Desire: A Novel

Lady Clarre is awaiting the husband her Guardian has chosen for her. She has requested a man of poetry with a slight build, who reads. She understands that her father's death necessitates an immediate marriage to protect the Isle of Desire, but Clarre has little interest. Her passions are the herbs and flowers of her home. Clarre has devised soaps, tinctures, healing essences, perfumes, and potpourris of these gifts of the earth that have become a booming business for the people on Desire. Word came to her that her husband-to-be will be arriving any second. Sir Gareth of Wyckmere rides his steed right up to her as she sits on the wall to get a good view of him. Clarre is dismayed to see that he is a man of war, giant in proportion. Gareth, known as the Hellhound of Wyckmere, wants his own lands and home and that is what this marriage to Clarre will bring him. He is determined to win this fair maiden. Clarre is disappointed that her Guardian has ignored her requests, but Gareth is handsome, and he can read.Amanda Quick, aka Jayne Ann Krentz, is one of the most talented authors working today, and this book is one of her best. The book is filled with delightful supportive characters, intrigue, mystery, twists and turns, love, romance, and laughter. Quick delivers a fast-paced plot with a sizzling, burning romance that has kept me turning back to this book many times over the years. It is a definite keeper shelf book. Get this book and prepare to laugh and smile and say, "Ahhhhhhh."

I admit that JAK is one of my go to authors no matter what name she writes under and this is one of my favorites. This is only one of two of the AQ books written in medieval times rather than the Regency or Victorian times she is known for (with the exception of the newer Burning Cove series). Clare and Gareth are both strong and determined get what they want – no weak-willed, wishy-washy, spineless female for AQ. I have read reviews that say JAK is a formula writer which I suppose is true but so what – it works! I highly recommend this book both for the humor and the great storyline.

In an usual Amanda Quick (Jayne Krentz) manner, provide and enjoyable and light read. Though the ending was never in question, hero and heroine would fall in love. The travel front start to finish was also fun and entertaining.

This was always my favorite Amanda Quick novel (one of them, anyway). My paperback copy is so close to falling apart from the amount of times I have re read it. Clear duck tape works. I was so excited when it came up on sale. I snatched it up and read it again. That's how wonderful the story is, folks. I am giving it five stars for it's enduring gift of being a timeless, entertaining and warm story.

This is actually my favorite book of all time. It had everything I need in a story.Gareth is a big intimidating man. Claire is a small dainty girl with a sharp tongue and quick wit who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty though she is the Lady of the Isle of the Desire!Gareth is a bastard with no lands but a great wealth. He’s known as the HellHound from his battle exploits and his sword is know as the window to hell. Claire wants no violence on her Isle but quickly changes her tune when trouble is afoot and threatens her and her household.

This is one of Amanda Quick's earliest novels. The storyline is unique and the characters are well fleshed out. This one is a fun escape.

