[.ca] The Innocent (ISBN 0449006727)

Tsk, tsk... i really liked the beginning!:
This is my 2nd book of Bertrice Small. It was given to me by a friend. The back description sounded interesting but base on the first one I read of her works, THE LOVE SLAVE, I didn't want to put up any expectations in reading this one. I want to be open minded and to give her a shot. I know a lot of people are Bertrice Small fans, perhaps I have yet to try her best work to be hooked on her. But so far, after reading THE LOVE SLAVE & THE INNOCENT, I am still not impress. So sorry. The first few chapters of the book was sooo good. It was interesting and a page turner. But once the hero & heroine got together, it got boring all of a sudden. Detailed sex scenes was the only part that fires you up but the characters seems to be too perfect for me. Ranulf is too understanding, too considerate and too loving. Boring! Elf was an angel. A saint. I do enjoy heroines with pure heart but would u really still TEND someone who tried to rape you? I mean at that same instant? C'mon! I would run for my life and outta there! I won't even consider tending the wound of the person who tried to steal my virtue. Well, that's just me. I was not too thrilled when I found out that the heroine was only 14 years old while the hero was 30years old. However, I decided to overlook that matter. I read Julie Garwood's SAVING GRACE and the heroine was 16 yrs and the hero was 30 years old too but I liked that book so I thought I shouldn't be turned off just cuz of this small matter. Despite this small niggle, I went ahead and continue with the book hoping I'll pick up the interest once more... Sad to say, the more I read, the more i question Bertrice Small's ability. Sorry. She tend to mention something then forgets about it as if it never occured. For instance, what happend to Saer De Bude? He existed as a villain in the beginning then just like that he disappeared? I thought he would come back and finish what he started but nope, he just poofed out. B.S. also mentioned Isa, Elf's best friend in the convent, who happens to be Ranulf relative. SO? what happend? Elf doesn't even know Isa is Ranulf relative and if so, what is the purpose of this talk? I thought Isa would be involved in this book, perhaps show support or be in Ashlin for something but nope, she just poofed out too. This might be a small matters to others but i like consistency in my books. The only consolation of this book that touched me somehow is Merin Ap Owen. He was one of the villain. He was hard and evil. Yet, Elf pure goodness set him free from his evil ways. I do believe that no matter how EVIL, there is good in every one. It just needs someone else to bring it out. GOODNESS and PURITY always prevails, I guess this is why I rated this book a 3 stars instead of 1. I tell you, the first part of this book is soooooo good. If only the hero and the heroine possess a little flaw, something that could make their relationship more challenging... a little banter, a little misunderstanding and so forth, perhaps it would continue to be an interesting read. Tsk, too bad. I really really did like the beginning!

Good only if you like RAPE and STUPID, Stupid women.:
This is the worst. This is the VERY LAST book I will ever read by this woman (I've suffered through 3 - yes, I'm a glutton for punishment). HORRIBLE, just horrible. I don't understand women who get off on rape. It makes me shudder to even think about rape. Bertrice Small's books should not be classified as romance, but utter and complete garbage. This isn't even sensual, it's just sick. I'm glad I checked THE INNOCENT out from the library and did not waste my money on it. Unless you're one of those people who thinks rape is a perfectly wonderful and joyful experience, DO NOT EVEN BOTHER. In fact, don't even bother with any of her books as they are all the EXACTLY same.

Degrading and Dull:
This book ranks on my "worst read" list. Initally the concept seemed interesting-a story of awaking-wrong! Infact there are sooo many things wrong w/this book I'm not quite sure where to begin. 1-the hero seemed simple minded-(ok maybe this was because he was married to a 14 year old!), 2-repetitive trival fillers-how many times did she repeat-"breaking their fast" yada,yada,yada-I love him/her-oh no I can't tell him/her-ad nausea for full effect. 3-the herione went from innocent to instant sex godess (why not she is perfect right??). 4-degrading sex-the villians should haven been the primary charcters as we spent more time in their bedrooms. 5-characterizations-women are whores. Men can rape, murder and plunder and be forgiven. Finally 6-FATAL ERROR-the herione actually has feelings-including sexual urges directed toward the villian-after she is married and obviously in love-once again proving the point-women are stupid base creatures. Save your time and money-I wish I had.

Completely Far-Fetched:
I am generally a big fan of Bertrice Small's romance novels. However, The Innocent was almost a complete disappointment. The story begins well, telling about how Elf becomes forced to leave her beloved convent to care for her sick brother. The story becomes far-fetched when readers learn how "perfect" Elf tries to be. To think, she actually tries to tend to Saer de Bude, the man who attempts to rape her when he becomes injured in his attack on her. You would think that a girl frantically trying to preserve her virtue would run as far away from this man as humanly possible. Another detail is that when Elf is examined to see if she has been raped, she faints dead away. However, her first time with Ranulf (remember, she has been in a convent almost all of her life), she turns into a complete sex kitten!!! Also, characters in the story such as her friend Isa, Saer de Bude and eventually Elf's evil sister-in-law Isleen, seem to just disappear into thin air. Finally, it is really hard to believe that Elf is so good that she drives all the evil impulses out of her captor, Merin Ap Owen. All in all, the characters seem rather one sided, with no real dimension within. If only Small had just let Elf have a single flaw (such as having an affair with Merin Ap Owen, the captor she grows fond of), the story would have obtained more realism.

A very sweet, toned-down offering from Bertrice Small:
Bertrice Small is known for her steamy historical romances that generally involve repeated ravishings of the kidnapped heroine. Here, Small offers a surprisingly restrained and enjoyable story set in the middle ages. The setting is a nice change of pace from the glut of regency-era romances, and Small does a pretty good job of striving for historical accuracy. A fair portion of the novel is set in a convent, and it is an interesting exploration of the education and lifestyle experienced by young women of the era. The core love story is very sweet, and even the villains have redeeming virtues. Yes, there are still some explicit scenes some may find offensive, but they fit into the story better than in most of Small's books. The heroine is actually treated nicely, and the emotional relationships among the characters are well done.