Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed, boring, to wordy, not enough action.
Review: I am extremely disappointed with this authors books of late. I have read most of her books with Shanna and A Rose in Winter being my favorites. I am scanning and skipping pages in order for the conclusion. Ms. Woodiwiss seems to have lost her flair for exciting, sensuous writing. Since I purchased this book at a used bookstore, I have not lost money it. I do not plan on reading anymore books by this author.
Rating: 
Summary: I wish Kathleen could have made the girl better
Review: I am only on half way though but I am contemplating whether or not to finish the book. I really have no interest in finishing the book. I think the girl is a little stupid. The beginning introduce the girl as someone compassionate and maybe strong. She was taught to be free and think for herself. But so far I am disgusted about the way she has been while under the guardianship of the princess. I really hope she improves so I can finish the book without wasting my time.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Good & entertaining book
Review: I am so absorbed into the story as soon as I read the first chapter. It is romantic & funny. The setting in Russia is unique too. All in all, Kathleen Woodiwiss is the best. I look forward to every one of her books. She is upmost talented!
Rating:
Summary: What Do Americans Know About Russia
Review: I coudn't even begin to imagine such a dully-packed narrative, especially with "historical" underground. It would be only ridiculous to read about high life of Russian "boyarinas", about counteses and capitans especially of foreign origin in the XVIIth century Russia (!), about large pools in Russian "banya" (bath-houses) and many other absurdities including an awfull story of tsarevich Dimitry killed by his own father Ivan Grosny (in fact, Dimitry was slaughtered some years AFTER his father's death)... But I was deeply offended by the author's neglect to my country and our history. I see that Kathleen Woodiwiss happened to visit Moscow, perhaps, with a group of tourists. But it is the height of impudence to think that this is enough. You, Americans, have no right to say whatever you want about Russia! And if you are not able to read a couple of books before composing your foolish reading-matter for lust, then better write on you own 2-century history. It's much more easier and up to your capabilities.
Rating:
Summary: A Page turner
Review: I definitely burned the midnight oil to finish this book. It was great. The plot was well developed without having too much details. The characters were so real, I wanted to slap Princess Anna, kill Prince Alexei, and laugh at Ali (which I did). It was definitely a change of pace with the story line Being in Russia. This book was well worth my money.
Rating:
Summary: A very standard romance book
Review: I expected to like this book. I like the author, I studiedRussian, and enjoy a lot of romance novels. In this story, I find myself having to suspend my disbelief more than I can normally tolerate. (Even disregarding the Russian setting.) And I have to admit, I'm only about a third of the way through and I probably won't finish it. This is highly unusual for me. However, the female character and her circumstances are inconsistent and she tries so hard to be a victim despite the best possible circumstances in her life up to the start of the novel.So far, the premise is that the tsar wants the countess to go live with her (nasty) relatives in Moscow, ostensibly for her protection. Yet she is a wealthy country property owner who has control over her own wealth and properties. The author never explains if she is to become a ward of the aunt and uncle indefinitely or just until she attains her majority. It seems to me that her majority would be in less than a year, and hardly worth the bother to remove her from her properties, the management of which she seems to perform well. If it is indefinitely, this is counter to the terms of her inheritance and nonsensical for the background presented. There is also no explanation as to why her relatives are allowed to set up any sort of marriage agreement. If it is the case that she didn't in fact own the money or property of her inheritance, this makes sense. Her aunt and uncle don't own her property, yet are allowed to sign it away without the tsars input when any other male is required to petition the tsar to ask to date her. This makes no sense. There is never any explanation for why the relations are allowed to keep her a virtual prisoner. One would expect the tsar, who went through the bother of arranging all of this because of his concern for her welfare would at least expect a formal visit, if not also social visits, thereby making sure she gets out of this deus ex machina hellhole. Lastly, she decides to use the English captain in some totally hairbrained scheme. Hairbrained, here, means she wants to set them both up to get caught (not "quite" inflagrante delicto) by known, violent people who have nearly raped and killed her about 4 times by page 200. What does she expect, that they'll all get a good laugh out of this?...
Rating:
Summary: Can't judge a book by its cover story
Review: I expected to like this book. I like the author, I studiedRussian, and enjoy a lot of romance novels. In this story, I find myself having to suspend my disbelief more than I can normally tolerate. (Even disregarding the Russian setting.) And I have to admit, I'm only about a third of the way through and I probably won't finish it. This is highly unusual for me. However, the female character and her circumstances are inconsistent and she tries so hard to be a victim despite the best possible circumstances in her life up to the start of the novel. So far, the premise is that the tsar wants the countess to go live with her (nasty) relatives in Moscow, ostensibly for her protection. Yet she is a wealthy country property owner who has control over her own wealth and properties. The author never explains if she is to become a ward of the aunt and uncle indefinitely or just until she attains her majority. It seems to me that her majority would be in less than a year, and hardly worth the bother to remove her from her properties, the management of which she seems to perform well. If it is indefinitely, this is counter to the terms of her inheritance and nonsensical for the background presented. There is also no explanation as to why her relatives are allowed to set up any sort of marriage agreement. If it is the case that she didn't in fact own the money or property of her inheritance, this makes sense. Her aunt and uncle don't own her property, yet are allowed to sign it away without the tsars input when any other male is required to petition the tsar to ask to date her. This makes no sense. There is never any explanation for why the relations are allowed to keep her a virtual prisoner. One would expect the tsar, who went through the bother of arranging all of this because of his concern for her welfare would at least expect a formal visit, if not also social visits, thereby making sure she gets out of this deus ex machina hellhole. Lastly, she decides to use the English captain in some totally hairbrained scheme. Hairbrained, here, means she wants to set them both up to get caught (not "quite" inflagrante delicto) by known, violent people who have nearly raped and killed her about 4 times by page 200. What does she expect, that they'll all get a good laugh out of this?...
Rating: 
Summary: Forever in Your Embrace
Review: I found the story to be very enjoyable. I was so excited in the beginning, and then it fell quiet for a while. But not for long. The high drama and action mixed with the confusion, anger, and love combines to make an enthrawling book.
Rating:
Summary: A very standard romance book
Review: I found this book very standard...there is nothing outstanding or special with the plot nor the character of this book. I found myself very amused how the heroine in this book was portrayed and how she was placed in situation where all these men just want to kidnap her and somehow bed her. That is what I get mostly got out of this book, that Countess Synovea is an object of lust and thus her beauty is her curse...and that Colonel Tyrone just happends to be one of the man who lust after her and in the end loves her...and tries to protect her from all these men who wants to bed her. Try reading authors like Judith McNaught, Julie Garwood, or Sandra Brown for great plot, heartfelt love story, and interesting character.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Dear
Review: I gave this novel the old college try, but it just wasn't working for me. Why, I'm not sure. The writing was too thick instead of being narrative. I did give this two stars for being set in Russia--it always seems like everything is set in England. I made note of the reviewer from Russia and the reviewer who also made note of the Russian reviewer. Myself I haven't studied much about Russia, but I did think the names were rather odd. Really, if you're going to the trouble of writing a huge novel, what does it take to spend a day or two in the library researching yourself?
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