Pearl's World of Romance - Reviews with a Passion: Raine

March 13, 2008

Raine - Elizabeth Amber

12:08 PM |

The last in a fabled line of otherworldly aristocracy, the Lords of Satyr are born to wealth, power, and a talent for sensual delight that mere mortals only dream of. Commanded to marry, these passionate men will travel to Rome, Venice, and Paris—and along the way will explore desires both shamelessly wicked and blissfully divine…

AS A LOVER, HIS SKILLS ARE LEGENDARY . . .
Middle brother Raine is both sensual and stoic. Scarred by a former wife who could not accept his carnal needs, he wants no part in another marriage. But duty commands that he fulfill his promise to wed King Feydon's second daughter, Jordan...

IN MATTERS OF THE HEART, HE HAS MUCH TO LEARN . . .
This loyal satyr begins a search that leads him from Tuscany to romantic Venice, where his beautiful bride awaits, unaware of what passionate delights fate has planned for her. Raine is careful not to reveal his powerful satyr sexuality, for fear of driving yet another woman away. But unbeknownst to him, Jordan is no ordinary woman and was born with an insatiable appetite for love. And as Raine's heart begins to melt for her, how long will he be able to hide his true nature when Jordan seems to want him so fiercely?

Giving heed to the wish of the Faerie King Feydon Raine goes in search of his destined bride after Nicholas has found and married the first half Human/half Faerie daughter, Jane. He finds her in Venice and is immediately attracted to her. Although he has vowed not to give in to his needs and keep his distance from Jordan, he finds out that he can't stay away from the brave and enticing Jordan.
Jordan has vowed never let any man rule or own her and she also tries, unsuccessfully though, to keep her heart save from the storm Raine ignites. Together they embark on a journey of love, trust and acceptance, fighting the obstacles that stand in the way of their happiness together.

Jordan is a character who is unusual but very likeable at the same time. I admired her strength. She is quick-minded, practical and brave. She accepts who she is and doesn’t let shame or propriety rule her feelings. It is Raine and her feelings for him that help her discover and accept who and what she is.

Raine surpasses the image I had of him in the first book and he does this beyond my expectations. I thought him remote and cold but he is anything but that. He cloaks himself in remoteness and has perfected keeping his distance from everyone in an almost obsessive way being the brooding, silent brother. He is afraid of getting hurt but his fascination for Jordan and his attraction to her overrides his fear and he learns that passion and happiness is within his reach.

The secondary characters both enemy and friendly are intriguing to say the least.
I loved reading about Nicholas and Jane again. The glimpse of Lyon certainly wasn't enough to satisfy me. I wanted more of him, but luckily in October we'll have all of him.

The book again was very sensual but the emphasis is more on the emotions. The situation with Jordan was a little awkward for me at first, I felt it was a little out of my comfort zone. But reading along I grew more comfortable with it, accepted it and was fascinated. This was mainly due to the skills of Elizabeth Amber. She was able to write a story around it that supported the unfamiliar concept, making it acceptable.
It fitted the whole picture and feel of the book, fitted the story as it was told.

This second installment of The Lords of Satyr trilogy is not for readers who are not open-minded or who are faint of heart. Elizabeth Amber takes some sexual concepts even further than in the first book and she treads upon the boundaries of what is known and familiar or comfortable. But she does this in such a believable and magnificent way that if you are open-minded, you will embrace the story in all its aspects.

In this book I learned a bit more about the ways of the Satyr. More background information was subtly mixed into the story in a way that you could take it in with ease. There was a plot but it was underlying the emotional story. That being said it was a good plot with a revelation at the end I didn't see coming.
I learned more about winemaking along the way but also new things in regards to the history of the Satyr, the Faerie and other mythical beings. And last but not least my sexual horizon has been broadened a bit more and I am surprised as to how open-minded I can be when the concept is being delivered in a masterful and functional way.

Elizabeth Amber enticed me with Nicholas and now she has surprised and captivated me with Raine. I wait in eager anticipation to see what she has in store for us with Lyon!

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