"Desire" by Nicole Jordan

A nice light, throw-away read

Flame haired Brynn's family is cursed - if the women of her family fall in love, that man will die. With one tragic exception in her youth, she's managed to avoid any entanglements by hiding out at home and taking care of her little brother until Lucien, the Earl of Wycliff (and notorious rake, of course) sees her and immediately falls in lust with her. He's decided to settle down and set up a nursery and decides that she's just the woman to help him do it and forces her to marry him. Brynn tries not to fall in love with him but it's getting harder and harder, and things are complicated by the fact that Lucien suspects her of treason when it becomes apparent that her brother's involved in some shady, possibly treasonous, smuggling. Can love conquer all, including a
powerful gypsy curse?!

Jordan writes an uneven if entertaining story - I love stories of rakes seducing unwilling heroines and Lucien is a rake of the first order, full of charm and hotness. The writing in general, including characterization, was a bit off but that's outweighed by the fact that you really want to find out what happens to them. My big problem plot wise was why, if you're family has been cursed down the generations so the women can never fall in love without their beloved dying... Why would you ever agree to have children???!! There's a 50% chance that you're going to have a daughter and continue the vicious cycle!!! Jordan explains it partly as Brynn hoping a child would help her feel less lonely but the selfishness of that reason just made me dislike her. It would have worked better if it was explored a bit more - even if Brynn did end up deciding to risk having a daughter it would have given her a more three dimensional character rather than simply assuming a priori, with absolutely no questioning or thought, that all women, even those with gypsy curses on their entire line, would have babies.

Conclusion: Despite some weak writing and iffy characterizations an entertaining read with some delicious sexual chemistry between the hero and heroine. Recommended for a light, throw-away read.

Publisher: Ivy Books (October 30, 2001)
ISBN-10: 0449004864