ETA: I'm still shocked. I haven't pastede_in the incoherent rants I typed somewhere else and had intended to place around the one funny and countless awful quotes, so the quotes stand alone (below). Dodd must have intended "The Sheik" romance but this is the most awful non-con, see also final quote with sickening non-con language below; the book ended after her last realistic outcry for me, the following endless molestation incl. public Frenching ended with all of his "funny" pretensions actually coming true in the end, the most clichéd "I love you" solving everything without a single thing changing.The first in the Governess series is also the one she copied in the seventh, which I had just read before. The tutoring makes much more sense here, and a couple of occasions where Caroline quietly explains why excercising courtesy and knowing rules was a vital ability in any society, not just in a stiff Victorian one but necessary for survival rather than conforming, Wynter's overdone "barbarism" was annoying. Not only did I find his huge bare feet and djellaba unappealing, him being tanned brown is a stupid modern thing Dodd added to this series which I never minded when they were medieval knights, but find repellent in those huge tall big "hunks".Like the other of the later series, the restrained plot serves clarity, and the heroine is more clearly visible, even though she seems to be plagued by exactly the same unjust fate as ANTR and MBT. The children are okay like in her other books, except for how it physically hurts me how she restricts the girl, and the "love" that she naturally has for them. The small details of how she concentrates on how he angles his head, strains his muscles etc. under her is nice, even if he's just generally bland to me, much like all of hers now?His repellent and real opinions about how women needed to be ruled by their men, which he still has in later books oh how cute do the wives who really rule say as I glower, resurfaces to make a good obstacle once it's clear that he wants to marry her, and his good nature and intelligence will make him sense (even if later oh how funny he says these things still he's not a Hunt hero). Him having had only this one Beduine wife since he was 15 might also make him a virgin, even if Dodd gives her heroes their sexin from 10 years on. While I loathe the first dichotomy, I of course like the second since it makes him cute rather than the savage sexor, but then Dodd became (ill advisedly) one of my 2.5 favourites by having women on top NOT in the stupid riding-with-bouncy-breast crap but in the revelling and touching his body underneath. Indeed with him repeatedly making her touch him, even the stupid word man nipples for once is permissible, because Dodd's emancipated sensuality gets full space here, and since the heroine is a real character for once her genuine refusal begs for him coming off his high horse.Besides the likable chauvinism of the hero, there are also fresher, crisper funny scenes than in her others I read lately.There is also the most outspoken scene yet about the unbearable injustice of two laws for men and women and the yoke of marriage as something she should be grateful for. It was a disappointingly stupid sex ending which drags on and makes me feel sick in the end when he does so easily overpower her sexually. As it drags on and on, it becomes clear it's meant as the usual she-cant-resist him which in a Dodd book is quasi rape for me, unexpected as it, the worst possible thing after luring me with genuiness..His eyes fluttered shut, so she let her eyes close, too. She concentrated on the way he angled his head. The tensing of his muscles in the body beneath her. The power of his shoulders held in her clutching hands. Just as each perception grew slightly familiar, she found something else changed."Charlotte. Again." He lifted his face toward hers. Unwillingly flattered, she bent to him. Her lips settled easily on his, at home already with his warmth, the texture of his skin… and his taste."More." His voice was guttural, demanding, but his caresses in her hair, along her spine remained gentle and tender.More? Ah, she knew, or rather, she could guess what he wanted. Ignoring the flutter of good sense within her enfeebled brain, she leaned into him yet further, and slowly slid her tongue into his mouth.This woman understood almost nothing of the skills Eastern girls imbibed with their mothers' milk. So she was surprised at his passion, horrified at her own and did not accept the fire between them with any amount of grace.In short, Wynter would have to court her. He grimaced. It could be done, of course. Like mares, women were easily led if offered the right enticement. But how much better when a woman accepted a man's wishes without such an arduous process!Wynter realized with a jolt she had no intention of telling him the rest of the story. He was stunned. He was most empathetic and insightful, and she was talking to him, the mate of her soul, the man who would wed her. She didn't know that yet, she ought to know he could be trusted.Nevertheless, he would not reproach her.She didn't exclaim, or thank him, or throw herself into his arms in an ecstasy of joy. Perhaps she didn't truly understand, or perhaps she thought him indifferent or uncaring about the attraction she felt for him. So he clarified. "Also, we both feel desire for each other. Our bedsport will be most satisfying."Now she responded. Color swept into her face and she lowered her head like a camel about to