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The Worst Bodice Ripper you've Read?
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Nona wrote: "Nikki wrote: "Holly wrote: "Its funny, all of the things that I've read and not minded as much in other BR drove me nuts in The Flame and the Flower. I read it recently because so many BR fanatics ..."Nah, I'd rather call you a kindred spirit, as I too enjoy those archetypes! However, TSD just didn't do it for me. Even the origins of the Duke's angst was anti-climatic for me. I just kind of re-read the passage and muttered aloud, "Are you serious ... ?"
I found our *ahem* heroine to be a bit thick, a consummate martyr, and ultimately forgettable and the obligatory 'misunderstandings' that plague this novel annoying. Having said all that, I don't explicitly hate the novel, but it is the worst of the lot I've read thus far. I'm definitely going to read Seized by Love, because I'm obviously a glutton for punishment.
So, give it a read if only because although (in my opinion) the alpha aspect seems to have been a copy/paste job of 'all but the kitchen sink' on our Duke, he does embody that visceral sort of machismo that could have you stifling a naughty giggle or two.
Off to grab another!
lol awesome well I will let you know as soon as I crack the cover :}
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Heroine: But I happen to love you...
Hero: Well, that's your misfortune.
Wilde knew the key to spurning a woman, and he used it mercilessly. XD
Nothing has ever infuriated me to this degree before. Beyond the violence, beyond killing a heroine's family members, molestation of her, kidnapping, beating, or whatever else that we're accustomed to; that was unforgivable. :|
I think it suggested to me, on his rating of her true worth. Most villains and/or heroes act out with bodice-rippery due to their obsession of the heroine, but to me - this suggested she just happen to be laying around like any available tramp, and the hero held no deeper attachment. Random at roulette sexcapade. Not to mention, he was utterly jealous of her accomplishments, as well. Hero being jealous of other possible love interests, sure! Jealous of HER? Huh...?? Furthermore, it blatantly stated -- Oh, how dare this peasant better herself to ever deserve me?
Loved it all, nevertheless.
Mermarie wrote: "I know it's rather uncouth and masochistic of me to say, with the amount of violence related terror inflicted on the heroine's in question, but I honestly think a verbal cut-down in Once More, Mira..."Mermarie i love reading BR's that have very cutting remarks, nowt like some good verbal sparring with cutting wit, for me anyhow, i would much rather read that than have a brutal hero - i don't even like calling them heros if they are violent towards the heroine!!
Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "It has to have a right balance of romance/historical detail/adventure and I dont mind a misunderstanding or two. I dont like cheating/abusive/mean Hero's. Nor wipy lame Heroines.I dont mind the "fo..."sounds like we have the same taste in BR's Sandi :)
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@ Sandi unfortunatley those keeper shelf ones are harder & harder to find :(
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So true Tracyk,and sometimes when you order from somewhere what you get is a big disapointment in the condition of that "rare-keeper" my UBS only carries the newer books now,he wont even buy older books as he say's there is no interest nor money in them now.
I beg to differ..there are still people like us,who search & want:(
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I was snoring while reading this book. And, I LOVE obsessive heroes. DNF for me. Not worth the hype."
Good call, Mia. What I found so freakin' revolting about that book was the fact that the heroine wanted a better life. One out of the whole courtesan business- a simple life of celibacy and solitude, and here comes Mr. Bastage Breeches, further demoralizing her with the abduction and repeated insistence that she's nothing more than a sexual facility for his mommy issues.
THEIR DEAL WAS DONE AND OVER..SHE WAS IN RETIREMENT!!!! GDI, can't a whore get some peace and quiet????
I can't believe The Silver Devil was mentioned here. What the.. blasphemy!
I really enjoyed Bound by The Heart & The Wind & The Sea both of these i read on Kindle & found the Hero still Alpha.Maybe i might have felt different if i'd read the un-edited version. But if he was abusive i'm pleased i have read the newer copies.
I have read a few MC on Kindle & will check through to see what they are, i can't remember off the top of my head.
@ Cat I am curious to know the difference but i sure ain't going to purchase old copies to read while i have my kindle. Were the hero's abusive in the originals?These are ones iv'e read on kindle so i'm assuming they have been edited.
Bound by The Heart (already mentioned)
The wind & The Sea (already mentioned)
China Rose
Under The Desert Moon
The Following Sea ( newly published )
I found reading these comments interesting. I actually like Catherine Coulter's bodice rippers. She writes so well and usually the ending is satisfying. Her Devil duology is one of my favorites. Some of Bertrice Small's are quite good (the Border Lord series). It really depends on how well the author sets it up. As a result of the comments, I've decided to read The Black Lyon by Jude Deveraux. I think the one I disliked the most of the BRs I've read is Jennifer Wilde's (aka Tom Huff's) Love Me, Marietta. Had I known the author was a man I would have skipped it. He wrote very well and won many awards but his view of women and rape was pretty ugly.
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Haha! That's ironic, because I found Coulter's view on alpha males to resemble modern day stalkers; with Devil's Embrace more in particular -- how he groomed her from a small child and oppressed her from their first day on ship with his sentiments of undying love. Not only that, the fact that he had a fling with her mother, and the focus transferred to the heroine, after she died, just shocked hell out of me! I've read very few of hers, though - perhaps that was an exception. I did enjoy Rosehaven moderately well, in a 'sooo bad it's just enjoyable' sort of way. XD
I've not read Love Me, Marietta -- but I have it, and I anticipate reading it. I absolutely adored Once More, Miranda. Huff's writing reminds a great deal of Marilyn Harris.
