Passion by Lisa Valdez Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Passion
Book Review: "Passion," by Lisa Valdez - First Novel, New Author
Summary: 5 Stars
What a rare find! "Passion" is a well-written, sensual and highly romantic novel set in 1851 Victorian England. The story is exciting and completely believable. All the characters are well developed and true to the plot. The action moves right along and kept me involved from beginning to end. Briefly, it is the story of a beautiful young widow, Passion (so named by her clergyman father because she was born on Passion Sunday), who meets Mark, a handsome stranger. They begin a torrid affair that grows to become a captivating love. But Mark, an Earl, is threatened with the publication of a horrid letter that his own mother wrote long ago. To avoid the scandal that would result, Mark must marry Passion's cousin, Charlotte, a lovely, innocent young girl with a rich, vicious mother who owns the incriminating letter. Mark's mother is no prize either, being beautiful, but unkind and wholly selfish. Both mothers have reasons for "blackmailing" Mark, and what an engrossing story this is! I read "Passion" carefully (no skimming!) and found it the best romance I've read in years--REALLY! You owe it to yourself to buy this book because you'll keep it. I've already started re-reading it. Yes, it's THAT GOOD! Oh--P.S., there's an excerpt from "Patience," an upcoming novel about Passion's sister, who gets involved in a steamy-hot, "Oh-my-God" romance! Anticipation...!Book Review: 4 1/2 stars - impressive, erotic & romantic debut!
Summary: 4 Stars
I must admit I was a bit wary of this book. The cover art was so "Cheryl Holt", I was worried that the book would be a series of sex scenes with little or no story. While the sex is both frequent and explicit, it is also very erotic (though this is always a matter of taste). This book also contains explicit language with a very liberal use of the F-word (among others) so those offended by such language should take note. It's the story of two strangers who form an immediate, electric, sexual bond and all the complications that follow.
Passion Elizabeth Dare Redington (I know, her name made me cringe in the beginning) is a widow of two years. She has come to London from her home in the country to spend time with her aunt and cousin in her first forays into Society as she comes out of mourning. Her marriage was not a happy one as her husband did not love her (nor she him) and treated her with total indifference. Passion has been numb for years allowing herself to be lead by duty and obligation. But when she is pulled from the path of a falling palm tree at the Crystal Palace by a handsome stranger, Passion's numbness takes flight. When this man looks at her, he actually sees her and he awakens in her all the need she has suppressed for years. She is drawn to him in a way that she has never experienced before and they play a sort of cat and mouse game as he follows her from exhibit to exhibit. They share glances, touches and conversation until they are desperate for one another and find themselves behind a screen where they give in to their mutual lust. Though she knows that it is wrong, she agrees to see him again though they only exchange first names.
Mark Randolph Hawkmore, earl of Langley was supposed to be meeting the woman his mother expects him to marry at the Crystal Palace. But instead he meets the most sensual, intriguing and alluring woman he's seen in a long time and he just cannot resist having her. Mark does not like women much and one could hardly blame him after meeting his loathesome mother. She made her first born son miserable just because he was his father's son - a man she never wanted to marry in the first place. She takes out her resentment of her husband on his son and man, is she hateful! She adores her second son, her beloved Matthew, but she also has a secret. One that leads to a blackmail scheme requiring Mark to marry the daughter of her former friend, now her sworn enemy. Mark has no intention of marrying after watching the disaster of his own parents' marriage, but if he cannot find another way out, his brother and best friend Matthew will be harmed and Mark can't have that. Besides all Mark wants is to spend as much time with Passion as he possibly can until she leaves London to return to the country.
Of course at first it's just sex, but the more time they spend together, the more attached they become to one another. Unfortunately, circumstances are forcing Mark to do something he does not want to do and, unbeknownst to either one of them, they are more entangled in one another's lives than either can know. For once they discover each other's identities heartbreak is sure to follow. And it does. Will Mark and Passion be forced to part forever because of two mean and cruel women?
I must say that the last quarter of the book was quite emotional, poignant and romantic which I did not entirely expect. I even shed a few tears! I liked Passion's character all the way through and I was glad to the see the growth in Mark's character. Though he is essentially a selfish man (except where his brother is concerned) with little regard or respect for women, his experience with Passion shows him that he is capable of much more than just sex when it comes to women. At least with one very special woman. This is a highly sensual read with a couple you will want to see together in the end.
There will be stories for Passion's two dear sisters, Patience and Primrose as well as one for cousin Charlotte in the future. Matthew will also feature in one as well as John Crossman who is seen in this book. So, we've got a Matthew, Mark and John - can this mean that Prim's hero will be named Luke? ;-) Looking forward to reading more from Ms Valdez.
Book Review: 4.5 Stars to Encourage this Author to Finish Patience and Primrose
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this after finishing one of Robin Schone's masterpieces. I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. A 4.5 star might have been closer, but I give the extra point to encourage the author.
The love story really held my interest. I was surprised to find that the follow-up books Patience and Primrose were not out yet. Research led me to discover that there had been some silly, out of line comments on the erotic elements of Passion. I was stunned! Passion is tame compared to many authors, and Ms. Valdez created multi dimensional characters that held my interest right away and through the entire story.
The love story between Mark and Passion is erotic. Explicitly erotic. If you want tame, and story book fantasy romance, don't read this book.
The complexity of the story and interconnection of characters are well done. Passion meets Mark and they begin a sexual relationship without knowing the identies of each other, and in a very public place but concealed from view. Immediately, there is more than a sexual connection.
The sex scenes are melting. I don't have the hang ups some reviewers have about the language. The truth is, some people use more earthy terms as part of their sexual experience. The author explains a number of times that Mark finds Passion's use of some terms, a turn on, because her usage is sexual and erotic for the sole purpose of being a turn on.
I commend the author for dealing with an impressively sized membrum virilis as she did. It added to the story. Most male protagonists in erotic romance are described as being large. I was actually pleased to see that this author brought the realism to the scenes that she did, and added the "fit" physically to the element of how Mark and Passion "fit" completely as destined lovers.
Their situation is complicated on both sides with relationships unknown to the other. I think the author handled these complexities well. She could easily have lost the threads and our interest infollowing them.
I can find no way to let the author know that I for one would like to read more. I really want to see the sisters' stories and hope Ms. Valdez has not abandoned them.
Book Review: A Different Take
Summary: 5 Stars
I picked up this book because I was bored. I was NOT expecting what was between the covers - yes I was guilty of judging this book by it's cover. I was suprised, but in a good way. For the unsuspecting, it will come as a shock to read, but as you can see that didn't hinder me. I thought the story line was a bit unbelieveable - what with a woman meeting a stanger and allowing him liberties with her person on such short aquaintance and all. Aside from that, however, this was a well written book. I eagerly await more from this author.Book Review: A GREAT READ!
Summary: 5 Stars
From the beginning of this book, I anticipated reading about a lot of sex [ and hey, I'll take good sex over sickly sweet blather any day] without much story or emotion because there seems to be a lot of that around. I am happy to say that was not the case. The characters grew beyond their superficial lust at first sight and developed into people with emotions whom I cared enough about to shed a tear or two. It was almost like getting two books for the price of one-the short erotic one in the beginning and the longer one about honorable people desperately in love and caught in a situation not of their making from which they are powerless to escape by the honorable dictates of their world. I am going to order her next book right now.