Rating: 
Summary: one of my favorite books
Review: i loved this book.i was a little wary of purchasing it after realizing there was a book before it,but i didnt let that stop me,and am i ever glad i did buy it!the story moves from England,during the commonwealth,to France,and then back.the whole time,you see Autumn grow and mature,although there were points wher i thought she could have been more mature and made better desicions.but thats what i like about Bertrice Smalls charaters,they make desicions and have to live with thwm.the ending was good too,what a twist!i recommend this to anyone who loves Bertrices books!
Rating: 
Summary: Rather Boring
Review: I've always enjoyed the majority of Bertrice Small's books and in fact have read every one of them. But this one was rather boring. The heroine, Autumn, never went anywhere exciting or got involved in anything dangerous. She never went to harems or did anything outlandish. As a descendant of Skye O'Malley all the fire and bravery of her great grandmother was not there. The storyline was boring. I was disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Rather Boring
Review: I've always enjoyed the majority of Bertrice Small's books and in fact have read every one of them. But this one was rather boring. The heroine, Autumn, never went anywhere exciting or got involved in anything dangerous. She never went to harems or did anything outlandish. As a descendant of Skye O'Malley all the fire and bravery of her great grandmother was not there. The storyline was boring. I was disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: A great conclusion to this series
Review: In 1650 forces loyal to Cromwell win the Civil War and Autumn Leslie's beloved father dies in battle in support of Charles. Autumn, accompanied by her mother Jasmine, flees to her half-brother's estate, but when the Roundheads kill her sister-in-law in cold blood, the two Leslie women flee to the family estate in France.In France, Sebastian d'Oleron courts Autumn, earns her love, and marries her. They are happy together and have a child, but he suddenly dies from an apparent heart attack. A year later, when young King Louis XIV learns of Sebastian's death, he provides comfort to the widow and soon they make love. She has a child with him. When Cromwell dies, the King is restored and Autumn returns to England where she seduces King Charles, becomes pregnant, but the child is stillborn. A hero of the restored throne, Gabriel Birmingham loves and loathes Autumn, but he has a history as the man who led the Roundheads when her sister-in-law was murdered years ago. Although there is much filler material that provides detailed information on some of the stars of previous novels in the saga, this is an exciting historical romance that brings alive the seventeenth century courts of France and England. The story line is fast-paced in spite of the unnecessary flashbacks. The plot requires a bit of a stretch since much centers on Autumn sleeping with two kings, but Beatrice Small makes it feel as if her lead character was truly a real person. This is a solid O'Malley after the next generation tale that will please the diehard series reader. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: The Amethystine Jewel in Small's Purple Prose Crown
Review: It is a universally acknowledged truth that any female lead in a Bertrice Small novel will 1.) be a Fire Sign (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) or an Air Sign (Gemini, Libra or Aquarius), and therefore, according to the author, be severely lacking in common sense and in desperate need of a reality check; 2.) will have multi-orgasmic sex with whatever figures of historical importance that inhabit the era in which she lives who often force her into compromising and not always horizontal positions; 3.) will be named something ridiculous and historically inaccurate like "Skye," "Velvet," "Jasmine," or "Autumn"; and 4.) have a litter of children who have no manners or restraint and are praised for such personality traits. Oh, where do I start shredding this novel? Perhaps from the beginning scene in which spoiled-brat extraordinaire Autumn Rose Leslie (no, her parents were not hippies) throws a screaming tantrum because Oliver Cromwell won the decisive battle in the English Civil War and no there is nowhere to go to amuse herself. How can anyone identify with a lead character who is gorgeous, rich and lacking in empathy for the plight of others? Not this reader. I just wished this novel wound either end or self-destruct because of all of the raging hormones contained within. The plot is usual: Spoiled and obnoxious heroine is rich and beautiful. "SORB" heroine gets into one scrape after another because she cannot keep her mouth shut. SORB heroine gets laid every 10 pages or so. SORB heroine gets pregnant every 10 chapters or so. SORB heroine ends up with man who met her in the first five chapters. During all of this, we are treated to in-depth descriptions of clothes, jewelry, hair, food and sex. The End. One thing that continually stumps me is why people buy this trash. This series (over a baker's dozen novels in total with the Leslie family tie-in) would have been better halted at the first book, "Skye O'Malley." Better to spend your money on Daphne du Maurier's deft and elegant Civil War novel, "The King's General," or go whole hog on the unintentionally hilarious Restoration classic "Forever Amber" by Kathleen Winsor. In the words of the late, great Dorothy Parker, "This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown aside with great force."
Rating:
Summary: Almost, but not quite good.
Review: Readers of the Skye O'Malley series will enjoy this book, for no other reason than it continues the story of her family along.
There is not much else to recommend it. It is like going to a
family reunion...you enjoy seeing everyone and hearing how
they are doing, but in the end you are glad when it is over.
Rating:
Summary: Almost, but not quite good.
Review: Readers of the Skye O'Malley series will enjoy this book, for no other reason than it continues the story of her family along.
There is not much else to recommend it. It is like going to a
family reunion...you enjoy seeing everyone and hearing how
they are doing, but in the end you are glad when it is over.
Rating:
Summary: Hot, spicy, exciting!
Review: Reading this book reminded me very much of "Wild Jasmine", the story of this heroine's mother. She seems to have a lot of the same sexual adventures as her mother, which seems to fit the saying, "Like mother, like daughter"! It quickened my pulse to read of her illicit royal affairs, and her "love" children. Enjoyed every minute of it!
Rating:
Summary: This is the best Betrice Small book since Wild Jasmine !
Review: This book captures the wonderful Betrice Small spirit that was so prevalent in her earlier books, but so lacking in her last couple of efforts. I was greatly disappointed in her novella in the "Fascinated" collection of short stories. However, Ms. Small is back in force with all the passion, tragedy and joy of some of her best novels. "Intrigued" is the kind of book that one needs to have an entire weekend to savor. Curl up with it, make a hot cup of tea and enjoy being swept up in the story ! Despite a poor review below from a sour grapes reader who clearly doesn't like the genre, I hope other Betrice Small fans will read this book and savor it.
Rating:
Summary: Small Has Turned A Corner
Review: This book was a whole lot of nothing. It starts out depressing as the main characters whine and wail their way through Commonwealth England. When so many deaths occur at the outset of a book, you're probably going to wonder what's romantic about it. Well, nothing. Autumn Leslie is either devoid of personality, or she's prancing around sleeping with the kings of France and England. She never seems to be having fun, either. Jasmine Leslie seems to have tried so hard to be her grandmother that she has no personality of her own. Ugh. I'm glad I got this from the library instead of buying it!
|
