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garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It was really hard to root for Rhys, he was just so unlikable and stubborn. I wasn't a big fan of the changing POVs from side characters either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Kidnapping
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Torture, and Animal death
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Infidelity, and Death of parent
khadijareads's review against another edition
3.0
Had all the elements to make an extraordinary book but alas it was missing the spark, the magic.
gracekitty's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
riahtalon's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
amym84's review
4.0
Stormswept is a reissue, written by Sabrina Jeffries under the pseudonym Deborah Martin. I'm unfamiliar with the original version of this story, so I don't know what, if anything, has been updated.
So approaching this book as a new reader, I found that I liked Stormswept, at heart, for its simplicity.
Lady Juliana St. Alban's first marriage lasted only one night. Enough to consummate the marriage, but when she woke up the next day her husband had mysteriously disappeared. She waits for years for his return, until the day she's found out he's been declared dead in a shipwreck. The book opens six years after his disappearance with Juliana getting ready to wed another.
Rhys Vaughn returns to Juliana six years after having been deceived into thinking his wife was the conspirator behind his captivity and impressment. Now, he's returned to claim what is still rightfully his; his wife, his lands. And he'll make sure she understands just the type of things he's had to endure for the last six years.
The tangled web of what actually happened on that wedding night six years ago is only known in full by the readers, and the perpetrator, Juliana's brother Darcy. Things have become so muddled for our characters trying to understand how one thing or another happened, it was quite frustrating from a reader's point of view, but taking a step back, putting myself in both Rhys and Juliana's shoes, it was completely understandable.
Above, I say I liked the story for its simplicity, and I say it's simple because the whole of the book boils down to trust. We (readers) know Juliana to be innocent of the crimes Rhys accuses her of, but Rhys doesn't know. Despite what other characters say throughout the story, if Rhys doesn't come to trust his wife, they'll never succeed. It's the trust, or lack thereof, that drives this story, and I really liked the way everything plays out. Such a simple idea, that's anything but simple in execution since giving anyone your unequivocal trust opens up fears and vulnerabilities, happiness and sadness, etc.
I haven't read a lot of Sabrina Jeffries other books, but so far, what I have ready I've enjoyed and Stormswept is no different.
So approaching this book as a new reader, I found that I liked Stormswept, at heart, for its simplicity.
Lady Juliana St. Alban's first marriage lasted only one night. Enough to consummate the marriage, but when she woke up the next day her husband had mysteriously disappeared. She waits for years for his return, until the day she's found out he's been declared dead in a shipwreck. The book opens six years after his disappearance with Juliana getting ready to wed another.
Rhys Vaughn returns to Juliana six years after having been deceived into thinking his wife was the conspirator behind his captivity and impressment. Now, he's returned to claim what is still rightfully his; his wife, his lands. And he'll make sure she understands just the type of things he's had to endure for the last six years.
The tangled web of what actually happened on that wedding night six years ago is only known in full by the readers, and the perpetrator, Juliana's brother Darcy. Things have become so muddled for our characters trying to understand how one thing or another happened, it was quite frustrating from a reader's point of view, but taking a step back, putting myself in both Rhys and Juliana's shoes, it was completely understandable.
Above, I say I liked the story for its simplicity, and I say it's simple because the whole of the book boils down to trust. We (readers) know Juliana to be innocent of the crimes Rhys accuses her of, but Rhys doesn't know. Despite what other characters say throughout the story, if Rhys doesn't come to trust his wife, they'll never succeed. It's the trust, or lack thereof, that drives this story, and I really liked the way everything plays out. Such a simple idea, that's anything but simple in execution since giving anyone your unequivocal trust opens up fears and vulnerabilities, happiness and sadness, etc.
I haven't read a lot of Sabrina Jeffries other books, but so far, what I have ready I've enjoyed and Stormswept is no different.
andra_mihaela_s's review
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
nellesnightstand1's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't realize this was an older lease Sabrina had written as Deborah Martin. I enjoyed to story but whew was there conflict and angst! You can tell it was an older book because it had a lot of gothic connotations to it. I used to love those gothic romances!!!
blodeuedd's review
3.0
I did want to hit Rhys over the head a few times, oh you know me, I always want to hit book characters over the head!
Rhys and Juliana met and fell in love, in secret of course. And married, in secret of course. They were enemies after all.
Juliana was sweet and naive. And I did not mind, how could she be any other way?
While Rhys wanted to save his Wales, and could not help falling for her. Though he had some issues.
And this book is all about those issues. See he disappears and comes back with one big chip on his shoulder. And I was all Hold up! You are angry? She could be angry too! And I wish she had been mad too. He is all You betrayed me! And he is so nasty about it. I wanted her to stop explaining and just be that mad too. She had every right. But that was not her.
I also had some fears when I realised it was written in the 90s, cos he was so angry. And well at least 80s book can go a bit too far, but it never did. And I am glad it did not. Rhys is mad, just not crazy.
I must mention that her brother is an ass. And I want to hit him, but at the same time I kind of wanted a book with him. So he could redeem himself, but since it was written 20 years ago then that has passed.
A good book where 2 lovers has to find each other again and find forgiveness and trust. r again and find forgiveness and trust.
Rhys and Juliana met and fell in love, in secret of course. And married, in secret of course. They were enemies after all.
Juliana was sweet and naive. And I did not mind, how could she be any other way?
While Rhys wanted to save his Wales, and could not help falling for her. Though he had some issues.
And this book is all about those issues. See he disappears and comes back with one big chip on his shoulder. And I was all Hold up! You are angry? She could be angry too! And I wish she had been mad too. He is all You betrayed me! And he is so nasty about it. I wanted her to stop explaining and just be that mad too. She had every right. But that was not her.
I also had some fears when I realised it was written in the 90s, cos he was so angry. And well at least 80s book can go a bit too far, but it never did. And I am glad it did not. Rhys is mad, just not crazy.
I must mention that her brother is an ass. And I want to hit him, but at the same time I kind of wanted a book with him. So he could redeem himself, but since it was written 20 years ago then that has passed.
A good book where 2 lovers has to find each other again and find forgiveness and trust. r again and find forgiveness and trust.