DNF at 37% with a little bit of "ick".I've never really given much thought to how long I've been reading romances. They have just always been lying around - on bookshelves, my kindle, library books, borrowed from friends, given away and fondly remembered, just always there. I talk a lot about Shanna being the first one I read back in the late 70s, but I've never really connected the dots between how old I was then, and how old I am NOW. It really became clear to me today when I picked up Amanda Rose by Karen Robards. Amanda Rose was written back in 1984, right around the time I was gorging myself on historical romances by Woodiwiss, McBain and Busbee.The story begins with American privateer Matt Grayson and his harrowing escape from the gallows at Tyburn Hill. Injured in his escape, he is found by the virginal orphan Amanda Rose on an early morning walk on the beach. Of course, he is injured (YAY! Sponge-bath-and-fever, my favourite trope!) and Amanda takes care of him. Of course, she spies his lush man-pelt and has to deal with those pesky tinglings in her nether parts. Of course, the stubbly beard that makes him look old gets shaved off, and she is overcome with feelings for this dangerously handsome convict. Of course, he is too old for her (33 to her 18) and tells her so. Often. And, of course, he kisses her.All of this so far is quite good, and par for the course for romances written in the early 80s. I was settling in for an afternoon of adventure and romance - "so magnificent it will make your pulse pound and your heart rejoice".Until Amanda starts looking at the Hero with huge, trusting, wonder-filled eyes and asks him if all girls feel the same when they are kissed? Is it always like this for him? And Hero answers her in a indulgent (shall we say patronizing) tone that no, hardly any girls are swept away by passion as she is and that he must not kiss her again, else he give in to his fever for her and take the gift that she should be saving (if you know what I mean).All of this was absolutely fine with me 25 years ago when I dreamed of a tall, handsome manly man who would sweep me off my feet and teach me all I needed to know about lurv. But reading a book like this 25 years later, when said tall, handsome manly man is chasing after the equivalent of a high school senior, and it squicks me out.I've been spoiled by all the late-twenties spinsters populating historicals lately, I guess. The old standard age gap is has widened so far that for me, in this book, it was unbridgeable. And that's when it occurred to me just how long I've been reading romances, and how my perspective has changed. Maybe I'll try to skew my thinking and try this book again later, when I'm more able to channel my inner 18 year old ingenue.
Bad romance novel making excuses for rape. The main character, Amanda is raped by her hero, Matt. She says no, she pushes him away, she cries for him to stop. He holds her down, tells her he lost "control" after, and that it was her fault because she wanted sex in the first place, then he storms out. The next morning Amanda wakes up and decides to forgive him for no explainable reason. The story wasn't that good in the first place and it certainly never came back after this from the little I read before returning it. Would not recommend.
What do You think about Amanda Rose (1984)?
Victorian Set in England and New Orleans, the Innocent and the Older ManRobards is a great romance author and always delivers a fast-paced story. I love her historicals. This one, while not my favorite, is still a worthy read and kept me up late at night to finish it.The story begins in 1842 as ship’s captain Matt Grayson, an American from New Orleans is about to hang in London—for crimes he didn’t commit. He escapes from the gallows but is wounded as he flees to the coast. There, he is discovered by Lady Amanda Rose Culver, a duke’s daughter who has been confined to a convent school by her half brother. Amanda helps Matt and cares for him in a forgotten cave connected to the convent.Amanda is an innocent waking to the passion of a handsome, older, experienced man who begins as a gentleman but then succumbs to the temptation of the young vixen. He is a man with a past and knows the betrayal of a woman. When Amanda’s brother shows up with a fat, older suitor in tow who will dig the family out of their money woes, he blackmails Amanda into agreeing to the marriage or he will turn Matt over to the authorities. But Matt has other plans for her.There’s a lot of action and a lot of angst as the scene moves from England to New Orleans where Matt essentially holds Amanda his prisoner. When he would do the honorable thing, she refuses. Ah, the rocky path of love.Not much history here but the stage is well set with vivid descriptions of locations, clothing and food—all the goodies we romance readers love.
—Regan Walker
Hooked from the beginning scenes -- a hanging, hiding in a cave, to the convent. Seductive and humorous. Silly Amanda, I liked her - and I could see how Matt found her charming and felt for her plight -- especially when she's so good to him in his hours of need. She's his angel with red hair. He warns her not to fall in love with him. I wish he'd warned me. All goes tedious post-kidnapping aboard ship (middle book). He's all mean & distant, so ... the story suffers, Amanda suffers, you suffer. Blah torment, but it does pick up again.
—Tee Nitcher
I really enjoyed this for the first 50%. Literally. After that, the entire thing was about the "Hero" being very stupid and the classic betrayal issue (when no betrayal had taken place). By that point, the heroine had done MORE than enough as a Good Samaritan, friend, and lover to prove herself. I found it very infuriating. Somewhere between light abuse, emotional neglect, and animosity, it became difficult to like the couple together at the end. I managed to, and I found the ending to be very satisfying. If half the book hadn't been just STUPID (in my opinion), then, this would have been an easy 5-stars for me. The first half is a 5-star for me. The next 45% is 1-2 stars. The last 5% is back to 5-star. Rating it a 3 was the best I could come up with...
—Shannon
