Storm and Splendor

I first read this book many years ago and have reread it many times since. The story begins In New Orleans with an intrigue to free Napoleon. The hero is intrigued with the heroine right away as she is beautiful and plotting with her father and a group of others to release Napoleon from the British by putting a look alike in his place and sailing away with him. The hero is a British operative, the ship sinks, the heroine is injured, the hero takes the opportunity to marry the heroine and takes her home with him to London. From there they set out to free Napoleon with the look alike who is not a physical match for Napoleon (thus explaining the anomalies in description between the body of the man who died on St Helena and the written historical accounts of his appearance). They free Napoleon, but another operative murders him on the ship. The ship is attacked by Barbary pirates and the heroine and hero embark upon separate but connected adventures within the harem for her and within the army for him. Needless to say they get back together and all is well. The adventure is really well written and Jennifer Blake never disappoints. Her leading ladies are put in jeopardy, but only ever have sex with the hero whether he insists or she acquieses. It was really interesting to see how the author managed to place the beautiful heroine in a harem without her sleeping with her owner while at the same time becoming his favorite. Her reunion with the hero is a wonderful sleight of hand by Jennifer Blake. The sex scenes in this book are tender and enthralling without all the histrionics of some modern authors with clothes being ripped off and penises being grabbed by women who are "ready" without any foreplay at all and "come" just from penetration. All women know that isn't the way it is in life and we also know this type of sex scene is not doing women or men any favors by promulgating this point of view. Jennifer Blake may be writing from her own experience in which case she is a lucky woman and we are lucky to be able to read her romances.

I first read this book many years ago and have reread it since. The story begins In New Orleans with an intrigue to free Napoleon. The hero is intrigued with the heroine right away as she is beautiful and plotting with her father and a group of others to release Napoleon from the British by putting a look alike in his place and sailing away with him. The hero is a British operative, the ship sinks, the heroine is injured, the hero takes the opportunity to marry the heroine and takes her home with him to London. From there they set out to free Napoleon with the look alike who is not a physical match for Napoleon (thus explaining the anomalies in description between the body of the man who died on St Helena and the written historical accounts of his appearance). They free Napoleon, but another operative murders him on the ship. The ship is attacked by Barbary pirates and the heroine and hero embark upon separate but connected adventures within the harem for her and within the army for him. Needless to say they get back together and all is well. The adventure is really well written and Jennifer Blake never disappoints. Her leading ladies are put in jeopardy, but only ever have sex with the hero whether he insists or she acquieses. It was really interesting to see how the author managed to place the beautiful heroine in a harem without her sleeping with her owner while at the same time becoming his favorite. Her reunion with the hero is a wonderful sleight of hand by Jennifer Blake. The sex scenes in this book are tender and enthralling without all the histrionics of some modern authors with clothes being ripped off and penises being grabbed by women who are "ready" without any foreplay at all and "come" just from penetration. All women know that isn't the way it is in life and we also know this type of sex scene is not doing women or men any favors by promulgating this point of view. Jennifer Blake may be writing from her own experience in which case she is a lucky woman and we are lucky to be able to read her romances.

After EMBRACE AND CONQUER, this book is my favorite of all of Jennifer Blake's novels. It is lush and steamy without crudity; it is vivid and dynamic without raunch. It is probably the best of the harem romances I have read. Bertrice Small could learn a few points about writing harem romances from this masterpiece.Outside of the time spent in the harem, a great deal of this novel takes place on ships. I usually don't care for shipboard travel, but this is an exception. From the loss of her father and child to travelling with Napolean himself, Julia's travels are absorbing. I especially loved the romance. This hero and heroine are perfect for each other! I especially loved the scene where they fight over Julia's nightgown and later, their time in the East.Try THE STORM AND THE SPLENDOR. It's a classic!