charge.Bringing her palm to his chest, he laid it over one of his male nipples.He still clasped her hand to hischest and he moved it slowly in a little circle. She held herself stiffly and glared into his face. He smiled at first, but as the motion continued his smile slipped away, to be replaced by an expression of expectation. His lids half lowered over his eyes, his nostrils flared, his lips parted slightly.The hair prickled her palm, and the nipple, at first smooth and soft, puckered under the stimulus. She knew that, for as she grew aware of the physical sensations, she found she couldn't look into his face any longer, and the response beneath her palm was echoed on his other side.And on her. She didn't understand it. She didn't like it. But her nipples tightened, rubbing against her chemise, poking toward him as if demanding attention. He couldn't see them.Relief burst on him. Children! She wanted children!Of course. All women wanted children.He was potent. He could give her children. It would be a pleasure.Walking to Charlotte, he wrapped her in his arms. She stood stiffly, not fighting him but not permitting, either. Women were supposed to have instincts, but Charlotte didn't even know how to accept solace.He refrained from shouting instructions at her.I have to marry or I'll be a pariah. But yours, too. You're marrying a woman who won't have the right to demand anything from you, because you saved her. Never mind that you ruined her in the first place; you saved her when you could have let her sink, so all will admire you. You can pat yourself on the back for being so generous"—she looked down at his hand wrapped in her skirt—"oh, wait, you're already doing that! Ah, well, munificent, lucky you never have to waste another thought on your wife and her happiness. The privilege of being your wife and warming herself in your rays should be enoughHe pulled her close against him as though he could overcome her objections with nothing more than his proximity. She craned her neck to see his face. His height was greater than hers, his strength far superior to her own.The contrast between his power and hers was vast; even more weighty was the reality of the law. When Wynter was her husband he would have the right to do with her body as he wished. He could beat her, or lock her away. He wouldn't; she knew that. But he would take his conjugal rights, and if she dared complain or bemoan her fate, the men who made the laws would shrug and turn away. More important, hundreds of women less blessed in their mates would rise up against her and browbeat her into submission. She had no choice. He would have her.Perhaps if she retracted her challenge, he might leave her alone until her unhappy wedding night.But she couldn't. When she thought about allowing him the freedom of her body… she just couldn't. Useless or not, she had to fight him, for if she didn't she would lose some vital piece of herself.He bent over her, an invisible shape formed of powerful threat and impossible passion. When she tried to wiggle away she found herself trapped by his knee on her skirt. More than that, she felt trapped by him and by… what? Desire? Expectation? She only knew the novelty of being this close to a man made her want to explore these inappropriate sensations.If only she felt safe with him. If only she knew that when her limit had been reached, he would call a halt.She tried to sit up, to dislodge him, but his upper body blocked her, his knee trapped her by her skirts and he whispered, "Shh." He delved into the slit in her underwear. "Don't move."
Rules of Surrender4 StarsSynopsis:Impoverished and cast out from her family, Lady Charlotte Dalrumple is forced to work as a governess. Ostensibly hired to teach Lady Ruskin’s Eastern born grandchildren in the ways of English society, Charlotte soon realizes that her real assignment is to turn their barbarian father into a true English gentleman. The only problem is that the outspoken and sensual Wynter Ruskin has every intention of turning the tables and seducing the prim and proper Charlotte.Review:Light and entertaining with some laugh out loud moments but the plot is insufficiently developed and the ending feels rushed. The embezzling subplot, for example, has potential but fizzles out, and its conclusion is predictable and contributes little to the story.Dodd is a skilled writer with a talent for characterization. Winter and Charlotte have a vibrant chemistry, and even though there are one or two questionable scenes that may put readers off, for me, they were consistent with the Eastern influence on Wynter’s character. Moreover, Charlotte’s emotional conflict with regard to Wynter and her attraction to him seem to negate the idea that he truly forces himself on her. While, Wynter is obnoxious, chauvinistic and overbearing, Charlotte succeeds in putting him in his place and ultimately teaches him the true value of women and love.The secondary characters are another strong point. From the children, who are sweet and engaging, to Charlotte’s ridiculous bully of an uncle and the bitchy Lady Howard, each plays a part in building the foundations of the story and contribute to the overall atmosphere. On a side note, the story takes place in Victorian times and there are hints at the superior colonial attitudes of the British Empire, which readers may find offensive but should be taken in context. One cannot ignore history and culture even when writing historical romances.In sum, a fun and enjoyable read and I will be continuing with the series.
