Love's Illusion (Topaz Historical Romance)

Rating:
Summary: It's just okey
Review: In my opinion, this opinion id for those people who likes long tradgedy plot. I've read Katherine Sutcliffe's first book and it was magnanimous and unbelievably written. This book is filled sadness. Emotions such as grief is necessary in a drama, but it doesnt have to take 3/4 of the whole book. Yes, you can buy this book to uplift you once in a while and trample you most to the ground.

Rating:
Summary: Bizarre characters, bizarre, implausible story
Review: The hero is a brooding, temperamental artiste who is so pig-headed he refuses to take any sort of action to defend himself against accusations of a serious crime. The heroine is a well-meaning, would-be Florence Nightingale with a sordid past and an evil half-brother who brutalizes her. There are several supporting characters, some bland, some vivid, and a plot that is so tiresome in its attempts to be "mysterious" that I honestly can't tell you why I actually finished the story.

I never did see why the heroine was so hot to bed the hero. He gave her very little other than saving her from a wretched life. I suppose for some readers that would be enough, but it wasn't for me.

The book's big climax (which I won't reveal) just made me roll my eyes and say "Oh, puh-lease!" Yes, it was pretty unexpected, especially for a romance novel, but it was also absurdly unlikely and melodramatic.

On the positive side, I will say that Ms. Sutcliffe's actual writing ability (i.e., her descriptive passages, ability to set a mood and a scene, character development and consistancy, and other technical aspects of writing) is excellent. I found it a bit like admiring a painting for the exquisite colors and brushstrokes, but hating the overall picture.

All I can really say is that I'm glad I got this book from a "bargain" table sale. If I'd paid full price, I would have been sorely disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: A very romantic story
Review: This is the first book that I have read of Katherine Sutcliffe. It is a very unique book that will make readers want to name their children after the heroine or the hero.

A reader can tell that this book is like no other from the beginning, because the heroine looses her virginity to someone else and not the hero.To tell u the truth, that was a turn off for me, but as the story goes on it gets better and better.But no one can blame the heroine for making the wrong choices, because she was after all living in the slumbs of Victorian London.The hero is the person who will be the savior of the heroine.I must say this is the most captiviting, romantic, and sensual love story I have read from any romantic author.In my opinion, the most romantic and the climax is this:"Human" he repeated."God help me, how can I do that". I can materialize money, flowers, and birds with a snap of my fingers.I can turn water to wine and wine to water before your eyes, and I can levitate beautiful women in midair.I'll convice you that I can walk through walls, for God's sake, or dissapear into thin air,but how do I convince you that I'm human?".

After this, the hero went on to cut his palm to prove to his love that he is human and not a murderer.This part I also find very romantic:Staring down at her, his face bleak and still, he said sardonically, " Am I so vile? So terrifying that you cannot even pretend to tolerate my touch, Mercy?.Many women have before, for a price.For Abby it was rubies.For others it was diamonds or a chateau on the Riviera. What would you like, Mercy?.Obviously its not pearl and diamond brooches. Certainly there is something you want.Pwrhaps the tuition to nursing school?At her soft gasp , he smiled.Ah. I thought so. Everyone has a price, it seems. For you it shall be the opportunity to become the next Florence Nightingale."

This book will make you want to fall in love with the hero.Katherine Sutcliffe certainly done a great job with giving the main characters depth(especially the hero), not like many other romantic books I have read with characters so shallow and undeveloped u'll want to go asleep with boredom.Any reader who loves a sensual and romantic book with in depth characters u'll want to read this book.I have to say that Katherine Sutcliffe done so good of a job with developing the hero that I am in love with him.A 5 star plus for this book!