Helpful Score: 8
I am disappointed to report that this was probably my last Johanna Lindsey book. Considering I have read most of her books, this is truly a sad turn of events.
I have so many complaints that I will try to be concise. My guess is that this book was probably originally written in the mid-80's when Johanna was cranking out the bodice rippers that made her famous. Long-time fans will recognize several tired cliches and themes that were so prevalent in those days. However, readers have moved on and unfortunately Johanna has not.
FIRST: we have a made-up eastern European country.
SECOND: a long-lost princess (stolen as a baby).
THIRD: the young, handsome and arrogant Captain of the Guard disbelieves her incredible story and imprisons her. (And yes, she must have called him "barbarian" at least 40 times!)
FOURTH: he carelessly takes her virginity (and strangely there was virtually no mention of that at all until the end of the book)
FIFTH: she's so darned cold and the only solution anyone can come up with is for him to strip naked and snuggle with her
SIXTH: the MOST OBVIOUS VILLAIN in the whole wide world. So obvious, in fact, that there should have been no way that person was ever in a place of trust to begin with.
SEVENTH: unsatisfying sex scenes. These can sometimes be so hot and steamy that they offset a ho-hum story. That is not the case in this book.
In my opinion, Ms. Lindsey should have left this leftover draft on the shelf.
Story: 1 star
Romance: 1 star
Edited to Add: Almost forgot the ONE redeeming quality of this book! The cover image features a masculine hottie that is bound to inspire a bit of drooling. LOL
I have so many complaints that I will try to be concise. My guess is that this book was probably originally written in the mid-80's when Johanna was cranking out the bodice rippers that made her famous. Long-time fans will recognize several tired cliches and themes that were so prevalent in those days. However, readers have moved on and unfortunately Johanna has not.
FIRST: we have a made-up eastern European country.
SECOND: a long-lost princess (stolen as a baby).
THIRD: the young, handsome and arrogant Captain of the Guard disbelieves her incredible story and imprisons her. (And yes, she must have called him "barbarian" at least 40 times!)
FOURTH: he carelessly takes her virginity (and strangely there was virtually no mention of that at all until the end of the book)
FIFTH: she's so darned cold and the only solution anyone can come up with is for him to strip naked and snuggle with her
SIXTH: the MOST OBVIOUS VILLAIN in the whole wide world. So obvious, in fact, that there should have been no way that person was ever in a place of trust to begin with.
SEVENTH: unsatisfying sex scenes. These can sometimes be so hot and steamy that they offset a ho-hum story. That is not the case in this book.
In my opinion, Ms. Lindsey should have left this leftover draft on the shelf.
Story: 1 star
Romance: 1 star
Edited to Add: Almost forgot the ONE redeeming quality of this book! The cover image features a masculine hottie that is bound to inspire a bit of drooling. LOL
Helpful Score: 3
Perhaps it is just that my reading tastes have changed over time, but I've been a big Lindsey fan and was disappointed in this one. Much was made of the princess' education and weapon's training but when confronted, she simply hands over her arsenal. I found her complete innocence, the made up country, the mistaken identity plot line, and her calling the hero a barbarian repeatedly irritating rather than romantic.
Helpful Score: 1
Sorry, guys; I can't agree. I have read every single one of Ms. Lindsey's books, & enjoyed them all, but this is absolutely horrible - the worst she has ever written. It reads like a middle-school storybook - just too preposterous to be true. I tried - I really did - to like it, but it too closely resembles Aesops'Fables, or fractured fairy tales, or some such nonsence. Pass on this one.
