Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable..........but lacking
Review: After finishing the book, I found something lacking in it. There is passion, lust BUT where is the romance and love? The build up of the story is good but it seems to have collapse in the middle.
Raven Kendrick vows to fulfill the promise she made to her mother to marry a nobility on her deathbed. But on the day of the wedding Sean Lasseter kidnapped her for revenge for his unrequited love. In comes the hero, Kell Lasseter, Sean's brother. He saves Raven and marries her to prevent her from being ruin.
Both parties do not want to fall in love, thinking that it will destroy them. Raven escapes to her fantasy lover when lonely, while Kell immerse himself with work. Each night he comes home and shares her bed. The passion was there, but where is the love?
Now here's thing problem, to me, there was minimal romance or love. Nicole Jordan seems to salvage this problem in the ending when both Raven and Kell declares that they are hopelessly in love with one another. Seemingly forced to the reader, and it leads me to think that their relationship is more of lust than love.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but somehow it lacks something.
Rating: 
Summary: Kell and Raven-SPOILERS
Review: Favorite scene with Raven-
The morning after with Kell. Yes, even when she shot him. :)Favorite scene with Kell-
The final showdown with his brother. Together-
The pirate fantasy. HOT!!!! :) What did you like about Raven-
She was headstrong and stubborn. She created a fantasy lover. :) What didn't you like about Raven-
That she didn't want to fall in love with her husband. What did you like about Kell-
Despite the things his brother did, Kell wanted to protect him, although Sean didn't
deserve it. Being kind to those less fortunate. What didn't you like about Kell-
He let Raven think he didn't want her after Sean's death. And he seemed so
tormented by his past.
Rating:
Summary: Kell and Raven-SPOILERS
Review: Favorite scene with Raven-
The morning after with Kell. Yes, even when she shot him. :) Favorite scene with Kell-
The final showdown with his brother. Together-
The pirate fantasy. HOT!!!! :) What did you like about Raven-
She was headstrong and stubborn. She created a fantasy lover. :) What didn't you like about Raven-
That she didn't want to fall in love with her husband. What did you like about Kell-
Despite the things his brother did, Kell wanted to protect him, although Sean didn't
deserve it. Being kind to those less fortunate. What didn't you like about Kell-
He let Raven think he didn't want her after Sean's death. And he seemed so
tormented by his past.
Rating:
Summary: A *definite* "keeper" .. INCENDIARY...
Review: I discovered Nicole Jordan's books about two months back, by accident, and ECSTASY was the one I found. I could not put it down, literally, stayed up till 3 am to finish it the same day I got it.
Wow!!!!
I love the opening, incredibly sensual, and then it just grows from there... the slow romance between Kell and Raven is very believable, the tension/heat between them is searing, and I didn't mind one bit the early section where Kell has to 'tend' to her in quite a special way after Kell's drunken brother has abducted her... one reviewer thought it wasn't plausible. I *loved* it, it was terribly sensual, and actually very tender. Kell's restraint was extremely admirable (as is his devotion to his very sick/hurt brother), and their love story is simply beautiful. Terrific steamy love scenes, and just a lovely budding of their relationship. And an amazing twist ending which, although very sad in so many ways, was the only way the brother would ever have peace (poor guy!)....
THANK YOU for a FABULOUS book which I've already read twice and will re-read many times. All the NOTORIOUS books are amazing!
Rating: 
Summary: Ecstasy
Review: I enjoyed the read. The characters are what makes this book not the sex scenes although it is sexy. They are two lost souls who manage to get together and "repair" each other. I liked the ending a lot also. It was a surprise.
Rating:
Summary: Regency Erotica
Review: I enjoyed this book. The story held my attention. The sex scenes were intense and frequent. The only component of the story that I found irksome is the heroine being afraid to be in love with HER HUSBAND. It made sense in the beginning, but started to ring false midway through the novel.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite Notorious book!!
Review: I just loved this book! Kell is such a wonderful hero and the sparks he makes with Raven are hot enough to burn your fingers. The pirate scene is one of my all time favorite spicy love scenes. Whew. The ending made me cry, which is not easy to do. Now I can't wait for Dare's story. The excerpt in the back of Ecstasy looked great. I have been dying to read about Dare ever since he first appeared in The Seduction. He is such a delicious rake, I can't wait to see him meet his match. Nicole Jordan's heroes are all so great.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Nicole - you're breaking my heart!
