? I think we have both learned a lesson.”


How can someone be cheerfull over the fact that his loved one was beaten and is still hurting because of him?





"You are so different from me, so exquisite,” she whispered, scarcely aware that she spoke her thoughts aloud.

  He laughed, a rich sound from deep in his throat. “All of me or just part of me, cara?”

  “All of you.”

  “Ah, we make progress.” He sat down beside her and laid one large hand lightly on her thigh. If only, he thought, gazing at her soft, parted lips, he could make her tell him that she loved him. But it was too soon, much too soon, and he knew that it was the passion he awakened in her that drugged her mind. 

So, make her tell him that she loved him? Because of what?
I can't, okey? I gave it another chance but I couldn't read more than a couple of pages more.

Ridiculous!

[Maura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah. The Earl of Clare is a sick, twisted bastard. Obsessed with this girl for years (her whole life but only sexually for the past year or so) he kidnaps her, rapes her, and confines her. He smugly tells her that she will marry him, but she's got all the time in the world to agree (so long as we're having sex). There is never any doubt in his mind that she'll refuse him (conceited ass). He makes her brother and fiancé think she is dead. Why? So her fiancé can begin to forget her - otherwise it would be cruel to let him think he might still have a chance with her. Since naturally, you will be MY wife.

I'm not a big fan of the whole I-have-to-rape-you-so-you'll-fall-in-love-with-me thinking. Methinks he's going about it all wrong. Well - unless he was actually aiming for Stockholm Syndrome. Which is a possibility. Wouldn't it make more sense to just kidnap the girl, hold onto her for a few months and let her actually fall in love with you (not your penis) and then have sex with her? Why does sex have to come first? I didn't buy his argument for that. And you love her so much that you will take her against her will? Really? That's love?

And yes - the heroine. I swear I was so ecstatic when she left the Hero(psycho) and went off to America that I actually applauded my ereader. I thought, wouldn't it be so nice if our Hero found that he couldn't actually have her or had to actually chase after her and beg her forgiveness or at least give her a Fucking choice!!!??? But no - less than a day after he arrives she's telling him how much she loves him and he's ready to thrash her for leaving him. Grrr. Not the ending I wanted.

So why two stars in stead of one? Because this book pokes fun at itself constantly. There are two characters I love for this reason.

Oddly enough, one is the heroine. First, I love the insults. At one point she calls him an "Officious bore." How lovely. But mostly, she has a way of turning his actions around on him so he has to consider them. It's just a shame he's so hardheaded.

Talking about the pirate Barbarossa… "He much enjoyed pillaging, taking the men for slaves in his galleys and ravishing the women, a pastime I find hardly romantic."
Cassie slowly turned at his words, "And just how would you describe the ravishing of women my lord?"

Then there's the Scottish crewman Scargill. This guy had some good insight. While talking about having he heroine watch someone being lashed in her place…

"She called me a braying ass not long ago. Now I must bequeath that charming title to you. Under no circumstances would I do anything so reprehensible."
"Ye abducted a lady, my lord, against her will."

Yeah, Scargill alone brought the book up to 2 stars, but the lack of a plot nearly dropped it back down. This book probably could have just skipped the villainy...

[Sue Lyndon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this book has received a lot of bad reviews, but it just happens to be one of my favorite books...so here I am trying to defend it. Yes, Anthony kidnaps, rapes, and beats Cassandra...but it's not a story about a sadistic man who LIKES to inflict pain upon women. It's the story of a man in love who intends to properly court a woman during her first season in London. However, Cassandra decides to skip her first season in London to marry her childhood sweetheart. Anthony wants Cassandra so badly that he does go so far as to kidnap her. He does rape her...but in his mind it is so she can't go back to her fiance. He tries to teach Cassandra pleasure along the way. And the one time he does beat her, he doesn't really want to do it...she disobeys his orders on his ship and she assumes she will be punished after he scolds her and actually urges him to 'get it over with.' Despite having kidnapped Cassandra, Anthony treats her kindly and tries to earn her affection. And despite some very bad things happening to the heroine, the book ends happily enough. If you love historical romances and can deal with the 'harsher' parts of history in regards to how women were treated back then, then I recommend giving this book a try!