Harlequin Historical #051 Golden Paradise

Usually I pick up a Susan Johnson book expecting loads of sensual scenes and more hot and steamy than romance. With a setting during Russian Turkish wars and with a Kuzan involved even more so did I expect this. Not so with Golden Paradise - this was pure romance - and you truly felt the romance. Lisavitta was a naive young lady when she accidently meets Prince Stefan in the middle of a war. Stefan is on a month long furlough expecting to go back to his mountain retreat and spend days with his Gypsy lover. He is almost irritated when he comes upon and rescues Lisavitta, thinking she is annoying, educated and does not appear to be a looker. Well, is he wrong, back at his palace he finds she cleans up into a diamond of the first water and he immediately seduces her, well she was very willing so not sure who seduces who. Yes, these two start off in lust, but through the next month and fiances and gypsy lovers they spend much romantic quality time together at Stefan's mountain retreat. Lise is fighting her feelings of love since she knows Stefan is a rake and never ever falls in love - in fact since love destroyed his own personal family he fights against any feelings of love. They seperate and he goes to the battle of Kars which is to be the battle to end the war. Lise goes off to St. Petersberg and is presented to court and is a total success. She becomes the darling of court. Word of her success reaches Stefan waiting for the battle to begin. He is outraged and sets on a pace to claim Lise for himself in some manner - he takes off in a rage to St. Petersberg. This part of the book, absolutely is beautifully written, it is so heartfelt, so packed with emotion, I cannot give the last part of this book more of a higher rating! In fact the end of this book is what gives this book 5 stars. THis is a just so emotional. It reminded me of Dr. Zhigavo - the rugged weather, the emotions you can just picture the handsome Stefan. For the first time ever Stefan is allowing his feelings to run his life. There are too many wonderful details to share here as it would ruin this part of the story I believe. But certainly, this is a very romantic book for Johnson. You don't need the erotic scenes because you feel the love between Lise and Stefan. And the dialog between these too, also get very very high marks. So take this book, get your box of kleenex handy and enjoy one of Johnson's best!

I love to know an author actually researches & knows what they are writing about. Susan Johnson is the ONLY romance historian with footnotes. I love romance, I love intelligent writing & , of course, I love great sex.

I have been a HUGE Susan Johnson fan since I picked up Sweet Love, Survive and she has never let me down. I have been looking for this for quite some time and I am delighted to have found it. It is not so highly descriptive or erotic in the love scenes but the romance was wonderful. Many times her characters are married to others and then they have to work around those stumbling blocks and they aren't willing to say they love each other until the last few pages. Not so here and it was VERY satisfying! Read and enjoy!!!

Being of Russian ancestry I have loved every one of S. Johnson's Russian series books. But Golden Paradise wins the prize of all of her books! The love scenes and their profession of love are beautifully poetic. I could see that mountain top hideaway it was described so well. Along with the romance the action and suspense is wonderful. The hero is tdf and the heroine is strong from the first page. Gorgeous book.

I truly think is is one of Ms. Johnson's best works next to "Wicked." The love scenes were erotic, the characters vivid, and the setting lucid and perfect. The way she intertwines history with the plot is fascinating, and the plot is captivating and never slow. I'd definetly recommend this book to all Romance readers. It's one of the best I've ever read.