Rating:  Summary: UGH! Review: It started out well enough. Zena, the orphaned heroine, has totake her baby brother and leave her Aunt, who was going to marry heroff to a lecherous old man. Zena showed strength by leaving all that was familiar to her with nothing but the clothes on her back, and embarking on a journey to her grandfather's place, which she thought was her only hope of survival.Enter the hero, Alex. He thinks she's nothing but a common hooker, and thinks she'll be good for a few romps in the hay. He even manages to fall for her. Not bad, considering that in this book, women are just men's chattel, to be bought, sold, and traded. They argue, so she continues on to her grandfather. Along the way, she is attacked, and Alex, feeling guilty about arguing with her, goes after her. He finds her drugged and ready to be sold at auction... How romantic. He "buys" her (after all, women are just commodities to the aristocratic playboys) for some rubies and horses. Then he takes her home and uses her some more (because that's all women are good for in this book). After another argument, she runs away again, to bear Alex's child alone. She gets raped by one of the men who bid on her at the auction (but lost)... What garbage! This book was just one outrage after another. Save your time and money!
Rating:  Summary: HOT, Sensual, Sexy and Did I say SAUNA? Review: Oh Sasha. I really enjoyed this book, but then I love Ms Johnson's Russian characters. They provide a much needed break from the Dukes of Regency England, the Wild West Cowboys and Indians and futuristic/time-traveling love stories. But this one also provides some really great love scenes between two people who enjoy "making up." The sauna scene is wonderful, the squabble over his nickname "archer" is cute, but I have to admit the purchase of Zena was extremely hot and unique. (I've since read her latest book Touch of Sin which sort of replays this scene in a different light, but this one is the original! And I much prefer it.) Only one thing... Just for once, I'd like to see the "I'm master, let me hear you beg woman..." adjusted. I'd really like to see the heroine be better at playing hard to get that that... Which I guess is why I like the idea of Sasha having to chase after Zena. Warning: This book is NOT for the conservative readers who like to read 200 pages before the first fondle or kiss. This one's hot and fast. I like that so I know I'm keeping it!
Rating:  Summary: NDW Review: Sasha is so much like his father Nikki. Once again I found my self in Russia with this wonderful couple. To simply put it, my FAVORITE part was the sauna! very romantic, sexy, and even though I knew what was going to happen, my heart jumped and swooned! Oh Susan why can't my man be like Nikki, Sasha, and the Golden Godess Apollo! Once again Susan Thank you! NDW
Rating:  Summary: Captivating drama & romance loaded with steamy passion Review: Susan Johnson gives the perfect blend of drama, romance, and passion. This book made me laugh and cry even though you may know how it will end. I could not put it down until I was finished. Johnson really writes some of the most erotic love scenes in a truly volatile historical setting in Russia, if you are conservative with loves scenes, read this book it may convert you.
Rating:  Summary: Very Very Hot Review: The plotline between Zena and Alexander goes from hot to scorching. I thought it was basically a change from your regular romances. I loved how they go back & forth. The scenes & history were very researched adding a bit of reality with a bit of fantasy. I would not recommend this book for the mild mannered romance reader. I have read it 5 or 6 times and will probally read it several more times. This one is a keeper!
Rating:  Summary: what a disappointment... Review: the prince is selfish, totally condescending, arrogant, and dare i say it, unfeeling. he's probably one of the worst "heroes" (if i could call him that) ever written. i hate that throughout the story, he keeps calling zena "child," as if she's more like a kid sister. and i despised his reaction to their first-born. zena does not deserve such a man in her life.
this is just porn supposedly packaged as a love story. even in the end, i did not feel that the guy was that in love with zena. and zena is just strongly obsessed with him, not in love. the woman has a very weak character. i feel that the prince is going to just overwhelm and trample on her for the rest of their lives. he might feel affection for her, but nowhere is it near a romantic love.
that scene where zena was in the harem and made to pleasure the men gathered was totally degrading. i found it distasteful. and even then the reaction of alex was totally unfitting. he treated her like property and stained goods, even if he feels such a strong lust for her. not even close to romantic.
Rating:  Summary: What happened to challenge? Review: The story was nice but i wish that zina had stronger character. I read BRAZEN and i really loved it, the characters were strong and presented constant challange for each other and Brazen didn't tolerate any mistreatment from Hazard. I think it's more interesting if there is challange and fights of wills between the characters.
Rating:  Summary: I'm a sucker for a good sex scene but give me a break!! Review: The title of this book should have been Sex Storm. I honestly can not see where this author came up with the title of Love Storm. The "hero" of this story had sex with so many women before he was "in love" and after he was "in love" that I lost count. Even after Sasha started feeling romantic feelings for Zena, that did not stop his sex feast. He had sex with other women because he was trying to forget his feelings for Zena, he had sex with other women because he and Zena had a fight, he had sex with other women to teach her a lesson. I'm a sucker for a good sex scene but give me a break. This story should not have an underlying "love" story - the reader does not get the sense of love at all from this story. I was so disgusted with this book that not only did I throw the book away the night I bought it, I have yet to purchase any more of SJ's work as a result. I would recommend this book to persons who are looking for nothing more than sex scenes that have absolutely no meaning and those who have absolutely no romantic soul!!
Rating:  Summary: Its is an alright read Review: This book is turly not one of the better romance novels that I have read. I honestly can say that I did not like the hero at all, and could tell from early on that he was a jerk, and could not understand why the heroine of the book, Zena could not see all of his poor qualities. I also felt that the hero, Alex's, realization that he did in fact love Zena was a little forced and overzealous for my taste, the fact that he could do a complete 180 in his personality in under 5 seconds is unbelievable. The only charecter that I did find the least bit intriquing was Wolf. For a better romance novel set in Russia read Splendor by Brenda Joyce.
Rating:  Summary: Before the Revolution Review: This is a rather odd romance. It's oddly episodic, so it builds unevenly, conflicts are resolved in an unusual manner, and the plotting seems to revolve around a couple of "erotic" set pieces that seem very likely to alienate average romance readers (see other customer reviews). Nevertheless, the author uses an exotic setting (turn-of-the-century Tzarist Russia, though, in many ways, it is indistiguishable from the Regency social setting), and she has clearly spent a great deal of time researching her milieu. It should also be noted that this book was originally published in 1981, when conventional romance tastes were, presumably, different. Or, at least, I gather as much from my friends that have dabbled in Catherine Coulter's earlier work. But Love Storm is definitely flawed: The author sets up the heroine to be some sort of modern free-thinker, yet this is not reflected in any manner until the conclusion. Many of the character's, and many of the subplots, are cliches from throughout the genre -- the loyal servant, the interfering friend, the misunderstandings and arguments. Nor, other than his prodigious erotic skills and fabulous wealth, is it convincing that the hero would be a suitable mate. Love Storm deserves credit for being imaginative in some areas, and should be docked for not being imaginative enough in others. Finally, I note that this was originally published by Playboy Paperbacks. A tiny bit of research revealed that PP folded shortly after 1981, and sold off their science fiction properties. Clearly, Love Storm is not science fiction. I am intrigued that Playboy would be interested in publishing romances as well.
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