First Time-A Review of "Love Only Once"

Book Title: Love Only Once
Author: Johanna Lindsey
Version: ebook
ISBN: 9780062106575
Voice: Third Person
Publisher: Avon
First Published: December 1985
Number of ebook pages: 254
Genre: Romance

SYNOPSIS: It is 1817 in London and Regina Ashton goes to stay with her Uncle the Lord Edward Malory and his wife Lady Charlotte and their children. Regina, a young stunning, head strong woman who has been raised by her four uncles since she was orphaned, has come to London to find a husband. Tired of looking for the husband that will suit all of her uncles Regina comes up with a plan to let her uncles pick one for her. On the night of the much anticipated ball Regina decides to visit her Uncle Anthony and tell him of her plan. Borrowing Selena Eddington's carriage she makes her way to her uncle's home.

Dashing Nicholas Eden, who is a rogue of the highest order, happens to be Selena's lover sees the carriage and decides to play a little trick. Figuring he would punish Selena for trying to make him jealous, Nicholas swoops up on the woman getting into the carriage and carries her off on his horse and takes her as prisoner to his house. Knowing how important the ball was to Selena Nicholas locks her in a room and heads to the ball. Imagine his surprise when he sees that Selena is happy and dancing, free in the world. Realizing his mistake he rushes home to find a very beautiful, very amused Regina Ashton waiting for him. Once they figure things out, Nicholas decides that he must bed Regina, right around the time that Regina realizes the only way out of the scandal is that she must wed Nicholas.

The whole thing is made worse when Nicholas flat out refuses to marry Regina claiming that he will never marry, all because of a dark secret from his past. When he is ambushed by Regina's family as well as his aunt and grandmother he finally consents to the engagement. While at a party celebrating their new engagement Nicholas finally gets his way and has sex with Regina in the garden. Afterward thinking that things have finally turned in her favor Regina heads toward their wedding happy and feeling on top of the world, despite Nicholas's threats that he will find a way out of the marriage. The wedding goes over without a hitch and on their wedding night Nicholas takes Regina to his estate in the country where his evil mother lives and then proceeds to leave her there alone.

Although there are many adventures that take place through out the story the real question that is dominent is will Nicholas and Regina make it as a loving couple? Will Nicholas's secret be revealed? If it is will it be enough to push Regina away?

REVIEW: This marks the first ever plain old romance that I have read. No vampires, no werewolves, no shapeshifters, no magic and nothing paranormal. Just plain old damsal in distress, rogueish handsome man taking away her virtue type of plot. Simple, easy to read, and really not worth it. It is the beginning of a series that for some reason has become hugely popular. Maybe I am a reading snob but this is just not my cup of tea. The story was boring and way predictable, there really wasn't even anything that made the story stand out from a lot of other english novels, romance or not. The only difference between this novel and many of the other english victorian era, zipped up but not really, style novels is that this one has a sex scene or two in it.

The writing was pretty mediocre as well, there were phrases in there that actually hurt me to read. It was pedestrian and disappointing, even the secret mystery about some of the characters wasn't very mysterious. It was as if Johanna Lindsey was trying hard to jumble together every type of writing possible. And she just tried way to hard. "Love Only Once" is not anything that I would recommend. I have a friend that loves this series and reads everything by Johanna Lindsey but this is not anything that I can get on board with.

I was disappointed in the whole thing and rather surprised that I actually finished the book. I don't need Tolstoy-esque writing in everything I read and I don't need Austenian level plot but there needs to be something to latch onto for a book to capture my interest. A good story, or a good character to root for, great writing that covers a poor story. Something, anything that can make the read worth the while. But this was poor story on top of poor writing, on top of annoying characters. There was nothing redeeming about it. So this is not a good review, this is not a review for your next book it is instead a review for the next book to be avoided. This should not be the book you pick up if you are looking for a good romance. Stick to the paranormal kind, at least that way you get a little bit of fighting and silly creatures thrown in the mix.