Though the book was decent and I mostly liked it there were things that I did not like. First Clare is supposed to have been the person who knows business and has ran the Isle of Desire all on her own for years. Yet every time she doesn't get her way, she acts like a spoiled child, and does things she shouldn't have. Then she realizes she has done something stupid and apologies or tries to make up for it. She has unreasonable ideas, and thinks that even though she is now married, she still runs everything and expects to get her way. The littlest things set her off. I liked Gareth. He is supposedly someone who doesn't laugh and doesn't get humor. So her being an idiot is funny to him. Some of it I can see, some I cannot. I am not so sure I feel the contention between them. I also find it irritating that no one believes that she is a virgin. Even the people who have lived with her, and have known her all their life do not believe her. I suppose it is supposed to be funny when all these people give her chicken blood. And the fact that Clare and the person who may have taken her virginity both told Gareth he didn't, and Gareth still does not believe her. It was just too stupid and only sets up book so Clare can do something stupid again. There was no reason this was really needed in the book.It is easy to figure out who the villain is and who is working for him, though they do not tell you those things until almost the end. The villain also is not really involved in the story and there is not much he does until the end. It is also makes no since that he waits so long after her father’s death to start causing issues. Just another thing thrown in to start and make a story. It is also easy to figure out who Gareth mother is though they do not tell you that either, and what is going to happen at the end.I forgot to originally include this and added this after I wrote the review. I also was highly disappointed in the end. Basically Clare acts the spoiled child again and tells Gareth if he loves her he will do what she asks. Otherwise she will be a brat again and not sleep with him. Which she already did one night. then she keeps nagging him about it. She makes all their fights public, and basically is mean to him until she gets her way. Her people have told Clare that Gareth is right in this, but still it has to be her way. She should have done the compromise. 4 would live 3 would die. Since he has not told her he loves her yet he just gives in and says OK. Once again he finds this funny and laughs. I do not find this book as funny as some people thought it was.I just do not under stand authors that try and make a strong heroine and instead just make them spoiled brats. Anyway it was an OK book. Not great, but not bad.Sexual content is low/medium. There is some description but there are not very many scenes.

Enjoyed this book very much.

This is one of Amanda Quick's early novels. It does not seem to be in print or on e-book at present, which would be a loss to her fans, in particular, and to those who like good writing and historical romance and adventure.The story is set in the Middle Ages - early 12th century to be precise - and initially my heart sank. So many people who write about this era do not do it to my liking. But I realised as I read, that the story really needed to be set in that period and that Ms Quick had not fallen into the trap of writing 'forsoothly'. There was enough of the feel of the time, but really it was the adventure and the romance that was important.I very much like Ms Quick's heroines - they are always strong women - and I also love her heroes - who are also strong, but willing ultimately to accept a loving partnership. Lady Clare and Sir Gareth (known as the Hellhound of Wykemere for his military exploits) are both well drawn characters. I could hardly put the book down until I had finished it - and then I was sorry that I was no longer in the Isle of Desire with Clare, Gareth and the other characters.If you can get your hands on a copy of this book, I am sure you will enjoy it.

J'ai lu la plupart des romans d'Amanda Quick et celui-ci est l'un de ceux que j'ai préférés. Je le recommande.

I read Amanda Quick when I was in high school. I always liked her books a lot, though sometimes I get a little wary of some of her accident-prone heroins.This book, thank God, has the other kind of heroin in true Amanda Quick fashion. She is kind and soft-hearted. She is strong but does not throw fits. She is sometimes a little annoying.........but it is her tenderness that makes her a great heroin.Gareth the hero is the typical knight in the shining armor, with a frozen and battle-wary heart. They come together in marriage without knowing much to each other and of course they have great sex. But really it is not the sex scences that matter, even though Amanda Quick writes her sex scenes well. It is the story, about 2 people starting in doubt and coming together in love. A little mystery. Some great sex. Some fears of loss. And a lot of tenderness.Now that is Amanda Quick's formula for a great romance. I know people sometimes criticize her for writing stories using the formula. But seriously, she's got a great formula. Her great writing is not to be taken lightly. After so many years, I still find her books a joy to read. Desire, the story of Clare and Gareth, is one of her gems. A romance story of all times.

This is one of the most charming and witty books I have read. The central romance is sweet and often hilarious. The side characters are very entertaining especially the island woman who give Claire their ruler pre marital advice. Claire is the ruler of her little island with a successful economy based on perfume production. But she needs to marry to give her people lack protection against marauders. Reluctantly she asks her liege lord to supply marriage candidates. A nice small polite husband is what she has in mind.Enter Gareth the bastard knight who is sick of killing people and wants to settle down. He has none of Claire's requirements for her future husband. Too big, too violent. Despite its title this book is not about seduction. It’s about a couple trying to make a marriage work. Its endearing but the best thing is the humour. The real story behind Claire's loss of ‘virtue’ to her neighbour is a hoot.