Desire

Rating:
Summary: 5 stars for steaminess, 1 star for plot.
Review: Lucian has got to be one of the most arrogant alpha males I have come across in a long time. His biggest redeeming factor, and he does redeem himself, is that he (eventually) realizes what he has done and how it effected the heroine Brynn. There are elements of "The Big Misunderstanding" but they are handled well and took up a very small part of the plot, and actually enhanced it. (If I sound surprised, I am, because this is the first time I have ever thought that particular plot devise worked.)

The sex scenes were hot and well done, as Ms. Jordan is known for, though I found it a little hard to buy into how much they lusted after each other, especially since they really did not seem to like each other all that much for most of the book. As the book progresses she does an admirable job showing how each lead develops their feelings towards the other, so I have no complaint in that department.

My problem with the story was how the "suspense" plot was handled. Lucian is an intelligence agent in Britain during the Napoleonic Wars (big surprise). He is after a traitor high up in the aristocracy. He has been chasing the traitor for some time and continues to do so throughout this book. The problem is that this plot is not needed at all considering nothing is done to further it. By the end of the book Lucian is no closer to catching the bad guy than he was in the beginning. The only thing accomplished was setting up the scene for what I assume will be the next sequel. I felt cheated with that.

Rating:
Summary: Passionate intrigue
Review: Lucian Tremayne, Earl of Wycliffe and legendary spymaster, has a chance encounter with beautiful and fiery Brynn Caldwell when she is swimming near her home on the Cornish coast. A recent brush with death has convinced Lucian of the need to marry and produce an heir and when he discovers Brynn is an eligible, but impoverished noblewoman, he decides she will make the perfect bride to bear him a son.

Brynn however is a firm believer in a gypsy curse which will mean death to any man she comes to love and so is determined never to wed. Despite her strenuous objections Brynn is forced into marriage with the Earl to save her family from poverty, but as both Brynn and Lucian are equally determined not to fall in love, the marriage is to be purely a business arrangement and love is not part of the bargain!

Soon after their marriage, Lucian begins to suspect his new wife and her brother may be embroiled in a treasonous plot to aid Napoleon. He is tormented by his growing feelings for his wife yet torn by his duty to his country. Brynn's belief in the gypsy curse means that she will not allow herself to care for Lucian, despite the overwhelming attraction she feels towards him. Set against a background of suspicion and treason, the passion Brynn & Lucian feel for each other explodes as intrigue and the search for stolen gold brings the tension between the lovers to a dangerous climax.

Once again Nicole Jordan delivers a passionate and sensual romance in DESIRE, which is the third book in the Notorious series, following THE SEDUCTION and THE PASSION. Set in 1813 Regency London and Cornwall and with the elements of intrigue and danger added to the romance, most readers will enjoy this latest instalment. I thought it lacked some of the character and plot development of Nicole's earlier novels and it would also have been nice to see more development of Brynn and Lucian's relationship outside the bedroom. Lastly, a minor gripe. Unfortunately the setting of the novel never really had a Regency "feel" and in fact it could have been set in any time period. It didn't really come across as a Regency, especially when compared to THE SEDUCTION and books such as those in Jo Beverley's brilliant COMPANY OF ROGUES/THREE GUYS CALLED GEORGE Series (all of which are excellent!).

Still DESIRE was a enjoyable read and will ensure that readers will be eagerly awaiting the fourth book in the series, ECSTASY (due in 2002), which will continue the story of Raven, who first appeared in THE PASSION.

Rating:
Summary: Less plot and more sex
Review: Nicole Jordan does not concentrate on the plot of her novels, but the more intimate scenes. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is something the reader should know before purchasing her novels.

"Desire" is the story of the Earl of Wycliff (Lucian) and Miss Caldwell (Brynn). Lucian is a spy, he works to scout out who is the traitor sending British gold to Napoleon. He is a returning character from Ms. Jordan's previous novel, "The Passion", in which we learn that a near death experience have convinced him of the need to have an heir so his entire life will not have been lived "in vain". He's rather arrogant and somewhat obnoxious, and not terribly deep despite the author's best intentions to give him different sides. He is supposedly traumatized by killing his own friend who turned out to be a traitor. It's not terribly convincing, but it isn't detrimental to the story either.

