Book Review-The Game

The Game
De Warrene Dynasty (4)
Brenda Joyce
Avon
Paperback 
Published Mar 1995
472 Pages
European Renaissance/Nautical Historical Romance
ISBN: 978-0-380-77573-6

Synopsis
Released from the sanctuary of a French convent, highborn, tempestuous Katherine FitzGerald sets sail for her beloved Ireland - only to find herself prisoner of the infamous pirate known to the Elizbethans as the Master of the Seas.

The pirate captain is Liam O'Neill, favored by Elizabeth the Queen. A hardened court player, he is determined to win the willful Katherine while advancing his own secret causes. But now he must risk everything he cherishes in order to triumph at a very treacherous game - through heartbreaking deception...and by breaking all the rules.

The Game has begun...

MY REVIEW
Summary 
Katherine, after being in the convent for years and not having heard from her family, decides to leave knowing all she wants is a husband and children. So when she leaved and gets on a ship on her way to Ireland, back home, the ship is captured by pirates and she is a prisoner of Liam O'Neill, the pirate captain, who refuses to let her go. Katherine refuses to give in to the feelings and the desire she starts to feel for Liam, knowing she deserves more than to be a mistress to a pirate, that she deserves love, marriage and a family of her own. Liam is the king of Games, and ever since he first saw Katherine, he knew he would keep her, and even though he has a secret cause he will do everything he can to Win!

The Hero (Liam O'Neill)
Liam is half english and half irish, his father being a ruthless lord, his mother helpless to do anything to protect herself or her children. So Liam learned at a young age how to protect himself, and to never give in, no matter the risk or the cost. When Liam see's Katherine, he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her in his life even at the risk of pain and death. Katherine is His and will even break the rules of his own game to keep her by his side.

The Heroine (Katherine FitzGerald)
 Katherine, is desperate to get away from the convent, not knowing what has really happened to her family, so when she is captured by the pirate captain, she is most resistent and in the beginning refuses to give in to the feelings that she has for him. However as she starts to find the truth about her family and what has been happening since she has been in the convent, the feelings she has for Liam start to increase, and even though at times she feelings like she should strangle him, she also can't deny that she loves him.

My Thoughts 
The Game is the 4th in the de Warrenne series, and I have always enjoyed Brenda Joyce and all of her books for the most part, and even though this was a bit longer, it was still a enjoyable read but far from my favorite of her books. The one thing that I really loved about this story, was how there was always a surprise at the next turn of the plot, something I would have never expected to happen, and left me excited to see what would happen next. The title for the book "The Game" is perfect, and fits it with exactness. The characters were fascinating to get to know. Liam would just make me laugh at times, and other make me want to hug him, and other I wanted to throttle him. Katherine however, it took me a while to really warm up to her, she seemed a bit selfish and naive especially in the beginning, but she grew on me as the story started to really develop. Overall it was a really enjoyable read with lots of intrigue and mystery, romance and passion and series of events that might just make your head spin!!

My Grade On This Book 
4 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series 
 The Conquerer
Scandalous Love
Promise of the Rose
The Game
The Prize
The Masquerade
The Stolen Bride
A Lady at Last
The Perfect Bride
A Dangerous Love
The Promise
An Impossible Attraction
House of Dreams 

Book Review-The Prize

The Prize
de Warenne Dynasty (6)
Brenda Joyce
Mira
575 Pages
Published October 2004
Paperback
Regency, Historical Romanc e

Synopsis

VENGEANCE RULED HIS DAYS AND NIGHTS
PRIDE INFLAMED HER SPIRIT
LOVE CONQUERED THEM BOTH

An infamous sea captain of the British Royal Navy, Devlin O'Neill is consumed with the need to destroy the man who brutally murdered his father. Having nearly ruined the Earl of Eastleigh financially, he is waiting to strike the final blow. And his opportunity comes in the form of a spirited young American woman, the earl's niece, who is about to set his cold, calculating world on fire....

Born and raised on a tobacco plantation, orphan Virginia Hughes is determined to rebuild her beloved Sweet Briar. Daringly, she sails to England alone, hoping to convince her uncle to lend her the funds. Instead, she finds herself ruthlessly kidnapped by the notorious Devlin O'Neill. As his hostage, she will soon find her best-laid plans thwarted by a passion that could seal their fates forever....

  
MY REVIEW 


Summary:
Virginia Hughes, was raised on a plantation, the "Sweet Briar" a place that she treasures greatly. But then her parents die, and her guardian, a uncle that lives in England, has her go to a girls school until she is eighteen. Now she has recently turned eighteen and is eager to return to her home, however she is then informed that her uncle wants her to stay there another three years, so Virginia decides to leave the place and go to her uncle in England for help in getting her plantation back for her, since it is her inheritance and she knows everything in order to run it. However on the way to England, she gets taken prisoner by Captain Devlin O'Neill, who is bent on revenge against her uncle and is determined to use her in the process. However what neither Virginia or Devlin realized was how strong the desire that they feel for each other grows into a consuming passion, one that could very well change their lives forever...


The Hero (Devlin O Neill)
Devlin has been consumed all of his life with the need to bring revenge against the man that murdered his father right in front of his own eyes. And even though he has been able to ruin him financially so far, when he finds out that Virginia is his niece, he is determined to make sure that the revenge is even sweeter and uses her for his own uses against her uncle, but there will come a time when he will have to choose between the revenge and hatred he has felt all of these years or to claim Virginia and the love and joy that being with her offers him.


The Heroine (Virginia Hughes)
Virginia Hughes, grew up knowing how to run a tobacco plantation, and when her parents died she was devastated, and was forced to attend a Girls School, one where she feels more along than ever, for she is far different than the other girls. Virginia has a passionate nature with everything in her life. But inside her heart is tender, and when she comes into the hands of the rogue Devlin O Neill, she knows that he could easily steal his way into her heart and break it, however she also knows that she may be the only one to break through the ice shell that has surrounded him for so long.


My Thoughts 
The Prize is the sixth installment in the de Warrene Dynasty series that Brenda Joyce has created. I have recently fallen in love with this author and her stories, and The Prize was no different, and I fell in love with the characters from the very beginning. Both were endearing and so likable throughout the whole of the story. There were parts of the story where I felt that Devlin was a bit too hard of a character, however the emotions that were portrayed by the characters felt so vividly real, and made the story come alive even more. The Prize is such a emotionally charged story that will pull at your heartstrings with every chapter. I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of this series, and The Prize definitely was filled with everything that I just adore in a historical romance....passion, adventure, intrigue and a powerful love....FANTASTICALLY WRITTEN!!!


My Favorite Quote 
"I don't think so," Virginia said boldly, barely able to believe her courage, and she moved into his armes. "We seal it with a kiss," She turned up her face and closed her eyes, the last things she saw being his silver gaze, suddenly hot, suddenly bright. He wanted this, too. And then she moved her mouth firmly over his. 


My Grade On This Book 
4 Blossoms


Other Books In The Series 
The Conquerer
Scandalous Love
Promise of the Rose
The Game
The Prize
The Masquerade
The Stolen Bride
A Lady at Last
The Perfect Bride
A Dangerous Love
The Promise
An Impossible Attraction
House of Dreams