Myra Nour - Brenda Novak
Nour, Myra - LOVE'S CAPTIVE (1st Books; E-book; 1999) (5)
Get ready for an out-of-this-world sci-fi/fantasy romance!
Serena is a female wrestler who is starting to think about getting into a different line of work when she and several other women are kidnapped and taken aboard a spaceship. They are
being taken to the planet Volarn in an attempt to repopulate the world because all the native women are sterile. Redheaded
Serena shows her fabled temper and attempts to escape several times, but all attempts are foiled.
Kasha, the sister of King Rhamus, hates Serena on sight and the Earth woman must show her skills at wrestling before she wins Kasha's approval. King Rhamus has an aversion to red hair, but is very attracted to Serena from the beginning and he soon makes her his Queen. When a pregnant Serena is kidnapped yet again, this time by an enemy king, she must confront her fears and the dangerous situation she is in.
LOVE'S CAPTIVE had me captivated from the very beginning. I actually snarled at my family and ignored the cat, not wanting any distractions to pull me away from the planet Volarn and its people. Combining science fiction with fantasy and romance, Myra Nour has written an exciting, action-packed story. The descriptions of the alien planet, the characters, and even their "pets" are so vividly described that readers will able to clearly picture them in their minds. The love scenes are somewhat steamy, but tastefully done. I'm definitely hooked on this series and anxiously awaiting the second book, which will feature the warrior Kasha. Congratulations, Ms. Nour, you have written a keeper! ~Pat Cavender for Bookbug on the Web
Novak, Brenda - EXPECTATIONS (Harl. Super. 899 - 2/00) (4)
As teenagers, Jenna and Adam had been lovers, but Adam
abandoned her after graduation and went off to college to pursue a successful career and "the good life." Brokenhearted, Jenna turned to Adam's best friend Dennis, married him and moved away.
Now, fifteen years later, Jenna Livingston has returned home to Mendocino. Divorced from her abusive husband, she is raising her eight-year-old son Ryan and trying to make a new life for both of them. Besides managing the bed and breakfast owned by Adam's grandparents, Jenna also hopes to create a business out of her stained glass work. But she is still being harassed and threatened by her ex-husband.
Jenna is surprised one evening when Adam Durham shows up to visit his grandparents. He is astonished to see her and learn about her broken marriage. After only a weekend, Adam knows he wants to protect Jenna and her son; however, he also loves his career and his life in San Francisco, and he's not yet willing to give up his dreams and move back to Mendocino. Jenna knows she could come to care for Adam again, but she's not ready to put her trust in him because of Ryan...and her expected baby!
Brenda Novak's first contemporary romance, EXPECTATIONS, is a heartwarming tale about love and dreams, lost and rediscovered, and forgiveness. The passion between Jenna and Adam virtually leaps from the pages, and Ms. Novak makes every character vivid and likable, including Ryan and Adam's grandparents. Readers can expect a fast-paced and engaging second-chance-at-love story. ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
Novak, Brenda - OF NOBLE BIRTH (Harper - 1999) (4)
Setting: England, 1854
Born with a birth defect and rejected by his father (the Duke of Greystone), Nathaniel Kent was saved from being murdered by the housekeeper, Martha. After her demise at the hands of Nathaniel's estranged sire, the seven-year-old boy grew up seeking revenge and vowing never to love again. He took to the sea, suffering derision and many challenges over the years
before he acquired his own ship and became known as the
"Dragonslayer."
Since his goal is to destroy his father's shipping business, he commands pirate attacks on only the Duke's ships, stealing their cargoes while letting it be known who he is. Secretly, Nathaniel uses a servant within his father's household to gain inside information. While meeting with the servant and planning his next strike, he discovers the Duke's men have captured his friend Richard. Nathaniel fears for Richard's life, so he devises a plan to abduct the Duke's daughter by his second marriage, Lady Anne, whom Nathaniel has never met. He will then propose a barter to gain his friend's freedom.
Alexandra Cogsworth is a seamstress for her stepfather's garment business, and after enduring physical and mental abuse for many years, she plans to escape to India with her aunt. In order to obtain money for the journey, she decides to deliver some garments to a customer and collect the fee, without her stepfather's knowledge. After Alexandra is paid, Madame Fobart asks her to mend the ripped skirt of a woman who has just arrived, the daughter of the Duke of Greystone. But when her stepfather suddenly shows up to collect payment, Alexandra flees. She is grabbed by five ruffians, then tied up and tossed into a carriage. Alexandra tries to convince her captors they have the wrong woman, but they don't believe her and she is carried off to a pirate ship. As Nathaniel's captive, her adventures have only just begun.
Brenda Novak makes a notable debut with this romantic, action-packed swashbuckler. The passion between Nathaniel and Alexandra is steamy, and their personalities are so well described they will seem like old friends of yours. My favorite character, Nathaniel, is full of hatred for the Duke, but it's satisfying to see how his love for Alexandra changes his outlook. OF NOBLE BIRTH's classic plot has many twists and turns to keep readers intrigued, and the well-researched naval battles add to the excitement. There is one scene involving an amputation that some readers may find disturbing, but it isn't graphic. If you enjoy captive/captor romances and adventure on the high seas, let yourself be swept away by Brenda Novak's OF NOBLE BIRTH. ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
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