Brynn however does affect the story negatively. She is a beautiful woman who bears a gypsy curse that attracts men to her like flies to honey, but any man she gives her heart to will perish. The magical aspect of it all did not appeal to me, and I wasn't sure if in the end it was ever resolved if the curse had been real or not. Lucian does not believe in the curse, which is how the book takes place. He sees Brynn swimming (nearly naked) in a cove in Cornwall. He knows he must have her, and basically forces her into marriage. She does not want to marry him, because she doesn't want him to have the potential to die because of her. He doesn't believe in the curse, but they end up having a cold first few months of marriage anyway. They finally warm up to each other (which is sort of cute), but Brynn kind of ruins it all when she gets pregnant and doesn't tell him, and when she goes to visit a gypsy to break the curse, but lies to Lucian about where she has been. He, of course, immediately thinks the worst. Then the secondary plot takes over.

Lucian was in Cornwall in the first place because he was attempting to find Lord Caliban, who is the mysterious traitor forcing English lords to commit treason. Sir Grayson, Brynn's eldest brother, is part of the Free Trade system, but she does not believe he could possibly be part of the group sending gold to France. Of course, the truth is not surprising, and Lucian believes because of her previous lies, that she is part of the conspiracy.

"Desire" is a fine romance novel, but, it's nothing spectacular. Ms. Jordan's best scenes take place in the bedroom, or wherever else her characters engage intimately. If a story is not what you're looking for, but sex is, I would highly recommend the novel. If you're looking for a story, I would not completely pass it up, but it is certainly not terribly strong in that department. Her characters are nothing new, and the magical element bothered me, but most importantly, it's readable, and does require excess thought.

Rating:
Summary: Desired to throttle both of them
Review: Our 'hero' is said to be a great master spy-so how come everyone knows what he's up to?

Except his wife, of course, who is treated like a brood mare for him to make pregnant so he can have a son. He doesn't really want to be married, but a recent brush with death makes him long for a son. No love or trust is ever really developed in the relationship, especially when he initiates their wedding night by saying she is going to have to go ahead and consummate the relationship sooner or later so she might as well get on with it. When she says no a second time later on in the book he just plows on ahead anyway.

Then she makes the bargain that as soon as a son is born she can leave. Well what woman in their right mind is simply going to dump their baby? He agrees to it and tells her fine, but if she wants the baby she has to initiate all the lovemaking from now on. Whoa'he was the one who wanted the baby. So he makes her jump through hoops to 'please him' in every way while he just lies back and occasionally participates. It is about as romantic as watching grass grow. Finally he decides she has betrayed him and is going to kill her.

Her ambivalence in the marriage has been a-she has no idea who he is because he never spends any time with her apart from forcing his conjugal rights. And b-part of a supposed gipsy curse and she decides she loves him despite everything.

The paranormal aspect is thin but seems the only explanation for her putting up with the appalling way he treats her throughout the entire marriage right up to the last 20 pages of the book. Another turkey from an author who thinks that sex scenes equal romance, and can't avoid the word erotic. The definite is 'ending to arouse sexual desire. The only thing these scenes arouse in me is a desire to throttle any author who portrays non-consensual sex as a given which women just have to put up with, and really like after all anyway because no one in their right mind can resist a rake. Revolting

Rating:
Summary: Desired to throttle both of them
Review: Our �hero� is said to be a great master spy-so how come everyone knows what he�s up to?

Except his wife, of course, who is treated like a brood mare for him to make pregnant so he can have a son. He doesn�t really want to be married, but a recent brush with death makes him long for a son. No love or trust is ever really developed in the relationship, especially when he initiates their wedding night by saying she is going to have to go ahead and consummate the relationship sooner or later so she might as well get on with it. When she says no a second time later on in the book he just plows on ahead anyway.

Then she makes the bargain that as soon as a son is born she can leave. Well what woman in their right mind is simply going to dump their baby? He agrees to it and tells her fine, but if she wants the baby she has to initiate all the lovemaking from now on. Whoa�he was the one who wanted the baby. So he makes her jump through hoops to �please him� in every way while he just lies back and occasionally participates. It is about as romantic as watching grass grow. Finally he decides she has betrayed him and is going to kill her.

