Rating: 
Summary: An unusual Quick setting...
Review: If I have things correct, this is one of the only two medievals that Amanda Quick has written and the more successful of the two. Again, you have to understand that historical authenticity is not what Quick is after. She creates an alternate Regency world (almost a costume romp) and here, an alternate medieval world. The story is that of a landless knight who also is burdened by his illegitimacy. He is offered the chance to win the hand of a local heiress, whose estate consists of one small island. The heiress Clare is however slightly unusual in that she has developed the island's flower industry into production of perfumes, salves and other scented goods which are luxury items and highly profitable items. The courtship of Clare by Gareth (the Hellhound of Wyckmere, as he is called) has its riotous moments, including the way in which Clare finally chooses her husband from among two suitors. There is also the notorious chicken blood scene (where the bride is given vials of chicken blood by her women friends and attendants to compensate for her apparently lost virginity). What follows is equally riotous - Clare scatters all the blood in a rage on the marriage bed, somewhat overdoing the illusion. There is also a romantic young boy who wants to be a knight, and a love-struck minstrel afraid of his former master. And there is the inevitable treachery, the attack on the island, the deceptions and the ultimate triumph of true love and chivalry. While the identity of a villain came as something of a surprise to me, I found the shift in tone from the middle of the book to the end somewhat jarring. The first two-thirds of the book were semi-farcical, a light-hearted romp. The last third was significantly darker, with the revelation of some pleasant secrets but also a few more unpleasant secrets. Also, the introduction of the themes of black magic and spells were somewhat jarring, given the emphasis on reason and rationality in the beginning and middle. [Reason and rationality were actually interpreted differently in the Middle Ages; most people would have believed in magic, black magic, spells and sorcery]. For these reasons, I give Desire a 3.5 instead of a higher grade. The book is a comfort read , but it is not an instant re-read for me. Nor did I spend my time puzzling over motives, the dynamics between the hero and the heroine (as I did for Hunter's THE PROTECTOR which also features an heiress forced to marry a landless knight). Those darker deeper threads which keep me awake a bit is what I look for in four and five star reads. Not that I don't appreciate a nice comfortable read such as SCANDAL, or any of Quick's earlier books.
Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Romance With Lots of Laughter
Review: If you love to laugh, you'll love this book. I have read all of Amanda Quick's books and am anxiously awaiting her next. This one is definitely a favorite of mine and quite unique. We begin with an illegitimate, landless, although still honorable knight. While quite the expert with his sword, he, unbeknownst to others, wishes to be a scholar. He loves to learn but has never discovered how to laugh. His father and liege lord recieves a recipe for a husband from our fair heroine, the Lady Clare. In her recipe, she requests a knight who is of medium size (Gareth is extremely large), of even temperment and good sense of humor (what's humor?), and intelligent (he CAN read). She wishes to choose between 3 or 4 knights, just not Sir Nicholas. The lord sends his son to compete with only one other, Sir Nicholas. The fun really begins when you picture this great, masculine warrior in the midst of an island of flowers (Lady Clare makes perfumes and is quite talented). He is amazed to find that Clare is surprisingly cunning (he likens her to a lawyer) as she points out how he doesn't match her recipe. But since she has only a choice between Gareth and Sir Nicholas . . . The laughs begin on the eve of her wedding when everyone, including a couple of nuns, her best friend, and her old nurse, question her virtue and supply her with what seems to be a gallon of chicken blood. Through this and other hilarious episodes, Gareth learns about love and laughter. Clare learns that maybe bigger is better. My only wish would have been to see Clare pregnant or ready to give birth before the end of the book. I love to see grown men (especially macho, grown men) get all panicky when the big moment arrives. A great read full of light-hearted romance.
Rating:
Summary: Hearts' Desire
Review: One of Amanda Quick's very best books, this is HIGHLY recommended! Ms. Quick shows in her many books that she is a scholar who does a lot of research into the background settings of her books. This can range from all sorts of scientific facts to archeological information to, as in this book, the growing of herbs and flowers for essences and perfumes. She creates characters in this book that are incredibly real, you can see them, sense them, even feel like you can touch them. They are also immensely likable, and the chemistry between them is formidable. The plot in this book forms smoothly and the tension builds little by little until the great confrontation. Humor and double entendres are liberally sprinkled throughout the book, and make it a thoroughly enjoyable read. But it is the touching love story between the characters that melts heartstrings and makes it a hard book to put down, and and even harder for the reader when it is ended. It is an unforgettable romance.
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Summary: it's what i call pure romance, amanda quick is the best!!!!!
Review: the book is about a headstrong woman and a feirce warrior with the same streak of stuborness. it's extremly funny... and scince i have read amanda quick's other books i know that this one will keep you awake at night.
Rating: 
Summary: Mayhap not good
Review: The stilted "oldfashioned" language mayhap prevented me from enjoying the story. Mayhap all books repeat some words over and over again, but your attention is more drawn to it when the words are strange. This is the second time that the reader reviews have fooled me into ordering a book that I couldn't stand. Mayhap I should try some of the books with low ratings...
Rating:
Summary: The best one!!
Review: This book, written by a New York Times bestselling author, Amanda Quick, is a beautifully written romance/mystery book. She leaves enough details to help the reader use their imagination to picture the scenes and event, but not so much as to bore them to death. I reccomend this book to romance readers because it tells of love that comes in all shapes and sizes and that love can bloom unexpectedly from a person you might not even consider.
Rating: 
Summary: Amyvan- dEsiRe...
Review: This book, written by a New York Times bestselling author, Amanda Quick, is a beautifully written romance/mystery book. She leaves enough details to help the reader use their imagination to picture the scenes and event, but not so much as to bore them to death. I reccomend this book to romance readers because it tells of love that comes in all shapes and sizes and that love can bloom unexpectedly from a person you might not even consider.
Rating:
Summary: Desire
Review: This is by far one of Amanda Quick's best. Lady Clare is one of the most life-like characters and her hero Sir Gareth is priceless. The humor is appealing and refreshingly placed throughout the book and often takes you by surprise. Definitely recommended when you have all day to read. You won't want to put it down until you finish.
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Summary: You don't expect a medieval to be so humorous!
Review: This was actually a pretty light read - and at times side splitting humorous. The scene the morning after the marriage bed night was just soooooo funny!! But this was also a pleasantly romantic read also. Gareth was a tough man with no humor, and no home and he needed everything Clare could give him. She thought she wanted one type of man for a husband, in fact she even had a list of requirements and other than being able to read Gareth it seemed met none of those on her list. But of course things are not always as they seem and this couple actually falls in love in a beautiful way. You will be swept away with the story - enjoy it!!
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Summary: Wonderful Romance, Strong Characters, Suspense and Intrigue
Review: This was my first Amanda Quick novel and I am hooked. She writes characters who are open and real. In this historical romance, the heroine runs an island (named Desire) after her father's death leaves her in charge. The hero does not swoop in and save the day because she can't cope; he just brings love and romance. And helps her solve a mystery that arrives with him! Wonderful. Quick avoids the stereotypical romance novel theme where most of the plot consists of misunderstandings between the two leads because each refuses to tell the other of their feelings. Quick's story involves both steamy love and mysterious murder. A great read -- I couldn't put it down
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