Customer Reviews

Beyond Innocence

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I thought this book was great. I know that Emma Holly's work gets mixed reviews, but I highly recommend it.

I loved this book. Extremely erotic with several plot turns and situations that were unexpected. I couldn't put it down. I had to know what they were going to do next.

Emma Holly captures the emotions complicated situations and gives a modern feel to a story from another century and a society that didn't value women much. Yet her female characters were strong and sometimes flawed as were her male characters.

And lets not forget the erotic love scenes. Too Hot to mention on the net. You must read the book

This book is historical romance at it's best. Edward is the man and Florence is the woman. I love that Emma Holly has written a believable romance with wonderful characters that feel 'right' in the time period. Far too many historical romances seem like modern women in costumes. I really enjoyed the story and to top it off the sexual tension is engaging and the sex scenes are HOT. I'm happy to tell you how thrilled I am to have a new favorite author of historcal romances.

I don't often read traditional romance novels, but I couldn't resist the fact that Emma Holly had penned this one. I am so glad I gave it a whirl! This is one of the most insatiable erotic/historical romance novels I've ever read.

Florence Fairleigh has lost her father and financial security. She has to marry someone who could give her the financial and moral support that she now needs. So, she travels from Lancashire to London to improve her prospects of finding the same. As luck would have it, she finds the perfect candidate. Edward Burbrooke seeks a wife for his brother Freddie -- for a marriage is the only thing that could save his brother from the scandals and rumors surrounding his sexual preference. But little had Edward envisaged the aching lust and soaring feelings the sweet, albeit sensual Florence has kindled in him. Will he be able to resist temptation?

I love the mounting tension between the protagonists, the delicious eroticism and the story's fluid motion. However, what I liked most about this novel is the setting -- Victorian England. I'm a sucker for historical novels and the romance and eroticism in this novel are the icing on the cake. Emma Holly has become one of my favorite erotic writers. I like the not-holds-barred erotica she writes for Black Lace, but she's proven that she has a penchant for romance as well. I recommend this beautiful novel. Again, I'm glad I gave it a whirl.

here finally is a nice blend of erotica with historical romance. The description from the back cover reads : When her beloved father passes away, Florence Fairleigh finds herself alone in the world. All she wants is a man who will treat her kindly and support her financially . . . and she's come to London to find him.
Exward Burbrooke thinks marriage is the only way to save his brother Freddie - and thier family - from scandalous ruin. As head of the family, Edward has vowed to find Freddie a bride - and fast . . .
Thrown together by Edward, Florence and Freddie make a perfect pair - until edward realises that he has feelings for his brother's betrothed.

Emma Holly is known more for her erotica than romances, so when I started this book, I knew I was in for a hot hot read...and to be sure I was not disappointed.
I loved the 'sweet' erotica mixed with the believable romance, and even the issue of Freddie's homosexuality was dealt with nicely and not just skimmed over.
Edward was one of the BEST heroes I have read about in a loooong while. Stuffy and dour from outside and seething with repressed sexuality inside...just my kind of a guy!
I am off to read Beyond Seduction now, and hope Ms Holly writes a couple of historicals soon, instead of the Werewolf books she is experimenting with now!

Yes, it was pretty steamy, but it just wasn't a page turner. Even the [physical] scenes were stilted - no romance or love, just mechanical [physical scenes].

Edward plots to launch Florence upon society as his cousin in an effort to have her marry his brother, Freddie. The problem with this is that Freddie [prefers men], and although he loves Florence, he could never be in love with her. Edward is a different story, however. He spends the whole book lusting after our heroine, of course he getting her in the end.

But the characters were so shallow. Ms. Holly tried to make Edward strong and sensitive but she only seemed to be weak and naive. And as for Florence, she isn't treated as a person for most of the book. Edward lies to her, spies on her, uses her and she just takes it. Sure, she gets 'satisfaction' from the [relationship], but her character is so two-dimensional and she doesn't get any satisfaction from the relationship.

...

Well, I am not sure what your definition of erotic romance is, but this was not mine.
The character Edward was flat and the heroine so naive as to be unbelievable. Yet she allows him to take all sort of liberties including tying her up, oral sex, and having it off with himself all over the place and her (sorry, there is no other way to put it.)

Most of the time she is a passive recipient to all that is done to her, and she is just an object. There is only one full-on scene when he finally really makes love to her and she gets to engage in the action, and it is so weak as to be really dull and anti-climactic. It is all the way at the end of the book-hundred of pages of nothing but gushing and will they won't they at last. Ugh.

I can understand the fooling around without actual sex in terms of historical accuracy because he fears her getting pregnant, and does not want to do the dirty on his brother.

What I don't understand is scene after scene of it which never really advances the story very much and does not appear to do anything to advance the 'love' part in the book. At times it is as romantic as an anatomy lesson.

And the numerous rude words for his anatomy are all gratuitous-I mean, the girl would have to have lived in a nunnery to not know even the rudiments of what things are called.

There is no sexual awakening for her, just his pursuit to what he wants in the end. I can't see any woman getting caught up in this book, or feeling swept away by love, just boredom.

The author has an interesting facility for language, but lacks the full package of emotional intensity and a real joyous feel good factor at the end so that the reader is convinced of the happy ever after with real commitment, not just ravening lust (and not even much of that).

Awkward and unconvincing here and there, but not bad. As a fan of the old Heyer-style regency romances I enjoyed the blend of the old types and situations (the setting is a little more modern, but not much) with more modern-style sex scenes. Made me wonder what would happen if the more traditional writers were to juice up their old works.

Holly has chosen quite a complex issue here. In addition to being a tale of romantic love between man and woman, the book touches on the love of an elder brother for the younger, and the issue of homosexuality in the Regency period. Edward Burbrooke thinks that marriage is the answer for his brother Freddie, to save Freddie from scandal following recent exploits (the footman, no less! Shock, horror). Edward truly loves his brother and does not want Freddie's life in society to be ruined by his exploits, so he looks for the most sweet and innocent woman he can find to save his brother's reputation. Enter Florence Fairleigh, a vicars daughter, newly arrived in London, all alone in the world and in something approaching desperate circumstances. Although feeling some guilt in the manipulation, Edward sets out to ensure that Florence will marry his brother and save them all. And as Freddie and Florence soon become engaged, the plan seems to be working. Except that really, none of the three want this, and the situation is about to get very out of hand. Attractions ignite into something more (for all three). Then Florence finds out what Edward's plan was all along...

The themes of brotherly love of Edward and Freddie with it's subtext of protection, and repression of sexuality in Regency times are both handled with sympathy by Holly. All three of the central characters here grow, make decisions - good or bad - and live with the repercussions of those decisions. It's not a life changing book, but there are some interesting issues explored. And it's unusual in that Freddie has almost as large a part to play in the text as Edward and Florence.

Steamy, fun, sensitive, sad - for a 'simple' romantic tale, there's a lot to recommend itself in this book.