Review: I kept this book for a special time so that I could relish every minute of it. I have read all of Jordan's books with the exception of 2 or 3 really old ones. My all time favorite romance, The Warrior, is written by Jordan. However, this entire series that includes Ecstasy is not an example of her great writing talent. The Seduction, The Passion, Desire, and then Ecstasy are the order of this series. I would have rated none in this series to date more than 4 stars. I was disappointed in Ecstasy. It was not the savored read I expect from this writer. I have given it a 3 star rating primarily due to the great respect I have for Jordan as a romance author. I think I have seen the best in The Warrior and now Jordan has set the bar very high when I compare her other novels to that great book. Kell Lasseter, the hero in Ecstasy, owns one of the top gaming hells in London, and has become very wealthy despite his penniless youth. He is a strong, handsome, and dominating hero, as Jordan's heroes always seem to be, yet, in contrast, we recognize more tenderness in him early on. Kell has a very troubling brother, Sean, who is mentally unstable. He has been under Kell's care since he was a child and there is some horrible history between the two. Raven Kendrick is not a very likable heroine. She is in England after being raised in the West Indies by her mother. Due to her mother's strong desires for Raven's future life, she has raised Raven as the English lady she once was and asks Raven, on her death bed, to go to England and marry a titled man. In the opening pages, we see a hard-hearted Raven dressing for her wedding to a nobleman who she respects but does not love. She has seen her mother suffer from a broken heart for years and refuses to ever fall in love and give her heart to a man. She is one of the most immature heroines I have ever read and she is very stubborn as well. As Raven is entering the carriage that will take her to the church for the wedding, she is abducted by Sean Lasseter, Kell's mentally deranged brother, and taken to Kell's gaming hell. Sean considers himself a jilted lover and wants to get even with Raven for not returning his love and a few other items that you will discover when you read the book. Kell arrives at his gaming hell to find his manager frantic with worry and the news that Sean is brutally holding someone hostage in Kell's upstairs bedchamber. When he enters the room, he finds Sean drunk and seriously contemplating how he will abuse Raven next. He has already cut her clothes from her, hit her, drugged her, and tied her to the bed. Kell attempts to right the terrible wrong his brother has done to Raven but she is ruined by society's standards. He does not even know how he will keep his brother from prison or the hangman's noose after this escapade. Many pages are contributed to the solution to Raven's dilemma and eventually Kell offers to marry Raven and they agree to a marriage of convenience. This marriage of convenience is one overused plot line that I am very wary of. Sometimes it is a basis for a delightful romance. At other times, it is used as the beginning of a serious romance. However, I see it mostly used as "I want you but can't have you because I may come to care for you. Wait, I have to have you! No, no - that was wrong. We can't do that again. Oh no! I have let you get to me again physically - it's only sex but I must build my wall stronger now so you can't get to me again." And that is exactly what this was. Yes, we will. No, we won't. And the thoroughly irritating "I love you but won't let you know" ploy is used so many times that I rolled my eyes more than once. Half way through this book, I put it down thinking how immature the leads were acting and that there had not been an original story plot line at all. I was reading a badly written romance. But, ever true to Jordan, I plodded on. The last half was much better than the first half of the book. But Raven remained impossibly immature, inconsiderate, and became even more stubborn in really stupid ways. Kell eventually looks like a really respectable guy compared to Raven's ravings and poor decisions. The sensual scenes, which are not as plentiful as you would expect, were usually spaced far apart and for the most part were written as "just sex" as the leads continually reminded each other. I am a little old fashioned in that I want emotional commitment to eventually be a part of the sensual scenes. It does come but too little - too late in my opinion. The scenes rate about a 4.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). There is another book coming out in this series soon based on Dare's character in Ecstasy. I will eagerly buy it and hope for more of Jordan's magical romance writing. I believe a large part of my disappointment with Ecstasy is the heroine. I just could not see her as a lovable person until the very end. The hero is always the one to risk his feelings concerning their relationship and Raven remains unbelievably dumb about it all until the last portion of the book. I will continue to support Jordan and will be gradually adding yet more reviews of some my favorites she has written. And let me emphasize again, Jordan has accomplished some of the best romance writing I have read and Ecstasy just pales in comparison.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Nicole - you're breaking my heart!
