Customer Reviews

Lady of Desire

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Each book in this series has been increasingly bad. This one was barely palatable. The characters were, through 90% of the book, so shallowly drawn as to be almost completely cliched and unsympathetic. Although, with only 20 pages left, Jacinda and Billy finally show some depth of character, it was too late. By then, I had resorted to skimming to get through this boring book. Jacinda, a pampered princess who finally sees the light in the last 50 pages of the book, was childish and annoying. I think I'm going to stop reading historical novels whose heroines are under 21 years of age. I just can't stand the immaturity. Billy Blade, although slightly more interesting, was so sketchily drawn thoughout most of the book that he just seemed like a self-pitying, vain peacock. After he resumes his life in high society, the new Lord William spends more time chasing down his former hoodlum enemies in a petty fit of vengeance, instead of helping the poor that he supposedly came to care so much about. And throwing in the Lizzie and Alec subplots (in a thinly veiled effort to set up future books) was distracting. I'm very sorry I paid money for this book. I will definitely make sure that, in the future, I borrow this author's books from the library, for free.

I read romance novels for their simplicity of plot and complexity of characters. In this case, I felt the plot was way overdone and the characters way underdone.

Jacinda is described as rebellious, headstrong, spirited, and independent. But she displays none of those traits throughout the book. Other than her initial running away in the beginning, she is rather boring and sedate. She has no adventures and simply exists. Instead of the hero saving her from her mischievious misadventures, she saves his life twice.

Billy...what can I say about Billy? He is supposed to be a rough guy, but come on! His fighting skills are so bad that he has to be saved by Jacinda twice. He lets the leader of the rival gang get away and gets caught in a burglarly that sends him to Newgate. He grovels to his abusive father. When he gets jealous, he growls, but never does anything about it. I mean, where's the passion in this guy?! Okay, so he trades a few barbs with the old guy that Jacinda is trying to hoodwink into marriage, but does that really qualify as being a stand up guy? I could go on and on...

Call me old-fashioned or call me a traditionalist. But I want the woman to be saved physically and the man to be saved emotionally. Billy is so emotional that even the sex scenes were boring and painful to read. Jacinda is so sure she will end up like her mother (a known harlot) that she is half slut/half ninny. There is just no passion between these two. The characters seemed wooden and the storyline just ridiculously complex.

I can't wholeheartedly recommend this book.

In this fourth installment of Gaelen Foley's Knight family series, Lady Jacinda Knight, youngest of the Knight family runs from home, only to find herself in the middle of a gang war in the seedy underbelly of 1816 London. When Jacinda finds herself rescued by none other than the criminal world's swarthy leader, Billy Blade, her world turns upside down. Running from a marriage she doesn't want, and the fear of becoming a "fallen" woman like her mother, Jacinda finds herself thrust back into the world she was running from.

When the presumed dead Earl of Rackford shows up the ton, Jacinda is taken off guard to realize the most eligible gentleman in her upper class world, is none other than the rookery thief who leaves her slightly weak in the knees. Jacinda spends the novel turning Rackford into a gentleman, while Rackford turns Jacinda into a scandalous heroine.

Though most series tend to decline after the first few titles, Foley packs a massive punch with this wonderful novel. Readers will sympathize with Jacinda, while falling head over heels for the thieving Earl. Nearly impossible to believe, with the impression Foley left on the romance world after Lord of Fire and Lord of Ice, this book is just as good, if not better than its predecessors. With the fifth book in the series due out in early 2004, one can only wonder what Foley has up her sleeve next.

Gaelen Foley is one author that is in my "must read" category. I will read whatever she writes. Not only is she one of my favorite authors, but also she consistently delivers great books with fun, substantial plots, sexy heroes, and some of the most likeable heroines I have ever read. I expected a lot of Lady of Desire. I, as had many others, had eagerly awaited her next book in the Knight series. Although there was a lot of the expected Foley charm in Lady of Desire, it did not quite live up to most of her other books. Possibly I had a problem with actually reading a grown-up Jacinda. More probable though is that Jacinda appeared as a spoiled and immature heroine with more antics than common sense by far.

Lady Jacinda Knight has run away from home after her oldest brother, Robert from The Duke, has arranged a marriage for her. Robert realizes his sister is too mischievous for her own good and actually thinks he acting in her best interests. But Jacinda is not one to have her life planned by her brother or controlled by a husband she doesn't love. So lovely Jacinda runs from home and runs into a gang fight in one of London's less reputable neighborhoods. Dressed as a boy, Billy Blade rescues her and realizes she is not a he. He is quite taken with her, plans to become much closer to her, and then realizes something is not quite right. Not only is this boy actually a young lady, but Billy suddenly realizes she is probably a Lady as well. Soon he has figured out that she is the sister of Lucien Knight, a man he respects and works with occasionally as an informant. He contacts Lucien and delivers Jacinda safely home, much to her dismay. But at least she has taken care of her unwanted future husband. She settles back into her routine - ever acting outrageously spoiled and willful.

Billy Blade is actually much more than the street king he appears to be. His father is a marquis and Billy wants nothing to do with him. But Billy gets caught in the middle of a robbery and he finds himself and his gang facing the hangman's noose. Soon, his long lost father and marquis comes to the rescue, reluctantly, forcing Billy to live the life that was he was born to in exchange for his beloved gang's lives.

Billy is soon out and about as a member of the ton but he has not been raised to know all the little polite ways of this society. Furthermore, he can hardly believe the dishonesty he sees throughout the highly hypocritical upper crust of London. He embarrasses himself more than once and is even excluded because of his uncouth manner. Now it is a little difficult at this point to see how Foley will produce her signature cool hero out of this situation. But never fear, Foley is capable of such maneuvering. Soon, Jacinda believes she must teach Billy how to become a proper society gentleman. They develop a friendship that allows adequate time for romance to bloom.

