Rating: 
Summary: BEYOND EXCELLENT
Review: I read this book in less than five hours. I had a range of emotions such as anger, happiness, sadness, excitement, and some others. I felt like I was trully in the book. I was crying at certain points. I have never cried over a book. I would read this a hundred times.
Rating:
Summary: BEYOND EXCELLENT
Review: I read this book in less than five hours. I had a range of emotions such as anger, happiness, sadness, excitement, and some others. I felt like I was trully in the book. I was crying at certain points. I have never cried over a book. I would read this a hundred times.
Rating:
Summary: Scorching and wonderful Regency!
Review: I totally loved Ecstasy. Raven and Kell have great chemistry together as they both try to get beyond their own pasts to make their marriage of convenience work, despite Kell's vindictive brother. The story is scorching hot and emotional also. A wonderful read.
Rating:
Summary: MUST READ!!!
Review: I was given the chance to read an ARC of this book & all I can say is WOW!!! I LOVE this book!We have the ever tortured hero & heroine who both have a past they are trying to hide or live down & both have sworn never to let love ruin their lives! But as in all romance that just doesn't happen. They start off thinking they can just have SEX ... and that they can keep it that way, only to find that is NOT the case! The deep feelings in this book will have you on the edge of your seat from page 1. You're given the ride of your life waiting to see just how they come to accept and understand each others secrets and how they will find a life together! You will laugh, cry, dream and just plain come to LOVE with Kell & Raven! Nicole has done it again & all I can say is I'm dying to have my own copy to add to my keeper shelf.
Rating: 
Summary: Could have done without some of the more outlandish stuff
Review: I'm torn between describing this book as a "bodice ripper" and considering it something deeper. While I enjoyed the intensity of the sexual relationship between Kell and Raven, I found other aspects on the roll-your-eyes outlandish side: aphrodisiacs, sexual fantasies acted out in a brothel, fantasy lovers and even her name all seemed a bit too wacky and 21st century to me. The story was good enough without these silly plot devices but this being my first Nicole Jordan novel, I assume this is just her style. If you enjoy those types of things, you'll probably enjoy this book. Having said that, though, I did enjoy the relationship between Kell and Raven. Kell Lasseter is summoned to his gaming hell one day to discover that his brother Sean has abducted Society beauty Raven Kendrick on her way to her wedding. Sean wants revenge for Raven's rejection of him, but there is so much more to it. Sean was seriously damaged by sexual abuse he suffered as a boy and he has never recovered. In order to protect Sean from prosecution and Raven's reputation, Kell reluctantly offers to marry Raven and she, seeing no alternative, accepts. But they both agree to a marriage of convenience and while they allow themselves sexual pleasure, neither wants to fall in love. But ultimately, their attempts to wall themselves off from each other emotionally fail and both now worry for their hearts. You find yourself hoping that they can finally trust each other with their true feelings, for both Raven and Kell are very lonely and they need each other's love and support to go on. The darker aspects of Kell and Sean's past was very sad. Though he did some terrible things, I still felt very sad for Sean and sympathetic to Kell's feelings of failure and helplessness in dealing with his disturbed brother. Sean's actions posed a real challenge to this couple. Can Raven forgive what Sean did to her? And can Kell ever forgive himself for failing Sean - for ultimately choosing Raven over his brother? Is there any chance their fragile relationship can survive all this tumult? I suppose some of the more escapist aspects are meant to balance the darker side of this book, but I could have done without them. I would probably read more by this author if I were in the mood for an outlandish read.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful Regency
Review: In 1813, Raven Kendrick plans to marry the much older "safe" Duke of Halford to honor a pledge she made to her mother at the latter's deathbed. Raven vowed to marry nobility so after her mother died she left Montserrat Island in the Caribbean to live with her great aunt and grandfather. On the way to the altar, Sean Lassiter abducts Raven, vowing vengeance for rejecting his courtship. Sean takes Raven to his brother's successful gaming parlor. The sibling Kell keeps Sean from raping Raven, but believes she is an evil temptress until he learns she is a virgin when he almost beds the doped woman. Kell takes Raven home and he proposes to protect her reputation. She surprises him with the story she tells her relatives but accepts Kell's offer. As they become better acquainted their passion turns into love, but external interference and their own mistrusts and doubts leave their relationship heading to the rocks. ECSTASY is an exciting historical romance starring two powerful lead characters though Kell's disbelief of his beloved seems out of place for someone of his intelligence. The story line is loaded with action and the secondary cast augments the tale with a flavoring of the era and by meddling in the lead couple's relationship. Nicole Jordan provides a wonderful Regency tale that sub-genre fans will enjoy. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Ms Jordan Does It Again
Review: Ms Jordan just keeps getting better. Her books have not taken on the sameness of some authors. She writes passionate love stories. With heros and heroines that make you cheer when they finally understand that they love each other. This book is no different than the others. Kell and Raven are made for each other. Kell fills Raven's fanasties and Raven provides Kell with the love that he has not had since his parents died. This is also book of the price society pays when children are abused. I congradulate Ms Jordan for takling this topic. I look forward to her next book.
