Her Only Desire: A Novel (Spice Trilogy)

This is a great book...seems to be in "classic" Foley style. I can't wait for the next two.

I love all G.F. books. If you love battle of the sexes, wit, charm and intense emotion, Gaelen Foley is the author you've been waiting for. I just finished all of her books and have proudly cried through each one. I'm not a cryer and to read a book and cry at the same time is a world record for me, but I did it and I'm not ashamed of it because her books are worth it!!!!!

I was honestly reluctant to read this book based off the not-so-stellar 3 1/2 star ratings (compared to Foley's other work), but I decided to give it a try anyway because she is one of my all-time favorite romance authors (right up there with Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught, Lorretta Chase, Cathy Maxwell, Sabrina Jeffries, Judith Ivory, etc.) AND I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!!! Since everyone else has pretty much summarized the plot, I will just list below what I liked (and disliked) about this novel and hence why it earns 5 stars from me: What I liked: -The vivid descriptions and historical details included about both India and England that added richness to the story without burdening the reader with too much "unnecessary" information (I find that a lot of times, "historical" romance authors may get too carried away with the "history" element, like Beatrice Small, hence making the romance secondary and in my opinion, a more boring novel, but that is just my personal taste). -The hero!!! I have to admit I was reluctant to read about a straight-laced man who was already previously married and supposedly madly in love with his previous wife (I hate romances where the hero "suddenly" gets over his first "love" to get with the heroine-- in most of these cases, their romance is based on lust and not love), but boy was I wrong with this guy! There is MUCH more to Ian than meets the eye, plenty of secrets and surprises to keep the reader entertained, including falling in love with the hero himself! -Georgiana!!! With her, I also had reservations about liking her, a seemingly spoiled upper-caste British girl raised in India who is so many years younger than the hero, but in this story, none of that really mattered and their SEEMINGLY different backgrounds and personalities actually enhanced their romance. - The plot. It moved quickly, and I didn't feel like the first half of the book in India was completely separate from the second half in England (like some other reviewers complained... were they reading the same book?), and it was also a unique story-line. Sure, some of the similar plot devices we've seen in other romances (misunderstandings, mistresses, jealousy, etc.) are seen in this novel, but it's not so contrived that it becomes unbelievable or makes the main characters look silly, and Foley has a way of twisting things and making them both believable AND original. - The secondary characters. We see some characters from the previous Knight series, but this novel definitely stands alone just fine (it is, after all, the first in a trilogy). Also, Foley did manage to capture my interest with what is going to happen with Georgie's brothers in the next 2 books (Derek's story and then I'm especially curious about Gabriel's)! And now, what I thought could have been better: - IMHO, the first half of the book in India was more romantic than the second half in England, and perhaps a little more exciting, but I never found myself skimming through any of the p

Few romance novelists so easily balance intriguing plot and deep characterization without neglecting one for the other, as does Gaelen Foley. In HER ONLY DESIRE, Ms. Foley proves herself the Mistress (with a capital "M") at teasing setting, intrigue and passion into a fevered pitch. In this lush and spicy love story, curious, passionate and independent Georgiana Knight indulges her sensual curiosities with the proud and principled Ian Prescott, Marquess of Griffith. A somewhat naughty girl, Georgiana is curious about the eastern erotic arts of the Kama Sutra, but finds nothing is as alluringly erotic as Ian. Together, Georgiana and Ian explore each other's depths, embracing their differences, strengthening their bond, until--in typical Foley style--all hell breaks loose, or in this case, the evil that has followed them from India descends upon London. The love story and the plot climax together for a very satisfying read. I found the combination of the principled, dependable gamma hero and the fiesty and lusty heroine delightful. I was rooting for Georgiana and Ian all the way. Gaelen Foley delivers lush adventure, page-turning suspense and protagonists who jump off the page. This story reminds me of two other sigh-worthy classics: Woodiwiss's Shanna, and Garwood's Guardian Angel. I make this comparison because all three books have fiesty/lusty heroines (of means, but somewhat common birth) who defy the norm for women of the day. All three books feature strongly principled, aristocratic heroes whose mettle is never more tested than against the bold willfulness of the heroines. And, all three books feature adventure and an exotic setting, which follow the characters to London, coloring Town life with shades other than gray. Read it for the tigers, the palms, palaces, harems, and balmy nights of India, as well as for London's aristocratic world of glittering ballrooms and tonnish double standards. And, of course, read it for the thrilling plot.