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I cried like a sissy girl, when I read Once More, Miranda. It's ending just kicked you right below the belt. Are other books of Wilde's the same? :o
I've just about finished
. Can't say I have really enjoyed it. It's not the rape, alleged incest, torture or cruelty which you expect in a BR, it's just painfully slow, the writing dated and the characters are so one-dimensional. One minute she hates him and without any explanation or change in his behaviour, next minute she loves him. She's TSTL and he's just an arrogant bully. A disappointment.
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. Can't say I have really enjoyed it. It's not the rape, alleged incest, torture or cruelty which you expect in a BR, it's just painful..."Then why is it so expensive to buy used?There must be something about it as these sellers are asking an arm & leg for it..not fair. :(
That's funny, Sandi. I picked my copy up from abe books for under $8.00. I wanted to read it because of all the hype but it just didn't live up to it, only in my opinion of course.It might be just a matter of personal taste. My favourite BR's are by kathleen Woodiwiss and Rosemary Rogers.
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It might be ju..."
Im with you on those two authors Lisa,I know alot of members/readers dont care for KW but she was my first read back in the days and RR and I remain faithful to both and have them on my keeper shelf:)
Yes, some of KW don't stand the test of time but some like The Wolf and the Dove and The Flame and the flower are just timeless classics. I haven't read any RR for many years. The Sweet Savage love books were my absolute teenage favourites and turned me on to historical romances and reading adult books. They were real eye openers to an impressionable girl. I thought they were unreal. I don't re-read them now because I want to remember and treasure those feelings somehow.
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I haven't read any RR for many years. The Sweet Savage l..."
So true Lisa,I have a few I have kept from all those years ago and I'm hesitant to re-read as our tastes do change and I want to remember how it swept me away back then and keep the book in that memory of time:)
Just finished Defiant Ecstasy by Janelle Taylor. Whereas the first of the Grey Eagle series (Savage Ecstasy) was still an ok read, the second book is just annoying. The heroine and the plot are both simply stupid. The whole book she complains that the H hates her but she loves him. Wait no, she hates him. Or does she love him. Oh and wouldn't he hate her so much she could just love him. Or hate him. Whatever. My head is still spinning.
I totally agree with you about Defiant Ecstasy, Nicole. I wanted to hurt that book so bad.
Hi Karla, Than you were better off than I. I started hurting myself at the end (pulling my hair out, since that book I wear a wig) lol
I gave up on DE after about 5 chapters!!
I dislike anything by Bertrice Small , Catherine Coulter or Virginia Henley . Every single book that i have red, its the worst bodice ripper and i like bodice rippers pretty much. Now a less familiar one is The Captain's Doxy. I TRULLY hated it. Both characters are boring, wooden and predictable. The most annoying one, is the heroine. She cries all the time, she nags all the time and she faints all the time. The Hero on the other hand is constantly in a state of yelling and anger. Basically the whole writting style is just a big don't.
I sort of have 2 lists of "worst" BRs.The first are those that are just stupid/boring/absurd. Often, they contain some "hardcore" BR elements (rape by hero, rape by villain, hero whips heroine,etc) but I'm not offended or outraged because the author failed to make me give a crap about any of the characters. Some of these are actually good for a laugh though... if you have a twisted sense of humor.
Caress and Conquer
Passion's Slave
My second category are those that offend me, gross me out, make me angry, or disturb me.
The Silver Devil
Catherine Coulter in general.
I have one that I did not realize was going to be a bodice ripper from the description, but it sure turned out to be.
The hero was such a schmuck!
I hated
by Brenda Joyce.I didn't finish it because I hated the hero (can't recall his name).
The hero was supposed to be William the Bastard's top guy and Will himself was a badass.
This hero was such a sap, a chump, and a wuss where the heroine was concerned.
Why would William the Bastard have a wuss for his top henchman?
Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "I hated by Brenda Joyce.I didn't finish it because I hated the hero (can't recall his name).
The hero was supposed to be William the Bastard's top ..."
Lol! I loved that crazy mess, but I definitely see your point.
That's why I never quite got the outrage his character (Rolfe) caused. I was actually on guard when I started it due to lots of people screaming about his evil treatment of the heroine. I was surprised when I didn't find him that scary. He WAS kind of a wuss when it came to the heroine. She was a spy and a traitor and he shielded her from almost all consequences (except for the one betrayal that hurt his feelings so bad that he had to lock her up and be hateful for a while). Even then, why the heck did William allow him to be her jailer when it was obvious she was Rolfe's weak spot? Absurd, really. But for some reason I still found it highly entertaining
ETA: Since you DNF'd - I'm sure you'll be thrilled to know that when the two finally got to marry, William got all misty-eyed at the wedding. LOL!
Bodice Ripper Readers Anonymous
Books mentioned in this topic
The Conqueror (other topics)The Conqueror (other topics)
Love's Fiery Jewel (other topics)
The Silver Devil (other topics)
Passion's Slave (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Brenda Joyce (other topics)Brenda Joyce (other topics)
Virginia Henley (other topics)
Bertrice Small (other topics)
Catherine Coulter (other topics)
really? I'm getting ready to read TSD shortly, I hear such great reviews for the domineering alpha and the innocent heroine. Call me sick or demented but I love a good forceful alpha, the more tortured the better. One reason why I was surprised the Seized by Love was so horrible as it had it all so to speak.