Rating:
Summary: This year's most ecstatic experience in romance
Review: Nicole Jordan is a high-styled maverick with her warm, sensual and lush romance - and her most indulgent effort to date is unarguably The Seduction which marks the first book from the Hellfire League series. The fourth installment, The Ecstasy sees her revert to a more down-to-earth plotline without the frills of espionage somewhat parallel to The Seduction. Except it's subversively darker in tone. Fans of Ms. Jordan will remember Lady Vanessa expiating for the mistakes of her brother in The Seduction. Ths time round it is the egregious gamester Kell Lasseter who atones for his brother Sean when he abducts the beautiful Raven Kendrick on her nuptial day with the Duke of Halford by proposing a marriage of convenience. The trio of characters are heartbreaking creatures. Victimized by his paedophilic uncle, Sean Lasseter turns deranged and vindictive towards his brother Kell for failing to rescue him. Kell Lasseter blames himself for his brother's plight and connive at his misdeeds but when a lady's honour is ruined by his brother's hands and that Sean may be incarcerated for the kidnap, he offers Raven his protection even as he feels contempt for the English prigs who harshly discriminated against his mother of Irish origins and left her to languish in poverty. Raven is disillusioned with her mother's tragic death in her quest for grand passion which was never requited. Her mother made her promise to marry for good station and not love. She represses her passion by conjuring up a dream-lover and is afraid to love. Haunted by her stepfather's label as a bastard, she buries her past in the Caribbean to search for acceptance in London. A simple story allows the full rein of character development. Ms. Jordan blends her fusion of poignant romance and searing passion seamlessly like that of The Seduction. The love scenes seeth with erotic virtuoso from the genesis of Raven's imaginary pirate lover and Kell's determination to realize the fantasy. Their relationship blooms from sexual chemistry to admiration and ulitmately trust. Raven finds Kell's chivalry and honor - as well as his care for orphans which stems from his tortured past worthy of emulation. Kell is fascinated by Raven's uniqueness in her tart and sass and strong display of affection for him despite her feigned nonchalance. The impassioned couple has a love so sincere and strong that it will make you weep through the lacerating epilogue. Ms. Jordan crafts the characters with a scherzo of emotions that leaves none of them caricatured. The villain Sean earns equal sympathy and hatred; Raven's grandfather relents with forgiveness for repudiating his daughter. Though the love scenes are delightfully scorching and an abundance of indulgence, it is ulimately the couple's enlightenment and triumph over adversity that renders Ms. Jordan's romance as this year's most ecstatic experience. Forget the euphoria from Ecstasy pills. This is pleasure of the highest order.
Rating:
Summary: Solid 4 1/2 stars - Love Nicole Jordan's steamy stories
Review: Raven and Kell are great together - the storyline was great - and I just can't wait now for Dare's story!
Rating: 
Summary: A relatively good read ... but not NJs best!
Review: Raven Kendrick (our leading lady), happily engaged to the somewhat stuffy and pompous Duke of Halford, is kidnapped by a scorned beau .... in the midst of the ensuing scandal, Raven weds the brother (yes brother) of said kidnapper, and as the story unfolds we encounter torn loyalties, bitter enemies, and reluctant love. After reading "The Seduction" and "The Passion" I was really looking forward to reading this one .... and was unfortunately quite disappointed ... but hear me out. Firstly, I think disappointment arose because I am used to a certain exceptionally high standard from NJ and this just isn't at that level .... secondly, I expected something a little more "risque" for Raven, I guess from the impression I had made of her from her appearance in "The Passion", also I had difficulty with her "pick" in Halford (stuffy and pompus just isn't attractive). I should also explain that I am not endeared to romance novels where the hero and heroine fight to the bitter end for their growing affection of each other .... and this, added to my comments from above, made me a little disenchanted with the entire story. However, all is not lost, if this is your first NJ it is still a relatively good read .... a word of warning though, this is not for the TIMID romance reader, there is a lot of ranchy sex scenes that practically melt the pages away!
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