Her ambivalence in the marriage has been a-she has no idea who he is because he never spends any time with her apart from forcing his conjugal rights. And b-part of a supposed gipsy curse and she decides she loves him despite everything.

The paranormal aspect is thin but seems the only explanation for her putting up with the appalling way he treats her throughout the entire marriage right up to the last 20 pages of the book. Another turkey from an author who thinks that sex scenes equal romance, and can�t avoid the word erotic. The definite is �ending to arouse sexual desire. The only thing these scenes arouse in me is a desire to throttle any author who portrays non-consensual sex as a given which women just have to put up with, and really like after all anyway because no one in their right mind can resist a rake. Revolting

Rating:
Summary: A sex story rather than a love story
Review: That's all this this. I can't express how much I dislike romance novels whose main purpose is to create flimsy scenarios that present opportunities for the hero & heroine to have sex. This is exactly that kind of novel. It reminds me of Lori Foster's novels, but this author handles it with much less skill. The plot is so ridiculous. Are readers really supposed to read this with a straight face? The heroine spurns a handsome, wealthy, titled, devoted man because she's afraid of some inherited curse. That is utterly stupid. Once I read about half-way through, I couldn't finish it.

This novel is all about sexual attraction, not love. I have no aversion to authors who write steamy, explicit sex scenes. However, just like in real life, these mean nothing if the author can't convince readers that the hero & heroine love one another. If you really want to read authors who manage to combine love with steamy sex, try Gaelen Foley or Catherine Anderson.

Rating:
Summary: You Can Do Better Nicole!
Review: The Seduction is one of my all time fav books, but Desire fizzles from page one. Yes, lots of sex, but it lacks the warmth of her previous books, so the sex seems gratutious, not a natural progression of intimate passion. Neither the hero nor the heroine have any redeaming qualities that make us, the reader, relate to either one of them. I know Nicole Jordan can do better, as Lord Sin and Vanessa's story is my favourite re-read on my shelves. If you are new to Nicole Jordan, read the Seduction. You will not regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Great reading!!
Review: This was my first Nicole Jordan book and from the first page to last I was spellbound. I read the entire book in one sitting and couldn't put it down. It was the most erotic book I have ever read and I found myself lost in it. I am now on the hunt to find more of Jordan's books.

Rating:
Summary: A Winner!
Review: This was the first book I read by Nicole Jordan and I have since bought & read ALL of her books (yes, I rounded up the oop ones too). Nicole writes a delightful romance. Captivating, romantic, erotic, Don't miss this great read and pick up any NJ books you can.

Rating:
Summary: DESIRE scorches with top-notch passion
Review: With DESIRE as the third installment of the romance around members of the scandalous HELLFIRE LEAGUE, NICOLE JORDAN weaves a tale of passion between the rake Earl Of Wycliff, Lucian Tremayne and the gypsy enchantress, Brynn Caldwell. It was love at first sight for Lucian when he spied on the luscious beauty at the Cornish beach and his life-threatening job as a British spy has fired his impulse to marry Brynn for her to bear him a son. Ironically Lucian got more than he had bargained for; Brynn was a temptress that gnawed at his passion and soul, and when he craved love from Brynn, she refused his offer because of a visceral atavistic fear that the gypsy curse would stake its claim on Lucian just like it did on her first love.

DESIRE, following the tradition of PASSION and the splendid SEDUCTION triumphs with sensual delights between Brynn and Lucian. The love scenes sizzles and scorches to a pulsating, dizzying beat. Intrigue takes a secondary seat with the subplot of a gold-smuggling contraband with Lucian as the investigator. As with any romance theirs is one overwrought with difficulties. Lucian has to learn to trust his wife and conquer his demons of having killed his betraying friend Giles. Brynn is caught in a dilemma between his smuggling brother, Gray and Lucian.

Ms. Jordan's bold and passionate style keeps DESIRE a smoldering read, but it lacks the poignant tenderness in THE SEDUCTION and propulsive intrigue in THE PASSION. New fans who savour heated historical romance will no doubt be enthralled, but those already mesmerized by her style from her earlier works will find it somehow lacking that spark of surprise. Ms. Jordan is such an engaging storyteller that DESIRE leaves the reader desiring for even more.