The new Billy Blade, now the Earl of Rackford, evolves into quite a sexy hero by the midpoint of Lady of Desire. It is his character that carries the book. There are many dark secrets from Billy's past that make his escape to the streets as a youth quite believable. His evolvement into the Earl of Rackford is very entertaining. Jacinda sees herself as his savior and reluctantly sees him in a romantic light. Their romance developed a little too slowly in my opinion. However, once Jacinda agrees with Billy about the status of their relationship, they are definitely burning up the pages. The sensual scenes are infrequent as far as Foley books go but rate 4.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). She navigates her leads through their stories without the usual misunderstandings and her writing is an absolute delight.

This is the fourth in the Knight series. The series includes, in order, The Duke, Lord of Fire, Lord of Ice, and Lady of Desire. My favorite of the series was The Duke but all had their great moments. I did not read these books in order but I believe I would have enjoyed them more had I read them in series order. However, they function very well as stand alone books. I have loved the characters from each book so much, that I have enjoyed reading about each set of leads continued lives as the series progresses. I have even reread Lord of Fire so I could see it more within the Knight family setting. Reading books a second time is unusual for me but this entire series definitely sits on my keeper shelf. There are still at least two more brothers (maybe three) that Foley intends to include in this series . Her next book in the Knight series is however about Jacinda's best friend, Lizzie. Foley's website currently estimates the release of Lizzie's book, Devil Takes a Bride, in May, 2004. I will anxiously purchase it immediately because this is one fantastic series.

I adored this book the plot is amazing as are the characters. They were amazing. I've never read about such an incredibly sensitive guy. Billy is amazing. He's had a rough childhood and desperately needs someone to love him and cherish him. I feel that Foley has done an outstanding job with Billy - His feelings are strong and true and you sympathise with him all the way through the book. I found it adorable the way he was afraid to love and be loved and Foley's writing brings out the best in this character. She's trully done wonders with him!

Jacinda is just the right woman who will bring Billy out of the hole he's dug himself into. She's a breath-taking rebel who no longer wants to live with the ton breathing down her back. She longs to escape from th conventional society she's been trapped in for so long. And she does - straight into Billy's arms. THese two are delightful lovers and friends who you will just fall in love with!!! a MUST buy!

Gaelen Foley is one of the best historical authors around! She provides a perfect blend of romance and suspense with amazing historical detail and accuracy. Her heros are always to-die-for and her heroines are never stupid push-overs (which really really annoys me!). I only discovered her a short time ago and have already read all her books so far. I will be waiting impatiently for more and more outstanding work from Ms. Foley. In my opinion there are no flaws in any aspect of her writing. I recommend any and all of her books with 5+ stars! Visit her website for series order and also helpful history lessons.

It's definitely one of Mrs. Foley's best books, if not the best.The way the story develops between Rackford and Lady Jacinda is excellent. It is also unconventional to have a hero start as a 'gangster' in the beginning of the story and end up as an Earl. That's definitely a big difference from all her books. All I have to say is, the boook is GREAT, it's amazing...its FABULOUS...READ IT....press that ADD TO CART button and go for it...it's worth it.I LOVE ALL GAELENS BOOKS

It's definitely one of Mrs. Foley's best books, if not the best.The way the story develops between Rackford and Lady Jacinda is excellent. It is also unconventional to have a hero start as a 'gangster' in the beginning of the story and end up as an Earl. That's definitely a big difference from all her books. All I have to say is, the boook is GREAT, it's amazing...its FABULOUS...READ IT....press that ADD TO CART button and go for it...it's worth it.I LOVE ALL GAELENS BOOKS

II loved Billy Blade. He was the best part of the story. His story, how he came to be in the slums of London, was really good. The problem, however, was Jacinda, who was just a silly, self centered, spoiled girl. At 18, she seemed much younger then that. Actually, Billy deserved better! But Billy's Dad, the mad Marquis, was an incredibly cruel man and the rush to finish the book really does a disservice to the issue of child abuse. One can tell from Billy's dialogue, that he does indeed have a warped perception of his self-worth. In addition, felt unworthy. However, Billy's Dad was over the to cruel. I thought Jacinda, who almost forced Billy's hand to go home after the wedding, was wrong. After all, she spent one evening at a dinner staring daggers at him. What he did to Billy was almost murder. The Mother too was a creep. It was unrealistic to expect him to go home because his Mother wrote his Dad was sick and dying. Then...silly little Jacinda seems to see though the ...., and calls his cruel taunts his attempt at friendship. Then she tells him to tell Billy he is loved. If I met someone as cruel at the Marquis, my skin would crawl and I would not be as accommodating as she was. Also - did they ever go on their honeymoon? Children?

Ms Foley has written another wonderful book. Jacinda evolves into a mature and caring young lady. Even though she starts out as a spoiled child. This story is however much more Billy's story than Jacinda. Billy must overcome the past that he ran away from in order to fully appreciate the love that he has found in Jacinda. Billy is much more open to his feelings that Jacinda is. He seems to realize very early that he cares for her. When he most reconcile with his father he is given a chance to court her as he wants. The scene were is request an audience with Robert to ask permission to court her is wonderful. It takes courage to face four overprotective brothers.

Ms Foley has trackled a heartbreaking subject, making the reader see and feel the damage physical and emotional abuse can cause. I commend her on her courage to write about this sensitive subject.