<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Crazy hero+depressed heroine=fantastic sexual tension
Review: First, a caveat: I think that if today's readers are going to read the Harlequins that Charlotte Lamb wrote in the early 80s, it's important to take many of them with a huge grain of salt and realize that they are pure fantasy and not to be taken seriously in our much more PC world. I have to say that the behavior exhibited in these books by Charlotte Lamb's heroes from this era could have set back the issues of equality by decades. Many of her heroes were borderline psychotics, and no mistake. But--I do think they can be enjoyed for the fantasy and dramatic tension. I was about 15 when I started reading her books, and I think if I had been older and more worldly I doubt I would have found them quite so enthralling. Probably I would have been appalled. My mother knew I read them but assumed they were harmless because they were Harlequins. If she had leafed through "Temptation," for example, she would have been utterly horrified. :) In the more extreme books, Charlotte's heroes abducted the heroines, raped them, mentally tortured them, sexually harassed them, suffered from near-crazy levels of jealousy, were often 15-20 years older (and when the heroine is only 17 or 18 that's significant!)--stuff that will not fly in a sane world at all. But she sure could tell a great dramatic story with loads of sexual tension. I never read any of her books past the late 80s, and only one of her non-Harlequin novels. I never cared for the ones written after her publishers started making her write in a more PC fashion, because that incredible drama was just gone. I don't think that anyone could say Charlotte was a great writer, because she spent too much time describing the character traits of her protagonists rather than letting the action do the storytelling. But the sexual drama and tension...whew. "Frustration" is one of the first Charlotte Lambs I ever read. The premise is that Natalie's husband has died, and she has gone to work at a British TV network as a secretary (most of Charlotte's heroines from that era were secretaries, alas). She goes to a party, where she meets a man who looks like her dead husband. She takes him home, fantasizing that he is her husband, and almost makes love with him. But she snaps out of it, and sends him away. Who does he turn out to be but an executive at the network! He engineers her transfer into his office, and sexually harrasses her until she realizes she is in love with him. His rotten behavior stems from his deep, dark and stormy love for her. I know, I know...but take with HUGE grain of salt, understand that in real life such behavior is not only illegal but very crazy, and it works. Just remember it's fantasy, kids.
Rating:
Summary: I totally agree with the previous reviewer!
Review: The previous review is excellent and funny in describing these older Harlequin Presents. With that said...I still love reading these older stories! They do have imaginative, often implausible plots, and a Harlequin Presents always delivers pure fantasy escapism with the requisite happy ending.
I liked this Charlotte Lamb story for all the reasons that it is now non-PC, like the previous reviewer said. I like the hero domineering (but charming), he always seems to be years older than the virgin heroine and is always rich and a womanizer, and usually drives a Ferrari and is obsessively trying to deny is love for the heroine by being mean to her.
Character development and POV of the hero were usually not present in these older Harlequins but there's usually a lot of tension, atmosphere and very inventive plots. Read these older Harlequins written by Charlotte Lamb, Anne Mather and my very favorite-Robyn Donald.
Rating: 
Summary: Disturbing -- with dysfunctional family subplot
Review: While I realize that this book was written several years ago and that I must take into account the fact that the hero's behavior is not PC, I feel I should add my opinion. I did not find this book entertaining in any way. The hero's behavior is (admittedly) borderline psychotic. His abusive treatment of the heroine, soon spills over into his attitude towards his co-workers as well. It isn't until the heroine calls him on his toxic behavior, and explains how it is demoralizing to the whole office, that the hero receives his comeuppance, and he finally begins to grow up. Okay, fine.
However, I had issues with an unresolved subplot. The heroine's sister, Angela, is cut from the same rotten pattern as the hero --and yet nobody ever tries to call her on it! She is a castrating wife and borderline abusive mother. Her husband, parents, and sister are scared of her. Her oldest son, Tony, is a brat with disturbing tendendencies, (yet his behavior is laughed off as being that of a "little egotist"). And her younger son, Colin, is cowed. Angela has some serious issues with anger, and yet, no one ever tries to get her into the counseling she would desperately need in real life. (Indeed, the abusive hero even admires her! Significant?)
Yes, I agree that book is fantasy. It's just not a pleasant fantasy. I've just seen too many real-life dysfunctional families to enjoy this book. Read it if you want to see the kind of stories Harlequin Presents printed in the early 1980's -- stories that are different from today.
<< 1 >>
| 
