Throwback Thursday: Love Only Once by Johanna Lindsey

Author: Johanna Lindsey
First published in 1985 by Avon

The exquisite niece of Lord Edward and Lady Charlotte Malory, Regina Ashton is abducted by Nicholas Eden - an arrogant seducer hardened by a painful secret from his past.

Reggie has vowed to marry the golden-haired rogue who has besmirched her good name - and who arouses her womanly desires to an unendurable level. But her beauty only stirs Nicholas's passion - giving rise to dangerous misunderstandings. . .and a love that can live only once in a lifetime.

Love Only Once was a fairly enjoyable read.  For a romance written in the 80s, it's pretty typical.  The hero is a grade A jerk through most of the book and the heroine can't help but love him.  Had I not liked Regina so much, I might have hated this story.  I loved her readiness for adventure and her strength to go up against Nick.  She fought for what she wanted and wasn't afraid to walk away when she needed to.

For the most part, the storyline was a bit weak, because not much really happens..  I felt like the peripheral characters made the book more enjoyable.  I did like the "twist" at the end.  I will probably pick p the next book in the series to read more about Regina's uncle Tony..

Throwback Thursday - Home for the Holidays

Author: Johanna Lindsey
First Published in 2000 by HarperCollins (audiobook by Brilliance Audio)


Left to handle the rumors other family's bankruptcy and impending eviction, Larissa Ascots wishes for a merry Christmas seem to be in peril for the first time in her sheltered life. A charming would-be "benefactor,"Vincent Everett, the Baron of Windsmoor, has offered to shelter Larissa and her young brother. But more than Yuletide spirit seems to have inspired the baron's generosity.From the moment he first set eyes on Larissa, the highborn rogue was bewitched. And now that she has taken up residence in his home, he aches with wanting her-a most unfortunate state of affairs, since the proud beauty obviously despises him ... and since Vincent has sworn to seek a righteous vengeance on the Ascot family.

But Christmas is a time of miracles, after all. And even two rival souls can be touched by the spirit of forgiveness in these magical days and showered with precious gifts of tenderness, love, and ecstasy unbound.

It has been a long time since I read a Johanna Lindsay novel. I used to read them secretly in my senior year in high school as a secret indulgence.  I know I used to think that she was really racy, but this one was pretty mild.  Vincent Everett is bent on revenge against a man who he thinks caused his brother to kill himself.  He evicts the man's family and upon seeing the daughter, Larissa, he decides to give them a place in his home and seduce her.  At this point, Vincent wasn't scoring high marks with me. 

Overall, I'm not sure I liked this story all that much. I'm not sure Vincent ever really redeemed himself in the end.  He was supposed to be a smart man, but instead of fully investigating his brother's death and his business, he let emotion get in the way.  Even though he knows his brother had always been a screw up. I thought that Larissa was just a bit naive. I felt no compassion for her after she basically gives up her virginity to a man she barely knows and then is upset to discover he has no intention of marrying her.  I did feel she was justified in hating him once she finds out his real motives for taking her in.  I can't say that it was something I would have easily forgiven.


I listened to the audio version of the book.  I did enjoy the narrator,  Laural Merlington, and it was a very quick "listen".  If you missed this one,try it out.  You might like it more than me.

--Kari