Defy The Eagle (Big Book) (Harlequin Historical)

I read this book back in 87 and still to this day its probably the best book Ive ever read. Even back in 87 I tried to find more books by this author but wasnt succesful...how disaponited I was!! I have read the book over and over again and can strongly recommend reading it. You will be just as captivated by the story as everybody else who read it!

This book combined romance and historical content extremly well. It is always nice when an author can blend both in such a way where you care about the characters and what was going on in the background. I love serious romance novels that have two strong characters that complement each other while still having hurdles to overcome, and make you doubt that they ever will. That's what made this book so great, you will be on the edge of your seat.

Picked this book up at a second hand store and it's actually one of the best books i've read. The characters draw you in and the story is fantastic. If you enjoy Rosemary Rogers (Sweet Savage Love) you'll enjoy this one.

One of the many reasons i have loved this book is becouse of its setting - the Roman empire. I have read several historical romances and this is the only one i have read about this period -it certainly is a refreshing change. But that it is not all. The romance in this book is awesome, poignant and so beautiful it makes you cry.

First of all about the story, since i think a review should always include a bit about the story:

Stripped of her title, her palace and her possessions, Boadicea incited her warrior tribe, the Iceni, to throw off the yoke of the mighty Roman Empire. The Queen turned to Caddaric to help lead the revolt and knew he would stop at nothing to remove the Roman presence from her land.

Harsh and relentless by nature, Caddaric was curiously unable to banish the haunting image of a beautiful girl from his dreams. Then, in an isolated glade, he met with the woman who had so bewitched his nights. Amazement turned to anguish as he realized Jilana was a daughter of Rome - one of the hated enemies he had vowed to destroy.

Her family massacred, her home torn apart, Jilana became a spoil of war: slave to the merciless Caddaric, whose one thought was to possess her, body and soul....(text taken from book's back cover)

All I can add to all that i have already said is that if ever you get the chance read this book and you wont be dissapoint it. It really is great!

The thing that I appreciated most from this magnificent book was its originality. I have read several romance novels and only very few are about the Roman era. The story is extremely engrossing. Caddaric is so harsh at first with Jilana that I couldn't help but symphatize with her. However she has a very strong strong character (something which i like in romance heroines) and she certainly does not stand meekly to Caddaric not even when he makes her his slave. Caddaric makes Jilana live some of the hardest moments of her life but as he slowly grows to care for her we see him change from harsh soldier to warm lover. The intrigue in this book never lacks and only until the very end do we find out if the lovers will finally find love together.

"Defy the Eagle" is one of the books i enjoyed most reading. It stands in my shelf as one of my favorite books and i would recommend it to whoever would like to read a romance with a difference. Detail in history but eaqually detailed in romance with the original setting of the Roman era.