What do You think about Rules Of Surrender (2000)?
Caveat - I'm reviewing this after reading it... at least two years ago. But I will definitely not be reading it again, so this is the best I can do. I HATED this book. Literally hated. I can only think of maybe two other books that I've read and disliked as much as this one - it is certainly the worst romance novel I've ever read. The worst. WORST. I really, really disliked... everything. But let me start at the beginning. The hero. This book begins and ends with my hatred of the hero. Hated him. Haaaaated him. Dude, first of all, you spent your formative years in Britain. Second, I don't care where you travelled in India, they didn't turn you into a caveman. What a savage, awful hero. He rapes her. RAPES the HEROINE. Are you serious? I'm supposed to buy that after he starts having sex with her she just adjusts and gets over it? He makes her submit to him and she loves him? Bullshit. He literally shoots the lock off her door so he can come in and rape her. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. I can't. I cannot. I don't even remember the spineless heroine or anything else about this book. Just my extreme hatred of the hero. HATRED.The worst part is that I've read Christina Dodd's paranormal series and I really enjoyed it. I have a hard time reconciling that with this... garbage. This is even worse than those 70s and 80s romance novels where the heroine was basically thrown over the saddle horn of the hero and he carries her to his tent and has his way with her. THOSE WERE BETTER. I can't.
—Erin
For a historical romance book this was really disappointing for me. Pretty much awful to be honest. And the most frustrating because I tried so hard to like it. I had major issues with this book. Both the hero and heroine came off obnoxious and pretentious. Wynter who I tried very hard to like came off abrasive, chauvinistic and stupid. Which really confused me considering in the beginning he pretended to act inept to fool people but reading through the very end, the man was completely clueless and IMO never seemed to change. And Charlotte was no better. She came off stiff, snobbish, judgmental, and mean (all those remarks about his time in the desert and his way of living and the way he dressed I didn't appreciate). I understood she was a governess and was focused on following rules of propriety but that doesn't excuse her snobbish rude holier-than-thou attitude. Her cutting remarks to Wynter and his new lifestyle were neither endearing or charming. I could not understand or relate to her or Wynter most of the time.And I understand the plot of the story was trying to fight off lust and growing feelings between two people but when the author spends so much more time (too much IMO) showing the two characters bickering and arguing then actually even 'liking' each other it gets kind of hard to believe that they love each other. Which was why I had a hard time buying Lady Charlotte loved Wynter when she hated even admitting it and spent most of the time reprimanding him or scolding him like a five-year old. It wasn't endearing in the least or sexy. And I couldn't buy Wynter loving her when he obviously didn't understand the meaning of love. It was a shame to me because the author did not focus on the actual love story and didn't show them falling in love at all but spent time page after page on the battle of wills between the two and the surrounding secondary characters. The whole pacing of the book was really odd. There was very little room left for actual romance or even love IMO. It got to the point where I almost stopped reading the book several times. And an awkward rolling and tumbling around on the floor in a tent where the man has to physically force you to succumb to his advances is not hot, sexy or romantic, it was pretty much close to rape for me. It was totally bizarre to the point of uncomfortable when the man is ripping off her clothes and she's trying to flee. I mean what? I almost was laughing at how ridiculous the description was because I couldn't believe that was the climactic long drawn out 'love scene'. Nothing about it was seductive or romantic. I was bummed because I was really looking forward to reading this governess series. :( I keep hearing great things about this author but so far not impressed or interested.
—♥ Melody
I'm going to be honest. Christina Dodd has long been on my list of favorite authors of romance fiction. The Governess series was one of my first forays into the genre, back in the day. While I intend to give Ms. Dodd another chance, I remember liking this book a lot better back then. Perhaps because I got into romance novels after my roommate and I got dumped from long-term relationships in the span of the same weekend, so we cheered ourselves up by buying a bunch of romance novels and trading t
—Josephina