Review: I kept this book for a special time so that I could relish every minute of it. I have read all of Jordan's books with the exception of 2 or 3 really old ones. My all time favorite romance, The Warrior, is written by Jordan. However, this entire series that includes Ecstasy is not an example of her great writing talent. The Seduction, The Passion, Desire, and then Ecstasy are the order of this series. I would have rated none in this series to date more than 4 stars. I was disappointed in Ecstasy. It was not the savored read I expect from this writer. I have given it a 3 star rating primarily due to the great respect I have for Jordan as a romance author. I think I have seen the best in The Warrior and now Jordan has set the bar very high when I compare her other novels to that great book. Kell Lasseter, the hero in Ecstasy, owns one of the top gaming hells in London, and has become very wealthy despite his penniless youth. He is a strong, handsome, and dominating hero, as Jordan's heroes always seem to be, yet, in contrast, we recognize more tenderness in him early on. Kell has a very troubling brother, Sean, who is mentally unstable. He has been under Kell's care since he was a child and there is some horrible history between the two. Raven Kendrick is not a very likable heroine. She is in England after being raised in the West Indies by her mother. Due to her mother's strong desires for Raven's future life, she has raised Raven as the English lady she once was and asks Raven, on her death bed, to go to England and marry a titled man. In the opening pages, we see a hard-hearted Raven dressing for her wedding to a nobleman who she respects but does not love. She has seen her mother suffer from a broken heart for years and refuses to ever fall in love and give her heart to a man. She is one of the most immature heroines I have ever read and she is very stubborn as well. As Raven is entering the carriage that will take her to the church for the wedding, she is abducted by Sean Lasseter, Kell's mentally deranged brother, and taken to Kell's gaming hell. Sean considers himself a jilted lover and wants to get even with Raven for not returning his love and a few other items that you will discover when you read the book. Kell arrives at his gaming hell to find his manager frantic with worry and the news that Sean is brutally holding someone hostage in Kell's upstairs bedchamber. When he enters the room, he finds Sean drunk and seriously contemplating how he will abuse Raven next. He has already cut her clothes from her, hit her, drugged her, and tied her to the bed. Kell attempts to right the terrible wrong his brother has done to Raven but she is ruined by society's standards. He does not even know how he will keep his brother from prison or the hangman's noose after this escapade. Many pages are contributed to the solution to Raven's dilemma and eventually Kell offers to marry Raven and they agree to a marriage of convenience. This marriage of convenience is one overused plot line that I am very wary of. Sometimes it is a basis for a delightful romance. At other times, it is used as the beginning of a serious romance. However, I see it mostly used as "I want you but can't have you because I may come to care for you. Wait, I have to have you! No, no - that was wrong. We can't do that again. Oh no! I have let you get to me again physically - it's only sex but I must build my wall stronger now so you can't get to me again." And that is exactly what this was. Yes, we will. No, we won't. And the thoroughly irritating "I love you but won't let you know" ploy is used so many times that I rolled my eyes more than once. Half way through this book, I put it down thinking how immature the leads were acting and that there had not been an original story plot line at all. I was reading a badly written romance. But, ever true to Jordan, I plodded on. The last half was much better than the first half of the book. But Raven remained impossibly immature, inconsiderate, and became even more stubborn in really stupid ways. Kell eventually looks like a really respectable guy compared to Raven's ravings and poor decisions. The sensual scenes, which are not as plentiful as you would expect, were usually spaced far apart and for the most part were written as "just sex" as the leads continually reminded each other. I am a little old fashioned in that I want emotional commitment to eventually be a part of the sensual scenes. It does come but too little - too late in my opinion. The scenes rate about a 4.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). There is another book coming out in this series soon based on Dare's character in Ecstasy. I will eagerly buy it and hope for more of Jordan's magical romance writing. I believe a large part of my disappointment with Ecstasy is the heroine. I just could not see her as a lovable person until the very end. The hero is always the one to risk his feelings concerning their relationship and Raven remains unbelievably dumb about it all until the last portion of the book. I will continue to support Jordan and will be gradually adding yet more reviews of some my favorites she has written. And let me emphasize again, Jordan has accomplished some of the best romance writing I have read and Ecstasy just pales in comparison.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Regency historical romance!
Review: I loved this book because of the delightful characters and because the story kept me turning the pages. Kell is a scrumptious hero, one of my favorites in a long time, and his growing love for Raven really wrenched at my heart. Not only was their relationship hot and sexy, it was poignant and sweet and very witty. I highly recommend Ecstasy for anyone who likes great characters and story that keeps you up all night.
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