What do You think about The Wyndham Legacy (1994)?
I promised no more romance, and maybe I lied just a little. I'm willing to make exceptions for AMAZINGLY researched historical romance: i.e., Gabaldon, John Jakes, etc. Back in high school, when I could admit to reading such fluff, I got into Catherine Coulter and Katherine Woodiwiss, historical romance writers who actually seemed to research the periods they were writing in. Unlike Gabaldon and Jakes, who in my opinion are probably the best I've seen in the field, (and whose expected sex scenes don't use words like "member" and "manhood",) Coulter and Woodiwiss still manage to put out a great story, despite the not so-riveting sex. (Seriously, if I have to read something about bodices heaving ONE more time, I think my head may spin off.) On another note, (one I rarely admit,) sometimes I girl just needs to kick out her boyfriend and curl up with a cup of tea and a good historical romance. Egads. I really AM a girl. I think I may swoon.
—Tara Lynn
The book was easy to hang onto and with flowing writing, I followed the plot as it unraveled. As time moves on, however, I find myself only reading to witness one minor event that is incoming, not for the end or 'what happens' to both of the main characters. I don't particularly like either of the main characters, I'm not sure if this is intentional or if their qualities simply don't appeal to me. Indeed I find Badger to be the best of the entire set. It's very hard for me to find a fiction/romance that I really don't like, but following the events of this story leaves a rotten taste in my mouth. Mrs Coulter certainly can write, it's not the style that doesn't appeal. While the book itself was hard to get through, the last quarter was amazing and hard to put down. It was then that I really began to embrace the lead characters.
—Melanie
da www.sognipensieriparole.comAttirata da una dolcissima cover (molto romantica), ho iniziato questo Introvabile piena di aspettative. E l'inizio, in effetti, con questa ragazzina strana, la "bastarda" di un conte, che riesce a farsi strada tra le insidie della famiglia legittima, è molto intrigante.Duchessa appare bella, pacata ma molto determinata (un fuoco nascosto che minaccia di divampare).Poi il tutto degenera in una sorta di telenovela brasiliana, con testamenti a sorpresa, matrimoni sotto l'effetto di droga, consumazioni "rubate" con l'inganno, tesori nascosti, monaci medievali che agitano i sogni o gli incubi della protagonista, cattivissimi improbabili, ecc. Lui dovrebbe essere l'uomo Alfa e viene manovrato come una marionetta, lei alterna gelido self-control a attacchi di isteria.Mancavano gli UFO e poi la macedonia potrebbe dirsi completa.Alla fine, se c'è una storia d'amore, a me è sfuggita. Le scene d'amore sono scialbe e orripilanti.L'unica nota di colore sono i siparietti messi in scena dalla servitù. (Il che la dice lunga sull'andamento del libro.)
—Amarilli Settantatre