Desired

Rating:
Summary: Too Big a Canvas for Such Small Charactors
Review: Cliche ridden and too predictable. Peppered with graphic sexuality.
Read Anais Nin for better erotica.
Sadly, this author has plumbed the depths of the illiterate. Worse, her women are either infantile in their shape (so much for subverting the child fantasy our fashion media perpetrates) or are so extremely endowed that the fantasy is laughable.
Fatal flaw? Saying "erotic" in your erotic passages. duh!
Thumbs down.
By the end of the book you want the whole grinning mob to die of the black plague.

Rating:
Summary: Erotic and Intriguing
Review: I actually read this book a couple of years ago, and I find it is one that I have read and re-read. Christian Hawksblood is mesmerizing, and for those who have reviewed this book and found the characters to be "lacking in substance", I highly disagree. This book was not meant to be a tedious lesson in historical accuracy, it was meant to be bold, romantic and erotic. That is why we read romance novels is it not?! Lighten up and get in the spirit of play (and FANTASY!) Women have always loved bad boys with good hearts and bold ways, no matter what the century. And Christian, with his dark skin, raven hair and mesmerizing aquamarine eyes, outspoken ways, and mystic training of the Knights Templar is a perfect "bad boy" with a pure heart.(Complete with scimitar tatoo!) From the moment he boldly calls Brianna HIS lady upon meeting her, despite her betrothal to his brother, you know the sparks of passion are about to ignite. And they do as he teaches her the ways of love, in body AND soul. You know Brianna belongs with this man. Very erotic, beautiful and romantic too. Very Kama Sutra. This was a great book. Highly enjoyable and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great love story and a hunky, intelligent and intriguing hero!

Rating:
Summary: Dark&Dangerous
Review: I am not one to know what is or is not historically accurate. What I do know is when I love a story. And this particular story I fancy. Maybe it is the description of the dark,dangerous, and sexy hero Hawksblood or maybe it is the fact that Virginia Henley went out on a limb to write two love stories in one book. That alone deserves praise. The sexual tension between the characters is fabulous. And the "magic" that has been applied to the story in the form of visions is helpful in guiding the story along. And the sexual tension is exquisite...not to mention the sex scenes. Keep up the good work.

Rating:
Summary: Dark&Dangerous
Review: I am not one to know what is or is not historically accurate. What I do know is when I love a story. And this particular story I fancy. Maybe it is the description of the dark,dangerous, and sexy hero Hawksblood or maybe it is the fact that Virginia Henley went out on a limb to write two love stories in one book. That alone deserves praise. The sexual tension between the characters is fabulous. And the "magic" that has been applied to the story in the form of visions is helpful in guiding the story along. And the sexual tension is exquisite...not to mention the sex scenes. Keep up the good work.

Rating:
Summary: parts of this annoyed me but it's still a good read
Review: I really enjoyed this book and found story and the characters compelling. Particulary Edward, the Black Prince. So much so that I did some online research about him (and Joan)after finishing the book. I must take the author to task for her "interpretation" of history. This book has almost no truth to the history presented. History obviously got in the way of what the author thought was a good story.

That being said, this is still a good book and I would recommend it. Just be aware that what you read isn't what actually happened.

Rating:
Summary: Hot, Hot, Hot.....
Review: I'm a new comer to Virginia Henley and love her books. Desired is the 3rd book Of Virginia's that I've read. I found I couldn't put it down. I've read many historical romances and find that she puts some things in hers that is always a surprise. One scene in this story, Christian is fantasizing about Brianna....and well...let's just say that Virginia is VERY creative....and let's face it...if your into historical romances you've read it all. She proved me wrong when I thought no historical author could suprise me.

Rating:
Summary: Hot, Hot, Hot.....
Review: I'm a new comer to Virginia Henley and love her books. Desired is the 3rd book Of Virginia's that I've read. I found I couldn't put it down. I've read many historical romances and find that she puts some things in hers that is always a surprise. One scene in this story, Christian is fantasizing about Brianna....and well...let's just say that Virginia is VERY creative....and let's face it...if your into historical romances you've read it all. She proved me wrong when I thought no historical author could suprise me.

Rating:
Summary: Unbearable
Review: The main flaw of this book is that it doesn't centre around the personalities two main characters! There isn't much introduction to them and throughout the story, you don't feel as if you get to know them or care about them at all. Christian and Brianna are either baiting each other with words or tearing each others clothes off. There is a lot of graphic sex scenes in this book that I felt isn't necessary for a 'romance'. And what is it with the erotic dreams?

There wasn't enough focus on the two main characters. Christian was absolutely sure that Brianna was his destiny the moment he laid eyes on her, because of his erotic dreams he was having of her, before he even met her. Shallow in the most extreme, and not very realistic. It was likewise for Brianna, therefore scrapping out the ritual 'dance' that most male-female characters do in romance novels, the courtship, and the teasing or arguments that comes before the couple fall in love; there were none of that.

However, there is one plus point to the book and that is the small romance between Prince Edward and Joan of Kent. This secondary romance was very sweet to read and unlike Christian and Brianna, you can actually feel the love between these two. You ache for them, but not for the actual lead characters.

This was my second VH book and will be my last. If I had wanted erotica, I would have just bought one. Putting erotica under romance just doesn't work in big doses for me. Pass this book over, you won't miss a thing.

Rating:
Summary: A lesson in listening to your consciece
Review: This book was such a great read i couldn't wait to leave work to get back to it. I left everything behind just to finish it. The history in this book was indeed well researched and sometimes i even felt like i was in the royal plantagenet court when this story was unfolding. I was a bit disappointed in how the Robert issue was dealt with as well as the story with Joan and Edward- Joan was too trusting. Brianna was too staunch in some cases. Ms Henley really has a very graphic talent- I swear i was at Brianna and Christian's home. Just wished she had added an epilogue.i think Hawkesblood made a very satisfying lover- the best i can imagine- just wished he had taken Brianna from Robert sooner.

Rating:
Summary: Too Big a Canvas for Such Small Charactors
Review: This was my first VH book and I have mixed feelings about it. It actually took me about a week to read and usually I read a book within a couple of days if I really like it. If I can't put a book down, that's usually a great sign that its an exceptional book. I actually found it hard to keep picking this book up.

First, I did enjoy the historical aspect. The plot was very interesting and packed with action. Unfortunately I found myself more interested in the wars being fought and in the lives of the knights and royals than I did the actual romantic couple. This kept me reading, as well as the fact that I am stubborn and hate to start a book and not finish it.

I picked this book up for the romance and did not find what I wanted. Sure there was lots of earthshattering sex, but the love between them was not believable. Their characters were too perfect... Neither of them had a flaw... and I think that flaws make the characters endearing and believable. While I don't mind a bit of magic in a book if used tactfully, it just didn't seem to add much to the story here.

The romance between Joan and Edward was lovely and though it was intended as a secondary relationship, they were mentioned more than the lead characters and had more chemistry and love between them. I looked forward to reading about their story more than Christian and Brianna's. But truth is that I really didn't *care* about these people or what happened to them. It was basically a passing interest as I tried to get through the book.

Virginia Henley has a nice writing style and she sure knows her history (her books follow it as it really happened), but somehow the depth of her characters felt lacking to me. I won't say I'll never read another of her books, since she likely has better books out there. But definetely not for awhile as I have several others I've been waiting to read written by authors I'm sure of.