Customer Reviews

Taboo

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I expect SJ to come up with exciting and erotic sex scenes in her books. Frankly, that's the key reason to read her books in the first place. But really, those scenes in this book are too plain and forgettable. And the story? Quite a yawn. All in all, a flat and forgettable book.

This book was really bad... And just to let you know, I can handle a really bad book if it has some really good [provacative] scenes to compensate. But that just didn't happen here. The [provacative] scenes had no excitement to them at all; I'm mean just plain boring. Andre was a typical man and Teo was just plain stupid. She was {if I'm not mistake; it's been a while since I've read the book.} 28-years-old but she acted like she was all of 13 with a really big crush on the local school boy. She is not at all the type of character I could be proud of. The author portrays her has weak and with very little common sense. This was my second book by this author and so far she has not impressed me at all. The first book I read by her was just ok and I was hoping she would get better with this novel but it didn't work out that way. I've had enough of this author.

I enjoyed the erotic writing(what there was of it), but the battle scenes were too much. There were a couple pages that I turned because it was boring. I couldn't wait for Teo and Andre to get back to each other to spice it up a bit. I guess if you want to buy a book to read about the war and all the details this is a good one. Personally I bought it because of the previous books in the series (Sinful and Wicked) Now these were scrumptious. I thought this would be just as spicy.

This is the first Susan Johnson's book I've red... but, She is already in to one of my 5 favorite writters.. OH MY GOD!!.. the way she explains.. all the explicit details is just soo captivating!! I just cant wait to read WICKED, cause if its half as good as TABOO.. then is WELL WORTH IT!!...

I did not have issue with the use of the F world or C word in the story, it was just that there was no story. Ms. Johnson, this was a romance book? There was no romance, just a silly heroine, Countess Teo, who falls in love and lust within 5 minutes of meeting our always aroused hero, Andre Dumas. He was a sexy man but she was a bimbo. Lots of sex does not make for romance. This book was just plain bad...really bad.

I've owned this book for awhile, and I keep reading it over and over (passing enough time in-between so I can't quite remember all the details)...and it still remains the most incredible historical romance I've ever laid hands on. The main characters are written in so much exquisite detail that you can't help but feel they are real - feel their intense emotions as thick and enveloping as if they were your own. Andre Duras is an even more intruiging hero because he is based on a real person AND illustrated in perfect form on the book's inside cover. Teo is wonderfully impetuous and intelligently secure, despite that her deepest desire for Andre conflicts with the constant doubt that he will remain with her through the course of the war. The historical accuracy does not detract from the storyline, but rather strengthens the reader's understanding of what type of man Duras is. And he IS, in my opinion the best male character ever created. The passion, agony, power, endurance, and uncertainty will take you for a read you will be hard pressed to forget.

I REALLY FOUND THIS BOOK VERY SLOW- THE CHARACTERS WERE NOT VERY INTERESTING OR LIKEBLE- THE STORY MADE YOU FALL ASLEEP-EVEN THE SEX WAS BORING- I THOUGHT AT LEAST THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE INTERESTING- I READ SINFUL AND THAT WAS OKAY BUT THIS WAS JUST YOUR RUN-OFOTHE-MILL SEX WITH NO REAL ROMANCE OR FEELING BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS- I REALLY DIDN'T CARE WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM- I DIDN'T EVEN FINISH THIS BOOK- SAVE YOUR MONEY- THERE WAS NO STORY EITHER-

I have one little problem with Susan Johnson that is really magnified in this book. Why is there soo much sex. I guess this is going to make me sound like a prig, but us all the sex really necessary to the story? I have read two other books by Susan Johnson and I enjoyed them both despite the abundance of between the sheet action. The reason this book bothered me is because I felt very sorry for Teo. She was much more commited to the relationship than Andre was. Teo also seemed very childish in her behavior toward Andre and I felt that Andre constantly took advantage of her feelings for him. The end was ok and I really did believe he loved Teo by the end but the inbetween was not very good. Also, the description of the war just bored me to tears. If I wanted to read in detail about wars I could talk to my dad and have him force me to read his boring books on wars. I read romance novels to escape this type of reading. The only reason I gave this book two stars was that i do applaud Ms. johnson for her historical accuracy and because she is the only romance author I know of who has footnotes at the end of the book.

Bravo! Taboo is one of Mrs. Johnson's best. Andre is believable and the perfect hero for the time setting (the facts are right on). I love the way Andre is re-created from the pages of history. I enjoyed the historical battles, I could feel as though I were there, smell the gun powder, much more so than the usual history book. Teo is one of my favorite leading ladies. She is strong, independent and can make a decision. The love scenes are seductive, passionate, steamy, and creative. The love that they share is intense and powerful. The entire story was like a roller-coaster ride, I held my breath at times.

I have shared my Susan Johnson collection with my neighbors. We are wives and mothers who usually lack adventure in our day to day lives. We talk and giggle (like teenagers sometimes) after reading and our husbands are walking around with silly grins on their faces. We all look forward to each story. Keep em coming, Susan!

This is the first book I've read by Susan Johnson. While I was impressed with her historical knowledge (she hit the batle of Zurich on the nose), I was not impressed by how she showed Massena (Andre Duras) in the light she did. I'm not sure how much research was done on the French Marshal by Susan, but it seems that a bit more could be done. I was put off by the description of 'Duras' in the book; not at all correlating with the actual physical appearance of Massena, and was EXTREMELY put off by the cover art portrait. British uniforms? Please. Read the book before you do the cover art.

The content was a bit unbelievable at times, but I realize that some liberty has to be taken to make the masses happy. I only wish Susan had stuck a little more faithfully to history and make this less of a fantasy and more of the historical novel I was hoping for. I'd still recommend it to friends, though. A stirring read and the battle scenes are perfect. How many romance authors know the range of a 12-pounder?

In sum, magnificent history, so-so research, and light character development. A mediocre show for this apparently popular author. I hope the next book is the series isn't so dissapointing.